The Character of Cruelty in the Workers of iniquity, Sermon 1 – Title page 2
THE CHARACTER OF CRUELTY In the workers of Iniquity.
PSALM. 14.4
Have all the workers of Iniquity no knowledge, who eat up my people as they eat Bread?
THis day of Humiliation is as the day of Hezekiah, 2 Kin. 1.3.a day of trouble and of Rebuke; and Blaſphemy. His practiſe therefore may bee our preſident; who
1. Draws up a bill of Complaint againſt the Adverſaries of Gods People, (or rather takes it as drawn put to his hand) and ſpreads it before the Lord.verſ. 14.
2. Prefers a Bill of Petition in behalf of the People of God,verſ. 19. Now therefore, O Lord our God! ſave, &c.
Thus with a Bill in each hand up hee marcheth unto the houſe of the Lord (knowing that the way to prevail againſt the Eſaus of the world, is to prevail as did Iſrael, verſ. 14, 15. &c.with God firſt.)
Go you therefore this day, and do likewiſe. Spread before the Lord the ſad Tydings that are come from the perſecuted Vallies, The Lilies whereof are among (Cruel) Thornes; And ſay, with Hezekiah, Now therefore, O Lord our God, ſave, &c.
This Pſalm or Maſchil Pſal. 53.1. i. e. Pſa. …Pſalm of Inſtruction for its ſingular uſe, penned twice over by David, may bee your directory in this your Duty. Conſiſting,
1 Of Complaint againſt the fool; the abominable workers, verſ. 1. The men void of underſtanding verſ. 2. The filthy tranſgreſſors, and evill Doers, verſe 3. Unto which our Text is added, to ſhew how ſinners fill up the meaſure of their ſins all way, adding iniquity to iniquity; even drunkenneſſe (with the blood of Saints) unto their thirſt (after other ſins) for as the Anthropophagi, the Man-eaters, are the moſt abominable with men, ſo are theſe Hagiophagi, theſe ſavage Saint-Eaters, in the Eyes of the Lord. Wherefore,
2. The Pſalmiſt turns his bill of Complaint into a Bill of Supplication, in the laſt verſe (being none other than the very Petition, which I am perſwaded, you are on purpoſe Aſſembled to preferre before the Lord this day viz.) Oh! that the ſalvation of Iſrael were come out of Sion.
Our Text is part of the former part of the Pſalm, viz. the Inditement, which (according to form) is preferred in the Kings Name, The crimes are alledged to bee againſt the Honour and Dignity of God himſelf, in the firſt verſ. For proof of the Accuſation, Application is made to the judge of the Bench, as an Eye-witneſſe of the matter of fact. verſ. 2, 3. The Lord looked down from the heaven to ſee, &c.
Now in this fourth verſe (which is our Text) ſeeing the Judge is himſelf invoked, and cannot but atteſt the crimes, hee riſeth up as Ahaſhuerus upon Eſters complaint that ſhee and her people were ſold to deſtruction; Eſth. 7.4.ſaith the King, who is hee, and where is hee, that durſt preſume in his heart to do ſo? As if hee ſhould ſay, is there any man ſo imprudent, any ſo impudent, as to preſume in his heart to do ſo? ſo ſaith God here,
Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge, who eat up my people as they eat bread?
Do they underſtand themſelves no better? Have they no more wit then ſo? Have they baniſhed all prudence from them? Doth nothing but furious rage dwell with them? Hath cruel paſſion thus put out the eye of their reaſon, and that they might bee the more tyrannous towards others, have they thus begun their Tyranny upon their own ſouls? ſurely they would never behave themſelves ſo ſtrangely, Deut. 32.27.were there any underſtanding or Counſell in them.
Have they no knowledge of MEE, or of MINE, that they dare preſume in their hearts to do as they do? Have they nothing to eat as bread, but the Apple of mine eye? No people to make a prey of but my people? mine by Choice, by Calling, by Covenant, by Purchaſe, by Self-Reſignation on their part, and gracious obſignation on my part, my called, faithfull, choſen, ranſomed ſanctified, ſealed Servants? Have they none other to make bold withall? but theſe they muſt bee biting, and not onelyonly biting but eating, and not onelyonly eating but eating up; and have they no knowledge, how dearly they muſt pay for theſe ſtolen morſells of this ſweet breed? Ah! if they knew the people of God, and who it is that ſaith unto them, Touch not mine annointed, Pſa. 105.15.for who ſo toucheth them, toucheth the apple of mine eye, Zech. 2 8.they would ſooner chooſe to feed on their own fleſh, then on this bread; but now hereby I know they have no knowledge.
This wiſdome none of the Princes of the world knew for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of Glory, 1 Cor. 2.8. or cut off Meſſiah the Prince (as tis expreſſed Dan. 9.26.) nor have eaten up his people, as it is in the Text.
Where then is the wiſe, where is the ſcribe, 1 Cor. 1.20.where is the learned of this world, ſith all the workers of iniquity have no knowledge? where is the Ahitophel? and where are the crafty Counſellors, Pſa. 83.3.where are the perſecutors that ſay of the Saints, come let us deal wiſely with them (as Exo. 1.10)? Surely if wee plough with the Lords heifer, wee ſhall ſoon find out this Riddle. The wiſdome of this world is fooliſhneſſe with God, 1 Cor. 3.19.and however wiſe they may bee to do evil, yet have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge, who eat up Gods People like bread.
