Gods Eye on His Israel, Treatise (3 of 3)

Gods Eye on His Israel · Treatise (3 of 3)

p. 68Objection 1.And because it may be said, that the sinnes there mentioned are mostly the sins of idolatry, and the sins of the worse, tho the greater part of that people.

Answer.To omit what might be replied hereunto, that tho such sinnes, are most commonly named as the chief, yet Esay 1.15, 21▪ 23. & 3.12, 14, 15, 16. & 5.7, 8, 11, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23, &c. Ier. 5.7, 8, 16, 28.31, &c.Isa 1:15Isa 1:21Isa 1:23Isa 3:12Isa 3:14Isa 3:15Isa 3:16Isa 5:7Isa 5:8Isa 5:11Isa 5:18Isa 5:20Isa 5:21Isa 5:22Isa 5:23Jer 5:7Jer 5:8Jer 5:16Jer 5:28Jer 5:31other sinnes, no doubt, were rise also among them: and for other sinnes also, as well as these, are Gods judgements threatned by Gods Prophets. as also, that both sorts as well bbEzek. 21.3, 4.Ezek 21:3Ezek 21:4good as bad had their share, and suffered either with other, in the common calamities of the times. It is apparent by the confession of Gods own choise people, that they also had their ccPsalm 19.12. & 40.1… ▪Ps 19:12Ps 40:1failings not a few; and that the hand of God for those defaults of theirs was oft heavy also upon them. kkPsalm 38.2, 3Ps 38:2Ps 38:3Thine arrowes, saith David, stick fast in me: and thine hand presseth me sore. there is no soundn…sse in my flesh by reason of thy wrath; nor rest in my bones, because of my sinne. and, llPsalm 32.3, 4Ps 32:3Ps 32:4while I kept silence, concealing my sinne, my very bones wasted; so that I ro…red for pa…n and grief all the day long. For night and day incessantly thy hand was so heavy …pon me, that the moisture of my body was all clean dried up, it was turned into a sommers drought.

Objection▪ 2.And because it may again be objected, that mmSee Honey-comb. chap. …. pag. 98, 106.thus it was before Christs coming in the flesh, in the time of the Old Testament, but it is not so with the faithful now, since the death of Christ, under the New.

Answer.Not to insist on that, which yet well we might, that nnMal. 3.6.Mal 3:6God is no changeling: and that his affection to his children hath been p. 69ever the same. The Apostle even in the New Testament telleth us, that oo1 Cor. 11.30.1 Cor 11:30for their sinne in irreverent and unworthy repair to Gods board, and unseemly carriage of themselves there, some of them at Corinth were from God smitten with weaknesse, some with sickn…sse, and by sicknesse some of them unto death. Nor will it serve to say▪ that these were of the infidels at Corinth; for they had pp1 Cor. 11.17, 20.1 Cor 11:171 Cor 11:20accesse to the Lords Table: or that it might be spoken of some profane and unsound ones among them; such as qq1 Cor. 15.34. 2 Cor. 1….21.1 Cor 15:342 Cor 1:21many in that Church might be. for to omit, that he saith no… rrforeign.the unworthy receiver, but ssforeign. 1 Cor. 11.27.29.1 Cor 11:271 Cor 11:29he that unworthily receives: he that tho in regard of his personall estate is not unfit to be a guest at Gods board yet comes not so fitted and prepared as he ought, or demeanes not himself as is meet, when he is there, is not so cautious, as he should and might be, in the manner of his addresse, or of his approaches thereunto. To let this passe, which yet is of some moment; it is added presently after by the Apostle, putting himself also in among the rest, that tt1 Cor. 11.31. foreign.1 Cor 11:31if we would judge, or sift, our selves, to wit, so as to repent of and redresse, what upon search we find amisse in our selves, God would not judge us, by inflicting such sad and heavie things upon us. and that, uuIbid. v. 32.when God doth so judge us, we are chastened by him in the world, that we may not with xx1 John 5.19.1 John 5:19the wicked world be condemned hereafter. In which words the blessed Apostle plainly implyeth, that those he spake of, were such as God chastised for their amendment here▪ that they might not perish hereafter. and withall also, that God doth usually meet in yyIbid. v. 31.judgement with his, for not keeping a stricter course in the due zzIbid. v. 28.examination and carefull sifting of themselves. And it was no small presumption therefore for that chief ringleader of the Antinomian faction among us, so confidently and peremptorily,eeMr. Simson, in the Star chember. in the publique hearing of so many hundreds, to avow, that he did not beleeve, that any sinne of his, or of any beleever, had any hand in the procuring of the present judgements of God, that lie so heavy upon our land.

Nor doth it any way derogate, either from the free grace of God, or from the merit of Christs death, to affirm, that God chastiseth his children, as well now, as formerly, for their sins: aaSee Honycomb, chap. 7. p. 129. & 140.because it is said by the Prophet, (in a passage of Scripture by these men much abused) that bbEsay 53.5.Isa 53:5the chastisemēt of our peace was upon him p. 68duplicate page p. 69duplicate page p. 70as if God could not chastise in these times for sinne, because he chastised him before for us, and so chastised us in him. and it is not consonant, either to equity, or to Gods free grace, to chastise us for that, which Christ our surety hath been chastised for already.

For first, (that which we touched also in part before) as well they that lived before Christs coming were bbActs 15.11.Acts 15:11saved by the grace, yea the free grace of God in Christ Iesus, (as Iames avoweth it) as well as we now are: and had as deep a share in the death of Christ, and in the merit of his sacrifice; (which to that purpose was as ccMors ejus prosuit, anteqam uit, Bern. in Cant.effectuall, even before it was effected) as any have that now live. ddHeb. 13.8.Heb 13:8Jesus Christ in regard of the benefit of his passion, being yesterday, and to day, and for ever the same.

2. Nor again was it the end of Christs suffring for us, to free us from Gods chastising hand; (that we might thenceforth sinne the more freely without fear of check or controll, of curb to restrain, or scourge to reclaim) no more then to free us from temporall death; but eeNon ut non sint sed ut non obsint. Aug. in Psal.to take away the sting both of the one and the other, that neither of them might impeach us in our spirituall estate. Christ was indeed, as the Apostle tearmeth him, a ffHeb. 7.22.Heb 7:22surety intervening between God and us, of Gods gratious covenant made with us. Gods surety to us, for the performance of his promises. gg… Cor. 1.20.For in him are all the promises of God yea and amen. and our surety to God, for the discharge of our debt. For, as the Prophet saith, hhEsay 53.7.Isa 53:7when iiforeign Exigitur. Jun· malim, Exigebatur. ut 2 Reg. 23.35. Esay 59.3. verbum est impersonale hoc loco.2 Kgs 23:35Isa 59:3it was exacted. kkforeign & il…e respondebat. ut Ezek. 14.4, 7. sive spondebat. Lud. Cappel.Ezek 14:4Ezek 14:7he answered; he undertook it, and discharged it. and, llEsay 53.6.Isa 53:6God made the iniquity of us all to mmforeignmeet in him, and light on him▪ In regard whereof it is truly said, that nnEsay 53.5.Isa 53:5the chastisement of our peace was upon him, because the guilt of our sinne, whereby we were ooEsay 59.2.Isa 59:2severed from God, and stood liable to his eternall ppRom. 2.8, 9.Rom 2:8Rom 2:9wrath and qqGal. 3.10.Gal 3:10curse, being wholly abolished by his suffrings, called sometime a rrforeign Esay 53.10.Isa 53:10sinne-sacrifice, or trespasse-offring, and sometime a ssforeign Ibid. v. 5.chastisement, both in reference to our sinnes, for which he suffred, the ttEph. 2.1….Eph 2:1enmity between God and us is removed, and we are now uuRom. 5.10.Rom 5:10reconciled to him, and xxRom. 5.1.Rom 5:1at peace with him, with whom we stood aaProv. 15.29.Prov 15:29at a distance, and were bbCol. 1.2….Col 1:2at e…ity before. Thus then by Christs suffrings there being full satisfaction made p. 71to Gods justice for our sinnes, we are freed indeed from ccRom. 8.1, 2. 1 Cor. 15.56, 57Rom 8:1Rom 8:21 Cor 15:561 Cor 15:57the condemning power of sinne, and of the Law for sinne, and from Gods revenging wrath; but yet not from Gods ddEsay 27.7 9. & 57.17.Isa 27:7paternall indignation, or the fruits and effects of it, which are exercised on us eeHeb. 12.…0.Heb 12for our good.

Howsoever therefore it is true, as hath formely also been acknowledged and avowed, that God for other ends and purposes, hath and doth at sundry times chastise those that be his, reconciled unto him in his Christ; yet it is no lesse true, as hath also been evidently shewed, that ordinarily and usually he doth it for sinne: and that therefore considering his tender affection and affectionate disposition, we should thereby be led, when his hand is upon us, to ffJob 10.….Job 10seek the procuring cause of it in our selves, every one of us in his own bosome, in his brest; endevour, as Salomon speaks, to take notice of the cause of gg1 King. 8.38. foreign plagam co…dis su… plagam, cujus vim senserint corde suo. Pisc. vel cujus causam intra se subsistente… deprebenderint. peccata, sive patentia, sive secreta & abscondita. Vide P. Martyr.1 Kgs 8:38the stroke in his heart, and so take to heart the stroke it self. It is the Prophets own inference in the place above mentioned; where, having laid down these two grounds, that rrLam. 3.33.Lam 3:33God punisheth not from his heart; and, that ssIbid. v. 39.men procure e…ils to themselves by their sinnes; he subjoyneth, ttIbid. v. 40.Let us search and enquire into our wayes. let us make a privy search each one of us, into his own heart, and his life, ransack every corner of either; that whatsoever evill lieth lurking, either in the one or in the other, being discovered and brought to light, it may by sincere repentance and serious reformation be removed. so uuDeficientibus lignis, deficit ignis. Prov. 26.20Prov 26:20the fewell being withdrawn, that at first xxDeut. 32.22.Deut 32:22kindled, and still yyEsay 9.17, 18, 19.Isa 9:17Isa 9:18Isa 9:19feedeth, the fire of Gods wrath, we may well hope, that it will speedily go out of it self.

