A Good Soldier Maintaining His Militia, Chapter 1
CHAP. I. The first worke in Poſturing a Kingdome, is,
The caſting-out of Abominations thence, Perſons and Things The cheife Heads and Leaders only named; Whereto are added, Maſters of Schooles and Colledges. And to the Abominable things are added, blaſphemous Pictures, Divine names given to unhallowed places fignes and dayes. This work is firſt in deſigne, laſt in performance: It is doing, but never done, Much is done, and mighty Reaſons given, why there is no more done.
I Muſt review the compariſon betwixt the Civill Body and the Naturall: In this, there were malignant humours as evill ſpirits; In that, there are malignant Perſons and Things. Malignant Perſons, I will but name the chiefe, ſpecially thoſe, who have Defiled the Land with blood; polluted it with Idolatries; leavened it with Atheiſme and prophaneneſſe; All theſe might be pointed at with the finger. 1. The murtherers firſt, men of bloods, mighty hunters before the LORD, who have ſlaine the bodies of men; ſpilt their pretious blood like water. God will require it; At the hand of every beast will GOD require it aGen. 9. 5, ….At the hands of theſe beastslike-men, much more, woe unto him and them, who have ſpilt this blood; They have defiled the land, and the land cannot be cleanſed of the blood, that is ſhed therein, but by the blood of him that ſhed it bNum. 35. 33.. 2. Thoſe, that have (what in them lay) ſpilt the blood of ſoules, for whom the LORD Chriſt has ſhed His moſt pretious blood: Woe unto them; a double woe upon Arch-biſhops and Biſhops, who have, by their abominable doctrines and practiſes, ſlaine the ſoules of men; ſo as the Church has complained bitterly, Woe is me now, for my ſoule is wearied becauſe of murtherers cJer. 4. 3 ….; murtherers in the higheſt degree dIllud pernicioſum, quod in aternitate juguiabit, &c. Sal. ad Eccleſ. l. 2. ….: The Lord has lifted-up His hand againſt theſe; and by command from Gods mouth, man has liftedup his hand alſo, and ſubſcribed his name for the caſting of theſe forth: for they have leavened the land with Atheiſme and with Idolatry, and with horrible prophanations: It were endleſſe to reckonup ſingulars here, This Atheiſt and that Idolater, theſe prophane perſons, who ſwarme every where, this were an infinite work. Ile name but one ſingle perſon more, but he is plurall, many, if not a legion; He is the Catechiſer, a Maſter in the Schoole and Colledge; Men of infinite uſe to the places where they are, if they ſtudy to be uſefull; If good, then as were the figgs, very good: If bad, very bad eJer. 24. 3.: The Schoolemaſter, he diſtilleth, infuſeth, droppeth into children what pleaſeth them, and that is ever what is worſt, whereunto corrupt nature ſtands moſt bent and baiſed. Children are not as we commonly ſay, tanquam raſae tabula, As a cleane table, or paper, wherein nothing is written, but you may write therein what you pleaſe. There is ſome truth in it, and of excellent uſe: yet, I ſay, children are not as cleane paper; there is ſomething written in them before the father took them into his armes, which all the fingers in the world cannot take forth: The more care is to be had into whoſe fingers you commit your children; and under what droppings they are ſet. If the little veſſell be ill ſeaſoned at firſt, it is more then a doubt, it will never prove good for ſervice, or honourable uſe *Childs pa…. c. 1, 2. &c. 9.: Much might be ſaid here, and to very great purpoſe; Ile ſay but this, and this I will ſay, becauſe I have obſerved nothing done or ſaid againſt theſe men hitherto: Theſe Catechiſers if evill, are as evill as are the evill Prieſts; nay more corrupting, if more can be, than are thoſe brutiſh Paſtours; Take them together, they are altogether corruptours, All as lepers, peſts and plagues in a common-wealth. So much to Schoolemaſters, that there may bê eyes ſet upon them: So alſo upon Maſters of Colledges, and Tutours there; Theſe are as were the former, If bad, very bad. Children are (ſo they are now adayes in yeares and underſtanding) tranſmitted too ſoone to the Colledge, (a ſlippery place and in a ſlippery fLubricus locus & lubrica aetas: & facilis eſt in eâ prolapſio, Cic.age: (The Maſters there, and the Tutours admit theſe children, take the Parents money, and returne home their children, Aſſes gAccipimus pecuniam & remittimus Aſinos.,) which was the old complaint; Parents may complaine more bitterly now; Our children, good when we ſent them to the Colledge hAula tua recipit, non ſacit bonos. Childs patr. c. 9., have ſpent our money there, and a pretious ſtock of time there, and have gained nothing but what tends to their eternall loſſe, corruption in their judgement and manners: O the ſad complaints this way! They ſhall be heard now: The Schoole and the Colledge it ſhall be viſited; high time; for there are malignant perſons many, and things not a few, I muſt point to theſe next.
