A Good Soldier Maintaining His Militia, Chapter 2

A Good Soldier Maintaining His Militia · Chapter 2

p. 25CHAP. II.

The prime and chiefe meanes to Poſture a Kingdome, Prayer and Faſting;

How prevailing Prayer is, It does all, it commands God, and God commands deliverance; Prayer and Pr…iſe goe together. The Churches falls and diſconifitures, particularly that at Newarke, matter …f…nfinite uſe to the Church, and of high pr…iſe.

VVE have heard what the Nobles and Worthies have done towards the compleating this great worke, the ſtrengthening or well Poſturing the Kingdomes: We proceed as they did not in their own ſtrength. It is not all created ſtrength, that can doe ſuch works as theſe; remove ſuch Perſons and ſuch Things;

p. 26They ſought forth and applied themſelves to ſuch meanes, whereby they might bring-in God to their helpe; They did after the old manner, which never failed the Church, they commanded the City firſt, then the whole Nation as Eſther the Jewes, faſt ye for us, we Eſt…r 4. 16.will faſt alſo: They knew, there is a kind of malignant ſpirit which will not be caſt-out by any other meanes: They tooke hold of the Almighties Arme; they wraſtled with Him for this thing; they prayed, they wept, and would not riſe from their knees without … Hoſ. 12. 4.Hos 12:4bleſſing; And ſo they prevailed for the caſting-out their dead, Idoll men and Idoll ſervices; ſo they ſhall root-out them, who have rooted-in themſelves ſo long: So have they throwne downe their Altars, and caſt-out thoſe abominable ſervices. They wept and they prayed, and ſo they became a prevailing people with their God upward to this day, and ſo they were delivered; So they have ſtricken-through many mighty men; So they have wounded … heads over many (Dioceſſes) Countries. Prayer [I name that only becauſe it is the principall and chiefe worke upon that ſolemne day: faſting does but helpe to make the prayer more ſpiritfull; It weakens the body, that it may ſtrengthen the ſpirit, and heighten it; Faſting is, as I may ſay, the emptying duty; It ſhewes a man, openly, a mortified man, leſſer then a crumb of bread, and drop of drinke: It makes him nothing-worth in himſelfe, yea worſe than nothing, an emptying duty: Prayer is a filling duty, it fills-up as faſt as the other has emptied, we ſhall ſee how efficacious prayer is.] Prayer gained the in-come and harveſt of all that ſpirituall ſeed, the ſervants of the Lord, now departed from us, were ſowing all their life long: now that harveſt comes-in. Time would faile me, to tell what the people of God have done by prayer. Prayer has done all, which has been done, for God forbid that we ſhould ſpeake of any thing, which the Lord hath not wrought for, and with His people; And nothing He has wrought, but He has been ſought unto, and enquired of for that thing. It is true the Lord hath given His people the greateſt mercies, which they prayed not for, ELECTION before Time; His SON in the fullneſſe of Time: All deliverances ſince are the fruit of the Churches prayers, though they have exceeded her prayers, and her hopes: Prayer obtained a Parliament, brought them together and their hearts-up to the worke; and prayer has kept them together, has ſifted them as p. 27wheate in a ſeive, blew away the chaffe, and not a wheate-corne loſt; Prayer ſtrengthened the hearts and hands of the Worthies in throwing-downe the Biſhops; It ſtrengthened the Biſhops hands againſt themſelves, for the throwing themſelves out of the Lords Houſe, and into priſon; Prayer caſt forth the bruitiſh Paſtours, and ſervices like themſelves; And prayer will ſtrengthen the right hand of the Lord with His ſervants, that they ſhall doe more and more valiantly touching that matter. Prayer ſhall, as it has done, bring to paſſe great matters; But not in its own ſtrength (for **This is more fully explained in an Anſwer to a blaſphemo…s Rime from Oxford. See Good newe… from all quarters brought unto us upon the wing of prayer.in its ſelfe it has no more ſtrength than has an Oaten-ſtraw, but) as it cloſeth with a Promiſe in the hand of a Redeemer, Who is ſtrong **This is more fully explained in an Anſwer to a blaſphemo…s Rime from Oxford. See Good newe… from all quarters brought unto us upon the wing of prayer.; in That ſtrength the Worthies of the Lord have leaped over walls, and skipped over mountaines, theſe have been made plaines before them. I muſt paſſe-over here what Reſcues His people have had, what ſtrange deliverances! what diſcoveries the Lord has made of His right hand, with His people, and againſt His Adverſaries, confounding them in their pride and bloody deſignes; It is the Lords doing and marvellous in our eyes! But He was ſought unto for theſe things: And though we paſſe-over many things, we muſt not paſſe-over this; That Prayer made void a terrible and bloody Commiſſion, To cut and to ſlay all that had an hand with David (all the faithfull in the Land:) and to deſtroy a mother in Iſraell. Prayer turned all the contrary way, It brake the ſnare, diſappointing the hope of the Malignants; laid-open the pit, as deepe as Hell, and hurled ſome chiefe Actors thereinto; And this opened the mouth of the righteous yet wider, made their prayer more fervent, ſo that it quenched a fiery-flying-ſerpent, ſome called it a Proclamation, to cut off all ſuccours from the City of God; Theſe haile ſtones and coales of fier, prayer diſſolved, and quenched: The heate of the Adverſaries diſpleaſure was quite extinct by prayers fervency. Prayer did the like exploit at Gloceſter; It quenched all the Granadoes caſt into that City: ſo as theſe had no more power, notwithſtanding all their ſtorming a whole MonethMonth together, but to kill a Pigge: Nor had the Adverſary a Legion though he was, done ſo much, not killed that Pigge, but by order from Heaven. In Judah is God knowne, His name is great in Iſraell; His dwelling …ſal. 76.place is in Zion. (Proceed,) There brake He the arrowes of the bow, the ſhield and the ſword, and the battle. There! Where? In His p. 28Tabernacle in Zion, there dwelling and walking with His people, and they converſing with their God, in His ordinances. There and then He brake the arrowes and the bow; there and then He turned away the ſtorming Adverſary; then He raiſed the ſiege. When? On the ſeventh of September (it is written,) on that day, when the Inhabitants of Gloceſter were praying and (with …ehoſhaphat) praiſing: when the Adverſary was ſtorming and ready to devoure, then were the inhabitants, as that good King, praying and praiſing; Praiſe the LORD, for His mercy endureth for ever; It followes;2 Chro. 20. 21.2 Chr 20:21 And when they began to ſing and to praiſe, the Lord, &c. So it followed then and now alſo, for when they were praying and praiſing, then the Lord brake the arrowes and the bow, then He plucked the bridle in the Adverſaries mouth, and away He turned him, and where is the fury of the oppreſſour? Praiſe ye the LORD for His mercy endureth for ever.

