A Brand Taken out of the Fire, Part 3

A Brand Taken out of the Fire · Part 3

p. 1The third part of the Treatise, conteining the vse of these workes.

9 All men shall see it, and declare the worke of God, and they shall vnderstand what he hath wrought.

10 But the righteous shall be glad in the Lord, and trust in him: and all that are vpright of heart shall reioyce.

WHich two verses, being the conclusion of the Psalme, doe aaHere beginneth the vse that is to he made of great Deliueran…es.lead vsus to diuers vses, which are to be made of such wonderfull Deliuerances, which the Lord performeth vntounto his seruants: all tending to expresse true thankfulnesse vntounto God for the same. The first whereof is.

All men shall see it. That is: first, whereas the eyes of men were blinded in the knowledge of God; now this wonderfull deliuerance, shall open the eies of all; not onlie bbFirst they shall open the eyes of all men.the carnall eyes of the wicked, to see God in these workes, but further also the spirituall eye of his Saints, and deerest seruants: which being much dimned and d…rkened with such clouds of ccEuen of Carnallmen.afflictions, as hauehave lien heauily vponupon them and growne hereby, euen to doubt of the eye of God, prouidence ouer them, as if he had forsaken, and vtterly reiected them: Now being deliuered, and pluckt out of the snare, the ddAnd of the Sa…nts much more, whose eye of f…th, dimmed by afflictions:eye of their faith is hereby cleared, & the eye of their iudgement more setled in the assurance eeis now cleared by this Deliuerance.of Gods protectiō And as men rauished with the strangnesse of the deliuerance, their eyes are set and fastned thervpon, that so their faith may be more strongely rooted in God, yea they doe euen feed their eyes, with the contemplation thereof, that so their faith may be nourished thereby, yea they can neuer satisfie themselues in beholding so wonderfull a mercy, that so the minde being thoroughly p. 2possessed therewith, they may neuer satisfie themselues in thankefulnesse for the same, which as it is the end and vse of all Gods mercies, euen to take vp the cup of saluation, and to giuegive thanks unto the name of the Lord, for the same. So shal we find this beholding of Gods wonderfull mercies to be a most effectuall meanes to further the same, whether we consider those aaAs remouing such temptations as do hinder it wh…ch are. Psal. 106. 7.Ps 106:7temptations that doe hinder thankefulnesse vntounto God, or such meanes as doe vsually further the accomplishment thereof. The temptations that doe hinder thankefulnesse are two: bbI want of vnderstanding what God hath done for vsus, misunderstanding in thewant of vnderstanding how God hath done for vsus, and ccnature orsecondly misunderstanding and misconstering of the benefits of God: either in the ddmeasure of the blessing Psal. 49. 20.Ps 49:20nature of thē, as if all were done of duetie, and merit, and not of free grace and mercy, or in eeVVe may be discouered not to vnderstand what God hath done for vsus by these symptomes 1. by saying wherein. 1. Mal. 4. 2. By seing only with the lest eye.Mal 4:2the measure of them, as if we knew best what was fit for vsus then God himselfe. The former is a disuse generall vntounto those that enioy great blessings: man being in honour, hath no vnderstanding, but may be compared to the beasts that perish; the other is more ^g speciall vntounto those, that thinke they hauehave best right, and make the best vse of thē (as our meritmongers & wil-worshippers of al sorts) By the one whereof wee shalbe so blinded that we cannot see how God hath done for vsus; by the other, wee shalbe peruerted, as not to knowe what wee againe are to do for God. Yf our mindes shalbe so blinded, as not vnderstand what God hath done for vsus: this disease wilbe known by these symptomes and accidents, ^h First though God hath reuealed his louelove towards vsus, euen in all the blessings, which our hearts hauehave desired, yet will wee say impudently: wherein dost thou louelove vsus? acknowledging nothing of what the Lord hath done vntounto vsus; Secondly if in some sort wee shall apprehend the goodnesse of God, yet shall we be so blinded on the right way, with the louelove of these earthly thinges as that though wee hauehave and may farther be pertakers of spirituall graces, yet shall wee account these as nothing, in respect of the comforts of this life, but with prophane Esau, resolue, what is this birthright vntounto me seeing p. 3Gen. 25. 30.Gen 25:30I die for hunger, as seeing onelyonly with the left eye into the blessings of the left hand: still shall we crie out with those Psa. 4. 6.Ps 4:6carnall beasts, who will shew vsus any good, as if there were no good but the goods of this life, as if all spirituall comforts were nothing vntounto vsus, seeing wee wanted our bellies full of these hidden treasures. A verie dangerous temptation ffThis a common disease of Carnal Ghospellers.incident to our carnall ghospellers, who measuring the Lord principally by the things of this life, are so affected and satisfied therewith that hauing these things, they take it as a sufficient pledge of Gods fauour towards them, but wanting the same, they by and by murmuer, and repine against the Lord, as if hee had at all shewed them no good. Yf therefore God giuegive them their desire as he did the Israelits concerning the body so farre as they see him, and yet send ggAnd a fearefull iudgement.leanenesse into their sou…es, not giuing them that which they see not, nor seeke after; as surely as God is not vniust; in giuing them herein more, then their hearts can desire, so they must needs be inexcusable, in that hauing asmuch, Psa. 73. 6.Ps 73:6nay more then indeede they sought for, they would not seeke yet for more of that bountifull hand, which was not wanting to giuegive, but that they wanted faith to receaue.hh3. Token of no… vnderstanding is forgotfulnes. Psa. 78. 11. Lame, 3. 23.Ps 78:11

A third token of not vnderstanding what God hath done for vsus, is our forgetfulnesse of such benefits which are dayly bestowed, certaine it is that the mercies of the Lord are renewed eueryevery morning, and yet who is there that makes vp his audite therof once in the weeke: nay may we not be iustly charged with th…s, that God is not so ready to giuegive, as we to forget, hee not so forward in bestowing, as we in burying his blessings in forgetfulnesse. And is not this to forget the goodnesse of God all one, as if wee did not vnderstand it? nay surely; we shall find it to lie more heauily vponupon vsus, in that this forgetfulnesse, both implies some apprehension of them, and therefore makes vsus more iiThe daunger thereof.inexcuseable, then if wee had not vnderstood them at al p. 4and so exposing vsus most desperately vntounto all impietie, doth thereby hasten the wrath of God vponupon vsus. Thus may wee faile in the vnderstanding of the good, that God hath done for vsus: and by meanes hereof, wee lye open to two dangerous euils: aaTwo-fold. 1. VVe shall not be able to make any good vse of the blessings we obtaine. Ierm 17. 6.the one whereof is, that not apprehending the good which we receiue, we shall not be able to make vse of any good, but as the Prophet Ieremie tels vsus, we shal be like the heath in the wildernesse, neither being able to see when any good commeth, and so not able to make any profitable vse thereof: by which meanes proouing vnprofitable seruants, we shall be subiect to bbMath. 25. 28. 2. VVe shal hauehave them taken away from vsus, & insteed of them, shalbe recompenced with Gods righteous Vengeance Esa. 26. 10.Matt 25:28Matt 25:2Isa 26:10a second iudgement, not onelyonly to hauehave such tallents taken from vsus, but in steed thereof, as the Prophet Esaiah threatneth, Seeing when merciemercy is shewed vntounto the wicked, he will not learne righteousnesse, but in the land of quitie hee will doe wickedly, and doth not consider the greatnesse of Iehouah, therefore thus saith the holy Ghost: Seeing they will not see, oh Iehouah, when thy hand is exalted to their good, therefore they shall see and bee confounded with the zeale of thy people, and the fire of thine enemies shall deuoure them.

Thus shall it befall those that will not behold the mercies of GOD, to bee stirred vp thereby to thankefull obedience for the same: if they shutte their eyes against Gods blessings, the Lord will open them with his iudgements, and they shall see in the day of Iudgement, GOD the A…enger, which will not acknowledge Pal. 94 1. Gen. 15. 2.Gen 15:2him, their great rewarde. Wouldest thou therefore auoide that sight of Gods vengeance, which shall spiritually blind thee, that so thou maiest be oppressed with the horror of it, and it shall necessarily open thine eyes, that thou maiest bee the more confounded with the sense of thine owne miserie?

Oh then ccTo preuent these euills, wee must not cease beholding of what the Lord hath done for vsus.learne to beholde the good that is present with thee: First, if Gods hand bee exalted in fauour vponupon thee, if the eye of his prouidence hath waited ouer thee for thy deliuerance, if hee hauehave not onelyonly p. 5bestowed great blessings vponupon thee, but renewed them daily vntounto thee, by preuenting and remoouing the euills which might hauehave taken them away, oh cease not againe, & againe to renew those streames of Gods mercies which he hath powred out vntounto thee, that they may lead thee to the fountaine; & so quite thee therein: Certenly as the workes of God are worthy this dutie, that they should be regarded aaand therather. Because this beholding. Psal. 11 1. 4Ps 11:1Ps 11:4so do they aboundantly herein requite the same: in that the inuisible things of God, namely his eternall power and godhead seene in the creation of the world, beeing considered in his works, bbVVill requite our paines aboundantly, as.do shew the glory of his kingdome & speake of his power. If therfore thou shalt not slightly passeouer the mercies of thy God, but shalt take a full view of them, as their worth doth require, they shall be so manye teachers, to instruct thee in the knowledge of thy God: that so thou mayest acknowledge him the cc1. Teaching vsus to know God. Rom. …. 19. Psal. 145. 8.Ps 145:8giuer of them, yea they shal further lead thee to a knowledge of thy self, that so finding thy selfe dd2. To acknowledge him the giuer of them.vnworthy of the least of Gods mercies, thou maist both be humbled in the gift, & so ee3. To acknowledge our selues vnworthy receauers.giuegive glory to the giuer, and ff4 That wee may giuegive him the glory in …asing our selues.aduanced also to greater blessings as hauing beene faithfull in the lesse. If thou shalt with a large eie, behold how great things the Lord hath done for thee, gg5. And so aduaunce our selues to further blessings. Psal. 4. 1.Ps 4:1thou shalt herein behold the greatnesse of the giuer, and so thy mouth shall confesse to saluation: Great is the Lord and worthy to be praised. And if thou shalt wisely behold what God hath done for thee, and so shalt giuegive him the hh6 Yea t…see by faith the greatest blessings 2. Pet. 1. 8. 1. Ion. 50. 1. Cor. 2. 1…. 1. Cor. 15.2 Pet 1:82 Pet 1:11 Cor 2:11 Cor 15praise that is due vntounto his name this shalbe a meanes to sharpen thine eie of faith, that so thou maist be able to see a farre of. And then behold as our Sauiour told Nathaniel, Thou shalt see greater things then these, yea such which neuer eie saw, nor yet euer entred into the heart of man: thou shalt here see by faith and hereaftet see face to face. This benefit maist thou gaine by beholding the bles sings of God. But this is not all. For if thou shalt with a single eye looke further into such mercies as God hath bestowed vponupon thee: thou shalt in the greatnesse of his goodnesse, behold thine owne iiAnd thus we shal in the greatnes of Gods mercies so apprehēd our vnworthynes as. Aba. 3. Y.vilenesse, then nearer thou p. 6approachest vntounto God in the apprehension of his merciemercy, the deeper shalt thou wade into the sense of thine owne miserie; rottennesse shall enter into thy bones, and horror shall possesse thee: That is the apprehension of Gods power and great goodnesse shall abase thee in his presence, that so thou maist find rest in the day of trouble; that so in the sense of thine owne vilenesse acknowledging thy selfe vnworthy of the least of those mercies thou hast aheady receiued, thou maist be partaker of further deliuerances. Thus shall the beholding of Gods blessing, causing thee aright to aaThus acknowledging our selues vnworthy of the Least blessings we. Luk. 76.know thy selfe by them, lead thee also to a right vnderstanding of them, namely that they are the free gifts of God and not due vntounto vsus, whereby thou shalt happily ouercome the second temptation. For now in the glasse of thine owne wretchednesse, thou shalt plainely see, that bbShal ouercome the second euill of misunderstanding the works of God.whatsoeuer thou hast, it is of the cc…. that they are not ours by merit but of srce merciemercy. Dan. 9. 7.Dan 9:7free merciemercy and bountie of thy God, thy selfe beeing so sarre from deseruing any good, as that indeed nothing is due vntounto thee, but shame, & confusion of thy selfe for euer. By which as thou shalt bee humbled in the sense of thine owne vnworthynesse, and so be both contented with that thou hast, and imploy thy Talent in feare and trembling: so shalt thou hereby reape these benefits: not only that, that which thou hast be it neuer so little ^d shal serue thy turne, yea be farre better vntounto thee then great riches of the vngodly. (so long as thou hast the vessell of a thankful heart & faithful calling to entertaine and vse the blessings, but further also whatsoeuer thou hast being by these meanes ee2. That the measure which thou hast is fitest for thee as that which God hath allotted vntounto thee. Psa. 37.Ps 37sanctified vntounto thee, it shalbe a Pledge vntounto thee of that vnchangeable louelove of GOD: who hauing bestowed these things vppon thee of his meere louelove and mercye, therefore seeing whom hee loueth. ffBy this the things thou hast being sanctified.he loueth vntounto the ende as he hath begunne the worke, so hee will perfect it in thee, gg1. Shalbe continued 2. and be Pledges of further blessings. Ioh. 13. 1. Phi 6.John 13:1and will not cease following thee with his blessings, till he hath made thee perfect in his Sonne. Behold here the singular benefit of this dutie of p. 7beholding the workes of GOD, namely, that thereby wee Shalbe prepared in some good measure to thank fulnesse.

