The Sacrifice of the Faithful 2, Sermon 4
GODS IMPARTIALITY.
ESAY 42. 24.
Who gave Jacob to the ſpoile and Iſrael to the Robbers? Did not I the Lord.
THE Lord in this Chapter by the Prophet Iſaiah doth foretell heavy things againſt the people; and by the way marke the Lords dealings, he ever gives warning before he ſends any plagues: he lightens before he thunders; that the people might not ſay they did not heare of it, and and that the wicked might be the more inexcuſable, and that the godly might make an Arke to ſave themſelves in.
Theſe words containe in them five ſeverall things.
Firſt, the Author of this deſtruction or judgement.
Secondly, the Cauſes of it.
Thirdly, the Judgement it ſelfe.
Fourthly, Who they were on whom this Judgement was inflicted.
Fifthly, The effects of it.
Now by Gods permiſſion I will open theſe words in order unto you. And for the firſt, the Author of it.
It is laid downe by queſtion and anſwer.
Queſtion, Who gave Jacob to the ſpoyle, and Iſrael to the robbers?
Anſwer, Did not I the Lord? was it not I the mighty God, which am able to order every thing according to my owne will.
But indeed we are ready to aſcribe things to chance and fortune and lot; to prevent this ſaies God, who did theſe and theſe things? did not I the Lord?
Now, by Jacob and Iſrael is meant the people of the Jewes, which were called by the name of Jacob. For, his peculiar people, when they ſinned, he gave them over. God …ais, who gave this people of mine to the enemies? did not I the Lord? therefore God he is the Author of all puniſhment.
Secondly, the Cauſe why the Lord did this: for, ſome might ſay, why did the Lord overthrow this people, whom he did ſo tenderly reſpect for his, which were as the apple of his eye, and the ſtrength of his right arme? becauſe they ſinned againſt the Lord, and would not walke in his waies.
He ſets downe the Cauſes.
Firſt, in generall, they have ſinned.
Secondly, in particular, they would not walke in his way, nor be obedient to his Lawes.
Thirdly, here is the Judgement it ſelfe, therefore hath he powred upon them the fierceneſſe of his anger, the ſtrength of the Battell and fire round about them. He calleth it the anger of the Lord: not of a King, or of a great man, but the anger of the Lord, the fury of his anger: ſhewing the extremity of it he doth not ſay that God doth drop downe his anger; but, he poures out the fury of his indignation. Moreover he ſaith, the ſtrength of battell; the Lord commeth like an armed man to fight againſt them, and to deſtroy them, as men in warres doe when they ſ…ay both young and old, and make no bones of it, and are glad when they have done it; And, as an armed man to ſlay them; ſo likewiſe, he hath ſet a fire round about them▪ the Lord hath incloſed them in with indignation, ſo that they could ſee no way to get out of it, or to eſcape it. So then this ſhews the unavo…dableneſſe of Gods Judgements.
Fourthly, who were theſe that were deſtroyed? Jacob and Iſrael, a praying and a profeſsing and a faſting people.
Fifthly, the effect of all this, how it did worke upon them. Yet, ſaith the Lord, they know it not, neither lay it to heart. Oh Lord, what monſtrous ſtupidity is this! though God did doe it; in his anger too; yet this poore Nation ſaw it not, neither regarded it, till the plague came; and when it came, they never laid it to heart, neither were they humbled by it, but did beare the plague, and afterwards went downe into hell, and never minded it.
Even ſo, beloved, ſtands the caſe with us; The Lord plagues us, and we ſee it not: his anger burnes round about us, and the fierceneſſe of his wrath ſuſtaineth to battell: and yet we perceive it not.
