Sermon 5 April 1628, Sermon

Sermon 5 April 1628 · Sermon

p. 1HEB. 11. 7.

By Faith Noah being warned of God of things not ſeene as yet, moved with feare, prepared an Arke, to the ſaving of his Houſe.

IN the latter end of the former Chapter, the Apoſtle had exhorted vntounto perſeverance in the faith. To preſſe this home the better, he ſhewes the excellency of the grace of Faith.

That he ſhewes

1. By the excellency of it, in it ſelfe conſidered. Verſ. 1, 2, 3.

2. By a Cloud of witneſſes, by the examples of all their fore-fathers in both the Worlds, the World before, and after the Flood.

By all thoſe examples giuing them to vnderſtand that all the goodly things that their Fathers had, or did, they were beholding vntounto faith for them. It is the Apoſtles purpoſe in this Chapter to ſet the garland vponupon the head of faith, and for the making of this garland, he picks and gathers all the moſt choyce and godly flowers that growe ſcattered through the garden of the Scriptures, and ſo crownes Faith p. 2therewith, to make it a louely, and an amiable grace in the eyes of all.

This ſeauenth verſe contaynes the example of the Faith of Noah, who was the laſt Patriarch of the old, and the firſt of the new World. In the verſe we hauehave conſiderable, two ſpeciall things.

1. Gods gracious goodneſſe and mercy to Noah,

In giuing warning.

Being warned of God.

2. Noahs great wiſedome in taking warning.

This wiſedome of his is ſet forth in three degrees,

1. He beleeues the warning giuen him. By Faith being warned, &c.

2. He feares it: Moued with feare.

3. He makes good vſe of the warning, and therevpon followes the Counſell of God.

For God did not only giuegive him warning of the danger, but gaue him alſo counſell, and direction, how to ſecure himſelfe from the danger, and he taking the fayre warning, takes alſo the good counſell, and prepares an Arke: And all theſe be three degrees of one and the ſame thing, each iſſuing and flowing out of other. God giues warning therefore. 1. He beleeues. 2. His faith, breedes feare of the calamity approaching. 3. His feare breeds a care of the preſeruation of himſelfe, and family. Why builds he an Arke to ſaue his houſe? Becauſe he feared: Why doth hee feare? Becauſe hee beleeues Gods warning: God warnes him, therefore he beleeues: He beleeues therefore he feares: He feares therefore hee prouides agaynſt a rainy day, and takes a courſe to hide himſelfe, and his family in the day of wrath. For the firſt: Gods mercy and goodneſſe to Noah. Being warned of God.

p. 3The old World was growne to an horrible hight of iniquity. The Children of God, the poſterity of …h, made mongrell matches with the daughters of men, the poſterity of Caine. Thoſe mongrell matches brought forth a monſtrous brood, who defiled, and polluted the very earth. God ſaw the earth ſo defiled with their villanies, that he determines to bring ſuch a iudgement vponupon the earth, as ſhould not only ſweepe thoſe monſters from off the earth, but ſuch an one as ſhould lay the earth a ſoake, and ſhould waſh and wrince it from the filth and defilement where-with they had corrupted it. God hauing ſet downe this determination, he doth not preſently put it in execution; but firſt acquaints Noah with his purpoſe, and giues him warning of it, and that to this end, that he might giuegive the world warning. For as God by immediate reuelation, gaue Noah warning; ſo Noah by preparing the Arke, gaue the World warning of a iudgment comming, and that vnleſſe ſome courſe was taken to preuent it, they were all in danger to bee ſwept away with a Flood; from which courſe of Gods: Learne.

Gods faire dealing in the adminiſtration, and execution of Iuſtice: Seldome or neuer doth God bring generall iudgements vponupon a people, but he giues them faire warning. Hee doth not ſtrike men at vnawares, and ſuddainly ſurpriſe them, without any notice giuen of his purpoſes. Ezech. 33. 3. When the ſword comes vppon the Land, hee muſt blow the Trumpet, and warne the people. The Prophet verſe 7. Muſt heare the Word at Gods mouth, and warne them from him. Yea, ſo carefull is God that it be done, that if in p. 4caſe it be neglected, he threatens to reckon ſharply with thoſe whom hee betruſts with that office, verſ. 8. God will require blood at ſuch mens hands. God doth not ſnatch vp the ſword into his hand, and preſently cut men of; but Pſal. 7. 12. Firſt, God whets his ſword, bends his bow, makes it ready; prepares the instruments of death. And all this whetting time, the time of making ready, and preparing, is a warning time. God whets, and makes ready in mens ſight, and in mens hearing, that the very noyſe of his whetting, may giuegive them warning of his intentions. And Deut. 32. 41, 42. God firſt Whets his Sword before it devoures fleſh; and God firſt takes hold on iudgement, before his judgements take hold on men.

God liu'd by his owne rule, and by the ſame Law, he gaue his people in their warres. Deuter. 20. 10. 13. Hee would not hauehave them fall foule preſently vppon their enemies, but they muſt deale fairely with them. And it was the benefit of this Law, that the wiſe woman of Abel challenged at the hands of Ioab, 2. Sam. 20. 18. and blames him that hee was come to ſwallow vp, and neuer according to the ancient Law of Armes giues them any parley, or warning of his purpoſes. So fairely deales God in his infinite goodneſſe with men, before hee comes to ſwallow vp, and to deſtroy; hee firſt giues warning, and offers fayre quarter. Therefore, Hoſ. 5. 8. God blowes the Trumpet before he drawes the ſword; not a Trumpet for an Alarme, and for the battle; but a Trumpet to giuegive warning that a battle is like to come. God hath his warning peeces; and his murdering peeces: God neuer diſchargeth his murdering, till hee p. 5hauehave diſcharged his Warning ones.

The King of Syria his plot and policy, was ſuddenly and at unawares, to ſurpriſe the King of Iſrael. 2. King. 6. 8. He would go covertly, and cloſly to work leaſt the King of Iſrael having intelligence of his deſigne, he might thereby fruſtrate his action. God goes not ſo covertly to worke, but as one that would be willing to be kept off, and put by, he himſelfe giues intelligence of his intentions, hee doth afore-hand acquaint men with his projects. Ier. 18. 11, Behold I frame evill againſt you, and deviſe a device againſt you. Thus God deales, and giues warning.

1. That if it be poſſible, men might bee brought to … Repentance, as might prevent the threatned e…. Ier. 18. 11.

2. That he may provide for the good of his owne. Sometimes God will deliver ſome of his people from … calamity. Sometimes he will hauehave ſome of them …dergo it. In reference to both, he giues warning.

1. To ſuch as ſhall be delivered in the day of wrath: … wrath ſhould come without warning, it might …de of Gods owne people, from vnderunder couert, and … they might prooue a prey to the judgement. Exod. …. 18, 19. God had a purpoſe that many of the Egyp…s ſervants and Cattle ſhould eſcape, and not bee …ayne, in that terrible ſtorme of fire and hayle. God …erefore giues warning of the ſtorme, that ſo they …ight be houſed that ſhould eſcape. If they had had … warning, they had heene abroad in the fields; and … in the fields when the ſtorme came, they had pe…ht inevitably. God hath a purpoſe in a ſtorme to … ſome of his, therefore hee giues them warning p. 6that they may get an houſe ouer their heads before the ſtorme come. What had Noah beene better then all the reſt of the vngodly World, if God had not giuen him warning: God warned him that hee might be ſafe in the evill day. When iudgements come, and are walking abroad, God would hauehave his people within doores, in their Chambers, their doores ſhut vponupon them. Iſ. 26. 20, 21. and therefore to this end giues them warning. 2. In reference to ſuch as ſhall vndergoe common calamity, God giues them warning that they may lay in, and lay vp that which may ſupport and vphold them in the time of diſtreſſe. God would hauehave the demeaner and behauiour of his people in the day of calamity be different from other mens. He would hauehave them be of erected ſpirits, free from thoſe diſtreſſing perplexities, that others ſhalbe ſwallowed vp withall. Therefore hee giues warning that ſo they may gather that which may ſtrengthen them at ſuch a time: certainely if God ſhould giuegive no warning, there would bee little difference ſeene and diſcerned betweene the righteous, and the wicked; betweene him that ſerueth God, and him that ſerues him not. Mal. 3. 18. Little difference would bee ſeene in their carriages vnderunder the preſſures of calamity: You ſhould ſee EueryEvery man with his hands on his loynes, as a Woman in trauaile, and all faces turned into paleneſse. Ier. 30. 6. God would hauehave his people hauehave more blood in their faces, then the common ſort wil hauehave in ſuch a time. God would not hauehave Faith and Religion ſo pale faced, and ſo white liuer'd, as ciuility, and morality, will be at ſuch a time. Therefore God giues them warning, that ſo their prouiſions may be p. 7ſuch agaynſt the day of euill; as that their carriages may be maſculine, beſeeming God and Religion.

3. That God may be iuſtified, and cleare, when he iudges. Pſal. 51. 4. Talis non vis flagellari cum mundo, aut flagellatus murmuras ſub flagello? Serue male, feciſti quod Dominus iuſſit, qui ne vapulares, iſta flagella ante tibi praedixit? August. de tem. Barb.God doth it to gag, and to muzzle the mouth of iniquity; and to put to ſilence the cauelling ignorance of fooliſh men. What can be pleaded agaynſt the iuſtice of Gods proceedings, when God may ſay to men, as Reuben to his brethren. Gen. 42. 22. Did not I warne you, ſaying, ſin not.

Queſt. How doth God giuegive warning of wrath, and iudgements comming?

Anſ. 1. God giues warning many wayes.

1. By extraordinary, and immediate Reuelation. Thus was Noah heere warned of God, foreign. The ſame word that is vſed of the warning giuen to the wiſemen Math. 2. 12. foreign, warned of God. God in a dreame immediately warned them. And thus were all the Prophets warned of God, of the iudgements that were to come vponupon the Iewes, and other Nations. And thus ſpecially is that to be vnderſtood. Amos 3. 7. Surely the Lord God will doe nothing, but he reueales his ſecrets vntounto his ſeruants the Prophets. God by the extraordinary reuelation of his ſpirit, gaue them warning what hee meant to doe. Thus God made knowne to Nebucadnezar what ſhould come to paſſe afterwards. Daniel 2. 29.

