The Sword of the Lord and of Gideon, Part 1

The Sword of the Lord and of Gideon · Part 1

p. 17I. PART: Davids Prayer.

THe Prayer of David heer is contained in theſe wordes, Give us help from trouble, for vaine is the help of man.

In this prayer we have two things; firſt, a petition; ſecondly, the reaſon; the petition is in theſe wordes, Give us help from trouble; the reaſon is ſubjoined in theſe wordes, for vaine is the help of man.

1. The Petition. Give us help from trouble.

THe help he ſeeketh from God is, that God would help him from trouble.

The troubles of this world are of two ſorts, the troubles of the wicked and of the godly; As for the wicked, they for a time have their good things heere;Luk. 16.25Luke 16:25 during p. 16this time they are ſtrong and ſtu… dy, they are ſo brawned and ſear… and ſealed up with ſenſeleſneſſe o… Gods wrath, that they ſeeme o…ly happy; If at any time the… conſcience begin to grumble, mu… ter, or make a noiſe, they ano… drowne the voice with earth… ſounds, like the Iſraelites drumm in their Sacrifices to Moloc… which hindered them to he… the pitifull ſqueels of their children burning in the fire of Tophe… They all have an eating wor… in their Conſcience,Mark. 9.44Mark 9:44 which the feed with earthlie comforts a… men feed with raw fleſh, the wol… or feaster in the armes or legges but oh, when the dayes of the eaſe is expired, and theſe raw fleſ… ly comforts removed, there be n… troubles like their troubles, which… are filled with ſuch ſtrong, an… ſtrange ingredients of feares, an… Bedlam fits, that they (like A… pen p. 17leaves) tremble at their owne ſhadow; Hell is already within them; when they begin to be thus gnawed with the worme that dieth not, they are ſo tared and tortured, that they imagine hell on earth to be worſe then hell below;Note. Thus deſperate Francis Spira ſaid often, That hee envied Cain Saul and Judas, wiſhing rather any of their roomes in the dungeon of the damned, then to have his poore heart ſo rent in pieces with raging terrours, and fierie deſperations upon the bed of death.

Whereupon he at another time being asked, if he feared more torments after this life; Yes, ſaid he, But I deſire nothing more then to be in that place, where I ſhall expect no more.

Theſe and ſuch are the troubles of the wicked below, when their p. 16ſleeping worme is wakened; the… are ſuch, that they imagine tha… their troubles in hell ſhall give eaſe unto their tortures on earth▪ for this reaſon diverſe doe deſperatly either hang themſelves or throw themſelves downe from high precipices: as for the troubles of the godly, whereof I have to ſpeake chieflie in this place, they are very many and painefull, though ever mixed with mercy.

The troubles of Gods ſervants here below are of two ſorts, either inward or outward: The godly inwardlv will be horribly hemmed in with ſorrowes; and ſore vexed with dreadfull deſertions, having their wounded hearts all bleeding, under the laſhes of the Law, Mic. 6.7Mic 6:7ſo that they would give their firſt-born for their tranſgreſſion; the very grief of hell will lay hold on their ſoules; in a manner with their Maſter Chriſt they will p. 21deſcend into hell; but after many painfull wreſtlings, they having received a Certificate of merciemercy, at laſt, by his Spirit, they victoriouſly aſcend into heaven, and ſo triumph over all their troubles.

As for their outward troubles here below, the Church on earth is like a ſhip on the ſea toſſed to and fro, with winds and waves; of this, our pure Church of Scotland, hath wofull experience this day: Our whole land is now in trouble; manie godly hearts are pricked with great perplexitie; our watchmen all cry,Zeph. 1.14Zeph 1:14 The great day of the Lord is neere, it is neere, and haſteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the Lord; verſ. 15.a day of wrath, a day of trouble and diſtreſſe, a day of waſtneſſe and deſolation, a day of darkneſſe and gloomineſſe, a day of clouds and of thick darkneſse, Zeph. 2.2…Zeph 2:2the decree is in readineſſe to bring forth; a fearfull p. 20tempeſt is faſt comeing with horrible gale; Inimicorum malitia eſt noſtra militia.the whole land … like to be turned into a bale a fi… and therefore our Nation at thi… houre, hath great neede to cry t… God in the words of this tex… Give us help from trouble.

