The Bird in the Cage, Part 1
A VVord in Seaſon; OR, Some ſutable, and ſeaſonable Conſiderations, Counſels, and Conſolations, ſincerely intended, and humbly propoſed to All, but more eſpecially to the Afflicted, and Perſecuted.
SOlomon adviſed men, In the day of adverſity to conſider aEccl. 7.14, for God hath ſet it, and the day of proſperity, one againſt another; and both are of him: Adverſity being but the night, and dark part of mens time in this world, to which notwithſtanding, God hath aſſigned ſome work for his people to do. And 'tis no ſmall part of godly wiſdome, to underſtand the time, and to know what is the proper work of the day; both which, ſome of the men of Iſſacar had underſtanding in b1 Ch. 12.32.: And this, as the wiſe man faith, is heart-underſtanding. A wiſe mans heart diſeerneth time and judgment cEccl. 8.5.: Time when, and Judgement how, and what to do. And doubtleſs what was ſaid ofa word fitly ſpoken, may be as truly ſaid, of a work done in ſeaſon; That it is as Apples of Gold in pictures of Silver. dPro. 25.11My aime in theſe few pages (of the firſt part of this little Book) is not to diſcover the nature of the preſent time, or to prove it to be evil (for it diſcovers it ſelf ſufficiently to be ſo, both in reſpect of the ſins and evils committed by men, and the puniſhments juſtly inflicted by God for thoſe Sins, which two things the ProphetseAm. 5.11. Mic. 3.12. & Apoſtles,f2 Tim. 3.1, 2, 3. &c. 2 Pe. 3.3. make to be the main ſigns of evil times) But to ſtir up the minds of all thoſe that are wiſe-hearted, though like Chriſt, and his Prophets & Apoſtles, called madmen or foolsgJo. 10.20. 2 Ki. 9.11. Jer. 29.26. Mar. 3.21. 1 Cor. 4.10. , or as the Duch tranſlation Engliſhed, in ſome places, renders the word Fanaticks. But be it ſo, that ſuch are mad, yet wiſer then the Father of that man which gave the name, gives the reaſon why, a wiſe man is mad. Oppreſſion (ſaith Solomon) makes a wiſe man mad hEccl. 7.7.. And Hoſea ſaith, The Prophet is a fool, and the ſpiritual man is mad, for the multitude of thine iniquity, and forthe great hatred iHo. 9.7.) & to be like Daniel ſearching the Scripture, and ſo to get an inſight into the preſent time and work, and a Foreſight of what God intends to do; for God hath promiſed to declare, reveal, and frequently performed his ſecrets to his people. kPſ. 25.14. Amo. 3.7. Gen. 18.17. Dan. 8.13.Therefore they ſhould be like thoſe holy-ones, in Daniel, inquire how long it will be to the end of the viſion. Alſo learning thoſe three exellent Leſſons, pointed out for evil times. viz. To prove what is that acceptable will of God lRom. 12.2., to redeem time mEph. 5.16 17. n Jo. 12 35., and to do the worke of the day, in the day.
In order thereunto, here follow ſome ſeaſonable Conſiderations, Directions, Encouragements, and Conſolations for all men, eſpecially Chriſtians in times of any Affliction.
Conſid. 1 Conſider that the Omnipotent & al-wiſe God hath his will, and hand, in all the Actions, matters, occurrences, & things in this world, which concern all perſons and all Ages: Yea, thoſe that are moſt ſtrange and moſt ſinful. (with reverence to his bleſſed Majeſty be it ſpoken, and without fathering the leaſt evil upon him, whoſe pure eyes cannot behold iniquity oHab. 1.13. This conſideration being well underſtood, and weighed, will ſilence all the Soul-diſquietings, and unruly thoughts of the hearts of Gods people. Therefore mark ſome Scriptures, and clear inſtances to that purpoſe: As the ſelling of Joſeph into Egypt (though a ſin in Joſephs brethren) yet he ſaith himſelf unto his brethren, It was not you that ſent me hither, but God pGen. 45.8.. So the hardning of Pharoahs heart to hinder Iſrael to goe out of Egypt, was of the Lord, as God told Moſes he would do it before he went to him, I will barden his heart (viz. Pharoahs) that he ſhall not let the people goe qEx. 4.21. & 7.3.: So Sihon King of Heſhbon, would not let Iſrael paſs by him; but why? for the Lord thy God hardned his Spirit rDu. 2.30.: Like as the Lord is ſaid to move David to number the people, The anger of the Lord was kindled againſt Iſrael, and he moved David to number the People s2 Sa. 24.1. And the Lord is ſaid to ſet up the adver ſaries of Rezin againſt him, and joyn two of his enemies together, the Syrians before, and the Phyliſtines behind, and they ſhall devoure Iſrael with open mouth tEſa. 9.11.12.. And David looked upon Sauls perſecuting of him, to be from God; For mark his words to Saul, Now therefore I pray thee, let my Lord the King hear the words of his ſervant: If the Lord have ſtirred the people up againſt me, let him accept an offering u1 Sam. 19.16.. So it is ſaid twice in one Chapter, that God ſtirred up two enemies againſt Solomon; And the Lord ſtirred up an Adverſary unto Solomon, Hadad the Edomite, &c. And the Lord ſtirred up another Adverſary, Rezen. &c. w1 Kin. 11.14, 23.The like is ſaid of Gods ſtirring up the King of Aſſyria, to carry ſome of the Children of Iſrael Captives into Babylonx1 Ch. 5.26. . So God ſaid he would ſtrenghen the King of Babylon, and put his Sword into his hand: yEz. 30.24Theſe with many more inſtances, prove that Gods will, and hand, are in all the matters that are done upon Earth.
Object. But theſe are Old-teſtament proofs, and God dealt at that time in another way, than he doth now in the Gospel daits.
Anſw. You will find as clear proofs in the New-Teſtament: Chriſt himſelf allowes, and in effect affirmeth, That the power that Pilare had to condemn and Judge him, was given him from above zJo. 19.11. And the Apoſtles jointly acknowledge, That Herod, Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Iſrael, were gathered together, to do what ſoever Gods hand, and his Counſel determined before to be done aAct. 4.28. So it is ſaid, That the Key of the bottomleſſe-pit was given to the Angel that fell from Heaven bRev. 9.1, 2. Rev. 9.1, 2; And this muſt be Chriſt, (who is ſaid to have the Keys of Hell, and of death cCh. 1.18..) But what to do? Even to open & make way for the ſmoke of Errors and Wickedneſs to aſcend, as there it follows: Likewiſe the Gentiles have Commiſſion, to trample upon the Church (for ſo much the words will bear) And the Holy City ſhall be trodden under foot, for forty and two Moneths. dCh. 11.2Nay it is ſaid further: That God hath put it into the hearts of the ten Kings, to fulfil his will, to agree, and to give their kingdom unto, the Beaſt, until the Word of God ſhall befulfilled eCh. 17.17..
But ſome may object, and ſay, by his will is meant, hating the Whore, making war with her, and making her deſolate.
Though that be part of his will, yet the other may aſwel be his will; and ſo taken here, and agreeable to other Scriptures: As God ſaid unto Satan, (before the deſtruction of Ahab) Thou ſhalt be a lying ſpirit, and goe forth and do ſo, & thou ſhalt prevaile with him f1 Ki. 22.22.. So it's ſaid, That the dwellers of Jeruſalem, and their Rulers fulfilled the Scriptures; (that is Gods will) in condemning Christ. gAct. 13.27.Conſider then, you that fear God, if you are under any affliction or ſuffering whatſoever, that it is God that is the efficient and firſt cauſe of it. As the Church in the Lamentations ſaid, Though he (meaning God) cauſeth grief, &c. hLa. 3.32.And it is he that formeth Light, and createth darkeneſſe, iEſa. 45.7.and there is no evil in the City (i. e. of affliction) but he doth it kAm. 3.6.. If your enemies hate you, look upon it as Gods turning their hearts to hate you l, (as the Egyptians did the Iſraleites lPſ. 105.25; If they curſe you, look upon it, as David did on Shimei's curſing. For the Lord (ſaith David) hath bidden him mSam. 16.10, 11.. If robbed, ſpoiled, and reproached by them, remember, That it is the Lord that gave Jacob for a ſpoil, and Iſrael to the Robbers nEſ. 42.24., and Jacob to the curſe, and Iſrael to reproach o& 43.28.. And if you be delivered up into the hands of your Enemies, yet ſay as Job did, God hath delivered me up to the ungodly, and turned me over into the hands of the wicked pJo. 16.11.. And if they ſlay you, yet know, they are but Gods Inſtruments, and hand therein. qPſ. 17.13, 14.And therefore, conclude, and ſay to them (as Joſeph did to his Brethren) As for you, ye thought evil againſt me, but God meant it unto good rGen. 50.20.