2. By prodigious ſignes, and ſtrange wonders, both in Heauen and earth. God calls his worke of iudgement, a ſtrange worke; and a strange act. Iſa. 28. 21. And when God doth theſe strange acts, and workes of nationall iudgements, hee giues warnings many times thereof by ſome ſtrange precurſory ſignes p. 6duplicate page p. 7duplicate page p. 6duplicate page p. 7duplicate page p. 8and prodigies: Commonly ſome ſtrange praemonitory ſignes fore runne, ſtrange executions of iuſtice: We hauehave a text for it. Luke 21. 11. Great earthquakes ſhalbe in diuerſe places, and famines, and pestilences, and fearefull fights; and great ſignes ſhall there bee from Heauen: And ſo it came to paſſe before the deſtruction of Ieruſalem by a prodigious comet, and other fearefull ſights God gaue them warning of their approaching ruine.

Wee ſhall ſeldome finde any calamitous time to hauehave befallen this kingdome which hath not had a fore-warning giuen of it by ſome prodigious things ſuch as was the rayning of blood at Yorke, ſometime before the Danes entrance into the Land, and others many of the like nature, as they know well that are but any thing ſeene into our Chronicles. And what inconuenience can it be to coniecture, that God by that prodigious blazing Starre, Anno 1618. gaue the churches warning of the heavie and lamentable times that hauehave ſince enſued, & yet happily are to enſue. God had a ſtrange worke, and a ſtrange act, to doe, and he gaue warning of it by as ſtrange a blazing Starre as had bin ſeene in many ages. God ſpeakes by all ſuch ſignes, and therefore wee reade of the words of Gods ſignes and wonders, Pſal. 105. 27. ſo the words are originally. And ſo of the voyce of his ſignes, Exod. 4. 8. If they will not hearken to the voyce of the firſt ſigne. Therfore Gods ſignes hauehave wordes, hauehave a voyce they ſpeake not onelyonly to our eyes, but to our eares alſo. They are not onelyonly to be gazed upon, but to bee hearkened to, Pſal. 106. 7. Our fathers vnderſtood not thy wonders in Egypt, Gods wonders then hauehave a language, and they p. 9are not onelyonly to bee lookt vppon, but their language muſt be vnderſtood. Now their words are Monitory words, their language is a Monitory language, and they giuegive vsus warning that ſome great iudgements are at hand.

3. God giues warning by the Miniſtery of the word. Though Gods miniſters hauehave not an Oraculous warning by Immediate Revelation; yet they may ſee an evill in the cauſes, as a ſtorme in the black cloudes, and by conſidering, and comparing things preſent, with things paſt, and looking into Gods ancient wayes may ſee in the general that miſchiefe is comming, and ſo from God giuegive warning. Eliſha hath his ſword as well as Iehu, and Hazael. 1. Reg. 19. 17. And when Eliſha vnſheathes and brandiſhes his ſword, it is a faire warning that the ſword of Iehu, and Hazael are at hand. God cuts downe by his Prophets, and ſlayes by the wordes of his mouth. Hoſe. 6. 5. before hee bringes in enemyes to kill and ſlay, and when his Miniſters are killing and ſlaying it is a warning ſigne that enemyes ſhall come to doe the like. So Ieremy rootes out, pulles downe, deſtroyes, and throwes downe Kingdomes. Ier. 1. 10. And when Ieremy begins to plucke vp & deſtroy, it is an ill ſigne that Babilonians, and other nations are comming at hand to doe the ſame worke. Whatſoeuer ye bind on earth ſhalbe bound in heauen; and ſo whatſoeuer yee roote out on earth ſhalbe rooted out in heauen; is not onelyonly true of an extraordinary and propheticall Miniſtry, but of the ordinary ſtanding miniſtry of the Church, when Miniſters go to worke Claue non erante, and follow the rules and grounds of the word. The watchman giues warning. Eze. 33. 3. but how? if p. 10he blow the trumpet, and giuegive warning. When Gods watchmen blow the trumpet, then God giues warning. Specially then are the warnings of Gods Miniſters to be taken as warnings from God, when God ſhal ſtirre vp the harts of his ſeruants eueryevery where in all parts, & places of a kingdome far diſtant, and remote each from other, to giuegive warning to a Kingdome. That looke as it is an argument of the diuine authority of prophetical Scripture, that the Prophets though they liued in diuerſe places and ages of the world, yet they ſo al agreed in one & the ſame truth as if they had all ſpoken by one mouth. Hence Luke. 1. 70. As he ſpake by the mouth of his holy Prophets. There were many Prophets yet but one mouth, they all ſo agreed that though there were diverſe perſons, yet but one mouth, as hee ſpake by the mouth, not the mouthes of his holy Prophets which hauehave beene ſince the world began. So here, when God doth ſtirre vp his ſeruants in all parts of a kingdome, and ſets them all on worke as with one mouth to giuegive warning of wrath, it may be taken for no leſſe then a diuine warning from God himſelfe.

4 God giues warning by his adminiſtration, and dealing with other nations, and Churches. Gods rods are not only ſmarting rods to them vponupon whom they are, but they are monitory & warning rods to thoſe vpō whō as yet they are not. Zep. 3. 6. 7. I hauehave cut off nations, I hauehave made their ſtreets waſt, &c. what was one end God had in it? To giuegive Ieruſalem warning. I ſaid, ſurely thou wilt feare me, thou wilt receiue instruction, ſo their dwellings ſhould not be cut off. Oportet abietem vlulare quia cecidit Cedrus, ac alios vicinorum plaga erudiri atque per aliena mala rebus ſuis probe conſulere. Greg. Naz.God then aimed at this in his Iudgements vponupon other nations that Ieruſalem ſhould take warning. Then God giues warning whē he p. 11puts the ſword into Cōmiſſion. It is warning when he whets his ſword, but much more when he giues the ſword a Commiſſion. Ezekel. 14. 17. If I ſay; Sword goe through a land, ſo that I cut off man and beaſt from it. There is the ſword put in Commiſſion, and being ſo put in Commiſſion, there is warning giuen of approaching calamitie. We may know the ſword to be in Commiſſion as wee know the Iudges of Aſſize to bee. When we ſee the Iudges ride circuite, and goe from one ſhire towne to another, and doe executions vppon malefactors: then wee know they hauehave their Commiſſions: Iudges may not ride circuit without their Commiſſions. So when wee ſee the ſword ride circuit, and doe Executions eueryevery where as it goes, and cannot bee ſtaide, but it proſpers and preuailes, then without all queſtion it is in Commiſſion. When it goes through Lands, and Prouinces, and Churches, and cuts off man and beaſt, then queſtionleſſe God hath ſaid, Sword, Go. See Ier. 47. 6, 7. Oh thou ſword of the Lord, how long will it be ere thou bee quiet: put vp thy ſelfe into thy ſcabberd, reſt and be ſtill. Like inough Aſhkelon, and the Philiſtins vſed all the policie, and power they could: but all their Combinations, Confederacies, Leagues, Vnions, could do no good. For all theſe the ſword was reſtleſſe, and proſpered ſtrangely, and not by any weakeneſſe of theirs, nor by any ſtrength of the enemy the victory ſtill loſt: ſo as a diuine hand of God was manifeſt therein. What might the reaſon of all this be? It had a charge: How can it be quiet, ſeeing the Lord hath giuen it a charge againſt Aſhkelon.

When the ſword hath a Commiſſion, it doth as Samuel did, 1. Sam. 7. 16. He went from yeare to yeare in p. 12circuit to Bethel, and Gilgal and Mizpeh, and iudged Iſrael in all thoſe places, and his returne was to Ramah. Now looke then, as when Samuel was at Bethel, then they had warning that hee was comming to Gilgal, when he was at Gilgal then had they warning that hee was comming to do Iudgment at Mizpeh: So when the ſword is once walking circuit to iudge, if it bee come to Bethel, it is a warning that it is comming to Gilgal, if at Gilgal, there is a warning for Mizpeh. Let other Kingdomes, and Churches, that ſtands by and looke on, let them take this as a warning from God, that the ſword is comming to execute iudgements amongſt them. Then it is a warning that God will giuegive men to the ſword: when euill goes forth from nation to nation, Ier. 25. 32. And why ſhould other nations bee amazed, and their Kings be horribly afraid, and tremble eueryevery man for his owne life in the day of Egypts fall by the ſword, Ezech. 32. 10. were it not but that Gods dealing with Egypt, were a warning of the like wrath, and ruine comming vppon themſelues?

5 God giues warning by doing, as Pſal. 78. 50. He made a way to his anger, he gaue their life ouer to the peſtilence. God brought the peſtilence amongſt them, but yet firſt he made a way for his anger, and his making of a way, was a warning that wrath was comming. God when he meanes that wrath ſhall enter indeed: hee doth not preſently let it breake in; but firſt makes a way for it, takes all things out of the way, that may ſtop or hinder it in its paſſage, or be any rub to it in its entrance. Now then when we ſee God preparing, and making the way, then hee giues warning of wrath comming, and being at hand. When Chriſt p. 13was to manifeſt himſelfe in his miniſterie, firſt Iohn Baptiſt muſt come before him, and his office was, Mark. 1. 3. To prepare the way of the Lord. Now then thoſe that had eyes to ſee Iohn Baptiſt preparing a way for Chriſt, might eaſily ſee that God gaue warning, that Chriſt himſelfe was ſhortly to come: becauſe Iohn was preparing a way for him. So when God is preparing a way for wrath, ſuch as hauehave eyes to ſee the way preparing, may ſee God giuing warning, that ſome heauie iudgement and calamitie is at hand. When the Kings harbengers come before, and prepare for the King, it is a warning to ſuch places that the King is comming. God ſo deales in the bringing in of iudgements vponupon a nation, as he did in bringing in that great plague vppon the Church, in bringing in Antichriſt into the world, 2. Theſſ. 2. 7. The miſtery of iniquitie doth already worke, onelyonly hee who letteth will let, vntill he be taken out of the way. That plague was breeding long before it brake forth and came to ripeneſſe: but there was a foreign; namely, the Romane Ethnick Emperours that ſtood in the way, and till they were firſt done out of the way, the man of ſinne could not enter: but when that let ſhould be taken out of the way, and ſo a way made, Then ſhall that wicked one be reuealed, v. 8. So that when that let was done away, and ſo a way making, ſuch as had then eyes to ſee it, might ſee that God gaue warning that Antichriſt was now comming into the world. So it is in this caſe, Iudgement is breeding long before it comes. God hath a purpoſe to bring it, but yet many times there bee ſome lets in the way that it cannot well come till they bee remoued; God therefore prepares, and p. 14makes a way for the intended Iudgement by remouing, and taking out of the way eueryevery foreign eueryevery let that may hinder it when it comes. And when …he way is making, God giues warning that the Iudgment is comming. Now God commonly makes the way by two things; The Moath and the Hornet. And when thoſe two come then are the harbengers come, and the Iohn Baptiſts of the Iudgement.

