A FIREBRAND PLUCKT OUT OF THE BVRNING.
A SERMON PREACHED AT Margarets Westminster, before the Honourable House of Commons, at their late solemn Fast, Novemb. 27. 1644.
By Benjamin Pikering, Minister of Gods Word at Buckstead in Sussex: and a Member of the Assembly of Divines.
Published by Order of the said House.
Thus saith the Lord of hostes: The children of Israel, and the children of Judah were oppressed together, and all that took them captives, held them fast, they refused to let them goe.
Their Redeemer is strong. The LORD of hostes is his Name, he shall throughly plead their cause, that he may give rest to the land, and disquiet the inhabitants of Babylon.
LONDON, Printed by I. L. for Philemon Stephens, and Samuel Gellibrand in Pauls Church-yard. 1645.
ORdered by the Commons Assembled in Parliament: That Master Sallowey, and Master Knightley, doe from this House give thanks to Master Pikering, and Master Gipps, for the great paines they took in the Sermons they preached this day at the intreatie of this House, at S. Margarets Westminster: It being the day of Publique Humiliation; and to desire them to Print their Sermons. And it is Ordered that none shall presume to Print their or either of their Sermons without leave under their or either of their Hand-writing.
I Appoint Philemon Stephens, and Samuel Gellibrand, to print this Sermon.
TO THE HONOVRABLE House of Commons, Assembled in Parliament.
HOnourable Senators, Your patient attention unto, and thankefull acceptance of my undeserving paines in this Sermon (now according to your Order printed, and in all humility presented unto you) emboldens me againe to reinforce my exhortation that you would be of good courage, and goe on zealously to work with God, untill he be pleased to make you and all Gods people happy and blessed in ordaining peace, perfecting Reformation, and working all your workes for you.
Nothing is so preiudiciall to your proceedings, nothing so much hinders good things from us, as many grievous provoking sinnes in the midst of us. Hence is it that when peace and freedome with Truth in purity have beene flowing in toward us as a River, the Lord hath caused them as Iordan to be driven backwards: the night seemed to be past, and the day of the glorious Gospel with peace on earth seemed to spread it selfe over us; but now the shadowes are againe stretched out, black clouds hang over our heads, still threatening a day of darkenesse and gloominesse.
The profanenesse and incorrigiblenesse of the multitude declare that we are ripe for iudgement, indisposed and unfit for [Page]such mercies as have beene ever since the happy beginning of your sitting tendering themselves unto us: The vitals of this Kingdome are fearefully distempered, the whole head is sick and the whole heart faint: Our sinfull distempers threaten the dissolution of the whole body: Therefore through the wrath of the Lord of Hosts is the Land darkened, and the people are as fuel for fire, and their carkasses lye torne in the midst of the streets: for all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.
Certainly it will be acceptable to God, available to the healing of the Land, and reducing us to a fitnesse for Reformation, if you could, as you have begun, set up a faithfull Ministery, and establish iudgement and iustice in the Gates. If iudgement had its free course in Citie and Countrey, the course of Gods iudgements would determine. Let your zeale for the Lord burne; and this burning which the Lord hath kindled would be quenched. Phinehas stood up and executed iudgement, and the plague ceased.
Let not the sonnes of Belial say, There is no law now: Let them not be as when there was no King in Israel, every man doing that which was right in his owne eyes: let them know that the Kingly power resides in his High Court of Parliament. Let your terrour be on all the wicked: bring the wheele upon them, or make them flee into desolate places to cut up the mallowes by the bushes,Job 30. and Juniper roots for their meate. If iniquitie were purged and the wicked tooke away, God would leave off melting,Jer. 6. Satan would be rebuked, the enemies unarmed: no weapon formed against you should prosper.
Every knowne sinne suffered amongst us, if not prevented nor punished by you, will be as yours, and will give the enemie advantages:Greg. Moral. 10. [...].20. Therefore some thinke that Satan is said to stand at Ioshua's right hand, and so of his fellow reformers, as having iust accusation, and therefore too hard for Ioshua and his fellowes: Nam dextra fortius aliquid & majus significat: to this purpose they bring that in the 109. Psalme, Let Satan stand at his right hand, and thus expound it: fac ut Satan in judicio superiores habeat partes: The reason why they thus thought was, because Ioshua did not carefully oversee and instruct [Page]the people in Babylon; he was not zealous in exciting to the building of Gods Temple: And although we read not that he was faulty in marrying a strange woman, (as some say, (but without Scripture) he did) yet this was accounted his sinne that his brethren and somes by his neglect or sufferance had done so,Rabb. & Hieron. As Sanctius hath it. Ezra 10.
Thus farre this is usefull; to excite you to prevent sinne in others, and to take away occasion from all that seeke occasion either to asperse, or hinder your pious proceedings in building the Lords House, and setting up his Worship and Ordinances in puritie: O be carefull lest the Adversary get advantage; for you are not ignorant of his devices.
Iustice also requires that you should make speed to heare and to releeve the innocent that cry to heaven, that cry to you as Gods on earth; let not their eyes faile with waiting.
Be zealous for Christs cause: delay not to establish his government and discipline with vigour: proceed so on in your reforming and treating, that glory may dwell in our Land; that mercy and truth, righteousnesse and peace may meete together, and kisse each other.
Let your wisdome find out a way so, that for circumstantiall differences there be no rent made by those who are one body: The wisdome which is from above, which is pure and peaceable, so direct you, that you may take away all pretences of separation or schisme; that every mouth may be stopt, that brethren may dwell together in unitie, serving the Lord with one shoulder; that the God of love and peace may be amongst us.
Your religious approbation, and expediting of the Directory for Gods worship, is no small refreshing to the spirits of all the godly: you have gone farre, but forget the things that are behind, and presse on toward the marke: So long as the Iewish builders and reformers minded more themselves and their owne houses then the House of God, Satan prevailed by the Kings wicked Counsellours in Babylon, and the Samaritancs about Iudea, to hinder their counsels and endeavours: you have given good proofe that you exalt God, and preferre his glory with the hazard of the depressing of your selves and yours. (The Lord is faithfull who will not forget your unparallel'd zeale and labour [Page]of love) Continue in your integritie, and the Lord will continue a Sunne and shield to you;Psal. 105.14. he will for your sakes rebuke Princes; he will rebuke Satan and all his malignant Instruments, that they shall be as still as a stone: Although Satan be at your right hand, feare not, so long as our Mediatour sits at the right hand of God: feare not, if you (with Ioshua) stand before the Angel of the Covenant: continue to stand before him as your Master whose worke you are about, expecting what he will prescribe, or enioyne. Continue in his worke, that you may be found so doing; so acquit your selves, that he may say, Well done good and faithfull servants, you have beene faithfull in all my house, enter into your Masters ioy. Stand before this Angels as your Iudge, to whom in all your iust proceedings you may appeale and have reliefe. Stand before him as your Advocate, who hath undertaken the Patronage of your righteous cause, and the promoting of your pious undertakings in heaven with his Father; there he speakes good; there he pleads for you: and the Lord will answer him with good words, and comfortable words concerning you, and concerning his Ierusalem. To his powerfull Patronage, constant care, and gracious guidance, you and all your weightie Affaires are commended in the daily prayers of
A SERMON PREACHED AT Margarets Westminster, before the Honourable House of COMMONS, at their late Solemn Fast, Novemb. 27. 1644.