Theſe are, I know not how many, but I will gather them-up into as ſhort a ſumme as I can. 1. Idols, and Idoll ſervices, with their appurtenances, all things belonging thereunto; all theſe are no ſooner ſet-up, adorned and ſerved, but a kingdome is made naked, and caſt-downe. 2. With theſe I muſt ranke blaſphemous pictures, and repreſentations hung up for ſignes gHoly Lambe, ſalutation, &c.in many places. 3. Sacred names hSt Saviours. St. Faiths.given to our meeting places, commonly called Churches: To iThe Providence.Ships alſo, and to dayes, which we call holy: So we ſhould not doe, for we have but one Holy-day, and that is the LORDS Day; Other dayes there are, good dayes aEſth. 9. 22.dayes of praiſe and thankſgiving: and dayes of attonement, Faſting dayes, ſoule afflicting dayes: As for holy dayes, we know not where to find them, unleſſe in Romes Calender: and if we have them thence, then ſure we muſt caſt them-out of ours: And greater reaſon yet, why it ſhould be ſo; Becauſe old Latimer ſaid long ſince, The Devill has more ſervice done him upon one holy day, then he has on ten working dayes. The ſtrongeſt plea for keeping in theſe dayes is, That children and ſervants muſt have dayes for recreation. Yes, but let them not be called holy dayes. There ſhall be fit times appointed, wherein children and ſervants, yea and maſters too, may take meet and fitting recreations; [I meane by meet, ſuch as are recreations indeed; truly ſo called, comely for Chriſtians, ſuch as will indeed make them fit for warre:] But when we have ſaid all, or enough touching this grant or allowance, for lawfull recreations, and fit times for them, yet holy dayes, as we ignorantly, or wickedly call them, ſhall be caſt-out, when all is done. 4. Bookes next (for ſo ſome miſ-call them) thoſe accurſed things, ſo filled-up with blaſphemies, hereſies; ſuch in-lets to atheiſme and prophaneneſſe, making roomth for Rome, and bringing-in Sodome to Jerūſalem; Theſe ſhall be caſt-out. To name the laſt firſt, Bookes (as they call them) which deny, that the Law of GOD has any coercive, or binding power; Man is a lawleſſe creature now; let him doe what he has a will to doe, GOD ſees him not; Though it be ſaid every where, they did evill in GODS ſight, yet GOD ſees no ſinne in His children. What Booke ſhall we heare of next? We need not queſtion it; A Booke denying the immortality of the ſoule, or affirming, That the ſoul does ſleepe with the body: I could tell the Reader how an Heathens booke was ſerved, who had written but doubtfully touching ſuch a matter; It is high time, &c. but I know my place and ſtation.
I might be large here, and yet ſay little, becauſe vile, treacherous and prophane Perſons are ſo many; and Things, defiling and deſtructive to a Nation, are, as many; Therefore, if I ſhould ſay more, yet. I ſhould not ſay the halfe; The halfe! when we ſhall heare what the Good Souldier will ſay, who will give us the life and uſe of all this, and ſpeake all he knowes faithfully touching his own heart, the Malignant lords there, (for every luſt there, not crucified is a lord there:) And Things, yet he cannot ſpeake the halfe of that evill, or malignancy, he finds within himſelfe, his own heart; A great part whereof he never knew; A great part of it, and of the evill therein, is to him as the terra incognita to us, There is a ſpace left for it in our Maps: So is there a prayer put-up by this man every day, for pardon of that evill, which he diſcernes not, but he knowes it is there. Therefore ſith it will be upon confeſſion anon, That there is more evill in one mans heart, than he can poſſibly take notice of; I forbeare to name any more Perſons or Things, which are to be found in a Kingdome, That I may take the more time to ſatisfie the Reader touching this objection, What is done againſt all theſe malignants, that are knowne, and diſcovered, for the cutting them off, or caſting-them forth of the Kingdome, that our Kingdome may be the LORDS Kingdome; that He may come-in and delight amongſt us? thus now, the objections runs-on.
Ob. There are many malignants not pointed at, The Blasphemer, duplicate page duplicate page … the LORDS Name, every da: Tho proph…e perſon, th… ſwea…er, the drunkard, and the cor… …nt, who …heth on this ſide, and on that, would have all, and would lea… his neighbour nothing at all. And for the great A… the troublers, the Princes within…er, who are roaring Lyone… … Judges. …, theſe all are where they were they hold their pl…s; Theſe murtherers are lively and ſtrong at this day; The …abernacles of Robbers *Called a Parliament in Oxford, The vileſt men upō earth called themſelves Concillon Deorum, an Aſſembly of Gods.the aſſemblies of wicked men (… to) …, and to ſtand upon their tearmes; If ye will Trone of Peace and think now ye may to be of yoabes, … cibmſciences, then you muſT Treat with Robbers and murthere… touching that matter (thoſe conſcientious men) and … them halfe way, where you muſt not give a polt, but …am (as they call it) to plot-cats. Idolaters prevaile very much and hope to prevaile-yet more; v…e and light Prophets, and b…i…iſh Prieſts have ſpread themſelves throughout the Land, and leavened the ſame: Treacherous men, Hoth… the Father and the ſon. Walker and … are not out-off no not theſe, when Clement Walker *A Check to the checker, give us a clear underſtanding in this matter, & makes a full anſwer.who was never good for himſelfe (yet all for himſelfe his private wealth) and worſe for the publike, hun…ed the blood of the Righteous, hath pe…ioned for h… head, who … worth a thouſand of ours as like the father as can be… an orpament to his Countrey, pretious in the eyes and heart… of all that are godly; to whom yet the ſurrender of Briſtoll is an grievous as it ought to be: But they ſee Gods hand in it making way for his wrath at preſent, and for a wonderfull ſalvation to His people in His own time, ſhortly: Thus for maligna… Perſons. And for Things, Idols are held up in many places ſtill; Idoll ſervices maintained ſtill; Abominable Bookes are thruſt ou… here and there yet not thruſt into the fier: Dayes are called holy ſtill; Perſons and Things are as they were: That is the ſumme of the objection, I cannot fr…me a ſhort anſwer to all this; We are upon the prime and firſt worke, the foundation work, for a ſtable and glorious building, we muſt goe gradually on-ward and expect with patience while the mountaines and Hills are made Zach. 4 7.and the head-ſtone is brought forth with ſhootings, crying. grace, grace unto it. So I proceed and anſwer. Firſt,