From the firſt of theſe obſerve: namely,
That God is the author of all plagues and Doct. judgements that befall a Nation. It was he that drowned the old world, and delivered the Children of Iſrael to the ſpoylers. Shall there be any evill in the City, and the Lord hath not done it? ſaith Amos in his third chap. and 6 verſe. From whence, obſerve this, That God ordaines all puniſhments before they come. Acts. 4. 28. for to doe whatſoever thy hand and counſell determined before to be done. And as God ordaineth all things before they come; ſo he ordereth them and the time when they ſhall come; and they cannot come one moment of time before the Lord would have them. The Jewes could not lay hold on our Saviour, becauſe his houre was not yet come. John. 8. 50. The wicked cannot pull downe puniſhments upon a Nation when they will; As its he ordaineth them: and the time when; ſo thirdly, he doth appoint them how long they ſhall lie upon men. Revel. 2. 10. There the Lord had appointed the Church of Smyrna ten dayes tribulation; and there is meaſured how much God appointes us. The devill could goe no further then his commiſſion in afflicting Job. As he doth order all, ſo he doth order all for the good of his people, and for the confuſion of his enemies; all things worke for the good of thoſe that feare God, and for the hardening and overthrowing of the enemies of the Church that are incorrigible.
This may ſtay and comfort the hearts of Uſe 1 Gods Children, in any heavie croſſe that befalls them.
Is God the orderer and diſpoſer of all? then this may comfort thy ſoul O thou poore childe of God; I ſay comfort thy ſoul with this, that the Lord is the temperer of all things, and the Phyſician that ſtands by and ſees how many drammes the Apothecary putteth in. The devill indeed may afflict thee, and wicked men may puniſh thee; but thou ſhalt have no more then the Lord ſees good for thee. Therefore though thine enemies take thee and kill thee, and Rabſhekah raile on thee, and Bonner burne thee, yet the Lord is a ſweete loving Father, and ordereth all things, and cannot finde in his heart to hurt thee. Though they be the Inſtruments, yet God he is the Author, and hath appointed how long and how much and for what they ſhall afflict thee. Therefore though the ſword finde thee, and faggot come: yea though thou beeſt baniſhed or ſawne aſunder, yet the Lord ordereth all things: and though he correct thee, yet he cannot finde in his heart to hurt thee. Therefore he ſaith to the ſword and to the plague as David ſaid to Jacob, have a care of my deare ſonne: onelyonly ſubdue the rebell▪ but doe not hurt my ſonne. So ſaith God, uſe my ſervants kindly for my ſake: onelyonly bring under their proud hearts, but doe not hurt them. Therefore have an eye to Gods love, and let faith in him over-rule thy heart in ſpite of all that can come againſt thee.
This may terrifie the hearts of all wicked Uſe 2 men that are out of Gods favour.
Is God the Author of all puniſhments▪ then this may make their haire to ſtand upright upon their heads. That God whom thou hateſt, is the puniſher of thee: even he whoſe-Sonne thou deſpieſt, and whoſe Sabbaths thou prophaneſt; He is able if his wrath be kindled, to conſume thee in a moment. Oh, if thou haddeſt not an adamant heart, this would daunt it, and diſſolve it into teares of bloud. God will infinitely puniſh thee, who is a conſuming fire: but if thou wilt not be daunted, there is nothing but fearefull looking for of fire and brimſtone for ever in hell. When God puniſheth his children, it is in merciemercy: but to the wicked his wrath is puniſhments, and his Judgements is anger and great wrath: and therefore when he puniſheth thee, thou mayeſt ſay a juſt Judge brandeth me in the hand.
Is it ſo? Then when Calamities come, Uſe 3 let us not ſo much ſtand upon men, or upon the helpe of them: but let us looke to God as David did: it may be the Lord ſent Shimei to raile on me; and ſo did Job, the Lord gives, and the Lord hath taken away. The Caldeans did it: but they were Gods Inſtruments. We ſhould not doe as doggs that gnaw the ſtones that are throwne at them. God takes ſtones as it were, and throweth them upon mens heads: and ſometimes whips them by wicked men. Now, the wicked are but Gods rod, and when he hath ſcourged thee, he will caſt the rod into the fire. Therefore goe unto the Lord, make peace with him, and he will remove it. The wicked I confeſſe are in fault, but God is the Author of all: and he will deliver you in his good time.
Secondly, wherefore will God deale thus with Iſrael, becauſe they have ſinned with a rebellious ſpirit, not by infirmity but in diſobedience? Whence you may learne this point of Inſtruction, That ſinne and diſobedience againſt Gods Law is that which brings downe puniſhments and judgements upon a Nation or a people or Church. Sinne is the brooder and hatcher of all judgments, and the very ſpawne of all puniſhments. Ah, this ſinne and diſobedience, and willfull rebellion againſt God, it will bring ſw…rd and famine amongſt us, and let in the enemie, and ſend out God from amongſt us, and ſtoppe the mouthes of his Miniſters, and breake off the Parliament.
