Gods Warning to England, Sermon

Gods Warning to England · Sermon

p. 1A Sermon at the monethly Faſt, Octob. 30. 1644. BEFORE the Honourable Houſe of COMMONS.

MICAH 6. 9.

The voyce of the Lord cryeth to the City, and the man of wiſedome ſhall ſee thy Name: hear ye the rod, and who hath appointed it.

THe Word of the Lord came to the Prophet Micah in the dayes of Jotham, Ahas, and Hezekiah, Kings of Judah. This word concerned Samaria, and Jeruſalem, the head Cities of the Kingdomes of Iſrael and Judah.

The word now read unto you, concerneth us, as well as them; being written for our learning, and for the admonition Rom. 15. 4.Rom 15:4of us, upon whom the ends of the world are come according as we are like to them in their ſin, and in their condition.1 Cor. 10. 11.1 Cor 10:11

In this Propheſie, the Lord by this Prophet ſetteth before theſe Cities and Kingdomes the many and great ſinnes, which, with an high hand, they had committed againſt him. And withall foretelleth them of thoſe Judgements which he would certainly bring upon them; if they continued in thoſe their ſins. And that at laſt, both kingdomes ſhould be deſtroyed, and captivated by their enemies, the Aſſyrians and Chaldeans. But withall to ſupport, and comfort, the hearts of the faithfull that were found in thoſe kingdomes, he foretelleth the temporall deliverance of Judah out of the Babiloniſh Captivity, alſo the everlaſting deliverance of the Church of God, to be gathered out of all Nations, through the p. 2promiſed Meſſiah, the Lord Jeſus Chriſt.

The ſins, whereof he would convince, and for which he denounceth Judgement againſt theſe Kingdomes, were, extream oppreſſion by all, from the Prince to the meaneſt, according as theyMicah 2. 1, 2.Mic 2:1Mic 2:2 had power in their hand. The heads thereof judging for reward: The Prophets and Prieſts were prophane and wicked, all for theirMicah 3. 11.Mic 3:11 covetouſneſſe; teaching for hire, and divining for money. They were very licentious, promiſing liberty; ſaying, Peace, peace, to Jer. 6. 13, 14.Jer 6:13Jer 6:14the wicked: The Prophets propheſying falſly, and the Prieſts bearing Jer. 5. 31.Jer 5:31rule by their means, and the people loved to have it ſo. They were alſo Idolaters, Superſtitious, will-worſhippers, ſilencers, (as much as they could) of the good Prophets, and Miniſters of the Word: ſaying, to the Scers, ſee not; and to the Prophets, Propheſie not unto us Iſa. 30. 10.Isa 30:10right things, ſpeak to us ſmooth things, propheſie deceits. They did ſet up and countenance falſe and wicked Prophets; They, notwithſtanding theſe ſinnes, and other their abhominations; and notwithſtanding the ſevere threats of God, were preſumptuouſly ſecure, becauſe they had the Temple of the Lord, a ſigne of his preſence amongſt them; and becauſe they profeſſed the name and Religion of God, having a forme of Godlineſſe: they promiſed to themſelves impunity, and freedome from the deſtroying Judgement, They would yet as the Prophet ſaith, Lean upon the Lord Micah 3. 11.Mic 3:11and ſay, Is not the Lord among us? none evill can come upon us.

All which ſins of theirs are aggravated by their ingratitude towards God, who had been good unto them, and had done great and wonderfull things for them, from Shittim to Gilgall, evenMicah 6. 3, …, 5.Mic 6:3Mic 6:5 from the miraculous leading them forth out of Egypt through the Wilderneſſe, till he brought them into the Land of Canaan, and untill this day.

At the time of this Propheſie the Kingdome of Judah was under the rod of Gods Judgements. For in the dayes of Ahas, Pekah the ſon of Remaliah King of Iſrael, and Rezin King of Siria were2 King 16. 5.2 Kgs 16:5 confederate, and came againſt Judah, and came up even to Jeruſalem, and though they did not prevaile to take Jeruſalem, yet God delivered him and the people into the hand of the King of Syria, ſo that They ſmote him, and carried away a great multitude of them 2 Chron. 28. ….2 Chr 28captive, and brought them to Damaſcus. And he was alſo delivered into the hand of the King of Iſrael, who ſmote him with a great p. 3ſlaughter; for, one hundred and twenty thouſand, of the men of Judah were ſlain in one day, which were all valiant men. At which time2 Chron. 28. 5, 6, 8.2 Chr 28:52 Chr 28:62 Chr 28:8 the Children of Iſrael carried away Captive of their brethren, two hundred thouſand women, ſons and daughters, and took much ſpoil from them, and brought the ſpoil to Samaria. In his dayes alſo2 Chron. 28. 17.2 Chr 28:17 the Edomites had come and ſmitten Judah, and carried away captives. The Philiſtims alſo invaded their Cities and took many of them, with their villages, and dwelt there. God brought Judah very low at that time, becauſe they had tranſgreſſed ſore againſt the Lord. This I have premiſed to leade you unto the Text, and to2 Chron. 28. 19.2 Chr 28:19 give ſome light, for the better underſtanding of it.

Do we not as in a glaſſe, ſee our ſelves, in this kingdome of Judah, wee being too to like them in their ſin, beginning alſo to be too like to them; nay, in a worſe condition then they were, if the Lord, as he hath begun, ſhall go on to powre out his wrath upon us.

The likeneſſe of our condition now, with theirs then, hath given me occaſion to make choiſe of this Scripture, to ſpeak of it, and to ſpeak to you by it.

In theſe words God doth warn and adviſe his people what theyThe Text opened. ſhould do, now they were under the rod of his anger, and were like to be more ſorely puniſhed according as it had been denounced againſt them by his Prophets for their ſins. That whereas he had by fair and loving means, ſpoken to them, and warned them by his Prophets, and had gently ſmitten them by the rod of his mouth, that he might reclaim them, and they were not ſenſible of his Word, to obey it: He now thinketh it beſt to teach and warn them by the rod of his hand, and calleth upon them to hear and learn to be reformed by it.

Now concerning this admonition and Councell given, the Prophet doth three things.

Firſt, to gain attention, and that this Word might be entertained with the greater Authority, he ſheweth, who it was that ſpake unto them.

Secondly, who they were that would ſee God in his Judgements, and would hear his voyce, and would learn by his correction.

Thirdly, what it is he warneth them of, and adviſeth them to do.

p. 4Every ſentence in this verſe is diverſly rendred by Tranſlators, and Interpretors; each of them two or three wayes: but they agree in their ſcope, namely, That God would have them to hear him, and turn to him, that the judgement threatned might not come upon them.

I have diligently conſidered the ſeverall readings, and compared them with the Originall, obſerving the context and ſcope of the place, and do keep to the laſt Tranſlation, as it is now before you. If I ſhould rehearſe them all, and give reaſon why I make choiſe of this reading rather than other, it would take up very much time, and hinder the delivering of things more needfull.

Firſt then, the Voyce of the Lord cryeth to the City: in this ſentence we are to obſerve who ſpeaketh, and in what manner he ſpeaketh, and to whom.

The Voyce of the Lord, that is, God by his Prophet Micah uttereth his voyce.

Cryeth, this ſheweth the ſeriouſneſſe and earneſtneſſe of God, in warning his people, the Prophet lifting up his voyce like a Trumpet, Iſa. 58. 1.Isa 58:1that all might underſtand their danger, and might know what God would have them to do;

To the City, ſome underſtand Samaria, the Metropolis of the Kingdome of Iſrael: but others underſtand it better of Jeruſalem, the chief City of the Kingdome of Judah. The Prophet was to cry aloud to awaken them out of the deep ſleep of ſecurity wherein they lay, notwithſtanding he had threatned and now began to puniſh them.

Secondly, in declaring who would hear this voyce, and learn of the rod, he implyeth that there were not many; onelyonly the man of wiſdome, ſubſtance in proper ſpeech in Hebrew. Now becauſeforeign a fooliſh man is empty, and hath nothing in him, but the wiſe have ſomething, yea much in them, therefore this word is in Scripture uſed for Wiſdome, ſo in this place, the abſtract being uſedJob 6. 13.Job 6:13 for the concrete, the man of Wiſdome, that is, he that is wiſe withJob 12. 16.Job 12:16 godly wiſedome, a man endued with the true knowledge and fearProv. 3. 21.Prov 3:21 of God. This the Prophet ſpeaketh by way of complaint, and doth by an Apoſtraphe turn his ſpeech to God, as if he had ſaid;Prov. 8. 14.Prov 8:14 Lord, thou cryeſt aloud by us thy Prophets, to the City, but few have regarded or yet will regard it; OnelyOnly the wiſe they will p. 5See thy Name; they will underſtand thee in thy Word and works, they will underſtand thy will thereby, and give glory to thy Name in accepting their puniſhment, and turning to thee that doeſt ſmite them.

Thirdly, the thing which God doth admoniſh them of, is twofold: 1. To hear the rod, what it ſpeaketh: which that they might the better do, he addeth, 2. and who hath appointed it.

Hear the rod, that is, the judgements and aſſlictions you now feel, and the ſcourge or judgement threatned, which you have cauſe to fear. God hath divers rods; as, the rod of his mouth; Iſa. 11. 4.Isa 11:4this is the Word: or, the rod of his hand, wherewith he doth afflict and puniſh; and that is either the rod of correction, called, thePſil. 89. 32. 2 Sam. 7. 14. Pſal. 2. 9.2 Sam 7:14Ps 2:9 rod of men; or, the iron rod, the rod of deſtruction: What they then felt, was his rod of correction; what was threatned, and was ſhaken over them, was the rod of deſtruction.

It is not a proper expreſſion to ſay, Hear the rod; the rod properly is felt, and the word is heard: But as thoſe acts of hearing and feeling are in the expreſſions thereof borrowed one of another: they are very emphaticall. Men never do profitably hear the word, except they feel the ſtroke of it; and men do never profitably feel the rod, except they hear the voice of it. When the word is ſo heard, that it ſmites and affects the heart, to leave a printActs 2. 3….Acts 2:3 and impreſſion upon it, then, and not till then, doth it work effectually. So the rod, when it is ſo felt, that Gods will is underſtood by it, which is to hear the voice of it, then it alſo will work effectually. If men feel not the word, they hear it in vain: ſo they that feel the rod, and hear it not, do feel it in vain, and to no good purpoſe. There are too many that hear the word, but feel it not; and too many that feel the rod, but hear it not. To hear the rod, then, is to learn and underſtand why God ſtriketh, and what he would have them to do that are ſtricken.