I. That indeed the cutting-off theſe mighty oppoſers ſhould be the firſt worke in the well poſturing a Kingdome; if that were done, we ſhould deale well enough with others. True it is, there is not a drunkard in the pariſh, but he is a plague there; So is a ſwearer, a blaſphemer, a Sabbath-breaker, theſe are malignances, very …ſts and plagues to the places where they liue; But it cannot be conceived now that all theſe can be cut off. If ſome one man, whom the Scripture calls a …oaring Lyon, and an evening wolf…, ſome one chiefe troubler of Iſraels peace, be out off; If one head, that has contrived, and plotted the down-fall of Iſraell, he ſtruck-off, even this is a good beginning, and according to rule; for the ſtriking off this one head, has weakened all hands, that were for the ſervice, and at the back of this Head. Saul had killed many Philiſtines, Thouſands. David has killed but one, but that one was Go…h, a Chieftaine amongſt the Philiſtines, Now heare what the women ſay, comming forth to meet King Saul; Saul hath ſl… his thouſands; 1 Sam. 18. 5.and David his ten thouſands. Marke that; Ten thouſand ſlaine in one Goliah. that huge Philiſtine Captaine of the H…ſt, that blaſphemed the Living GOD. I cannot doubt to ſay thi… now and to affirme it, That, when Goliah was ſlaine. Ten thouſand …ies were ſlaine at that time: for all the hoſt of the Philiſtines, Gods enemies, were diſcomfited on that day *May, 12. 1641.when this work was done A wonderfull worke; for He, who only does wonders did that, that is my firſt anſwer.
II. It may ſuffice for preſent, If ſome Acha…, troublers of the common-wealth and peace of Iſraell, be caſt-downe, when they cannot be caſt-out, which is done, by taking away their dominion, ſoveraigne power, and Lord-ſhip: As King Aſa removed his mother from her regency, from being Queene. And that, is a kind of death, the caſting the vile perſon-out of his throne, taking from him his Biſhoprick or office; this work is done alſo. It is ſo alſo, in caſting the Rebels-out of the heart; theſe are never caſt-out, but theſe are caſt-downe, ſubdued they are, put from their regency, out of their throne, they ſhall have no dominion, no power there; And that is a kind of death, as good as a caſting-out, or better, the good God ſo ordering it, when rebels are kept ſo under, that they ſhall rather doe good than hurt, cleane contrary to their nature, poyſonous and hurtfull, yet they ſhall doe the man good. But I have preveated my ſelfe, I anſwer,
III. That this alſo is a great caſting-downe of the Adverſaries, when the Lord, againſt Whom they ſtrive, degrades them, ſmites them in their intellectuals, makes them like a wheele, or, as the Princes of Zoan, fooles, their Counſellours brutiſh aIſa. 19. 11.: ſo as they ſhall proſecute their own way of ſinne and death, to their own deſtruction; Providentia ab eo tollitur, ne &c. Solv.make their own pit wide, and large, and then fall into it blindfold and headlong; But here the ſober man will ſay;
A. That the Adverſaries are no fools, they are ſpeedy in conſultation, and quick for action; and if they have a victory they follow it; And though God has indeed mingled a perverſe ſpirit, amongſt them, ſome are for the Spaniſh faction, others for the French, yet all drive-on furiouſly to the ſame end; as Herod and Pilate, all are made friends, that they may unite their forces, as they againſt the Lord Chriſt, ſo theſe miſcreants againſt His faithfull ſervants all the world over.
B. It is a truth, that theſe prophane and wicked ones are wiſer in their generation than are the children of the reſurrection; and yet notable fooles for all that; for when they ſay, as their Fathers before them, come let us deale wiſely, let us make the people of the Exod. 1. 10.land ſerve with rigour, and their lives bitter with hard bondage, yet in this the Lord does befoole the Adverſary wonderfully. For firſt, the hotter the furnace of the Adverſaries rage is, the nearer God is to His people in that fornace: The more deſolate the Land is, the more it mourneth to the LORD aJer. 12. 11.The Lord will heare the mournings of his people. 2. The Adverſary does doe now no more, then what the Egyptian Magicians or Sorcerers did once and againe; They did but adde to their own plagues; they muſt drinke of thoſe waters which themſelves had turned into blood: So doe theſe Adverſaries now; they doe but helpe-forward their own affliction; work out their own deſtruction; lay deſolate their own land; conſume, deſtroy their own bleſſings, poyſon their owne ſprings; adde to their own plagues; turne their own waters into blood; corrupt their own mercies. A miſerable imployment! A moſt deceitfull worke, to poiſon thoſe waters which, when they have all done, theſe Egyptians alſo muſt drinke: and then be made dunken with the blood they have couſed, ſpew and fall and riſe no more. And when theſe deſtroyers have done all the miſchiefe, in the power of their hands to doe, yet ſhall they not be able to hurt the ſervants of the Lord, not able to impoveriſh them; notwithſtanding all the Adverſaries rage, BREAD ſhall be given theſe ſervants: Their WATERS ſhall be ſure b. The concluſion Iſa. 33. 16. q Ac ſi diceret puris & integris Dei cultoribus nihil defuturum: panis euim & aquae nomine ſignificantur omnia, Cal. foreign.is, That theſe Abaddons, Appollyons, Theſe deſtroyers, doe now with one hand work-out their own deſtruction; and with the other hand, ſalvation to the Churches; ſo God befooles His Adverſaries for the preſent. I anſwer.
