A Firebrand Plucked out of the Burning, Sermon
A SERMON PREACHED AT Margarets Weſtminſter, before the Honourable Houſe of COMMONS, at their late Solemn Faſt, Novemb. 27. 1644.
Zach. 3. latter part verſ. 2.
Is not this a brand pluckt out of the fire?
IT is the Lords pleaſure that the condition of his Church many times ſhould be ſuch, as the Prophet expreſſeth: I beheld the earth, and lo, it was without forme and void: Jer. 4.23.and the heavens had no light. Thus it was with Gods people in the Babyloniſh captivitie: Heaven and Earth, Church and Common-wealth, were in a confuſion.
It is the Lords goodneſſe to have reſpect to his people in ſuch extreamities, and when all is in a Chaos, to ſtirre up helps and wayes to a new Creation of this heaven and earth.
The God of the ſpirits of all fleſh, for this end ſtirs up the ſpirit of Cyrus, to give way, and of Zerubbabel, Ioſhua, Ezra, and Nehemiah, to revive the ſtones out of the rubbiſh to build the Citie and Temple, and to ſet up the true worſhip and pure ordinances of God.
It is obſervable, that the beſt undertakings, meet with greateſt diſcouragements▪ As theſe Builders and Reformers did; both from the Kings Courtiers and Malignant neighbours, ſtirred up by the Devill: Therefore leſt they ſhould faint and be weary, leſt their ſpirits ſhould faile, the Lord ſends encouragements by his Prophets, Haggai, and Zachary. Ezra 5.1.The like oppoſitions (much Honoured) you have had, and ſuch encouragements the Lord hath not been wanting in to you.
This Prophet Zachary: Firſt, to fit and diſpoſe the people for mercy, exhorteth to repentance: Thus is a people prepared for the Lord. Secondly, by ſevetall viſions, the Lord firſt ſheweth how he had dealt with them, that is, with moderation, not according to their deſerts, but in meaſure and much mercy, Chap. 1. & 2. Secondly, for their comfort, he declareth how he would deale with them, Chap. 3. & 7. that is, he would deale graciouſly with them, if they would turne to him, and build his Temple, and ſet up his worſhip and ordinances in their puritie.
In this third Chapter, is ſet down the fourth viſion, which the Lord manifeſted to this Prophet, that is, Ioſhua the high Prieſt, and Satan ſtanding at his right hand. In Ioſhua the high Prieſt, a type of Chriſt, is ſet out the reſtauration of the Church, and Prieſthood, and true worſhip.
He ſtood before the Angel of the Lord, that is, the ſecond perſon of the Trinitie, called the Angel of the Covenant, and verſ. 2. of this Chapter, Iehovah, attending his commands, expecting his ayde: he was in vile raiment, not as the high Prieſt of old; though the Prieſthood and Church be in a vile deſpicable condition, you ſee it is in Chriſts eye, he hath care of it. Satan an adverſary ſtands at his right hand to reſiſt. The devill will ſtill be hindering the acting hand in the things of God: Our Saviour found it ſo, when firſt he entred upon the worke of a Mediatour, and Saint Paul, in his pious intentions:Matth. 4. 1 Theſſ. 1. Satan hindered us.
The Devill hateth all Divine Order and pure Ordinances, therefore he reſiſts Ioſhua, in whom the Prieſthood and Divine worſhip were reſtored.
Hence verſ. 3. the Lord is pleaſed to grant a threefold encouragement to Ioſhua and the reſt, which is alſo a threefold diſcouragement to the adverſary.
Firſt, The Lord hath choſen Ieruſalem, and the Miniſtery appointed to gather and build up his people: and the Lord by deliverance of his people hath manifeſted his election: therefore he will not forſake thoſe whom hee hath choſen: Gods chooſing is loving, Iacob have I loved. Whom God loves he loves to the end: therefore feare not.
Secondly, The Sonne of God undertakes the Patronage of his Church, he prayeth for them, he makes interceſſion to Iehovah God the Father: Iehovah ſaid, Iehovah rebuke thee: and obſerving the reduplication, the Lord rebuke thee, even the Lord that hath choſen Ieruſalem rebuke thee, we may ſee vehemency of affection in our Mediatour toward his Church and choſen: he was heard alway whileſt he was upon earth:Joh. 11. Father I know thou heareſt me alwayes. Therefore now he is at the right hand of God he is heard; The Lord will rebuke the adverſary, and anſwer this angel with good and comfortable words concerning Ieruſalem: This was to Ioſhua and the reſt, and is to you another ſingular encouragement.
The third is, in the words of the Text read unto you: that is, preſent reſcue: This manifeſts what Gods purpoſe is toward his people: he hath delivered them out of a wofull captivitie likely to conſume them, as a brand out of the fire, therefore the Lord will ſave them to the uttermoſt; hath he begun and ſhall he not finiſh? what worke he begins he will perfect it, the Lord will perfect that which concerneth his choſen:Pſal. 138.8. Thus may the Lords choſen inſtruments and ſervants be encouraged: and thus the malignant enemy tooke off.
VponUpon this third let us ſtay our ſoules: I ſhall not trouble you with varietie of interpretations, nor with multitude of obſervations which might very aptly be drawn out: but ſhall labour to preſent the ſumme in this generall inſtruction.
Gods people may be in the burning, but they ſhall certainly be reſcued and perfectly delivered.Doctrine.
This I ſhall labour to explaine and prove with the ſame labour.
1. Firſt, Here is implyed, that calamities by the enemy is a burning: as alſo, Amos 4.11. So this people finde it, and ſo expreſſe it, From above hath he ſent fire into my bones and it prevaileth againſt them: he hath burned againſt Iacob, Lam. 1.13. Chap. 2.3.like a flaming fire which devoureth round about.
Firſt,Pſal. 124. If fire have the maſtery it is raging, devouring and waſting: fire and water have no mercy, we ſay of them, they are good ſervants, but ill maſters: ſo if the cruell enemy get the maſtery he ruines all, and layes all waſte: A fire devoureth before them, and behind them a flame burneth;Joel 2.3. The land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a deſolate wilderneſſe, yea and nothing ſhall eſcape them. When through the Lords anger this fire is kindled, it devoureth every greene tree with every dry tree, that is, both the good which are as the greene tree, having ſome ſap of grace, and the wicked which are as the dry tree, fit for nothing but fuell,Ezek. 20.47. and all faces from the North to the South ſhall be burnt therein: They pitie not the young, nor regard the perſon of the old: even as the devils malice and ſpite ceaſeth not, notwithſtanding, that Ioſhua and the Iews were but newly come out of the fire,Auget culpam Satana. Drufius. as it were brands halfe burnt.