Another cauſe why God ſends puniſhments amongſt us, is this, becauſe Kings will not be ſubject to the Lawes of God, and Queenes will doe what they liſt: when Biſhops and all people will have elbow roome to doe that which ſeemes good in their owne eyes: as giving toleration for the prophanation of Gods Sabb…ths, that the people may diſhonour the Lord, and runne headlong to hell: this and ſuch like, ſets up wickedneſſe, and brings the wrath of God upon us, and his vengeance upon our Land and Kingdome, when thus ſinne gets the upper hand and day of the word, for which I cannot chuſe but pittie our poore Land, neither could you doe leſſe if your hearts were not as hard as an adamant, and your eyes glued together. Ah poore Nation, now thou lieſt a bleeding and drawing to an end, and the bell now tolls for this Nation, and the Lord is a going from this Land: and her puniſhments and judgments are comming on apace, ſo that all Nations may ſay, Wherefore hath the Lord done this unto this Land, what meaneth the heat of his anger? then ſhall men ſay, they have forſaken the Covenant of the Lord God of their Fathers, and ſerved other Gods. Judges. 4. 2. When they forgatte the Lord their God, then he ſold them into the hand of Jabin King of Canaan: this was the ground why the Lord drowned the old world. Geneſ. 6. 12. becauſe they had corrupted all their waies; this was the cauſe why the Lord burned S…dome and Gomorrah with wild-fire from heaven: this was the cauſe the Lord deſtroyed Jeruſalem forty yeares after Chriſt, becauſe they would have none of the offers of Chriſt, and of grace and merciemercy. And thus much for proofe.
Good Lord, what a poore weake Land Uſe 1 have we! if ſinne and rebellion be the cauſe of all puniſhments, then in what a poore caſe is England? how weake are we? our hearts may ſhake within us, and our knees may knock together to conſider of it, having ſo many ſinnes of all ſorts, of all degrees, and committed with ſo high a hand, and in moſt fearefull manner.
We are ſicke from the Crowne of the head to the ſoale of the feete, there is no ſoundneſſe in us: we are ſicke in head, ſicke in heart, ſicke in ſtomacke; we have had peace, and that hath ſurfeited us: and now we have gotten the pluriſie, and nothing but letting of bloud will cure us. God grant the Lord let us bloud in our hearts alſo: God muſt purge and phyſicke us, and fetch out the droſſe which we have gathered by our diſobedience. If ſin and rebellion will doe it, we have given God cauſe enough ſo to plague us.
Is it ſo? Then we ſee who are the greateſt Uſe 2 traytors in the Kingdome, and what they are that pull downe puniſhments upon a Kingdome; they are diſobedient rebells and traytors, full of ſinne.
I proteſt the greateſt traytors King Charles hath this day, are the prophaners of Gods Sabboths, and ſuch as doe give liberty to prophane them, and to ſweare and be drunke: theſe are the plague ſores of this Kingdome, and bring downe heavie judgements upon us; yea, of what place or dignity ſoever they be. It is not onelyonly poore drunkards, but ſilver and velvet Coate drunkards, even the Lordly men of this Kingdome, who give libertie to ſinne: for the greater the men are, the greater are their ſinnes, and they are the moſt dangerous, even as great Cut-purſes doe more harme then little ones; for as Haman was hanged before the Jewes ſaw good daies, and the ſeven ſonnes of Saul were ſlaine before they could have any peace in Iſrael: So while theſe rebells be not hanged, what peace can be expected? while Jonah was in the ſhip, there could be no qu…etneſſe: ſo whilſt theſe rebells and vile wretches live and have favour, and are reſpected, and goe on ſtill unpuniſhed, they are in the Land, as Jonah was in the ſhippe: and ſo long there can be no quietneſſe in the Land.
One Achan did plague a whole Land▪ but here are many Achans in this Land. Oh poore Land; thou art wonderfully laden by every ungodly perſon, both in Countrey and City. O let us begge of God that theſe may be hanged and diſpatched, or that God would turne their hearts.