IV. We muſt not conceive that a Kingdome is not Poſtured till all the malignant Perſons and Things be caſt-out; that will never be; this caſting out theſe, is a worke ſtill doing but never done. It is very obſerveable, that Davids triumphant ſong, which he ſang unto the LORD in the day the Lord had delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul, (who perſecuted 2 Sam. 22. 1.him with with an open face, before all Iſraell and before the Sun; and was as openly puniſhed:) This triumphant ſong was but Davids breathing immediately before he breathed forth his laſt words; now theſe be the laſt words of David; Immediately before, 2 Sam. 23. 1.we have that triumphat Pſalme, and not before. We may note this by the way; That this Poſturing worke, whether it be of a Nation, or of a Man only, is a mighty worke, long a doing, for it is never done; I meane, not compleated, no not till a little before we are ſpeaking our laſt words; But I ſhall reſerve this for a full Chapter, that we may the more fully ſee, how we may be miſtaken in the Parliaments worke, and in our own alſo, for this may be added hereunto;
V. That this cutting-off and thruſting-out Malignants, is indeeds, as the end is, whereof the Logicians ſay, That it is the firſt in our intention, propoſition and deſigne; but it is the laſt in execution: It is firſt intended, though it be laſt, yea, though it be never attained. The purging-out of Rebels is the end, the reſult of all Conſultations, Acts and Ordinances, all theſe reſolve and empty themſelves in thither: all counſells and Acts have a tendency thereunto. It is true, we ought to be heaving at theſe Perſons and Things as we doe at ſome indigeſted bits, which clogg the ſtomack and oppreſſe nature, not ſtrong enough to caſt-them out: So in the Body politick. But there muſt be an endeavour to the utmoſt to caſt-out theſe oppreſſours. And yet the Lord may ſuffer theſe to be too hard for His people, for mighty reaſons; To exerciſe His ſervants graces in their war-fare, their Faith, their Humility, their Patience.
1. Their E…th, That He, Who has begun this good wor…e will perfect it in …own time, the …ſt time: The Lord … given His …vants the necke of their Adverſaries (ten Thouſand necks in one …. Then the Lord ſaid unto His ſervants, as His ſervant *Chap. 10. 2….Joſhu… ſaid … …ſmaid, be ſtrong und of good courage, for thu… ſhall the Lord doe to all your enemies againſt whom you fight: ſhall ſmite your enemies and ſtay them, and ſome of them you ſhall … D…d ſee… …ioliah ſhjaine in the …ou… and the Beare. The drowning of the Egyptian Hoſt in the red ſea, gave the Iſa. 5…. 9. Pſal. 74. 14. Annona ſuit huic repoſita quâ veſceret populus, Calvin, Ibid. Thank-offe…ing, p. 55. …ee Cure of …eares. p. 47.Church aſſured confidence for ever; It was laid-up (ſays Calvin) as …e… for Iſrael againſt a deare yeare. When the Church was under the cruell tyranny of Anti…hus (ſo Interpreters doe agree upon the occaſion of that Pſ…lme lPſal. 85.Then their mouth was wideſt open in prayer and praiſe…. And reade I pray you, how they … bear-up themſelves upon former experiences of Gods comming in unto them: Thou haſt, Thou haſt, ſix times repeated. But this is the great worke, that God hac done for them; Thou haſt forgiven … of Thy people mver. 2.ſin is pardoned (pardon my ſins and do… what Thou …lt to me, ſaid Luther nMet. Adam. vit. Luth. p. 108.) Surely Gods ſalvation … to … foare him over. 9.that is comfortable; The …yranny of Antiochu… ſeemed … the people, That GOD and his ſalvation was forre off; no ſure, God is never nearer to His people, (as a Father to his children) then when they are under the ſoreſt 9oppreſſions: But the greateſt mercy is behind; Thou faſt given us the Lord Chriſt foreign, with Him, Thou canſt deny us nothing; We have the greateſt Bleſſing, SALVATION, its ſelfe; we cannot So the 10th verſe is interpreted.doubt of ſalvation now from under the bloody hands of Antiochus that tyrant; mercy and Truth are met together; Righteouſneſſe and peace have kiſſed each other; We can ſalute that ver. 10.promiſe afarre off; Let GOD alone now; He will doe His people no hurt: If he holds their necks yet longer under the yoake, it ſhall be for their farther enlargement anon, and higher exaltation after they are humbled more: Secondly then to exerciſe.
