The Cause Use Cure of Fear, Section 3

The Cause Use Cure of Fear · Section 3

p. 19SECT. III.

The meanes of the righteous mans eſtabliſhment, and how his feare, the diſeaſe of it is cured.

WE ſee the righteous are a people that are not afraid with any amazement. They feare, but with a godly feare; They feare, but nothing ſo much as ſin, and the frown of their God; They fear, but ſo, as they can look up with confidence, and down to the means of their ſafety with comfort; They feare, and yet they can gird up their loines, and put on their armour; They feare, and yet doe truſt perfectly; They feare, and are diſquieted, but not greatly. Their hearts may ſhake, and their heads ake with feare, and yet then they can calme their hearts, and reſt their heads in the lap and boſome of their everlaſting Father, there laying their ſelves downe quietly, aſſured they may reſt in ſafety, and the end will be peace. How comes this to be ſo? The Anſwer is, They expect troubles in the world, afflictions there; and they expect, nay they know God will deliver them out of them all: For they LOVE God heartily, ſo they FEARE HIM, ſo they TRUST IN HIM, ſo they OBEY HIM, even from the heart, walking in His way, doing His work; They keep continuall watch againſt their Adverſary, and over themſelves. All this muſt be conſidered on diſtinctly and apart, and ſo we ſhall learne the way how to ſettle the heart in the moſt unſetled times: The chiefe ſcope and mark we would carry all levell unto.

p. 20CHAP. I.

The righteous mans expectation from the world, and from his GOD, ſhall not be deceived: He expects all the evill the world and their god there, can doe againſt them; And from His GOD all that is truly called Good, or is made ſo: All this he is ſure of, therefore he waits patiently for God. He will come ſurely and in ſeaſon, Bleſſed are all they that wait for Him.

THe righteous are in continuall expectation: Of what? Of troubles in the fleſh, of afflictions in the world: Ever ſince they underſtood themſelves, they ſate downe to conſider what it would coſt them, To doe their Maſters work; To ſerve Him in ſinceritie and truth; and Their brethren, in love to their ſoules, and faith of the Goſpel: In this great work now, (whereunto evermore Chriſtians ſtand ſo engaged) the building themſelves up, and Ieruſalems wall in faith and love, They have counted their coſt, and they know what they muſt find at the bottome of their reckoning, troubles from within, diſquietings, perſecutions from without, of all ſorts and ſizes: And it was well, and they bleſſe God with all their hearts, Who hath inſtructed them to diſcretion, To count their coſt ſo ſoone as they thought of Temple-work, The edifying (the building up) themſelves and others in their moſt holy faith. This was the uſe they made of their Reſt and Peace, GOD was graciouſly pleaſed to afford unto them: They knew this Temple-work would coſt them deare, Labour and Trouble both: They expected all this, and whatever it be it is but anſwerable to their expectation: they looked for it, and now it is come, it is welcome: They are fit to entertaine it, they are fitted for it, as the burden is fitted for the ſhoulder, and the yoak for the neck.

I will tell a knowne and ſad ſtory of a man that lived in proſperity all his life long, God ſpake to him once and againe, and every day by every mercy he gave unto him; but he would not hearken, and that was his manner **Jer. 22. 21.Jer 22:21from his youth, he would not obey Gods voice, what cared he what God ſaid, he was inproſperity, p. 21had no changes, and expected none; Towards the end, as the manner is, The Lord made a breach upon him, ſorrows overwhelmed him like a mighty flood. O, ſaid he, I never looked for this: Ai, that was true enough; and therefore his ſorrowes preſſed his ſoule we know not how low. We looked for peace, ſaid they. (a)(a)Jer. 8. 15. ver. 19.Jer 8:15Why did they ſo? For firſt, They had provoked GOD to anger with their Images, and ſtrange vanities: Secondly, (for I haſten here) The word is gone forth of His mouth, Who cannot lye, In the world affliction: Yet ſay they, We looked for Peace, what followes? No good came; we looked for a time of health, and behold trouble. A miſerable caſe to be ſo deceived, and in point of Peace.

The righteous not ſo, They are not deceived; They expect trouble, what the gates of hell can doe againſt them. All this is done againſt them, they are not troubled at it; They had their maſters word, it would be ſo, and ſo it is. Where is their comfort now? In ME PEACE; Trouble round about, and War at the doores, making breaches upon them; That which upholds them is, and fully to their expectation, IN ME PEACE.

I will aske a Queſtion, and reſolve it in two Anſwers; when I have cleared them, then I will conclude this point.

Is the Church never deceived in her expectation? Queſt.

No, never deceived in the world, in her expectation therein; Anſw. 1 ſhe expects no favour from it, but all the evill that can be done againſt her; and ſhe is ſure to have it from the world: And

2. Nor ſhall their expectation in GOD be fruſtrate; and there is the comfort.

I will cleare theſe premiſſes, and then conclude.

1. The Churches expectation from the world is never deceived. What doth ſhe expect? As aforeſaid, Affliction and Perſecution thence; Her Lord hath bid her expect it, for the world love their owne, not His people, as they love not Him; and they muſt not look to fare better then their Lord: Affliction in the world, Perſecution from the world, is a part of the Churches Dowry. See what a Ioynter her Good Lord hath made His Church and People! He hath given to her All, Himſelfe and All, the world and All, ALL THINGS (b)(b)1 Cor. 3. 211 Cor 3:21ARE YOURS, you ſhall profit and receive benefit from all, even from p. 22all that is called evill in the world: All is yours. There we reade the particulars of her Dowry, and amongſt them, DEATH, afflictions, perſecutions, pains, ſorrows, troubles in the fleſh, (that is Death) and all this is in the Churches Dowry: no Part or Parcell of it is ſo large as this, for it containes neceſſities, diſtreſſes, ſtripes, impriſonments, tumults, labours, watchings, faſtings; all this a very DEATH to a mans ſenſe, and preſent feeling. Is it not think you Death to be as the Church is in ſome of her people alwayes? 2 Cor 6. 4, 5.2 Cor 6:42 Cor 6:5In journyings, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by her owne Countreymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the City, in perils in the wilderneſſe, in perils amongst falſe brethren, 2 Cor. 11. 26.2 Cor 11:26in wearineſſe, and painfulneſſe. That was Pauls caſe you wil ſay. Nay it is the Churches caſe with ſome of her ſons and daughters, and it will be their caſe unto the worlds end. And certainly all this is a very death: To ſojourne in Meſech, to dwell in the tents of Kedar, amongſt them that hate peace, a very Death all this, working Pſal. 120.Ps 120indeed graciouſly and gloriouſly, through GOD, that orders all for Good; but a very death to ſenſe, to fleſh and bloud. But it is her portion in this life (and no longer, but durante vitâ, a ſpan, a little moment, in compariſon to eternity, in the heavens, where God hath time enough to doe them good, and refreſh their hearts after their hard labours here, with joyes there unſpeakable, and long-laſting pleaſures, laſting as long as eternity is long, for ever: but I ſay their ſorrowes laſt no longer but durante vitâ) and diſpoſed to her as a Legacie by her EVERLASTING FATHER, and ſhe is content. Content! A poore and beggerly expreſſion; ſhe rejoyceth in her portion: for all that, which went before comes in at laſt with advantage, adding very much to the weight of her crowne: ſo ſhe bleſſeth God for all, but for nothing ſo much as for death, for it makes the world nothing to her while ſhe lives, and when ſhe dies, ſets her cleare of all, that we call Evill; makes her compleat throughout, FITTED and (d)(d)foreign. Col. 1. 11.Col 1:11Meet for after-Glory. Death in ſome ſort is like the Whale, which ſwallowed Ionah, a terrible thing; but it waſteth the man to Land, ſetteth him cleare from all winds and ſtormes.

But Death is Part of the Churches Dowry; her lot To bee made the portion of foxes; To bee perſecuted in this world: ſhee hath ſo much of Heaven in her, that ſhee muſt fare the worſe p. 23in the world, which knowes none, favours none heartily but its owne; Without controverſy, perſecution is the note of a True Church, There is God or ſomething of God, ſome plaine character of His Image, againſt whom the Aſſemblies of violent men, The Nimrods, The Eſaus, The Neroes of the world do bend themſelves.

But can this People endure all this hardſhip? are they able to Queſt. beare up againſt all this perſecution from the tongues and hands of violent men?

Yes, no doubt of that, for God hath fitted them for ſhocks, and Anſ. brunts, and violent blaſts; Hee hath made their faces like flints, their ſhoulders like braſſe, their Hands and Armes like Iron. What Eſay 1. 5, 7. Jer. 1. 18.Isa 1:5Isa 1:7Jer 1:18can the Adverſary doe now? The blaſt of the terrible ones, what can it availe? It is anſwered; As much as a ſtorme againſt a brazin Eſay 25. 4.Isa 25:4wall: ſo the SPIRIT ſcornes what fleſh can doe againſt Him. Greater is He That is in you, Then hee that is in the world. (k)(k)1 Joh. 4. 4.1 John 4:4Theſe people are reſolved upon that, and they have overcome the world; ſhould then ſuch men as they feare, when they heare the Defaming of many, (which they looke to heare) and crying out violence and ſpoile? Should ſuch men as theſe feare? Jer. 20. 8, 10.Jer 20:8Jer 20:10No, They cannot bee affraid with any amazement, for I am with them ſaith The (a)(a)Jer. 1. 19.Jer 1:19LORD, they are aſſured of that. What then? Then what They will follows, for They will ask nothing, but according to His will. If they have written down that, as one ſaith, then they may write what they wil, for GOD is with them, then all is with them, That can make for their proviſion and protection; They ſhall dwell on high, their place of Defence ſhall be the munitions of Rocks; BREAD ſhall be given them; their WATERS ſhall bee ſure (b)(b)Eſay 33. 16 Ac ſi dice…et p…ris & integ…is Dei culto…ibus nihil defuturum panis …nim & a quae nomine ſignificat omnia, &c. Cal. Jer. 20. 11.Isa 33:16Jer 20:11God is with them, Then All That is in God, His Goodneſſe, wiſdome, Power, All ſhall be laid out for them, to make all that is needfull for them, ſure unto them. And then touching their Adverſary, though hee bee a Legion, this followes; hee ſhall fight againſt them, but hee ſhall not prevaile againſt them: The LORD IS WITH ME as a MIGHTY TERRIBLE ONE, therfore my perſecuters ſhall ſtumble & be greatly aſhamed; his everlaſting confuſion ſhall never bee forgotten. Nay, the adverſary ſhall bee ſo far from hurting them, that hee ſhall do them good, and they ſhall hurt him; for now that God is with them, they have p. 24Armes of ſteele, and feete of braſſe, and they ſhall threſh the mountaines like ſtraw, and the hills like Chaffe, and come upon Princes as Eſai. 41. 15. 25.Isa 41:15Isa 41:25upon morter.

2. Are the Righteous people aſſured of all this?

Yes, for the Lord hath ſaid it, as wee have read, Hee hath given His word for their ſecurity, they take it, are ſecure, fixed and Reſt thereon. As their expectation from the world never deceived them ſince the world was, and they were in the world; So, nor ſhall their expectation from God faile them, they have an aſſured confidence of That. Shall the expectation of the Righteous faile? No, the Lord forbid, nay the Lord forgive u… to them any ſuch miſgiving thoughts within them. The hope of the Righteous ſhall bee gladneſſe: but the expectation of the wicked ſhall periſh. (b)(b)2 Pro. 6…. 10. 18.Prov 6:10Prov 6:18Can the Righteous feare this, That their hope ſhal fa…le them? No; It cannot bee, for they have ſet their hope in God. The hope of the wicked ſhal be cut off: they ſhall be afraid and aſhamed o… (the word) their expectation; and of (the Content…ents there) their Glory, (c)(c)Eſai. 20. 5.Isa 20:5And now, LORD, what (d)(d)Pſal. 39. 7.Ps 39:7wait I for? ſayes DAVID. As if the ſervant of The LORD had ſaid; doe I waite, doe I expect, doe I looke for Peace, Comfort, eſtabliſhment and ſatisfaction from the world? do I ſeeke great things for my ſelfe therein? Thou knoweſt, LORD, what I wait for, none of all this from the world; But, as it followes, my hope is in Thee. What an unreaſonable thing were it, how unworthy of GOD, The God not of ſome but of all conſolations, how unworthy a thought of Him, To thinke, That a poore creature, who hath ſet his hope in GOD, expects all from Him, from The world nothing at all; how unworthy a thought, That This GOD will deceive this poore creature, that waites for Him; though Hee hideth His face, yet lookes for Him: He frownes upon him, anſwers him Roughly, yet this ſoul expects from Him; notwithſtanding what is ſaid or done, the poore ſoule will not returne to vanity, hee will not looke to the world, hee will wait, hee hath ſet his hope in GOD, hee will looke for Him; Will the LORD deceive this Man, that expects all from Him, hath ſet his hope upon Him? It is ſure enough, Hee will not; The needy ſhall not bee alway forgotten; the hopes of th… afflicted ſhall not periſh for ever: (e)(e)Pſal. 9. 18.Ps 9:18The poore and needy mans expectation (ſet upon God) is not delayed, but deferred, and ſtrained. p. 25Why? To open the mouth and heart wider, that the more comfort may come in at laſt; and that their heart and JOY there may be (g)(g)Joh. 16. 24. Pſal. 40. 1. Eſay 8. 17.John 16:24Ps 40:1Isa 8:17FULL. They have waited patiently for The LORD, they waited upon Him. They, When He hid His face, then they looked for Him: They waited the time, when He would be gracious. Now hearken, Therefore will The LORD wait that He may be gracious unto you: and therefore He will be exalted, That he may have merciemercy upon you: for The Lord is a God of judgement, Bleſſed Eſay 30. 18.Isa 30:18are all they that wait for Him.

Ai, but hope deferred maketh the heart ſick. That is true, but Pro. 13. 12.Prov 13:12there is a time comming, when the heart ſhall recover, be made every whit whole, and perfectly well againe: and it ſhall be the more haile and comforted, the ſicker it was: for When the deſire commeth it is a tree of life. Therefore though The Lord tarry, the ſoule will patiently wait for Him, becauſe He will ſurely Hab. 2. 3.Hab 2:3come, and will not tarry. And when He, That was ſo long expected, waited-looked-for, when He commeth (and then He comes, and Tarries not, when the Churches ſeaſon is come) then He makes amends for His long tarrying (as the world thought, and ſometimes the Church alſo, and in her haſte counted it ſlackneſſe) He tarryed ſo long, that He might come in ſeaſon, that His peoples joy might be brim-full: when their hearts, wearyed with long waiting, ſhall the more rejoyce, and their withered bones (o)(o)Eſay 66. 14Isa 66:14ſhall flouriſh like an herbe: For it ſhall be ſaid in that day, (after their long waltings) Loe This is our GOD, we have waited for Him; This is The LORD, we have waited for Eſay 25. 9.Isa 25:9Him: and we are glad He is come; with all our hearts doe we rejoyce in His ſalvation, for it is His, a marvailous, great, exceeding ſalvation, the greater, the longer it ſtayed: And now theſe waiting people ſhall renew their ſtrength, they ſhall mount up with Eſay 40. 31.Isa 40:31wings as Eagles, they ſhall run and not be weary, and they ſhall walk and not faint.