Who hath appointed it? Not man, who is Gods rod, or Gods ſword, but it is God; neither do theſe judgements come by chance, Iſai. 10. 5. Pſal. 17. 13.Isa 10:5Ps 17:13but they are appointed and ordered by God. This is firſt to be heeded and underſtood by the voice of the rod, namely, who ſmiteth; and then men ſhall underſtand for what he ſmiteth, and what he would have them to do when they are ſmitten: Then they will ſee that it is their duty, and that it ſhall be their wiſedom to return p. 6to him that ſmiteth them, and to make their peace with him.Iſa. 9. 13.Isa 9:13

Having given the ſenſe, I haſte to the Obſervations. And firſt, whereas it is ſaid, The voice of the Lord crieth to the City: what the Prophet ſpake, is called Gods voice; we are hence to obſerve, That,

When the Prophets and Miniſters of God ſpeake to any people Doct. 1.from God, in his Name, it is the voice of God; God, in and by them, ſpeaketh.

Proof hereof is plentifull in the Prophets, who (to raiſe attention, and to win authority to what they ſpake, that it might be received and obeyed) ſay, Hear the word of the Lord; or, Thus ſaith the Lord; or, The mouth of the Lord hath ſpoken. Such expreſſions as theſe, are many hundred times in the Scripture. Take one full proof for all: He ſpake by the mouth of his holy Prophets Luke 1. 70.Luke 1:70which have been ſince the world began. Though it was their mouth, it was Gods ſpeech, it was Gods voice.

They are, by way of Calling and Office, Gods ſtewards, they areReaſon. Ambaſſadours and Meſſengers of the Lord of Hosts. They receive1 Cor. 3. 1. Mark 1. 2. Mal. 2. 7. 2 Cor. 4. 19, 201 Cor 3:1Mark 1:2Mal 2:72 Cor 4:192 Cor 4:20 the word at his mouth, and it is committed to them, that in Gods and Chriſts Name and ſtead, they ſhould ſpeak to thoſe to whom he doth ſend them: whether it be by information, intreatie, command, threat or promiſe.

To apply this, I deſire that every one of you would take this truth into ſerious conſideration, that you may undoubtedly believe,Ʋſe. that what the Prophets and Miniſters formerly ſpake, and the Miniſters of God now ſpeak to you from him, in his Name; that God himſelf ſpeaketh to you, in and by them. Did you indeed believe this, you would profit by this and all other Sermons.

If it be objected, The Prophets and Apoſtles were immediatelyObject. inſpired of God, and had an immediate Commiſſion from God, and they could not, neither did they erre; but Miniſters now are ſubject to errour.

I anſwer, We do not compare ordinary Miniſters with theAnſw. Prophets and Apoſtles, who could not erre: But even then they had falſe Prophets amongſt them, as there will always be ſome2 Pet. 2. 1.2 Pet 2:1 falſe Teachers in the Church: And even then they were to try the Prophecies, whether they were of God or no. Reade Deut. 13. 2, 3, 5. and Deut. 18. 21. and yet were to receive the ſayings of the p. 7Prophets as the word of God.

Beſides, They had ordinary Miniſters, who had not immediate inſpiration, namely, the Prieſts, who were as ſubject to errour as the Miniſters of the Goſpel are; and Miniſters now have as good a Calling to ſpeak from God in his Name, as they had. The people were to receive the Law, the word of God, at their mouth; for they were Meſſengers of the Lord of Hosts, as well as the Prophets,Mal. 2. 7.Mal 2:7 to deliver what they received from God, in the word written by the Prophets, as were the Prophets, who received what they wrote, by immediate revelation from God. And ordinary Miniſters of the Goſpel are in the Scripture ſaid to ſpeak to men by 1 Theſſ. 4. 15. Heb 13. 7.1 Thess 4:15Heb 13:7the word of the Lord, and to ſpeak the word of the Lord, as well as the Prophets, who were immediately inſpired of God.

The people then had a Test, a Rule, to try whether that which the Meſſengers of God ſpake were his Meſſage or no: To the Law and to the Teſtimony, ſaith God, if they ſpeak not according to this Iſa. 8. 20.Isa 8:20word, it is becauſe there is no light in them: But if they ſpake according to that word, it was to be received as the very word of God.

God hath left as ſure a means, nay, in reſpect of us, a more certain way of knowing the will of God, namely, the Scripture of 2 Pet. 1. 19.2 Pet 1:19the Prophets and Apoſtles, whereby Miniſters may know what God would have ſpoken in his Name; and people may know whether God ſpeak by them or no. Therefore all men are bid to trie the ſpirits, the Doctrines, whether they be of God or no; as the Bereans 1 Joh. 4. 1. Acts 17. 11.1 John 4:1Acts 17:11did, ſearching the Scripture daily, whether the word ſpoken by Paul were ſo; and finding it to be ſo, they received it as the very word of God, and believed.

Wherefore, though it be true that it is poſſible that Miniſters may ſometimes erre, both in their Doctrines and Application; and when they erre, that is to be rejected, becauſe it is not the will and word of God; yet they are to be heard as men ſpeaking in the Name and ſtead of God, and what they ſpeak according to his Word, is to be received as if God himſelf ſpake unto you.

I do with all earneſtneſſe preſſe this upon you, that you be convinced of this truth, ſo as undoubtedly and firmly to believe it. I mean not onelyonly the Doctrines we teach, whereby we ſhew you what is true, what is falſe, what is good, what is evil, are to be received p. 8as if God ſpake them himſelf; but all reproofs of your vices, all redargutions and confutations of your errours, all exhortations unto, and inſtructions in righteouſneſſe; alſo all threats, promiſes, and conſolations, when they are all applied according to the Doctrine of truth and godlineſſe, they are to be received as reproofs, corrections, exhortations, threats, promiſes and conſolations of God: For the word is profitable for all theſe purpoſes, as you may reade, 1 Tim. 3. 10. and 2 Tim. 4. 2.

I do therefore now, as I have juſt cauſe, reprove a great fault andƲſe 2. ſin in moſt men, who when they come to hear, they come not to hear God ſpeak, but man: and when they hear, they receive what they hear but as the word of man; they hear not the voice of God, they receive it not as the Word of God. I would to God that you would now hear God reproving you for this great ſin.

Moſt hearers of the Miniſters of the word of God, receive and regard what they teach, but according as they have an opinion and eſteem of the man that ſpeaketh. As men are endued with rare parts and gifts, and ſhew themſelves witty and learned (as carnall men count learned) if they ſhew much of this, in rarity of invention and elocution, in that excellency of ſpeech and wiſedom, with the entiſing words of mans wiſedom, which wiſe, eloquent … Cor. 2. 4.and learned Paul purpoſely ſhunned; their Sermons do take with them accordingly: but commonly, their fancies, and not their hearts, are taken therewith: Thoſe who thus hear, may receive all that is of and from man in that Sermon, but little or nothing of that which is of and from God in it. Therefore many hear much, and learn little; they are not taught of God when they ſo hear, becauſe they do not hear God ſpeak in him that teacheth.

Theſe men ſhould humble themſelves before God, for that they have not heeded nor regarded God ſpeaking to them by his Miniſters. God complaineth of and reproveth all ſuch hearers: I ſent all my Prophets, but they hearkned not to me, ſaith the Lord: He ſaithJer. 7. 25, 26.Jer 7:25Jer 7:26 not, They hearkned not to my Prophets; but, They hearkned not to me. Know you, that a time will come when you ſhall be called to an account for your hearing: if you have not heard and obeyed, but have deſpiſed what the Miniſters of God, though frail and mean men, have ſpoken unto you, in the Name of the Lord; youLuke 10. 16.Luke 10:16 ſhall anſwer for it, as if God himſelf had immediately ſpoken unto p. 11you; for you have ſlighted and deſpiſed him: according to that of our Saviour; He that heareth you, heareth me; and he that Luke 10. 16.Luke 10:16deſpiſeth you, deſpiſeth me: and he that deſpiſeth me, deſpiſeth him that ſent me.

Let me therefore intreat and perſwade you, that you will both now, while you are hearing of me, and when hereafter the Lord ſhall pleaſe to ſpeak unto you by any other of his Meſſengers, that you would receive what is ſpoken from God to you by us, not as the word of man, but as it ſhall be found to be indeed the Word of God. See and hear God in his Miniſters inſtructing, reproving, commanding and exhorting, when you are inſtructed, reproved, commanded and exhorted by them; remembring and conſidering well, that they are Gods Ambaſſadours, that come not in their own name, but in Gods Name.

If before you hear, you would, as Cornclius did, ſet your ſelvesActs 10. …Acts 10 before God, in the preſence of God, to hear, not what a Peter ſhould ſay; but whatſoever Peter ſhould be commanded of God to ſpeak unto you; then the Word would be powerfull to convert you, and ſave you, as it did him, and thoſe that with like faith heardActs 10. 44.Acts 10:44 Peter preach the Word unto them.

If a mean man bring a Meſſage or a Command from a King, or from any that have power over us, be it a Conſtable, or other Officer, we do not receive the Meſſage or the Command according to the meanneſſe or greatneſſe of the man that bringeth it, but according to the eſteem we have, and obedience we owe to him whoſe Meſſage and Command it is. When the Theſſalonians received the Word thus, not as the word of man, but as it was indeed 1 Theſſ …. 13.the Word of God, then it wrought in them mightily.

Did you believe and conſider that it is no other but the voice and word of God, it would perſwade and command your belief; you would not chooſe but believe it, without doubting or gainſaying; becauſe you know that cannot but be infallibly true which the God of Truth ſpeaketh: Chriſt ſaith to his Father,John 17. 1…John 17:1 The Word is truth. You would feel a Sovereign power in the Word, becauſe it is the Word of an Almighty God, the Word of your God. You would then receive it as a good word, tranſc…ndently good, good for you; then you would embrace it, and receive it in love: you would then conform your will and affections to it.

The Word thus received, would be a convincing word, a converting 1 Cor. 14. 24, 25. Pſal. 19. 7. Pſal. 119. 24. Acts 20. 32.1 Cor 14:241 Cor 14:25Ps 19:7Ps 119:24Acts 20:32word, a directing word, and an edifying word, which would build you up further, till it have given you an inheritance amongſt them that are ſanctified.

