The True Soldiers Convoy, Text
The true Souldiers Convoy.
A Sermon preached upon the xvjth. day of May 1640, vponupon a prayer day, for the Princes good ſucceſſe in going forth to warre.
By WILLIAM BRIDGE.
Thou haſt broken Rahab in pieces as one that is ſlaine, thou haſt ſcattered thine enemies with thy ſtrong arme. Pſal. 19. 10.
IN ROTTERDAM.
Printed for Thomas Lippagde and are to be ſold at his houſe on the Iron Bridge, 1646.
To the Reader.
REader; out of deſire to the good of Gods people, and in reſpect of theſe trouble-ſome times, it was thought not altogether unfit by ſome friends, to print theſe few notes, in reading of which thou art deſired not to expect much compleatnes of dependency or ſtile, as not being ordered to the preſſe by the author himſelfe, but by a very weake hand: whatſoeuer therfore thou shalt find herein profitable, that improue: if any thing otherwiſe, that couer by Chriſtian louelove and the God of louelove be with thee Amen.
Numbers cha: 10. the middle of the 35 verſe.
Riſe up O Lord and let thine enemies be ſcattered.
THis chap. delivereth it ſelfe into foure parts.
In the Firſt part the Author ſpeaketh of the ſilver Trumpets and of the matter and uſe of them.
Secondly he ſheweth the march of the children of Iſrael under their ſeuerall ſtandards.
Thirdly he ſpeaketh of a conference had betweene Moſes and Hobab verſ. 29.
Fourthly you hauehave Moſes prayer: And they departed from the mount verſ. 33. and the Arke of the couenant of the Lord went before them in the three dayes iourney, &c: And it came to paſſe when the Arke ſet forward, that Moſes ſaide, Riſe up O Lord and let thine enemies be ſcattered, when they remoued ſtill they prayed, when they ſett forth with their army, they uſed thoſe words: Ariſe O Lord & let thine enemies be ſcattered: when they returned with their army at the latter end of the yeere, or at any time, they ſaide, Returne O Lord unto the many thouſands of Iſrael.
You hauehave here their going forth, ariſe O Lord &c & it is as if hee had ſayd thus: O Lord thou haſt promiſed thy preſence to thy people and therefore thou haſt giuen them thine Arke, the outward ſigne of thy preſence, now we are to goe forth to warre, and that is a dangerous worke, oh let us not goe alone without thee, but let us hauehave thy preſence, wherefore ariſe O Lord and let thine enemies be ſcattered; He doth not ſay thus, O Lord we entreate thee, giuegive us good munition or good prouiſion, or (that which the world calleth the nerues of wa…re) giuegive us money, but as if he would ſhew that Gods preſence is moſt deſireable to an army, & that Gods preſēce is their munition and proviſion and containeth all things, he ſaith Ariſe O Lord &c.
Theſe words containe ſome thing implyed, and ſomething expreſſed: implied two things.
Firſt that God hath enemies, that ſeems to be granted.
Secondly that God ſleepeth to his enemies, therefore hee ſaith ariſe, theſe implied: expreſſed three things.
Firſt the matter of the petition, and that is that God would ariſe.
Secondly the effect of Gods riſing, that his enemies may be ſcattered.
Thirdly the occaſion of this petition, that is their going forth to warre: from theſe wordes, then Moſes ſaid Accordingly there are f…ue notes or obſeruations that I intend (God willing) to run through at thi… time.
Obſ. 1 Firſt that God himſelfe hath many enemies.
Obſ. 2 Secondly as God hath enemies, ſoe ſometime he ſleepeth to all their enmitie.
Obſ. 3 Thirdly though God ſleepeth and they worke, yet there is a time when they ſhall be ſcattered, and when God ariſeth, they are ſcattered.
Obſ. 4 Fourthly our prayers awaken God.
Obſ. 5 Fiftly, when the people of the land goe forth to warre, Gods people ſhould go forth to prayer
Obſ. 1 Firſt, God himſelfe hath many enemies, Let none wonder at this, nay rather wonder that God hath any friendes in the world it is ſo wicked, the Scripture is full for it, in that Pſal. 8: verſ. 2. Out of the mouthes of babes and ſucklings haſt thou ordained ſtrength becauſe of thine enemies. Pſal 37. 20. But the wicked ſhall periſh and the enemies of the Lord ſhall be as the fat… of lambes. Pſal. 74. 4. Thine enemies roare, &c. Ye know the Pſal. For loe thine …nemies O Lord, for loe thine enemies.Pſ. 9…. 9
Reaſ. 1 Rea 1. Thoſe that a…e in league and covenant one with another, hauehave common friends & common enemies. Gods children are in covenant with God, and therefore they having enemies, God hath enemies,
Reaſ 2 2 There is a ſpecial contrariety betweene God & the world, the flesh luſteth againſt the ſpirit and the ſpirit against th… Gal. 5. 17.flesh, for they are contrarie: take but this one inſtance in this matter of contrariety, to ſee how contrary God and the godly are to the Deuill and the wicked. Let a thing be never ſo bad, God and the godly will turne it to good and Gods honour: Let a thing be never ſoe good, the Deuill and wicked men will turne it to bad and Gods diſhonour: now enmity being nothing els but enlivened contrariety, and there being ſuch a contrariety betweene God and the world, it cannot be but that God ſhould hauehave many enemies, Reaſ 3 3. That which maketh a thing ſo, is more ſo, if a man loath a beaker or veſſell becauſe phiſick hath been in it, he loatheth the phiſick much more, and if the world hate the godly becauſe they are godly, then they hate God much more, now the godly hauehave many enemies and that for this reaſon becauſe they are godly, therefore God himſelfe hath more.
Rea. 4 Further when two are at a great diſtance and neither doe yeeld, buckle nor comply to, or with one another, there muſt needes be a greate enmity: now ſaith our Sauiour Chriſt you cannot louelove God and Mammon, you muſt louelove the one and hate the other, God will hauehave no complying: and for this reaſon the Senate of Rome, as the Hiſtorians giuegive it, would not acknowledg Jeſus Chriſt to be a God, becauſe he is ſuch a one, (ſaid they) as if we acknowledg him to be God, he will not let us acknowledge other Gods, other Gods will comply & be content we ſhall acknowledg others alſo, but for this Chriſt, if we acknowledge him we muſt acknowledge none other, now God is very incomplying in all his wayes therefore certainly God himſelfe muſt needs hauehave many enemies; & very deadly: Vſe. Hence we may ſee that it is no ſtrange and new thing for us that are the people of God to meete with enemies: why should we be diſcouraged though we meete with enemies? Are we better then our Lord and Maiſter? shall God himſelfe hauehave many enemies, and shall we thinke to hauehave none? It was Inimices habeothe complainte of a heathen man, I hauehave enemies, his friend ſtanding by gaue him this anſwere, but that …s worſe that thou haſt no friēds, though ſed pejus eſt quod amicos non habes.a man hauehave many enemies, yet if he hath ſome faithfull friends he may comfort himſelfe thus, though I hauehave moſt bitter and vile enemies, yet I hauehave as faſt & ſure friends: ſo that here is a further argument to shore up our unbeleeuing harts God himſelfe hath many enemies.
Obje. But my enemies are ſuch as doe pretend friendship:
Anſ. And truely ſoe are Gods enemies ſuch as doe pretend louelove. I pray you tell mee, I put it to your owne hearts: who are thoſe that doe pretend more louelove to God then the breakers of the ſecond commandement, that doe make images? and wherefore doe they ſoe: Say they we will hauehave an image of Chriſt, whereſoeuer we become, that we may always be put in mind of Chriſt, what a mighty pretence of louelove is here, & yet the breakers of the ſecond commandement are ſaide to be haters of God: it is not ſaide ſoe of the breakers of any of the other commandements that they are haters of God, but of thoſe that breake the ſecond commandement: viſiting the iniquity of the fathers vponupon the children unto the third & fourth generation of them that hate mee: ſoe that though they pretend moſt louelove yet they are the moſt haters.