We muſt not forget now how prayer and praiſe went-out with our Armies, marched along with them, therefore God was with them; nay He was in them in the midſt of them; We muſt tell it out to His praiſe; how God was with His people in the field, how He ſuſtained them there, even more miraculouſly, than Elias, by a Raven; The Ethiopians, the Kings Army (they are Ethiopians unto Me ſayes the Lord aaAm…s 9. 7.,) theſe were caterers, and purvayers for Gods people; Theſe Ravens, theſe uncleane creatures brought His people meat; So they, the ſervants of the Lord, forced the meate out of thoſe H…rpies clawes, …ate it, and gave praiſe to God: And in the ſtrength of that meate they marched, and their God with them! He gave his people an eye to overlooke all the Lyons and ſhee Beares in their way; He ſtrengthened His people to the battle, gave them power-over their Adverſaries; And brought them home as upon Eagles wings: In all this, prayer commanded God (He is pleaſed ſo to be commanded) and ſo He commanded deliverances for Jacob; They ſhall advance God; In His Name they brake through a Troope: They ſet-up God in His place, and ſo they keep the heart in its place, never out of frame, not afraid with any amazement. Time would fa…le me, if I ſhould ſet downe how prevailing Gods people have beene with their God, and how wonderfully their God has wrought for His ſervants and againſt His and their Adverſaries ever ſince they gained Briſtoll; Certainely p. 29the Lord has wrought wonders for His people in every place ever ſince; He has wrought as marvellous things now in the North, and South, West alſo, as once He did, when He devided the ſea, and let the ranſomed paſſe-over: As marvailouſly has He protected, (ſeparated) here and there betwixt His friends and His enemies, as once He did betwixt the Iſraelites and the Egyptians, or betwixt David and Saul, And prayer did all this; It raiſed that SELAHAM MAHLEKOTH aa1 Sam. 23. ….1 Sam 23, that rock of ſeparation, as once betwixt David and Saul, ſo now betwixt them, and their enemies. I muſt paſſe over that wonderfull worke of Providence towards Hull; There is a monument raiſed to the eternall memory of that ſalvation. I muſt leave every good man to his own collections; I know he has a booke wherein to regiſter the works of the Lord, and the operations of His hands, that he may muze on them; To theſe his collections, I will adde but this, which I received from an inhabitant in Gernſey; That, that monſter amongſt men, a Devill incarnate, that Abaddon, Apollyon, the Governour of the Caſtle there, a man indeed for ſhape, but an evening wolfe in practiſe; This bruitiſh man has diſcharged againſt the Towne 3000 ſhot of Ordnance from the Caſtle, and yet has deſtoyed neither man, woman nor child, only killed a Dog **Oſburne has continued ſtorming that Town theſe 9 Moneths, yet has wounded only one Man, killed a Dogge, a Pigg, and a Pigeon., the loweſt and baſeſt creature in the world, yet better than man is when he has caſt-off his humanity. The ſumme of all is; Prayer and Praiſe (for that is alwayes included) has done all, that has been done; for God commands Prayer; and Prayer commands GOD; and GOD commands deliverance for His people; Praiſe ye the Lord. We have ſeene part of the wayes have been taken for the ſtrengthening the Kingdome; Prayers and Praiſes have done great things; Theſe have carried-forth the malignancy of the Kingdome: or obtained power againſt it. Theſe have brought-in all ſupplies from above, and commanded deliverances for Jacob. It is the Churches confidence for ever, that prayer, cloſing with a promiſe, offered-up in the hands of a Mediatour, will effect greater matters yet, than our eyes have ſeene, (i. e.) That there is no worke ſo difficult, no not reforming worke; No way ſo intricate, no not a Church-way, but prayer will make it poſſible and paſſible: (Aſſured,) That Jacob ſhall never be ſo ſmall, his affaires never ſo low, but prayer ſhall raiſe Jacob, a worme though he ſeeme to be; and pluck-up His affaires. p. 30His ſeed never ſought God in vaine, from the firſt day of their ſeeking unto this day **The 29 of March, a day to be written, whereon the Lord God gave His people a wonderfull returne of prayer, I ſay the Lord God, for though wee give as much honour as is ſitting to the chief, and all other inſtruments, yet to God all the glory. Joh. 14. 13, 15. 7. 1 Jo…. 8, 14.John 14:13John 14:15John 14:7; It is their confidence, for the time to come, for they have a promiſe for it, Aske what you will and it ſhall be done. They will aske nothing but in reference and ſubmiſſion to their FATHERS will: and thence their confidence, that they are heard in whatſoever they aske; not for the dutiesſake (they abominate it as a duty only, and performed by themſelves) but for the promiſe-ſake, which the Lord will make good unto them for His Sons ſake, Amen. Prayer has a kind of omnipotency in it: Praiſe is an heavenly worke too and of the higheſt uſe: I would now gather ſome obſervations from what has beene ſaid touching both, then ile adde, what the Malignants have contributed hither, to the catalogue of our mercies, and matter of our praiſe, and ſo I ſhall conclude. The firſt obſervation is;