1 The Moath, when God meanes to bring a Iudgment vponupon a Kingdome hee firſt giues warning by making way for it by the Moath. God threatens, Hoſ. 5. 14. a terrible Iudgment that hee will be to Ephraim as a Lyon, and as a young Lyon to the Houſe of Iudah, that hee will teare and goe away, &c. But will God giuegive no warning, yes that he will, and faire warning too. And how? By making way, for the Lyon by the moath v. 12. I will bee vntounto Ephraim as a moath, and to the Houſe of Iudah as rottenneſſe. The moath is a ſecret inſenſible Iudgment that gradually, and inſenſibly eates out the heart and ſtrength of a State, and by the weakning of a State prepares it for a fatall deſolatory Iudgment.

A moath eates now one threed, then another, makes now one hole, then another, and ſo by degrees waſting, and rotting the garment perpares it with much eaſe, to be rent in pieces. It is difficult to rende in pieces a ſtrong ſound garment, but when once it is all moath eaten, and rotten, how eaſy is it for any: much more for a Lion to rende it: thus therefore would God prepare Ephraim for the Lion by the moath, and by the moath giuegive him warning of the Lion. VVhat this moath is wee may ſee plainely by p. 15that, Iſay. 3. 1. 2. 3. with the eight verſe. In the eight verſe, God threatens the ruine and the fall of Iudah and Ieruſalem. But wil God come ſuddainly vppon them? No, hee will giuegive them faire warning: But how? By making way for their fatall blow, and for the Lions clawes by the teeth of the moath. Firſt before the Lion comes they ſhal ſee a way making for him by the moath. ver. 1. 2. 3. for the Lord of hoaſt doth take away from Ieruſalem, and from Iudah the ſtay and the ſtaffe. Firſt God before he ruines them will weaken them, and by ſome precurſory Iudgement wil infeeble them by taking from them whatſoeuer might ſtrenghten them againſt an enemy, that when an enemy comes, they ſhal hauehave no ſtay, nor ſtaffe to reſt vponupon againſt him. If an enemy doe offer to make an invaſion; yet if a people be well ſtored with prouiſions, they hauehave good ſtore of bread, trading be quick, that there be no generall pouerty and penury in the Land, it is a great ſtay againſt an enemy, it is a ſtrong threed in the garment. Againe if an enemy doe attempt an invaſion, yet if the State be wel furniſht with Prudent, Ancient, experienced Counſelors, if withal it be wel prouided of braue ſouldiers, men of war, mighty men, Captaines of fifty, braue Leaders, & Commanders, this is a great ſtay to a State, theſe be ſtrong threeds in the cloth that will not ſuffer it eaſily to be rent. It will bee hard to rend ſuch cloth a ſunder that hath ſuch ſtrong threeds in it; Therefore that it may the eaſier be rent in peices God will ſend ſome Iudgement before hand that moath-like ſhall eate aſunder thoſe threeds, hee will bring in the decay of trading which is the bread of a Land, hee will now take away one Prudent man, then p. 16another, now ſuch a man of warre, and then another, and thus by degrees ſo weaken them that when an enemy ſhould come hauing al reſiſtances remoued he may with all caſe ruine Iudah and Ieruſalem. Thus Iudah by the moath had warning of the Lyon, and when God made their State and their Kingdome a motheaten Kingdome, he thereby gaue them warning that they ſhould aſſuredly fall, and ruine.

2 The Hornet. When God meanes to bring Iudgment vponupon a Kingdome he giues warning thereof by premiſing and fore-ſending, the hornet. Exod. 23. 28. I will ſend Hornets before thee which ſhall driue out the Hiuite, the Canaanite before thee. What that Hornet is wee may ſee v. 27. I will ſend my feare before thee, and will destory all the people to whom thou ſhalt come and I will make all thine enemyes turne their backes vntounto thee. This Hornet then was nothing elſe but the miſgiuing feare of the Canaanites ſelfe-condemning conſciences, which ſhould take all heart and courage from them, that they ſhould not be able to ſtand it out in the day of battaile, but their owne guilty conſciences repreſenting vntounto them their deſerts, ſhould Hornet-like ſo ſting thē with feare, that they ſhould turne their backes to the Iſraelites. And this was that which Rahab told the ſpies, and vponupon which ſhee concludes that the Land was theirs, Ioſh. 2. 9. 11. I know the Lord hath giuen you the land. How did ſhe know it? ſhe ſaw the Hornet was come before, and had ſtung the Canaanites, and thereby gaue warning of ruine, And that your terrour is fallen vponupon vsus, and that all the inhabitants of the land faynt becauſe of you, And as ſoone as we had heard theſe things our hearts did melt, neither did there remayne any p. 17more courage in any man becauſe of you. Here was the ſtinge of the Hornet, here was the Hornet making way for wrath. If the Canaanites had had courage and ſpirit, and ſhould hauehave ſtood ſtoutly, and brauely to it, it would not hauehave been ſo eaſie a matter for Iſrael to hauehave conquered Canaan, but now becauſe God would ruine the Canaanites, and giuegive Iſrael their land, therefore hee ſends the Hornet before to make way for their entrance, and ſo to ſting them that all Courage, and Heart might bee taken away. And when the Canaanites feele this ſtinging Hornet, then hauehave they plaine warning that their Deſolation is approaching. This is that Hornet which God ſent before the Medes, to make way for the deſtruction of the Babylonians, Eſay. 13. 7, 8, 9. And this is that Hornet, that made way for the Babylonians to ruine Ieruſalem, Ier. 6. 24. Wee hauehave heard the fame thereof, our hands waxe feeble, anguiſh hath taken hold of vsus, and paine as of a woman in trauaile. This was that Hornet, that made Pharaohs armes fall downe, Ezech. 30. 25. and his ſword to fall out of his hands, v. 22. Hee was ſo ſtunge at the heart with the feare of the King of Babylon, that he had neither ſtrength to lift vp his arme, nor to hold his ſword in his hand. As the Moath takes away all outward ſtayes and helps, ſo the Hornet takes away inward Spirit, and Courage. And when both theſe are taken away, how faire a way is prepared for an enemy. Where euer then mens hearts melt with the feare of an enemie, from the guilt of ſelfe-condemning conſcinces, it is a warning from God, that wrath is comming.

6 God giues warning by his graduall departure from a Nation and a Church. When God meanes that p. 18Iugdement ſhall come, hee himſelfe will firſt depart, and as Iudgement ſhall come, ſo will he goe. Iudgement comes not all at once vppon a nation but by degrees, and God giues it an admiſſion by a graduall receſſe and departure. Now then whenſoeuer God beginnes to goe, then is it a faire warning that Iudgement is comming. In the ninth, tenth, and eleuenth Chapters of Ezekiel, God makes diuers remoues. And we ſhall ſtill obſerue that as hee goes out, ſo ſome new Iudgement comes in. 1. He remoues from the Cherubins, in the Oracle to the threſhold, Cap. 9. 3. and vppon that remoue ſee what followes, ver. 5, 6, 7, &c. 2. Hee remoues to the Cherubins on the right ſide of the houſe, Cap. 10. 1. and vponupon that remoue ſee what followes, v. 2. 3. He remoues to the Eaſt gate of the houſe, and the firſt entrance into the Temple, Cap. 10. 19. and ſee what followes vppon that, Cap. 11. 8, 9, 10. 4. He remoues to Mount Oliuer quite out of the citie, Cap. 11. 23. And when God was gone quite out, then followed the fatall calamity in the ruine therof. Thus ſtill as God went out, Iudgement came in, and by theſe ſteps of his departure, hee gaue warning of the comming of Iudgement. When God is at the threſhold, Iudgement is at the doores. So Amos. 9. 1. I ſaw the Lord ſtanding vppon t…e Altar. But what doth the Lord ſtanding vppon the Altar? His ſtation was betweene the Cherubins in the Holy place: GiueGive eare thou that dwellest betweene the Cherubins. Pſal. 80. 1. What then meanes the Lords ſtanding vponupon the Altar? ſurely it meanes no good. It is a ſigne God was going, he hath made a ſtep from the Cherubins to the Altar, and ſee what followes in that place: namely; a terrible ſentence of Iudgement. God is at the Altar p. 19when this ſentence is pronounced. It is in this caſe as it was in that. Numb. 12. 9, 10. The anger of the Lord was kindled against them, and he departed. When God is angry, then will he depart. And what if he doe, what wil follow? And the cloude departed from off the Tabernacle, and behold Miriam became Leprous. No ſooner doth God depart, but Iudgement comes in his roome. So that when God beginnes to ſet his firſt foote forward, it is a faire warning of euill comming. The deſtroying Angells could do nothing to Sodome, ſo long as Lot was there: neither can deſolatory Iudgements hauehave power ouer a Nation ſo long as God is graciouſly preſent with them. Therefore as when Lot went out of Sodome, in that day fire and brimeſtone came downe vponupon Sodome, ſo when God once goes, then are calamities ready to crowde in vponupon a Nation.

Now Gods departure hath certaine foote-ſteps, which are Ominous preſages of ſorrow at hand.

1 When Idols and Idolatrie enter into a land. When Gods Arke came into Dagons Temple, then Dagon dropt downe, but when Dagon comes into Gods Temple, and riſes and is aduanced there, then God is going. See Ezek. 8. 5. 6. There was an Image of Iealouſie, and therefore God would go farre off from his Sanctuary. Specially are Gods jealous eyes prouoked, when the caſe is as Ezek. 43. 8. That but a wall betweene God, and Idols. Hee likes no ſuch neere neighbours, hee will be gone rather then brooke ſuch neighbourhood. Nay, it is a ſigne that God is already in ſome meaſure gone, for had he held his owne ſtation and poſſeſſion, how could they hauehave entred. Such a ſtep preſages great calamitie.

2 When the miniſterie of a Church, beginnes to grow corrupt and vnfounde in doctrine and manners: p. 20when Trueth and Holineſſe departs, God departs. Hereupon a corrupt miniſtrie made a preſage of calamitie. Hoſ. 9. 7. The dayes of viſitation are come, the dayes of recompence are come, Iſrael ſhall know it, Nay Iſrael may know it before they come: But how? The Prophet is a foole, the ſpirituall man is mad. When Prophets, and ſpirituall men once beginne to bee fooles, and to bee mad, to bee out of their ſpirituall wits, and out of the way of truth, then looke for the dayes of viſitation: becauſe when trueth goes, God goes, and when he goes no good can come.