I pray you to conſider what ſins you are guilty of, and yet do lie in; ſay it be Blaſphemie, Swearing, Drunkenneſſe, Pride, Oppreſſion, Profaneneſſe, Whoredom, or any other ſin, let your conſcience now minde you of your own ſin; and then conſider each one with himſelf, Have I not heard theſe my ſins reproved, and inveighed againſt, by the Prophets of God, and Miniſters of his Word? And have they foretold and threatned the Judgements of God, temporall and eternall, due for my ſins? Did you believe that it was God that ſpake, that reproved and threatned you? and that it was Gods voice, in them, calling upon you to repent, and offering pardon through Chriſt? You would then hear, and fear, and repent, and thankfully receive the offer of grace, and believe to the ſalvation of your ſouls. If you have any conſcience, the word thus received would, through God, work mightily upon you, to the pulling down of the ſtrong holds of ſin in you, caſting 2 Cor. 10. 4, 5.2 Cor 10:42 Cor 10:5down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth it ſelf againſt the knowledge of God, and would bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Chriſt.

Learn therefore to hear God ſpeak by his Miniſters, or elſe all your hearing of Sermons will be in vain, will be loſt, nay, will be to your hurt, and for the aggravation of your ſins, and the heaping up of Gods anger and wrath upon you, which he will pour out upon you in his Judgements, Spirituall, Temporall, and Eternall.

Becauſe his people would not hearken to his voice, ſpoken by hisPſal. 81. 11, 12.Ps 81:11Ps 81:12 Prophets, God gave them up to their own hearts luſts, to walk in their own counſels. For this very ſin of deſpiſing the Word of the Lord ſpoken by the Prophets, the Lord ſent the Caldeans to deſtroy and captivate Judah. And men are ſentenced to eternall2. Chron. 36. Deut. 5. 27. Mal. 2. 7. Ʋſe 3. 15, 16. 2 Theſſ. 1. 8. and 2. 11.2 Chr 36Deut 5:27Mal 2:72 Thess 1:82 Thess 2:11 death, becauſe they believed not the truth of the Goſpel witneſſed by the Apoſtles.

This doth much concern us in the Miniſtery, ſith the people of God muſt receive what we teach them as the voice and word of God, that we therefore firſt go to God, and hear what the Lord hath p. 10to ſay, and receive of him what we are to deliver unto them.1 Tim. 4. 13, 15 2 Tim. 2. 15.1 Tim 4:131 Tim 4:152 Tim 2:15 We muſt therefore diligently give our ſelves to the reading and ſtudying of the Word of God, ſtudying likewiſe to know theJer. 23. 28. 1 Pet. 4. 11. Ezek. 3. 9, 10, 11. 2 Cor. 3. 12. Ezek. 2. 6. Tit. 2. 15. 2 Cor. 17. 2. 1 Cor. 2. 1, 4.Jer 23:281 Pet 4:11Ezek 3:9Ezek 3:10Ezek 3:112 Cor 3:12Ezek 2:6Titus 2:151 Cor 2:11 Cor 2:4 ſtate and need of the people. And then, as the Prophet Jeremiah ſaith, He that hath the word, let him ſpeak it faithfully; alſo, ſpeak it as the Oracles of God, with all holy reverence and gravity, plainly, boldly, not fearing the face of any, unpartially, and with all authority, becauſe it is not our word, but the word and will of God. We muſt deliver the ſincere word of God purely, not ſophiſticating, or adulterating it with the mixture of our own or others fancies or errours: Neither muſt we hold it forth and deliver it in the dreſſe of the entiſing ſpeech of mans wiſedom, but in the evidence and demonſtration of the ſpirit, and power; not in the words which1 Cor 2. 13.1 Cor 2:13 mans wiſedom teacheth, but comparing ſpirituall things with ſpirituall, ſpeaking things of God, the things of the Spirit of God ſpiritually, in Spirituall expreſſions, approving our ſelves unto every mans conſcience, in the ſight of God.2 Cor. 4. 2.2 Cor 4:2

When Gods Word is thus taught, and his voice thus heard from our mouthes, it will not return to him void, but ſhall accompliſh Iſa. 55. 11.Isa 55:11that which he pleaſeth, and ſhall proſper in the thing to which he ſent it. It will be a ſweet ſavour to God, both in them that are ſaved, 2 Cor. 2. 15.2 Cor 2:15and in them that periſh. Thus ſpeaking, ſo that Gods word and voice may be heard from us, we ſhall ſave our ſelves, and thoſe that 1 Tim. 4. 1….1 Tim 4:1hear us.

The man of wiſedom ſhall be thy name. We may here obſerve, That,

OnelyOnly the godly wiſe can and will ſee God, in his Word, and in his Doct. 2.Judgements, or in any other his works which he doth amongſt the ſons of men. It is a high point of wiſedom to underſtand and ſee God either in his Word or Works, ſo as to give him glory. They that are wiſe according to God, they underſtand; but all other, be they never ſo worldly wiſe, they cannot. David ſetting forth the many providences of God to be obſerved in divers varieties, and changes in this life, as, in caſting down ſome, evengreat ones, andPſa. 107. 41, 43.Ps 107:41Ps 107:43 raiſing up others, even the poor, ſetting him on high from affliction; he ſaith, Whoſo is wiſe, and will obſerve theſe things, he ſhall underſtand Jer. 9. 1….Jer 9:1the loving kindneſſe of the Lord. The Prophet Jeremiah lamenting the eſtate of the Jews, for their many and great ſins, and p. 12for the Judgement to come on that Nation, making Jeruſalem heaps, and dens of Dragons, Who is the wiſe man, that he may underſtand this? The Prophet Daniel foretelling the afflictions and trialls of the Church, and the good that ſhould redound toDan. 12. 10.Dan 12:10 them, namely, their purifying, and being made white, he ſaith, None of the wicked ſhall underſtand, but the wiſe ſhall underſtand. And when the Prophet Hoſca told Iſrael that he had deſtroyed himſelf, and was fallen by his iniquity, and biddeth him take unto him words, and confeſſe his ſin, and ask grace, God promiſeth him he will take his anger from him, and love him freely, and promiſeth to them, that then God will bleſſe them with all bleſſings, ſpirituall and temporall; after all this, he ſaith, Who is wiſe, and he ſhall underſtand all theſe things? prudent, and he Heſ. 14. 9.ſhall know them? for the ways of the Lord are right, and the juſt, the wiſe and prudent, they ſhall walk in them; but tranſgreſſours ſhall fall therein. The wiſe could ſee the Name of God, even the goodneſſe of God in theſe his counſels, and gracious offers and promiſes; he could ſee a great deal of reaſonableneſſe, equity and gratiouſneſſe of God in them: but the wicked, they are blinde and fooliſh, they can ſee no ſuch goodneſſe of God, in his calling them to repentance, and offer of his grace, ſo as to embrace it, and be converted by it; but ſtumbleth, and is offended at it. Even as Chriſt the Corner-ſtone, and Foundation of his Church, is ſeen by the… Pet. 2. 6, 7, 8. wiſe, and judged to be precious; they can ſee Gods Name in him: but the fooliſh, the unbelieving, and diſobedient, they cannot ſee ſuch preciouſneſſe in him, he is a ſtone of ſtumbling, and rock of offence; yea, they are offended at that good Word of the Goſpel of Chriſt, which makes a tender of ſalvation, upon their repenting of their ſins, and believing in him.

The naturall man he receiveth not the things of God, neither can he, Reaſ. 1.becauſe they are ſpiritually diſcerned: They cannot ſee God aright,1 Cor. 2. 14.1 Cor 2:14 no not in his works of Creation, wherein the inviſible things of Rom. 1. 20.Rom 1:20him, his eternall power and Godhead, may be ſeen. For in the wiſedom of God, the wiſeſt of men in the world cannot by their naturall… Cor. 1. 21. Wiſdom know God. Nay, though God make himſelf known to them… Cor. 2. 14. in his Word, in the offer of his grace in the Goſpel, of ſalvation by Jeſus Chriſt; even this is fooliſhneſſe to them. Have they never ſo much quickneſſe of wit, or depth of judgement, in things naturall, p. 9or be they never ſo politikely wiſe beyond others, they can ſee nothing of God, neither in his Word, nor Works, and Acts of Providence, whether of his mercy or Juſtice, ſo as to apply it to themſelves for their good, untill God give unto them to be ſpiritually wiſe.

But to the Godly wiſe men, it is given, to know the Myſteries of Reaſon 2.the Kingdom of God. That which is hid from the wiſe of the worldMat. 13. 11. 16.Matt 13:11Matt 13:16 God reveals even to the ſimple, and men accounted but as Ideots inMat. 11. 25.Matt 11:25 the world, when he hath made them wiſe to him-ward. They can alſo ſee the wonderfull excellencies of God in his workes.Pſal. 63. 2.Ps 63:2 In them they can ſee the greatneſſe of his power, and of his goodneſſe and of his truth, and of his juſtice: they can ſee his Name andIſai. 26. 8, 9.Isa 26:8Isa 26:9 give him glory in and for all theſe, whether mercies or judgements.Reaſon 3.

They who are indeed wiſe, they give all diligence to ſee the goodneſſe and footſteps of God in all his works that may comeDan. 10. 1….Dan 10:1 under their conſideration. They ſet their hearts to underſtand, they will obſerve what God doth; and as David ſaith, Wiſely conſider of Pſal. 107. 43.Ps 107:43his doings: whereas the wicked be they never ſo worldly wiſe,Pſal. 64. 9.Ps 64:9 They regard not the works of the Lord, nor the operation of his hand: Iſai. 5. 12.Isa 5:12they will not behold the Majeſty of the Lord, when he ſheweth them favour; nor yet will ſee his Name, when his hand is lift up againſtIſai. 26. 10, 11.Isa 26:10Isa 26:11 them in diſpleaſure.

Be wiſe therefore all ye that hear me this day, nay, which heareVſe. Gods voyce crying unto you this day to heare the rod: you may ſee much of God in it, if you were wiſe and would improve your wiſdome, that you may ſee God in his Works, and in the way of his Judgements.

It is a ſore Judgement of God to a people, when God ſhall make his name known to them, not onelyonly in his word, but in his great and wonderfull works of mercies and Judgements, andDeut. 29. 4.Deut 29:4 leave them to their ignorance and folly, not giving them wiſdome, not giving them hearts to perceive and underſtand Gods Name, Gods Greatneſſe, Goodneſſe, Soveraignty, ſo as to fear and adore him, ſubmit to him and learn righteouſneſſe thereby. As the Bee can finde, and gather honey of every flower, ſo the wiſe man can ſee and learn ſomething of God in all his works.

