Mercys Memorial, Text
Mercies Memoriall.
EXOD. 13.…3.
Remember this day in which ye came out from Egypt.
THis Text hath reference to a memorable Hiſtory. Hiſtory is an uſefull and delightfull kind of inſtruction. Among Hiſtories none are comparable to the Hiſtories of ſacred Scripture: and that in their antiquity, rarity, variety, brevity, perſpicuity, Eccellencies of Scripture Hiſtories.harmony, and verity. This laſt is the excellency of the other excellencies: and it commends an Hiſtory much more then all the reſt; For antiquity, rarity, variety, brevity, perſpicuity, harmony, and other like excellencies without verity, are but as ſo many pearles in a blind eye, which make it the more deformed.
If compariſon may be made betwixt Hiſtories and Hiſtories in ſacred Scripture, among Hiſtories of the old Teſtament, they which relate the Iſraelites departure out of Egypt thorow the red Sea and Wilderneſſe into Canaan, are moſt remarkeable. For,Iſraels abode in and paſſage out of Egypt typicall. beſides the forementioned excellencies, which they have in common with all Scripture Hiſtories, they are in an eſpeciall manner typicall: and ſet out the condition of the Church brought out of the bondage of ſinne under Satan, and travailing thorow the dangers and troubles of this world unto the celeſtiall Canaan.
In this reſpect the deliverance of the Iſraelites out of the land of Egypt is premiſed in the Preface before the Decalogue, or ten Commandements of the moral Law, which appertaineth to all Nations,2 Cor. 10.1. &c. and that as a type of mans Deliverance from his ſpirituall ſervitude. Iſraells paſſing thorough the red Sea, and under the Cloud, are allſo made like figures to Baptiſme: and Manna and the water that came out of the Rock like to our ſacramentall bread and wine. Yea of many other things done in the Wilderneſſe, it is ſaid Theſe things are our types, that is, they are types,foreign. patternes or examples to ſhew Gods mind to us, how he will deale with us if we be ſuch and ſuch. And the ſetling of Iſrael in Canaan, Heb. 4.7, 8, 9.is expreſſely made a type of the reſt of Gods people in Heaven.
Thus in regard of the myſticall truth compriſed under this hiſtoricall type, it concernes all ſorts of people, and to every one whoſe naturall condition is altered, it may not unfitly be ſaid, Remember this day in which ye came out from Egypt.
Iſraels paſſage out of Egypt fitly applyed to England.Yea further in regard of an allegoricall alluſion, it may be applyed to this our Natiō, which long lay in a miſerable thraldome under Antichriſt. For the Kingdome of Antichriſt is a myſticall Egypt: and the tyranny and idolatry thereof a ſpirituall bondage▪ a bondage farre worſe then the temporall bondage under which the Iſraelites were held in Egypt: ſo as it may well be ſaid to you in particular who are ſenſible of your deliverance from that antichriſtian ſervitude, Remember this day in which ye came out from Egypt.
The 27. of Novem. a mememorable day.This day is the firſt day of the fourſcore and ſeventh yeere ſince the beginning of that bleſſed deliverance. For this day is the ſeventeenth of November: a day worthy not only to be diſtinguiſhed in our Almanakes by capitall, red or golden letters, but allſo to be written in our hearts by the finger of Gods Spirit. A day of which it well becomes us oft to put one another in mind, and to ſay, Remember this day in which ye came out from Egypt.
On this day of the monethmonth, the ſeventeenth of November 1558, two great pillars (beſides many others) of the antichriſtian tyranny and idolatry were removed from this Land. For Queene Mary and Cardinall Poole, who were ſtrong ſupporters, abbetters and maintainers of the Popes ſupremacy and popiſh idolatry, were both on one day, the foreſaid ſeventeenth of November, cut out of the land of the living.
On the very ſame ſeventeenth of November bleſſed Queene Elizabeth (whoſe memory,Qu. Elizabeths crow nation day. ſo long as this Goſpell continueth to ſhine among us will be bleſſed) I ſay bleſſed Queene Elizabeth, who ſuffered much, and long lay in priſon, while this Land was an houſe of antichriſtian bondage, was on this day 1558 freed from thoſe troubles, and thouſands more freed from much miſery. On that day was that bleſſed Queene ſet upon the throne of England: and a Scepter of peace and truth put into her hand; which, by the good guidance of Gods Spirit, ſhe ſo ſwayed for five and fourty yeares together current,A bleſſing by Qu. Elizabeth. as ſhe reſtored to Engliſh Subjects, not only the liberties and priviledges of Subjects, together with a well eſtabliſhed peace and all manner of proſperity; but all ſo true Religion and a free paſſage to the Goſpell of peace (having cleane put out the cruell fire of the Marian perſecution, and diſpelled the thick cloud of popiſh Superſtition:) whereby it came to paſſe, thorough Gods bleſſing, that the lives of many, who were appointed to death, were preſerved, and the ſoules of many millions ſaved.
Had I time to ſet out diſtinctly the many bleſſings which this Land injoyed all the time of that bleſſed Queens raigne, the many victories which God gave her againſt the implacable enemies of this Land, the good aid ſhe afforded to the neighbouring Countries about us profeſſing the ſame Religion, as Scotland, Netherlands, Portugall, Henry 4.yea and to that King of France which profeſſed to eſtabliſh the true reformed Religion in his dominiōs, had I time to ſet out theſe and other like memorable matters, yee might ſee yet further cauſe oft to inculcate this memento, Remember this day in which ye came out from Egypt.
This in briefe of the allegoricall alluſion of this Text to our times. I ſhall ſpeake ſomewhat more hereof in my laſt applicacation. In the meane while I come to the literall intendment of my Text.
Iſraels deliverance out of Egypt remarkable.The deliverance of the Iſraelites out of Egypt was one of the moſt famous deliverances that ever God gave to a people: and that both in regard of the mighty wonders manifeſted therein, and alſo in regard of the great diſtreſſes, from which they were delivered by thoſe wonders. No wonders are more frequently repeated and brought to the mindes of Gods people in the old Teſtament then theſe. The ſweet Singer of Iſrael, that man after Gods own heart, having his heart filled with an holy admiration of Gods wonderfull workes, thus exemplifieth them, He wrought his ſignes in Egypt, and his wonders in the field of Zoan. Pſal. 78.43.Numb. 13.22. (Zoan was a royall City in Egypt, called by the Greekes and Latines Tanis) And Pſal. 135.9, He ſent tokens and wonders into the midſt of thee, O Egypt. And ſpeaking of Gods Miniſters he ſaith, They ſhewed his wonders in the land of Ham, Pſal. 105.27. Theſe are the wonders which Gods people are called upon to remember, Pſal. 105.5. Remember his marvellous workes that he hath done, his wonders and the judgements of his mouth. And they which ſlightly paſſed them over or forgate them are thus blamed, Our fathers underſtood not thy wonders in Egypt, they remembred not the multitude of thy mercies. Pſal. 106.7.
