The Sword of the Lord and of Gideon, Sermon

The Sword of the Lord and of Gideon · Sermon

p. 89A SERMON FOR A BATTELL:

Pſal. 17.13. Ariſe O Lord, diſappoint him, cast him down; deliver my ſoul from the wicked with thy Sword.

THE Prophet David made this Pſalme, in the dayes of his great troubles, while he was hunted,1 Sam. 26 20. 1 Sam. 23 14.1 Sam 26:201 Sam 23:14 from place to place, like a partridge or a flea; his danger was great in Keilah, from Keilah he fled unto the wilderneſſe of Ziph, verſe 14where being diſcovered by the p. 90Ziphites, he fled unto the wilderneſſe of Maon, where he abode on a rock; there alſo David made haſte to get away, for fear of Saul; for Saul and his men there had compaſſed David and his men round about to take them; behold how mans wrath runs like wilde-fire, but even while Davids life was in his hand, there came a meſſenger unto Saul, ſaying, haſte thee and come; for the Philiſtines have invaded the land; wherefore Saul returned from purſueing after David for which cauſe that place was called Selah Hammahlekoth, 1 Sam. 23 281 Sam 23:28that is, the rock of diviſion; becauſe there the Lord did ſeparate Saul from David; theſe dangers were the occaſion of the compoſing of this Pſalme, wherein David moſt earneſtly ſeeketh Gods aſſiſtance againſt the price, craft, and crueltie, of his enemies: David in this pſalme p. 91is like the Nightingale which ſingeth moſt ſweetly, though ſhe have a thorne againſt her breaſt.

The diviſion of the Pſalme.

THe parts of the Pſalme are three; In the firſt part from the beginning, untill the tenth verſe, the royall Prophet David in confidence of his integritie, craveth defence of God againſt all his enemies; In the ſecond part, from the tenth verſe, untill the thirtenth, hee declareth their pride, craft, and crueltie, comparing them to Lions, greedy of their prey; In the third part, from the thirteenth verſe, untill the end, he prayeth againſt them with great confidence in God.

p. 92The diviſion of the text.

IN this text (which is a prayer of David to God againſt his perſecuters) there be two parts; In the firſt part, we have him to whom the prayer i… directed, it is the Lord, Ariſe O Lord &c. In the ſecond part wee have the petitions of his prayer, which are foure in number. 1. Ariſe. 2. Diſappoint him. 3. Caſt him downe; 4. Deliver my ſoul from the wicked, which is thy Sword; Let us now come to the gloſſe and interpretation of every part of the text.

p. 93I. PART. To whom the Prophet here maketh his Prayer.

HEE to whom the Prophet heere maketh his prayer, is the Lord, Ariſe, O Lord.

Obſerve heere the wiſedome of David; when he is in diſtreſſe,The doctrine. he goeth to the right hand, even directly to the Lord; As for Abraham he knew him not, and therefore he ſpake not a word to Abraham, to Jſaac, or Jacob, Pſal. 73.25Ps 73:25in any of his troubles: whom have I in heaven but thee? was his ſaying unto God.

The 1. uſe; The 1 uſe.Let us learne here in whom to truſt at all times; it is in the LORD; All other things whatſoever will faile, but the Lord faileth never; Some helpers p. 94faile in will; though they may, they will not; and ſome faile in power, though they will, they may not, but the Lord is ſure on all ſides; there is nothing that may doe us good, but God is able to doe it; looke how able he is in power, he is as willing for our well; If we want any thing that we deſire, it is either becauſe we aske it not,Jam. 4.3Jas 4:3 or becauſe wee aske amiſſe, that wee may conſume it upon our lusts, or becauſe what we aske, is not expedient for us; wee often ſeeke from God, and weepe for things which we would have, as children, weepe for knives, which their parents will not give unto them, becauſe they would be hurtfull unto them: Many of Gods children have crying deſires for wheate, Pſal. 4.6Ps 4:6wine, and oyle, this worlds wealth and eaſe, but God knowes that many would be hurt thereby, and therefore grants p. 95not unto them their deſires; The Lord forbid that God had ſuffered us to get our hearts deſire at all times; the beſt of us had been in hell ere now, if God had given us all our will; a yeares peace or plentie, O what a change maketh it among a people! O how hurtfull is it to the ſouls of many, who (crammed with hypocriſie) can crake of pietie, and ſoulder their graceleſſe doings with great oſtentation.

The 2. uſe; The 2 uſe.Let this ſerve for reproofe to Papiſts, who all ſlabbered in the dirt of mans inventions moſt fooliſhly, diſtruſting GODS good will,Jon. 2.8Jonah 2:8 forſake their owne merciemercy; in ſteede of crying to the LORD, they court the L…dy Mary, which is their Queene of heaven, Iſa. 44.7Isa 44:7they alſo run from God to the Saints, as though they had a greater regard unto us, or loved us better then p. 96God; If we had done the thouſand parts of the wrongs to them that wee have done unto God, though they had beene our fathers, and our mothers, they had all curſed us,Gen. 9.25Gen 9:25 as Noah did to Cham; Cham, ſo farre as I can reade, had but once ſcorned his father, and for that once his father curſed him, but wee have ten thouſand times ſcorned God, and yet he hath bleſſed us, and bleſſeth us ſtill; His wayes are not our wayes, Iſa. 55 8Isa 55:8and his thoughts are not our thoughts, for as farre as the heavens are above the earth, as farre are his wayes above our wayes, and his thoughts above our thoughts, ſo it is of his mercy and love; Iſa 49.15Isa 49:15though a mother forget her childe, the Lord can not forget his children; thus they who goe to others then to God are deceived; as if men not content with the light of the Sun, would goe to ſeeke light from the Moone, who p. 97hath all her light from the Sunne; Of all ſuch God may well ſay, as he ſaid in the dayes of Jeremiah, Jer. 2.27Jer 2:27they have turned the back and not the face; Jonah marketh ſuch with this black blot,Jonah 2.8Jonah 2:8 Theſe that obſerve lying vanities, forſake their owne merciemercy; It was not ſo great a wonder under the law to ſee men idolaters,Cant. 2.9Song 2:9 bcauſe then Chriſt but looked out at a window, and ſhewed himſelfe through a latteſſe darklie, but O now in his Goſpel he come out at doores clear… with, Behold me, Behold me: … for us, let our refuge in all di…eſſes bee to God, and Chriſt his Sonne,Iohn 17.3John 17:3 this is life eternall ſaid Chriſt in his prayer; only Chriſt is Mediator, onelyonly by him our prayers are heard; many Pagans did excell in morall things, but becauſe they knew not Chriſt, they could not finde the doore of heaven; this made a father to ſay p. 98of that great Philoſopher Ariſtotle,Auguſt. Vae tibi Ariſtoteles, laudaris ubi non es, & damnaris ubi es. Wo to thee, O Ariſtotle, who art commended where thou art not, and condemned where thou art

The ſecond Part. The Prayer.