3 It is a manifeſt ſtep of Gods departure, when it is with a Nation, as it was with Sampſon. Iudg. 16. 20. He wist not that the Lord was departed from him. But God was departed from him, and how appeared it? v. 19. She began to afflict him, & his ſtrength went from him: he thought he would do as at other times, but could not. At other times he brake the greene withes, at other times hee brake new roapes, at other times hee went away with the pin of the beame, at other times hee was ſtill too good for the Philiſtins, but now hee could not doe as at other times. God was departed from him, and therevpon followed that miſery, v. 21. They put out his eyes, they put him in fetters of braſſe, &c. Gods departure gaue warning of all this ſorrow, and in that his ſtrength went from him, that he could not doe as at other times; this was the impreſſion of Gods departing foote. Thus is it with a State and Nation. If God depart from them, he thereby giues them warning to looke for Philiſtins, fetters of braſſe, and the priſon houſe. And then may a Nation know that God is departing if not departed, when their ſtrength is departed from them, and they cannot doe as they hauehave done at other times. That ſame is an euident ſtep p. 21of Gods departure, Pſ. 60. 10. Wilt not thou O God which hadſt caſt vsus off? and thou O God which didſt not go out with our armies. When God thē goes not forth with a peoples armies, he caſts them off, hee departs from them. And thus God departed from Egypt, and gaue them by this ſtep of his departure, warning of their deſtruction. Ier. 46. 14. 19. Standfaſt, prepare thee, for the ſword ſhall deuoure round about thee, furniſh thy ſelfe to goe into captiuitie. But what ſigne or likelihood of Captiuitie? See v. 15. 16. Why are thy valiant men ſwept away? they ſtoode not becauſe the Lord did driue them; he made many to fal, yea one fell vponupon another, & they ſaid: Ariſe, let vsus goe againe to our owne people, & to the land of our natiuity from the oppreſſing ſword. God was departed from them, their enemies beate them, great reaſon hath Egypt to take warning of ſword and Captiuitie comming vponupon her: when a Nations ſhield is gone, what can they looke for, but to bee bread for their enemies. And thus doth God giuegive warning in theſe particulars.

Vſe 1. Take wee heere notice, of Gods gratious dealing with this ſinfull Engliſh nation. Our ſinnes are ſuch, that God might hauehave done with vsus, as with Sodome, Lam. 4. 6. That was ouerthrown as in a moment. God might ſuddenly hauehave ſurprized vsus, & hauehave let in the flood of his wrath to hauehave ſwallowed vsus vp in a moment. But heere may I ſay as Paul, Rom. 11. 22. Behold the goodneſſe, and the ſeueritie of God: The Seuerity of God in his purpoſes of wrath againſt vsus: The Goodneſse of God, in his gratious warnings, wherin he giues vsus intelligence of his Intentions. This day is this trueth fulfilled in our eyes. Wee ſee it true for our parts, that God giues faire warnings before Iudgement ceaze vponupon a people. God neuer gaue any fairer warning then he hath giuen vsus: we hauehave had warnings in all theſe kindes: For,

p. 221. What if I ſhould ſay that God giues vsus warning by Oracle? Seemes he not to doe it, Apoc. 3. 10. Speakes he not of an houre of temptation which ſhall come vponupon all the world? Seemes not that houre to be already begunne? Surely if that Scripture looke ſo farre towards the ends of the world, and if meant of an houre of temptation, to come in this laſt houre of the world: then may we ſay of this, as our Sauiour Chriſt of that, This is the houre, and the power of darkeneſſe. The preſent troubles of the Church, may ſeeme to be the beginning of that houre. But to let this paſſe, if God warne not vsus thus yet want we no warnings.

2. If prodigious ſignes and wonders bee warnings, then judge if God hauehave not warned vsus. Beſides that common warning, which God gaue vsus with the reſt of his Churches, in that prodigious Comet wee hauehave had peculiar warnings in this kinde. God gaue vsus warning in that wonder of the doubled tydes in the riuer of Thames. God gaue vsus warning in that Earth-quake March 27. 1626. God gaue vsus faire warning in that prodigious ſtorme in the Citie, that fetcht the dead bodies out of their graues: together with that ſtupendious ſight vppon the water. And amongſt diuers others, I dare not ſlight that hand of God in ſending Iohn Friths preparation to the Croſſe, in the fiſh bellie to the Vniuerſitie of Cambridge, a little before the Commencement. That ſuch a booke, ſhould in ſuch a manner, and to ſuch a place, and at ſuch a time be ſent: when by reaſon of peoples confluence out of all parts, notice might be giuen to all places of the land, (in my apprehenſion) it can bee conſtrued for no leſſe; then a diuine warning, and to hauehave this voyce with it, England prepare for the Croſſe.Of which …hing I may …y with a litle …hange, as Aug. ſpeakes …f a prodigi…us warning God gaue the …omanes. Quod quanti …ali ſignum …it? Quod ſi …oc ſignum …ntum ma…um …it, quantum …alum erit il…d cuius hoc …gnum fuit? Aug. de ciuit. …i lib. 3. c. 23.

3. And how long, and how loude hath the Miniſteriall p. 23Trumpet ſounded in our eares? Hath it not ſounded like the Trumpet in Mount Sinai, Exod. 19. 13. 16. HaueHave wee not heard it very long, and exceeding loude, HaueHave not Gods watchmen from their watch-Towers a long while cryed as Eſay, 21. 8. A Lyon, A Lyon. HaueHave we not in this kinde beene warned vntounto wearyſomneſſe.

4. But what warnings hath God giuen vsus in the calamities, and miſeries of our neighbour, and ſiſter Churches? Nec illos naturale robur corporum facit viuere, nec nos naturae infirmitus vinci. Nemo ſibi aliud perſuadeat. Nemo aliud arbitretur, ſola nos morum nostrorum vitia vicerunt. Salv. de prouid. l. 7. Ideo infirmis hoſtibus tradidit vt oſtenderet ſcilicet non vires valere ſed cauſam vt cognoſceremus meritorum hoc fuiſſe non virium. Id.HaueHave wee not ſeene the ſword in Commiſſion and vponupon Circuit? Hath it not circuited from Bohemia to the Palatinate: from thence into other Prouinces of Germany, and ſo vp the borders of Denmark: HaueHave we not ſeene a diuine hand in all the Churches loſſes, victory and ſucceſſe going with the enemie: though there hauehave not wanted equall power, and forces to match with them? Nay, to come neere home: Hath not the ſword ceazed vppon our owne armi…? Hath it not begunne to eate Engliſh fleſh, and drinke Engliſh blood? Warnes it not vsus fairely, that it is bending its courſe, and laying its roade towards vsus? The Lord threatens the Edomites. Eſay. 34. 6. That the ſword ſhalbe filled with blood, and bee made fat with fatneſſe: and elſe where, that it ſhalbe drunke with blood. The ſword hath beene a long while kept leane, hungry and thirſty, and hath not fed on our fleſh, and blood. Is it not to be feared, that now it hath got a ſmatch, it will like an hunger-ſterued wolfe, fall ſo much the fiercelier, and greedilier vponupon vsus? Nos non vicinos noſtros tantum ardere vidimus ſed ipſi iam arſimus. Et quid hoc (pronefas) mali eſt. Arſimus Arſimus & tamē flammas quibus arſimus non timemus. Salv. de Prouid. l. 6.Yea, doth not God hereby giuegive warning, that hee will prouide a more liberall feaſt for the ſword euen vntounto fatneſſe and drunkenneſſe? If the ſword vppon other Nations, bee Gods warnings to vsus of this Nation; then much more the ſword vppon thoſe of our owne Nation is a warning from God to vsus, that he intendes to hauehave a great ſacrifice amongſt vsus.

p. 245. And who is ſo blinde, as that he hath not ſeene the Moath at worke now a long while together? How hath it ſheared a ſunder the ſtrong threeds of our cloath, & how is our garment become Moath-eaten? What elſe meanes the common cry, and complaint of the decay & deadneſſe of trading, of the pouertie & penurie of many places in the land? What hath it bin, that within theſe few yeares hath taken away ſo many braue, and worthy ſouldiers, men of note for birth, worth, skill and courage, that like thoſe Iudg. 5. 18. Would hauehave ieoparded their liues in the high places of the field: What I ſay hath it bin that hath by degrees picked out now one then another but the Moath ſent of God to prepare, and make way for a rending, and a ramping Lyon? As if God had ſaid, I am determined to bring a ſmarting judgement vppon England: but I ſee ſuch a mightie man, ſuch a man of courage and skill, he will be a great hinderance to an enemie at his comming in, hee may bee a ſtop, and a rub in an enemies way: therefore I will take him out of the way, that ſo judgement may paſſe on ſmoothly without any checke. And when we hauehave heard the fame, and rumour of enemies approaching; alas what a deadly ſting hath the Hornet ſtricken into our heartes? how hauehave our ſelfe-condemning hearts, vnderunder the conſcience of our perſonall and nationall guilt melted like water?

6. Laſtly, vnleſſe wee will wilfully ſhut our eyes, may we not trace God in the foote-ſteps of his departure from vsus? May wee not finde him from betweene the Cherubins, and remoued not onelyonly to the threſhold: but in a manner to the Eaſt-gate of the houſe, as if hee had but one remoue more, to bee gone quite and cleane from vsus? They hauehave ſeene thy goings O God, euen the goings of God my King in the Sanctuary, Pſal. 68. 24

p. 25So may we ſee the goings of God, euen the goings …f God our King from his Sanctuary. What elſe …anes the ſpread, and growth of Popery and Idola…y? What elſe meanes the departure of our old Truth … the increaſe of Arminianiſme? Shewes not this that God is at the threſhold, if not at the Eaſt gate? And what meanes the going away of our ſtrength that wee cannot doe as we were wont to doe as at other times. When Ephraim ſpake, there was trembling, but when he offended in Baal he died. Hoſ. 13. 1. Ephraim was terrible to all his neighbours about him, and who durſt budge againſt the name of Ephraim; but when Baal was come God was gone, and then eueryevery paltry aduerſary trampled vponupon him, and feared him no more then a dead man. How dreadfull hath the Engliſh name, and the Engliſh ſword beene to all our aduerſaries; when England ſpake, there was trembling? Vbi nam que ſunt antiquae Romanorum opes & dignitates? fortiſſimi quondam Romani erant, nunc ſine viribus. Terrebant Romani veteres, nos timemus. O infaelicitates noſtrae! ad quae deuenimus.But Lord what ſhall I ſay, ſayes Ioſhua, when Iſrael turnes his backe vponupon his enemies? And Lord what ſhall we ſay when England turnes her backe vponupon her enemies? What ſhall we ſay? What can we ſay, but that God is departing from vsus, and giues vsus warning thereby, of fearefull afterclaps like to follow. Ichabod, Ichabod, where is the glory? The glory is departed. And it is with vsus as with them: a people terrible hitherto, but not ſo now. Hitherto hauehave we beene terrible; but it is a ſigne the Lion is dead, when Hares inſult ouer him. Surely God giues vsus warning that our ſhield is going, and that if we take not a courſe to fetch him backe againe, and ſet him betweene the Cherubins, that wee are no better then bread for our enemies.

