Gods Call to England, Title page – Preface
GOD's CALL TO ENGLAND, For Thankfulness after gracious DELIVERANCES: Wherein is shewed, That our DELIVERANCES, Not answered with Reformation, Will be followed with Sorest Destruction.
By Thomas Gouge.
JOSH. 20.
If ye forsake the Lord—he will turn and do you hurt, after the good he hath done you.
Gratiarum …essat discursus, ubi recursus non fuerit. Nec modo nil augetur ingrato, sed & quod ascipit vertitur ei in perniciem.
Bern. Serm. 1. cap. Jejunii.
LONDON: Printed for Iohn Hancock, at the three Bibles in Corn-hill, entering into Popes-head-alley. 1680.
A PREFACE, Pressing to the great Duty of Thankfulness for Mercies.
THE eminent Appearances of a Divine Hand delivering this sinful Nation in its plunges of woful Distresses, have been such remarkable Testimonies of Infinite Goodness and Patience, as are s…rce to be parall… in any Age of the World, in any Nation under Heaven. So numerous are the Expressions of Mercy to a People daring Heaven with their Impieties, that whoever shall review the Catalogue of them, will be amazed to see one more superadded to the former so abused and slighted, as wickedly they have been by many of us. Yet Prerogative Mercy, which acts beyond expectation and desert, conquering all Difficulties and Discouragements, hath not stept aside to give way to Justice, but hath continued its progress towards us: Had it not been for this, we had certainly seen more direful Effects of our Enemies Projects, than yet we have beheld. Had it not been for this, we had been as deeply involv'd in Misery, as we are in Sin. Hence in our great extremity, after all his forgotten favours, he hath spoken in his Love, as in Ierem. 16.21. I will this once ca… them to know, I will cause them to know … hand and my might, and they shall know my Name is the Lord. This once will I cause them to know my Mercy, to understand my unwillingness to destroy them: and hence it is, that England has not been forsaken of the Lord, although it is full of sin against the Holy One of Israel, Ier. 51.5.
Now what hath encouraged, what hath induced the Lord to express thus much favour to such, as so provoke the eyes of his Glory? It is only because He will have Mercy on whom he will have Mercy, Rom. 9. Be it known, O People of England, 'tis not for your Righteousness that the Lord hath done this, for ye are a stiffnecked People, Deut. 9.6. Our works and ways deserve nothing but utter ruine, and perpetual desolation. For his Names sake has be done all this, and that he might make his mighty Power to be known, Psal. 106.8. his super-transcendent Goodness hath wrought out these sweet Deliverances for us. And for this end hath he done it, that we might remember our evil ways, and our doings that were not good, and might loath our selves in our own sight, for our iniquities and abominations, Ezech. 36.31. And now shall we be a happy People, if Mercies shall so prevail upon us, as to effect this blessed frame and disposition in us. For this end hath the Almighty tryed us with another Deliverance, because he hath said, It may be they will present every one their Supplications, and return from their evil ways, Ier. 36.7.
Oh, what expectations hath God to see a repenting, reforming, holy, obedient carriage, upon our receipts of such wonderful favours from him! He looks that we will appear another manner of People than we have been, after these eminent, frequent, seasonable, and Miraculous appearances for us. Oh therefore, since the Lord hath not forsaken us a sinful People, but stood by us, and redeemed us, when appointed to Death, Let us joyn our selves to the Lord in a perpetual Covenant that shall never be forgotten, Ierem. 50.5. Let us offer up our selves to the Lord as a whole-burnt-offering, in the ascending flames of purest Affections. Let us not occasion the cessation of Heavenly Kindnesses, by a wicked regardlesness of them. Let it be our employment, to applaud and improve the Infinite Love of God in all his Mercies.
Come, let us view the sudden and sweet Dispensations of God's heavenly and holy Providence, and fix our thoughts on his surprizing Benefits, till our hearts are enamour'd with the Authour of them, and transform'd into the likeness of that loving God that gives them: let us trace him in his ways of Mercy, till we are sweetly brought into the ways of Duty: Let our Souls be drawn up to the Center of Heaven, by the Golden Chains of Mercies let down from thence unto us. Let us continue a leisurely Meditation on our gracious Deliverances, till our Affections are sublimated, our hearts inflamed, and a Thankful frame produced. Let us behold our most precious Lives preserved, our inestimable Liberties secured, the conspicuous and glorious Light of the Gospel continued, the Life of his Sacred Majesty defended: I say, let us contemplate these things, till our health shall sound Melodious Praises to that Almighty Power that hath done all this.
