A Remedy Against Ruin, Sermon
A REMEDY againſt Ruine.
Amos 5.24.
But let Judgment run down as waters, and righteouſneſſe as a mighty ſtream.
WE are fallen into the hands of a blunt Prophet, and He into the handling of a far more blunt expoſitor, yet both into the Armes of truth, which as it ſeeks no corners, ſo no colours; her native beauty farre tranſcends all borrowed.
I may not make foreign, nor foreign; the whole work an introduction, not the introduction, the whole work: Nor dare I detain you any longer at the door of the Chapter: be pleaſed to walk into the inner rooms.
The Chapter containing a lamentation over, or for Iſrael, may ſerve for Englands meridian; where are four Generalls: the
1 Inviters to this Lamentation.
2 Invited or called to this lamentation.
3 Grounds or reaſons of this invitation and Lamentation.
4 Cures or remedies to remove this Lamentation.
1. The Inviters are threefold.
1. The Prophet of God, ver. 1. He are this word which I take up againſt you, O houſe of Iſrael.
2. The God of the Prophet, verſe 16. Therefore the Lord of hoasts ſaith, That wailing ſhall bee in all ſtreets; they ſhall ſay in all the highwayes, Alas, alas, &c.
3. The good people of this God. verſe 18. They ſhal cal the husbandmen to mourning, and ſuch as are skilful in lamentations to wailing.
2. The Invited are of two ſorts: deſcribed
1. Generally, as appears by the univerſality of places, Streets, Vineyards, Fields, verſe 16. and O houſe of Iſrael. ver. 1.
2. Particularly; the skilfull in mourning: either firſt, The Prophet and the godly people; or Secondly, Such as were accuſtomed to ſuch doleful ſolemnities; ſuch as could command a reſympathizing paſſion from their ſorrowfull expreſſions.
3. The Grounds or occaſions of this lamentation, which in generall are twofold, 1 their ſins: 2. their ſufferings.
1. Their ſins were twofold, either againſt the firſt or ſecond table.
1 Their ſins againſt the firſt table were Idolatry, ſuperſtition, hypocriſie, verſ. 5. ver. 21. ſought to Gilgal, Beerſheba, &c. antiently eminent for ſome extraordinary act of God.
2 Their ſins againſt the ſecond table, were oppreſſion, bribery, unjuſtice, ver. 11. treading on the poor, taking from him burdens of wheat, ver. 7. turning judgment into hemlock, wormwood; building houſes upon unrighteouſneſſe. ver. 12.13. turning aſide the poor in the gate, from his right. verſe 13. Therefore the prudent ſhall keep ſilence.
2. Their ſufferings: which were two-fold;
1 Corporall.
2 Spirituall.
1. Their Corporall ſufferings mentioned ver. 2. they ſhall fall and not riſe; a thouſand ſhall go out, and but an hundred ſhall return. or, an hundred go out, and but ten return to a City. Iſrael, when they went forth to warrs was wont Decimari, to be tithed forth. ver. 16.17. fly from one danger and fal into a worſe, from a Lion to a Bear; a Serpent, both in field and houſe.
2. Spiritual, viz. Gods ſlighting, abominating, abhorring their ſacrifices, fats, farinals; not ſmelling at their ſolemn feaſts, faſts. Away, avant to their melodies, incenſe, and viols. ver. 22.23. And the prudents ſilence in this evill day, may bee a Judgement, as a ſin.
4. The cure, remedy, removall of this lamentation. Conſiſting of exhortations, threates, directions, verſ. 6. Seek ye me, and ye ſhal live. ver. 8. ſeek the Lord, leaſt he break out as fire in the houſe of Joſeph. Seek the Lord, that made the ſeven ſtars and Orion, that turns the ſhadow of death into morning. ver. 9.14. that ſtrengthneth the ſpoiled againſt the ſtrong. Seek ye good and not evil, ſo the Lord of hoaſts ſhal be with you. ver. 15. hate evill, and love good, eſtabliſh judgment in the gate, ſo the Lord will be gracious to the remnant of Joſeph. And think not to tickle the eares of the Lord with the empty aires of your viols;
But let judgment run down as waters, and righteouſneſs as the mighty ſtream. And thus at length we have met with our text again: in handling whereof, we ſhall obſerve this method.