Wonderfull ſignes of Gods preſerving his Church.Some of thoſe wonders were evidences of Gods gracious protection and mighty preſervation of his people. Others were inſtances of Gods fiery indignation againſt and fearfull vengeance on their enemies.
Of the former ſort were,
1. The flaming Buſh not conſumed.1. The Buſh that flamed with fire, and was not conſumed. Exod. 3.2. An Embleme of the Churches preſervation in the midſt of fiery perſecution and affliction.
2. A rod turned into a ſerpent.2. Moſes his rod turned into a ſerpent. Exod. 4.3, 4. Hereby God gave him to underſtand, that though the Government which was conferred on him, ſhould be as a Scepter of equity unto his people, yet it ſhould be alſo a biting and ſtinging Serpent to the rebellious.
3. A leprous hand cleanſed.3. Moſes his leprous hand made cleane when it was plucked out of his boſome. Exod. 4.7. A ſigne of Iſraels cleanſing from the pollutions wherewith they were defiled in Egypt: yea, alſo a ſigne of ſanctifying Moſes to his function, as the touching of Iſaiahs mouth with an hot coale taken from the Altar, was a ſigne of ſanctifying him to his function, Iſai. 6.7.
4. Water turned into bloud.4. The turning of water into bloud. Exod. 4.9. Not that water which was in the river: for therewith the fiſh were deſtroyed: but water taken out of the river and powred upon the dry land, which became bloud upon the dry land: whereby was prefigured that they ſhould be delivered out of Egypt, but not without the bloud of their enemies.
5. Goſhen free.5. Iſraels exemption in Goſhen from all the plagues that infected the land of Egypt, Exod. 8.22. & 9.26. Hereby they had a preſent evidence that the Lord in all kindes of judgement knew how to put difference betwixt his people and enemies, and how to deliver the godly.
6. A path in the ſea.6. Iſraels going on dry ground thorow the midſt of the ſea. Exod. 14.16. This, as it was a like figure to Baptiſme (as we ſhew'd before) ſo it was an eſpeciall inſtance of Gods carrying them thorow all difficulties and dangers into Canaan.
Of the latter ſort of wonders,The ten plagues of Egypt. which are inſtances of Gods vengeance on the Egyptians, are thoſe which we commonly call the ten plagues of Egypt. They are theſe which follow.
1. The ſtreames, rivers, ponds and pooles of water thorowout all the land of Egypt turned into bloud: ſo as the fiſh in the river died, 1. Bloud.and the water ſtunke, and the Egyptians could not drinke of it. Exod. 7.19, 20, 21. Pharaoh had commanded all his people to caſt into the river every ſonne of the Iſraelites, when it was firſt borne. God therefore to meet with the Egyptians in their owne kinde, makes that element which they uſed as an inſtrument of their cruelty, to be an inſtrument of his juſt judgement on them: and killed the Creatures which were of uſe to them, with that means whereby they ſought to deſtroy young children: yea, they themſelves were thereby ſtanched and choked.
2. Frogs in ſuch abundance as they came into the Egyptians houſes, bed-chambers, beds, ovens and kneading troughs,2. Frogs. not ſparing the Kings houſe and bed-chamber. Exod. 8.3. &c. Pſal. 105.30. yea, (Pſal. 78.45.) it is ſaid, The frogs deſtroyed them. The Egyptians endeavoured to empty the houſes and bed-chambers of the Iſraelites, and to deprive them of their ſweet babes. God therefore fils theirs with croaking, noiſome frogs.
3. Lice.3. All the duſt of the land became Lice throughout all the land of Egypt, ſo as there were Lice upon man and beaſt. Exod. 8.17, 18. and that in all their quarters, Pſal. 105.31. The Egyptians were tyrannically imperious over the Iſraelites. God therefore doth juſtly beat downe their pride with theſe noiſome, loathſome, contemptible creatures, as Herods pride was beaten downe with wormes, Acts 12.23. And becauſe bond-ſlaves uſed to be much annoyed with this kind of Vermine, God would there with infeſt thoſe proud Lords which made his people bond-ſlaves.
4. Flies.4. Grievous ſwarmes of Flies came into the houſe of Pharaoh, and into his ſervants houſes, and into all the land of Egypt. The Land was corrupted by reaſon of the ſwarmes of Flies. Exod. 8.21, 24.foreign Turbam ſive miſturam collectam ex variis & multis ſpeciebus beſliolarum, ſeu inſectorum ſignificat. Vatabl. Annot. in hunc locum. The Pſalmiſt ſaith▪ (Pſal. 78.45.) that the Lord ſent divers ſorts of Flies which devoured them. It is evident that there were more then one ſort. The originall word tranſlated ſwarmes of Flies properly ſignifieth a mixture of things. It is applyed to the mixture of ſundry ſorts of people together (Exod. 12.38.) to the mixture of light and darkneſſe together, and called the evening (Levit. 23.33.) and to mixture of divers creatures together: ſo is it here uſed in this place. Our Engliſh Tranſlatours therefore have thus expreſſed it in the Margin, A mixture of noiſome beaſts. Such creatures they were as devoured the Egyptians, Pſal. 78.45. ſo as dog-flies, horſe-flies, waſps, hornets, vipers, ſcorpions, and ſuch other biting, ſtinging, poiſoning creatures may be compriſed under the forementioned word. The cruell Egyptians many wayes vexed and gauled the Iſraelites; they therefore with ſuch kind of creatures were vexed and tormented.
5. Murraine.5. A very grievous Murraine upon their cattell, ſo as all the cattell in Egypt died. Exod. 9.3, 6. Before, the fiſh in the water were deſtroyed: here, the cattell in the field: to ſhew how farre they had provoked the Lord; even to deprive them of the uſe of all his creatures, both in the waters and alſo in the dry land. It is probable that the Egyptians had wronged the Iſraelites in and about their cattell: ſo as God repaies like for like.
6. Boyles.6. Boyles breaking forth with blanes, upon man and beaſt. The Magicians could not avoid this plague: for the Boyle was upon the Magicians, and upon all the Egyptians. Exod. 9.10, 11. As their hearts were inwardly ſwollen with pride, malice and cruelty: ſo God made their fleſh to ſwell with noiſome and painfull Boyles. The Egyptians oppreſſed the Iſraelites with making and burning brick: anſwerably by aſhes of the fornace are Boyles cauſed to vex them.
7. Thunder, haile and fire mingled therewith, very grievous,7. Haile. which ſmote thorowout all the land of Egypt all that was in the field, both man and beaſt, and every herbe and tree of the field, Exod. 9.24, 25. ſuch was the haile as the fire melted it not: and ſuch the fire as the haile quenched it not. As this was a terrible judgement in it ſelfe; ſo the more terrible to the Egyptians, becauſe in Egypt which was neere to the hot middle Zone, there uſed not to be any haile, or raine at all. They were herein juſtly dealt withall, for their terrible threatnings to, and cruell dealings with the Iſraelites.