Is it ſo, that ſinne is the brooder of all Uſe 3 puniſhments? O then let it teach every one of us to ſ…t heart and hand and all to worke, to joyne all our forces of prayers and teares againſt theſe enemies, and labour for the reformation of theſe. When Jonas was in the ſhippe, the Marriners, came about him and asked him, from whence comeſt thou? So if ever we would ſee good dayes, we muſt joyne our prayers and all our powers againſt our ſinnes and the ſinnes of others.
When the Philiſtins ſaw that the Arke was the cauſe of the puniſhments that befell them, then they never reſted till they had ſent it away; ſo let us ſhip and packe away our ſinnes, if ever we would have our puniſhments removed from us. Say, Oh mine enemie, have I found thee, thou art the enemie of King, and Countrey, and Parliament, and Goſpell, and, thou art he that brake the laſt Parliament, thou art he that loſt the day at the Iſle of Ree, thou art he that ſent ſo many poore Rochellers to the grave with famine, and thou art he that makes diviſion betweene Kings and Commons. The Lord give us power and courage: for if ever we had neede, now we have; and let us beſtirre our ſelves, and pray that God would be pleaſed to ſtirre up the heart of the King and other Magiſtrates againſt theſe ſinnes. O that Magiſtrates in their places, would ſet their hearts and hands againſt all theſe ſinnes; but light execution is done, and moſt Magiſtrates ſtand for ciphers in their places, and onelyonly take up a roome, and doe nothing. We cannot draw them with all the arguments we can uſe to puniſh theſe ſinnes. We have cauſe to mourne: for they ſtand like ſcare-Crowes, with a peice in their hands, but never ſhoote: and the birds may picke the ſtraws from their heads; ſo that Magiſtrates doe nothing.
But to you I ſpeake that are Chiefe in Townes, and chiefe Officers: you ſhould all joyne hand in hand and heart in heart to pull downe theſe al…houſes, hell-houſes, and nurſeries of the devill, and to ſupplant wickedneſſe. We muſt not be one for them, and another againſt them: for in ſo doing, we ſhall never ſee good dayes.
And you Gentlemen, where are your hearts and hands againſt them? when did you ever ſpeak or write againſt them? when did you ever ſet foot in ſtriving to have them ſuppreſt? men ſtand with their fingers in their mouthes, and their hands in their pockets, and dare not ſtand for God and good cauſes. The Lord be mercifull unto us: we doe not joyne our forces, prayers and powers that we can make for Gods glory. Oh that the Lord would be pleaſed to put his Spirit into our hearts, that we may be all of one minde. So you Gentlemen, in your places, and we Miniſters in our places, and all of us, we are with all the ſtrength and courage and mettle that the Lord hatth put into us, to crie, and pray, and preach downe ſinne. And all you Maſters and Dames, you are to reforme your Families: for theſe ſinnes bring downe puniſhments upon the Land. Therefore labour to finde out the wickednes of your Families, and admoniſh them, and reprove them plainely, and ſhew them from Gods word the puniſhments that are due to them. If you would doe theſe things, then there might be ſomething done: and if reproofe and admoniſhment will not ſerve the turne, then expell them and baniſh them, as Abraham did Hagar and Iſmael. You Chriſtians, mourne for your ſinnes, and joyne your hearts and prayers againſt the ſinnes of the place where you live.
If any houſe be on fire, others will come with water to quench it as if it were their owne: ſo here is a flame of fire kindled in this Kingdome of England, and the wrath of God is like wild fire comming downe upon us from heaven: therefore let every one of us bring ſome water or other to quench this fire that is round about us in every place, and almoſt upon all hearts.
Let every man ſweepe his owne doore, and the ſtreetes will be cleane; ſo if every one would purge his owne heart, what reformation would there be in every place? then God and Chriſt and Goſpell might be here ſtill, and the enemies might be kept out ſtill: which if we doe not, who knowes how ſoone the enemie may ruſh in upon us? but alas, we harbour theſe traytors in our boſomes.
I proteſt againſt every man that harbours ſinne in his owne houſe or ſoule, that he is a traytor to the Kingdome, whatſoever he be; if I knew the man, I would faſten mine eyes on him▪ and tell him, Oh thou vile Achan, doeſt thou harbour theſe ſinnes, and traytors, and keepe theſe ſinnes, and then crie out of the dangerouſneſſe of the times?