2. Their Humility, To make them humble, and to keep them ſo: The Lord ſuffe… theſe Adverſaries to prevaile over His ſervants, to be as … in their eyes, and as thornes in their ſides, becauſe, when they might have caſt-out theſe Perſons, and their accurſed thing… them the ſervants of the Lord were ſlack and would not; now they would and cannot: Theſe Adver… … is aforeſaid, to be as pricking briars and …, that the ſervants of the Lord may follow the commands of their LORD fully for the thruſting of them-out, as the LORD ſhall be … in after time to put power into their hands. And for the preſent time they are taught to walke humbly with their God, and to commune with their own hearts ſeriouſly, whether they, who are …apart by God Himſelfe to reforme others are ſelfe-Reformers. If not, it will retard and hold-back that we call Reformation, … tlly, and keepe in malignant Perſons and Things, to deſpight ou… hearts, to be unto us as vexing thornes, and grieving b…s. If they have not purged themſelves, who are gone forth to purge … theren, then may they, Gods people though they are, … againe before their enemies; and theſe enemies may ſtand-up and pro…per, as once it was *See Covenant Aſſerted. p. 14. & 1….This conſideration prevailes evenmore with the people of God, and keeps them very humble, makes … lye law, and walke ſoftly; And ſo they exerciſe
3. Then Patience, that it may have a perfect worke, … wate now their-Lords time, His appointed time, He is now performing his whole worke upon mount Zion and no Jeruſalem… when that in done, the Lord will puniſh theſe proud men, who …ave Iſa. 10. ….been ſo ſtout againſt Him; He will pluck down their ſtout hearts and the glory of their high lookes. The Lord his diſcovered theſe enemies already; He has ſhowen them openly, and their … neſſe, their ſhame before all the Chriſtian world: Their judgement li…greth not: and their dam…ation ſlumbreth not *1. Pet. 2. 5.The … vants of the Lord can waite the Lords time, touching this matter, therefore I anſwer.
VI. Though the firſt work in the building-up and forſifying a kindgome, is ever to throw-downe to the ground all accurſed Things, Altare and Images, which, no ſooner made and ſet-up, but … Kingdome is made naked, ſet under foote, caſt-down and undone b…rod. …. 23. 2 Ch…o. 18. 19.:Though this was the firſt worke, which the Pr…nee…. Prieſts and people of old, ſet their hands and hearts unto, even the breaking in pieces theſe accurſed Things, and throwing them down [For very notable it is, how they uſed theſe dunghill things, they never left hacking, and cutting, and hewing and deſtroying, and …utning, and drowning till they had utterly deſtroyed them all, *Chro. 31. 1.I Though I ſay, this was the firſt worke, yet we reade, The high places were not taken away, [that is, thoſe high places, where they ſerved The high places where the people ſacrificed to falſe gods were taken away. 2 Chro. 17. 6. The other were not taken away, 2 Chro. 20. 13.the true God after a falſe manner,] theſe were not taken away: And the reaſon is given, for as yet the people had not prepared their hearts unto the God of their fathers. It relates to us fully; Theſe high things, that doe offend the people of God are not taken away; and for the very ſame reaſon. Perhaps, nay paſt all queſtion, every thing, that exalts it ſelf, even in their own hearts, is not caſt-downe, therefore theſe high things are not taken away: I ſhould be large at this point, but I will proceed.
VII. In the next place this may be noted; that this is our duty, to vow and proteſt againſt all theſe accurſed Perſons and Things; to enter into a curſe for the caſting of them forth; And having done ſo, having entred into covenant, having lifted-up the hand, and ſubſcribed the name for the caſting forth all theſe, we muſt doe as our vowes are, uſe all meanes for the purging our ſelves and the Land: That is all we can doe, our duty, uſe the meanes earneſtly as men inflamed with zeale, let the Lord alone with the reſt: In the Neh. 3. 20.laſt place then,
VIII. We muſt not make haste; we muſt waite the Lords time: which is not yet: For 1, The Lord will, by the greatneſſe of His Exod. 15. 16.power, make His enemies as ſtill as a ſtone: But He will firſt ſilence the murmurings of His people; He will ſtill the ſurgings and riſings in his ſervants hearts firſt. 2. The Lord will not doe it till ſuch a time, when His people are ſo low, and their enemies ſo high, that the fetching-up of his people, and the caſting-down their enemies requires the putting-forth the Greatneſſe of GODS Power. 3. The Lord will not deliver His people till they be fit, and meet, and prepared for deliverance; not till then. When He takes off the yoake, He will make His people goe upright; He will not remove the plaiſter, till the wound be throughly healed; He is now ſearching and tenting our wounds to the bottome, which were putrified and very corrupt: The Lord will not give His people their Lands, Houſes, Liberties, &c. for their corruptions to feed-upon any more; or to feed their corruptions, to be fewell to luſts; He will kill His peoples luſts now, they ſhall raigne in them no more, Amen. 4. The Lord will purge-out the Rebels all; it is His promiſe aEze. 20. 38.; But he will purge the hearts of His ſervants firſt. The houſe of
Jacob ſhall be a fier, and the houſe of Joſeph a flame; and the houſe of Eſau for ſtubble, (i. e.) The Church of God ſhall devoure all Obad. 18.their enemies, There ſhall not be any remaining of the houſe of Eſau, for the Lord hath ſpoken it. But this ſhall not be till the ſons of Jacob be purified, till the Lord has purely purged away their droſſe, and taken away their tinne cIſai. 1. 25.The Lord is now upon His Refining worke, and for that great end, His fier is in Zion, and His fornace in Jeruſalem dIſa. 31. 9.. Theſe children of Belial, moſt abominable perſons, that have broken (all the yoakes) the Lawes of Heaven and Earth, have caſt-off Piety, and humanity altogether; men (if I may call them men) of no uſe, eDeut. 13. 13. Men of Beliall, Homines nequiſſimi quaſi abſque …ugo, qui jugum legis Dei excuſſerunt: vel qui nullius frug is & utilitatis ſunt. Men of leſſe uſe then is their owne dung. B…xt.muſt yet do their Lord this ſervice, they muſt ſerve Him as ſcullions, to purge, to whiten fDan. 11. 35., and to purifie the veſſels appointed for honour; And when that work is done, the fier from Jacob, and the flame from Joſeph ſhall kindle upon theſe Adverſaries: and devoure them. The concluſion is, Idols and Idoll men, and Idoll ſervices ſhall be all caſt-out, when every thing, that exalts it ſelfe in His childrens hearts, ſhall be caſt-down, and ſubdued (according to the line of men.) This ſhall certainely be, but His people muſt waite, and they can waite and leave God to His own time, uſing the means, which are mighty (through God) to bring to paſſe all this. Theſe meanes ſhall be mentioned particularly and inſiſted upon. But now we muſt ſee how this good Souldier has quitted himſelfe at this high point, and acted his part againſt theſe Malignants, Perſons and Things within his own breaſt.