Now, Courteous Reader, what doth the Lord require for all this Kindness, but a truely thankful Heart and Life? And what less canst thou give to God than this? Thou canst present the Almighty with no such pleasing Offering, as a grateful Heart: For God hath sufficiently exprest his esteem of such Presents, by appointing the Altar of Incense, which was for Thank-Offerings, to be encompassed with a Crown of purest Gold: for though the most odoriferous Incense is nothing in his account, the thank-ful heart that presents it as a Testimonial of unfeigned Gratitude, is highly esteemed by him. Neither is there any thing more consonant to the Dictates of Reason, than that we express all manner of kindness to those that oblige us by their large Munificence: for, Quisquis magna dedit, voluit sibi magna rependi. The Donors of great favours, expect answerable requitals. And however we may forget what we give, we must not forget what we receive: And therefore I may say as Bernard, Cùm amat Deus, nil aliud vult quam amari; when the Lord expresseth love, he designes to be loved. And verily, a grateful reflexion of honour to God is foreign, our highest and lowest Divinity, the highest pitch of attainments, is but Love; the lowest return can be nothing beneath it, if any thing at all. The only foreign, or Requitals we can render to God for his richest Favours, are only Testimonials of Thankfulness, by extolling his holy Name with unfeigned Praises, and reflecting Honour on his blessed Majesty by chearful Obedience to his sacred Commandments. Now therefore as the piercing Rays of the glorious Sun, though passing through the transfluent Air with an imperceptible motion, yet meeting with a Solid Body rebound with an increasing lustre; so should our Hearts and Lives reflect the honour of all our Mercies on our Heavenly Benefactor. And unless the Bounty of Heaven gains so far upon our obstinate Hearts, as to effect this work, we shall gain little by the greatest Mercies: the sense of which caused a holy man to pray, Domine, da Gratitudinem cum Misericordiâ; nolo Misericordiam sine Gratitudine. Oh Lord, give me a thankful heart with thy Mercies; Lord, I desire not Mercies without a grateful heart to improve them. And we shall finde it true, that Mercy unregarded, Deliverance not improved, will render our condition more desperate and dangerous, and our end more miserable. But, Oh! How much is it to be lamented, that a Vertue so applauded for surpassing excellency, a Duty enjoyned with such indispensable Necessity, is so much unseen in all, and unpractised by most! How are the Mites of Mens Bounty more regarded than the Mountains of Gods Mercy! Of the Ten Lepers that our Saviour healed, but one returned to glorifie God, Luke 17.17, 18. How few of a whole Nation delivered from the barbarous hands of bloody-minded men, from the complicated Contrivances of Romish Agents, have returned deserved Praises to our blest Redeemer? How are both private and publick Mercies buried in the Grave of Unthankfulness? which is the reason of that Unprofitableness which lays us under the greatest Curse.
Yet an Ungrateful temper is extremely odious in the thoughts of all men. It receives a black doom even from such as may justly be condemned for it. Ingratitude is that sin which Lycurgus a Heathen-Lawgiver accounted so prodigious, in humane, and abominable, that he thought it was so impossible for reasonable men to be guilty of it, that it would be superfluous to enact a Law to condemn it: And 'tis reported of the Egyptians, that those among them that wanted Humanity to return Kindness to Benefactors, underwent no lesser Penalty than to be disabled from having a Posterity to survive them, that the world might not be pester'd with an ungrateful Progeny. But if the contempt of humane kindnesses gives such offence to mortal men, and receives such Punishments; What punishment doth it merit, what hatred doth it deserve, when the guilt is infinitely raised, by the consideration of that infinite Glory that is affronted by it! The just Threats of the Eternal God against such Offenders, express its provoking nature, Deut. 8.19. If ye at all forget the Lord, —I testifie against you, ye shall surely perish. If such Severity be to those that at all forget, what will be the portion of such as altogether forget the Mercies of God? But oh! which of us hath not suffered Divine Favours to slip out of our minds? What less in our thoughts than how much God hath done for us? Will not Vengeance fall upon us with a witness, if we proceed in such ungrateful courses?