Obje. 2 But for my enemies the Lord knoweth I hauehave done them no wrong but good:
Anſ. Anſ. I pray you hath not God done good unto his enemies? God hath many enemies? and what hurt hath God done them? HaueHave you enemies? God hath ſoe: HaueHave you many enemies? God hath ſoe: HaueHave you many falſe enemies God hath ſoe: remember this doctrine, God himſelfe hath many enemies: the ſecond obſeruation is,
Obſ. 2 As the Lord hath many enemies, ſoe he is pleaſed for a time to ſleepe un… his enemies: he ſleepeth, therefore it is ſaide here ariſe: ariſing is oppoſed to ſleeping, Lord why ſleepeſt Pſ. 44. 23.thou? but what is that? not that we should underſtand it literally, for ſo the Prophet derided Baals Prieſts; cry aloud it may be your God 1. King 1…. 27.ſleepeth: but underſtand it metaphorically: A man is ſaide to be a ſleepe when he is ſo intenſe about one buſines that hee doth not regard another, that buſines which hee doth not meddle with he is ſaide to be a ſleepe to: ſoe now when God shall hauehave many enemies, and they shall blaſpheme his name and reuile his people, and hinder his ordinances: and God shall be deafe to all their blaſphemies reuilings, and all their wickedneſſe when they shall perſiſt in evill and bring their …cked deviſes to paſſe, and yet God shalbe as it were blinde to all their dealings, then God ſleepeth to the enmity of his enemies: would you know the reaſons?
Reaſ. 1 Firſt of all, it may be the enemies are not yet great enough for God to contend with: the Eagle doth not hunt after flies, and a lyon doth not harneſſe himſelfe to battaile againſt a poore worme: it may be the malice of the enemy is not yet great enough, & ſoe is not a ſitt object for the greate indignation of the greate God, and therefore God ſuffereth them, to go on that it might be a greater and a more full object to beare his indignation.
Reaſ. 2 Againe, therefore God ſuffereth this and ſeemeth to ſleepe for a time: becauſe his people are not provoked enough againſt their enemies, as it was with the childrē of Iſrael that went againſt Beniamin & fell before thē twice, if Iſrael had overcome them the firſt time, they would not hauehave beene ſoe provoked againſt them, to hauehave cutt them all of as they were, but being beaten by them twice: thereby they were provoked to their deſtruction, ſo God ſuffereth his enemies to prevaile and ſleepeth to the caſe of his people for a time, becauſe the harts of his people are not ſtirred enough againſt their enemies to cutt them of fully when that is done then God awaketh.
Reaſ. 3 Again ſomtimes God ſleepeth becauſe his people ſleep to him, and ſay ariſe to ſomething els, They ſleep to him, It was the ſpeech of an Emperour when he was in priſon, Oh (ſaide he) when I was in my pallace, I hoped ſoe much in men that I neglected truſting in God: but now I am in priſon, I may hope leſſe in mē and truſt more in God: ſo it may bee there is a time when Gods people doe fall a ſleepe to God: hope to much in men, and not enough in God: Now ſaith the Prophet, Woe to him that Hab. 2. 19.ſaith to the ſtone ariſe, shall God ariſe to his people when they ſay to the ſtone, ariſe? Shall God ariſe for his people when they ſit downe, and riſe not up themſelues? Brethren faith is prayer in the coales, & prayer is faith in the flāe: now it may be mens faith doth not burne out enough, it burneth dark, they pray, but are not hot in prayer, they liue, but they do not liue out of themſelues in God enough, wherefore that God may awaken his people, he ſleepeth himſelfe.
Reaſ. 4, Fourthly, ſomtimes it is for this end, becauſe the pit of his enemies is not yet digged: conſider that 94. Pſal. 12. 13. Bleſſed is the man whome thou chaſteneſt O Lord, and teacheſt him out of thy law that thou mayeſt giuegive him reſt from the dayes of adverſity, untill the pitt be digged for the wicked, there is a time when the pitt of the wicked is digging, and all that time Gods people may be in ſuffering, God ſuffereth the wicked to run away with the baite, and doth not yet draw them, becauſe they are not full on the hooke, but when they hauehave ſwallowed the hooke, then he will draw them.
Vſe. Hence we may ſee what the reaſon is many times why there is ſo much evill in the Churches, and why the enemies preuaile ſo much, ſo long God is the ſtrength of the Churches, and our ſtrength ſleepeth ſomtimes upon all the afflictions of the Churches, we are apt to be much diſcouraged like the diſciples who whileſt our Saviour was in the ſtorme … ſleep: they came running in all haſt to him, ſaying, careſt thou not that we perish? ſo it is many times when a ſtorm ariſeth upon the Church, God ſemeth to ſleepe, and wee run in haſt to God, and are apt to charge God: Lord careſt thou not that we perish, but peace peace, he ſleepeth only, he will awake shortly, you shall ſee it, and they shall feele it, for the third point tels us that.
Obſ. 3 Though God ſeem to ſleep, & his enemies prevaile, yet there …s a time when they shall be ſcattered, and when God ariſeth they are ſcattered: there are twop arts in this doctrine, J will handle them ſeverally.
Firſt. Though the enemies of the Lord do prevaile, and God ſeemeth to ſleepe, yet there is atime when they shallbe ſcattered: In that 68. Pſal. 1. You hauehave the ſame words tha… are here: Let God ariſe, let his enemies be ſcattered, in the following part of the Pſalme, 12. verſ. it is ſaid, King sofarmies did flee apace, in the Hebrew it is they fled they fled, fled is twice, why ſoe? That is, they did flee very haſtily, and they fled moſt confuſedly, they fled alwaies, they fled, they fled, noting the greatneſſe of the flight. Reaſons:
Rea. 1 Firſt If it were not ſo how should God be honoured in the world: God is reſolved to recover his honour, his truth, and his juſtice out of the hands of the world: ſaith the Pſalmiſt He will wash his feet in the blood of the wicked, ſo that a Pſal. 58 10.man shall ſay verily there is a reward for the righteous, verily he is a God that judgeth in the earth: But did they not know it before that God ruleth in the earth? True, But men will not ſay al that for God alwaies which their hearts know; and the glut of proſperity often doth quench their knowledge, but when Gods judgements are abroad then men shall ſay (he doth not ſay godly men; but then men shall ſay) though they be but bare mē they shall ſay &c. Oh it is a ſweete time when ungodly men shall own their owne principles, and if you look into the Pſalme, you Pſ 68. 11shall find when the enemies of the Church are deſtroyed, that God hath many prechers made that doe teach his praiſes, ſaith the Pſalmiſt ver. 12. The Lord gaue the word greate was the company of thoſe that published it: Kings of armies did flee apace, and she that tarried at home devided the ſpoile. The words in the originall are very ſignificant and doe note two things: Firſt the word which you read company; in the Hebrew it is Army: great was the army of preachers; an army of Preachers is a greate matter, nay it is a great matter to hauehave ſeven or eight good preachers in a great army, but to hauehave a whole army of preachers, that is glorious: Secon. It doth note out the heartines of this preaching Army, for the word (Nephesh ſoule) is to be underſtood as in that place of Eccleſiaſtes, it is ſaid there The wordes or book of the Preacher. Eccl. 11,which being in the feminine gender doth ſuppoſe Nephesh and as if hee should ſay (as Vatablus hath it) the words or booke of him that hath a preaching ſoule or hart, or the words of a preaching ſoule or hart, ſo here where it is ſaid great is the the army of preachers, the word being in the feminine gender, it is as if he should ſay, great is the army of preaching ſoules, whoſe very hea…ts with in them shall preach of the Lords workes, now my brethren it is much to hauehave a preaching army, but if this army shall with hart & ſoule preach of Gods praiſe, O that is a bleſſed thing: yet thus shall it bee when the enemies of God shall be deſtroyed, and therefore ſeeing God will not looſe all thoſe ſermons of his owne prayſes, in due time the enemiēs of the Church shalbe ſcattered.
Rea. 2 All the plots and projects of Gods enemies ly under a curſe, now the curſe ſcattereth, and the bleffing gathereth, when God bleſſed, then the people were gathered, when God curſeth, then they are ſcattered: you know when Jacob was to bleſſe his children, in ſteade of bleſſing Levi, he ſeemeth Ge. 49. 7to pronounce a curſe upon them, that they should be ſcattered in Ifrael, ſurely it is a part of the curſe to be ſcattered, and the enemies of God and of his people are alwayes under the curſe, and (as a learned holy divine of your owne hath it) they are never prayed for, but looke as it is with ſome graſſe that groweth upon the houſe toppe, though it bee higher then that which growes in the field, yet noe man prayes for it, or noe man ſaith, the Lord bleſſe it, but the graſſe and corne that growes in the field, the men that come by ſay; there is a good crop of corne the Lord bleſſe it, ſoe though wicked men and the enemies of the Church doe perke up higher then the reſt; yet they are never under prayer, but alwayes under the curſe; and therefore no wonder though they bee ſcattered:
Rea. 3 God will lay mens wayes upon their owne heades; the fish shall be boyled in the water it lived in, and men deſtroyed by the ſame way they walked in, therefore Pſal. 59. Pſa. 59.you shall ſee how ſin is anſwered with the like punishment, the Pſalmiſt ſpeaking concerning his enemies ver. 6. 7. They returne at evening they make a noiſe like a dog and goe round about the city, behold they belch out with their mouth, ſwordes are in their lippes, that is, they revile, they jeare and ſcorn at the godly there is their ſin, now looke into the latter end of the Pſalme at the 14. verſ. you shall ſee their anſwerable punishment, And at evening they shall returne and make a noiſe like a dog, and go about the citie, let them wander up and downe for meate and grudge if they be not ſatisfyed as they went about the citie barking and making a noiſ like dogs ſo shall they go about the city howling like dogs, thus God will anſwer men in their owne kind: was not Adonibezek punished in his owne Jud. 1. 7kind? Egipt in its own kinde? And the Iewes of old in their owne now kind? this is Gods method ſtill, and therefore if you compare the 8 Rev. and 9. cha. with the 16 of the Rev. You shall ſee that the trumpets and the vialls are alike, & ſome take them to be all one; but the trumpets note out the time when the ſins are commited, and the vialls the time when the punishments are inflicted, but the evils mentioned in both are much alike, becauſe God proportioneth mens punishment to their owne ſins, now the enēies of the Church hauehave ſcatterd themſelves up & down to do miſchiefe, how are the Jeſuits & the locuſts of our time ſcattered up and downe in all places? they hauehave ſcattered Gods people and they ſcatter their owne ſinnes whereſoever they become, therefore there muſt come a ſcattering time for themſelues alſo for that is equall.