The inſtruction is.
That Folly, and Fury, and the extremity of both, is notoriouſly manifeſt in that ſpirit of malignity, that works in all the people of the World, againſt the people of God.
In which Character of their Cruelty.
Obſerve. 1 Their Unity, 2 Folly, 3 Fury.
Firſt,
THe point implieth, that all the workers of Iniquity have one and the ſame ſpirit of Malignity againſt the people of God, luſts are divers, …. 3.3.yet in this they all agree; and Herod and Pilate are, by this means, reconciled.Luk. 23.12.
Our Saviour ſaith to his Diſciples, Joh. 15.19. You have I choſen out of the World, and the WORLD hateth you. Eccleſia Malignantium is as wide as the World, The Countries, 1 Joh. 5.19.the Nations, the Sects, the Factions, the Heathen, the People, the Kings, Pſa. 2.1, 2the Rulers, Turks, Jews, Pagans, Papiſts, Profane Proteſtants and empty Profeſſors; though they all differ, yet are all agreed in this Catholick Article of Iniquity.
This Malignitie is that Point in which every Line from each part of the Circumference of the round World (however they croſs each other) can quietly concenter.
And though ſome can diſſemble their ſtomack before folk, and in appearance, bridle their appetite from this Bread; yet can ſuch privily whet their tongue, ſecretly to devour the Saints of God;Pſal. 23.2, 3, 4. They that are not with Chriſt: are againſt Chriſt: and the beſt of them is as a Bryer, Mat. 12.….and the moſt upright of them as a thornhedge. Mic. 7.4.
Yea though ſome carnall ones are ſo civill and ſeemingly fair manner'd, and ſuch ſtrangers to their own hearts, as that they would caſt by this truth with diſdain, as did Hazael: if you ſhould charge it upon them. Do you take us to bee Dogs that we ſhould do ſuch a thing? what?2 Kin. 8.13. eat up Gods people like bread? we hope better things of our ſelves than ſo; yet was there, at that very time, in that very perſon that malignant humour that fed this foreign, this Dogs diſeaſe (for it is no better, therefore ſaith David, Dogs have compaſſed mee, Pſa. 22.16. and del…ver my ſoul from the power of the Dog. verſe 20.) Neither is there a worker of Iniquity amongſt them all, let the Lord but take off the Coller, Chain, and Muzzle that hee hath upon them, and let them looſe to an opportunity and temptation of ſuch a nature; but would run about the City, and make a noiſe like a Dog (and leap at a morſel of this bread) Pſa. 59.2.6. theſe words were ſpoken by the Pſalmiſt of Saul, who was once amongſt the Prophets; 1 Sam. 10.11.and then thought (it is like) as well of himſelf as another man, but is now among the Perſecutors, yea the fore-Dog of the companie.
Thus you ſee that all the workers of Iniquity are of the ſelf-ſame Doeg-like dog-like diſpoſition towards the Saints and (as we ſay, in actu primo) do all eat up the People of God?
But and if you demand why it ſhould bee ſo, I anſwer you, ask a reaſon of that which is unreaſonable. Even the ſame reaſon that the Sodomites had to grudge at Lots ſojourning among them, or to wiſh him out of Sodom; the ſame have the wicked to maligne the Saints, and to wiſh them out of the World; which vexed Lots no ſooner goe but ruine comes; and were they all but once out of this Sodom, you would ſoon ſee that its judgement would not linger.
It is for the Wheats ſake that the Tares are ſpared, Matth. 13.29. for the Saints ſake that the wicked are reſpited, and yet can theſe wicked find in their hearts to make bread of Gods Wheat, and theſe muſt bee the men that fareworſt in in the world, for whoſe ſakes the world fares ſo much the better. As the Lord of hoſts liveth (ſaith Eliſha to wicked Jehoram King of Iſrael) ſurely were it not that I regard the preſence of Jehoſaphat, the King of Judah, I would not look towards thee. 2 Kin. 3.14.
Yet is there an enmity betwixt ſeed and ſeed. An Antipathy betwixt that of the Serpent, the Generation of vipers, Mar. 12.11. Pſ. 75.15.and the Generation of Gods Children, and we ſay, Antipathies are rather known in their effects, than cauſes.
Yet poſſibly ſome Tertullus will take upon him to play the Oratour, and to render a reaſon (ſuch as it is) of the wickeds rage againſt the Saints. Do you think that Cain the Elder Brother, and better man (for ſo they eſtimate goodneſſe by greatneſſe) had not reaſon to bee wroth, when his junior and inferior is preferred before him? and had not Eſau cauſe enough to eat up Jacob, when the Elder was appointed a ſervant to the Younger? would it not inrage any man in the world, that a company of Preciſians ſhould pretend to bee the only Reformed, and Gods only favourites, as if they were wiſer than our Leaders, and better than our Rulers? Joh. 7.4…That a company of Apron-men and Plough-men ſhould talk of judging the world? of binding Kings in chains and Nobles in links of Iron; and go about to make us beleeve that the good that wee enjoy, is for their ſakes: and that evill is kept out by their ſtanding in the gap (and a few more Puritans like themſelves)? Theſe are the Peſtilent fellows and movers of ſedition in all places, Act. 24.5.who yet call themſelves Light, Mar …4. Pſ. 7and us darkneſſe: themſelves Children, and us Dogs: themſelves the Wheat, and us the Tares: which if they be, why then ſhould men bee blamed for eating them up like Bread?
