The Healing of Israels Breaches, Sermon 1
ISRAELS DISEASE. The firſt Sermon. Anno 1641. Feb. 23.
PSAL. 60.2.
Heal the Breaches thereof, for it is ſhaken.
IN theſe words which I have now ſingled out upon this ſolemn aoccaſion; a Puplike faſt.we have the ſum and ſubſtance of an earneſt requeſt made by David in the behalfe of that Kingdome, whereof God had made him the head; the Kingdome of Iſrael. This Kingdome it had beene, and Occaſionas yet for the preſent was, in a diſtreſſed, diſtracted ſtate and condition. So it had beene, not onelyonly under the Iudges, during whoſe government it felt of ten or twelue ſeverall commotions or Perſecutions, (as Iacobus de Valentia writing upon this Pſalme, computes them, paralelling, and comparing them with the ten Primitive Perſecutions of the Church under the Goſpell) but alſo under King Saul, and ſometime after his death; during which time it had beene afflicted and diſtreſſed, partly by foraigne Invaſion, partly by inteſtine and homebred ſedition. By foraigne invaſion, eſpecially of the Philiſtines, who in that fatall Battle ſlew King Saul himſelfe, with his three Sonnes, routing his whole Army, cutting off the flower and ſtre…gth of Iſrael, taking poſſeſſion of ſome of the chiefe holds and Cities in that Kingdome, having expulſed the Inhabitants; the ſaid ſtory whereof you may read, 1 Sam. the laſt, 2 Sam. 1. By homebred ſeditions; thoſe raiſed partly by Saul himſelfe, during his life; partly by his Sonne after his death. By Saul himſelfe, who in an hoſtile manner cauſleſly proſecuted and perſecuted David as a publique enemy to the State, whom God had deſigned to be next heire to the Crowne, ſo making a great and a dangerous Commotion in that Kingdome: withall, falling upon the Prieſts of God with great cruelty & rage, butchering no leſſe then foureſcore and five perſons of them at once; all that were found, upon ſuſpition of their ſiding with David, or favouring his cauſe, of both which you may reade, 1 Sam. 22. this did Saul in his life. After his death Iſhboſheth his ſonne, by Abners inſtigation laying claime to the Crowne, maketh a ſtrong party, taketh up Armes, purteth the Kingdome into blood, diſtracting and waſting it with a long and a dangerous Civill-warre, of which you may reade, 2 Sam. 2, 3. Cap. Thus that Kingdome had beene afflicted. And hereunto Interpreters generally Coherence. Calvin. Mollerus Sohnius. Scultotus.conceive the verſes before the ſixt to have reference, wherein the Pſalmiſt complaines unto God, O God thou haſt caſt us off, thou haſt ſcattered us, ver. 1. This he had done in that fatall overthrow given to Saul and his Armie Royall by the Philiſtines, at which time the Iſraelites forſaking their Habitations fled into the Mountaines, hiding themſelves amongſt the Rocks, leaving their Cities to be poſſeſſed by their enemies, themſelves being made a diſpertion, as you may ſee, 1 Sam. c. laſt, v. 7. this God had done to them, thereby manifeſting his diſpleaſure againſt them, ſeeing as it were to have caſt them off. O God thou haſt caſt us off, thou haſt ſcattered us, thou haſt beene diſpleaſed, &c. Thou haſt made the Earth to tremble, thou haſt broken it: So the Pſalme goeth on, v. 2. with reference as Interpreters conceive it to thoſe homebred diviſions, thoſe Civill-warres betwixt the two Houſes of Saul and David, after the death of Saul, then did the Earth, the Land, that Land of Iſrael (as the Chaldee explaines it) quake and tremble, being broken, riven, (as the word in the Originall ſignifieth:) even as the Earth ſometimes by Earth-quakes it is riven, and torne a ſunder with prodigious Chaſmaes, openings, or gapings; ſo was that Kingdome divided in thoſe Civill Commotions; the Nobles and Commens taking parts and ſiding, ſome with David, ſome with Iſhboſheth. So miſerably had that Kingdome beene diſtreſſed, diſtracted, ſo it had beene I, and as yet for the preſent in part ſtill was. However thoſe ſtormes were well over, and the Heav… had begun to cleare, the Kingdome was ſomewhat quieted, yet ſtill was it in an unſetled, tottering condition; and that as by reaſon of thoſe late diſtemperatures which were not yet thoroughly healed, ſo alſo by reaſon of ſome preſent diſtractions wherewith it was ſtill afflicted. Still there were Ruptures, Breaches in the Kingdome, and thoſe more then a few, and ſuch as did both unſettle and indanger it, ſhaking the very foundations of it: And in regard hereof it is, that the Pſalmiſt here prefers this his Petition unto God, the ſumme and ſubſtance whereof you have in this ſhort clauſe which I have now ſingled out, wherein we may take notice of two particulars.
Diviſion.Davids
Requeſt.
Reaſon.
His Requeſt, that God would heale the Breaches of his Kingdome: Heale the Breaches thereof.
His Reaſon or Argument to back and ſecond his Requeſt, taken from the eminent danger wherin that his Kingdome then was, in caſe God ſhould not ſtep in into it by mature and timous Prevenſion, it was ſhaken. Heale the Breaches thereof, for it ſhaketh, or it is ſhaken. You ſee the parts of the Text, to proſecute them in their Order, beginning with the former.