1. The Explication. 2. The Obſervation. 3. The Confirmation. 4. The Application.
1. In the explication, the ſenſe of the
1 Scope.
2 Terms.
1. For the ſcope, many are the Conceptions of Interpreters.
Some think it a naked exhortation q. d. I weigh not your external fumes of formalities in my worſhip, but earn after your hearts real ſincerity.Calvin. in loc.
Others repute it a preſſure to repentance, with a ſtating the ſymptomes thereof, viz. a rectitude in judgment and righteouſneſſe toward God and man.
A third ſort rove far from the marke, as if God threatned his judgments againſt Iſraels hypocriſie. Who hoped to pacifie an angry God with outſides, as children do their babies, puppets, with faire words and ſilken clouts.
A fourth ſenſe is that the words are a ſolution to a vain objection, thus, What, will not hear, ſmell at what himſelf commands? Yes: yet not at theſe externals only and ſimply; but let judgment alſo and righteouſneſſe run down as waters, &c.
A laſt party repute it a propheſie, reaching the cleerer dayes of Chriſts larger manifeſtations. When the Son of righteouſneſſe ſhal appear with healing under his wings. Mal. 4.2.
Ile not claſh, but cloſe the various opinions of Godly expoſitors, and ſay, 'Tis an exhortatory propheſie, or propheticall exhortation. For Calvin renders it in the future, decurret, ſhall run down.
The Interlineary,foreign Devolvat, ve-Jiggall, in the imperative, let it rowl down; as if the firſt made it a propheſie, the ſecond an exhortation.
In this exhortatory propheſie, are
1. The Object, or things exhorted, or propheſied of, ſcil. Judgment and Righteouſneſſe.
2 The act or motion, let it run down, or it ſhall rowle down.
3 The Manner of this motion, under a double metaphor of
1 Waters in the plurall.
2 Mighty ſtream or ſtrong torrent.
And now ſecondly, are we arrived to the Explication of the termes. Miſhphat, foreignfrom foreign judicare, judicium exercere, or litem tractare, to Judge, exerciſe Judgement, or handle a controverſie; which skil leans on four particulars.
1. Conſultation: wherein theſe two muſt ſit ſupreme; thus David about the Arks return, 1 Chr. 13.1. conſulted with the Captaines of thouſands, and Captains of hundreds, and every leader, yea with Levites, Prieſts and all Iſrael, ver. 2, 3, &c.
2. Pleading: Where theſe two muſt fix on the lips and conſcience; Job (ch. 13.4.) queſtions his friends, whether they durſt plead a lie for God: if not, much leſſe for any man.
3. Pronunciation of ſentence: Here theſe two muſt ſtand on the right and left hand, without reſpect of perſons in judicialls, Rom. 2.11. Prov. 15.17. 'Tis equall abomination, to condemn the righteous, and acquit the nocent.
4. Execution of ſentence: To which motion theſe two Sluces ſhould be ſo opened, that all corruptions in perſons, things, actions, may be ſwept away out of Churches and Common Wealths. Eccleſ. 8.11. Becauſe ſentence againſt an evill work is not executed ſpeedily, therefore the heart of the ſons of men is fully ſet in them to do evill: Ergo, Let judgment run down as water, and righteouſneſs, &c. Tſedecha, from Tſadick, Diviſum, divided;foreign Righteouſneſſe divides to each one his due portion, according to right proportion. Thus Solomon with his ſword divides true juſtice to the two mothers, and the ſword is ſtill Juſtices embleme. 2 King. 2.8. Eliſha with his mantle divides the waters, and paſſeth over ſafely: This diviſion is the author and compleater of our ſafeties.
Its parts are divided
Into 1. Commutative: conſiſting in bargaine, ſale, contract.
2. Diſtributive: comprehended
1 In Praiſes, recompences for well doing.
2 In Puniſhments for evill doers, Romans 2.8.9.10, 11.
Theſe two laſt are the legges of Commonwealths, and Churches; if either be wanting, the whole body halts; If both, 'tis a Dagons trunck.