Such is the cauſe and ſuch are the reaſons, why the Iſhmaels of the world, the Sonnes of the bond-woman, do perſecute thoſe that are born of the free.
But how cauſeleſſe is this cauſe? and how unreaſonable are theſe reaſons? The truth is, there is a difference betwixt one and other. But who hath made them to differ? 1 Cor. 4.7It is not righteous Abel that prefers himſelf, but the righteous God that prefers Abel before Cain. So that if the Saints bee precious and honourable, it is (not in their own eyes, in the which they are vile, Job 40.4. but) in the ſight of the Lord, Iſa. 43.4. ſince thou waſt precious in my ſight, thou haſt been honorable. Who notwithſtanding the difference that hee makes betwixt them and others, yet makes no difference betwixt the terms of their acceptance: If thou do well (ſaith God to Cain) ſhalt not thou bee accepted? Gen. 4.7.
Neither is it in the hearts of any of the People of God; to engroſſe their priviledges and ſpiritual bleſſings; but on the contrary, their hearts deſire is, that all the Nation of which they are, ſhould bee ſaved, Rom. 1.10.and that their very perſecutors might not bee almoſt, but altogether ſuch as themſelves are, excepting their bonds (if ſo be that they bee in bonds) Act. 26.29. The injuries they ſuffer from them, they are farre from wiſhing them; but the mercies they receive from God, thoſe they altogether apprecate unto them. Yea, it is the truth in Chriſt and no lye, their Conſcience alſo bearing them witneſſe in the Holy Ghoſt, that they have great heavineſſe and continuall ſorrow in their heart, that their Brethren according to the fleſh are not ſuch as themſelves are (as to grace and Priviledges) Rom. 9.1, 2, 3.
And yet for all this, if any man will live godly in Chriſt Jeſus, hee muſt ſuffer perſecution, 2 Tim. 3.12. Integrity is his guilt; Innocence his Crime; and this the Offence that he commits in that hee exerciſeth himſelf to have a Conſcience void of offence, both towards God and towards all men, Act. 24 16.
So then becauſe the willing Child receives the Fathers gift, which the ſtubborn rejects with diſdain, though tendred to him upon equal terms, yea though the other ſtand by and entreat him to accept what he hath accepted, that he alſo may bee accepted even as hee is accepted, becauſe the Rebellious reſolves to bee yet a Sinner, therefore the innocent muſt bee a Sufferer. 2 Theſ. 3.2.foreign. O! how unreaſonable are wicked men?
But though all this bee without Reaſon, yet is it not without Uſe; for
1 Wee may all ſee our naturall faces in this glaſſe; wherefore the Apoſtle applies the Character of the wicked in this Pſalm unto all that are in the ſtate of Nature, Rom. 3.9, 10, 11. by Nature we are All workers of Iniquity, and ſo in as proximate a diſpoſition as any others, the Lord leaving us to our ſelves, to eat up the people of God like bread; ſuch were ſome, yea all of you, and were ſometimes alienated in your minds and enemies by wicked works, Col. 1.21.
And herein oh! how hath God commended his love to us, in that whilſt we were ſuch ſinners, Rom. 5.8. verſ. 10.yea ſuch Enemies, Chriſt died for us; that hee ſhould give his naturall body to bee bread, for Paul that ſpake it, and for many other Perſecutors, who did eat up his body myſticall as men eat bread;Joh. 6.35. 1 Cor. 1 i. 22, 24. That the eating of the fleſh, and driking of the blood of a crucified Chriſt, might be the cure of the eating of the fleſh,Jo. 6, 54. and drinking of the blood of Perſecuted Chriſtians, that as the latter was their great ſin, the former might be their great Salvation.
And hereby let us be the rather induced to pray (as Chriſt wills us, Matth. 5.44.) for our Perſecutors, if among them there may be any choſen Veſſell (as was Saul) and the more hopefully to bleſſe thoſe that deſpitefully uſe us; if poſſibly among ſuch there may bee any belonging to the election of grace.
2 Admire that the Lord of Sabaoth ſhould yet leave us a ſeed, Rom. 9.29. of that thinne crop of his Principall Wheat, which all the ravinous Foules of the Air, and greedy Dogs of the Earth, even all the workers of Iniquity, have ever conſpired to devour, who eat up Gods People like bread.