Secondly, burning is a tormenting, painfull puniſhment: ſo is this: The Lord is angry and malicious men helpe forward the affliction: and it's more ſmarting becauſe it's by their hand: when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous then he.Hab. 1.
Thirdly, fire is unſatiable; it makes no end of burning ſo long as there is any thing combuſtible: Thus are the enemies, and the multitude of thoſe that diſtreſſe Ieruſalem; they are even as a dream of a night viſion, as when a hungry man dreameth, and behold he eateth;Iſa. 29.7, 8. but he awaketh, and his ſoule is empty: or as when a thirſty man dreameth, and behold he drinketh; but he awaketh, and behold he is faint, and his ſoule hath appetite: although they load themſelves with plunder and ſpoyle, and glut and make themſelves drunk with bloud; yet they are no more ſatisfied then though they had onelyonly dreamed of ſuch things: they are as one of the things that never ſay, It is enough: Their rage ends not with the life of the godly, but it extends it ſelfe even to their aſhes; as was ſeene in Wicklif, Bucer, and Phagius.
Fourthly, Fire is purging: it trieth: it ſeparates, & divides things Heterogeneall: as the droſſe from the ſilver: ſo this evill is to Gods people as a Refiners fire; it purgeth them from their hypocriſie, worldly-mindedneſſe, and ſelfe-love, &c. Alſo it ſeparates the wicked of the earth as droſſe from the godly, as in this ſeaſon; the truly zealous from the malignant now combined together; Michael and his Angels, againſt the Dragon and his angels.
2. Secondly, here is implied,Revel. 12. that Gods people are often in this burning, and that to ſome extremitie, and for continuance, the Lord lets them lie in till they apprehend themſelves even conſumed as a brand in the fire.
For firſt, we are not immediately purged, the bellowes are burnt, the lead is conſumed out of the fire,Jerem. 6. the Founder melts in vaine; the wicked nor our wickedneſſes are not tooke away: as it is now ſeene, notwithſtanding we are in the burning, yet our diſſentions and fires amongſt our ſelves are not quenched; as it was with the Iewes when they were neere to be conſumed by the Romanes: our Pride, our Covetouſneſſe, &c. are not tooke away; Then no wonder if we continue yet in the burning.
Secondly, it may be alſo the Lord will thus feed the malignitie of the enemy, till he become prodigious in crueltie, blaſphemies, and inſolencie; and fill up a full meaſure of vengeance for himſelfe.
And thirdly, Gods wiſdome is beſt ſeene when we are at our wits end; and the Lords power is moſt manifeſt, when we are at the extremitie of miſerie, when we think and ſay, we are cut off for our parts, Ezek. 37.
And ſecondly, when the enemies are at the height of their malice, and extremitie of crueltie: when the Pope was at his height, then Luther with others about that time gave him a ſecond deadly wound: and when Gods people in this Nation groaned under the Hierarchie, as Iſrael under Egyptian Task-maſters; even then when Tyranny was come to the height, the Lord was ſeene in the Mount; then his wiſdome and power wrought for us: There was none to helpe, then his owne arme brought ſalvation by Englands Parliament, and Scotlands Armie: Thus ſome underſtand the enemies ruine, in Armageddon, expounding it to be the Mount of Megiddo: Iſa. 63.5. Revel. 16. Judg. 5.19.becauſe the enemies are at a height when they are brought to Horma, an utter deſtruction, as Iſraels enemies were at the waters of Megiddo.
Fourthly, contraries are ordinarily cured by contraries: cold diſeaſes by hot Medicines, and hot diſeaſes by cold: we are a cold Nation; at the moſt we are (as we are aptly reſembled by Mr. Brightman to Laodicea) but lukewarme; therefore the Lord applies theſe burnings unto us, that he may bring ſome warmth into us.
3. Thirdly, Here is expreſt, that though Gods people be in the fire, they ſhall certainly be pul'd out, as Iſrael was out of Egypt from the Iron furnace, and out of the miſerable captivitie in Babylon, where they indured this burning here mentioned: firſt, they are in hazard; then certainly reſcued: The enemie ſaid, I will purſue, Exod. 15.9, 10.13.I will overtake, I will divide the ſpoyle: my luſt ſhall bee ſatisfied on them: I will draw my ſword, mine hand ſhall deſtroy them. Thou didſt blow with thy wind, the Sea covered them: they ſanke as lead in the mighty waters. Then, Lord, thou in thy mercy haſt led forth the people whom thou haſt redeemed.
So they ſeeme to be in their graves when in Babylon, but the Lord that quickneth the dead, tels them,Iſa. 26.19. Thy dead men ſhall live, the dead bodies ſhall ariſe: awake, and ſing ye that ſit in the duſt: for the Lords favour is as the dew of herbes.
Firſt, thus the Lords Power, Wiſdome, and Truth ſhine forth when we ſay, Our bones are dried,Ezek. 37.11. and our hope is loſt; we are cut off for our parts.
Secondly, then the Lord is ſought unto, (in their affliction they will ſeek me early) and reſted upon, when we know not what to doe; when refuge faileth, and none careth for our ſoules: And then the Lord will never leave us nor forſake us; he will not be as waters that faile.
Thirdly, Gods love is immutable; more conſtant then the mothers love to her ſucking child:Iſa. 49. No waters can quench it; the coales thereof are coales of fire which have a moſt vehement flame;Cant. 8. many waters cannot quench this love, &c. In wrath he remembers mercy, and will not contend for ever, leſt the ſpirit ſhould faile before him,Iſa. 57.16. and the ſoules that he hath made. The Lord will repent himſelfe for his ſervants, when he ſeeth that their power is gone; and there is none ſhut up, or left: Deuteronomie 32.36. The tender mercies of the wicked are cruell, their malice is endleſſe; but the Lord in wrath remembers mercy: When his people are humbled, his repentings are kindled, his bowels are troubled, and acknowledgeth that Jeruſalem hath received double at his hands for all their ſinnes.Iſa. 40.2. Duplum in Chriſto. Junius.
And ſo one addes an Argument beſides thoſe I have ſet downe out of theſe words, which may ſilence the Devill and all implacable enemies: Thus; This people is ſufficiently puniſht, therefore God is not to be urged to adde to their puniſhment.Sanctius.
Fourthly, the enemy ſhall not alwaies blaſpheme; the Lord will ſtop the mouth of iniquitie, he will ſtill the enemy and avenger:Deut. 32.26, 27. the Lord would have ſcattered the Iſraelites into corners, and cauſed the remembrance of them to ceaſe from among men, were it not that he feared the wrath of the enemy.