You will ſay doe wee not ſee the contrary? our eyes are witneſſes of the contrary, wee ſ…e the people of God are ſcattered, but wee doe not ſee the enemies are ſcattered.
It is true: Gods people are ſcattered, and truely it is the remainder of the curſe upon them, for which wee are to be humbled, though God provides a place for us in the world yet certainly it is ſome part of the curſe to hauehave our names changed from Iſrael to Jezreel: this is Gods way, that what …uill hee doth afterward bring upon his enemies, hee doth many times, firſt bring it upon his owne friendes, by his and their enemies, he firſt ſleepeth to them, then hee awaketh for them; but to anſwer; Gods people are often ſcattered but though they be ſcattered, yet there is much difference between their and the worlds ſcattering: The ſcattering of Gods children is turned into a bleſſing to them, the ſcattering of his enemies is a curſe and ſo it endeth, a plaine inſtance for it you hauehave in Levi, ſayeth Iacob Let them be devided Gen 29. 7.in Iacob and ſcattered in Iſrael, yet that prooued a great bleſſing, for the tribe of Levi being ſcattered among all the tribes, by that means all the tribes had preachers: ſo now it is in the ſcattering of the Saintes, though they b… ſcattered into divers places, yet they are made thereby a bleſſing to many cou…tries: hereby they carry truthes into other places; hereby they are cleanſed from their own filthineſſe, herby they learn to walk more humbly, herby they learn to dye daily to the world and outward comforts, herby they are weaned from their freinds and all naturall engagements; hereby they are made more conformable to Jeſus Chriſt, who was a ſtranger upon earth hereby they meete with many experiences, hereby they ſee many promiſes fullfilled, here by they enioy the ordinances of God in a purer manner then before, ſo that all their ſcatterings are bleſſings to them.
Though the people of God be ſcattered yet they are gathered againe. For great shall Hoſ. 1. 11.be the day of Jezreel. yet more fully Ier 23 2 3 4 Therfore thus ſaith ye Lord God of Iſrael againſt the Paſtors that feed my people, ye have ſcattered my flock & driven thē away & hauehave not viſited them, Behold J will viſit vponupon you the evill of your doing, ſaith the Lord, And J will gather the remnant of my flocke out of all countries whether I hauehave driven them, and will bring them againe to their foldes, and they shall bee f…uitfull and increaſe, and I will ſet up shephards over them which shall feed them, and they shall feare no more nor bee diſmayed, neither shall they bee lacking, ſaith the Lord. Yea they are therefore ſcattered that they may be better gathered. 34. Ezek: 11. 17. Thus ſaith the Lord God, Behold I even I will both ſearche my sheepe and ſeeke them out as a shepheard ſeeketh out his flocke in the day that hee is among his sheep that are ſcattered, thus ſaith the Lord God, behold I iudge betweene cattell and cattell, betweene the rammes and the hee goates, before their ſcattering the goates were mingled with the flock; upon their gathering, the goates were ſeparated: a good garment may be ripped into pieces, that it may be better ſewed, good is that ſpeech of Auguſtine, He that Qui tru cidat nonconſiderat quomomodo laniat, Qui curat conſiderat quomodo ſ…cat.killeth conſidereth not how he ſlasheth and rendeth, but he that cutteth to cure, conſidereth how he cutteth, or thus, Suppoſe a man be to cut two men; the one to cure him, the other to kill him, that man which he cutteth to cure, he conſidereth how he cutteth him, but he taketh no care how he ſlasheth him whom he intendeth to kill, ſo doth God deale in the cuttings and ſcatterings of his own children, and the vile world: or thus, an army you know, may be ſcattered two waies, The Souldiers when they come from their trenches, every one goeth to his hutt, and the whole army is in ſome meaſure ſcattered and devided, but in order, this is an orderly ſcattering: but when they are routed, that is another ſcattering, wherin there is no order, Gods people are ſcattered as thoſe that go to their huts, but the wicked are ſcattered otherwiſe, their ſcattering is a full routing, that is never gathered, this is the punishment of the enemies of the Church, they shall be ſcattered.
Vſe. If ſo: Hence we may ſee what a lamentable thing it is to be an enemy of God, this is the portion of all the enemies of God, they shall be ſcattered, lamentable is their condition therfore, that are Gods enemies. Brethren, God is the beſt friend, and the worſt enemy, if God be my friend, what though J hauehave many enemies? afflictions shall be all rated of in due time, as the dog is when he falleth upon a friend: if the dog fall upon a thiefe or an enemy, we let him alone, he hath leaue to worry him; when afflictions ſeaze upon Gods people, in dew time they are chidden of; but when they fall upon Gods enemies, they shall not be rated of, they they may worry them, and the venome of their teeth shall abide in them to all eternity. the text ſaith as for thoſe mine enemies &c. It is ſome griefe to be ſlaine before iuſtice, but before mercy it ſelfe, that is more grevious, it is ſome griefe to be ſlaine before thoſe that cannot help: but to hauehave help ſtand by and not help, that is moſt bitter, ſuch is Chriſt, he is our help, he is our mercifull high Prieſt, and yet he ſaith, As for thoſe mine enemies which would not that I should reign over them, bring Luke 19 27hither and ſlay them before me, oh what a ſad thing it is to be Gods enemy.
Queſt. Quest. But who are thoſe enemies?
Anſw. Anſw. You will all ſay thus, that if a man ſeeth the picture of another, and aſſoon as hee ſeeth it, hee falleth a tearing of it, and the more like the picture is to the man, the more hee teareth it: ſurely this man was an enemy to him whom the picture is like unto, ſo when men shall fall a tearing of Gods people, and therefore becauſe they are godly, are not they enemies to God?
Secondly. Conſider Pſ…l. 68. 21. ther is a plain place to shew you who are Gods enemies, ſaith the Pſalmiſt, But God shall wound the head of his enemies and the hairy Pſal. 68. 21.ſcalp of ſuch an one as goes on ſtill in his treſpaſſes. Such as go on ſtill in their treſpaſſes, are Gods enemies, there is no child of God but may and doth fall into ſin, he may …aile in his ſpeech, and in his practiſe, but it is the character 1 Ioh. 5. 19of the world to ly in wickednes. and therefore know you ſuch an one as hath been a drunkard and a drunkard ſtill, a ſwearer, eight, nine, or ten yeares ago, and a ſwearer ſtill, a Sabbath-breaker, a lyer, an adulterer a great while agoe, and ſo ſtill, that man is an enemy, and in due time the Lord will wounde the hairy ſcalpe of ſuch a ruffian, for he is an enemy.
Thirdly When men cannot endure to heare of th… well-fare, and good ſucceſſ… of the Churches, and of th… ordinances of God, that is … ſigne they are Gods enemies, … man loueth to heare good … him that he loueth, if a m… louelove God, he loueth to hea… good of God, and all that b… longeth to him, of the churches and of all the ordinances, but when men heare of good newes of the Churches, and of the ordinances, and do ſecretly grudge, repine and wish it otherwiſe, theſe are now ſecret enemies, and will be open.