WE have heard unto whom the Prophet here maketh his prayer, it is unto the Lord now let us conſider the prayer i… ſelfe; Ariſe, diſappoint him, ca… him down, deliver my ſoul from the wicked, which is thy ſword; I… this prayer there be foure petitions, 1. Ariſe 2 Diſappoin… him. 3. Caſt him down. 4. Deliver my ſoul from the wicked wit… thy ſword; Anguſtiati animi ſuſpiria.one calleth well theſ… foure petitions, the groanes of ſoul in a great ſtraite.

p. 99The firſt Petition. Ariſe.

THe firſt thing that the Pſalmiſt here requireth of the Lord, is that he would Ariſe, and make him ready for his help, Ariſe O LORD.

When God for cauſes known to himſelfe, delayes his help, he ſeemeth to his ſervants, to be like a man lying or ſleeping; Hence are all theſe formes of ſpeaches of the godly, Ariſe, Pſal. 3.7Ps 3:7O Lord, ſave me; Pſal. 10.1Ps 10:1why ſtandeſt thou afarre off, O Lord? why hideſt thou thy ſelfe in times of trouble? Againe, Ariſe O Lord, Pſal. 10.12Ps 10:12O God lift up thine hand; forget not the humble; Againe, Awake, Pſal. 44.23Ps 44:23why ſleepeſt thou, O Lord? Ariſe, caſt us not off for ever: againe,verſ. 26 Ariſe, for our help, for thy mercies ſake, the Scriptures are full p. 100of Ariſe, and awake, which diſtreſſed men cry unto God, whil… he delayes to help them.

The doctrine.Obſerve here firſt, that Go… cometh not ever at the firſt un…to his ſervants in their afflictions he will have them to taſte, ye… whiles to drink of the bitter cup before he let it paſſe from them that afterward they may th… better taſte and ſee how good … the LORD, Pſal. 34.8Ps 34:8when he hath delivered them;Cum differt auxilium videtur Deus ſedere otioſus. Iſa. 26.16Isa 26:16 God ſometime will ſeeme to his ſervants very careleſſe of their miſerie, as i… he were a man lyen down to ſleep; but all that is to ſtirre up the hearts of his ſervants, to cry the more mightily unto him and alſo to let them ſee their owne weakneſſe of faith, and how that without him they can do nothing; for theſe ends Chriſt would ſleepe in the ſhip in time of tempeſt,Mat. 8.25Matt 8:25 when all was in greateſt danger to periſh.

p. 101The uſe; The uſe.If when we are in calamitie either private or pub…icke, the Lord ſeeme to delay his help and to neglect us, let us not deſpare of his mercy, but let us cry the more earneſtly, help O Lord; though he ſeeme to our weake judgement to be ſleeping, he is not like Baal, of whom (by way of ſcorn) Elijah ſaid to his Prieſts crying a loud to him in their prayers,1 King. 18 271 Kgs 18:27 Cry a loud; for he is a God, either he is talken or he is purſueing, or hee is in a journey, or peradventure he ſleepeth, and muſt be awaked; our GOD ſleepeth not; he that keepeth Iſrael will not ſlumber; Pſal. 121.3Ps 121:3hee never lieth down, he is never wearied in waiting upon us, for to doe us good, there is no need of a drumme, of five houre bell, to waken him in the morning.

Againe whereas the ſervant p. 102of God here in his fear crieth to the Lord, Ariſe, I obſerv… that there is weakneſſe in th… beſt of Gods ſervants; they often in their troubles have baſ… thoughts of God; it is a very baſe thing to thinke that Go… is wearied; or that he is lye… down to reſt him, or that h… hath not will to ariſe, untill w… rouſe him up by our cries: Se… we not theſe great bodies of th… heavens turned about both nigh… and day, with an unſpeakabl… ſwiftneſſe? it is Gods arme tha… turneth them all about: the grea… bodie of the earth hath no other ground-ſtone, but his Almighty power; what I pray you hath ſtill ſo conſtantly borne up that great maſſe, theſe ſo many thouſand yeares? onelyonly Gods arme, and yet he is not wearied; he ſeeketh not our help to turne about theſe heavenly wheeles, p. 103or to eaſe him under the burden of the whole earth: it is but a very baſe thought to think that the Lord is lyen downe to reſt him, that afterward he may ariſe.

The uſe; The uſe.Let us learn to have great thoughts of God, concerning his power and good will: What is unpoſſible to him who is able to make a Camel to paſſe thorow a needles eye? Mark. 10 25Mark 10:25what will he not doe for us, who gave his own Sonne to the death for us? when we pray, we may be ſure that he will hear; To him we may well ſay, LORD thou can, if thou wilt, nay Lord, thou both can and wilt, if it be for thy glory and our well, if wee thinke otherwiſe we may well ſay, this is our infirmitie.

p. 104The ſecond Petition. Diſappoint him.

AFter that the Prophet hat… deſired the Lord to ariſe which is the firſt degree of his de…liverance, he requireth that th… Lord would diſappoint King Saul and all the reſt of his enemies Sauls Doegs and dogges, whom h… includeth all under the word hi… and that becauſe they were joine all together like one man in the malice, againſt David the ſervan… of the Lord.

The doctrine.Firſt, whereas here he callet… all his enemies him, as one man, fo… their banding together, I obſerv… the great policie of the Divel who by all meanes poſſible, en…deavoures to keepe his ſervants i… unitie, that they may all doe evi… together, as it were with one ſhoul…der, for he knoweth, that if hi… p. 105Kingdome were divided, it could not ſtand; I read in Scripture o… Michael and his angels, Rev. 12.7Rev 12:7fighting …gainſt the Divel and his angels, but … can not read in any part of one Divel fighting againſt another; …hey are all guided by one Spirit, …nd have all their mindes one way …ent to doe evill; though they may bee called legion, for their …udge great number, for the way …o Hell hath great ſtore of paſſen…ers, yet they all agree, and goe …s it were one Divel, ready with …oth hands to doe a miſchief.

The uſe: The uſe.Let us by the practiſe of the wicked learne to abide together, and to be all (as it were) …ne man; it is GODS will,Judg. 20.8Judg 20:8 it is Gods commandement, that we love one another; Joh. 15.17John 15:17Silurus a little before his death called all his children, and offered unto them a ſheafe of arrowes knit together, deſireing any of them to breake p. 106them which when they could not, he divided the arrowes and gave unto them one after another to be broken, which they brake eaſily; After that, hee ſaid unto them, So ſhall it be with you, if yee abide together in unitie, none ſhall be able to overcome you, but if yee be divided, yee ſhall eaſily be overthrowne.

Now let us conſider what the Prophet here requires, it is that God would diſappoint his enemies.Antevertere anticipare. The Hebrew word is Kiddam, which properly ſignifieth to prevent, or diſappoint, for he that is prevented, is alſo diſappointed: All Sauls deſignes were how to trap David for to kill him; Davids prayer heere is, that the Lord would diſappoint him, or according as it is in the Hebrew,Kaddemah panau. The doctrine. that he would prevent his face.