3 Are you to ſuffer from the workers of Iniquity? ſee then that you never ſuffer as the workers of Iniquity. Happy are you when you ſuffer wrongfully for Chriſts name ſake, and are reproached, for then the Spirit of God, and of glory reſteth on you. 1 Pet. 4.14. But let none of you ſuffer as a Murtherer, &c as a buſy-body in other mens matters, verſe 15. or as defiling the fleſh, or as deſpiſing Dominion, or as ſpeaking evil of Dignities, Jude verſe 8. And the rather, becauſe it is the guiſe of Perſecutors (as they do in Piedmont at this day) to put the Saints into Bear-skins when they mind to bait them. In regard of whom wee have the more need to make Davids Prayer, Pſa 5.8. Lead mee O Lord in thy Righteouſneſſe; becauſe of mine enemies, becauſe of mine obſervers make thy way ſtraight before my face.
THe ſecond point in this Character of their cruelty is their Ignorance and Folly. They all have no knowledge; for though Junius render this Interrogation by a poſitive aſſertion, (it cannot bee but that they ſhould bee conſcious, &c. becauſe of the following verſ. viz. There were they in great fear, &c.) yet I rather chuſe (with others) to paraphraſe this Interrogative by a Negative, have they no knowledge? i. e. they have no knowledge; who may be ſaid to bee void of Science, though gall'd in conſcience? and are expreſly charged to bee without underſtanding, (unplacable, unmercifull) Rom. 1.30. and yet knowing the judgement of God, verſe 32. Which ſenſe, as it is evidently conſentaneous to other Scriptures (for, ſaith Chriſt, Father forgive them, for they know not what they do. Luk. 23.34. And Paul ſaith, had they known, they would not have crucified, &c. (as is aforeſaid) which the Lord therefore calls a kicking againſt the Pricks, Act. 9.5.which thing no knowing man would bee drawn to do) ſo is it not in the leaſt incongruous to the genuine Analyſis of this Pſalm; for whereas an Inqueſt is made in the ſecond verſe, Firſt, Whether there were any that did underſtand? or Secondly, Seek God? ſo is there an evident Return made, in the Negative, in this fourth verſe, Firſt, That they have no knowledge (which appears by their eating up of Gods People like bread.) Secondly, That they call not upon the Lord.
And indeed well may the Interrogative bee reſolved by a Negative; for firſt, They know not themſelves; nor ſecondly, Thoſe they perſecute; thirdly, They know no cauſe for what they do; and yet fourthly, They know no bounds, or meaſure in the doing of it.
Firſt, When the wicked which are but Gods ſword and his hand, Pſa. 17.13 14.have permiſſion from God to take the ſword into their own hands; They either know not, or act as if they knew not themſelves to be men, Pſa 9.19. Exod. 5.2.or the Lord to bee God; their heart is lifted up like the heart of Tyrus, and they ſay they are God, (though they muſt dye like men, Pſa. 82.7.and fall like one of the Princes) yea though they bee men and not God, yet they ſet their heart as the heart of God, Ezek. 28.2. They ſay alſo how doth God know, and is there knowledge in the moſt High? Pſal. 73.11. Ah! there is no knowledge in them, or elſe they would never ask ſuch a queſtion.
They are Gods Rod, but know it not, Iſa. 10.5. neither doth their heart think ſo, verſ. 7. wherefore they ſhake themſelves againſt him that lifted them up, as if they were not (combuſtible) Wood. verſ. 15. Ah! little do they know what God will do with his Rod, verſ. 17. when hee hath done with his Children, and performed, as 'tis ſaid, verſ. 12. his whole work upon Mount Sion, and on Jeruſalem, or what hee will do with his waſh-pot, Pſal. 60.8. when hee hath ſcoured his houſhold Veſſells; Therefore they ſay their tongues (and their hands, and their ſwords) are their own, who is Lord over them? Pſal. 12.4. … this, he that ſits in the heavens laugheth, the Lord hath them in deriſion, Pſa. 2.4. Yea, when they leaſt think of it, even then will hee ſpeak to them in his wrath, and vex them in his ſore diſpleaſure, ver. 5. even ſo put them in fear, O Lord! that they may know. themſelves to bee but men, Selah, Pſa. 9.20.
Secondly; How ignorant are perſecuters of the worth of thoſe they perſecute? The precious Sonnes of Sion, comparable to fine gold, how are they eſteemed aſ earthen pitchers? Lam. 4.2. And made as the filth of the world, and the off-ſcouring of all things? 1 Cor. 4.13. foreign, i. e. as men meet for nothing but to bee caſt out from among men, and as things good for nothing but to bee ſwept away. Away with him, away with him, crucify him, ſaid they of the Sonne of God: to whom Pilate anſwers more truely and wiſely than hee was aware of, ſhall I crucify your King? Joh. 19.15. Thus, away with him; ſay they of holy Paul, Act. 21.36. yea, away with ſuch a fellow from the earth, for it is not fit that hee ſhould live, Acts 22.22. Thus they account them unworthy of the world, of whom the Lord (that bought them, and therefore ſurely he beſt knows the worth of them) pronounceth that the world is not worthy, Heb. 11.38.