We are concluded now upon theſe Points,

1. That the righteous mans expectation from the world will not deceive him; what the world and the god therein can doe againſt him, ſhall be done, he expects it, therefore they ſhall not be able to doe him hurt.

2. His expectation from God cannot deceive him; for GOD is faithfull: They that wait for Him, (doe expect all from Him, and from the world nothing but affliction thence) ſhall not repent of their waiting, for GOD will come in ſeaſon, and not tarry, when they ſhall be moſt glad of His comming, and ſay, It is beſt of all that He came not ſooner: for now their hearts are brim-full of joy: So they have concluded: In aſſured confidence hereof, theſ people are not afraid now with any amazement: As their hope is in GOD, ſo is their heart and love ſet upon Him alſo. This followes,

CHAP. II.

The Righteous love God: That Love caſteth forth Feare: Sad objections cleared to the hearts of the righteous: God comes-in to ſuccour and reſcue thoſe, whom He loveth, not always when they call, but alwaies in ſeaſon, and fitteſt time: Seldome to their wil, but ever to their weal, when they ſhall ſee leaſt in themſelves, and moſt in God: The perſons, whom God loveth, ſhall be afflicted, but for their good.

THe Righteous love GOD: And Love to the ſoule is like the Rudder to the Ship, it turnes about all the powers and faculties of the ſoule, and all to God; It lades and unlades all the goods there, all for GODS glory; it receives all in, and gives all forth for that ſame great end: ſo Love doth. I have ſaid all, when I have ſaid, The Righteous love GOD. It formes every work they doe; and nothing forms a man or his work ſo dexterouſly as Love doth, Love to God, Love to His Truth, Love to His People, Love to their peace; This inflames mens mindes, works them ſuddenly to great perfection, facilitates the work, makes it ſlide on. Nay farther, as one obſerves truly, That all other Affections, though they raiſe the minde, yet they doe it by diſtorting, and uncomelineſſe of extaſies, or exceſſes; but onelyonly Love doth exalt the mind, and nevert…eleſſe, at the ſame inſtant, doth ſettle and compoſe it: So in all other excellencies, though they advance Nature, yet they are ſubject to p. 27exceſſe: onelyonly Charity admitteth no exceſſe. The righteous love God. I have ſaid all.

Why, but all will ſay as much: No man in the world, but wil Ob. ſay, I love GOD: he dares not, nay he is aſhamed to ſay otherwiſe.

True, I will reply ſhortly to this, and once for all, for all will Anſw. ſay as much touching their feare too, and their truſt alſo, &c.

As the Kingdome of God, ſo the love of God is not in word, but in power: GOD doth know (that is, approves) not the ſpeech of them, that ſay (a)(a)1 Cor. 4. 19, 20.1 Cor 4:191 Cor 4:20ſo, but the power of them, that doe ſo: That love The Lord, not in word, but in deed. We have all, I verily beleeve it, a kind of faint, weak, wateriſh love, which indeed the Scripture calls an hatred, when the creature hath the ſtrength, and as I may ſay, the firſt-borne of our love: and God the after-birth, which is of no account with Him, but counted as aforeſaid. The righteous people love God; They ſee an excellencie in God, a tranſeendent goodneſſe. As it was ſaid of Peter and Iohn, when they ſaw their boldneſſe, They tooke knowledge of them that they had Acts 4. 13.Acts 4:13been with Ieſus: So, doe we obſerve the Saints love to Chriſt! We muſt take knowledge, That the City of God doe know The Lord Chriſt, they have and doe ſee His Goodneſſe; They are with Him by their graces of love, and faith; they converſe with Him day and night. Therefore they ſo love God, even as they glorifie Him, As (b)(b)Rom. 1. 21. Exod. 15. 11. 1 Tim. 6. 15.Rom 1:21Exod 15:111 Tim 6:15GOD, glorious in holineſſe, fearfull in praiſes, doing wonders: The onelyonly Potentate, The King of Kings and Lord of Lords. They Love GOD as they are thankefull to Him, as To GOD, in Whom they live, move, and have their Being: in Whoſe hands is their Time, their Breath, and all their wayes: from Whom they have all things richly to enjoy, to whom He communicates Himſelf: ſo they glorifie Him, ſo they are thankfull, and ſo they love HIM with an exceeding love, a love that commands in chiefe; the great Centurion, it commands all within and without, to ſpeak, to doe, to ſtrive for God, for ſo they love HIM with a predominate love, which carryeth the ſoul on high. And where this love of God rules, there peace rules, be the earth never ſo unquiet. Get we this love rooted in our hearts; it is the fitteſt of any thing to expell feare, to keep downe the workings of it, for it maintains and guards Reaſon, and raiſeth the p. 28ſoule above the world, ſo as it can bid defiance to death, and then to unreaſonable men, and devils too. If I beare a true love to God, ſtronger then death, if ſo, then I can beare any thing; I can goe through fire, and water, all along before the face and noſe of the adverſaries, (if I am called to do it) and feare nothing. The love of GOD conſtraines me, yea commands me, and, as the peace of Phil. 4. 7. foreign.Phil 4:7God, keeps and ſafeguards me alſo; It keeps my heart and mind, my ſoul and my ſpirit, through Chriſt Ieſus: It keeps my underſtanding, that there be no defilement there through the errors of wicked men. It keeps my will, that there be no perverſeneſſe there, not ſubdued and brought under: It keeps my affections, that they be cleane and holy; that my hatred be to all iniquity, and my love to righteouſneſſe, for I love God, how then ſhould I think or doe thus and thus, and ſo ſin againſt him? The love of God keeps me in perfect peace, ſo far as that love is perfect in me. If a man can reſolve himſelf (by the Spirit) That God loves him, That he is in Chriſt reconciled unto Him, This is enough To diſſolve the thickeſt cloud of feare, overcaſting the ſoule; enough to take off the edge, and blunt that eager and keene paſſion, which ſo cuts, and lanceth the ſpirits: for then, he can ſay alſo, He loves GOD with a CHILD-like love, as a child loves the father; ſo as he can repoſe himſelfe in his fathers lap or boſome, in aſſured confidence He careth for him; and then he can be as bold as Paul was, and as well perſwaded, That neither death, nor life, nor Angels, nor Principalities, nor powers, nor things preſent, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, ſhall be able to ſeparate us from the love of God, (a)(a)Rom. 8. 38, 39.Rom 8:38Rom 8:39&c.

The work then of a Chriſtian is to cleare this point; for when that is done, all is done; he lives as a man in the upper Region of the world, riding upon the high places of the earth, above the winds Eſav 58. 14.and ſtormes, which infeſt and trouble us here below. I remember I have read of one, who being upon a tempeſtuous ſea, and his ſhip almoſt covered with waves, and the paſſengers there almoſt dead with feare, was, not withſtanding, very cheerfull and comfortable, calme and quiet in his mind, rather inclined to ſing then to mourne: Being asked the reaſon of his ſettlement, and ſo quiet repoſe of ſpirit, anſwered thus: My Father is the Pilot of the ſhip; He is at the ſterne, holds the helme: He loves me, I love p. 29Him, The winds and ſtormes fulfilling his word, (b)(b)Pſal. 148. 8Ps 148:8He bids them riſe, and they are up, and ſo bluſtering: then (He chideth) He rebuketh them, then they fall and are ſtill. I know and am well perſwaded, Mat. 8. 26.Matt 8:26whether ſtormes or calmes, I ſhall get to my Heaven, and in paſſage thither nothing ſhall doe me hurt, every thing ſhall doe me good from His hand that loves **foreign, &c. Chryſoſt. Facile impetratur ſemper quod filius poſtulat. Ter…ul. de po…n. c. 11.me. And this makes me fearleſſe, this calmes me within, what unquiet motions ſoever are without. Oh of what mighty concernment is this, in theſe times! when the commandement is gone forth to reſtore and to build Ieruſalems wall, (evermore TROUBLOUS TIMES) (c)(c)Dan. 9. 25.Dan 9:25That every man ſhould labour to cleare his ſpirit (by the Spirit) at this great point, The love of GOD towards him, his love to GOD; for this makes faire weather within, however tempeſtuous it is abroad. Here comes in an Objection, I will reſolve it at the firſt, and once for all.

A man may love GOD, and feare Him too, (which followes Ob. next) and obey Him alſo, and all this from the heart, and yet he may be afraid: he may have a great deale of love, and faith too, and yet have a great deale of feare; he may love, and feare God above many, and yet feare the creature more then is meet.

1. Iacob, a very good man, he loved God with all his heart, yet Iacob was GREATLY (a)(a)Gen. 32. 7.Gen 32:7afraid. [GREATLY,] Marke that.

2. David, a man after Gods owne heart, yet heare him what he ſaith, Fearfulneſſe and trembling are come upon me, and terror hath overwhelmed me.(b)(b)Pſal. 52. 5.Ps 52:5

3. Iehoſhaphat, a very good King, yet he feared.(c)(c)2 Chr. 20. 3.2 Chr 20:3

4. The Diſciples, choiſe men all, ſuch as loved their Maſter with all their heart, and with their whole ſoule, yet fearfull.(d)(d)Mat. 8. 26.Matt 8:26

Before the Anſwer, note this: A man may love God much, and yet feare much hurt from the creature. And a man may have no love to God, and yet no feare of the creature: ſo ſtupified his ſpirit may be. Now I anſwer, indeed the Context anſwers it for me.

Iacob was greatly afraid and diſtreſſed; how then? his feare Anſw. did not put him off from duty, but engaged him thereunto. Now ſee how wiſely he diſpoſeth of things, then rouls himſelfe and Gen. 32. 7, 8, 9, &c.Gen 32:7Gen 32:8Gen 32:9all his upon GOD, wraps up his ſoule, and all his concernments p. 30in a promiſe, and there is an end of the matter, and enough for Iacob.

2. Davids caſe was extraordinary, a thick cloud was over his ſpirit, and the face of God was clouded towards him too. He … exe…et Deus, … la eſt tenta ſ… t…tudo quae … …beſcat. Cal…. in Pſal. 55.Ps 55had troubles within, and ſtorms without; whether Saul purſued him, or his owne ſon, it is not reſolved, but he was in the ſtraits, and God was not ſo preſent to ſenſe, and then we muſt give the ſtouteſt heart leave to quaile, ſaith Maſter Calvin. The Concluſion is ſure and certaine; Cleare your evidence, That God loves you, and you ſhall cleare your ſpirits of theſe thick fogs which feare raiſeth. Nay, if you cannot cleare your evidence, but God will keep you humble all your dayes, in a hanging, and doubtful eſtate, yet caſt your ſelfe upon Him; though He kill, yet truſt in Him. But more of this a little after.

3. Iehoſhaphat feared alſo, for hee heard that which would quicken any man that had life in him: There commeth a great multitude againſt thee. (e)(e)2 Chron. 2…. ….2 Chr 2Then he FEARED. (f)(f)ver. 3.But take the following words, And ſet himſelfe to ſeek the Lord, &c. His Feare put him upon Duty. Then be remembred God, in Whoſe hand is power and might, Art not Thou God in heaven? (g)(g)ver. 6.Then he pleads his intereſt in his God, Art not Thou OUR GOD? (h)(h)ver. 7.Then he cals to mind the right hand of the Almighty, what He had done of old. O bleſſed be God for that feare, (as was ſaid before) you cannot have too much of that feare, which renders you much in ſeeking, which makes you love much, feare much, obey much.

4. The Diſciples were fearfull, but they were prayerfull; They would not let GOD alone; they would give Him no reſt. GOD ſeemes to be (for he ſpeaketh to our capacity) as Ionah, aſleep, when the Ship of the Church is covered with waves. Nay The Lord Chriſt was, at that time, as clothed with our fleſh, ſo ſubject to our infirmities, and was aſleep: And then the Diſciples are fearfull, All will be caſt away, Chriſt and all. Indeed they that feare the Church will be drowned, doe feare that Chriſt will be drowned too: for if the Body drowne, the Head muſt drowne; and if the Head drowne not, the Body cannot drown: it may be overwhelmed with great waters of affliction. While the Head is above, the Body is ſafe enough. But ſuch was the p. 31Diſciples infirmity at this time, and ſuch was our Lords infirmity at that time, that then He was aſleep. What then? They awoke God with their prayers, as we know the manner is. A bleſſed feare then (as was ſaid) which makes a man a wake Chriſt by his importunity; which puts a man upon duty, makes him more prayerfull, makes him love more, and cling to his Father the faſter, ſo Iacob, ſo David, ſo Iehoſhaphat, ſo the Diſciples feared, ſo as they did their Duty the better.

But much may be ſaid touching this love of GOD: It is not Ob. ſuch a Cure of feare, not ſuch a buckler to a perſon; we ſee here how the fore-mentioned were terrified, yet they loved GOD. Look I pray you and it is a ſad ſight, Thou art become cruel to me, with Thy ſtrong hand Thou oppoſeſt Thy ſelfe againſt me. Thou lifteſt me up to the wind, Thou cauſeſt me to ride upon it, and diſſolveſt my ſubſtance. (a)(a)Job 30. 21, 22.Job 30:21Job 30:22I will defer the Anſwer to this till anon. The Objection now runs thus: Not how the Lord hath dealt with particular perſons, whom He loves dearly: nor what thoſe perſons have ſaid, when they walked in darkneſſe, and ſaw no light, [We muſt take it for granted, That there are ſad expreſſions breaking forth of the lips, when there are grievous apprehenſions within the ſoule] But How he hath dealt with a whole Nation, and that the dearly beloved of Hi… ſoul; He hath delivered ſuch a Nation into His enemies hands: (c)(c)Jer. 12. 7.Jer 12:7So that they who hated them, have Lorded it over them, have dealt hatefully and deſpitefully with them.(d)(d)Ezek. 23. 28, 29.Ezek 23:28Ezek 23:29

This cannot be denied, and ſince His Iudgements are manifeſt, and the Reaſons of them alſo are written and made legible for Anſw. our inſtruction, we ſtand charged to take good notice of them here, I meane The Reaſons, which moved The Lord to proceed in wrath againſt His dearly beloved, and to caſt them out of their owne Land, and into the hands of them, from whom their mind was alienated firſt.

1. When GODS People doe not walke As His People; when He takes them neere unto Himſelfe, and they walk looſe with him; not as a ſeparated and peculiar people to Him, whom He hath ſeparated, and beſtowed upon them ſpeciall and peculiar mercies. When His people walke ſo contrary to Him, and their owne Proteſtation, Then His manner is to walke contrary to p. 32them. He may goe out of that path when He liſteth, and exempt a Nation from the generall rule: But this is His manner; He may d…al… with us according to His Prerogative Royall, which is ever in ſhewing mercy: He may doe ſo, but it is extraordinary, as we have cauſe to obſerve above all the Nations in the world.