Fourthly. The Scripture phraſe telleth us who are Gods enemies: ſaith the Pſalmiſt, Lord make plaine thy way before Pſ. 5. 8.my face, becauſe of mine enemies. in the Hebrew it is, Lord make plain thy way before me, becauſe of my obſervers, malicious obſervation is a ſigne of enmity, and therfore when men shall diligently obſerue, and lay waite for the haltings of Gods people, and are glad to find any thing to raiſe a ſcandall, more rejoycing at the ſcandall, then greeving for the ſin: thoſe (as beaſtes Quitan quam famelici porci immergunt ſe, in ſtercora ſanctorum et exjis delicias faciunt Luther in Gen. 9.which ſeek for the excrements of men to nuzzle in them) are Gods enemies, and God is theirs
Fiftly. Thoſe that hinder the great proceedings, that God hath in the world, are his enemies, In the reſtauration and rebuilding of the Temple, God had many enemies: Tobiah, Sanballat, and many others; how did it appeare? they did out of malice labour to make the work of God to ceaſe: ſo when men in their generations and times, shall 5 Nehem. 6. 1.maliciouſly labour to cauſe the workes of God to ceaſe, and hinder the great proceedinges, which God hath on foot in the world, theſe are enemies and none but enemies, now God is and hath been working of many great workes in the world; if any mans heart tell him that he hath thus taken up armes againſt God, let him lay down his weapons, and humble himſelfe, for God will be aboue him, God is greater, and will break him; The ſecond part of the doctrine followeth. viz.
Th…t theſe enenmies, when God ariſeth, are ſcattered; Gods riſing is the cauſe of their ſcattering.
Firſt. When God ariſeth, then all his hoſt ariſeth, when a man riſeth, then all his cloathes ariſe: when the ſubject ariſeth, all the accidents riſe; when the Prince in the Field ariſeth, all his Souldiers ariſe; when God ariſeth, then all his followers ariſe, and when they ariſe the enemies fly, and ſo are ſcattered.
Secondly Conſider but the nature of his enemies as they are deſcribed in Scripture, they are compared to waxe before the fire, though Pſ. 68. 2.waxe may lye a while there and not melt whileſt the fire is not blown up, yet when the fire flameth, the waze melteth; they are compared to the Jude. 13.waues of the Sea, that roare whileſt they are in the Sea, yet when they come to the shore, they break; they are compared to ſmoak, which though Pſa. 68. 2.it riſe like a dark cloud, yet is ſoon ſcattered and conſumed by the puffe of the wind; they are compared to vapors, Hoſ. 13 3.miſts and clouds: which though they may ſeem to threaten the earth with ſome great ſto…m, yet when the ſun ariſeth in its full heat, then are they ſcattered, ſuch waxe ſuch waues, ſuch ſmoake, ſuch vapours and miſts are the Lords enemies; ſoon therefore ſcattered when he ariſeth.
Obiect. Obiect. But though it may be eaſy (in regard of Gods power) to ſcatter the enemies of the Churches; yet when we look upon the condition of the Churches, as they are in themſelues, their deliverance is very difficult, it is an unlikly thing that the diſtreſſed Churches should be delivered as the matter now ſtandeth with them, when were the enemies of the Church more prevailing then now they are?
Anſw. Anſw. So it muſt be; what is more unlikely, then that a dead man who lieth upon the graues mouth, should be raiſed up to life, and to ſuch life as to aſcend, and go up to heaven, yet ſuch is the deliverance of the Church when it cometh; Reu. 11. 12. It was Rev. 11 12.a very unlikely thing, that Iudah should ever come out of Babilon, the Iewes did deſpaire of it, and therefore as a man that thinketh he shall never returne the way that he goeth, taketh no heed to his way, obſerveth not by what turnings, windings and marks he commeth: ſo were they in their journey and way to Babilon: wherfore ſaith Jeremy, Set thee up way markes, make Jeremy 31. 21 and 22.thee high heapes, ſet thine heart towards the high way: even the way which thou wenteſt, turne thee again oh virgin Iſrael: turn again to theſe cities &c. For the Lord hath created a new thing in the earth, A woman shall compaſse a ſtrong man: as if he should ſay thus, you think your ſeleus in a very weak and low condition, the enemy ſtrong, and you in their hands, well, but the time shall come, that a woman shall lay ſiedge to a ſtrong man: Faemina virum fortem Anguſtiabit, Pſ. 1 18.for that word read to compaſſe, in the Hebrew ſignifieth alſo to compaſſe by way of Siedge, and that word read man (in your tranſlations) ſignifieth a ſtrong man, and the ſence of all is, that thoſe which are as weak as women, shall beſet, incompaſſe and beleaguer thoſe that are ſtrong and valiant men, but we ſee no likelyhood might they ſay of this, No, it may be ſo, but ſaith God, I will do a new thing: but there is no meanes.
Anſw. It mattereth not, J will create a new thing: I that drew once the world out of nothing, will draw the deliverance of the Churches alſo out of nothing: I will be a creating God to the Churches though they be never ſo low, was it not an unlikly thing for Peter to be delivered that very night Acts 12. 5. 6.when he was to die the next day; Firſt he was in cloſe priſon, Secondly he was faſt in chaines Thirdly he was there kept with Souldiers. Fourthly he had rough keepers to keep the priſon doores. Fiftly he had to go through the firſt and ſecond watch. Laſtly he was to paſſe the i…on gate that leadeth into the citie, yet prayer conveyed him through all theſe parties of oppoſition, the Church prayeth and Peter commeth, but what is this to us? we may not expect miracles now. Anſ. yes, we even we are commanded to commit our ſoules into the hands of 1. Pet. 4. 19.God in well doing, as unto a faithfull creator: not as unto a redeemer only, but of a creator, who hath promiſed his creating ſtrength to ſupply us in our diſtreſſes, and therefore ſaith, into the hands of a faithfull creator; well then, though the afflictions of the Churches be never ſo great, let us not mourne as thoſe that are without hope, for God can do it with eaſe, and much facility: he is our creator he will do it in truth, and in much faithfulneſſe for he is our faithfull creator, into whoſe hands we are to commit our ſelues and the condition of all the Churches.
Thirdly. When God ariſeth, then God appeareth; now the enemies of God cannot endure the ſight of God; When Iohn the beloved diſciple of Chriſt (who had the honour to be truſted with the book of the Revelation) ſaw but one Angell. Rev. 22. 8. he fell downe and trembled: Rev. 2 2 8.Iohn was a good man, he had not a guilty Conſcience, yet when an Angell did but appeare: John falleth down, how shal men tremble when the great God shall appear, and they shall appeare before him in all their guiltineſſe, ſurely they will tremble and feare then, and that their feare will end in ſcattering.
uſe. Beloved we may ſee what an eaſy thing it is for God to ſcatter the enemies of the Church, though the afflictions of the Church be never ſo greate, and the condition of the Saintes be neuer ſo meane, Is it not an eaſy thing for a ſtrong man to riſe when hee is free and healthy: is it not an eaſy thing for fire to diſſolue the wax: Is it not an eaſy thing for a lion to teare the caull of a mans heart. What is more ſtrong then a lion, what more thin then the caull of a mans heart. And God hath ſaid it: I will rend the cawle of their Hoſ 13 8. Iudg. 16. 9.heart and there will I devoure them like a lion: was it not an eaſy thing for Samſon in all his ſtrength to breake thoſe cords and withs where with he was tyed, Ieſus Chriſt is our ſpirituall Samſon, and though his body the Church be bound with the withs and cords of the Philiſtims, yet he can eaſily ariſe, cracke, and breake, them in pieces, though they be never ſo ſtrong, Is it not an eaſy thing for a man to open his hand, God openeth his hand and wee are ſatisfied, Is it not an eaſy thing for a man to ſet his face againſt another? God only ſetteth his face againſt his enemies and they are ſcattered, O with what infinite facility can God helpe the church: if his ſervants had noe credit with him, or if hee could not help them but with much difficulty, there were room for our diſcouragments, …ut it is not ſo he ſpeaketh the word only, hiſſeth, ſtampeth, …iſeth and wee are helped.