Fifthly, thus the Lord takes courſe for his own Name; although not for our ſakes, yet for his owne Names ſake he will worke for us that his Name be not polluted. And ſo Ioſhua pleads,Joſh. 7. Chap. 7. that for this reaſon the Lord would not leave his people in the enemies hand; for then, What (ſaith he) wilt thou doe unto thy glorious Name?
Fourthly, here is implied; that if the Lord beginne in mercy he will finiſh:Pſal. 102. Pſal. 138.8. when the time to favour Sion, the ſet time is come, then the Lord will perfect his worke concerning us: he will doe it in deſpight of all Devils and Antichriſtians: though there be mountaines before his Zerubbabels, God will make them plaines, and bring forth the head-ſtone of his worke with ſhouting: He can make the hardeſt reſiſtance as Clay, or Wax to the Signet; the greateſt impediment ſhall give place, as Euphrates did to Cyrus that he might take the old Babylon; He ſaith to the deepe,Iſa. 44. Be drie: and ſo will the Lord doe that he may be avenged on Rome, Revel. 16.11.
Yea, things adverſe ſhall not onelyonly yeeld, but concurre: The Lord will make away in the wilderneſſe, and rivers in the deſert; the beaſts of the field ſhall honour him, the Dragon,Iſa. 43.19, 20, 21. and the Owles, &c.
As the beginnings of the ruine of the wicked evidenceth their certaine totall ruine: If Haman begin to fall, he ſhall not faile but fall: ſo the beginnings of deliverance from our Romiſh enemies, are pledges of compleat deliverance; the beginnings of the repairing of Gods Temple, evidence the certaine finiſhing of it: beginnings of woe were ſignes to the Iews of the extremitie of woe: and beginnings of bleſſedneſſe and puritie, are like ſignes of perfect bleſſedneſſe and puritie.
Firſt, for the Lord hath choſen Ieruſalem: and his beginnings declare what he hath decreed: If God hath decreed to deliver, to build, to beautifie the place of his Foot-ſtoole and make it glorious, who can hinder? the Lord God hath purpoſed, and who can diſanull it?Iſa. 14.24.27. he hath ſtretched forth his hand, and who can turne it back?
Secondly, It ſtands God upon for his honour to goe on in mercy, when he begins in mercy: his Truth, his Wiſdome, and Power are ingaged: Moſes therefore was much affected when the Lord threatened to deſtroy Iſrael as one man, after he had puld them out of the Egyptian burnings:Exod. 32.12. Lord (ſaith he) why doth thy wrath waxe hot againſt thy people, which thou haſt brought forth out of the Land of Egypt with great power, and with a mightie hand? Wherefore ſhould the Egyptians ſpeake and ſay, for miſchiefe did he bring them out to ſlay them in the mountaines?Num. 14.15, 16. And now if thou wilt kill all this people as one man, then the Nations which have heard the fame of thee will ſpeake, ſaying: Becauſe the Lord was not able to bring this people into Canaan, he hath ſlaine them in the wilderneſſe.
The Lord would not have us ſuch unwiſe builders as beginne and cannot finiſh; ſuch builders are expoſed to ſcorne and ſhame; therefore the omnipotent onelyonly wiſe God will not doe ſo.
The Lord alſo is tender of his ſervants honour: he will ſtill the enemie, Pſal. 8. Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geſhem will laugh Nehemiah and other Worthies to ſcorne:Neh. 2.19, 20. What duplicate page duplicate page is this thing that ye doe?Neh. 4.2, 3, 4. Will ye rebell againſt the King? What doe theſe feeble Iewes? will they fortifie? will they ſacrifice? Then his fellow: Even that which they build, if a Foxe goe up he will breake down their ſtone wall: but Nehemiah, and ſuch, may be confident and ſay, The God of heaven will proſper us, therefore we his ſervants will ariſe and build; and make all knowne to God who careth for your perſons, your names, and honours: Heare, O our God, for we are deſpiſed, and turne their reproach upon their owne head. The reproach of his ſervants he will wipe away:Iſa. 66.5. The Lord will appeare to your joy when they ſhall be aſhamed.
Thirdly, God is conſtant: ſo is his love and reſolution to doe us good: he is not as the ſonne of man that he ſhould repent:Num. 23.19. Mal. 3.6. 1 Sam. 12.22. he is God and changeth not: The Lord will not forſake his people for his great Names ſake, becauſe it hath pleaſed the Lord to make you his people: Therefore when the Lord beginnes he goeth on: as Naomi ſaid of Booz, The man will not be in reſt untill he finiſh the things this day. Men are mutable, diſcouraged, weary; but the Creator of the ends of the earth fainteth not: Natura not dilaſſatur opere; as the heavens are never wearie; the Sunne after millions of revolutions continueth ſtill rejoycing as a mighty man to runne his race; much leſſe is the God of Nature, and the God of theſe Heavens weary: ſhall the Lord then begin and not finiſh? Shall I bring to the birth,Iſa. 66.9. and not cauſe to bring forth, ſaith the Lord? The Lords care over his Church, is alſo a conſtant care; his eyes are continually upon it: upon one ſtone, that is, Chriſt Ieſus, the Corner-ſtone on whom we are built: there are ſeven eyes; that is, many eyes; the Lords eyes are upon Gods Houſe,Populi cauſam Deus ſemel tucudan ſuſcepit, ac proinde qua eſt conſtantia …nquam deſeret cam. Druſius. his choſen, and ſo ſhall be till all be perfected concerning his people. They may be in the burning, but they ſhall certainly be reſcued: and if ſo, perfectly delivered: The conſtant zeale of the Lord of Hoſts will performe this
Firſt, ſympathize and pity Ireland almoſt burnt:Ʋſe 1. Levit. 10.6. and England in the fire. Let the whole houſe of Iſrael bewaile the burning which the Lord hath kindled: let your compaſſions be toward the Palatinate, that Vine that had ſtrong rods for the Scepters of them that beare rule: but fire is gone out of a rod of her branches which hath devoured her fruit,Ezek. 19. ult. ſo that there is no rod for a Scepter to rule. This is a lamentation, and it ſhall be for a lamentation: let your compaſſions be kindled ſo that they may ſet you on a courſe to help them out of the fire: uſe means (as the Lord hath put into your hands) if ſo be there may be balme for their healing: if we ſhall ſtill look on without contributing to their reliefe, looke for the like meaſure from others in our miſeries: Who ſhall pity thee, O England? or who ſhall bemoane thee? or who will turn aſide to aske how thou doſt? we have beene too much and too long wanting unto Gods diſtreſſed Churches; feare leſt the fire of Gods anger be kindled againſt us, becauſe we have beene a ſtaffe of reed unto the houſe of Iſrael.Ezek. 29.6.