Some diſtinguiſh judgment from righteouſneſſe, as if the firſt conſiſted in condemning condemnables, and the ſecond in approving approvables. Job 36. ver. 17. Let Judgement and Righteouſneſſe take hold on thee.
Often one is ſet for the act, the other for the manner. Pſ. 9.8. Shall miniſter Judgement to the people in righteouſneſſe. Chriſt Joynes them, John 7.24. Judge not according to appearance, but judge righteous judgement.
Somtimes Righteouſneſſe is taken more ſtrictly, for defending and rewarding Gods people; and Judgment imports an avenging wrath on Gods enemies, but what God hath joyned, let no man ſeparate. And thus we are come to the ſecond Generall of my method, Which is the obſervation from the whole words.
Doct. A main cure of corruptions, is, when judgment, righteouſneſſe, execution, reſembles the rowling of waters, and mighty streams.
Proof. Pſal. 72 containes a Propheſie of Chriſt under Solomons type, who is fronted in the dedication; a Pſalm for Solomon: Give thy Judgements to the King, and thy Righteouſneſſe to the Kings ſon. ver. 3. then the iſſue is, Mountains ſhall bring peace. ver. 4 the children of the needy ſhall be ſaved, the oppreſſor broken. verſe 5. they ſhall fear thee as long as the Sun and Moon endures. ver. 6. he ſhall come down as rain upon the mowen graſſe, as ſhowers that water the earth. And ſo waſh away corruptions out of Common wealths and Churches; ſuch were Ezra, Nehemiah, &c. in their dayes: and Chriſt in his, John 2 15. whips away buyers, ſellers in the Temple; and huckſters of Juſtice will be whipped away by thoſe defluxions.
To clear this channel more perſpicuouſly, Three circumſtances in the Text may be dived into more deeply.
1 The term à quo, couched in the term ad quem; run down, therefore were firſt above.
2 The term ad quem, arguing the deſcent of judgment, &c.
3 The intervenient motion; run, or rowle.
1. Judgment, righteouſneſſe muſt derive their pedegree from above, James 1.17. Pſalm 8.9. Juſtice and judgment are the habitation of his throne; hee loves them highly. Pſal. 33.3. God calls his Vice-gerents Gods, and their ſeats are above men, to ſtamp on their ſpirits Jehoſhaphat's charge, 2 Chron. 19.6. Take heed what you do; for ye judge not for man; but the Lord is with you (on the Bench) in Judgment. Verſ. 7. Wherefore let the fear of the Lord be upon you: Take your judgments from him. The neerer mens laws border on Gods, the cleerer they run. Other waters are dead, deadden, deadly, breed barrenneſs, burſting and death, as thoſe of Jealouſie, Num. 5. they can riſe no higher then the fountain. Self, man, corruption can caſt forth nothing but mire, Iſa. 48. ult. Such were our Regalian, Epiſcopalian, carnalian ſtreams, lately cryed up by ſome leprous Naamites: Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damaſcus, better then all the waters of Iſrael?2 King. 5.12
2. The term ad quem; Down, Pſal. 133.3. as oyl from Aaron's head, beard, to the meaneſt skirt of the garment: it muſt as well reach a poor Naboth, as a potent Ahab; Too long have our waters been turned into blood, Pſalm 105.25. with not onelyonly a tenth, but a fifth part of our men, Rev. 8.10. Were turned into wormwood, gall, hemlock, Jer. 8.19. Now ſince Immanuel is more gloriouſly diſcovered, imitate him, Pſal. 68.5, 6. who is the Father of the father leſs, a judge of widows cauſes. v. 6. Sets the Solitary into families, brings bondmen out of chains, but drives the Rebells to dwell in a dry Land.
3. The intervenient motion; run, rowl without demur, the laws common leproſie in England.
What Tully ſaid of Oratory, Elocution is the choiceſt part. Auguſtine of Chriſtianity, humility is the beſt ornament. I of Law, wiſe expedition is the moſt beautifull peece. Waters, ſtreams, ſeas motions, run in a Circular circuit. From the Seas, waters are ſuck'd up by the Sun into the clouds, theſe unbucket themſelves into the hills, thence flow your fountains, theſe by pores crawle into the rivulets and brooks; which meeting in an aſſembly, unite their powers into mighty ſtreams, and theſe lay themſelves down into the oceans lapp again. One act denominates not; the text names waters in the plurall (not a few dribling drops) which riſe into a ſtrong torrent.