Thirdly, The workers of iniquity know no reaſon for their perſecuting of the Saints: For loe, they wait for their ſouls, the mighty are gathered together againſt them, but not for their Tranſgreſſion, nor for their ſinne: They runne and prepare themſelves without their fault, Pſa. 59.3, 4. They hate them without a cauſe, Pſal. 35.19. Chaſe them without cauſe, Lam 3.59. Perſecute them without cauſe, Pſa. 119.161. deal perverſely with them without cauſe, Pſa. 119.78. Lurk privily, Pro. 1.11. and lay nets, and dig pits for them without cauſe, Pſ. 35.7. And though one would wonder that there ſhould bee any ſuch monſters among men, or any ſuch Brutes among Reaſonable Creatures, yet they that do thus are more in number than the hairs of a mans head, Pſa. 69.4. Yea, thus was it done in the green tree, Joh. 15.25. and therefore leſſe wonder if it be ſo in the dry.
Fourthly, As their wrath is groundleſſe, their rage is boundleſſe. They know no more meaſure in it than reaſon for it. They cannot breath without threatnings, and ſlaughter againſt the diſciples of the Lord, Act. 9.1. they puniſh them oft, and are exceeding mad againſt them, Act. 16 10, 11. They are mad beyond meaſure. Therefore Paul confeſſeth of himſelf whileſt hee was a Saul, that beyond meaſure hee perſecuted the Church of God, and waſted it, Gal. 1.13. Hee never knew when hee had done enough. And this leads to
THe third particular in the Character of their cruelty, viz. Their fury; They eat up the people of the Lord, as they eat bread.
1 Bread is that one thing without which man is not, nay cannot bee ſatisfied long, though hee have every other thing. Let a man have what varieties ſea and Land can afford, yet hee muſt have bread.
So theſe wicked, let them have whatſoever they are capable of, as their portion, yet muſt they have Saints to eat up, or they are not, nay cannot long bee ſatisfied. In the fullneſſe of their ſufficiency (as to other things) they will be in ſtraits (for this bread).
So Cain, unto whom God had given (as to civil reſpects) much more than to Abel, Gen 4. The birth-right, chiefer trade, the greater ſtrength in probalitie, &c. Yet all this cannot keep his countenance from falling, verſ. 6. ſtill he is unſatisfied, ſtill hee wants bread, hee muſt ſee an end of poor Abel.
So Saul, in compariſon of whom David was but as a flea, or a partridge on the Mountains, 1 Sam. 26.20. Saul was King, the land was his, all was his, yea David himſelf his ſervant: What ayles him that hee cannot make a meal without ſucking the blood of this flea, or picking the bones of this partridge? Oh! hee wanted bread, hee would fain ſee an end of poor David.
So Haman could boaſt what a feaſt was before him well ſuiting his ſweet tooth and ambitious appetite: the Kings favour, promotion above all his Princes, the Queens invitation once and again to the banquets, from which all, but himſelf and the King, were excluded, yet the poor man cannot pick a living out of all this plenty, for want of this Bread, but pines away with an All this availes mee nothing ſo long as I ſee Mordecai the Jew (the Servant of God) ſitting at the gate, Eſth. 5.11, 12, 13.
So was it alſo with Herodias, her Daughter had ſtollen the King from himſelf, and half of the Kingdom, in promiſe, from the King; yet can ſhee not bee contented without the head of poor John (who had no promotion but a priſon) the which head ſhe ſends her Daughter with as great an eagerneſſe a begging for, as ſome poor body would ſend a Child to a door a begging for a piece of bread, Mark. 6.22, 23, 24.
2 Bread is that one thing for which men will part with any thing rather than want it; They will ſell their Eſtates, their Cattel, their land to buy bread, as the Egyptians to Joſeph; yea themſelves into the Bargain; Buy us and our Land for bread, Gen. 47.19. yea take any pains and endure any travel,Gen. 42.2, 3. rather than periſh for want of bread.
So the workers of Iniquity will take any pains, will return at the evening, make a noiſe like a Dog, and goe round about the City, and wander up and down (for the ruine of Saints) and grudge if they bee not ſatisfied, Pſalm. 59.2, 6, 14, 15. They will hunt their ſteps that they cannot go in the ſtreets, and purſue them upon the Mountains, and lay wait for them in the Wilderneſſe. Lam. 4.18, 19. As Monteil, La Trinitie, Truchet, and other truculent Perſecutors did by theſe poor Angrongnians Predeceſſors.
Yea they will waſte their eſtates, laviſh any expence for their Ruine; it is their bread, and they muſt have bread whatever it coſt them; therefore ſaith Eſther to the King, wee are ſold, &c. Eſther 7.4. Haman, it ſeems, had been bargaining for this Bread, and had come to a price, Let it bee written (ſaid hee to the King) that they may bee deſtroyed, and I will pay ten thouſand Talents, Eſther 3.9. A round rate Ile promiſe you, it ſhould ſeem his ſtomack was ſharp ſet.
So ſurely Herodias was hugely hunger-bit, that ſhe could ſo readily reburſe the grant of the half of the Kingdom, for the purchaſe of one ſingle Saints head in a Charger.
Therefore ſaith the Apoſtle, All the day long wee are killed for thy ſake, and are accounted as ſheep for the ſlaughter, Rom. 8.36. Behold the Butcherie of the workers of Iniquity! See what fleſh it is that is dreſt in their ſlaughter-houſes all the day long, and ſold in their ſhambles!
