Medicines for the Plague, Collection of sermons · Sermon 15
The fifteenth Sermon vponupon the fifth verſe.
That we may reioyce in thy ſaluation, and ſet vp our banners in the name of our God, when the Lord ſhall performe all thy petitions.
HEre the firſt part of the praier is continued and ended;The meaning of the fifth verſe. I meane the petitions, which the people make for the king: where they ſhew why, and wherefore they are ſo deſirous, that God would thus heare and defend him; namely, that ſo not only he, but all they, euen the whole Church of God might reioyce in that ſaluation that God ſhould beſtow vponupon him. For they ſpake before of the king, and for him they did pray, and ſo this word (thy) is to be referred vntounto him: and they meane that defence and ſafegard that God ſhould beſtow vponupon him and his armie. VVherein they were taught to acknowledge themſelues to hauehave a part in the affaires of the king, were they proſperous or vnproſperous; as all ſubiects muſt thus thinke of their kings and princes. This word (reioyce) others doe tranſlate, ſing, of thy ſaluation: which is all one in ſence, ſauing that the one is the cauſe, and the other is the effect. For ioy often cauſeth ſinging: and ſinging commonly argueth ioy, as the Apoſtle ſaith, Is any among you merrie, Iam 5.13.let him ſing. VVhat then would they ſing? of the ſaluation and defence of their king: and ſo they meane, that they would praiſe God for it. And thus the end of their prayer is, the glory of God: that they reciuing ſo great a benefit from him in the perſon of their king, might be ſo affected with ioy, that they might ſing forth publikely the prayſe of God for it: as afterwards they did. And this they expreſſe more fully in the next words, when as they ſay, And ſet vp our banners in the name of our God, &c. that is, That we thus hauing the victory, and triumphing ouer our enemies, might as conquerors, not onelyonly inwardly reioyce, but outwardly declare it; not to our owne prayſe, or the prayſe of our king ſo much, but to the glory of the name of our God. VVhen he ſhall fulfill all thy petitions (as it followeth in the text) namely of the king, for whom they pray. So that here ſtill they pray God to graunt all his petitions; but they bring this as a reaſon to moue him thereunto, or to confirrme their owne faith, that he will ſo doe; That they might hauehave cauſe to praiſe the name of God. And ſo they ſhew before hand, what they mind to doe, when God ſhall thus bleſſe the king and his people, namely, they will by all meanes praiſe and magnifie the name of God, as the onelyonly authour of it.
So that here they ſhut vp all their petitions with a publike profeſsion of the inward deſire of their hearts:The end of all our petitions ſhould be the glory of God. ſaying that they ſeeke and aske all theſe things of God, for the glory of his name. VVherein they were taught rightly to pray, and ſo God did heare them, as he will doe all thoſe that thus pray: for this ſhould be the principall end of all our prayer, and of all things that we aske in them, That God may be prayſed; that is, that his goodneſſe, mercy, wiſedome, power, iuſtice, and truth, might be knowne, and ſo he hauehave the whole glory of all his workes, and of all his gifts; when hee is not onelyonly acknowledged to be the authour of them, but loued ſerued and prayſed for them. And this our Sauiour Chriſt hath taught vsus in that forme of his, that muſt be the paterne of all formes; in all our prayers principally to reſpect the glory of Gods name, when he willeth vsus to begin thus,Mat. 6.9. Hallowed be thy name: and ſo after to deſire all other things, as they may ſtand with that. And laſtly to referre all vntounto that, when we ſay, For thine is the kingdome, Verſe 13.the power, and glory, &c. aſcribing to him the prayſe of all, and in all deſiring, that his kingdome, power, and glory might more & more be knowne and ſet foorth. Thus hauehave the ſeruants of God prayed, and hauehave obtained great things, when they hauehave deſired them for the glory of God. As Hannah that godly woman, when ſhe had bene barren a long time, prayed to God for a child:So did Hannah pray for a child. but ſhe did it not as a natural woman in any carnall reſpect, that ſhe might leaue a poſteritie behind her, but for the glory of God; and therefore ſhe vowed a vow to God before hand,1. Sam. 1.11. That if it were a man child, ſhe would giuegive it to God all the dayes of his life, and no razor ſhould come vponupon his head: that is, ſhe would conſecrate him to the ſeruice of God, and make him a Nazarite, to be ſeperated to God, after a ſpeciall manner. And as ſhe did this way ſufficiently ſhew, that ſhe ſought not her ſelfe in it, but God: ſo afterwards ſhe did it much more in prayſing God for it, and in performing her vow; when ſhee brought him to the houſe of the Lord in Shyloh,Chap. 2.18. ſo ſoone as ſhee had weaned him, and there left him with Hely the prieſt: whereby it came to paſſe, that he miniſtred before the Lord being a young child, girded with a linnen Ephod. Thus ſhe was contented to depart from him ſo ſoone as ſhe had him, whereby ſhee declared, that in her petition ſhe reſpected Gods glory more than her ſelfe. And thus if any deſire children, not ſo much to vphold their name, as to inherite their lands and goods, or to ſerue God in the Church and commonwealth, and to be inſtruments of his glory, and determine to bring them vp thereafter; they might both bee bleſſed with children aboue the courſe of nature, and in them aboue the common ſort, as this woman was in her ſonne Samuel, who proued a very rare man, and ſingular prophet.
