Things Now-A-Doing, Discourse
Things Now-a-doing.
DAN. 12. 10. Many ſhall be purified and made white, and tried; but the wicked ſhall doe wickedly; and none of the wicked ſhall understand, but the wiſe ſhall understand.
YOu heard in the morning (Right HonourableCoherence ſhowing. and the reſt dearely beloved in the Lord Jeſus) God by Ieremy counſelling to amend your wayes and your doings; HeareMr R…th…a…d, on Ier. 7. 3. now God promiſing by Daniel that many ſhall be amended, and this promiſe illuſtrated by the contrary, but the wicked ſhall doe wickedly: be as attentive I beſeech you to God promiſing, as unto God perſwading.
Theſe words ſtand in the nature of a Parentheſis, the verſes before and after, cohere well enough without them; the former, as Daniels queſtion, v. 8. what ſhall be the end of theſe things? the latter, as the Angels anſwer thereunto. v. 11. From the time that the daily ſacrifice ſhall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh deſolate ſet up, there ſhall be a thouſand two hundred, and ninety dayes. My text comes in betweene, as a propheticall prognoſtick of that time Daniel would ſo faine know, ver. 8. and the Angel ſomewhat obſcurely calculates, ver. 11. Some copies inſert the word [Interim,] and reade, Complures interim; meane time many, &c. which ſhow the verſe to be dependent: and indeed we muſt conſider a little, the time, and ſcope, ere we can bring home the prophecie, and I ſhall give you both very briefely.
The Time fore-told, is, the call of the Iewes, [thy people] 1.ſayes ver. 1. for Daniel was a Iew, not ſecond ſon toThe Time. David by Abigail, of whom you reade long before, but1 Chron 3. 1. … 1. 6. foreign, &c. Ioſeph …ntiq▪ l. 10. c. 11. 2 Sam. 12. 24, 25. a Prophet of the Princely tribe of Iudah, and (if we may credit * Ioſephus) of the blood Royall alſo. He is elſewhere ſpoken of as a very excellent man, but we muſt here looke upon him as withall, pen-man of the Holy Ghoſt, and that of a very choice peece, the Iewiſh ſtory. Solomon beloved of God, (called therefore Iedidia…) ſon of David King of Iſrael, writes the Churches Epithalamia, and Loveſongs: S. Iohn, the bleſſed Evangeliſt, beloved Diſciple, and amongſt the 12. Apoſtles, paralell to Ioſeph amongſt the 12. Patriarchs; as Evangeliſt writes his Goſpell, as Apoſtle, his Epiſtles, and as Prophet, his Revelation to the Churches. And this our Daniel, eminent with men, whoſeEz…k. 8. 3. Ez…k. 14. 14, 16, 18, 20, D…n. 10. 11. wiſedome grew into a proverbe:—Thou art wiſer then Daniel:) powerfull for men, and greatly beloved of God, writes the hiſtory of the Iewiſh Church (then the only people of God, and as yet beloved for their fathers ſa…e) in theRom. 11. 28. ſix firſt Chapters, and their propheſie in the ſix latterM Brigh…man on Dan. Willet. on Dan and others. Chapters, as ſome have made the diſtribution of this Booke: or (as others,) their troubles under the foure great Monarchies, to this twelfth Chapter; and their deliverance under the fifth perpetuall Monarchy which the ſtone cut out without hands ſhall ſet up (as Chriſt is called in this booke) in this twelfth Chapter. King Solomon admires, the riſe of the Gentile Church inCant. 3. 6. his ſong▪ and admires after that, the riſe of another Church, which he calls a Shulamite, alluding to Shalom, Cant. 6. 10. &c.the ancient name of Ieruſalem, the mother City of the Iewes, looking forth as the morning, becauſe that Church ſhall riſe out of the Eaſterne Countries;Rev. 16. 12. that her nut ſhould be crackt, the ſhell which was over her kernell, the veile which was over her heart ſhould be taken away, and that ſhe ſhould be as a flouriſhing Vine and budding Pomgranate, bringing forth wholeſome fruit to refreſh God and man, is matter of admiration, and no leſſe indeed than a reſurrection from the dead, to which it is reſembled in this Chapter, and elſewhere. S. Paul would not haveRom. 11. 15. Rom. 11. 25. us ignorant of this miſtery: That we might not be ſo, we have a two-fold aſſurance of it in this booke; One, by dreame of Nebuchadnezzar, as we ſee at large in the ſecond Chapter: The other by viſion of Daniel himſelfe, in the ſeventh Chapter: of both which I may ſay as Ioſeph of Pharaohs two dreames, It is doubled Gen. 41. 32.twi…e, becauſe the thing is eſtabliſhed by God, and God will ſhortly bring it to paſſe▪ How ſoone, let him that hath underſtanding count from the verſe following, where there are two …s, 1. From the taking away of the daily ſacrifices; that was when Ieruſalem was deſtroyed, the place of ſacrificing; 2. From the ſetting up of the abomination of deſolation; which is ſuppoſed by good Authours, to be in the dayes of Iulian the Apostate, …360. yeares after Chriſt, or thereabouts▪ Cyrill of Ieruſalem obſerving how they had taken upSocrat Scholaſt Eccleſiaſt. Hiſt. l. 3. c. 17. every ſtone of the old foundation, and were diſperſed ere they layed a new one as they had thought, ſaid, the words of our Saviour, (There ſhall not be left a ſtone upon a ſtone,) was then fulfilled: and if ſo, then the time comes out in the yeare 1650. as appeares to any that ſhall adde 1290. to 360. Then ſhall the Turkiſh power be broken alſo, as appeares from another account, ver. 7. and then ſhall Hallelujahs ring for the marriage of the bride, the Lambs wife; and before theſe things come to paſſe, Rome ſhall be deſtroyed, whoſe laſt ſcene is now acting, and her ruine at hand, and the things that ſhall come upon her make haſt. This is the Time, and it is a deſireable Time.