2. When His People do not do according to the CHARGE, (l)(l)Deut. 25 19Deut 25:19utterly to root out the name of Amalek, that old and ancient enemy to His Church, and the very ſame to this day: when this charge is neglected or ſlighted, and the contrary is done; Amalek is countenanced, encouraged, foſtered, ſuffered to get head; Then it ſhall come to paſſe, That theſe Adverſaries and enemies ſhall be pricks in your eyes, and thornes in your ſides, and ſhall v…xe you in the Land wherein you dwell, (m)(m)Num 3…. 35.Num 3:35ſaith the Lord. They ſhall be ſnares and traps unto you, untill ye periſh from off the good Land, which The Lord your God hath given you. (n)(n)Jo…. 23. …It is the good word of The Lord, which is the ſame for ever.

3. When the Rulers, the Princes and Judges of the earth are like the evening wolves, ravening the prey: (o)(o)… 22.What then? Then, for their ſakes, Zion muſt be plowed as a field. (p)(p)Mich 3. 11 Z…ph. 3. 3. …zech. 22.Mic 3:11When the Prieſts violate the Law, profane the holy things, devoure ſoules, hide their eyes from the Sabbath, put no difference betweene the holy and profane: What then? Then peace is taken from the earth: When the Sabbaths are gone, when the people Mic. 5. 12, 13.Mic 5:12Mic 5:13oppreſſe, exerciſe tyrannie, and vexe the poore and needy: When the Prieſts are become brutiſh, the people no better: when they that are good, and have power, ſit ſtill, and contend not againſt the ſtreame: Then we reade this, All ye beaſts of the field, come to Eſay 56. 9.Isa 56:9devoure, yea all the beaſts of the forreſt. (q)(q)Jer. 12. 9.Jer 12:9His Watchmen are blind, and the Paſtors are become brutiſh: (r)(r)Jer. 10. 2….Jer 10:2what then? Then all their flocks ſhall be ſcattered. Behold the noiſe of the bruit is come, and a great commotion to make Cities deſolate, and a den of dragons.

In theſe caſes, The Lord is provoked very much, even til there be no remedy. (ſ)(ſ)2 Chr. 36. 16. Jer. 12. 7.2 Chr 36:16Jer 12:7And then He forſakes His houſe, leaves His heritage, gives up the dearly beloved of His ſoule into the hands of her enemies, lets in judgements like a floud, and it carryeth down all, good and bad, with the impetuouſneſſe of its ſtreame. What, good and bad together? Will the LORD deſtroy the righteous p. 33with the wicked? Yes, No man knoweth either love, or hatred by all that is before the eye. (p)(p)Eccleſ. 9. 1.Eccl 9:1All things come ali…e to all; The ſame Common deſtruction takes away all together, makes no difference: And there is a great reaſon for that, which we muſt take in, in paſſage, for,

The Righteous did comply too much with the time, went along with the ſtreame, ſided with the ſtrongeſt in ſight, or looked on heareing Blaſphemies, beholding iniquity and wrong, In the mean time, ſaid and did nothing; **Jure iſtam …am quando di… initus affliguntu…, cum eis …maram ſ…ntiunt, cupus amando dul…edi…em peccan…ib… eis amari eſſe nolue unt. Aug. d… civ. l. 1. c. 9.ſtood not up in the gap; And therefore now he is thruſt down alſo, hurried along with the T…rrent and breaking in of mighty Waters: he is over-whelmed in the …lood, even theſe good Men for the reaſon aforeſaid: No difference at all in the ſuffering, for the manner and time thereof; but in the fruit, iſſue and end, an infinite diſtance, and inequality. Where we note, That this difference between the good & bad, in a Common Calamity, is not viſible, not diſcernable by the Eye, & yet a great, wide, and an ever-laſting difference; the good are delivered in it; The bad utterly deſtroyed by it; The good Manet diſſimil…tud… paſſo…um etiam in …il… tudine …aſſionum, & licet in eodem tormento non eſt idem …tus & vitium. Nam ſicut ſub uno igne aurum ru…lat, pal… fumat, &c. Aug. de ci. l. 1. c. 8. Am…s 9. 9.pur…ed; The bad conſumed. Good and bad are in the ſame calamity, But as the Gold and Chaffe are in the ſame fire, The one ſhines there, the other ſmokes, As the ſtubble, and the wheatcorne are under the ſame flaile, the one is bruiſed there, the other cleanſed; freed of its Chaffe, and fitted for the ſ…ive, not a Corne ſhall be loſt. So alſo one and the ſame violence carryes away all the good and the bad all together; deſtroyeth, waſteth the one with an utter deſtruction: …ut trieth, purgeth, purifieth the good.

It is good to note this with all obſervation; for heere we have a Cleere difference betwixt the good and the bad, betwixt the perſecuted now, and the perſecutors afterwards, The good may fall, but they ſhall bee holpen with a little help: And their faling by the ſword and by ſpoyle many dayes, ſhall be to them as of old it was, To trie them, and to purge and make them white. (ſ)(ſ)Dan. 11. 33Dan 11:33But for the wicked it is not ſo with them, but as we heard. It is a comfortable ſpeech; Rejoyce (t)(t)Micah 7. 8.Mic 7:8not againſt me O mine enemy: When I fall I ſhall ariſe; But when thou falleſt, Thou ſhalt fall; Thy caſting down ſhall bee like the fall of a millſtone (u)(u)Rev. 18. 21Rev 18:21into great waters, Thou ſhalt riſe no more: When I fall, I ſhall ariſe; This is the heritage of them that love The Lord: when their p. 34Adverſarie falls he ſhall riſe no more, This is the portion of his meaſures for ever.

The concluſion is, It ſhall be well with them that love The Lord. Nay it is well with them now, though not to ſenſe, yet to faith. The caſe of David was not ordinary; Iobs caſe extraordinary: That which follows will give ſome light and ſome ſatiſfaction to both.

It is a moſt prevailing argument, which the ſiſter uſed in behalfe of her brother Lazarus; LORD, behold he whom Thou loveſt John 11. 3.John 11:3is ſick. This will prevaile ſure; It is the mightieſt argument in the world, LORD, The Perſon, whom Thou loveſt; The Cauſe, the Faith, the Truth, the Religion, WHICH THOU LOVEST is now in jeopardie; The Malignants oppoſe it, oppreſſe it, they would thruſt it out of the world, and the profeſſors of it; That which THOU LOVEST, theſe ſons of the earth doe hate; Thoſe whom Thou loveſt, theſe men would cut off from being a Nation. Certainly GOD will come in for reſcue now, and worke a glorious Deliverance. And yet perhaps not at the juſt and ſet time of our over-haſty expectation: Before Deliverance comes, this perſon, whom Chriſt loveth, may be ſurpriſed with fearfulneſſe; trembling may come upon him, and horror may over-whelme him, that it may. The Cauſe, the Truth, which GOD loveth, may ſeem to be delivered up into the enemies hands, ſo as they may lay the Glory of it (for a time, and in the eye of man) in the duſt. Let us conſult with the context once more, and with good conſideration. There we read; Lord, he whom Thou loveſt, is ſick; when Ieſus heard that He abode two dayes ſtill in the place where He was. (a)(a)John 11. 3.John 11:3That is a ſtrange matter; we ſhould thinke, and ſo the ſiſters thought too, That when Ieſus heard, That The man, whom He loved was ſick, He would have made haſte away, and come with all ſpeede to His ſick friend; But it was not ſo, when He heard THAT, He abode two dayes ſtill in the ſame place. ver. ….Was this His kindneſſe to His friend? Ieſus loved Martha and her ſiſter and Lazarus: But His abode two dayes longer, and when He heard that Lazarus was ſick, made no cleare proofe of it unto them at that time. Jeſus came indeede, but when Martha, and Mary, and the Iewes alſo thought it was too late, when the breath was departed, the body laid in a cave, and a ſtone p. 35ver 38.laid upon it foure dayes before Ieſus came. Then, and then when the caſe was ſo helpleſſe, and hopeleſſe, then Jeſus came. Truly, that is His manner now, but ſee mighty reaſon for His ſo long tarrying then. Had He come quickly, as ſoone as He was ſent unto, and called for, poſſible it was, That He, who opened the eyes of the blinde, might have cauſed even this man Lazarus ſhould not have dyed: (b)(b)ver. 37.ſo ſome there reaſoned at that time, and ſo we have reaſoned (in ſuch caſes) ever ſince. The Perſons, or the Cauſe, which Jeſus loveth, have beene in jeopardy; to the eyes of man, in an helpleſſe and hopeleſſe condition; If God had come in to his ſervants and their cauſe ſo ſoone as they called for Him, then their hopes had flouriſhed, but ſtaying till the caſe is deſperate to ſenſe & reaſon, their hope is periſhed. Surely, ſo the ſervants of God have reaſoned many a time. But let the ſervants of The Lord well obſerve The Lords comming in to theſe two ſiſters, at that time, and they can never diſtruſt The Lord at any time. Had their Lord come in unto them, when they called for Him, He might have cauſed that even Lazarus ſhould not have dyed. But then what ſingular thing had Hee done? A Phyſitian, an ordinary man, had done many a time as much as that before Him. But when as He abode two dayes longer in the ſame place, where He was, when He heard of Lazarus ſickneſſe; and ſtayed yet two dayes longer by the way (of ſet purpoſe to let the laſt enemy alone to compleat its conqueſt, to cloſe the pits mouth upon Lazarus, and to role a ſtone over him) and now comming in for reſcue, and taking the prey out of the hands of the terrible one; This made Chriſt admired in all, that did beleeve: for now, they muſt needes ſee, The Glory of GOD, whereas, had Ieſus came at their call, before Death had made its conqueſt, they had ſeene no more but the meere exerciſe of power, and skill, which might be put forth by a meere man. Jeſus ſaid plainly (without a figure, for he called death a John 14. ….John 14ſleepe before) Lazarus is dead, and I am glad for your ſakes. Why glad that His friend Lazarus was dead? and glad for their ſakes? They were all very ſorry that Lazarus was dead; and it grieved them to the heart, that Jeſus came not ſooner, for if Jeſus had beene there, their Brother had not dyed, ſaid the ſiſter: Then why was Jeſus glad that he was not there? Becauſe, that they preſently p. 36beholding His glorious worke in raiſing a putrified carkeſſe, they would then beleeve, and rejoice with an exceeding joy, If any thing … to the advantage of His people … (…peaking to our capacity) is glad, and there is joy in Heaven even new.which they had not done, had Jeſus beene there before, and cauſed that Lazarus had not dyes. We may conclude now; That the …ord …ill come in for the ſafegard and reſcue of His people, whom He loveth, of His Cauſe, which He ſo favoureth, in ſeaſon, the fitteſt time, when His beloved people ſhall moſt admire His comming, beholding the exceeding glory thereof. When is this time? Then, when the Righteous mans hopes are dead to the world, ſenſe and reaſon▪ and when the malignants hopes flouriſh, Then The Lord comes in, That is His Time, when the wicked thinke they have their hope in their hands, and when the Righteous are emptied of all creature-confidence, they ſet no hope there, but all in God: Then The Lord comes in, when they are to ſenſe, as dead bones, then they ſhall flouriſh like an herbe, for then the hand of the Lord ſhall bee knowne towards His ſay 66. 4.ſervants, when they are Orphanes, poore, peeled, helpleſſe, comfortleſſe people, then the Lord comes with His comforts, and how doth he comfort? As one whom His mother comforteth. Then they ſhall be comforted indeed, For as a mother comforteth her ver. 13.childe, ſo will I comfort you, and you ſhall be comforted: From theſe premiſes the concluſion is worth the repeating, and recalling again and again. The Lord comes in ever to His beloved people moſt ſeaſonably, in the fitteſt and beſt time, when they can ſee the moſt of God that can be ſeene, and the leaſt of the creature. He will come in them, when His people ſhall ſay, if He had come ſooner, it had not beene ſo well, we had not loved Him ſo much, admired Him ſo much, we had not ſeene ſo much of His Glory, we had not ſo rejoyced in His ſalvation. So they love God, and ſo they are beloved of Him, therefore they are not afraid, at no time greatly troubled. If there be a cloud of feare, there is an eclipſe of Gods Love, onelyonly we muſt remember we make an allowance to the beſt man, when wee weigh him upon the ballance, for hee is ſuppoſed ever in a Chriſtian.Homo ſupponitur in Chriſtiano.

Before we cloſe, let us note this from the premiſſes, That The Lords manner is, To exerciſe the perſons whom Hee loveth, with the ſoreſt afflictions; Ieſus loved Martha and her p. 37John. 11. 3.John 11:3ſiſter and Lazarus: therefore Hee would try their patience; He would not come to them at their call, till the caſe was deſperate; till, that they feared, had taken hold of them, and overwhelmed them; whom the Lord loveth Hee chaſteneth, and ſcourgeth every Heb. 12. 6.Heb 12:6…on whom Hee receiveth. It is the manner of Parents ſo to doe, not ſcourage ſtrange children, but him, whom they love they will ſcourge. The Lord hath delivered up The dearly beloved of His Soule; whither? As we have read, Into the enemies hands. It was ever ſo, it is ſo at this Day; hee, whom GOD loveth, is ſpoiled, robbed, pillaged; the enemies bend all their malice againſt him, whom GOD loveth; And God ſuffers them ſo to do, for excellent ends ſpoken of before, for theſe here To hide pride from their eyes by hiding the creature from them, To try their patience; To raiſe up their hope after an enduring ſubſtance; To try them, I ſaid, and to pu…ge them to make them white even (c)(c)Dan. 11. 35.Dan 11:35to the time of the end. To make them Meet for the inheritance of the Saints in light. (d)(d)Coloſ. 1. 12.Col 1:12It is notable, The Lord uſeth theſe vile wretches, as ſcullions, To purge and whiten His veſſells, oppointed for honour. Indeed the rod of the wicked may bee ſo heavy upon the back of The Righteous, and may raiſe within them ſuch a thick cloud, that hee can hardly diſcerne a Fatherly love and Hand through it (for there are ſtrange apprehenſions and tremblings within the heart, when there is a cup of trembling in the hand:) But it will be faire weather anon; The thick cloud ſhall bee diſſolved, and The FATHERS love will ſhine forth the clearer, the thicker the cloud hath been, The FATHERS love over-rules the Adverſary, binds him, meaſureth out the effects of their fury and mallice, orders all as Hee did that long captivity, FOR THY (c)(c)Jer. 24. 5.Jer 24:5GOOD, whom Hee loveth; That is the comfort and the concluſion of this point, for their Good, whom Hee loveth, And who make Him their feare.

p. 38CHAP. III.

The Righteous feare God, as God; they that doe ſo, cannot feare the creature.