8. Locusts. Exod. 10.5, 14. This was a grievous plague,8. Locuſts. in regard of the kind and multitude of the creatures which annoyed them. Locuſts were of that kind which they call Inſecta, divided betwixt the head and the belly. They were winged, and able to fly over ſeas from Country to Country. They devoured all kind of graſſe, herbs and fruits. They were ſo pernicious that in the Countries where they abode, all the meanes that could be invented were uſed to deſtroy them. In their multitude they were as hurtfull as in their kind; for they uſed ſo to flock together, as like a thick dark cloud they overſhadowed the face of the skie, and obſcured the light of the Sunne. The Pſalmiſt joyneth Caterpillars with them, Pſal. 78.46. And another Prophet joyneth Locuſts, Canker-wormes, Caterpillars, and Palmer-wormes, and cals them Gods great Army, Joel 2.25. From this phraſe which Pharaoh uſeth (Exod. 10.17.) Take away this death only, ſome gather that the Locuſts were venimous creatures, and bit and ſtung men to death. The Egyptians were very cruell to the Iſraelites.
9. Darkneſſe, even Darkneſſe which might be felt,9. Darkneſſe. ſo as they ſaw not one another, neither roſe any from his place for three dayes. Exod. 10.21, 23. That phraſe, which might be felt, ſheweth that it was an extreme Miſt or Fog which utterly obſcured all the celeſtiall Lights, as Sunne, Moone and Starres: and put out all artificiall lights, as fires, torches, candles, and ſuch like. Idolatry and ſuperſtition had obſcured the light of Gods truth to their minds, and this darkneſſe obſcured other lights to their bodies. As the Egyptians had many wayes terrified the Iſraelites, and denied all comfort and ſuccour to them; ſo with this darkneſſe are they much affrighted and deprived of all comfort and ſuccour one from another.
10. Death of Firſt-born.10. The deſtruction of all the firſt-borne in the land of Egypt, from the firſt-borne of Pharaoh that ſate on his throne, even unto the first-borne of the captive that was in the dungeon, and all the firſt-borne of cattell: ſo as there was not an houſe where there was not one dead. Exod. 12.29, 30. So great was this plague as it forced them to let the Iſraelites with all that they had to depart out of their land. This judgement of all the reſt did moſt properly meet with them in their kind: for they ſought to deſtroy the ſtrength of Iſrael, even all their male-children, and here God takes away their ſtrength, the heires and ſupporters of their families; yea, he extendeth it to their beaſts and gods. Exod. 12.12.
Pharaoh and his hoſt drowned.Theſe were the ten plagues. There was an other judgement as fearefull as any of theſe, if not more fearfull, the utter deſtruction of Pharaoh and all his hoaſt in the red ſea. It is ſaid that he took ſix hundred choſen Chariots, and all the Chariots of Egypt, and Captains over every one of them (Exod. 14.7.) which implyeth a very huge hoſt. God ſaw it not enough to deſtroy their fiſhes in the water, but alſo in juſt revenge of their ſeeking to drown the Iſraelites children, drowned Pharaoh and all his hoſt.
Thus we ſee what wonders the Lord wrought in executing vengeance on his enemies.
I ſhould here, according to my Method propounded, ſet forth the diſtreſſes from which the Iſraelites were delivered by theſe wonders, but they will more ſeaſonably be obſerved in the Application of the laſt point of my Text, to which I now come, Remember this day in which ye came out from Egypt.
Sence of Text.To remember, is the proper function of the memory, which God hath ſet as a treaſury in the ſoule, to lay up for future uſe, ſuch things as the underſtanding conceiveth to be a truth, and the will yeeldeth unto as good.
There is a foure-fold act of this faculty.A four-fold Act of memorie.
1. To receive and lay up what is ſo conceived, as Joh. 15.20. where Chriſt thus ſaith to his Diſciples,1. To lay up. Remember the word that I ſaid unto you.
2. To hold faſt that which is ſo laid up.2. To hold faſt. Thus it is moſt properly oppoſed to forgetfulneſſe. As Deut. 9.7. where it is thus ſaid, Remember and forget not.
3. To call againe to mind what hath been forgotten.3. To rec…ll. Thus the Iſraelites are ſaid to remember their own evill wayes (Ezek. 20.31.) And the Diſciples to remember what Jeſus had ſaid to them. Joh. 2.22. Jeſus in the time of his Miniſtery had told them that he ſhould riſe the third day from the dead, but they forgate it till the time of his Reſurrection, then they remembred it, that is, called it againe to remembrance.
4. To thinke on and conſider that which we have learned;4. To think on. as when we are injoyned to remember God, (Deut. 8.18.) to remember his Law, (Mal. 4.4.) to remember the Sabbath, (Exod. 20.8.) Thus our Engliſh Tranſlatours doe render the ſame Hebrew word thinke on, (Neh. 5.19.) and remember ▪ foreign(Neh. 13.31.)
In this latitude the word remember being enjoyned as a duty is here to be taken.
That which is here commanded to be remembred,The particular day here meant. foreign is firſt in generall thus expreſſed, This day. There is a double relative uſed in the originall to expreſſe the ſet diſtinct time here intended, which we may thus expound, This day, this very day. The particular day here meant was that very day wherein they came out from Egypt. For in the Chapter going before it is ſaid, that in the night the Egyptians were urgent upon the people of Iſrael, that they might ſend them out of the land in haſte, ver. 30, 33. and thereupon ver. 42. it is ſaid, This is a night to be much obſerved unto the Lord, for bringing them out of the land of Egypt. This is that night of the Lord to be obſerved of the children of Iſrael in their generations. The day following that night they came to Succoth, the place where Moſes gave this charge, for the children of Iſrael were in Ramaſes (which is in Egypt) when they firſt began to take their journey from thence (Exod. 12.37.) thence they came to Succoth, which was the firſt ſtation where they ſetled after they came out of Egypt, (Numb. 33.5.) The night before mentioned is compriſed under this day, and ſo both make one naturall day, the very firſt day of their deliverance. Yet is not this charge to be reſtrained to that particular day only, but to the annuall revolution thereof, generation after generation. In which reſpect the charge is thus extended, (ver. 10.) Thou ſhalt keep this Ordinance in his ſeaſon, from yeare to yeare.
That which is thus added, in which ye came out from Egypt, doth both determine the day that is here meant, and alſo ſhew the reaſon, why this day was to be remembred.
What Egypt w…s.Egypt was an ancient, fertile and learned Nation. The Hebrew name had his denomination from Miſraim the ſecond ſon of Ham, Gen. 10.6.which ſhewes the ancientneſſe of it. No raine did ever fall upon it (as was before ſhew'd,Deut. 11 10, 11.) but the river Nilus overflowing their paſture and arable grounds at certaine ſeaſons, left a ſlime thereon, which made them more fertile then any dung or other manu…ing could doe. Thus it came to be the moſt fertile of all lands.
The Magicians, which are mentioned to be therein, were learned Philoſophers. Such was the report of the learning in Egypt, as ſundry Philoſophers went thither to get more learning.