The time of trouble, the ſa… and irkſome houre, is the tim… of prayer: we have both precep… and prastiſe, and alſo promiſes o… deliverance to theſe who at ſu… times give themſelves to prayer▪

The precepts are both in th… old Teſtament and new: In th… old Teſtament, God ſaith, C… upon me in the day of trouble; Pſal. 50.15Ps 50:15the new Teſtament, God ſait… Is any among you afflicted? … him pray.Iam. 5.13Jas 5:13

As we have the precepts, alſo it hath ever been the pract… of all Gods children to pray their troubles;Hoſ. 12.4Hos 12:4 Jacob in his tro… ble weept and made ſupplicatio… p. 21Moſes prayed ſo that God in a manner intreated him,Exod. 32.10Exod 32:10 to let him …lone, as though the power of the mans prayers had overcome his omnipotency, from doing his people Jſrael any hurt;Eſt quaedam precum omnipotentia. Luther was wont to ſay, There is a certaine omnipotency in prayer, it hath an …ternitie of vertue; all the godly in all times have known this, and therefore when great troubles …ame, their practiſe was to powre out many prayers; when the Amalekites did fight againſt Iſrael, Moſes went up to the mount and prayed for Iſrael▪ Jonah in the belly of hell prayed,Exod. 17.11 Joh. 2.2.Exod 17:11John 2:2 out of the belly of hell, ſaid he, cried I, and thou heardſt my voice; when Chriſt was in his agonie in the garden, he moſt fervently prayed againe and againe; all the pſalmes of Davids troubles are moſt excellent prayers.Mat. 26.42Matt 26:42

As we have both precepts and p. 20practiſe for praying in trouble, alſo have we moſt faire promiſ… to be heard;Pſal. 50.15Ps 50:15 Call upon me in … day of trouble ſaith the Lord, a… I will deliver thee; In the ne… Teſtament we have Chriſt cr… ing,Mat. 7.7Matt 7:7 Aske and ye ſhall receiv… ſeek and yee ſhall finde; the pr… miſe is made to all, as well to th… beggar on the dung hill as th… Prince ſitting on his Throne.

Heere is a King begging fro… God; the thing that hee ſeeketh, help from trouble; that which m… ved him to cry for help was h… trouble, and this was his chief… trouble, that his enemies in gr… number had this often in th… mouth, that God netheir would… could help him; Many there ſaid David, Pſal. 3.2Ps 3:2that ſay of my ſo… there is no help for him in GO… Davids dangers never troub… him ſo much as Gods diſhono… when Gods glory ſeemed a… p. 23way in jeopardie, that was Davids …ouble; My teares, ſaid he,Pſal. 42.3Ps 42:3 have …ene my meat day and night; while …hey continually ſay unto me, where thy God. this chiefly made David …eer to cry for help, give help, Lord, from trouble.

Obſerve heere that theſe who …re truely godly,The Doctrine. finde no trouble …o ſenſible as that which is by the …iſhonour of God: Eli was a …ood man, though he had his own …ults in a too great indulgence …owards his children, yet in this …ee manifeſted an honeſt heart, …hat nothing troubled him ſo much as the diſhonour of GOD: When the meſſenger came from …hat Battel, wherein the Iſraelites were overthrowne by the Phili…ines, & told him many evil news, …e ſate ſtill in his chaire, and heard …im; when the meſſenger ſaid, …ſrael is fled before the Philiſtines, 1 Sam. 4.171 Sam 4:17…e ſate ſtill, though with a grieved p. 24heart; after that the m… ſenger ſaid, There hath beene … a great ſlaughter among the peop… theſe newes wounded him ſo… yet he ſate ſtill in his ſeat; af… that the meſſenger ſaid, A… thy two ſonnes Hophni and Phi… has are dead; this heard, ma… a very great wound in his hea… yet he ſate ſtill in his ſeate; b… as ſoone as the meſſenger h… ſaid, The Arke of God is tak… Eli could ſit no longer,1 Sam. 4.181 Sam 4:18 but from off the ſeat backward, by ſeate of the gate, and his n… brake, and he died.

The 1 uſe; Seeing this o… is a day of trouble,The 1 uſe and of t… ſort of trouble, that the Arke God is in danger to be taken the Philiſtines, let all men th… have a Chriſtian heart, cry mig… tily with their heart, Give … help from trouble; The Lord co… plained of his people, that th… p. 25cried not unto him with their heart, Hoſ. 7.14Hos 7:14…hen they howled upon their beds; …e all now have great need to …y unto God▪ with our hearts, or if our day go down, and if …ur Goſpell, the glory depart …om our land, we ſhall ſay that …e never knew what trouble was …ntill now: what a ſorrow ſhall … be to us to hear that Iſrael is …d before their enemies? what a …rief to hear that there hath alſo …ene a great ſlaughter among the …ople? what a piercing of heart, … hear that Hophni and Phineas, …ur ſonnes or our husbands are …aine or dead: But O who ſhall …e able either to ſtand or ſit, if …heſe newes ſhall come, the Arke …f god is taken? the Goſpell of …eſus Chriſt is in the hands of Gods enemies, for to be taken …om us? theſe ſhall be the black…ſt newes that ever were heard in …ur land, ſince the beginning of p. 26our reformation; then may … godly men and vvomen … vvith the dying vvife of Phine… Ichabod, 1 Sam. 4 211 Sam 4:21vvhere is the glory? th… ſhall bee a trouble indeed; a… therefore before it come, let us vvith vvounded and bleedi… hearts cry mightilie to God Give us help from trouble.