King Solomon when he prayed for wiſedome,1. King. 3.6. vſeth the ſame reaſons to perſuade the Lord, and to confirme his owne faith, namely, That whereas God had made him king in his father Dauids roume, and that ouer a great people, therefore it would pleaſe God to giuegive him wiſedome,And King Solomon for wiſdome. that he might be fit to ſerue him in that place whereunto he had called him, by being able to iudge both good and euill. Thus he propoundeth the glory of God in his calling before his eyes, when he asked this; and it ſo pleaſed God, that he gaue him that, and a great deale more. So no doubt if men were deſirous to glorifie God in their callings, and did aske of him gifts meet for them to that end, and in ſeeking for gifts of the mind did make the glory of God the principall end, they might obtaine great things of God. But for the moſt part men ſeeke wiſedome and learning, to ſet forth themſelues, and therein ſeeke their owne wealth and credit, either wholly, or more than the other; and not the diſcharging of a good conſcience in the right vſe of them, to the glory of God: and ſo either miſſe of them, or hauehave them not in that meaſure that others hauehave, and as they might attaine vntounto themſelues. The Prophet Elijah was wholly taken vp with the glorie of God, when he contended with the prieſts of Baal, and ſo by prayer obtained fire from heauen to conſume his ſacrifice:And Elias both for fire from heauen. for the contention was, VVhether God or Baal were the true God.1. King. 18.37. Therefore hee prayed thus, Heare me, O Lord, and let the people know, that thou art the Lord God. And then his zeale appeared afterwards in killing all thoſe falſe Prophets and prieſts of Baal, that had a long time ſeduced the people: and after in the ſame zeale he prayed for raine,Verſ. 42. And for raine. and did obtaine it after a great drought of three yeares and an halfe. Thus we ſee what great things may be obtained of God by prayer, when therein wee ſeeke his glory. This example the Apoſtle ſetteth before our eyes, when he willeth vsus to pray for them that be ſicke, with hope of obtaining health, and forgiueneſſe of ſinnes for them:Iam. 5.17. For ſaith he, The prayer of one righteous man auaileth much, when it is feruent. As Elias, being a man like vsus, yet inflamed with Gods glorie, did pray that there might be no raine, that the people by that puniſhment might be brought to know God; and after prayed, that there might be raine, that by his merciemercy they might know it much more: and he obtained both. And ſo if in our prayers we were thus touched with the glorie of God, we might obtaine great things: but for the moſt part, men reſpect themſelues in their prayers, and not God, and ſo obtaine little or nothing. And the ſame Elijah when he prayed for fire to conſume the captaines and their fiftie men, when they came to fetch him to the king of Iſrael by force, ſaying, Thou man of God, the king commaundeth thee to come to him, as if they had ſaid, Thou ſaiſt, that thou art a man of God, well let vsus ſee whether he can keepe thee from the king. He anſwered them: If I be a man of God, 2. King. 1.10.let fire come downe from heauen, and conſume thee, and thy fiftie: and ſo it did. He did not thus pray in any priuat reuenge, but that it might be known, that he was a true Prophet, and that that meſſage was true that he ſent vntounto the king before, namely, that when he was ſicke, and ſent to Beelzebub the god of Eſron, to know whether he ſhould recouer or no:Verſ. 2. he ſent him this meſſage, That becauſe he had forſaken the true God, and ſent to them that were no gods, he ſhould not come from the bed on which he was, but he ſhould die there, as alſo he did. Now when the diſciples of Chriſt deſired that fire might come downe from heauen to conſume the Samaritanes, and their cities, becauſe they would not receiue him, when he was going towards Ieruſalem; they obtained it not, though they pretended the example of Elias, ſaying, Master, Luc. 9.54.wilt thou that we commaund fire from heauen, and deſtroy them, as Elias did? He ſaid, they had not that ſpirit, & did it not to that end that he did: namely, the glorie of God, but in reſpect of themſelues. So then, if we will obtaine any thing at the hand of God, we muſt therein ſeeke his glorie, and deſire it to that end, that thereby God may be glorified and prayſed; as the people doe here, when they ſay, That we may reioyce, and ſet vp our banners in the name of our God, when hee ſhall fulfill all thy petitions.