Object. But doth not this, as you ſay, plead for the enemies of God, and tend to ſtrengthen their hand, and give them incourgement to perſecute the people of God ſo much the more.
Anſw. No more than the Prophet Eliſha's ſaying unto Iſrael. (I know the evil that thou wilt do unto the children of Ifrael, ſ2 Ki. 8.12.&c. Give him ground to kill and ſlay, as he did afterward; or the words of Chriſt, ſaid of Judas, One of you ſhall betray me, tend to move him to betray Chriſt. And though God may give up wicked men to their own hearts luſts tPſ. 81.12., and ſuffer them to walk in their own waies, and commit ſuch wickedneſſe, vAct. 14.16.and leave them to diſcover what is in them, and give the Devil leave to delude and harden them (as he did Ahabs Prophets) and permit them as he did Pharoah, to purſue the Iſraelites, who threatned and reſolved ſix things. I will purſue, I will overtake, I will divide the ſpoyl, my luſt ſhall be ſatisfied upon them, I will draw my ſword, my hand ſhall deſtroy them wExo. 15.9; yet he could performe but one of them, and God will turn the rage of man to his own praiſe, and the remainder of wrath he will reſtrain xPſ. 86.11.
Conſid. 2 Secondly, as we ſhould conſider, that whatſoever is done, is done by the will, & appointment of the Lord (and therefore we ſhould with the Prophets learn to be ſilent, becauſe he doth it †Pſal. 39.9.) So we ſhould alſo conſider, wherefore the Lord doth all this, doubtleſſe it is not without cauſe; as God told Iſrael of old. And they ſhall know, that I have not done without cauſe, all that I have done to it yEze. 14.23.. If, like ſelf-juſtifying Judah you ask, Wherefore the Lord our God hath done all theſe things unto us zJer. 5.19.: I may (and oh that I could with tears mention it, and that my blood were fit to write it!) anſwer with the ſame Prophet; For the greatneſſe of our iniquities aCha. 13.22.: But alas whoſe tongue can utter, or whoſe pen can expreſſe the nature, or number the greatneſſe grievouſneſſe of the ſins of the Profeſſors (nay of the choiſeſt Chriſtians) of this age; to whom it may be truly ſaid (as formerly to Jeruſalem) That they have multiplied their tranſgreſſions, more then they bEz. 16.51: (i. e. then the Samaritans with whom the Jewes had no dealings,cJoh. 4.9.) And may not the Lord ſay to his people now, as formerly, Thou haſt alſo taught the wicked ones thy wayes dJer. 2.33.. Nay, may not the Saints of God generally cry out, Woe to us we have ſinned, eLam. 5.16and tranſgreſſed like men! Yea wo to us we have ſinned ſuch ſins, as unrighteous men could not ſin, againſt light, and love, aſſurance, and experience, after ſealing, and conſolations! Hath any generation ſince the Apoſtles daies, had ſuch powerful Preachers, and plenty of Preachings as this generation? But we have eſteemed this good Word and bread of Life, as the Iſraeliles did the Manna fNum. 21.5(light bread) we have been ſtomach-ful, ſick & ſurfeited, with the ſweet and fat things of Godshouſe, yea (as 'tis ſaid) We have been almoſt, in all evil, in midſt of the Congregation, and Aſſembly: gPro. 5.14.We trampled and trod under foot the good paſtures, which God had provided for us (and which the Saints and Martyrs of former daies, would have greatly Prized.) The fire of Religion was much vaniſhed into the ſmoak and air of brain Notions, and ſelf-conceited opinions, many taking up profeſſion, as they do faſhions, becauſe they would be in the Mode of the times; and like the Gibeonites feigning themſelves to be, what they were not, becoming Proſelytes either for fear, (as many became Jewes when they ſaw them prevail, for fear of themhEſa. 8.17.) or advantages, creeping through Churches into Councils, Armies, Cuſtom-houſes, and other places of honour, and profit. And others under pretence of being for Reformation, Uniformity, Order, and Church-Diſciplin, drove on (as it may be wel ſuſpected) their own particular deſignes, for now being themſelves perſecuted, they urge the ſame Scriptures, & arguments for liberty of conſcience which they then would not allow to their diſſenting brethren. How alſo hath the name of the Lord been blaſphemed, by the ſad principles of ſome, who under pretence of higher attainments, endeavoured to root up the very foundation, and main principles of Chriſtianity? And others, by their looſe, and licentious behaviour and practices, have given cauſe to God, to ſay, as once Jacob did to his Sons, Simeon and Levi; Ye have troubled me, to make me ſtinck among the inhabitants of the Land. iGe. 34.30.Hath not Chriſt been again wounded in the houſe, and by the hands of his friends? Yea, preſſed kAmos 2.13, wearied, lEſa. 7.13 43.24.and his heart broken, mEzek. 6.9.with the ſins of his own ſervants. Was he not forſaken (as formerly) by his own Diſciples? Did not the chiefeſt of his Miniſters too much imbrace this evil world, by removing from leſſer, to greater Livings? & did they not over diſpence with their own principles, to comply with the contrary, where Earthly booty did byaſſe, chooſing that end of the Scales, that did weigh heavieſt of the World? And did not the Rulers, (yea thoſe that pretended to be the greateſt Reformers) make it a great part of their work, to get to themſelves, and to give to one another, and their friends, not only the chiefeſt and gainfulleſt Offices, but the Eſtates of their Ememies; nay, have not ſome been delinquifyed, and decimated, more for their Eſtates, than for their Crimes? Ah! how miſerably did moſt men forſake their principles, and former practices, building what they did once deſtroy, and deny what they had before in words, and writings profeſſed: and when they had diſmounted, and dethroned their enemies, and got up into their Saddles, and ſeats, and trampled upon their pride, with as great pride; till God had rejected their confidences, and ſuffered them to crumble to nothing, and their ſtrength (which was made an Idol) to depart from them. And not only they, but the gathered Churches, though encreaſed with Members, Gifts, and Wealth, did decline and decay in Love, Zeal, Spiritual watchfulneſs, Self-denial, Humility, Pitty to, and praying for others; and how bitter, ſour, and ſelviſh were we grown? beſides the ſecret ſins, which God & our own conſciences only knew, our apparent ſins became a ſtumbling block to the poor world. And God had cauſe to ſay to divers of his Churches, as he once did to Iſrael, How art thou turned into the degenerate plant of a ſtrange Vine unto me uJer. 2.21.? And what hath my beloved to do in my houſe, ſeeing ſhe hath wrought lewdneſs with many, and the holy fleſh is departed from her oCh. 11.15?
Conſid. 3 3. Conſider, how neceſſary the preſent tryal upon Gods People is, if need be (ſaith Peter) you are in heavineſs, through manyfold temptations. p1 Pet. 1.6God ſaw a need of it before it came, and we ſee a need of it now it is come: It came as ſeaſonable as ever Froſt did in Winter, or Rain in Spring: We ſhould account this preventing Grace, and ſay with Job, Thy viſitation hath preſerved my Spirit qJob. 10.12.; The heat of proſperity would have burnt us, if God had not ſent this Cloud of affliction to cover us. Oh where had the moſt part of profeſſors been in a ſhort time, if God had not ſtept in! Our wiſe Phyſitian Chriſt, knew by our complexions, that we were running into a dangerous diſtemper, and therefore hath given us preventing Phyſicks, and this is the way that God ſometimes takes to heal his People. He went on frowardly in the way of his heart (mark that) I have ſeen his waies, and I will heal him rEſa. 57.17, 18.. God hath brought us into the pound, not to ſtarve us, but (being ſhrewd Cattle) to keep us from further miſchief: According to that ſaying, I will hedge up thy waies with Thornes, and make a Wall that ſhe ſhall not find her pathes, Hoſ. 2.6.and ſhe ſhall follow her lovers, and ſhall not overtake them.