§ I. The first worke in well Poſturing a mans ſelfe, is,
The ſubduing Malignant ſelfe, and caſting-down Malignant Things. A wonderfull worke and glorious, for which the man admires God, and freegrace, I raiſes God while he has any being; and toward his brethren he is pittifull and uſefull as a faithfull ſteward of what he has received.
NOw we will take a view of a well Poſtured Souldier. An ordinary ſight, you will ſay, an eaſie worke for one man to poſture himſelfe. Whether ſo or not, comes now to be conſidered: And after due conſideration, it will appeare, That it is an eaſier matter, to ſubdue Kingdomes, to conquer Nations, than it is, for this man to take them captives, whoſe captive he was: To rule over his oppreſſors aIſa. 14. 2., (that is) to conquer his corruptions, the Malignants in his own heart; to ſubdue ſelfe there. Let us take notice, by the way, what this ſelfe is; A ſtubborne ſtiffe piece, like an iron ſinnew, it will rather break than bend: It will perſwade a man rather than ſtoope, to fall, though he is but to ſtoope to Law and Right Reaſon. To maintaine its will, it will hazard all its peace on earth, even a Kingdome there, yea and a Crowne in Heaven; ſuch a perverſe perſon is ſelfe. And yet, if he has ſet his eye upon ſelfe-righteouſneſſe, it will ſo glaze in his eyes, that he will thinke himſelfe ſome great one bActs 8. 9., rich and wanting nothing, when indeed, he is wretched, and miſerable, and poore, and blind and naked cRev. 3. 17.. This ſelfe is ſubdued and abhorred. By what meanes, in whoſe ſtrength, what a worke it is, and how long a doing, will be pointed at in due time. Now we will heare, what the man ſpeakes in his confeſſions, he is large there, and he cares not who heares him; His confeſſion is; That all this Malignancy in Perſon and in Things (we cannot reckon up particulars,) that all this, this Malignant perſon is himſelfe; and Malignant things are as himſelfe: He will confeſſe, That he is well acquainted with Malignant Lords ever ſince he knew himſelfe: and that Malignant things troubled him more, than all the Malignants in the Kingdome, for thoſe offended his God moſt of all. Certainely thus he ſayes, That there is a desperate wickedneſſe in his heart; and an J…. 17.inconceiveable deceit there. And ſurely, if we conſider well on it, we ſhall ſay every man of himſelfe, as St Paul did, O wretched man that I am. Here is no inconſiſtency now in words, A good man, and yet ſelfe in him, for man is ſuppoſed in a Chriſtian: And where man is, there ſelfe is more or leſſe, and that is himſelfe, and Homo ſupponitur in Chriſtiano.much evill there is. If we ſee it not in the fruit, yet there it is in the ſeed and roote, as we ſhall clearely diſcerne preſently: for this is manifeſt to all, who have eyes to ſee, or an heart to underſtand themſelves, That all the malice we have been ſpeaking of, ſo mightily oppoſing the good of the great Body, all this is but a glaſſe, for every man to ſee himſelfe in; the very modell and repreſentation of every mans own heart *See …ts treaſury opened, Mat. 15. 19. Mark. 7. 2….; he ſees his own heart there, and image as he ſees himſelfe in his child, or as he ſees a face in water anſwering a face; In a word, This man, beholding the whole world lying in wickedneſſe, does behold therein, as in a mirrour, a world of wickedneſſe in himſelfe. This wickedneſſe, malignance we may call it, doth not breake-out and ſhew its ſelfe in all alike, but there this malice is in the roote and ſeed, and fomenting cauſe of all that, which we have taken notice of. And the very diſcerning hereof, that ſo it is, is the firſt ſtep and degree a man takes in the way and method of maintaining his Militia, the well poſturing himſelfe. For now he ſees, that the worke is of abſolute neceſſity, it muſt be done. 1. He firſt diſcovers an enmity, an oppoſition from nature within himſelfe, to the work of Reformation; his heart flies from it as from death, for indeed it is a kind of death; and nature, which is ſelfe, is as oppoſite to it, as that Iſraelite was who counted Reforming a killing aExod. 2. 14.. Nature not renewed will oppoſe this with all its might. And if the heart doe let the Bill paſſe for the compleating of it, it is becauſe it is over-powred; becauſe the thunder and haile, ſome ſtrong motions and feares are upon the ſpirits; when thoſe are blowne-over, ſelfe will be ſelfe ſtill; strong holds will ſtand up ſtill; ſtrong reaſonings to maintaine all the Idols, the abominable things there; All this will be till ſelfe be overpowred by an Almighty power, and ſpoken unto by a ſtrong hand bIſa. 8. 11.: Then ſelfe is maſtered, then there is a yeilding-up the ſtrong holds, there is no more Reaſonings cforeign. 2 Cor. 10. 5.with ſelfe for the maintaining of ſelfe that Malignant perſon: or Malignant things, Idols or Idoll ſervices. True it is, theſe Malignants are not caſt-forth all, no nor quite ſubdued all: Though the Body of ſin be mortified, yet the life thereof is prolonged, a and the power thereof is (as the Kingdome ſpoken of by Daniel) partly ſtrong and partly broken; Lord-like-luſts, or Dan. 7. 17.luſt-like-Lords will ſtorme his ſoul ſometimes, and force a reentry. And the Lord ſuffers it to be ſo, for mighty reaſons, which I muſt reſume, in part, as pertinent to this place as to the other: for as it is in the great Kingdome, ſo it is in the little kingdome within a mans own breaſt: The mans warfare muſt be maintained, he muſt be kept waking and watchfull; he muſt ſee how important a matter it is, and of what infinite concernment, That he keep cloſe to the God of his ſtrength, and his ſalvation, that is firſt. And