This was the ground of the prayer of Moſes for the Iſraelits in the wilderneſſe, whereby he often obtained great things for them. As when the Lord would hauehave deſtroyed them for their idolatrie with the golden calfe,Exod. 32.12. and hauehave made of Moſes a mightie people, he prayeth vntounto God, that he would not do ſo: for then the Aegyptians would ſpeake ill of God, and ſay, that he maliciouſly brought them out from thence, to deſtroy them in the wilderneſſe: and ſo he not ſeeking his owne glory, but the glorie of God herein, obtained, that they were ſpared contrarie to their deſerts.And Moſes, that God would ſpare the Iſraelits for the glorie of his name. And ſo afterwards, when the ſpies, that were ſent to ſpie out the land of Canaan, brought vp an ill report of that pleaſant land of promiſe, contrarie to all truth,Num. 14.13. and by that means diſcouraged the people, ſo that they all murmured againſt Moſes and Aaron, that they had brought them thether, to fall by the ſword of their enemies, God ſaid, That he would deſtroy them with the peſtilence, but make of him a mightier nation than they: Moſes prayed for them and ſaid, That the Aegyptians would ſay, that God was not able to bring them in: and ſo to ſtop the mouths of the enemies, and for the glorie of God, he deſireth that he would ſpare them; and ſo he did. Thus ought we to pray for our ſelues, and for the Church of God, that he would turne from vsus all thoſe euils that we hauehave moſt righteouſly deſired, euen for the glorie of his name; and therein not reſpect our ſelues ſo much, as Gods glorie, that we profeſsing his name, it might not be ill ſpoken of for our puniſhments. And truly this ſhould be one principall reaſon to mooue vsus to pray for the remoouing of this plague,So ought we to pray for the remoouing of this plague. that the Atheiſts, and Papiſts, and worldlings doe not ſpeake ill of Gods name, and of his people, and his Goſpell, when he ſo greatly puniſheth them that profeſſe it. And alſo, that we our ſelues and others might (by remoouing of it) hauehave cauſe to praiſe his holy name. And indeed, if we did leſſe reſpect our ſelues herein, as for the moſt part men do wholly, and be more carefull of Gods glorie; as that by the ſtaying of it, he might be praiſed: yea, and iuſtice might be executed to the glorie of God, the courſe of which now for a while hath beene ſtayed in many places, becauſe they could not ſo ſafely meet for feare of the infection: and that good things might be eſtabliſhed, and ill remooued by a Parliament (which it is like ſhould hauehave beene long before, if this peſtilence had not beene ſo vniuerſall, and ſo mortall;) we might obtaine by our prayers a great deale more than we doe.