Be wiſe therefore, as David calleth upon all Princes and JudgesPſal. 2. 10, 11, 12.Ps 2:10Ps 2:11Ps 2:12 of the earth, and be inſtructed; but by what, even by that Iron p. 14rod threatned, and ſhaken over them, that thereby they might learn to fear, and ſerve, and might kiſſe that rod; his wrath being pacified and his anger turned away from them.

Then a man is a man of wiſdome, ſuch a one as is meant in this doctrine, when he can diſcern what is the chiefe good, and hath the Judgement to eſteeme it, and to make choyſe of it, and of the right waies of attaining and retaining it. God is the chiefe good, the knowledge of him ſo as to beleeve in him, to feare him, and to rely on him, and obey him, this is true and ſound wiſdome: When you are thus wiſe, you will ſee Gods Name, you will ſee God in his Word and works, when he ſhall at any time ſpeak by the voyce of his Word, or voyce of his Rod, you then can and ſhall underſtand the meaning of thoſe voyces.

To be wiſe to Salvation is the true Wiſdome, by which a manProv. 14. 8.Prov 14:8 can ſee God in his works, ſo as may conduce thereunto: ſuch aProv. 28. 5.Prov 28:5 man underſtandeth his way, and is ſaid to underſtand all things; but evill men underſtand not judgement.

The way to have true wiſdome, is, to deny a mans own wiſdome, and (as the Apoſtle adviſeth) To be a foole (as the world… Cor. 3. 18. counteth fooliſhneſſe) that he may be wiſe. A man by his naturall wit and wiſedome cannot know God. You muſt not think that becauſe by the ſtrength of wit and naturall reaſon you dive deep into the ſearch of things naturall, and humane, and can underſtand them; that it is therefore in the power of your own underſtanding to attain to deep things of God, the Divine things of God; as his Wiſdome, Power, Juſtice, Truth, Goodneſſe, and his Will which may be ſeen in and known by his works. Naturall wiſe men may underſtand the letter of the Word of God, and the matter of Gods workes what they are; but he perceiveth not nor can he perceive God, and the things of God, in them, nor the end to which they tend, to affect his heart therewith, and to make a Spirituall uſe thereof to himſelf.

Theſe things are perceived onelyonly by Spirituall wiſdome, being1 Cor. …. 2…. revealed by the Spirit of God.

The Word of God hath in it, instructions of this wiſedome, and itProv. 1. 4, 5.Prov 1:4Prov 1:5 giveth a ſpirituall ſubtilty and ability to diſcern the deep things ofPſal. 119. 99, 100.Ps 119:99Ps 119:100 God, by it David came to be a man of wiſdome, wiſer than the Ancients, and wiſer than his teachers: you muſt have recourſe p. 15therefore to the word to that end. But do not think to bring light with you, whereby to underſtand it, but bring faith withHeb. 4. 1.Heb 4:1 you to beleeve it, and come to it to receive ſight by it, as wellRev. 3. 18.Rev 3:18 as light: for it is eye-ſalve and a meanes to open the eyes of the blind, as well as to give light to them that ſee. When we arePſal. 19. 8.Ps 19:8 rightly principled by the word, we ſhall learn by it, to ſee God inPſal. 19. 7.Ps 19:7 his works. You muſt firſt beleeve, and then you ſhall know, then it will make you wiſe.

Alſo be you much in obſerving and conſidering the works ofPſal. 107. 43.Ps 107:43 God, and the wayes of Gods Providence; the more you exerciſe your ſelves therein, the more able you ſhall be to ſee GodsPſal. 64. 9.Ps 64:9 Name.

And laſtly, pray for this Wiſdome, as David ſaith, Open mine Pſal. 119. 18.Ps 119:18eyes that I may behold wonderfull things out of thy Law; ſo, intreate the Lord that you may underſtand the voyce of his mercies, and Judgements what he would have you to learn by them, touchingJam. 1. 5.Jas 1:5 him. If any want wiſdome, let him aske, Heare the rod.

God would have his people learn by his corrections and by his Judgements Doct. 3.which he bringeth upon them, and doth execute amongſt them. All that are under the rod, or that have it ſhaken over them, muſt learn what God teacheth them thereby.

The Lord complaines of, and ſharpely rebuketh the City Jeruſalem, Reaſon.becauſe ſhe did not Hear and obey his voyce, nor receive correction, Zeph. 3. 2. Every morning the juſt Lord did bring his judgement to light, but the unjust knew no ſhame, verſe 5. He ſaid to her, Surely thou wilt feare me, thou wilt receive inſtruction, verſe 7. This ſheweth what men ſhould do when he doth afflict them. God expecteth his people ſhould have heard his rod.

The Rod of God is doctrinall, man may know Gods mind and will, and his own duty by it, as by the Word: God doth Diſcipline his people by his rod, as well as by his Word; in the exerciſe of both he doth Open the eares of men to Diſcipline, and doth ſeal their inſtruction, as we reade in the book of Job; The rod and Job 33. 16.Job 33:16reproof, when they go together give wiſedome, as to a childe in a family, in whoſe heart folly is bound; ſo to ſuch children and ſervants in Gods great family in the world, who will not learn, nor be corrected with words. Many (like Manaſſes) carry a deafJob 36. 10.Job 36:10 care unto, nay, will not hear the Word, yet may be brought to p. 16hear the rod; he thereby learned to ſee the Name of God, and to know that the Lord was God, and did humble himſelf greatly2 Chron. 33. 11, 12, 13.2 Chr 33:112 Chr 33:122 Chr 33:13 before him.

The Judgements of God which are his rod, they do ſecond his Word, and what it ſpake to the eare, they do ſpeak to the other ſenſes, with a louder voyce. Smart and pain ſeconding the Word, do uſually make a deeper impreſſion upon the ſoules and Spirits of men.

The Lord never ſmites, but he hath ſpoken firſt, and warned by his Word: and like a father that ſtandeth over his childe when he correcteth him, remembreth him of his faults and of his duty, When the Lord openeth the eare to diſcipline with the correction, and doth awaken the conſcience, a wiſe child will readily know what God meaneth in thoſe his corrections.

We in this kingdome are under Gods Rod, and he is puniſhingVſe. us with the rod of his anger: The ſoreſt temporall judgement, that can come to a Nation, is come upon us. We muſt hearken and learn what God would have us to do, now that he is correcting of us, we muſt hear what the rod ſpeaketh unto us.

If we conſult the Word, it will tell us what it is that the rod ſpeaketh, ſhewing us why God ſmiteth us, and what he would have us to do, now we are ſmitten; and it will tell us what he will yet do unto us; if when theſe his Judgements are upon us we do not learn righteouſneſſe, ſubmit unto him, and make our peace with him.

Firſt, it telleth us that this Judgement is come upon us for ſin, and it being a ſore ſtroak, we may learn that it is for our great ſins. When God was angry with the children of Iſrael at the ſiege of Ai, the men of Ai ſmote of them and chaſed them,Joſuah 7. 2, 3, unto verſ. 12. from before the gate and ſlew divers of them, and made them turn their backs upon their enemies: This cauſed Joſhuah to humble himſelf before the Arke of the Lord; Gods anſwer unto him was, Get thee up, wherefore lyeſt thou upon thy face? Iſrael hath finned, and they have alſo tranſgreſſed my Covenant, which I commanded them: for they have even taken of the accurſed thing. This ſin of one man, was accompanied with other ſinnes of Rulers and people; namely, carnall confidence in the Arme of fleſh, and carnall pollicy following it, not asking counſell of the Lord. They thought p. 17all the people were too many to go up, they preſumed that becauſe there were but few men in Ai, a party of about two or three thouſand men would be enough to take it. If thou ſay in thine heart, ſaith Jeremy to Judah, when God ſhould puniſh,Jer. 13. 22.Jer 13:22 Wherefore come theſe things upon me? the anſwer is, For the greatneſſe oſ thine iniquity are thy skirts diſcovered, and thy heels made bare. In all Gods judgements upon a perſon or people, they may hear God telling them that this is for your ſin. But this is not all it ſpeaketh.

It ſecondly doth minde all of ſearching and trying their wayes, to finde out their ſins, and that they might turn to him that ſmiteth them. This counſell the Prophet giveth after he had ſaid, Wherefore doth a living man complain? A man for the puniſhment of Lam. 3. 39, 40.Lam 3:39Lam 3:40his ſin: Let us ſearch and try our wayes and turn to the Lord, &c. Come, ſay they in Hoſea, and let us return to the Lord, he hath torn Hoſ 6. 1.Hos 6:1and he will heal us, he hath ſmitten and he will bind us up.

Thirdly, the rod bids men not onelyonly to finde out their ſins, and confeſſe them to God, but to ſeek his face and to aske pardon, that God may be at peace with them. This is one end why God afflicteth men, that they might be brought to acknowledge their offence, Hoſ. 5. 15. Hoſ. 14. 3.Hos 5:15Hos 14:3and ſeek his face: In their affliction they will ſeek me diligently, ſaith the Lord. To ſay from the heart I have ſinned, I will do ſo no more, is a good anſwer to the voyce of the rod, upon this ground; namely, becauſe God had already puniſhed his people, and had threatned a great judgement; therefore, Prepare to meet Amos 4. 12.Amos 4:12thy God, O Iſrael, ſaith the Lord.

Fourthly, the rod teacheth another leſſon, which is, If men do not amend by preſent Judgements, they ſhall be puniſhed with more, and thoſe greater, Seven times more for their ſin; he willLevit. 26. from v. 10. to v. 40.Lev 26 then avenge the quarrell of his Covenant, and if yet they ſhall walk contrary to him, he will again and again chaſten them, Seven times more, untill their Land ſhall be deſolate, and their Cities waſt. But yet ſo, as if when he hath brought his ſoreſt judgements upon them, they ſhould by them learn to humble themſelves, and confeſſe their iniquity, and accept of the puniſhment of their iniquity, God will remember his Covenant and be mercifullLevit, 26. unto them.