Secondly, let the Lord be magnified by us. Firſt, for giving warning: he ſets us on fire round about, before his wrath kindle upon us. It is the Lords mercies that we are not conſumed: let your praiſe be continually of him for keeping off this fire: when the enemy hath been coming in like a floud, the Spirit of the Lord hath lift up a Standard againſt him: he hath appointed barres and limits unto theſe raging waves of the enemy, and ſaid, Stay there thy proud waves and goe no further.
Secondly, bleſſe the Lord for chaſtiſing in meaſure, for that he hath not powred out all his anger; he might have ſcattered Brimſtone upon our habitations, and made us as Sodome and Gomorrah.
Bleſſe our God ye people, &c. For thou O God, haſt proved us, thou haſt tried us as ſilver is tried;Pſa. 66. we went through fire and through water; hence we have good hone that the Lord hath not ordained us to wrath: for when we are judged we are chaſtened of the Lord, that we ſhould not be condemned with the world.
Thirdly, magnifie the Lords Omnipotencie, that hath kept his Church in the midſt of flames.Numb. 21. The buſh burneth and is not conſumed: Iſrael was preſerved among fiery Serpents; ſo are we kept amongſt a Malignant company (the brood of the Serpent) who are ſet on fire: Magnifie the God of Truth who hath ſpoke with his mouth, and with his hand fulfilled it: When thou walkeſt through the fire,Iſa. 43.2. thou ſhalt not be burnt, neither ſhall the flame kindle upon thee.
Is it not marvellous in your eyes that the religious in France have beene preſerved in Maſſacres and Butcheries, and the Proteſtants in England in the fires in Queene Maries reigne; and ſince from the damnable Powder-Plot; and many a time ſince from the Antichriſtians ſet on fire againſt us, and their Adherents, brutiſh men, skilfull to deſtroy?
Fourthly, let the Lord be magnified for making ſome impreſſions on the Antichriſtian party: The Lord God of recompences hath begun to give burning for burning. Let all give glory to the Lord for ſtirring up the ſpirits of our Worthies to hate the Whore, to make her deſolate, to eat her fleſh, and burne her with fire: O glorifie ye the Lord in the midſt of the fires.
Thirdly, let us not think our ſelves exempt: the Lord hath brought this fire upon all his people, and ſhall we be free?
Firſt, therefore ſhake off ſecuritie, and beſtirre your ſelves to prevent and keepe our ſelves out; we have been as brands in the fire; The burnt child dreads the fire. Our neighbours houſe is on fire, we cannot but be concerned in this. I will not meddle in Politiques, onelyonly adviſe thus. Therefore, firſt, kindle not the Lords jealouſie by ſuperſtitions; caſt not a favourable eye toward the Whore of Rome; leave not an hoofe of the Beaſt in England.
Secondly, tempt not God: complaine not of his wiſe adminiſtration: thinke not, ſay not as Iſrael: Can God doe this? can he perfect Reformation? can he give pure Ordinances? can he ſubdue ſuch a people as we are to his Scepter? can he ordaine Peace? can he worke all our workes for us? When the Lord heard this he was wroth, ſo a fire was kindled againſt Iacob, Pſal. 78.21.and anger alſo came up againſt Iſrael.
Thirdly, purge out every curſed ſinne by repentance: let this be manifeſted in a holy indignation againſt all remainders of Idolatry and Superſtition, as you have zealouſly begun: make the ſtones of the Altars as Chalkeſtones, beat them to pieces:Iſa. 27. Every ſinne makes us as readie to take fire, even as Gun-powder: let us therefore have grace whereby we may ſerve God acceptably with reverence and godly feare: for firſt, Our God is a conſuming fire: and ſecondly, this fire of the Enemy is dreadfull: A fire devoureth before them, and behinde them a flame burneth: all that is deſireable will be conſumed by them: Gods Sanctuary ſhall be laid waſte, his Worſhip, his Ordinances polluted, we ſhall loſe communion of Saints, the excellencie of our ſtrength, the deſire of our eyes; no fire makes ſuch a deſolation as this: An Idolatrous Army is the abomination of deſolation.Ezek. 24.
And if the Lord have ſtretched out his hand ſo that we cannot put it back but that this fire doe kindle upon us, I ſhall preſcribe the ſame courſe; Turn to him that ſmiteth: take away the ſting from the fiery Serpents: that is, our ſinnes: The ſting of death and every deadly evill is ſinne: ſinne is as fuel and bellowes, both increaſing the flame, and the wrath of God as a ſtreame of Brimſtone: If we could have broken hearts, the Lord would binde up our broken State, our broken Church. If we be not found in our ſins, the fire can have no power over us:Dan. 3. Satan ſhall not be at our right hand ſo as to prevaile. But if we continue in our neutralitie, like warmeneſſe, diviſions and heats one toward another, in covetouſneſſe, pride, injuſtice, unthankfulneſſe, deſpiſing the day of ſmall things, and contempt of the Goſpel, grieving Gods holy Spirit, by which he ſtill ſtriveth with us; the Lord wil be turned to he our enemie: how then can our hearts endure, or our hands be ſtrong in the day that the Lord ſhall deale with us? hereunto will be added the burning of an evill conſcience,Ezek. 22. a terrible devouring fire: and thus the fire will be as Nebuchadnezzars furnace,Heb. 10. ſeven times hotter.
Be inſtructed leſt the Lords ſoule depart from you; let this fire that the Lord hath kindled be a Refiners fire, leſt the Lord come from his place as a conſuming fire, and everlaſting burnings.
Our God hath beene trying to purge us a long time, he hath ſmitten us with Peſtilence after the manner of Egypt, but we have not turned to him; he hath now drawne out his ſword to avenge the quarrell of his Covenant, and the fire of his anger burnes; but he may complaine as of old,Jer. 6. The Founder melts in vaine; our wickedneſſe is not tooke away by repentance, the wicked are not tooke away by the hand of juſtice: Or as Ezek. 22.18. The houſe of Iſrael is become droſſe: all they are braſſe, and iron, and tinne, and lead, in the midſt of the furnace; they are even the droſſe of ſilver.