Vſe 2. If God giuegive warning, men ſhould take the p. 26warning he giues. To what end are warnings giuen▪ if not taken. If the trumpet giuegive an vncertaine ſound▪ who ſhall prepare himſelfe to the battell? 1. Cor. 14. 8▪ But when the trumpet giues a certayne ſound, then i… is time for men to looke about them. Two thing… ſhould make vsus take warning.

1. The great danger that will follow vponupon warning▪ neglected. Gods warnings neglected, doe but exaſperate wrath, and will make vengeance ſo much the ſmarter when it comes. See the danger of not taking warning. Ezek. 33. 3. 4. 5. If the watchman blow the trumpet and warne the people, then whoſoeuer heares the ſound of the trumpet, and takes not warning, if the ſword come and take him away, his bloud ſhalbe vponupon his owne head; he heard the ſound of the trumpet, and took not warning, his bloud ſhall bee vponupon him. Calamity ſingle and alone, will prooue burden heauy enough; calamity with guilt, and iniquity vponupon our heads, the guilt of the neglect of Gods warnings will prooue calamity vnſupportable.

2. The great enſuing benefit vponupon warning taken. Let things be euer ſo dangerous and deſperate, yet if men would take Gods warnings, there were poſſibility enough to ſaue all. Safety and preuention of dangers lies in taking of warning. Noahs taking of warning, was the ſauing of his houſe. Hee that takes warning ſhall deliuer his ſoule. Ezek. 33. 5. The King of Syria find many dangerous proiects againſt the King of Iſrael; Eliſha ſtill giues the King of Iſrael warning of the danger. 2. King. 6. 10. The King of Iſrael took his warning, and what was the iſſue? Hee ſent to the place which the man of God had told him, and warned p. 27him of, and he ſaued himſelfe there not once nor twice. The way to ſaue our ſelues from the dangers wee are warned of, is to take Gods warnings. Looke vponupon all the warnings God hath giuen vsus, and conſider if it may not be ſayd of vsus as of Moab. Ier. 48. 16. The calamity of Moab is neere to come, and his affliction haſteth faſt. Yea conſider, if we hauehave not the buds of the figtree, telling vsus that ſummer is nigh, and that iudgement is neere euen at the doores. And haſtens our affliction, and ſit we ſtill? As wee deſire to preuent the fatall ruine of this renowmed Church and Kingdome, ſo in the feare of God be wee perſwaded to take warning.

But how is that to be done, wherein ſtands this taking of warning? That is now the ſecond thing in the Text. Noahs wiſedome in taking warning. God giues, and he takes warning; and that 1. in beleeuing it: 2. in fearing it: 3. in making vſe of it for ſafety.

1. In beleeuing it. By faith Noah &c. That ſhould indeed be mens wiſedomes to take Gods warnings by beleeuing. God is to bee beleeued in his threatnings, aſwell as in his promiſes. And this was the Niniuites wiſedome. Ion. 3. 5. So the people of Niniueh beleeued God. And this is the firſt ground of ſafety. If Noah had not beleeued, he had not feared; if he had not feared, he had not prepared an Arke; if an Arke had not beene prepared he had periſhed. But now his Arke ſaues him; out of fayth and feare hee builds his Arke. And this is it God lookes for at our hands, that after ſo many warnings we ſhould beleeue him. Noah did ſo; and though hee were warned by immediate Reuelation, and in that regard had more reaſon to beleeue p. 28then wee hauehave, yet againe in ſome reſpects wee hau… more reaſon to beleeue then he had. For

1. He was warned onelyonly once, and that an hundre… and twenty yeeres before the flood came; we reade o… no more warnings that hee had. In an hundred an… twenty yeeres he might hauehave an hundred and twent… doubts and queſtions in his heart, whether it ſhoul… be ſo or no. But we hauehave had warning vponupon warning▪ ſeuerall kinds of warnings, and eueryevery of theſe iterate▪ So that as God ſpeakes to Moſes in that caſe, Exod. 4 1. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. ſo it may bee ſayd of vsus. So that i… regard of the variety and frequency of our warnings▪ we hauehave more reaſon to beleeue then Noah had.

2. He was warned, as the text ſaith, of things as yet not ene; and yet he beleeues, there was nothing in naturall courſe that preſaged the flouds. He ſees nothing till the floud begins, and yet he beleeued. Now in this regard wee hauehave more reaſon to beleeue than hee. He was warned of things not ſeene, but we are warned of things ſeene; we cannot ſay in this caſe as the Church complaines in another, Pſal. 74. 9. We ſee not our ſignes: we ſee our ſignes, euen all ſignes of a flood that may be. Except ye ſee ſignes and wonders, ſaith our Sauiour in another caſe, ye will not beleeue, Ioh. 4. 48. it was ſomewhat yet, that they would beleeue then: we ſee ſignes and wonders, and yet wee beleeue not. Except I may ſee and feele, ſaith Thomas, I will not beleeue, Ioh. 20. 25. but when he did ſee and feele, he beleeued. We if we hauehave not loſt our ſight and ſenſes, both ſee and feele, and yet will not beleeue.

The people of Nineveh beleeued God, when Ionas warned them, yet forty dayes &c. The men of Nineveh p. 29will riſe vp in iudgement againſt vsus of this Nation: they had farre leſſe reaſon to beleeue than wee hauehave, and yet they beleeued; we hauehave farre more reaſon to beleeue, and yet we beleeue not. 1. They had but one witneſſe, we are compaſſed about with a cloude of witneſſes. 2. They were warned but once, we hauehave beene warned vntounto wearineſſe. 3. They could ſee no likelihood of any ſuch ſuddaine danger, they knew of no preparations abroad; they ſee no enemies begirting their City with a ſiege, they were a ſtrong and a well prouided City; we heare and know of enemies, of potent and provoked enemies, and of their great preparations. 4. They were Heathens and Idolaters that profeſſed not the name of God; we glory in our Chriſtian title and profeſſion, in our beleeuing in God. 5. They were warned onelyonly by a ſtranger, one of a nation held in ſuſpition and ielouſie. If ſome Spaniard ſhould now come into England and threaten it with deſolation within forty dayes, what little regard would we giuegive vntounto it. But we are warned and threatned by thoſe of our owne nation, of whoſe louelove, loyalty, and fidelity wee can make no doubt; by thoſe that pray for the welfare of the Nation, and wreſtle mightily with God for the peace of it. Here is a great deale of oddes betweene Englands and Ninevehs warnings, and yet Nineueh beleeued God, and wee beleeued him not. We hauehave more warnings, they more fayth. The men of Nineueh will iudge this nation for their vnbeleefe.

How long, and how often hath God warned vsus by his Miniſters, and yet may they ſay as Iſ. 53. 1. Lord who hath beleeued our report? How truely agrees that p. 30to vsus. Hab. 1. 5. Behold and regard, and wonder maruellouſly, for I will worke a worke in your dayes which ye will not beleeue though it be told you. It is iuſt our caſe, though wee heare that which may make both our eares tingle, yet we will not beleeue it. It is iuſt with vsus as it was in that caſe. Act. 27. 10. Paul there giues them fayre warning: Sirs, I perceiue that this voyage will be with hurt, and much dammage not onelyonly of the lading and the ſhip, but alſo of our liues. And ſo it prooued in the ſequel. But v. 11. The Centurion beleeued the maſter and the owner of the ſhip more then thoſe things which were ſpoken by Paul. We are warned of a ſtorme, and that no ſmall tempeſt is like to lie vponupon vsus, and that all hope that wee ſhall be ſaued is like to be taken away, and yet for all this we are readier to beleeue any that will comfort vsus with ſome poore ſhadowes of hope, then to beleeue Gods Pauls. Nay wee are worſe then the Centurion, for he yet beleeued the Maſter, and the owner of the ſhip, and if hee had told him of danger, hee would not hauehave looſed from Crete. Why now the Maſter and Owner of the ſhip, he and not Paul alone tells vsus of the danger. Our ſouereigne Lord the King in his Proclamation for the Parliament, and for the Generall Faſt, giues vsus to vnderſtand of potent and dangerous enemies, and their preparations. Nam ita cunctos ſua crimina praeceſſerant, vt nec metuerent periculum ſuum praenoſcebatur captivitas, nec formidabatur. Ablatus quippe erat à peccatoribus timor ne poſſet eſſe cautela Salv. de prouid l. 6.If Paul, Gods Miniſters, will not be beleeued, yet let the Owner of the ſhip, Gods annointed, be beleeued. Faith would ſaue vsus in this kinde. If the Centurion had beleeued Paul, Act. 27. 21. the ſhip had beene ſaued. Sirs, ye ſhould hauehave hearkened vntounto me, and hauehave gayned this harme and loſſe. They beleeued it at laſt, when the forepart of the ſhip ſtucke p. 31faſt, and the hinder part was broken with the violence of the waues. It is too late to beleeue when all is loſt; it is good beleeuing when ſomewhat may bee ſaued by it.

2. In fearing, mooued with feare. This muſt bee another point of wiſedome to take warning ſo as to feare. The warnings of wrath ſhould worke deepe impreſſions of feare in our hearts. Hab. 3. 16. When I heard, my belly trembled, my lips quiuered at the voice, rottenneſſe entred into my bones. Am. 3. 8. The Lion hath roared, who will not feare? And v. 6. Shall the trumpet be blowne in the City, and the people not be afraid? And yet people are not afrayd, though their feare would much conduce to their ſafety. This is the way to be hid in the day of trouble, Hab. 3. 16 my belly trembled &c. that I might reſt in the day of trouble. And Exod. 9. 20. He that feared the word of the Lord made his ſeruants and his cattell flie into the houſes; and ſo they were ſaued from the ſtorme. Much might be ſayd to this point, but I muſt contract and haſten.