1. That our enquities, buſie and over-haſty thoughts, and deviding cares, about Reformation (the well Poſturing a Kingdome, The time when it will be) are moſt vaine, and diſquieting to no purpoſe. Let us doe our duty, our own work, be carefull about nothing but this, that we doe our worke: or, if we cannot worke, as we commonly call worke, if we have not heads for Counſell, nor hands for Action, yet, let us doe our duty; let us make our PRAYER to our GOD; that wheeles all about; that does the worke. And impoſſible it is, that a Reformation, a child of ſo many Prayers and Teares, (the Prayers of all the faithfull, that are or have been in the world,) That a child of ſo many Prayers (as was ſaid of Austin unto his mother) ſhould periſh; Periſh! No, nor ſtick at the birth a minute longer, than as the ſticking-there ſhall make for the exaltation of Gods arme, in the pulling-of it-forth: and the filling-top-full the hearts of His people, with comfort in its ſeaſon, after they have ſuffered a little, that is the firſt obſervation.

2. That their Excellencies, the chiefe Commanders by Land and Sea; All the Nobles and Worthies of both Kingdomes, (more deare unto us then the blood in our veines) doe march-on under the ſafeſt conduct, which is, the banner of the LORD spread over their heads by the unceſſant prayers of all the faithfull in the world: There is not a man, woman or child in the world, that can pray, p. 31But they ſay, concerning this Hoſt of God: We wiſh you proſperity in the name of the Lord: All the bleſſings in the Booke of God, 1 Sam, 25. 29.fall downe upon you every man, as the dew upon the graſſe: And for their enemies, them, let the Angell of the Lord ſcatter and ſlingout as out of the middle of a ſling.

3. The ſervants of the Lord doe aſcribe all unto God; All is a Napthaly, a child of Prayer; ASKT OF GOD; and the gift of GOD; And that ſweetens, the mercy the deliverance; And, if it be a croſſe-blow, it ſweetens that too, it makes it a bleſſing, as it followes preſently. They write upon all their walls, Salvation, and upon their gates, their out-lets and in-lets, they write Praiſe, Iſa. …o. 18.(i. e.) they aſcribe all to God. The Adverſaries of the Lord not ſo; As Saul before them, they never get any Advantage againſt David, but by Treacheries, wiles, fine devices, curled policies, the depths of Satan: Therefore when David (the faithfull of the Land) are, the enemie thinks, delivered-up into his hands, then he does as Saul did, bleſſe the Ziphites, a vile, treacherous people, 1 Sam. 23. 21.1 Sam 23:21whom GOD curſeth.

4. The ſervants of the Lord doe not truſt to an Hoaſt of men, though a thouſand thouſand for multitude; (ſuch an Hoſt Jehoſhaphat **2 Chro. 17.2 Chr 17had) yet as he, ſo they doe truſt in God, give themſelves to prayer, that ſo they may bring Him down to their help: They ſet their eye as ſtedfaſtly Heaven-ward, as if they had no ſtrength upon earth, for they know, they are not delivered by ſuch a ſtrength aaPſal. 33. 16.Ps 33:16. They on the other ſide, the Adverſaries of the Lord, put all their truſt in multitudes, as if they were gods not men; ſpirit not fleſh. And if theſe faile, as faile they muſt, then their hearts faile, and ſhake within them, as a leafe ſhaken with the wind; And it muſt be ſo, not poſſible it ſhould be otherwiſe, for they cannot pray; An infinite diſadvantage if it were thought on! When the Adverſaries Army failes (that is all fleſh) all failes him; when the creature leaves him, all leaves him, for he cannot pray. But when the arme of fleſh failes the righteous, it is no more, but what they expected, and they cling the faſter to the arme of God, who ſtrengtheneth moſt when the arme of fleſh is leaſt in ſight: When all the creatures are gone, yet God is not gone, nay then he is neareſt, for then Prayer is aaIſa. 6. 6.Isa 6:6powred out unto him (but dropped forth before) and then they can lift-up their heads in expectation of a glorious p. 32redemption at hand, for they can pray; An infinite advantage.

5. Gods ſervants praiſe God for their falls; for theſe tend to the compleating of their great and glorious victory at the laſt. In the meane time, they fall-low before their God, and riſe-high in Quando duplicantur la…er…s ven…t Moſes, Auget certamina quando liberab. t, Curyſolog.their faith, which aſſureth them, the lower they are, the nearer their exaltation is; and the higher their Adverſaries are, the deeper their fall will be; and ſo I come to that which the Malignants make their jeere and ſcorne now, The diſcomfiture the ſervants of the LORD had at NEW ARKE, 22^d of March: They would have me put it downe in my Catalogue, and make it matter of praiſe. God forbid we ſhould forget it; It is a matter of excellent uſe, then ought it to be matter of high Praiſe. In every thing give Phil. 4. 6. 1 Theſ. 5. 15.Phil 4:61 Thess 5:15thanks, much more for ſuch a mercy, which ſhall, through the Churches prayers, tend greatly to the fortifying and eſtabliſhing her people. Certainely the ſervants of the Lord, they that are praying on the mount, and they that are ſighting in the valley, all theſe ſhall receive more good from their diſcomfitures, eſpecially that at Newarke, than from all the victories they have had this laſt yeare. Therefore mighty reaſons there are, why the Church ſhould make it matter of high Praiſe. Firſt;