THe Righteous feare GOD; what then? I have ſaid all. They feare GOD, then they feare neither men, nor Divells. If wee obſerve, wee meete with this expreſſion often, I FEARED. what? The Creature, what hee could doe againſt me; I was afraid of a Man, and then hee deſerted his Duty, ran away from GOD and from himſelfe. Wee read againe, I know not how often, I feare GOD; And then hee feares nothing, hee goes on, as bold as a lion, the enemy is behind him, a mountain of ſtraits on each hand, a ſea of troubles before him, yet he goes on with the more courage: hee ſets GOD before his eyes, Whom hee ſerves, Whom hee feares, His Cauſe, His Glory, and goes on, breaks through the ſtraits, as you will doe through a ſpiders web. Hee feares God, of whom ſhould he be afraid? He fears God, he keeps himſelfe from every evill work, though he might commit it in ſecret, (d)(d)Levit. 19. 14Lev 19:14no eye upon him, His Lords eye, Which runs through the world, (e)(e)2 Chron. 26. 9.2 Chr 26:9That is upon him, That awes him, even to the obſerving his thoughts, and bringing them into ſubjection, and them moſt of all. So he feares GOD, And the Armies of men, or Devils, not ſo much as the wicked have feared an Army of flies. Let (f)(f)Eſai. 33. 14.Isa 33:14ſinners in ZION, who ſeeme to maintain the eſtabliſhed Religion with their mouth, and perſecute it with their hand, let them be afraid, fearfulneſſe muſt ſurpriſe the Hypocrites, thoſe that profeſſe one thing, and doe another: But this man feares God, that is, He walks righteouſly, ſpeaketh uprightly, deſpiſeth the ver. 15.gaine of oppreſſions, ſhaketh his hands from holding of bribes, ſtoppeth his eare from hearing of bloud, (Oh how far is he from ſhedding of it) ſhutteth his eye from ſeeing evill. Reade on. He ſhall dwell on high, his defence ſhall be the munitions of rocks, bread ſhall be ver. 16.given him, and his waters ſhall be ſure. And he is ſure of all this, for he fears GOD, and all we reade before is but the reſult of that feare. Why then, Lions, and Beares, and Wolves, and Foxes, I meane (for ſo the Scripture doth) by theſe, bloody and treacherous p. 39men, theſe may be hungry and ſtarved too, they may feare famine. The righteous, who feare God, they feare it not; In famine, Fides famem non metuit. Hieron.that is, in every extremity, they ſhall be provided for, they ſhall have enough, for they have God, and he is All. I will contract. Indeed, and in truth, the feare of GOD (for it contains the whole Duty of man) is excellent.

Now I know what All will ſay; for I know their hearts and their language there by my owne. I and every man will ſay for himſelf, I feare GOD too, that I do: hee that feares not an oath, (that is too paticular) he that feares not to ſin before The Lord; nay, he, that doth violence to the law, and ſheds blood to his power, the Man that neither feareth God nor reverenceth man, wil ſay, I feare GOD too. It is as commonly ſaid as any thing in the world, for every man ſayes it, as was ſaid, and anſwered before. It is not conſiderable then what men ſay, but what men doe; not what they profeſſe with the tongue, but what they act with the hand. They profeſſe, ſaith Paul, that they feare GOD, (for they that know GOD, feare Him) but in works they deny Him, being abominable, Titus 1. 16.Titus 1:16and diſobedient, and unto every good worke, reprobate. They walk cleane contrary to that man, that feares God, (wee heard how he walketh, and how he ſpeaketh) and yet they feare GOD. It is but a bare profeſſion ſo, with the mouth onelyonly. But obſerve what their caſe will be when their (b)(b)Jer. 2. 24.Jer 2:24month commeth, and they muſt caſt-out their ſorrows, they will be afraid; then fear fulneſſe will ſurpriſe them, and heare them what they Eſai. 33. 14.Isa 33:14ſay; Who among us ſhall dwell with the devouring fire? Who among us ſhall dwell with the everlaſting burnings? And ſo much be ſpoken to my owne heart, and to theirs, who profeſſe to feare GOD, yet walk ſo notoriouſly contrary to what they doe profeſſe.

We alſo, who, not perhaps ſo notoriouſly wicked, yet are pretenders to this HOLY AFFECTION, (profeſſing wee feare GOD, when indeed it is not ſo) we doe not feare Him in Power, which appeares thus: When danger preſents its ſelfe, where are we then? Almoſt dead with feare, which could not be, if we feared GOD in Power. When trouble ſhews it ſelfe, we ſhake at it as at ſome new and ſtrange thing, never looked for, nor feared till it come: And theſe ſhaking fits declare, That we, whatſoever we ſay and pretend, do not feare GOD: feare will p. 40not be concealed no more then folly can; when he that is affraid, Eccleſ. 10. 8.Eccl 10:8walketh by the way, his wiſdom faileth him, and he ſaith to every one he is affraid: And he can give a Reaſon for his feare, which is this, That hell is let looſe now, and Divels are broke-in amongſt us, in the ſhape and likeneſſe of men. Grant it to be ſo, as ſo it is, yet the Righteous he that feareth God in Power) feareth not, (that is) he is notvoid of feare, but he is above his feare, he is as bold as a Lion, for he feareth GOD; how? As God: That cal…es and quieteth his ſpirit: we do not as the Righteous do, maintaine the feare of God; Set up God ruling as chiefe over all. Certaine it is They that feare God indeed as GOD do ſo: do ſet Him up in their hearts, and ſo ruling in the world. They that feare the Creature, do ſet the Creature above God: they make God the Vial, and Man the pourer forth of the wrath: whereas it is cleane contrary. And, Oh! the torment they feele within (if their hearts be not as Nabals was, like a ſtone) when terrours is round about! They ſhewed themſelves gods againſt GOD: and row they ſhew themſelves ſlaves towards men, whoſe bodies and conſciences are alike rotten. Who art thou that thou art afraid of a man? (g)(g)Eſai. 51. 12.Isa 51:12Reade and reſolve that Queſtion. He that forgetteth The LORD his Maker, makes no more account of Him, then of a meer man, nor ſo much neither, though He ſtretched forth the Heavens, and laid the foundations of the Earth: and makes a meere man a God, heightens that low and diminutive thing (for, in Compariſon, he is a very ſmall thing, very little more then nothing, not ſo big as a drop of water, or the ſmall duſt of the Ballance) (h)(h)Eſay. 40. 15.Isa 40:15that ſhall dye, and be made as graſſe; A goodly thing, if we obſerve it well, to make our object, to ſet our feare upon. O wonderfull Ignorance of our ſelves, and of God! Ai, It is want of knowledge, therefore we ſet our feare upon periſhing things, and we periſh with them. Truely upon due conſideration, who would not feare Thee O Lord? He hath ſaid ten times, feare not; (i)(i)Eſai. 41. 10.Isa 41:10I am thy God: I am with thee, I will uphold thee, &c. I am God, and Thy God, It is enough. He created the Smith (k)(k)Eſai. 54. 1….Isa 54:1that blowes the coale. He is The Lord Generall of all the forces of Heaven, Earth, and Sea; Maſter of the Armoryes: Jer. 50. 25.Jer 50:25There is not a Sword, not an inſtrument there, but it is for His Work, He gives it forth, ſtamps His Commiſſion upon it, Go ſo far, do this, and no more; not an inch farther, not to the loſſe of a haire p. 41more; no marvaile, The Righteous are as bold as a Lion, they fear nothing, for they feare GOD: They Sanctify the Lord of Eſay 8. 13.Isa 8:13H…s Himſelfe. What then? Then He will be a Sanctuary, The Righteous know it, they are aſſured of it, and it is enough to qui…tand calme the ſpirit, when the Earth is moved, and the Nations are an…ry.

This will ſeeme ſtrange, which follows, THE RIGHTEOUS ARE NEVER SO SAFE AND SECURE AS IN AN EARTHQUAKE. And yet, why ſhould it ſeeme ſtrange? It is demonſtrated and made evident to ſenſe and reaſon. In a ſhaking Time, when the Kingdoms are moved; Nay in that time, which is not yet come, but haſting and coming apace, when there will be a great earth-quake, ſuch as was not Revel. 16. 18.Rev 16:18… m…n were upon the earth, ſo mighty an earthquake and ſo great, The Righteous then will cling the faſter to The Arme of The Almighty, (there is ſecurity you will ſay) And then, at ſuch a time as that, The Arme of the Almighty holds them the faſter: We parents doe ſo; If my childe be in danger, If my childe ſhake, I will hold it faſt, if I can, perhaps I cannot, It is not f…r want of love, but for want of ſtrength: GOD can hold them faſt, for none can take His children out of His Hands, There is no want in Him, neither of Love nor Power, Therefore it follows, cleered to ſenſe and reaſon both, That when the Kingdome is moved, w…en it totters like a drunken man, nay, when that Earth-quake ſhallbe, then the Righteous ſhall ſtand moſt ſtedfaſt, ſecure, and ſteady, even then when that Earth-quake ſhall be, ſo mighty an Earth-quake and ſo great, never ſo ſecure as then, then they ſhall lift up the head, for then they hold faſt by Gods Arme, and they …inde by good experience, that he holds them faſt.

I feare GOD, ſaid Ioſeph (a)(a)Gen. 42. 28.Gen 42:28I am an Hebrew ſaid Ionah (b)(b)Jonah. 1. 8.Jonah 1:8and I feare The Lord God of Heaven, Who hath made the Sea and the dry land. This put in ſecurity for them both, That, though they might be overcome through infirmities, yet willingly they would doe no wrong. But that is not the point we are now upon, This is it, which is cleere from hence, That the true feare of God ſecureth the ſervants of The Lord, againſt the wrong and injurious dealing from man. Man (for his mercies are cruell) p. 42will doe the faithfull what wrong he can, but he cannot hurt them, nor are they carefull concerning that.

I remember a ſhort Anſwer from a true ſervant of GOD to an over-hearing and tyrannicall Lord, Am not I your head and Commander? foreign The need hath an Head; All things ſhal be don… … w…l have it, … th…u n…ſt … mand as God will have it. Ch…ſ…ſt.Yes ſaid the faithfull ſervant, but your headſhip hath an Hea… That is over you and me both, I FEARE HIM. Cannot I thruſt thee into priſon? Yes, if God will give you leave, and I FEARE HIM: And if He permits you ſo to doe, yet His Word is not bound, nor can His influence be reſtrained any more then can the influence from the Sunne. I feare GOD, ſaid he: and this was all the anſwer this domineering Lord could get from this good man: For he profeſſed, That no mans terrour could make him afraid: The terrour of The LORD, that could doe it; none could daunt his ſpirit, but He, Who could caſt body and ſoule both into hell. Him indeed he feared with all his heart, his CREATOR, therefore he could not feare his creature. We have here our leſſon, if we do thereafter, we may reade our comfort, Be not afraid of their terrour, neither be troubled, 1 Pe…. 3. 14.but ſanctifie, &c. We have proceeded in our Cure thus farre; Expectation of evill from the world, and of good from a Good God, works a great Cure of Feare: Love to Him, feare of Him, is very ſoveraigne alſo. We proceed now to Truſt in God, and that is ſoveraigne indeed: it eſtabliſheth, it fortifies a man mightily, it makes a man ſtand like Mount Sion, he cannot be moved, for he ſtands better bottomed then are The everlaſting hills or Hab. 3. 6.Hab 3:6perpetuall mountains.

p. 43CHAP. IV.

The Righteous are faithfull, they truſt God: He never deceives them, that truſt in Him: They commit all to Him, ſecured in His faithfulneſſe.

THe Righteous, they Truſt GOD, and They know Whom they have truſted, To whom they have committed their lives, liberties, and eſtates, their children, all they have; and they know He is faithfull and true, and now they are feareleſſe, now they heare of robbing, and ſpoiling, and pillaging; nay, though it come home to their own houſes, they can ſuffer the ſpoiling of their goods with joy: They Truſt God, He is their Guardian, they are not carefull, they are, as was ſaid, feareleſſe. Maſter Dearing hath an excellent Speech, indeed he was an excellent man; Commit your health, your ſickneſſe, your body, Lett. 13.your Soul, your life, and your death to the protection of Him, That dyed for us, and is riſen againe: A ſick body (let me ſay with reference to the preſent, a perſon, an houſe marked out by the ſpoilers) with ſuch an aid, hath a greater treaſure then the Queens Iewell-houſe. It hath indeed, a greater treaſure then hath the Kings Iewell-houſe. That houſe may be emptied of the treaſure there: He may make an hole in all our Ciſterns, and let-out all our comforts. All ſuccours from earth may fail, nay the heart, and that is the ſtrongeſt Fort, may faile, but God never failes. Truſt in the Lord for ever. Why for ever? There Eſay 26. 4.Isa 26:4is a mighty reaſon or ground for everlaſting Truſt, becauſe in The LORD JEHOVAH is EVERLASTING STRENGTH. Pſal. 23. 4.Ps 23:4I will feare no evill, ſaith David. A very bold and confident ſpeech. Feare no evill! He might ſit in darkneſſe, walk in the ſhadow of death, the rod might be ſore upon his back, much evill might be towards him, and much might be upon him, and yet feare no evill? No, for what-ever befell him, it was The Lord, from His hand, His rod, and where-ever he ſate, and whereſoever he walkt, God was with him, Thou art with me, Thy rod and Thy ſtaffe, they comfort me. WHAT TIME I AM AFRAID, p. 44Pſal. 56. 3.Ps 56:3I WILL TRUST IN THEE. Ai, it was a point of great diſcretion, To truſt in The Lord. Truly in vaine is ſalvation hoped …er 3. 23.for from the hils, and from the multitude of mountaines: Truly in The LORD our GOD is the ſalvation of Iſrael. Then truly, ſaith the Godly man, When I am afraid, when I ſee all things out of courſe, I will truſt IN The Lord; He will doe all things well, and all thoſe contrarieties of wills, and workings, ſhall work together for the good of all them that Truſt in Him, (whereof anon.) Therefore I will truſt in The Lord for ever: I will commit life and livelihood all to Him, A faithfull Creator, and I know Him to be ſo. When I am afraid, I will truſt in Thee. So the godly man hath made his concluſion, thereon he reſteth his ſoule, and is confident, as bold as a Lion, for he doth Truſt in The Lord. I will ſay of The LORD, HE IS MY …l …1. 2.REFUGE, and my FORTRESSE, MY GOD, in Him will I truſt. Will he ſo? Is the good man reſolved upon it, That he will truſt in GOD? Yes, that is plaine in the Text. Now mark, God will not deceive this Truſt. Indeed an honeſt man will not, he will not deceive me, if I truſt in him; much leſſe will GOD doe it, a faithfull Creator. Now The Lord will deliver this man, how often? as often as he falls into the ſtraits. …ob. 5. 1….In ſixe troubles, yea in ſeven there ſhall no evill come unto him: (That is) Neither devils, nor men, neither their counſels, nor their ſtrength, neither ſword, nor peſtilence, nor devouring beaſts, ſhall be able to doe this man any hurt. If the devouring peſtilence, if the oppreſſing ſword, if famine, if wild beaſts, Jer. 46. 16.Jer 46:16(thoſe foure ſore judgements) come into the Land, (a noble Scholler calls theſe plagues, the great winding ſheets of the world) theſe ſhall doe this man no hurt. Obſerve what you reade, The terrors by night ſhall not affray this man, nor the arrow by day, nor the peſtilence that walketh in darkneſſe, nor the deſtruction Pſal 91.Ps 91that waſteth at noon day.

True, you will ſay, none of all this ſhall hurt this man, for all this is more immediately the Sword of the Lord (a)(a)1 Chron. 21. 12.1 Chr 21:12the very Hand of God: (b)(b)ver. 13.and The Lord will order it ſo, That His Sword ſhall not ſlay this man; His Hand ſhall not hurt him. But this man muſt looke that the ſword of the enemies will overtake him; he muſt looke to fight with men after the manner of Beaſts, they p. 45will hurt him ſure, for they are Adverſaries, and for their might and cruelty called Lyons, and Adders, and Dragons, theſe will hurt this man ſure enough.