If we do this duetie diligen… I dare promiſe in the Name … the Lord, that all theſe who r… fuſe this day to ſet up altars to that ſhamefull thing, Jer. 11.13Jer 11:13ſhall laſt ſee a hand work ſuch a gl… rious work in this land, that t… world ſhall know, that our GO… is the Lord; many nations ſh… cry as the Iſraelites did (wh… God brought down fire upon E… jahs ſacrifice) The Lord, he is t… God, 1 King. 19 391 Kgs 19:39the Lord he is the God; b… otherwiſe, if we be negligent vicious, if the Lord hath ca… to ſay,Amo. 2.4 For three tranſgreſſio… p. 27and for foure, if we by our ſins continue to preſſe our God under …, as a cart full of ſheaves, Am. 2.13Amos 2:13it …ay be that he will ſuffer his …rk, his Goſpel to be taken pri…ner, and ſet it in the Temple …f their idols, but at laſt (after …hat the Lord hath corrected his …eople, for the contempt of his Goſpel) he ſhall do with all Po…iſh idols, as he did with the …hiliſtines Dagon, which firſt he made to fall upon his face to the …ound, 1 Sam. 5.31 Sam 5:3and after they had ſet …im up again, cut off his head, and …he palmes of his hands, verſ. 4onelyonly the …mp of Dagon was left to him; …fter that where ever Gods Ark …emained priſoner, the Lord ſmot …is enemies on the hinder parts …ith Emrods; they had no reſt …ntill they ſent it back againe; …us the Lord moſt gloriouſly …elped his people from trouble. If we will continue in ſinceritie, p. 28to faſt and pray, there ſhall … be a ſtone in the field, but ſhall be like that ſtone of Sam… el, which he called Eben-ezer, t… ſtone of help; in whatſoe… danger we ſhall be, we ſhall … with Samuel, 1 Sam. 7 12 Am. 4.11 Sam 7:12Amos 4:1Hitherto hath … Lord helped us; hear this word ye… of Baſhan, who puſh with yo… hornes againſt Gods dear ſ… vants, as though God did … regard, or could not give us from trouble.

The 2 uſeThe 2. uſe. Let this ſerve reproofe to theſe baſe and bea… bodies, whoſe names are wri… in the earth, Jer. 17.13Jer 17:13who have neit… heart nor hand nor tongue, fo… help Gods Church from trouble, th… have not a thought of pitie, th… know not what it is to be g… ved for the affliction of Joſe… they have made their hearts an Adament-ſtone, Amo. 6.6.they are … and beaſtly,Zach. 7.12Zech 7:12 they have no p. 29courage in their hearts; they have …o hands for the good cauſe; …heir tongue by their words, as …y a Sibboleth, bewrayeth them,Jud. 12.6Judg 12:6 …at they are not on Gods ſide; … ſend ſuch to hearken Deborah … her ſong, curſing bitterly all …hoſe that come not to help the …ord, Jud. 5.23Judg 5:23to help the Lord againſt the mightie;

If Meroz was curſed becauſe …hey came not to help the Lord, …ll the curſes of Ebal ſhall, like fire …nd brimſtone, raine downe upon …ll theſe, who for a ſhort glance …f proſeritie, for a vaine hope of preferment, for a vanitie of …anities, for a golden dreame, …ome againſt the Lord, for to …urt the good cauſe; a cloud of wrath, a world of woe, a hell …pon earth, ſhall one day come …pon all theſe, who rejoyceing …n the Churches deſolations, ſay, …th, ſo would we have it; Pſal. 35.25Ps 35:25ſuch p. 30ſhall either periſh by fire wi… that companie of Corah, or ſwallowed up with Dathan, ſhall die by the ſword with … laam, or ſhall burne themſelv… with Zimri, or ſhall hang the… ſelves with Judas and Ahitoph… the Lord ſhall ſet wicked n… over them; Pſal. 109.6 7.8. &c.Ps 109:6Satan ſhall ſtand their right hand; when they ſh… be judged, they ſhall be conde… ned, their prayers ſhall be tur… into ſinne, their dayes ſhall few, and another ſhall take th… office; their children ſhall be … therleſſe, and their wives widow… their children ſhall be vagabo… and beg: the extortioners ſhall ca… all that they have, &c. In a vvo… their poſſeſſions ſhall be made t… breeding of nettles, and a perpet… deſolation; Zach. 2.9Zech 2:9all the imprecatio… that David made in that Pſal… againſt his enemies, ſhall come … pon theſe that refuſe to help t… p. 31LORD, and his Church from trouble.