Egypt a place of bondage. Egyptus Hebraicè d…ci…ur foreign quod interpretatur foreign, id eſt, tribulans & …. Hieron. l. 7.How then may ſome ſay is their comming out from Egypt to be remembred as a great deliverance?
The words immediately following my Text doe ſhew the reaſon: for thus it is added, Out of the houſe of bondage. Egypt was to Iſrael a place of very great affliction. The Hebrew name given to Egypt ſignifieth oppreſſion or anguiſh. In regard of the Egyptians oppreſſing the children of Iſrael, and the anguiſh which thence aroſe, the name fitly agreeth thereto.
Comment. in Iſai. 23. Reſolution of the Text.The ſumme of this Text in two words is this, MERCIES MEMORIALL, or a little more largely and plainly thus, The duty of ſuch as are delivered from diſtreſſe.
Here more particularly we may diſtinguiſh the Act, wherein the duty is expreſſed, Remember: and the Object whereabout it is exerciſed.
The Act is thus in generall propounded, This day, and in particular thus exemplified, in which ye came out from Egypt.The principall Doctrines.
Hence ariſe theſe three Inſtructions.
1. Memorable matters are to be remembred. Remember.
2. The very day wherein God doth memorable matters is duly to be noted. This day.
3. The diſtreſſe from which we are delivered is to be conſidered, even after the deliverance. In which ye came out, &c.
The firſt Inſtruction (Memorable matters are to be remembred) is to be taken in the foure-fold latitude before mentioned: as,1. Doctr. Memorable matters to be remembred. 1. They are to be laid up in memory. 2. Being once laid up, they are to be held faſt and not forgotten. 3. In caſe they be forgotten, meanes for calling them to mind again are to be uſed. 4. For the better retaining of them they are frequently and ſeriouſly to be thought on. In this extent Moſes addeth this Memento in the fourth Commandement, Deut. 5.15. Remember that thou waſt a ſervant in the land of Egypt, and that the Lord thy God brought thee out thence, through a mighty hand, and by a ſtretched out arme. So David the like, Pſal. 105.5. Remember his marvellous workes that he hath done: his wonders and the judgements of his mouth. And to ſhew that the duty doth not only bind ſemper, alwayes, on all occaſions to be performed; but alſo ad ſemper, never to be omitted,foreign ſignificat & onne & ullum. Grammatici ducunt ullum à foreign per tranſmutationem literarii. Helpes afforded by God for remembrance. let ſlip or forgotten, it is thus negatively ſet downe, Deut. 8.11, 14. Beware that thou forget not the Lord thy God, which brought thee forth from the land of Egypt out of the houſe of bondage. And Pſal. 103.2. Forget not all his benefits, or, any of them; for the Hebrew word ſignifieth any as well as all.
To help the Jewes in the performance of this duty, many meanes were preſcribed by God, as,
1. The obſervation of the Paſſeover, which the very *foreign Paſſeover.title given to that Ordinance importeth. Reade for this purpoſe, Exod. 12.26, 27.
2. The ſanctifying or redeeming the first-borne of man or beaſt, Exod. 13.14, 15.
3. The feaſt of Tabernacles, Lev. 23.42, 43.
4. The heapes of great ſtones erected both in the midſt of Jordan, and alſo by the ſide thereof in Gilgal, Joſ. 4 9, 20, 21, 22, 23.
Names of places for memoriall. foreignMany titles alſo and names given to ſundry places tended to that end; as the *foreign The well of the living, ſeeing me.name which Hagar gave to the place where the Angel of the Lord promiſed that her ſeed ſhould be greatly encreaſed, Gen. 16.14. And *foreign The Lord will provide.that which Abraham gave to the place where God kept him from ſacrificing his ſonne, Gen. 22.14. And *foreign The face of God ſeen.that which Jacob gave to the place where God bleſſed him, Gen. 32.30. And *foreign The Lord my banner.that which Moſes gave to the place where Iſrael prevailed againſt Amalek. Exod. 17.15.
Many like inſtances might be given of the care of Gods people in making memorials for remembrance of memorable matters.
This is a point duly to be obſerved in regard of God, our ſelves, and others.
Reaſons. 1. Gods honor continued and propagated.Firſt, in regard of God. It is an eſpeciall meanes of continuing and propagating the honour of God, ariſing from ſuch memorable matters, longer and further then otherwiſe it would be. For by ſuch meanes, not only the preſent ſpectators and beholders, who then take notice thereof, have their hearts filled with admiration of the excellencies of God, and their mouths opened to magnifie him for the ſame; but alſo others, who live farre off, or are borne in future times, by ſuch meanes come to have ſuch notice of thoſe wonderfull workes, as to be affected in their hearts therewith, and moved to admire, adore, magnifie and glorifie that mighty God who did them.
2. Sundry graces preſerved.Secondly, in regard of our ſelves. By ſuch memorials our faith, hope, feare, and other like Graces, may be the better preſerved, quickned, and ſtrengthned. For remembrance of matters worthy to be remembred, is as the continuall ſupply of oyle to a lamp, which keeps it alwayes ſhining. Thus were the Lamps in the Tabernacle kept from going out. Levit. 24.2, 3, 4.
3. Ground of faith to others.Thirdly, in regard of others. A ground of faith and hope in Gods goodneſſe, power, prudence, and other excellencies is hereby afforded to ſucceeding ages. For God is the Lord that changeth not. Mal. 3.6. What once he was able to doe, he is ever able to doe; yea, what he hath once done, manifeſteth his willingneſſe to doe ſuch a thing, at leaſt if in his wiſdome he ſeeth it meet to be done. Memorials then of Gods former mighty workes give even to others in after times ground to call on God, and to truſt on him in their diſtreſſes, ſo truſting to his power, as they ſubmit to his will; like to him that ſaid, If thou wilt, thou canſt make me cleane, Mark 1.40.
Ʋſes. 1. Corruption of memory.I. This duty of remembring remarkeable matters, reſting upon ſuch equity as it doth, giveth an evident demonſtration of the depth of naturall corruption, and how farre it hath depraved a mans ſoule. I might aggravate mans corruption in every faculty of the ſoule, and diſtinctly ſhew of what excellent uſe they are, as God placed them in the ſoule, and how ſtrangely they are now perverted. But I will inſtance it only in this faculty of memory, which we have now in hand. You have heard of what ſingular uſe it is being rightly uſed, for laying up, faſt holding, recalling and thinking on time after time, that which is once conceived as a truth, and yeelded unto as good. But through corruption of nature, it is made in good things like a riven diſh, or a Colender full of holes, which let out what is put into them as faſt as it is let in; but it is too too tenacious of evill. I may fitly reſemble it to a Sieve, Boulter or Strainer. Solid corne and chaffe being put together into a Sieve, the corne fals out, the light chaffe remaines. Meale put into a Boulter and boulted, the fine floure goes out, the courſe bran continues: and ſweet liquor ſoone ſokes out of a Strainer, but the foule dregs abide therein. Even ſo ſolid divine truths ſoone ſlip out of a mans memory, but the chaffe of uncertaine fables and groſſe errours remaine too faſt fixed therein; and the wholſome directions of Gods Word quickly paſſe away, when the bran of a mans owne fooliſh conceits ſtick faſt: yea, and the ſweet conſolations of the Goſpell are ſoone forgotten, when the dregs of filthy luſt, revenge, and other evils are too long remembred. I may in this caſe cry out and ſay, O the depth of mans corruption! What matter of humiliation doth this give unto us?