Davids Requeſt, which he preſents and puts up as you ſee in a Metaphoricall ſtraine, the Metaphor taken from a Phiſitian or Chyrurgion, who by miniſtring and applying ſanative Modicines, and healing Salves, Cures and healeth the Diſeaſes or Ruptures of his patient: And therein (following the ſence of the Metaphor) we ſhall take notice of three particulars,
1. Iſraels Diſeaſe.
2. Iſraels Cure.
3. Iſraels Phyſitian.
Iſraels Diſeaſe; Ruptures, Breaches; the Breaches thereof. Iſraels Cure; the making up or healing of thoſe Breaches: Heale the Breaches thereof. Iſraels Phyſitian, from whom it is that David here ſeeks for this Cure, viz. God himſelfe: To him it is that he maketh this his Requeſt, as the firſt word in the Pſalme informes us; O God, heale thou the Breaches thereof. Inſiſt wee upon theſe three particulars ſeverally, beginning firſt with Iſraels Diſeaſe; the Iſraels Diſeaſe, Breaches. The word and thing explained.Breaches thereof.
What David hereby means I have in part explained already, viz. Thoſe Diſtractions, Diviſions, Politicall Breaches, and Ruptures in the body of his Kingdome. Shevariah ſaith the Hebrew, Contrit iones, foreignRupturas, Fragmenta; the Ruptures, Breaches, Shivers; a word which anſwers the Originall both in ſound and ſence; poſſibly fetcht from this Hebrew root Shibber, to breake or ſbiver a Breach: this Confringere foreign Contritio foreignwas Iſraels Diſeaſe. A Diſeaſe in what bodie ſoever wee meet with it: Be it firſt in the Nature all body; whether Inwardly, a Rupture, or Outwardly ſalutio continui, a cut or Wound; whereby the fleſh is broken and divided. Every ſuch a Breach or Fraction, in what part ſoever it be, it is a Maladie, a Diſeaſe, calling for the help of the Phyſitian or Chirurgion. Theſe are Corporall Breaches. Or be it,
Secondly, In the Oeconemical Body, or Family, Breaches, whether in the Head, betwixt the Governours, thoſe unhappy jars betwixt man and wife, dividing thoſe whom God hath made One: or betwixt the Members, Diſſenſions of Brethren, too frequent, or the diſagreements of Servants; all hurtfull and prejudiciall to the familie: Domesticall Breaches. Or be it.
Thirdly, in the Politicall body, the Common-wealth; Breaches made upon it, by open hoſtilitie from foraigne enemies, or elſe in it, by homebred diviſions and diſſentions, whether betwixt the Prince and Subiects, or betwixt Subiects themſelves, all endangering the ſtate of a Kingdome. Politicall Breaches, Or be it,
Fourthly, In the Eccleſiaſticall Body, the Church; Breaches in or about matters of Religion. Sects, Schiſmes, Hereſies, rending and rearing the Seameleſſe Coate of Chriſt, the Church. Eccleſiaſticall Breaches.
Of all, and every of theſe I may truly ſay, that they are Diſeaſes, and that dangerous ones; How dangerous, I ſhall forbeare to ſhew you for the preſent, reſerving that for the latter part of the Text, to which properly it belongeth.
This is the diſeaſe which David here ſpeaketh of, and complaineth of; And this was Iſraels diſeaſe; That is the mark which my eve is upon at the preſent. Heale the Breaches (thereof) viz. Of the Land, the Land of Iſrael.
Even Iſrael is ſubiect to Breaches, that is the concluſion which from hence I take up: Even Iſrael is Iſrael is ſubject to Breaches▪ſubiect to Breaches. So it was with the Literall typicall Iſrael, Davids Kingdome, ſo it may be with ſpirituall, Myſticall Iſrael, the Kingdome of Chriſt, the church of God upon Earth: Hereof was Iſrael Iſrael a Type of the Church in three particulars.a type. Davids Kingdome a type of Chriſts Kingdome, the Church upon Earth; reſembling it both in the King of it, and Subiects of it, and State of it.
1. For the King and Head of it; David a type 1. The King & Head.of Chriſt, and a lively type, thence is it that Chriſt is ſometimes called by the name of David. They ſhall ſeeke the Lord their God (ſaith the Prophet 3 Hoſ. v. laſt.Hoſea, ſpeaking of the Iſraelites, the Iewes) and David their King. i. e. Chriſt, who as he was of the ſeed of David, the ſonne of David, ſo he was moſt clearely and lively repreſented, and reſembled by David. To touch upon the particular Reſemblances betwixt them, (as it is beſides the Text ſo) it would ſwallow up more time then for the preſent I have to ſpare.
Secondly, For the ſubiects of it; they were Iſraelites, a people that were in covenant with God, carrying 2. Subjects.the ſeale of that covenant, (the ſigne of circumciſion) in their fleſh; an holy people, profeſſing ſanctitie and holineſſe. And ſuch are the ſubiects of Chriſts Kingdome, the true members of the Church viſible; they are Iſraelites; Behold an Iſraelite: ſuch by profeſsion; a people in covenant with God, partaking 1 Ioh. 47.of the feals of the covenant, a holy people, called to holineſſe, Saints by calling, profeſſing ſanctitie and holineſſe.
3. State.Thirdly, for the ſtate of it; Davids Kingdome was ſtill in a militant condition for the moſt part▪ and ſo is the Kingdome of Chriſt, his Church upon Earth, a militant Church; where Chriſt Pſal. 110.ruleth and raigneth in the midſt of his Enemies.