Obſerve here, that great men may intend great matters againſt p. 107Gods ſervants, but there is a great God in heaven who can eaſily diſappoint them, whiles by wiſedome, and whiles by strength; As for his wiſedome,Dan. 2.22Dan 2:22 he underſtandeth all things; Daniel ſaith, that the light dwelleth with him; he is infinitly wiſe to prevent or avert: perill, or to rid us out of danger. When King Saul intended to kill David in his bed, the Lord by his wiſedome delivered him, by directing Michal his wife, to lay an image in his bed, 1 Sam. 19 131 Sam 19:13having a pillow of goates haire for his bolſter, ſo when Sauls ſervants came to take him, they were diſappointed, they found nothing in the bed, but a Teraphim, an image with a pillow of goats haire; As by wiſedome, ſo the LORD can by ſtrength diſappoint his enemies; when the Philiſtines called for Samſon to make them ſport, Jud. 16.25Judg 16:25the Lord put a new ſtrength in that p. 108blinde man, whereby he drew downe the houſe upon his enemies, who got death for their ſport, and ſo were diſappointed; In this land at home, we have proofes ſufficient of God diſappointing our enemies; In the eightie eight year, there was nothing in Spaine to be heard, but a glorious victorie againſt Britaine, Have they not ſped? Jud. 5.30Judg 5:30have they not divided the prey, to every man a damosell or two? ſaid the Spaniſh Ladies, with the mother of Siſera; All our poſſeſſions were appointed for that barbarous and cruell nation, but God diſappointed them; All their bragging was at laſt turned into b…gging, the Lord made them beggars in our land: After that deliverance, the Papiſts intended, with ſix and thirtie barrels of powder under the Parliament houſe, to blow up all the Royall Blood, with the flowre of p. 119all our Nobilitie and Counſellours, and after that,MISSA maſſa farinaria. to ſet up their Dagon of dowe, but the Lord by his wonderfull wiſedome diſappointed them; After that, the enemies of Chriſts Goſpel have beene ſtill undermining this poore Church, under a covering of ceremonies; but when they were almoſt come to the cope of their deſires, even to give us the Maſſe cloathed with an Engliſh coat, moſt cunningly, woven from the top throughout, with juggling wordes, wordes of two faces like the Oracles of Apollo, which one way had a ſenſe for Gods glory, but another way a ſenſe for to make Chriſt Ieſus a dumb and a deafe idoll, that all this nation at laſt ſhould be partly entiſed, partly conſtrained to returne, to worſhip a god of bread, which can not defend himſelf from the teeth of a Mouſe; When this was almoſt p. 110atchieved and done, the Lord in a moſt wonderfull manner diſappointed them; After that, they gathered their forces by Sea and Land to doe by violence, what they could not performe by wiles; the Lord (and not we) diſappointed them; the Lord (bleſſed for evermore) at Dunce-hill, Har-ezer mons adjutorij.the hill of help, and at Newburne wrought their diſappointment; Eaſt, Weſt, South, North the Lord hath done great things for us; the LORDS hand hath beene ſeene by Sea and by Land: Except our enemies hearts bee harder then the heart of Pharao, they muſt confeſſe, and ſay with Pharaohs Magicians,Exod. 8.19Exod 8:19 This is the finger of GOD.

The 1 uſe.The 1 uſe Let us learn here to truſt in God, in greateſt dangers; even when there is nothing, but confufed noiſe, Iſa. 9.5Isa 9:5with garments rolled in bloud, though our enemies p. 111were never ſo ſtrong, our God is able to diſappoint all their deſignes; hee will not ſuffer any weapons to proſper that are lifted up againſt his ſervants; if we can ſtand ſtill with the foot of faith, Exod. 14 13Exod 14:13we ſhall not faile to ſee the Salvation of the Lord: Pſal. 23.4Ps 23:4In the valley of the ſhaddow of death, we ſhall not need ro feare any evill; for he ſhall bee with us;Exod. 15.3Exod 15:3 the Lord, ſaid Moſes, is a man of warre; and therefore let not our hearts tremble for the boaſt of men, who are but like dogges barking at the Moone; it is but little or nothing that man can doe; What is he worth?Iſa. 2.22Isa 2:22 wherein is hee to bee accounted of? the Lord can eaſily diſappoint all his deſignes; Let GOD ariſe, Pſal. 68.1Ps 68:1and his enemies ſhall bee ſcattered: Theſe that hate him ſhall flee before him; As ſmoak is driven away, ſo ſhall the Lord drive them away; p. 112as waxe melteth before the fire, ſo ſhall the wicked periſh at the preſence of God.

The 2 uſeThe ſecond uſe, When the enemies of God are ſtrong, and are in plotting great deſignes againſt GODS inheritance, let us heere learne how to pray to God; let us take unto us words even theſe words of this text, Ariſe, O Lord, and diſappoint them: If we cry unto the Lord, Ariſe, the Lord ſhall not faile to anſwere, Now will I ariſe, Iſa. 33.10Isa 33:10ſaith the Lord; When Hee is riſen he will worke wonders;Iſa. 33.11Isa 33:11 Mine enemies, ſaith He, ſhall conceive chaffe, and bring forth ſtubble; thus all their counſells ſhall be but a conception of chaffe, and when their deſignes are ready to be borne, they ſhall be but children of ſtubble; David in the ſecond Pſalme conſidering how God maketh the counſels, the conceptions of wicked men to be but p. 113falſe conceptions, cryed out,Pſal. 2.1Ps 2:1 Why doe the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vaine thing? the word in the Hebrew, ſignifieth a trifle, RIK inane.or emptineſſe, a nothing; He alſo there ſcorneth the vaine Kings and Rulers of the earth, and that becauſe they take counſell againſt Chriſt; He that ſitteth in the heavens, ſaith He, ſhall laugh, Pſal. 2.4Ps 2:4the Lord ſhall have them in deriſion; After that for a ſpace hee hath laughen at their follie, hee will breake them with a rod of yron, verſ. 9and daſh them in pieces like a potters veſſell: Thus the LORD bringeth down the plots and deſignes of high-towring ambitious wicked men; Behold a real diſappointment; where now I pray you will all their deſignes, and their boaſts, and their armies bee, when the Lord hath broken them all into Shardes like an old pitcher? Behold the men that would but burn p. 114and ſlay; Behold the men tha… would have all their will; Behol… the men that would neither be… ruled by Gods law nor Mans law but by their owne wilfull wills the LORD hath throwne the… downe, the evill they would hav… done, it lay not in their hearts o… hands to doe it; the LORD hath treade them downe, he hat… wounded the head of his enemies and the hairie ſcalpes of ſuch a goe on ſtill in their treſpaſses they are nothing but like a broken ſheard;Pſal. 68.21Ps 68:21 Behold them bridled by the power of this grea… LORD, who according to the prayer of his ſervant, heere hath clearly before the eyes of the world diſappointed them; Let railing Rabſhakehs not onelyonly boaſt men, but alſo GOD himſelfe with, where is the god of thi… place,2 King. 18 342 Kgs 18:34 and the god of that place… the gods of Hamath, and of Arpad, p. 115the gods of Sepharvaim, Henah, and Juah? Let great men with Rabſhakeh, threaten to cauſe Gods people eate their owne dung,2 King. 18 272 Kgs 18:27 and drinke their owne piſſe, but the LORD hath hookes for their noſe,2 King. 19 282 Kgs 19:28 and bridles for their lips, for to turne them back from their courſe: He ſhall ſo croſſe their deſignes, that they ſhall goe away diſappointed with ſhame and diſgrace;Joſ. 5.14Josh 5:14 Chriſt the Captaine of the Lords … is all fire, for the glory of … Father and the well of his …rch: his zeal was ſuch that it did eate him up; Joh. 2.17John 2:17but alas for our heart it is but like a cold ſinder in our boſome.