vſe. 2 In the Second place Hence …ee what a neceſſity there is …hat wee should ponder, and …bſerue the workes of God; …nd the iudgments of the …ord; in theſe great volums, …ee may read much of God; when God ariſeth, then God … to bee ſeene, and ſeene e…ecially, when Gods enemies …re ſcattered, then hee ariſeth: Now there are three ſorts of …eople that are too blame …ere, as concerning the obſer…ation of the Lords workes, …nd his great iudgments, the …rſt are thoſe that the prophet …omplaines of▪ when the hand Iſa. 26 11… the Lord is lif…ed up on high …ey will not behold his Maieſ… An other are thoſe that the Pſalmiſt ſtrikes at in the 2 pſa 10 verſ: Be wiſe therefore O yee Pſ, 2.Kings verſe 12 kiſſe the ſonne leaſt hee bee angry and ye perish in the way, who ſeeing and obſeruing God fetching his ſtroke at a land or people, will not ſtand out of Gods way, and reach; the third ſorte are thoſe that degrade the workes of God and nickname them, ſaying they are none of Gods workes but workes of Satan, like the Jewes and Phariſes who when Lazarus was raiſed from the graue by a miracle would hauehave killed Lazarus out of ſpight to Chriſt, ſo theſe men when God hath wrought gloriouſly for the converſion of a poore ſinner, or the deſtruction of his vile enemies, doe what they can to put Gods worke to death, calling that hipocricy which is Gods grace, that obſtinacy which is good conſcience, and that chance which is Gods glory; But let all theſe conſider that one place in the Pſ. 28. 5. becauſe they regard not the workes of the Lord nor the operation of his hands he shall deſtroy them, and not build them up there is more in it then wee are aware of; who doth not deſire to be build vp; wherefore do many men of knowledg and learning ſtudy and take ſo much paines wearing out their flesh, but that they may be built vp in name and credit, wherefore doe you trade vp and downe the world but that you may be built up in your eſtate, and what is that which men feare more then deſtruction; deſtruction is finall ruine, now my brethren if the great workes of the Lord bee done before you and you do not obſerue th…m, you cannot be built up, and if you will not attend the operation of the Lords hands you shall be deſtroyed; Gods judgments will take hold on thoſe that will not giuegive heed to his judgments, a man may be deſtroyed for not obſerving another deſtruction, it is a fearful… iudgment to hauehave no judgement, and he hath no judgement that doth not minde th… Lords judgment, it is mad… the Character of the Saintes i… the latter times of the worl… that they are able to ſing t… ſong of Moſes the ſervant … God and the ſong of the La… ſaying, Great & marvelous a… Rev. 15 3. 4.thy workes Lord God Almighty, iuſt and true are thy waies thou King of Saintes: who shall not fear thee O Lord and glorify thy Name, for thou onelyonly art holy, for all Nations shall come and worship before thee, for thy Judgments are made manifest.
Queſti. Queſt, But ſuppoſe evill befall other men, it may bee that it falleth out by common providence, how shall I ſay that God is riſen, & to be ſeen, & ſeen ſpecially in a judgment, and when may a judgment be ſaid to come in way of a judgment.
Anſw. Anſw. Firſt when wicked men are ſnared in the workes of their own hands, then God is ſeen, and ſeene apparently Pſal. 9. 16. The Pſ. 9. 16Lord is known by the judgment hee that he executeth, the wicked is ſnared in the worke of his own hands. Higgajon Selah: there is not ſuch a clauſe again, in all the whole ſcripture that J remember, you hauehave Selah in many places, but you hauehave not thoſe two wordes Higgajon Selah in any other place: the word Higgajon commeth from the Hebrew word Hagah that ſignifieth to meditate, and Higgajon is Meditandum aliquid, a thing worth our meditation, or as much as if he should ſay, this is a matter of ſpeciall meditation, that God is to be known by the judgement that he executeth, when the wicked are ſnared in the work of their own hands, whē … therefore wicked men begi… a work againſt the people o… God, and it wheeleth abou… upon their own heades, inſomuch as they are taken and ſnared in their owne practiſes, then God is ſeen ſpecially, and known by the judgment that he excecuteth. Higgajon Selah.
Anſ. 2 Anſw. 2. Then God is ſpecially to be ſeen, when the iudgment lyeth beyond the reach of ſecond cauſes, and is greater then the ſtock of the ſecond cauſe c…n beare, Samſons ſtrength was a judgment to the Philiſtines, How was God to be ſeen in that? yes, for Samſon was the ſtrongeſt man that ever was, yet his mother (when she was breeding him) was commanded to drink no wine, or ſtrong drink, Iudges 13. 4.nor to eat any unclean thing: (which alſo did include ſtrong meat) God would not hauehave Samſons ſtrength imputed to the ſtrength of ſecond cauſes, out of the weak came ſtrong, the ſecond cauſe was not able to bear ſo ſtrong effect, …his ſtrength was their iudgment, their vexation, their ſcourge, and this their judgment lay beyond the reach of the ſecond cauſe, therefore was God ſeen herein apparently: where there is any thing of Gods creating power, there is God plainly to be ſeen, now where the effect lieth beyond the bounds of the ſecond cauſe, Gods creating power is ſeen for to raiſe that, and therefore if in any evils, which befall the children of men, the ſtrength of the ſecond cauſe cannot reach them, there you may ſay: Oh my ſoule here is Gods judgment, Gods plague, Gods hand, h…re is God ſeen, and ſeen ſpecially, here God is riſen.
Anſw. Anſw. 3. When Gods judgments for mens ſin, do ſo find them out, as they are their owne blabs, their owne accuſers, their own condemners, and ſomtime their own executioners, then God is to be ſeen, and ſeen eſpecially: ſo with Judas, and many others it is written of Iulian the apoſtata, (who raiſed an army againſt the Perſians, in the fight he was ſt…ucken, whether with an arrow or otherwiſe J ſay not, but) being ſorely wounded, he took a handfull of his own blood, and flung it into the aire, ſaying: Viciſti Galilee, thou haſt overcome mee O Galilean: you hauehave many ſtories to this purpoſe in the book of Martirs, recorded by Maiſter Foxe: J will name but that one, of that vile wretch, who dealt ſo injuriouſly with the Martir James Abbes, who after all his baſe uſage of that good man, was taken with a ſtrang kind of Phrenzy, and cryed out Iames Abbes is ſaved and I am damned, Iames Abbes is ſaved and I am damned, and ſo died: others were not privy to all his injuries, but his owne guilt made him his own blab, ſo now when a mans ſin commeth, and areſteth him, and his heart and conſcience is upon the rack contially, he burſting out into hideous outcries, being his own accuſer, his own condemner, or his owne executioner, there God is ſeen, and ſeen apparently.
Anſw. 4 Anſw. 4. Further when the worke of the Lord is carried with ſuch a ſtrong hand, as cannot be reſiſted, there God is ſeen: I will worke, and who Jſa. 43 13shall let ſaith God.
Anſw. 5 Anſw. 5. Then a judgment commeth in way of a judgment, when it maketh way to a further judgment, as when God giveth in mercy, he giveth that he may giuegive, ſo when he ſmiteth injudgment, he ſmiteth that he may ſmite, he maketh way to his anger, when he is angry indeed, and when you ſee this: then ſay, here is God ſeene and ſeene eſpecially, now God is riſen, Bleſſed are all they that truſt in him.
Quest. But how shall we raiſe God, that he may be ſeen in the world, for the good of the Churches?
Anſw. Anſw. The next point telleth us: viz. Obſer. 4 Our prayers doe excite, raiſe, and ſtir up God to the ſcattering and deſtruction of our enemies; I will not ſpend much time in the proof of this; you all know the parable of the unjuſt judge, and you all know the promiſe of the juſt God, to heare prayer: Brethren, is God able to ſcatter his enemies? Is God mighty? Is God all ſufficient? Hath God power enough to do it? God is pleaſed to make over his power, his wiſdome; his mercy to our prayers, who doth not know what credit prayer hath in heaven, and what ſtrength in e…rth, the truth is, prayer may do any thing that is reaſonable with God; And if you aske prayer by what authority it doth all, it will shew you its commiſſion in that place: 2. Chron. 7. 1. 2 compared with 2. Chron. 6. Where God wrought a miracle, to shew that he would anſwer prayer.
Quest. Quest. But you will ſay, can any prayer do this, excite, ſtirre up and awaken God?
Anſ. 1 Anſw. 1. No; But it muſt be a crying prayer, if violence be offered to a man in his houſe, and he doth not cry for helpe, helpe commeth not in preſently, but if there be the eues in the houſe, and he putteth his head out at window, and cry murder, murder, men will breake up the dores, and come in preſently.
Anſ. 2 Anſw. 2. Beſides, they muſt be ſelfwakening prayers, that prayer will neuer waken God, that doth not waken your ſelues, and that prayer will neuer ſtirre and raiſe God, that do not ſtirre and raiſe your owne ſoules.
Thirdly It muſt be a ſelfe denying prayer, you know the caſe betwene Moſes, and Iſrael Iſrael had prouoked God, God ſayes to Moſes, that hee Exo: 32 10: 14.would conſume Iſrael, and raiſe up him, to bee a greate people. Moſes layes by all that, and he goes to God in prayer, and what arguments doth hee uſe, his prayer was but short, a…d all the arguments were fetched from God, and the covenant, remember thy covenant with Abraham, and thou art a mercifull God, ſlow to anger. &c. not a word of himſelfe, it was a ſelf-denying prayer, and was heard preſently, in prayer, thoſe arguments take moſt with God, that are from God.