The ſcope now of Daniel in this Chapter, is to2. comfort the hearts of Gods people, againſt the troubles,The Scope. and trials of that time, by giving them two prognoſticks of this great deliverance. (viz.)
The Troubles, ver. 1. of that Time.
The Trials, ver. 10. of that Time.
The Troubles of that time ſhall be ſuch, as never was ſince there was a Nation even to that ſame time, &c.
The Trials of that time ſhall be ſuch, as makes godly men better, wicked men worſe: For ſo ſaith my text▪ Many ſhall be purified, made white, tried, but the wicked ſhall doe wickedly, &c.
And now (Right Honourable) if a word fitly ſpoken, Prov. 2…. 11.be as apples of gold, with pictures of ſilver, then3. theſe words begg your acceptance, as being, not onlyThe Accomodation. profitable (for ſo they are at all times, being the words of the Holy Ghoſt) but alſo ſeaſonable, for ſo they are at this time, they are our very Criſis.
1. The Times alike; purifying, whitening, trying times.
2. The Perſons alike; ſome wicked, ſome wiſe.
3. The Properties alike; they act accordingly, none of the wicked understand, but the wiſe doe underſtand;
So that I may ſay of my text, as our Saviour Chriſt did of his, taken out of another Prophet, This day is Luk. 4. 21.this Scripture fulfilled in your eares. We reade, that the ſame day that the Lord thundred and rained, the people 1 Sam. 12. 18.greatly feared the Lord.
This day God thunders many wayes, and in my text he alſo lightens, God grant the effect may be anſwerable;
So much for the
Time.
Scope.
I come now to the text: Many ſhall be purified, &c.Text ſhowing. It is propheticall; and in ſuch, we conſider
The Credit of the Prophet.The parts. viz.
Propheſie it ſelfe.
The Credit of the Prophet, is not only this, that he1. was an excellent man (as we have ſhewed) but that heThe Prophet was alſo the Holy Ghoſts pen-man. Wicked Porphyry, enemy to Chriſtian Religion, makes him little better than an impoſtor, and affirmes this booke was an Hiſtory, writ by ſome prophetick-wiſe, that lived in or after the dayes of Antiochus Epiphanes; but the Septrogint have tranſlated this booke into Greeke, 100. yeares before that Antiochus▪ and Ioſephus tells, howIoſeph Antiq. lib. 11. cap. …. Iaddus an high-Prieſt, ſhewed. Alexander the Great, that Propheſie in this booke, which fore-told of a King of Graecia that ſhould deſtroy the Perſian Monarchy, in confidence whereof Alexander proceeded to that warre; and this was at leaſt 60. yeares before Antiochus, as Chronologers compute: Some Robbins Vide Theodor. preſat in Dan▪ Item Polan. in prolegom.dreame, that the booke was writ by the wiſemen of the great Synagogue, who were in the time of Ezra: but how came it then that Daniel is ſo oft named in the booke, and that the Title of the booke in Hebrew, is, The booke of Daniel? But both the one,foreign and the other are confuted by our Saviour Chriſt, which determines it both to Daniel, and that he wasMatth. 24. 15. a Prophet, and bids us (by the way) when we reade, conſider, the words of Daniel the Prophet, in the verſe next following my text. And therefore this booke is not to be placed amongſt thoſe Scriptures which they call Holy writings, but amongſt thoſe they call Prophets.
The Propheſie it ſelfe of theſe words, is (you ſee)2. of great ſiding, and each ſide acting accordingly,The Propheſie. ſomething before the time of the Iewes converſion;
In which conſider two different
Subjects,
Wicked.
Wiſe.
Predicates.
Different in
Effects, Many ſhall be purified, made white, tried, but the wicked ſhall doe wickedly.
Degree, None of the wicked ſhall underſtand; but the wiſe ſhall underſtand.
Now if the leaſt filing of gold is pretious, then of Truth; yet ſhall I but name ſome ſeverals, and inſiſt only (according to my time and your patience) upon one Propoſition. I might obſerve then,3.
1. Godly men are wiſe, and wicked men are ſoules.The Points. Raiſed but not proſecuted.
This appeares from the oppoſition of ſubjects.
Wicked.
Wiſe.
It ſhould be either
Wicked.
Godly.
or
Fooliſh.
Wiſe.
By rendring therefore as oppoſite to wicked, wiſe; it ſhewes that wicked are not wiſe; and by tearming thoſe that are not wicked, wiſe; it imports, that the wiſe are not the wicked, but the godly▪ indeed the word uſed for wiſe, is applied to godly Teachers, ver, 2. but when it is oppoſed (as here) to wicked, itforeign ſignifieth, not teachers only, but others too. Receive it therefore for a divine maxime (I pray you) That piety is the beſt pollicie, and godly men are in the Holy Ghoſts judgement the wiſeſt men.
2. There are many godly wiſe.
If many ſhall be purifide, made white, and tryed, then (God be thanked, and the Lord encreaſe the number of them) there are many ſuch: and not only many,foreign but many great men too; the word in the Originall ſignifies both many, and great; many in number, and great in condition; as when it is ſaid; Many are the troubles of the righteous: that is to ſay, many in number, great in nature: It is indeed rare to have great men good, a little goodneſſe ſtands for a great ſumme amongſt great men: but yet it is no ſingular thing, there are many ſuch: be not aſhamed therefore, you that are great, to be, and to be thought to be, godly.