Thus was Iſrael a Type of the Church, the one literall, the other Myſticall Iſrael. And both theſe ſhall we finde ſubject unto Breaches. Typicall Iſrael was; Mysticall Iſrael, the Church may be; the Text makes good the former, let me ſhew you the latter, and for the demonſtrating of it, cleare unto you theſe two things.
1. What Breaches they are which Iſrael, the church, is ſo ſubiect to.
Secondly, Now it cometh to paſſe that it ſhould be ſo ſubiect to theſe Breaches.
For the former, What Breaches they are that the qu. 1. What Breaches the church is ſubject to.church of God upon earth is ſo ſubiect to?
For anſwer hereunto, give me leave to reflect upon the type, and enquire what were Iſraels Breaches which David here complaineth of. In making Anſ. Cleared from the Type.this enquirie, I will not go out of this Pſalme wherof the Text is part, in the latter part whereof David doth tacitly inſinuate unto us what were thoſe Breaches whereof he complayneth in the former. They were of two ſorts:
Homebred.Iſraels Breaches of two ſorts.
Foraigne.
Homebred, inteſtine and civill Breaches, made and cauſed by ſome of the Iſraelites themſelves. Foraigne, made by thoſe who were open, and profeſſed enemies to their Kingdome, and Religion.
1. For the former. There was as yet a ſtrong partie in Iſrael, which after the death of Iſhboſheth Hombred made by Iſraelites.cleaved to the houſe of Saul, not acknowledging David for their King, but were ready upon all occaſions to raiſe new tumults, and commotions, thereby ſeeking to ſhake off the yoake of Davids government. The chiefe and principall places, wher this ſeditious party had their reſidence, and abode, were thoſe which the Pſalmiſt mentioneth in the ſixth and ſeventh verſes of the Pſalme. viz. Shechem, Succoth, Gilead, Manaſſeh. Shechem, a Citie in the Ioſh. 20. 7. Ioſhu. 13. 27.tribe of Ephraim. Succoth, a Citie in the tribe of Gad. Gilead and Manaſſeh, the utmoſt borders of the Land of Canaan, beyond Iorden. Theſe were ſome of the chiefe places which ſided with Iſhboſheth whileſt he lived, as you may ſee, 2. Sam. 2. a Sam. 2. 8and (as it ſeemeth) they ſtill cleaved to the houſe of Saul after he was dead, not acknowledging David for their King. So much David himſelfe here inſinuates, I ſhall divide Shechem &c. i. e. have a full poſſeſſion of it and the reſt, which as yet he had not. Theſe were inteſtine and Homebred Breaches made by ſome of the Iſraelites themſelves.
Secondly, Beſides theſe (in the ſecond place) David and his Kingdom had many foraigne enemies; open and profeſſed enemies, not onelyonly to David & Foraigne made by Enemies.his Houſe; but to the whole Kingdome of Iſrael. Such were the Moabites, Edomites, Philistines, of whom you have mention, ver. 8. Moab ſhall be my Waſh-pott, &c. Moab, the land, or people of the Moahites, borderers upon the land of Iſrael, that inceſtuous progenie, begotten by Lot in his drunkenneſſe Geni 19. 3 3. &c.upon one of his own daughters, who having forſaken the true God, they were alſo enemies to his Num. 25. 1. 3. Judg. 3. 12people Iſrael. Edom, or Idumea, the Edomites, the poſteririe of Eſau, who for that prophane act of his in bartring away his birth-right for a meſſe of red potage Ge. 25. 30was called Edom, i. e. redd. Theſe alſo were enemies, imbittered and inveterate enemies againſt Iſrael; ſo David ſetterh them forth Pſal. 137. Pſa. 137. 7 Gen. 1…. 6. 14.Philistia, or Paleſtina, the Philiſtines, Chams curſed poſteritie, open and profeſſed enemies to Iſrael (Shems progenie) as appeares in diverſe places. All theſe Nations they were afterward ſubdued and conquered by David, and in aſſured confidence of this conqueſt, David here triumphs aforehand; Moab ſhall be my waſhpot, over Edom will I caſt out my ſhcoe,
But as yet they ſtood out, upon all occaſions ready to make incurſions and invaſions upon Iſrael, which alſo frequently they did, to the great diſturbing and indangering of that Kingdome. Put theſe together, and you ſee the Breaches to which the typicall Iſrael, Davids Kingdome, was ſubjected. And in theſe may you ſee what are the Breaches which The Church ſubject to like Breaches.the ſpirituall Iſrael, the Church of God upon earth is ſubject.
Breaches from without, and breaches from within. I will invert the order. From without, by open 1. Foraigne, by Perſecution.perſecution; from within, by inteſtine and homebred Diviſions. Of both theſe the Church of God in all ages hath had ſufficient experience: looke we upon the primitive times, during the infancy of the Church, however the ſoundeſt and entiveſt Church that ever was, yet how was it broken? broken, as by foraigne perſecutions, ſo by homebred diviſions. Both theſe wayes was the Church during the Apoſtles times broken, diſtreſſed by Enemies from without, who perſecuted it. So was the Church at Hieruſalem broken, in that great perſecution, wherein Paul was an actor, Stephen a Martyr, many of the Saints ſufferers, who thereupon were diſperſed and ſcattered, as you may ſee Acts 8. there might the Acts 8. 1.Church have taken up the words of the Pſalmiſt, in the firſt verſe of this Pſalme; O God thou haſt caſt us off, thou haſt ſcattered us. Thus was the Church at Antioch broken in that perſecution raiſed by the Iewes, irritating and ſtirring up devout and honorable Act. 13. 50women with the chiefe men of the citie, againſt the Chriſtians, wherein Paul himſelfe was to ſuffer: to let paſſe divers other.