And this leadeth us to a second use, Vse 2.and that is for encouragement; to encourage Gods people, when they lie under such pressures, exposed to the rage and cruelty of their malicious opposites, to repair unto their God, with hope of relief and redresse; he having professed his affection and disposition towards his, to be such as hath been shewed. It is a shrewd discouragement to a poor suppliant in case of danger or distresse, if he know or hear that the party, whom he is to make suit to, is one aaforeignvoid of bowels, an hard-hearted man. for to seek and sue for favour and mercy to such, is as if bbforeign. Suid. foreign. Di…gen. Et, foreign. Suid. homo videbatur n…vi… saxo supplicans.the ship should in a stor… repair for p. 72safety to the rock. a man many times doth but ccCrudelis lacry…is pa…citur, … frangitur. P. Syrus.the more enrage them, and either aggravate his own misery, or hasten his ruine, by addressing himself, tho in the humblest manner that may be, to such. But it is not so here. we go not to a God, in whom ought is found, that gives in this regard any ground or occasion of discouragement unto any; to any especially of his own, toward whom he is so tenderly affected, that he cannot endure to see any evill befal them, but it goeth to the very heart with him. It was that that encouraged Benhadad to seek unto Ahab, notwithstanding▪ that he had but a little before dd1 King. 20.3, 5, 6, 10, 20.30.1 Kgs 20:31 Kgs 20:51 Kgs 20:61 Kgs 20:101 Kgs 20:201 Kgs 20:30so insolently insulted over him, and most despitefully abused him, by his imperious and tyrannicall demands, which he had also twice attempted to put in execution, and had as oft been repulsed, and compelled by shamefull flight to save himself; with hope yet to prevail for a renewed reconceilement, and a buriall of his former contumelious carriages towards him in oblivion; eeIbid. v. 31▪We have heard that the Kings of Israel are mercifull Kings. But much better encouragement have we to repair and have recourse unto our God in the like case, then Aram had to seek to Ahab; with hope, that altho we have carried our selves wickedly and wretchedly, ungratiously and unworthily toward our good God, far otherwise then was meet either for us to do, or for him to endure; yet he will upon our sincere repentance and serious humiliation be pacified towa…d us▪ eePsal. 86.5. & 103.8. & 145.8, 9.Ps 86:5Ps 103:8Ps 145:8Ps 145:9and reconciled again unto us. We have heard, say they, that the Kings of Israel are mercifull Kings. but we know that the God of Israel is a mercifull God. they built upon the bare hearsays concerning the Kings of Israel, of such as might easily be mistaken in them; upon ffFama, tam sicti praviqe tenax, qam nuncia veri. Maro. Aen. l. 4.reports, which being many times raised from, or taken up rather, upon meer shewes and semblances of what in truth is not, do consequently fail and fall short, when it cometh to the triall, and so frustrate the expectation of those that rely on them. Whereas we have ggforeign. 2 Pet. 1.19.2 Pet 1:19a surer ground whereon to build our hopes, even the word of that God, who is hhforeign Jer. 10.10.Jer 10:10truth it self, and therefore iiTit. 1.2.Titus 1:2cannot lie; concerning himself ▪ whom none knowes so well as himself, yea kkM…t…h 1.27.none knowes indeed perfectly but himself, none in any part but from himself; and who therefore cannot be mistaken in himself, as men llGal. 6.3. James ….22.Gal 6:3even in themselves, and mmJer. 17.9.Jer 17:9in others much more ofttimes p. 73are. He hath published and proclaimed himself,1 Cor. 2.11.1 Cor 2:11 to be a God nnExod. 34.6.Exod 34:6mercifull and gratious, of long sufferance, and abounding in goodnesse, or kindnesse, and truth. He hath assured us, ooEzek. 33.11.Ezek 33:11and with an oath confirmed it, that he delighteth not in the death and destruction of sinners, his own people especially; but would rather have them repent and return, then to die in, and so perish by, their sinnes. he hath professed and protested it, that ppJer. 3.1.Jer 3:1tho a man will not receive a wife again, that hath gone from him, and joyned her self to another, qqDeut. 24.1.4.Deut 24:1Deut 24:4nor did his own law allow any man so to do. yet notwithstanding our re…olt from him and disloyall dealings with him, he will dispense with his own law, he will upon our rrJer. 3.2. vide. i. considera, p…rpende.Jer 3:2taking notice of, and ssVers. 13. cognosce. pro, agnosce. ut Psal. 51.3. Esay 59.12.Ps 51:3Isa 59:12acknowledgement of our sins, revoke his ttIbid. v. 12. faciem, ira…am scil. ut Psal. 34.16.Ps 34:16wrath; uuIbid.because he is mercifull; and upon our xxIbid. v. 10.12.hearty retu…n to him, yyZech. 1.3. Mal. 3.7.Zech 1:3Mal 3:7return unto us, and zzHos. 14.2.Hos 14:2receive us into grace and favour again. And as upon this ground Moses assureth his people, that aaDeut. 4.27.Deut 4:27tho God for their sinnes should at any time dispossesse them of their land, wherein he had seated them, and disperse them into forain parts; yet bbVerse 29.if out of those places whereunto they were dispersed, they should seek sincerely to him, and ccVerse 30. Chap. 30.2.return to obey him, God would ddVerse 31.not so leave them, nor destroy them, but would eeDeut. 33.3.Deut 33:3turn their captivity, or reduce their captives, and have compassion upon them, and ggReturn & gather. as Gen. 26.18. Zech. 2.1.Gen 26:18Zech 2:1gather them out of those nations, whither they were scattered, and hhDeut. 30.5.Deut 30:5bring them home to their own land again. iiDeut. 4.31.Deut 4:31for the Lord thy God, ffPsal. 126.4.Ps 126:4saith he, is a mercifull God. So the people of God themselves, when they were so kkLam. 1.3, 5, 8, 17.Lam 1:3Lam 1:5Lam 1:8Lam 1:17dispossest of their land, and removed into forain parts, do upon the very same grounds conceive and nourish hopes, that howsoever llLam, 3.42.they had trespassed and rebelled, and God had not spared them; but mmVerse 43.had overspred them with his wrath, and the dismall effects of it; had pursued them, and slain them, and that (as might seem) without pity; the enemy into whose hands he had given them, nn2 Chron. 36.17. Esay 47.6.2 Chr 36:17Isa 47:6shewing no pity or compassion at all on them; yea tho he seemed to have ooLam. 3.44.Lam 3:44wrapped himself in a thick cloud, that their prayers might not pierce, or find passage, to have accesse to him, and appear in his presence; yet that ppVerse 31.he would not utterly cast them off, qqPsal. 103.9.Ps 103:9nor retain rrSo Lev. 19.1…Lev 19:1his wrath for ever. but that he would ssPsal. 90.13.Ps 90:13return and ttPsal. 106.45.Ps 106:45repent, and have uuLam. 3.32.Lam 3:32compassion again upon them, according to the multitude of his p. 74mercies: considering that xxVers. 33.he did not punish with his heart; it yyforeign· Greg. Stasim. orat. 6.was against his own disposition to deal with them, as he did; and would not so have done, had not they zzLam. 1.5, 8. & 3.39.Lam 1:5Lam 1:8Lam 3:39by their sins provoked and enforced him thereunto. It was inducement sufficient to the King of Nineveh, notwithstanding that peremptory ccJon. 3.4.Jonah 3:4sentence past upon him and his people, yet to conceive some good hope, that upon their seeking to God, the doom might be reversed; ddJon. 3.9.Jonah 3:9Who can tell, but that God may return and repent, or, eeas Gen. 26.18 Psal. 78.41. Jer. 18.4.Gen 26:18Ps 78:41Jer 18:4repent him again, and turn from his fierce wrath, that we perish not? But there was more in it then so, that made Ion… so jealous of the issue of his prophecie. ffJon. 4.2.Jonah 4:2I knew, saith he, that thou art a gratious, and mercifull God, slow to anger, and of great goodnesse, and one that repentest thee of the evils, that thou denouncest against persons and people. ggIer. 18.8.Jer 18:8upon the repentance of those, against whom they are denounced. he had certain knowledge of that by God, whereof they had onelyonly some uncertain surmises. and the same grounds that Jonas had to build on, are not wanting to us. they are hhRom. 15.4.Rom 15:4left upon record, for our comfort and encouragement. OnelyOnly let us remember to take the same course, that the people of God before-mentioned propound, and that the Ninevites before them practised. let us, iiLam. 3.40, 41Lam 3:40Lam 3:41search out our sinnes first, and turn from them; and then let us lift up our hearts kkforeign ad manus. pro, cum manibus. ut Ezek 16.26. vel, ad nubes. ut Iob 36.32. Drus. misc. l. 1. c. 39. i.e. ad calum. inde foreign …uid. Hesych. & foreign Lycophr. nubes sagittarum. Casaub. ad Athen. l. 11. c. 9.Ezek 16:26Job 36:32with our hands unto God, and llIon. 3.8.Jonah 3:8cry mightily to him for mercy. for, mmIon. 3.10.Jonah 3:10when God saw that they turned from their evill wayes, then it is said, that God repented of the evill, that he had said he would do, and did it not. This is it that God nnIer. 8.6.Jer 8:6listeneth after; this is that that he ooEsay 30.18.Isa 30:18waits for; that he would hear of from us, and see with us, that he may shew mercy on us; which he even travelleth of and is in pain with, untill he be delivered of it, in such a season, and in such a manner, as may make most for our good. But till this be, let us assure our selves, that we may ppEsay 1.15, 16. & 58.3▪5.Isa 1:15Isa 1:16Isa 58:3Isa 58:5cry long enough, and loud enough; but in vain and to no purpose; like the ppEsay 1.15, 16. & 58.3▪5.Isa 1:15Isa 1:16Isa 58:3Isa 58:5Patient, that calls upon the Physitian for the cure of his disease, but will not admit the means, that should remove the cause of it; or cries to the Surgion for ease of his pain, but will not suffer qqSicut nullum proficit medicamentum, nisi serrum pri… exirahatur, ita nihil proficit oratio il…li…, cui transfixo corde culp… mu…ro non …duci…ur▪ Grego…. moral. l. 10. c. 18. & Isidor. se…e…t. l. 3. c. 7▪the splinter or s…ing to be drawn out of his flesh, which sticking there procures the pain.

p. 75A third use may be for caution. Vse 3.Is the Lord so affectionate a God to his people; so tender of them, that he cannot endure to see ought done to them, that may vex and grieve them? this should be a very forcible motive unto them, that they be exceeding careful to shun and eschew the doing of ought, that may vex and grieve him; that they be tender of wronging him in ought, who is so tender of seeing wrong done unto them. rrRom 2.4.Rom 2:4Gods goodnesse and patience, saith the Apostle, should lead men to repentāce. the consideration of it should cause men to be ssEzek 6.9.Ezek 6:9grieved for this, that by their sinfull courses they have grieved him, who hath been so gratious and good to them. Nor should the consideration of this tender affection in God towards us, prevail lesse with us for a preventing care of such cariage, that it be not committed, then for the working of us to repentance, after it hath been committed. Yea the rather should it prevail with us for prevention, not in regard of God onelyonly, but in regard also of our selves; that we may be freed from that after-grief, which our grieving of God will necessarily enforce on us, if we belong unto him, or there be any due respect and sincere love of him in us. ttVide atur Isidorus Pelus. l. 2 ep. 188. & l. 3. ep. 157. Mala praevenire, qam punire tutius & s… lubrius. Tacit. Agric.preventing justice, we use to say, is the best justice; and preventing physick the best physick: so is uuforeign·forecast more behovefull then xxforeign· Menan. Stob. c. 1afterwit; and yyforeign·fore-care much better then zzforeign. Plut. … tranq. s…ve, foreign· Idem. ib.after-grief. His masters beneficence to him, and kind usage of him, was a very forcible argument with Ioseph to keep him from wronging him, who had been so good and kind unto him. much more forcible should the consideration of Gods affectionate disposition be with us, to make us fearfull of doing ought, whereby we should wrong him, and tho not alter his disposition toward us, yet convince us of failing in the like disposition toward him.