Is not this a brand pluckt out of the fire?
IT is the Lords pleasure that the condition of his Church many times should be such, as the Prophet expresseth: I beheld the earth, and lo, it was without forme and void: Jer. 4.23. and the heavens had no light. Thus it was with Gods people in the Babylonish captivitie: Heaven and Earth, Church and Common-wealth, were in a confusion.
It is the Lords goodnesse to have respect to his people in such extreamities, and when all is in a Chaos, to stirre up helps and wayes to a new Creation of this heaven and earth.
The God of the spirits of all flesh, for this end stirs up the spirit of Cyrus, to give way, and of Zerubbabel, Ioshua, [Page 2]Ezra, and Nehemiah, to revive the stones out of the rubbish to build the Citie and Temple, and to set up the true worship and pure ordinances of God.
It is observable, that the best undertakings, meet with greatest discouragements▪ As these Builders and Reformers did; both from the Kings Courtiers and Malignant neighbours, stirred up by the Devill: Therefore lest they should faint and be weary, lest their spirits should faile, the Lord sends encouragements by his Prophets, Haggai, and Zachary. Ezra 5.1. The like oppositions (much Honoured) you have had, and such encouragements the Lord hath not been wanting in to you.
This Prophet Zachary: First, to fit and dispose the people for mercy, exhorteth to repentance: Thus is a people prepared for the Lord. Secondly, by sevetall visions, the Lord first sheweth how he had dealt with them, that is, with moderation, not according to their deserts, but in measure and much mercy, Chap. 1. & 2. Secondly, for their comfort, he declareth how he would deale with them, Chap. 3. & 7. that is, he would deale graciously with them, if they would turne to him, and build his Temple, and set up his worship and ordinances in their puritie.
In this third Chapter, is set down the fourth vision, which the Lord manifested to this Prophet, that is, Ioshua the high Priest, and Satan standing at his right hand. In Ioshua the high Priest, a type of Christ, is set out the restauration of the Church, and Priesthood, and true worship.
He stood before the Angel of the Lord, that is, the second person of the Trinitie, called the Angel of the Covenant, and vers. 2. of this Chapter, Iehovah, attending his commands, expecting his ayde: he was in vile raiment, not as the high Priest of old; though the Priesthood and Church be in a vile despicable condition, you see it is in Christs eye, he hath care of it. Satan an adversary stands at his right hand to resist. The devill will still be hindering the acting hand in the things of God: Our Saviour found [Page 3]it so, when first he entred upon the worke of a Mediatour, and Saint Paul, in his pious intentions:Matth. 4. 1 Thess. 1. Satan hindered us.
The Devill hateth all Divine Order and pure Ordinances, therefore he resists Ioshua, in whom the Priesthood and Divine worship were restored.
Hence vers. 3. the Lord is pleased to grant a threefold encouragement to Ioshua and the rest, which is also a threefold discouragement to the adversary.
First, The Lord hath chosen Ierusalem, and the Ministery appointed to gather and build up his people: and the Lord by deliverance of his people hath manifested his election: therefore he will not forsake those whom hee hath chosen: Gods choosing is loving, Iacob have I loved. Whom God loves he loves to the end: therefore feare not.
Secondly, The Sonne of God undertakes the Patronage of his Church, he prayeth for them, he makes intercession to Iehovah God the Father: Iehovah said, Iehovah rebuke thee: and observing the reduplication, the Lord rebuke thee, even the Lord that hath chosen Ierusalem rebuke thee, we may see vehemency of affection in our Mediatour toward his Church and chosen: he was heard alway whilest he was upon earth:Joh. 11. Father I know thou hearest me alwayes. Therefore now he is at the right hand of God he is heard; The Lord will rebuke the adversary, and answer this angel with good and comfortable words concerning Ierusalem: This was to Ioshua and the rest, and is to you another singular encouragement.
The third is, in the words of the Text read unto you: that is, present rescue: This manifests what Gods purpose is toward his people: he hath delivered them out of a wofull captivitie likely to consume them, as a brand out of the fire, therefore the Lord will save them to the uttermost; hath he begun and shall he not finish? what worke he begins he will perfect it, the Lord will perfect that [Page 4]which concerneth his chosen:Psal. 138.8. Thus may the Lords chosen instruments and servants be encouraged: and thus the malignant enemy tooke off.
Vpon this third let us stay our soules: I shall not trouble you with varietie of interpretations, nor with multitude of observations which might very aptly be drawn out: but shall labour to present the summe in this generall instruction.
Gods people may be in the burning, but they shall certainly be rescued and perfectly delivered.Doctrine.
This I shall labour to explaine and prove with the same labour.
1 1. First, Here is implyed, that calamities by the enemy is a burning: as also, Amos 4.11. So this people finde it, and so expresse it, From above hath he sent fire into my bones and it prevaileth against them: he hath burned against Iacob, Lam. 1.13. Chap. 2.3. like a flaming fire which devoureth round about.
First,Psal. 124. If fire have the mastery it is raging, devouring and wasting: fire and water have no mercy, we say of them, they are good servants, but ill masters: so if the cruell enemy get the mastery he ruines all, and layes all waste: A fire devoureth before them, and behind them a flame burneth;Joel 2.3. The land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wildernesse, yea and nothing shall escape them. When through the Lords anger this fire is kindled, it devoureth every greene tree with every dry tree, that is, both the good which are as the greene tree, having some sap of grace, and the wicked which are as the dry tree, fit for nothing but fuell,Ezek. 20.47. and all faces from the North to the South shall be burnt therein: They pitie not the young, nor regard the person of the old: even as the devils malice and spite ceaseth not, notwithstanding, that Ioshua and the Iews were but newly come out of the fire,Auget culpam Satana. Drufius. as it were brands halfe burnt.
Secondly, burning is a tormenting, painfull punishment: [Page 5]so is this: The Lord is angry and malicious men helpe forward the affliction: and it's more smarting because it's by their hand: when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous then he.Hab. 1.