Laſtly, when the rod hath taught all the former leſſons, if men p. 18will not hear it, then it teacheth that the Lord may be ſo provoked as to give over ſmiting, as one weary of ſtriking: and to ſay, Why ſhould you be ſmitten any more? you will revolt more and more. Iſai. 1. 5.Isa 1:5And becauſe they adde leudneſſe to their filthineſſe, obſtinacy, and impenitency to their wickedneſſe, the Lord ſaith to them as to thoſe in Ezekicl; Becauſe I have purged thee, that is, by my judgments would have reclaimed thee, and thou waſt not purged, Thou ſhalt not be purged from thy filthineſſe any more, till I have cauſed Ezek. 24. 13.Ezek 24:13my fury to reſt upon thee. You may, in the taking away of his rod, if he give over ſmiting, hear him ſay: I have taught and corrected you thus, and thus, and ſo long: I ſee all is in vaine, I will reſerve you for utter ruine and deſtruction; and ſith by no means you will learn to know me, and the things which concern your own peace and good; You ſhall dye without knowledge, you ſhall dye in your ſins; I will reſerve you to the day of evill. All this ſmiting,Job 36. 12. John 8. 24.Job 36:12John 8:24 ſeeing it will not reforme you, ſhall but prepare you for deſtruction, and be an aggravation of your ſin and condemnation.

There is no man of wiſdome but can heare the rod ſpeaking to all the purpoſes before mentioned. You may hear moſt, if not all theſe leſſons of the rod, in the thirty and ſixt of Job, verſes 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12. If they be bound in ſetters and be holden in cords of aſfliction, Job 36. 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12.Job 36:7Job 36:8Job 36:9Job 36:10Job 36:11Job 36:12then he ſheweth them their worke, and their tranſgreſſions, that they have excceded. He openeth alſo their eare to diſcipline, and commandeth that they return from iniquitie: if they obey and ſerve him, they ſhall ſpend their dayes in proſperitie, and their years in pleaſure: But if they obey not, they ſhall periſh by the ſword, and dye without knowledge: But the Hypocrites in heart (that is, ſuch as profeſſe they know God, but in their works deny him, that have a forme of Godlineſſe but deny the power thereof) they heap up wrath, They cry not when he bindeth them, that is, they do not hear nor obey the voyce of the rod, to mourn for their ſins, to aske pardon and to repent when God doth puniſh them.

We are greatly afflicted, and under a moſt heavie Judgement, we cannot but be ſenſible of it. I beſeech you therefore to hear the voyce of God now ſpeaking by this rod. You do now beleeve it is for the ſins of the Land: it ſhould therefore put us upon a ſad and ſerious ſearch of our wayes.

The Lord is now ſmiting, wounding, and in the way of deſtroying p. 19of us. Let us conſider our tranſgreſſions, that they have exceeded. And truely, they are ſo many, and ſo great, that I tremble to think of them. As God ſhall bring them to my minde, I ſhall remember you of ſome of them; praying you to remember, that this Rod of God is upon us for our ſin; and for this end, that we ſhould humble our ſelves under his hand, that we ſhould repent, and turn to him, and ſeek attonement and reconciliation with him. This is the work of the day; let us with all our might apply our ſelves to it.

1. It did pleaſe the Lord, long ſince, to begin a happie ReformationThe ſins for which God is now puniſhing England. of Religion in this Kingdom; and ſhortly after, made triall what we would do, whether we would ſtand faſt to the Truth received or not. But in the generality the Land returned to their vomit, and alſo perſecuted the true Religion, and ſhed the blood of many Martyrs, in the days of Queen Mary. We have cauſe to judge, that the guilt of that blood, amongſt other ſins paſt, doth lie upon the Land, and crieth for vengeance, and that God is puniſhing it this day.

We muſt not onelyonly look upon preſent ſins, to be humble for them, and to bewail them; but upon them that have been committed long ſince, by our anceſtours that have been before us. So did Daniel and Nehemiah confeſſe to God not onelyonly their ownDan. 9. 6, 8, 16. Neh. 9. 33, 34.Dan 9:6Dan 9:8Dan 9:16Neh 9:33Neh 9:34 preſent ſins, but the ſins of their Kings, Princes and Fathers that lived before them; profeſſing, that for their ſins alſo, confuſion of face was brought upon them, acknowledging Gods righteouſneſſe therein.

It pleaſeth the Lord many times to ſeal up, as in his treaſury,Deut. 32. 34. Job 14. 17. 2 Kings 23. 26. 2 Kings 24. 3. 2 Chron. 33. 12, 13.Deut 32:34Job 14:172 Kgs 23:262 Kgs 24:32 Chr 33:122 Chr 33:13 the ſins of a Land, and to keep them as in a Bag; not puniſhing them ſo ſoon as they are committed: and when they have heaped up more ſins upon them, and their ſins are ripe, then he reckons with them, and puniſheth them for all at once. The ſins of Manaſſeh brought judgements upon Judah, after his death, though he had repented him of his ſin.

2. Alſo, when there was a Reformation both in King Edward and Queen Eliſabeths time, though they reformed much, yet they wrought not a thorow Reformation. Too much of Rome was retained both in Religion and the Government of the Church: and the Land hath not been purged of it to this day.

p. 20Another great ſin which hath been, and yet is committed in the Land, is Sacriledge. I ſpeak not of the converting of the maintenance of Abbies to other then pious uſes, which may admit of queſtion whether it were ſin or no: I inſiſt not on that: I ſpeak of robbing God of the maintenance whereby his Miniſters were and are to be maintained, which hath been a cauſe why many parts of this Kingdome have been deſtitute of ſuch Paſtours as ſhould and could break unto the people the Bread of life. There were none to miniſter unto them Spirituall things, becauſe their Carnall things, paid to maintain them, was turned another way.

This Sacriledge lieth ſtill as a ſin upon the Land, provoking God againſt this Kingdom; and you may believe it, that he is now puniſhing it. For you are curſed with a curſe, ſaith God, to themMal. 3. 8, 9.Mal 3:8Mal 3:9 that lie in this ſin. It is not poſſible for the law of man to make it lawfull to take away that maintenance that hath been deſigned, and yet is paid, for the maintenance of the Worſhip of God, it making no other ſufficient proviſion of maintenance for the Church in the place thereof. I diſpute not by what right Tythes are paid: But ſith they are paid for the maintenance of the Miniſtery, and yet taken from them, and given to thoſe that do not miſter in the Word and Doctrine, this can be nothing elſe but robbing of God, and a great Sacriledge.

The ſame ſins alſo may be charged upon us in England, for which God had a controverſie with his people, and did judge them heretofore.Hoſ. 4. 1. Ezek. 22.Hos 4:1Ezek 22

4. The knowledge of God is not in the Land. This Kingdom notwithſtanding the long time of our enjoying ſo plentifully the light of the Goſpel, doth yet remain extreme ignorant of God, and their duty to him. And this not onelyonly in the dark places of it, in Wales, and far North and Weſt, but in the Countreys and Cities in the midſt of the Kingdom.

5. The ſins of Swearing and Curſing, of helliſh and damming Blaſphemie, have overgrown this Land, the cry whereof doth reach unto heaven: beſides the ſin of Perjury, concerning which ſin God hath ſaid, that his curſe ſhall remain, and never depart from Ezek. 5. 3, 4.Ezek 5:3Ezek 5:4the committers thereof, nor from their houſes, till they be conſumed, with the timber thereof, and the ſtones thereof. All ſorts of perſons, as Supreme, and all Officers in the State, from the Judge to the p. 21meaneſt; all ſorts of Jurours in any Jury, and all ſorts of Witneſſes in all Courts, they binde themſelves to God, by a ſolemn Oath. How many Proteſtations, Oaths and Covenants have been lately taken? But have men kept their Oaths, and do they keep them? are they not broken by all that take them? It hadEccleſ. 5. 5, 6.Eccl 5:5Eccl 5:6 been much better for the Kingdom that we had not taken ſo many Oaths, Vows, and Proteſtations, then, having taken them, not to keep them.

God is extremely incenſed againſt a People guilty of Forſwearing; eſpecially if the Oaths of State made by the ſupreme Magiſtrate2 Sam. 21. 1. 2 Chron. 36. 132 Sam 21:12 Chr 36:13 to the Subject, and of the Subject to the Magiſtrate, be broken and violated. We are blinde, if we do not ſee that God is puniſhing this Nation for theſe ſins of vain ſwearing, curſing, blaſphemie and perjury. We muſt call to remembrance theſe, amongſt other the ſins of the Land, to bewail them, and make ourHoſ. 4. 2, 3.Hos 4:2Hos 4:3 peace with God, that he deſtroy us not for them. Becauſe of theſe, the Land mourneth.

6. The Land is alſo guilty of not oppoſing of the man of fin, Popery and Idolatry, unto the extirpation or it out of the Kingdom. Idolatry hath not onelyonly been tolerated to be committed in the ſecret Chambers of Imagery; but allowed in places elſewhere. We have complied much with Idolaters and Idolatry of Rome. We may judge that for this alſo the Lord is puniſhing us.

The children of Iſrael did not drive out the Canaanites from amongſt them, therefore they were as pricks in their eyes, and thorns Judg. 2. 3.Judg 2:3in their ſides. And Joſhua telleth them, that for their compliancesJoſh. 23. 13.Josh 23:13 with them, they ſhould remain to be ſnares and traps unto them, and ſcourges in their ſides, and thorns in their eyes, untill they ſhould periſh from the good land which the Lord their God had given them. And they ſhould make them ſin againſt God, and ſurely be a ſnare unto them, as Moſes telleth them. Popiſh and Antichriſtian Religion,Exod. 23, 33.Exod 23:33 and Idolatry, is as abominable to God, as ever the Canaanitiſh. Religion and Idolatry was: For Rome is called, The mother of Abominations.

Now whether the permitting of Popery and Papiſts amongſt us, have not been thorns in our eyes, and pricks in our ſides, and have been ſnares and traps, means of ſin and vexation unto us, God uſing them as rods and inſtruments to puniſh us, I leave this to your conſideration,

p. 22When the ſons of God took them wives of the daughters of men, Gen. 6. 2.Gen 6:2when thoſe of the true married thoſe that were of a falſe Religion in the firſt Age of the world; and when, after that, both before and after the Captivity, Gods people by profeſſion did marry ſtrange wives the daughters of a ſtrange god: Gods judgementsGen. 6. 7.Gen 6:7 were upon the old world, and all thoſe States that were guilty of this ſin. As when the houſe of Judah made affinity with the houſe of Ahab, we ſee what evil followed thereupon, and what2 Chron. 22. Ezra 9. 2, 14.2 Chr 22Ezra 9:2Ezra 9:14 wrath it brought upon the Kingdom of Judah.