The vvord trouble here is in the Hebrew, Tſar, foreignwhich ſignifieth ſtraitneſſe or diſtreſſe as vvhen a man is ſo driven into ſome narrow place, that he knovveth not to vvhat hand to turne him. When God being angry at King David, for numbering the people ordained his Prophet Gad, not in a ſmooth and ſilken Court-ſermon, but in a divine authoritie, to give the King his choiſe of ſeaven yeares famine, or of three moneths flying before the enemies, or of three dayes peſtilence, David the King ſaid unto the Prophet,2 Sam. 24 142 Sam 24:14 I am in a great ſtrait; in the Hebrew it is Tſar-li; as if he had ſaid,foreign I am beſiedged on all ſides, I know not to what hand to turne me, I doubt of what plague to make choiſe.

Obſerve heere,The Doctrine. vvhat is often p. 32the condition of Gods deareſt children, their life heere is full of troubleſome turnings; their condition of life is to be driven into great ſtraits; this vvas the complaint of the Church, They have often afflicted mee from my youth, Pſal. 129.1Ps 129:1and againe immediatly after, they have often afflicted me from my youth; the doore of heaven is called the ſtraite gate, and the vvay thereunto is called the narrow vvay: Mat. 7.13Matt 7:13Satans rage is reſtleſſe, his trade is a trade of blood, he is that old ſpevving dragon, vvho casts out of his mouth floods of venime after the Church;Rev. 12.15Rev 12:15 vvhat is Chriſts Church on earth, but like a ſcorched heath, or a root in dry ground? All theſe that novv ſing in heaven have mourned heere; before they came to theſe manſions of joy, they all paſt thorovv the valley of Baca, a vvorld of teares and troubles; S. John p. 33in the Revelation, ſaith, that one of the Elders of heaven came unto him, and ſaid,Rev. 7.13Rev 7:13 What are theſe that arc arraide in vvhite robes? men all filled with joy; S. John could not tell what kinde of men they were; Sir ſaid he, thou knoweſt; then the Elder ſaid to John, theſe are they which came out of great tribulation; verſ. 14there be no ſoules in heaven now, but firſt on earth they have beene in great tribulations; they in great terrours and anxietie have all cryed, Give us help from trouble, in the day of their ſmall things they all have beene in a great ſtrait.Zach. 4.10Zech 4:10