Thirdly, fire is unsatiable; it makes no end of burning so long as there is any thing combustible: Thus are the enemies, and the multitude of those that distresse Ierusalem; they are even as a dream of a night vision, as when a hungry man dreameth, and behold he eateth;Isa. 29.7, 8. but he awaketh, and his soule is empty: or as when a thirsty man dreameth, and behold he drinketh; but he awaketh, and behold he is faint, and his soule hath appetite: although they load themselves with plunder and spoyle, and glut and make themselves drunk with bloud; yet they are no more satisfied then though they had onely dreamed of such things: they are as one of the things that never say, It is enough: Their rage ends not with the life of the godly, but it extends it selfe even to their ashes; as was seene in Wicklif, Bucer, and Phagius.
Fourthly, Fire is purging: it trieth: it separates, & divides things Heterogeneall: as the drosse from the silver: so this evill is to Gods people as a Refiners fire; it purgeth them from their hypocrisie, worldly-mindednesse, and selfe-love, &c. Also it separates the wicked of the earth as drosse from the godly, as in this season; the truly zealous from the malignant now combined together; Michael and his Angels, against the Dragon and his angels.
2 2. Secondly, here is implied,Revel. 12. that Gods people are often in this burning, and that to some extremitie, and for continuance, the Lord lets them lie in till they apprehend themselves even consumed as a brand in the fire.
For first, we are not immediately purged, the bellowes are burnt, the lead is consumed out of the fire,Jerem. 6. the Founder melts in vaine; the wicked nor our wickednesses are not tooke away: as it is now seene, notwithstanding we are in the burning, yet our dissentions and fires amongst [Page 6]our selves are not quenched; as it was with the Iewes when they were neere to be consumed by the Romanes: our Pride, our Covetousnesse, &c. are not tooke away; Then no wonder if we continue yet in the burning.
Secondly, it may be also the Lord will thus feed the malignitie of the enemy, till he become prodigious in crueltie, blasphemies, and insolencie; and fill up a full measure of vengeance for himselfe.
And thirdly, Gods wisdome is best seene when we are at our wits end; and the Lords power is most manifest, when we are at the extremitie of miserie, when we think and say, we are cut off for our parts, Ezek. 37.
And secondly, when the enemies are at the height of their malice, and extremitie of crueltie: when the Pope was at his height, then Luther with others about that time gave him a second deadly wound: and when Gods people in this Nation groaned under the Hierarchie, as Israel under Egyptian Task-masters; even then when Tyranny was come to the height, the Lord was seene in the Mount; then his wisdome and power wrought for us: There was none to helpe, then his owne arme brought salvation by Englands Parliament, and Scotlands Armie: Thus some understand the enemies ruine, in Armageddon, expounding it to be the Mount of Megiddo: Isa. 63.5. Revel. 16. Judg. 5.19. because the enemies are at a height when they are brought to Horma, an utter destruction, as Israels enemies were at the waters of Megiddo.
Fourthly, contraries are ordinarily cured by contraries: cold diseases by hot Medicines, and hot diseases by cold: we are a cold Nation; at the most we are (as we are aptly resembled by Mr. Brightman to Laodicea) but lukewarme; therefore the Lord applies these burnings unto us, that he may bring some warmth into us.
3 3. Thirdly, Here is exprest, that though Gods people be in the fire, they shall certainly be pul'd out, as Israel was [Page 7]out of Egypt from the Iron furnace, and out of the miserable captivitie in Babylon, where they indured this burning here mentioned: first, they are in hazard; then certainly rescued: The enemie said, I will pursue, Exod. 15.9, 10.13. I will overtake, I will divide the spoyle: my lust shall bee satisfied on them: I will draw my sword, mine hand shall destroy them. Thou didst blow with thy wind, the Sea covered them: they sanke as lead in the mighty waters. Then, Lord, thou in thy mercy hast led forth the people whom thou hast redeemed.
So they seeme to be in their graves when in Babylon, but the Lord that quickneth the dead, tels them,Isa. 26.19. Thy dead men shall live, the dead bodies shall arise: awake, and sing ye that sit in the dust: for the Lords favour is as the dew of herbes.
First, thus the Lords Power, Wisdome, and Truth shine forth when we say, Our bones are dried,Ezek. 37.11. and our hope is lost; we are cut off for our parts.
Secondly, then the Lord is sought unto, (in their affliction they will seek me early) and rested upon, when we know not what to doe; when refuge faileth, and none careth for our soules: And then the Lord will never leave us nor forsake us; he will not be as waters that faile.
Thirdly, Gods love is immutable; more constant then the mothers love to her sucking child:Isa. 49. No waters can quench it; the coales thereof are coales of fire which have a most vehement flame;Cant. 8. many waters cannot quench this love, &c. In wrath he remembers mercy, and will not contend for ever, lest the spirit should faile before him,Isa. 57.16. and the soules that he hath made. The Lord will repent himselfe for his servants, when he seeth that their power is gone; and there is none shut up, or left: Deuteronomie 32.36. The tender mercies of the wicked are cruell, their malice is endlesse; but the Lord in wrath remembers mercy: When his people are humbled, his repentings are kindled, his bowels are troubled, and acknowledgeth [Page 8]that Jerusalem hath received double at his hands for all their sinnes.Isa. 40.2. Duplum in Christo. Junius.
And so one addes an Argument besides those I have set downe out of these words, which may silence the Devill and all implacable enemies: Thus; This people is sufficiently punisht, therefore God is not to be urged to adde to their punishment. Sanctius.
Fourthly, the enemy shall not alwaies blaspheme; the Lord will stop the mouth of iniquitie, he will still the enemy and avenger:Deut. 32.26, 27. the Lord would have scattered the Israelites into corners, and caused the remembrance of them to cease from among men, were it not that he feared the wrath of the enemy.
Fifthly, thus the Lord takes course for his own Name; although not for our sakes, yet for his owne Names sake he will worke for us that his Name be not polluted. And so Ioshua pleads,Josh. 7. Chap. 7. that for this reason the Lord would not leave his people in the enemies hand; for then, What (saith he) wilt thou doe unto thy glorious Name?
Fourthly, here is implied; that if the Lord beginne in mercy he will finish:Psal. 102. Psal. 138.8. when the time to favour Sion, the set time is come, then the Lord will perfect his worke concerning us: he will doe it in despight of all Devils and Antichristians: though there be mountaines before his Zerubbabels, God will make them plaines, and bring forth the head-stone of his worke with shouting: He can make the hardest resistance as Clay, or Wax to the Signet; the greatest impediment shall give place, as Euphrates did to Cyrus that he might take the old Babylon; He saith to the deepe,Isa. 44. Be drie: and so will the Lord doe that he may be avenged on Rome, Revel. 16.11.
Yea, things adverse shall not onely yeeld, but concurre: The Lord will make away in the wildernesse, and rivers in the desert; the beasts of the field shall honour him, the Dragon,Isa. 43.19, 20, 21. and the Owles, &c.