2. This wickedneſſe is in the heart but it is hated there; luſts are there, but not Lords there; they have no dominion there; Theſe are put downe from their Regency; he has prayed againſt them three times, and as often covenanted againſt them. Yea looke what malice or evill there is, which the man cannot meete with nor caſt-out (all he cannot) that remainder, he has dealt with it as the Jewes of old did, the night before their great feaſt, with their leaven, they ſearched diligently for it into every corner and cranny of the houſe, as this man ſearcheth his heart; and what they could not find-out they did curſe and abominate, ſaying, never more ſowre our lumpe: So this man deales with ſelfe and its Idols, he makes diligent ſearch after them to throw-them-out; what he cannot caſt-out, not find-out (for ſelfe has many darke corners within its ſelfe, which mans eye could never peirce into) yet he pryeth into the bottome and root of all, and this he doth curſe and abominate, ſaying, never fruit grow thereon: And what fruit there will grow, he prayeth it may be as an untimely fruit, which never ſaw the ſunne. And ſo what he cannot overcome, he does hate and abhorre. And mighty reaſon why he ſhould ſo doe, abominate and accurſe that ſo fruitfull ſeed within him: for had not the LORD, according to His ſervants prayer, kept downe that Roote from putting forth its ſelfe, according to its activeneſſe; had He not reſtrained that corruption, not ſuſfering it to bring forth according to its fruitfulneſſe: Had the Lord ſuffered this cockatrice to broode-upon and hatch her eggs; had He left this ſinning ſinne, within the man, to bring forth its own curſed fruit, then had this man been as vile as the vileſt, as proud as the proudeſt Prelate; as Idolatrous as are he and ſhe, who lift-up their hearts to the moſt lying vanities; as cruell and as bloody as are the Tabernacles of Robbers; This man might have beene ſwearing, curſing, blaſpheming, tearing, piercing the Name of his God, amongſt the Iriſh rogues, and Engliſh monſters; This man might have beene in the Kings Army, a Prince there, (by nature he is no better then they) A child of wrath as others: bEpheſ. 2. 3.If the Lord had not been gratious unto him, added more grace, made him to differ, c1. Cor. 4. 7.he had been as one of them, a mighty hunter before the LORD, as a roaring Lyon, or a ſhee Beare, or an evening Wolfe, ſuch an one he had been, if the Lord had not overpowred his corruption, made him to differ from another wrought gratiouſly in him, and for him, for which he admireth the Lord in His free-grace, and bleſſeth His holy Name. The Lord has wrought a mighty worke in him, faith, by which he has overcome the world, eſcaped the pollutions there, the luſts of the fleſh the ſnares of the world, a world of wickedneſſe, (a Grace to be admired) by which he ſtood-out againſt the gates of Hell; overpowred power its ſelfe, principalities and powers; how admirable all this? This raiſeth the heart,firſt,
1. In admiration of free grace; And you, that were dead in trespaſſes and ſins; What more? that is all we find in the Originall; Epheſ. 2. 1.In our Engliſh we reade this more, hath He quickened: but in the Greeke only this, And you, that were dead in treſpaſſes and ſins: A mercy to be admired; has He quickened! That is ſwallowed-up with admiration; for it is more admirable then was the making of the world, or creating of light. There is more in this, HAS HE QUICKENED! Therefore ſwallowed-up with Job 6. 3.admiration, as Jobs words were with exceeding griefe: You has He quickened! dead as well as others, whom yet He left in the ſame death, to periſh in their ſins: You has He quickened. It is all one as if the Apoſtle had ſaid, And you has He juſtified, ungodly though you were; For you the Father has given His Son; and the Son has given Himſelfe to reconcile you, and to bring you neare, farre off once, and an enemy though you were: And you has He loved with an eternall love, becauſe He loved you (there is Deut. 7.no other reaſon of His love,) He ſet His heart upon you, and paſſed over others Thouſands, no worſe than your ſelfe! And you has He ſeene in your blood, and He ſaid at ſuch a time as that, to you, it is a time of love, live live: *Twice repeated, as well to ſhew the greatneſſe of His power, as the riches of His mercy.O admirable! He has obſerved thy way, wherein thou wenteſt on frowardly, as others did, yet to thee He ſaid, I will heale thee; aEzek. 16. 8.ſo He forgave thy ſin and healed thee bIſa. …7. 18.All this, ſo admired of this ſoule, is contained in this, HAS HE QUICKNED!