1. The Lord ſhewed much love towards His people in that diſcomfiture. Love! You will ſay it was a fruit of Gods Anger, and ſore diſpleaſure againſt His people. Indeed it was; But marke we, That which cauſeth GODS Anger toward His beloved ones is LOVE aaErga … ſuos …oc … bile eſt, … Divin… cauſa amor eſt.: This is wonderfull, but ſo it is, and that is one mighty reaſon why the Church ſhould render Praiſe: for,

2. It is a reſolved caſe, If the arme of fleſh be ſtrong, the ſervants of the Lord will-beare-up themſelves confidently upon it: Then the Lord knaps it aſunder as eaſily as you can breake burnt ſlaxe. The Lord muſt be praiſed for this, for this is pure love: He will have His ſervants leane upon their B…loved and none other; The Lord will breake them, and breake them, and breake them, till they ſay, Thou art our Rock, our ſtrong arme every morning, and our ſalvation every night; in whom we can boaſt all the day long. This is their prayer & matter of their praiſe; So the Lord will bringup the hearts of His people to Himſelf, no matter though He beats them downe, and layes them like wormes upon the earth: So He b…ings-up their hearts to cloſe with His arme, no matter, though the p. 33Lord bring His people ſo low, even to whiſper out of the duſt.

3. Great matter of Praiſe for that discomfiture at Newarke: for the ſervants of the Lord (ſimple hearted men, as were Eliakim, and Shebnah, and Joah bb2 King. 18. 26.2 Kgs 18:26, theſe expected a favour from Rabſhakeh: So theſe) treated (the Malignants ſay and ile take their ſaying) for their lives, liberties, eaſe of tender conſciences, with the Prince of Robbers, Prince Robert, a prophane and wicked man, A price of clay mingled with blood bbforeign., as was ſaid of Nero, who had caſt off humanity; Mighty only to doe miſchiefe, and to ſatisfie his own luſts, (as was ſaid of another ccCriſpinu… monſtrum null… virtute redemptu…, Aviiijs aeger ſoldque libidine fortis, Juv. Sat. 4 ….) The ſervants of the Lord (as Malignants doe report) treated with this Prince, and his murtherers, the vileſt and moſt abominable perſons, moſt notorious all over the Chriſtian world for their faithleſſe, treacherous, horrid and horrible-butcheries, The friends of God expected mercy from the enemies of God! Now the ſervants of the Lord will for ever walke more humbly with their God, and humbly ſeeke His face: for He is mercifull. They will underſtand now, That the mercies of the wicked are cruell, that is, none at all ddPro. 10. 12. Plane nullae.Prov 10:12, Ah Lord! Will the Lord ſuffer His ſervants to lye proſtrate at the foote of Rabſhekah, to begge a favour at his hands: Yes; That they may underſtand at the length, how vaine their expectation is from man, but never vaine from God; Praiſed be His Name.

4. Great matter of praiſe as of prayer; We pray that the Lord would make His ſervants meete for deliverance, and His enemies fit for deſtruction. This is the only way, which the Lord takes, this caſting-downe fits the ſervants of the Lord for their riſing-up, which ſhall be the higher, the lower their fall was: And this rage of the Adverſary fills-up their meaſures, heightens their deſtruction, for in proportion to their rage now ſhall their judgement be anon: It ſhall reach unto Heaven and be lifted-up unto the skies: Jer. 51. 9.Jer 51:9Certainely the Church could not have wanted any of all this, which has fallen-out at Briſtoll, &c. nor the diſcomfiture at Newarke, Through their prayer, all this ſhall turne to their advantage and furtherance of the Goſpell. That and this will make the ſtinke of the Kings Campe come-up into the noſtrils of all the Chriſtian world; if they are not an abomination yet, they will be ſhortly; every man will come-out againſt them with their ſword in their hand (without hire of money) as once they did againſt grievous p. 34wolves. The people of the Land have been diſspirited hitherto, now the Lord has taken a courſe to put ſpirit and life into His people. The great whore, that ſhe might put back her deſtruction, and reprieve her judgement, may give faire words ſometimes after her manner, and yeeld farre to accommodate a peace. It ſhall not ſerve her turne; The arrowes of the ſtrong-ones ſhall be ſharpe in the hearts of all her friends; and the ſword of the Lord ſhall eate her fleſh and then ſhe ſhall be burnt with fire bbRev. 17. 16. 19. 18.Rev 17:16Rev 17:19Rev 17:18. In the next place, we are aſſured, That,

5. Now, at hearing of this newes, The Adverſary is-up on high, exceeding proud now; They ſet their mouth againſt Heaven, they ſpeake proudly now; And now the righteous, they are low, ſpeake as out of the duſt; They mourne unto their God: (Great cauſe they ſhould, becauſe they were ſo over joyed and confident in the arme of fleſh) They ſet their eyes ſtedfaſtly upon Him now, Who creates light and Peace (His light, His Peace is a creation, and this makes way to it) Their eye is ſingle now upon Gods arme; They had an eye and an eye before, an heart and a heart, more fixed upon the arme of fleſh than on the arme of God. O praiſed be God, Who has, by this ſtroake, made His ſervants eye ſingle now; And now they will pray fervently. Deliverance ſeems thruſt-back by the hand of violence, they will fetch it on-ward againe by their prayers: The time for their deliverance ſeemes ſtretched-out and lengthened; Luk. 22. 44. foreign.Luke 22:44they thought it neare at hand, now it ſeemes farre off: But now they will intend and ſtretch-out their prayers after it (as their Lord Chriſt in His agony) more earneſtly; now their prayer, it as on continued action: Praiſed be God for this, for it has made prayer more fervent, and alſo becauſe now;