3. Beſt may mend, and ſhall be mended.
They ſhall be purifide, made white, and tried, that their droſſe may be purged: The Lord hath his …laile to threſh out their chaffe, his water and ſope to make them white, and his fire to melt and try them; and therfore they are proud, not perfect, that think they havePhil. 3. 1… ▪ ſound an Hercules pillar to write a ne plus ultra upon.
4. Wicked men doe, and ſhall doe wickedly.
5. The reaſon why they doe ſo, is, becauſe none of the wicked ſhall understand.
6. The godly wiſe ſhall underſtand when none of the wicked ſhall.
Now none of theſe ſeverals I can inſiſt upon, what of them my time and your patience will permit me to ſpeake of, I ſhall graſpe in this one Propoſition, that containes the ſumme of the verſe.
That the ſame times, and troubles in them, which make Doctrine. The maine Doctrine ha…dled. Shewing.godly wiſe men better, make wicked men worſe.
And I will not ſpeake ſo much of Times, which comes in more properly in the verſe following; as of troubles in thoſe times, theſe are hinted in the words, purified, made white, and tried.
My method for the doctrinall part, ſhall be to ſhew,
1. What tribulations they are by which God doth purifie, make white, and try his people.
2. How they are by theſe purified, made white, and tried.
3. What is the reaſon that they have ſuch different effects upon the godly, and the wicked.
For the firſt: They are not all of one ſort, nor ſize.1. Here there are three ſorts, lighter ſprincklings, in alluſionWhat …ulations. to Iewiſh purifyings; heavier rubbings, in alluſion to Iewiſh cleanſings; and ſharpeſt trials, in alluſion to Iewiſh trials. The Apoſtle elſe-where reduceth them to two: Inward fightings, outward feares: but it2 Cor. 7. 5. matters not ſo much what they are, as whereto they ſerve, for they are but a meanes to an end, their bettering;Tantum ſumendum quantum ad finem prodeſt. and therefore as we ſay of meanes, ſo much as will ſerve; ſo doth the Lord proportion the tribulation to the good of his people, ſo much and no more, as will ſerve to purifie, m…ke white, … try them.
For the ſecond; I will ſhew you, how the Lord by theſe, doth2.
1. Purifie.How they pu…fie, make white and try.
2. Make White.
3. Try them.
The Iews had their purification, ſo have Chriſtians.
There is Chriſts Blood, Heb. 9. 14. Word, Ioh. 15. 3. Spirit, Mat. 3.
But I am no… ſpeaking of theſe, which doe directly, and properly tend thereto; but of afflictions, which by accident ſerve to that end: as you may ſee, Iſa. 4. 4. By theſe now Gods people are purified 2. wayes.
Firſt, From ſin committed, both originall ſin, and1. They purifie …ro… ſin committed. Pro. 22. …5. actuall; For originall▪ Solomon tells us, Folly is bound up in the heart, and the rod of correction drives it away: And for actuall, Iſaiah ſheweth, that by correction, the iniquity of Jacob ſhall be purged, and this is all the fruite, Iſa▪ 27. 9.to take away his ſin:
Secondly, From ſinne to be committed. I meane2. From ſin to be comitted. to prevent your ſinning for time to come: Tribulations are not only medicines, but alſo antidotes: God in this doth as wiſe Stateſ-men, when they ſee a man buſying himſelfe much with matters of ſtate at home, prying into things concerne him not, they ſend ſuch into the warres abroad: ſo doth God, ſend tribulations to exerciſe his people, and keepe them pure, leaſt they fall ſoule: thus did he with S. Paul, he had his thorne, least he ſhould be exalted, &c. and thus they are2 Cor. 12. …. purified both in heart and lift, to cu…e ſin paſt, and prevent ſin to come.
Againe, by theſe they are made white; ſo Dan. 11.2. They make white. 35. And ſome of them of understanding ſhall fall to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end.
It is not enough to be pure, which renders a man holy to God, but to be bright and white before men: Inward purity makes no great ſhew before men unleſſe whiteneſſe and unſpottedneſſe doe accompany it; now there are two wayes that God will have his people white, as well as pure at this time.
Firſt, From their own—other mens ſins. You…. From their owne other mens ſins. (Right Honourable) have confeſſed juſtly, that the guilt of Idolatry and blood lay upon our fore-fathers; I may ſay of theſe, as of the iniquity of P…or, we are not Joſh …2 17. … King. 23. 26.cleanſed from it to this day. Manaſſehs ſins lay heavy upon the Land in good Ioſiahs dayes; God will have our Land made white from theſe.
Secondly, From their own-ſuſpected ſinnes. Two2. From their own ſuſpected ſins. ſinnes the enemies of our peace ſuſpect in you and falſely charge upon you, (give me leave to ſpeake plainly) Diſloyalty to our Soveraigne, from which your Declarations, and proceedings may acquit you;K. Declar…t. Aug▪ 12. 1642. and Sacriledge againſt our God, from which the world expects how you will acquit your ſelves; certainely when God hath purified you, he will make you white, as he did David againſt S…ul, even by his1 Sam. …4. 17. Gen. 4…. 38. own confeſſion; and Ioſeph againſt his Miſtris: nay as he hath done you already in many things, and what remaines you have in promiſe, for the cauſe is before the Lord, who will give a perfect lot: Hee hath ſaid, Commit thy way unto the Lord, truſt alſo in Pſ…l. 37. 6.him, and he ſhall bring it to paſſe. And he ſhall bring forth thy righteouſneſſe as the light, and thy judgement as the noone day. Thus the Lord will by tribulation, both purifie them in heart and life, and whiten them from the ſpot of other mens ſinnes, and their own ſuſpected ſins.