At the worlds deluge, we find a conſpiring concurrence of them.
1. From the ſwollen Seas. 2. Then from the bigg bellied rivers. 3. Heavens open their windowes, elſe could never ſwinge away a whole world of corruptions. Gen. 6.12. Truly, our channels in Churches, Commonwealths, are yet mighty foule, need theſe mighty waters, ſtreams, to cleanſe them. So fall we into the third General, the confirmation of the Obſervation, by Reaſons taken from waters.
1. Reaſ. Celerity: ſtreams will not be interrupted in their journey: If you pervert or divert them into many or undue courſes (as Alexander vapor'd over Ganges, to cut it into ſeverall channels) they'l ſoon loſe their name and glory.
Theſe two ſhould keep like Mary, to what Chriſt commanded his Diſciples Luk. 10.4. ſalute no man in the way. Court Bribey Greet them, they muſt make no hault; not ſtalke in a Portugal pace. And yet may not run as Ahimaaz, with an imperfect errand; but as Cuſhai, with the full truth.
This ſpeedy motion argues them from above, James 3.3 laſt verſes.
Thus God ran down on Iſraels cry in Egypt, and on the ſins cry in Sodom, without delays, after juſt ſcrutiny, Slow obedience is the firſt ſtep to diſobedience, which is rebellion, the ſin of witchcraft. 1. monſtrous. 2 hardly forſaken.
1. Whereto tends needleſſe delayes, but to keep the differencing party more irreconcileable?
2 To play the box with the clients purſe?
3 To ſqueeze tears from the eyes of oppreſſed orphans and widdowes? which argues no truth of Religion, James 1. ult.
4 To offer a rape on theſe pure virgins, judgment, righteouſneſſe?
5 To ſpread a generall miſchief, as they who ſtop ſtreams from a mill, or water from a common conduit; hazarding many lives of 1. bodies, 2 ſtates, 3 reputations, 4 ſoules.
O the quarrels ſtarted 'twixt the Patriarks and Phyliſtins about damming up the fountains! Jer. 21.12. Execute judgment in the morning (.i.) timely, ſpeedily. Souldiers that muſt dy, rather chuſe a ſpeedy bullet, then a lingring priſon.
2 Rea. From their purity and cleanneſſe. 2 Rea.1 From baſe paſſions of love, fear, hope, &c. 2. Clearneſſe from reſpect of perſons, declaimed againſt in many Scriptures. 3. Clearneſſe from all ſinfull ſelf ends, 2. Chron. 9.17. Solomons throne is of Ivory; pure gold overlaying it; two lions ſtanding by the ſtayes. Lions are free from mouſ-like. feare: 'twas Ivory, not iron; noting all iron cruelty in Counſells, pleadings, ſentencings and executions to be abſent thence; not too hard againſt innocent and harmleſſe; not leaden, and eaſily turned to every ſide. Iſa. 1.6. complains their ſilver was turned to droſſe, their gold to tinne. Ours of late into Excrements: A monſtrous metamorphoſis, deſperate degradation! their wine into water, ours lately into poyſon. Our Princes were companions of theeves. Firſt, Cheated cunningly, by others hands; or ſecondly, commandingly, by open violence.
Theſe corruptions are intollerable in any, in every place, moſt abominable in places of Judicatory, ordained to ſpunge away all ſuch filthineſſe. Grand ſins in hell are no novell ſpectacles; But in heaven, in heavens Repreſentative, Gods; (ſo God himſelf ſtiles them, Pſalm 82.2, 3. this ſtaggers the wiſeſt Solomon, Eccleſ. 3.16. Moreover I ſaw under the ſun, the place of Judicatory, that wickedneſſe was there; and the place of righteouſneſſe, that iniquity was there. This in ſtrangers to the Common-wealth of Iſrael were no ſtrange thing; but a prodigie in the Common-wealth of Iſrael. Where (not Princes ſons) but poor orphans went with pitchers in hand, and returned not only empty of water, but ful of mud; yea, their pitchers broken; Our fountains have reſembled Monaſticall Ponds, not only full of childrens, but mens, womens, childrens, and whole families skulls.