Fourthly Beſides it muſt be a continued prayer: as Col: 4: 2: prayers are the Saints factors, and negotiate for them in heauen, therefore they muſt ly by it.
Fifthly it muſt be where the man abideth in Chriſt, and Chriſt in him 15. Iohn. If y… John 15abide in mee, and my words abide in you, yee shall aſke what you will, and it shall bee done unto you: he doth not ſay if you abide in an tauerne or in an alehouſe, or in ſuch a vile courſe, but If ye abide in mee, and my wordes abide in you, then ye shall aske.
Sixthly Reforming prayers are moſt preuailing Virtutes ſunt orationis fundamenta there is no energy in thoſe prayers that are not ſtrengthned with reformation, either your prayers will eat up your ſins, or elſe your ſins will make a hand of your prayers Iſai. 58. 6. Looſe the bands of wickednes Iſa. 58▪ 6.&c. Then shalt thou call and the Lord shall anſwer, thou shalt cry, and he shall ſay here am I; if thou &c. Though the leſſon be never ſo good, yet if the inſtrument be out of tune, there is no harmony, and harmonious prayer is very ſpeeding therefore.
Laſtly Jt muſt be joynt prayers, when the Church prayed, Peter was delivered. it is trve that their prayer was very urgent in it ſelfe, for according to the Originall i… is, they continued in out-ſtretched prayer, it was holding prayer, for they continued, it was ſeaſonable, for it was the night before his appointed death, yet withall the Church prayeth, and Peter commeth, one ſtring doth not make the harmony, and the word is, If two or three of you shall Mat. 18. 16.make a Symphony Mat. 18. 19 It shall be done for you: God that is overcome by none, ſuffereth Deus qui nullis contraſe ſuperari poteſt precibus ſuperatur Hieron.himſelf to be overcome by prayer, but your prayer muſt be full of himſelfe, preſſing and a cloſe leaguer, wherfore all you lie perdue, keep Centinell, or to ſpeak in Scripture phraſe Iſay 62. 6. 7. All you that are watchmen upon the wals of Ieruſalem, all the day and all the night continually, ceaſe not, ye that are mindfull of the Lord, keepe not, ye that are mindefull of the Lord, keepe not ſilence, And giuegive him no reſt, till he repaire, and untill he ſet up Ieruſalem the praiſe of the Lord.
Vſe. Vſe Will prayer do it? Will prayer raiſe God, for the ſcattering of the enemies of the Churches? J beſeech you in the name of God, let us conſider where to lay the fault, and the blame of much of that evill, which is come upon the Churches, in theſe latter times when the defeate was lately before Antwerpe there was fault laid on ſuch a man, and ſuch a man, when we conſider the afflictions of Germany, we are ready to ſay, if ſuch a King or country had ſtepped in, all this evill had been prevented, the Palatinate reſtored, and peace ſetled, but may we not rather ſay, if our prayers had ſtepped in, This word telleth us, that our prayers do awaken God, and when God is awakened, then the enemies are deſtroyed, we ſee then in truth where the fault lyeth, our prayers hauehave not come in full enough, wherefore the leſſe we hauehave prayed before, the more let us pray now, pray in your cloſets, pray in your families, pray in the aſſemblies, pray alone, pray in company, pray for all the Churches, pray for Germany, the firſt place of reformation, pray for Holland your hiding place, and in all your prayers forget not England, ſtill pray for England, take ſome motiues,
Firſt You are unnaturall, if you pray not; it is reported of Croeſus his ſonne, that hee was dumbe: and ſeeing one about to kill his father, though he had been alwaies dumb before, yet then he burſt forth into this ſpeech, what will you kill Croeſus? If you be in Chriſt, the Church of Chriſt is more to you then many Croeſuſſes; your grace doth not extinguish nature, but advance it, helpe, and not hinder, a gracious heart cannot be unnaturall though it loveth to be ſupernaturall.
Secondly It is the property of a good Chriſtian, and of true grace, to obſerue what worke God is doing, and to helpe on that worke: what God is doing in the world, and to help that on, what God is doing upon his own heart, and to helpe that on, Oh Lord ſaith the ſoule, helpe mee, I will help thee; I will put my shoulder unto thy worke, as thou art pleaſed to put thy hand to my duty; now the great work which God is doing in theſe times, is the powring out of the ſeven vials, Rev. 16. and if you look into the Rev. 5. 8. You shall finde that the ſaints prayers are their vials, help forward then Gods vials, with your viall, viall doth call for viall.
Thirdly Either good and deliverance will come unto the Churches or els it will not; if it do not, you had need pray that your hearts may be ſupported in all and ſetled, prayer is a compoſing duty, and fully ſetling, if it doe come, you had neede pray that you may hauehave the comfort of it, when it commeth, or els that you may not envy at thoſe that hauehave prayed, for it is a hard thing for one that ſtandeth Idle, not to envy at him that worketh.
Fourthly You do not louelove the Churches if you doe not pray for them: He that loveth Ieruſalem, prayeeh for the peace of Jeruſalem: Doe you louelove England? Doe you louelove Germany? Do ye louelove Holland? Doe you louelove the Churches, and your friends? He that loveth Ieruſalem, prayeth for it, and if you doe not pray for them, you hauehave no louelove to them.
Fiftly You cannot proſper if you do not pray, they shall proſper that louelove thee: how louelove thee? in praying for thee, you cannot proſper if you pray not for the Churches, will you not pray then?
Sixthly you are not Gods ſeruants, if you doe not pray for his ſervants; you are not Gods children, if you pray not for his children, if you mark that of the Pſalmiſt; it is made an act of ſervice, and a ſigne of a ſervant, to pitty the duſt and ſtones of fallen Ieruſalem: ſaith he, thy ſervants pitty the duſt therof, as if they were not ſervants that hauehave no pitty, I know you would not hauehave your livery taken from you, all things of the like nature ſympathize with one auother, if you hauehave the ſame nature with the Saintes, you shall, you will, you muſt ſympathyze with them in all conditions you cannot but pray.
Seventhly You cannot hauehave a part in the prayers of the Churches, unleſſe you pray for the Churches, think upon this argument, can you be contented to looſe your share in all the prayers of the Saintes, an action there, is better then an action in the Eaſt-India company, there ſtock is great, if your ſtock go not in, you cannot hauehave a part with them, and that is evill.
Eightly If you pray not for the Churches your own ſelfeish prayers will be bootleſſe, when a man shall pray much for his owne family, his own name, or eſtate, his owne child that lieth a dying, and will not pray for the dying Churches, this is a ſelf-ish duty, a carnall ſelfe-ish ſpirit is very loathſome in what is ſpirituall, and what are you the better for your rich cabbin, your warme cabbin, your neate cabbin, if your ship ſinke.
Ninethly Conſult with the 13 chapter of Nehemiah 1. 2. There you find it written, Neh. 13 1. 2.that the Ammonite and the Moabite should not come into the Congregation of God for ever: what was the reaſon? becauſe they met not the childrē of Iſrael with bread and with water. He that will not meet with diſtreſſed Iſrael, with ſuch reliefe as he may, is an unfit man to hauehave a name in a Church of Chriſt, and it is unfit he should come into the houſe of God for ever, wherfore as ever you deſi…e to hauehave a name in Gods houſe, pray, pray, oh now pray, you may with this bread and water meet with Iſrael, and in meting with them, you do meet with Chriſt.
Tenthly The price of the welfare peace, and good of the Churches is now riſing, Fugiantia ſequimur.the time may come it may not be purchaſed or bought in by prayer. J remembcr I hauehave read of a man that brought the booke of the Sibils unto the Emperour or King of the Romanes, and deſired a great price for thoſe books, the Emperour refuſed, he goeth away, burneth halfe the books doubled the price, and then commeth to the Emperour, and offered him them at that rate, the emperour refuſeth again, he went away, and burnt the halfe of thoſe books which were left, and doubled the price, which the Emperour conſidering, gaue him the whole money which he deſired, ſo now it may be, you may hauehave the welfare, the peace, the life of the Churches for prayer, time may come wherin though you adde to your prayer, your eſtates, to your eſtates, your liberties, to your liberties, all your welfares, and to your welfares your lives, yet you may goe without it, now it may bee had at this good rate, will you not take this good commodity whileſt it is offered to you?
Tenthly Jt may be the buſineſſe 10.of the Churches ſtayeth upon your prayer, if that midwife would come away, the woman would be delivered, Reu. 7. Foure Angels were Reu. 7.ſent out to punish the world, and after that a fift Angel is commiſſioned to go bid them hold their hand, till the ſervants of the living God are ſealed in their foreheades: Angels work muſt ſtay, till they be ſealed ſaith Hezekiah. Iſ. 37 3. This day is a day of trouble, Iſay 37 ….and of rebuke, and of blaſphemy, for the children are come to the birth, and there is not ſtrength to bring forth. So ſay I brethren, it may be the Lord your God will hear the words of all Rabſhakahs, whom the enemies of the Church hauehave employed to reproach the living God & will reproue the words, which the Lord your God hath heard, wherefore lift up your p…yer for the rem…ant that are left, God ſaid to Moſes, let me alone, but to you otherwiſe, why doe you let me alone, I ſtay for you, if you pray earneſtly, I will come quickly.