The third Petition. Caſt him downe.

NOw it follovveth, that vvee heare Davids third petition; Caſt him downe.

p. 116The Prophet heere in his prayer goeth on as Abraham did in hi… requeſt for Sodome; He ſought ay… more and more, firſt that Go… for fifties ſake, Gen. 18.24Gen 18:24would ſpare th… Cities,28 Secondly that for fiv… and fourties ſake, 29Thirdly, tha… for fourties ſake, Fourthly tha… for thirties ſake, 30Fiftly that fo… twenties ſake, 3132Sixtly and laſt that for tennes ſake he woul… ſpare all the reſt; So David fir… here intreated God but to ariſe After that, he deſired God to do more, even to diſappoint his enemies; Thirdly here he deſireth more that the Lord would hurl… and caſt down his adverſaries.

The doctrine.Obſerve here, what it is to be once familiar with God; Th… more a man be acquaint with God he groweth in boldneſſe in hi… ſutes: the prayers of a Chriſtian muſt not be dwarfes, ſtill i… one ſtature; They muſt grow up p. 117…nd be enlarged; A man before …e hath tried Gods love and li…eralitie will but ſeek ſmall things …rom him: But asſone as he hath …een theſe Oceans of mercies, that …re in Gods wideſt bowels, he will ſeek, and ſeek ay more and more; When ever he lookes upon God, he ſees a full hand ready …o give, he heares a mouth of mercy, crying unto him,Pſal. 81.10Ps 81:10 Open thy mouth very wide and I will fill …t unto thee: It is not poſſible that man that is not acquaint with God, can imagine how loving …nd liberall the Lord is; for this …auſe, the wicked who are thick …ghted, and by falſe ſpectacles …ee him but a farre in the workes …f the Creation, but not neere …n Chriſt, ſeeke nothing from God but earthly things,Pſal. 4.6Ps 4:6 as wheate wine, and oyle; When they are …ull of theſe things, like a horſe, … dogge, or a cowe that is full of p. 118meat, they lye downe to ſleep, and ſeeke no more; Such me… are but beasts who know no… what good things the LORD hath in his treaſures for his Children If they get the earth, and earthly things, they reſt content, ſinging a Requiem to their ſoules with that foole in the Goſpel, who bad his ſoul eate, Luke 12.19Luke 12:19drink, an… be merrie, becauſe he had provided much for it,Eſt aliquid quod in ipſis floribus angat. Jon. 4.7.Jonah 4:7 and that fo… many yeares: This joy laſteth not; The flovvre of it hath … vvorme, like Jonahs gourd, it wil… anone vvither and paſſe avvay.

The uſe.The uſe; Let us be careful… to knovv GOD, and his goodneſſe; If vve vvere once vvel acquaint with him in our prayers, vve ſhould wonder what a boldneſſe ſhould enter into ou… hearts to go to GOD, and to ſeeke, and ſeeke ay more and more. If he ſee our hearts honeſt, p. 119if vve ſpeake to him vvith ſenſe and feeling,Pſal. 109.164.Ps 109:164 though ſeven …imes a day, he vvill never ſay …o us,Mal. 2.7.Mal 2:7 as he ſaith to Papiſts ba…ling on their beeds, yee weary …e with your words; No not, he is ſo glad of our conference …hat he hath commanded us to …ray continually. 1 Theſſ. 5.16.1 Thess 5:16Yee cannot be…eeve the half of that which I …ay, untill yee make proofe and …ake a tryall of that which yee heare: O the unſpeakable kindneſſe of God; When the Queene of Sheba, who had heard much of Solomons glory, came her ſelfe and ſaw, She ſaid, that the report which She had heard of him was …rue, and that She could not be…ieve the wordes, untill her eyes had ſeene it; But behold, ſaid She,1 King. 10 71 Kgs 10:7 …he halfe was not told mee; thy wiſedome and proſperitie exceedeth the fame which I heard: Much more may this bee ſaid in things p. 120pertaining to God; the tongue of Angels can not expreſſe th… half of Gods goodwill toward the ſonnes of men; David kne… this, and therefore he moſt earneſtly exhorted all the godly, t… get knowledge of Gods goodneſſe by their owne experience O taſte and ſee how good is the LORD; Pſal. 34.8.Ps 34:8O but Gods childre… are deare to him, Oh that the… were dearer to us then they are Alas, beaſts and fowles, hawke and houndes, are more dear to many, then the deareſt children o… God; Julius Caeſar perceiving women bearing litle dogs under thei… armes, enquired if they had n… children; So it may be enquire of many, that with great coa… feede foules and beaſts for thei… pleaſure, if GOD have no chi…dren for their charitie; But O though men contemne ſuch, y… are they deare to GOD, yea, ſ… p. 121that the more familiare they bee with him, they are the more welcome; The more they ſeeke, they come the better ſpeed: Yea, he is willing that they leane and …eſt upon him, ſo that others ſee…ng this,Cant. 8.5Song 8:5 may wonder at ſuch a familiaritie, and ſay, who is this …omming up from the wilderneſse, …eaning upon her welbeloved?

Now let us conſider the petition it ſelfe; it is in theſe wordes, Caſt him downe; The Hebrew word Carang, ſignifieth proper…y to bow, to throw downe with …reat violence; The Pſalmiſt …eaking of theſe gluttons among …e Iſraelites that cryed for fleſh, …aith, that after they were filled, …he wrath of GOD came downe …pon them; Pal. 78.31and ſmote downe the …hoſen men of Iſrael, The originall word there ſignifieth, that he made them to bow, or that hee …hrew them downe when a man p. 122falleth in a battell, or any way … death, he boweth downe; This that which David heere deſire the Lord to doe to his enemies who could not be diverted fro… their malicious purpoſe, even th… he would bow them down by h… ſtrong and mighty arme.

The doctrine.Obſerve here, what the Lor… both can and will doe to the en…mies of his ſervants: he will no faile to caſt them downe; This that which David heere require This is the prayer of the Churc… when the godly are perſecuted b… malicious men, who will not … recalled; God is a hearer of prayers; hee will not faile to thro… down to the ground, all theſe th… maliciouſly ſet their face agai… him; If yee vvould have a pro… of this, hear the ſpeaches of Go… and of the proude King of Ba… vvho ſmote Gods people in wra… vvith a continuall ſtroake; I, ſa… p. 123that King, will aſcend into heaven:Iſa. 14.13Isa 14:13 I will exalt n… throne above the Starres of God, that is, I vvill do vvhat I pleaſe, let God ſay what he liketh, but he lied: But what ſaid the Lord?verſ. 15. the Lord ſpake truth, Thou ſhalt be brought downe to hell, I ſhall caſt thee dovvne; A man vvhat ever he be, if once the Lord in vvrath lay hands upon him, ſhall be caſt dovvne, yea, dovvne to the earth, yea, downe to the hells, yea, ſo dovvne, that he ſhal never be able to riſe again, I will overturne, overturne, Eze. 21.27Ezek 21:27overtu…ne, ſaid the LORD.The 1 uſe.