Conſid. 4 Let us conſider the time of proſperity, Peace and Liberty we have enjoyed; we have had a late Jubilee, a long Vacation, and as good, and ſeaſonable a Harveſt to provide, and lay up in ſtore againſt the Winter, as any could deſire.
And now we ſhould conſider, what ſtock we have gotten and laid up: For every true Chriſtians heart, Can. 7.13.laies up ſomewhat for Chriſt, and ſomething for himſelf; and he is like the wiſe Scribe or Houſholder, mentioned in the Goſpel, able to bring forth things new and old, out of his treaſury tMat. 13.52.. The time of Proſperity, ought to be a time of gaining, and the time of Adverſity, of ſpending grace, and of bearing and enduring. A Chriſtian ſhould never do any thing for Christ v2 Tim. 1.11, 12., but he ſhould expect to ſuffer for ſo doing; for how can an enemy, that flings a ſtone, or ſhoots an Arrow againſt his Enemy,bene facere, & male audire. but expect the ſame flung or ſhot to him again: and every Chriſtian is ſo to the Devil and his Kingdom.
Conſid. 5 All afflictions and tryals, as they are the Appointments & Ordinances of God, are profitable to his people, that are exerciſed therewith: And for that end chiefly, doth the Lord lay them upon them; as the Apoſtle ſaith, That they might be partakers of his Holineſſe wHe. 12.10. God bleſſeth this Ordinance, to do good when other Ordinances fail; and God prepares by this fire, ſuch Phyſick (nay indeed it is Phyſick it ſelf) as removes, and cures thoſe Cronical, old, and long continued diſeaſes, and ſins of the Soul, which are not healed otherwiſe, or by other means. And David experienced this, when he ſaid unto God, Thou art good, and doſt good; Pſa. 119.68.That is, good in affliction, and doſt good by affliction; for ſo the words before and after clearly ſhew; Before I was afflicted, I went aſtray, but now I have kept thy word. xverſ. 67.And it is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I might learn thy Satutes yverſ. 71.. Affliction is the ſpiritual ſhepherds hook, with which he drives back ſtragling, ſtraying, & out-skipping ſheep: or as the Salt that new ſeaſons, the almoſt quite corrupted fleſh; And the book wherin all Chriſts Schollars learn experience; as the Apoſtle makes experience the fruit of patience, and patience, the product of tribulation; Ye glory, ſaith he, in tribulation, knowing, that tribulation worketh patience, and patience experience. zRom. 5.3. — Muſar.The ſame word in the Hebrew, ſignifies Inctruction, and Correction; for in both, God makes out himſelf to the Soul; So that what they once heard by the voice of the word, they hear again from the voice of his rod: And in this ſenſe it is ſaid of Chriſt, that he learned obedience: (that is, experimentally) by the things he ſuffered aHeb. 5.8.. By Afflictions true Chriſtians come to learn over again what they heard before, and to do better what they knew before.
Conſid. 6 Conſider that in al likely-hood & probability, we are but entred into the Affliction, and the floods are but beginning to riſe, like as it is ſaid, (in another caſe) of Ezekiels watersbEzek. 47. : and the furnace yet, is but making hot, and ſcarcely, have any taſted ſuch bitter afflictions, as the primitive Martyrs did. And moſt of the Chriſtians of this age have ſcarce ſuffered ſo much for Chriſt, as thoſe they count their perſecutors ſuffered for man; though like dainty Coy Citizens, we are ready to complain, when we begin to touch the Wet, or feel the Cold; and as one of the Martyrs that cryed out, when his executioner did ſtrike his Foot with the Hammer, as he faſtned the Chain, whereas he (dear ſoul) was immediately to be burnt. Its bad and thin cloath that will not bear one wetting, without ſhrinking; and a heartleſs Souldier, that at the firſt Charge, and with a ſlight Wound, forſakes and flyes the Field. We have cauſe, yet to ſay as the Apoſtle; our affliction is but light c2 Cor. 4.18, and ſhort. Conſidering the long and ſore afflitions of the Jewes, the ancient People of God, who were afflicted for 400 years, then 70, and ſince that, without any intermiſſion above 1600 years. Alſo the primitive Chriſtians, that had ſcarce in 300 years, ſo much liberty, peace, and freedom from Perſecution, as we had within theſe few years: We cannot ſay as the Prophets) That from our youth we have been afflicted dPſa. 88.15or that all Gods Waves and Billowes, are gone over us e& 42.7.: What if God ſhould ſay now, (as he did formerly) That the Enemies ſhould devour Iſrael with open mouth fEſa. 9.12.: And that the preſent Phaenix, the Church of God ſhould be burnt up, that a more pure, ſinleſs, and ſpiritual ſeed may ſpring up in the roome thereof, that may be counted to the Lord for a generation? And what if it be the Lords mind, that this Generation ſhall Sow in Tears, or Blood, (as former Generations have done for us) that following Generations may reap with joy? Our cares and deſires ſhould be that God would put an end to our Sins, rather than to our Sufferings; and we ſhould, account it (as our Saviour, Mat. 10.41 Acts 20.35and his Apoſtle ſaid in another caſe) more bleſſed to give than to receive.
Conſid. 7 That how great ſoever the Tryal may prove, yet it is ſtinted and limited; both in reſpect of Nature, Degree, and Time.
There hath no temptation, ſaith the Apoſtle g1 Cor. 10.13.(that is no kind of tryal) hath taken you, but ſuch as is common to man; that is, but either befel others before you, or what you ſhall be able to bear; as the words following intimate: Who will not ſuffer you to be tempted above what you are able, i.e. to bear: God hath the meaſuring alſo of the Affliction; and this is the difference between Gods correcting his people, and puniſhing the wicked. To his people he ſaith, hJer. 30.11I will not make a full end of them: but to their enemies, he ſaith, I will make a full end of all the Nations iCha. 46.28.: Yea, he will deſtroy them both Soul and body, as another Prophet ſpeakskEſa. 10.17: But when he was very angry with Iſrael, and bid the enemy deſtroy them, but (yet ſaith he) make not a full end lJer. 5.10..
And Chriſt himſelf will ſtand by, as atender Phyſitian, to ſee not only all the Ingredients put into their Potion, but alſo the compounding & weighing to a grain, every Doſe that ſhall be given to theſe his Patients, (being ſuch extraordinary friends, as his Wife, & Children, his Brethren, Siſters, and Companions) yea he will be like a juſt Judge, taking care that the Executioners (for no better are the Perſecutors of Gods people) ſhal not vent out their own malice, but give due correction, not one ſtroke more than the royal Law (i.e. the Goſpel New Covenant) allows; for the afflictions of the people of God, is one of the New-Teſtament Legacies: And therefore the Apoſtle ſaith: It is given unto you to ſuffer mPhi. 1.29.. And whilſt this his Gold and Silver is in the fire, he ſits there himſelf, as the Refiner nMal. 3.2.: he doth not come, and goe, as if he were about ſome ordinary work. Likewiſe for the time it is limited, and therefore the time of the deliverance of Gods Church, is called the ſet time oPſa. 102.11.. And the Tribulation of the Saints of the New-Teſtament is reckoned up ſtill by daies, (which under the Old-Teſtament was by years; as the bondage of Egypt, 43 years, and the Captivity of Babylon 70 years;)pRev. 2.10. Ye ſhal have tribulation ten daies; ſo the Church was in the Wilderneſs 126 daies; Yea & all the while ſhe was there too, ſhe was in the place prepared her of God, and there alſo fed by them qRev. 12.6; but by whom? ſurely either by Angels, ſuch as miniſtred to Chriſt, when he was in the Wilderneſs rMat. 4.11., or the two Witneſſes, as ſome ſuppoſe, or thoſe that carried them Captives; for God makes them treat his people well, as he made Nebuzaradan do: The poor of the People, to whom he gave Vine-yards, as the text ſaith, at the ſame time (or in that day) and ſo Nebucadnezzar gave command to the ſame Nebu. that he ſhould look well to Jeremy and do him no harm, ſJer. 36.10 12.&c. So Julius one of the Emperors Captains, was made to intreat Paul courteouſly tAct. 27.1.3., no thanks to him, for he had a command from a greater than Auguſtus, even from God to do it; though indeed the Heathens granted more liberty, than profeſſing Chriſtians do now; for then a man might not be judged before he was examined uAct. 28.18, nor committed, without firſt ſignifying the crimes laid againſt him wAct. 25.27.. The Romans gave liberty for Paul to goe to his friends, and his friends to Miniſter, and to come unto him xCh. 24. 23 & 27. 3.. In thoſe daies a poor Priſoner might hire a houſe; and a perſecuted Preacher and Priſoner (as Paul was,) had liberty to preach the Kingdome of God, and teach the things which concerned the Lord Jeſus Chriſt with confidence, no man forbidding yCh. 28. 30. 31.: And for the poor people that had not the Law, to do more than thoſe that have both Law and Goſpel, is to them a praiſe, and to us a ſhame.