No, all theſe, with all their might and malice too, ſhall not hurt this man: But he ſhall hurt them, he ſhall wound them in the head, which is the ſeate of life; He ſhall tread upon the Lion Pſ…l 91. 1.Ps 50:91Ps 50:1and the Adder, the young Lyon and the Dragon ſhalt thou TRAMPLE under foot. And why ſhall this man be ſo delivered, and be ſo victorious? That is worth the enquiring unto; it is anſwered; Becauſe this man made The LORD his refuge, even the moſt HIGH his habitation: Therefore ſhall no evill befall ver. 9.him; becauſe this man hath ſet his LOVE, his Heart, his Delight, his Hope, his Truſt, he hath ſet All upon GOD, Therefore God will deliver him: This man hath ex…l…ed GOD above all gods; He hath ſet Him on high, he hath knowne His Name, (that is) hee hath truſted in Him; Therefore will The Lord ſet this man on high; he ſhall ride upon the high places of the earth, over the heads of his Adverſaries, Becauſe he hath knowne My Name. O Bleſſed man, and in a bleſſed condition! for he had covered himſelfe with the Armes of the Almighty, and under that ſhelter he doth truſt. What then? It follows; His Truth ſhall be Thy Shield and Buckler. A weake and fooliſh Queſtion will thruſt in here, I will quickly reſolve it.

May we not truſt in the creature? in meanes, they may be faire Queſt. and likely; In inſtruments, theſe are honourable and ſpecious; may we not truſt in theſe?

No, Be theſe inſtruments or meanes never ſo excellent and Anſ. glorious, yet they are but fleſh, we muſt not truſt in them. Never did any … from the beginning of time to this Day, proſper that put his …uſt in meanes, in inſtruments. Some truſt in charets … in horſes. (b)(b)Pſal. 20. 7.Ps 20:7And what of them? how ſpeede they? They are brought downe and faden. (v)(v)ver. 8.nay, there is a curſe upon the… …hat truſt in man, and make fleſh their Arme. (d)(d)Jer. 17. 5.Jer 17:5And this cu…e muſt neede… …vertake them, For their heart departeth from the LORD: Then …o reſolve the queſtion, we may eſteeme honourably of the inſtruments, but wee muſt ſet GOD above them; We muſt ſet Him on high, as we read before; we muſt praiſe GOD for them; we muſt not Idolize them: we p. 46muſt uſe the meanes; we muſt not truſt in them: we muſt give the inſtrument his due praiſe, but all the glory to GOD. There is another Queſtion more worthie the reſolving.

It is commonly ſaid by every man, I doe truſt in GOD. But wilt thou know, O man, whether thou doeſt as thou ſayeſt? Try thy ſelfe by this, and deale truly with thy owne ſoule. Where art thou when the LORD takes away the ſtay and the ſtaffe, Eſay 3. 1.Isa 3:1the whole ſtay of bread, and the whole ſtay of water (that is) every thing, that thy ſoule tooke delight in, being but fleſh, where art thou then? upon the ground, a dejected man, thy ſpirit is quite fallen; why then aſſure thy ſelfe, thou didſt make fleſh thy foote and thy arme too, thereon thou didſt truſt, and not on GOD: Fleſh upheld thee, and not ſpirit: hadſt thou truſted in GOD, He had upheld thee now, never more firmely then when the ſtay and ſtaffe of the creature is taken away: Then The Arme of the Lord upholds moſt gloriouſly, when it ſuſtaines alone, made bare of fleſh. I know ſome ſuddain diſaſter, ſome unexpected breach (yet nothing is ſuddain or unexpected to a faithfull man) may make his confidence quaile, and his ſpirit fall: but if he fall flat, and there lye with his face upon the ground, and upon ſerious conſiderations, cannot raiſe himſelfe and get up his ſpirit, then certain it is, The creature was his ſtay and confidence. I meane thus, If when the ſtay and ſtaffe is taken away, the heart fainteth away and dyes. If the ſpirits be ſunke then, they will not up again, then certain it is, That ſtay and ſtaffe, be it the wedge of gold, husband, wife, or childe, that was the prop that ſtayed the heart up: but now theſe bearers, theſe ſupporters are taken away, the perſon is down, his ſpirit flat and ſunke.

But thou maiſt ſay, Th…u waſt never put to that ſtrait yet; God never yet tooke from thee the ſtay and ſtaffe. Say, Bleſſed be His Name. And yet doe not truſt to this truſt, doe not bee confident of this ſtrength. It is not tryed yet as gold in the Furnace. That which holds thee up now, may not be ſufficient in the day of Trouble. Thou thinkeſt now, That Thou doeſt truſt in God, and He upholds thy Spirit, whereas perhaps the creature is thy ſtay and thy ſtaffe; Examine the truth of this betimes, and take all advantage of experiences from what GOD hath done, and from promiſes what He will doe, and all to make improvement p. 47of this Truſt in God. Till our ſtrength be tryed, till we have ſome experience, we cannot tell how great the rebellion of the fleſh will be under Gods afflicting hand. It is an eaſie thing to be valiant before the combat, to dreame of a good courage before the heart be tryed,: but indeed To bee unſhaken in the mi…ſt of a tempeſt; and To ſtand upright, when the ground under us doth tremble, This is to know aſſuredly That we are ſtrong indeed, That we have boldneſſe and can truſt perfectly.

Surely never was there more cauſe then at this time, To ſet our hope in GOD, To make good our confidence, To exerciſe this grace of ſaith and truſt, To looke back to what God hath done, how wonderfull He hath wrought for thoſe that put their truſt in Him: And ſo to gather experience, that is a great meanes to ſupport the heart, and to engage it to truſt in God.

I remember a paſſage, which ſurely is worth the noting, this it is. David comes haſtily to Abimeleck, and after ſome greeting, 2 Sam. 21.2 Sam 21and ſome other paſſages betwixt them, demands of the Prieſt, Whether he could help him to a ſword? Yes, ſaid the Prieſt, here is in my keeping The ſword of Goliah the Philiſtine, whom verſe 9.THOU SLEWEST: If thou wilt take that, take it, for here is no other. No other, thought David, (for ſo he ſaid) if thou hadſt all the ſwords in the world, yet there is none LIKE THAT, give it me. And why ſo? There were other Giants in the world, and other ſwords as great as that, why none like that? The Text reſolves it, That was the ſword where with David ſlew Goliah the Philiſtine. None like that ſword, That revived Davids ſpirits (indeed they were fainting) with the ſenſe of experience of GODS faithfulneſſe: He had wrought wonderfully for David, a weakling, and yet He gave him ſtrength to ſlay the Giant with his owne ſword; none like that; a double weapon with a double edge, it had ſlaine behind him, it would ſlay before him: God had delivered him from ſuch a death, and there was the ſword now in his hand, a memoriall of ſuch a deliverance, He would put his Truſt in GOD for after-time. This is the Poynt then we are engaged upon, even To put our Truſt in GOD: and, that we may do ſo, To Conſider well what God hath done, and then To exerciſe our faith upon it, for the better improvement of our Truſt in Him.

p. 48Surely the very ſet time is now come, That ſo we ſhould doe, improve our Truſt in GOD, live by faith now, (that is) live upon God, with God, in God, to God; to make up a life in Him alone. Therein is aſſurance, and ſtrength, ſtrong confidence: (a)(a)Pr…. …4. ….And The LORD will reject all other confidences, (b)(b)… …2. 3….ſo as man ſhall not be held up by them, nor proſper in them.

You will ſay, you muſt have FAITH firſt before you can Ob. exerciſe it and live upon it.

True, and before you have it, you ſhall know how you got it. Anſ. It is an admirable grace, and wrought by the operation, (c) effectuall (c)(c)Col…ſ 2. 12. foreign.working of God, (the great Worke of God) but we muſt worke too, uſe all diligence, and all the meanes God hath ſanctified for the getting of the ſame; uſe the means faithfully, and you ſhall get the Tr…aſure, a Treaſure indeed, ſuch as we heard. A man may live upon it, if he have nothing elſe. Cry after this grace, life up thy voice for it, as for hid treaſure, (it is the gift of God) but ſo it muſt be ſought for, or it will never be had; it is the principall thing, with all thy getting, get faith.

You will ſay, There is need of Patience too. Yes, and that it hath a perfect work to calm, quiet, and ſilence the reaſoning of our ſpirits. There is no poſſeſſing of a mans ſoule without patience, ſpecially now in ſuch a perilous, and exceeding (e) feirce time as this is, now the Divell is looſe, and rageth amongſt us; foreign Mat. 8. 28.Matt 8:28great need of Patience. Yet, I ſay, we ſtand in more need of faith, for there is no grace like that at this time. Thou ſhalt forgive Thy Brother ſeven and ſeven times, ſaith the LORD CHRIST. Luke 17. 4.Luke 17:4We would think this would follow now, LORD ENCREASE OUR LOVE; let that have a perfect work, that we may forgive an offender even ſo often; But the Apoſtles ſaid, Lord increaſe our faith: Yes, That is the mother grace, get that, ſtrengthen that, all is done. Shee is a mother in Iſrael, never alone, but honourably accompanied ſtill with her children, Patience, Meckeneſſe, Love, Hope, Ioy, all theſe. Would I then reſt quietly in a ſtormy night, when the winds blow, the raine and haile beat upon my houſe; would I be ſecure when terrour is round about; would I ſtand ſtill, unmoveable in an earth-quake? Then I muſt ſay when I cloſe mine eyes, and when I awaken, Lord encreaſe my faith. You have need of faith; It is impoſſible to do or ſuffer any thing p. 49without it, but, by it, All things are done and ſuffered, that we thinke impoſſible and moſt terrible: but nothing is impoſſible to faith: Therefore we muſt cry after this grace, and lift up Prov. 3. 22.Prov 3:22our prayer for it; it is life unto the ſoule, and grace to the neck: Thereby we walk in our way ſafely, and at the end, we lye downe, and are not afraid: for faith makes The LORD our confidence, and therefore we will ſay evermore, Lord encreaſe our faith, it is the onelyonly neceſſary thing: For,Job 18. 14.Job 18:14

Firſt, it purifieth the heart, it ſubdues iniquity, it overcomes the world, nay it gives you victory over the King of terrors: I doe not meane Death, though that is a moſt terrible King, but Sin, which is the ſtrength and ſting of death, which makes a man ſeek for death as for hid treaſure, that he might be rid of thoſe thoughts of eternity, which is are the poiſon of vipers, and gall of Aſps. It ſets an edge upon our feares and our ſorrows. This evill, a pure evill, Faith ſubdueth and maſtereth through Chriſt, in the power of His might, and ſo we are made more then Conquerours, by laying hold-faſt on Him, The Rock of our ſalvation.

Secondly, Faith bottomes the heart upon GOD, which was ſaid before, and Faith encourageth the heart to duty (which follows) To live to God, To improve all we have and are To His Glory; ſo aſſureth the perſon, as He walks before Him here now, ſo he ſhall live in Glory for ever with The Lord. Faith then is the principall thing, that excellent, that admiring grace, get that, and we have all things compleatly fitted both to do or to ſuffer as good ſouldiers of Jeſus Chriſt. I will ſhut up this with the words wherewith the righteous have concluded their Pſal. 33. 21, 22Ps 33:21Ps 33:22Pſalme, and cloſed up their hearts againſt feare, Our heart ſhall rejoyce in Him: becauſe we have truſted in His holy Name. Let thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us, according as we hope in thee.

p. 50CHAP. V.

The Righteous obey from the heart: True ſound and ſincere obedience is never found but in keeping to Gods Work, and in His way: They meet with Lions and Bears there, but they have a ſafeguard over them, and are not afraid: They are ſure they are in their way, and upon Duty, which muſt be done, and the work proſper and increaſe with the increaſe of God: And all this in the fitteſt time, when the Adverſary ſhall be moſt confounded, and God moſt glorified.

THe Righteous obey from the (a)(a)Rom. 6. 1….Rom 6:1heart. An hearty obedience, that is obedience indeed, and it is ever found in GODS way and Work. Such an obedience then, a walking in GODS way, an engaging the heart to GODS worke, is a ſoveraigne meanes To quiet and calme the ſpirit, when here is trouble on every ſide. For thus The righteous man reaſoneth; Some Lion, ſome Eſau, ſome fierce Adverſary, ſome great trouble or croſſe may meet me in my way: Yes, but I am in GODS way, I am doing my duty, let GOD alone for the reſt; He will work for my comfort. As the valiant Romane ſaid (I allude to it) when it was told him, That the enemie would be upon his back quickly, …go autem Sacrifico.Let him come, ſaid he, I will keep to my ſervice, I will do my duty for all that. I would rather inſtance in Nehemiah; he ſaw and heard enough to have daunted any mans ſpirit, that was not ſuch a man as himſelfe, That had not another ſpirit, and could ſet his face like a flint: And yet he was not carefull, he was not afraid, ſhould ſuch a man as he feare, imployed in GODS worke, and in His way? Should he fly? No not he. Let the adverſary rage, and roare, and ſend, and write, and flatter, and lye, and ſlander, and blaſpheme, (the adverſaries did all this, and more) yet he would to his worke, and abide by it, for he was upon Templework, a ſworne Man to doe his Lord ſervice; And this Lord hath ſworne to protect that man. Truly it is ſo. Let a Lion, a ſhe-beare, or the devill meet ſuch a perſon, croſſe him in the way, he need not be carefull nor afraid, being groundedly reſolved p. 51of this, I am in Gods way, upon His worke. O let me be ſtil found ſo doing. What? GODS work, and in His way, a mighty comfort this. It is as a Cordiall to the heart, when we ſuffer from the hand there; That there and then we have done our duty, Gods work in Gods way, ſo obeying from the heart. The Angels are a ſafeguard about us; They beare us up: what would we have more for our ſecurity? The caſe is evident, it is an exceeding comfort, a marvailous eſtabliſhment to a man ſurrounded▪ with terrors, That he is in GODS way, upon His worke. It is a Soveraigne Cordiall now in theſe perilous and exceeding feirce times; It ſtayes and chears the heart, and ſilenceth the reaſoning of the Spirit. What? That I am in Gods way, and upon His work; the heart may meditate terrour now, when the Nations are angry, & Eſa. 33. 18.Isa 33:18the Kingdom totters like a drunken man. We will conſider with all our hearts the caſe that Nehemiah was in, and his courage, for it is very notable; his caſe is the caſe of our Worthies, even of all that are able to ſtand in the gap for the help of the Church: And this time runs parallel with that then, after the very ſame Line: Therefore we will heare what Nehemiah ſayes, and reaſon the caſe about him. What ſayes he? Should ſuch a man as I flee? And Who is there, that being as I am, would goe into the Temple Neh. 6. 1….Neh 6:1to ſave his life? A very bold ſpeech; I pray you, ſince it is not too late, and it may be of much uſe now, let us examine this mans confidence.