7. The Builders of the waſt places, the repairers of the breaches, I meane the Parliament, and Aſſemblies, all the faithfull in all three Kingdomes, all theſe will worke high now; Their words, and their actions, and their heart, and their faith, all will be upon the wing now; They will worke (as he at Jeruſalems wall) earnestly, Neh. 3 20. foreignNeh 3:20(i. e.) inflamedly, with a zeale boyling hot for the houſe of God, for the Cauſe of God; And yet they will not truſt to the Cauſe, though as good a Cauſe as ever was truſted to in the world; But this truſt to the goodneſſe of a Cauſe, is a greater Idoll than was that in Cheapſide, in the Chappell or in the Cloſet, for that was ſetup p. 35in the heart: Therefore God has ſmitten it, and broken it in Antient times, and ſo upward to this day: And yet He has maintained His Cauſe when He has confounded the truſt, and confidence in it, and the managers of it; A matter of infinite uſe, and commands our obſervation now.

8. The ſervants of the Lord, truſted to the goodneſſe of their Cauſe; they contend for the pearle in the Goſpell (that is the Goſpell) the Diadem, the Crowne of three Kingdomes; never had men a better Cauſe to contend for ſince man was created than this is: And may they not truſt to the goodneſſe of this Cauſe? Yes, they may, truſt and be confident, That a good Cauſe ſhall have a good iſſue; that it ſhall overcome at the laſt; that the Lord will bring it forth to victory; that the end ſhall be good. It is as much as can be ſaid of a good man, his end ſhall be peace. But note we, A good Cauſe may be ill managed; It may be carried alſo by the hand of God variouſly, toſſed-up and downe, as David ſaid of himſelfe, like a locuſt; To teach us, that the goodneſſe of the Cauſe does not argue the goodneſſe of our truſt: Ile adde this; The goodneſſe of the cauſe gives me warrant to expend my purſe, and my ſpirits, and my life for it; But it does not warrant me to put my truſt unto it: Where this truſt ought to be fixed, we ſhall heare ſo ſoone, as we ſhall better underſtand, how vaine the confidence is we put in the goodneſſe of the Cauſe; It is an Idoll, God has broken it to pieces: It is His manner ſo from dayes of old upward to this day. Ile inſtance only in two famous examples; Iſraell in old Elies dayes [or rather when it was night with him] had a good cauſe in hand, which they (as we now) maintained againſt the Philiſtines, and yet they fell before the Philistines about foure 1 Sam. 4. 2.1 Sam 4:2thouſand men. They truſted more yet to the goodneſſe of their cauſe; and up they brought the Arke accompanied with Hophni and Phineas, and then confident of the goodneſſe of the Cauſe, how bad ſoever themſelves were, they ſhouted with a great ſhout; and ver. 4. 5. ver. 8, 9. ver. 10.the Philiſtines were ſore afraid. But their courage overcame their feare, and they fought with Iſraell, and ſlew of Iſraell thirty thouſand footemen: and the Arke of God was taken too: and the two ſons of Eli ſlaine alſo. They truſted to the goodneſſe of the Cauſe; It was the Lords Cauſe, the Arke was the Lords, that would ſave ver. 3.them from the hand of their enemies. No, but it would not, The p. 36Cauſe of God, the Arke of God was ſo farre from helping them, that it expoſed them to more wrath, which they could not be delivered from, till the ſervants of the Lord had taken their heartsoff from the goodneſſe of the Cauſe, and ſet their hearts fully towards the Lord, in returning to Him, according as Samuel counſelled; which is very notable; for having done ſo, the Lord wrought a mighty ſalvation for His people, as you may reade **1 Sam. 7.1 Sam 7. Ile paſſe on to another example.

The Tribes truſted to the goodneſſe of their cauſe. So they might they thought, for it had the impreſſion and ſtampe of God upon it; They went-out, as our men doe, by Gods command, againſt notorious delinquenis in Gibeah, ſons of Belial, as vile and abominable almoſt, as theſe are now in the Kings Army, the Princes and Nobles there; Gods Cauſe, and Gods command, and they muſt proſper ſure, they thought. No; notwithſtanding the goodneſſe of their cauſe, they fell before Benjamin heapes upon heapes, twenty and Judg. ….two thouſand at one time; eighteene thouſand at another: that Iſraell may never put confidence in a good cauſe after this time. And yet ſo Iſraell have done, as at this day. But I hope they will doe ſo no more, never truſt to the goodneſſe of our Cauſe any more; truſt God with that, and truſt we to the goodneſſe of our GOD, that truſt never failes: A good God ſtill, and if the newes be bad, He can make it good: And if, as the Malignants would have it, the worſt, that ever was told in Gath, yet this Good GOD can make it beſt of all: O that we could truſt in Him, to the goodneſſe of our God! Though men be treacherous, God is faithfull: though they faile, He never failes thoſe that truſt Him. 2. Let us truſt to the goodneſſe (that is) to the ſoundneſſe of our converſion, our turning from Idols to ſerve the living God; If our converſion and turning be ſound, we may truſt to it, and not care for all the turnings and windings of the crooked ſerpent, they ſhall doe us no hurt; the changes of things here below makes no change in them, whoſe heart is truly changed: nor makes it any change in God; though meanes are weake, He is ſtrong; though men faile, God never failes! And note we, the turnings and tydes of things here below, doe but ſerve to turne our hearts unto God; to ſtabliſh them there. And when the heart is ſet-upon that bottome, though the world be turned upſide-downe, yet the man ſtands upright. p. 37The failing of mans arme, (too ſhort at the longeſt extent to bring ſalvation) brings-up the heart to cloſe with the Almighties arme, which neither ſhortens nor lengthens, but is ſtretched out ſtill. And when the heart is brought thither, then it is fixed, and not till then.