As the beginnings of the ruine of the wicked evidenceth [Page 9]their certaine totall ruine: If Haman begin to fall, he shall not faile but fall: so the beginnings of deliverance from our Romish enemies, are pledges of compleat deliverance; the beginnings of the repairing of Gods Temple, evidence the certaine finishing of it: beginnings of woe were signes to the Iews of the extremitie of woe: and beginnings of blessednesse and puritie, are like signes of perfect blessednesse and puritie.
First, for the Lord hath chosen Ierusalem: and his beginnings declare what he hath decreed: If God hath decreed to deliver, to build, to beautifie the place of his Foot-stoole and make it glorious, who can hinder? the Lord God hath purposed, and who can disanull it?Isa. 14.24.27. he hath stretched forth his hand, and who can turne it back?
Secondly, It stands God upon for his honour to goe on in mercy, when he begins in mercy: his Truth, his Wisdome, and Power are ingaged: Moses therefore was much affected when the Lord threatened to destroy Israel as one man, after he had puld them out of the Egyptian burnings:Exod. 32.12. Lord (saith he) why doth thy wrath waxe hot against thy people, which thou hast brought forth out of the Land of Egypt with great power, and with a mightie hand? Wherefore should the Egyptians speake and say, for mischiefe did he bring them out to slay them in the mountaines?Num. 14.15, 16. And now if thou wilt kill all this people as one man, then the Nations which have heard the fame of thee will speake, saying: Because the Lord was not able to bring this people into Canaan, he hath slaine them in the wildernesse.
The Lord would not have us such unwise builders as beginne and cannot finish; such builders are exposed to scorne and shame; therefore the omnipotent onely wise God will not doe so.
The Lord also is tender of his servants honour: he will still the enemie, Psal. 8. Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem will laugh Nehemiah and other Worthies to scorne:Neh. 2.19, 20. What [Page 8] [...] [Page 9] [...] [Page 10]is this thing that ye doe?Neh. 4.2, 3, 4. Will ye rebell against the King? What doe these feeble Iewes? will they fortifie? will they sacrifice? Then his fellow: Even that which they build, if a Foxe goe up he will breake down their stone wall: but Nehemiah, and such, may be confident and say, The God of heaven will prosper us, therefore we his servants will arise and build; and make all knowne to God who careth for your persons, your names, and honours: Heare, O our God, for we are despised, and turne their reproach upon their owne head. The reproach of his servants he will wipe away:Isa. 66.5. The Lord will appeare to your joy when they shall be ashamed.
Thirdly, God is constant: so is his love and resolution to doe us good: he is not as the sonne of man that he should repent:Num. 23.19. Mal. 3.6. 1 Sam. 12.22. he is God and changeth not: The Lord will not forsake his people for his great Names sake, because it hath pleased the Lord to make you his people: Therefore when the Lord beginnes he goeth on: as Naomi said of Booz, The man will not be in rest untill he finish the things this day. Men are mutable, discouraged, weary; but the Creator of the ends of the earth fainteth not: Natura not dilassatur opere; as the heavens are never wearie; the Sunne after millions of revolutions continueth still rejoycing as a mighty man to runne his race; much lesse is the God of Nature, and the God of these Heavens weary: shall the Lord then begin and not finish? Shall I bring to the birth,Isa. 66.9. and not cause to bring forth, saith the Lord? The Lords care over his Church, is also a constant care; his eyes are continually upon it: upon one stone, that is, Christ Iesus, the Corner-stone on whom we are built: there are seven eyes; that is, many eyes; the Lords eyes are upon Gods House,Populi causam Deus semel tucudan suscepit, ac proinde qua est constantia [...]nquam deseret cam. Drusius. his chosen, and so shall be till all be perfected concerning his people. They may be in the burning, but they shall certainly be rescued: and if so, perfectly delivered: The constant zeale of the Lord of Hosts will performe this
[Page 11] First, sympathize and pity Ireland almost burnt:Ʋse 1. Levit. 10.6. and England in the fire. Let the whole house of Israel bewaile the burning which the Lord hath kindled: let your compassions be toward the Palatinate, that Vine that had strong rods for the Scepters of them that beare rule: but fire is gone out of a rod of her branches which hath devoured her fruit,Ezek. 19. ult. so that there is no rod for a Scepter to rule. This is a lamentation, and it shall be for a lamentation: let your compassions be kindled so that they may set you on a course to help them out of the fire: use means (as the Lord hath put into your hands) if so be there may be balme for their healing: if we shall still look on without contributing to their reliefe, looke for the like measure from others in our miseries: Who shall pity thee, O England? or who shall bemoane thee? or who will turn aside to aske how thou dost? we have beene too much and too long wanting unto Gods distressed Churches; feare lest the fire of Gods anger be kindled against us, because we have beene a staffe of reed unto the house of Israel. Ezek. 29.6.
Secondly, let the Lord be magnified by us. First, for giving warning: he sets us on fire round about, before his wrath kindle upon us. It is the Lords mercies that we are not consumed: let your praise be continually of him for keeping off this fire: when the enemy hath been coming in like a floud, the Spirit of the Lord hath lift up a Standard against him: he hath appointed barres and limits unto these raging waves of the enemy, and said, Stay there thy proud waves and goe no further.
Secondly, blesse the Lord for chastising in measure, for that he hath not powred out all his anger; he might have scattered Brimstone upon our habitations, and made us as Sodome and Gomorrah.
Blesse our God ye people, &c. For thou O God, hast proved us, thou hast tried us as silver is tried;Psa. 66. we went through fire and through water; hence we have good hone that the Lord hath not ordained us to wrath: for [Page 12]when we are judged we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.
Thirdly, magnifie the Lords Omnipotencie, that hath kept his Church in the midst of flames.Numb. 21. The bush burneth and is not consumed: Israel was preserved among fiery Serpents; so are we kept amongst a Malignant company (the brood of the Serpent) who are set on fire: Magnifie the God of Truth who hath spoke with his mouth, and with his hand fulfilled it: When thou walkest through the fire,Isa. 43.2. thou shalt not be burnt, neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.
Is it not marvellous in your eyes that the religious in France have beene preserved in Massacres and Butcheries, and the Protestants in England in the fires in Queene Maries reigne; and since from the damnable Powder-Plot; and many a time since from the Antichristians set on fire against us, and their Adherents, brutish men, skilfull to destroy?
Fourthly, let the Lord be magnified for making some impressions on the Antichristian party: The Lord God of recompences hath begun to give burning for burning. Let all give glory to the Lord for stirring up the spirits of our Worthies to hate the Whore, to make her desolate, to eat her flesh, and burne her with fire: O glorifie ye the Lord in the midst of the fires.
Thirdly, let us not think our selves exempt: the Lord hath brought this fire upon all his people, and shall we be free?