To which purpose let us yet withall further consider, **Gen. 39.7, 8.Gen 39:7Gen 39:8that our God, as he is a gratious and mercifull, so he is a wise and discreet God. It is not with him, as it is with some earthly parents, who where they are very affectionate, are withall oft indiscreet: aaNonne vides, qanto aliter patres, aliter ma…res indulgeant▪ illi excitari jubent liber…, … studia …, seri… qoqe dieb… non patiuntur esse …iosos, & sudores illi…, interdum lachrym…s excutiunt. at ma…e… sovere in …, continere in umbra volunt; nunqam flere, nunqam trist…ri, nunqam laborare. Sen. de provid. c. 2.mothers indeed mostly, but fathers also as well as mothers, as if they were mothers rather then fathers, faulty sometime and much failing herein. who, as they cannot endure to see any servant or p. 76stranger, upon any occasion, so much as once to touch their children,; so they have no regard, tho they do amisse, to rebuke, much lesse to chastise them, themselves; being therein (if we beleeve Salomon, and experience too well seales up the truth of what he saith) their bbProv. 13.24. & 29 15. Peremptores, non parentes. Bern. ep. 111. Disciplinam qi negligit, qi non dat, crudelis est. Aug. in orat. dom. unicis qo plus indulgetur, p…pillis qo plus licet, corrup…ior est animus. Sen. de itâ. l. 2. c. 21.Prov 13:24Prov 29:15foes, rather then their friends. Of Adoniah, you know it is said, that cc1 King. 1.6.1 Kgs 1:6his father David would not at any time upon any occasion displease him: that which encouraged him to be ddHostem in se nutrire, qi filio indulget nimis. Pius 2. apud Platin.over-bold with his father, in attempting to take the crown from his head, while he yet lived. nor is old ee1 Sam. 2.29.31. & 3.13.14.1 Sam 2:291 Sam 2:311 Sam 3:131 Sam 3:14Elies indulgence to his children unknown: that which in the issue proved the ruine both of him and them. But it is otherwise with God. He hath as the heathen man himself could observe, ffTam paternum animum, qam maternum affectum.as well a ggPatrium habet Deus adversus bonos viros animum, & illos fortiter amat. Sen. ubi sup.fatherly discretion, as a motherly affection. as he is tender over them; so withall he tendreth their good. as hhPsal. 89 22.Ps 89:22he will not have others to wrong them; so iiPsal. 89.30.32Ps 89:30Ps 89:32he will not suffer them to wrong him. as he will not permit others to deal unduly with them; so he will not endure them to cary themselves undutifully toward him. if they do, they shall be sure to hear of it, it may be smart for it too, from him. It was that that kk2 Sam. 24.10.2 Sam 24:10David expected, so soon as his heart misgave him, and began to check him, for his numbring of the people. he looked ere long to hear of it, to his grief; and notwithstanding all the means he could use to prevent it, he so did. God would lesson him, ll2 Sam. 24.15.2 Sam 24:15by lessening his people, in whose multitude he prided himself, to be more wary another time; and by chastising of him, warn others, what to look for, tho never so near or dear to him, if they offend in like sort. Let us therefore be admonished not to presume on Gods lenity and his tender disposition: but remember, that discreet parents, even out of a tender care of their childrens good, are wont to keep mmCogita filiorum nos modestiâ delectari, vernularū licentia …illos discipliis tristiori contineri, horum ali andaciam. idem tibi de Deo liqeat. Sen. de provid. c. 1.a stricter hand over a sonne, then over a servant; and will endure some things in a servant, which they will not in a sonne; and tho they will not suffer others to wrong their children in ought; yet will not forbear to correct misdemeanors in them themselves; and that sometime also so severely, when the quality of the offence requireth it, and the childs ability will bear it, that neighbours, who know how chary they are of them in regard of others, do wonder, how they can be so sharp and severe to them themselves. That God that cannot p. 77endure to see any wrong done to his Iacob, or molestation to his Israel; yet is said, to have mmEsay 42.24, 25.Isa 42:24Isa 42:25given his Iacob to the spoil, and his Israel for a prey; when rhey trespassed against him, and refused to walk in his way, and to listen to his law: and that therefore he powred out on them the fiercenesse of his wrath, and the fury of war, and kindled such a fire in the mi…st of them, as burnt them up on every side. And the like may we expect from our God, if we carry our selves in like manner toward him: yea rather in the like manner hath God in part already dealt with us, because we have been exceeding faulty in such like carriage toward him.

Howbeit, let the fourth use be for admonition; to warn the enemies of Gods people, that they take heed,Use 4. how they touch them, of whom God is so tender. Discreet parents, albeit they correct their children themselves, and that sharply also sometime▪ when they have cause so to do; yet can they not abide to see others use them otherwise then well; they will not endure to see them wronged by any, but will be sure to right them, if it lie in their power. And God, tho nnHeb. 12.10.Heb 12:10he lov… his children too well, to winke at evill in them▪ and be oft chastising them therefore for their good: yet can he not, nor will he, endure, to see wicked wretches, reproaching them, oppressing them, trampling on them, insulting over them, yea or vexing and grieving them in the least degree. ooPsal. 105.15.Ps 105:15Touch not mine anointed; saith he. and even ppIbid. v. 14.to anointed ones, to Kings themselves, he speaks it. he giveth warning before-hand of it; and that even unto the greatest. And he extendeth elswhere the warning he there gives, for the persons in whose behalfe it is given, unto the very least and lowest of those that are his. qqMatth. 18.10Matt 18:10Take heed, saith he, how ye offend any one of th…se little ones. let not the meannesse of any of them encourage thee to wrong them in ought. but remember and consider, that even rrDeut▪ 29.10, 11, 12.Deut 29:10Deut 29:11Deut 29:12the hewer of wood and drawer of water, (the most ssIosh. 9.23.Josh 9:23servile offices that were in those times) entred into covenant with God, as well as the heads of houses, and the rulers of people; he ssIudg. 16.21. Lam. 5.13. Luke 17.35.Judg 16:21Lam 5:13Luke 17:35that grinds at the mill, may be one of Gods adopted ones as well as he that ttExod. 12.29.Exod 12:29sits on the Throne; thy uuCol. 3.24, 25.Col 3:24Col 3:25servant, thy slave, the sorriest drudge that thou keepest, may for all that be Gods sonne and heire. But why should we be so cautious of offending p. 78such? xxMatth. 18 10.Matt 18:10For, I say unto you, saith our Saviour, take it on my word, as little as they are, or as mean in your account, their Angels in Heaven do continually see the face of my Father in Heaven. so deer are they to God, and so chary is he of them, that even those glorious creatures, that are of Gods celestiall gard, and whose office it is to yySee Ier. 52.…5.Jer 52:5stand in the neerest place of attendance about him, are by him imployed to take speciall care of them. zzLuke 16.22.Luke 16:22Lazarus, tho a poor begger, had his soul conveyed hence to Heaven by a Troop of them, when he died: nor were they, you may be sure, wanting in their attendance about him, while he lived, that were so ready at hand to perform that honourable office about him, at his death. aaPsal. 119.12.Ps 119:12He hath given his Angels, saith the Psalmist, charge bbforeign Matth. 4.6. ut foreign de eo. Est. 3.2. & 2 Sam. 11.7. Livel. sic Psal. 3.2. Gen. 20.13. Drus.Matt 4:6Esth 3:22 Sam 11:7Ps 3:2Gen 20:13of thee; to keep thee in all thy waies. that is, ccNec est necesse, ut Diabolo mutilatae vafre Scripturae crimen appingamus, …od clausulam hanc omiseri… ▪whither soever thou goest, and wheresoever thou art: and they shall bear thee in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. they are as servants set to attend little children, to be ever neer at hand about them, being they are subject soon to take harm, if they be not constantly attended; and to carry them in their arms, or lift them up from the ground, where they may be in danger of stumbling, or tripping, by a stone, or the like, that lies in their way. And is God so carefull of them to secure them against such casualties, as may befall them from the senselesse creatures? and is he not as carefull, think we to shelter and protect them against such evils as may befall them from the hands of malicious men? yes undoubtedly. The same Angels of his are said ddPsalm 34.7.Ps 34:7to encamp about those that fear him; (whence Jacob also eeGen. 32.1, 2.Gen 32:1Gen 32:2gave the name to the place, where he met with a Troop of them, assigned by God to gard him, in his return from Laban, against the forces and fury of his brother Esau) to safegard them, and procure deliverance for them. Yea, as to deliver them; as they did ff2 Kings 6.17.2 Kgs 6:17Elisha, from the Syrian Troops by Benhadad sent to attach him: so to destroy all those that assail them, or attempt ought against them; as they did the gg2 Kings 9.35. Esay 37.36.2 Kgs 9:35Isa 37:36Assyrian host, sent by Senacherib to besiege Jerusalem, and surprise Ezekiah. and all those their adversaries therefore may read their doom in those words delivered by the Prophet from God, for the comfort and encouragement of his people. hhEsay 41.14.Isa 41:14Fear not, thou w…rm Iacob; thou that to these men seemest so iiPsalm 22.6.Ps 22:6contemptible a creature; and ye men of Israel: p. 79kkEsay 41.10▪13.Isa 41:10Isa 41:13for I will help thee; I wil be with thee; I wil stand by thee; I wil uphold thee. all they that are enraged against thee; shal be ashamed and confounded: all llThe men of thy strife; or, thy men of strife. as Iob 31.35. and so in the rest.Job 31:35that strive with thee, shal perish: they that contend with thee shall have no being: all that wage war against thee, shall come to nought, they shal be as nothing, and as a thing of nought. mmEsay 41.15, 16.Isa 41:15Isa 41:16Behold I wil make thee, as a new threshing nnEsay 28.25, 28. Micah. 4.31.Isa 28:25Isa 28:28Mic 4:31cart, with wheels full of sharp spokes, or teeth; that thou maiest ooIudg. 8.7. 2 Kings 13.7. Amos 1.3.Judg 8:72 Kgs 13:7Amos 1:3thresh the ppZach. 4.7.Zech 4:7mountains, even the mightiest of thine adversaries, untill thou qqEsay 41 2. Psalm 18.42.Isa 41:2Ps 18:42beat them to dust; and rrIerem. 4.11. & 15.7. & 51.1, 2.Jer 4:11Jer 15:7Jer 51:1Jer 51:2fan them like chaffe, untill they be carried away with the wind, and dispersed with the whirl-wind. but thou shalt rejoyce in the Lord, and glory in the holy One of Israel. To which we may adde those pithy and pregnant expressions, out of Zachary, tending to the same purpose. ssZech. 12.….Zech 12Behold, I will make Jerusalem a ttEsay 51.17, 22.Isa 51:17Isa 51:22cup of trembling, (of such strong and strange liquor, as maketh those that drink of it, to shake and quake every limme and joynt of them) to all those that are in siege against her. uuZech. 12.3.Zech 12:3I wil make her as a weighty stone, (such as men are wont to try their strength with, by assaying to lift it) that shall bruise and break to pieces all that attempt to take it up; tho all the people in the world should joyn together in the attempt. zzZech. 12.6.Zech 12:6I wil make her rulers, as an hearth of yyPsalm 83.14. Obad. 18.Ps 83:14Obad 1:18fire among s…ar wood, and as a torch lighted among sheaves; and they shall devour all the people that are in hostility against her, on the right hand, and on the left. This is, and will be zzEsay 17.14. foreign. Theophil. ad Autol. l. 2. ex Archilocho.Isa 17:14the lot of all those that oppug… Gods Church; the portion of all those that oppresse Gods people. they do but with **Esther 9.24, 25.Esth 9:24Esth 9:25Haman contrive their own mischief, work their own ruine and downfall, while they plot and practise, as they intend and imagine, against them. aaPsalm 37.12, 13.Ps 37:12Ps 37:13The wicked, saith the Psalmist, plotteth against the righteous, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth: but the Lord, the whiles overlooking him, bbPsalm 2.4.Ps 2:4laugheth at him; because he seeth that his day (the day of his own destruction) is comming. The wicked have drawn out the Sword, and bent their Bow, to destroy and slay, (either by open might, or by privy sleight) the upright poor. but their Sword shal pierce their own heart; and their Bow shal be broken. ccIerem. 50.27, 31.Jer 50:27Jer 50:31their plots and contrivances shal all be frustrate; and their designs and attempts end in their own destruction.ddPsalm 37.14, 15.Ps 37:14Ps 37:15