If a man did know certainely, that the dogge that he keepes in his houſe, would one day pull out his throate, would he keep him fatte that he might the better doe it? no ſure, he would rather hang him. Or if a man did know that the fire that burnes upon the hearth, would burne him, would he blow it? or if a man did know that the knife which he hath, would one day cu…e his throate, would he ſharpen it? no ſurely.
Beloved, this is the caſe of all us poore wretches that live in ſinne: they will be the cauſe of all the puniſhments that God ſends upon us all. Now therefore, I charge you all, men and women, and every one of you, to make a Covenant and enter into an Oath and a curſe, to ſearch out every ſinne, and finde them out in your families, wife and children and ſervants; and doe what you can to quench them. Theſe Townes and Countreys are on fire, O that the Lord would be pleaſed to ſend his word home to every one of your hearts: you I meane that I love as well as mine owne ſoule, my deare people. I would ſpend and be ſpent for you, if God would give me ſtrength: and though I ſpeake plaine, it is for your everlaſting good.
What are thoſe puniſhments that he threatned to poure upon them in the furie of his wrath? He poureth full battails, and the ſtrength of battails; all this was upon his owne deare people Iſrael; even thoſe people the Lord ſo ſeverely threatens.
Hence, obſerve this Doctrine, That the Doct. 2 Lord often times brings fearfull and unavoydable judgements and puniſhments, even upon his owne profeſsing people: even they that offer ſacrifice, and that pray, and call him Father, and faſt and pray: even upon theſe people, he doth often times bring theſe puniſhments. Amos 3. 2. You onelyonly have I knowne among all the Nations of the earth: therefore will I puniſh you for all your iniquities.
See the whole currant of Gods word: did not the Lord puniſh the Children of Iſrael in the time of their Judges? they had many ſore enemies, as Eglon and Siſera. The ten Tribes they ſinned, and were carried into captivity: and theſe were Gods profeſsing people. And afterward the other two Tribes, Iudah and Benjamine, were carried away captive into Babylon, and there they were ſeventy yeares.
Forty yeares after Chriſt, the Romans came againſt them, and burnt all their Cities. And theſe were Gods owne profeſsing people.
The Churches of Aſia were famous Churches, but now they are overthrowne with Turkes. Now, our ſinnes give God juſt cauſe to make him come againſt us, with puniſhments and judgements upon this Land.
If a man lie ſicke, and they ſee death in his face, they call it the foretelling ſigne: ſo the Miniſters of God may foreſee the death and deſtruction of a Kingdome. I am ſure we have better grounds, then the Phyſicians can have. And therefore, why may not the Miniſters which are Gods Phyſicians, doe it?
The ſignes of Gods puniſhments that are comming upon us, are theſe.
The firſt is of Gods Miniſters which with one voice doe foretell judgements to come.
Then, this is a ſigne that God haſteneth to battell, Am…s. 3. 7. Surely the Lord will doe nothing but he revealeth his ſecrets to his ſervants the Prophets: but eſpecially when they agree all in one thing; then the Kingdome is dangerouſly gone▪ Luke. 1. 70. The Lord giveth one mouth, as he ſpake by the mouth of all his holy Prophets.
I will ſay nothing in this, but let me appeale to your owne conſciences, whether all good Miniſters in the Church of England, have not declared by Gods word that judgements are comming out againſt this Land and us for many yeares together: And as our Saviour ſaith, Whatſoever ye ſhall binde on earth ſhall be bound in heaven.
Secondly, when ſinnes of all ſorts doe abound frequently, and with a bold face, and a whoriſh forehead. For when the harveſt is ripe, then commeth ſo many ſickles to cut it downe: ſo when the ſinnes of a Kingdome are ripe, then it is time to cut that Kingdome downe. Gen. 6. 12. The earth was filled with violence, all fleſh had corrupted their waies: therefore, make an Arke: for the end of all fleſh is come. God will waſh away their filthieneſſe. Conſider whether it be not thus with England or no. Was ever drunkenneſſe and blaſphemie, and ſcoffing at religion, and prophaning Gods Sabboths, nay liberty given ſo to do, was it ever come to that height that now it is? were ever great ones, as Biſhops and Miniſters, ſo defiled, as now they are? our Land hath often beene overcome: when men were growne deſperately wicked, then they were deſtroyed. Now, what ſinnes, what blaſphemies, what hating of God lyeth raging in our times? I thinke there is none in this Congregation but ſees and heares, how Citie and Countrey are venomed and benummed, and defiled with ſinnes of all ſorts.