First, therefore shake off securitie, and bestirre your selves to prevent and keepe our selves out; we have been as brands in the fire; The burnt child dreads the fire. Our neighbours house is on fire, we cannot but be concerned in this. I will not meddle in Politiques, onely advise thus. Therefore, first, kindle not the Lords jealousie by superstitions; cast not a favourable eye toward the Whore of Rome; leave not an hoofe of the Beast in England.
[Page 13] Secondly, tempt not God: complaine not of his wise administration: thinke not, say not as Israel: Can God doe this? can he perfect Reformation? can he give pure Ordinances? can he subdue such a people as we are to his Scepter? can he ordaine Peace? can he worke all our workes for us? When the Lord heard this he was wroth, so a fire was kindled against Iacob, Psal. 78.21. and anger also came up against Israel.
Thirdly, purge out every cursed sinne by repentance: let this be manifested in a holy indignation against all remainders of Idolatry and Superstition, as you have zealously begun: make the stones of the Altars as Chalkestones, beat them to pieces:Isa. 27. Every sinne makes us as readie to take fire, even as Gun-powder: let us therefore have grace whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly feare: for first, Our God is a consuming fire: and secondly, this fire of the Enemy is dreadfull: A fire devoureth before them, and behinde them a flame burneth: all that is desireable will be consumed by them: Gods Sanctuary shall be laid waste, his Worship, his Ordinances polluted, we shall lose communion of Saints, the excellencie of our strength, the desire of our eyes; no fire makes such a desolation as this: An Idolatrous Army is the abomination of desolation.Ezek. 24.
And if the Lord have stretched out his hand so that we cannot put it back but that this fire doe kindle upon us, I shall prescribe the same course; Turn to him that smiteth: take away the sting from the fiery Serpents: that is, our sinnes: The sting of death and every deadly evill is sinne: sinne is as fuel and bellowes, both increasing the flame, and the wrath of God as a streame of Brimstone: If we could have broken hearts, the Lord would binde up our broken State, our broken Church. If we be not found in our sins, the fire can have no power over us:Dan. 3. Satan shall not be at our right hand so as to prevaile. But if we continue in our neutralitie, like warmenesse, divisions and heats one toward [Page 14]another, in covetousnesse, pride, injustice, unthankfulnesse, despising the day of small things, and contempt of the Gospel, grieving Gods holy Spirit, by which he still striveth with us; the Lord wil be turned to he our enemie: how then can our hearts endure, or our hands be strong in the day that the Lord shall deale with us? hereunto will be added the burning of an evill conscience,Ezek. 22. a terrible devouring fire: and thus the fire will be as Nebuchadnezzars furnace,Heb. 10. seven times hotter.
Be instructed lest the Lords soule depart from you; let this fire that the Lord hath kindled be a Refiners fire, lest the Lord come from his place as a consuming fire, and everlasting burnings.
Our God hath beene trying to purge us a long time, he hath smitten us with Pestilence after the manner of Egypt, but we have not turned to him; he hath now drawne out his sword to avenge the quarrell of his Covenant, and the fire of his anger burnes; but he may complaine as of old,Jer. 6. The Founder melts in vaine; our wickednesse is not tooke away by repentance, the wicked are not tooke away by the hand of justice: Or as Ezek. 22.18. The house of Israel is become drosse: all they are brasse, and iron, and tinne, and lead, in the midst of the furnace; they are even the drosse of silver.
Behold therefore, (O tremble at this) I will gather you into the midst of Ierusalem in mine anger, and in my fury, and I will leave you there and melt you; yea I will gather you and blow upon you in the fire of my wrath, &c. and ye shall know that I the Lord have powred out my fury upon you. O then heare the rod and who hath appointed it: it is an ill signe when we are set on fire round about and lay it not to heart: An ill signe when we are with the old World and Sodome secure; when we put away the evill day, and think when the overflowing scourge passeth through the Citie it shall not come neere us. This Citie is the Cauldron, and we are the flesh; and when we [Page 15]make the Lord complaine, as Amos 4.11. Ye were as a firebrand pluckt out of the burning; yet ye have not returned to me: and when unfruitfull, notwithstanding Sunne and raine, like that cursed earth: our end is to be burned.
Secondly, when we are in the burning look up to Iesus Christ, (as the Israelites being bit with fiery Serpents lookt up to the brazen Serpent) thus we shall have healing:Num. 11.3. by faith we may quench the violence of flames.Heb. 11. In Christ we shall have safetie. This man shall be the peace when the Assyrian (the greatest enemy that ever Israel had) cometh into the Land.
Thirdly, labour for the Spirit of comfort; The refreshings of this Spirit, as living water, will coole the heat of the spent soule.
Fourthly, pray that the Lord would mitigate the flames: so he did for those three, Dan. 4. and for some Martyrs: pray and draw out water as in buckets, and powre it out before the Lord: It will be a sure meanes of quenching: when Moses prayed, the burning at Tabera was quenched.
Labour to be constant; hold fast the Name of Christ: the Church of Pergamus is a patterne to us: that held fast and denied not the faith when Antipas suffered martyrdome, and where Satan dwelled: doe likewise:Revel. 3. you have covenanted with God: deale not falsly in his Covenant: let not your steps decline out of the way though the Lord should smite you into the place of Dragons,Psal. 44. and cover you with the shadow of death: for your encouragement hearken to the Lord of Hosts, Zach. 3.7. If you will walke in my wayes, and keep my charge, then you shall also judge my house, and keepe my Courts, and I will give thee places to walke among them that stand by. (Honourable Worthies) if you will persevere zealously in the Lords worke, you shall be advanced to be among Angels: though you cannot have the presence and face of an earthly [Page 16]King, you shall be with the glorious Angels standing before the face of the King of heaven.
This may be abundant comfort unto you (much Honoured) and to all Gods people:Ʋse 4. We are in the fire but first, the Lord is with you and all his,Isa. 43.2. so that the flame shall not devoure.
Secondly, you are choyce Instruments, Gods people are his chosen; choice gold will endure the fire, and the Lord will not cast away his people whom he hath chosen: when the house is on fire we take care for our Treasure; our choyce vessels, our jewels: we are not so solicitous for lumber: so the Lord careth for you and all his; you are his choyce Vessels,Mal. 3. and peculiar Treasure, and his Iewels very precious in the Lords eyes.
Thirdly, Christ the Sonne of God intercedes for you, and that affectionately; he will prevaile with God to rebuke the Adversarie: and that to the purpose. The Lord rebuke thee,Increpationem tuam contra te dirigat. Dion. Carthul. the Lord rebuke thee: even as Christ rebuked Windes and Seas; so will he doe with Satan and all his instruments: as Nahum. 1.4.