Pſal. 79 8.Therefore let vsus pray as they did, Remember not against vsus the former iniquities, but make haſt, and let thy tender mercies preuent vsus, for we are in great miſerie: Helpe vsus O God of our ſaluation, for the glorie of thy name, and deliuer vsus, and bee mercifull vntounto vsus for thy names ſake. Wherefore ſhould the Heathen ſay, where is their God? Here we ſee they pray to God to forgiue them their ſinnes, & to remooue that puniſhment that was iuſtly laid vponupon them for the ſame, euen for the glorie of his owne name: and ſo muſt we doe at this time, if we will be heard; that it may be known that he is a God of merciemercy, that he is the hearer of prayers, that he will be found of thē that ſeek him, euen in due time, Pſal. 10.1.in affliction. And if the glorie of God did more take vsus vp, then might we hope to obtaine more things at his hands. And thus againe the people of God prayed in their miſeries, Not vntounto vsus, O Lord, not vntounto vsus, Pſal. 115.1.but to thy name giuegive the glorie, for thy louing merciemercy, and for thy truths ſake, wherfore ſhall the Heathen ſay, when is now their God? Our God is in heauen, he doth whatſoeuer he will. VVhere they pray God, that he would doe that, that might make moſt for his glorie, not for their ſelues, but for his merciemercy and truths ſake, that he might be praiſed. So muſt we pray, that God would ſo deale with vsus in this viſitation of his, that he may be knowne to be our God, and ſo honoured of vsus, and of all others: ſo that whether he remooue it, or it continue, his glorie may be ſet forth by it, and that done that may make moſt for it.If we did pray in the zeale of Gods glory, we might obtaine great things. And aſſuredly, if wee could come to theſe indifferent minds, to hauehave or to forgoe health and other things, as they might make moſt for the glorie of God; then we ſhould ſee how the Lord would deale with vsus in this, and all other things beſides. Therefore let vsus be ſo inflamed with the zeale of Gods glorie, that we may pray, as the people doe here, GiueGive me this, and giuegive me that, that we may ſing of thy ſaluation, and ſet vp our banners in the name of the Lord our God, when he ſhall fulfill all our petitions. And we ſhall find by experience, that the more we ſeeke the glorie of God in any thing, the ſooner ſhall we hauehave it, and in greater meaſure: for God though he ſhould forget vsus, yet he cannot forget the glorie of his name, nor thoſe that be carefull of it. So then, whether we aske the forgiueneſſe of our ſinnes, or the increaſe of faith, or any other of the graces of God, to lead an holy life, we muſt reſpect the glorie of God in them, and that we and others may praiſe him for them. Or whether wee aske life, health, wealth, or any outward thing els, we muſt doe it ſo farre, and to that end, that God may be glorified in vsus by them: as the Prophet doth, Be beneficiall to thy ſeruant, Pſal. 119.17. As Dauid and Hezekiah did.that I may liue and keepe thy law: where he deſireth to liue ſo, as by his godly life hee might glorifie God; and hee did eſteeme of that, as of a great benefit. So did Dauid pray, when he was baniſhed by Abſalom, he deſireth God to ſpare him, and to continue his life, that hee might praiſe him, for in death there was no remembrance of him,Pſal. 30.9. ſaying: What profit is there in my blood, when I goe downe to the pit? Shall the dust giuegive thankes to thee, or ſhall it declare thy truth? And after the ſame manner did king Hezekiah, when he was ſicke vntounto death alſo, and had receiued the ſentence of it againſt himſelfe, by the Prophet Iſaiah: he prayed, That God would not take him away in the middeſt of his dayes, for the glorie and praiſe of his name; and this grieued him moſt, that he ſhould be cut off from partaking of Gods goodneſſe, and prayſing him for it in the land of the liuing.Iſai. 38.11. I ſaid, I ſhall not ſee the Lord, euen the Lord in the land of the liuing: and afterwards he addeth,Verſ. 18. The graue cannot confeſse thee, death cannot praiſe thee, they that goe downe to the pit cannot hope for thy truth; but the liuing, the liuing, he ſhall confeſse thee, as I doe this day. So wee ſee to what end he deſired life, euen that he might hauehave occaſion ſtill to prayſe God: and the Lord heard theſe prayers of his, and added fifteene yeares to his life.