Thus have I read of ſome Perſecutors that have ſold their Lands, and beggered themſelves, to promote Perſecution; but why ſpeak I of ſo low a rate? The Scripture ſaith, They ſell themſelves to work this Iniquity, 1 Kings 21.19, 20.
3 It is not the reaping, the threſhing, the grinding, the putting the bread-corn into the Oven, that ſatiates the hungry, but hee muſt eat the bread, and eat it up.
So the workers of iniquity are not contented with the cutting down of the Saints from their ſtations, injoyments, hereditaments, lawfull poſſeſſions, by Rapines, Robberies, Proſcriptions, exilements; nor with the threſhing, and grinding, of them (as 'tis called Iſa. 3.15. What mean you, ſaith God, that you beat my people to peeces, and grind the faces of the poor?) by cruel exactions, and intollerable oppreſſions; nor yet with caſting them into Priſon (with Micaiah) which I may well compare to an Oven, in regard of the ſcorching thirſt, and burning hunger (as it is called Deut. 32.24.) that they are conſtrained there to indure,1 King. 22 27. but when all this is done, they muſt ſee an end of them, they muſt eat them, and eat them up like bread▪ Come, ſay they, and let us cut them off from being a Nation, that the name of Iſrael may bee no more in remembrance, Pſal. 83.4.
Therefore ſaith Eſther, wee are ſold, I and my people, to bee deſtroyed, and to bee ſlain, and to periſh, Eſther 7.4. The expreſſions are multiplied; to ſhew that nothing but their ruine, yea utter ruine, could ſatiate Hamans greedy appetite; Therefore ſaith David, bee mercifull, O God, for man would ſwallow mee up, Pſal. 56.1.
4 When the Hungry hath obtained his deſired bread, with what eagerneſs and complacencie doth hee feed upon it?
So when this bread ſtands before the wicked, when the Saints are within their ravenous reach, Oh! how greedily do theſe Dogs fall aboard? David complaines that the Abjects did tear him, and ceaſed not, Pſal. 35.15. that they gnaſhed on him with their teeth, ver. 16. that they rejoyced over him, (as the hunger-bit perſon over his prey) ver. 19. that they opened their mouth wide againſt him, and ſaid aha! aha! our eye hath ſeen it (we have got our bread) v. 21. Therefore he prayes, v. 25. Let them not ſay in their hearts, ah! ſo wee would have it; Let them not ſay, wee have ſwallowed him up. Thus they rejoyce, Rev. 11.10. over the ſlain Carkaſes of the two witneſſes and (in token that they have now got what they longed for) they ſend gifts one to another.
Laſtly, Eaten Bread (the Proverb ſaith) is ſoon forgotten; Men have daily Appetites for daily bread, wherewith if you ſeem to ſatiate them to day, they will yet cry for more on the morrow.
So the workers of iniquity, when they have expreſſed all the wrath they can at once, yet is there a remainder, yet is there more behind, Pſa. 76.10. The remainder of wrath thou ſhalt reſtrain. Thus when the Dragon, Rev. 12. had ſpent whole floods of wrath upon the woman (that is, the Church of Chriſt) which floods the earth drank up, v. 5. yet is hee ſtill wroth, ver. 17. and goes to make warre with the remnant of her ſeed (that is to ſay) in the remainder of his wrath. Davids expreſſion is moſt pat to this purpoſe, Pſal. 56.2. My enemies would daily ſwallow mee up.
AND oh! how too too Applicable is all that hath been ſpoken to this Lamentable occaſion?
The trecherous Iriſh that were lately againſt the French, how eaſily could they joyn with the French in the acting this bloody tragedy and monſtrous Maſſacre? The Popes Congregation, the French Kings Souldiers, the Spaniards Runne-awayes, and the Dukes Vaſſals, oh! how one were all theſe in this thing? how whole-footed, was the Cloven-footed Devil in this deſign?
And ſecondly, Whether theſe workers of iniquity had any knowledge either of themſelves, or of the worth of thoſe precious ſouls that are now among others under the Altar, or of any good grounds for what they did, or bounds in the doing of it, let but the moſt impartiall Relation be read; and the Readers judge.
And Laſtly, how truely may wee ſpread this complaint before the Lord this day; That they have eaten, yea eaten up, the people of the Lord like bread?
And this 1 When they had a full table as to other things. Theirs were the Riches, the honours, the principalities, the powers, civil and military: the Saints were mean, and few, and underlings, farre from contending for ſuperiority, if under others they might but load peaceable and quiet lives in all godlineſſe and honeſtie. And yet how unſatisfied were thoſe Perſecutors without this bread?
2 How dearly have they paid, and are like to pay for this bread? Their Name ſtincks among Neighbour-Nations; their Honour (had they any) is ſold and gone. Their Revenue which aroſe from theſe painful ſubjects, which (according to Hiſtorians Relations of their almoſt incredible improvement of ſome of their ſterile and Mountainous parts) was not inconſiderable; Together with the ready ſervice which theſe faithfull Subjects have unanimouſly tendred (as Hiſtories tells us) to their Prince upon all occaſions; Theſe are ſold for this bread.