The firſt uſe: Let this ſerve for inſtruction to great men, as Emperours, Kings, and Princes; let ſuch bevvarre, according to Gamaleels counſell,Act. 5.39Acts 5:39 to fight againſt GOD. They for a ſpace in the pride of their hearts may ruffle, and ſtrout, like Nebuchadnezzar, in his palace, vvith,Dan. 4.30Dan 4:30 Is not this great p. 124Babel? yea, ſome vvill boaſt Go… himſelfe vvith Pharao, ſaying who is the LORD? Exod. 5.2.Exod 5:2but ſuch … all their greateſt grandour, are bu… like Cheſsemen, vvhichwhich have ſom… prerogatives upon the Cheſſeboard but O vvhen the game is ended death ſhuffleth both the King and the Pawne into one bagge: vvit… God is no reſpect of perſons; h… careth neither for King nor Keſ… if they proudly repine againſt hi… Majeſtie;Pſal. 20.12Ps 20:12 vvhen his wrath is kindled but a little, Eze. 21.27Ezek 21:27he will overturne▪ overturne, overturne, their royall eſtates, breake their ſcepters into pieces, make their crovvne like the chaffe of the Summer threſhing floore. David a King knowing this, that ſcepters and crovvnes vvhen GOD is provoked, are no… Thunder-proofe, gave unto al… Kings his counſell concerning this; For after that he had ſpoken of the great povver of God, in p. 125breaking his moſt mighty enemies vvith a barre of yron, as though they vvere the veſsels of a potter, he cryed out this notable vvatch-vvord,Pſal. 2.10.Ps 2:10 Bee wiſe therefore O yee Kings, &c. Serve the LORD with feare; Kiſſe the Son leſt hee bee angry; If ye doe it not, yee ſhall all periſh from the way, by the ſharpened keene edge of his juſtice, when his wrath is kindled but a little. All things, would he ſay, ſhall then turne enemies to you; All the creatures, both Angels and Men ſhall hate you, the Divels ſhall accuſe you, and Chriſt ſhall judge you, O then may be ſaid,Anſelm. Heu miſer! sic deprehenſus, quo fugias? latere erit impoſſibile apparere in tolerabile. O wretch whither wilt thou flee while thou art thus ſurpriſed? for neither may thou lurke, neither darre thou appeare; This is ſaid to thee, who in great pompe marcheſt with thy traine, a proude enemie of God and his Goſpel; For a time the LORD may ſuffer p. 116thee in thy caroch, to be gloriouſly whirled through the ſtreets, but tarry a little and God at laſt ſhall make of thee a foot-boy, to run before a promoted Mord…cai.

The 2 uſeThe ſecond uſe; Let this ſerve for comfort to Gods children, when they are threatned with death by mighty Monarches, becauſe like Shadrach and his fellowes they will not worſhip an idoll like that which was by King Nebuchadnezzar, Dan. 3.1Dan 3:1ſet up in the field of Durah: Let us remember well what theſe children,Dan. 3.28Dan 3:28 who changed the Kings word, and yeelded their bodies, ſaid to that King threatning them with death, if they would not worſhip his idoll, Our God whom wee ſerve, Dan. 3.17Dan 3:17ſaid they, is able to deliver us: without his permiſſion; all the potentates of the earth can not make a haire to fall from our head; though for a time they trouble us, at laſt the p. 127Lord ſhall come and caſt them downe; Yea, and drowne them in a whirle-poole of his wrath, where no corke ſhall bee able to beare them aloft, were they Kings, if they perſecute Gods Saints, at laſt the Lord ſhall caſt them downe; So at laſt,1 Sam. 31 4. 1 King. 22 35. Dan. 5.61 Sam 31:41 Kgs 22:35Dan 5:6 he cast downe King Saul upon Gilboah, and he caſt downe King Ahab in his bloody charet, and he caſt downe King Bellhazzar, fitting among his whoores; hee caſt downe that great Alexander, that vaine man,Dan. 12.13Dan 12:13 that could not with Daniel, reſt and ſtand in the lot, content with his ſtation, but whined for lack of elbow roome, becauſe there was not another world; The LORD made a ſhort coffin to containe him, whom a whole world could not content: Behold all the Emperours in Nebuchadnezzars image which hee ſaw in his ſleep; Behold there the golden head of the p. 128Caldeans, the ſilver breaſt of the Perſians, the braſen belly of the Grecians, and the yron legs of the Romanes; But O again, behold a little ſtone cut out of the quarrey of heaven without hand, even Chriſt Ieſus the great Captaine of Salvation, Heb. 2.10Heb 2:10who ſmote that image on the feet, ſo that all theſe Emperoures with their Crownes and Scepters,Dan. 1.22Dan 1:22 became like the chaffe of the Summer threſhing floores. Neither their Scepters, nor their Crownes, nor their Guards, nor their Armies can uphold them, when the LORD commeth to caſt them downe; All their armies become like theſe keepers about Chriſts grave, who for fear at his reſurrection,Mat. 28.4Matt 28:4 became as dead men. The Lord God is againſt them, to juſtle with them in his wrath, and therefore they cary hel, even a trembling heart in their boſome, and the brand of vengeance in p. 129their foreheads, the ſhrewde wages of their wickedneſſe; Let theſe obſervations ſtand for our comfort.

The third uſe, The 3 uſeSeeing the Lord is ſo powerfull to caſt downe Princes, and Potentates, let this ſerve for reproofe to theſe, who can not truſt in God, but tremble like aſpen leaves, when they ſee the great forces of men, or heare of them; Such are not fit for Chriſts wars; they gladly would dwell on Tabor with him, ſitting betweene Moſes and Elias, but forſake him at Calvarie, hanging between two Thieves; they like well his robbes of glory, but abhorre his ragges of povertie, Hoſanna hath a ſweet ſound in their eares, but anone they ſhrink back at theſe bitter bloody cryes, of Crucifie, Crucifie; Iſrael had never conquered Canaan, if they had been fearfully affraid of the p. 129ſons of Anak: Away with men that will not believe, except they touch and ſee; Such mens underſtandings are led by their ſenſes, they give more truſt to their eyes,Plus oculo quam oraculo. then to the word of promiſe; if we could rightly fear God, if we had but the leaſt graine of faith, we would never fear things that have their breath in their noſtrils: Iſa. 2.22Isa 2:22What is man that he ſhould be feared? what can he do, though he had permiſſion to do all that is in his power? he can but kill the body, and ſo ſend us home to our Lord: If men kill us not, a fever or a fluxe, or a Cancer, as well as a Canon, or one of a thouſand diſeaſes, will come and take away our life: If we did truely fear God, the terrours of men would not trouble us much; But becauſe we are negligent in prayer, and in prying into the heavens, for to know what ſtore of joy and p. 130contentments are there, therefore when a word of death or danger is heard we are like that Paſhur, whom Jeremie called Magor-Miſſabib, that is, fear round about;Jer. 20.3Jer 20:3 ly upon us, that any thing ſhould be able to affright us, unto whom the Lord hath made ſo fair promiſes, that he will be unto us, a ſhield, and a ſhadow, a Sconce, a ſtrong tower, and a fortreſſe, a hedge, a wall of fire, and of braſse; Is any man ſtronger then God▪ If any Prince can be found that can caſt downe God, let us tremble and ſhake; If any other God can be found to whom a man may ſay, in the words of may text, Ariſe, O LORD, diſappoint him, caſt him down, then let us tremble and goe with Zedekiah from chamber to chamber for to hide our ſelves; But this God of my text is the onelyonly true GOD; He is the God of gods; when he is angry, p. 132he caſteth down the gods, as he threw downe the Philiſtines Dagon, 1 Sam. 5.131 Sam 5:13and did execute judgement against all the gods of Egypt; Exo. 12.12Exod 12:12this our Lord at laſt ſhall bring a black day upon all the wicked, the enemies of his Church; their groanes in hell ſhall honour his juſtice, ſo well as the ſongs in Heaven ſhall glorifie his mercy; Now their conſcience is like a clocke when the poiſe is downe, the wheeles are without motion, all is quyet, there is no noiſe in the heart; but O as ſoone as the LORD ſhall ſet their wheeles on worke, and waken them out of their unhappy dream, then ſhall their heart breake, and their tongue confeſſe, and their Eyes weepe, and their Hearts wring with theſe doolefull deſperat cryes,Rev. 6.16Rev 6:16 Rocks and Mountaines fall upon us; this ſhall bee moſt ſweet muſick in the Eares of the Godly, whom they in the p. 133world did tread under feete, as moſt contemptible dongue.