The Churches being thus broken by perſecution from enemies without; they were alſo broken by 2.diviſions and distractions from within: their owne Hombred by diviſions.members being divided, and ſevered in their judgements, in their affections. This fire it began to ſmoke betimes, as you may ſee in that firſt Church, the Church at Hieruſalem, kindled by a little ſparke, a ſmall neglect, through the want of convenient Church-officers. There aroſe a murmuring of the Grecians againſt the Hebrewes, becauſe their widowes Acts 6. 1.were neglected in the daily ministration. Afterwards it broke forth into more open flames, hot and eager conteſts, and that about divers points; as namely The Church rent during the Apoſtles time.about circumciſion, whether neceſſary or no: no ſmall diſſention about it betwixt Paub and Barnabas, and certaine beleevers of Iudeah, who made a journey to Antioch (as it ſeemeth) to vent their tenents, and to undertake a diſpute about it. After Acts 15. 1, 2.this (to let paſſe perſonall differences which fell in betwixt their Teachers themſelves, as viz. that betwixt Paul and Barnabas are ſharpe contentions, Act. 15. 39. Gal. 2. 14.and Paul and Peter:) how were the people in ſome of the Churches divided? divided in particular about their Teachers. Inſtance in that Church of Corinth, where the members thereof were divided into Sects, ſome were Paulites, others Apolloites, a 1 Cor. 3. 3, 4.third Cephites, a fourth Christians; ſo divided and broken into ſects, and that about their Teachers, after whoſe names they affected to be called. In the ſame Church we ſhall finde other Breaches; the members thereof being divided againe (as probably about their Gestures in the publike worſhip and ſervice of God, ſo) about the doctrine and manner of adminiſtring the Sacrament of the Lords Supper, as it may be collected from that 1 Cor. 11. where the Apoſtle both cenſures thoſe differences amongſt them, and for the rectifying of them reduceth them 1 Cor. 11. 22, 23.to the firſt institution. Such Breaches were there made in and upon the Church during the time of the Apoſtles themſelves.
After their departure theſe Breaches were more After their departure torne.and greater. In the three firſt Centuries how was the Church of Chriſt rent and torne, partly by Lyons, partly by Wolves? By Lyons, ſuch as Nero, By Lyons a Tim. 4. 17.Saint Pauls Lyon was; cruell and bloudy perſecutours, putting the Church into blood; powring ſo much blood at the root of this Vine, as hath made it the more fruitfull ever ſince. Of theſe breaches Hiſtories uſually mention ten as moſt remarkable. The ten primitive perſecutions under thoſe Romiſh Heatheniſh Emperours. Thus was it torne by Lyons.
As by Lyons ſo by Wolves. So Saint Paul foretold that it ſhould be; I know that after my departure By wolues Act. 20. 29ſhall grievous Wolves enter in amongſt you, not ſparing the flocke. He ſpake it of falſe Prophets and hereticall Teachers, which with their pernicious errours, ſchiſmes and hereſies ſhould even rend and teare the flocke of Chriſt, the Church. And accordingly it came to paſſe, as the Hiſtories of thoſe times ſufficiently teſtifie. Never was the Church more rent and torne by Hereſies and Schiſmes, then in thoſe next ages after the Apoſtles: within the compaſſe of the firſt 400. yeeres, there being little leſſe then an hundred of them of note, as they are Danae. do Haereſ.collected and computed out of thoſe two ancient Doctors Epiphanius and Augustine. So fruitfull was the Church then in breaches. Broken by heatheniſh perſecutions, broken by various diviſions and distractions: and ſuch hath bin the condition of it ever ſince; even in the pureſt and quieteſt times never free from breaches: in ſome parts perſecuted, in others diſtracted. That it hath bin ſo, is out of doubt, which maketh good the Aſſertion that it may be ſo. Iſrael is ſubject to breaches.Q. 2. How the Church cometh to be ſo ſubject to theſe Breaches. Anſw.
Q. But how cometh it ſo to be? to be ſubject, ſo ſubject as it is?
A. I anſwer briefly. This is diverſly conſidered:
Gods doing.
Satans doing.
Gods doing; who doth it with an eyeparts to… is Gods doing, who permits & orders them, with reſpect,
Himſelfe.
His Church.
1. With an eye to himſelfe: his owne glory; the glory of his power, wiſdome, goodneſſe; all which are gloriouſly manifeſted; as,
Firſt in the preſerving and upholding his Church in the midſt of all theſe Breaches: even as the care 1. To his own glory which is manifeſted, In Preſerving.and skill of a Pilot is ſhowne in ſtearing a ſhip in a ſtreſſe, keeping her above-water in the midſt of thoſe raging billowes: or as the wiſdome and valour of a good Commander is ſhowne in defending the Citie, the wals whereof are full of breaches: ſo,
Secondly, in healing and making up of theſe Breaches; which God ſometimes doth in ſuch a In Healing.way, as he not onelyonly leaves no ſear behinde, but maketh the Church a gainer by them. In both theſe is God glorified: and to theſe ends doth he permit theſe breaches, which if he would he could hinder: even as our Saviour ſuffered Lazarus to be ſicke, to Ioh. 11. 21dye (both which he could have hindred) that the Sonne of man might be glorified in his Reſurrection: This ſicknes is not unto death, but for the glory of God. Ve. 4.So may we ſay of theſe diſeaſes in the Church; her Breaches are not mortal, not unto death (the Church being a Body like unto the Head of it, immertall) but for the glory of God, that the ſonne of man, the Head of the Church may be glorified in preſerving in Healing it.
