THE TRIUMPH OF THE CHURCH OVERDO WATER AND FIRE. OR A Thankful Gratulation for that Miraculous Deliverance of the Church and State of Great Britain, from the Romish Tophet: or, that barbarous and savage Powder-plot. As it was delivered (for substance) in a Sermon at Black Friars in London on the fifth of November. 162●. By THEODOR HEARING, Minister of the Word of GOD. ISAI. 29.15. Woe unto them that dig deep, to hide their council from the Lord; for their works are in darkness, and they say, Who seethe us? Who knoweth us? PSAL. 66.12. We went into fire and into water, but thou broughtest us out into a wealthy Land. LONDON Printed by I. D. for Nicholas Bourne, at the South entrance of the Royal Exchange. 1625. TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE, JAMES, LORD LEE; Baron of Lee, Lord High Treasurer of England, one of the Lords of his MAJESTY'S most Honourable privy Council, my dearly honoured PATRON. RIGHT HONOURABLE; IT is an Aphorism of State, delivered by a great and wise King; When the Righteous are exalted, the City rejoiceth. A good Man, (especially, if a Great Man) is a common Good. Where Goodness and Greatness, meet together, that Happy conjunction promiseth a Gracious aspect. Give me leave (being received into and shrouded under the wings of your Honour's Protection) to congratulate that High Honour which His Majesty hath so worthily conferred on your Lordship. I know not whether the Place doth more Honour the Man, or the Man the Place. Your Honour's Wisdom, Experience, justice, Gravity, Piety, what good do they not presage? If the world fail not exceedingly of their expectation, none more like, to do God, the King, and his Country better service. Your Honour hath the prayers and hearts of the best, and therefore need not (being armed with such a Coat of Male) fear the calumnies or opposition of the worst. For myself, your Honour's favour and countenance afforded me in private, hath obliged me to a public Gratulation, and emboldened me to dedicate these my Labours to your Honour (to whom I have given myself) as being a chief Member of this State, and therefore knowing the state of this Story, better than my rude draught can portray it; wherein your Honour shall see the Combat, Conflict, and Conquest, as of the Church in general, so of this Church, this State in special. Never any Nation so embroiled, so entangled, came off so fair. Never any intended bloody Tragedy, shut up with such a real joyful Catastrophe. The Matter cannot but yield delight to a Christian, especially to an Englishman: If the Manner please not, I have done my endeavour to it with the best Suit my homely Wardrobe could afford, more in so short a time, and on so sudden a warning I cannot promise. The Grecians delivered it as a Proverbial Precept, that who ever speaks to Great Men, his words must be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, Suavissima & brevissima, as we English it, Short and sweet: What my Discourse wants in the one, (if it be not so sweet as I could wish it) it shall make up in the other, and be as short as your Honours more weighty employments require, to which I remit your Honour, wishing many a happy New-yeare to your Noble Lordship, and my Honourable Good Lady, with all increase of Honour and Happiness here, and hereafter, remaining Your Honours humbly devoted in all faithful observance, THEOD: HEARING. ¶ To the Reader. GEntle Reader, Little did I dream, that these private Meditations, intended only for a particular Congregation, should be made thus public, to the view of the whole world. Homo proponit, Deus disponit, Man purposeth, but God disposeth. Importunity wrung them from me, not only beside, but against my intention. My pleas were many, if they might have been heard. The shortness of time allotted for preparation, multitude of other distractions, which would scarce give me leave either to write what I had Preached, or to review what I had written before the publication. The curiosity of the times, and various humour of men, what one likes, another dislikes, one thinks it too curious, another too careless; one too facile, another too obscure, one too lose, another too elaborate. So impossible is it for any one man, to please all men. The same sentence which pleaseth one, dislikes another; the same man, that receives content this hour, is out of charity the next; so various is man in his thoughts, so unconstant in his censures to others and himself. Add to this beside the fickleness of some, the perverseness of others, who Malchus-like, hear all with the left ear; and as if the right hand were withered, like jeroboams', take all with the left. If some passages accord (in substance) with certain material points that are delivered of other Writers, though never so different in the carriage and circumstance, they must needs be transcribed. As if diverse men, building on the same foundation, guided by the same Spirit, may not in their Meditations border each on other, unless they borrow one from another. All these just allegations were urged by me, but in vain; I did but surdo narrare fabulam, my friends would have no nay; for their sakes have I ventured to put my finger once again into the fire, though already scorched with the flame. Happily the subject matter of this Discourse will procure better entertainment. Many, I confess, have written of this Theme, and as our Adversaries querulously complain, too many. Wherefore else do they say, What? nothing but the Powder-Treason? nothing but the Powder-Treason? When will you have done with your Coleworts, twice thrice sodden over. It vexeth them to the Heart, that we should rubbe this Soare, and make this wound bleed afresh, but by their leaves, GOD'S goodness, and Their wickedness deserves a Monument of Marble, and let them have it. They love the Treason, but hate the Memory of it. Istis siquidem pudor est audiendi quae secerunt, Nullus faciendi