Laſtly. I put you but this diſjunction, either oh Iacob thou haſt thy brother Eſau to meet withall, or elſe thou haſt not; if not, what meaneth thy feares, If thou art to Gen. 32 24. and 33. 10. Iſa. 54 26. 17 58. 14:meet with rough Eſau, then remember what one nights ſweating in prayer did, how it firſt obtained the face of God, then of Eſau, the promiſe is made to you, Jf every promiſe is a new footſtep for prayer, wherefore you that ever prayed, pray now, nay you that never prayed, pray now, now is a praying time, and it is good pulling whileſt God is comming, begging whileſt God is giving, and hath God dealt out nothing to the Churches in theſe laſt times? Doe but obſerue which way the wheele turneth, in theſe latter dayes.
Quest Queſt. But why doe you exhort us to pray? we are here purpoſely, and come to pray.
Anſ Anſw. True, we are ſo, but we muſt pray at other times too, we are here this day to pray, that we may pray hereafter, that wee may ſet wheeles of prayer on going, prayer doth fit for prayer, but yet pray for the preſent, and ſo we come to the fift note.
Obſer. 5 When the people of the land go forth to warre, the of the Lord should go forth to prayer, when the Arke removed, then ſaid Moſes, Ariſe O Lord &c. our prayers are to lead Armies into the field. 1. Iosh. 17. ſee how the people lead forth Ioshua, According as we hearkened unto Moſes in all things, ſo will we hearken unto thee, only the Lord thy God be with thee, as he was with Moſes. you know the prayer of Aſa, Iehoshaphat, Hezekiah, and other worthies, to this purpoſe, reaſons of it, are theſe eſpecially.
Reaſ. 1 Reaſ. 1. Every buſineſſe is to be led forth by prayer, prayer is a leading duty, to all our dut…es, and the greater any buſineſſe is, the more prayer is to be made, the buſineſſe of warre is a great buſineſſe, almoſt miraculous, when I ſee an Army, methinks I ſee a company of walking Townes, it is a great matter, and will you not hauehave ſo great a buſineſſe led on by prayer.
Object. Object. But if a man hauehave a buſineſſe to do, which requireth haſt, by attending to prayer, he may looſe his buſineſſe.
Anſw. Anſw. For that purpoſe, conſider but that one place, in anſwer to this, Iosh. 5. 2. In the foregoing chapter the children of Iſrael went through Iordan and came into their enemies country, and in this verſe the Lord ſaid unto Joshua, Make thee sharpe knives, and circumciſe againe the children of Iſrael the ſecond Ioshua 5. 2.time, now upon their circumciſion they were ſore, wherfore verſ. 8. it is ſaid, They abode in their places in the camp, till they were whole. Now being come through Iordan, and lying before Iericho, among all their enemies, the natiues could not but heare that they were circumciſed, and how ſore they were, inſomuch as the children of Iſrael might hauehave objected and ſaid, Oh Lord, if we be circumciſed, we shall hinder our deſignes, weaken our ſelues, advantage our enemies, that they may fall upon us in our trenches, but as the Lord commanded, ſo did they, they were circumciſed, neither did this act of Religion hinder their buſineſſe, and therefore let none ſay, If I ſtay upon prayer, my buſineſſe will take deſpair, No no, precedent prayer will make it proſper, truſt God, and you will finde it.
Reaſ 2 Reaſ. 2. Salamon ſaith, All things are beautifull in Eccleſ. 3 1. 11.their ſeaſon: there is a time for all things: therfore a time for prayer, and though wee are to pray continually, yet there is ſomtime, wherein we are eſpecially to draw near to God; ſaith the Pſalmiſt: For this shall every one that is Pſal 32 6.godly, pray unto thee, in a time that thou maieſt be found, Grace maketh one pray, the wiſdome of grace maketh one know the occaſion, ſeaſon, and time of prayer.
Firſt Fearing times, are times of praying, ſaith the Pſalmiſt; At what time I am afraid, J will truſt in thee, and true faith ſoon worketh it ſelfe into prayer.
Secondly Tropicall uncertaine times are times of prayer: Zeph. 2. 3. Seek ye the Lord all ye meek of the earth, if ſo be that ye may be hid in the day of the Lords wrath, &c. when the world laboureth under uncertainty, then should the Saintes labour in prayer, Again the morning time is a time of prayer. Pſ. 5. 3. My voice shalt thou hear Pſ. 5 3.in the morning, O Lord in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee. There is a morning of every yeere, aſwell as a morning of every day: there is a morning to every buſineſſe, aſwell as a morning to every day; now is the yeeres morning, now is the morning of our great buſineſſe, wherefore now up in the morning of this great worke, let us direct our prayers to the Lord, and looke up, pray now my brethren, for now it is ſeaſonable.
Reaſ. Reaſ. 3 Thirdly; As the promiſe is the only hold that we hauehave on God, ſo prayer is the only ods that we hauehave of our enemy: Beloved the enemies hauehave moſt commonly the outward advantage of Gods people, look upon both, and you shall find, that outwardly they hauehave much odds, either more men, more money, or more munition, what shall weigh downe this odds but prayer? Many times prayer doth more then the whole Army, conſider Pſ. 76. 3 Pſal 76 1.There brake he the arrowes of the bow, the sheild, the ſword, and the battaile: where? In Salem, Jn Sion, He doth not verſ. 2ſay in the field, the arrowes are firſt broken in the aſſemblies by the Saintes prayers, after that in the field by the Lords Souldiers, It is ſaid of Archimeder being a Mathematician, that he did more by drawing his lines, then any other Souldier did by his valour, ſo Gods people may do more by the lines they draw, and the prayers they make, then others can do any other way, prayers are the Saintes ſcaling ladders wherewith they leap over wals, and their ſtrength whereby they break through hoſtes, you know uſually there is much diſorder in Armies; the Souldiers hauehave much evill and ſin among them, though the Souldiers be outwardly ſtrong yet many of them are inwardly weak, and prayer commeth in to gather up the weak forces, Numb. 12. 15. you may ſee how that for the ſin of one woman, the whole hoſte of Jſrael was ſtaide, and could not march on, her ſin hindred their march, shee was but one, and a woman, it may ſeem therfore ſtrang that the whole body of the Army should ſtay upon her, yet ſo it was, and they could not remooue till prayer came in: verſ. 13. Moſes cryed to the Lord ſaying, heale her now O God J beſeech thee. Then she was healed, and the people iourneyed, thus prayer ordereth the rankes, fetcheth up the weak forces; leadeth on the Army upon the enemy, and commeth in the reare, without prayer then; there is no footing, we are not fit to ſtrike till our armes be in ioynt, and prayer iointeth us, we are not fit to be exalted, till we be humbled, and prayer humbleth us, and if it be ſo, then by way of uſe.
Vſe. Vſe You may ſee what worke we hauehave to do this day, we are to lead forth this well formed Army, as you heard in the mandate, ſent unto us by the States, of a wellformed leaguer, under the command of that Noble and worthy Generall, the Prince of Orange, and mee-thinks he doth as it were put prayer in office, and ſaith, I will not be commander, prayer, shall, J will be only Lieutenant unto prayer, let prayer goe firſt, let prayer ſtrike the firſt ſtroke mee-thinkes I hear a dialogue and conference betweene him and the country, wee deſire you Sir to take the care of this great Army, wee commit it to your wiſdome, goe and proſper, but ſaith he, I dare not goe untill prayer goe, J am under prayer, giuegive mee prayer firſt, and then I will go, firſt ſmite with your prayers, and then wee will ſmite with our weapons, ſmiting prayers are now expected, and though there are divers motiues which I hauehave uſed to ſtir up your heartes, to pray for the Churches in generall, yet take three or foure more, which may hauehave ſome ſpeciall relation, unto this people and you amongſt them.