Thirdly, By theſe, both times and troubles, they 3. They try theirare tried: The Iewes had not only their ſprincklings and waſhings, but alſo their water of jealouſie, and other meanes by which they were tried; ſo hath God his troubles, not only to rid his people of ſinne, and to render them ſpotleſſe before men, but alſo to try them; Gods trials are of two ſorts, ſome for humiliation, then he leaves them to know all that is in their heart, as he did Hezekiah: others for confirmation,2 Chro. …2. 31. Gen. 22. 1. then he aſſiſts them, as he did Abraham. By theſe tribulations God trieth his peoples
Sincerity.
Graces.
Firſt, He trieth their ſincerity, if they will ſtick to a1. Sincerity. good cauſe without defection, and goe on in a good courſe without deflection. Certainely, theſe times and troubles make the ſame diſcovery of men as former did; then there were ſome confeſsors, ſome Martyrs, others Traditors, that in time of tribulation wentEuſeb Eccleſ. Hiſt. 1 Cor. 11. 19. away. Errors muſt be, that they that are approved may be knowne: and doctrines and practiſes of liberty muſt be, that well rooted and grounded Chriſtians may be diſtinguiſhed from children, toſſed to and fro, Epheſ. 4. 14.and carried about with every wind of doctrine by the ſleight of men, and cunning craftineſse, whereby they lie in waite to deceive. Tribulations are like great winds, which faſten trees well rooted, but throw downe the reſt; There have been and daily are many both in Church and State thus tryed▪ ſome Darius-like, labour Dan. 6. 14.earneſtly to the going downe of the Sun, and then they goe back. It was great triall a while agoe, what men would ſet themſelves againſt the Prelates and their proceedings, how men would fortifie their ſpirits againſt their ſummons, Courts, Cenſures, impriſonments and ſore oppreſſions: God hath delivered us thence, and after theſe, brings more publike and univerſall trials, how men will ſtand in and for the publike, who be the Calebs and Ioſhuahs that will goe onNumb 14. to the accompliſhment of reformation, againſt the Anakims, and who will luſt after the fleſh pots of Egypt; who will waite upon God, and goe when he bids, and ſtay when he ſtayes; and who will goe their own way, as they then did; we are juſt thereabouts now▪ and if any fall off, we are told before hand, it is the iſſue of their inſincerity. They went out from us, but …. Joh. 2. 19.they were not of us: for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.
Secondly, He trieth their graces: He that hath any2. Graces. grace may now know what he hath; I will inſtance in three;
Firſt, He trieth their Love, how faſt they are gl…wed1. Love. to God and his cauſe, that no affliction can part them, whether they are as willing to be turned into a priſon for his ſake, as into their own habitation; Love is of this nature: Many waters cannot quench Love, neither Cant. 8. 7.can the floods drowne it.
Secondly, He trieth their Faith: Our Saviour2. Faith. Chriſt is ſtill upon this with his Diſciples; O ye of little Faith! Had men Stephens eyes to ſee a Ioſus in the Act. 7. …5.Heavens, when ſtones were …ying about their eares▪ or a Moſes eyes, to ſee the recompence of reward; did they by faith ſee Gods attributes put forth for their helpe, they would not ſtagger what ſide to take to, nor what to doe, but would readily anſwer as thoſe Heroes: O King we are not carefull to anſwer thee in this Dan. 3. 16, 17, 18.matter: If it be ſo; our God whom we ſerve, is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thy hand O King, but if not, be it knowne to thee O King, that we will not ſerve thy gods, nor worſhip thy graven images which thou haſt ſet up: All the graces which grow among thornes and thiſtles, attending upon faith, meekneſſe, patience, &c. will now be tried and diſcovered.
Thirdly, He trieth their Love to one another, what3. Sympathie. ſympathy they have to thoſe that ſuffer with them, or for them: You have Miniſters, the Country wants them; hither come the godly and faithfull of the land, that have ſuffered the loſſe of all: God tries now, what haſt you will make (Right Honourable) to ſettle the buſineſſe of Ordination, and releeve thoſe Churches that for the preſent are as ſheep without a ſheapheard: and how you will imploy thoſe that are faithfull in the land about you, as David did. Thus you havePſ…. 101. 6. ſeene how they are by theſe purified, made white, and tried.
Now remaines the third and laſt thing propoſed, (viz.) what is the reaſon, and whence it is, that theſe3. times and troubles have ſuch different effects and operationsWhat is the Re…ſon of ſo d…fferent operation. upon the godly wiſe, and upon the wicked, and thoſe three that are in my text ſhall ſerve. I will adde no more.