The 1. uſe; The 1 uſeLet us all heere learne, that in this world many ſwarmes of ſorrowes, and vexations are prepared for us that minde the way to heaven; the beſt hearts below are often crammed with ſighs, and groanes; the grief of minde conſumes their p. 34marrow, chills their bloud, waſts their ſpirits, ſhortneth their life, maketh them pale and wanne; that we ſhould not ſtartle, in our feares Chriſt hath foretold and ſaid,Joh. 16 33John 16:33 In the world yee ſhall have tribulation; Againe, the vvorld ſhall laugh, Joh. 16.20John 16:20but you ſhall vveep: the divel, the Prince of this vvorld, Joh. 12.31John 12:31ſtill goeth about to faſten his fangs upon redeemed ſoules, and to ſpite fire bals at the faces of beſt Chriſtians; the church by Zacharie, is compared to mirtle trees in a bottome, Zach. 1.8Zech 1:8or low valley, that is in a low baſe and contemptible condition; heere is not our reſt, and therefore let us not thinke among ſo many dogged Doegs, curſed Curres, to come to heaven, but by a way that is ſtraite, narrow, and troubleſome, a way of deepeſt ſighs and ſalteſt groanes, a way ſtrovved vvith loſſes and croſſes; Satan can not p. 35forget his trade of tempting, and of ſpewing floods of troubles againſt the Saints; the word of God tells us, that he hath fearful depths, Rev. 2.24 2 Cor. 2.11Rev 2:242 Cor 2:11craftie devices and ſtrange plotted wiles to bring a miſchief upon all theſe that truely feare God;foreign Eph. 6.11Eph 6:11 If we live godly in Chriſt let us reſolve to ſuffer perſecution, to ſaile thorow ſeas of ſorrowes: yea, to be in the belly of hell like Jonah, where troubles like waters ſhall compaſſe us about, even to the ſoule; Joh. 2.5John 2:5as long as the Divel is out of hell, he will not ceaſe to deviſe peſtilent plots againſt all theſe that walke towards heaven: By the Croſſe Chriſt himſelf went to the Crowne; will we be able to finde another way? are we dearer to God, then David was? Hear him heer crying to God, Give us help from trouble; Jacob that Prince of God,Gen. 32.28Gen 32:28 an Iſrael, who by wreſtlng overcame God,Gen. 47.9Gen 47:9 walked alſo in the p. 36way of troubles; few and evil ſaid he,Gen 47.9Gen 47:9 have my dayes been; Daniel, Dan. 10.19Dan 10:19a man greatly beloved, wa… caſt into a den of Lions, after a great viſion he fainted, and wa… ſicke many dayes; Dan. 8.27Dan 8:27Chriſt himſel… is called a man of many ſorrovves, he ſuffered hunger,Iſa. 53.3Isa 53:3 thirſt, nakedneſſe, and at laſt, was put to deat… like a Traitour, attached on a rack After him came a world of hi… worthies, of whom the work was not worthy, of whom (lik… others before him) ſome were tortured, and others had tryall o… cruell mockings, Heb. 11 35Heb 11:35and ſcourgings, o… bonds, and impriſonments; of other it is ſaid, that they were ſtoned and ſavven aſunder, verſ. 36and ſlai… vvith the Svvord, and that th… vvandred about in ſheep skinnes and goat skinnes, being deſtitute afflicted, verſ. 37.tormented; As it hat… beene, ſo it ſhall be with God ſervants on earth, untill tbe lo… p. 37day of mankinde come to its even: ſeeing it is ſo, let all of us now in theſe dayes of trouble reſolve vvith Ezekiel, Eek. 12 18to eate our bread vvith quakeing, and drink our drink vvith trembling, becauſe vve have ſinned; if the Lord ſend a perſecution, let us purpoſe, yea reſolve to caſt off our moſt coſtly apparell, to forſake all other delights, for to go vvith Chriſt, haveing the ſheep-skinnes or goate-skinnes upon our backes:heb. 11 37 let us be content in our dayes of tryall for Chriſt, to put on Joſhuahs filthie garments, Zach. 3.3Zech 3:3the vileſt ragges of captivitie: We have enjoyed a long reſt, a moſt vvonderfull peace; vve knovv not but by hearing, or reading, vvhat the Croſſe is; now in all appearance the time is come, that the Lord vvill let it be ſeene vvho are his true ſervants: it may be that he permit novv ſuch a cruell triall, p. 38the like whereof hath not be… in our land, and therefore it is o… duetie in this day of our publi… faſt, to intreate the Lord moſt earneſtly for one of two, that eith… (according to the words of m… text) he would give us help from trouble, in delivering us rom th… great evils we feare, or els tha h… would give us ſtrength, patience and courage to ſuffer for his ſake yea, to rejoice with the Apoſtle that we are counted worthy to ſuffer either ſhame or paine for hi… name: Act. 5.41Acts 5:41Outward torments fo… Chriſt are nothing to theſe wh… have a good conſcience, tha… heavenly muſician ſinging mo… ſweetly day and night: One ſait… very well, that the teares of good conſcience have more pleaſure in them, then the world greateſt joy; they are full of th… ſweeteſt juice, marrow, hone… kernell, comforts, reliſh th… p. 45the heart of man can conceive;Cum ſuſpiriis inenarrabilibus conjunctū est gaudium ineffabile. they have an unſpeakable joy with inuterable ſighs.

The 2. uſe. The 2 uſe Judg. 7.16Judg 7:16Let this ſerve for reproofe to many, who have not a minde to ſuffer any thing for Chriſt, yea, not ſo much as to bear a pitcher for Iſrael, or to cry, THE SWORD OF THE LORD, AND OF GIDEON.