Conſid. 8 Conſider what frame of ſpirit you now have, being under ſufferings; for God calls for, & expects that his peoples ſpirits, and the frame of their hearts, ſhould correſpond with their Conditions; as we find frequently in the Scriptures. If then (that is, in their captivity) their uncircumciſed hearts be humbled, and they then accept of the puniſhment of their iniquity; Then will I remember (ſaith the Lord) my Covenant, zLev. 26.41, 42.&c. Mark what kind of ſpirit God requires, to be in his people in the time of their Affliction, namely a Humble, Meek and Patient Spirit; a Spirit offended neither at God nor men, nor the Affliction it ſelf; but only at themſelves: alſo juſtifying God as Ezra did; Thou haſt puniſhed us leſs than our iniquities have deſerved aEzr. 9.13 ſee Job. 11.6.. And David, When thou with rebuke doſt correct men for iniquity bPſa. 39.11., and judging themſelves c1 Cor. 11.31., and becoming more guilty in their own eyes, as God ſaid by the Prophet; I will goe to my place till they be guilty dHoſ. 5.15 marg.. And ſay as Job ſaid, If I be righteous, yet will I not lift up my head, I am full of confuſion, therefore ſee thou my affliction eJob. 10.15: As if Job had ſaid, Oh Lord my work is to behold Sin, and be ſenſible of my confuſion; but thine is to take notice of my affliction, and to ſhew compaſſion; Or as Nehemiah pray'd, Spare me according to the greatneſs or multitude of thy mercy fNeh. 13.22.. And Chriſtians work in afflicton, is to be weeping, mourning, ſorrowing, afflicting, humbling ſearching, cleanſing, and fearing themſelves, and trembling at Gods Judgements, and ſoaking in the ſuds of true repentance, ſighing, and being greatly aſhamed, & deeply afflicted, and ſelf-miſerablegJam. 4.9. , lifting up their voice earneſtly unto the Lord, like people that have their houſes and Beds on fire, crying out, what ſhall we do? or like people in a great flood, every one ſticking cloſe to one another, & ſeeking to help each other through. And bringing old ſins, (yea, & our own rather than others) to remembrance, as there was under the Law, an offering of memorial, bringing iniquity to remembrance hNum. 5.15.; we ſhould now like Joſeph's brethren, remember our old iniquities, and fall down to the ground; and ſay as Judah ſaid, What ſhall I ſay unto my Lord? what ſhall we ſpeak? how ſhall we clear our ſelves? God hath found out our iniquities iGen. 44.16. Chriſtans work in time of affliction, is not to be jarring one with another, & upbraiding each other with former miſcarriages (though they may in love and meekneſſe admoniſh and mind one another thereof) or to ſtand upon their tiptoes & plead their own innocency, (for who can ſay his heart is clean?) or ſtrive about controverſal truths; as thoſe two Martyrs, (in Q. M. days) that ſtrove in the Biſhops houſe about Infant Baptiſm, which the Biſhop ſoon decided, by comitting them both to Priſon, and ſoon after to the Fire. Neither is this a time to fret (or as the Hebrew word ſignifies, Thunder) againſt our enemies, as good Hannah did againſt her adverſary, that did ſore provoke her k1 Sa. 1.6.; nor yet to cry as Micha did after his Idols; Ye have taken away my Gods lJud. 18.23, when the things of this World are taken away from us: much leſs to goe on in ſin, or to treſpaſs more and more m2 Chr. 28.23., as wicked Ahaz did, or as Iſrael did ſin from Canaan to Caldea nEze. 16.29.under affliction, and ſo add more fuel to the fire, to augment the fierce anger of the Lord oNum. 32.14.: but rather let every one turn ſpeedily from his Sins p1 Ki. 8.35; and if there be iniquity in his heart, hand or houſe, to put it far, qJob. 11.14 & 22.(and for ever) away, as Jacob did cauſe his houſhold to do when he was in danger of the Canaanites and Perizites rGen. 35.2.; that God may according to his promiſe, return to his people in mercy ſ2 Chr. 30.6, from the fierceneſſe of his anger, which they have ſo greatly kindled.
Conſid. 9 Chriſtians ſhould alſo conſider their Waies, and their Works, (as well as the frame of their ſpirits) For Gods eyes are upon the waies of man, and he ſeeth all his goings, tJob. 34.21and weigheth all his Actions u1 Sam. 2.3: when the people of God were going, or gone into Captivity, one main duty which they were called to perform, was to ſearch and try their waies wLam. 3.40.. Another Prophet alſo moſt ſolemnly (and twice in one Chapter) tells the people from God, when they were careleſs and minding their own concernes, and things; That that was the time for them to conſider, or ſet their hearts on their waies xHag. 1.5.7.. Oh that every one of us would conſider the ſecret and hidden waies of our hearts; for ſuch there are yEcl. 11.9.: for our ſpirits and our thoughts, deſires and affections may be travelling in by-paths, or going and hunting after ſome ſinfull prey, as the hounds in the night, ſome after pleaſure and fleſhly zEze. 6.9.luſts; others after covetouſneſs, and the things of the World: as it is ſaid of ſome, that their eyes, and hearts, are not, but for their Covetouſneſs aJer. 22.17, and exerciſed with covetous practices b2 Pet. 2.14; other mens hearts lifted up to deſtruction, and others melting cJoſh. 14.8.& failing for fear of men dEſa. 7.2., & of the things that are coming upon the Earth eLu. 21.26: And as there are the waies of the heart, ſo there are the waies and the walkings of the outward man, to be conſidered, whether pure or impure, whether above or beneath, whether crooked or ſtreight, whether forward or backward, or ſideward, whether the old way of Saints, or the old way of ſinners (for there are both fJer. 16.6. Job. 22.15.) whether waies of Darkneſs or Light, ſincerity or hypocriſy, ſpirituality, or formality, undefiled or ſpotted, the way of Gods Commandments, or of mens Traditions, the way of honeſty or diſhoneſty. It's bad ſtanding, worſe ſitting, but worſt of all walking, running, perſiſting, (and eſpecially pleading for) any ſinful way; Take heed therefore you Sons and daughters of Zion, leſt you be and continue in Babylon; but flee out of the midſt there of gJer. 51.6.. When God threatens to deſtroy her, going or running out of her, will not ſerve the turn, but you muſt fly, for her Judgements will come ſuddainly, in one day (nay, in one hour) Death, Mourning, and Famine, and ſhe ſhall be utterly burnt up hRev. 18.8 19.: And beware leſt you lodge in her Suburbs, or be backward as ſome will be, to come out of her: as it appears, that notwithſtanding, One Angel cryed, and that mightily: That Babylon that great City is faln, is faln iverſ. 2.: Yet another voice was heard from Heaven ſaying, Come out of her my people, that ye be not partakers of her ſins, leſt ye be partakers of her Plagues kverſ. 4.: Lot in Sodom was neceſſitated to be ſent and plucked out of the midſt of the overthrow lGen. 19.26. In the name of the Lord, therefore be exhorted by the words of the Apoſtle Peter to ſave your ſelves, mActs 2.40 41.from this untoward generation.