Firſt, This comes to paſſe from the diverſity of ſubjectsReaſon 1. From diverſity of ſubjects. on whom they light, (viz.) godly, and wicked. Afflictions as Phyſick make better or worſe; they are reſembled to a fanne, the godly are the Lords wheate, purified by it, but the wicked are as the chaffe, blowneJer 15. 7. and 51. …. away, nor is there any thing to be ſeen amongſt them, but Apoſtaſies, abuſing Gods truth, and what not? Jeſus Chriſt compares tribulation to the Sun; theMat. 13. 6. ſame Sun which warmes and perfecteth good-ſeed, ſcorcheth that which hath not depth of earth, depth of root, and enough of moiſture, as that which was ſowne upon high way, ſtony, and thorny ground had not. It is in the Prophet compared to water and fire; Iſa. 43. 2.now as things are which are caſt into water and fire, ſo is the operation: caſt gold into the water, it keeps its yellow ſhine, caſt it into the fire, it becomes brighter; caſt earth into water, it turns it into mudd, caſt it into the fire, it crumbleth to duſt; caſt hay into the fire, it gives a blaze, and turns to ſmoake and aſhes; caſt it into water, it rots it preſently; The Apoſtle tells us; the day ſhall declare every mans work of what 1 Cor. 3. 13.ſort it is. Tribulation is ſuch a day; it preſseth everyRom▪ 5. 3, 4. foreign. godly man, and out comes their grace; it preſſeth the wicked, and out comes their wickedneſſe; as dunghils, the more they are raked, the more they ſtinke; whereas the godly, are as the ſpices, which bruiſed caſt forth a ſweeter ſavour: the Eagle tries her young ones by the Sun, God tries and differences godly from the wicked by afflictions; wicked men are as the wood of the vine, good for nothing but the fire; godlyEzek. 15. per totum. are ſuch as are ſtill on the mending hand.
Secondly, This comes to paſſe from the differentReaſon 2. adjunct or priviledge, godly wiſe men, have everyFrom different adjunct or priviledge. thing (and ſo afflictions) ſanctified to them, wicked men have every thing accurſed to them. The Propheſie here, you ſee, is by way of promiſe to the one, they ſhall be purified, &c. by way of judgement to the other, the wicked ſhall doe wickedly. The charter of the Chriſtian is large, All things, even death it ſelfe, is 1 Cor. 3. 21, 2….yours, and you are Chriſts: godly men have as curſed hearts as any wicked men; but being in Chriſt they are ſanctified, and have grace to be improved and bettered; therefore all runs paſſive; purified, made white, tried: and the Prophet Malachy tells you how; He Mal. 3. ….(that is to ſay, the Angel of the Covenant, Chriſt) ſhall ſit a refiner and purifier, &c. to compoſe the fire (for though ſinne merit trouble, man or Devill be inſtruments of the trouble, yet God is the chiefe agent) and to order it for the good of the mettall he caſts into the fire, to encreaſe the flame one while, whenLev. 26▪ 14, to 40. they are not purified▪ and to quench it another while, when they are: but afflictions are not ſo to wicked men; Chriſt is a ſwift witneſſe againſt them; they are givenMal. 3. 5. up, and being ſo, muſt needs doe wickedly.
Thirdly, This comes to paſſe from the differentReaſon 3. From different cauſe. Pr…v. 1. …. cauſe; None of the wicked underſtand, but the wiſe underſtand. There is a three-fold wiſedome and underſtanding of heavenly things, and they are diſtinguiſhedforeign by three words: The wiſedome of the art, the beſt of all Philoſophy, the feare of the Lord, which is the beginning of wiſedome: The wiſedome of the teacher, the Lord, none teacheth like him: And the wiſedome of the ſcholler, who is made wiſe to ſalvation. Now wicked men have none of theſe, at leaſt they have not them all, but the godly wiſe have: wicked men either have no light, they conſule not with Gods word, and then how ſhould they underſtand▪ They have rejected the wiſedome of the Lord, and what Jer. 8. 9.wiſedome is in them? or they have no underſtanding, no eyes opened, no grace infuſed, and ſo they judge amiſſe of things that differ; or their eyes are not well diſpoſed, they have miſguided judgements, ſomething or other makes them miſtake. Aske them concerning the warres in Germany, Scotland, England; they call evill good, and good evill. Thus you ſee the Reaſons.
Now remaines only the practicall part, having doneThe doctrinall part finiſhed. with the Doctrinall; the point you ſee is proved, there reſts the Application. And though this might be manifold, I will not trouble you with any more then three;
It ſerveth therefore for Instruction.
It ſerveth therefore for Exhortation.The uſe threefold.
It ſerveth therefore for Conſolation.
This may in the firſt place give ſatisfaction to threeVſe 1. Inſtruction in three points. 1. Why …odly are afflicted, wicked ſpared. great ſcruples which trouble many.
Firſt, It ſhewes the reaſon why godly perſons are afflicted, and wicked proſper. Though it pleaſes God ſometimes to bleſſe his people with peace, and to give them reſt againſt their enemies round about them▪ yet for the moſt part in the ordinary way of his diſpenſations, many are the troubles of the righteous▪ and for the wicked, they are active and ſtrong, and no …ands in their Pſal. 73 4.death: When Iacob is …o…ſed to and fro, Eſau is at reſt in mount S…ir, encreaſed in riches and power: when S…l is on the throne, David is hunted as a partridge: when Mordecai is at the gate, Haman is in favour in the Court; and when the Co…tiers are at the banquent of wine, the Citie … is perplexed upon this croſſe diſpenſation ariſeth a dangerous temptation, which drives many backe, ſome ſometimes to deny a Providence; not onelyonly are Gods Children lyable to theſe temptations in conſideration of the trouble of the Righteous, and proſperitie of the wicked, but when God is in a way of mercy, if there be any ſtay in theThat the one may be purified, and the other doe wickedly. courſe of Juſtice, any delay of deliverance, they are ready to be troubled. Is God juſt? Is God mercifull? why ſtand things at a ſtay? Now … text reſolves this ſcruple; Tis that the godly may be purified, made white, tryed; and it is againe, that wicked men may doe Pſal. 73. 17. Jer. 12. 3. Hab. 1. 13. 14.wickedly, and may fill up the meaſure of their ſinne: thus doe even thoſe that ſtumble at this, at laſt reſolve themſelves … and certainly when God hath accompliſhed his worke, it ſhall be otherwiſe.