9. The Iſraell of God muſt praiſe God for their diſcomfitures; for thereby they are inſtructed to diſcretion, to know GOD and themſelves, that He is all, and does all; that they are nothing, and can doe nothing. Thereby alſo they are wrought-up unto an acceptation aaLev. 26. 41.Lev 26:41of their puniſhment, to a ſubmiſſion, a willing reſignation, and quiet yeilding-up themſelves to Gods diſpoſe; Doe Thou with us whatſoever ſeemes good unto Thee bbJudg. 10. 15.Judg 10:15: An excellent temper of ſpirit after it is over-powred, and beaten downe. And yet this humble and proſtrate ſpirit, has its Reſerves; Only let Thy Cauſe prosper; doe good unto Zion. [So the LORD will, and His Cauſe ſhall proſper; and though it may ſeeme delivered-up into the enemies hand, yet, as the Arke did, it ſhall but plague the enemies] And deliver us not-up into the hands of a cruell Lord, an ungratefull ſnake, deliver us not unto him. [God will not doe it, unleſſe it be good for His people, ſo to be delivered-up, that they may know, and feele the difference betwixt the ſervice of the God of Heaven, and the ſervice of the gods of the world cc2 Chro. 12. 8:2 Chr 12:8.]

10. Laſtly, When the adverſary and enemy begins to fall before the ſervants of the Lord, he ſhall ſurely fall downe to the bottome, like a milſtone into the great waters. But Iſraels fall is but a riſe E…. 5. 14.towards their higheſt elevation. When (righteous) men are caſt downe, we muſt ſay, there is lifting-up. The righteous are caſt downe Job 21. 29.Job 21:29to humble them **The Church never yet loſt by her loſſes: They ever to this day roſe the higher by their falls: So it will be in after ages., and no ſooner humbled but they are lifted up, they are regarded and ſaved; And He ſhall ſave the humble perſon. When the righteous are ſmitten into the place of dragons, when they are in a low pit, there can they ſpie Heaven, and ſee the Starre of Jacob there (as we, ſtanding on a low bottom, can ſee Heaven beſt-of all: ſo the righteous in their depths) I meane, when their diſtreſſe is greateſt, then is their truſt the ſtrongeſt; then they hold-up their heads in expectation of a redemption drawing nigh.

Now put all together, and ſee whether any victory the Church has lately had, gives us ſo much matter of praiſe, as does the diſcomfiture p. 38at Newarke, though as great as the enemies would make it.

God has diſcomfited His people: Of meere faithfulneſſe He has done it, becauſe He loves them and will have them love Him, and truſt Him, and ſeeke Him ſervently, worke for Him earneſtly, ſight His battles valiantly; carefull ſtill, and now more carefull to remove the accurſed thing. Becauſe He will have His people truſt Pſal. 20. 7. Hoſ. 14. 3.Ps 20:7Hos 14:3in charets and ride upon horſes no more; Truſt in the goodneſſe of their cauſe no more; truſt on the arme of fleſh no more; but remember the Name of their God evermore; and their duty to be holy, who manage an holy cauſe. So they ſhall proſper, riſe and ſtand upright for evermore, Amen.

To ſumme-up all, and to put a cloſe to this excellent Theame; It muſt be the ſame, which we ſhould put downe at the foot of all our Receits, all the MercieMercy, which we receive (and we have nothing, which we have not received) either from the right or left hand of God: All are Mercies, either manifeſtly ſuch (thoſe only Manifeſt is que max…mè delect…t: occultis quae proſunt etiam no…entibus. See Thankoffring, p. 16.we call Mercies) or ſecretly ſuch, wherewith our GOD will doe us good againſt our wills: He muſt be praiſed for all, and this muſt be the cloſe of all, O that men would praiſe the Lord for His goodneſſe: and for His wonderfull workes to the children of men aa…ſ…. 107. 8.. Surely the Lord, as He ſaid to Moſes, has made all His goodneſſe to paſſe before us alſo bbExod. 33. 19.Exod 33:19: Even theſe laſt yeares He has proclaimed His Name, fearefull in praiſes, doing wonders; O that men would praiſe the Lord, for,

He gave us the Lord Chriſt, (a Mercy inexpreſſible, which we never prayed-for: but there we muſt begin, the beginning of Mercies, and foundation thereof) and with Him, all things; The Fountaine, from Whom all the Churches freſh ſprings of comfort do… …low in unto her; In Whom are all the Treaſures, rich Mines of Grace and Glory: all praiſe to God for Him, through Whom God is a Father of Mercies, and a God not of ſome, but of all conſolations. O that men would praiſe the Lord, &c. and for,

2. Caſting the rayes of His glorious light, upon this Land firſt of all. O that men would praiſe the Lord: and for,

3. Breaking the yoke of His burden, and the rod of His oppreſſor the Pope, when the Lord caſt-out thoſe ſix damnable Articles almoſt an hundred yeares agoe; O that men would praiſe the Lord, and for,

p. 394. Giving us a Child-King, yet making him a nurſing-Father: and a Maiden-Queene, yet making her a nurſing-Mother: And for all the goodneſſe, the Lord gave, through the hands of thoſe excellent Princes (He delights to worke by weake inſtruments,) to bretheren and to ſtrangers. O that men would praiſe the Lord. and for,

5. Delivering us out of the floods of great waters: and making His Adverſaries ſinke downe there like a ſtone. O that men would 56 Yeares ago.praiſe the Lord for His goodneſſe, and for,

6. Not ſuffering the fier to kindle upon us: but conſuming His Adverſaries in their own fornace, which they had heated ſeven Almoſt 40 yeares ago.times hotter than ordinary. O that men would praiſe the Lord, and for,