Conſid. 10 Conſider one another nHeb. 10.24., as the Apoſtle exhorted the Hebrewes, in a time of great and ſore perſecution and affliction; for without this, there cannot be a performance of thoſe other duties, as exhorting, comforting, edifying and bearing with one another. This conſideration is very neceſſary in a day of affliction and tryal; becauſe then there will be the greateſt temptation, to be ſelviſh and ſenſorious; and every one will be ready (as the Proverb is) to ſeek to ſave one, or himſelf; but every one ſhould like Nehemiah, ſeek the welfare of Iſrael oNeh. 2.10, of all the people of God; or like Mordecai, That did ſeek the wealth of the people, and ſpeak peace to all his ſeed pEſt. 10.5.: For all believers are like the boards of the Tabernacle, that were perfectly joyned both above and beneath qExo. 26.24.; and God hath tempered the whole body of his Church together, ſo that every part ſhould Sympathize with each other, and care one for another. And whether one member ſuffer, all the members ſhoud ſuffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it r1 Cor. 12.24, 25., puting on bowels of mercy, kindneſs, humbleneſs of mind, meckneſs, long-ſuffering, forbearing one another, and forgiving one another ſCol. 3.12, 13.; pitying the tempted, ſtrengthning the Weak, helping to recover and ſet in joint again thoſe that are faln, relieving the poor, gathering up the halt and lame, giving the ſame meaſure of allowance to others, which we expect from them; making the falls of others, our own fears, and ſeting before our eyes the tryals of others, for warning to our ſelves
Conſid. 11 Conſider the mighty works that God hath done, and that he is doing; So the people of God did formerly. Thou art the God that doth wonders, thou haſt declared thy ſtrength among the people tPſa. 7.14: And David, being in affliction, wrote a Pſalm, which he calls, a Pſalm to bring to remembrance uPſa. 70.; and Caleb remembred the words that God had ſpoken of him, to Moſes forty five years before wJoſh. 14.6, 7, 10.. And wherefore did God cauſe Manna, Arons rod, &c. to be laid up, or the Stones taken out of the bottom of Jordan, to be pitched upon the other ſide? or doth God ſo often put the Iſraelites in remembrance of their Redemption out of Egypt; but that he would have them ſtill mindfull thereof, it being alſo ſo great a Sin in men, to forget the works of the Lord, as that it is ſaid to forget God himſelf, as appears clearly by comparing two Pſalms together, where the ſame ſtory is related; in the one it is ſaid, that they (i. e. the Children of Iſrael) forgot his works xPſa. 78.11; and in the other, that they forgot God their Saviour ywith 106.21..
Conſid. 12 Again the time of affliction, is a time for men to conſider their latter end; and yet as God formerly wiſhed it zDeut. 32.29., and complained that men did not do it aLam. 1.9.: So doubtleſſe (as by ſad experience we find) it is now; notwithſtanding the weapons of death, are drawn and pointed at our hearts and heads, and this King of terror himſelf, is ready to come in at our windowes and doors dayly, and many younger, ſtronger and better than we, cut off ſuddainly: yet we lay it not to heart, but put off thinking of this great Debt; and little think, how amazing, and perhaps unwelome it will be to us when it comes. We find many of Gods Worthies and ſtout Champions, as Job, David, Hezekiah, and Peter, when they came to encounter with this Leviathan, like the men of Iſrael when Goliah appeared to them, fearful. Job when he thought to comfort himſelf, grew afraid of ſorrowes: And why? Becauſe ſaith he, I know, that thou wilt not hold me innocent bJob. 9.27, 28.. Fear of Gods imputing Sin to him, made him fearful leſt God ſhould impoſe more affliction upon him, and ſo take him away with his ſtroke: another time he ſaith, The Graves are ready for me cCh. 17 1.: he thought where ever he came, he was to dye, and there was a Grave pointed out for him, and ready to ſwallow him up. David alſo though a man of great faith, is ſaid to be one while ſore a fraid of Achiſh, another while of going up to Gibeah, 1 Sa. 21.12.(becauſe of the danger of death in both places) another while he cries out, That the terrors of death were faln upon him dPſa 55.4.: and therefore (doubtleſs) he praies unto the Lord, to ſpare him a little e39.13.. Alſo when Hezekiah was but bid prepare, for he muſt die; ſee what a ſad, and lamentable writing he wrote thereupon; I am deprived (ſaith he) of the reſidue of my years, I ſhall ſee man no more; mine age is departed from me, and removed as a ſhepherds Tent fEſa. 38.1011.12., &c. And did not our Saviour foretel Peter, When thou ſhalt be old, and another ſhall gird thee; (as the cuſtom in that kind of execution was,) and carry thee whither thou wouldeſt not. This ſpake he, ſignifying by what death he ſhould glorifie God gJohn 21.18, 19.: Peter as far as he was fleſh and blood, was unwilling to ſuffer. Nay, our Saviour Chriſt himſelf, as he was man, prayed, that if it were poſſible, his Father would let the Cup paſſe from him. By all theſe inſtances,Mat. 26.29 we may take warning, how unfree, even many choice Saints may be to dye, when they are brought to it; and yet ſome like Paul, may deſire it;Phil. 1.21. and it's like to be moſt eaſy, and leſt terrible to them that fear it moſt, and conſider of it, and wait for it moſt ſeriouſly, and conſtantly.
Conſid. 13 Laſtly, As an Encouragement to goe through all Tribulations, Perſecutions, and Death it ſelf; Conſider Chriſt hHe. 3.1. &, and the cloud of witneſſes i12.7., and Martyrs that are gone before, who are paſſed over and through all thoſe floods, and are ſafely arrived to ſhore, and got off this troubleſome, turbulent Sea of the World; to the Calm, and quiet Haven of Salvation. For conſider him that endured ſuch contradiction of ſinners againſt himſelf, leſt ye be wearied, and faint in your minds kCh. 12.3.; or as it is in the verſe before, look on him, conſider him in his ſuffering ſtate; and behold him in his glorified ſtate. By his ſufferings, he taught us the way, by his now living in Heaven, he ſhews us the wages. Jacob went gladly down into Egypt, becauſe Joſeph was there. It ſhould be no more to a believer, to follow Chriſt through ſuffering and Death, than for a woman, that lives from her husband in a Cottage, and ſtrange Country, to paſs over a River or a narrow Sea (in a ſafe veſſel too) to go to her husband to live in a Kingly-pallace, and in her own Country with him for ever.
Having finiſhed the Conſiderations; In the next place be pleaſed for to hearken to a few Counſels, which are judged neceſſary, and ſeaſonable.
Counſel. 1 Be perſwaded, that whatſoever affliction any of you Chriſtians are under already, or ſhall be brought under, it is in love from God to your Souls: For whom the Lord loveth he chaſtiſeth aHeb. 12.6; and as many as I love (ſaith Chriſt) I rebuke bRev. 3.19. Amo. 3.2.: As God ſaid to Iſrael of old, therefore you only have I known of all the families of the earth: wheras on the other ſide, the not puniſhing of the wicked, is a ſign of Gods hatred to themcHoſ. 4.14. : And therefore have no hard thoughts of God, how long and ſore ſoever he whippeth, and Chaſtiſeth dEſa. 63.8.; For when he ſees blood on the Rod, his pitty will fly up into his face, towards you, and fury towards the Rod eExek. 38.18., which are the wicked in his fEſ. 10.15.hand.
Counſ. 2 Be alſo certain and confident, that all his Corrections, will be for your good and profit. As David by experience could ſay, It is good for me that I have been afflicted gPſa. 119.71.: And the Apoſtle ſaith, He (i. e. God) corrects us for our profit hHe. 12.10; As a diſobedient Child, after his father hath corrected him, is received into his Fathers favour again; ſo ſaith the ſixth verſe of that Chapter. Affliction drawes the Anger with it out of God his Father, and the cauſe of anger, which is Sin, out of the Child. See Eſa. 1.25. & 27.8. Jer. 30.15, 17, Dan. 11.35. & 12.10. Zach. 13.9. Heb. 12.11. 1 Pet. 4.14. & 5.10. and more in the experiences following.