As long as Chriſt will give loaves to ſuch, they will moſt frequently ſwarme about him,Joh. 6.26John 6:26 they are like Ephraim; a cake not turned halfe daugh and halfe backed,Hoſ. 7.8Hos 7:8 neither raw nor roſted,Rev. 3.15Rev 3:15 lukewarm …ike Loadicea; Alas many thouſands were ready to ſit down with Chriſt, and to eate of his multiplied loaves and fiſhes, but where were all theſe at Golgotha, when the Lord like a Theefe was …anged up between two theeves? Yea, where then was Peter himſelf? where then was Andrew, p. 40Peters brother? yea, where the… were James and Philip, and Barth… lomew, Thomas and Matthew and James the ſonne of Alpheus where were Lebeus, and Simon the Cananite? S. Marke ſaith that they all forſooke him and fled onelie John tarried with him a… the croſſe,Mark. 14 50Mark 14:50 to whom he recommended his mother; Ioh. 19.27John 19:27what the… did, it was through infirmitie… they all loved Chriſt dearly but the fear of death overcam… their love, this was a grea… fault; but many among us, carnall men, ſoaked in ſenſualitie… who have curſedly feared the… owne conſcience with the hote yron in the Divels forge, me… whoſe eyes are darkened wit… the miſts of hell, have no courage for GODS worſhip; th… Taverne is their Temple, their bell is their bible and their god; the… are men of rotten hearts, whi… p. 41have ſo embraced in their armes earthly doung with Demas, 2 Tim. 4.102 Tim 4:10that they care not for Religion; ſuch have no courage for the truth, they have no purpoſe to ſuffer loſſe of lands or lives,1 Cor. 1.18 Ezek. 28.31 Cor 1:18Ezek 28:3 for the folie of this Goſpel: Behold they are wiſer then Daniel: They eſteeme all theſe but fooles, that in the torrents of troubles forſake their faire cloathes and houſes to put on the goate skinnes, Heb. 11.37Heb 11:37and to abide in the caves and dennes of the earth; ſuch wiſe worldlings cannot imagine that Chriſt is on the ſuffering ſide; while they reſt pleaſantly in their beds of yvory and of eaſe;Am. 6.4Amos 6:4 they in their hearts ſcorne at men as fools, that quite their lands and their lives, their wives, and their houſes, and their wealth, for to ſuffer trouble for religion, which (fy, fy,) they imagine to be but opinions of men, conceits, p. 48devices of giddie braines; Giv… unto ſuch the black Maſſe, an… all the idols of Rome; yea, th… Turkiſh Alcoran, under ſom… other more honeſt names, and they ſhall embrace them all, before they quite their ſieled houſes and their ſilks,Hag. 1.4Hag 1:4 for to put on th… ſheep-skinnes, for to wander up an… down with the faithfull ſervant… of Jeſus Chriſt:Heb. 11.37Heb 11:37 while theſ… fooles, have a hote gleame o… earthly glory, while the ſailes o… their ſenſualitie are filled with carnall delights, they are at home yea (as they thinke) in heaven crowned with roſe buds, and garlands of glory? while they thu… tumble in theſe earthly pleaſures though the Lord Jeſus promiſ… unto them the Crownes of hi… Kingdome, they are (though i… another ſenſe) like the Olive-tre… that would not quite its fatneſſe and like the figge tree, Judg. 9.9Judg 9:9that would p. 49not quite its ſweetneſſe; or like the Vine, that would not leave its wine for to be made Kings over the trees: if ſuch temporiſers keep faſt their earthly good things, Luk. 16.25Luke 16:25their curſed bagges with holes, they care not for crownes in heaven;Hag. 1.9Hag 1:9 their earthly eaſe is To ſweet, that they purpoſe not to paſſe thorow the pikes, for to have need of this prayer, Give us helpe from trouble; what ever ſide is ſtrongeſt, they minde to laugh with theſe, like our ſwallowes who forſake us in winter,In terras apricas. for to flie moſt ſwiftly un…o lands warmed with a hoter Sunne; If our ſhip go well before the winde, they will ſaile with us; they will make up a navie, and goe in companie; but as ſoone as they finde the winde blow another way, they follow the blaſt, and ſet their ſailes according to the weather, p. 44being fully reſolved never to run hazard ſo, but that they may ever have one foot looſe; the fear of troubles ſo nettles their nature, which is of ſuch a cowardly conſtitution, that they can not want their eaſe: Let ſuch know, that by the doome of divine wiſdome, a great woe is denunced againſt all their eaſe and pleaſures, which ſhall ſoone come to an end; whethe… they be Nobles, or Church-men, or Gentlemen, or of the Common ſort, that will not quite thei… eaſe for to follow Chriſt with a Croſſe, at the houre of death they ſhall all finde that they have been but fooles; After that theſ… Nobles, or Gentlemen, hav… in their worldly pleaſures ſcoured the plaines with their horſes and the fields and woods wit… their hounds, and the heauens wit… their hawkes, and have enjoye… heere what their heartes coul… p. 45wiſh, the ſhort gleame of their glory ſhall paſſe in a moment; …hen death ſhall cry to theſe fools ſoaked in eaſe and vanitie, Alight from your horſes, and goe to the dungeons of ſtinke; As for Church men, who are cowards behinde, whereas they ſhould be Captaines before, like the ſeven Prieſts with their ſeven trumpets, Joſh. 6.4Josh 6:4for to encourage the men of war to fight Gods battels, they ſhall be greatly diſappointed like a poore man in a golden dreame, or a hungrie man at a feaſt in his ſleepe; behold when they are wakened, there is nothing but poverty and emptineſſe: Of all that ſort of whatſoever ranke they be that are not zealous for God, truely may be ſaid, they are lovers of pleaſures more then of God; 2 Tim. 3.42 Tim 3:4they may have …ome forme of godlineſſe, but …eeing they deny the power thereof, the Apoſtles counſell is, that p. 52we turne away from ſuch; le… them be, untill their day com… when GOD ſhall let looſe th… cordes of their conſcience, upo… their bed of death, ſo that in manner they ſhall bee ſtrangle with the horrours of hell, an… damned above the ground wormes, ſcorpions, feare, fire▪ furies, wormewood, and gall ſhall be the laſt portion of theſ… fearfull, Rev. 21.8Rev 21:8who have no courag… for the trueth, while it is i… any danger.