Which if wee shall not attaine vntounto, as all hauehave not aaAs for the wicked which hauehave their eyes opened to behold these blessings.faith (to see this spiritually into them,) yet behold the wonderfull wisedome, and power of God, in making the wicked heere inexcusable, in that they shall not choose, but behold the great and gratious workes of GOD: and howsoeuer they shall say in their hearts there is no GOD: yet with their eyes, in these his workes, they shall most plainely see him. A very notable and effectuall meanes to conuince the Atheisme of the world, and such as leaues all vtterly without excuse. For though many may pretend ignorance, bbTheir ignorance and Atheisme shalbe conuinced hereby.and simplicity, that they cannot comprehend GOD in his word: yet who can say, that hee hath not seene him in his workes? what eye can bee shutte at so great a deliuerance? what eare will such fearefull iudgements euen make to tingle, as do light vponupon Traytors? Tremble therefore, oh thou Atheist, at the prouidence of GOD, who hath a way to confound thee in thine owne wisedome, and very wonderfully to condemne thee, in thine owne policies. Didst thou say in the depth of thy heart when thou laydest snares against the righteous: That no eye should see, no not the eye of GOD himselfe, Flattering thy selfe in thine owne iniquity, That the Lord is hidde in the Clouds, and cannot see, neither will the GOD of Iacob regard it? And didst thou hope hereby to escape scot-free, as deceiuing thine owne heart, That the Lord will neither doe good nor euill ccYea their secrecie in continuing of their plots shall further be confoū dea in that their wickednes shall be apparant vntounto all men. Fzech. 8. 12. psa. 84. Iob. 22. 1. Zeph. 1….Job 22:1Zeph 1Consider 3. Zeph. 5.thou vnwise that the Lord will bring his iudgements to light, that eueryevery eye may see them, and then, thou shalt see the eye of God was vponupon thee: what thou hast Done secretly the Lord will then discouer openly, that all men 2. Sam. 12,2 Sam 12may see it, and laugh at thee saying. p. 8This is the man, that tooke not God for his strength, but put his strength in his malice, and in his mischieuous policies; yea thine owne eyes shall see now, what before thou Psa. 14.Ps 14wouldest not beleeue, That the Lord careth for the righteous, but as for the wicked, them doth his righteous soule abhor: that so though thou continue thy malice against the saints, yet now thou shalt not hereafter hauehave this comfort, 1. Tim. 1. 18.1 Tim 1:18that thou didest it ignorantly, because thou hast seene that aaAnd so they shalbe without excuse. Esay 5.Isa 5God taketh their part, and therefore against this reuealed light, conuincing thine owne conscience, thou shalt hereafter appeare desperately to fight against God. Now shalt thou say no more Let him make speed, let him hasten his worke that we may see it. For thou hast seene the wonderfull iustice and merciemercy of thy God: and if this sight will not appall thee; but still thou wilt persecute: know then, that thou shalt one day bbAnd yet if they continue practising against the iust. Reue. 1Rev 1see him to thy confusion, whome ccLet them besure of vēgeance in due time. Math. 24.Matt 24thou hast now pierced in his members, when thou shalt wish the mountaines to hid thee, that thou maist not see him, and yet shalt lie naked before the eye of his iustice, by which thou shalt be pierced with eternal sorrows. Oh that we would try our selues by these things: that, seeing the beholding of the workes of God; shall condeme the Atheist, because he is not able to make a ddAs for vsus that hauehave ben partakers of this great deliuerance, let vsus take heede that the Atheist do not condemne vsus.further vse of them; whether therfore the ^c Atheist may not condemne many of vsus professors herein, who will not vouchsafe the worke of God that entertainment as he hath done? If this wonderfull deliuerance of the state and Church of God, at this time, hath so farre preuailed euen with the profanest enemies, as that they hauehave stood at a gase in the view thereof, as somtimes did the people of Israel at the Corpes of Amasa. If the very aduersaries themselues hauehave wondred at the prouidence of GOD 2. Sam. 20. 12.2 Sam 20:12in the defeating of these practises, and bin compelled to acknowledge his power therein, if they hauehave abhorred & disclaimed the same outwardly with an vtter detestation: nay if God hauehave so opened some of their eies hereby, that in the glasse of this iniquity they hauehave seene the p. 9Mistery of Popery, and so either for Feare, as sometimes Hesh. 8. 17.did the heathen vponupon a like occasion: or for conscience hauehave seene the trueth and imbrace it: Certenly these shal one day rise vp in iudgement against vsus, if we shall eyther bury in forgetfulnesse, or depraue in malice, or in enuie diminish, aa1. If wee labour not our vtmost that this worke may be s…ene.if either we shall for feare conceale, or in policie suppresse this great power of God. Nay if wee shall not be confirmed in the trueth, by such wonderfull mercies of God, if these shall not be meanes to make … detest popery and no longer to glose with it, which are thus able to turne the hearts of our enemies, let vsus looke, bb2 If we be not confirmed in the truth of religion andthat they shal depriue vsus of the benefit of this deliuerance, and reape the haru…st, which God hath sowed for vsus, well, let thus teach vsus not to come short of an Atheist, least otherwise he goe before vsus in the kingdome of heauen. If the Lord exalt his wonderfull workes vponupon vsus, let vsus be lifted vp in the name of God, to a due contemplation of them, that so beholding the merciemercy and Iustice of God in the same, our eies may be messengers vntounto the the mouth, to speake of the wonderfull workes of GOD. Certenly, if the eye hath effectually conueyed the obiect to the heart to affect it: therewith the heart (like a full vessell which cannot hold) out of it aboundant apprehension will informe the mouth, to declare vntounto others the wonderfull workes of God, and as Andrew when hee had seene his Sauiour, could not holde his peace, but hee 1. Ioh. 41.must needes goe tell Simon that he had seene the Messiah, that he also might be partaker of him, so shall the thorough view of such mercies which the Lord hath bestowed vponupon thee, open thy mouth to declare them vn to others that they also may come and see how gratious the Lord is, and together with thee, may bee partakers of his mercies. For so it followeth. And declare the worke of God.

Behold heere a second effect of great deliuerances d A second effect of great deliuerances.they shall open mens mouthes to speake thereof. And that for two endes ccIf throughly wee shall behold this admirable work it will prouoke vsus to speake thereof.both that the righteous confessing p. 10and acknowledging the worke of God, might hereby performe some parte of thankefulnesse for the same, & the reprobate being thus compelled to acknowledg the greatnesse … vayleable to thankefulnes in the Godly & to make the wicked without excuse Psal. 116. 12.Ps 116:12of Gods mercy vntounto his Church, might the more be conuinced, in that they will not be reconciled to the same, (so saith the holy Ghost) concerning the poore man that is deliuered.

They shall looke vppon him, and runne to him, and their faces shall not to ashamed, saying ^a This poore man cried and the Lord heard him, and saued him out of all his troubles, by the contemplation of Gods mercy vntounto his seruant, they shall now bee encouraged to come vntounto him, who before stood a farre of for feare of his plague, and now ioying with the redeemed of the Lord, they shall concurre with him, in acknowledging the mercies of the Lord, yea saith the spirit, bbSo doth the spirit prophesiethey shal not now be ashamed, and confounded, (as if he had beene deuoured they might hauehave had cause) but one the contrary, they shalbe confirmed in their calling Psa. 34. 6.Ps 34:6by the experience of this deliuery of his seruant, and be comforted by the same, euen in the like occasion So hauehave the Saints martyrd Psal. 58.Ps 58of their owne, that they shalbe partaker of the like mercies. So when the righteous shall see the vengaunce thus inflicted vponupon the wicked, and shall see himselfe escaped thus out of the snare, and the wicked falne, thereunto he shall say, verily, their is a reward for the righteous, Psal 34.Ps 34that is, not one, but ddAnd thereby confirmed themselues for the time to come.all, the righteous shalbe recompensed ccSo hauehave the saints practiced. Psa. 58. 9. 10.Ps 58:9Ps 58:10by the Lord, yea hee shall collect from the experience of this deliueraunce in hand, that their is a reward for the righteous yet in store, a full deliuerance out of all troubles. So with the Apostle Paul, in the like case, whē he had witnessed how the Lord had deliuered him, in the 17. ver. that he concludes in the 18. And the Lord shall deliuer mee from eueryevery euil worke, and will preserue me vntounto his heauenly kingdome. And as the righteous shall say thus for the comfort of his soule, so shall he further say, to the glory of his God, doubtlesse their is a God that Iudgeth the earth, out of 2. Tim. 4.2 Tim 4question the iudge of all the world, will doe right, in p. 11deliuering the soules of his seruants, and clothing his enemies with perpetuall shame, and confusion. Thus shall the mercies of God open the mouthes of his children aaAnd giuen glory to God.to giuegive him the glory and to comfort themselues in the meditation thereof.

And thus also shall the mouthes of bbYea the mouthes of the wicked shalbe opened also. Psa. 126. 4.Ps 126:4Atheists be opened by the same, that their mouthes may be for euer stopped, and confounded thereby at that great day, so witnesseth the spirit, concerning the deliueraunce of the Iewes out of the captiuity, that the verie Heathen spake thereof and said, the Lord had donne ccTo acknowledg the greatnes of the worke.great thinges for them, to their iust confusion, who yet refused to ioyne with them: so hauehave the Aduersaries beene compelled to confesse that the Lord hath Fought for vsus, to their greater confusion, who yet afterward would fight against God.

Nay behold here a further meanes to the confusion of the wicked. When the Lord had deliuered his seruant Daniell from the iawes of the Lyons, the sight of so wonderfull a worke did so affect that heathen Monarch, as that hee not onelyonly proclaimes the power of God, but further also enioynes by a solemne edist, that the GOD of dd2. To cōsesse God therein and prescribe worship vntounto him. Dan. 6.Dan 6Daniel shall be reuerenced, and acknowledged. and yet all this to his further condemnation, because Idolatry was yet continued, and maintayned. And so no doubt hauehave our aduersaries abroad, and enimies at home beene enforced to speake of Gods wonderfull mercies towards vsus. And yet behold a further meanes herein, for the condemnation of the wicked. When Saul obserued the admirable prouidence of God, not onelyonly in deliuering his seruant Dauid out of his hands, but in deliuering him to be a prey euen to him, that was persecuted, his mouth was further opened to his iust condemnation: loe he is inforced to iustifie the seruant of God and to condemne 1. Sam, 24. 18.himselfe. Thus said hee vntounto Dauid, thou ee3. To iustifie the Innocency of his seruants.art more righteous then …, for thou hast rendred me Good, & I hauehave rendred thee euil, oh what a cōfort is it here to the seruāts of God, p. 12that wisdome shall not onelyonly be iustified of her children, but euen of her enemies, our very aduersaries shall giuegive testimony vntounto the goodnesse of our cause, oh what a terror is this vntounto the wicked, that they shall thus desperately fight against the light of their owne consciences, that when they see that the Lord doth maintaine his owne cause, and when they hauehave beene compelled to acknowledge, that our cause is Gods, yet they shall continue their malice against so good a cause, yet they shall thus desperately fight against heauen, and prouoke the holy one of Israel to their iust confusion. And yet behold the Lord will open their mouthes further to their fearefull condemnation, euen by the gratious deliuerances that he performeth vntounto his children.