When Solomon (a good King otherwiſe) forgat himſelf, and matched with Idolatrous wives, ſinning therein againſt God, God gave him over to his folly (though otherwiſe the wiſeſt of men) that (whether in complement or otherwiſe) he did accompany his wives to their Idolatrous Service; whether he joyned with them therein, it doth not ſo clearly appear: yet he went thus far, that it is ſaid, He went after Aſhteroth the goddeſſe of the Zidonians, and Milcom 1 Kings 11. 4, 5, 6, 7.1 Kgs 11:41 Kgs 11:51 Kgs 11:61 Kgs 11:7the abomination of the Amorites; and he did build an high place for Chemoſh the abomination of Moab.

For theſe very things God brought evil upon his Kingdom. He raiſed up adverſaries againſt him; and what a diviſion and rent it made in that Kingdom, we do well know. May not this be another cauſe why Gods wrath is gone out againſt us? Let us hear the rod, doth it not tell us ſo? Let us humble our ſelves this day for theſe ſins alſo, that God may be pleaſed to throw away this his rod from us.

We are guilty of other ſins, for which, as for that of Idolatry, when they reign in a Kingdom, God doth puniſh it with his ſevereſt Judgements.

7. Theſe are, Oppreſſion, and the not executing of Juſtice and Judgement in a Land. Theſe were the ſins of the Princes and Judges of Judah; they were for bribes and rewards. And all Judah, Micah. 3. 9, 11.Mic 3:9Mic 3:11according as they had power, did oppreſſe one another. Hath it not been thus in in England? and, which ſhould humble us and grieve us moſt, complaints every where tell us, even while we are ſmarting by the rod of God, that theſe ſins of oppreſſion and not executing judgement do encreaſe upon us. Are not many partiall and injurious in their Levies of moneys for the publike uſe of the State? ſparing themſelves and friends, laying intolerable p. 23burdens upon thoſe who have been moſt free, and are now leſſe able to bear them. Alſo are there not thoſe who were entruſted with the Moneys of the State, and to pay Souldiers, that do manage their Truſt ſo ill, that the Souldier is neceſſitated to live upon free Quarter, and ſpoil of thoſe that pay ordinary great Taxes for the publike Service.

Men do exceedingly complain that they cannot have Juſtice. It concerneth you to look to theſe things. As theſe were crying ſins heretofore, and God hath brought upon us theſe Judgements: if theſe continue and encreaſe, we cannot but fear that theſe Judgements ſhall be continued and encreaſed, untill theſe ſins be reformed.

8. Bloodguiltineſſe is another provoking ſin. It cannot goDeut. 19. 13.Deut 19:13 well with a Kingdom where the guilt of innocent blood is not put away by the hand of the Magiſtrate. God will not pardon a Land polluted with innocent blood: he will ſooner or later be2 Kings 24. 4.2 Kgs 24:4 avenged of it.

How much hath been ſhed heretofore, and the murthers either not brought unto Judgement, or not proſecuted in Judgement? This polluteth a Kingdom with blood; and this blood crieth loud for vengeance upon thoſe into whoſe hands God did put the ſword of Juſtice, to revenge for him, and to execute wrath upon ſuch as are murtherers, and do it not. This cauſeth the Lord to execute Judgement himſelf, in ſhedding the blood upon ſuch a People as this.

9. The ſinnes of Sodom, Pride, fulneſſe of bread, idleneſſe, unmercifulneſſe, and all ſorts of voluptuouſneſſe, have been the commonEzek. 16. 49.Ezek 16:49 ſins of this Kingdom, and yet are, notwithſtanding the hand of God is ſo heavie upon us.

Our Gentry, and ſuch as were born and left rich in eſtate, they, in a generality, have given themſelves ſo to live, as if they had been made and born for nothing elſe but to eat, and drink, and play, and ſleep, and ſatisfie their ſenſuall luſts. They have accounted it to be a blemiſh, and a matter of diſrepute to them, to live in a Calling, or to give themſelves unto any thing wherein they might be ſerviceable and profitable in any place of good employment in Church or Common-wealth.

Men and women have been moſt luxurious and wanton in p. 24matters of Diet, Apparell and Geſtures, that they know not how or what to eat, what to wear, or how to attire themſelves, or what gate or geſture to uſe. They, for delicacie in theſe, are tooIſai. 3. 16.Isa 3:16 like thoſe inveighed againſt, and threatned, Iſa. 3. 16.

The Land hath been, and yet is polluted with Whoredoms, andHoſ. 4. 2. Iſa. 28. 1, 7, 18.Hos 4:2Isa 28:1Isa 28:7Isa 28:18 is even drowned with Drunkenneſſe. For theſe ſins alſo the Lord is now viſiting of us.

10. Another ſin for which God will be wrath with a People, and doth ſcourge them ſore, is formality in the true Worſhip and Religion Tit. 1. 16.Titus 1:16of God, when thoſe who profeſſe the Name of God, do in works deny him: and, having a form of godlineſſe, deny the power of … Tim. 3. 5.it. This is the common and great ſin of this Kingdom. We in this declare that we are an hypocriticall Nation, and therefore the people of Gods curſe, and people of his wrath. So God ſpake of his people the Jews againſt whom he ſent the King of Aſſyria, Iſa. 10. 6.Isa 10:6the rod of his anger; I will ſend him againſt an hypocriticall Nation, and againſt the people of his wrath, giving him a charge to take the ſpoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like mire in the ſtreets.

Theſe ſins I have remembred you of. There are many others, which I pray you to call to your remembrance. Conſider your own ſins, and the ſins you ſee committed in the Land. And be ſure that you take this into your ſerious thoughts, That for theſe, and other our ſins, God is now puniſhing of us: and, which aggravates them all, we are not amended by his Rod, but grow worſe and worſe.

What is now therefore to be done? You have heard what the Rod hath taught us, that, It is ſor our ſins that God is wrath with us.

We are this day therefore to humble our ſelves for thoſe ſins: we muſt confeſſe them, repent of them, and diſclaim them, and be earneſt ſuitors to God that he would make the Land ſenſible ofIſa. 9. 13.Isa 9:13 their ſins, and of this his Rod, that we turn to him that ſmiteth us. And every one of us muſt endeavour a Reformation in the Land; firſt of our ſelves, and then of others; beſeeching the Lord to work it. We muſt with all earneſtneſſe intreat the Lord to forgive theſe ſins of the Land, and that he will be mercifull to us, and be at peace with us, and heal the Land. We have great encouragement p. 25from God himſelf, who ſaith, If my people that are called 2 Chron. 7. 1….2 Chr 7:1by my Name, ſhall humble themſelves, and pray, and ſeek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will for give their ſins, and will heal their Land.

We may make this ſtroke and wound incurable, if we go on ſtill in our treſpaſſes, if we do not ſpeedily make our peace with our God. We have a promiſe; let us take hold on it, that he may make peace with us; and he will be at peace with us; forIſa. 25. 7.Isa 25:7 he waiteth for our turning unto him, and ſeeking favour of him, that he may be gracious unto us.Iſa. 30. 18▪Isa 30:18

But, as I ſaid before, let us take heed that we go not on in our ſin, leſt we provoke the Lord to continue and encreaſe his iudgements, even to make us a deſolation: We are in the high way to it: For, a kingdom divided againſt it ſelf, is brought to deſolation.

There are many Symptomes (if we conſider the ſtate of the Kingdom as now it is) that may cauſe us to fear, that, if timely and thorow repentance do not prevent it, this Judgement ſhall not be taken off, but be encreaſed, untill the Land be deſtroyed.

1. The firſt I ſhall mention, is, When leſſer judgements doSymptomes of our being neer to utter ruine. not awaken and amend us; eſpecially, if we are grown worſe thereupon. God hath told us that he will deſtroy ſuch a Nation as this: I ſent cleanneſſe of teeth, and you have not returned to me, Amos 4. 6, 7, 9, 10, 11.Amos 4:6Amos 4:7Amos 4:9Amos 4:10Amos 4:11ſaith the Lord: I withheld rain from you, I have ſmitten you with blaſting, &c. I have ſent among you the peſtilence; I overthrew ſome of you, as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah; yet have ye not returned to me, ſaith the Lord: therefore thus will I do unto thee, that is, I will deſtroy thee utterly. This you may reade in Amos 4. 6, 7, 8 9, 10, 11, 12. God ſware by his holineſſe, verſ. 2.Am. 4. ….Amos 4 that he would take them away with hooks, and their poſterity with fiſhhooks; they ſhould be carried away captive, and utterly ruined.

2. A ſecond Symptome is, When the ſins of a Land grow univerſall, in reſpect of the ſeverall kinde of ſins, and ſeverall ſorts of perſons. All ſorts of ſins are committed, and all ſorts of perſons are grievous ſinners. Reade Ezek. 22. Adde thereunto p. 18theſe ſins; Contempt of the Word and holy Ordinances of God, deſpiſing of thoſe that truely fear God, and enmity againſt the power of Godlineſſe. Every one wore in them to their Ezek. 22.Ezek 22power to ſhed blood: and ſo he reckons up many other, ſaying, In thee there are that commit ſuch and ſuch ſins. There are many ſins named. There is ſcarce any one ſin reckoned there, but the ſalne ſins are rife and common amongſt us. And there you ſhall alſo finde Princes, and Nobles, and Judges, and Prieſts, and Ezek. 22. 25, 27, 29.Ezek 22:25Ezek 22:27Ezek 22:29Prophets, and People were all guilty of ſome of the ſins before mentioned. Therefore the Lord ſaith to the Prophet, Wilt thou judge? Wilt thou judge the bloody Citie? Thou ſhaltEzek. 22. 2.Ezek 22:2 ſhew her all her abominations. He would have the Prophet declare to them, that he would puniſh them more then yet he had done.

Indeed, before he did bring that deſtroying Nationall Judgement, before he brought the Caldeans upon them; after he had threatned it, he did wait to ſee whether any would make up the Ezek. 22. 30.Ezek 22:30hodge, and ſtand in the gap, before him, for the land, that he might not deſtroy it. So, if there be amongſt us that will indeed get into the breach, and in a right way ſtand in it, and make it up, namely, by prayer, executing judgement, and reformation; we may have hope that God will not deſtroy us. We have reaſon to bleſſe God, that you, our Worthies of the Parliament, do endeavour it. But if the ſinnes of the Land ſhall be too hard for you, becauſe they make breaches faſter then you can make them up; or if the Lord be not pleaſed that you ſhall continue in the breach to perfect the making it up; if the Lord be ſo angry with us, that nothing ſhall prevail in this way: then we may fear, that now this cloud of blood which hangeth over us, and hath fallen in moſt parts of the Kingdom, ſhall fall in all other parts, till it have gone thorow the whole Nation to deſtroy it.