The fourth Petition: Deliver my ſoule from the wicked, with thy Sword.

THE fourth petition is contained in theſe words, Deliver my ſoul from the wicked with thy ſword; In this petition David ſeeketh his life from God; deliver my ſoul, that is ſave my life; Becauſe it is by the ſoule that we live, the life is called the ſoul, For when once the ſoul is removed from the body, the life tarieth no longer.

In this petition alſo may well be included, a holy deſire for a ſpirituall deliverance of his ſoul from ſinne and Satan, his ſpirituall p. 134enemies; for doubtleſſe whe… the enemies of the body are buſie ſeeking our life, the Dive… like a roaring Lion, 1 Pet. 5.8.1 Pet 5:8ſeeketh us moſt earneſtly that when we ar… ſlaine, he may get our ſoules; Satan is moſt vigilant and buſie t… cauſe Battels of bloud, that whe… mens bodies are ſlaine in an evil… quarrell, he may get many ſoules And therefore this ſhould at a times be the man of warres ejaculatorie prayer, O Lord delive… my ſoul from the vvicked vvi… thy ſvvord; This is for the preſervation both of ſoul and body.

The words of this petition are diverſly interpreted; Some eſteeme that the wicked here are called the Sword of God,Qui tibi vice gladii eſt. that is in ſteed of a Sword: thus all the meanes of mens deſtruction are the Lords Sword; According to this,Iſa. 66.16Isa 66:16 Iſaiah ſaith, that by fire and ſword, the Lord will pleade p. 135with all fleſh; The ſame Prophet in another place, ſaith,Iſa. 27.1Isa 27:1 that the Lord with his ſore and great and ſtrong Sword, will puniſh Leviathan: The Prophet Jeremiah cryeth out, O thou Sword of the Lord, Jer. 47.6.Jer 47:6how long wilt it be ere thou bee quiet? Zeph. 2.12Zeph 2:12The Lord in Zephaniah ſaid to the Ethiopians, yee ſhall be ſlaine by my Sword; According to this interpretation, all meanes that God uſeth either to afflict his children, or to deſtroy the wicked, are called his Sword; In this ſenſe, the wicked in my text according to the new Tranſlation, are called Gods Sword, deliver my ſoule from the wicked, which is thy Sword, that is, the inſtrument of thy correction.

Other interpret the words after this manner, deliver my ſoule from the wicked with thy Sword; In the Hebrew there is onelyonly thy Sword, for with thy Sword, The p. 136Chaldee hath,Charbecha for Becharbecha. who deſerveth to be ſlaine by thy Sword; the Greeke▪ gloſſe hath uſing thy Sword againſt him.

The ſenſe of the whole petition is this, that the Lord would deliliver his life from the wicked, which are the Sword or rod of his wrath; Iſa. 10.5Isa 10:5Or that by his Sword, he would deſtroy the wicked, and ſo deliver his ſoule or his life; this laſt interpretation ſeemeth beſt, for it is more likely, that David here deſireth the Lord to deliver his ſoul from the wicked, with his Sword, then that the wicked are GODS Sword▪ againſt him, for in this Pſalme he pleadeth for his own innocency, in all that concerned his enemies; I confeſſe, that if we look to God in our affections, though we be moſt unjuſtly wronged by men, yet the Lord is ever righteous and moſt juſtly, may with the wicked as p. 137vvith a rod ſcourge us for our treſpaſſes againſt him; both interpretations are good.

Now to come to the petition, Deliver my ſoule from the vvicked vvhichwhich is thy Sword, or vvith thy Svvord. After that he had prayed againſt his enemies, he prayeth for himſelfe, that the LORD would deliver his ſoule; The deſtruction of our enemies, is but half comfort except that the Lord deliver us from dangers; Indeed the deſtruction of Gods enemies is a fair way, for the deliverance of Gods ſervants, After that Haman was hanged, Gods people had joy and gladneſſe, Eſth. 8.17Esth 8:17a feaſt and a good day.

The uſe; The 1 uſeLet us learn the right method of prayer, in theſe dayes of trouble; The Church of God now hath many adverſaries, who are runne together in a cluſter like one man in the ſingular number; p. 138Heere we may learn what to ſay, Ariſe O Lord, diſappoint him, Caſt him dovvne; downe with Doeg, the Deputie, the curſed courteour; down with Zedekiah Canterburrie, the falſe Prophet, who by his tyrannie hath ſmitten many a good Micajah on the cheeck, for couragiouſly withſtanding of his Arminian lies; Down, down with that proud Prelate, whoſe lips ſhould have kept knowledge,Mal. 2.8.Mal 2:8 and yet like theſe wicked Prieſts in Malachie, hath made many to ſtumble at the law Yea, and at the Goſpel alſo by corrupting the Covenant of Levi; The court made him fo…ge his Maſter Chriſt, as the ſecond Coch of Egypt taught Joſeph …o ſweare by the life of Pharao; Make thy arme now bare,Gen. 42.16Gen 42:16 Lord, …nd caſt downe all thine enemies among us, but chiefly LORD, now downe with theſe bloudie p. 139hounds of Ireland, theſe cruell Cannibals, 1 King. ….5who (like bloudy Joab) have ſhed the blood of warre in peace, and have put the blood of war upon their girdles that were about their loines, and in their ſhooes, that were on their feet, Let not their hoare heads goe downe to the grave in peace.