It was much that Saul should iustifie the innocencie of Dauid, wonderfull was the Lord herein, to wring from a reprobate, the approbation of his seruant, and very holy herein was the Iustice of God, in discouering this wilfull obstinacy of a cast-away, that so hee might prepare him thereby to his further condemnation. But all this while, 4. To prophecie & foretell in some sort the deliuerance of gods Children and their owne confusion. 1. Sam. 27. 2.1 Sam 27:2innocency though it were praised, yet it went a begging. Dauid might be promised a kingdome & yet was not sure of his life; Nay for the safegard of it, he is driuē to a narrow shift; euen in a sort to venture his innocency it selfe. So are Gods children to seeke of that which is theirs in hope, that God may hauehave the glory of what they do enioy, so doth the Lord prepare his, to the obtaining of a blessing, that comming vntounto it at so hard a rate, they might more highly prize it, when they shall obtaine. But did not the Lord heere giuegive his seruant some token, that hee would recompence him according to his innocency? yea surely: the Lord that opened the mouth of his enemy, to giuegive testimony vntounto the one, hee also opened the same to be a Prophet of the other. Harkē (my beloued) & wōder at the prouidence of God, I know (saith Saule) that thou shalt be King, and that the kingdome of Israel shalbe established in …. Sam. 24. 19.thy hand. Loe here Saule is amonge the Prophets to declare p. 13glad tidings to the Saints, & to speak feareful things against themselues. Harken howe the wife of Haman becomes a prophetesse vntounto her husband, of the deliuerance of the Church, and a swift witnesse of the destruction of the enemies thereof. If Mordecay (saith she) be of the seede of the Iewes, before whom thou hast begunne to fall, thou shalt not preuaile against him, but shalt surely fall before him. Marke (I pray you) the ground of this prophecye, the wicked hauehave begunne to fall before the righteous nation, some vpper hand hauehave they had against their enemies, what doth this infidell collect herevpon? surely the wicked shall fall more and more before the righteous, till at lenght the righteous shal hauehave dominion ouer them in the morning. Wouldst thou then hauehave a token that thine enemies shalbe confounded? consider then howe from time to time they hauehave fallen before thee: certēly if thou be of the seed of the Iewes, and of that royall generation, thou shalt one day hauehave all thine enemies thy footstoole. Wouldst thou hauehave a further euidence to confirme this vntounto thee? behold the Lord shall open the mouth of thine enemie to bewray their fainting spirits, that so thou maist be comforted as Gideons Souldiers were) by this testimony of thine enemies that the Lord shal giuegive them vp into thy hands, and thou shalt make a ful end of them. Oh but (thou wilt say) how can these things stand together? Saul tells VVhichWhich they do hasten by persecuting the Saints. Ioh. 12. 19.John 12:19Dauid he shall certenly be King, and yet hee continues persecuting him to take away his life from him: May not this be a policy to make him secure, that he may the more easily seaze vponupon him? I see indeed (will the weake Christian say) that God hath deliuered his church from time to time, & I heare euen the enemie giuing ouer for a time, And therefore though we may be troubled and distracted by this encrease of the wickeds rage. 1 Sam 27. 1.1 Sam 27:1as confessing with the Pharesie, Behold we preuaile nothing against him, for all the world runneth after him, and yet I see the aduersaries are in hope stil, I see they are stil practising, and plotting against the soules of the righteous what may I conceaue hereof? may I not iustly feare with Dauid, that I shall one day perish by the hand of Saul, that p. 14at length these aduersaries shall obtaine their desire against the church, and therevpon resolue rather vponupon some indirect course to corrupt my conscience, or abate of my sincerity, that so glosing with them, I might finde fauour Yet is it a certaine taken vntounto vsus that their time is but short. 12. Reu. 12.Rev 12in their sight. Oh stay here, whosoeuer thou art, that shalt be thus affected, giuegive mee the hearing a while to satisfie thee herein, Tell me I pray thee, why doth Sathan our maine aduersary so violently and incessantly persecute the Church of GOD? doth not the spirit giuegive thee the reason, because his time is short, if thou therefore seest the instruments of Satan, still to rage more fiercely against the spouse of Christ, know thou for a certenty, that their time is but short, and that thou maist not want a prophesie to confirme thee herein, consider but what their desperate practises doe speake vntounto thee. If they were not affraid to loose their kingdome, if they had not a presage in their conscience, that Christs Kingdome would one day And their d…sperate do practises prophecy vntounto vsus that they feare the losse of their kingdome. Iho. 11. 47. 48.preuaile, surely they would be still, and follow their flesh potts; they would not so persecute, and plot as they doe: they would not thus spend their goods and venture their liues, and all against the poore Church of God. Alas it is not for Christs kingdome, (what pretence soeuer they hauehave) for they hauehave said plainelie. We will not hauehave this man to raigne ouer vsus. But the trueth is to holde their own. Here is the matter, the Iewes had this Oracle from their Father the Deuill, that if they let Christ alone, the Romanes would come and take away their Kingdome, And therefore As appeareth by the like in the Iewes.they resolue that Christ must bee persecuted, his death must be the life of their vsurped power: their conscience told them that they were but vsurpers; the very life and holy conuersation of Christ, was a manifest conuiction and condemnation of them, so that VVho dealt thus against our sauio…r Christ.their conscience told them that Christ Iesus was that holy one, whom they ought to hauehave obeyed, and yet their hypocrysie replyed, if wee giuegive him honour wee shall loose ours, and so their deuilish policy concluded p. 15to their owne confusion, better one perish then our whole Kingdome goe downe, faine would they hauehave done him homage, so he would hauehave serued their turne, to Daube vp their hypocrisie, and vnderproppe their to…tering Kingdome, but yet because they saw his course to bee cleane contrary a sharpe reprouer of their hipocrisie, and a mayne beaterdowne of their carnall pompe, and vanity, To the hastening of his glory and their owne confusion. Act. 2. 22.Acts 2:22hereupon against their conscience, they followed their persuite against him: and doe you marke herein how their Father deceiued them? their practises against the sonne of God made way to his Glory, and the redemption of mankind: and so proued the occasion of the ouerthrow of So doth GOD confound the wisdome of the wise.their kingdome. So doth the Lord Confound the wisdome of the wise, and turneth their malice vponupon their owne pates. In like sort the aduersaries of the Church hauehave carried themselues. A kingdome they hauehave vsurped vponupon by the power of Sathan, and through his Subtilty and violence, Our aduersaries in like sort deale against the flock of Christ. Because it threatens the ouerthrow of their carnall, and ambitious kingdom. Dan. 2.Dan 2they hauehave seazed vponupon the Lords inheritance, and exalted themselues in the temple of God, aboue all that is called God so that a man would thinke they neede feare no downefall as hauing with Tyrus built their n…sts so high Oh but al this honour is nothing vntounto them, so long as Mordakie wil not bowe vntounto them, there is a little flocke which is a great …o… in their eye, as being founded vponupon that stone …wen out without hands, which as the Lord hath prophesied so their consciences are conuinced withall, That it shall breake in peeces whatsoeuer exalteth it selfe against God, If Mordakie would bowe to Hamon, and the VVhichWhich in deed is the true cause of al their quareles how soeuer they may pretend conscience and religion. As appeareth by their spoyling of Papists as wel as Protestants.Saints of God worship their God Mauzzim: if the corner stone would endure their hay and stubble and such like trumpery, then happily it should not bee pushed at. And yet (by your leaue) there is no trusting to them in this case, if eyther their be any Opposition against their ambition, or their hope of spoile and pillage therby, heere the goods of Papists are a like hereticall, as those of Hugunots and the most deuoted popelings soonest made their prey, p. 16so lit…le do they esteeme religion in respect of their lusts, so easily may we may perceiue the cause of all their quarrells. And yet that they may not want a visor to deceiue themselues and others religion must be the colour, & the crosse must be the standard, and the Church and Saints of God must goe downe, because they are not profitable & an aduantage vntounto them. Thus because the spouse of Christ cannot indure the wages and habite of the harlot, because there is no halting betwixt two opinions, but wee must stand for God and him alone: seeing Dagon cannot stand before the But with as good successe as the Iewes.Arke of God, and the Kingdome of Christ, will certenly confound the purple Strumpet: Therefore doeth shee band her selfe with the Kings of the earth, against the Lord, and against his annointed, & makes continual war with the Saints of God. But wil you see with what Issue? Certenly to the exceeding good & profit of the church, which is continually Watred with the blood of the Martyrs, and by these daily afflictions prepared vntounto her bridgrome: and to the hastening of their own most woeful and vnavoydable destruction. For as the blood of the Saints, on the one side, crying for vengeance hasteneth the wrath of And therefore let vsus not marvayle that the wickèd take this Course for the maintenance of their kingdom…. Math. 24. Neither let their desperate rage cast vsus downe, but rather be meanes iustly to comfort vsus …n that it is a certen token of their imminent destruction. Esa. 37. 14,Matt 24Isa 37:14god vponupon thē, so the increase of their malice adding to the measure of their sinne doth at the length bring the same to ripenesse, that so the sickle of Gods vengeance might bee put in accordingly. Maruaile not therefore if the aduersary increaseth his rage against the Saints of GOD: for wot you what? his kingdome hath receiued his deaths wound, and now the only hope is euen desperate wickednesse. And shall I now be cast downe, when I see them so desperate? No saith our Sauiour, when you see these things, then lift vp your heads, for your redemption draweth neere. I need no truer a prophet of the destruction of Popery, then to obserue how it breaketh out into desperate and most barbarous courses for the maintenance thereof: neither neede I other weapons to vphold a righteous cause, then what the malice of mine enemie shall minister vntounto me. OnelyOnly let vsus bee wise to make this vse of these weapons, as p. 17Hezakiahs did of the letters of Rabshacks, let vsus not answere these fooles according to their foolishnesse, let vsus not feare their Esay. 37. 14. Only let vsus commend the cause to God and not doubet with these enemies.Isa 37:14feare, nor fret against their mallice: but let vsus in the name of God, commend the cause vntounto God, let vsus bee sure that for his sake wee suffer these reproches, that for him it is we are appointed, as sheepe for the slaughter; let vsus not cast a way our confidence which hath so greate hope of reward, but in patience possesse our soules, reseruing vengeance for the Lord, and committing our selues in well dying into the handes of our faithfull creator, and then let vsus looke Andin due time the Lord will accomplish his worke. Hebr. 10. 37. 38Heb 10:37Heb 10:38vndoubtedly, that hee that is comming will come in the needefull time, the snare shalbe broken and wee deliuered, and our enemies shall full into the pit which they hauehave digged for vsus.

Let vsus now in a word, examine our selues by this second effect of Gods wonderful mercies, namely that all men shal declare the worke of God. We hauehave heard, how they do open the mouthes of the wicked, not onelyonly to acknowledge the greatnesse of the worke, but to giuegive testimony also vntounto the power of the workeman, yea further to approue the innocency of the saints, and lastly, to prophecy of the deliuerance of the rightrous, and their owne confusion, wee hauehave also heard; howe they doe open the mouthes of the saints, not onelyonly to cheare vp one another in the worship of GOD, and to be confirmed in the sincerity thereof: but further to acknowledge the righteous power of God, and to prophecy vntounto themselues, the continuance of Gods merciemercy, for the time to come. Uerily there is a reward for the righteous, that is the Lord hath stored vp a full recompence for them, in Psa. 58. 10.Ps 58:10that great day. Let vsus by this make triall howe our mouthes hauehave beene opened with this greate deliueraunce, Trie wee our selues how this present deliuerance hath opened our mouths.which GOD hath bestowed vponupon vsus, that so hereby wee may hauehave matter to discerne our estate: surely this worke of God hath beene so wonderfull, that if wee should bould our peace, the very stones would speake, thereof; and therefore it is to bee fea…ed, that the stones one day will rise vp in Iudgement against many, whose mouthes p. 18hauehave either beene shut vp, as being confounded therewith, or opened blasphemously to the dishonour of God: so did Some mens mouthes hauehave bene shut vp.that bloudie monster open his mouth indeed, but it was to the high dishonour of the Almightie, when he said, that it was not God but the deuill, that disclosed so desperate a treason, as thinking that God would not hinder so good a Some opened hereby to blaspheme God.worke. I pray God he hauehave not many fellowes thus desperately blinded: If any such Athiests, or Rebels, shall thus open their mouthes against heauen, for the discouery of this mischiefe, as if their God had deceiued them, and so now If they belong vntounto the liuing God that it m…y be an occasion to make them renounce their Idolatry.they will no longer stay vponupon him, I wish if they belong not vntounto the Lord, my heartie prayer is that they may bee so deceiued still, that, that God whom they will not honor in their obedience to his substitute, may be honoured in their iust confusion, from his presence for euer. If any common discourses shall be put into new matter, hereby to fill vp the newes at a Table, or else where, to get himselfe credit, Some opened in vanitie to spend time in discoursing hereof.and giuegive others contentment: I enuie him not, neither doe I forbid him, whether it be of enuie or strife, vaine glory, or vanitie, whether of pretence, sincerely that this worke be spoken of, therein I ioy, and therein I will ioy, as knowing it shall redound to Gods glory, and the good of such whom A…d yet all shall turne to Gods glory.it doth concerne. And I doe wish that all men may speake of this wonderfull worke of God, that so God may hauehave the glory in that all g…ue testimonie therevnto, and his children may hauehave the comfort in the meditations thereof.

I will not heare vndertake to scanne the policie in this case, I know secrecie is an excellent meanes to search the bottome of a mischiefe, that so in the end it may Only labour wee to sound the depth of this practise.more be discouered, and I pray GOD sanctifie it more and more, to such an end; onelyonly my hearts desire is, that the deepenesse of Sathan may be discouered, and the inmost secret of the iniquitie of his instruments may be throughly laide open, and truely searcht, from that bitter roote of will-worship, which is the ground thereof: and then I p. 19Math. 24.Matt 24doubt not but all mens mouthes will bee opened in detestation of that monster of superstition, whose foundation 1. That all mens mouthes may be open…d in destation thereofis selfe louelove, and whose practise is nothinels but an …mp…g, and abasing, of all others, to fill and exalt it selfe: and when our mouthes shalbe thus iustly opened in detestation of this ambition, then shall they bee opened also to giuegive GOD the glory for the discouery of this beast, and 2. To giuegive glory vntounto God. 3. To iustitie the saints and so to ioyne with them. Ioh. 4. 42.John 4:42to iustifie the Saints, for not worshipping the same, that so approuing of the holy ones, wee may desire to bee like vntounto them, and GOD may giuegive vsus according to our desire. And when wee hauehave felt our selues how good the Lord is: as the Samaritanes professed that they beleeued not because the woman told them, but in that they haere and 4. that now we may speake out of our owne experience & soatatine the true vnderunder standing thereof.knowe him themselues: so now wee our selues shalbe able to speake of this deliuerance, not vponupon the heare say o… apprehension of o…hers, but vponupon our owne sownd knowledge and apprehension thereof: and that this is the effect of effectuall declaring the workes of God, the holy ghost is our witnesse in that he addeth. And they shall vnderstand what he hath wrought.

It is a good effect of great workes when they shall open our eyes, to behold the same as being a good furtherance to see GOD in them, that so wee may reach the VVithout which neither to behold them.fountaine of these blessinges, but if we onelyonly see them, and proceede no further, this good, will onelyonly redownd to the Glory of GOD, who being acknowledged onelyonly of vsus, thus farre as in the sight of his worke: shalbe heerein bee Gloryfied in our iust condemnation, that hauing such a light to lead vsus to him, as that therein wee must needes acknowledge him: wee would not seeke him in a further light, wherein seeing him in the face of his sonne Christ Iesus, hee might acknowledge Nor to declare them shall further vsus.vsus also to bee his Children. And therefore the holy Ghost not content to tell vsus that all men shall see …, to acknowledge a GOD, addeth further in the second place, that they shall declare what God hath donne, p. 20signifying thereby, that the workes of God shall further preuaile in them to a more particular knowledge of God in Psal. 118. 23.Ps 118:23the same, so that they shall declare the worke of God: that is, they shall say, this is the Lords doing: & yet if onelyonly our mouthes shall be opened to see that God hath done this, and shall no further apprehend what God hath done, that so we may further say, is maruailous in our eyes, neither shall we in the worke apprehend the power of the workeman, and so come short herein of the knowledge of the Heathen, neither shal we be euer able to measure true thankfulnes accordingly: if we cānot cōprehend the greatnes of the workē: To true thankfullnes.herevpō is it that the holy Ghost hauing lead vsus from the sight of the worke, to a particular apprehension and acknowledgement of the workeman, doth now also in the But by vnderstanding the work we shalbe able to measure our thankefulnes according.third place, in the knowledge of the workeman, teach vsus to looke downe againe into the greatnesse of the worke, when he saith. And shall vnderstand what he hath wrought, signifying thereby, that when the workes of God shall open our eyes to see God in them, then also by the knowledge of God shall we attaine to the true nature and greatnesse of the worke, that so wee may returne againe vntounto God, a proportionable measure of thankes giuing for the same. Behold here a third effect of Gods wonderfull workes, as being a necessarie As hereby apprehending the goodnes of a blessing.meanes to the dutie of thankfulnesse. For neither can the affections be thoroughly inflamed with the goodnesse of a blessing, vnlesse the vnderstanding comprehend the greatnesse of it, and if we shall not comprehend how good the Lord is vntounto vsus, we shall neuer resolue to returne him good againe. By Particular knowledge. of the same. Rom. 14.Rom 14And seeing that whatsoeuer is not of faith is sinne, and it is not a generall and confused knowledge, but a distinct and perticular apprehension of the goodnesse of God, which is the meanes to be get faith, therefore that what we doe, may be acceptable vntounto God, very requisite it is, that we comprehend what is the length and the breadth, the high and the depth of Gods mercies towards vsus, that so we may performe 3. Eph. 18.the obedience of faith vntounto our God, accordingly for the same. Which comprehension, as the holy Ghost desireth in p. 21the faithfull, concerning the principal worke of Gods louelove towards them, namely their redemption by Iesus Christ, that so we may be filled with all fulnesse of God, so seeing all other workes of merciemercy, are deriued from that fountaine, therefore are we to labour the like apprehensiō, of all such blessings as the Lord from time to time bestoweth vponupon vsus (so farre as their compasse doth require) that so our mouthes may And to this end the word hepeth excedingly.be filled with due praises vntounto our God for the same And surely the mercy of God is herein exceeding vntounto vsus, in helping our infirmities to this profitable vnderstanding, by the wisedome of the Spirit reuealed in the word. For if we shall be thoroughly acquainted with the good word 2. Tim. 3. 16. 17.2 Tim 3:162 Tim 3:17of God, as it was inspired of God to make the man of God perfit: so shall we finde it exceeding plentifull to informe our vnderstandings in the true apprehension of such blessings as are bestowed vpō vsus: that so we may measure out our thāksgiuing accordingly. To instaunce onelyonly in that a benefit To vnderstand the greatnes of a deliuerance. VVhichWhich implyeth 1. some greate daunger. 2. a recouerie out of it.of a deliuerance, the present subiect of our meditations. Marke I pray you, how the holy Ghost helpeth our vnderstanding, to comprehend the greatnesse thereof. As eueryevery deliuerance implieth two things. First a danger lying vponupon vsus, secondly, a recouery of vsus out of the same: so hath the spirit exceedingly helped our vnderstandings to the particular apprehension of both these, in expressing vntounto vsus most liuely the greatnesse of the danger, and also inlarging most effectually the strangenesse of the recouery. The greatnesse of a danger may appeare by these three circumstances, The danger seen … the weaknes of the meanes to resist. 2. in the power of the meanes that threatens. 3. in the impossi…ilitie of any meanes to deliuer. …sal. 38.first by the greatnesse of the power that threatens the same… Secondly, by the weakenesse of the meanes in our selues to auoide the per…ll: & lastly by that impossibilitie which appeares in any helpe elsewhere. If our enemies be mightie, the danger must needs be great, but yet there may be hope, if there be a powre to match the same. If the power be wanting in our selues, the danger is greater, especially if our owne hearts may herein faile vsus and yet for all this, though our …sh do faile vsus, and our hearts also, there may be hope from without to supply our wants, if not from man, who is deceitfull, p. 22yet from our God who neuer failes. But when the light of Psa. 142. Psa. 35.Ps 142Ps 35Gods countenance shalbe taken away from vsus, when we shall looke on our right hand, and there is none to helpe vsus: when we shall turne to the left and see no issue, when Such hath bene the state of the Church.wee shall say in our haste, that our God hath forsaken vsus, and when we shall heare our enemies say, they hauehave deuoured vsus, This danger may seeme past recouery: And yet behold the spirit witnesseth that such hath beene the daunger of the Church, and Saints of God from time to time, yea she hath found an issue vsually in such Straights, our soule is escaped saith the Church euen as a bird out of the snare of the Fouler, the snare is broken, and wee are deliuered. Marke As a birde in the snare. Psa. 124 6. Zach. 3. 3.Ps 124:6Zech 3:3I pray you the greatnesse of the danger, how vnable is the Bird to auoid the snare of the Fouler, how effectuall is the snare to take this silly Foule, what hope is there of deliuerance when the bird is caught therein, and yet behold our soule is deliuered, euen as a Bird, out of the snare of the fowler, so desperate is our danger, and so wonderfull is our recouery, what hope is there of a Brand taken out of the A pray in the teeth.fire, surely such hath beene the state of the Saints of God, Is not this man taken as a brand out of the free fire. Nay what hope is there of dead bones scattered in the open fields, Abran pluckt out of the fire. As dead and dry …onse. Ezec. 37. 4. 5. 6.Ezek 37:4Ezek 37:5Ezek 37:6hauing beene ther so long, that they are dryed and withered can these bones liue, saith the spirit of God: yea saith the Lord, behold I wil cause breath to enter into you, & you shal liue, Loe heere the desperate estate of the Church of GOD, euen as a Dead Man and quite out of mind, nay, as rotten and consumed to the very bones, by the continuance of the trouble, and extremity thereof, so that wee may not onelyonly tell all her boanes: but indeed there And such was our daunger in the late entended conspiracyis nothing but dead and drye bones left of her. Yet saith the Lord these boanes shall liue, yet shall the desolate Church become an exceeding great Armie: yea terrible with banners, to the confusion of her enemies,, vnderstand therefore the greatnesse of thy deliuerance, by the greatnesse p. 23of the daunger, and sound the depth of thy daungers these points accordingly, call to mind I pray thee the deadly plot that was prepared for thee in the practise of thine enemies, which the Lord hath disappointed, and by As appoynted as she pe to the slaughter. …sal. 44.the depth of the danger, which was ready to swallowe thee vp, labour to measure the greatnesse of thy deliuerance, great was thy daunger in that thou wast Appointed as a Sheepe to the slaughter: And yet herein was it greater that the Daunger was not knowne. By And suddne…lie to be s…a…std vponupon.this meanes was not onelyonly all hope taken from thee …o auoide it. Whereby this present State, was vtterly VVhichWhich made our present state desperate. And might hauehave endangered our future estatedesperate, but beeing sudden vntounto thee in that it was vnknowne hereby taking thee vnprepared by repentance to meete thy GOD. Consider howe this might hauehave indaungered Thy Estate for the life to come.