Let vsus then examine our ſelues, to what end we deſire all that we doe; whether God may be glorified in vsus by them or no: if we doe, then may we be aſſured, that our prayers are according to Gods will, & he will heare vsus ſo ſoone as it ſhall make for his glory. As for example, if we deſire life principally to this end,We muſt examine our hearts, to what end we deſire eueryevery thing. that we may ſtill prayſe God, and glorifie his name, both in our calling, and as we be Chriſtians, as Dauid and Hezekiah did: and whether we deſire children, that they might be inſtruments of Gods glory in this world, to ſerue him in the Church or common wealth, as Hannah did: and whether we deſire wealth and credit, that we might be the more fit to do good vntounto others, and to ſet forth the prayſe of God by our almes, and good deeds, as Iob, Iob. 31.16. Act. 9.36.and Dorcas did: and to be ſhort, all other gifts of bodie to this end eſpecially, as Solomon did aske wiſedome for that cauſe: and Queene Heſter did put on her royall apparrell,Hest. 5.1. and dreſt vp her ſelfe well, that ſo in the preſence of the king ſhe might find fauour in dealing for the Church of God: then may we be bould with great comfort to commend them to God, for in them wee ſeeke not our ſelues, but his glory, which is moſt deare to himſelf alſo. But for the moſt part, men in all things ſeeke themſelues onelyonly, or principally, and ſo hauehave them not as they deſire. Therefore if we lacke any thing that we hauehave deſired, and prayed for, conſider whether we did ſeeke Gods glory in it, or our owne benefit; if we had reſpect to our ſelues, then no maruaile if we did want it, that we might learne to reforme our deſires. For though God giueth vntounto men, that ſeeke only themſelues, as he doth to the wicked, yea vntounto the bruit beaſts, becauſe he is goodneſſe it ſelfe, and would hereby draw all men vntounto him; yet how much more would he doe it, if men did ſeeke his glory therein? For though a maſter will giuegive his ſeruant that, which is for his owne profit onelyonly; yet he will graunt him that ſuit eſpecially, which ſhall make for the credit of his maſter, and whereby he may doe him the better ſeruice: moſt of all, when he ſeeth that he ſeeketh for it in that reſpect principally: ſo will the Lord deale with all his faithful ſeruants much more, giuegive them (I ſay) that ſometimes wherein they reſpect themſelues onelyonly, but moſt of all that whereby they deſire to be furthered in his ſeruice, and to glorifie his name, a great deale more.
That we may reioyce in thy ſaluation, &c. As he hath in theſe words noted what was the end of their deſires, beforehand; ſo alſo what ſhould be the fruit of them afterwards, and what they would doe for them; namely, Reioyce in this great benefit beſtowed vponupon them, and prayſe his name for it. And this ſhould be the fruit of all Gods benefits vponupon vsus,The fruit of all Gods benefits in vsus, ſhould be the prayſe of his name. both publike and priuat: that as he by them offereth vsus occaſion of praiſing him, ſo wee ſhould doe it for them; as wee ſee in the next Pſalme this people do, according to that that they profeſſe here. And truely then doe we rightly profit by all Gods benefits, when we giuegive him that prayſe for them, that is due vntounto him: and when we ſo vſe them, and ſpeake of them, as God the authour of them, may be honoured. For to this end God giueth all, and this is all that we can doe for all, To prayſe him in heart, word and life: therefore if we doe not this, all is loſt vponupon vsus. And eueryevery one as he receiueth more from God, ſo is he bound to this the more, to ſing of them to God, that is, to praiſe his name for them; And to ſet vp their banners in his name, that is, to ſet forth his glory. So that the pooreſt that is, is bound vntounto it, for their life, health, food, and rayment, &c. & other common benefits that they inioy: for whē they hauehave leaſt, they hauehave more than they hauehave deſerued. But the rich are bound vntounto it a great deale more, by how much they goe beyond others in Gods benefits; for he did owe them nothing, and he might hauehave made them like others: yea and he can ſo do when he will;Daniel 4.30. as he dealt with Nebuchadnezzar, whom of a proud king he made a vile beaſt. And this is ſo proper vntounto all the benefits of God, that where he ſpeaketh of many of them, he beginneth and endeth the Pſalme thus, My ſoule prayſe thou the Lord. And in another,Pſal. 103. Pſal. 40 3. ſpeaking of a new benefit that God had beſtowed on him, he ſaith, Thou hast put a new ſong of prayſe into my mouth: ſhewing what we ſhould doe when God bleſſeth vsus, for eueryevery benefit giuegive him new praiſes. And in another Pſalme praying for the forgiueneſſe of his ſinne, he ſaith, Open thou my lips O Lord, Pſal. 51.15.and my mouth ſhall ſhew foorth thy prayſe: as if he had ſayd, If God ſhall beſtow this benefit vponupon me, then I will praiſe him for it.