3. In making vſe of it for ſafety, and in taking a courſe for the preuention of thoſe dangers hee was warned of, prepared an Arke. And this is the ſpeciall point of wiſedome aboue the reſt. Prou. 22. 3. A wiſe man foreſeeth the euill. That indeed is ſome wiſdome, but that is not all; And he hides himſelfe. That's the ſpeciall wiſedome which takes a courſe for ſafety againſt approaching euills. This is that we are to doe, and then indeed wee take Gods warnings when wee prouide for the worſt. And thus it concernes vsus to do now, if euer. Doe we not ſee a flood comming? Why p. 32then are we not at our Arkes? Why will wee wilfully periſh and caſt away our ſelues? When a flood cames, what would a man giuegive for an Arke then? Ah when the flood is come, what will be the miſerable madding feares of ſuch as ſhall not hauehave an Arke ready then? See their pitious condition, Ier. 47. 2. 3. Behold the waters riſe vp out of the North, and ſhalbe an ouerflowing flood, and ſhall ouerflow the land &c. Then ſhall the men crie and the Inhabitants of the land ſhall howle &c. The fathers ſhall not looke backe to their children for feebleneſſe of hands. How deepe and weighty is the oppreſſion of ſuch feares, as make parents grow vnnaturall?

Queſt. What is to be done then for the making of an Arke? How may we prouide for future ſafety?

Anſ. For the making of an Arke and prouiding for future ſafety, there be firſt ſome things to be done by all in generall. Secondly ſome things by ſome in ſpeciall. 1. Thoſe things that are to be done by all, are two. 1. Humiliation and deepe abaſement of our ſoules vnderunder Gods threatning hand. So that here wee hauehave cauſe by the way to breake out into thankſgiuing, and to ſay as Ezek. 7. 27. Bleſſed bee the Lord God which hath put ſuch a thing as this into the Kings heart: as to call forth the whole Land to the duties of Humiliation that we may yet beg for our liues. Well, If euer we will make an Arke for the land, and prouide for our ſafety, this is the firſt piece of timber that muſt be felled and ſquared for it. They bee great things that Humiliation will doe if it be done aright. Iob. 22. 29. 30. When men are caſt downe then ſhalt thou ſay, There is lifting vp, and he ſhall ſaue the humble perſon. p. 33He ſhall deliuer the Iſland of the innocent. Alas, we are downe, exceedingly downe from the ancient excellency of former times. How now might we recouer the ancient glory of this Iſland? Let men caſt themſelues downe this day, euen downe to the duſt, and lay their mouthes in the duſt, in the depth; a truth of humiliation: and though it were ten times lower with vsus then it is, God would ſay, Behold England is caſt down, There ſhall be a lifting vp. What is our errand this day in theſe duties of humiliation, but that God would be pleaſed to take off preſent euils from vsus, and that the future things might goe well with vsus? And would wee now in good earneſt preuayle with God in theſe things? Humble we then our ſoules ſeriouſly this day before our God. Humiliation indeed will doe the deed. See 2. Chron. 12. 6. 7. The Princes of Iſrael, and the King humbled themſelues, and they ſaid, The Lord is righteous: And when the Lord ſaw that they humbled themſelues, he ſayd, They hauehave humbled themſelues, therefore I will not deſtroy them &c. And againe v. 12. And when he humbled himſelfe, the wrath of the Lord turned from him, that hee would not deſtroy him, and alſo in Iudah things went well. How welcome ſhould that man be vntounto vsus, that could put vsus into a courſe that might put vsus in hope that all things now ſhould goe well with vsus? Loe here is a courſe will doe it. Our feares and dangers are exceeding great, but be they neuer ſo great, yet if we this day do all deepely humble & afflict our ſoules, & powre out broken and bleeding hearts, & buckets of water before our God, I dare be the man that ſhall promiſe you hope yet of ſauing all. I dare the boldlier doe it, becauſe I hauehave a text for it. Ezr. 10. 1. 2. yet now p. 34there is hope in Iſrael concerning this thing. Now there is hope. Why now? There was praying, confeſſing, weeping, and the people wept very ſore, they wept a great weeping. Yet now, ſayes Shecaniah there is hope: as if he had ſayd, though our danger is great, yet now vponupon this humiliation, there is hope all ſhall bee well. As therefore wee would this day goe home from this duty with hope, ſo doe we then to the purpoſe; Let hearts ſplit in ſunder, rend to peeces, mourning and melting hearts in confeſſion and ſupplication. Doe we as Manaſſeh did, 2. Chron. 33. 12. He humbled himſelfe greatly. Great humiliation will ſend vsus away with great hope.

2. Perſonall reformation and amendment of our owne euill wayes and prouocations. EueryEvery ſoule this day quit his hands of his perſonall guilt. It is the wrath of God from whence all plagues and iudgements come. Nos coeleſtis irae ignem accendimus, & excitamus incendia quibus ardeamus: & rectè utique quoties iſta mala perferimus, ad nos dici illud Propheticum (Iſai. 50.) poſſit. Ite in flammam ignis quam accendiſtis. Salv. de provid. lib. 8.Isa 50They bee our ſinnes that kindle this wrath; they be the fuell that kindle and feed this fire. The King of Nineueh ſaw this to be a ſpeciall prouiſion for ſafety from threatned wrath. Ionah threatens ſpeedy wrath: he proclayms a faſt, he enioines ſtrickt abſtinence from food and apparell. Would that ſerue the turne? No, he will hauehave prayer alſo added thereto, and not ordinary prayer neither, but crying prayer, nor any crying praier neither, but let them crie mightily. And would this ſerue? No, hee will hauehave more, he will hauehave ſerious repentance and forſaking of ſin, and this not only of ſome few, but of all, let them turn eueryevery one from his euill way. Now one would thinke nothing could be added to all this, and yet hee hath not done; there is one thing more behinde that makes p. 35vp all. Beſides their generall repentance, hee requires a ſpeciall perſonall reformation of their ſpeciall perſonall ſinne, And from the violence that is in their hands. So well did he ſee the vanity of all the reſt without this laſt.

2. There is ſomething to bee done by ſome ſpeciall perſons. And that is by you that are now met in this great and honourable Councell of the Land. You therefore that are the great Senate of the land, vponupon whom our eyes and hopes next vnderunder God and the King are; Bee ye entreated in the bowels of the Lord Ieſus Chriſt to take notice of Gods many warnings giuen to this Land, and ſo to take them to heart as to take a courſe for the preuention of threatned and imminent euils. God giues you fayre warning of foule weather, and of a dreadfull flood, that is like not only to ouerflow and goe ouer and reach to the necke, as that Iſai 8. 8. but of a flood like Noahs, that is like to ouertop the higheſt hills euen many cubits. The Phariſees Matth. 16. 3. were weather wiſe, It will bee foule weather to day, for the skie is red and lowring, but could not diſcerne the ſignes of the times, as the face of the skie. Caſt vp your eyes, you honourable Senate of the Land, and you ſhall ſee that foule weather is towards, for the skie is red and lowring. Ye ſhall ſee a cloud not onelyonly as that 1. King. 18. 44. as big as a mans hand, but as v. 45. The heauens all blacke with cloudes and winde. Liſten and you ſhall heare a ſound of abundance of raine. Doe yee not already begin to feele the drops falling in your faces? We queſtion not but your wiſedomes diſcerne the ſignes, and the dangers of the times as well as the Phariſees did the face of the skie, p. 36and that you ſee all ſad preſages, and prognoſtications of a flood.

Now then ſo many of you as God hath called to this Parliamentary ſeruice, we hauehave to tell you what God and this Realme and Church with the diſtreſſed parts of Chriſts Church abroad, looke for at your hands. God hath called you together to bee the publique Arke-wrights for the ſafety of this Church and ſtate. The eyes of theſe Dominions, and the weeping eyes of Gods Churches beyond the Seas are vponupon you as vponupon ſo many Noahs. Lamech when his ſonne was borne gaue him the name of Noah, that is, one refreſhing with reſt, bringing comfort and conſolation; you ſee his reaſon of the Impoſition, Gen. 5. 29. He called his name Noah, ſaying, This ſame ſhall comfort vsus concerning the worke and ſorrow of our hands, becauſe of the earth which the Lord hath curſed. Now this is that we all pray and hope for, that this preſent aſſembly may be an aſſembly of Noahs, that this Parliament may comfort vsus concerning the feares and griefes of our hearts, and becauſe of the land which of late the Lord hath not bleſſed. This is that we all pray for, we all looke for. Now then if you would proue right Noahs to vsus, ſuch as may bring vsus conſolation, then for Chriſts ſake fall to the making of an Arke, and thereby make your ſelues Noahs and Barnabaſſes, the bleſſed ſonnes of conſolation to this Church and State. Thinke when you ſit together in your ſolemne aſſembly that you heare the State and Church cry out vntounto you, as once Peter did to Chriſt when the winds roſe, and the Sea grow rough, Maiſter, Maiſter ſaue me, I periſh. So thinke you heare the people crying from p. 37all the quarters of theſe Dominions, Fathers, Elders …iue vsus, build vsus an Arke, or elſe we ſinke, or elſe re…edileſſe we periſh.

Thinke as you ſit together in councell that you …eare a voyce from all parts of the Land from whence …e be come, crying in your eares, Helpe, Helpe, or elſe …e are all but dead men, Exod. 12. 33. Preſent vntounto …our thoughts the ſad and diſconſolate condition of the Church beyond the Seas. Thinke you heare the ſhrikings of ſlaughtred and butchered infants dragd from their mothers breaſts to hauehave their braines daſht out againſt the ſtones of the ſtreets. Thinke that you heare the ſorrowfull and dolefull lamentations of raviſht matrons, and defloured virgins in the bitterneſſe of their ſpirits, wringing their hands and rending the hayre from off their heads. Thinke that you heare the Church both at home and abroad, crying out vntounto you, An Arke, An Arke, for Gods louelove prouide vsus an Arke. Improue all the wiſedome of your hearts, and all the power of your places to which God hath now called you, to ſaue vsus from the rage of the mercileſſe waters. Gods watchmen hauehave a long time cried, a Flood, a Flood, Gods people now crie an Arke, an Arke. Now therefore in the name of God fall cloſe to the building of an Arke. Noah built an Arke but for the ſauing of his houſe, what is an houſe to a Church? to a kingdome? to many Churches? to many kingdomes? Noah built an Arke for the ſauing of eight perſons: what are eight perſons to millions and worldes of Chriſt an people that are like to periſh, and be ouerwhelmed by the mercileſſe enemies of Gods grace? that make a noyſe like the noyſe of the Seas, that make p. 36duplicate page p. 37duplicate page p. 38a ruſhing like the ruſhing of many waters, like the ruſ… ing of mighty waters. Iſ. 17. 12. 13.