Thirdly, when the devill and wicked men caſt bones of diſſention, that is a ſigne of ruine. When there was a diſſe…tion betweene Rehob…am and the people, then God pulled away ten Tribes, and much bloud was ſhed. So when King and Commons, and all are divided, Ephraim againſt Manaſſes, and Manaſſes againſt Ephraim, but both againſt Judab, then it is a fearefull ſigne that that Nation ſhall be deſtroied.
I ſay, to apply this, if ever a Kingdome were divided, then this is; if we could all accord, then we might expect ſomething: but, now, our beſt bloud is gone, and our hearts are gone: the Lord in merciemercy raiſe us up from dead aſhes.
O conſider this, I beſeech you, and lay it to heart. Will God deceive his Miniſters, and make them all blindefold? no no. When God puts his Spirit into his Miniſters, and makes them all with one mouth to call and crie deſolation, and when all manner of ſinnes ſo fearefully abound, and when there is ſuch diviſions in the State, then let us looke for deſolation.
Fourthly, the fourth ſigne of Gods anger on a Nation is, when all the hearts of men faile then it is a ſigne that vengeance is at the doore; when there is a kinde of Cowardiſe through the guilt of the conſcience. Joſh. 2. 11. It was a certaine ſigne of deſtruction when the peoples hearts failed them: thus it is with every man almoſt amongſt us: every mans heart is faint and ſicke. Judges 7. 13. When Gideon was to goe againſt the Midianites, being a wonderfull Army, one dreamed that a cake of barley bread tumbled into the hoaſt, and overthrew them: Then Gideon ſaid, be of good courage: for I ſee that the Lord hath given them into our hands, becauſe their hearts were fearefull; ſo he tooke three hundred men, and put a Trumpet in every mans hand, with empty pitchers and lamps, and they all cried, the Sword of the Lord and of Gideon; and in the twelfth verſe ſee what followed, All the hoaſt ran and cried and fledde. Even ſo it is with us▪ we faint upon every occaſion, Gods Spirit is gone from England.
While Sampſon had the Spirit of God upon him, he was too hard for the Philiſtins: but when the Spirit of God was gone from him, he had no heart, no ſpirit, no courage; then every man was too hard for him, and then he was taken, and had his eyes pulled out. So when the Spirit of God was with this Nation, we had courage and got the day; but now alas, every ſlaviſh Nation is too hard for us, and every bug▪ beare ſcares us. O poore England, heavy is thy caſe, therefore we may expect nothing but miſerie one way or another.
Now I might ſet downe a Comment or Theame with many teares for this cauſe, that every one may reade his owne deſtruction from this point. I am not a Prophet, nor the ſonne of a Prophet: but from the word of the Lord I ſpeake this thing unto you, and upon theſe grounds I can ſay ſo; That where theſe ſignes are, deſtruction and calamities follow at the heeles of them. We having all theſe ſignes in our State, certainely deſtruction is at our heeles; therefore let me give you ſome directions what to doe in theſe dangerous▪ times.