Behold therefore, (O tremble at this) I will gather you into the midſt of Ieruſalem in mine anger, and in my fury, and I will leave you there and melt you; yea I will gather you and blow upon you in the fire of my wrath, &c. and ye ſhall know that I the Lord have powred out my fury upon you. O then heare the rod and who hath appointed it: it is an ill ſigne when we are ſet on fire round about and lay it not to heart: An ill ſigne when we are with the old World and Sodome ſecure; when we put away the evill day, and think when the overflowing ſcourge paſſeth through the Citie it ſhall not come neere us. This Citie is the Cauldron, and we are the fleſh; and when we make the Lord complaine, as Amos 4.11. Ye were as a firebrand pluckt out of the burning; yet ye have not returned to me: and when unfruitfull, notwithſtanding Sunne and raine, like that curſed earth: our end is to be burned.
Secondly, when we are in the burning look up to Ieſus Chriſt, (as the Iſraelites being bit with fiery Serpents lookt up to the brazen Serpent) thus we ſhall have healing:Num. 11.3. by faith we may quench the violence of flames.Heb. 11. In Chriſt we ſhall have ſafetie. This man ſhall be the peace when the Aſſyrian (the greateſt enemy that ever Iſrael had) cometh into the Land.
Thirdly, labour for the Spirit of comfort; The refreſhings of this Spirit, as living water, will coole the heat of the ſpent ſoule.
Fourthly, pray that the Lord would mitigate the flames: ſo he did for thoſe three, Dan. 4. and for ſome Martyrs: pray and draw out water as in buckets, and powre it out before the Lord: It will be a ſure meanes of quenching: when Moſes prayed, the burning at Tabera was quenched.
Labour to be conſtant; hold faſt the Name of Chriſt: the Church of Pergamus is a patterne to us: that held faſt and denied not the faith when Antipas ſuffered martyrdome, and where Satan dwelled: doe likewiſe:Revel. 3. you have covenanted with God: deale not falſly in his Covenant: let not your ſteps decline out of the way though the Lord ſhould ſmite you into the place of Dragons,Pſal. 44. and cover you with the ſhadow of death: for your encouragement hearken to the Lord of Hoſts, Zach. 3.7. If you will walke in my wayes, and keep my charge, then you ſhall alſo judge my houſe, and keepe my Courts, and I will give thee places to walke among them that ſtand by. (Honourable Worthies) if you will perſevere zealouſly in the Lords worke, you ſhall be advanced to be among Angels: though you cannot have the preſence and face of an earthly King, you ſhall be with the glorious Angels ſtanding before the face of the King of heaven.
This may be abundant comfort unto you (much Honoured) and to all Gods people:Ʋſe 4. We are in the fire but firſt, the Lord is with you and all his,Iſa. 43.2. ſo that the flame ſhall not devoure.
Secondly, you are choyce Inſtruments, Gods people are his choſen; choice gold will endure the fire, and the Lord will not caſt away his people whom he hath choſen: when the houſe is on fire we take care for our Treaſure; our choyce veſſels, our jewels: we are not ſo ſolicitous for lumber: ſo the Lord careth for you and all his; you are his choyce Veſſels,Mal. 3. and peculiar Treaſure, and his Iewels very precious in the Lords eyes.
Thirdly, Chriſt the Sonne of God intercedes for you, and that affectionately; he will prevaile with God to rebuke the Adverſarie: and that to the purpoſe. The Lord rebuke thee,Increpationem tuam contra te dirigat. Dion. Carthul. the Lord rebuke thee: even as Chriſt rebuked Windes and Seas; ſo will he doe with Satan and all his inſtruments: as Nahum. 1.4.
Fourthly, let the gracious beginning which the Lord hath made be a ſure pledge unto you that he will finiſh: be bold to plead with God: Lord thou wouldeſt not that we ſhould undertake a building and not finiſh it, thou haſt undertaken to build thy Houſe here, be not ſo thy ſelfe as thou wouldeſt not that we ſhould be.
Fifthly, the Lord hath promiſed great things, and ſpoke of glorious dayes which now haſten concerning his Church: nothing ſhall hurt in Gods holy Mountaine. The earth ſhall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the Sea:Iſa. 11. the waſte and deſolate places, and the land of thy deſtruction ſhall be too narrow by reaſon of the Inhabitants; and they that ſwallowed thee up ſhall be farre away.Iſa. 49.18. O thou afflicted and toſſed with tempeſt, and not comforted; behold, I will lay thy ſtones with faire colours, and thy foundation with Saphires; and I will make thy windowes of Agats,Iſa. 54.11, 12. and thy gates of Carbuncles, &c. And all thy children ſhall be taught of the Lord; and great ſhall be the peace of thy children. The time and my ſtrength would faile to recite the glorious things that are ſpoken of thee, thou Citie of God, the new Jeruſalem coming downe from heaven with Gods glory upon her: In that day, ſaith the Lord,Zach. 12. I will make the Governours of Iuda as an hearth of fire among the wood; and like a torch of fire in a ſheafe: and they that have fought againſt Ieruſalem, their fleſh ſhall conſume away whileſt they ſtand upon their feet;Zach. 14. and their eies ſhall conſume away in their holes, &c. Thus (Right Honourable) be comforted over the Church of God now in the burning; and over your enemies which are ordained for deſtruction, by the words of the God of Truth. The Lord bids them take away Ioſhua's filthy raiment, and reſtore to the Prieſthood its former luſtre, ſignified by change of raiment: Hence ſaith Maſter Calvin: Plus expectent fideles quam coniicere licet ex praeſenti aſpectu: Expect more then the preſent face of things can promiſe: the Lord will be known to be Iehovah in giving a being to his Word; He will be with you, feare not:Hag. 2.5. Pſal. 68.13. Though ye have beene among the pots, yet ſhall ye be as a Dove coverd with ſilver, &c.
Therefore let every man in his Sphere be incouraged to be active and zealous to forward and haſten the perfect deliverance of Gods Church,Ʋſe 5. and the perfect building and furniſhing of Gods Houſe: be not ſcandalized, be not diſheartened for every dyſaſter, or for any preſent weakneſſe or miſerie we are in; the Lord carrieth on the worke of reſtitution and ſalvation of his Church and people in a myſterie: when we are at the top of miſery, the Lord will be ſeene, Iehovah iireth: the Lord will be ſeene, or will ſee: even in the Mount his footſteps are hardly knowne: the Sunne ariſeth and ſhineth upon Sodome, then the Lord rained fire and brimſtone from the Lord out of heaven▪ Gods people lie as buried or burnt up in Babylon, then the Lord ſends from heaven and ſaveth them from thoſe that would ſwallow them up: This is the ſeaſon not for ſhrinking, but for zeale;1 Chron. 14. the Lord hath gone out before you, and broke in upon the enemies as the breaking in of many waters; therefore now beſtirre you: Thoſe of Iſſachar are commended becauſe they had knowledge and underſtanding of the Times,1 Chro. 12.32. and knew what Iſrael ought to doe: This will be your wiſdome to take notice that to hazard that Chriſts kingdome is in by Enemies abroad, and Schiſmes and Diviſions among our ſelves in this ſeaſon, requires all your diligence, skill, and power to bring preſent healing and aide. And ſo now when Babylons rage & crueltie is at the height, it is the time, it is the time to render to her double as ſhe hath done to you. In this ſeaſon we are in ſtraits, as when the children are come to the birth and there is no ſtrength to bring forth: Is it not time for us then to ſtirre in theſe ſtraits; ſtrive, and extend your ſelves to get Gods children, and the Lords worke drawne out of the wombe: let not that be your ſpot which was the ſpot of Ephraim in the like caſe; the ſorrowes of a travelling woman are upon him: He is an unwiſe ſonne, for he ſhould not ſtay long in the place of the breaking forth of children.Hoſ. 13.13.