Yea we may further hence learn how to eeDeut. 32.13.Deut 32:13suck honey out of the rock, and fetch oyl out of the flint:Use 5. how to draw matter of comfort p. 80for Gods people, (and let that be a fift use) even from that that doth usually most daunt and dismay them, and may in the eyes of flesh and blood seem to give just cause so to do; to wit, when they shall see the enemy, having gotten head, to proceed most outragiously, in the exercise of all manner of crue…ty upon Gods people, eePsalm 44.22. & 79.2, 3.Ps 44:22Ps 79:2Ps 79:3murthering and butchering them, as beasts, without mercy. For if God be so tender hearted, and tender-eyed, in regard of his people, that he cannot endure to see them ill-used: then sure the more furious and outragious their enemies are in the prosecution of their bloody and barbarous designes against them, the more they provoke God to hasten, both his peoples relief, and their ruin. So that they work for Gods people ▪ and against themselves, when the… work for themselves as they think, and against them. For the more extremity and cruelty men use against them, the more they v…x and ffEsay 3.8.Isa 3:8grieve the gracious eyes of Gods majesty; and the more his eyes are vexed and grieved by them the more is he provoked to execute judgement on those, that so vex and grieve the same. Yea it may well be said, that the enemies rag… and cruelty is no lesse prevalent with God to dispeed their destruction, and his people deliverance, then the prayers and …upplications of his people themselves are. ggPsalm 74.2…, 23.Ps 74:2Ps 74:23Arise, O Lord, saith the Psalmist, maintain thine own cause. forget not the cry of thine enemies: the tumultuous rag… of them that rise up against thee, goeth up daily more and more. He saith not, forget not the cry of thy people; but, forget not the cry of thi…e enemies. the enemies cruelty hath a cry, and that a loud one; as loud, if not louder, then the cry of those that are oppressed by them. hhGen. 4.10.Gen 4:10A…els bloed, tho himself silent, cried aloud to God for vengeance, yea so loud a cry sometime hath the enemies cruelty, that it iiQo modo foreign, dixit Basil. in Psalm 28. & Lucian. de amicit. foreign.Ps 28out-cries and drowns the cry of the sins of Gods people, it moveth God sometime to mercy, when their sins plead for the contrary. Do we behold then, or heare, that the enemy grows more cruell and outragious every day then other, and that they strive in cruelty and outrage to outgo one another; let it not daunt and dismay us, but put us in hope rather, that their fury and rage is drawing neer to a conclusion, that they are not farre from the utmost end of their tedder. As kkRev. 12.12. Sic vulneratus anguis ictu spiculi, Ferrum remordet, & dolore s…vior, Qassando pressis immoratur dentib…, Fur…re pestis pejor in novissimo. Prudent. steph. 10▪Rev 12:12the devill rage… most fiercely, p. 81when he knoweth his time to be short: so when he rageth most fiercely, it is a sign, that his time is short, that his fury being at its height, will not hold or last long. when llGen. 15.16:Gen 15:16the wickednesse of the Amorite was come to the height, he was then **Rev. 14.15.…Rev 14:15ripe, and ready for destruction: and when the fury of Iacobs adversaries is come to the height, it is then mmPsal. 119.126Ps 119:126high time indeed, for God to strike in, and to take down it and them at once. And tho God may seem to linger and delay reliefe, while his people are in some nnEsay 26.16▪ 17Isa 26:16Isa 26:17lingring pains; yet when their throws come thick, and their pains grow extream, and ooEsay 37.3.Isa 37:3the birth is come to the ppforeign … matricis. Esay 66.9. Hos. 13.16.Isa 66:9Hos 13:16breach, but there is no power to bring it forth, the Lord is then wont to hasten delivery, that his people may not perish under the hands of those, that put them unto such extremity.

Again, hath God such a tender eye on those, and over those,Use 6. that are his? the consideration hereof may in the next place serve for encouragement; to encourage them to go on constantly in Gods cause; and not to flinch back, or give over, for feare of any evill, that thereby may accrew unto them, or of miscarrying and perishing in the pursuit of it. For how can he see or suffer any qqPsalm 91.10. Prov. 1.33. & 12.21.Ps 91:10Prov 1:33Prov 12:21evill to befall them, whose wrongs and sufferings he is so affected with? or how can he permit any of them to perish, whom he cannot endure to see undergo any hard measure at the hand of those that hate them? rrPsalm 34.22.Ps 34:22The Lord rescueth the souls of his servants, saith the Psalmist: and none that trust in him, shall perish. and, ssPsal. 34.15.Ps 34:15The eye of the Lord is upon the righteous; and, ttPsal. 33.18, 19Ps 33:18Ps 33:19upon those that feare him, and trust in his mercy. God hath a continuall eye to them, and on them. because uuPsal. 147.11.Ps 147:11his delight is in them. But to what end is his ey so alwaies on them, to deliver their souls, that is, xxPsalm 54.3. & 56.6.Ps 54:3Ps 56:6their lives, or yyPsalm 3.…. & 7.2.Ps 3themselves, their persons, from death. and how can they perish, whom Gods eye is never off; whom he hath alwaies an eye unto? zzIohn 10▪ 27-29.John 10:27–29My sheep, saith our Saviour, heare my voyce, and I know them; I take speciall notice of them: and they f…llow me: and I give them life eternall: and they shal not perish. My father that gave me them is greater then all: and none can take them out of his hand. they that are ever in Gods eye, the eye of his perpetuall providence, that are ever in Gods hand, the hand of his most powerfull protection, how can they but be safe? how can they possibly perish?

p. 82Objection.But how is this made good, may some say, when we see, that they do oft perish; and a…e so far from being protected or delivered ▪ that they dy in the qarrell?

Answ. 1.I answer, 1. they aaQui per virtutem peritat, baud it interit Plaut. Cap. 3.5.perish not, when they seem to perish. bbEsay 57.1.Isa 57:1The righteous perish, saith the Prophet. that is, they ccforeign. Plato apolog profectio est, quam mortem putamus. Tertul. de patient. mors migratio est. Cic. Tusc. l. 1. migrare magis qam mori▪ Velleius, l. 1. non emori, sed emigrare. Hieron. in Nepot. Mundo digredi. Ammian. l. 2.1. & 29. Abiit, non obiit, Ambr. in Theod. foreign, Luc. 9.31. Greg. Stas. de bapt. Excessus de corpore. Tertul. de resur. foreign. Chrysost. & Theophyl. in Joan. 13.1. transitus. Sen. ep. 65. non exitus, sed transitus. Cypr. de mortal.Luke 9:31John 13:1depart, they decease; (for such onelyonly is their death) and to the eye of flesh and blood they seem indeed to have perished; and men lay it not to heart; and good, or godly men a…e gathered: and men do not consider; that the righteous are ddforeign Gen. 25.8. Psalm 27.10.Gen 25:8Ps 27:10gathered from the evill to come; that they ee2 Kings 5.…9.2 Kgs 5:9go in peace, and depart this world, ff2 Kings 22.20.2 Kgs 22:20before troubles come, while outward peace yet continueth, and with inward peace of mind, quietly; or, go unto peace, passe hence unto peace, hhLuke 16.22. Phil. 1.23.Luke 16:22Phil 1:23the soul to a place of joy and blisse, iiEccles. 12.7.Eccl 12:7the body to lie down and sleep, till the resurrection, in the grave, provided as a bed, or llforeign.room of rest for it. God doth with them, as men are wont to do with their corn, when it is catching weather, they are carefull to get it in before the rain fall; or as with their fruit, when they see the clouds gather▪ make haste to pluck and house it, before the storm come. So he took away mm1 Kings 14.12, 13.1 Kgs 14:121 Kgs 14:13Ieroboams sonne before the fall of his fathers house; nn2 Kings 22.20.2 Kgs 22:20Iosias, before the dismall destruction of his people.ggLuke 2.29.Luke 2:29