3. That which may cauſe us much to fear, is another Symptome, God is now viſiting this part of the world, bringing the Sword upon it. Gods manner is, in ſuch viſitations, to begin with his own people, as he did when Jeremiah was to takeJer. 25. …5, 18.Jer 25:5Jer 25:18 the wine-cup of Gods futy, and cauſe all the Nations to drink p. 19of it, beginning with his own people, to wit, Jeruſalem, and the Cities of Judah.

Thus the Lord hath begun with Bohemia, the Palarinate, and almoſt all Germany, and other parts of Europe. I am perſwaded all this part of the world ſhall drink of it; The dregs of this cup, as that of Jeremies, was reſerved for Heatheniſh Babilon, Jer. 25. 15. 18.Jer 25:15Jer 25:18who drunk of it laſt: ſo the dreggs of this our cup ſhall be reſerved for Antichriſt, even for ſpirituall Babylon, for Rome, that mother of fornications, and for all thoſe that are drunk with the wine of her fornications: ſhe happily ſhall drink laſt, and drink up this cup of the Lords fury.

It was a great while before we began to drink of it; but unleſſe, by a ſpecialty of humbling our ſelves before God, and turning to God and ſeeking of him more than ordinarily, we do procure that it may paſſe, and God do take it from us; as true as God hath threatned ſuch ſinners as we are, and hath begun to execute it, the ſword ſhall not be put up till we be deſtroyed.

Our times are very troublous, and God uſeth to build hisDan. 9. ….Dan 9 Church, as he did Jeruſalem, in ſuch troublous times: we are ready to hope that God will now reforme and build up his Church and make it a glorious Church in this Nation, and we would gladly beleeve that theſe ſhakings are but preparations to a happy reformation.

I doubt not but theſe wars and commotions amongſt the true Churches of God are preparations thereunto. But whether we of this preſent generation may not for our ſins and for our tryall be much waſted and deſtroyed with the ſword, and which is worſe, be put under the power of thoſe that are for Antichriſt, we cannot promiſe to our ſelves.

I know that ere long that mother of abhomination with herRev. 17. 6.Rev 17:6 children, who have been drunk with the blood of the Saints and with the blood of the Martyrs of Jeſus, ſhall receive double.Rev. 18. 6.Rev 18:6 In the cup that ſhe hath filled, it ſhall be filled to her double: But whether (ſith the time of Antichriſts raign is but ſhort) he may not have a lightning before his death, as to riſe to have ſo much power added to his malice, as to ſhed more blood, that p. 28the Lord may take a juſt occaſion by it to execute vengeance upon that State for all the blood ſhed by it, we cannot tell: we have ſome cauſe to fear it, if we do but obſerve that already the Palatinate and other Churches that were reformed, are brought under the power of thoſe that are Antichriſtian; why ſhould we not think that the like may befall us? nothing but an unfained turning from our ſins unto God, and a through reformation, which yet we are far from, can hinder it.

I ſpeak not this to diſcourage any, but that we ſhould be prepared for the worſt, and to put us upon a more through humbling of our ſelves before God, and of getting into, and making up the breach which our ſinns have made, that he may ſpare us and not deſtroy us.

4. To adde one Symptome more, A Spirit of perverſneſſe, a ſpirit of Diviſion is in the midſt of us, and is ſpread through all the Kingdome; Diviſions in Church, diviſions in Common-wealth. A Kingdome thus divided, how can it ſtand? When the Lord is wrath with a people then he mingleth a perverſe Iſa. 19. 13, 14.Isa 19:13Isa 19:14Spirit amongſt them, he makes their Princes become fools, and their Counſellors become brutiſh, deſtitute of right reaſon, yea he divideth them in their Councels. He ſetteth Ephraim againſt Manaſſeh, and Manaſſeh againſt Ephraim, to the makingIſa. 9. 19, 20, 21.Isa 9:19Isa 9:20Isa 9:21 of a Land dark through miſeries, when no man ſhall ſpare his brother, becauſe of the diſcords and civill wars which God in his wrath ſhould raiſe amongſt them; as a juſt puniſhment of their not joyning together to ſerve the Lord with one conſent.

It will not be much out of the place to mention a ſin which I omitted before; which is, the growth of Errours and Schiſmes in this Kingdome, which are ſo much the more dangerous, becauſe this errour alſo is grown up with them (a ſtrong means to nouriſh them,) Namely, that men muſt enjoy Liberty of Conſcience, denying it to be in the power of any, no not in the Magiſtrate to reſtrain them. This is grown to a great height, and hath many abettors, and pleaders for it. Little courſe is taken to repreſſe it. Some to whom it belongs to do it, I fear are corrupted with this Errour. This is an in-let and ground for the toleration of all Religions. Errours and Hereſies p. 29are Gangrens, which if their courſe be not ſtopped, will increaſe to the deſtruction of the whole. The Apoſtle will have that ſuch ſhould not onelyonly be ſhunned, but that their mouthes ſhould be ſtopped, leſt they deceive others and it encreaſeTit. 1. 11.Titus 1:11 to more ungodlineſſe: and he requireth Timothy to1 Tim. 1. 3.1 Tim 1:3 Command that men preach no other Doctrine: every one therefore may not teach what Doctrine he pleaſeth; but if he teach falſe Doctrine, he is to be reſtrained. I know the firſt way of ſtopping the mouths of ſuch, is by ſound Doctrine to convince themTit. 1. 9. 11.Titus 1:9Titus 1:11 of their Errour, and if they will not be convinced, to proceed againſt them by Eccleſiaſticall cenſure; laying a command upon them not to teach ſuch Doctrine; but if ſtill they will perſiſt, God hath given power to the Civill Magiſtrate to reſtrain them: For he is to govern ſo, that under him men may live a1 Tim. 2. 2.1 Tim 2:2 godly as well as a quiet life: and he beareth not the ſword in vaine, but is Gods Miniſter to puniſh, therefore to his powerRom. 13. 4.Rom 13:4 to reſtrain him that doth evill. And what greater evill can a man do, then to ſeduce his brother?

But to return where I left; be ſenſible of the diviſions that are amongſt us, if they be not made up but increaſe, we ſhallGal. 5. 15.Gal 5:15 claſh one againſt another, that we ſhall be conſumed one of another, and confuſion will be in the end. It doth preſage veryJam. 3. 19.Jas 3:19 much evill to a Land, when the Lord ſhall do with it as he did with the Land of Judah, when he ſhall ſill the Kings, Prieſts, and Prophets, and the Inhabitants thereof with drunkenneſſe. Firſt, drunk with Errour and wickedneſſe, which they have drunk in abundantly; then God maketh them drink, till they be drunk with the wine of his indignation. He ſaith he willJer. 13. 13. 14, 15.Jer 13:13Jer 13:14Jer 13:15 daſh them one againſt another, even the fathers and the ſons together, ſaith the Lord, I will not pitty, nor ſpare, nor have mercy; but destroy them. Hear ye, and give eare, he not proud; (ſaith the Prophet) for the Lord hath ſpoken. And his councell is to give glory to God, namely in confeſſing and amending their faults, and making their peace with him, Before he bring darkneſſe and the Jer. 13. 1….Jer 13:1ſha low of death, this great deſtruction upon them. Happy ſhould we be, if we would take this Counſell: We have need of it; if ever any Nation was ſilled with ſuch a drunkenneſſe, certainly p. 22at this time this our Land is. God ſaith oft; Shall I not be avenged Jer. 5. 9. 29.Jer 5:9Jer 5:29of ſuch a Nation as this? when men grow worſe in ſtead of amending, proceeding from evill to evill, and will not know God and ſee his Name, when they are under his rod.

I ſpeak all this, to the end that we may earneſtly ſeek the Lord, and cry aloud to him this day for mercy, who cryeth to us with a loud voyce, To hear the rod, and who hath appointed it.Jer. 9. 3, 4, 9, 16.Jer 9:3Jer 9:4Jer 9:9Jer 9:16

Laſtly, we have oft times faſted and humbled our ſelves before the Lord; yet you ſee that this great Judgement is not removed, but increaſing dayly. Certainly, this is becauſe either we have not been ſincere and unfeigned herein: which if it be, let us afflict and humble our ſelves this day as we ought to do, for our ſelves, and for the Land; or elſe it argueth that God will yet plague us more for our ſins, and we may fear to our deſtruction. Formall Faſts are juſt provocations of God againſt a Land; as were the ſolemn meetings and prayers of the Jews, Iſa. 1. 14, 15.Isa 1:14Isa 1:15whoſe hands were full of blood, and their faſtings ſeperate fromIſa. 58. 4, 5.Isa 58:4Isa 58:5 Reformation.

It concerneth us to repent of our former Faſtings and humblings, for in the generality, men have not kept ſuch a Faſt as God requireth, no marvell then if God have not regarded it. We have not faſted from our ſins; we have faſted to ſtrife, andIſai. 58. 3, 4.Isa 58:3Isa 58:4 debate, and contention, and Schiſme, and all manner of wickedneſſe and ungodlineſſe. We have not been ſo humbled as to turn from our ſins to the Lord, as to looſe the bonds of wickedneſſe,Iſa. 58. 6, &c.Isa 58:6 and to walk in the wayes of holineſſe, ſobriety, mercy, and righteouſneſſe.

That Land is in a very ſad condition, when albeit Faſts are Proclaimed and kept, God ſhall ſay, I will not hear their cry, but Jer. 14. 12.Jer 14:12will conſume them with the ſword, and with the famine, and with the pestilence. Yet God forbid that we ſhould give over humbling our ſelves, and our praying unto him; his deferring of help may be becauſe he would have us ſeek him more earneſtly, and more unfeignedly; then we may hope, He will be found of us Jer. 29. 12. 13.Jer 29:12Jer 29:13when we ſhall ſeek him with our whole heart.

And who hath appointed it, Namely, God hath appointed it; we learn hence:

p. 23In all Judgements and corrections of any perſon or people, whatſoever Doct.the rod or inſtrument may be, God is the appointer,

It is of God, it is from him, and is ordered by him.