2. God doth it in the ſecond place, with an eye 2. To his Church, viz. forto his Church, giving way to theſe Breaches, & that For,
1. Exerciſing
2. Trying
3. Purging
of it.
1. For the exerciſing of the Church. Therefore doth he expoſe it ſometimes to open perſecution, Exerciſe.ſuffering Enemies to breake in upon it, and to break it; even as the Husbandman opens and breakes the clods of his ground, rending and tearing it with ploughes and harrowes, as the Prophet Jſai alludeth. Iſ. 28 24.This he doth for the exerciſe of his Church, which if it lay fallow, would be ready to run wilde and prove unfruitfull.
2. For probation and triall of it. To make triall of the Faith and Obedience of his people. To this Tryall.end the Lord left the Cananites and ſome other nations, to be as thornes and pricks in the eyes and ſides of the Iſraelites, not driving them out before Joſhuah Ioſ. 23. 13as he had done the reſt, that through them he might prove Iſrael, whether they would keepe the way 2 Iudg. 22. 23.of the Lord, to walke therein, as you have it 2 Judg. And to this end (amongſt other) he ſuffers his Church to be pierced, rent and torne, as by perſecutions, ſo by ſchiſmes and hereſies, viz. for the trying and manifeſting of thoſe which are approved: There muſt be hereſies or ſects, ſaith Paul to his Corinthians; foreign oportet. There muſt be; Why? 1 Cor. 11. 19.That they which are approved, may be made manifeſt. Of ſuch uſe were thoſe civill diſſentions in the Kingdome of Iſrael betwixt David and Iſhboſheth, thereby it was manifeſted who they were which cleared to the houſe of Saul, and who to the Houſe of David. And ſuch uſe God maketh of the Breaches and Diviſions in his Church; hereby he diſcovers who they are which will cleave unto him & to his Truth, and who they are which for by and ſiniſter reſpects will be drawen aſide to follow after errour. Hereby God maketh a Diſcoverie; diſcovering men to others; I, and ſometimes diſcovering them to themſelves, making them hereby to know the rottenneſſe or ſinceritie of their own hearts, whether they have followed Chriſt for Loaves, or no.
Thirdly, for the purging of the Church. Even as by Purging.thoſe Commotions in the upper region of the Ayre, thunderings and lightnings, rending and tearing the clouds; with thoſe in the lower Region, ſtormes and tempeſts, the ayre it ſelf is purged, and cleanſed from many noxious vapours, which otherwiſe would anoy the inhabitants: Even ſo by theſe commotions, and combuſtions in the Church, God purgeth a great deal of corruption out of it. This is one of the fans in the hand of Chriſt, whereby he Mat. 3. 12.dreſſeth his corne, and purgeth his floore, (his Church,) freeing his truth from a great deal of chaffe, and droſſe which is oftimes mingled with it. Thus this is Gods doing: and,
In the ſecond place it is Satans doing, who hath 2. Satans doing, who hath an hand in al theſe Breaches, therebyever an hand in thoſe Breaches which God permits and orders. So had he in the great Breach which was made upon Iſrael, through Davids ſin in numbring the people. This happened not without a divine permiſſion, and ordination; whence it is ſaid, that God moved David against Iſrael, yet Satan had 2 Sam. 24. 1.an hand in it, being the immediate inſtigator of David unto that ſin, which made the Breach, whereat that judgement brake in; and thence we finde it elſe where attributed to Satan; Satan ſtood up againſt 1 Chro. 21. 1.Iſrael &c. Which latter text explaynes the former. There is not a Breach that is made in, or upon the Church, whether it be by open Perſecution, or home-bred Diſſenſion, but Satan hath an hand in it. So had he in all thoſe Breaches which were made in, and upon the Primitive Churches. Thoſe perſecutions were from him. The great red Dragon in the Revelation, he perſecuted the woman; Thoſe Rev. 12. 13.perſecutions wherewith the Church was broken under thoſe heatheniſh Emperouts untill the time of Conſtantine the great, that man-childe there ſpoken of (as ſome expoſitours conceive it,) that maſculine deliverer, they were of Satans rayſing. And ver. 5. Bright man.we may ſay the ſame of thoſe ſchiſmes, hereſies, errours, ſuperſtitions, wherewith the Church in thoſe Primitive and after ages was infeſted and troubled, they were all but the ſpawne and ſeed of the ſame Serpent. The Serpent caſt out of his mouth a flood of water after the woman, ſo you have it verſe Rev. 14. 15.fifteen. A flood of water, even that flood of errours and hereſies, as that of Arrianiſme and ſome other, which like a flood (a land flood) had overflowen almoſt the whole world: This flood came out of the mouth of that Serpent. And ſo hath that deluge of Antichriſtian errours in which the world for many ages together lay ſteeped, and drowned; And we may ſay the ſame of all thoſe leſſer ſtreames of errours, hereſies, ſchiſmes, which have or do infeſt any part of the Church, they are but as ſo many ſmaller brookes or rivolets flowing and ſtreaming from the ſame head; diviſions, diſcenſions in the Church they are ſome of the tares ſowen by this Mat. 13. 25.envious man in Gods field; which he doth to a clean contrary end then that which God intendeth them for; viz. for the ruine, and deſtruction of the Intending the ruine and deſtruction of the Church. Rev. 12. 15. Matth. 24. 24.Church. To this end the Dragon caſt out that flood of warers after the woman, that the woman might be carried away of the food. To this end doth Satan ſet abroach all theſe pernicious errours in the Church, that (if poſſible) the very Elect might be deceived, and ſo the whole Church carried away, either by ſeduction, or deſtruction. To this end doth he ſowe theſe tares of differences and diſſentions, that they may hinder the groweth of the good corne, the groweth of Religion, as for the moſt part they do: That hereby the Kingdome of Chriſt may be weakned, his own ſtrengthened, which as it was at the firſt founded in, and rayſed by diviſions, his dividing betwixt God and man; ſo it is exceedingly promored, and built up by the ſame meanes, by dividing betwixt men and men. You ſee the truth of the point, that it is ſo; you ſee the grounds of it, why it is ſo. What uſe ſhall we now make hereof unto our ſelves?