As we ſhould doe thus for all Gods benefits,We ſhould more ſpecially praiſe God for thoſe benefits, which we hauehave asked of him. ſo moſt of all for thoſe, which we hauehave asked of him: as they ſay here; When he ſhall fulfill all thy petitions: they had prayed before, that God would heare them, and now they promiſe this, That they will ſet vp their banners in his name. And there is great reaſon of this, for beſides the benefits that we receiue, which deſerue prayſe, we hauehave thereby experience of the goodneſſe of God in hearing our praiers. Thus we read in the Goſpell, that when ten leapers were cleanſed, all of them hauing begged it of Chriſt before, ſaying, Ieſus maſter hauehave merciemercy vponupon vsus; Luke 17.17.but one returned to giuegive thankes: and Chriſt asketh for the other nine, and ſo ſheweth what was their dutie alſo, namely, that as they had asked this benefit with him, ſo they ſhould hauehave returned with him to giuegive thankes. And to this end is it ſayd ſo often in the Pſalme, where he ſheweth how in ſundry afflictions men crie vntounto God, and he heareth them, and deliuereth them:Pſal. 107.8.15.21.31. Let them therefore confeſse before the Lord, his louing kindneſse, and his wonderfull works before the ſonnes of men: where he exhorteth all to praiſe God for thoſe benefits which hee hath beſtowed vponupon them at their prayers. But indeed this doctrine is ſo well knowne, that it needeth no great proofe, there is none ſo ignorant or ſo vnthankefull, that will denie it: onelyonly we had need to examine our ſelues, how we doe practiſe it: whether we hauehave endeuoured to praiſe God for all his benefits, and eſpecially for thoſe that we hauehave moſt deſired: & when we hauehave had thē, whether we hauehave ben any whit the more carefull to ſet forth the prayſe of God for them, than before. Now if we find by this triall, that the more that God hath giuē vsus, the more we hauehave glorified him; then may we hauehave comfort and hope of the continuance of them: but if in the abundance of all Gods benefits,Let vsus examin whether as Gods benefits encreaſe, ſo we ſet foorth his glory the more we take our eaſe, and ſet out our ſelues to the world, and grow more proud, and be leſſe carefull to glorifie God (as moſt commonly it falleth out;) then we prouoke God to take them away, or to puniſh vsus in them. Therefore let eueryevery one conſider, what good he doth with all that he hath, and how by Gods bleſsings (as wealth and ſuch like) not his owne name is aduaunced, but what good he hath done ſince for the ſeruice and glory of God. If he ſee they goe together, the increaſe of Gods benefits vponupon him, and the increaſe of Gods glory in him, it is well, and he hath cauſe to reioyce: but if the one increaſe greatly, and the other decay, or ſtand at a ſtay, then it is the next way to looſe all. As we are taught in the parable of the Talents,Matth. 25.24. he that hid that one that he had, in a napkin, and did no good with it, nor vſe it to his maſters aduantage, it was taken from him, and he is called an euill and vnprofitable ſeruant: So all are vnprofitable, that in their ſeuerall callings vſe not that which God giueth them, to his glory: and this ſhalbe the end of them, That all that they hauehave ſhall be taken from them, and they ſhall hauehave their portion with the wicked.
That we may reioyce, &c. As they hauehave deſired helpe of God for the glory of his name, and promiſed to prayſe him for it; ſo more particularly they ſay, that they ſhall reioyce in the ſaluation of the king:They pray for this benefit, that they might reioice namely, if God would helpe him out of the hands of his enemies, and giuegive him victorie ouer them. For in the preſeruation of the king, was the good of the whole Church, and common wealth; therefore if he did well they ſhould reioice, and in his hurt and loſſe was the loſſe of them all, and ſo they ſhould hauehave cauſe to ſorrow. Therfore they vſe this alſo as a reaſon to perſuade the Lord to hear them, That wheras now they were doubtfull or rather in great feare, he by the victorie would giuegive them cauſe to reioice. And though they ſhew whereunto their ioy ſhould tend, namely to the prayſe of God, ſinging vntounto him of his ſaluation, and ſetting vp their banners in his name; yet they exclude not this, but rather include it, namely, the common ioy of all the people, and of the whole Church of God. So that we may lawfully deſire of God ſuch things as we want, to this end, euen that we might reioyce: and this one thing is ſufficient to moue the Lord to giuegive them; euen that thereby we might hauehave cauſe to reioyce: as we muſt confeſſe, that then we ſhal hauehave cauſe ſo to doe. For beſides the comfort of the thing that he giueth, which may cleere vp the outward and inward man: the inuiſible things alſo of God are to be ſeene in his creatures and benefites, as his wiſedome, power,Rom. 1.20. goodneſſe, and merciemercy, &c. and ſo in the ſight and feeling of the ſame, we may reioyce much more: eſpecially, when we hauehave prayed to God for them, we may reioyce, that God hath heard our prayers. And ſo we may deſire God to heare vsus, that ſo, not onelyonly for his benefits, but for his goodneſſe towards vsus in them, and eſpecially in hearing our prayers for them, we may reioyce.God is willing to bleſſe his people, that they might reioice. Behold then I pray you the wonderfull goodneſſe of our God, who deſireth our ioy and comfort, and giueth vsus things to that end, that we might reioyce, and would hauehave vsus aske them of him to that end, as this people doth here. For as among men this often moueth them to heare vsus, that we profeſſe to them, and they ſee it alſo, that if they ſhall doe ſo and ſo for vsus, we ſhall hauehave great caſe to reioyce and be glad: and whereas now wee for the want of it are in heauineſſe and ſorrow, this will cheere vp our hearts. And this is ſufficient to moue them that are of any good diſpoſition, that in doing for them that are in need, we ſee that we ſhall make them and theirs right glad: and the poore when they ſue to them, they vſe this as a reaſon, and it is accepted. Then may we vrge this vntounto the Lord much more, and we may be aſſured, that it will moue him.