Fourthly, let the gracious beginning which the Lord hath made be a sure pledge unto you that he will finish: be bold to plead with God: Lord thou wouldest not that we should undertake a building and not finish it, thou hast undertaken to build thy House here, be not so thy selfe as thou wouldest not that we should be.
Fifthly, the Lord hath promised great things, and spoke of glorious dayes which now hasten concerning his Church: nothing shall hurt in Gods holy Mountaine. The earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the Sea:Isa. 11. the waste and desolate places, and the land of thy destruction shall be too narrow by reason of the Inhabitants; and they that swallowed thee up shall be farre away.Isa. 49.18. O thou afflicted and tossed with tempest, and not comforted; behold, I will lay thy stones with faire colours, and thy foundation with Saphires; [Page 17]and I will make thy windowes of Agats,Isa. 54.11, 12. and thy gates of Carbuncles, &c. And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord; and great shall be the peace of thy children. The time and my strength would faile to recite the glorious things that are spoken of thee, thou Citie of God, the new Jerusalem coming downe from heaven with Gods glory upon her: In that day, saith the Lord,Zach. 12. I will make the Governours of Iuda as an hearth of fire among the wood; and like a torch of fire in a sheafe: and they that have fought against Ierusalem, their flesh shall consume away whilest they stand upon their feet;Zach. 14. and their eies shall consume away in their holes, &c. Thus (Right Honourable) be comforted over the Church of God now in the burning; and over your enemies which are ordained for destruction, by the words of the God of Truth. The Lord bids them take away Ioshua's filthy raiment, and restore to the Priesthood its former lustre, signified by change of raiment: Hence saith Master Calvin: Plus expectent fideles quam coniicere licet ex praesenti aspectu: Expect more then the present face of things can promise: the Lord will be known to be Iehovah in giving a being to his Word; He will be with you, feare not:Hag. 2.5. Psal. 68.13. Though ye have beene among the pots, yet shall ye be as a Dove coverd with silver, &c.
Therefore let every man in his Sphere be incouraged to be active and zealous to forward and hasten the perfect deliverance of Gods Church,Ʋse 5. and the perfect building and furnishing of Gods House: be not scandalized, be not disheartened for every dysaster, or for any present weaknesse or miserie we are in; the Lord carrieth on the worke of restitution and salvation of his Church and people in a mysterie: when we are at the top of misery, the Lord will be seene, Iehovah iireth: the Lord will be seene, or will see: even in the Mount his footsteps are hardly knowne: the Sunne ariseth and shineth upon Sodome, then the Lord rained fire and brimstone from the Lord out of heaven▪ [Page 18]Gods people lie as buried or burnt up in Babylon, then the Lord sends from heaven and saveth them from those that would swallow them up: This is the season not for shrinking, but for zeale;1 Chron. 14. the Lord hath gone out before you, and broke in upon the enemies as the breaking in of many waters; therefore now bestirre you: Those of Issachar are commended because they had knowledge and understanding of the Times,1 Chro. 12.32. and knew what Israel ought to doe: This will be your wisdome to take notice that to hazard that Christs kingdome is in by Enemies abroad, and Schismes and Divisions among our selves in this season, requires all your diligence, skill, and power to bring present healing and aide. And so now when Babylons rage & crueltie is at the height, it is the time, it is the time to render to her double as she hath done to you. In this season we are in straits, as when the children are come to the birth and there is no strength to bring forth: Is it not time for us then to stirre in these straits; strive, and extend your selves to get Gods children, and the Lords worke drawne out of the wombe: let not that be your spot which was the spot of Ephraim in the like case; the sorrowes of a travelling woman are upon him: He is an unwise sonne, for he should not stay long in the place of the breaking forth of children.Hos. 13.13.
Now we are in the fire, let your zeale hence be enkindled: take fire from this fire: Every man, especially Reformers, Repairers, Deliverers must be salted with fire, as every sacrifice was seasoned with salt;Mar. 9. be ye therefore thus seasoned with this heavenly fire of zeale, without which all will be unsavorie, that you may goe on in promoting the great workes you have in hand. Further to provoke you, I adde some further incentives.
First, Observe that the builders and reformers had as many discouragements as are now; they had a great worke before them, many enemies about them, and the Kings Authoritie and expresse command against them;E [...]a [...].2. [Page 19]yet they went on and prospered; there were Mountains before them,Zach. 4.7, 8, 9. but God made all plaine in a strange way of providence; Not by Army nor Power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord: He will doe the like for you. Onely, as it is said to Ioshua, Be of good courage: The Lord can rebuke the Devil and all his Instruments with a word, and make them as still as a stone.
Secondly, If ye faint and grow cold, ye lose all that hath gone before: (ye Worthies) ye have done much in pulling downe Poperie, a Tyrannous Hierarchie, and the strength of Babylons Armies; ye have begun a glorious Reformation, and your Zeale hath set you upon high undertakings, and effected such things as we, through our basenesse of spirit, neither looked not hoped for: you suffered as much as did ever any Parliament; hazarding your Persons, Estates, and Families; indured much contradiction of sinners, and many reproaches; ye have had many acknowledgements and thankesgivings from Citie and Countrey. O then lose not all that hath gone before; let your last be more then the first: Will ye do, will ye suffer so many things in vaine?
Thirdly, Ye worke with God, and the Lord will work with you; It is an honour to the noblest to put their necks to this worke: The Sonne of God appeareth upon a Red Horse, going out in a fiery appearance against the enemie: He is among the Myrtle trees; that is, in the midst of his people, who are his delight; and with him there are Red Horses also: Michael hath his Angels to take vengeance on the Dragon and his angels: also there are speckled Horses, usefull every way, both for defence and offence.
Fourthly, The great oppositions you have should stirre up zeale; the god of the world is against you; Antichrist, and all that have the marke of the Beast upon them, are against you: You are ingaged in the greatest worke that ever lay upon the children of men; therefore there is required strong endeavours. O be strong, ye Zerubbabels, he [Page 20]for the Lord of Hosts who hath beene zealous for you: and withall take notice that your opposition is from devilish and malignant spirits; Satan and his Instruments who stand at your right hands to resist: Then up and be doing; goe on, your cause cannot but be good.
Firfthly, Take courage and goe on, else ye open the mouth of iniquitie; you will be tried with cruel mockings by those that looke and gape to see your spirits flat and cold: Oh how will they of Gath and Askelon insult? this will pierce as a sword; Saul chose rather to fall on his owne sword and die, then to be mocked by the uncircumcised Philistines: and Zedekiah would not yeeld, (but let come on him whatsoever it was) because he feared to be scorned and mocked: And consider, I beseech you, that we have made out boast of God, and gloried in such instruments; let not our confident boasting make us ashamed.