If any others by authoritie or counſell have had hand in that bloud, as the Prophet Zacharie ſaid, when men were murdering him at the commandment of the King, The Lord looke upon it, 2 Chron. 24.2….2 Chr 24:2and require it. O what a terrible count is above the head of theſe, who have a hand in theſe moſt bloody diviſions in England, now Aceldama, a field of blood, where ſo many, like theſe two young men that came out of the two armies, to play before Joab and Abner, thruſt every one his ſword into his fellowes ſide, and fall down p. 138together: O theſe red fields, made red morter with the blood of ſo many thouſands! O is there not a God in Heaven? Will he not looke upon all this and require it, yea, and requite it? O let us pray that God would caſt downe theſe men of blood; After that wee have prayed thus, let us intreat the LORD moſt humbly, to deliver our Soules with his ſword from the rage of wicked men.

The 2 uſeAgaine, whereas this man of God ſeeketh heere deliverance from the Lord, let us learne to whom to goe, for to be in ſafetie; Neither Ships by Sea, nor Caſtels by Land, can deliver mens ſoules or lives; All theſe things are but vaine things; a blaſt of winde will throw down, and drowne theſe Sea towers filled with Canons; The ſtrong holds on land, though they ſeeme ſuch p. 141as the blinde and the lame, 1 Sam. 5.61 Sam 5:6might keepe them againſt all forces of men, yet when the Lord is away, are nothing but a lye;Pſal. 20.8Ps 20:8 Some truſt in Charets, and ſome in Horſes; But we will remember the LORD our GOD, from him is our deliverance; And therefore in dayes of danger, Let every man here learne what to ſay to God, O LORD deliver my ſoul from the wicked, with thy Svvord.

The thing he deſires GOD, to deliver here, it is his ſoule, that is his life, for the ſoul is the cauſe of our life; Alſo by the ſoul here may be underſtood, the ſoul properly, and that the LORD would deliver it from danger, either in doing or ſuffering; for when a man doth evill, he endangereth his ſoul, or when a man is perſecuted, his ſoul alſo is not without danger; If he live, except God ſave and ſanctifie him, his p. 142ſoul will fret impatiently, or will be enflamed with revenge,1 Sam. 25 131 Sam 25:13 as David was againſt Nabal, for his churliſhneſſe; Or if at the running out of his laſt ſand he die in battell, the bloudy ſword in the hand, except the Lord deliver his ſoul, he cannot be but in great danger.

The 3 uſe.The third uſe; Let us make good uſe of theſe words, Deliver my ſoul; they are good for dayes of trouble, either for life, or for death, when it like a ſter ne Serjant ſhall come to arreſt our bodyes in the grave; By this prayer our life is guarded againſt the rage of men, and by this prayer the Soule is fenced from the danger of damnation: In theſe wordes is advantage both in life and death; theſe words ſhould at all times be in all mens mouthes, both at our ryſing, and at our lying downe, in ſickneſſe and in p. 123health: But above all, let all men of warre in their greateſt dangers arme themſelves with this ejaculatory prayer, LORD, del…ver my Soul; theſe a…e words which every Chriſtian muſt take with him while he goeth to the battell.

But becauſe God heareth not the prayers of ſinners, and this time of trouble is a time of prayer, let us endeavour by all meanes with all haſte to bee reconciled unto God; Truely, the beſt of us may ſay that we have a huge bottome of ſinne to unravell by repentance, which we have beene many yeares winding up by our great diſobedience: the worke is great, the time is ſhort, wee know not, but this warre may make an end of us all, Let us therefore no more hazard our ſalvation upon a may bee, we live unto another yeare; I confeſſe p. 140that no man ſhould diſpaire of GODS merciemercy at any time, but this is as true that no man ſhould preſume of it at any time; One hath obſerved this well, There was one theeſe at his lives end ſaved, to take away deſparation, and but one ſo ſaved to take away preſumption.

Theſe from whom David, heere prayeth to be delivered are called the wicked; Such were the enemies that ſought his life.

The doctrine.Obſerve here, that it is no new thing, that GODS ſervants are troubled by the wicked; This controverſie began very earely; For Cain the wicked killed the righteous Abel: Gen. 4.8.Gen 4:8He had no quarrell againſt him, but becauſe he was more ſincere in Gods ſervice then he; A thief hateth the light, as Ahab hated Micaiah, 1 King. 22 81 Kgs 22:8becauſe by the torch of the word, he ſhined upon his workes of darkneſſe.

p. 144The uſe; The uſe.As long as wicked men are in the world, let Gods children look for dangers to their ſouls; There is nothing that will content wicked men, but the ſouls or lives of Gods ſervants; King Ahab was ſick ay untill Naboth was dead, but as ſoone as the poor man was dead, the wicked King aroſe up in health,1 King. 21 161 Kgs 21:16 and went down to the poor mans vineyard to take poſſeſſion of it; it is health for the wicked to deſtroy the children of God; They are like the Divel, it is their meat and their drink to do evill; Let this teach us to pray continually, that God would deliver our ſoule from the vvicked.

Againe whereas the wicked heere according to ſome interpretation is called Gods Sword Let us learne here when the wicked perſecute us, not to look ſo much to them who are the p. 146rod Sword or ſtafe, as unto the hand of God, in which the rod ſword or ſtaffe are; it is but for beaſts as dogges, to bite the ſtaffe when they are ſtricken, but Gods children muſt fixe their eye upon the hand; When wicked Shimei railed upon David, and caſt ſtones at him, calling him a bloody murderer. David would not ſuffer Abiſhai to touch him, for hee had his eye upon GOD. The LORD, 2 Sam. 16 102 Sam 16:10ſaid hee, hath ſaid unto him, curſe David who then ſhall ſay, wherefore haſt thou done ſo? This is a great argument of patience for Gods children, when they are afflicted or perſecuted by the wicked, for all the wicked, while th…y afflict us, are but a rod or ſtaffe in the hand of GOD;Iſa. 10.15Isa 10:15 If we can get Gods favour, we need no more be afraid for the wicked, then for a Staffe or Svvord lying upon the ground p. 147they ſhould once ſee this our Captaine with his Sword in his hand, they ſhould all fall down as dead-men at his feet; when Captaine Gideon went out againſt the Midianites, hee cryed,Judg. 7.20Judg 7:20 THE SWORD OF THE LORD, AND OF GIDEON; After that, not a man had either heart or hand, to fight againſt Gods people.