Now therefore, to use the words of Jude, I will put you in remembrance, how that the Lord having saved the people out of the Land of Egypt, afterwards destroyed them that believed not, Iude 5. Such will be the portion of all those, we may fear, who will neither love nor obey the Lord, after all the great things He hath done for us: but accounting them small things, deny those respects they ought to shew to him that did them, Who is wise in Counsel, and excellent in working. But shall we be worse than the Ox or Ass, that know their Masters, and serve them? Shall we be more ungrateful to God than we are to Men? The People of Israel told Gideon, Iudg. 8.22. Thou shalt rule over us, seeing thou hast delivered us from the hands of the Midianites. Shall we not say to God, O Lord, since in thy infinite Mercy thou hast delivered us from the hands of our enemies, we will now submit unto thee, and thou shalt rule over us? Oh how pleasing would this be to God? How happy should we be under such acknowledgments of God's Deliverances? But to persist in sin is very unreasonable: Mic. 6.3. Oh my people, testifie against me: What have I done to thee? — vers. 4. I brought thee up out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed thee out of the house of servants, &c. Oh, my people, says God, remember what great Deliverances I have wrought, what Miracles my arm hath performed for you; and will ye sin after all this? Oh England! Remember what God hath done, what Deliverance from a heathenish condition, what an escape from Popish darkness, what Redemptions from Romish Conspiracies, God hath bestowed; and then let Conscience speak, whether you do well or no to sin against such a God as this. This will never be tolerated long by a Holy God. This will make him say, as Ezek. 21.3. Behold, I am against thee, and will draw forth my sword out of its sheath, and will cut off from thee the righteous and the wicked. The Sword of Iustice sheathed by Divine Patience, will be drawn out to avenge the abuse of Mercies. Will not contempt of Goodness bring the fulfilling of that Threat upon us, Ezek. 44.25. I will not watch over you for good, but for harm? Providence hath hitherto been watchful over us to secure us from ruine; but miserable shall we be, when God shall watch opportunities to ruine and destroy us.
Now I must tell you, whatever our apprehensions of things may be, there is nothing will prevent our destruction after Deliverance, but a serious Repentance, and hearty Reformation. 'Tis not our Policy or Power, 'tis not our Courage or Undauntedness can possibly secure us; but except we repent, we shall surely perish. Our Profession and Priviledges are insufficient to give us safety. Jerusalem, the holy City, is now a ruina…ted heap: a place of strength, so that the Kings of the earth and all the inhabitants of the world would not have believed that the enemy and adversary should enter its gates, Lam. 4.12. and yet it is made a perpetual desolation by the fire of God's wrath kindled against it.
Neither may the Greatest in our Land, if living in sin, think to escape by or in wickedness. The hand of God will finde out his enemy, though never so potent, though guarded with all humane securities. And certainly, if God shall at last for our sins suffer our enemies to prevail, Prince and Peasant shall suffer alike; Royal, as base blood, will be a Drink-offering. And if in Policy they spare a while, yet in Cruelty they will slay at last. The dainty Dish is reserv'd for last. The best blood and the best wine are brought forth at last; the courser blood runs out before that pure blood that flows from the heart is drawn forth. Let none therefore flatter themselves in sin, because exalted to eminent degrees of Honour in a sinful Land.