kkIob 7.21. & 14.12, 13. 1 Thes. 4.14.…7.Job 7:21Job 14:12Job 14:131 Thess 4:141 Thess 4:7Answ. 2.Secondly, ooforeign. Plato apolog. Nec cuiqam bono mali …icqam evenire potest, nec vivo, nec mortuo. Cic. Tuscul. l. 1.no evill doth or can befall them, by ought that in this kind doth betide them.ppPsalm 69.4. Iohn 15.25.Ps 69:4John 15:25 Hated they may be, but qqforeign. Chrys. tom. 7. orat. 2. foreign. Plato apolog. foreign. Maxim. Tyr. dissert. 2.harmed they cannot be: rr1 Sam. 26.20▪ Psalm 56▪8.1 Sam 26:20Ps 56:8hunted and hurried to and fro▪ yea and ssPsalm 44.22. Heb. 11.37.Ps 44:22Heb 11:37murthered and massacred they may be; and yet ttforeign. Epictet. dissert. l. 4. c. 8. foreign. Marc. Imp. l. 2. § 1.hurt they cannot be. as he said sometime of his adversaries, so may a Christian much better say in the like case of his; uuforeign. Socrates in Plat. apolog. Epictet. enchi…. 79. & dissert. l. 1. c. 29. & l. …. …. 23. Clem. strom. l. 4. Theodores. therap. l. 8. Plut. de tranq. Max. diss. 2.Kill me they may; but p. 83hurt me they cannot. And as the Cynik sometime answered, when one told him that some mocked him; Mock they may, but xxforeign. Diogenes apud Plut. de i…a cohib.I am not mocked; and the Apostle, of God, that howsoever men, therein worse the… divels, dare mock at him, at his word, at his works, at his ministers and messengers, yet zzforeign Gal. 6.7.Gal 6:7God is not mocked:yyEsay 5.19. Ierem. 5.12, 13. 2 Chron. 36.16. 2 Pet. 3.3.Isa 5:19Jer 5:12Jer 5:132 Chr 36:162 Pet 3:3 so here, wrong men may do them; and yet are they not wronged. aaforeign. Max. ibid.wrong, I say, men may do them: because they intend, desire, and endevour so to do; and bbforeign. Max. ibid. Potest aliqis nocens esse, qamvis non nocuerit. latro est, etiam anteqam manus inqinet, qi ad occidendum jam armatus est, & habet spoliandi & occidendi voluntatem. non minus la…ro est, cujus telum elufum est. Veneficus est, qi sopo…em, cum venenum crederet, miscuit. Venenum dando, scelere se obligavit, etiamsi non nocuerit. exercetur, & aperitur opere neqitia, non incipit. Se…ec. de sap. constant. 3. & de benes. l. 5. c. 14. Nam scelus intra se tacitum qi cogitat ullum, Factè crimen habet. Juven. sat. 13.their very intent and desire is sufficient to make them wrong-doers. and yet are ccforeign. Simoca… ▪ epist. 40▪ foreign. Ibid. foreign. Max. diss. 2. Potest fieri, ut faciat aliqis injuriam mihi, & ego non accipiam: Sen. de sap. const. c. 3.not they wronged: because ddforeign. de Job Chrysost. tom. 7. orat. 2.no damage can accrew unto them, by any wrong that is done them. as every ee1 Iohn 3.15. Qantum ad …e pertinet, qem edisti occidisti. Aug. hom. 42. Res mira; homo vivit, tu tamen homici. la es. mulier casta est, tu tamen adulteres. Idem hom. 5. & de verb. Dom. 43. Vide & concil. Tolet. 11. c. 4▪1 John 3:15malicious person is a murtherer; albeit the party maliced by him, be not murthered. and ffMatth. 5.28.Matt 5:28every one that looketh on a woman, ddforeign. donec, vel ita ut concupiscat. Pisc. ut Marc. 13.22.Mark 13:22so as, or, untill he lust after her, is hh2 Pet. 2.14.2 Pet 2:14an adulterer; altho the woman so looked on, and lusted after, be iiforeign. Gregor. Stasim. in Cyprian.free from any adulterous either act, or thought. Amnon was kk2 Sam. …3▪14.2 Sam 3:14an incestuous violat…r of his sister: and yet was not she, either llforeign Chrys. in Psal. 95▪ foreign. Isidor. l. 2. ep. 215.Ps 95incestuous, or at mmI…vita virgo, vexari potest, violari non potest. Nec vexatio turpis est, nisiqam libido praecessi…: nec alien… libidine potest pudicitia violari. Aug. de mend. c. 7. & 19. Violentiâ nec in carne violatur integritas, si mente servetur. Idem ep. 180. Tantum enim in mente valet integritas casti…ati…, ut illâ inviolatâ nec in corpore possi… pudicitia violari. Idem ep. 122.all violated. nnDeut. 22.25, 26.Deut 22:25Deut 22:26in p. 84the party forced, saith God himself, there is no fault. and ooSacrilegi dant po…as; quamvis nemo usqe ad Deos man…s porrigat. Sen. de ben. lib. 5. cap. 14.sacrilegious persons, are guilty of ppInjuriam sacrilegus Deo qidem non potest sacere, qem extra ictum sua divinitas posuit: punitur tamen, tanqam si Deo secerit. Idem l. 7. c. 7.wrong done to God, albeit qqCoeles…ia humanas manus effugiunt: & ab his, qi templa diruunt, simulacra conflant, nihil divinitati▪ nocetur. Idem de sap. const. c. 4. foreign. Soph. Antig.no wrong can possibly reach unto him: no more then those shafts, that are rrforeign. Suid. Zench. adag. 246. Qod & in gentes illas competit, qae in coelum sagittas mittunt. Olaus l. 3. c. 2. et qae solem orientem occidentemqe diris imprecationibus prosequntur. Mela. l. 1. c. 8. Plin. l 5. c. 8. Solin. c. 34. ex Strab. l. 17. & Herodot. l. 4. Qae nervo tormentisve in al…um exprimuntur, cum extra visum exilierunt, citra coelum tamen flectuntur. Sen. de sap. const. c. 4. Cum …olidus ille rex multitudine telorum diem obscurasset, ullam sagittam in solem putas incidisse? cum in coe…um insanitis, sacrilegium sacitis, sed ope…am perditis. Ibid.shot against the sunne, can come any thing neer it, much lesse lessen its light. Men may set up the godly man ssJob 7.20.Job 7:20as a mark, whereat to levell all their ttPsal. 64.3, 4.Ps 64:3Ps 64:4envenomed arrowes: but they can uuComicorum manus in Socratem venenatos su…s sales effudit. Sen. de beat. c. 27.uuNon re…ert, qo… conjiciantur in illum tel…, cum sit nulli pene…rabilis. Idem de const. c. 3.no more fasten on him to hurt him, then as if they met with a rock, where they cannot enter so much, (tho they may be xxDaritia silicis nulli magis qam ferientibus n…ta est. qi…qid incurrit, malo suo vim suam exercet. Sen. de beat. c. 27. Tela à duro resilium: & cum dolore caedentis solida seriu…tur. Idem de ira. l. 3. c. 5.shattred themselves,) as to make the yyIncursu… omnes respuit, nec ulla saevitiae vestigia ostentat. Idem de const. c. 3. Videantur & qae de r…pe …ive scopulo idem ibid. & de beat. 27.least dint, or to leave the least print behind them. For consider a while with me, what men can do to thee, if thou beest one of Gods peculiar ones, or wherin they can endamage thee. They may take thy goods from thee, but aaforeign Chrysost. ibid. Tollit pecuniam; nunquid fidem? caedit famam, nunqid conscientiam? nunqid innocentiam? Aug de verb. Domi. 16.can they take away thy bbforeign. Maxim. ser. 2. foreign. Ibid. foreign. Stilpo apud Plut. in paedag. foreign. Epict. l. 3. c. 22. Antonin. l. 11. Sect. 36. foreign. Plut. foreign· Aeneas Gaz. epist. 5.grace? that is thy ccLuke 16.11. Ephes. 1.7. & 2.7. 1 Tim. 6.6. aliae divitiae nec verae, nec vestrae. Bern. de bon. deser▪Luke 16:11Eph 1:7Eph 2:71 Tim 6:6true treasure. and while thou retainest that, thou maist say more truly then the ddStilpo Megar. Plut. in paedag. Laert. in Stilp. Sen. de sap. const. c. 6.Philosopher, when the City, he dwelt in, was sacked, that thou hast lost▪ nothing. Yea suppose a man be plundered, as Job was, of al that ever he hath: to let passe what one of the ancients saith of him; that tho Iob, when he was stript of all that he had been formerly possessed of, might seem to be in a very miserable condition, yet was he even then p. 85in a most happy and blessed estate. in what respect, or how so? you will say. why? because, saith he, albeit eePerdiderat omnia qae dederat Deus; sed …abuerat ipsum, qi omnia dederat, Deum subtraxit data, non subtraxit datorem. manet qi dedit, & abstulit qod dedit. Aug. in Psal. 66. pro eis qae perdidit, eum qi abstulit, tenuit Hugo de patient. c. 11.Ps 66he had lost all that God gave him; yet he had that God still that gave him all: and he had all, yea ffCol. 3.11. Omnia …erdiderat, & plenus erat. Aug. de divers. 12.Col 3:11more then that all by much, in him. ggJob 1.21, 22. & 2.3. & 10.7. & 13.15. & 23.10. & 27.4, 6. foreign. Chrysost. in Mat. orat. 13. foreign. in 1. Cor. orat. 16. regnum atqe opes Eripere qivit, at virtutem non qiit. Telepbus Accianus apud Macrob. Sat. l. 6. c. 1. Tolle qod habeo: non …ollis, qod intus habeo. Aug. de divers. 13.Job 1:21Job 1:22Job 2:3Job 10:7Job 13:15Job 23:10Job 27:4Job 27:6the Devill had taken from him his goods; but he could not take away his God, nor his goodnesse neither. But not to insist, I say, upon that; I demand what lesse or damage doth a man sustain, suppose never so much be taken away from him, if reparation be made him with advantage; if all be restored him, not twofold, as hhJob 42.10.Job 42:10with Job, but an hundred fold, in one kind or other. and this is that which our Saviour iiMatth. 19.29. Mar. 10.…9, 30.Matt 19:29Mark 10:9Mark 10:30promiseth unto all those, that shall lose ought in his cause, that shall forego ought for his sake. and no marvell therefore if the faithfull even kkHeb. 10.34.Heb 10:34with joy sustain the spoil of their goods: since that it is no losse or damage to them; but good and great gain. they know well enough, which way they shall be repaired, and repaid largely, for whatsoever they so part with.

Yea but men may take away, not my living only, but my life to.Objection Answer 1.

Thy life? what life? thy bodily life, thy transitory life. that is the worst they can do. llMatth. 10.28.Matt 10:28They may kill the body, saith our Saviour; but they can go no further. and not that neither, unlesse God give them leave. If they cannot kill mmMatth. 10.29.Matt 10:29a Sparrow, one of the soriest birds that is, against Gods will; much lesse any man, or any of those, whom God takes more speciall care of, then of any other creature. nnMatth. 10.30Matt 10:30Yea the very hairs of your head, saith our Saviour to his▪ are numbred. and sure if the hairs of their head are numbred, then the ooDies non minus utiqe qam capilli sunt numerati▪ & sicu… pilus de corpore, sic momentum de tempore non peribit. Bern. de divers. 1.dayes, yea minutes and moments, of their life, much more. ppIlli de animabus suis pertimescebant. ille etiam de capillis dabat secu…itatem. Aug. in Ps. 109. qid timeam ne carnem perdam, qi nec capillum perdo? Idem de sanct. 13. times ne pereas, cui capillu… non peribit? si sic custodiuntur superflua tua, in qantâ securitate est anima tua? non perit capillus, qi cum tondetur, non senti…, & perit anima per qam sentis? Idem homil. 14. Times ne animam perd… …i capillum non perdis. Idem in Ps. 96. Caro incisa dolet, capillus non dolet. cur …imetis ne pereat, qod … & illud in vobis perire non potest, qod incis…m non dolet? Grego…. in Evang. 36.Ps 109Ps 96they were solicitous p. 86for their lives, and Christ giveth them security, saith one, even for their hairs. which yet is not so to be understood, as if God kept a tale, or strict account of their hair, qqFrustra ergò est qum ex hoc loco, etiam capillo…m qicqid accisum est, in resurrectione restitutum iri, concludit Aug. de civit. Dei. l 22. c. 12. & 14. & 19. & 21. & in Psal. 96. & de verb. Dom. 4 & 6.Ps 96how many each of them had growing on his head, and how that number diminished, as daily in likelihood it did; but that thereby he would intimate, that without his permission not so much as an hair could be pluckt from their head, there could not the losse of so much as one hair befall them, and much lesse could they be abridged of any one minute or moment of their live… ; it was not in the power of any creature to hasten their end a minute or moment sooner then God should please to permit.

But suppose God do permit any to take thy life from thee: what hurt do they do to thee?Answer 2. They may qqMatth. 10.28Matt 10:28slay thy body ▪ but they cannot come at thy soul: (r) what they cannot see, saith he, they cannot slay. they may hack and hew thy body to peeces: but aaforeign (addas licet, foreign) foreign· Simot. …p. 4 …. foreign· Antonin. l. 8. §. 41.no hurt or damage can thereby accrew to thy soul. and thy soul it is, that is the bbforeign. Plato Tim. foreign· Anton. l. 7. §. 55. qod principatum tenet. Cic. de univers.principall part of thee. that is the jewell, thy body is but the case; that is the sword, the body is but the ddDan. 9.17. foreign Vagina. 1 Chron. 21.27. afflatus divini v… gina. Tertul. de resur. c. 9. Cremato corpore, inimici remeanti animae q…si vaginam ademerunt. de Hermotimo Plin. l. 7. c. 52.Dan 9:171 Chr 21:27sheath. eeMens cujusqe is est qisqe, non ea figura, qae digito demonstratur. Cicer. somn. Scip. Ergò qi videtur, non ipse verus homo est, sed verus ille est, … qo regitur, qod videtur. Macrob. l. 1. c. 13. foreign Anima rationalis est verè homo. R. Judas in Cozr. l. 1. c. 89. foreign· Plato Alcib. 1. foreign· Aristot. ethic. l. 9▪ c. 4. foreign· P…ilo de agricu…t. foreign· Idem de haered. foreign. Anton. l. 10. §. 38.Every mans soul, could the heathen man say, is every ones self▪ all is well, where the soul is safe. be carefull to keep that in its due posture, and nothing that befalleth the outward man, shall annoy thee. Observe we the words of our Savi…ur. ffLuke 21.16▪19.Luke 21:16Luke 21:19Ye shall be hated of all men for my sake: and some of you shall be slain. but there shall not a hair of your head perish. onelyonly in patience possesse your souls. May it not well seem strange, that our Saviour should tell them, that they should some of them lose their heads, and yet they should not lose an hair? that tho their heads were shorn from their shoulders, yet not an hair should be pluckt from their heads? But Christs purpose is, by a gg2 Sam. 1.4.11.2 Sam 1:42 Sam 1:11proverbiall form of speech,ccforeign· Anton. l. 10. §. 38. to give them assurance of the p. 87greatest indemnity, that may be imagined, even to an hair. 1 King. 1.52.1 Kgs 1:52and the meaning is, that not so much as an hairs harm should befall them, so much as the losse of an hair might be deemed; that hhforeign· Aristopran. unde emendandi Suid. & Diogen. ne pilum qidem. Cic. ad Attic. l. 5. …p. 20. ne pilo qidem minu…. Idem ad Q. fratr. l. 2. ep. 15.not so much damage or detriment, as the value of an hair might amount unto, should accrew unto them, by ought that they were to endure. In regard whereof even an Heathen man could say, that iiforeign. Maxim▪ serm. 2.a good man might not smile onelyonly, but even laugh outright, to see wicked men, what a coil they keep, when with all their might and malice they set on him, as if they would do him a world of mischief, whereas they cannot do him the least evill that is. But the use of the phrase elsewhere will further help to clear this, as in the next passage shall appear.