May not our God take up Jeremiahs Quere, chap. 5. 7. Shall I pardon for theſe things? ſhall not my ſoul be avenged on ſuch a nation as this?
Some writers ſay, ſome waters in Macedonia being drunk by black ſheep, change their fleece into white. Nothing but the pure adminiſtration of judgment and righteouſneſſe can transforme our blackmouthed, blackhanded, blackhearted adverſaries into white, who cry, our corruptions are greater then in time of Regall Tyranny, as if Rehoboams little finger were heavier then his Fathers loins.
3 Reaſ. From waters naturalneſſe of motion;3. Reaſ. whence iſſues their facilicy and conſtancy in running down: this flows from internall principles. Indeed a new nature makes judgements race untireable; and truly, piety is the beſt policy. Policy forceth Judgements ſtreams as waters out of a pump. If the crew in the ſhip be compelled overlong to ſweat at pump, 'twill tire the Mariners, and ſink the veſſell and goods.
The Politicians hieroglyphick, is, A man ſtanding on his head, graſping the graſſe with his hands, kicking heavenward with his heels. Such a ſtation muſt be very ſhort, and ſuch ſupports muſt ſoon yeeld and faile in ſuch a prepoſterous poſture.
Rehoboams young Counſellors could no more faſten his throne, then a tower in the aire: nor Jeroboams calves no more confirme the crown to poſterity, then a ſucking babe protect a kingdom from an army of Giants.
What is naturall, is facile and amiable, yea irreſiſtible. As law conſtrains, ſo nature loves its own actings. Can you command the ſeas at low water to ſtand ſtill without reflux; or at full, to keep its mark without flux?Omnia difficilia facilia et propè. Nulla efficit amor. Imitate then the grand Judge, Pſal. 33.5. who loves judgement and righteouſneſſe; do the like. Love makes all things that are difficult, eaſie; yea, as nothing.
4 Reaſ. From its irreſiſtibleneſſe. Court, complement the running waters, chide or check the mighty ſtreams, they'l drive on, as Jehu, furiouſly; time, tide, ſtaies for no man. If any great log lye in the ſtreams way, they'l roule them along; if any traſh choak their channels, they'l beeſome them before them into the grand ocean. Nor friend nor foe, nor bribe nor promotion, nor ſelf nor paſſion, ſhould withſtand their paſſages. Remember the Fig trees reſolve, Shall I leave my ſweetneſſe to become a wooden King? Felix may leave Paul in priſon gaping for a bribe; Herod may a while fear the people, which may ſtave John from a preſent decollation. Pilat may tremble at the loſſe of Caeſars friendſhip, and ſo may give up innocence it ſelf againſt his conſcience, to gratifie Jews: But is not Herod afterward haunted with Johns Ghoſt, and Pilat with Satans hells ſcourges?
Love of ſafety, ſelf, eaſe, honour, have too long ſtopt our ſtreams; now times of reformation are fallen upon us, and Chriſt begins to ſhine in a more Goſpel ſplendor; let not a ſhut, a bolted doore, or gate of braſſe be able to keep him out from entring our everlaſting doors,Pſal. 24. But let judgement run down as waters, and righteouſneſſe as the mighty ſtreams. I am now arrived at the fourth generall, the Application.
1. Ʋſe Reacheth every ſoul that heareth me this day.1 Ʋſe. 1. Art thou righteous, and haſt troubled the defluxion of thoſe waters, ſtreams? then haſt thou fallen down before the wicked, and art a troubled fountain, and a corrupt ſpring; Pro. 25.26.that troubles the ſtreams which glide from it. Thy miſexamples are infectious.