And if the Lord hath preuented that Blowe, because thou wast not prepared, Oh take heede to Tempt this GOD by security hereafter, least the like suddaine vengeance may speedily ouertake thee: Certenly if the malice of thine enemy bee as Hell that can neuer be satisfied, And yet shal, if we make not vse of so great a deliuerance.thinke that the increase of thy sinne, will adde more fuell to it.

And though the Lord may spare for a time because some stand in the gappe. Yet when they shalbe taken from the iudgements to come and thy sinnes shalbe ripened by continuance therein: Knowe then for a certenty that thy Danger is now greater, in that thorough the hardenesse of thyne heart, which cannot repent, thou dost heap vp wrath, against thy selfe, against the day of wrath, and thy Rom. 2. 4.Rom 2:4Maister will come in an howre when thou knowest not, and giuegive thee thy portion with the Hypocrytes, there shall bee great weeping and gnashing of teeth.

p. 24It was a notable testimony of the Apostles louelove vntounto Consider yet further the greatnes of the daunger.his countrimen, that he wished euen to redeeme their reiection with his owne euerlasting perdition, (if so it might hauehave stood with the good pleasure of God,) whereby the seruant of God did imply, that the preuenting of a generall danger, was to be preferred before a perticular, and that the losse of a priuate state, ought to redeeme a publike. Had it beene so then that either thine owne priuate state had beene aymed at, or though the generall life of It was not the life of a priuate person.Church and common wealth was shot at, yet if it might hauehave beene redeemed with thy priuate losse, the daunger had beene the lesse, and thy comfort the more. But behold here the insatiable malice of thine enemie, and therein consider yet further the greatnes of the danger. It was not the life of a priuate person, would quench their vnmeasurable mallice: for then yet the body might hauehave continued, though an inferiour member had bin cut off, Nay, yet inlarge thine vnderstanding, and conceiue yet further. It was not one principall member that would No not of the head alone. But head and tayle, roote and branches, all were shot at in the practise. Esay. 9. 44.Isa 9:44satiate their ambitious thirst, no not the head it selfe, and roote of the Kingdome; for the weaker wisedome could resolue them so farre, that if the roote were cut off, yet the branches might florish, and so their malice discouered, and yet not further their ambition. What then was the plot? and how grieuous was the danger? surely euen to cut off head and tayle, roote and branches, vtterly with one blow; euen to ruinate, head and members, Esay, 15.church and common wealth; and in one moment to hauehave brought full confusion vponupon all estates. Behold here a further measure of the danger, wherein thou wast: And blessed be God, that wee hauehave leasure to meditate these things, yea euermore blessed be our gratious Father, who howsoeuer the whole head and body might bee sicke, yet because he is our Phisition to heale vsus, and doth not delight in our destruction, but knowes what is to bee hoped for of his patient, thought this Phisicke too desperate and too preposterous, as intended to destroy and not p. 2to sinne; and therefore in his merciemercy hath kept it from vsus, and in his Iustice made our enemies to drinke of the cup they had prepared for vsus. Well by this thou maiest apprehend in some measure the greatnesse of the danger wherein thou wast; & yet behold I will shew thee greater perils then these intended against thee. There is hope Iob. 4. 6. Consider yet further the greatnes of thy danger, In that thy enemie laboured to depriue the… of that whereby though thou hadst bene killed yet thou mightest hauehave liued still. 1. Cor. 15. 19.Job 4:61 Cor 15:19(saith holy Iob) of a tree, if it bee cut downe, there will yet sprout, and the branches thereof wil not perish, though the roote thereof waxe old in the earth, and the stockethereof be dead in the groūd, yet by the descent of waters it wil bud & bring forth boughes like a plant. But as for man he is sick and dieth, & mā perisheth, and where is hee? signifying thereby that there is no hope of him. And surely had we only hope in this life, wee were not onelyonly liuing of all men most miserable, but dying also our hope must needes perish with vsus But here is the hope of the Saints, that not onelyonly their sufferings shall giuegive further life to the Church in this world, but shall prepare them to a blessed life in the world to come. So that now though hee kill vsus, yet wee will trust in Iob. 13. 15. 20.Job 13:15Job 13:20God, not onelyonly in that though wee die, yet wee shall liue in the posteritie of the Church, whiles shee is militant, but our light afflictions which are but for a moment, they doe cause vntounto vsus a farre more excellent weight of Glory, that wee may triumph for euer, with the Saints in heauen. Meruailous is our gracious God vntounto his children, for the confirming of them in the hope of the life to come, and that by two especiall meanes, both by the inward testimonie of his Spirit, approuing so our innocencie that 1 The testimony of thine innocencie.by the power thereof it breaking forth as the light, and shining at the no one day, though wee die, yet by it wee might liue with the saints in grace, and further also by the gouernment of the same Spirit soreuiuing his Church, 2. The succession continuall of the Church.and renuing the same, in her greatest decayes, as that she hath, and shall continue her militarie life, till the heauēs bee no more, and euen then liuing and remayning shall bee caught vp in the cloudes to meete the Lord in the ayre, and so for euer to bee with the Lord. So did the Lord p. 26prouide for his seruaint Iob, that when hee was wearie of his life, yet hee was not wearie of his innocencie, and hee So was Iobs innocencie vntounto him. Iob 27. 6.Job 27:6yeeldes an excellent reason of it in the 8. verse. For what hope hath the hypocrite when he hath heaped vp riches, if God take away his soule. Implying thereby that if hee were an hipocrite, and had no sound testimonie of his sincerity, then indeed, if GOD should kill him, he could not trust in him, then he had no hope, if his soule should be taken away. But seeing he knew that the liuing Lord had taken away his iudgement, because the Almighty had put his And 2. vers.soule in bitternesse, and the ground of this his sauing knowledge, was the testimonie of his innocencie, proceeding from the vndoubted worke and euidence of the Spirit: Therefore doeth hee cleaue to the testimonie of his good conscience, as whe… by hee was assured, not onelyonly to come out of these troubles, but further also was bould to professe that Hee knew that his redeemer liued, and that hee should see GOD in the flesh. Behould the meanes Iob. 19. 17.Job 19:17whereby wee liue though wee die, and whereby wee are assured that wee shall liue for euer: euen the testimonie of our innocencie and vprightnesse of heart. And yet behold a further testimonie for the confirmacion of the same. Doest thou see the Spirit of GOD ruling in the Church, and gouerning so comfortably the troubles of the same: that though she die dayly, yet shee liues continually Not onelyonly in that though the outward man perish, yet the inward man is renued dayly, but especially heerein is the continuate life of the Church wonderfull, that the bloud of the Martirs becomes the seede of the Church: Doest thou heare the wicked say, Come let vsus vtterly roote them out? Do the Godly complaine, they hauehave So doeth God comfort his Church with the hope of continuall successiod.destroyed all, there is no hope: and yet doeth the Lord say still concerning the desolations of his Church: The roote of the righteous shal not bee remoued. Yet therein will I leaue a tenth, which shall continewe, and shall bee eaten vp as an Elme: or an Oake, which hauehave a substance in them when they cast their leaues: so the holy p. 27seede shalbe the substance thereof. Though I vtterly destroy all the nations: where I hauehave scattered thee, yet I will not vtterly destroy thee, but I will correct thee by iudgement, and not vtterly cut thee off.

Are these the promises of thy GOD concerning his spouse that shee shall continue vntounto the worlds ende? hath the performance of them beene answerable from time to time therevnto, that so by the experience of her former preseruation, thou maist collect that the Lord will deliuer her to the end: and by her wonderfull continuance in this life, thou maist further gather VVhichWhich as it may aboundantly satisfie vsus in our greatest dā gers and recompence our greatest troubles whatsoeuer: that we shal bee meanes of the reuiuing and continuing of the Church: So this is our triall whether wee be faithfull vntounto our God, if for the good of the Church wee shall thus hazard our selues: to leaue it glorious to posterity.her abode for euer in eternall happinesse? What canst thou desire more for the confirmation of thine hope, then according to thy inward and outward troubles, to hauehave this double Testimony of the spirit, both in the protection of the Church without, and the inward witnesse vntounto thy spirit renued, and sanctified: to lead thee along with cheerefulnesse in the vndoubted expectation of the reward to come, that so thou maiest run with ioy the race that is set before thee, and hauing finished thy course obtaine the Crowne of euerlasting happinesse? And what can better recompence al thy priuate losses then that thou art weake that the Church of GOD, may bee strong, that thou art abased that the church may be exalted? Yea though it should so fall out, that the Church were to bee fetcht againe with thy dearest blood. If now thou shalt not set light by any troubles, that in this respect may befall thee: If nowe thy life shall not be vile vntounto the, That thou maist fulfill thy course with ioy, If this shall not be thy testimonie that thou hast euen beene ready, not onelyonly to distribute the Gospell of God vntounto thy people for the after groeth of the Church; but euen thine owne soule: surely neuer looke to approue thy selfe a good sheepheard vntounto thy people, Neither looke to giuegive vp thy account with ioy, and to shine as a starre in the Firmament for euer. p. 28Behold how the hope of the Saints concerning the life to come, and consider the meanes that giues them life in death, euen the testimonie of their innocencie, which shall And herein appeared the diuellish malice of our aduersaries. VVhichWhich with on blow would hauehave cut of both these comforts.endure for euer, and the seede of the Church continuing vntounto the end. And tell me, if there were euer malice like vntounto that, which would at one blow hauehave cut off all this hope, not onelyonly to depriue the Saints of their righteousnesse, whereby they might hauehave liued in the hearts of the faithfull, but so farre as lay in them, euen to cut off vtterly the seed of the Church, that so there might not be hereafter any succession thereof.

The Liues of the Saints would not serue their malice, but they will hauehave a deuise to robbe them of their innocencie, by laying that on their poore sheepe, which the Wolues would hauehave done. It was not the life of the Prince 1. our Innocency 2. hope of posteritie.and state, which could satisfie their rage. No, they had vowed vtterly to roote out the name of religion; and therefore their proiect was to destroy all Seed, that might giuegive hope to posteritie thereof; not onelyonly the royall seede, Both the royall seed the se ed of the word & the seed of the righteous.for the after nurserie of the Church; but further also the immortall seede of the word; yea moreouer to abolish vtterly the seed of the righteous, that all hope of posteritie in the Church might finally be extinguished, as hauing neither Nurse, nor Milke, nor Babe remaining. Oh consider the depth of this diuellish malice, and magnifie the depth By this maiest thou comprehend the greatnes of the danger.of Gods merciemercy in thy wonderfull deliuerance. Remember if euer any danger was like vntounto this, which the Lord thy gracious God hath pluckt thee out off, that so thy heart may bee inlarged to giuegive him due praises for the same.