Here, to let fall a ſtone which the text putteth into my hand to caſt at our adverſaries of Rome; Ʋſe 1. Confutation. Bellarm. de notis Eccle. c. 3. Vnitie, Proſperity no true marks of the Church.who amongſt their fifteen notes, or markes of the true viſible Church, lay down theſe for two; Vnitie, Proſperity: Vnitie or Vnion of the members under one viſible head, and amongſt themſelves: Proſperity, outward and temporall felicitie; which if ſo, what ſhall we ſay to the Church of Iſrael at this preſent, when David complained of ſo many Breaches in it? Where was then the union of the Church under one viſible head, when that Kingdom (to which the Church was then confined) was ſo divided betwixt two; ſome cleaving to the houſe of David, others to the houſe of Saul, yet both making up one viſible Church? Where was the outward felicitie, and temporall Proſperity of the Church, when the foundations of that Kingdome, and conſequently of the Church, the whole Church, were ſo ſhaken, both by foraigne invaſions, and home-bred ſeditions? But I paſſe by this, leaving them to talke of that, which is not, nor ever yet was to be found amongſt themſelves. What ever may be ſaid for the latter (Temporall Proſperitie) ſure we are, as for the former (Ʋnitie) it is a thing which they have no cauſe to boaſt of.
The uſe I intend to make of it, ſhall be onelyonly to Uſe 2. Infoſmation. Our Breaches no juſt cauſe of triumph, ſcandall, or diſcouragement to any, though made ſo.take off the triumph, ſcandall, or diſcouragement, which any may happilie either make or take, at the preſent Breaches which are to be found amongſt us in this, and the neighbour Kingdom. In the behalf of both theſe we are this day, and at this time aſſembled together, viz. to ſeek God for them, as David doth here for Iſrael, that He would heal the Breaches thereof.
That there are Breaches in both, and thoſe very conſiderable ones, but for number, and nature, many and great, ſhaking the very foundations of them, it cannot be denied. And in theſe Breaches ſome happily will be ready to triumph. So did both the To ſome matter of triumph.Edomites, and Philiſtines here ſpoken of, over Iſraels Breaches. Iſraels Breaches were their Triumph; ſo were they to the Philiſtines. O Philiſtia triumph thou becauſe of me, or over me, ſaith the Pſalmiſt here verſe 8. ſpeaking by way of Ironie, and mockage, bidding them go on in their rejoycing and triumphing over the Church of God, inſulting over her Breaches and ruines as they did. The like did the Edomites. So we may hear the Prophet Obadiah Obad. 12.charging it upon them, ver. 12. of his prophecie. Edom looked upon the day of his brother Jacob, the day of Iſraels affliction, the day wherein he became a ſtranger, was carried away captaive. This day the Edomites looked upon in a rejoycing way, inſulting over the miſerie of the Church; ſo it followeth, Edom rejoyced over the children of Juda in the day of their deſtruction, and ſpake proudly (inſultingly) in the day of their distreſſe, &c. with ſuch an eye (no queſtion) do the enemies of God and his Church at this day looke upon the diſtreſſed, diſtracted ſtate, and condition of this and the neighbour nation. Romiſh Edomites, thoſe children of Edom which ſay of our Hieruſalem, our reformed Religion, Race it, race it, even to the foundations thereof; Pſal. 137. 7.uncircumciſed Philistines, ſuch as have gone about to ſet up the Ark of God by their Dagon, as 1. Sam. 5.the Philiſtines once did; to make Rome and England meet together; I doubt not but they are ready to triumph, and inſult over theſe Breaches, which themſelves have made; theſe diviſions, distractions, ſeditions, rebellions, whereof themſelves are the Authours, and fomenters; hoping that at theſe Breaches themſelves ſhall re-enter, ſetting up their ſtandards again upon the Churches battlements; raiſing themſelves upon the Churches ruines, which they hope theſe diſtractions do preſage.
Others there are to whom theſe Breaches may happily be a matter either of ſcandall, or diſcouragement.