2. Careleſneſſe in obſerving Gods works.II. Juſt matter of Taxation alſo is here given us of the careleſſe diſpoſition of ſuch, who living in times and places when and where God doth marvellous works, lightly paſſe them over, without taking any due notice thereof for the preſent, or remembring them for the future. This doth the Pſalmiſt thus taxe, Pſal. 106.7. Our fathers underſtood not thy wonders in Egypt: they remembred not the multitude of thy mercies. Such doe hereby (as much as in them lieth) rob God of much of that glory which otherwiſe he might receive from his wondrous workes, and alſo deprive other men of ſingular helps, which they might have had from thoſe workes, which God did before their dayes. Herein they ſhew themſelves as bad as, if not worſe then, that Judge which feared not God nor regarded man▪ Luk. 18.2. yea, they ſuffer that light, which might have been an excellent direction to themſelves in the wayes of God, to goe out, and ſo ſtand in their owne light and hinder their owne good.
3. Exhortation to the duty.III. Be you, I beſeech you, exhorted to doe what lieth in you, for laying up, faſt holding, recalling and thinking on ſuch worthy and wonderfull things of God, as may be uſefull unto you, not only for the preſent, but alſo for the future, ſo long as you live: yea, and be uſefull alſo for your poſterity, generation after generation. For they are a light which ſhineth continually, and never goeth out: ſo as all that have their eyes opened to ſee that light and walke therein may receive much benefit thereby. I need not adde other motives to inforce this Exhortation, or to incite and quicken you up to the duty injoyned, then thoſe which ariſe from the forementioned equity thereof.
4. Directions for remembring.IIII. I hold it meet to adde a Direction for the better performing thereof. This ſhall be ſet out in the ſix following rules.
1. Duly obſerve Gods vvorks at …rſt.1. Take due and diligent notice of ſuch matters as are worthy to be remembred, even at the firſt while they are in working. Great workes at their firſt doing moſt affect mens hearts, and mollifie the ſame. Thus will they be like new Wax which is ſoft and ſit to receive a deep impreſſion. Now we know that the print of a Seale being at firſt deeply ſet in, laſteth the longer. To work ſuch deep impreſſions in mens hearts, holy men of God were wont to uſe patheticall inſinuations before remarkeable matters, as Moſes, Deut. 32.1, 2, &c. Give eare, O ye heavens, and I will ſpeake; And heare, O earth, the words of my mouth. My doctrine ſhall drop as the raine: my ſpeech ſhall diſtill as the dew, as the ſmall raine upon the tender herbe, and as the ſhowres upon the graſſe, &c. Chriſt himſelfe before his excellent Parables premiſed this Preface, Hearken, Behold, (Mark 4.3.) to worke upon both the learned ſenſes, and at the end thereof he addeth this Exhortation, If any man have eares, let him heare, together with this Caveat, Take heed what you heare, Mark 4.23, 24. or as it is expreſſed, Luke 8.18. Take heed how you heare. The Prophets were wont to call upon ſenſeleſſe Creatures to heare what they ſaid, and that with much emphaſis (as Jer. 22.29. O earth, earth, earth, heare the Word of the Lord,) the more to rouſe up ſenſible and reaſonable men ſeriouſly to conſider what was ſpoken. Pertinent to this purpoſe is this charge of the Apoſtle, Heb. 2.1. We ought to give the more earneſt heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we ſhould let them ſlip, or let them runne out as leaking veſſels.
2. Much meditate thereon.2. Often meditate on that which once you conceive to be an uſefull truth. Frequent meditation addes much to a faſt retention of that which is judged to be uſefull. Meditation is that oyle which keepeth the lamp of memory from waſting and going out. David who made the beſt uſe of the Law that ever any did, meditated thereon day and night.
3. Declare them to others3. Oft declare to others what thou deſireſt to retaine in thine owne memory. They who uſe to inſtruct others in what they know themſelves, doe not eaſily forget it. For thereby they make the deeper impreſſions thereof in their owne memory. This is the reaſon that Schoole-maſters ſo well retaine the Grammar rules and ſentences of Orators and Poets, becauſe they oft inculcate them upon their Schollars. The Pſalmiſt therefore adviſeth men to talke of Gods wondrous works. Pſal. 105.2.
4. Oft mention them in praiſes and Prayers.4. So oft as thou offereſt up unto God a ſacrifice of praiſe, make mention of the foreſaid remarkeable matters, yea, and in thy prayers plead them before God, for ſtrengthning thy faith in deſiring the like. Men uſe to be moſt ſincere and ſerious in their holy devotions. And thoſe things which are moſt ſincerely and ſeriouſly pondered will beſt be remembred.
5. Search records.5. Make uſe of ſuch Records and Chronicles as regiſter Gods great workes. Have recourſe to theſe againe and againe: Thus not only things knowne will be retained, but alſo things forgotten will be againe called to minde. Ahaſuerus by reading the Records of his owne Kingdome was put in minde of Mordecai's fidelity, and of the treaſon that was plotted againſt him, which proved a meanes of preſerving the Church at that time. Among other records we ought moſt eſpecially to make uſe of the ſacred Scriptures: for theſe, as they containe moſt memorable and infallible truths, ſo they doe moſt directly ſet out what is of God in the great workes that they relate.
6. Pray to God.6. To all other meanes adde Prayer. This ſanctifieth all the reſt. By this Gods Spirit is obtained, whereby the defects of memory are repaired, and that faculty it ſelfe ſo renewed, as to be made an happy Treaſury in faſt holding the beſt things.
By theſe and other like helpes the duty hinted in the firſt Inſtruction of remembring remarkeable matters may be the better obſerved.