Yea the lives of divers Perſecutors are already gone, for the lives of the perſecuted, and more muſt go when the Lord makes Inquiſition for blood.
Yea themſelves are ſold, and their ſouls made over to him who hath taught them their falſitie, and their fury, that by Deceit they might attain no ſmall part of this ſweet bread, Prov. 20.17. with the which, whilſt hee feeds them, hee makes ſure of his Intereſt in them; They are of their Father that old Murtherer and Lyar, Joh. 8.44. and by doing his luſts, they acknowledge his Lordſhip.
3 The cutting down of the Reformed out of their Ancient and rightfull Poſſeſſions; their being ſub tribulâ, the flail of rigorous oppreſſion; The caſting of divers into the Oven, into Priſon, was not yet enough for theſe greedy Dogs, till the bread came to the eating, that they might ſee an end of it.
And 4 With what eagerneſſe and delight did they fall upon this prey; rending and tearing each one for a belly-full; and then, like wantons, playing with their bread when they had filled their Bellies; making havock of the Saints (as 'tis ſaid, Acts 8.3.) toying, and ſtriking each other with the lacerated Members of the Members of Chriſt, taſting of their brains in ſport, and in ſcorn crying out, unſavoury meat!
5 And thus hungry were they grown, notwithſtanding all the bread of this ſort that hath been formerly eaten, not only in France, in Paris, Rhoan, Rochel, &c. and in Province, in Merindol and Cabriers, but more eſpecially even in Piedmont (1655. and onward) in Angrongne, Lucern, St. Martin, Perouſe, &c. Yea thus hungry were theſe Rebells of Ireland grown, ſince the other day, that they glutted themſelves with ſo many ſcore thouſands of poor Proteſtants, by them and others, butchered in bleeding Ireland; unto which bread God will give the ſurviving Murtherers blood to drink.
And now let mee take up An EXPOSTULATION (In the words of the Text)
With all the workers of Iniquity, concerning the People of God.
1 Have you no knowledge of the high Price and value that God ſets upon his People? Dare you eat them up as bread, whom he makes up as Jewels? Mal. 3.17. which thing if you know not, read, Iſa. 43.3, 4. For I am the Lord thy God (ſaith the Lord to his People) the Holy one of Iſrael thy Sauiour, I gave Egypt for thy Ranſom, Ethiopia and Sebah for thee, ſince thou waſt precious in my ſight, thou haſt been honourable, and I have loved thee; therefore will I give men for thee, and People for thy life.
2 Have you no knowledge of the neer Relation, that God ſtands in, to his People? They are his Flock, Luk. 12.32. his Houſhold, Epheſ. 2.19. his Children, Iſa. 63.8. yea his Spouſe, Cant. 5.1. For their Maker is their Husband, the Lord of Hoſts is his name, Iſa. 54.5. And will you offer force to his Queen before his face?
Know you not moreover that his Intereſt in his People makes him a ſufferer with his People? ſo that in all their afflictions hee is afflicted; when you perſecute them, you perſecute him, when you drive them through a Red Sea, he goes with them, and when into a fiery furnace, thither hee comes to them, and will bleſſe thoſe that bleſſe them, and curſe thoſe that curſe them? then read Iſa. 63.9. Act. 9.4. Exod. 14. Iſa. 43.2. Dan. 3.25. Gen. 12.3.
Who puts it therefore into the hearts of his Children, at a diſtance from his ſufferers, yet to ſuffer with them, and to remember their bonds as bound with them, and their afflictions as being themſelves alſo in the ſame body, Heb. 13.2. And therefore hee that is the head of the body, and the father of theſe diſpoſitions in his people, will much more Sympathize with his people.
3 Have you no knowledge of the Care that the Lord hath of them? though he care little for you, yet hee cares for them: though he care not for Egypt, hee cares for Canaan, and the eyes of the Lord are alwayes upon it, from the beginning to the end of the year, Deut. 11.12.
Think you that their pittifull, faithfull father will not mind them, who bids them to bee carefull for nothing, but in all things to make known their Requeſts unto him with ſupplications, Phil. 4.6. yea, that bids them caſt all their care upon him, aſſuring them that hee cares for them? 1 Pet. 5.7.
Hee that ever cared for them, and bare them all the dayes of old, Iſai. 63.9. cares not hee for them ſtill? Hee that numbreth their Hairs, Matth. 10.30.cares not hee for their heads? Hee that cares for their food, cares not he for their body? and that cares for their Raiment, cares not hee for their Life? Mat. 6.2….26. Pſa. 56.8. Heb. 2.16Hee that bottles their tears, cares not hee for their blood? He that took their nature that hee might ſuffer in their nature, cares not hee for their ſufferings? hee that was bound for them, cares not hee for their Bonds? and that laid down his l fe to ſave theirs, cares not he for their Death? (Joh. 15.13. with Pſa. 116.15.)