Why might not ſuch a man as hee flee? what manner of man was he? A faithfull man; one that feared God above many: There is the Anſwer for that. A faithfull man cannot be fearfull; a man full of faith cannot be full of feare: BEING AS I AM; In what a caſe was Nehemiah in then? In a very ſad and perplexed caſe ſure; All the reaſon he had, if hee had no more then we have, could not tell him, which way to take; for he had heard no leſſe then ten times, That from all places the Adverſary would be upon him: (c)(c)Nehe. 4. 12.And when The Lord brought that counſail to nought, they fell upon another, (The devils mint * Fabricator. Prov. 6. 14.Prov 6:14is ſtill going, his ſervants are ſtill hammering there) The Ad-Adverſary ſent to Nehemiah no leſſe then FOURE TIMES to procure a brotherly conference about an an Accommodation forſooth (but they thought to doe him **Chap 6. 2. 3. 4.miſchiefe) And when Nehemiah p. 52returned the Adverſary ſtill the ſame Anſwer, Foure times together, I AM DOING A GREAT WORKE WHICH MUST NOT CEASE, while I come downe to you to Parley about an Accommodation, (which was never in the adverſaries thoughts, for they THOUGHT to doe him MISCHIEFE:) Then the Adverſary ſent his ſervant the fift time, with an open ver. 5.letter in his hand, and a loud lye, a Blaſphemie rather, in his mouth, which was as we finde it written: (a) And all this to ver. 6, 7.make the Builders afraid, and the worke to ceaſe; which prevailed ſo far with Shemajah, (I will mention no more of the falſe brethren;) ver. 10That he pent himſelfe up (like a wiſe man, who was reſolved to ſave one) in a place, which had gates, Doores, and Barres (which the City had not at that time:) and he perſwaded Nehemiah ſo to doe alſo (by a Spirit, as he ſaid, of Revelation) To ſlinke aſide from the worke, letting that ceaſe till the brunt of oppoſition were over, and in the meane time provide for his life, Let us meete together in the houſe of GOD within the Temple, and let us ſhut the doores of the Temple, for they will come to ver. 10.ſlay thee. And Nehemiah ſaid, No man, being as I am, would goe into the Temple to ſave his life, I will not goe in. No truly, being as ver. 11I am I will truſt to an open place, that hath neither Walls nor Bulwarks; I am doing my duty; upon my Maſters worke; in His way, I am doing a great worke, which muſt not reſt, It is not neceſſary that I muſt live (though I know my times are (my life is) in my GODS hands, not at the diſpoſe of the Adverſary) but the worke muſt be done, that is neceſſary at this time: Being as I am upon This worke, and in This way, I will not goe into the Temple to ſave my life, not I. Should ſuch a man as I flee? and being as I am? No, I Will doe my Worke, my Duty, I will walke in the way boldly (wherein never man miſcarried yet) and for my poore life (well hazarded in ſuch a worke and ſuch a way) and all my concernements about it; all theſe I have committed into His hands, Who is as a ſtrong City; Salvation will Eſay 26. 1.Isa 26:1GOD appoint for walls and Bulwarke.

There is an end of that diſpute, That I am in Gods way, & upon His work, anſwers all doubts, ſilenceth all gainſayers. A man may be reproached and perſecuted, &c. in this way, but he cannot be diſtreſſed there, nor forſaken. The experience of all times, & p. 53of all the faithfull in all times will give cleare evidence hereunto.

The practiſe of Luther runs parallel with this of Nehemiah; Hell gates opened upon him, when he opened his mouth for God, and for His cauſe, and to promote His Glory. It is notable to reade how Luther encouraged Melanchthon againſt his oppreſſing feares, and himſelfe alſo in The LORD: The enemy lives ſaid Melanchthon and is ſtrong: GOD lives for ever, anſwered Luther, and is Almighty. We cannot beare up againſt the tide of ſuch oppoſition, ſaid Melanchthon, an excellent man, but his ſpirit was fallen at that time quite: Nor men, nor Devils can hinder now we are in Gods way, and upon His worke, ſaid Luther; We carry GOD along with us, His cauſe is in our ſhip, though the ſtorm riſeth high, yet God is above; The floods of ungodlineſſe ſhall not make us afraid: That God is with us, (He is with us while we are with Him:) that it is His cauſe we are engaged upon, anſwereth all doubts, ſilenceth the reaſoning of a timerous ſpirit, and fortifies it mightily againſt all diſputes and debates from within the ſoule or from without.

The great queſtion is now, will God reſtore Ieruſalem? ſhall her breaches be made up? ſhall her wall be raiſed even now? This is the queſtion, and it is much doubted, and the very beſt have carefull thoughts about it. But ſurely they doe not well to be ſo carefull, neither do they wiſely inquire into the matter. It is true; Jeruſalems wall and her breaches there, ſhould take up the firſt-borne of our thoughts; but not the time when, nor the manner how theſe breaches ſhall be ſtopped, and the walls ſet up. The times and ſeaſons for the accompliſhing hereof, the meanes too, and the manner how, The Father hath put in His own power. The work goes on a pace; Bleſſed be His Name for all thoſe that have offered themſelves willingly to this worke; I ſay it, goes on with the encreaſe of God; and the times are TROUBLOUS, (d)(d)Dan. 9. 25.Dan 9:25which is a good ſigne too. But whether this be the SET time, when GOD will perfect this work, it is not for us to enquire; Think we of doing our duty, and upon our COST; It ſhall be done and perfected in GODS time, & that is the beſt time: and for the Church, the very ſeaſon of Time, and that we may reſolve upon. The LORD is wiſe in counſell and mighty in worke; and p. 54there the Church reſteth. He may not do all this, this yeer, or the next, or the third year; for This work, Temple-work, the reſtoreing the Kingdom of Iſrael, goes on ſurely, but ſlowly; mighty Adverſaries ſet themſelves againſt it, and decree againſt it, and will hinder as long as God pleaſeth, till His ſet time comes. Truly we wonder He hath done ſo much for a people at this time, who have done ſo much againſt Him now and in all times: But Now ſets a mark upon our frowardneſſe, and makes it exceeding ſinfull. And yet His patience is not wearied, though at every difficulty, and croſſe way, we are at a ſtand. He works gloriouſly every day, and reviveth ſtill his ſervants hopes: And yet He may not make the earth to bring forth in one day, nor a Nation to be …ſa…. 66. 8.borne at once; and what are a few yeares in His account? not ſo much as a few minutes in ours. The earth ſhall bring forth, even to our largeſt expectation, That is certaine; And the manchilde ſhall be borne perfect and compleate, thats out of doubt: perhaps not ſo ſoone as we would have it, we are too haſty. It may ſeeme to ſtick even at the birth ſo long, that the Adverſary may lift up his horne with faire hopes, That it will never come forth: But it ſhall come forth in due time (thats Gods time, and it is His promiſe) when they that ſee it ſhall the more rejoyce, the more their ſorrow and anguiſh was becauſe it ſtuck at the birth ſo long: And the bones of the Righteous ſhall flouriſh like an Herbe. ver. 14.Why like an Herbe? Becauſe they were dried like an hearth with long expectation: for now The hand of the Lord ſhalbe known (the more gloriouſly the longer the ſtop was) towards his ſervants, and His Indignation towards His enemies; for God hath given His ſervants leave to make this concluſion from His owne words, kind and gratious, He hath brought to the Birth, He will give ſtrength to bring forth (in his appointed time) And there His people ſet up their reſt, doing their Duty, walking in Gods way, and doing His work. And this ſuſtains them in their fainting fitts; quiets and ſettles them in troublous times, They do their duty, They are upon their worke, This I ſay, for it cannot be ſaid too often, is as comfortable to them, and cordiall as this remembrance was to the good king, when he heard the ſentence of Death, Behold Lord I have walked before Thee in Truth and with 2 Kings. 20. 3.2 Kgs 20:3a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in Thy ſight.

p. 55I may not conclude yet, for there is a great difficulty behind; but Let every man, according to his meaſure, and proportion of gifts, and power God hath put into his hand, offer himſelf with a willing mind, wholly up to God in His way and work, ſo doing his Duty, and committing the iſſue and ſucceſſe to God, in aſſurance hereof, That The Lord does all things well; orders all for the advancing His own Glory, and His Churches good: He will, in His own good time, performe His whole work upon mount Zion, and on Ieruſalem, and then He will puniſh the Eſai. 10. 12.Isa 10:12ſtout-hearted, and bring down the Glory of their lookes. And, in the meane time, for this man, that attends his Duty, minds that wholly; is onelyonly carefull at that point, The Lord will guide him with His eye, will uphold him with His hand, ſo as he ſhall not daſh his foot againſt a ſtone. Now the difficulty follows, and that will make us daſh and fall too, if we look not to our bottome, and our ſtanding there upon. We ſhall heare now of ſad and grievous things that befell them, which have ſtood to the cauſe of Chriſt, and done their duty: But bleſſed be God, though wee ſhall heare ſuch things, which ſhall make ſome eares tingle, yet we ſhall not heare, That the righteous have forſaken their way, or their duty, though they have been ſore broken in the place of dragons, and covered with the ſhadow of death: YET, no not YET ſhall we heare, That their heart turned back, nor that their feet have declined from THY WAY: No, though all this, which we (b) Pſal. 44. 17. 18. 19.Ps 44:17Ps 44:18Ps 44:19ſhall heare, is or may come upon them, what though? YET they are reſolved, as their Fathers before them, The reſolution of a gracious ſpirit ever, To keep cloſe to GOD, and to Duty, To ſtir …p themſelves againſt the hypocrite; (c)(c)Job. 17. 8. 9.Job 17:8Job 17:9To hold on their way, for they have cleane hands, and cleane hearts, waſhed white in the bloud of the Lambe. What followes? We need not make it a Queſtion, They ſhall be ſtronger and ſtronger. Having now premiſed this, I come to that, which is ſaid againſt it, to ſcare the fearfull-hearted, mentioning onelyonly that firſt, which occaſioneth it; I had ſaid, rather The Lord hath ſaid it for me, He that keeps cloſe with GOD, holds on his way, doth his duty, is reſolved at that point, The LORD hath ſworne by His holineſſe, He will uphold this man, he ſhall not daſh his foot. I will be bold to ſay, This is good Divinity, and as comfortable as any you can meet with in p. 56all your readings. Now hearken what is ſaid to ſcare the Iſrael of GOD out of it, all His Antipaſſes that they may let-in feare, and let goe Duty. The Adverſary ſhall never effect this while hee breathes; with Gods help I ſhall be able to beat him with his owne weapons, and fetch comfort, and light, and glory for the righteous, from out of his darkneſſe, and moſt ignominious uſages of Gods people, doing their duty, and holding to His way and work.

But the fearfull have looked upon all this already, and they object,

He that does his duty, keeping to Gods way and worke, may Ob. daſh his foote and fall too, and riſe no more in this world, if he be reſolute upon that way, and to doe his duty therein; as like to daſh upon danger and to be ſwallowed up of it too, in no way more likely then in GODS way, and when we doe our Duty. Take we for example the Patirarchs, Prophets, Apoſtles, that 1 Cor. 11.1 Cor 11cloude of witneſſes in the little booke of Martyrs, they walked in Gods way and did their Duty, and did they not daſh upon danger? To come neerer to our own times. Looke upon thoſe TWO WITNESSES, thoſe few **Vocatur Antipas non ficto ſed vero nomine: tot pene literis & ſyllabis Martyres hujus temporis declarat fore Antipapas. Revel. 2. 13.Rev 2:13Antipaſſes, faithful Magiſtrates; and faithfull, Miniſters, and faithfull people, oppoſing, in all ages of the world, upward to this day, and ſo will all their Dayes, Roome and their abominable Idolatries, and then you will ſay they doe their Duty and are in Gods way; But ſee I pray you, and marke well how they are uſed, you would not uſe a Dog ſo; And ſee where they lye, A goodly recompence for doing their Duty, and walking in Gods way, will the world ſay.

No matter what the world ſaies, not a pin matter, nor how they Anſw. uſe the ſervants of God: They are vile and refuſe with the world, becauſe they doe their Duty, and are the excellent there, not of the world: A ſure Teſtimony of perdition to the world of ungodly men, whoſe ſuperſtitions may be out of ignorance, but their cruelty is out of malice. But to the point. It is granted, That if ever the Devil, (that Legion, for I mean with him, all his ſervants) ſtand with open mouth and out-ſtretched arme againſt a man; it is then, when he walks in GODS way, and doth his Duty. The wicked are carryed with an indignation againſt no way, no work but that, onelyonly becauſe it is an holy way, and a godly work. Therefore p. 59a way of ſuffering it may be, a way of periſhing it cannot be.

Not a periſhing way! See yonder, The Beaſt ſhall make war Ob. againſt them, ſhall overcome them and kill them; Then ſee where Rev. 11. 7.Rev 11:7their bodies lye, and how long, and how merry the Adverſary is over them, very jocund and glad when he hath done ſuch an exploit upon thoſe that tormented them.

We have a proverbe, he that laughs after laughs too, and more Anſ. heartily; he that laughs before, is as he that girdeth-on his harnes▪ he knows not what may happen to damp his mirth: But he that laughes after ſees all clear before him, and is as he, that putteth his harneſſe off. Certainly, for It was never queſtioned yet, Theſe witneſſes ſhall have their time again to laugh, when the Adverſaries ſhall gnaw their tongues for paine. But to the point. We have ſeene the worſt that can befall the men of GOD in GODS way and upon His worke; and how ſmall a thing do we ſee? Some Dead bodies. I muſt take leave now, To ſpeake according to my underſtanding and to his capacity, alſo who, if he meets with a Dead body, takes it to be a Carkeſſe, all life is gone: Doubtleſſe theſe are not carkeſſes, for if ſo, They had not layne ſo long above ground, in the ſtreet of the great Citty: nor had the Adverſary any Cauſe to rejoyce over them (indeed he hath not, but I ſpeake with reſpect to the offence of a dead body, lying uncovered) or hinder their bodies to be put in the graves. (c)(c)Rev. 11. 9.Rev 11:9They were myſtically dead ſure, for ſuch alſo is their reſurrection, their coming to life again: I think thus it was, and yet I cannot expreſſe it in words what Antichriſtian Rome, far more cruel then heatheniſh Rome: (She was a Dragon fell and Cruell, but not ſo Cruell, as a Lamb with hornes, as Shee is, that looks like a ſheepe, and is ſo in her clothing, but inwardly is a greevous wolfe: O beware of her, and her Religion: ſhe is MYSTERY BABYLON the GREAT, The mother of Harlots, And abominations of the earth, Rev. 17. 5.Rev 17:5and hath no more good in her, then what can be found in the bottomleſſe pit, from whence her Power and Authority aſcendeth.) Rev. 11. 7.Rev 11:7I was ſaying, That death there is not properly ſo called; but myſtically; thus I thinke it was, Rome with her ſworne ſervants, hath done (and will doe) all the indignities, that are Imaginable againſt theſe witneſſes, ſuſpending, putting out of office, Defaming, Defacing, Degrading; Truly I know not what, but what Rome p. 60(that delights in proud wrath) could doe, ſhee hath done, and will doe againſt theſe witneſſes. And how far doth their malice reach? To the Body, no farther: And that was Dead in law before (the Body is dead becauſe of ſin) The Body, It is GODS building, we muſt thinke and eſteeme honourably of it, for it ſhall be a Glorious body: but as it is here, and in compariſon, the people of GOD put little or no account upon it, and it is according to the Spirits allowance; The Body is not mentioned in the Scripture, but with this addition, a Dead, a vile, a corruptible Bodie: The Soule ſtands for All, and indeed it is All, that we might put eſteeme upon it more then upon all the world. We ſee Bodies and dead bodies there, then the Adverſary can but kill the Bodie, their proud wrath can reach no farther: They can but take downe that Tabernacle, which, had it ſtood a little longer, would have fel of its ſelf; God has never given a man His ſecurity, That his Body ſhall be kept from periſhing. The ſtreame of the promiſe runs ſtill towards the Soule; I was in the very mouth of Danger, ſayes Paul, almoſt ſwallowed up there: I was delivered at that time: Nero (he was the Lyon) had not power over me at that time: And the 2 Tim. 4. 17.2 Tim 4:17LORD ſhall deliver me, there is his ſecurity: from what? from Nero? No, hee ſayes not ſo; for at length (when Paul had finiſhed his teſtimony) he was given up to that devourer: The Lord ſhall deliver me from every evill worke: An evil worke, a complying with the workers of iniquity, and with their wicked wayes, that is worſe then the Devourers mouth, a thouſand times worſe: ſo nor Paul nor the witneſſes did doe. Now take all, will preſerve me to His heavenly Kingdome, Thats all indeed; and makes amends for all, will preſerve me to His heavenly Kingdom, where the dead bodies now, that have all the diſhonours put upon them, that are conceivable, ſhall be glorious Bodies. We have viewed the Bodies, now we conſider where they lie.