Thus much for the Act here required, Remember. The Object here in generall expreſſed is, This day. Remember this day. And the Inſtruction thence raiſed is this,
2. Doctr. The day of a wonder to be noted.The very day wherein God doth memorable matters is duly to be noted. This very point is with ſomewhat more emphaſis thus ſet downe. Ezek. 24.2. Sonne of man, write thee the name of the day, even of this ſame day. On this ground the Jewes obſerved ſundry faſts all the time of their Captivitie on ſet dayes, as the faſt of the fourth month, the faſt of the fift, the faſt of the ſeventh, and the faſt of the tenth, Zech. 8.19. For on the ninth day of the fourth month was Jeruſalem broken up, and the Chaldeans entered thereinto. Jer. 52.6, 7. On the tenth day of the fifth month, the Houſe of the Lord, the Kings houſe, and all the houſes of Jeruſalem were burnt with fire. Jer. 52.12, 13. On the ſeventh month Gedaliah (the Protectour of the remnant of the Jewes, after their King was carried away captive) was ſlaine. Jer. 41.1. On the tenth day of the tenth month Nebuchadnezzar firſt laid ſiege to Jeruſalem. Ier. 52.4. This is that day which was commanded to be written downe, Ezek. 24.2. Theſe are remarkeable dayes for judgement. Now if dayes of judgement were ſo preciſely to be remembred, how much more ought diſtinct dayes of bleſſing to be obſerved? The former were evidences of Gods diſpleaſure; and ſo meanes to keep down the ſoule, and occaſions of continuing to be humbled time after time. The latter were evidences of Gods ſpeciall favour, and ſo meanes of upholding our ſpirits, and occaſions of continuing to quicken them up to thankfulneſſe from time to time. Therefore when God had removed away the cloud of his diſpleaſure from his people, after their ſeventy yeares captivity, and cauſed the bright and comfortable ſunne-beames of his favour to ſhine upon them, he commanded that thoſe ſet dayes of Faſt ſhould be turned into dayes of cheerefull Feaſt, Zech. 8.19. The originall word ſignifieth ſet and ſtanding times,foreign and ſo is proper to the point in hand. To this end were moſt of the Feaſts under the Law appointed on ſet dayes, to be memorials of deliverances, or other bleſſings on thoſe very dayes; as the Paſſeover, Exod. 12.17. the Feaſt of Purim, Esth. 9.21. and others: yea, the Sabbath being the ſeventh day of the weeke,Gen. ….3. was a continuall weekly memoriall of that very day wherein God reſted from all his works, as the Chriſtians Lords day is a weekly memoriall of Chriſts Reſurrection from the dead, Matth. 28.1. To this purpoſe not unfitly may be applyed this phraſe of the Pſalmiſt (Pſal. 118.24.) This is the day which the Lord hath made, we will rejoyce and be glad in it.
Among other grounds this in ſpeciall ſheweth the equity of this duty,Reaſon. Gods vviſdome better diſcerned. that God (who hath put in his owne power the times and ſeaſons, Acts 1.7.) doth moſt ſeaſonably order his dealings with children of men. He giveth raine in his due ſeaſon. Deut. 11.14. He giveth to all their meat in due ſeaſon. Pſal. 145.15. His Saints reap that crop which he giveth in due ſeaſon, Gal. 6.9. To every thing there is a ſeaſon. Eccl. 3.1. Now Gods unſearchable wiſdome is much manifeſted in a due ordering of the things which he doth, as in wiſedome he made all things (Pſal. 104.24.) ſo moſt wiſely doth he diſpoſe the ſame. By a due obſerving of the very day and point of time, we may clearly diſcerne that wiſdome of God; yea, the bleſſing it ſelfe will thereby appeare to be the greater in the kind thereof, and more uſefull unto us.
Ʋſes. 1. Demonſtration of the damage of not notin… … day of Gods vvonders.I. This gives information of a maine reaſon of mens ſlackneſſe and backwardneſſe in rendring due praiſes to God, for the many and great workes which he doth. They obſerve not the time of effecting the ſame. We heard before how the ſpirit of a man was affected at the firſt working of a wonderfull worke. This puts life and ſpirit into a man, and makes him more fervent and zealous in praiſing God for it. When the Iſraelites ſaw their enemies dead upon the ſea-ſhore, they feared the Lord and beleeved him, Exod. 14.30, 31. and as it is recorded in the next Chapter, they ſang praiſe to him.Pſal. 106.…, 11, 12. But if that firſt ſeaſon be let ſlip, the heart is like to wax hard, and the worke it ſelfe to ſlip out of memory. We may find this by wofull experience too truly to be verified in our ſelves.
2. Exhortation t… take the firſt opportunity.II. It will be our wiſedome to take the firſt opportunitie that we can to quicken up our ſpirits to thankfulneſſe unto God for his great workes. Our Proverbe ſaith, Strike the iron while it is hot. Thus may it be faſhioned and moulded according to our minde. The firſt opportunity is the very day whereon the worke is wrought: ſo was this day that is here mentioned in my Text, Remember this day. And that this quickning of the ſpirit may not only be for once, the memoriall thereof is ſome way or other to be celebrated, ſo oft as that day returnes yeare after yeare. For this end the Diaries, … uſefull.which many uſe to have, wherein they regiſter ſpeciall mercies and bleſſings on the day wherein they were wrought, are commendable.
3. Juſtification of … … ſet dates for thankſgiving.III. This doth juſtifie that prudent care which many States have of preſerving the Anniverſary memory of extraordinary deliverances, on the very day yeare after yeare, whereon they were obtained.
A memoriall for our delive…nce from the Gun-povvder-treaſon, 5 Nov. 1605.The warrant which Gods Word giveth of celebrating one ſpeciall day in the yeare, for the continuing of a memoriall of a great bleſſing, without queſtion, moved the great Councell of this Land by Statute to enact and ſet apart the fifth of November, for a publike thankſgiving to Almighty God, for the happy deliverance of the King and Parliament, from the moſt traiterous and bloudy Maſſacre by Gun-powder.
There was not many yeares ſince a commendable cuſtome begun by a merchant in this Citie,Birth-dayes ſolemnized. of celebrating the foure birth dayes of our foure Reformers and Preſervers of the true Proteſtant Religion here in England. The ſolemnization of thoſe dayes was performed in duties of Piety, as Prayer, Praiſes and Preaching Gods Words. Celebration of ſet dayes, wherein men of note and name were borne; or advanced to high place, have been very ancient. I paſſe by that which the Scripture noteth of celebrating Pharaohs birth-day (Gen. 40.20.) and Herods birth-day (Matth. 14.6.) That which the Prophet (Hoſ. 7.5.) upbraideth to the Iſraelites may be more pertinent to our purpoſe. It is this, In the day of our King, the Princes have made him ſick with bottles of wine: By mentioning the Kings day he aggravates their ſinne, as if he had thus ſaid, In that day wherein God beſtowed a King upon you, for which your hearts ſhould have been enlarged, and your mouthes opened to bleſſe God, you gave your ſelves to all manner of exceſſive riot. Whether this were the Kings birth-day or Coronation-day it makes no great matter to the point in hand. It is ſufficient that there was a ſet day ſolemnized for a ſpeciall bleſſing.
This may ſuffice to have ſpoken of that point.
The exemplification of the day intended in my Text, the day wherein they came out from Egypt, leads me to the third Inſtruction, which is this,
3. Doct. … to be conſidered after deliverances. Exod. 12.8.The diſtreſſe from which we are delivered is to be conſidered, even after the deliverance. For they were come out of Egypt before this charge was given. My Text expreſſely affirmeth as much, in this phraſe, wherein ye came out from Egypt. This was the end why they were enjoyned to eate bitter herbes at the Paſſeover, to put them in mind of their bitter bondage in Egypt after they were delivered from it. That confeſſion which the Iſraelites were injoyned to m…ke, when they ſhould come into their l…nd of reſt, tended to this purpoſe, it was this, A Syrian ready to periſh was my father, and he went downe into Egypt, and ſojourned there with a few, &c. Deut. 26.5. ſo that which the Apoſtle thus preſſeth upon the converted Gentiles, Remember that ye were in time paſſed Gentiles, &c. Eph. 2.11, 12.