2. The reaſon. For vaine is the help of man.

WEE have heard of the petition, Give us help from trouble; now let us heare hi… reaſon, it is in theſe wordes, fo… p. 53vaine is the help of man, as if he had ſaid to God, O Lord we depend upon thine help alone, and not upon the ſtrength of our armie, which without thee is but a vaine thing: David had learned this when he fought againſt armed Goliah, having nothing but a ſcrip and a ſling; If David had not known that an armed man had beene a vaine thing, he durſt never have looked Goliah in the face; It is written, that when the Iſraelites armie ſaw the man, 1 Sam. 17 241 Sam 17:24they fled from him, and were ſore afraid, verſ. 25and the men of Iſrael ſaid one to another, Have yee ſeen this man that is come up? as if they had ſaid, we never ſaw ſuch a man as this; But David who had the Lord with him, cared not for him, for he ſaw him but a vaine man, and that all the help that he could make for the Philiſtines, ſhould be nothing p. 48but a vaine help, for (a… is heere ſaid) vaine is the hel… of man: whether mans help b… for us or againſt us, this remaines ſure and true, Vaine i… the help of man: the Hebrew word (Shave) ſignifieth a lie,foreign raſh, falſe, vaine, idle, of n… vertue, or worth.

Obſerve here what are theſe moſt mighty armies that men can make either for to help us,The doctrine. or to hurt us; they are but men; the Scriptures ſay, What is man? He is but fleſh,Pſal. 8.4Ps 8:4 and all fleſh is graſſe, 1 Pet. 1.241 Pet 1:24what are his bones the… pillars and maſter timber of his tabernacle? how eaſily are they broken and bruiſed into powder▪ I (ſaid Hezekiah) reckoned till morning, Iſa. 38.13Isa 38:13that, as a Lion, ſo will he breake all my bones; the moſt valiant Captaines, the braveſt ſouldiers, (if the Lords ſtrength ſinew not their armes and leggs p. 49are all but a deceiving lie:foreign a lie …ntill it be known ſeemes to be ſome thing, whether it be to …ejoice us or to affright us, but (as ſoone as it is known) either …he joy or the fear it brought unto us, periſh away like ſmoak; If we ſee a great armie for us, if Gods help be not with us, mens help will be but a lie, even a ſtaffe of a broken reede, Iſa. 36.6Isa 36:6whereon if a man leane, it will goe into his hand and pierce it: Men without God have neither hearts nor hands to fight; Behold, (ſaid Nahum) thy people in the midſt of thee are women, that is,Nah. 3.13Nah 3:13 fearfull and faint hearted bodies: when Iſrael went out with their armie againſt the Philiſtines, having the Arke of God with them, they thought that the victorie was certaine, and therefore they all ſhouted with a great ſhout, ſo that the earth rang againe; p. 561 Sam. 4.51 Sam 4:5but becauſe God was not at th… battell with them, all their co… rage and force was found to b… but a lie; All the Captaines o… Iſrael were that day like the grea… graſſehoppers, Nah. 3.17Nah 3:17which camp in th… hedges in the cold day; but whe… the Sunne ariſeth, they flee away and the place is not known wher… they are: likewiſe on Gilboa… where Saul and Jonathan wer… ſlaine in the Battell, all the captaines that day were found to be but a lie; How, 2 Sam. 1.252 Sam 1:25ſaid David are th… mighty fallen in the midſt o… the battell? When Iſrael wen… to battell againſt the Benjamites▪ for the quarrell of the Levites concubine that ruefull ſpectacle, they underſtood not this part of my text, vaine is the help of man▪ they knew not that mans ſtrength and courage was but a lie, and therefore relying upon the ſtrength of men, they reſolved to bring p. 57to the battell againſt Benjamin the tenth man of the land; wee, Jud. 20.10Judg 20:10ſaid they, will take men of an hundred, throughout all the tribes of Iſrael, and an hundred of a thouſand, and a thouſand out of ten thouſand, ſo their armie came to the number, of foure hundred thouſand tbat drew Sword: All theſe came againſt the Benjamites, vvho vvere but ſix and tvventie thouſand and ſeven hundred, but Iſrael found, that vaine was the help of man; for in the firſt day of the Battell, they loſt twentie and two thouſand, in the next day they loſt eighteene thouſand; untill the Lord by fasting and prayer vvas moved to help them, they found the truth of my text, that vaine is the help of man.