Queſt. But what courſe is to be taken, and what i… to be done for the building of an arke?

Anſw. I will not take vponupon me to direct your wi… domes, but ſince it hath pleaſed you to call me to thi… ſeruice, giuegive me leaue ſo long as I keepe my ſelfe withi… the bounds of my profeſſion to aduiſe what I conceiu… may make for common ſafety. If therefore you woul… make an arke, 1. make choyce of good materials, wherwith to build.

2. HaueHave a care to goe to worke in a due manner.

1. Your Gopher wood or building materialls they be theſe.

1. The publique reformation of all ſuch national… prouocations as hauehave made God angry with the land▪ Illud magni & ſingularis eſt meriti, non ſolum ipſum labe non pollui, ſed providere etiam ne unquam alij polluantur. Procurator enim eſt quodammodo ſalutis humanae, qui non tantum id agit ut ipſe bonus ſit; ſed efficare hoc nititur ut alij mali eſſe deſiſtitant. Salv. de provid. 7.This muſt be the very keele of your arke, heere yo… muſt begin: all arkes that want this Gopher wood i… the keele will prooue but cocke-boates. Alas, wha… poore reliefe will a cocke-boat affoord in a ſtorm… when the curſt Euroclydon ſhall blow. A cocke-Boa… will neuer liue in a ſtorme. All courſes you can take for ſafety and deliuerance, publique reformation being neglected, will prooue but ſuch Arkes, as that wherein Moſes was expoſed. Exod. 2. 3. Arkes of bulruſhes▪ Alas, what ſuccour will an arke of bulruſhes yeeld in an vniuerſall deluge? Doe what you will, what you can, yet if this be not done, nothing is done. There be three things that conduce to publike ſafety. 1. The ioint endeuours of the Parliament in plotting, and the people in praying. 2. Warlike prouiſions and preparations. 3. And faſting. There is indeed much ſafety p. 39in theſe, and yet if Reformation be neglected, there … a vanity in all theſe, and no good will they doe. See … in particular.

1. People may pray hard, and you may worke hard, …et if no reformation no ſafety. You hauehave a good gale …f prayer at your backes, there is a great ſpirit of prai… vp in the Land at this time; and I am verily per…aded that neu… any Parliament in this Kingdome …as more hartily prayed for. Beſides we doe with all thankfulneſſe acknowledge the great goodneſſe of God to vsus in you being reputed as wiſe and iudicious able houſe as euer ſat. So that when we conſider the earneſt prayers of the whole kingdome, and the great wiſdome of this Honourable Senate; I confeſſe they are as a valley of Achor, a doore of hope. Hoſ. 2. 15. We hauehave great grounds of hope of much good. But yet neuertheleſſe let me be bold to tell you, that if there be no reformation of angring prouocations, all will come to nothing, and God will blaſt our hopes. It is much that prayer can doe; it is the locke and key of heauen, and yet it is little it will doe without reformation. It is much that wiſedome can do. The wiſedome of one wiſe man will do much. Eccl. 9. 14. 15. There was a little City and a few men within it, and there came a great King againſt it and beſieged it. Now there was found in it a poore wiſe man, and he by his wiſdome deliuered the City. Therefore what great things may a whole Parliament houſe of wiſe men doe? And yet neyther our prayers, nor your endeuours and wiſedomes will deliuer the land vnleſſe ſome courſe bee taken for reformation. It will bee no better in this caſe with vsus, then it was with the mariners. Ion. 1. 4. 5. There p. 38duplicate page p. 39duplicate page p. 38duplicate page p. 39duplicate page p. 40was a mighty tempeſt in the ſea, ſo that the ſhip was li… to be broken. The mariners vſe all meanes they can ſ… ſafety, they crie to their gods, they lighten the ſhi… and yet all will not doe, yea after they knew the cau… of the tempeſt, v. 13. the men rowed hard to bring t… ſhip to land, but they could not, for the ſea wrought an… was tempeſtuous againſt them. So then neither cryin… to their gods, nor caſting foorth the wares, nor rowing, nor tugging at their oares, will bring the ſhip t… land out of the danger of the tempeſt, till Ionas wa… throwne ouer boord. And ſo ſoone as that was done▪ ſee what followed, v. 15. They tooke vp Ionah, and ca… him foorth into the ſea, and the ſea ceaſed from her raging. It is ſo heere; let all the people in the Land tug and row with all their might in prayer, and doe you row with all the ſtrength of your wiſedome in your Parliamentary endeuours, yet till our Ionaſſes and Iudaſſes the prouoking ſinnes of the Land that cauſe the ſtorme, and endanger the ſhip be caſt ouer boord, till they bee reformed, there is no hope of bringing the ſhip ſafe to land.

And heere by the way let mee aduiſe eueryevery Parliament man that intends to further the worke of reformation, and in it to prouide for the Lands ſafety, to begin firſt with the reformation of his owne perſon. The worke of reformation muſt not bee vndertaken with foule hands. God will hauehave no honour from guiltie hands. God ſends Moſes to doe a great ſeruice for his Church, hee goes about it with a guiltie hand, with the neglect of his childes circumciſion, therfore God would hauehave killed him by the way. He muſt firſt reforme his owne ſinne before hee muſt meddle with p. 41Iſraels deliuerance. And when God rayſed Gideon for the ſuccour of the afflicted ſtate of Iſrael, before hee muſt meddle with that worke, God ſets him another taske, Iudg. 6. 25. he muſt firſt downe with Baal. That which the Emperor Sigiſmund once ſpake at the councell of Conſtance is a good rule here, one ſaid in the councell, Oportet reformationem incipere à Minoritis, meaning the Minorite Friers, To which the Emperor anſwered, Imo vero à Maioritis, meaning the Pope, Cardinals &c. So I ſay if you will goe with a right foot to the worke of Reformation, begin it A Maioritis, that is, from your ſelues, you are are of the Maiorites of the kingdome, begin with your ſelues, your eyes will be the clearer, and your hands the cleaner for the worke.

2. Warlike prouiſions and preparations will not do it without reformation. There be no ſuch traytors to the ſtrength of a land, no ſuch vnderminers and weakeners thereof as are vnreformed prouocations. It is but a folly to truſt to our ſtrength ſo long as no reformation. Thinke vponupon that Ezek. 33. 26. Ye ſtand vponupon your ſword. As if he ſhould ſay, It is but a folly for you ſo to doe, your ſword ſhall doe you little ſeruice. Why ſo? Ye worke Abomination, and yee defile eueryevery one his neighbours wife, and ſhall you poſſeſſe the Land? Shall your ſwords keepe you in, whilſt your ſinnes caſt you out of poſſeſſion? Reformation is it muſt ſtrengthen our Arme, and ſharpen our ſword againſt our enemies.

3. And what can doe more then faſting? and yet little ſeruice is it, it will doe without Reformation; Ier. 14. 10. 12. When they faſt I will not heare their cry. p. 42What may the reaſon be? There was faſting without reformation v. 10. So Ioſh. 7. deepe and harty was Ioſhuaes abaſement, but yet ſomewhat elſe was to bee done. Iſrael hath ſinned, v. 11. and they muſt away with the accurſed thing. There was a Babiloniſh garment in the camp. What if there had beene a Babiloniſh God? what if a Babiloniſh Idoll? what if a Babiloniſh Prieſt? what if ſwarmes and crowdes of Babiloniſh Prieſts? It is not faſting that will make a waterlight Arke vnleſſe the execrable thing be remooued. Reformation muſt doe it. The way to eaſe our ſoules of all our grieuances and feares is to grieue the ſoule of God. Doe this and then there is hope of ſafetie. Iudg. 10. 16. And they put away the ſtrange Gods from amongſt them, and ſerued the Lord: there was reformation. And ſee what followes. And his ſoule was grieued for the miſery of Iſrael. And then God rayſes Iephthah for their deliuerance. And this is the firſt thing to be done.

2. God we ſee is going and departing from vsus. Labour to reduce him, and to ſet him in his primitiue ſtation betweene the two Cherubins the power and the purity of religion. If we hauehave ſinne amongſt vsus, he is the one Arke in the world againſt a flood. His Name is a ſtrong tower for deliuerance, Prou. 18. 10. maintaine that tower. He is a ſtrong Hold in the day of trouble, Nah. 1. 7. make good that Hold. He is an Arke in the time of a flood. Pſal. 32. 6. 7. In the floods of great waters they ſhall not come nigh vntounto him. Thou art mine hiding place, thou ſhalt preſerue mee from trouble. Yea hee it is that can preuent the flood, Iſ. 59. 19. When the enemy ſhall come in like a flood, the p. 43ſpirit of the Lord ſhall put him to flight. Therefore as you would prouide for the ſafety of the Land, ſo prouide for Gods returne and reſidence amongſt vsus. Doe as the two diſciples did when Chriſt made as though he would hauehave gone from them, Luk. 24. 29. They conſtrayned him ſaying, Abide with vsus. The common complaint is, that Popery ſpreads, that Arminianiſme ſpreads, as theſe come in, ſo God will goe out; theſe will ſoone driue him out to mount Oliuet, take ſome courſe therefore to ſuppreſſe the growth of theſe. Let mee neuer proſper, if the State proſper vnderunder theſe. Keepe our old God, and our old truth, vnderunder which the kingdome hath enioyed ſo long and happy peace, and hath had ſo wonderfull victories and deliuerances. It will bee with new doctrines and nouell opinions, as it was with new Gods, Iudg. 5. 8. They choſe new gods, then was warre in the gates. As ye louelove your old peace, ſo maintayne, and doe your beſt to maintaine your old truth, the old way and the good way. The Lord is with you whileſt you are with him.

3. That ſame is a ſpeciall peece of Arke-timber, right Gopher wood indeed to make Arkes withall, which we finde Ezr. 7. 23. Whatſoeuer is commanded by the God of heauen, let it bee diligently done for the houſe of the God of heauen; for why ſhould there bee wrath againſt the Realme of the King, and his ſonnes? The way to preuent a flood is to preuent wrath, the way to preuent wrath and keepe it from a Realme is to doe for the houſe of the God of heauen whatſoeuer is commanded. There bee three things commanded to be done for the houſe of the God of heauen.

1. His houſe lies waſte beyond the ſeas, miſerably p. 44ruined. The God of heauen commands that his houſe be repayred. And God ſeemes to ſay now to you, as Iehoaſh to the Prieſts, 2. King. 12. 7. Why repaire ye… not the breaches of the houſe? Whileſt Gods houſe lay waſte, there was wrath vponupon the Land. Hag. 1. 4. 5. 6. But when once the houſe built and repayred, then Hag. 2. 19. From this day will I bleſſe you.