Counſ. 3 Labour to commit your ſelves, and all your concernments to the Lord, even as Chriſt and the ſervants of God formerly did: He (i. e. Christ) Commited himſelf, or as it is in the margent, his Cauſe) to him that judgeth righteouſly i1 Pe. 2.23.. So it is ſaid, That the poor man committed himſelf to God †Pſ. 10.14.: or (as it is in the Hebrew) he leaveth himſelf to him; that is, when he ſuffers unjuſtly, he gives up himſelf and cauſe to the Lord, judging that there is ſafety in no other; and by doing this patiently, God takes it ſo acceptably (that he ſhould truſt him with all, and that before and above all others too) that he counts it as the Apoſtle ſaith, (a wonderful expreſſion!) thank worthy, or worthy of thanks k1 Pet. 2.19.20.from him: As a Nobleman or Land-Lord, when one of his poor Neighbours or Tenants refers his life, and all he hath to him, to determine thereof, will ſay, I thank thee Neighbour or Tennant, for thy good opinion of me. There muſt be a good perſwaſion in that Soul, (as Paul hadl2 Ti. 1.12.) of Gods power, and faithfulneſſe, that will commit the keeping of ſuch a Jewel, as the Soul is, to him: and yet, why not? for he is ſaid to keep it mPr. 24.12: And Peter. who had experience of ſelf-keeping or rather looſing his own Soul, had learned that Leſſon, and therefore taught it unto others: Wherefore (ſaith he) let them that ſuffer according to the will of God (mark that, not if they ſuffer otherwiſe, for then he will not keep them) commit the keeping of their Souls to him, in well-doing, as unto a faithful Creator n1 Pe. 4.19. Do but ſecure your Souls in that ſafe hand, and then you need not fear ſuffering. Further,
Counſ. 4 Be adviſed not to fear any creatures whatſoever: This exhortation is very often given in Scripture, Fear not; Moſes gives this exhortation both to Iſrael, oDeut. 13.6and Joſhua diſtinctly, fear not, nor be afraid of them, fear not, neither be diſmaid ppag. v. 7.; and three times doth God in one Chapter exhort his People Iſrael not to fear, qEſa. 41.10.13, 14.though their enemies were ſtrong, and did ſtrive againſt them, and they but like a Worme, yet they were not to fear them: Our Saviour Chriſt likewiſe gives the ſame exhortation three times in the tenth Ch. of Mathew rMat. 10.26, 28, 31.. And it's worth conſideration, what little cauſe men have to fear poor Mortals, who are but graſs, worms, and thimbles full of duſt; as likewiſe that it is Idolatry in a high degree to fear Creatures; and the fear of man bringeth a ſnare, (that is, draweth men into a ſnare:) But whoſo putteth his truſt in the Lord ſhall be ſafe ſPr. 29.25.: Alſo the fearful, are the firſt ſort that are threatned, to have their part in the Lake which burneth with fire and brimſtone tRev. 2 8.: And God commanded Jeremiah, not to fear his enemies, (and yet, of all the Prophets, he ſeemed to have moſt cauſe) upon pain of being conſumed, or broke in peices before them uJer. 1.17. Rev. 2.10.: Fear God, ſelf, and ſin, & you need fear no more. And as Chriſt ſaith Fear none of thoſe things that you ſhal ſuffer.
Object. But are not men commanded by Solomon, to fear the Lord and the King? Pro. 24.21.
Anſw. Paul reſolves that caſe clearly,Rom. 13.3, 4. Ro. 13.3, 4. where he ſaith, Rulers are not a terror to good works (or workers, Eph. 5.11.) but to the evil: Wilt thou then not be afraid of the Power? (or nearer the Greek) But wilt thou not fear the power, do that which is good, and thou ſhalt have praiſe of the ſame. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid. Doubtleſs, Rulers are to be obeyed, and ſubmitted to in all lawful things (whether the King, or thoſe that are ſent by him) and this willingly and ſincerely; for the Lord w1 Pet. 2.23., and for Conſcience ſake xRom. 13.5: & its Chriſtians duties to give them honour, and pay them Tributes and Cuſtoms, as Chriſt didyMat. 17.27. , and not to reſiſt, for he that reſiſteth, reſiſteth the ordinance of God, and ſhall receive to themſelves damnation, or as the word rather ſignifies,foreign. Judgement, and is ſo tranſlated by our laſt Tranſlators in four placeszJoh. 9.39. Gal. 5.10. 1 Cor. 11.29 34. ; and as Piſator renders it, paenam ſibi auferent, They ſhall receive puniſhment, that is from the Magiſtrate. And I conceive there is no warrant (from the Scriptures) to affirm, that either there are no Magiſtrates now in being in the World, or that the Magiſtrates, under and belonging to the fourth Monarchy, are not to be obey'd. For before Chriſt & the Apoſtles days, the fourth Monarch was up, (begun in Julius Caeſar) and yet the Apoſtles acknowledged and obeyed hem (even Nero, &c.) as Magiſtrates; and I ſee no reaſon, why the later Magiſtrates belonging to the 4th. Monarch, ſhould not be obeyed (in all lawful things, as I ſaid before) as well as the firſt. And I could never meet with any convincing argument, to prove that the fift Monarchy, (which I am perſwaded of and expect will be, and as many AncientaJuſt. Mar. Lact. Jren. , and Modern bAlſted. Arc. Dr. Twiſſ. Dr. Ho. Mr. Mead. Bur. Fenick. Dr. Homes Phy. Mat. &c.learned men, have unanſwerably proved) will begin before Chriſt the Monarch himſelf, appears in the head of it, and to erect it, as the other four wordly Monarchs did before. And being now upon this point let me hint a line or two to King, and Rulers, who are taught from the Scriptures, their dutyes as well as their Subjects. As the King to write the Law of the Lord, read, and keep it all the daies of his Life, that he may learn to fear the Lord his God, and to keep all the words of this Law, and theſe ſtatutes to do them, that his heart be not lifted up above his Brethren, and that he turn not aſide from the commandment, to the right hand or to the left cDeut. 17.18, 19, 20., &c. And that he ſet up the true worſhip of God, according to his own divine Will, and like good Jehoſophat, Aſa, Joſias, 1 Chr. 13.5. & 28.12. & 2.29.25.& Hezekiah, pull down all Idolatry, and Profaneſſe. And as Solomon ſaith, Scatter the wicked, and bring the wheel over them, dPr. 20.26.which elſewhere, he alſo ſaith, is the way to ſtabliſh his Throne e25.5.: And like David, have the faithful of the Land to dwell with him; and not to ſuffer Lyars nor Flatterers to ſtand in his ſight fPſal. 101.6, 7.: But as the Apoſtle ſaith, to be a terror to evil works gRom. 13.3., for the puniſhing of evil doers, and for the praiſe of them that do well h1 Pe. 2.14.: giving alſo encouragement, and liberty to all good Chriſtians, to profeſs and practice the doctrine and waies of Chriſt and his Apoſtles, (who were then falily called, and counted as thoſe are now, that walk after their Teachings, and converſations,See before p. 1, 2. Mad-men, Hereticks, Sciſmaticks, Turbulent, Seditious perſons, &c.) that they may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all Godlineſs and honeſty i1 Tim. 2.2.: This would be acceptable to God, and give incouragement to Chriſtians, to pray for, and pay cuſtoms to them. But if they command any thing contrary to the word of God, they are not to be actually obeyed: ſee Eſther 3.2, 3. Dan. 3.18. & 6.10, 13. Act. 4.19. and 5.29. See Bp. Andrews on the third Com. and Par. on Rom. 13.
Counſ. 6 Chriſtians ſhould alſo redeem and improve time kEph. 5.16., (it being ſhort and uncertain, and before evil and worſe daies come lEccl. 12.1) for private exerciſes eſpecially, as Faſting, Prayer and exhorting one another, which if you mark, is to be kept up in times of affliction and perſecution, more than at other times. For it is ſaid, Then they that feared the Lord, ſpake often one to another: When was that? Look in the verſe before, When they that did work wickedneſs were ſet up, and when they that did tempt God, were delivered mMal. 3.15, 16.. So the Apoſtle ſaith, Not forgetting the aſſembling of our ſelves together, &c. nHe. 10.25.ſo much the more as ye ſe the day approching
Counſ. 6 As Chriſt commanded his Diſciples, be wiſe as Serpents aMat. 10.16.: which uſe to keep, and preſerve their heads, (wherein chiefly the Life is) they alſo ſhut their ears, and run in any danger, to their holes. Chriſtians ſhould thence ſpiritually learn to be carefull of Chriſts glory, and not to hearken to temptations, and fly in danger to the Lord, (as David did) to be hid with him bPſa. 143. 9 Pro. 28.12: David is ſaid, to behave himſelf wiſely c1 Sam. 18.15.30, and, yea again, more wiſely, *23.22.which Saul took notice of, and was afraid of him, ſo much the more. Its a great piece of prudence in an evil time to be ſilent dAmo. 5.13, yea and to keep the door of thy mouth from her that lyeth in thy boſom eMic. 7.5., for not onelyonly (as the Prophet ſpeaks) Wicked men will lay waite, as he that ſetteth ſnares, or a trap, to catch men fJer. 5.26.: But as our Saviour ſaith, The Brother, ſhall betray the Brother to death, and the Father, the Son, and the Children ſhall riſe up againſt their Parents gMar. 13.12.; (as it was in ſome of the ten Perſecutions) Therefore mark the Apoſtles advice,h1 Pet. 3.10 He that will love life, and ſee good daies, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips, that they ſpeak no guile.