Thirdly therefore we say, that the godly in these cases,Answer 3. as they perish not, when they seem to perish; so they are delivered even then, when they seem not to be del…vered; yea to be never better delivered then at such times they are. If you aske me, how? I answer you briefly; as the passengers were saved, that sailed with Paul. An Angel of God appears to Paul, and tels him, that kkActs 27.24.Acts 27:24God had given him all that sailed with him. that is, that for his sake God had bestowed their lives on them. This as the Angel assured him, so he as confidently assuring them; llActs 27.34.Acts 27:34Not an hair, saith he, shall fall from the head of any of you. But what means he by this? mmIbid. v. 22.There shall be no losse of any mans life, saith he, but of the ship onelyonly. Your lives shall not be in the least degree impaired: all the losse that shall befall you, shall be of the ship. and so accordingly it was. for nnIbid. v. 41.the ship striking on ground, and there sticking fast, was broken to peeces; but ooIbid. v. 44.the passengers all escaped, and ppforeign· Salvos ad ter…am evadere. ita Act. 23.24. Jer. 30.10. Zech. 8 7, 8. foreign. Plut. de Socrat. d…mon. foreign· Galen. de affect. dignosc. & cur. c. 4. foreign Julian. de Cynism. 1.Acts 23:24Jer 30:10Zech 8:7Zech 8:8came safe to the shore. and just so is it here. the brittle bark of this frail body being battered and broken, qqforeign. Plut. de tranq. Socrat… è carcere in c…um transtulit calix venenatus. Sen. ep. 67.the soul swimmeth away out of it, as out of a l…king vess…l that can no longer hold out, and p. 88arriveth instantly, without let or stay, at the haven of eternall rest and blisse. Nor are Gods servants ever better delivered, then when delivered in this manner. for at other times they are delivered, it may be, out of some one trouble, and fall shortly after, as it oft fals out, into some other; and after that, if they escape it, meet, it may be, with a third. and indeed it is so very usually with them; that rrFinis unius mali, gradus est futuri▪ Sen. Herc. fur. 2.the coming out of one is but the stepping into another. in this case they are delivered, not out of one trouble, but ssPsal. 34.17.19. Petrum eruit de cacer…? & non eruit de cruce? eruit tunc, & non eruit nunc? forte plus postea qam prius, quando verè de omnibus pressuris eruit. nam posteaqam primum eruit, qanta ille pertulit? illuc misit postea, …bi nihil mali pati posset. Aug. in Psal.Ps 34:17Ps 34:19out of all; not from some by times, but from all at once. whereas formerly they were so delivered, that they stood still in need of some renewed deliverance, they are then ttIta liberatus ut liberari ulteriu… opus non habeat.so delivered, as they need no deliverance again. yea in this regard doth the deliverance of Gods servants surpasse the deliverance of Pauls associates, which we resembled it by before: for that there, there was an utter losse of the ship, being cast away without recovery. whereas there is no losse of ought at all here. for the bark of the body, tho it be wreck…, and by violence beaten all to pieces, yet shall it rise, and be repaired and restored again, with all her tackle and furniture, in more uu1 Cor. 15.42, 43. Phil. 3.21.1 Cor 15:421 Cor 15:43Phil 3:21ample and excellent manner then ever. No cause is there therefore for any man to fear any evill of damage or detriment by his constancie in Gods cause. by deserting it he may xxforeign· Perieramus, nisi periissemus. Themistocles apud Plut. in apoph. & de exil. & Tele…. de exil. Stob. c. 40. Salvus sum, qia pereo: si non peream, planè inter…m. Plaut. Truc. 4.1.undo himself; but by standing constantly to it he may save himself. For yyMatth. 16.25. Mark 8.35. John 12▪25. Abdicare itaqe à teipso, ne abdiceris à Christo: repudia te, ut recipiaris à Christo: perde te ipse, ne pereas. Salvian. l. 5. c. 10.Matt 16:25Mark 8:35John 12:25he that will save his life, shall lose it; saith our Saviour: but he that for my sake will lose it, shall find it to life eternall. shall by losing it in some sort here, gain it and enjoy it everlastingly hereafter.

Vse 7.Again, is it Iacob and Israel, Gods people, that God hath such an eye to? this may serve as a motive to perswade persons of all sorts and degrees; if they desire safety, and to be under such an eye of God; to adjoyn, to associate themselves unto such. aaPsal. 47.9.Ps 47:9The bbforeign· Graec. principes. Lat. Psal. 113.8.Ps 113:8Princes, or, the ccVoluntarii. Jun. Pisc. 1 Chron. 28.21. Psal. 110.3.1 Chr 28:21Ps 110:3volunteers, of the people, or ddforeign Graec. populorum. Lat. Sic Psal. 117.1.Ps 117:1peoples rather, of other people, more then one, have joyned themselves p. 89to the people of the God of Abraham. and why to them? because the eeforeign scutuli. pro…ectio. Ps. 7.10. & 84.9. & 144.2.Ps 7:10Ps 84:9Ps 144:2shields of the earth belong unto him; unto the God, whom they serve. And it is to them, and among them, that he is ffPsal. 84.11. foreignPs 84:11a Sunne and a shield. nor is there any surety of ggPsal. 91.1, 2.Ps 91:1Ps 91:2safegard, but under his wing, of hhPsal. 84.4, 10, 11.Ps 84:4Ps 84:10Ps 84:11protection, but within his courts. Not iiPsal. 68.17.25Ps 68:17Ps 68:25the Tabernacle, or kkPsal. 74.3, 7.Ps 74:3Ps 74:7the Temple alone, or the llEsay 48.2. & 52.1.Isa 48:2Isa 52:1City, but the whole mmExod 15.17. Esay 63.18.Exod 15:17Isa 63:18land, the whole teritory, is termed a Sanctuary: and as a Sanctuary it was as well nnDeut. 23.15, 16.Deut 23:15Deut 23:16to the stranger that fled thither, as to the natives themselves, that were bred and born there. The Egyptians that dwelt among the Israelites ooExod. 9.26. & 10.23.Exod 9:26Exod 10:23in Goshen, escaped some at least of the plagues, that all Egypt besides felt. and those that were not of Iacobs posterity, yet by being and abiding in the same body with them, partaked, as in some other ppNum. 9.14. & 35.15. Deut. 1.16. & 10, 18, 19.Num 9:14Num 35:15Deut 1:16Deut 10:18Deut 10:19priviledges with them, so in that protection, that God was pleased to afford them. And so maist thou by being embodied with Gods people, tho thou beest not yet one of them. tho thou beest not yet a thorough convert, there, and there alone▪ are the means to be had, whereby thou maist in Gods time be throughly converted. OnelyOnly take heed, that thou beest not among them, as qqGen. 21.9.…Gen 21:9a scoffing Ismael, as rrJohn 6.70, 7….John 6:70John 6:7a treacherous Iudas, as ssNum. 16.1, 3.Num 16:1Num 16:3a murmuring, and a mutinous Corah, Dathan, or Abiram against Moses and Aaron. the Kings court is an ill shelter, either for a known traitor, or a seditious party nor can God worse endure any, then such, as under pretence of joyning themselves to his people, are either openly autors of sedition among them, or under-hand plotters of mischief against them. ttPsal. 55.12.15.Ps 55:12Ps 55:15Let them go down quick into the grave, saith the Psalmist of the one: and uuNum. 16.30▪ 33.Num 16:30Num 16:33they went down quick into the grave; saith the story of the other.

But chiefly, and above all things, endevour by all means, to be, not among them onelyonly, but aaJohn 1.19.John 1:19of them, one of the bbJohn 1.47.John 1:47true Israel, of the ccGal. 6.16.Gal 6:16Israel of God; not a partaker onelyonly in this protection with others, but one of those for whose sake God affords it unto others. for the ddforeign. John 1.1….John 1:1priviledge indeed is theirs, tho others may share in it sometime with them. they of right may claim it, and assure themselves of it; others no further then God is pleased, with them, and for them, to impart it. Besides, what will it in the end avail a man, to enjoy Gods protection here with his people for a short time, and after that short tearm expired, p. 90to go out of it for ever? to enjoy some common fruits of Gods favour a while here, and to lie under his displeasure everlastingly hereafter. eePsal. 106.4.Ps 106:4Remember me, O Lord, saith the Psa…mist, with the favour of thy people. with that speciall favour, which thou bearest unto them, who are yet, in a more peculiar manner then ordinary, thy people. O visit me with thy salvation. as well spirituall, as corporall; not temporall onelyonly, but eternall. ffPsal. 106.5.Ps 106:5that I may see, ggPsal. 34.12. Jer. 17 6.Ps 34:12Jer 17:6that is, enjoy, the goodnesse of thy chosen. that goodnesse of thine, which thou shewest to thine elect: and that I may rejoyce with the joy of thy nation. with such hhRom. 14.17. 1 Pet. 1.8.Rom 14:171 Pet 1:8joy, as thou by thy Spirit art wont to fill the hearts of thy faithfull ones with: and glory with thine inheritance. iiRom. 5.1, 2. foreign.Rom 5:1Rom 5:2glory with them, that are kkHeb 1.14.Heb 1:14heyres of salvation, in hope of that glory, which with them I look hereafter to inherit. and this favour of God is that indeed, which the faithfull onelyonly have their share in; and llProv. 14.10. Rev. 2.17.Prov 14:10Rev 2:17wherin no stranger is, or can be intercommoner with them. as for the other, of externall protection and preservation, that even the worse sort of men also usually pa…take in, either by mmGen. 19 21, …2. Jer. 29.7.Gen 19:21Gen 19:2Jer 29:7the abode of Gods people among them, or by nnJer. 35.7.Jer 35:7their abode among Gods people.