2 Where lye they? In the ſtreet, All the diſgrace that can bee imagined ſhall be put upon them, that will doe their Duty, if they come into their Adverſaries hand, and it ſhall be done againſt them in the openeſt place, where the Adverſary may glut his eye in the exerciſe of proud wrath, wherewith his heart is filled. To expreſſe it as we read, The Adverſary having made himſelfe drunke with blood, will make theſe witneſſes a GAZIMG-STOCK, p. 61by reproches and afflictions; a ſpectacle to the world, Angels and men. (d)(d)Heb. 10. 13. 1 Cor. 4. 9.Heb 10:131 Cor 4:9Why then, who is on Gods ſide, who? he that is reſolved to take Gods part muſt expect ſuch uſage, but then he may expect ſuch an exceeding and ſuperlative comfort as will countervail and make amends for all. If all the comforts in the world were diſtilled into one elixir, & put into theſe witneſſes hands, it would not be ſo cordiall as this which follows; All this villanous uſage upon theſe Bodies ſhall bee done; where? where alſo our LORD CHRIST was Crucified. That was without the Gates of Jeruſalem. True; and without the territories too, by a Law not their own, for the Iews could put no man to Death, but from Caeſar Tiberius, he was the Emperour in Rome; It is very comfortable: what follows? There alſo our Lord was Crucified: But rejoyce in as much as ye 1 Pet. 4. 13.1 Pet 4:13are partakers of Chriſts ſufferings; that when His glory ſhall be revealed, ye may be glad alſo with exceeding joy. Who would not rejoyce to be put to open ſhame for Chriſt, where Chriſt was put to open ſhame for him? A great Commander refuſed a Crowne of gold in that place, where the Lord Chriſt had put upon him a Crowne of thornes. There is a continuall ſpring of comfort from thence, which abundantly makes amends for all the proud wrath, put forth againſt theſe Bodies, in the ſtreet of the great City: There alſo our Lord was crucified. They ſhall ſuffer no more, but what their Lord hath ſuffered before them; and in that He hath 1 Pet. 4. 13.1 Pet 4:13ſuffered that ſhame, He ſuffered it for them, that their ſhame now might be their glory. Truly there is a comfort contained in theſe words, that is not expreſſible but by the mouthes of theſe witneſſes; And they felt it then, even a joy unſpeakable. I ſay then, when that wicked woman, that abominable ſtrumpet, with her Rev. 11. 10.Rev 11:10lovers, were ſo jocund and joyfull over them, making merry and ſending gifts one to another: for this is a concluſion of experience, That GOD leaves not His Servants (Orphanes) comfortleſſe: John. 14. 18. foreign.John 14:18At ſuch a time as this, when they are in the eyes of man, fatherleſſe, friendleſſe, helpleſſe, in the hands of proud wrath, exerciſing all the indignities, that are imaginable upon them, and glutting their eye therewith, then they are orphans, (you will ſay) for all have left them, and there they lie as you ſee. But now marke the promiſe, I will not leave you (Orphans) comfortleſſe: I will come p. 62to you: nay He is come, it is in the preſent tenſe, now He is come in, for all the creature-comforts are gone forth, then God comes foreign.in, in that ſeaſon and nick of time: And if there be any comfort in His preſence, as ſure there is, for He is The God of comforts, and God ſpeaks to His people moſt comfortably in a Wilderneſſe. The ſweeteſt comforts come forth of the greateſt ſtraits.the Father, not of ſome, but of all conſolations: then they are ſure to find it at ſuch a time, when they are, in the eye of the world, comfortleſſe, free among the dead, put to open ſhame, and the Adverſary, jocund and merry over them. Then is Gods time to come-in, and that is His Promiſe, and it is comfort enough for the preſent: For after-time reade on, how theſe faithfull ſervants have concluded, That, after the rate of their ſorrows and ſufferings, ſhall their comforts and conſolations be: And by the meaſure of their ſhame and reproach for Chriſt here, ſhall their robe of Glory be cut-out hereafter, wherewith they ſhall be veſted in heaven. So they have concluded, and cannot faint in their mindes.

Thirdly, Conſider how long the Bodies ſhall lye there; how long ſhall they be ſo diſpitefully uſed? Three dayes and a halfe. They are long dayes, as we account length of time, who account GODS Patience a ſl…ckneſſe; But were they three thouſand yeeres, yet that length of time makes no difference in eternity. Their ſoules are ſafe enough; Souls and Bodies ſhall meet againe, The ſpirit of life from GOD ſhall enter into them: and then they, that were ſo merry and glad over them, ſhall be ſad enough, for great feares ſhall fall on them: And quickly after theſe turmoiles they ſhall be for ever with the Lord, more glorious then the ſun when he ſhines in his ſtrength; for their bodies were put to open ſhame for Chriſt, and where He was crucified (Oh it was a ſweet conſideration) and ſo long, three whole long Dayes: now they ſhall have ſuch a length of Glory, that we have not a thought to meaſure it. He that hath obſerved this, hath let it ſinke down into his heart, and he will hold to the way and worke of The LORD, & his countenance wil be no more ſad: He may heare ſad things, and obſerve croſſe wayes, and croſſe wills; hee may ſmart under the execution of proud wrath: But he hath reſolved all into this, The will of The LORD be done. He is moſt content, That GOD ſhould goe that way, which ſhall make moſt for His Glory, Who will make, as we ſhall ſee anon, all croſſe wayes and wills meet at p. 63that higheſt point; and in a ſweet harmony, conſent, good agreement, and a full anſwerableneſſe to His moſt Holy will. In the mean time he doth, and by the grace of God, is reſolved to do his duty, and to hold to the way, all the faithfull have gone in before him, maintaining his watch over his enemies, himſelf alſo, and his own wayes, ſo finding abundance of Peace. This followes.

CHAP. VI.

Now Gods Worke goes on, and His Servants do their duty. The Divell rageth and watcheth to doe miſcheife: Therefore the Righteous maintayne their watch and guard alſo; but ſpecially over themſelves, Conſidering the manner of their Adverſaries, and of their Maſters comming.

VVAtchfullneſſe over the Enemy, and a mans ſelfe, is the great duty of a Chriſtian, renders him Bleſſed, highly honoured of GOD; and ſecure againſt his Adverſary;

Firſt, Bleſſed is he that watcheth, (a)(a)Rev. 16. 14.Rev 16:14for he will keep his garments, ſo that the ſhame of his nakedneſſe ſhall not appeare: And (b) Rev. 3. 18.Rev 3:18The LORD wil honour thoſe Servants, whom He finds watching, with the greateſt honour that can be imagined: He will gird himſelfe, and come forth and ſerve them.Luke 12. 37.Luke 12:37

Secondly, Secure. They who are found watching, are ſecure againſt their Adverſary; he comes like a roaring Lion, thinking to doe miſchiefe, (for that is the purpoſe of his heart) but he can doe them no hurt, for he finds them waking in their watch-tower.

So we come to the Duty; we have ſeen the honour of it, the ſecurity in it: now ſee the nec…ſſitie, to be now, as in all times, the ſervants of The LORD have been, WATCHFULL. They are bold and fearleſſe, becauſe they make their watch ſtrong: They maintain a wakefull eye over the Adverſary, to prevent his comming againſt them, To hinder the work. What needs that? you Nehe. 4. 1. Jer. 31. 28.Jer 31:28will ſay, The Watchman of Iſrael keeps His ſervants, I will watch over them to build and to plant, ſaith the Lord: And His Angels are a guard about them. True, But all this doth not make them p. 64carnally ſecure; but indeed the more watchfull: Gods watching over His ſervants, His giving His Angels charge over them, doth not give them licenſe to ſnore in the daytime, or to ſleep in their harveſt: No, they are in Gods way, and upon Gods work, then, as The Lord Chriſt ſaid to His Diſciples, **Mat. 26. 45.Matt 26:45Sleep on now and take your reſt. He knew that could not be, No time for ſleeping then: So theſe ſervants of The Lord cannot ſleep now, now they are in Gods way and work, for they muſt look for all the oppoſition the devill and his Angels can make againſt them, but the fruit of all that old enmity, that is in the Spirit, which rules in and amongſt the children of diſobedience. There is no enemie in all the world, but, if you doe meet him, it will be in GODS way, and when you are upon GODS worke, Church-work, Temple-work, making up the breaches in Jeruſalems walls: there the Adverſaries are, there, &c. then they will appeare in their likeneſſe, the Lion, the Adder, and the Dragon, Sanballat and Tobiah, and the Arabian (c)(c)Nehe. 6. 1.too, and the reſt of your enemies, there they will meet you upon That WALL, and perhaps be upon you before you are aware. If the Adverſary may have his will, ye ſhall neither know nor ſee. And behold a ſtrange greeting; you Neh. 4 11.Neh 4:11had as good meet with a Beare robbed of her whelps, for you wil find that Adverſary, the very ſame he was, very (a)(a)Nehe. 4. 1.wroth, taking great indignation againſt the work, and the way; perhaps he will now, as then, mock too, and grin like a dog.

So it hath been ever ſince the firſt reſtoring of the Church; When Moſes came into Egypt, and made his demands, very peremptory, (for ſuch are the demands of GOD touching His ſervice) he would have all to an hoofe, not leave ſo much as a hoofe in Egypt: Then we reade what followed. How it was after their returne from Babylon, Ezra and Nehemiah have told us. It was ſo in latter times towards the cloſe of the former Centurie, and beginning of this, when Luther appeared in Germanie, ſpoiling the Pope and his Merchants of that great gaine and in-come by Indulgences, (It was an ordinary Merchandize with thoſe cunning Merchants, for amongſt their wares they have the precious ſoules of men.(d)(d)Rev. 18. 13.Rev 18:13

So I ſay, it was when Luther appeared in Germanie, that glorious inſtrument, confounding the Pope and his cunning Merchants, p. 65reſcuing the cauſe of Chriſt, and advancing His Glory; Then, and not till then, Germanie was full of ſtirs, a tumultuous Nation; Hell ſeemed to be let looſe, and the devils roaring upon him; But then Luther was as bold as a Lion, yet as wiſe as a Serpent; He was upon GODS worke, and in His way, that made him bold and confident; and ſo he would have Melanchthon then to be ſtrong in The Lord, (his incouragements are notable;) he did live amongst Lions, his ſoule lay amongst thoſe that were ſet on fire, that kept him waking and watchfull; but thus he did encourage himſelfe in The LORD, he was in Gods way, and upon His work. A marvellous comfort, and which commands an holy ſecurity; his heart might meditate terrour, but it commands watchfulneſſe too, even to doe as the Builders or Reformers did in ancient dayes, Make your praier unto God, and ſet watch againſt them day and night, becauſe of them: For, as the Adverſaries ſaid then, ſo they ſay now; and therefore what the ſervants did then, ſo they muſt doe now, Set the people in their courſes with Nehe. 4 89.their ſwords, their ſpeares, and their bowes, and the builders every one gird his ſword by his ſide, and ſo build. And though they doe put off their clothes, which the builders then did not, (ſaving that everie one put them off for waſhing) yet they muſt keep a ſtrong watch, and their ſword under their pillow.Read M. N…wcemens Sermon upon Neh. 4. 11. wherein, by the good hand of God with him, he hath diſcovered the adverſaries skirts upon their face; he hath ſhewn the Nation their nakedneſſe, and the 3. Kingdoms their ſhame; he hath caſt abominable filth upon them, & made them as they are, vile.Neh 4:11

This is watchful…neſſe, and as needfull now as then (for now the breaches are ſtopping up) now the enemy ſaith, The builders ſhall not know neither ſee till we come in the midſt amongst them and ſlay them. We are aſſured that all the enemies in the world, are now ſetting themſelves againſt this way, and conſulting how they may hinder this worke: It is temple-worke, the reſtoring and building Ieruſalems walls. There is need of watchfullneſſe then, mighty cauſe to maintaine a continuall watch over this Legion (for he is many and full of wrath) as great cauſe to watch as David had, when Saul ſent, and they did watch the houſe to kill him. (* title of the 59 Pſal.)

It is obſervable, That where the ſervants of The Lord have their warrant for their greateſt ſecurity, there they may obſerve cauſe enough why they ſhould be exceeding watchfull. A vineyard of red wine is My Church, My people, unto Mee, moſt pleaſant and moſt Delightfull: I The LORD doe keep it: I will water p. 66(d) Rev. 18. 13.Rev 18:13it every moment leſt any hurt it, I will keepe it night and day. ver. 3.There is ſecurity. Obſerve now what a mighty Adverſary the Church hath (not to ſpeake of the little foxes, and other grievous Beaſts, wherewith Gods vine-yard is annoyed) Leviathan, ver. 1.the peircing ſerpent, even Leviathan that crooked ſerpent; The ſpirit meanes, All the divells in hell, and all his ſervants on earth, their force and fraud both: And how prevailing by theſe wayes, This Adverſary is, we may collect by the inſtrument. The LORD brings forth againſt him, His ſore, and great, and ſtrong ſword; very comfortable to the Church all this, but it is very ſtirring and commanding to keep their watch ſtrong, their garments white and cloſe girt unto them. Bee ſober, bee vigilant, becauſe your adverſary the divell, as a roaring lion, walketh about ſeeking whom 1 Pet. 5. 8.1 Pet 5:8he may devoure. The concluſion is, The Righteous muſt be full of eyes; They had need to ſet a Thouſand eyes over this Adverſary rather; that is firſt; And then

Secondly, Then thouſand eyes over themſelves, even that every man maintaine over himſelfe now, a double watch, conſidering they are the ſouldiers of Jeſus Chriſt, engaged in the warre with the Lambe, and going out againſt the Lambes enemies, and muſt keep themſelves, according to the charge, from every wicked thing: therefore had they need (as the devout Spaniard ſaid) to Deut. 23. 9.Deut 23:9ſet ten thouſand eyes over themſelves: then againe, conſider, A mans enemies are thoſe of his own houſe; enemies alſo, and thoſe the ſtrongeſt within his own breaſt.