To ſome of ſcandall, unſetled and unſtable To ſome, of ſcandalChriſtians, reeds ſhaken with the winde, carried about with every blaſt. Upon this ground happily they may be brought to ſcruple and queſtion the truth of our Religion, and ſo to entertain thoughts of relinquiſhing it, flying from it, (as ſome have Vid. ep. Dr. Hall to Mr. W. L. Decad. 3. Ep. 5. To ſome, of diſcouragement.done) becauſe of ſome diviſions amongſt the Profeſſors of it.
To others of diſcouragement; Weak and fainthearted Chriſtians, who becauſe they cannot at the preſent ſee how theſe Breaches ſhould be repaired, and made up, therefore they are ready to yeeld up the City, to give the Church, and cauſe of Chriſt in it, for loſt; as if the condition thereof were forelorne, and deſperate.
Not ſo: No juſt gro…nd for any of theſe; whether for triumph, ſcandall, or diſcouragement. Breaches No juſt ground for any of theſe.there are amongſt us, it cannot be denied; and thoſe ſuch Breaches as deſerve to be lamented with tears of blood: but yet, are they any other then what the Church of God upon earth is ſubject to? Surely no. It is Saint Pauls conſolation to his Corinthians touching their temptations. There hath no temptation taken you but ſuch as is common to man. And the 1. Cor. 10. 13.like may I ſay of theſe temptations, diſtractions, diviſions, wherewith the Church of God in theſe parts at this day is exerciſed, they are no other then what are common to the Church, may befall the Church, the true Church of God. To make this good, paralell and compare we the ſtate of the Church in theſe Iſraels Breaches and ours comparedtwo Kingdoms with that of Iſrael in Davids time, and ſee, what greater Breaches ſhall we finde in the one then in the other?
In the neighbour nation, the Trumpet of rebellion is ſounded, the Kingdome divided, put into blood, ingaged in a civill war, by the means of a ſeditious party of Romiſh confederates, who, under a pretence of vindicating the liberty of their own, ſeek and indeavour the extirpating, and rooting out the true Religion of God, of late through the mercy of God begun to be planted amongſt them, together with all the profeſſours of it. But what is here more to be ſeen, or heard, then was in Iſrael at that time when ſhe bad the ſon of Bichri, a man of Belial, blew a trumpet, and ſaid, we have no part in 2 Sam. 20 1. 2.David, neither have we inheritance in the ſon of Jeſſe: every man to his tents O Iſrael; whereupon the whole 10. tribes made a preſent revolt, following after him, the tribe of Judah onelyonly cleaving to their King.
Amongſt our ſelves however (bleſſed be God, and bleſſed be his Anointed, and bleſſed be the multitude of his wiſe & faithfull Councellours) this fire hath not yet broken forth into ſuch open flames, yet how hath it ſmoaked? how doth it ſmoak? To let paſſe here that late Breach, ſo happily healed, and made up, betwixt the two Nations, (at leaſt ſo ſome would have had it) which threatned us with the dreadfull judgement of a civill war (of wars the worſt.) To let that paſſe, (which yet we muſt not let paſſe without a thankfull acknowledgement of the power, wiſdome, goodneſſe of God manifeſted in making up of that Breach; not onelyonly healing it without a skar, but bringing a more firme union out of it.) As alſo to forbear the mention of thoſe late Breaches made both upon Church, and ſtate among our ſelves. Breaches made upon the eſtates of men, upon the liberties of ſubjects, the bodies, nay the ſouls and conſciences of Chriſtians, which through the goodneſſe of God inclining the heart of his Anointed to hearken to his great Councell of ſtate are in part already repaired and made up. Beſides theſe, other Breaches there are which yet lye upon us. Breaches in the Church & Breaches in the ſtate; both in meaſure ſtill rent and torne, diſtracted, and divided. I ſhall not need to name particulars, which are too obvious to every vulgar eye. But in all theſe what is here more then was to be found in Iſrael at that time when the whole land was ſhaken, that Kingdome divided betwixt the two Houſes of Saul and David; ſome ſiding with the one, others with the other; taking of parts to the great indangering of the ſtate, of the Church therein? True it is, the enemies of our peace are many. Beſides a dangerous party at home of ſuch as do (in their hearts and affections at leaſt) cleave to the Houſe of Saul, the old Houſe as they falſly call it) Papiſts, and others popiſhly affected, together with a Malignant party of malecontents, perſons ill affected to Church and ſtate; beſides theſe, it cannot be thought but that we have enemies abroad; enemies to our Religion we are ſure, many of them vaſſals to that Man of ſinne, that Antichriſt of Rome, who (as they at the preſent inſult over our breaches, ſo) if occaſion were offered, we cannot thinke but that they would be ready to breake in at them. But herein againe, what is our condition other then Iſraels was at this time when David penned this Pſalme, when beſides that ſeditious party amongſt themſelves they had alſo many foraigne enemies; enemies both to their Kingdome and Religion, and that almoſt on every ſide: Moabites, Edomites, Philistines; Moabites and Edomites on the Eaſt; Philistines on the Weſt. Thus paralelling our condition with Iſraels, we finde no great oddes of breaches betwixt them; not more in the one then was in the other.