Secondly, it ſhewes the reaſon why it is ſo troubleſome2. Why this time more troubleſome than former? a time now more than at other times. We were quiet, why are we now ſo diſtempered? It is becauſe this is a time of Reformation: as the Lord told Rebecah, It is a Time of Reformation.when ſhe went to enquire of him concerning the ſtruggling in her wombe▪ Why am I this? He ſaith,Gen. 25. 22, 23. Two …i…ns are in thy …be… and two manner of people Such times have been alwayes troubleſome.ſhall be ſeparated from thy bowels, &c. God is now about to purge his …oore, and never was there a time of Reformation which differ…ced good and bad, but it was a time of troubles▪ when the Jewes came out of Egypt into Cannan the ſive Bookes of Moſes tell you their troubles: when out of captivity, ere they got up their City and Temple, … and N…h tell you what trouble: and when they ſhall come out of Judaiſme, ver. 1. of this Chapt. tels you it ſhall be a time of trouble ſuch as never was ſince it was a nation to that time: When the Gentile Church came out of the Heathen perſecutions, Revel. 12. tels you what troubles; and when they ſhall come out of the Antichriſtian perſecution, the ſame book tels you of their ſeverall ſorts of troubles: whilſt we made brick for Prelates, and ſuffered the Egyptian taske-maſters to lay on us all their burdens, we did not reſiſt unto bloud, as now we doe ſince we have caſt them off: and whilſt Satan keepes poſſeſſion all things are at peace, but when the ſtronger Luk. 11. 21, 22.then he comes to bind him, he rents and teares. What working againſt Chriſts comming in the fleſh, from Abel to the birth of Chriſt? what attempts againſt the Prophets, Apoſtles, and Miniſters of Chriſt that offeredMat. 2…. 34, 35. and preached the Redemption wrought by Chriſt? and what reſiſting of the Holy Ghoſt comming… Cor. 10▪ 5, 6. to apply the grace ſo offered? therfore ſtand not amazed at our troubles now, Chriſt is about a great work of Reformation, and therefore there will be oppoſition, Ieruſalem is to be built, both wals, and ſtreets,Dan. 9. 25. in troublous times.
Thirdly, it ſhowes the reaſon why the Lord ſtands3. Why the Lord forbeares ſo long to deliver? ſo farre off in trouble: this was alwayes a great affliction to the godly in times of trouble, not ſo much that they were troubled, as that the Lord ſtood farre Pſal. 10. 1. and 22. 1.off from their cry, and from the voyce of their rearing. We faſt and pray, and yet we are not delivered; why is it thus? why? it is, becauſe the godly need yet more purifying, and the wicked muſt yet doe more wickedly, for that they neither doe nor can underſtand. View each of theſe diſtinctly.
Firſt, it is, becauſe none of the wicked will underſtand; 1. Becauſe none of the wicked will yet be brought to underſtand.they might elſe take notice of Gods avenging hand; every ſtroake proclaimes him a ſin-revenging God, and of Gods protecting hand, the buſh burneth, and is not conſumed. Religion, Lawes, and Liberty, have as Candles under water, ſtrangely been preſerved. Their project was by oppreſſion to keepe them downe, the oppreſſours now are oppreſſed; they would keepe off Parliaments, or breake them if they could not ſerve themſelves of them; there is now a ſtanding Parliament to plague them, they would bring in firſt Rebels to helpe them, and imploy bloudy Papiſts, now three Kingdomes are in one Covenant, and their ſhips2 Chron. 20. 36, 37. are broken at Ezi…-G…ber; the Lord hath every where ſaid to them; Aſſociate your ſelves, and ye ſhall be broken Iſai. 8. 9▪ 10.in pieces: and give eare, O ye of farre Countries: gird your ſelves, and ye ſhall be broken in pieces: gird your ſelves, and ye ſhall be broken in pieces, Take counſell together, and it ſhall come to nought: ſpeake the word, and it ſhall not ſtand. ver. 1…, 13.And he hath ſaid to us, Feare not their feare, nor be afraid; Sanctifie the Lord of hosts himſelfe, and let him be your feare, and let him be your dread▪ and he ſhall be for a ſanctuary, &c. but the wicked will not underſtand anyThat appeares in 3. things. thing at all: three wayes is this expreſſed here, if we marke it ſtrictly.
Firſt, they will doe wickedly; that is to ſay, they will1. They will doe wickedly. Iſai. 2…. 10. goe on in …inne ſecurely; ſo elſewhere. Let favour be ſhewed to the wicked, yet will he not learne righteouſneſse: in the land of uprightneſse, will he deale unjustly, &c. Salomon Prov. 22. 3. Luk. 17▪ 26. Iſai. 47. 8.ſaith, The prudent man ſeeth the evill, and hydeth himſelfe; but the ſimple paſseth on, and is puniſhed; ſo did the old world, ſo did old and new Babylon; ſo ſhall it be alſo in Rev. 18▪ 7.the dayes of the Son of man. Wicked men are as ignorant and blind as thoſe Philiſtines▪ If he goe up the way of his own coaſt to Bethſhemeſh, then he hath done u… 1 Sam. 6. 9.this evill, but if not, then we ſhall know it was but ſome chance that happened to us. They neither ſee the hand of God that ſmites them, nor their owne deſert thatIſai. 26. 11. provokes the Lord thus to ſmite them. Strangers devoure his ſtrength, but he ſeeth it not, yea, gray haires are Hoſ. 7. 9.here and there upon him, but he knoweth it not, as ſaith the Prophet.