Firſt, let every man knocke off the love of the world, of houſes, of lands, and corne, and flockes; they ſhortly ſhall leave thee, or thou them. O therefore caſt them quite out of thy heart. I would to God I could bring my heart and yours to this pitch, that we could give wiſe and children and all as loſt. I confeſſe it is hard ſo to doe: but God will ſire us out ſhortly from theſe things, if we part not from them, in theſe our deepeſt afflictions. Jer. 45. 5. Baruch was ſo much glued to the world, that he began to feather his neſt: and therefore the Prophet ſaid, ſeekeſt thou great things for thy ſelfe? ſeeke them not; for behold I will bring evill upon all fleſh. So let me ſay to you as the Prophet ſaid to Gehazi, is it now a time to build? Therefore at night when thou goeſt to bed, take thy leave of thy wife and children, and of thy houſes and all, and ſay, this houſe may be mine enemies before the morning, or may be ſet on fire; this is not my wife: theſe are not my children: As Doctor Taylor ſaid when he was going to his execution, when he ſaw his wife and children, he embraced them and bleſſed them in the name of the Lord, and ſet them downe againe, and made no bones of them: and ſo doe you, plucke away your hearts from all theſe things here below, and give them all for loſt: let thy heart be contented that God ſhould doe with thee what he will, and ſubmit thy ſelfe to God in the hardeſt blows, and ſay, good Lord, if thou ſeeſt no remedy to purge this Land and Church, but by deſolation, and the removing of the Goſpell, good Lord doe what thou wilt; if thou wilt have my liberty, take it, if thou wilt have my children ſpoiled by the enemy and pitched upon ſpeares points, doe it: Lord, if there be no remedy to purge a ſinfull Land but by taking the Goſpell out of it, even I Lord ſubmit my ſelfe unto it: good Lord, ſacrifice us, or burne our Cities; doe what thou wilt with us, onelyonly ſave our ſoules at the laſt.
I have knowne ſome could have no quietneſſe at all, till they came to this pitch, and then they had peace in their mindes. When Iſaac ſaw that he was to be bound, then he yeelded to it: and our Lord Chriſt did this in the garden when he did bear the wrath of God, then he ſaid if it be poſſible, let this cuppe paſſe from me: and this he did three times: yet not my will but thy will be done; if thou wilt have me to drinke of the cuppe, I will ſucke off the dregges and all.
Alſo come and lay thy head upon the blocke, and let God doe what he will with thee, Ezek. 16. 36. They ſhall loath themſelves for all their abominations; and this is the practiſe of an humble ſoule, and this will beare through all.
Thirdly, pray and crie mightily to God before thou dyeſt, even all the time tho… haſt to live, for merciemercy and for the peace of the Church of God, and for the poore people and poſterity. Eſay. 62. 16. I have ſet watchmen upon the walles of Hieruſalem, that never hold their peace day nor night. You that make profeſſion of the Lord, keepe not ſilence; let not God reſt till he helpe and ſhew merciemercy unto our poore Land, wives and children.
I am perſwaded if dumb… Zachary were here, he would open his mouth to pray and crie for this miſerable Land. But, alas, poore ſoules, many of you are ſo bound in the chaines of your ſinnes, that you cannot finde any leiſure to pray; you ſave your prayers and teares till you come to hell, and then they will doe you no good; Oh, thy Mother lies a dying, and wilt thou not mourne for her? O dead and drie hearted wretches, me thinkes the poore Church of England is like the ſhippe of Jonas, and he faſt aſleepe in it; the Goſpell and all are drawing into a ſea of troubles: and thou poore wretch art aſleepe and canſt not pray. The Church is like a ſicke man upon his bed: and the Parliament is like a Colledge full of Phyſicians, they caſt the State of the Kingdome, and then give it over for loſt. The Lord knowes how ſoone the bell may ring out; and yet thou canſt not pray nor weepe. Ah, the Lord be mercifull to the hardneſſe of our hearts. Haſt thou but one teare in thine eyes? but one prayer in thy heart? then ſpend them now for the poore Church of God. Make all ſound within, and get ſound faith in the bloud of Jeſus Chriſt, that may ſupport▪ and hold you up as the Arke did Noah in the floud▪
O my deare people of this Pariſh, a fearefull floud is come upon this Land: therefore make you an Arke of Gopher, and pitch it within and without: get in it, hang not about it; but, get into your Lord Chriſt, and ſhut up your ſelves in him, as Noah did in the Arke, and never come out. This is your ſafegard, if you be in him, you ſhall be ſupported againſt all troubles, and ſo ſhall the caſe goe well with you. For as the Prophet ſaid to Ahab, high thee hence, for here is a ſound of much raine: and there came a ſhower indeed. So ſay I, high you away to Chriſt: for it may be you ſhall not heare many Sermons more: there is a ſound of many puniſhments and ſtormes falling downe upon us. Oh thrice happy are we that have got Chriſt upon good termes and good grounds: if a floud come, it doth me good to ſee how ſafe I am: for the higher troubles ariſe, the higher the Arke will ariſe, and the higher your faith and comfort will ariſe, and you ſhall ſit like Noah in the Cabin. Iſai. 26. 20. Come my people and enter into the chamber, and ſhut the doores about thee, and hide your ſelves as it were for a little moment, untill the indignation be overpaſt.