And yet that thy heart may bee further inlarged herevnto; as thou hast hetherto vnderstood the greatnesse of the danger, in auoyding so many euils: So consider in the Hearken now thou maiest vnderstand the greatnes of the deliuerance.second place, in thy wonderfull recouerie, what plentie of blessings the Lord hath conferred vponupon thee. And that thou mayest not mistake the nature of a deliuera…nce, behould the Spirite leades thee to a true p. 29discerning thereof for, speaking of the deliuerance, which the Lord would performe vntounto his Church, that the memorie thereof might for euer bee continued hee saith. This shalbe written for the generations to come, that By apprehending the true nature of a deliuerance which is as a creation.this faithfull record might preuent forgetfulnesse. And further, that wee might learne to iudge rightly of a deliueraunce, hee addeth: And the people which shalbe created, shall praise the Lord, meaning that a deliueraunce from so great a danger, was to bee accounted no lesse, then a new creation, that is of nothing, euen raysing vp a creature, and a new giuing of such blessinges as hee is furnished withall. Wouldest thou therefore vnderstand aright, what God hath done for thee in this great deliueraunce? Surely, if thou doest not accompt as nothing, whatsoeuer thou wast, or hadest heretofore; if thou doest not esteeme thy selfe, and whatsoeuer thou art to bee a new gest euen newly created, and restored VVhereby all thinges together with thy selfe are newly restored.of nothing: thou doest yet conceiue nothing to the trueth, and worth of this blessing, and shalt in no sort bee able to make good vse thereof. But, if so bee that thou shalt acknowledge, that all thinges are become new: that whatsoeuer thou art, or hast, thou must not reckon it from thy birth, but from this wonderful deliuerance: consider what singular profite shall arise vntounto thee hereby. So shal each thing thou hast being newly giuen thee put thee in mind of the blessing.There is not any thing, thou enioyest but shall remember this deliuerance vntounto thee, that so thou maiest bee prouoked to magnifie the deliuerer. Nay, this renuing vntounto thee of whatsoeuer thou hast, shall prouoke thee to concecrate the same anew vntounto thy God, that so thy deliuerance, working that holy thinge in thee, whe… by thou shalt be renued in the Sp…rit of thy minde, and bee cloathed with And further thy in ward renewing: That so thou maist be fit to reioyce in thy God for the blessing.some good measure of holinesse and righteousnesse, thou maiest sing the new song of praise vntounto thy GOD, which becometh the righteous onelyonly to performe, for so it followeth. But the righteous shall reioyce in the Lord.

Behold here a further dutie in the intertainment of this p. 30great deliuerance, and that limited vntounto the righteous: namely, that they shall reioyce in the Lord for the same. Not that they shall not behold, declare, or vnderstand, as And doth onelyonly belong to the righteous, and why.well as others, what God hath done for them: (for these are good furtherances to the dutie of thankfulnesse:) but that though they doe these things, yet they shall not stay heere, (as the wicked doe,) but shall proceed further to reioyce in the Lord for the same, by celebrating the praises of the Lord according to his benefits. A dutie verie fitly appropriated to the righteous. For they onelyonly hauehave right in this ioy, and therefore if the Lord hauehave done great Psa. 126. 7.Ps 126:7things for them, they may safelie reioyce therein; and they onelyonly know how to vse this ioy aright, and therefore may with greater libertie enlarge themselues therein; they onelyonly hauehave true cause of ioy, euen the testimonie of their 1. Cor. 1. 12.1 Cor 1:12consciences; they onelyonly by this ioy, doe sanctifie the blessing vntounto them, and so procure the continuance of it; And they onelyonly shall hauehave no end of theirioy, and therefore may not feare the ouerthrow thereof. And indeede, Ioh. 16.John 16what greater outward pledge can wee hauehave of the fauour of GOD, then that hee doth not suffer our enemyes to triumphe ouer vsus? And what greater cause Psa. 41. 11.Ps 41:11of ioy can wee hauehave then this, that the fauour of GOD shineth vponupon vsus? And if the experience of Gods former Psa. 4. 6.Ps 4:6deliuerances bee warrants vntounto vsus of his future mercies: If because the Lorde hath deliuered vsus from the Lyon and the Beare, therefore wee can safely say, that Goliah shall bee as one of these: And because the Lorde 1. Sam. 17.1 Sam 17hath deliuered vsus, and doth deliuer vsus, therefore wee can say further, that hee will deliuer vsus, finally out of all our 2. Cor. 1. 10.2 Cor 1:10trouble: this must needs enlarge our hearts with vnspeakable ioy, as beeing a part of that earnest of ioy, whereof one day wee shall bee full. Surely, as it is a righteous thing with GOD, to recompence sorrowe vntounto p. 31Obad. 11.Obad 1:11these, who hauehave reioyced in the afflictions of the Saints: So it is appointed of GOD, that they which hauehave Psa. 126. 6.Ps 126:6sowen in teares and manifolde afflictions, should in due time, Reape in ioye, the fruite of all their troubles in the wayes of God.

And seeing there is a time for all things, and an appointed time to reioyce, as there is to mourne. Therefore, Eccl. 3. 1.Eccl 3:1howsoeuer in the day of affliction wee must consider, and Eccl. 7. 16.Eccl 7:16enter into the house of moorning, yet in the day of mirth and deliuerance, wee must bee of good comfort, and to expresse our ioy, wee must sing prayses vntounto our God.

So hath the Lord himselfe appointed this time. I will So hath God appointed. Psa. 50. 15. So hauehave the saints practised. Exod. 15. 1. 20. Iudg. 5. 1. Psal. 18.Ps 50:15Exod 15:1Exod 15:20Judg 5:1Ps 18deliuer thee, and thou shalt glorifie mee; So hauehave the Saints imployed this time. So reioyced Moses and Miriam, with their seuerall companies for their delirance out of Egypt: So did Debora and Barak exercise the people for their deliuerance from the Cananites: So did Dauid imploy himselfe for his deliuerances from time to time from his enemies: So did the Church reioyce for her deliuerance from that cruell conspiracie Hest. 8. 9.of Haman.

And as when a iudgement hath beene eyther threatned or inflicted vponupon the seruants of God: they hauehave set a part dayes of humiliation, the better to fitte themselues So hath man for the time to come institude dayes ioy and thanksgiuing Ion. 3. 2. Chor. 28.Jonah 3:2to meete the Lord by true repentance: as did the Niniuites, Iehosophat, and diuers others in the like case: So when the Lord hath remooued the iudgement from them, and hath giuen them a gratious and happy deliuerance, that they might neuer forget such mercies and be fully inlarged in thankfulnes for the same: they hauehave also seperated certaine dayes to be imployed principally in the expressing their ioy, by such meanes as may fitte and further the same. Such were those dayes of feasting and p. 32thanksgiuing instituted from time to time, by the godly Magistrates to remember the blessings that the Lord had bestowed vponupon them, and to giuegive him speciall prayses on Hest. 9. 17.such dayes for the same. So did Mordochie and Hester institute the dayes of Purim for that wonderful deliuerance from Hamons intended massaker: which were so called from the occasion, because Hamon by Lot was incouraged to that deuillish interprize of destroying the Iewes, and therefore to magnifie the power of God in the confusion of his wisedome, and to make the memory of an enemy to stinke to posterity: they called these dayes the dayes of Purim. So did Iudas Machabeus institute the feast of the dedication in remembrance of the purging of the Temple from the prophanations of Antiochus, a Ioh. 10.John 10feast which our Sauiour Christ himselfe seemed to approue by his owne presence in the 10. of Iohn; So did our Gratious Soueraigne set apart the 5. of August in remembrance of his wonderfull deliuerance from the conspiracies of the Gowries: And so for euer may the 5. of Nouember be separated and recorded amongst vsus, as by the wō derfull prouidence of God in discouering the horrible treasons of the Papists, beeing turned vntounto vsus from sorrow to ioy, and from murning into a ioyfull day to be kept with feasting and ioy and to all posterities; so long as the name of Great Britaine shalbe had in remembrance. Thus hath the Lord appointed dayes of ioy, and thus hath man vponupon iust consideration celebrated and confirmed such daies to posterity, not inuenting therein any other worship then God hath appointed, but vponupon such extraordinary occasions giuing more liberty thereby vntounto the publicke worship of God, as beeing vnderunder God the determiner of order and decency, according to the general rules of equity prescribed in Gods blessed word. And thus may euen priuate persons set apart some howre, nay, some day in the weeke vponupon the like occasions to a more intire and immediate worship of God then in their ordinarie callings, as not beeing otherwise tied to bodily p. 33labour on the sixe dayes, then that they might be better fitted to the spirituall workes on the seuenth; and not beeing Extraordinary occasions may take some liberty herein keeping themselues with in their bounds. 1. Cor. 7.1 Cor 7excluded otherwise from this extraordinary worship on these dayes of labour, then for the prouision of their families, and obedience to authority, and that without presumption of Gods prouidence, and opinion of necessity or merit. Other institution then this of such festiuall dayes I can finde none lawfull. Neither indeed do I account euen this institution, anie otherwise lawfull, then it is kept vndefiled from abuse and superstition, Considering what the holy Ghost addeth to trie our ioy by that it must bee in the Lord.

And being thus bounded, the spirit giues vsus free liberty, Reioyce in the Lord alwaies, and againe, I say reioyce. Because our ioy must be in the Lord. 4 Phil. 4. Gal. 5. 11. Gal. 6. 5.Phil 4Gal 5:11Gal 6:5And surely verie necessary it is that our ioy should be thus bounded, least our liberty being an occasion to the flesh, sowing thus to the flesh, wee of the flesh reape corruption, and so our ioy shalbe turned into sorrow. But howe shall I approue my ioy to be in the Lord? surely there are these markes to try it by.

Hath the Lord done great things for thee, whereof This shall be knowne if we keepe a right order and measure therein.thou maiest reioyce? surely thou maiest reioyce freely, if thou keepe a right order and measure therein: both which must be according to the diuersity of the things wherein thou doest reioyce. That we may keepe a right order in our ioy for the blessings of God, the holy Ghost giues vsus Rom. 8. 32. A good order is keept by 1. deriuing our ioye from the fountaine to the streame and 2. returning it from the streame vntounto the fountaine againe. That God may be first and last in our ioy.Rom 8:32an excellent rule, setting downe the true subordination of the blessings themselues. Who spared not his owne sonne, but gaue him to die for vsus, how shall he not with him giuegive vsus all things else. Signifying therein thus much vntounto vsus, that, in that the Lord hath giuen vntounto vsus the Fountaine, hee will not denye vsus the streames, and thereby teaching vsus this order in reioycing for Gods benefits, as to deriue our ioy from the Fountaine to the Streames: not to rest our ioye in the streams but to returne it to the fountaine, that the giuer of all good blessings, may be first and last in our ioy: First he must be in our ioy, that thereby as we hauehave these p. 34blessings and fauour of him, so we may bee assured also that wee hauehave them in him, and thereby hauehave a testimony that they are sanctified vntounto vsus, that so now we may hauehave a right vntounto, and comfort in the vse of them: and last also must our God be in this affection of ioy. It must at no hand rest in the blessing, for so it wilbe a meanes to drawe vsus from the fountaine, and our resolution then must bee so farre from reioycing in the streames, as that we must count them all as dung in respect of the fountaine Iesus Christ.

But, seeing God is the Giuer, and receiuer too, Seeing he is the ending, as well as the beginning: therefore must our ioy be determined in nothing, but in him, that so hereby Phil. 3. 7.Phil 3:7giuing him the Glory of the good wee hauehave receiued, this may bee a meanes to receiue that further good which Reu. 1. 8. 2. By reioycing principally in such blessings as are neerest to the fountaine.Rev 1:8Rev 1:2shall perfect vsus vntounto glory. And as this is generally to be obserued in the ordering of our ioy, that the Fountaine must be first and last therein, so also in proportion, seeing such Streames as are neerer to the fountaine, are more pure, so ought they to hauehave their place accordingly in the ordering of our ioy.

The Blessings that God hath renued vntounto vsus in this great deliuerance are very manie, and yet some come neere vntounto the fountaine then others. Some that hauehave Such are the blessings of the right hand, all spirituall graces and the meanes thereof.beene giuen vsus (as we say) with the right hand. As whatsoeuer principally concerne the life to come: Namely the Nursery of the Church, consisting of the Nurses both temporall and spirituall. 1. Thessal. 2. of the Milke of the Gospell, and communion of Saints to be nourished thereby: Together with the manifold pledges and fruites thereof, as Peace of conscience, our ioye in the Spirit, and growth in Christ, and such like.

Others hauehave beene the blessings of the left hand, as our Goods, Country, Friends: &c. Examine wee now our selues, whither our ioy hath beene ordered aright or no, p. 35if it hath beene first the blessings of the right hand, rather then for the other. Nay, if wee could hauehave beene contented to hauehave redeemed the blessings of the right hand, with the losse of the blessings of the left, nay, if nowe wee can bee contented to abate our ioy in the one, that wee may take our fill in the other, these are good tokens that our ioy is ordered aright. So was the affection of Mephibosheth ordered aright, when the King would make him some part 2. Sam. 19. 24.2 Sam 19:24of a mendes by diuidyng the Lands bewixt him and Ziba, his ioy was so inflamed with the enioying of the greater blessings, that his Lord the King was come home in peace, that hee euen resolued: let him take all Vers 30 Thus must we try our selues by this deliuerance. Psa. 137. 6.Ps 137:6the lands: as beeing not willing that the lesser blessinge should hauehave any part in his ioy. Oh that wee had this testimonie of our true ioy for this deliuerance, that wee did nowe more reioyce in the reuiuyng of the Gospell, and the meanes thereof, the publique blessing of happie gouernment, then in any priuate blessing whatsoeuer, prefering Ierusalem to all our mirth.