Secondly, they will be more wicked for the trouble,2. They will doe yet more vvickedly. this is not ordinary with all wicked men (ſome like Ahab will be humbled for the time) but with the wicked of our times, we are here foretold it will be ſo; and Saint Iohn in the Revelation ſpeaking of Antichristian enemies, all along their going downe, tels usRev. 16. 9, 10, 11, 21. the ſame, that they will breake forth to further wickedneſſe, even to blaſphemie againſt the Name of God, and looke at Reformation as rebellion. It was a brand upon Ahaz, that when he was in diſtreſſe on 2 Chro. 28. 22.every hand, yet in his diſtreſſe he did treſpaſse yet more againſt the Lord. And a concomitant of their deſtruction in Eſay, They ſhall fret themſelves, and curſe their Iſai. 8. 21.King, and their God. And it is foretold concerning theſe laſt times, that, Wicked men and ſeducers ſhall wa… … Tim. …. 13.worſe and worſe, deceiving, and being deceived: and we ſee all this made good upon the men of this generation; the more God plagues them, the more they ſinne.
Thirdly, They will not understand; i. to repent, and give …. They will not repent. Rev. 16. 9, 11.glory to God, to give him the glory of his Soveraignty, in whoſe hands all troubles are, to inflict, order and remove them; the glory of his truth and juſtice, to acknowledge the juſtice and truth of God by reaſon of their doings which have procured all theſe plagues to themſelves, as the godly doe. Thou art juſt in all that is Nehem. 9▪ 33.brought upon us, for thou haſt done right, but we have done wickedly, they contrarily keepe wickedneſſe ſweet within Job 20. 12, 1…. Lam. …. 22.their mouth; and the glory of his mercy, that they are not conſumed. Surely the ſins before reformation, in reformation, ſince reformation, and now moſt of all that men hate to be further reformed, might makeIſa. 26. 11. Rev. 16. 9, &c▪ men tremble: but this is one of their plagues, that they cannot ſee, they cannot repent. This is now one reaſon why the Lord ſtands ſo far off; wicked men will doe wickedly, and not underſtand, and therefore more plagues muſt come, that they that will not ſee, may be made to ſee.
There is another reaſon, and that is, becauſe godly2. Becauſe the godly are not yet ſufficiently purified, &c. wiſe men are not ſo purified, made white and tried, as they ſhall be; and indeed there is more cauſe to feare this than the other; God can ſoone take order with the wicked, were but his people as they ſhould be; I will therefore abruptly breake off here the uſe of Inſtruction, and fall into the ſecond uſe of Exhortation.
This ſerves in the ſecond place therefore for Exhortation,Vſe 2. Exhortation, Preface thereto. that you would be purified, made white, tried; let not our deliverance, and the deliverance of Gods Church, ſtay, and be deferred for want of this. And here (Right Honourable) ſuffer the words of exhortation Heb. 13. 22▪patiently. I ſhall borrow the benefit of the *M. Rat…and Jer. 7. 3. his preface before his application.mornings preface to ſpeake unto you plainely. We rejoyce in the authority we have from you, beſides the encouragement to ſeeke the Lord by faſting and prayer, but you had need call the land to one faſt more, to Ezras, to Ezra 8. 21.ſeeke of God a right way, to know why we are not delivered. God we are ſure is a God that heares prayer, eſpeciallyPſal. 65. 2. extraordinary prayer; but are we purified, made white, tryed? Ioſhuah faſted, but the Lord told him that was not the thing, Iſrael had ſinned, that muſt beJoſh. 7. 11, 1…. Exhortation it ſelfe to three duties. done away ere God would helpe them.
It is not for me to charge any fault upon you the great aſſembly of the Gods; but give me leave to ſet the great God before you as your patterne, and thereby charge your ſelves; in his Name: only let me exhort you to theſe three things.
Firſt, Be purified. Me thinks the Lord calls upon… Be purified. you that are the repairers of our breaches, and reſtorers of pathes to dwell in, as ſometimes to Ieruſalem, Jer. 13. 27.Will you not be made cleane? when ſhall it once be? I am not able to charge impurity upon you, but God can, and your own conſciences may helpe you to find it out: This only let me ſay unto you, that an ordinaryMore than ordinary purity expected from Parliamentmen. purity will not ſerve your turnes (though it is wont to be ſaid, a little holineſſe goes for a great deale amongſt our Nobles and Gentry) You are great men and wiſe; the Worthies of the Land, think I pray you what a diſgrace a But puts upon you, ſuch a But I meane as was on Naaman, Now Naaman Captaine of a King. 5. ….the hoſte of the King of Syria, was a great man with his maſter, and honourable, becauſe by him the Lord had given deliverance unto Syria: He was alſo a mighty man in valour, but he was a leper. As you ſtand for your ſelves and for us, ſo give us leave to beſeech you to a double purity, one for your own ſakes, another for ours; and becauſe in this ſecond conſideration you move in a high ſpheare, I beſeech you patterne your purity by his whom you repreſent: no leſſe holineſſe muſt you aime at, than to be holy as he is holy; me thinks if every ſecond cauſe works ſo much more ſtrongly as it is united to its firſt cauſe, then you that repreſent one Kingdome at the leaſt, and are (as I ſaid) the great aſſembly of Gods, ſhould be ſo much more pure and holy as you are neerer to God than others both in name and office: You are engaged in an Honourable cauſe, and you have as Honourable a call thereunto, now as in both you would proſper, purifie your hearts, your hands, your houſes, remember the Lord will be ſanctified Lev. 10. 3.in all thoſe that draw neare him.