7. His Parliament, which the LORD would have, His Adverſaries give, and continue unto His Land: (O wonderfull!) And when they would curſe their own gift, (O abominable!) The LORD would bleſſe it; how admirable! O that men would praiſe the Lord, and for,

8. Thoſe excellent, marvailous, diſtinguiſhing, ſeperating-Mercies, which the LORD hath reached-forth to all His Kingdomes, through His ſervants hands. O that men would praiſe the Lord; and for,

9. The Parliament at Oxford; yes, though the Devils Parliament, yet praiſe the Lord for that: for both the Houſes there; The ignoble houſe of Robbers, where Littleton ſpeakes little, (nay not one word of) Law: And the baſe houſe of Theeves, where Eure ſpeakes as little Reaſon. O that men could praiſe the LORD for this Anti-Parliament. The Lord has ſuffered it to be ſet-up for excellent reaſon, To try and proove His Parliament, whether they will not be as active for GOD, as that Parliament is for the Devill: As ſpiritfull for the LORD Chriſt as thoſe Adverſaries are for Anti-chriſt. O that men would praiſe the Lord: and for,

10. All His deliverances: Here I ſtand in a maze; Whoever could reckon-up the deliverances God gave to one particular perſon! how much leſſe able, to account the deliverances to a whole Kingdome: 1. The deliverance at Edg-hill aaOctober 2…, 1642. On the Lord day., ye ſervants of the Lord, praiſe ye the Lord. 2. That at Brainford bbNovemb. 12, Saturday.: open the month and praiſe ye the Lord, for that wonderfull deliverance.

p. 403. For the deliverance at Newbery ccSeptemb. 19, 1643. …huſd…y.. O that men would praiſe the Lord for that. And for that neare Wincheſter ddMarch 29, 16…4. 2 Chro. 20. 26. A comfort, that comes too ſoone, is a diſcomf…ture afte…wuds; what ever we think, the Lord God helps His C…u…h …lways right carly Exod. 28. 36.2 Chr 20:26Exod 28:36. O that men would praiſe the Lord for His goodneſſe, and for His wonderfull workes to the children of men! O that BERACHAHS, Bleſſings and Prayſes were written upon them every one, ſpecially upon thoſe, that came not too ſoone, when we deſired them. O that BERACHAH, Bleſſing and Praiſe were written upon the places where, the dayes when, the perſons by whom the Lord wrought theſe deliverances. O that this were engraven upon their perſons, Holineſſe to the Lord, then men would praiſe the Lord for His goodneſſe. And for delivering His ſervants into His enemies hands. O that we could praiſe the Lord for this, for this ſhall tend to their eternall go…d. O that we could praiſe the Lord, for ſuffering the enemy to fier upon us, as thoſe that would ſet our houſes on a flame over our heads; theſe will kindle His ſervants zeale (Luke-warme before) againſt their own ſins, and ſuch great ſinners before the Lord. Bl…ſſed be the Lord for this; God does aſſure His ſervants, that, as Davids deliverance was neareſt, when his Ziglag was fiered aa1 Sam. 30. 1.1 Sam 30:1, and his enemies rage at the higheſt: So is His …hurches deliverance at hand, when He ſuffers His enemies to caſt about the rage of their great wrath: now the Devill has but a ſhort time bbRev. 12. 12.Rev 12:12: O that men would praiſe the Lord for His goodneſſe, and for His wonderfull works to the children of men! Let Ireland praiſe the Lord, He has thrown down her Tabernacle, but it is to raiſe it up, and to ſtabliſh it for ever. Let Scotland praiſe the Lord, who has wrought wonderfull works there once and againe; and more wonderfully will He worke for them and by them, if they and we can give God all the glory: If we can make God our ſtrong arme, He will uſe His ſervants hands, thereby to bring to paſſe great matters. O that we could praiſe the Lord (i. e.) aſcribe ſalvation to our God! Let England do ſo, now a burning buſh all on a flame, yet not conſumed. Not conſumed! not hurt in all this fier; She is reſining, ſhe is purifying now from all her tinne, all her droſſe: Never in ſuch a way to exaltation, to be made the head of Nations, and the moſt honourable of Kingdomes! O that men would praiſe the Lord, aſcribe ſalvations to their God. Let Hull ſay ſo, a monument of ſalvations: Let Gloceſter ſay ſo, an everlaſting pillar for everlaſting praiſe: Let London ſay ſo, the City of God, that has p. 41lyen among Lyons yet not devoured; amongſt thoſe, who were ſet on fier, yet not conſumed: A City, that has been ſtormed with all the granadoes, that could be ſhot againſt her; Proclamations, Detestations, Commiſſions, all the fiery darts, haile-stones and coales of fier, yet ſtands untouched as a monument of everlaſting praiſe before their God; and as a mirrour of Mercy and ſacred providence, before the eyes of all the Chriſtian world; that City of God ſo exalted, will exalt the Lord, will praiſe the Lord for His wonderfull works, to her and her children, ſo preſerved, ſo marvailouſly ſeparated: and for this very end, To ſhew that the LORD is upright: He is her rock, and no unrighteouſneſſe in Him. London will praiſe the Lord, for had the Adverſary had power anſwerable to his will; (i. e.) had he had an arme like God, as he thinks he has; then had he caſt abroad the rage of his wrath; he had deſtroyed the humble perſons there, and trod them downe in their places: he would have commanded fier and brimſtone from Heaven, and rained it downe upon London: Therefore will that City ſhew forth the loving kindneſſe of GOD in the morning, and His faithfulneſſe every night, Amen. Now I deſcend to p…al. 9…. 2.the particular, for we are loſt and deceived in generals.