Firſt The enemies which Sicut paupe…es ſpir… tis & ſimplices ad predi candum elegit, ita aſta tos et du plices Antichriſtus ad falſitatis predicationem aſſumet. Greg mor. lib 12. cap. 5.you pray againſt are the moſt wicked enemies that God hath of all enemies thoſe are moſt wicked that are moſt crafty, the artificial ſinner is the worſt ſinner, (as the naturalized grace is the moſt gracious) ſuch are the Antichriſtian enemies of the Church, for as (Gregory obſerveth it) Ieſus Chriſt did chuſe ſimple poore men to preach the truth, ſo Antichriſt chuſeth thoſe which are crafty, ſubtill to diſperſe errors, of all enemies thoſe are moſt vile, which are moſt cruell, and thoſe are moſt cruell unto the Churches, that hauehave once made profeſſion of the truth, & proved Apoſtates, the Scripture pointeth at three eſpecially in this particular, the Devill, the Iewes, and Antichriſt, the Deuill is cruell unto mankind, he is the grand Apoſtate, the Iew is cruell unto all Chriſtians, he is a vile Apoſtate, Antichriſt is cruell to all the preſent Churches, and he is a greate Apoſtate, yea not onelyonly an Apoſtate, but Apoſtacy in the abſtract. 2. Theſſ. 2. 3. and therefore cruelty it ſelfe: in the book of the Revelation, Rome and the Antichriſtian party is called Sodome, it is called Egypt, and it is called Babilon: you know the unkindneſſe of Egypt, the cruelty of Babilon, and the vilany of Sodome vntounto Gods people, why should Rome and the antichriſtian party ſtand under all theſe names, but becauſe they are guilty of all their evils, and the worſer they are, the more hold you hauehave on them to pray againſt them, Arrius was a vile enemy to the Churches, and ver… ciuell, yet he was deſtroyed, how ſo? Hiſtorians tell us, Orationes opus fuit, non morbi, his death was the work of prayer, not of his diſeaſe, ſuch effects may your prayers hauehave, what ſtubble can ſtand before the flame of prayer, Oh that our heartes were much inflamed in this great ſervice.
Secondly conſider you are here in your poſſeſſions, in your lot, hidden when others of your brethren are not come to their lot, mark that place in the 3 Deut. Reuben, Gad, Deut. …. 18. 20.and the half tribe of Manaſſeh, were come into their lot, and inheritance, before the reſt of the Children of Iſrael, What then, should they ſit downe quietly? No, at the 18 verſ. they were not to ſit downe, but they were to paſſe over armed before their brethren, ſo God haueing provided for you, before many of your deare brethren, and his good people, you are not now to ſit downe quietly in your own lot, but to go up armed before the reſt of Gods people, and prayer is your beſt harneſſe.
Thirdly You are here on purpoſe to pray, it is the end why you are come hither, that you might hauehave liberty to pray, J am loath to ſpeak it, I would I might not, you had praying liberty denied to you, when any met together in private to pray, you know it was theirs and your reproach, this place is your Gilgall, wherin the Lord hath rowled away that reproach from you, Oh that your liberty might not degenerate into licence, you hauehave now praying liberty and if this be the thing you are come for, and now you hauehave ſuch an oppertunity, will you not improue it, if a man leaue one place of trading, that hee may ſet up his shop wirh more freedome in another, and in the ſecond place money be brought unto him, will hee refuſe to take money? this is your caſe, you could not hauehave ſo free a trade for heaven as you deſired, here you hauehave leaue to open your shops, and behold this day a praying oppertunity, which I call money, is put into your hands, will you refuſe it, Conſider you are come on purpoſe to pray.
Laſtly in all likelyhood this country shall be hidden, and you shall not looſe your prayers, I will tell you what Mr. Brightman ſaith, whoſe memory is ſweet and precious, he ſayeth, there are three ſorts of reformed churches, the firſt the German, the ſecond, the French, the Sweedish the Scottish, and Holland, the third the English, which are all different, for the English is ruled by prelates, the French, the Scotish, Swedish and Holland is turned by presbyters the German hold conſubſtantiation, and other things which other reformed Churches do not, Germany therefore he compared to Sardis, and thence foretold all the evills th…t hauehave come up on it. Holland, Swethland, Stotland, and the French he compared to Philadelphia, and ſayeth though they hauehave but a little ſtrength, and the houre of temptation shall come, and ſome shall labour to shut their doore, yet none shall shut it, it is the rather to bee conſidered, becauſe he foretold the evils that came upon Germany, and why may he not ſpeak true in this alſo, and then who would not pray for this people, ſeeing that he may not looſe his prayers? wherefore I intreat you in the Name of God, now up and be doing, ariſe; O daughter of Sion, ariſe O he…rts of the people of God that God might ariſe, and his enemies might be ſcattered, awake, awake, and now up to prayer.
Queſt. You will ſay to me we are agreed, wee muſt go to prayer, both now and at home; but what shall wee ſpeak, that God may ariſe and that his enemies may be ſcattered.
Firſt Bring forth the Lords engagements, and tell him how much hee is engaged to helpe the Churches, the Lord ſaith in his word, that Babilon shall fall, for ſtrong is that God Rev. 1… 8. Pſ 121. 4. 2 Chron 6. 34. 35that hath condemned her: the Lord ſaith, He never ſlumbreth nor ſleepeth, the Lord ſayeth in his word; If his people pray when they goe forth to warre, he will hear and maintaine their cauſe, goe and tell God; Lord thou haſt ſaid thus and thus, thou haſt ſaid thou wilt neither slumber, nor sleepe, thou haſt ſaide thou wilt maintaine thy cauſe, Oh then, ariſe O Lord, and let thine enemies be ſcattered.
In the ſecond place. Tell the Lord how long hee hath ſeemed to ſleep; and that the time appointed for the Churches deliverance is now at hand, ſaith the Pſalmiſt, Jt is Pſ. 119 126.time for thee Lord to work, for they hauehave made void thy Law, and again, HaueHave mercy upon Zion, for the time to fauour her, Pſ. 102 13. 14.yea the ſet time is come, for thy ſervants take pleaſure in her ſtones, and favour the duſt thereof: this is the reaſon why the time is come, ſo go to God and tell him; Lord thou haſt ſtood ſtill a greate while, oh now the time is come, men hauehave made void thy law; the Saintes pitty the duſt and take pleaſure in the ſto…es of the waſted churches, it is time for thee to riſe. Ariſe O Lord. &c.
Further, Tell the Lo…d that the enemies are up already abundantly, tell him that …ere long he will riſe though you do not pray; Lord if wee should never pray, woul…ſt not t…ou helpe the Churches? a…d wilt not thou ariſe a little the ſooner for our prayers? wherefore Ariſe O Lord, &c.
Laſtly Tell the Lord that all things are …w r…dy; it is an argument that God moveth us with to cōe in to him, Lord we uſe thine owne argument, Lord Ariſe all things are now ready, when the wind is good, & when the ſervants of the ship are ready, and hauehave got their ta…kling all ready, and the anchor is up, onelyonly the m…ſter is not come into the ship, they will ſend one to tell him, Sir the wind is good, your ſervants are ready, and the ship is under ſayle, we pray you come away, ſo tell the Lord that all his people are up at prayer expecting him; and all the prayers of Gods people are ſpread; and their heartes under ſayle, and nothing can be done till the Maſter come; untill God himſelfe come; come therefore O Lord; come away; Ariſe O Lord & let thine enemies be ſcattered.
After this Sermon began to be printed, ſomthing was added, the reſt was taken by Characters, whileſt it was preached.
Faults eſcaped in the Printing.
pag. 5. l. 25. read. Theſe. p. 12. l, 1. for ſo that read but p. 18. l. 6. r. flame r. p. 20. l. 5. r. are apt. & l. 12. r ſeemeth. p. 25 l 2. r. bleſſing. p. 28. l 1. r. owne p. 29. l. 5. r. contrary. & l. 21. r. be. p. 30▪ l. 4. 5. & 7. r hereby. p, 42. l 12. r. waxe, p. 45. In the margent for Pſ, 1, 18, read, Ier 31, 22, p: 58 l 5. r this p. 93. l. 9. r prayer & l. 19, r, at a window▪ p. 65. l 14. r. mee. & l. 18. r. a tauerne p; 66. l. 1 r fundamenta. p. 67. l. 17 r. you that ly p. 67, & 68, r ye that are mind. full of the Lord keepe not ſilence but once. p, 73. l. 19. r one another. l 76. in the margent r. fugientia l. 77 l. 21 r. for tenthly eleventhly. p. 79. l 18 blot out Jf p 80. l. 21. r. firſt p. 81 l 1 r people of the Lord p 84 l 24 r prayer. l. 87. l. 10 r Archimedes p 88. l 6. r. gather vp. & l. 14. r ſtrange. p 90 l 17 r our p. 91 in the margent for ſpiritis r. ſpiritus & for aſtatos r, aſtutos. p. 93. l, 6 r very & l 8 r orationis p. 93. l. 11. & 24. r orportunity. p. 96. l. 20. r for turned governed.
End of the text · William Bridge, The True Soldiers Convoy (1640)