Now we are in the fire, let your zeale hence be enkindled: take fire from this fire: Every man, eſpecially Reformers, Repairers, Deliverers muſt be ſalted with fire, as every ſacrifice was ſeaſoned with ſalt;Mar. 9. be ye therefore thus ſeaſoned with this heavenly fire of zeale, without which all will be unſavorie, that you may goe on in promoting the great workes you have in hand. Further to provoke you, I adde ſome further incentives.
Firſt, Obſerve that the builders and reformers had as many diſcouragements as are now; they had a great worke before them, many enemies about them, and the Kings Authoritie and expreſſe command againſt them;E…a ….2. yet they went on and proſpered; there were Mountains before them,Zach. 4.7, 8, 9. but God made all plaine in a ſtrange way of providence; Not by Army nor Power, but by my Spirit, ſaith the Lord: He will doe the like for you. OnelyOnly, as it is ſaid to Ioſhua, Be of good courage: The Lord can rebuke the Devil and all his Inſtruments with a word, and make them as ſtill as a ſtone.
Secondly, If ye faint and grow cold, ye loſe all that hath gone before: (ye Worthies) ye have done much in pulling downe Poperie, a Tyrannous Hierarchie, and the ſtrength of Babylons Armies; ye have begun a glorious Reformation, and your Zeale hath ſet you upon high undertakings, and effected ſuch things as we, through our baſeneſſe of ſpirit, neither looked not hoped for: you ſuffered as much as did ever any Parliament; hazarding your Perſons, Eſtates, and Families; indured much contradiction of ſinners, and many reproaches; ye have had many acknowledgements and thankeſgivings from Citie and Countrey. O then loſe not all that hath gone before; let your laſt be more then the firſt: Will ye do, will ye ſuffer ſo many things in vaine?
Thirdly, Ye worke with God, and the Lord will work with you; It is an honour to the nobleſt to put their necks to this worke: The Sonne of God appeareth upon a Red Horſe, going out in a fiery appearance againſt the enemie: He is among the Myrtle trees; that is, in the midſt of his people, who are his delight; and with him there are Red Horſes alſo: Michael hath his Angels to take vengeance on the Dragon and his angels: alſo there are ſpeckled Horſes, uſefull every way, both for defence and offence.
Fourthly, The great oppoſitions you have ſhould ſtirre up zeale; the god of the world is againſt you; Antichriſt, and all that have the marke of the Beaſt upon them, are againſt you: You are ingaged in the greateſt worke that ever lay upon the children of men; therefore there is required ſtrong endeavours. O be ſtrong, ye Zerubbabels, he for the Lord of Hoſts who hath beene zealous for you: and withall take notice that your oppoſition is from deviliſh and malignant ſpirits; Satan and his Inſtruments who ſtand at your right hands to reſiſt: Then up and be doing; goe on, your cauſe cannot but be good.
Firfthly, Take courage and goe on, elſe ye open the mouth of iniquitie; you will be tried with cruel mockings by thoſe that looke and gape to ſee your ſpirits flat and cold: Oh how will they of Gath and Askelon inſult? this will pierce as a ſword; Saul choſe rather to fall on his owne ſword and die, then to be mocked by the uncircumciſed Philiſtines: and Zedekiah would not yeeld, (but let come on him whatſoever it was) becauſe he feared to be ſcorned and mocked: And conſider, I beſeech you, that we have made out boaſt of God, and gloried in ſuch inſtruments; let not our confident boaſting make us aſhamed.
Sixthly, Thus if you goe on, you and we may leave happineſſe to our poſteritie: if through our ſlackneſſe and puſillanimitie the enemie prevaile, we ſhall have nothing left to bequeath but Slavery and Popery.
Sevently, Antichriſts end is neere: Babylon is (and that ſhortly) to be deſtroyed, therefore faint not: you have given her a deadly wound, follow on your ſtroke; let that wound never be healed: the Beaſt roares, and ſtruggles, and beſtirres her ſelfe; ſhe recollects ſpirits, but it is but as in a dying man, naturea ultimus conatus, which we call a lightening before death: then now is the time to extend your ſelves to make a full end of the Whore; to diſpatch her with ſwords (as the Prophet ſpeakes) and to burne her houſes with fire.
Then keepe your ſpirits up, fall not to an indifferencie or baſe neutrality: They that be not with Chriſt are againſt him: They that come not out to the help of the Lord, (ſuppoſe they be inoffenſive moderate men) are curſed with a double bitter curſe.Judg. 5. The hiſtory of the men of Iabeſh Gilead may be for our learning on whom theſe ſad times are come: They aſſiſted not the Beniamites in protecting thoſe Delinquents, ſonnes of Belial; nor aſſociated with the Tribes of Iſrael in their juſt Warre, which was (as this Warre now) to bring ſuch wretches to judgement and puniſhment. VponUpon inquiry theſe being found Neuters, were dealt withall as utter enemies; they were all ſmitten with the ſword, both men, women and children,Judg. cap. ult. except ſome virgins reſerved for the Beniamites.
I beſeech you that my exhortation and adviſe may be acceptable: I could multiply many other conſiderations to ſet you on in a courſe of zeale; but if theſe I have ſpoke helpe not to bring you to a further degree of heate, eſpecially now that we are in the fire round about; we may feare that gray haires are upon us, we are in a decaying condition as David, whom many cloathes could not make warme.
Let all malignant ſpirits marke:Ʋſe 6. let this conſideration take them off from their malice in oppoſing. Altaſchith is the title of ſome Pſalmes: Deſtroy not, as a caution and a confident expreſſion of the boldneſſe, malice, and deficiencie of the enemie. Let the gold and ſilver veſſels, &c. be every one in his place, as it is by Darius Decree ſeconding Cyrus: Now therefore Tatnai and Shethar-Boznai, and ſo Rehum the Chancellour, and Shimſhai the Scribe and ſuch companions muſt be farre from thence.