As parents are willing to doe good to their children to that end.For ſo good is the Lord to all that are his, that he delighteth not in their ſorow and griefe, no more than parents doe in the griefe of their children: nay a great deale leſſe, by how much his louelove infinitely without all degree of compariſon exceedeth the naturall louelove of the moſt tender parents. Therefore as they are willing to doe any thing for them, when they ſee their children ſad and heauie, to cheere them vp; and the very bowels of the mother yearneth vponupon them, to bring them out of their heauineſſe; ſo doth the Lord God, of his infit compaſsion, in whom that is ſea-full, whereof we hauehave but one drop. And we may deſire of him our comfort, and the meanes of our comfort, and therefore pray that he would giuegive vsus this, and that, according to our particular need, euen that we might reioyce: whereas now and and without them we are full of griefe. Therefore if a man be in feare of ſome trouble (as theſe were of enemies) which maketh him ſad, at the leaſt he cannot reioyce, as he would: he may pray to God (as theſe doe) and ſay, O Lord heare mee and helpe me, And we may pray God to helpe vsus to that end. Iohn 16.21.that I may reioyce: now I am heauie and hauehave no ioy, bat if I were out of this feare, then ſhould I reioyce: O Lord make me to reioyce. A woman in trauaile, (as Chriſt ſaith in the Goſpel) when her paines are on her, is in great heauineſſe; but ſoone after all is forgotten, for ioy that a manchild is borne. And he compareth the afflictions of the Church generally, & of eueryevery one particularly, vntounto them.Heb. 12.11. Now becauſe, as the Apoſtle ſaith, no affliction for the time preſent is ioyous but grieuous, but after the fruit of it, is ioyous to them that are exerciſed therein, and their deliuerance alſo. Therfore as a woman in her trauaile may pray to God, Lord make an end of my paines, and deliuer me, that I may reioyce: ſo may all thoſe that are in any diſtreſſe pray for deliuerance out of their aduerſitie, that they might reioyce; and God in his good time will giuegive them cauſe of ioy. For (as the prophet ſaith) ioy is ſowen for the righteous, Pſal. 97.11.and gladneſſe for them that are vpright in heart: and therefore if they tarie the time they ſhall reape it:Pſal. 126.5. for they that ſow in teares, ſhall reape in ioy: as it is ſaid of the Iſraelites when they were caried captiues into Babylon, They went weeping and caried pretious ſeed, but they did returne with ioy, and brought their ſheaues with thm.