But if in sincerity we turn from our sins, the Lord shall be our Security, and appoint Salvation for Walls and Bulwarks. This shall be a sign, we shall still escape when we shall be mourning for, and leaving off those sins, that have brought us into danger. Ezra 7.16. Those that have escaped shall escape, for they shall be on the Mountains as Doves in the Valleys, mourning every one for their own Iniquity. Were there such an universal Mourning for our particular sins, we should soon …ee Providence scattering the …hreatning Clouds that hang over …ur heads, and raising a founda…ion for our further hopes of …scape. Oh then that Charity to … ruining State, that Compassion …o the languishing Church of our Lord Iesus Christ, that our Gra…itude to a gracious God for his Mercies, or that our dread of a …onfounding Majesty, and haste…ing Misery, may make us break off …n! God calls, as Ier. 14.17. I …ave seen thy abominations; Wo …nto thee, oh Ierusalem, wilt thou …ot be made clean? when shall it …nce be? Oh when shall we leave …ur sins, after so many years of Patience - tiring, Iustice-daring Provocations? When shall it once …e, after so many lesser Judgments …ounding warnings to us to prevent …ur ruine? Oh when shall it be, …fter all the miraculous engaging Deliverances God hath given? Oh let this be the time.
Now to this end I have presented thee with those Considerations, that may be Inducements to all, to learn to live more holily, after such rich enjoyments of Mercies; and prevent the abusing of them to sin. For as Hermes after Wine was wont to take a grain of Mastick, to prevent its Coagulation into destructive Tartar; so should we wisely fortifie our selves by weighty Considerations, so to prevent those sins we are naturally pron… to commit after the receipt o… Mercies. And especially, because when Satan by his Instruments hat… attempted our destruction, and ou… gracious God hath prevented their designs by delivering, not sufferin… the gates of Hell to prevail agains… us; our vigilant Adversary, seein… he cannot destroy us, will exercis… all his wylès to deprive us of th… benefit of Deliverances given t… us, by endeavouring to divert our minde from considering them, and …ent…cing us to a wrong Improvement of them. Let us also believe our future condition is like to be according to our carriage under Gods present gracious Dispensations. And I may say of Mercy, as the Heathens of Fortune, Nec cultores praeterit, nec haeret contemptoribus. It slights not its Worshippers, neither will it stay with its Contemners. So those that are grateful for Mercies shall never want them, those that are abusers shall not long enjoy them. Continuance in son will be so great discouragement to God in ways of Mercies, that we shall have just Cause to despair of future relief from him. 'Tis reported of Alphonsus King of Spain, that a Noble beggered by his wickedness, seeking relief, was denied, with this Answer, If thou hadst …pent thy estate in my Service, there were reason to provide fo… thee; but since you have foolishly wasted it, thou shalt live i… thy wants without my relief. S… although God will deliver thos… whose dangers arise from serving of him, yet he may justly deny deliverance to those that involv… themselves in miseries by sinning against him.
Now, Reader, if thou wonderes… so important a Subject as this, i… undertaken by so weak a hand a… mine; know, that gratitude raise… the price of the meanest present… And this is certain, God doth no… choose means because effectual, bu… means are effectual, because God chooses them. Young Samuel was chosen to carry a message to Ol… Eli, who did not contemn him fo… his youth, but received the messag… the Lord sent by him. And … though I am the meanest of Saints my weak endeavours may be prosperous with the blessing of an Almighty God.
There is such a pruritus scribendi in this diseased Age, that would force me to make some plea for exposing this small Treatise to publick view. But Apologies commence so low, that they are rather believed to be flatteries than truths; and (as one saith) should the highest Protestations of my humble intentions be entered, I know men will take the liberty to believe or question at pleasure. Therefore all I shall say is onelyonly this; The subject and Treatise is peaceable, not mingling with the intemperate and preternatural heats of the Christian, or rather unchristian Gladiatours of these days. The Treatise is also practical, designed to reduce the lives of persons to better order; and not stuffed with nice speculations, to gratifie mens itching ears and wild fancies. I believe also you will say 'tis plain, if not too uncouth. But I shall not affect the vain Pedantry of plausible ostentation; for I reckon the simplicity of sober well-meaning hearts, need no such curious embellishments: And I shall be willing to be judged by any, whether it be not seasonable; and so I shall depend upon the Lord to accompany it with his blessing to the Souls of those who shall vouchsafe to peruse it; whose Prayers I shall desire, that I may spend my days to the glory of God, and in promoting the publick welfare; and so remain,
Chelmsford, Octob. 8. 79. An unfeigned Well-wisher to the publick good, THOMAS GOVGE.
God's Controversie WITH ENGLAND, FOR Contemning Deliverances.
Ezra 9. 13, 14.