Oh that many may not iustly be charged with this disordered ioy, that they could hauehave beene contented to hauehave lost the bessings of the right hand, and hauehave thought it Least preferring Carnall things before spirituall blessings.enough, that the things of this life restored vntounto them. Wel let vsus bee wise in the examining of our own hearts heereby, certainely whatsoeuer wee ioy in, aboue the Lord, it shall be the meanes to bring a curse vponupon that blessing, and so bee the occasion that in the end it shall be taken VVe make the curses vntounto vsus. And procure that they shalbe taken away.from vsus, that wee which would not reioyce aright in GOD, shall now hauehave nothing wherein truely to reioyce. But if so bee that wee hauehave so reioyced in the principall blessings, that in steed of them, the other hauehave beene vile vntounto vsus, certainely this will teach vsus 1. King. 5. 6. Math. 6. 33.1 Kgs 5:6Matt 6:33to ioy in them: though these bee taken from vsus, and beeing wise with the blessed Salomon to preferre p. 36the greater blessings, we shall hauehave the lesse also cast ouer Math. 6. 33.Matt 6:33and aboue into the rekoning vntounto vsus, that so our ioy may be full wanting nothing: and so vsing the lesse, that wee do not set our hearts vponupon them, but are able to extend our ioy vntounto the giuer of them, wee shall by this meanes Math. 25. And make vsus such friends euen of these out ward things, as that they shall further vsus to euerlasting habitations. 1. Cor. 15. Luk. 6. 38.Matt 251 Cor 15Luke 6:38beeing found faithfull in a little, bee made stewardes of greater blessings, that so returning all vntounto our God in that small measure which we enioy in this life, he may be all in all vntounto vsus in an heaped vp measure in the life to come. And thus ordering our ioy shall wee find it to bee in the Lord, and so shall wee also find it by the right measure thereof, proportioned both according to the things wee doe inioy, as they doe exceede each other in worth and excellencie, and also to the right vse and imployment thereof. So doeth our Sauiour giuegive his disciples the rule, when he had giuen them that excellent gift of subduing all aduerse power. But reioyce not in this that the Spirits are subdued vntounto you; but reioyce rather that your VVhichWhich shalbe furthered by knowing the right measure. Luke. 10. 20.Luke 10:20names are written in heauen: therein not forbidding them to reioyce at all in these excellent gifts, (for they were great blessings of GOD, and therefore they might lawfully reioyce in them,) but teaching them therein a true measure of their ioy, that they should more reioyce VVhichWhich is best tried by the descouery of two extreames.in the more excellent blessings. The best apprehension of this right measure, shall bee gained by the discouerie of two extreames, either of reioycing too much, when the cause doth not require, or of reioycing too little, if the matter be of moment: Wouldst thou know in this deliuerance, 1 of reioycing to much which shalbe discerned in this deliuerance If it hauehave not bettered vsus to heauen Luk. 1. 74. 75.Luke 1:74Luke 1:75howe thou maiest reioyce too much? If it hath not bettered thee in the way to heauen: If thou hast not answered the end of a deliuerance, euen to serue thy God more conscionably in newnesse of life: If thou art so set vponupon thy lyes, and bound in the seate of the scorners, that thou hatest to bee reformed, for all these mercies: though all things are renewed vntounto thee, yet thou remaynest in thine olde sinnes. If it bee not If we be not renued with the blessings.more ioy vntounto thee to doe righteously, then to receiue p. 37good at the hands of GOD; Why takest thou the If we reioyce not more in welldoing then in the blessing. Pro 21. 15. Psa 50. 18. Eccles. 2. 2.Prov 21:15Ps 50:18Eccl 2:2name of GOD in thy mouth, seeing thou hatest to bee reformed? wretch that thou art, what hast thou to doe with ioy, that still reioycest in thy sinne? Thou maiest well say vntounto laughter thou art madde, and vntounto ioy depart farre from mee. Surely any ioy in this case is too much vntounto thee. Wouldest thou hauehave a president to direct thee heerein? when the Lord had deliuered the Iewes from the handes of the Ethiopians, it is recorded by Thus did the saints approue their ioy. 2. Chro. 15. 8.2 Chr 15:8the holy Ghost, that Asa their King beeing incouraged by the prophets of the Lord, the First worke that hee did, was to purge the land of all it abhominations. And so performed true thankefulnesse vntounto his GOD in deedes and not in wordes. Afterwardes hee gathered togither all the remainder of the people to Ierusalem, to offer sacrifice vntounto the Lord, and to make a couenant with him, of 10.most faithfull seruice. Which, when they had performed in most solemne, and effectuall manner, and bound themselues, further to the same by an oath, yea further by a most grieuous penaltie of death for default They reioyced for the deliuerance when they had made a couenant with God for a better life.therein. The Spirit witnesseth that, all Iudah reioyced at the oath, and therevpon followed a most comfortable blessing, that the Lord gaue them rest round about. Marke I pray you in this example the true vse and intertainment of a deliuerance. Heere is sinne first remoued, which was the cause of the former danger, that so the like might not after befall them. Then heere is a course taken to preuent sinne to come, by most euident signes of true conuersion vntounto GOD, that so they might inioy both temporall, and spirituall happienesse. And then, when the Lord was first made glad with the conuersion of his seruants, and when the Angells had cause of ioy for the repentance of sinners, then came ioy in a right order from heauen vntounto earth, and the vessells beeing thus fitted to receaue this heauenly influence, the holy Ghost recordeth, that the people reioyced, and p. 38showted euen vp to heauen, as making a sweete consent therein with God and the Angels. Oh neuer let vsus looke And so must we trie the measure of our ioy, if it hath proceeded from our reconciliation with God, otherwise it is vnseasonable. Amos 5. 18. 19.Amos 5:18Amos 5:19to reioyce aright in earth, if by our vnfained sorrow for sinne, we hauehave not caused ioy in heauen. And if so be wee hauehave reioyced before the couenant bee made, know wee that our ioy is vnseasonable, and too much, if any. The very ioy of the Dragons shall be better accepted of God, then the reioycing of such sinners, that proceedes not from repentance. Oh let vsus hauehave respect at least vntounto our Seede and posteritie. Doe wee know what we doe, by this entertainement of a deliuerance, as to reioyce therein without reformation of our liues? Surely wee prouoke the Lord to hate our feast dayes, hee hath protested Amos. 5. 21.Amos 5:21hee will not smell in our solemne assemblies; But doe they prouoke mee (sayeth the Lord) and not rather themselues, to the confusion of their faces? Yes surely, as our Ier. 7. 19.Jer 7:19Sauiour would doe no more workes in his owne countrey, And shall be the occasion to depriue vsus: Math. 13. 58.Matt 13:58because of their vnbeleefe: so let vsus not looke hereafter for the like wonderfull worke of GOD, if this bee the best fruite, the multiplying of our sinnes: and then consider what wrong wee shall doe vntounto posteritie, from whome wee shall bee the occasion to take such And our posteritie of the like mercies.great mercies, and so expose them vntounto such fearefull desolations as follow therevpon.

To leade thee a little further in the examining of thy selfe, concerning thy exceeding in this measure of 2. Triall of our ioy exceeding. Amos. 6. 3. VVhen wee so reioyce for our own good as that we do not sorrow with al for the afflictions of others.Amos 6:3ioy; art thou deliuered, and therefore thou mayest reioyce? Oh but remember that Ioseph is in affliction, and therefore thou must sorrow too. If therefore thou canst not bee more sorrowfull in the sorrow of the afflicted, then ioyfull in respect of thine owne priuate good, surely thy reioyfing is not good. Thou takest too much ioye vntounto thy selfe, and giuest too little sorrow vntounto the cause of thy brother.

To lead thee yet a step further, in the examining of 3 Triall that we reioyce too much.thine excesse. Is the Church of God deliuered, and p. 39therefore thou mayest reioyce? Oh but remember the Apostles rule, in a case not vnlike. As hee would not hauehave other men eased, that wee should bee grieued, but the matter 2. Cor. 8. 13.2 Cor 8:13so disposed, that there may be an equalitie: so in this case of reioycing, wee must not so inlarge our selues, that our brethren may be grieued thereby: but wee must now so temper our ioy, that there may be an equalitie, that all the If we take such libertie therein which may be occasion to grieue others. 1. Not the enemies of God, for these we may grieue. Psa 112. 9. 10. Yea reioyce in the vengeance that is inflicted vponupon them. Psa. 58. 9.Ps 112:9Ps 112:10Ps 58:9Saints of God may reioyce with vsus, that hauehave beene partaker of the same benefite with vsus, as their conditions, and meanes doe require. Indeed if the wicked shall see Gods merciemercy vponupon vsus, and bee angrie; If he shall gnash his teeth, and consume away; If the male-contents and runnegates, that gaped for the spoile, being now disappointed thereof, hang downe their heads, and eate their hearts with sorrow for the same, as it is the righteous iudgement of GOD vponupon them; so ought we euen to inlarge our ioy, that they may be the rather grieued and vexed thereby: Yea wee are to make it the matter of our ioy, to see the vengeance that is light vponupon them: so that our ioy bee spirituall euen in the Lord, that they may take no aduantage against vsus: so that wee adde vntounto their affliction, not as they are ours, but enemies vntounto God. But here is the point; doest thou reioyce in this happy deliuerance, and wouldest thou learne the true measure therein? Surely this is it; So reioyce that all may reioyce with thee; Grieue not thy GOD, and his Saints, by the prophanesse of thy Exod. 15. Moyses and Miriam were carefull herein.Exod 15ioy: Remember how Moses and Miriam carried the matter. That their ioy might not be subiect to prophanesse and sensualitie: Moses and the men reioyced by themselues: Miriam and the women reioyced by themselues, Such dancing is allowable, if the cause be spirituall. Grieue not the poore, by taking too much libertie in the meanes of thy ioy: deuouring that in thine excesse, which is the blood of the poore. Remember the care that the Iewes Here was the Iewes care excellent.had in this case: They sent not onelyonly presents to their neighbours that could requite them againe, but they gaue p. 40gifts to the poore, that their hearts might bee cheered also. Notable was the care of good Nehemiah, to this purpose. And so was Nehemiahs, that in the generall cause of ioy all might reioyce. Nehem. 5.Neh 5When the Church was deliuered out of captiuitie, and Ierusalem was building vp againe: and it fell out by reason of the inequalitie betweene the rich and the poore, that the rich, insteed of reioycing, the poore with their aboūdance and superfluitie, became very grieuous burdens vntounto them, by bringing them into slauerie and cruell oppression; To this end he perswades the rich to leaue their oppression. 8. verse.The good gouernour Nehemiah pleades the cause of the poore, and by his courage and example so prouideth, that in this generall cause of ioy, none might bee exempted. Thus doth hee plead for the poore against the mightie. We according to our habilitie hauehave redeemed our brethren the Iewes, which were solde vntounto the Heathen, that they also might reioyce with vsus: And will you sell them againe, or shall they be sold vntounto vsus, that they may be grieued, and we reioyce? So saith the Spirit, he stopped their mouthes, they held A good lesson for our oppressors.their peace, and could not answer. Oh that our oppressors and inclosers, were thus put to silence, that they were not able to answere their selling and thrusting out of the poore: Well, when he hath thus put them to silence, though hee might hauehave commanded (as he was their gouernour,) yet he falles to intreate them for a restitution in this case, that so the blessing of the poore might be vponupon them, and they might cause the hearts of the widowes to reioyce. And what followed herevpon? The rich are perswaded, and the poore are eased, and so the mouthes of all are opened to praise the Lord. But is this all? doth Nehemiah play the And himselfe enlargeth his compassion to the furtherance of this generall ioy.Pharise, that would lay a burthen vponupon others, which he would not beare himselfe? No surely, marke (I pray you) his tender compassion and charitie herein. Though he was no oppressour, and therefore could restore nothing, yet see how willing he is to part with his owne, yea euen with that which serued for the maintenance of his estate. In abating of his necessary allowance. 14. verse.For twelue yeares space (he professeth) that he had not eaten the bread of the gouernour. And whereas the former p. 41gouernours had beene chargeable to the people, by taking of their bread and wine, and he did not so: And he giues the reason, because he feared God. Not that simplie it is not lawfull for a religious Gouernour, to bee maintained by the common-wealth; for indeed it is most righteous and necessarie to be done. But the meaning is to confirme vsus this Though otherwise lawfull.rule, concerning equalitie of ioy, that in a case of extremitie, when others are in want; and wee by taking our vtmost due, may adde vntounto their affliction, if it shall please God But yet in such a case of extremity to remit of our right is an extraordinary note of the feare of God.to make vsus equall in the generall blessing, wherein all are to reioyce: we are so to dispose of our right in inferiour blessings, that they may be meanes to further vsus in the right entertainment of the greater, yeelding somewhat of our state and outward maintenance vntounto others (so as we may notwithstanding, leaue a competencie to our selues, to maintaine a reasonable port) that so they may ioyne with A good president for our Nehemiahs. VVhichWhich if they do not obserue they shall signifie they could hauehave beene willing the poore had beene swept away so they had escaped. And further prouoke to cry for vengeaunce while they are reioycing, so shall the Lord heare their cry and confound the others ioy. Let vsus not therefore, now God hath lengthned out our stewardships, beat our fellow seruants.vsus in this dutie of thanks-giuing, as they are ioyned with vsus in the blessing of the deliuerance: Otherwise wee shall not onelyonly signifie that wee could hauehave beene well ridde of them, that we had not cared, so the iudgement had swept them away, seeing we are escaped, as counting them burdens vntounto the land, and eye-sores vntounto vsus; but further also giuing them occasion of griefe, when we should all reioyce. This must needs follow herevpon, that they crying vntounto the Lord for vengeance against vsus, while we are reioycing in the Lord, for his mercies towards vsus: The Lord will heare their crye, and confound our ioy, by deliuering them out of trouble, and casting vsus in their stead. Oh that wee were wise to consider these things, that by this we would trye our ioy, whether it exceed or no: if it be the occasion of griefe vntounto others? Farre be it from vsus, that seeing the Lord hath preuented this mischiefe, and so hath lengthned the date of our Stewardships, therefore we shall fall to beating of our fellow seruants vponupon presumption, that our maister will now deferre his comming, because he hath so lately knocked at our doores, and so insteed of furthering the generall ioy, by the renuing of our liues, we shall p. 43yet send the poore into the house of mourning, and thereby Least our maister take vsus in our cruelty and giuegive vsus measure accordingly.make vp the measure of our sinne. (Surely saith our Sauiour) that seruants Maister will come in a day, when hee looketh not for him, and in an houre that he is not aware of, and will cut him off, and giuegive him his portion with hypocrites, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Lastly wouldst thou know, how thou maiest exceed 4. triall that we reioice too much, if we so re…oyce now, that we may not reioyce hereafter.in this ioy; Surely if thou doest so ioy now, that thou maiest not reioyce hereafter, either by exceeding in the outward meanes, whereby thy estate shall vnnecessarily be impaired, or else by giuing the bridle vntounto thy carnall affections; thou art hereby hindered in the wayes of godlinesse, and art decayed in thy zeale and courage for the truth. So that howsoeuer the Lord hath giuen thee thy desire, in deliuering VVhichWhich shall fall out if this deliuerance be the cause of our decay in Zeale. Math. 25.Matt 25thee from the hands of thine enemies yet he hath sent leannesse into thy soule, and that little which thou seemest to hauehave had, is taken away from thee, thou hast reioyced too much, and hast wilfully ryoted thy stock, which might hauehave serued thee all thy life long. Certainely, if wee shall but once learne how to reioyce aright, it will be a bountifull stock to maintaine vsus all our liues, not onelyonly when God doth Iob. 1.Job 1giuegive, (wherein vsually the wicked doe reioyce) but euen when God doth take away, which is the most excellent triall of an holy and constant ioy.

Examine therefore thy selfe on the other side, by the other extreame, how thou mayest reioyce too little, in this 2. Generall triall of reioycing too little.deliuerance and so for want of vessels the oyle may cease. Surely if thou doest so onelyonly reioyce in this deliuerance, cōferred vpō thee as that thou art not of Moses mind, that Num. 11. 29.Num 11:29all the Lords people may be partakers thereof: That thou doest not wish withall, a generall and finall deliuerie of the Church of God out of all her troubles, Nay, doest not labour in thy calling, the conuersion of thy brother, that he Luk. 22. 32.Luke 22:32may be deliuered from the bondage of Sathan: thy reioycing is too short, as wanting both faith in the promises of God, yea and louelove also, in not prouoking others to be partakers thereof? nay if thou art not so glad of the blessing p. 42which thou hast receiued, as that, though it doe not eueryevery way answer thine expectation, yet thou canst submit thy selfe, vntounto the measure that God hath allotted thee, & vsing the present good vntounto the glory of thy God, thou shalt waite with patience the increase thereof, not grudging at that little which thou hast in respect of others, but wisely considering how little thou hast deserued, yet also doest thou reioyce too little, because thou doest not reioyce in God, submitting thy selfe to his will: nay further, yet to sound thy conscience, if thou doest so onelyonly reioyce in the blessing thou hast receiued, as that thou art not prepared in thy heart to vndergoe the contrarie, if thy God hauehave a purpose to trie thee by the same: surely yet thy reioycing is too short, as not proceeding from true contentation, aswell to want, as to abound. Againe, if thou shalt so reioyce in the good thou Phil. 4. 12. 3. Triall of our reioycing too ittle.Phil 4:12Phil 4:3hast receiued, as not to be emptied in thy selfe, wholy in the conceit of thine owne worthinesse, and to acknowledge that thou art so farre frō deseruing this blessing, as that nothing is due vntounto thee, but shame and confusion of thy face: that thou hadst had thy desert if the enemy had preuailed, and God might hauehave beene glorified in thy iust confusion, because thou hast continually rebelled against him. Surely yet also thy reioycing is too short, as being not seasoned with true humility, for want whereof it shalbe taken frō thee.