What? would Noah have beene hired to come out of the Arke? no by no meanes: nothing would have got him out. I may even pitty you my people, that have no Faith. What will you doe and whether will you flie? all you that have not gotten into the Arke, and have not made ſure worke, if the flood ſhould come to morrow, you muſt certainly be drowned. If you looke to God, he is your Enemy; if you looke within, there your Conſciences dogg you; and if thou lookeſt for comfort to the Miniſter, there is none for thee in all Gods word; if thou hang on a Miniſter, he muſt ſay as Samuell ſaid to Saul, ſince the Lord hath forſaken thee, I can doe thee no good. Oh thinke on this, and get all thy friends into the Arke with thee, as Noah did. Let …e begg this at your hands; get a poore husband into the Arke with thee, with thy poore children, and ſhut them all up into the Arke with thee. Would it not grieve thee when thou ſitteſt in the Arke, to ſee a poore husband or a child a drowning in the flood, and going to Hell? For the Lords ſake, o my deere Brethren, ſpare no paines to doe them good.
Fifthly and laſtly, get a more ſtrong Faith then ordinary; deep dangers muſt have a ſtronger Faith; a man cannot row upon the maine ocean in a paire of ſcullers; but hee muſt have a good ſhip well ballaced, and a good Pilot; ſo doe you thinke to rowe upon the maine ocean of Gods wrath in a paire of ſcullers? therefore labour to ſtrengthen your Faith, and to get a good ſhip well pitcht and ballaſted, and ſubſtantiall Faith; for the winde will trie it whether it be ſo or not; a Summers dublet will not ſerve the turne in a Winters froſt; ſo a little ſtrength and comfort will not ſerve the turne in the ſtormes that are comming on us; but we muſt get winter garments; the Eaſt winde will trie a mans clothes. Though a weak Faith may carry thee to Heaven, yet not with ſo much comfort as a ſtronger; eſpecially if it be but a little before the downefall of the Pope; for then there will be the greateſt combuſtions that ever was or ever ſhall be; and by all likelihoods, the time is now at hand. Then, thy Faith had need to bee greater then ever it was. As the Angell ſaid to the Prophet, up and eat, for thou haſt a great journey to goe; ſo ſay I to thee, thou fainting ſoule, make a good meale of Faith, ſtrengthen thy Faith upon the promiſes, for thou haſt a great worke to doe, and happily thou mayſt goe ſix monethes, and not ſee the face of a good Miniſter, nor talke with a good Miniſter, when there ſhall bee no more Rogens, Hookers, Beadles and Cottons to talk with; and you ſhall wander about in the woods; your faith to ſupport you then, it will doe you ſome good. When all the people had loſt Dauid, Eleazer one of the Worthi…s, aroſe and ſmote the Philiſtines, Sam. 2. chap. 11. ver. 23. So when all Gods Miniſters ſhall leave thee, and then to fight it out againſt thine owne luſtes, and the Divell, and his temptations, will be hard. and this Faith thou haſt need of, when thy bookes and all helps ſhall be taken from thee. What need haſt thou of ſtrong Faith, when thou muſt fight againſt halfe a ſcore Papiſts and an Army of temptations, and a world of Divells from Hell? then thou haſt need of a ſtronger Faith then ordinarie. When you ſhall take your leave of your children and never ſee them more, then thou haſt need of Faith to inveſt thee into the Promiſes. Hebr. 11. ver. 21. by Faith Jacob bleſſed both the ſonnes of Joſeph when he was a dying; ſo when thou art to leave thy wife and children, and never to ſee them more, what Faith haſt thou need of to inveſt them into the Promiſes, and to ſay, I looke to ſee you another day in Heaven? the Lord be with you my deare wife and children, I ſhall never ſee you any more here, but I beleeve that one day we ſhall meet together in a world of happineſſe, where wee ſhall be together in glory for ever and ever.
Amen.
FINIS.