If thou oppoſe the peace of Gods people, and the building of the Lords houſe, it is in vaine; thou wilt be found to fight againſt God; It is hard for thee to kick againſt the pricks: therefore meddle not to thy hurt; the Lord will finiſh in deſpight of thee: The Devil and his inſtruments could doe nothing when Iſrael was in Chaldea depreſt and buried; how much leſſe now when they are delivered, lift up to Heaven, brought to Ieruſalem and the Temple? ſo the policie and power of the enemy could doe nothing when the faithfull were enthralled under the Hierarchie, when they had all advantages: how much leſſe now, when the Lord hath tooke off thoſe yokes, and advanced his ſervants as the ſtarres into the right hand of Chriſt? Rev. 1.
But the Devils malice is ſuch, that although he know that his owne practiſes ſhall ruine his owne kingdome, yet he will not, he cannot deſiſt from miſchiefe: for malice is naturall to the Devil, and therefore he is neceſſarily malicious, as the fire is naturally and ſo neceſſarily hot and burning:Zanch. de malis angelis. and as Zanch. ſaith, id in angelis eſt caſus quod hominibus mors: therefore as men after death are either pertinaciouſly evill, or conſtantly good; ſo are the Devils after their fall pertinaciouſly wicked and malicious: and ſo it is with Gods enemies in whom the devil workes with efficacie: they are not onelyonly deviliſh, but even equalize the devill in malice and miſchiefe; Iudas was even a devil, Iohn 6.
The enemies know and ſee that the Lord is with his Parliament, with his Armies, yet they go on; the devil drives them and thruſts them on as the Turkiſh horſemen doe their foot to their manifeſt inevitable ruine. When thy hand is lifted up,Iſa. 26.11. they will not ſee. It is an evidence of and dealings, as Revel. 16. It is noted that notwithſtanding the powring out of the vials they were vexed and pained, and gnawed their tongues; yet they repented not: and they repented not.
O let this take thee off, when the Lords hand is lifted upon to deliver his people, or judge the enemies: Thou wilt not ſee, but thou ſhalt ſee to thy woe, if thou goeſt on to oppoſe the Lord. It is uſually askt: Is the devill in ſuch a one whom we ſee mad and maliciouſly bent? what devil then ſhall we thinke is in thoſe that will yet in malignitie of ſpirit oppoſe themſelves?*Qua voce adeo potenter fregit ſatanae vires, ut nullum poſtea reliquum fuerit impedimentum. Zanch. in loc. This reprehenſion for ought we know took off the devil himſelfe, as thus: doeſt thou not ſee that the Lord hath puld his people out of the fire? he thinks they have burnt long enough; he hath begun their deliverance, and ſo is ingaged to perfect it: then why wilt thou offer to be an adverſary? how tranſcendently deviliſh then are thoſe enemies of all pietie? they ſee that there is no wiſdome, nor underſtanding, nor counſell againſt the Lord; and yet they will continue obſtinate in their malice. The Lord rebuke them, the Lord that hath choſen Ieruſalem rebuke them:Job 41.8. O conſider, ye that forget God, whom you have to deale withall: Remember the Battle and doe no more.
I adde to this an admonition to every one.Ʋſe 7. O let us take heed of hindering the good of Chriſts Church and choſen: Know I beſeech you, that it is not onelyonly hindered by Malignitie and Neutralitie: but even the beſt have a hand in ſtopping God, which cauſeth him after he hath begun ſo to pauſe and to be at a ſtand: How?
Firſt, by our Infidelitie: Thus were Moſes and Aaron, and all Iſrael kept out of Canaan after their deliverance out of Egypt:Matth. 13. ult. The Lord cannot do many moe mightie works for us, becauſe of our unbeliefe; Thus when things are adverſe, we give our ſelves for loſt, our hope is cut off, as though God were not all-ſufficient: when things are proſperous we do nothing leſſe then reſt on God, we leane on an arme of fleſh, we have a prudent Parliament, a potent Army, we have counſell and ſtrength for warre: ſo the Lord is depreſt and theſe exalted, which provokes the Lord to let us ſee the vanitie of theſe without his helping band, and may provoke him to reject our confidences and ſweare in his wrath that we ſhould never proſper in them.
Secondly, there hath been but bad uſe made of Gods beginnings. Firſt, we have deſpiſed the day of ſmall things: Thankfulneſſe would make us account ſmall beginnings great favours: yet what the Lord hath already wrought ſhould not ſeeme ſmall in our eyes: conſidering what the Lord hath pull'd down, and what he is ſetting up, what he hath pluckt up, and what he is about to plant, what taskmaſters we are delivered from, and what bleſſed freedome we enjoy. Succeſſes have made us more inſulting then thankfull, and tooke us off from our dependance on God who wrought for us.
Secondly, we are a ſtubborn people; now that Chriſt would reigne amongſt us, we ſay this man ſhall not reigne over us: now Chriſt is coming toward us, we bid him depart out of our coaſts: we are loath to ſubject our necks to his yoke, our pride is ſuch: This makes him alſo at a ſtand.
Thirdly, ſince the Lord hath multiplyed mercies, we have multiplyed diviſions, and keepe in and foment ſuch fires of diſſention among our ſelves, as juſtly provokes the Lord to let us lye in the burning: Such a fire was kindled between Abimelech, and the men of Shechem, fire went out from Sechem and devoured Abimelech; and fire went out from Abimelech & devoured the men of Shechem; Judg. 9.the Lord quench the fire threatening the like evils amongſt us: It is a fearefull ſigne of the fire of Gods anger ready to kindle on us when he ſends and ſuffers an evill ſpirit to prevaile ſo between King and people; but for the diviſions of Gods people there ſhould be great thoughts of heart; as for the diviſions of Reuben there were great thoughts, and great ſeachings of heart. It is to be lamented with the teares of us all, to ſee brethren agreeing in all ſubſtantials; ſerving one God, having one Father and Hope, &c. yet for ſome circumſtances in matters of Diſcipline their contentions are as the barres of a Caſtle, and the heat is increaſed, as betweene Guelphs and Gibellines. Honourable Senators, here your Wiſdome (yea a Divine Wiſdome from above muſt be obtained for you) would ſhine if you could repaire all theſe breaches, and compoſe things ſo, that brethren might with peace of conſcience dwell together in unitie, then we ſhould ſee that the Lord would delight over us to goe on to doe great things for us: and the graces of God would then ſhine in his ſervants when they would in the ſpirit of meekneſſe yeeld one to another, ſo that the unitie of the ſpirit might be kept in the bond of peace: This onelyonly I adde; If ye bite and devoure one another,Gal. 5. take heed that ye be not conſumed one of another.