Beſides, if any be in ſorrow and griefe for their ſinne,As when we are grieued for our ſinnes: that by the forgiueneſſe of them he mould make vsus glad. 22. 1, 2. Pſal. 32.3.4. Pſal. 6.6.7. or for the want of the feeling of Gods fauour, they may pray to God to giuegive them their hearts deſire, that they may reioyce: and ſay, now there is nothing but heauineſſe in me, but if God would aſſure me of his fauour, how ſhould I reioyce. As Dauid complaineth that he roared out night and day, the hand of God was ſo heauie vponupon him, and that his handes were wringing wet with the teares of his eyes, & that he watered his couch with teares, and that he mingled his drinke with his teares, and that his eyes were ſunke into his head with griefe, yea that his eyeſight fayled him; and many ſuch grieuous complaints he vttereth: but if God would forgiue him his ſinne, and aſſure him of his fauour, then he ſhould reioyce exceedingly. As he ſaith,Pſal. 4.6. Lord lift vp the light of thy countenance vponupon me, and I ſhall hauehave more ioy than if I had all the goods in the world. So in another place, when he was troubled for his ſinne, he prayeth to God to forgiue him, that he might reioyce, HaueHave merciemercy vponupon me O God, Pſal. 51.1.according to thy louing kindneſſe, according to the multitude of thy compaſsions put away mine iniquities, waſh me throughly, &c. VVhere we ſee how vncomfortably he beginneth, and how hee confeſſeth his ſinnes with great griefe, and prayeth earneſtly for the forgiueneſſe of them: and what reaſon vſeth hee to him? this one, euen that he might reioyce.Verſ. 8. For he ſaith, Make me to hauehave ioy and gladneſſe, that the bones which thou hast broken may reioyce: that is, that I may reioyce, who am now wounded in my mind with the conſcience of my ſinnes, and for fear of thoſe iudgements, which thou by thy ſeruant haſt denounced againſt me.Verſ. 12. And a little after, Restore me to the ioyes of thy ſaluation: where he deſireth, that he might hauehave that ioy in his ſaluation, that he had before. Thus in all griefe of mind, eſpecially for our ſinnes, or for any iudgement of God vponupon vsus, or like to befall vsus, wee may pray, That God would be mercifull vntounto vsus,To this end we may pray, that God would remoue this plague. that we might reioyce. As now this great mortality eueryevery where hath been the cauſe of much ſorrow; to ſome for the great loſſe of their friends, and to others for feare of that that might befall them and theirs: and none can reioyce any where in this time of heauineſſe, as before. Now we may pray to God that he would make an happie and a ſpeedie end of it, not onelyonly for the glory of his name, but for the ioy of his ſeruants: that they who a long time hauehave ben in heauineſſe, might now at the laſt be comforted, & reioice. And no doubt as this wold be a matter of exceeding great ioy to the greateſt part of this land, ſo in that reſpect let vsus not ceaſe praying vntounto God, that we might reioyce in his ſaluation, that is, in that health that he ſhould beſtow vponupon vsus, and the reſt of his people. And let vsus doe it the rather,Pſa. 30.5. becauſe he hath promiſed, That though heauineſse bee in the euening, yet ioy ſhall come in his morning: that is, in his moſt bleſſed time, which let vsus wait vponupon him for.
For it is ſaid of the people of God, in Aegypt, That God did certainely ſee their trouble,Exod. 3.7. and knew their ſorrowes, and heard their crie, and ſo was come to deliuer them: ſhewing that he would hauehave them in ſorrow no longer: and ſo it appeared in the end, that they went out with great ioy,That our brethren in all places might reioyce. loaden with the ſpoyle of the Aegyptians. So we may be ſure, that he is not ignorant of the trouble and ſorrow that many in this land a long time hauehave been in, and he hath heard the cries that they hauehave beene driuen to make: let vsus beſeech him for them, that it would pleaſe him in his good time to deliuer them from it, and from the cauſe of it: eſpecially, ſeeing he is ſo mercifull, that it is truly ſaid of him,Pſal. 103.9. He will not alway chide, nor keepe his anger for euer. And as in the dayes of Hester it is written,Heſt. 3.15. Chap. 4.3. That not only the chiefe citie Shuſhan was in great perplexitie; but in eueryevery place whether the kings commiſsion came, there was great ſorrow among the Iewes, and faſting, and weeping, and mourning, and many lay in ſackcloth and aſhes: but they all prayed vntounto God, and he deliuered them, and ſaued them from their enemies, Chap. 9.17.and turned the dayes of famine into the daies of feaſting and ioy. So let vsus giuegive our ſelues vntounto continuall prayer, that the Lord may be entreated of vsus at the laſt, and ſo in his appointed time it may come to paſſe, that whereas many of the chiefe cities and townes amongſt vsus hauehave beene a long time in great perplexitie, by reaſon of this grieuous peſtilence and contagious mortalititie, and in all places of this realme beſides, whither tidings of their eſtate hath and doth weekely come, they hauehave been in ſorrow and great heauineſſe, and in weeping and mourning, and faſting: now there may be cauſe of reioyſing and prayſing God, and theſe dayes of ſorrow and faſting may bee turned into the dayes of great ioy and feaſting. That ſo we may (as this people wiſh for themſelues here) reioyce, when he ſhall fulfill all our petitions. VVhichWhich the Lord of his infinit merciemercy graunt, for Ieſus Chriſts ſake. Amen.