Lastly, if thou canst so onelyonly reioyce in the blessing 4. Triall of our reioycing too little.thou hast receiued, as not to see further by the same, into the blessings of the life to come, that so thy ioy in this deliuerance, may bee a pledge vntounto thee of that full cup of ioy which shall tunne ouer in thy finall deliuerance, out of all thy troubles, so that the sight of that ioy (though it be a far off) shall yet so rauish thy heart with the feeling thereof, as that it shall vtterly drowne, and swallow vp all sense of present ioy, for any present blessing whatsoeuer, euen yet also thy ioy is too short, as being a blind and fading ioy, which Psal. 14.Ps 14cannot see a farre off, and indeed the portion which God hath giuen thee in this life, that so thou mayest not share with the godly in the life to come.

p. 44Oh consider this, wee that hauehave beene partakers of his great deliuerance, whether it hath wrought in our hearts such ioy which shall neuer be taken away from vsus. Certenly if we shall thus reioyce, we shall reioyce in the Lord, and then it followeth that we shall also trust in him, our ioy shall be the meanes to confirme our fayth, and our faith, shall be the meanes to confirme our ioy, that no man shalbe able to take it away from vsus. It followeth. And shall trust in him.

Lohere the sauing effect of all Gods mercies in his This is a fift effect of great deliuerances as being indeed the true seasoning of all the rest: and that wherein the saints do quiet their harts namelie trust & confidence in God. Rom. 14. 23. Psa. 33. 21. 1. Pet. 1. 9.Rom 14:23Ps 33:211 Pet 1:9children, they shall cause vsus to trust and waite vponupon our God, as beeing the onelyonly testimonie of our right in these blessings, beeing the most excellent try all of our true ioy in thē, Being a liuely euidence, that they are sanctified to vsus, & by experience of Gods mercy confirming our faith for the time to come: for neither hauehave we any right in Gods mercies, vnlesse wee receiue by faith, neither can we truely reioyce in them, vnlesse by faith we giuegive the glory vntounto God for them neither though we hauehave right vntounto them, shall they yet be sanctified vntounto vsus, vnlesse they be matter for the confirmation of our faith. As therefore we hauehave beene taught how to temper our ioy that it may bee matter how to increase our faith: so let vsus learne in a worde how to irye our faith, that so it may bee meanes of the increase of our ioy, that the end of our faith, may be the accomplishment of our ioy in the full saluation of our soules for euer.

There are the notes to trye our faith by. Is thy heart The trial therof. 1. In ouercomming all euill. 2. In obtayning eueryevery good. Euills are either 1. simply euill as finne 2. Euill by 1. Opinion, as 2. Afflictions, abuse, outward blessings.fixed and setled on God? then surely, there is no euill which thou shalt not vndercome, there is no good thing which thou shalt not be maister of. The euils that do vsually assault our faith are of two sorts, the first are such as are simply euil, and these are such temptations and sinnes that hang so fast vponupon vsus. The second are such things as beeing not euill in themselues are yet notwithstanding either by opinion or vse made euill vntounto vsus, those which are good in themselues, and yet euill by opinion, are such punishments and p. 45afflictions as from time to time, are inflicted vppon vsus. These which being good in themselues are made euill by abuse, are the temporal blessings of this life, as riches, honour, and such like: And to these in some sort may be referred the things that are called indifferent. Wouldst thou nowe Triall of faith in ouer comming of finne, because.try thy selfe whether thou bee in the faith or no? Examine first thy selfe by thy conquest, or sinne. If thou sayest, thou hast no sinne, thou deceiuest thy selfe. Trie therefore thy selfe by thy victories ouer sinne. Doth sinne assault thee & Satan intice, behold here is the victory of thy faith, that thou consentest not to that wicked one. Doest thou consent All are sinners. 1. Ioh. 1. 8. 1. Not to cons…nt1 John 1:81 John 1:1vntounto sinne and art deceiued by it? yet heere is the victory of thy faith, that thou runnest not willingly with thy full consent, but art drawne violently against the law of thy mind. Hast thou committed the sinne, and doest lie for a 2 Not fully, but with resistance. Rom 7. 23. 3. Not to limit sinne.Rom 7:23Rom 7:3time in it? yet here is the victory of thy faith, thou shalt be roused out of it. Not so much by the touch of thy conscience (for that is common to the wicked) as by the power of the spirit which wil raise thee vp againe. Doest thou fall againe into the same sinnes? yet behold herein is the victory 4. To weaken the power of sinne. Rom 7. …0.Rom 7of thy faith, they are not thy sinnes (because it is not thou, but sinne that dwelleth in thee) Nay, they are not the same sinnes, neither the same in quality, as hauing lost much of their former force. Neither the same in operations, working 5. Euen by our relapses.lesse hurt. Doest thou desire to bee freed from all sinne? Doest thou grone vnderunder the burthen, and 6. Desire of death, to be deliuered from sin. Rom. 7. 24. 1. Cor. 15.Rom 7:241 Cor 15cry out? O wretched man that thou art, who shall deliuer thee from this body of sinne? Behold heere is a meane victory of thy faith. Be it vntounto thee according as thou beleeuest, Corruption in due time, shalbe cloathed with Corruption. Thus maiest thou trye thy faith by thy sinnes, and in the seuerall victories thereof, confirme thy selfe therein, not by each of them seuerally, but by all of them in degrees: As the Lord, shall lead thee along in the experience of these conquests.

As for those euils which are so conceiued in the world, p. 46namely the euills of afflictions, which are iustly lead vponupon thee. Examine the victory of thy faith ouer these, euen by these rules. Art thou a christian, and is affliction thy portion? Let this be the first triall of thy faith, to prepare Preparing vsus to them before they come. 2. Tim. 3. 13. 1. Pet. 5. 7. Submitting vsus to them when they come. Psa. 37. 7. 1. By following our cal…ings therein. Psa. 37. 4.2 Tim 3:131 Pet 5:7Ps 37:7Ps 37:1Ps 37:4thy soule vntounto them: Put it in thy reckoning, if thou wilt liue godly in Christ Iesus, that thou must necessarily suffer great afflictions. Art thou entred into the combate, and wouldst thou hauehave a triall of a conquest? First submit thy selfe willingly vnderunder the mighty hand of GOD, that thou maiest witnesse thy submission, be are paciently what thy Lord hath laid vponupon thee that thy patience may bee exercised, Lay voluntary afflictions vponupon thy selfe, follow thy calling euen in thy greatest troubles.

GiueGive not thy bodie to fretting at the prosperity of others, 2. and examining ourselues dayly to find out the cause. Psa. 37. 1.Ps 37:1but fall to examining thy selfe, why it is thus with thee. Hauing found out the cause eyther Sinne, or Tryall; If sinne bee the cause by repentance remoue it: If Tryall bee the cause, to make experience of Gods graces in thee, examine thy selfe, againe how thou hast vsed the blessings of GOD, see whether some rust of negligence or corruption, hath not fastned vponupon thee: If thou shalt find it so, yeeld thy selfe willingly to the tryall, Psa. 34. So shalt thou become conquerer on them all.Ps 34follow thy GOD in purging out thy drosse, so at length thy righteousnesse shall breake out as the light, and thy wel doing as the noone day.

And thus shall thy faith triumph in all these troubles, Though thou art afflicted, yet shalt thou not bee in distresse; persecuted thou maiest bee; but thou shalt not 2. Cor. 4. 9.2 Cor 4:9be forsaken, cast downe thou shalt bee, and yet thou shalt not perish, die thou doest continually, and yet behold thou liuest; neuer free from sorrow, and yet alwaies reioycing, beeing poore thy selfe, and yet making manie rich, 2. Cor. 6. 7. 8. 9.2 Cor 6:72 Cor 6:82 Cor 6:9hauing nothing, and yet possessing all things, though the outward man perish, yet thy inward man is renewed dayly, and these light afflictions which are but for a moment causeth p. 472. Cor. 4. 16. 172 Cor 4:162 Cor 4:17vntounto thee a farre more excellent and eternall weight of glory.

Thus shalt thou not onelyonly in affliction, be more then a Conquerour, through the Supporting hand of GOD giuing Rom. 8 37.Rom 8:37testimony vntounto thyne innocencie, euen in the face of thine enemies

But further also by trusting in GOD thou shalt be deliuered out of them all, not onelyonly from such snares as are layde to intrappe thee in this life, but through faith thou shalt in the ende, hauehave a full conquest ouer them all: GOD shall wipe away all teares from thine eies, Reu. 12. 5. In this life so far as shall make for thy good.Rev 12:5there shalbe no more death, nor sorrowe, nor crying. For GOD shall tread Sathan, and all thine enemies vnderunder thy feete.

Lo heere the victory of thy faith ouer all thy troubles, by which thou mayest try thy selfe whether thou art in the faith or no. As thy faith, (if it be found) will vphold thee in all thy troubles, that thou sincke not vnderunder them, and deliuer thee also, so farre out of them, in this life, as shall stand with Gods glory and And finally by death out of them all.thine, especial aduantage, so will it not leaue thee, till it hauehave freed thee from all thy troubles, and offered thee vp in marriage for euer vntounto thy bridgrome Christ Iesus.

Thus shall thy faith inable thee to triumphe ouer all afflictions, and so shall it teach thee the right vse This shall it also further them, the ouer comming of such euills as are incident to outward blessings. Teaching thee to set a true rate vponupon them.of these outward things that so they may not bee snares and euills vntounto thee.

It shall teach thee first to rate them at their iust and true value, neither so to ouerprize them, as to thinke none like vntounto them, as Esau did, that so wee may loose the better blessings: Neither so to vnderrate them as not to account them the good blessings of GOD, for which wee must not giuegive accoumpt at the daye of the comming of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ. p. 48Our faith hauing taught vsus to giuegive them their true worth, will heereby also direct vsus, for the holy obtaining of them, both in respect of the right order (which is to be obserued 1. To procure them by holy order 2. by true meanes and 3. in a right measure.therein) as also in the meanes, that must further vsus to the same, and also in the measure of our seeking these blessings: concerning the order, it hath this rule out of the word. First seeke the kingdom of heauen & the righteousnesse therof, and all other things shall be cast thereunto. Whereby wee are A rule for the order. Math. 6. 36. To seeke them in the second place, and: 2. VVith condicion submitting thy will, to the wil of God. 1. Tim. 5. 8.Matt 6:361 Tim 5:8taught, as to seeke, first the best things that so wee may hauehave a right in these: so not to neglect these things altogither, though now they shalbe cast vponupon vsus, vponupon presumption of Gods prouidence, if wee follow the better: but to remember we hauehave a calling to be imployed in, and supplied also by these things, which if we neglect, we are worse then infidells, which we must follow that we may be humbled thereby. So hath GOD disposed the obtaining of these things, and so is faith guided in the right order, of procuring of thē. The triall is that. 1. our seeking of these things do not hinder our enioying of the better. 2 that though God hath Triall of this right and orderly seeking. 1 If they doe hinder vsus in the better things but that our spirituall gaine exceed our carnall. 2. If wee spend more time in seeking the other, thē these things, we may imagine otherwise. Faiths assistance herein.allotted vsus (as we may foolishly imagine) six dayes for these things, & but one for the other, yet we imploy more time in seeking the things of the soule, thē the things of the body; yea indeede in the seeking of these outward things which concerne this life, we may hauehave this testimonie, as that we shal in these seeke onelyonly greater things. And herein our faith doeth helpe vsus exceedingly, as both assuring vsus that wee seeke these thinges not for themselues; no not so much for our owne vse as for Gods glory (whose good blessings they are) and therefore, that wee may yeeld obedience to his commandements: and not despise his blessings. Therfore, wee accompt them worth the seeking, and also in the seeking of them, thus resoluing our consciences that we seeke them not for themselues to rest in them, but that they may bee stepps vntounto vsus for greater blessings, euen such as do concerne the saluation of our soules. Thus doeth our faith teach vsus to seeke them in a right order: and so enableth vsus to ouercome hereby many dangerous euills, that in our prepoststerous p. 49seeking of these things doe vsually ouertake vsus, and thereby makes these good blessings euill vntounto vsus. For hereby as idlenesse and negligence is condemned, euen 1. Idlenes.in those that thinke they hauehave a priuiledge hereunto, in regard of a more excellent calling, whereby they either faile in the obtaining of these things, or els hauehave them cast vponupon them as a curse, and not a blessing: so the false ground hereof (euen presumption in Gods prouidence) is also wisely reiected, hereby faithlesse and greedie hunting 2. Greediecouetousnes which is the cause of many evills.after these things, is also conuinced, whereby making haste to be rich, wee cannot bee innocent …and so the bloud of the poore b…ing in our houses, bring a curse both vponupon them and the owners thereof: yea, further also, this euill followeth herevpon; that ouer hastie getting, shall be punished with two slow spending: wee, which were so distrustfull in 1. Mingling blood with our riches.getting, shalbe as faithlesse in keeping: both for louelove of that, which wee hauehave got, and for louelove also vntounto our selues, whereby fearing want, (where there is such fulnesse) wee therefore depriue our selues of the present comfort: either vponupon a malicious ioy, that we shall hauehave it when others do 2. Faithlesse keeping.want, or vponupon a desperate feare, that wee may heereafter want our selues. All which euills, as verie happilie, doeth our faith ouercome in guiding vsus in the right order of seeking these blessings (as heretofore hath beene showen) so doeth it further also guide vsus, in the true meanes, for the 3. Feareful loosing.obtaining of them, and so ouercometh such euills as are incident heereunto. To this end it hath his rule from the giuer of all blessings, who teacheth vsus to pray, GiueGive vsus this day our daylie bread, thereby implying that as they are not Faiths rule against these euils VVhichWhich is praier Luk. 11. 3.Luke 11:3ours but the free gift of God, so wee must seeke them as gifts, not in the confidence of our worthinesse, but in the affiance of Gods merciemercy. And in that we must pray for the obtayning of them, the Spirit signifieth, that as to the obtayning of them, wee must not onelyonly vse bodyly labour, but Spirituall too (as being the right and effectuall meanes to preuaile with our God for them) and a testimonie also of our right and interest in them: so when wee hauehave p. 50obtained them (as many are borne to great possessions, and therefore, because they hauehave them without bodily labour, therfore they care not for the other meanes to estate Tea euen they that hauehave them left vntounto them. 1. Tim. 4. 5.1 Tim 4:5them truely in them) yet also must we further intitle, and secure our estate in them, by spirituall meanes, as by prayer, and the word, being onelyonly sanctified and so secured vntounto vsus. Whereby it shall come to passe, that seeking them by these true and holy meanes, either wee shall obtaine what wee seeke, or what is answerable vntounto it, to the glory of God, So shal we either hauehave what we aske, or what is answereable to it. So shall we learne to keepe them. And to vse them aright.and our greater aduantage: by which we shall learne, if we hauehave not these things, not to condemne God, but our selues, as hauing not vsed the right meanes in obtaining them: and if wee hauehave them, seeing they are kept by the same meanes that they are gotten; therefore we shall also learne to preserue them by prayer, and such spirituall meanes: whereby wee may both be blessed in the true vse of them, and also assured of the continuance of them, so farre as they shall make for our good, and the glorie of God. Thus doth thy faith enable thee to preuent these euils: and thus doth it also guide thee, in the true measure of seeking these things: that liuing by faith & not by sence, & thereby finding, 2. Cor. 5. 7.2 Cor 5:7that life consisteth not in aboundance, but in the blessing of God, we shall so seeke these things in their true qualitie, as Math. 6.Matt 6they are fitte and agreeable vntounto our natures and callings: and wee shall also seeke them in their true measure, such as may stand with our callings, necessities, and present occasions; yet subordinated to an holy care of our posteritie, So wee hauehave a care of posterity, subordinated to the speciall prud…nce of God. VVhichWhich shalbe perceiued by true contentationin what wee hauehave.and the speciall prouidence of God, watching so alwayes ouer vsus, that if he hauehave giuen vsus his sonne, he will also together with him, giuegive vsus all these things: and contenting our selues, with that right wee hauehave in them, that though all are not fitte for vsus, yet all are ours, to bee in such measure supplyed vntounto vsus, as may iustifie aboundantly our right in them, and make them pledges vntounto vsus of greater blessings.