2. Art thou unrighteous? then art thou one of them who have raiſed this lamentation in this chapter, as high as heaven. Thy ſins are the troublers of England, as Achans of Iſrael. God may for thine own only ſake, turn his back upon all our Armies, and make us fly before our Enemies. Again, art thou a private man? as man, thou art a Microcoſm, a little world; and can the world continue without water and ſtreams; and theſe in a conſtant ſucceſſive defluxion? theſe two muſt have their irreſiſtible race in all thy borders, elſe art thou as Iſraels land in three yeers and half wanting rain, ready to ſtarve all that lived in it; thy gifts muſt wither, thy Grace will ſhrivell, thy comforts ſhall languiſh and be neer giving up the Ghoſt.Pro. 14.34. If righteouſneſſe exalt a nation from a dunghill to a throne; unrighteouſneſſe will tumble it from a throne to a dunghill, how ſoon then ſhall it demoliſh a private mans foundation? Thou complaineſt the ſhip is leak, many foot of water in the hold, every particular hand muſt take its ſpell at the pump, elſe the veſſel is like to periſh for ever.
Again haſt thou a family, and lamenteſt the Great corruptions that ſwarme in Commonwealth and Churches? Let the waters in thine own ciſterne be cleer. Oh that each family in this Land, were as George Duke of Anhalts Chamber, Academia, Curia, Templum.
1. An Ʋniverſity, to diſpute what waters, ſtreams have run down from Governours, Parents, Maſters, Fathers, to ſervants, children, inferiours. This careleſneſſe is the ruine of Great and many families.
2. A Court, to paſſe ſevere ſentence, and ſee its execution on all corruptions that bubble up under their juriſdiction; Eccleſ. 8.11. Elies cruell indulgence, cool reproofs, brake the neck, back, and bulke of all that poſterity.
3. A Temple, for prayer, praiſe, holy conferences, heavenly practiſes, and Chriſtian encouragements, how ſoon would this huſh our generall complaints gainſt commanders, and turn the mouth of the Canon upon our own neglects?
Families are Churches, Commonwealths Nurſeries. As theſe trees here are good or bad, ſuch will bee the fruits in the Orchards. Should God come, as once to the Vineyard, Luke 13.6.7. and finde no fruits of righteouſneſſe, he might after a hundred yeers manuring, trimming, not onelyonly threaten, but actuate a deciſion from the Land of the Living. Doe not many Maſters, Parents, Governours actions ſpeake Cains language, Geneſis 4. Am I my brothers keeper? Or the blind mans Fathers Idiom; he is of age, let him ſpeake for himſelfe? But their blood cries loud in heaven for vengeance, on ſuch ſervant ſlayers, children killers.
3. You that are Judges, Magiſtrates on bench, at barr, if you haſten not forth to help the Lord againſt thoſe violent, mighty torrents of headſtrong corruptions, that like the hoaſt of Siſera, threaten our deſolation; not I, but the Angel of God threatens a doubled curſe againſt you, Judges 5.23. Curſe yee Meroz bitterly, &c. I cannot read of any ſuch obligation on Meroz to come into the Lords help, as I know lies on you, who have your titles from him, to minde you of your duties, ſcil. to ſtand for him; not to fight for God, is to fight againſt him. Can God fight againſt God; or Michaels angels againſt Michael? Are you not Gods? Pſalm 82.2. Are you not ſtarrs in the higher ſphere? ſtarrs never fought againſt Iſrael, but againſt Siſera. Pſalm 82.6. I have ſaid, Ye are Gods, and all of you are children of the moſt high ('tis monſtrous to ſee children imbattel their own Father) ver. 7. but ye ſhall die like men, and fall as one of the Princes (remember ſuch a one not long ſince hath fallen) for helping the mighty againſt God, ver. 8. Ariſe O Lord, judge thou the earth. If men in power of Judicature, judge not for God, hee'l ariſe and take the helm into his own hand, and judg the Judges.
Let me leave one text of Scripture ſeriouſly to bee ruminated by you, when I am far remote from you, 'tis Moſes charge to the two tribes and half, whoſe hearts were glued to a plantation on this ſide Jordan. Num. 32.23. If ye do not this (help your brethren againſt a numerous Enemy) behold, you have ſinned againſt the Lord, and bee ſure your ſinne will finde you out, firſt, to a diſcovery. Secondly, or battery, or both, as Achan's did.
4. Are you Jurymen, take theſe two companions in the text, in your conſciences, as ye go hence to the Hall, And Davids reſolve as he went to the Temple, Pſalm 26.6. I will waſh my hands in innocency, ſo will I compaſſe thine altar, O Lord. Waſh'd in ſuch a Bath, you may compaſſe the barr boldly, cheerfully.