Reaſons. 1. Gods reſpect to us, thereby called to mind.1. Remembrance of former miſeries, ſpecially when we are delivered out of the ſame, brings to our mind the preſence of God then with us, the eye of his divine Providence on us in that our miſery, together with that reſpect which he had to our cryes and prayers, according to that which he himſelfe ſaith, Exod. 3.7. I have ſeen, I have ſeen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry, &c.
2. Gods povver diſcerned.2. The greater the diſtreſſe was, the greater will the power of God appeare to be in delivering us, by calling to mind that diſtreſſe: as is acknowledged, (Deut. 6.21.) by them who ſaid, We were Pharaohs bond-men in Egypt, but the Lord brought us out with a mighty hand.
3. Gods pitty amplified.3. This doth much amplifie the pity and compaſſion of God towards us. Ezekiel doth for this end lay forth the miſery wherein the Jewes at firſt were, by an elegant Parable taken from a child, Ezek 16.2. &c. In the day that thou wast borne, thy navell was not cut; neither wast thou waſhed in water, to ſupple thee: thou waſt not ſalted at all, nor ſwaedled at all. None eye pitied thee, to doe any of theſe unto thee, &c. Then the Lord to amplifie his compaſſion thus proceedeth, When I paſſed by thee, and ſaw thee polluted in thine own bloud, I ſaid unto thee, Live, &c.
4. Our hearts more knit to God.4. It uniteth our heart the cloſer and faſter unto God, and ſtirs us up to love him the more, as the Pſalmiſt who ſaid, I will love thee, O Lord my ſtrength, &c. The ſorrowes of hell compaſſed me about, the ſnares of death prevented me. In my diſtreſſe I called upon the Lord, and cryed unto my God: he heard my voyce, &c. Pſal. 18.1, 8. Nothing unites the heart of one to another more then the remembrance of kindneſſe in diſtreſſe.
5. Our ſpirits more inlarged to pr…iſe.5. This inlargeth a mans ſpirit to more and greater thankfulneſſe. Where David cals upon his ſoule again and again to bleſſe the Lord, he rendereth this reaſon thereof, Who forgiveth all thine iniquities, who healeth all thy diſeaſes, who redeemeth thy life from deſtruction, &c. Pſal. 103.1, 2, 3, 4.
6. We more bound to duty.6. This bindeth a man more firmely to all duty and good obedience. Upon conſideration of this the Pſalmiſt acknowledging that God had delivered his ſoule from death, his eyes from teares, and his feet from falling, maketh this inference, I will walke before the Lord in the land of the living. Pſal. 116.8, 9.
7. Confidence for future wrought.7. This is an eſpeciall ground of future confidence, as is evident in Davids anſwer to Saul, which was this, The Lord that delivered me out of the paw of the Lion, and out of the paw of the Beare, He will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. 1 Sam. 17.37. To like purpoſe Saint Paul being delivered out of the mouth of the Lion, that is, Lion-like Nero, thus addeth, And the Lord ſhall deliver me from every evill worke, &c. 2 Tim. 4.17, 18.
Ʋſes. 1. Diſcommodities of forgetting former miſeries.I. Surely they who after deliverance forget the miſery wherein they were, manifeſt a very ungratefull and ungracious diſpoſition againſt God, moving him (as much as in them lyeth) to repent of the good he hath done for them (as it repented him that he ſet up Saul to be King, 1. Sam. 15.11.) They doe allſo take away much from the ſweetneſſe and the comfort of that deliverance which they might have in their owne ſoules. For remembrance of a bitter affliction paſt doth much ſweeten a quiet and peaceable eſtate. Yea further they deprive themſelves of an eſpeciall ground of confidence, which they might have, if againe they fall into any trouble, as hath bin prooved before.
2. Exhortation to thinke on times paſt.II. Let us therefore be more wiſe: and among other things that we often meditate on, call to mind ſuch diſtreſſes as formerly we have bin in, and from which thorough Gods providence we have bin delivered: whether they be ſuch as the whole Chriſtian Church have groaned under, or particular Churches, either of our owne or other nations: yea and ſuch allſo as we our ſelves have bin in, or our children, families, friends, or others neere and deare unto us. For private deliverances, particular Dyaries before mentioned are needfull, and oft reading them will be very uſefull. For publike deliverances, it will be time well ſpent to reade ſuch Eccleſiaſticall Hiſtories as ſet forth the cruell perſecutions of the primitive Chriſtians under heatheniſh Emperours from the Apoſtles time till Conſtantine the great.Read hiſtories of Martyrs And the more inhumane perſecutions, under which the profeſſours of the true faith endured much, from the beginning of Antichriſts raigne till theſe our dayes (I would in theſe our dayes they were ended.) The latter Beaſt of Rome was farre more cruell then the former. Among other fierce and fiery perſecutions, let them eſpecially be remembred which have bin executed in this our Land, againſt thoſe who maintained the ſame faith which we now doe, and for the ſame reſiſted unto blood. Their ſufferings and our freedome from the ſame are never to be forgotten. We have an excellent helpe for informing our ſelves in all the ſufferings of the Church from the death of Chriſt till the raigne of the forementioned bleſſed Queene. The helpe that I meane is that large volume,The booke of martyrs a good help. which we call the booke of Martyrs, entituled Acts and Monuments of matters moſt speciall and memorable happening in the Church, with an univerſall Hiſtory of the ſame. All the dayes of Queene Elizabeth was this Monument of Martyrs in high account. All Churches by authority were injoyned to have it, ſo as all that would might reade it. There was ſcarce a Family of note that had it not. It was uſuali to ſpend the long Winter evenings in reading it. By the conſtancy of Martyre therein ſet out, people were much encouraged to ſtand to that faith which was ſealed by their blood.
Iſraelites miſeries under Egyptians, and Proteſtants under Papiſts paraleld.For further amplification of this Uſe, I ſuppoſe it now meet to come to that which was before put off to this place, namely to ſhew diſtinctly the diſtreſſes wherein the children of Iſrael were under the Egyptian bondage, and therewith to paralell the diſtreſſes wherein this Engliſh Nation was under the forementioned antichriſtian bondage, before the raigne of the foreſaid bleſſed Queene Elizabeth: that ſo the ſeventeenth of November, the day of our deliv…rance may be accounted as memorable a day to us,Exod. 12.18. & 23.15. Abib was the firſt monethmonth. Eſt. 9, 1, 21. Adar the twelfth monethmonth. as the fourteenth day of Abib, the day of Iſraels deliverance, was to the Iſraelites, and as the fourteenth and fifteenth day of Adar was to the Iewes in Eſthers time, that we may ſee what juſt cauſe we have in relation to the ſeventeenth of November to ſay, Remember this day in which ye came out from Egypt.