Sixthly, Thus if you goe on, you and we may leave happinesse to our posteritie: if through our slacknesse and pusillanimitie the enemie prevaile, we shall have nothing left to bequeath but Slavery and Popery.
Sevently, Antichrists end is neere: Babylon is (and that shortly) to be destroyed, therefore faint not: you have given her a deadly wound, follow on your stroke; let that wound never be healed: the Beast roares, and struggles, and bestirres her selfe; she recollects spirits, but it is but as in a dying man, naturea ultimus conatus, which we call a lightening before death: then now is the time to extend your selves to make a full end of the Whore; to dispatch her with swords (as the Prophet speakes) and to burne her houses with fire.
Then keepe your spirits up, fall not to an indifferencie or base neutrality: They that be not with Christ are against him: They that come not out to the help of the Lord, (suppose they be inoffensive moderate men) are cursed with a double bitter curse.Judg. 5. The history of the men of Iabesh Gilead [Page 21]may be for our learning on whom these sad times are come: They assisted not the Beniamites in protecting those Delinquents, sonnes of Belial; nor associated with the Tribes of Israel in their just Warre, which was (as this Warre now) to bring such wretches to judgement and punishment. Vpon inquiry these being found Neuters, were dealt withall as utter enemies; they were all smitten with the sword, both men, women and children,Judg. cap. ult. except some virgins reserved for the Beniamites.
I beseech you that my exhortation and advise may be acceptable: I could multiply many other considerations to set you on in a course of zeale; but if these I have spoke helpe not to bring you to a further degree of heate, especially now that we are in the fire round about; we may feare that gray haires are upon us, we are in a decaying condition as David, whom many cloathes could not make warme.
Let all malignant spirits marke:Ʋse 6. let this consideration take them off from their malice in opposing. Altaschith is the title of some Psalmes: Destroy not, as a caution and a confident expression of the boldnesse, malice, and deficiencie of the enemie. Let the gold and silver vessels, &c. be every one in his place, as it is by Darius Decree seconding Cyrus: Now therefore Tatnai and Shethar-Boznai, and so Rehum the Chancellour, and Shimshai the Scribe and such companions must be farre from thence.
If thou oppose the peace of Gods people, and the building of the Lords house, it is in vaine; thou wilt be found to fight against God; It is hard for thee to kick against the pricks: therefore meddle not to thy hurt; the Lord will finish in despight of thee: The Devil and his instruments could doe nothing when Israel was in Chaldea deprest and buried; how much lesse now when they are delivered, lift up to Heaven, brought to Ierusalem and the Temple? so the policie and power of the enemy could doe nothing when the faithfull were enthralled under the Hierarchie, [Page 22]when they had all advantages: how much lesse now, when the Lord hath tooke off those yokes, and advanced his servants as the starres into the right hand of Christ? Rev. 1.
But the Devils malice is such, that although he know that his owne practises shall ruine his owne kingdome, yet he will not, he cannot desist from mischiefe: for malice is naturall to the Devil, and therefore he is necessarily malicious, as the fire is naturally and so necessarily hot and burning:Zanch. de malis angelis. and as Zanch. saith, id in angelis est casus quod hominibus mors: therefore as men after death are either pertinaciously evill, or constantly good; so are the Devils after their fall pertinaciously wicked and malicious: and so it is with Gods enemies in whom the devil workes with efficacie: they are not onely devilish, but even equalize the devill in malice and mischiefe; Iudas was even a devil, Iohn 6.
The enemies know and see that the Lord is with his Parliament, with his Armies, yet they go on; the devil drives them and thrusts them on as the Turkish horsemen doe their foot to their manifest inevitable ruine. When thy hand is lifted up,Isa. 26.11. they will not see. It is an evidence of and dealings, as Revel. 16. It is noted that notwithstanding the powring out of the vials they were vexed and pained, and gnawed their tongues; yet they repented not: and they repented not.
O let this take thee off, when the Lords hand is lifted upon to deliver his people, or judge the enemies: Thou wilt not see, but thou shalt see to thy woe, if thou goest on to oppose the Lord. It is usually askt: Is the devill in such a one whom we see mad and maliciously bent? what devil then shall we thinke is in those that will yet in malignitie of spirit oppose themselves?Qua voce adeo potenter fregit satanae vires, ut nullum postea reliquum fuerit impedimentum. Zanch. in loc. This reprehension for ought we know took off the devil himselfe, as thus: doest thou not see that the Lord hath puld his people out of the fire? he thinks they have burnt long [Page 23]enough; he hath begun their deliverance, and so is ingaged to perfect it: then why wilt thou offer to be an adversary? how transcendently devilish then are those enemies of all pietie? they see that there is no wisdome, nor understanding, nor counsell against the Lord; and yet they will continue obstinate in their malice. The Lord rebuke them, the Lord that hath chosen Ierusalem rebuke them:Job 41.8. O consider, ye that forget God, whom you have to deale withall: Remember the Battle and doe no more.
I adde to this an admonition to every one.Ʋse 7. O let us take heed of hindering the good of Christs Church and chosen: Know I beseech you, that it is not onely hindered by Malignitie and Neutralitie: but even the best have a hand in stopping God, which causeth him after he hath begun so to pause and to be at a stand: How?
First, by our Infidelitie: Thus were Moses and Aaron, and all Israel kept out of Canaan after their deliverance out of Egypt:Matth. 13. ult. The Lord cannot do many moe mightie works for us, because of our unbeliefe; Thus when things are adverse, we give our selves for lost, our hope is cut off, as though God were not all-sufficient: when things are prosperous we do nothing lesse then rest on God, we leane on an arme of flesh, we have a prudent Parliament, a potent Army, we have counsell and strength for warre: so the Lord is deprest and these exalted, which provokes the Lord to let us see the vanitie of these without his helping band, and may provoke him to reject our confidences and sweare in his wrath that we should never prosper in them.
Secondly, there hath been but bad use made of Gods beginnings. First, we have despised the day of small things: Thankfulnesse would make us account small beginnings great favours: yet what the Lord hath already wrought should not seeme small in our eyes: considering what the Lord hath pull'd down, and what he is setting up, what he hath pluckt up, and what he is about to plant, what taskmasters we are delivered from, and what blessed freedome [Page 24]we enjoy. Successes have made us more insulting then thankfull, and tooke us off from our dependance on God who wrought for us.
Secondly, we are a stubborn people; now that Christ would reigne amongst us, we say this man shall not reigne over us: now Christ is coming toward us, we bid him depart out of our coasts: we are loath to subject our necks to his yoke, our pride is such: This makes him also at a stand.