Thirdly, Adde to this; That we know not the day, nor the houre; but the comming of the Lord will be at midnight, in the midnight of the world, when they ſay all is peace, and think they may be ſecure, and ſo fall all aſleep, then He comes as a thiefe. Put all this together, and it will command watchfulneſſe; wee ſhall double our watch, we ſhall make it ſtrong, That we may be in a readineſſe, with our loines girt, our armour at hand, for, as we ſaid, we know not at what time danger and trouble may come. We know not the houre, when the generall Judgement, nor when the particular ſhall be; we know not the houre; when we lye downe, we know not how we may be awakened, with what cry, nor what noiſe we may heare at midnight. What lyeth in the wombe of a day, is darkneſſe unto us; and what a night may p. 65bring forth, lyeth in the ſame wombe of darkneſſe alſo: Wee cannot ſee into an houre before us. Happy is that man that makes his watch ſtrong, that fortifies himſelfe in The Lord his God, That keeps himſelf in His feare all the day long, and night alſo; That cloſeth his eyes with GOD, and makes his Chriſt the end of his thoughts: ſo ſleeps, as in the lap or arms of The Almighty. This man is prepared, and what ever the cry be, with which he is awakened, he is in a readineſſe, his loines girt, his lampe burning, and oyle for ſupply. So he goes forth to meet, and if he meet with enemies, nay, with devils, he is in a readineſſe, and as bold as a Lion: But if he goe forth to meet his LORD and CHRIST, O how joyfull is he! Him he ſerved all his life long, with Him his laſt thoughts cloſed, when he fell aſleep: therefore in the morning of his awaking, he is bold, and confident, joyfull and glad; all his dayes he watched for this time, as the Watch-man for the morning.

To draw to a concluſion. Truly this Mother-City, the City of God, have done even thus as we heard, and as we all ſhould doe ſo they wait for GOD, ſo they love GOD, ſo they feare Him, ſo they Truſt in HIM, ſo they obey: And, to make clear proof that ſo they do, ſo watchfull they are over the Adverſary, And themſelves. And ſo, they thank their GOD, they have profited very much by all the hatred, the hard words, & ungodly deeds from the adverſary: his violent dealing hath made their love the hotter, their feare more refined, and fixed, their confidence better bottomed, more ſetled upon the rock, their obedience more pure, more ſingle, and more hearty, and their watch a thouſand times ſtronger, againſt their enemies, and over themſelves. Thus all things tend to the advantage of His people, and work together for their good, which muſt be conſidered on, now in the laſt place.

p. 66CHAP. VII.

We muſt not judge haſtily of Gods works, Theſe are wrought in an excellent Method, though they ſeeme confuſed to us, and doe worke together for the good of them, that love God; whereunto the preſent time gives cleare evidence.

GReat are the works of The Lord, Sought out of them that take pleaſure therein; SOUGHT OUT with diligent inquiry, not with a curious prying into them, much leſſe with an over-haſty cenſuring and judging of them; here we muſt walk ſoftly, taking leaſure.

We muſt not judge of the acts of GODS providence by pieces, here a part and there a part; as we do not a peice of Arrace, not halfe unfolded: ſtay till GOD hath done His whole worke, hath accompliſhed it upon mount Zion, then unfold the work, and behold a glorious ſymme…try and uniformity all together workeing for the good of thoſe, that love Him. If we looke upon GODS works apart and alone, here one piece and there another, they will be as unpleaſing to the eye, as are the members of a body divided, and lying apart from the head: They will ſeeme fearfull and terrible, wondrous croſſe to the marke they tend to.

Ioſeph muſt be a prime and cheife man in Egypt; look you how croſſe all things goe! he is ſold for a ſervant, and it was well he ſcaped ſo; when he had gained no little favour, and became a great maſter, then his feet were put in the ſtocks.

Things went as croſſe with David too. How long? To the very day (I reckon within a few houres) he was to be King, that very day the people ſpoke of ſtoning of him.1 Sam. 30 6.1 Sam 30:6

GODS providence ſeemed as ſtrange, and as croſſe towards Mordecai; and as favourable to Haman, That Enemy and Adverſary; Mordecai muſt ride in ſtate through the city, and Haman muſt lead the horſe, and lacquie by; and ſo it was. But before that day came, Haman was very confident, That he ſhould ſee Mordecai ſet on high upon a gallows, which he had provided for his purpoſe. Truly the admonition is ſeaſonable; Iudge nothing p. 67before the time, but remember theſe are GODS workes, and He will work like a GOD, His providences, what ever they ſeeme to be now, they wil appeare to be admirable, exceeding glorious; Little can we by the begining of any action, gueſſe at Gods intention in the concluſion.Now here is a piece of providence, and it ſeemes terrible; here is another piece and cauſeth diſtractions; A third piece, and that cauſeth a ſword; here is a fourth piece, and Oh how croſſe it is to the high marke it tends to! for there be thoughts of accommodation, of compounding the cauſe of Chriſt, and that is a croſſe way indeed: ſo we judge before the time, ſtay a little while and we ſhall ſee all theſe croſſe wayes meet, and kiſſe each other: ſo as we ſhall ſay, in the cloſe of the work, All was carried on in a curious Method; things ſeeme to be carried very confuſedly in our eye, up and downe, and then a croſſe as upon wheeles: But there is a wheele within the wheeles and eyes, (providences) Ezech. 1.Ezek 1round about. If we could ſee we would ſay; All things are carried in an excellent Method. The lines of Gods providence drawn in the circumference of the world, ſeeme no leſſe confuſed then the moaths in the ſun.

But we ſhall ſee one day, That not one line could be ſpared; And that all tend Directly to the great center, The Glory of the Workman and The reſt of His people. We think we ſee crookedneſſe, an unevenneſſe in the lines and wayes of Gods Providence; But we are deceived; mans wayes are unequall, Gods wayes are equall: ſtay a little, we ſhall ſay ſo too. I ſaid well, ſtay a while, as thoſe that live by faith, and do not make haſte, untill GOD hath wrought His whole worke, till we can put all together; Then we ſhall diſcerne plainly, That all together worked gloriouſly for the promoting the great, ſupreame and ſoveraigne ends, GODS Glory and HIS Churches peace, in the exalting His people, plucking down and confounding the Adverſary.

Nay GOD hath not wearied out His people, with expectation; Though He hath not yet accompliſhed His whole worke, yet He gives His people leave to behold ſome pieces thereof; And ſee how wonderfull and admirable they are, what ſtrange providences, croſſe wayes, as was ſaid, hath he made to meet; contrary natures, and wills have wrought effectually towards the ſetling of Truth and Peace, that theſe might meete in a ſweet agreement. Take a view of it at once, and behold the poyſon of Aſpes, p. 68viperous tongues, embalming; wounds, healing; weakneſſe, ſtrengthening; temptations, fortifying; ſtraits, enlarging; perverſe counſels, enſnaring (the perverſe counſellours:) fears, ſupporting; diſtractions, uniting; troubles, quieting; ſtops & preſſures to beare down the ſpirits of men, heightening the ſame. Thus the LORD hath done in this ſhort time. What then may the people of GOD expect to ſee in after time, when the work is done, and they can put all together, who have ſeen ſuch ſtrange providences, and glorious workings thereof already? He that hath wrought ſo gloriouſly, and hath given His people ſuch a diſcerning, will worke much more, and will be admired in the cloſe of His whole work when His people can put all together.

Now we are to conſider with more enlagement what The LORD hath done, making croſſe wayes meete in a good agreement, and croſſe ſpirits to ſtand in a poſture for the ſafeguarding His Kingdome; And what a good GOD do His people ſerve! who would not feare Him? who would not ſerve ſuch a God? who would not truſt Him now? Hee makes all work for good; All that we call evil; and to ſenſe it is ſo, is good to them; never any thing in the world fell out to The people of GOD whereof they could not ſay, this is good now, for it works thereunto; and which is yet more comfort, they can ſay confidently, it will be better anon, within an hower, a minute, a little minute. GODS Hand is with them, and through Him they improove all, good and evill, all is good to them; they find it ſo or they make it ſo: or, rather againſt the nature thereof, it is made ſo to them: things diſagreeing are made to agree very well, and impoſſible things to be poſſible, for ſo we read, if we read the Hiſtory of theſe laſt months. Can a man imagine, (who walkes by ſenſe) but that the noiſe of ſwords, and ſtaves would ſilence the lawes, and daunt the ſpirits of men utterly? yet it was not ſo, This noiſe wakened the lawes, and raiſed the ſpirits the higher: would we not think that the ſword would make diviſions? It was taken up for that end, and ſo it works moſt naturally. But ſo it ſhall not do, It ſhall worke contrary effects: it ſhall cement and ſodder men together: It ſhall make many to be as one man, of one mind in a houſe, and ſo to ſeek the peace of Iſrael.

Yea but the ſword drawes blood, makes havock in the Land, It robbs, and ſpoiles, &c.

p. 69Very true: but it had made more havock, had it come upon us, and found us ſleeping: then it had cut all our throats. It had raged all the Land over with a rage reaching unto heaven, as now in Ireland. Bleſſed be God, we know our friends now, we ſee our enemies, the Papiſts and Atheiſts all the World over. It is not a Kingdome divided againſt it ſelfe, but one Kingdome divided againſt another: The Kingdome of CHRIST againſt the Kingdome of Antichriſt. And this Antichriſtian kingdom will rage as they can, to their power to ſhed blood, But The LORD hath them in His chaine, and hath cauſed His people to ſet a watch over them: and hath ſent forth His Hoſt againſt them: There is this good in it now, and it is a great good, The enemies of the Church are in part manifeſt now: they ſhall be more manifeſt anon. So are her friends, ſhee knowes now and can reſolve her ſelfe in the queſtion, Who will riſe up for mee againſt the evill doers? or who will ſtand up for me againſt the workers of iniquity? Pſal. 94. 16.Ps 94:16The Church cannot forſake her confidence now in her GOD; He that hath wrought HITHERTO will worke: He that hath diſcovered the Adverſary: He that hath made their madneſſe ſo manifeſt, will goe on to doe yet more: what will He do? The Church can anſwer, That which ſhall be beſt for her ſons and daughters both for the time, manner and meanes of doing it, though all this they leave in their LORDS hand, let Him work as He pleaſeth, if in the dark, and His foot-ſteps are upon the waters, and no print of them, yet, as Maſter Bradford ſaid, ſo ſaith the Church, She will follow her LORD in the dark. Though he ſeeme to goe by compaſſe, by the bow, as we call it, yet Hee goes the ſtraighteſt, and neereſt courſe to His GLORY, carrying all levell thereunto. The Church is marvailouſly contented with this, (That all works for her Lords Glory) her ſpirit ſhall work after Him, even the ſtrength of her ſpirit, in that way He goes, though clouded and over-ſhadowed with da…kneſſe: for ſhe is confident, This very way wherein ſhe ſees not the prints of all his foot-ſteps, (ſhe ſees very much) tends moſt directly to her full comfort here, and her glory hereafter.

The Church hath ſeene ſo much of God, ſuch ſweet experiences, ſo many providences, ſo ſtrange, ſo wonderfull, ſuch commings-in of God unto her, when in her Egypt, in her wilderneſſe, p. 70that ſhe cannot diſtruſt him now. **Pſal. 22. 4.Ps 22:4Our fathers truſted in thee: What follows? Thou didſt deliver them: They cryed unto thee, and they were delivered. Though we are full of changes, yet God is the ſame to His Church for ever: And to diſtruſt now after all this, were a provocation as was theirs (by unbeliefe) at the SLA, even at the RED Sea. The Church cannot queſtion Gods love to her, nor dare ſhe queſtion His Power; Hee is GOD, The King of His Church, He reigneth in the midſt of His enemies, and then like Himſelf, moſt gloriouſly. He brought along Captivity upon His people for THEIR GOOD. He hath Jer. 24 5.Jer 24:5ordered our diſtractions ſo, that they have beene for our good. How ſo? GOD will have it ſo, and we need not ask a queſtion, when we ſee it to be ſo, diſtractions for GOOD. They have tended to union, and joyning together, the good with the good never faſter, the bad with the bad never cloſer, like the ſcales of the Leviathan, they ſtick together that they cannot be ſundred. Croſſe ſpirits, who will be oppoſite, and ſpurne againſt the pricks for their hurt, theſe ſhall be ſuffered and countenanced for the good of His people, To make them more in love with Truth, to contend for it more earneſtly, in a more orderly and unanimous way, now that they ſee all the wicked, all the Malignants of the world are bent and doe contend againſt them: Then we muſt conclude, All tends to advance GODS glory and His peoples good; Their fears have wrought for GOOD; it hath made them wait patiently for God; it hath made their love more perfect, their feare more refined, their dependance more glorious, their obedience more ſincere and hearty, their watch ten thouſand times ſtronger againſt their adverſaries, and over themſelves. Bleſſed be GOD who hath done all this, made their fears and diſquietings to pull downe and ſpoile their owne ſtrong-holds, Nature and Sin, and to build up and fortifie their impregnable Forts, Love to God, Feare of God, Confidence in God, Obedience unto God, and Watchfulneſſe in all.

To ſhut up all. The Righteous wait patiently for God; they love Him, they feare Him, they ſtay themſelves upon Him, they obey from the heart, (if their Obedience were not hearty, their Truſt were preſumption) they make their watch ſtrong over themſelves, and againſt their adverſaries: Goe thou thy way p. 71now, thou art in Gods way, and doe likewiſe, and be no longer ſad: if thou ſtandeſt alone now, and there be none that will take thee by the hand, unleſſe to thruſt thee downe, yet fear not: Though an Hoſt encamp about thee, thou art in Gods way, and upon His work, fear not: He will hold thee by His hand, He wil be thy Arm every morning, thy ſalvation alſo in the time of trouble.

OnelyOnly keep to your ſtrong hold, (i. e.) hold faſt your confidence. Let ſinners in Zion be afraid, fearfulneſſe muſt ſurpriſe the Idolatrous Nation, they have no God to look unto, no chambers Eſay 26. 20.Isa 26:20to enter into, while the indignation paſſeth over: They are now like a tottering wall, and a broken fence; they are falling and daſhing to pieces like a potters veſſell. The Lord ſees their day is comming, for they are very proud, their rage riſeth high, and ſo many ſteps and degrees to their utter ruine, and everlaſting confuſion. As the righteous work out their ſalvation with feare and trembling, ſo doe the wicked work out their deſtruction with joy and gladneſſe over the ruines they have made in the world: you can wait upon God, you love Him, you feare Him, you truſt in Him. We have concluded. Our fathers truſted in Thee: they Pſal. 22. 4, 5.Ps 22:4Ps 22:5truſted, and Thou didſt deliver them. They cryed unto Thee and were delivered. For the armes of the wicked ſhall be broken, but Pſal. 37. 17.Ps 37:17The Lord upholdeth the righteous.

FINIS.

End of the text · Hezekiah Woodward, The Cause Use Cure of Fear (1643)