Surely they have no knowledge that are ignorant of all this: That think while God winketh and keepeth ſilence, that hee taketh no care, but is altogether ſuch a one as themſelves, who care not ('tis true) what becomes of the Saints; Yet will hee reprove them, when they ſay; Let God deliver, if hee will have them; they ſhall ſoon find that the Lord taketh part with his People, and ſhall never have cauſe any more to ſay,Pſa. 118.7. their Lord careth not that they periſh.
Laſtly; Have all of you no knowledge what the end of theſe things ſhall bee? Know you not that God will break the teeth of the ungodly (that they ſhall bee no more able to eat up this bread) and ſmite his enemies on their Cheek bone, Pſal. 3.7. and perſecute theſe Perſecutors from under heaven? Lam. 3.16.
Know you not moreover, that the ſlain Witneſſes muſt ariſe and ſtand upon their feet, Rev. 1….11. and judge their Judges, and torment their Tormentors? Then ſhall the high praiſes of God bee in their mouths, and a two edged ſword in their hands, to execute (upon their executioners) the judgement written, this honour have all Gods Saints, Pſa. 149.6, 9.
But and if the workers of iniquity bee willingly ignorant of this day, and of theſe things, of which even Enoch the ſeventh from Adam propheſied ſaying, 2 Pet. 3.5.Behold the Lord cometh with ten thouſands of his Saints, to execute judgement upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them, of all their ungodly deeds, which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard ſpeeches which ungodly ſinners have ſpoken againſt him, Jude 14.15. Yet let mee tell theſe tydings to the People of God, concerning the Giants, the Sonnes of Anak, in whoſe ſight wee appear as Graſhopers, and they make nothing to eat us like bread; Rebel not O Saints! againſt the Lord, neither fear yee this People, for THEY ARE BREAD FOR US, Numb. 14.19.
Thus when the Lord bringeth back the captivity of his People, they ſhall bee as men that dream, Pſa. 126.1. As Satan and his Inſtruments have done, ſhall it bee done unto Them. The broken heads of Leviathan ſhall bee meat, Pſal. 74.14.and his members ſhall bee bread for the People of God. Then ſhall God ſay to his Saints concerning Babylon, Reward her even as ſhe rewarded you, and double to her, double, according to her works, Rev. 18.6.
Therefore let your Faith in theſe promiſes, adde wings to your Prayers, and ſecond your Complaints with ſolicitous Supplications. How long, O Lord holy and true! wilt thou not bee avenged? Rev. 6.10. Return O Lord! for thy ſervants ſake, the Tribes of thine inheritance, Iſa. 63.17.
IS it then the Lot of the People of God to bee thus eaten up, like bread, of the workers of Iniquity?
1 Then let not the Papiſts ſay to the REFORMED, where is now your God? Satans Uſurpation cannot ſtand in Gods right. The workers of Iniquity ſhould they cut off Gods People from being a People, Yet can they not from being his People. They may cut off their lives from the Land of the Living, but never ſeparate their ſouls from the Living God, nor from his love, Rom. 8.35, 38, 39. ſtill God is theirs, and they are his People, and ſo hee accounts them, and ſo hee calls them, when eaten up like Bread.
2 Nor let Prophane Proteſtants ſay, that the reformed ſuffer for their factions; or that theſe poor Waldenſes were ſinners more than others; I tell you nay, but except you Repent, yee ſhall much more periſh, Luk. 13.3.
Theſe were a pure and a pious People, that never, that I read of, bowed the knee to the Romiſh Baal, no not in the times when our Fathers and other Nations were wondring after the Beaſt.
Theſe were of that humble, and poor, and painfull People, who going into a Wilderneſſe to worſhip, are recorded to have taught the Rocks and Wilderneſs to yeeld food for them and their Children, when wee have abounded in Pride, in Idleneſſe, and fullneſſe of Bread.
Theſe were that conſtant and faithfull People who loved not their lives to the death, neither counted them dear unto themſelves, that they might finiſh their courſe with joy, and teſtifie to the Goſpel of the Grace of God. But and if judgement begin at the houſe of God, what then ſhall bee the end of thoſe that obey not the Goſpel of God? 1 Pet. 4.17.
3 Nor, laſtly Let Sion ſay, The Lord hath forſaken mee, my God hath forgotten mee (as Iſa. 49.14.) becauſe hee hath given mee to bee eaten up like bread of mine Adverſaries, and of them that hated mee; for though hee ſuffer them to make bread of your huskie, brannie, bodily part, yet will gather your precious ſouls as Wheat into his Garner, Mat. 3.12. yea and your very Bodies ſhall return, and come ſafely in, in their ſeaſon. Thy dead men ſhall live (ſaith Chriſt to Sion) together with my dead body ſhall they ariſe, Iſa. 26.19. comfort you the Comfortleſſe in Sion with theſe words.
FINIS.
THE Cure of Contention Among The People of God: wherein is manifeſted; That there is too great a proneneſſe in Gods own People to eat each other.
As alſo
Whence this proceeds.
The evill of it.
When this is done.
The Cure of it.
Pſal. 122.6, 7, 8.
Pray for the peace of Jeruſalem.
Peace bee within thy walls. For my Brethren and Companions ſakes, I will now ſay, peace bee within thee.
LONDON Printed for George Sawbridge, 1655.