And therefore (to draw towards a concluſion of this point and exerciſe.) In the firſt place, let not No cauſe of triumph to our adverſaries. Mic. 7. 8.our adverſaries triumph over our breaches; Rejoyce not againſt me O mine enemy. Or, if they will, let them triumph; Triumph thou O Philistia becauſe of me or over me. Let our adverſaries of Rome and their adherents, the ſedicious and ill affected party amongſt our ſelves, triumph and lift up their heads, inſulting over our breaches: in the meane time we could tell them of their owne breaches, and enquire Whoſe Breaches are not leſſe then ours.of them where their Ʋnitie was when their Church was divided betwixt two viſible Heads at once, (two Popes I meane,) both ſet up, and both ruling at the ſame time, the one in Italie, the other in France; the one at Rome, the other at Avignion: a conſiderable number of Cardinals and Prelates ſiding and taking part with either of them. Then was the ſtate of their Church like that of Iſrael, when after the death of Saul ſome ſided with David, others with Iſhboſheth. We could minde them of their own preſent diviſions, which long have, and ſtill do diſtract that Church of theirs; which howſoever they (having more of the Serpent, and being wiſer in their generations then the children of Light,) carry Luk. 16. 8.more cloſely, with leſſe noiſe, (wherein I wiſh we could imitate them,) yet are they both for nature, and number ſo conſiderable, as that it ſhould make them aſhamed either to boaſt of Ʋnity amongſt themſelves, or to inſult over the Breaches of others. One of their own modeſtly tels us of 20. Gene brard.ſeverall ſchiſmes amongſt them. Another, their great Cardinall Bellarmin by name (to the everlaſting glory of their Churches unity,) ingenuouſly acknowledgeth no leſſe then 237. differences, or contrarieties in Doctrine amongſt their own Divines. But theſe we paſſe by, contenting our ſelves with this; this was Iſraels condition, and it may be the condition of the true Church of God, to be divided, distracted, no matter of triumph to them.
Nor yet, in the ſecond and third place, of ſcandall or diſcouragement to others.
Not of ſcandall: What though the naturall body No cauſe of ſcandall.of Chriſt be pierced, rent, torne, with thornes, nailes, the ſpear of the ſouldier? yet let none be offended at it. Bleſſed is he (ſaith our Saviour) whoſoever Mat. 11. 6.ſhall not be offended in me: What though the miſticall body of Chriſt, the Church be pierced, rent and torne, pierced with the ſpear of perſecution; rent and torne, with the thornes and nailes of homebred diviſions and diſſentions? let none be offended at it. Nor yet
Diſcouraged by it. The naturall Body of Chriſt, for all it was ſo pierced, rent, and torne; yet it roſe again the third day. They are not all the rents, Or diſcouragement to weake …hriſtian Hoſ. 6. 1 2.breaches, diviſions, distractions in the misticall body of Chriſt, the Church, that ſhall hinder the reſurrection of it. The Church in Hoſea complains, that the Lord had torne her, and ſmitten her; Yet mark what followeth, After two dayes he will revive us, in the third day he will raiſe us up, and we ſhall live in his ſight. God hath at the preſent done the like by this, and the neighbour Nation, ſmitten the one, torne the other: Smitten the one with the ſword of a Civill, but Barbarous and Savage enemy: Torne the other, with unhappy differences and diſtractions; yet let not either of theſe diſcourage: He that hath torne us, he can heal us: He that hath ſmitten us, he can binde us up; and this (we truſt) in mercy he will yet do. It is the ſpeech (I remember) of the wife of Manoah to her hu…band; If the Lord had had a purpoſe to deſtroy Goo… hopes that God will heal our Breaches. Iude 13. 23.us, he would not have received a burnt-offering, and a meat-offering at our hands, neither would he have ſhewed us all theſe things. And let us in an holy conſidence ſay the like, touching the Church of God in this, and the neighbour Kingdoms: Had God had a purpoſe to hauehave caſt us off from being a Church, from being a people, to have unchurch'd us, to have taken his Goſpel from us, ſurely he would never have accepted our offerings, our prayers, and the prayers of his people amongſt us, which we are aſſured he hath dore, having given us moſt gracious & comfortable returnes of them, aſſured evidences of their acceptation: Neither would he ever have ſhewed us all theſe things. Diſcovered and conſounded ſo many plots, ſo many trecheries and conſpiracies of our adverſaries, ſtill turning their councels upon their own heads; carrying the great councell of the Kingdom through ſo many (to fleſh and blood) inſuperable difficulties: Nor yet would he have begun to repair and make up our Breaches, ſo as in part already he hath done, and (we hope) is doing. Do we ſee one beſtowing coſt upon an old garment, in darning up the holes, drawing up the rents, making up the Breaches in it; we thereupon conjecture, ſurely it is not his intent as yet to caſt it off, and to lay it aſide. Surely (beloved) ſuch have been Gods dealings with us, (ſpecially of this Kingdom) of late, as that we may ſay that they are, at leaſt ſeem to be, ſweet intimations of a gracious purpoſe and intention towards us: OnelyOnly in this will the Lord be ſought. And for this, let every of us ſeek him, that it may not repent him of the good which he hath ſeemed to intend towards us, but that he would returne, and come unto us with healing in his wings; coming unto us as Mal. 4. 2. Cant. … and laſtthe Spouſe deſireth that her Beloved might come unto her, Like a Roe, or a yong Hart upon the mountains of Bether, the mountains of diviſion, as the word ſignifieth. In his own time (which let not us preſcribe) healing and making up all our breaches. This is Davids Prayer for Iſrael in the text: And for this Let us pray.