This is abundantly proved in Leviticus 26. and in Deut. 28.Levit. 26. Deut 28.Lev 26Deut 28 where God ſaith, I will appoint over you, ſuch and ſuch diſeaſes, I will ſend ſuch and ſuch puniſhments, or the Lord ſhall ſmite thee thus and thus. Is there any evill in the City, (that is,Amos 3. 6.Amos 3:6 evill of puniſhment) and the Lord hath not done it? I make peace and create evill, I the Lord do all theſe things, ſaith the Lord:Iſa. 45. 7.Isa 45:7 Affliction ariſeth not out of the duſt:Job 5. 6.Job 5:6

Puniſhments and corrections are Acts of Gods vindicativeReaſ. 1. juſtice, which he reſerveth to himſelf, as part of his Prerogative belonging to his Soveraignty. Vengeance is mine ſaith the Lord:Deut. 32. 35. Rom. 12. 19.Deut 32:35Rom 12:19 God will have the ordering of all corrections.

All things are of God, and in him do conſiſt, and there is notReaſ. 2. any thing, but God willeth it to be, either by his effecting or permitting. What Herod and Pontius Pilate did againſt Chriſt, wasAct. 4. 28.Acts 4:28 nothing but what his hand and Counſel determined before to be done.

The creatures and ſecond cauſes, they are all Gods ſervants to do and to execute his will. Man by whom he correcteth anyIſa. 10. 6. Pſal. 17. 14.Isa 10:6Ps 17:14 is but his rod, or his ſword.

I deſire that this truth ſhould be beleeved; for then when aƲſe. man is afflicted, and under any judgement, he will know and conſider, That it is God that ſmiteth, it is God to whom he muſt return; it is God of whom he muſt ſeek favour and mercy, and with whom he muſt make his Peace.

This confuteth an Errour, and reproveth a great fault in many,Vſe. who look upon the puniſhments and judgements they feel, as upon things that come caſually, by hap hazzard, or ill fortune, as they call it; or from the malice of men: they look no further than to the immediate actors or inſtruments thereof. They do not, many will not, ſee the hand of God in it.

This Atheiſm is common amongſt men; beware of it; for from hence it is that men in their afflictions are impatient under them, and do fret and chafe at the inſtrument, and do ſtudie revenge againſt men, and uſe indirect means to get them off. Let none ſhut their eyes againſt this truth. The Prophet complaineth p. 32of thoſe that, when Gods hand was lifted up, and hisIſa. 26. 11. Ezek. 7. 9. Micah 6. 13.Isa 26:11Ezek 7:9Mic 6:13 judgements were upon the earth, they would not ſee: but they ſhall ſee, ſaith he, and be aſhamed. He will make them know that it is he that ſmiteth. God will ſmite them, till he make them ſick with ſmiting, and make them deſolate, becauſe of their ſins.

When men in their afflictions ſhall conſider that God hathƲſe 3. appointed them, it will humble them, and calm their ſpirits.Pſal. 39. 9.Ps 39:9 They will lay their hands on their mouthes, and accept of their puniſhment, becauſe God hath appointed it, bearing patiently Micah 7. 9.Mic 7:9the indignation of the Lord, becauſe they have ſinned againſt him.

Would we have our preſent judgement taken off? Now we know who hath appointed it, let us prepare to meet him, letHoſ. 6. 1.Hos 6:1 us return to him that hath ſmitten us, and make our peace with him.

This Rod and Sword being called, Gods rod, and Gods ſword, Ʋſe 4.which ſmite at Gods appointment, we may then ſee that the great Quarrell and Controverſie, originally, is not betwixt man and us, but between God and us. We muſt therefore firſt ſubmit to him, and make our peace with him, elſe we ſhall make no peace, or no good peace, with man.

It is not any policie, or power, nor any other means (though good, and ſo neceſſary, that we ſhall ſin if we uſe them not) can remove our evil from us, but as we ſhall obtain it of God, who hath appointed it.

When the Sword of God was called upon to put it ſelf up into the Scabbard, and asked How long it would be ere it would be Jer. 47. 6, 7.Jer 47:6Jer 47:7quiet; anſwer is made, How can it be quiet, ſeeing the Lord hath given it a charge againſt Aſhkelon, and againſt the Sea ſhore? there he hath appointed it. The Lord muſt command it to be put up, or it will not ceaſe ſmiting till it have conſumed us.

It is not any Articles of Peace, be they never ſo equall and reaſonable; it is not the power of the ſword, nor of any means we can uſe, though never ſo lawfull and neceſſary, that can take off the rod from us, and give us peace; except in the uſe of all good means to ſatisfie him, we ſhall obtain it of him who hath appointed it.

We may haply uſe ſuch means as may skin over the wound, p. 33and conclude a Peace; but it will break out again, if God be not at peace with us, and if he do not appoint and make our Peace for us.

Wherefore I beſeech you, that (with all the good means that poſſibly we can uſe) we endeavour, to the utmoſt of our power, to procure of God to take this rod from us, and give us Peace.

Let us repent of our own ſins, and endeavour that the Land may repent. Let us remove out of Gods ſight whatſoever doth offend him. Let us ſeek, and finde out, and caſt out thoſe execrable things which have provoked the Lord to appoint the rod and ſword to ſmite and deſtroy amongſt us. Let us give him no reſt, but continue our wreſtling with him, with Jacobs wreſtlings, by humble, and earneſt, and importunate prayer and ſupplication. By this ſtrength we may have power with God,Hoſ. 12. 3, 4.Hos 12:3Hos 12:4 and (to ſpeak with holy reverence to his Omnipotency) we may have power over God, to prevail with him.

Then we may expect that he that hath appointed the rod will lay it by, if not caſt it into the fire, and will command it to ceaſe ſmiting, and will command the ſword to be put up into the Scabbard; and then we ſhall have peace, and not till then. Iſ we would caſt away our ſins, God would certainly caſt away his rod. If we prepare to meet him, he will be friends with us.

But to conclude with a word of comfort to thoſe that truelyƲſe 5. fear God. That God is the appointer and orderer of the rod in all puniſhments, is a Ground of ſtay, and ſupport of their hearts and ſpirits in the greateſt afflictions.

Be enemies never ſo powerfull and malicious, we need not fear them; it ſhall not be as they intend, either for the greatneſſe or continuance of the evil which they would bring upon us, but according to the will of God, who hath given them charge to aſſlict us. As it was in the caſe of the children of Judah, when the Lord gave a charge to the Aſſyrians to war againſt them, ſaying, O Aſſyrian, the ſword of mine anger, and the ſtaff Iſa. 10. 6, 7.Isa 10:6Isa 10:7of mine indignation; I ſend him againſt an hypocriticall Nation, and againſt the people of my wrath will I give him a charge to take p. 34the ſpoil, &c. Howbeit he meaneth not ſo, neither doth his heart think ſo, namely, to correct or puniſh for God in meaſure, and for their good; he never thinketh that he is but a rod in Gods hand: But he being let looſe to his own covetouſneſſe, and ambition, and malice againſt Gods people, it is in his heart to deſtroy Nations not a few, and to raiſe himſelf upon the ruines of Gods people. But God put a hook in his noſtrils, that he could not have his will of them; and afterward, for his rage and cruelty in executing his charge in ſmiting Gods people, God did utterly deſtroy him. God doth with them, as withIſa. 10. 7, 12, 16, 17.Isa 10:7Isa 10:12Isa 10:16Isa 10:17 the proud waves which would overflow the mountains; they have their chanell to flow in; Gods appointment doth ſet Bars to them, and ſaith, Hitherto ſhalt thou come, and no farther, and Job 38. 11.Job 38:11there ſhall thy proud waves be ſtayed.

It is well for Gods people that the rod and ſword is in the hand, and at the appointment of God, their Wiſe, Almighty, and tender Father.

God puniſheth his children in meaſure, both for how much,Iſa. 27. 8. 9.Isa 27:8Isa 27:9 and how long; not ſo much nor ſo long as the enemy intendeth: He meaſureth every dram for weight, and every minute for time. His rod ſhall be upon us no longer then he hath appointed it; no longer then is needfull to purge us from ſin, andHeb. 12. 10.Heb 12:10 make us partaker of his holineſſe.

As he hath appointed a time of trouble, and tryall, ſo he hath appointed an end thereof. And the rod of the wicked ſhall not Pſal. 125. 3.Ps 125:3alwayes rest upon the Lot of the Righteous. He will not alwayes Iſa. 28. 28, 29.Isa 28:28Isa 28:29be threſhing: his ſmiting is for correction and for our good, not for our deſtruction. He is wonderfull in Counſell and excellent in working. When he hath ſufficiently ſmitten us with his rod, he will take his rod and burn it: then he holdeth it to be ſufficient,Levit. 26. 41.Lev 26:41 when our uncircumciſed hearts are humbled, and when we ſhall accept of the puniſhment of our ſins, acknowledging that he hath puniſhed us leſſe then our iniquities; when we2 Chron. 7. 14.2 Chr 7:14 ſhall kindly ſubmit unto God, and reform our wayes, pray, and ask forgiveneſſe, he hath then promiſed that he will forgive our ſins and he…l our Land; he will take this ſtrok from us.

And when God uſeth the wicked; His, and our enemies, to p. 35be his rod; when he hath attained his end, our troubles ſhall end in their deſtruction, God may uſe Papiſts, Antichriſt, and his Abettors, to be his rod, and ſword, whereby to correct and refine his people; which when it is done, They, becauſe God hath appointed it, ſhall certainly be deſtroyed. Let not your ſpirits ſink nor fail, while you are under the rod, though it may happen to be much worſe with us then yet it is: for it ſhall be onelyonly ſo much and ſo long as he in his wiſedome hath appointed for our good.

I will end with that comfortable Scripture touching his Church then, and Babilon in Chald…a; which is as applyable to us and to Babilon at Rome; Yet a very little while, and the indignation ſhall ceaſe, ſaith God, and mine anger in their deſtruction. Iſai. 10. 25.Isa 10:25For he hath appointed the rod of Iron to break in peeces his enemies; as well as his rod of men to correct his children: comfort we our ſelves with theſe thoughts, nothing commeth to paſſe in the way of correction of his children, but as he hath appointed. Let us therefore for all theſe good purpoſes, Hear the rod, and who hath appointed it.

FINIS.

ERRATA.

Page 10. line 25, for …, reade ſee. p. 14. l. 2. for that rod, read the S…n, p. 2… l. 24 for upon read the, p. 35. l. 8. blot out, theſe, P. 19. l. 24. for profeſſing, reade confeſſing. P. 23. l. 18. for murthers, reade murtherers.

End of the text · Henry Scudder, Gods Warning to England (1644)