2. He commandes his houſe to be purged, 2. Chron. 29. 5. Sanctifie the houſe of the Lord, and carry forth the filthineſſe out of the holy place. For this filthineſſe was the wrath of God vponupon Iudah and Ieruſalem, v. 8.

3. He commands an able preaching Miniſtery in his houſe. In this reſpect many houſes of God in this land lay waſte. Many congregations want Preachers, many Miniſters want maintenance, and many couetous Impropriatours want conſcience. They hauehave learned that language, Pſa. 83. 12. Let vsus take to our ſelues the houſes of God in poſſeſsion. The God of heauen commands a preaching Miniſtery in his houſe, that cannot be had without maintenance. Denie the Leuites their portions, and the houſe of God will be forſaken, Nehem. 13. 10. 11. And yee ſhall hauehave thoſe in their fields who ſhould bee in the Temple. Doe this one thing which the God of heauen commands for his houſe; and you ſhall notably prouide for the ſafety of the Land. Miniſters of the word are the horſemen and chariots of Iſrael: we feare enemies, Horſemen and chariots will be good defence, prouide ſtore of horſemen and chariots. How confident was Abijah againſt Ieroboam, 2. Chron. 13. 12. that Ieroboam ſhould not proſper in fighting againſt him? What was his ground? With vsus are the Prieſts of the Lord with ſounding p. 45trumpets to crie alarme againſt you. But what ſafety was therein? Exceeding much, for Numb. 10. 9. And if ye goe to warre in your land againſt the enemie, then ſhall ye blow an alarme with the trumpets, and yee ſhalbe remembred before the Lord your God, And yee ſhalbe ſaued from your enemies. The trumpets of the Prieſts were as good as all the ſwords in Iſrael. Would ye ſaue vsus from our enemies then? Prouide that the ſiluer trumpets may be blowne and may ſound in eueryevery Pariſh of the Kingdome. No ſuch Arkes to ſaue from approaching dangers, as Pulpits well furniſht. How happy was the poore figge tree, Luc. 13. that had ſuch a dreſſer of the vineyard that could dig aſwel as beg. His mattocke kept off the axe. We are now in feares of enemies, and dangers; would we not be glad to hauehave our feares taken off, and to hauehave them be vponupon our enemies, that they might make no war againſt vsus? Heere is the way to doe it, to prouide preaching Miniſters in all places of the kingdome. Conſider ſeriouſly that paſſage of Scripture, 2. Chron. 17. 7. 8. 9. Iehoſhaphat ſets vp a teaching miniſtery, not only heere and there, but in all the cities of Iudah. And what was the ſequele? That v. 10. And the feare of the Lord fell vponupon all the kingdomes of the lands that were round about Iudah, ſo that they made no warre againſt Iehoſhaphat. It is worth our noting, that at the ſecond verſe of the Chapter it is ſayd that Iehoſhaphat placed forces in all the fenced cities of Iudah, and ſet garriſons in the land of Iudah. And yet thereupon it is not ſaid that the feare of the Lord fell vponupon the neighbouring kingdomes; but when hee had eſtabliſhed a teaching Miniſtry, then his enemies had a feare, and made no p. 46warre. Forces and garriſons will not make a kingdome ſo dreadfull to an enemy as an able and godly preaching Miniſtry will doe. HaueHave a care of this, and in doing this you ſhall do that which ſhall tend exceedingly to our ſafety and preſeruation.

4. That is another good piece of timber for an Arke, Ezr. 7. 26. Whoſoeuer will not do the law of thy God, and the law of the King, let iudgement be executed ſpeedily vponupon him, whether it be vntounto death, or to baniſhment, or to confiſcation of goods, or to impriſonment. There is a generation that will neither doe the law of God, nor of the King; who both by the law of God, and the King, are men of death. Oh that life might be put into thoſe lawes, and iudgement might be ſpeedily executed, whether vntounto death &c. The Romiſh Locuſts ſwarme eueryevery where in the land, and they goe about to draw away men from obedience both to God and the King. And theſe they be whom we may thanke for the increaſe of Popery, what wonder is it that ſo many are drawne into the whores bed, when there be ſo many Panders in eueryevery corner entiſing men to commit fornication with the Romiſh ſtrumpet. Audite & videte in ipſis veteribus factis omnia futurarum rerum ſigna & indicia. Invenitur Sara afflixiſſe Agar ancillam, & afflixit cam graviter Sara, & fugit à facie eius. Ecce libera afflixit ancillam, & non vocat illam perſecutionem Apoſtolus, ludit ſervus cum Domino, & perſecutionem vocat. Afflictio iſta non vocatur perſecutio, & luſio illa vocatur perſecutio. Quid vobis videtur fratres? Nonne intelligius quid ſignificatum ſit. Sic ergo quando vult Deus concitare poteſtates, adverſus haereticos, adverſus diſſipatores Eccleſiae &c. non mirabimur: quia Deus concitat vt à Sara verberetur Agar, cognoſcat ſe Agar, & ponat cervicem. Aug. in Euang. Ioan: tract. 11.Lay the axe to the roote of the tree. Cleare the Kingdome of theſe frogs that come out of the mouth of the beaſt, and the falſe Prophet. Neuer thinke to hauehave your Arke water-light, nor to prouide for our common ſafety till iudgement be executed vponupon them. It is no cruelty to call for Iuſtice, nor perſecution to doe Iuſtice vponupon ſuch, vponupon whom Iuſtice being done, you may procure mercy from God vponupon a whole Church and Nation. It is worth your notice that after the hanging of the ſonnes of Saul, 2. Sam. 21. 14. it is ſaid, After that God p. 47was entreated for the land. The land for three yeeres had beene vnderunder a iudgement and there was (doubtleſſe) entreating of God for the land; but when they were hanged, then God was entreated for the land, and then it went well with the land. And as God will in ſome caſes hauehave mercy and not ſacrifice; ſo in ſome he will hauehave iuſtice, and not ſacrifice. This day is a day of ſacrifice in prayer and humiliation for the ſafety of the land.

Honoured in the Lord, God will hauehave iuſtice and not ſacrifice, Prou. 21. 3. To doe iuſtice and iudgement is more acceptable to the Lord than ſacrifice. Nay the doing of iuſtice is a ſacrifice, with the ſacrifices of your prayers and humiliations let God hauehave the ſacrifices of iuſtice, for with ſuch ſacrifices God is well pleaſed, and for ſuch ſacrifices will be well pleaſed with the land. It was zeale yet in the Egyptians. Exod. 8. 26. Loe ſhall we ſacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians before their eyes, and will they not ſtone vsus? How foule a ſhame for Iſraelites then, that they can ſuffer the abominable ſacrifices of Egyptians, you are afraid that God may let in oppreſſing enemies vponupon vsus, you ſue this day for mercy to God in that thing; execute iuſtice and iudgement, and then may yee pray as Dauid did, Pſal. 119. 121. I hauehave done iudgement and iuſtice, leaue me not to mine oppreſſors. And ſo I hauehave done with the materials of your Arke, the particulars whereby our ſafety may be procured.

2. The manner followes how yee ſhould build this Arke. That ſtands in theſe things, Goe to worke.

1. With a ſpirit of concord and vnitie. The Churches hauehave loſt too much already by diſunion. p. 48My praier and hearty deſire is that it may be with both the houſes of this preſent Aſſembly, as God promiſes to doe with the two houſes of Iſrael and Iudah, Ezek. 37. 19. that the Lord would make them one in his hand. And wee ſhall ſee elſewhere the miſchiefe of it when theſe two, were two, Zech. 11. 7. There were two ſtaues, of Beauty and of Binders. That ſtaffe of Binders was none other but the bond of vnity, by which the two houſes of Iudah and Iſrael were knit together. God breakes the ſtaffe of Binders, v. 14. and the brotherhood breakes, So Iunius expounds it.and then v. 15. 16. followes the threatning of ſending into the land forreine and Romane Gouernours that ſhould eat the fleſh of the fat, and teare their clawes in pieces. See the miſchiefe of a ſpirit of peruerſities, Iſ. 19. 14. 16. 17. making way for the ruine of Egypt. Be it therefore the vtmoſt of your cares and wiſdomes to keepe the ſtaffe of Binders vnbroken. Knit together in and for God to doe him and his Church all poſſible ſeruice.

2. Set vponupon the worke with ſpeede. As Chriſt ſpake to Iudas in a caſe of taking away life, ſo I ſay to you in the caſe of ſauing the life of the ſtate. That which ye doe, doe quickly. It is high time that the Arke were already made. It will be too late to build Arkes when the waters are broke in: you had need doe in this caſe as Aaron did in that Numb. 16. 46. Goe quickly, for wrath is gone out.

3. Goe to worke thorowly, and ſubſtantially; make ſure worke: God bid Noah pitch his Arke within, and without. Hee beſtowed a great deale of time in building it, he made an huge veſſell, but if he had not pitcht it well within, and without hee had loſt all his p. 49coſt and labour; both his Arke and himſelfe had been caſt away. Therefore God appoints him Copher as well as Gopher; pitch, as well as Pine or Cedar trees.

4. Goe to worke couragiouſly. Betray not the State and Church with any carnall and baſe feares. If I be bereaued of my children I am bereaued was Iaa…bs concluſion. If I periſh, I periſh, was Eſthers reſo…tion. Let the ſame be yours alſo. It is better to periſh for a Kingdome, than with a Kingdome. If the Kingdome periſh who can hope to eſcape? If the publike wracke, who can hope to ſaue his priuate …ake? It is a folly when the whole Ship is in danger ſo to take care for ones priuate cabin, as not to put ones ſelfe in danger to ſaue the Ship. If the Ship drowne, what becomes of the cabins then? I ſay no more but as 2. Chron. 19. 11. Deale couragiouſly, and the Lord will be with the good. Thus we ſee the materialls wherewith, and the manner how this ſauing Arke muſt be built. Now the Lord giuegive all you, our Noahs and Parliament Arke-wrights, hearts to ſay as Nebemiah ſpake of building the wall of Ieruſalem. Nehem. 2. 20. The God of heauen hee will proſper vsus, therefore wee his ſeruants will ariſe and build. You his ſeruants take notice of Gods fayre warnings, take notice of our feares and dangers, take notice of the hopes and expectations of the Church at home and abroad, take notice of the eyes of the kingdome, and of all Chriſtendome that are vponupon you, Doe you ariſe and build, and the God of heauen proſper you.

FINIS.

End of the text · Jeremiah Dyke, Sermon 5 April 1628 (1628)