Secondly, Be made white as well as pure. I cannot2. Be made white. (againe) but the world doth, beſpo… your innocency: now doe you as the Lord: he cleares his righteous dealing before the Sun; doe not you let any ſpot lie upon your proceedings. I will inſtance only in three of your graces.
Be made white in your Truth, by executing your ordinances,In 1. Truth. that you may not only ſay but doe.
Be made white againe in your Iuſtice, upon delinquents,2. Juſtice. that what you ſeeke, when it is put into your hands we may ſee you execute; The very Heathens call'd Iuſtice the daughter of Iupiter married to him, and ſitting cloſe by his ſide, &c. foreign, Heſiod. foreignand the Lord ſayes, what a doe is here with faſting, execute true judgement, &c. elſe you faſt not to him;Zech. z. looke into the priſons if this faſting day be not a feaſting day, and if they mock not God with ſomething elſe than religious faſting on their Friday.
Be made white once more in your Zeale, and ſincerity3. Zeale, quit the land of Sacriledge. to reforme the houſe of God by denying your ſelves and giving up thereto that which may make it glorious. It was a good obſervation of an Honourable Member of your ſociety, upon the Teares of Germany, Sir R. H.that their deliverance was not like to be yet, becauſe in the catalogue of all their ſinnes then made in a Sermon, the chiefe ſinne was not named, Sabbath-breaking, whereof that Country was notorlouſly guilty. Truly, I am ſorry that in ſo excellent an Ordin… Provide for the Miniſtery.for Repentance, Sacriledge is not mentioned, whereof this Land hath been too much guilty, unleſſe by you it be purged from it, which we all expect.
You well heard in the morning, there is great neceſſity of ſpeeding the buſineſſe of Ordination, now before you; but let me adde thereto, that the miniſtery you ſhall ordaine, will be rendered very contemptible and vile before all the people, unleſſe you take care they be not diſabled for want of Maintenance, …. Maintenance. 2. Authority, not civill, but ſacred, not Prelaticall but Miniſteriall.nor diſcouraged for want of Authority; the former they are in danger to be by Impropriations, the latter, by Patrons. I plead not for authority civill, but ſacred, not Prelaticall, but pious and Miniſteriall; that they may not be afraid to tell the people their tranſgreſſions, and the houſe of Iacob their ſins.
Laſtly, Be tryed; and be faithfull when you are3. Be tried. tried; ſome you have had, more you may have; ſhrinke not, ſtand to it and you ſhall have the Crowne of life. The time prevents me, therefore I will conclude with a word of the thirduſe, which is of Conſolation.Vſe 3. Conſolation, upon three grounds.
Be you thus faithfull, and three things may ſuſtaine your ſpirits againſt all diſcouragements.
Firſt, You ſhall be ſure to prevaile; for looke upon1. Sure to prevaile. ver. 1. It is not a Timpany, but a Delivery theſe times fore-tell, and what an Honour will it be to you, to be midwives to the birth of ſuch a child of reformation, as Heaven and earth ſhall cry grace, grace Zach. 4. 7.unto it? ſore troubles you have had, and may have; but a woman in travell hath ſorrow becauſe her houre is Joh. 16. 21.come, but as ſoone as ſhe is delivered of the child, ſhee remembreth no more the anguiſh for joy that a man is borne into the world. To encourage you hereto, conſiderFor the enemies blaſpheme. the wickedneſſe of the enemy (if you be purified) doth aſſure you, they ſhall not prevaile; they make lies their refuge, and under falſhood hide themſelves, youIſa. 28. 14, to 20. And none ever hardned himſelfe againſt God and proſpered. Job 9. 4. know what God ſaith he will doe with ſuch a people: They blaſpheme God which hath power over the plagues, and repent not to give him glory; therefore they lie under the vials of his wrath; you may write upon it, they ſhall never proſper.
Secondly, You may live to ſee this delivery, as he2. You may live to ſee the day; for not long to it. ſaith, who ſhall live when God doth this? that ſhall you I am confident, if the calculation be true, which hath been given of the time in the verſe next following my text; its not twice ſo long as you have ſitten already in Parliament, ere Rome be deſtroyed; and therefore could I be heard over all our Militia, I ſhould wiſh them not feare employment if theſe wars be ended, which many are too loath to finiſh ſoone enough, leaſt as Demetrius ſaid in another caſe, their craft ſhould faile: For this ended, a more noble warre, and more unanimous would be occaſioned, to helpe the Lord againſt the mighty in other Countries. God ſeemes to have confirm'd this Parliament for ſome ſuch purpoſe, as if he would have you immortall till the worke be done.
Laſtly, (and ſo I conclude) if any of you die before3. If you die, your names ſhall be honoured, and your poſterity bleſſed. you ſee this great ſalvation of the Lord, your poſterity ſhall inherit the bleſſing; and for you, it is Honour enough that you expire in ſo great a cauſe; Heathens thought no greater Honour than to die for their Countrey; for you to lay downe your lives in being the Angels of God, as bleſſed Luther, famous Queene Elizabeth, renowned King of Sweden was in powring out the vials of Gods wrath on the throne and ſeate of the beaſt; you have Honour enough; they ſhall not need to come to Weſtminſter to reade your Epitaphs, all the Churches of the world ſhall reade at diſtance the Epitaphs ſo truly and worthilyM. Obad. Sedgwick, before Parliament, May 15. 1642. on Ier. 4. 3. preached to you by a renowned watchman, whoſe praiſe is in the Goſpell. Theſe are Scotlands umpire, Irelands guard and revenge, Englands preſervation, the Churches ſafety, and Religions glory.
FINIS.