Fourthly, when we have had mercies ſhowring down from heaven, we have ſlackt our hands in prayer: when Moſes hands fell downe, Amalek prevailed; and ſo through our ſlacknes & coldneſſe in this dutie and others, more then through the ſlackneſſe of our Armies; the enemies who were not long ſince even prayed downe, have ſtrengthened themſelves to our reproach and danger.
Fifthly, Selfe-love, which ſets us upon ſelfe-ſeeking, and ſelfe-ends, is ſo predominant, that the publique concernments are not ſo promoted: If we had publique concernments are not ſo promoted: If we had publique ſpirits, our endevours would have had a further influence into the publique good then yet they have had.
And many provocations there are amongſt us to bewaile; many Achans amongſt us, many curſed things, not onelyonly hid in the tents; but brought forth in the ſight of the Sunne; they declare their ſinne as Sodome, and hide it not: much cauſe of humiliation theſe are unto us all this day: and we muſt not looke to ſee Gods work-perfected till we All mourne and repent for the many evils in the midſt of us: How long ſhall I ſee the Standard, and heare the ſound of the Trumpet?Jer. 4.21. It is anſwered in the next words by the Prophet; My people is fooliſh, &c. Junius reads it, So long as my people is fooliſh and ſottiſh, and wiſe to doe evill. And (Honoured Worthies) I beſeech you to admit of me that I may uſe boldneſſe: This burden concerns all, and cals upon all; it is for admonition to all, but eſpecially You: When Iſrael had provoked the Lord by their ſpell and bodily uncleaneſſe, the people were plagued in a fearefull manner; there fell in one day foure and twenty thouſand: Moſes was not blamed,Num. 25. but the Heads of the people: Hang up the heads of the people that the fierce anger of the Lord may be turned away from Iſrael: Why the Heads of the people? They ſhould have lookt better to the people in governing, ſo to prevent ſin; or they ſhould have beene more ſwift to execute judgement, when they fell into ſinne: It is not enough that you are not groſſe ſinners, that you are reformed, ſo long as there are in the midſt of Citie and Kingdome, even where your Power alſo reacheth, many abominations; there are as Ezekiel ſpeakes,Ezek. 22. in thee; in thee much exceſs, many profanations, horrible uncleanneſſe, (I ſpeake what I know) even abominable inceſt, not onelyonly acted once or twice, but continued in to the juſt provocation of Gods anger againſt you and all of us; and there is no courſe for redreſſe, none to puniſh or put them to ſhame: there is in the midſt of us oppreſſion and crueltie, there are in the midſt of us many Innocents whoſe faces are ground, and their bones cruſht and broken moſt injuriouſly; they cry for reliefe, they ſtretch out their hands to you for helpe: O releeve the oppreſſed, and judge the cauſe of the helpleſſe, leſt the Lord heare their cry and it be ſinne unto you.
Delay not, make ſpeed to ſeeke judgement, to bring the wheele upon the wicked; put not off ſuch things; the delaying of which, delayes all your hopefull proceedings: delay not one day to trouble thoſe that trouble Iſrael: but as Ioſhua ſaid, ſo doe ye; God ſhall trouble thee this day. Theſe and many ſuch things lye upon you: therefore provoke your ſpirits to zeale and courage; feare not, faint not; if Chriſt had fainted in the worke of our Redemption, what had become of us? he fainted not, not was diſcouraged till he ſet judgement in the Earth; do ye likewiſe.
Obſerve how the Lord deſcribeth the Horſe, Iob 39. His neck is cloathed with thunder, he paweth in the valley, and rejoyceth in his ſtrength; he goeth out to meet the armed man, the quiver rattleth at him, the glittering ſpeare and the ſhield; he ſaith among the Trumpets, aha! and doth God care for horſes? glorifie God in the creature and learne courage from him; break through all like lightning: as in naturall motion, ſo the neerer you come to your haven where you would be, let your motion be ſwifter: The Lords beginnings engage him to finiſh; ye are Gods, as Pſalme 82. Follow God: the Lord hath beene very zealous for you and us, take heed of coldneſſe in this heat: labour to haſten Reformation in the Church, that it may be the gladneſſe of Gods people to goe to the beautie of holineſſe, that the Tribes may goe up to the Teſtimony of Iſrael; and for the better governing the Common-wealth, let there be ſet thrones of judgement in all places: as Pſal. 122.
And to conclude: Let us all put to our helping hands, armes, purſes, counſell, encouragement, for the helpe of the Lord againſt the mightie: let the Miniſters of Chriſt be carefull to maintaine unitie; to provoke Chriſtians to peace; to unite againſt the common Enemie: on ſome have compaſſion, making a difference; and others ſave with terrour, pulling them out of the fire. O let all be humbled before our God this day, and put our mouthes in the duſt; and then our prayers will be very prevalent with God; our legions would be thundering legions, as Chriſtian armies of old, dreadfull to the enemie: let us all helpe with our conſtant prayers, be the Lords remembrancers, give him no reſt till he refine his Church, and pull it out of the fire: he that hath neither purſe, nor weapon, nor hands, nor counſell to helpe, hath a heart; O poure it out in prayer; give not over till the Lord hath made Ieruſalem a praiſe in the earth. It is uſuall to put words into a Delinquents mouth whereby he is delivered from death. The Lord deales thus with us; he bids us take words, and he alſo ſuggeſts words whereby we may be delivered from iniquity, & received graciouſly, Hoſ. 14.2. So Ier. 3.19. He deviſeth a way for us how we ſhould obtaine the lengthening of our tranquillitie: It is the Lord that asketh the queſtion: How ſhall I put thee among the children, and give thee a pleaſant land, even a goodly heritage of the hoſtes of nations? And I ſaid, thou ſhalt call me, My Father, and ſhalt not turne away from me: This then is the Lords way that he would have us take, to cry Father, Abba Father, to pray, to devote our ſelves to God, and never to turne from him: No people ever had more encouragements, and more needs then we have to wraſtle with God: O wraſtle with God, leave him not till he bleſſe us: give him not over till we prevaile: when we are Princes and prevailers with God, then ſhall we ſee Mercy and Truth meeting, Righteouſneſſe and Peace kiſſing, then would the Lord be with us in theſe fires, or pull us as brands out of the fire; and then, and not till then we ſhall be prevailers over men.
FINIS.
End of the text · Benjamin Pickering, A Firebrand Plucked out of the Burning (1645)