That which I have in this caſe to obſerve ſhall be reduced to ſix heads.
Particular grievances. 1 Baſe eſteeme.1. That baſe eſteeme which the Egyptians had of the Iſraelites, accounting them no better then Servants and Slaves, dealing with them anſwerably. For they put them to ſervile tasks, which was to make bricks for their great workes, as treaſure Cities, Pithon and Ramaſes: and they placed over them taske-maſters. Exod. 1.11. They fed them allſo with the baſest meat, as fiſh, Cucumbers, Melons, Leeks, Onions and Garlick. Numb. 11.5.
A farre baſer eſteeme have Papiſts of Proteſtants, accounting them Hereticks, Schiſmaticks, deſpiſers of Saints, Sacrilegious, men of no learning nor parts; Yea to their common people they ſet them forth to be, ougly and monſtrous ſhapes of men, ſuch as would eat and devour up their owne Mothers, to make the common ſort of people the more to deteſt them.
2. Envy.2. That envy and malice which the Egyptians did bare againſt the Iſraelites. For they had a jealous and ſuſpitious conceit that the Iſraelites might be more in number and mightier in power then they, and that they might joyne with their enemies. This made them envy at Gods bleſſing in cauſing the Iſraelites to multiply, Exod. 1.9, 10.
Is not the envy and malice of Papiſts againſt Proteſtants farre greater? doe they not fret and fume, rage and rave at the increaſe of Proteſtants? and is not Gods bleſſing on our Miniſtery an eye-ſore unto them, becauſe ſo many children, profeſſors of the true Proteſtant faith are begotten thereby? The many means plotted & contrived by them to hinder or diminiſh this increaſe, gives ſufficient evidence of that their envy againſt us.
3. Bad uſage.3. That hard uſage wherewith the Egyptians handled the Iſraelites. For they did not only put them to ſervile works, but allſo afflicted them with their burdens. They exacted of them more then well they could accompliſh, and yet afforded them not meanes to performe the ſame. Exod. 5.7, 8.
More harſhly delt Papiſts, impoſing ſuch variety of unwarrantable duties and burthenſome Ordinances on people, as with the peace of their conſcience they could not obſerve, and yet afforded them not the light of Gods word to direct them, nor other meanes to help them: but by rigour would enforce the ſame upon them.
4. Cruelty.4. That ſavage cruelty which they exerciſed upon them, not only by keeping them downe with hard labour, but allſo by ſeeking utterly to deſtroy them:Exod. 1.22. and that by caſting their young babes ſo ſoon as they were born into the water to drowne them.
Farre greater cruelty have Papiſts executed on Proteſtants. That inſtance of taking a babe that was new-borne, and caſting it into the fire, becauſe it was (as they ſaid) an Hereticks brat, is a ſtrong evidence of their more then ſavage inhumanity. They have ſpared neither young nor old, male nor female, great nor meane: but ſought to deſtroy all of all ages, ſexes, degrees and conditions whatſoever, not forbearing the moſt exquiſite tortures that ever were heard of.
5. Revenge.5. That unſatiable revenge which the Egyptians ſhewed againſt the Iſraelites. For notwithſtanding by many mighty wonders and judgements they were forced to let the Iſraelites goe out of their coaſts,Exod. 14.3. yet they ſoone repented thereof: for when they were gone out of their Land, Pharoah gathered an huge hoſt together to fetch them back againe.
Thus Papiſts, though they were forced to let us Proteſtants have the freedome of our Religion; yet what plots have they contrived? what treaſons have they attempted to deprive us of our liberty in Chriſt?
6. Idolatry.6. That Idolatry whereunto Iſrael was brought in Egypt. This was the greateſt miſery of all. Whether the Iſraelites were forced thereunto by the rigour of the Egyptians, or whether they yeelded thereunto thorow undue feare, or thorow cuſtome of the place, or thorow a naturall proneneſſe to idolatry, is not fully expreſſed. But ſure it is that in Egypt they committed whoredomes in their youth. There were their breaſts preſſed, and there they bruiſed the teats of their Virginity, Ezek. 23.3. And though the Lord ſaid unto them, Caſt ye away every one the abominations of his eyes, and defile not your ſelves with the idols of Egypt; yet did they not caſt away the abominations of their eyes, neither did they forſake the idols of Egypt. Ezek. 20.7, 8.
Papiſts in this ſpirituall bondage went beyond all the idolatrous Jewes that ever were;Heſiod. foreign. yea, and Gentiles too. One of the heathen Poets writing of the generation of gods, hath reckoned up above thirty thouſand of their gods. But Papiſts farre exceed, both in the number and kind of their idols. For they make all the Angels as gods, yet there are thouſand thouſands, and ten thouſand times ten thouſand of them mentioned, Dan. 7.10. And the Apoſtle declares them to be an innumerable company. Heb. 12.22.Dion. Hiſt. lib. 53. Bonifacius ſummus Pontiſex foreign in ten plum omnium Sanctorum convertit▪ Steph. They adde to theſe all canonized Saints. And whereas the Heathen-Romanes had a foreign, wherein they placed all manner of gods, Popiſh-Romanes in imitation of them have their foreign for Saints. As for the idolatry of Papiſts, in one thing they goe beyond all Heathens. For they make a creature not only to be a repreſentation of the Deity, but to be indeed a very God, as their Hoſte in the Maſſe. They ſay that it is the fleſh of him that is very God: and that in eating it they eat their Creator. Upon this conceit they adore and performe divine worſhip unto it.
From this ſpirituall bondage was this Land delivered as on this day. Thus if this and all the forementioned diſtreſſes and ſlaveries, from which we were delivered on the ſeventeenth of November, 1558. be duely weighed, we may ſee juſt cauſe to conclude as we began, and ſay, Remember this day, in which ye came out from Egypt.
The benefits and bleſſings, which this land received upon the fore-mentioned deliverance from the fore-ſaid Antichriſtian bondage, under the reigne of Queen Elizabeth of ever bleſſed memory, makes that deliverance much more memorable. Wherefore the heads of thoſe benefits being ſuccinctly and diſtinctly in the Epitaph engraven upon her tombe at Westminſter, I have here ſet downe word for word that Epitaph▪
Sacred unto Memory.
Religion to its primitive ſincerity reſtored: Peace throughly ſetled: Coyne to the true value refined: Rebellion at home extinguiſhed: France, neer ruin'd by inteſtine miſchiefes, relieved: Netherland ſupported: Spaines Armado vanquiſhed: Ireland with Spaniards expulſion and traitors correction quieted: Both Univerſities revenewes by a Law of Proviſion exceedingly augmented. Finally, all England enriched, and forty five yeares moſt prudently governed, Elizabeth, a Queene, a Conquereſſe, Triumpher, The moſt devoted to Piety, and moſt happy, after ſeventy yeares of her life, quietly departed.
FINIS.
End of the text · William Gouge, Mercys Memorial (1645)