Counſ. 7 Take heed of flying, without juſt Cauſe, and Call: God threatned ſome Iſraelites, that would fly for fear to Egypt, that the Sword which they feared, ſhould overtake them in Egypt iJer. 42.15, 16.; And a time may come when thoſe words may be fulfilled, The ſhepherds ſhall have no way to fly, nor the principal of the flock to eſcape kCha. 25.35.. Its remarkable, that when Jeremy went to ſeperate himſelf to the Land of Benjamine, he was taken in the gate lJer. 37.12.; but another time, and in greater danger, God hid Baruch and him; So one of the Martyrs, Chap. 36.26by letting him down over the Wall of a City, a ſtone fell out of the wall, and broke his Leg; the Centinel hearing the noiſe apprehended him, and he was taken, and put to death. In ſome caſes, doubtleſs it is altogether unlawful to fly; as when the perſecution is general; or when a ſtanding, or witneſſing may be to Gods glory; or when a man hath a ſpecial boldneſs given to him to ſuffer, ſuch as Stephen and Paul had;Act. 6.10. and 7.51.20.22.18.10. yet in ſome caſes, as well Preachers as other may flee. See Mat. 10.23. and 2.13. Joh. 10.39. Acts 8.1. and 11.19. 9.25. and 19.13. 1 Kings 11.13. and 19.3. Mic. 2.10. Heb. 11.37. Rev. 12.6.
Counſ. 8 Be preparing & haſting to meet the Lord by an earneſt following after what is before you, and do not forſake God, or draw back to any ſin, or ſinful ſervice, but giving your ſelves to prayer (for before the Angels deſcend to ſound the Trumpets or pour the Viols, the ſmoke of the incenſe muſt aſcend to God nRev. 8.5.: And it is very remarkable, that where God ſaith, The Lord our God is one God; the word Eched, which ſignifies one oDeut. 6.4 foreignin the Hebrew, is written with a great D in the end of it thus, Eche D: alſo where it is ſaid, Thou ſhalt worſhip no other God; the word Achar, which ſignifies other is written with a great R thus, Acha R pEx. 34.14, ſignifying, that God is exceeding jealous in his worſhip to a letter, & that he alone, & according to his own word only, muſt be worſhiped; for he that worſhipeth any other, or otherwiſe, worſhipeth the Beaſt, and he that worſhippeth the Beaſt, worſhipeth the Dragon and Devil qRev. 13.4: Therefore do not as the Jewes did, change the word Baal, into Boſheth, but ſtill retained their Idolatry, change names, & keep things: Defile not your ſelves rRev. 3.4., but come perfectly out of Babylon, and all falſe worſhip, and cleanſe and keep your ſelves pure from all iniquity, & touch not any unclean thing, That God may receive you ſ2 Cor. 6.17, and count you worthy to eſcape the evils that are coming upon the Earth, and enable you to ſtand before the Son of max at his appearing.tLuc. 21.36
Counſ. 9 Laſtly, be Patient, for of all other leſſons, that is to be exerciſed in time of tribulationuRo. 12.12. , for without that Chriſtians cannot poſſeſſe or injoy their SoulswLuke 21.19. . And of all graces patience ſometimes hath the Preheminence: When Paul reckons up many inſtances, by which he and Timothy did prove themſelves to be the Miniſters of God, and deſired to be ſo approved among the Corinthians, he begins with patience. It is a needfullxHe. 10.36 , commendableyJa. 5.11. Rev. 2.2.9. , and much rewarded gracezRe. 13.10. & 14.12. Jam. 1.4. Ch. 5.7. ; It begins in Chriſt, and ends in a Crown and Kingdom, and they do beſt and moſt overcome that uſe it: Therefore let patience have its perfect work. Whilſt the husbandman ſigheth for the hard ſeaſon, the Corne rooteth; and whilſt he waiteth, the harveſt cometh; and this ſhall begin the words of Conſolation.
ground of Conſol. 1 Becauſe the chief cauſe of their troubles, and afflictions (eſpecially from Satan and his Inſtruments) is Chriſt himſelf, and the hatred of men againſt him; as he ſaith, Ye ſhall be hated of all men for my name-ſake aMa. 10.20: And all theſe things will they do unto you, for my name-ſake bJo. 15.21.; And becauſe they follow the thing that is good cPſ. 38.20.: And run not with them (i. e. the wicked) into the ſame exceſſe of riot, or confuſed mixturesd1 Pet. 4.4. , (as it is in ſome margents) Theſe are properly the cauſes (as appears clearly, by their not perſecuting the ſame Perſons, whilſt they continue Profane, or if they turn Apoſtates) though the Perſecutors pretend it it is for diſobedience to Rulers, &c. which was the main pretence the enemies of the Jews and againſt Nehemiah, and Ezra eNeh. 6.6.; the …ewes againſt Chriſt fLuk. 23.2., (though Pilate himſelf could ſee it was only for envy gMa. 27.18) this alſo was imputed to the Apoſtles and Martyrs in all Ages, as now it is, but falſly; and the worſt enemies may ſay, (if they ſpeak what is in their conſciences) as Daniels enemies did, We ſhall not find occaſion againſt this Daniel, except we find it againſt him, concerning the Law of his God hDan. 6.5.: And that they might have occaſion againſt him, they would make a Law directly contrary to the Law of God. This is juſt as if a School-maſter, that hath feud againſt one of his Scholars father, will give that Scholar a ſtrict command to obey him, but to diſobey his Father (whereas he is willing to obey both) and upon the breach of this unlawful command, he beats the Scholar; let any judge, which is moſt worthy of blame, the Maſter or Scholar.
ground of Conſol. 2 Becauſe the time of the Saints troubles and afflictions, is their ſowing time; They that ſow in tears ſhall reap in joy, and be that goeth forth weeping, bearing precious ſeed, ſhall doubtleſſe come again with rejoycing, bringing his ſheaves with him iPſa. 126.5, 6.; Here is promiſed Joy for Sorrow, Rejoycing for Weeping, reaping for ſowing, a coming back for going forth, and ſheaves for handfuls, and all this certain. And whilſt Gods people are ſowing the precious ſeed of tears, God is ſowing Light, or comfort, and gladneſſe of heart for them: Therefore a Chriſtian ſhould like a Husbandman; kPſ. 96.11ſow in hope, and his afflictions, ſhould no more diſcourage him, than the former rain doth the natural Sower: for Chriſt foretold his Diſciples, that they ſhould weeep lLuk. 6.20., and lament here mJo. 16.20, but their weeping is as the labour and pangs of a woman, in order to following joynv. 21. . But marke,
ground of Conſol. 3 Thirdly, Chriſt commanded his Diſciples, in ſuch time eſpecially to rejoice, and be comfortable, Rejoice ſaith he, and be exceeding glad oMat. 51 2, or as another Evangeliſt writes,pLu. 6.23. Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy; ſuffering daies are moſt proper daies for rejoycing, for then Chriſtians partake of the ſufferings of Chriſt q1 Pe. 4.13, and the Spirit of God and of Glory, then reſts moſt upon them rv. 14.: Suffering unto a true Saint, is like Vineger, which though it be ſower, yet it doth make the blood thinner, and cauſes it to run more effectually through every part.
ground of Conſol. 4 Becauſe the people of God did generally rejoice in their afflictions; and ſufferings: The Apoſtles, rejoyced that they were counted worthy to ſuffer ſhame for Christs Name ſAct. 5.41.; So other Saints took the ſpoyling of their goods joyfully tHe. 10.34, The Martyrs, like the Crickets, were merry in the fire, and like the Nightingale, that ſings with her bare Breaſt upon the Thorns. They were as Paul, more than exceedingly joyful in all their tribulations uCor. 7.4.: And as Chriſtians tribulations do abound, ſo their conſolatoins do much more abound w2 Cor 1.3..
Object. But Paul was a ſtrong, and an aſſured Saint, one that had been in the third Heaven, and had a ſigne of his eternal happineſſe: But I am a poor weak and doubting Creature, fearing that I ſhall not be able to ſtand in times of great tryal, and ſo have not ſuch cauſe of rejoycing.