Thirdly, since the Lord hath multiplyed mercies, we have multiplyed divisions, and keepe in and foment such fires of dissention among our selves, as justly provokes the Lord to let us lye in the burning: Such a fire was kindled between Abimelech, and the men of Shechem, fire went out from Sechem and devoured Abimelech; and fire went out from Abimelech & devoured the men of Shechem; Judg. 9. the Lord quench the fire threatening the like evils amongst us: It is a fearefull signe of the fire of Gods anger ready to kindle on us when he sends and suffers an evill spirit to prevaile so between King and people; but for the divisions of Gods people there should be great thoughts of heart; as for the divisions of Reuben there were great thoughts, and great seachings of heart. It is to be lamented with the teares of us all, to see brethren agreeing in all substantials; serving one God, having one Father and Hope, &c. yet for some circumstances in matters of Discipline their contentions are as the barres of a Castle, and the heat is increased, as betweene Guelphs and Gibellines. Honourable Senators, here your Wisdome (yea a Divine Wisdome from above must be obtained for you) would shine if you could repaire all these breaches, and compose things so, that brethren might with peace of conscience dwell together in unitie, then we should see that the Lord would delight over us to goe on to doe great things for us: and the graces of God would then shine in his servants when they would in the spirit of meeknesse yeeld one to another, [Page 25]so that the unitie of the spirit might be kept in the bond of peace: This onely I adde; If ye bite and devoure one another,Gal. 5. take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.
Fourthly, when we have had mercies showring down from heaven, we have slackt our hands in prayer: when Moses hands fell downe, Amalek prevailed; and so through our slacknes & coldnesse in this dutie and others, more then through the slacknesse of our Armies; the enemies who were not long since even prayed downe, have strengthened themselves to our reproach and danger.
Fifthly, Selfe-love, which sets us upon selfe-seeking, and selfe-ends, is so predominant, that the publique concernments are not so promoted: If we had publique concernments are not so promoted: If we had publique spirits, our endevours would have had a further influence into the publique good then yet they have had.
And many provocations there are amongst us to bewaile; many Achans amongst us, many cursed things, not onely hid in the tents; but brought forth in the sight of the Sunne; they declare their sinne as Sodome, and hide it not: much cause of humiliation these are unto us all this day: and we must not looke to see Gods work-perfected till we All mourne and repent for the many evils in the midst of us: How long shall I see the Standard, and heare the sound of the Trumpet?Jer. 4.21. It is answered in the next words by the Prophet; My people is foolish, &c. Junius reads it, So long as my people is foolish and sottish, and wise to doe evill. And (Honoured Worthies) I beseech you to admit of me that I may use boldnesse: This burden concerns all, and cals upon all; it is for admonition to all, but especially You: When Israel had provoked the Lord by their spell and bodily uncleanesse, the people were plagued in a fearefull manner; there fell in one day foure and twenty thousand: Moses was not blamed,Num. 25. but the Heads of the people: Hang up the heads of the people that the fierce anger of the Lord may be turned away from [Page 26] Israel: Why the Heads of the people? They should have lookt better to the people in governing, so to prevent sin; or they should have beene more swift to execute judgement, when they fell into sinne: It is not enough that you are not grosse sinners, that you are reformed, so long as there are in the midst of Citie and Kingdome, even where your Power also reacheth, many abominations; there are as Ezekiel speakes,Ezek. 22. in thee; in thee much excess, many profanations, horrible uncleannesse, (I speake what I know) even abominable incest, not onely acted once or twice, but continued in to the just provocation of Gods anger against you and all of us; and there is no course for redresse, none to punish or put them to shame: there is in the midst of us oppression and crueltie, there are in the midst of us many Innocents whose faces are ground, and their bones crusht and broken most injuriously; they cry for reliefe, they stretch out their hands to you for helpe: O releeve the oppressed, and judge the cause of the helplesse, lest the Lord heare their cry and it be sinne unto you.
Delay not, make speed to seeke judgement, to bring the wheele upon the wicked; put not off such things; the delaying of which, delayes all your hopefull proceedings: delay not one day to trouble those that trouble Israel: but as Ioshua said, so doe ye; God shall trouble thee this day. These and many such things lye upon you: therefore provoke your spirits to zeale and courage; feare not, faint not; if Christ had fainted in the worke of our Redemption, what had become of us? he fainted not, not was discouraged till he set judgement in the Earth; do ye likewise.
Observe how the Lord describeth the Horse, Iob 39. His neck is cloathed with thunder, he paweth in the valley, and rejoyceth in his strength; he goeth out to meet the armed man, the quiver rattleth at him, the glittering speare and the shield; he saith among the Trumpets, aha! and doth God care for horses? glorifie God in the creature [Page 27]and learne courage from him; break through all like lightning: as in naturall motion, so the neerer you come to your haven where you would be, let your motion be swifter: The Lords beginnings engage him to finish; ye are Gods, as Psalme 82. Follow God: the Lord hath beene very zealous for you and us, take heed of coldnesse in this heat: labour to hasten Reformation in the Church, that it may be the gladnesse of Gods people to goe to the beautie of holinesse, that the Tribes may goe up to the Testimony of Israel; and for the better governing the Common-wealth, let there be set thrones of judgement in all places: as Psal. 122.
And to conclude: Let us all put to our helping hands, armes, purses, counsell, encouragement, for the helpe of the Lord against the mightie: let the Ministers of Christ be carefull to maintaine unitie; to provoke Christians to peace; to unite against the common Enemie: on some have compassion, making a difference; and others save with terrour, pulling them out of the fire. O let all be humbled before our God this day, and put our mouthes in the dust; and then our prayers will be very prevalent with God; our legions would be thundering legions, as Christian armies of old, dreadfull to the enemie: let us all helpe with our constant prayers, be the Lords remembrancers, give him no rest till he refine his Church, and pull it out of the fire: he that hath neither purse, nor weapon, nor hands, nor counsell to helpe, hath a heart; O poure it out in prayer; give not over till the Lord hath made Ierusalem a praise in the earth. It is usuall to put words into a Delinquents mouth whereby he is delivered from death. The Lord deales thus with us; he bids us take words, and he also suggests words whereby we may be delivered from iniquity, & received graciously, Hos. 14.2. So Ier. 3.19. He deviseth a way for us how we should obtaine the lengthening of our tranquillitie: It is the Lord [Page 28]that asketh the question: How shall I put thee among the children, and give thee a pleasant land, even a goodly heritage of the hostes of nations? And I said, thou shalt call me, My Father, and shalt not turne away from me: This then is the Lords way that he would have us take, to cry Father, Abba Father, to pray, to devote our selves to God, and never to turne from him: No people ever had more encouragements, and more needs then we have to wrastle with God: O wrastle with God, leave him not till he blesse us: give him not over till we prevaile: when we are Princes and prevailers with God, then shall we see Mercy and Truth meeting, Righteousnesse and Peace kissing, then would the Lord be with us in these fires, or pull us as brands out of the fire; and then, and not till then we shall be prevailers over men.