—Seeing that thou our God hast punished us less than our iniquities deserve, and hast given us such a deliverance as this: Should we again break thy Commandments?
—Wouldst not thou be angry with us till thou hadst consumed us, so that there should be no remnant nor escaping?
SInce one effectual means to promote the deserved honour and transcending glory of the Soveraign Governour of Humane Affairs, is by a suitable Improvement of his various Providences to us; an industrious inquiry into the blessed designs of his providential dispensations, in order thereto, will be accounted no unnecessary work to such as intend that Religious improvement of them. Of these providential occurrences, which may not be pretermitted without some serious Meditations on them, some are of that sort which we call common, from the frequent enjoyment of them, (of which kind is our daily Preservation, Provision, Gubernation) although they are special, considering our unspeakable misery without them; and these (I say) cannot be slighted and dis-regarded, without an unworthy disparagement of infinite mercy, and contempt of Soveraign Majesty.
But besides these ordinary works of Providence, there are oftentimes extra-ordinary works presented to our view, attended with special displays, and bearing some eminent impressions of Mercy or Justice; which are not to be over-look'd in a cursory way, or dispatch with a single glance, but require a deliberate Meditation, a fixed inspection, and a singular improvement. Such unusual dispensations from the Almighties hand, have frequently been known, both in ways of Mercy and Justice in our sinful Nation, which hath been a Theatre for the mixed displays of these Glorious Attributes for many years; and especially of late, our long-suffering God hath stampt most illustrious impressions of mercy on many of his eminent Providences to us; of which our Miraculous Deliverance in part vouchsafed to us, is an apparent testimony; and requires the most faithful improvement, that finite creatures can make of the doings of an infinite God.
The Deliverance I mean was that, when the supream Overseer of created beings in all their operations, cast an unmerited eye of pity on our sinful Nation, languishing with undiscerned distempers: when the boundless goodness of the Eternal God, made a timely stop to our hastning ruine: when the heavenly witness that is conscious to the secret actions of unmindful Mortals, detected the vaulted contrivances of the undermining Moles of our Common-wealth; when the Almighty God, who places bounds to the roaring waves, and says to the raging sea, Hitherto and no farther, took off the Chariot-wheels of our furious Enemies: when he unto whom belongs the issues from death, as by a glorious Resurrection, rescued us from the jaws of destruction, who bore the Image of death upon us: when the faithful God discovered the unfaithful dealings of perfidious Plotters; and by a glorious ray of infinite goodness shining on our clouded Land, hath made us a Land of Goshen, who were near to be made a miserable Golgotha. This is the Deliverance never to be forgotten, the wonderful work with such impressions of mercy, which is to be beheld with most fixed intention.
Now can we cast our eye on this magnificent master-piece of mercy, but our eye must needs affect our hearts, and ingenerate such motions as were in the heart of thankful David, Psal. 116.12. What shall I render to the Lord for all his mercy?
Can we pass by this Heavenly favour, without a pious inquiry into the gracious designs of our blessed God in bestowing of it? Hath this unexpected deliverance continued the choicest of blessings to us, and shall we dis-appoint the expectations of God, who is looking for signal requitals of it? Surely such a glorious work as this, wherein hath appeared the immediate hand of Almighty God, the most wonderful goodness of his sweetest nature, the highest testimonies of his enduring patience, can never be over-looked by us; unless we design to affront his mercy, disdain his kindness, and dare his justice.
But oh miserable Nation! oh ungrateful people! Where are the tokens of thankful respects for unmerited favours? What notice is there taken that such a work hath been done amongst us? Who lays to heart the operations of his hands? Where are the lips that praise him, the lives that honour him for it? The Idolatrous Philistines could assemble and sacrifice to their Dagon, for delivering Sampson their Enemy into their hands, Iudg. 16.23, 24. But when have we assembled to offer the sacrifice of praise to our God, for delivering us from the hands of our Enemies? Oh regardless people! if talking of Deliverance be recompense enough, we have paid it; if cursing our foes be sufficient reward, we have given it: but if repentance of disobedience be the onelyonly return, we have yet omitted it: if reformation can onelyonly be regarded as a suitable requital, we are without it. What have we seen but unchanged conversations in our changed condition? What have we given to the Lord, but a doubled measure of Impieties, for his doubled mercies? What have we done, but endeavoured to revenge our selves on the mercy of God that hath spared us?