Nor do worldly men therefore understand, how injuri…us they are to themselves, when they malign and oppugn, seek to mischief and make away those, by whose means, and for whose sake, they enjoy that peace and safety, that otherwise would be soon removed. The ooGen. 6.11, 12 14.Gen 6:11Gen 6:12wicked world wished Noah once in his Ark they liked not his pp2 Pet. 2.5.2 Pet 2:5preaching of repentance and righteousnesse. but qqGen. 7.7.10.Gen 7:7Gen 7:10no sooner was Noah once safely stowed in the Ark, but the deluge began, that drowned the whole world. The rrGen. 19 8, 9.Gen 19:8Gen 19:9Sodomites could not brook Lot. they would set him going ere long. as ss2 Pet. 2.7, 8.2 Pet 2:72 Pet 2:8their lewd life was an eye-sore, yea an heart-sore to him: so was his holy life no lesse offensive to them, as giving ttforeign. Isid. l. 2. ep. 50. Wisd. 2.12.16. Redarguere videtur, qi dissentit Lactant. Malos qi…qis non imitatur, offendit. Cyprian.Wis 2:12Wis 2:16a severe, tho silent, check to theirs; and his admonitions much more. but uuGen. 19.23, 24. Luk. 17.29.Gen 19:23Gen 19:24Luke 17:29in the very same day that Lot set foot out of Sodome, came that storm of fire and brimstone, that destroyed the whole City. It is for that sory handfull of sincere professors, so much maligned and traduced with us, that our Land and State hath been hitherto preserved from utter confusion. xxEsay 6.30.Isa 6:30As the yyforeign fulcrum, statumen. Iun. Pisc. proprie statu… columna, Gen. 35.14. columen.Gen 35:14support zzforeign in Shallechet. V…abl. Deodat.at Shallecheth is in the elms and the oaks; so is the holy seed, saith Esay, the support of the State. that is, as the p. 91trees, that grow on either side of the aaforeign ascensus. 1. Reg. 10.5. foreign 1 Chron. 10.16 foreign 2 Reg. 12.20. aggestum, agger.1 Kgs 10:51 Chr 10:162 Kgs 12:20causey or terrace, that reacheth from the Kings Palace to the Temple, at the bb1 Chron. 26.16. porta Shallechet, non, injectus, ut Jun. sed, emissionis, ut Deodat. qa cineres evebebantur.1 Chr 26:16gate of Shallecheth, supporteth it, and ccTerram alioqi ruituram firmitate sua continent. Jun.by keeping up the earth, that would otherwise be crumbling away, keeps the causey from decay: so the holy seed, the small residue of religious and well-affected people in the land, are they that ddJustus est fundamentum seculi R. Moses in paenitent. c. 3. §. 7. foreign. Iustin. ep. ad Diognet.support and bear up the State; which but for them might be soon utterly overthrown and destroyed. The eeforeign. Hippocr. ep. ad Abderit.making much therefore of such is a means to secure a State: the maligning of them, and making away, or chasing away of them, (that which hath been formerly too much practised among us) is the next way to overthrow it. It bodes no good to a State, when God sweeps, or picks such away. It was a sign that Sampson meant to pull down the house on the Philistines heads, when he attempted ffJud. 16.26, 29, 30.Judg 16:26Judg 16:29Judg 16:30to stirre the pillars. and ggEsay 3.2, 3. foreign· Plato apud Anton. Meliss. l. 1. c. 45. See Jeroboams sonnes decease. Point. Spec. 2.Isa 3:2Isa 3:3when God takes away the pillars and supporters of a state, it is a shrewd signe that God intendeth it no good. But when a people shall themselves expell such from among them, they doe therein but imitate Salomons foolish woman, that hhProv. 14.1.Prov 14:1pulleth down the house with her own hands.

But, to proceed to a further use, hath God such an eye as we have heard, on his? then should they also have an eye on him, and to him.

We should have constantly an eye on him, and his conduct;Vse 8. as he hath an eye on us. And indeed we cannot expect, that he should have such an eye constantly on us; unlesse we have our eye constantly also on him. iiPs. 18.21, 22.Ps 18:21Ps 18:22I have kkforeign observavi. Deut 6.3. Psal. …6.6.Deut 6:3Ps 6:6observed, saith David the wayes of the Lord; and have not wickedly gone aside from my God. for all his llforeign judicia ejus. ut Ps. 119.20, 31. Ezek. 18.9, 21.Ps 119:20Ps 119:31Ezek 18:9Ezek 18:21commandements were before me: nor did I put any of his statutes away from me. He seems to allude to the Israelites journeying through the wildernesse. where they were to p. 92follow the conduct mmNum. 9.15.23. & 10.33.Num 9:15Num 9:23Num 10:33of the Ark and of the cloud; to observe which way God led them by either of those, and that way to go, tho it seemed never so farre about, in regard of the land that they were bound to. so did David. and so must we do, in our passage through the wildernesse of this world, if we desire to passe in safety under Gods protection. our eye must be on Gods conduct; observe which way he directs us, by the pillar of his word, by the light of his law; tho he seem to carry us far about, in regard of those ends and aims that we propound to our selves; and desire to attaine ento. For as it was with them; they were safe, while they followed the cloud and the Ark; but when nnNum. 14.44, 45.Num 14:44Num 14:45they left either of them, going out of Gods protection, they fell foul on the Amorites and were beaten down by them: so must we expect, that it will fare likewise with us. So long as we follow the directions of Gods word, that should be the cynosura and load-star of all our designes, we are sure to tread safely, we may be ooProv. 10 9. Nihil est ad defendendum puritate tutius, nihil ad dicendum veritate facilius. fiducia magnae securitatis est simplicitas actionis. Gregor. past…r. l. 3. c. 1. §. 12.Prov 10:9confident of successe. But if we shall offer to step aside out of the ppforeign. Jam. 2.8. Legem regiam. ut viam regiam. Num. 20.17.Jas 2:8Num 20:17rode way, that it leadeth us in, and betake our selves to other by-paths, by indirect courses seeking to compasse our ends, and to bring things about; we shall misse of our aim, fail of obtaining our ends; and while we go out of Gods protection, by declining his conduct, expose to peril of miscarrying, both our selves, and the affairs, whereabout we are employed.

Again, we must have an eye, as on God, so unto God: as to him and his conduct, so qqPsal. 34.5. Esay 45.2….Ps 34:5Isa 45:2to him, for his safe-conduct, his safegard, if we desire that he should have such an eye unto us. rrPsal. 25.15.Ps 25:15Mine eyes are continually upon the Lord; saith David. And ssPlal. 123.1, 2.unto thee, say Gods people, do we lift up our eyes, O thou, that dwellest in the heavens. as the eyes of a servant are to the hands of his master, and the eyes of an hand-maid to the hands of her mistresse: so are our eyes unto the Lord, till he have mercy on us. we must have our eye constantly fift up unto him, if we will have his eye constan…ly cast down upon us. For tho he professe & promise to have such a tender eye over his, yet doth he look to be sued and sought unto for the same by us. ttEzek. 36.37.Ezek 36:37Yet for all these things, saith he, which I have promised to do for them, will I be uuNeqe enim placet qod Jun. ex Psal. …11.2. q… s…a. i… ex…sita, adeo promp…a, ut ea qaerere ampli… non sit opus. qod est …ex…um …lane perve…ere & co…umpere.Ps 11:2sought to by the house of Israel▪ where tho the main scope of the place be to intimate, that there should be a constant repairing of Gods people p. 93again to Gods Temple, there to preferre their petitions unto him, as in former times before the captivity they had done; yet withall it is implied, that God expected from time to time to be xxVult à se requiri Deus, etiam qod pollicetur. & ideò multa, qae dare disp…suit, prius pollicetur, ut ex promissione devotio exci…e…ur▪ Bern. de temp. Serm. 11. 2 Sam. 7.25.2 Sam 7:25petitioned for the performance of his promises. God must therefore be sought to, yea and constantly sought to, if we desire to have his eye constantly on us, in that manner as he is▪ here said to have had on that people. The case of them in their conflict with Amaleck, will shew it. Tho God could not but with dislike, yea with deep detestation, behold yyExod. 17.14, 16. Deut. 25.17-19. 1 Sam, 15.2.Exod 17:14Exod 17:16Deut 25:17–19Amaleks base and injurious attempt against them, and by a solemn oath engaged himself to be avenged on him for it: yet zzExod. 17.11.Exod 17:11no longer then Moses held up his hands in prayer, did Israel in sight prevail against Amalek. When our eyes grow weary of looking up unto God, no marvell if Gods eye grow heavy in looking after us. Our slumbring in this kind, may make him also to slumber; who tho he can aaPsalm 121.4.Ps 121:4neither slumber nor sleep, yet upon our neglect of him bbPsalm 78.65.Ps 78:65seems many times to sleep; and tho he be sometime awaked with the very noise and outrage of the adversary, yet he would rather be ccPsalm 7▪6. & 44.23. Esay 51.9. Use 9.Ps 7:6Ps 44:23Isa 51:9awaked with the cries and clamor of his people.

Give me leave to adde an use of application hereof to our selves. What Balaam a voweth here of Jacob and Israel that then was, hath been abundantly verified of Gods Israel among us. God hath not endured to see wrong done us, nor grievance attempted against us; but hath from time to time in much mercy protected us, and executed judgement on those that have but attempted to wrong us. How many plots and practises of the popish faction, in Queen Elizabeths reigne, in King Iames his time, in our Soveraigns daies that now is, have been discovered, defeated, and ddPsalm 7.16. autorem scelus repetit. Sen. Plerc. fur. 2.Ps 7:16returned on the heads of those, that were either plotters of them, or imployed in them? And whereunto can we ascribe these so many and manifold defeats of them, and deliveries of our selves, but to that good eye of our gracious God, that was upon us for our good; that pitifull eye of his, that could not endure to see that spoil made of his people with us, that must needs have ensued, had those plots and practises taken effect? What was it else (to omit all other deliverances of a lower alloy) that dispersed that invincible Armado, as they tearmed and esteemed it, whereby they made full account to have made an p. 94utter riddance of us, and gave them up to the mercy of the winds and waves, that in mercilesse manner intended to have preyed upon us; wrecked them that would have wrecked their rage and cruelty upon us; and swallowing them up quick, buried them in the bowels of the deep,ffA metaphor taken from ravenous beasts, that devoure their prey so sodainly, that it seems to go quick down their throat. Vers. 6. Ierem. 51.44. Psalm 27.2. & 56.1. or from devouring fish. Ion. 1.17. & 2.2. or from the grave Psal. 5.9. & 55.15. Prov. 1.12. or from the deep. Psalm 69.15. vers 4.5.Jer 51:44Ps 27:2Ps 56:1Jonah 1:17Jonah 2:2Ps 5:9Ps 55:15Prov 1:12Ps 69:15 that were fully bent in their implacable fury to have swallowed up the whole body of Gods people with us. Well may we sing, and say with Israel of old, eePsal. 124.2▪ 6.Ps 124:2Ps 124:6If the Lord had not been with us, and stood by us, when these men rose up against us; then had they in the fiercenesse of their wrath against us swallowed us up, or, down, quick; then had ggPsalm 69.2. Esay 8.7, 8. & 59.19.Ps 69:2Isa 8:7Isa 8:8Isa 59:19the waters overflown us, and the stream overwhelmed our souls; the hhforeign super…ae. ut foreign superbia fluctuum. Job 38.11. & foreign superbia mari…. Psalm 89.9.Job 38:11Ps 89:9swelling waters had overwhelmed our souls; had utterly drowned us and destroyed us. but blessed be God, who gave us not as a prey unto their teeth. Or what else was it, that brought to light, and by discovery frustrated that devilish design of the Powder plot, so cunningly contrived, and so covertly carried, that it was by the authors of it, and agents in it, deemed a thing impossible, that it should by any means miscarry, or fail of its intended effect? as wel here might we say with that other Psalmist, iiPsalm 127.1.Ps 127:1Vnlesse the Lord had kept the City, the watc…man (yea or watchmen, had they been never so many, or so mighty) had waked but in vain. For surely, had not the kkProv. 15.3.Prov 15:3all seeing eye of llPsalm 121.4.Ps 121:4Israels keeper, who never slumbreth nor sleepeth, watched over us then for our good; tho we had denied mmPsalm 132.4 Prov. 6.4.Ps 132:4Prov 6:4sleep to our eyes, and slumber to our ey-lids; yet in vain had we watched, being altogether ignorant of any danger we were in, nor being aware, where the evil lay lurking, against which we should have watched. Had many thousands, or ten thousands; yea never so many millions of men been up in arms, for the safegard of our Soveraign, his Royall consort, his Princely issue, our Peeres, our Prelates, the main body of our Nobility, the prime flowers of our Gentry, and Communalty; all could not have secured them, from being blown up at one blast, and dispersed into the ayr, to find what sepulture, if any at all, they could, where their disjected limmes, or their battered bodies should light. And what further mischief would have followed throughout the whole Land, had that hellish designe taken effect, it is not easie to imagine. OnelyOnly this we may upon good grounds conceive, that …hose that should have survived to see the ensuing p. 95miseries, would have nnLam. 4.6, 9. foreign. Homer. Odys. …. O terqe qaterqe beati, Q…is ante or… patrum Troiae sub moenibus altis Contigit oppetere Maro Aen. l. 1.Lam 4:6Lam 4:9deemed them thrice happy that had perished in that hideous execution at first, and have wished that they had born them company therein. And what can we say letted, that it tooke not effect, when it was so neere upon the point of execution; but that Gods tender eye over us could not endure to see that hellish cruelty acted upon his people, which those monsters of men would have ooMic. 4.11.Mic 4:11beheld with delight? Nor can we justly ascribe the discovery of so many severall plots and conspiracies, as have been since the beginning of our present troubles, set on foot by the adverse party; but having been brought to light before they could be hatched and seeing the light before their intended time, have by that means miscarried; unto any other cause, save the watchfull eye of our good God over us, and his tender care of his people among us, and of those that are entrusted by them in the publique affairs of Church and State for their good.