The lives and eſtates not only of preſent perſons, but future poſterities hang upon your lipps, take theſe aſſiſtants to your conſults, reſults. 1. A good conſcience. 2. Scripture Evidence. 3. Chriſtian compaſsionateneſſe. 4. Right conſideration of your latter ends, in which is wrapt up much of wiſdom, Deut. 32.29. O that my people were wiſe, that they would conſider their later ends. When the great King of Jury muſt paſſe a verdict on all your verdicts, Juries, and ſouls. And that without any the leaſt atome of hope of reverſing it. though all the Angels of heaven and Saints there ſhould beg it in tears of blood.
5. You witneſſes, carefully carry with you theſe two in the text; ere any one word run raſhly down from your lipps, hearken to the charge, Pro. 14.25. ye that are true ones, A faithfull witneſſe delivers ſouls, in the plurall, of ſelves and others: ye that are falſe ones) but a falſe witneſſe deſtroys ſouls; of ſelves as others. The ſcope is to ſhew what power is hinged on your tongues teſtimonies, viz. to ſave, or ſinke the eſtates, credits, and lives of many, many. Go ye falſe ones, and read your neck verſe, Pro. 24.28. A falſe witneſſe ſhall not eſcape. viz. Gods tribunall; though he may, often doth mans.
2. Ʋſe. Conſiſts in exhortation,2 Ʋſe. to each ſoul in the Nation. Every man hath had a finger in breeding theſe Cobwebs of Corruption, in weaving theſe ſpider frames of poyſon. Let each one with all might, labour a ſweeping them down; throw them into the fire: to which purpoſe take theſe Excitations, or Arguments.
1. Motive. From the Exuberancy of theſe corruptions, Gen. 6.12.1 Motive. The whole earth had corrupted their ways before God. And this brings in a deluge that deſtroyes all to eight perſons. A floud of blood hath been drowning many thouſands of Engliſh ſouls of late; and are our corruptions fewer then formerly? inſtead of ſuperſtitions, Idolatries, &c. recited in this chapter, bolſtred in England, have not hideous blaſphemies, helliſh hereſies, uncouth Errors riſen up in their room? and have not ſome of the prudent kept ſile nce, becauſe 'twas an evill time? ſhould not therefore our Davids, their ſwordmen, Levites, Prieſts, all Iſrael, unite ſhoulders, help to reduce the Ark from the Philiſtims, and ſettle it in its due poſture, place, baſis! 1 Chron. 13.1.2. I confeſſe corruptions are more then my memory, or this time permits a repetition, much leſſe a declamation; I ſhall therefore epitomize all in one Grand one, Theevery, General Theevery.
I have heard of a Corporation of Theeves in the Great City, ſome termed ſtanders, others walkers, &c. I wiſh it were baniſh'd the Land, or confined to London walls only. But, Illiacos intra muros peccatur & extra; This (as the faſhions) hath its Country houſe alſo.
Formerly this Corruption ſate on the Throne, clothed with Tiſſue, Iſa. 1.11. formerly it ſate in the Conſiſtory, robed in Lawn ſleeves; formerly it ſate on the Bench, clad in ſcarlet; formerly it ſtood in the pulpit, covered with ſable: Antiently the Lord found it too common among the old Prophets, inſomuch that he declares himſelf againſt it, and them, Jer. 23.30. Behold, I am againſt thoſe Prophets, ſaith the Lord, that ſteal my word every one from his neighbour. Theſe had almoſt ſtollen away our Lawes, liberties, lives, and our Lord Jeſus too, (if poſſible) and would have lain him we know not where. And are our corruptions clean waſht from our church channels? I dare not ſpare my own coat: Are there not ſome of the younger fry of falſe Prophets, that can ſteale in print, imprint thoſe ſtealths, juſtifie thoſe ſtollen impreſſions even with imprecations? And when all is done, all is Feately Donne. I ſhould be larger in preſenting you a meſſe of ſuch ones, heterodox hogpodges; but Ile ſhun the imputation of Envy, and fall on the ſecond Motive.