§ II.

The prime meanes of Poſturing a mans ſelfe, Prayer, How prevailing; and hovv comely Praiſe.

THis Souldier hath not, by his own hand, gotten himſelfe the victory, victory over himſelfe, in denying, in cru…ifying that ſelfe; victory over his Idols; caſting theſe forth: He has not, in his own ſtrength taken-up his croſſe, and followed his Lord Chriſt. He does not, aſcribe this to his ſword or to his bow. A poore man … to ſtand-up againſt Principalities and powers! A poore creature to wraſtle with fleſh and blood; to carry forth or ſubdue all the filth of his heart, and to bring-in every needfull grace: All this is without the ſpheare of natures activity, beyond the power of all created ſtrength; he prayed and he wept concerning all this, and ſo had power with his GOD: All this was a Naptal…, the fr…ut of mighty wraſtlings with his God: So he quenched the fiery darts of Satan, p. 42thoſe granadoes, and ſo forth, for I know not what he has done. But all is done by the good hand of his God with him; In the power of His might he has quitted himſelfe as a good Souldier of Jeſus Chriſt; he has done valiantly, and yet not he; no, but the grace of GOD which was with him aa1 Cor 15. 101 Cor 15:10, still ſtrengthening him and inabling him, to doe all things bb… 4. 1…. foreign.: His God has done great things for him, He has quenched thoſe darts, put oile into the wounds thoſe made; The more fiery and piercing thoſe were, the wider paſſage they made for joy to come-in, and to open the mouth the wider for praiſe to goe forth. Theſe great things God has done for His poore ſervant. He has wrought great works in him too; It was His good pleaſure ſo, though he be nothing cc2 Cor. 12. …1.2 Cor 12:1; And now this mans heart being fixed, he is as ſecure as any man in the world, truſting in the Lord, he is carefull for nothing: If the temptation be ſtrong, and the ſtrait great, he does according to the counſell aaPhil. 4. 6.Phil 4:6, and the example bb2 Co…. 12. 8.before him, once and againe, and the third time, makes his prayer and ſupplication before his GOD: and if the temptation be not removed, and he enlarged, yet that is done which is beſt for him; It is ſanctified; and he is made able to beare it, and a way made alſo to eſcape cc1 Cor. 10. 13.1 Cor 10:13. Prayer now, and Gods grace now, are as prevailing, and as ſufficient as ever: and ſo he has concluded, and is carefull for nothing; But in all things he gives thanks; he ſees infinite reaſon for that, ſpecially for his temptations, for he has ever found the way God has made to eſcape has been the more wonderfull, the ſharper the temptation, and the greater the ſtraight has been: Honour, and glory, and praiſe, be attributed to this deare God for all His mercies, and loving kindneſſes to His poore ſervant; for His Heaven here [which was more than he looked for, or was Joh. 16. 33.John 16:33promiſed,] and for all his Hell too, his loſſes, and croſſes; his paines and his ſorrowes; his conflicts and his troubles, not mercies in our eſteeme, but mercies to him, and in his account made ſo, and found ſo to be by many experiences, therefore regiſtred in the beginning See Thank off…ing, chap. 3.of his calender of mercies; Glory and praiſe to God for all His mercies, and loving kindneſſes to His poore ſervant. How many are thoſe all? he will tell you when you tell him how many haires you have on your head, for he will not require of you, how many ſands on the ſea ſhore, or Starr…s in the firmament of Heaven; all the mercies to his ſoule; There he begins, with righthand p. 43mercies, from everlaſting to everlaſting; all cauſes of, and conducing to his eternall well being: Poore man, poore in ſpirit, rich in faith! He never thought himſelfe worthy to enjoy the light of the Sun in the firmament: but that the LORD the Creatour thereof ſhould lift-up the light of His countenance upon His ſervant! That, the day-ſpring from on high, ſhould viſit him! That the Son of Righteouſneſſe ſhould ariſe unto him with healing in His wings. This! how admirable, how unſpeakeable a—mercy is this **See Thankoffring, ch. 3. You may commend this man, ſayes Luther, for he is an humble man, a child may leade him: his ſervant may reprove him: Chriſt dwells and walkes in him; the man is and does nothing: And if he be an humble-man, he is a thankfullman even for the leaſt mercy and greateſt a…liction; Iu all things he gives thanks, Luther.! I can tell you no more of this, his own words are ſwallowed-up here with admiration, as Jobs were with griefe: Here come-in his Selahs, his Mictams, his Hallelujahs, as we read before, and ſhall reade hereafter. All left-hand mercies (under that generall he comprehends all deliverances, all mercies to the Churches, (he is much taken with them, much enlarged in his praiſe to God for Jeruſalem, her proſperity! he prefers it before his chiefe joy;) very thankfull alſo for mercies to himſelfe, to all his round about him, and about his table, relating to their warfare here.) All mercies! he is loſt and confounded in particulars here, yet by his will he would not forget one: he writes upon all mercies concerning his ſoule, his body; day-mercies, night-mercies, all within him, all without him, all beſtowed upon his bretheren and ſiſters, upon himſelfe and his about him, he writes upon all, Askt of GOD; the gift of GOD; all is a kind of ſalvation; upon all thoſe gates, whereat evill went-out, or mercy came-in, he writes, The ſalvation of the LORD: upon all thoſe out-lets and in-lets he writes PRAYSE, which attends prayer evermore; He writes Praiſe alſo upon his converſation, even holineſſe unto the LORD, he lives unto His praiſe, Who has given all to him, has done all for him, wrought all in him, for all is from the LORD the God of his ſalvations; to whom he aſcribeth all honour, and glory, and praiſe, from everlaſting unto everlaſting, for ever and ever, Amen and Amen.