Anſwer. But all believers, as well weak as ſtrong, (for ſuch there were among thoſe ſcattered Tribes, nay ſome very carnalxJam. 2.6. & 3.14. & 5.5. ,) are to count it all joy (that is, cauſe and matter of all joy) when they fall into diverſe temptations yJam. 1.2., or tribulations: or as Peter writing to the ſame people ſaith, If any man ſuffer as a Chaiſtian (that is for Christ, and like Christ) let him glorifie God z1 Pe. 4.16; or make his boaſt of him in tribulations; nay let him like Paul, glory in his infirmities, and let the brother of low degree rejoice, that he is brought low: For though a weak Chriſtian ſhould fall, yet his fall will not be ſo diſhonourable to God, as the fall of a ſtronger Chriſtian. But if he ſtands it will be more to the glory of God, than if he were ſtronger: But God bids the weak ſay, I am ſtrong aJoe. 13.10., and he giveth power to the faint, and to them that have no might (that is in their own eyes) he increaſeth ſtrength, bEſ. 40.29.. Art thou a worm? He will hide thee in the hollow of his hand cEſ. 51.16.. Art thou a Lamb? He will carry thee in his boſome d& 40.11.. Art thou but a grain of Corn (that is ready to goe through the ſeive) thou ſhalt not fall eAmo. 9.9., nor periſh. Art thou a half-peny or farthing Chriſtian? yet if thou haſt the ſuperſcription, and Image of Christ upon thee, thou ſhalt paſs: as Moſes would not leave a hoofe, belonging to Iſrael behind him in Egypt, no more will Christ leave any of his in Babylon, or corruption; Fear not fLu. 12.32., (ſaith he) little flock, for it is your Fathers good pleaſure, to give you the Kingdom: The leaſt veines receive blood from the Liver, as well as the greateſt, and the loweſt, and meaneſt members protection, and influence from the head, as well as the higheſt and chiefeſt; and the ſmalleſt and loweſt boughs, are in leſſe danger of being blown down, than the greateſt and talleſt; and as I read of a great bodied fowl, whilſt ſhe upbraided the Swallow with the littleneſſe of her body, was her ſelf ſhot at and kil'd by the Fowler. Many poor illiterate Tradeſmen, and Husbandmen (as in the former Perſecutions) will ſtand when many learned (and highly accounted of) Preachers and Profeſſors will fall. Alſo God will do moſt of his great works by ſuch mean inſtruments: as God ſaid, that out of the mouth of Babes and Sucklings, he will ordain Strength, that he may ſtill (or make to ceaſe, marg.) the enemy and the avenger gPaſ. 8.2.; and by the feet of the poor, and the ſteps of the needy, God will tread down the mighty; And the leaſt of the flock ſhall lead them out hEſ. 26.5.6; yea the worm Jacob, ſhall threſh the Mountains, and beat them ſmall, and make the Hills as Chaffe iEſ. 41.15.: Theſe (as a little ſort of flies, that ſo trouble the Lyons, as to make them ſcratch out their own eyes, by which they are taken and overcome) will be too hard for the mightieſt men, if they meddle with them. Therefore you Rulers of the earth, touch not Gods annointed, and do his Prophets no harm, (which are his Saints, as Abram, Iſaac and others) for here God rebuked Kings, as Abimalek Pharoah, Uzziah, yea good Aſa for their ſakeskPſal. 105.14, 15. Gen. 12.17. & 20.3. 2 Chr. 26.21 & 2.16.10, 12. .
ground of Conſol. 5 Becauſe right ſufferers (that is, that ſuffer for a right cauſe, with right hearts and ends, and in a right manner) are right heires of Heaven: Theſe are heirs-male upon whom (next Chriſt) heaven is entailed. For theirs (meaning the perſecuted) is the kingdom of Heaven lMat. 5.10: nay perſecution is as neceſſary a condition of ſalvation (in ſome ſenſe) as any other. If we ſuffer with him, we ſhall be glorified together mRom. 8.17; and if we ſuffer with him, we ſhall reign with him n1 Ti. 2.12.: leave the croſſe and looſe the Crown, but bear the croſſe, and wear the Crown.
ground of Conſol. 6 Becauſe no adverſary but God can hurt, or make us miſerable:o1. Pet. 3.13. Who is he (ſaith Peter) that can harme you, pPro. 16.7.if you be followers of that which is good? qJob 5.17, 23.be at Peace with God, & he wil make all creatures to be at peace with you
ground of Conſol. 7 Becauſe preſent ſufferers have the benefit of the Prayers, Tears, and ſufferings of Jeſus Chriſt, offered whilſt he was in the fleſh: nay the Prayers, Tears and ſufferings of all the Saints and Martyrs, do cry and call for Judgements upon the laſt generation of Perſecutors, Hab. 2.17. Mat. 23.35. Rev. 6.10. and 18.24.
ground of Conſol. 8 Becauſe Christ himſelf lives, as well as his people, in expectation of having his enemies ſubdued, and of his kingdom: and to that end will he come, Heb. 10.30. Lu. 18.7, 8. He. 10.37. 2 Th. 1.10. Lu. 12.15.
ground of Conſol. 9 Becauſe Saints have the Decree, Covenant, VVord, Oath, Writing, Seales, and earneſt of God, for the exaltation of his Son, the deliverance of his Church and Children, and the utter and total deſtruction of all his Sons, and his Saints enemies.
ground of Conſol. 10 Becauſe many of the ſignes of Chriſts coming have been, and continue, compare them in Mat. 24. and Mar. 13, with what we have heard and ſeen,rJob. 37.14 and let us wiſely conſider, ſPſ. 111.2.and ſearch out Gods works, though others ſlight and will not ſee them.
ground of Conſol. 11 You have the opinions, Teſtimonies and writings of many worthy ſervants of the Lord, who did ſoretel (I may ſay Propheſy) that the end of the Churches troubles, would be about our time; and adde thereto,ſe Pſ. 102.13 Deut. 11.27 Jer. 51.6. Rev. 10.6. the apprehenſions, and expectations, of the godly and learned living yet: with what is ſaid in Pr. 11.5. The wicked ſhall fall by his own wickedneſs.
Laſtly, it is matter of comfort to Gods ſuffering people, that God ſees their afflictions, Act. 7, 34 that he is ſencible thereof, afflicted with them, in all their afflictions, Eſa. 63.9. Jer. 31.20. that he intends them much good, and no hurt thereby, Jer. 29.12 and 25.6. that he doth not willingly put this yoak upon them, Lam. 3.33. but doth moſt willingly take it off, Hoſ. 11.4. he doth afflict them in meaſure, Je 46.28. he doth it to prove and try them, Deu. 8.2. 2 Chr. 32.31. He repents him for afflicting them. Deu. 32.36. Pſ. 135.14. He feeds, fans, and purifies them by afflictions, Mich. 6.14. Eſa. 1, 25, & 27, 9. Heb. 12.10. he then remembers them, and the Covenant he made with them moſt of all, Pſa. 136.23. Ne 9.17. he is not aſhamed then to own them for his people, He. 11.16 he ſhewes them mercy purpoſely, that their enemies may ſhew them mercy, Jer. 42.12. 1 Ki. 8.5. he will throughly plead their cauſe againſt their enemies. Je. 50.34. & 51.3. and he ſtretches his hand againſt the wrath of their enemies, and reſtrains it: Pſ. 138.7: 86.11. & reſcues them out of their hands, when they think they hold them faſteſt, Je. 50.33, 34. And he ſaith he will cut off their enemies, before their faces and they ſhall no more oppreſs them, but they ſhall fee their fall, Pſ. 58.8, 9, 10, 11. Eſ. 17.19. Je. 46.18. Pr. 29.16, and they themſelves ſhall be in due time perfectly delivered, Pſ. 37.4 Pr. 12, 13 Je. 24.7. 1 Coe 10.13. And God will yet, ſet his Son upon his holy hill, and Kingdom, in deſpite of his enemies. Pſ. 2.6. Eſ. 9.6. and if any wil detain Gods Ark the Church, they will have cauſe to ſay, as the Philiſtines did, woe to us, 1 Sam. 4.7. Let all therefore that fear God love Chriſt, and wiſh well to Zion, ſay with Jeremiah, ſo be it, O Lord, Jer. 11.5.