Oh undeserving Generation that we are! how do we enjoy mercies, and never improve them? How do we comfortably reap the profit of Deliverance, and unfaithfully rob the Lord of the glory of it? How do we bless our selves in escapes, and forget the Almighty that gives them to us? We are sollicitous wanters, but careless enjoyers. How are we joyful when getting out of danger; but how little careful then are we to be getting out of sin? Methinks the Moon that is often changing and still keeps its old spots, is a plain Emblem of our wicked Nation: when all things are ruining, sin remains unruined; when enjoying escapes from ruine, still sin remains to be again a cause of ruine. Oh what unchangeable Ethiopians are we in our sins? How like are we to the hardned Mariners, who escaping the fatal dangers of a threatning storm, remain secure till another Tempest hangs over their heads? What succession of mercies do we promise our selves, in the vilest continuance in destroying iniquities!
But is there no hope… that the consideration of delivering Mercies may overpower us from going on in our wicked courses? Were they prest upon our Consciences, would they not prevail to effect some reformation? It may be a word that will suit to the works of the Lord amongst us, may make some impression, effect some conviction, and produce some amendment. Behold then a Word enough to melt our hearts with the reading of it; to dissolve us into tears by meditating on it; to make us reform by applying of it. — Seeing thou hast given us such a deliverance as this, should we again break thy commandment? — Wouldst thou not be angry with us till thou hadst consumed us? &c.
In these words are contain'd,
1. A thankful acknowledgment of the undeserved mercy their gracious God had exercised towards them; consisting in these two things.
1. He had punished them less than their sins deserved. They admire the Clemency of Almighty God, that when their iniquities were wonderfully great, their punishments should be mitigated with so much mercy. The Hebrew Verb foreign here used, signifies (1.) Cohibere se, to with-hold ones self. And so the sence is elegant, Thou hast with-held thy self from doing what our iniquities deserved from thee. Thou wouldst not suffer thy direful anger to break out against us to the utmost, but didst refrain thy self from making an irreparable ruine amongst us. Hadst thou proportioned thy destroying judgment, to our daring provocations, and thy wrathful dealings to our vast deserts, we had not been a people at this very day: but thy mercy detain'd the hands of thy Justice; and thou didst not so much design to consume us, but onelyonly to correct us. The like acknowledgment have we cause to make, having had experiences of the same clemency: for when our provoked God hath come out against us with wasting Wars, destroying Plagues, devouring Flames; yet he restrained his wrath, and suspended the greatest part of the judgments we deserved from him; and although when he began, there was cause enough to make a full end of us all, yet in the midst of Justice he remembred mercy, and graciously desisted from ruining of us.
2. The word signifies Cohibere aliquid, to restrain any thing else. So the sence is, Thou hast restrained, kept down our sins from rising up in judgment against us; for had they appeared against us, we had utterly been ruin'd.
2. This Mercy was exprest to them, by the working out for them so great a deliverance; Since thou hast given us such a deliverance; implying how merciful, how seasonable, how undeserved a deliverance that was they received; and such is ours, that the Almighty God hath vouchsafed to us.
2. You have here the deep sense of duty that was upon his heart; which duty was to break off sin, which onelyonly can be a just return to God for his goodness.
3. You have his sense of danger, if sin was persisted in after such a deliverance; Wouldst thou not consume us? &c.
4. You have the aggravation of that destruction under such hainous sinning, Till there were no remnant nor escaping.
The general Heads I shall insist upon, which are immediately contained in, or may serve to explain this Text, are these.
1. That the great design of God in bestowing merciful deliverances on a people is to reclaim them from sin.
2. That such is that wickedness that is in the most of men, that they are prone to wax worse after deliverances.
3. That sinning after Deliverance, is the most hainous sinning.
4. That sinning after Deliverance, hath a peculiar influence to hasten destruction.
5. That Destruction for sins after Deliverance, will be the most dreadful destruction. Now I shall endeavour, Deo juvante, to speak something to each of these in order.