As man vvithout God is vaine in his help, ſo if he come againſt God, he is more vaine in his p. 52hurt; God called King Belſh… zar that enemy of his Church Tekel a man of no weight or wort… Behold vvith vvhat a pompe Ki… Pharaoh gathered the horſes a… charets of Egypt, Dan▪ 5.27 foreignDan 5:27for to bri… back Gods people to their bo… dage; Hee, as is ſaid of Ki… Agrippa, Act. 25.23Acts 25:23and Bernice his Queen came foreign with great fantaſie, pompe or fool… vaine ſhew; I ſaid he, will pu… ſue, Ezod. 15.9I will overtake, I will divi… the ſpoile, my lust ſhall be ſatiſf… upon them; I will draw my ſwor… my hand ſhall deſtroy them; the… were King Pharaohs bigge bra… while his army put on the harn… but God did blow with his win… and the ſea covered them; verſ. 10.they ſh… as lead in the mighty water he had to doe vvith one ſtrong then himſelfe: Senacherib f… this vvhen God put his hook… his noſe, 2 King. 19 282 Kgs 19:28and his bridle in his h… p. 53though his armie was like the ſand of the ſea ſhoare for number, he vvas not able to hurt Gods people; the Papiſts could not prevaile againſt this land neither by fire nor vvater; by vvater they came by open force, by fire they came like black divels under the earth, hid in vauts, but bleſſed be the Lord, both the one and the other vvas a lie, raſh, falſe, vaine, of no vertue; not a hurt but a help to teach our Kings and the Nation, not to ſuffer the bloodie hounds of that profeſſion, to abide any more in our boſome.

The uſe; The uſe.Seeing that men without God, either in their help or hurt are but vaine, a lie, falſe, of no vertue, let us beware, either to truſt too much in the forces of men that are for us, or yet in a cooled courage, to be too afraide for the forces of men that are p. 60againſt us: God vvas very vvr… vvith David for numbering t… people; they vvere thirteene hu… dred thouſand valiant men, 2 Sam. 24 92 Sam 24:9b… becauſe David cauſed numb… them, as if the help of man h… not beene vaine, the LORD▪ three dayes killed by the peſt… lence threeſcore and ten thouſa… let us beware to count our for… our forts, and our friends, o… Colonels, our Captaines and o… Canons; all theſe things are b… vaine things; they, for to ſtri… them on the right veine, are b… as is in my text, a lie; If t… Lords help be not for us, thoug… our men were like Saul and Jon… than, 2 Sam. 1 232 Sam 1:23ſwifter then Eagles, a… ſtronger then Lions, the fearf… day of Gilboah, a black ſaturn… ſhall come upon us; nothing ſha… be heard but groanes and lame… tations, How are the mighty f… len, 2 Sam. 1 272 Sam 1:27and the weapons of warre p… riſhed! p. 53the Lord for our ſins, ſhall deliver us into the hands of bru…iſh men that are skilfull to de…troy.Ezek. 21 31Ezek 21:31

But if we can be truely humbled; if every one will turne from …heir evill wayes, and goe to God in ſinceritie with faſting and prayer, for to ſeek GODS help, whoſe charets are charets of ſalvation, Hab. 3.8Hab 3:8we ſhall not need to feare …he forces of men; theſe who have eyes to ſee Gods charets of fire round about his Church,2 King. 6 172 Kgs 6:17 as …hey were about Eliſhah, may …corne all the forces of Princes; It is for blinde Gehazis, when they ſee great armies of men to tremble and ſay,2 King. 6 15 Exod. 14 13.2 Kgs 6:15Exod 14:13 Alas maſter what ſhall we doe? If we can ſtand ſtill with Moſes, we ſhall ſee the ſalvation of the Lord, we ſhall ſing and rejoice; when Moſes ſaw King Pharaoh and all his braveſt Captaines gaſping in that gulfe of the p. 54ſea, wherein they were drowne like dogges, he tuned up hi… ſong,Exod. 15 3.Exod 15:3 The Lord is a man of warr… God ſave our King, the anointe… of the Lord; the lap of his ga… ment ſhall never be cut by us but if Gods enemies, theſe R… miſh and Arminian troupes, wi… ſtill like the Egyptians purſu… Gods Church in this land, for t… ſpeak in Pharaohs words,Exod. 15 19Exod 15:19 to ſatiſf… their luſt upon us, let us ſtand ſti… upon our moſt holy faith, and w… ſhall ſee the ſalvation of the Lord Scotland ſhall ſing the ſong o… Moſes, The Lord is a man o… warre; Exod. 15.3Exod 15:3if his help come to th… Battell, wee ſhall not need t… flie with Iſrael, or in great feare ſay, of a moſt mighty armi… as the Iſraelites trembling, ſaid of Goliah, 1 Sam. 17 251 Sam 17:25Have yee ſeene th… man, or this armie that i… come up?