2. And now that God has dealt ſo with His ſervant, ſo viſited him in his low eſtate, quickned him, brought him from death to life; now his heart is filled with admiration, and ſo is his mouth filled with praiſe: All without him, all within him, are called upon to praiſe His Holy Name. For what? The man cannot expreſſe that, he is ſwallowed-up in an ocean of love, from everlaſting unto everlaſting; and now he will lengthen out his praiſe, wider than the Heavens, even to everlaſting. His Lord and his God has regarded him, has kept him; has held him by the hand in the moſt ſuppery ages and places; how many puddles might he have fallen into? how many mires might he have wallowed-in? had not the Lord held him upright; O how does his ſoule meditate praiſes! how does he ſtudy Mictams, Hallelujahs; and holineſſe! O with what Selahs, with what exaltation of heart and voice, does he ſing the 103 Pſalme, Bleſſe the LORD, O my ſoul: you ſhall heare him out-anon, with what elevation of ſpirit will he ſing this, for it is his triumphant ſong, which he will ſing immediately before he is breathing forth his laſt words: Then and not till then, for all the time before he muſt be in a warfaring condition, as the Church is, and it is beſt for him and the Church both: Yet aſſured he is as all the faithfull are, that nothing ſhall doe him hurt now, every thing ſhall doe him good, even his worſt enemies, and he ſhall be more then conquerour at laſt; But not till immediately before his laſt words, then he will ſpeake to the Lord the words of this ſong, The Lord has delivered m… out of the hands of all mine enemies, and out of the hand of my ſelfe; His name be praiſed, exalted, magnified for ever and ever, Amen. The time of his foreign is not yet, but yet he knowes the foundation ſtands ſure, he knowes to whom he has committed his ſoule; he has a ſure ſtanding, he is ſetled upon the Rock: he ſtands and ſhall ſtand like a wall of braſſe againſt the blaſt of the terrible ones, and laughs at their ſtorming; he is at peace with his God, and is not afraid of the beaſts of the earth; Job 5.The Lord is his portion, and his cup runneth-over; he is poore, perhaps, in eſteeme of others, but he is rich in faith; he is as a man that has nothing, and yet poſſeſſing all things. The Lord has ſatisfied him with the fatneſſe of His houſe, even with the richeſt mercies; He has enough indeed, for he has God, and with Him all things. foreign Gen. 33. 11.He is a contented man; and well he may be content, for he has the fountaine: If the ſtreames be cut-off, intercepted for a time, no matter, he is ſure of the I ountaine. The Sonne of Righteouſneſſe ſhines upon his tabernacle; then the night is day to him, for the Sun makes the day, though neither Moone nor Stars appeare, (i. e. that is) God is all to him without the creature: the creature nothing to him without God. God is his, therefore is His ſervants mouth wide open to His praiſe. But you will aske; Are there no ſtormes in his ſoule, no clouds over his ſpirit at any time? Yes ſure, many times, you may heare of that anon; Now,
3. Behold we how this ſervant of the Lord carrieth himſelfe toward his fellow ſervants; he entreats them, he beſeecheth them by the mercies of Chriſt, and, knowing the terrours of the LORD, he perſwadeth with all meekneſſe, inſtructing thoſe, that oppeſe themſelves, 2 Tim. 2. 25, 26.if GOD, peradventure, will give them repentance. He is tender-hearted, forgiving another even as GOD for Chriſts ſake Eph. 4. 32. Coloſſ. 3. 13.hath forgiven him: He is a friend to his enemies, if they curſe him, he will bleſſe them: for there are three conſiderations very mighty to prevaile with him this way. 1. That God, for Chriſts-ſake, hath forgiven him much, he knowes not how much; ſhould not he forgive that little, thoſe few pence, (ſuch and ſo ſmall are mans offences againſt man in reference to thoſe againſt God.) 2. That the Lord juſtified the ungodly. 3. That the night before He was betrayed, Rom. 4. 5, 5, 6.He made a Feaſt for His enemies, even them who pierced Him: He gave His blood for thoſe, who had an hand in ſhedding … blood. This is a melting conſideration, and engageth the heart ſtrongly, to give and forgive; to beare and forbeare with all long ſuffering and meekneſſe. We have enough touching this matter. I come now to conſider the meanes, whereby this Souldier has thus poſtured himſelfe, has attained to this height of ſpirit, which is obſerved in nothing more, than in his humble carriage, and Chriſtian fortitude. But we muſt obſerve it firſt in the proceedings of Parliament, the ſteps and wayes they went in well-Poſturing the Kingdome.