The uſe; The uſe.Let us by all meanes endeavoure by a good life to pleaſe GOD, that this great Captaine with his ſword may be on our ſide in theſe dayes of warre: the Papiſts idoll is nothing,Hoſ. 8.5Hos 8:5 thy Calf, O Samaria, hath caſt thee off; But O the LORD will never caſt us off; If he bee with us, wee need not fear who be againſt us; Lappers of water, Judg. 7.5Judg 7:5any bodie (though both few and weak) will prevail eaſily,Luk. 12.32Luke 12:32 if GODS Sword be in the Battell; Feare not little flock ſaid Chriſt; ſtand ſtill, ſaid p. 148Moſes to his ſix hundreth thouſand fighting men, ye need not draw a Sword, the Lord ſhall fight for you;Exod. 14.13.Exod 14:13 OnelyOnly ſtand ſtill, and yee ſhall ſee what GOD can doe; Yee ſhall ſee the Salvation of the LORD; Pſal. 68.21Ps 68:21Who ſhall wound the head, and breake the hairie ſcalp, of all theſe that in their pride ſhall riſe up againſt us; We ſhall bee able to ſtand againſt all weathers and ſtormes whatſoever: What ever our dangers be, the LORD ſhall give us a riddance; We ſhall be in Covenant with the Stones of the Earth, and the Starres of Heaven, who (as in the day of Siſera (ſhall fight in their courſes againſt all our enemies;Judg. 5.20Judg 5:20 In the day of Battell, the Lord ſhall breake the Horſe hooves of our enemies, Judg. 5.22Judg 5:22by the meanes of the pranſings, the pranſings, that is, tramplings or plungings of the mighty ones; It ſhall bee at laſt ſung in p. 149a ſong of victory,verſ. 27. At our feete they bowed and fell, at our feete they bowed and fell; Where they bovved, there they fell dovvne dead; All our enemies (like Adam in his ſinne) ſhall flee away, and thruſt their head in a buſh; If we be Gods friends, God ſhall be their enemie, whether they fight in valleyes or hills, let them hitch up as high as they can, were it to ſet their neſt among the Stars, Obad. 4.Obad 1:4thence ſhall he bring them down; As mountaines could not ſave his enemies in the day of water, neither ſhall the fountaines ſave them in the laſt day of fire; GODS friends may well ſay,Pſal. 66.12Ps 66:12 vve vvent through fire and vvater, but his foes are burnt in the one, and drowned in the other; they ſhall not be able to make any ſhift for a ſhelter; Let us flee, Exod. 14 25.Exod 14:25ſaid the Egyptians, for the LORD fighteth for Iſrael; This at laſt ſhall be p. 160the caſe of all our enemies, though they were in number like the ſand, Judg. 7.12Judg 7:12if we by a reformed life, ſtudie to pleaſe him who is the GOD of armies; for as Moſes ſang at the red Sea,Exod. 15.3Exod 15:3 The LORD is a man of Warre, he triumphingly at the laſt ſets his foot upon the necks of all his enemies; But if wee provoke GOD by our ſinnes,Joſh. 7.20Josh 7:20 as Achan did at Jericho: If we grieve the Angels, who clap their vvings for joy at our converſion, Luk. 15.10Luke 15:10if wee make griefe to goe to theſe threſholds of joy; if we make theſe miniſtring Spirits to bluſh at our wicked deeds,Heb. 1.14Heb 1:14 if we draw back, Heb. 10.38Heb 10:38ſo that GODS ſoul have no pleaſure in us, if we rebell and vexe his holy Spirit, Iſa. 66.10Isa 66:10and for to ſpeake ſo, morgage our ſalvation, or by ſome baſtard idle thoughts, barter away the joyes of a good conſcience, for any triffles of pleaſure, profite, p. 161or preferment, like Eſau, who preferred pottage to his birthright,Gen. 25.34Gen 25:34 or like the Gergeſites, who deſired Chriſt the Saviour to depart from their costs, Mat. 8.34Matt 8:34that they might ſave their ſwine; in a word, if ſuch wicked thoughts lodge within us, vve ſhall in the day of Battell flee like ſheepe ſcattered on the mountaines; 2 Chron. 18.16.2 Chr 18:16When the Iſraelites fled ſhamefully from before the men of Aï, the Lord declared to Joſhuah their great Generall the cauſe of their flight; Iſrael hath ſinned, Joſh. 7.11Josh 7:11and have tranſgreſſed my Covenant, &c. verſ. 12.Therefore they could not ſtand before their enemies; If Generalls of armies vvould not (vvith Joſhuah) bee aſhamed of the flight of their ſouldiers, let them by all meanes endeavour, that no wicked perſons be tolerate in their armies; For all ſuch are but like Cuckoos, which for a little ſpace in Summer, will p. 162ſing a ſcurvy note to us, but are ſure to be gone before the winter blaſts come; Such profaine villaines vvill do no good in the day of danger, when they muſt face a bloodie field; and therefore, a Generall muſt ſay of his armie, as David ſaid of his houſe, I will walke within my houſe or in my armie, Pſal. 101.2Ps 101:2with a perfect heart, verſ. 3 &c. I hate the worke of them that turne aſide, it ſhall not cleave to verſ. 4 mee; A froward heart ſhall depart from me; I will not know verſ. 5 a wicked perſon; Who ſo privily ſlandereth his neighbour, him ſhall I cut off: Him that hath an high looke, and a proud heart, will not verſ. 6 I ſuffer. Mine eyes ſhall be on the faithfull of the land; that they may dwell with me: He that vvalketh in a perfect vvay, verſ. 7 he ſhall ſerve we: He that vvorketh deceit, ſhall not dvvell vvithin my houſe: Hee that telleth lies p. 163ſhall not tarrie in my ſight: I verſ. 8 vvill early deſtroy all the vviced of the land, That I may cut off all vvicked doers from the Citie of the LORD; The Generall of an armie ſhould not onelyonly honour GOD himſelfe, but alſo carefully ſee that he be honoured by others, and ſhould contemne all honour that is joyned with contempt of Chriſts Majeſtie; It is ſtoried of Gotherey of Boloigne, a moſt excellent warriour, that being in the very heate and hight, of his honour he refuſed to bee crowned in Jeruſalem with a Crovvn of gold, and that becauſe Chriſt his Lord had there beene crowned with a Crovvn of thornes: O then what honour can come from theſe profaine, who by wounds and paſſions, and bloody oathes, and other vileſt vices,Heb. 6.6Heb 6:6 doe crucifie againe the King of glory? Let theſe be p. 164the wordes of a generous Generall, I hate the worke of them that turne aſide, it ſhall not cleave to mee, a froward heart ſhall depart from me, I will not know a wicked perſon, &c. Theſe that delight in lies, ſhall not tarry in my ſight: theſe who with Achan play punks, for to fill their trunks with a golden wedge, Joſh. 7.21Josh 7:21them will I cut off, with all other vicious perſons, who like drunkards are couragious at the Barrell, but cowards at the Battell, Tumidi potando, timidi pugnando.all ſuch that want grace, ſhall have no place in my favour; Let all Captaines make this, a rule of their militarie Diſcipline, wherewith, as by a curb they may powerfullie pull in all theſe, that give looſe reines to themſelves in all ſortes of riot; If this be carefully done, they ſhall have their ſouldiers full of heart and health, ſtrength and courage,1 Sam. 17 131 Sam 17:13 to draw the p. 165ſtrongeſt cities with ropes in a river; they (like Saul and Jonathan) ſhall be ſwifter then Eagles, 2 Sam. 1.232 Sam 1:23and ſtronger then Lions; The LORD ſhall teach their hands to warre, ſo that a bow of ſteele ſhall bee broken by their armes, Pal. 18.34their enemies when they ſee them, ſhall all agaſt with gaſtly lookes cry with the Egyptians at the red Sea, Let us flee from the face of Iſrael, Exod. 14.25Exod 14:25for the LORD fighteth for them againſt us; Thus ſhall it be done to the armie of theſe that in holineſſe fight the Battels of the LORD; In whoſe royall hand is the royall gift of victorie, in this life, and after this life, the victorious wreaths, with palmes in hands, Rev. 7.9Rev 7:9and crownes on heads in the Heaven of Heavens, the place of our deſired reſt, and the reſt of all our deſires. To him bee glory, for ever, Amen.