2 Motive. From the neceſſity of theſe two,2 Motiv. as of waters, ſtreams in a Land; how can the inhabitants live without theſe? will not that place be truely, what falſe Spies ſaid falſely of Canaan, a Land that eates up the inhabitants thereof? nay, muſt I not ſay, a Land, the inhabitants whereof eat up one another? Eccleſ. 1.7. All the rivers are ſtill running into the ſeas, elſe could not be maintained by the ſeas, not the ſeas without the rivers. What quiet in Commonwealths, Churches, mens eſtates, or Gods Worſhip, or what graces increaſe, ſupport, continuance, without a conſtant progreſſe of theſe two?
They miſtake a Regulation, that repute it an Annihilation; pure waters are wholſomer then puddled ones, which Tirannicall Elephants have thickned to fiſh, not ſee their faces in.
'Tis a curſe, that the heavens ſhall be turned into braſſe, Deu. 28.23.earth into iron; yet want of waters puls down this curſe ſuddenly, irremediably. And death conſequently muſt ſeaſe on all the vegetables, ſenſitives, rationalls; Yea, the whole Creation muſt ſoon ſurceaſe its ſucceſſive Individuals. Three years and a halfs want of water beleaguers King, Peaſant, man and beaſt. Elias rain, is Iſraels reſurrection to life, and, our text waters, ſtreams to England. While no King in Iſrael, Judges ult.every one did what he liſt: by King is meant ſupream Governor, for then Iſrael did not de perirs reges, as in Samuels time, when that Idol was as much doted on by Iſrael, as by all other nations; but its better being where nil licet, then omnia. Now ſelf is the univerſall Idol, Nebuchadnezzers Image; burn them in hot furnace, that bow not down at its command, and pipe.
3. Motive. 3 Motive.From the ſeverall Excellencies found in waters, ſtreams; too many to Enumerate in ſo ſhort a ſcantling; take a taſte of ſome few.
1. Theſe quench flames, fires, heates; ſo timely execution of judgement doth the contentions in Kingdoms, Commonwealths,Dum craſtinam ſemper apparamus aquam, praeſenti conflagramur incendio. Churches, Countries, corporations, families; it neglected, occaſions the rulne of all. Rome fel by its own civill flames, conflagrations.
2. Theſe conjoyne heterogenealls. God and Iſrael are at ods, Joſhuah and the Camp fly befor Enemies, Achans ſtealth hath created this Chaſma; judgment, righteouſneſſe ran down as waters, ſtreams, on the delinquent, and God and Iſrael are thereupon reunited, as the chappie earth meets, becomes one, after ſome continued ſhowers, Joſh. 7.
3. They Enliven moſt Creatures, hold up their lives by the chin Iſa. 10.2. the fiſhes dy when waters dry. The lives of ſtates and Churches muſt expire where is no, or no due adminiſtration of Juſtice. Armies without theſe crumble to Atomes; and nations untwiſt to nothingneſſe.
4. They purge, cleanſe the ſtreeets channels, ſources; ſo do theſe two in the text, a land, from 1 Corruptions, 2 Corrupters. 3 Corrupted ones. All which defile a Land as much, nay more then whoredom or Solomons whore, which breeds innumerable tranſgreſſions. Right Honourable, the due ſource of theſe two in the text will gladden the City of our God, Pſal. 64.4. and as much ſadden the Citizens of Babylon.
'Twill not only exalt, but keep our Commonwealth in an eſtabliſhed exaltation; Yea, lift your heads above your Enemies. 'Twill break in ſhatters the complicated confederacies of all our Enemies, Iſaiah 8.10.11, 12. even for Immanuel, and keep God with us.
'Twill fatten your owne ſouls, eſtates, purſes, poſterities, Proverbs 11.25. He that watereth, ſhall be watered, as a gardener by watering his flowers, herbs, roots, advanceth then growth, and his profits by their advance.
Laſt of all, it will cleanſe the cankers in Churches and States, drive away our Egyptian froggs, that have been one of our former plagues, change our mournings into melodies, our lamentations into leapings, skippings for joy; our reall complaints into rich contents, and our ſorrows into a ſong, not unlike that of Angels.
Glory be to God on high, on earth peace, good will unto men: Amen.
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