Thus doth our faith direct vsus in the right seeking of p. 51these blessings, concerning the qualitie and measure thereof, and so teacheth vsus to ouercome many euils, which for want of this true proportion wee fall into, and so make these blessings euill vntounto vsus: not onelyonly that euill desire of money, (which is the roote of all euill, and makes thy riches a pitte to drowne thee in) but further also, the 1. Tim. 6. 10. 1. The euil desire of mony and the cause thereof. 2. The ignorance of our selues, and the cause therof 3. Selfe louelove.1 Tim 6:101 Tim 6:1cause of this euill, namely the ignorance of thy selfe, and what is fit for thee, yea further also, the fruite of this euill, euen selfe-louelove of thy selfe, as conceiuing thy selfe worthy of the best, and therefore thou wilt seeke with the best, why shouldst not thou hauehave as much as hee: wherevpon follow two other euills, Enuie against thy neighbour, (whose portion is fatter then thine,) and murmuring against GOD, that in thy opinion deales not so bountifully with his childe, as with prophane Esau. All these temptations, thy faith maketh thee to ouercome; and yet further directeth thee to vse the blessing; It teacheth Math. 25.Matt 25thee to vse it, not to bury it in the ground, because it was giuen thee to that end: In respect of thy selfe, it teacheth thee to vse it soberly, euen so to vse it as though thou vsed it not, making it thy seruant for thy better occasions, and 1. Cor. 7. 31.1 Cor 7:31not thy maister, eyther by too sparing, or ryotous abuse of it: In respect of others, it teacheth thee to cast thy bread vponupon the waters, plentifully to distribute, and yet Eccle. 11. 1.Eccl 11:1not without hope of requitall, though not from man (for this were to liue by sense) yet from a bountifull GOD, whereby wee approue our selues truely to liue the life of faith.

And that wee may vndoubtedly binde the Lord vntounto vsus, beholde here a further power of faith, teaching vsus as to bee contented with what wee hauehave, so to returne 1. Cor. 10. 32. 1. Thes. 5. 22.1 Cor 10:321 Thess 5:22the glorie thereof in thankefulnesse vntounto our GOD. By which wee shall not onelyonly auoide distrustfull care in the keeping, and feare for the losse of these earthly and transitorie things, (Two euills that doe make our possession theft, and which turnes our enioying into sorrow) p. 52but further also, wee shall not feare to giuegive vp our account for them, as hauing laid vp in store a good foundation for our selues by them, against the time to come, 1. Tim. 6. 19.1 Tim 6:19whereby we may obtaine eternall life. And that nothing may be wanting for our full comfort herein: as by faith, we are taught to vse these blessings aright, so by scattering Pro. 11. 24. And hereby also furthering vsus.Prov 11:24thus the blessings that the Lord hath bestowed vponupon vsus, on our selues soberly, on others plentifully, on our God thankfully, the holy Ghost witnesseth, that wee shall hauehave plentie, and aboundance; the oyle in the cruse, and the meale in the By these things to la… a good fou…dation against the day of Christ.battell shall not be wasted, vntill the Lord bring thee to that plentie, where there shall bee no more neede of these things Thus shall thou fight, the good fight of faith, against all the difficulties that may assault thee, in these outward things, and so ouercoming such euilles as by abuse they are incident vntounto, that little which thou hast, shall be better then great riches of the vngodly, as being a furtherance vntounto thee, of that durable riches, and neuer fading honour which remaines with, thee for euer in the kingdome Psa 37 16. Psa. 8. 18.Ps 37:16Ps 8:18of heauen.

And now enlarge thy heart, and consider yet further the wonderfull conquests of thy faith: What good thing is there, which heauen and earth doeth afford, which is not ours by the power of a liuely faith? What should I tell you of the creatures of GOD? the Creator himselfe is ouercome by faith. Howe doeth the prayer of the faithfull Not onelyonly the streames. Iames 5. 16. Exod. 32. But the fountaine A…mightie god who by faith is bound vntounto vsus.Jas 5:16Exod 32preuaile, if it be feruent? are the heauens opened and shut by faith? Yea, hell it selfe, and all the powers thereof are subiect thereunto. Is this the victorie of our faith, that it ouercometh the world? Nay, herein behold the glorious conquest thereof that it ouercometh him, that made the world. Let me alone (saith God vn…o Moses) where he p…aied vntounto him for the people: So strongly had Moses tied the Lord vntounto him by his faithfull prayer. What can wee desire more? Behold heere the victorie of faith, and learne to try thy selfe by these things, whether this deliuerance hath confirmed thy faith in God, whether thou bee in the, p. 53faith, or no? And for our further triall and conclusion of these meditations consider wee, what the holy Ghost addeth. And all that are vpright in heart shall reioyce.

Therein (as I take it) giuing vsus a notable touchstone to Psa. 73. 1. Math. 5. 8. The soundnes of the heart is the tryall of true righteousnes. Pro. 23. 26. Psa. 51. 12. 1 Because the heart is that which as God requires first so he fits it that it may beworthilie giuen vntounto him.Ps 73:1Matt 5:8Prov 23:26Ps 51:12Ps 51:1discerne that true righteousnesse which is of faith, namely by the soundnes and vprightnesse of the heart. So doth the spirit describe those that are truel… righteous & so may true righteousnesse best be iudged, euen frō the soūdnes & sincerity of the heart, for as the heart is that which principally God requires as knowing that if it be giuen vp vntounto him, the rest will follow. So is it that, which first he fittes, that it may be yeelded vp vntounto him, as an acceptable sacrifice vntounto his Maiestie, by purifiing the same by faith, through the Ministerie of the word. And seeing the heart is the fountaine, and originall of all our actions, therefore the fountaine being purged, the streames must needes be pure, and though happily (through imperfection) they may in part be polluted, yet seeing the fountaine is purged, therefore certenly shall the streames one day bee clensed also, and in 2. The heart is the roote and fountaine. And if the roote be holy the braunches are holy too. 2. Cor. 8. 12. 1. Ioh. 3. 21.2 Cor 8:121 John 3:21the meane time wee shall bee accepted, not according to the streame of our outward actions, but answerable to the fountaine, euen the purpose of our hearts. And surely seeing we hauehave heerein onelyonly boldnesse before GOD, ene…y the testimonie of our conscience, that it doeth not condemne vsus: and this, not so much in regard of the present puritie thereof (which is imperfect) as in that by faith wee still lay hold vponupon Iesus Christ, in whome onelyonly we hauehave 3. Our boldnes before God proceeds from the euidence of the heart.boldnesse to approach the throne of grace, and by whome we are assured of full perfection. And seeing, wee can hauehave no comfort in what wee doe, nor incouragement to goe forward, vnlesse wee hauehave the approbation of our conscience for the same, if now our righteousnesse should 4. VVithout which wee hauehave no comfort in any outward action. Heb. 10. 21. 22.Heb 10:21Heb 10:22only bee measured by the outward action, and not by the inward purpose of the heart, what boldnesse could wee haué before GOD? seeing our best righteousnesse so measured is as a menstrous cloath. What comfort could p. 54wee hauehave in our outward well doing, seeing, our vines bring forth so small grapes? Besides this, howe should I cleare my self from the note of hypocrisie, if I had not an euidence 4. By this triall of our righteousnes we are freed from hipocrisie.frō my heart, to iustifie my sinceritie, seeing the hypocrite may for a time make a fairer shew then possiblely the sound Christian? Nay howe shall I bee established against such slanders and reproches, as are fastned vponupon me? how possibly shall I not sinke vnderunder the burden of these 5. And comforted against all reproches and slanders whatsoeuer.imputations, if my righteousnesse were onelyonly measured by my good name, (which is procured by my outward actions,) and not by the sincerity of my heart in the sight of God? Oh this is it that makes the children of God not to esteeme to bee iudged of men, because their hearts are cleare, they know nothing by themselues: this makes them to disclame 1. Cor 4. 4.1 Cor 4:4the verdict of men, in the court of the world, and to flie to the approbation of the Lord in the court of their consciences. By which as deceiuers in the opinion of men, yet 2. Cor. 6. 8.2 Cor 6:8they are true in the sight of God, their conscience bearing them witnesse of the sinceritie of their outward action, though it bee mingled with much corruption, and performed with much weakenesse. So the sinceritie of their heart, doeth not onelyonly approue them, in the sight of God, but doeth also imbolden them, euen against the forces of men, that so they may not be discouraged in their greatest weakenesse, but the power of their sound conscience approuing what is done, doeth thereby prouoke them to 2. Tim. 4. 7. 8. And so at length hauing finished our course, obtaine the crowne.2 Tim 4:72 Tim 4:8a further measure of well doing, that so hauing finished their course with ioy, they may in the end attaine that crowne of glory which is laid vp for them, which Iesus Christ the iust shall giuegive them at that day. Behold here the euidence of this truth, concerning the triall of our righteousnesse, namely, the foundnesse and sinceritie of our hearts.

If now hauing proued a soūd heart, to be the touchstone of true righteousnesse, a further triall shall bee required Now may this sincerity of heart be tryee. Iere. 17.Jer 17howe this sound heartmay bee knowne: surely, seeing the heart of man is deceitfull aboue al things, who can know it, p. 55and the searching thereof, doeth onelyonly belong to God, therefore as we dare not vndertake herein any certen determination concerning the hearts of others, yet because the Lord doth vouchsafe vsus the assurance of our saluation in this life, the test mony whereof especially proceedeth from the spirit of God, witnessing vntounto our spirits that we are his children: as by this we are sure of the soundnesse of our Rom. 8. 19.Rom 8:19owne hearts, so do we not want many excellent markes of this inward sincerity.

Wouldst thou therfore know whether thy heart be sincere or no? Consider first the meanes whereby it is purged, Act. 15. 9. Rom. 10. 17.Acts 15:9Rom 10:17namely by faith, applying vntounto vsus the blood of Christ Iesus, and …eeing that faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God: Therefore if thou wouldst hauehave a testimony of the ground worke of sincerity in thy heart, thou must be sure to fetch it from the power of the word. Nowe that thou maiest hauehave a testimony that thy heart is purged by this meanes, obserue herein the operation of the 1. It broke the heart. 2. Send vsus out of our selues. 3. Settle vsus in Christ.word vponupon thee: hath the word broken thy heart, and sent thee out of thy selfe, causing thee to hunger after Iesus Christ? Behold he that inuites the broken heart to come vntounto him, and promiseth our release of that heauy burden, is now ready to entertaine thee, and will reioyce thy heart by his gratious presence: Nowe shalt thou bee at 4. In whome we become new creatures.peace with God, and reioyce in the spirit, and this ioy shall no man take away. Art thou in Christ Iesus rooted, & grounded in him now shalt thou grow vp in newnesse of life, If thy heart beleeue to righteousnesse, thy mouth 5. And so shall bring forth fruit accordingly.shall also confesse to saluation, and thy whole life shalbe a sacrifice of obedience vntounto GOD. Thou shalt be zealous for thy GOD, without guile in thy calling, humble in thy carriage, patient in thy troubles, tender hearted vntounto thy brethren: charitable vntounto thine enemies: Constant shalt thou be, in thy profession, and yet fearefull of thy standing: Thou shalt reioyce in the Saints, and be grieued at the wicked: obedient shalt thou be vntounto authority, & yet preferre God before men: desirous of death in respect of thy sin, p. 56and yet willing to liue in respect of others, not standing at a stay in these things, but still growing in grace, not wedded to the In thankfulnes to GOD. To make sure our election. To stoppe the mouthes of the wicked. To gaine & hold the weake brethren.world, but stil waining thy selfe from it, that so in the end thou maiest be deliuered out of the same. Thus shalt thou be able to try the soundnesse of thy heart by the meanes and seuerall fruits thereof, and thus if thy heart bee right, shalt thou reioyce in Gods mercies as being very gratious recō pences of thy syncerity in this life, and very vndoubted pledges vntounto thee of euerlasting happines, in the life to come.

Euen so Lord, may all that are true in heart, re…oyce in thy mercies, which thou hast shewen vntounto vsus in this great deliuerance, as in an vndoubted euidence, that thou art Conclusion.yet good vntounto Israel, so also a certaine assurance that thou wilt neuer faile vsus nor forsake vsus, but will deliuer thy Church out of all her troubles. That the assurance hereof quieting our hearts in thee, wee may not bee troubled with any euill tidings, but continuing constant in our holy profession, euen in the greatest rage of all thine and our aduersaries, we may cheerefully runne the race that is set before vsus, that hauing fought the good fight of faith, & ha uing finished our course, we may in thy good time, reape the fruit of our labours, and being taken away from the euils to come, may for euer be ioyned with our head Christ Iesus, To whom with thine owne maiesty, and God the the blessed spirit, be rendred and ascribed of vsus, and of thy whole Church, all honour, praise, dominion, power, and maiestie, with all humble and hearty thanksgiuing now and for euermore. Amen.

FINIS.

End of the text · Thomas Cooper, A Brand Taken out of the Fire (1606)