And let this in the last place, mind us, of our duty to God, Use 10.for such his mercy to us. Is it so then, that God is so chary of the welfare and good of his people, that he cannot endure the sight of ought that tendeth to their evil or annoyance? Then undoubtedly it is the duty of Gods people, to be in like manner affected towards him. it standeth them upon, to be as chary of his glory as he is of their good; and no more to endure ought that may impaire his glory, then hee ought that may impeach their good. it is but right and equall, that it should so be. yea it is more then equall, that what God freely doth for us, we should endevour at least, in way of requitall, to do deservedly for him. And such indeed hath been the disposition and practise, in a very eminent manner, of some prime ones among Gods people. Moses one of ppNum. 12.3.Num 12:3the meekest and mildest men upon earth, by the testimony of truth it self: yet in Gods cause, how zealous? how fervent? how fierce? how furious? (as might seem to some of another temper, of another spirit; so transported was he with passion) when he saw God dishonoured by divine worship done to an idol? qqExod. 32.16, 19, 20.Exod 32:16Exod 32:19Exod 32:20he throws out of his hand the tables of the Law, Gods own workmanship; not considering what might, and indeed did thereby befall them. he stamps the idol to powder, casts the powder into the water, compels them to drink that, which erst while they had p. 96adored: causeth some three thousand of the people to be slain; when as rrIbid. v. 28.32.for the saving of the residue he made offer to have his name raced out of Gods booke. David likewise, tho in his own concernments exceeding patient, even to wonderment. ssPsalm 38.13, 14.Ps 38:13Ps 38:14I was, saith he, as a deaf man, that heareth not; as a dumb man, that cannot open his mouth: I was as one that could not heare; or that were not able to returne a reproachfull answer. And so it was indeed with him, (as the story shews) when Shimei tt2 Sam. 16.5-8 13.2 Sam 16:5–8railed on him, uu1 Kings 2.8.1 Kgs 2:8cursed him with a grievous curse, threw stones at him and his train, and carried himself most contumeliously and despightfully toward him. xx2 Sam. 16.10-14.2 Sam 16:10–14he went on his way as quietly as if he had not either heard ought that he spake, or seen ought that he did. But whē ought came in his way that tended to Gods dishonour, then aaPsalm 69.9.Ps 69:9the zeal of thine house, saith he, hath even bbforeign …medit me. ut Ierem. 50.17.Jer 50:17wasted me. (the indignation that he conceived at the consideration of such things done, as seemed to tend to the disparagement of Gods honour, in the abuse of his house, did cast him into a consumption, did even waste him to skin and bone) and the reproaches of them that reproach thee, are fallen upon me. such reproachfull speeches as prophane persons did cast out against God, he tooke to himself; he reckoned himself reproached in them, and in him: and ccProv. 9.7, 8.Prov 9:7Prov 9:8by reproving them for their reproachings of God, brought reproofe and reproach upon himself. And again, ddPsalm 119.139.Ps 119:139My zeal, saith he, doth even consume me, or, eate me up, because mine enemies forget thy words. as if he had said; It is not so much the wrong that mine enemies do me, in their cruel pursuing of me and plotting against me, that troubleth and vexeth me, as their forgetting of God, and failing in their duty to him, and the dishonour that in pursuit of their malicious practises against me, they do to him. nor could he therefore without much eePsalm 119.158.Ps 119:158grief, and whole ffIbid. v. 136.rivers of tears, behold how regardlesse wicked men were of God and his Law. their sinnes and excesses, were not an ey-sore onelyonly, but even a heart-sore to him, as gg2 Pet. 2▪7, 8.2 Pet 2:72 Pet 2:8the like in the Sodomites, among whom he lived▪ was before-time to Lot. And well were it with us, could we be in the like manner affected; could we worke our spirits to such a temper; not so much to regard in the present troubles, what our selves, as what the cause of God, suffers; nor so much in our endevours, courses, and counsels to eye and aym at, our own private emoluments, p. 79the reparation of our own losses, or improvement of our own estates, as the publique interest of Gods Church, the reparation of the dishonour that hath been, and is still daily done to his Name, his Word, his Service, his Worship, his Sabbaths, his Sacraments; and the advancement of his glory, in the purity of his Ordinances and the power of piety wrought into the hearts and exprest in the lives of those, that professe themselves to be his people: but to be well content to dispense with the one for the promoting of the other; thinking nothing too dear, not our lives themselves, much lesse our outward estates, to be hhforeign. 2 Cor. 12.15.2 Cor 12:15expended and laid out, tho but for laying a foundation of that, that future ages may enjoy. This tender care and respect had we unto Gods cause, in way of thankfulnesse to him for that tender care that he hath from time to time had of us: and did we make it appeare in our courses, and carriages, that men might thereby see, that it were this indeed that did most affect us and sway with us; it would win the hearts hoth of God, and of good men, as wel at home as abroad, very much unto us & to our cause. and we should have the better grounds to conceive the stronger hopes, that God would be pleased to continue his watchfull eye still over us, for our further and future preservation. Whereas on the other side, if we shall regard Gods honour no further, then as it stands with our own interest; nor respect piety, but as it may be subservient to policy; if we shall give way to, or connive at Antinomian teachers, and other the like Sectaries, that with their pernicious opinions poison the souls of Gods people; by blindfolding God rom all sight of sin in them, and so encouraging them to make no conscience of any sinne in regard of Gods sight; by discharging them of their duty to God and his Law; removing one of the strongest curbs to restrain them from sinne, and disswading them from all sorrow for sin, after they have sinned; iiAs do the Autors of those books entituled Liberty of conscience: The power of love; Christs counsell … …dice…; Answer to Mr. Pryns 12 Qu…res; The compassionate Samaritan; The bloody Ten…nt; which last in expresse terms affirmeth, that It is Gods wil and command, since Christs comming, that a permission of the most Paganish, Jewish, Turkish, or Antichristian Worships be granted to all men, in all Nations and Countries.pleading for toleration of all sorts of religions and opinions, tho never so blasphemous and abominable, so long as they disturb not the publique peace, nor hinder civill obedience; if we shall, I say, give way to, or wink at, p. 98such as these and the like, out of feare of losing a strong party, and so being by the malignant party overpowerd; it may be just with God to withdraw his protection from us & to deliver us up deservedly to be destroyed by the one, while we vainly feare to be deserted by the other. The Lord in mercy grant us grace, so to depend upon him, that no such false feares may force us out of his way, or make us forgetfull of our duty to him; lest thereby kkforeign Epictet. lib. 2. cap. 1. Dum verentur infamiam falsam, veram incurrunt, instar ferarum, qae circundantur pinnis, ut cogantur in retia. qibus qoniam deest ratio, in verum exitium vand sormidine contruduntur. Nescio qis (uti August. praefat. contra Julian.) apud August. de nupt. & con…up. l. 2. c. 3.we become like the timorous deer, which while out of fear, they seek to shun llforeign. Oppian. venat. lib. 4. Et pisc. lib. 4. foreign. Digera… i…nexas no… un… ex alite pinnas. Namque ursos, magno…qe sues, cervosqe fugaces Terrificant, liniqe vetant transcendere septum. Nemes. de venat. Picta …ube…ti linea pinna, Vano clandat terr…re feras. Sen. Hyppolyt. dum pavidos formidine cervos Claudat, odoratae metuentes … Pinnae. Lucan▪ l. 4. Punice…qe agitant pavidos formidine pinnae. Maro Georg. lib. 3. punicea sep…um formidine pinnae. Idem Aen. l. 12. …vagos dumet… per avia cerv…s circund… macul…. & mult… in…gine pinnae. Aus…n. epist. 4. Nec formida…es cervos includi…e pinnis. Nas… fabul l. 15. Ma…imos …rarum gr…ges linea pennis distincta continet, & in in…di…s agit ab ipso effectu dicta formid…. v…is enim … terrori sun… ▪ Sen. de ira l. 2. c. 12. in ex Jobi 6.16. Lat. vars. desumptum.a few feathers or papers, set on purpose to affright them, forsaking their covert, where they might have been safe, runne full upon the Bows that stand ready bent to shoot them, or into the toil ready pight to receive them, and to surprise them to their fall. Remember we, what the nnQi timet pruina…, irr…t … cum nix.Latine proverb saith▪ He that is afraid of the frost, shall be overwhelmed with the snow. And take ooVide Gregor. moral l. 8. c. 12.Gregories interpretation thereof with it; He that ppEsay 51▪7, 8, 12, 13. Matth▪ 10.21. Luke 12.4.5.Isa 51:7Isa 51:8Isa 51:12Isa 51:13Matt 10:21Luke 12:4Luke 12:5feareth mans displeasure, which as lying here below, might without perill be overpast; shall be surprised with Gods wrath, which qqEsay 24.17, 18. Ier. 30.23, 24. Rom. 1.18.Isa 24:17Isa 24:18Jer 30:23Jer 30:24Rom 1:18comming down from above, can by no means be avoyded. And let the feare of God, and our due respect to him, so prevail with us, as to incite and enable us, to con…emn and trample upon all such base and groundlesse fears: the rather considering, how even with those cowardly creatures, yet rrFera… lin… & p…una … à tergo … incessat: … fugam per ipsa … fugerant▪ procule abun…ge f…rmidi…e…. … clem. l. 1. c. 12.urgent necessity of procuring their own safety, upon the hunters eager p. 99pursuit of them with his hounds at their heeles, doth so prevail, as to make them rush on, or … over those vain feather, or paper-works, which they were so shy and fearfull of before; as also their ssVide supra ad Rat. 1. Relat. 1.tender affection to their young ones, running along by their sides emboldneth them▪ to turn upon, make head against, and trample on those beagles, ttMatth 6.9. Luke 11.2.Matt 6:9Luke 11:2(I have seen a Doe do it in defence of her Fawn) whose least opening, tho a loose off, at other times they durst not endure.

To conclude let it be our principal care to have our practise in this kind correspondent to our prayers. That as we are taught by our Saviour, to pray in the first place, that Gods name may be sanctified, so in our practise we preferre the seeking and procuring thereof before all other things, even our own outward safety it self. God beholding us to have such a regardfull eye to him, and to his glory, wil (no doubt) have no lesse regardfull an eye unto us and to our good; and may the rather be enduced to afford that safety unto us▪ which we are willingly and readily content rather to hazzard, then to fail in our duty to him.

FINIS.