quae erubescant. Let all Ages ring of this transcendent matchless merciless Plot. Let every truehearted Englishman, tell what great Wonders the Lord hath done for this Nation, how He carried our Fathers in the year Eightie-Eight through the waters: how He carried us their children this fifth of November through the fire. Let this be graven with a Pen of Iron, with the Point of a Diamond, on the Tables of our hearts, on the Posts of our Houses, on the Horns of our Altars, in such Capital Letters, as he that runs may read them. Let the Father's report it to their children, and the children to their children's children, that the Generation to come, as yet unborn, may discern the malicious mischievous attempts of Roman Catholics. That Law of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, let it not here take place; but by tradition let it successively descend from hand to hand, from mouth to mouth, from pen to pen, lest in time, Histories, Chronicles, all Narrations hereof, seem to after-Ages incredible, and this Truth be entertained for a Fable, which indeed exceeds all Heathen Poetical Fictions as fare as they exceed the Truth. Their Tenet is, that the Bread is transubstantiate● into the body of Christ. No marvel if they who crash their Saviour between their teeth, make no bones to crush their Sovereign. No marvel if those 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, GOD-eaters, (that make and bake their GOD, and champ him when they have done) prove 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, MAN-eaters (worse than Cannibals) STATE-devourers. What may they not do to advance the Catholic Cause? I shall not need to aggravate their Cruelty, Treachery, their own Acts proclaim it to the World. Store of this Coin is daily Minted at ROME. New projects are daily forged on the anvils of the jesuites brains: So just is it with GOD to give them over, that their own tongues and hands, should be the chief Heralds to blazon the barbarous and savage disposition of these Bloodsuckers to the whole World. Thus do they paint themselves in such Orient colours, that no Orator can more lively set them out, whose Mercy is Cruelty; Piety, Butchery; Religion, Vide Acts of Parliam. Witness Garnet and others, who being justly executed for Traitors in England, are Canonised for Saints at Rome. Faction; Devotion, Sedition: whose Zeal is Fire; Prayers, Powder; Tears, Death; Martyrs, Traitors; Saints, Devils Incarnate. But my lines swell, I must break off, though abruptly, lest the garment prove too wide for the body; lest the Preamble exceed the Treatise; judge 〈…〉 THE TRIUMPH OF THE CHURCH OVERDO FIRE AND WATER. ISAIAH 43.2. When thou passest through the Waters I will be with thee, and through the Rivers they shall not overflow thee; When thou walkest through the Fire thou shalt not be burnt; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. IN this Chapter we receive some Sermon-notes; the Preacher was Isaiah, the Hearers, the Inhabitants of judah and jerusalem. The Sermon is worthy such a Teacher; for descent, of the blood-royal; for Oratory, he goes beyond all the Prophets of his time, in elegancy of style. His discourse gins (as learned junius observes) at the two and fortieth Chapter, and reaches to the fourteen Verse of this Chapter, which howsoever unjustly out and dismembered from the former, must be redintigrated, and added to the precedent Chapter, to make up a full and entire discourse. The main passages of his speech may be reduced to three Heads. A Prophetical Prediction. A sharp Reprehension. A sweet Consolation. In his Prediction this Evangelicall Prophet, and Prophetical Evangelist, (not unworthily so styled by some of the Ancients) as having the Honour of all that ever went before him in his clear Revelations, (seeming rather Histories of what was already past, than Prophecies of such things which after many Centuries of years were to be accomplished,) gives a lively and excellent description of the Messiah, from the last Verse of the fortie-two Chapter to the seaventeenth of this Chapter. 1. His Qualification in the administration of his office, Verses 1.2.3.4. 2. His Commission to warrant the execution of his office, grounded on the vocation of his father, from the fifth to the ninth verse. 3. The reciprocal office of the Church towards Christ, breaking forth into Songs and Hymns of praise and thanksgiving, verses 10.11.12. 4. The effect of all, in respect of the Church and the enemies of the Church; which are laid down inner so ordine, The last first. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Touching his enemies; their Confusion is threatened in a high Rhetorical strain, vers. 13.14.15. Touching the Church; her Conversion is promised in a Metaphorical allusion, vers. 16.17.18. Then he falls very appositely by way of interrogation into a sharp Commination (his second main passage) laying down the sin first, the blindness and heedlessness of those careless and secure both Priests and people, who profited nought, neither by the mercies nor judgements of the Lord, ver. 19.20.21. The judgements next; which (for the further aggravation of their sin and punishment) are amplified first from the Greatness of them, in many phrases very Emphatical, they were rob, spoilt, snared, made a prey, vers. 22. the wrath of God poured upon them, like water, consumed them like fire, vers. 25. Secondly, from their senseless stupidity; they could not read the indignation of God in those desolations; so much is intimated in the question propounded, vers. 24. Who gave jacob to a spoil? So much is expressed in the reason annexed, vers. 25. He set him on fire round about, yet he knew it not, and it burned him, yet he laid it not to heart. Now lest the children of God should be discouraged and frighted too much, with those blows that were dealt so thick among the wicked, he hastens with all speed to strengthen the heart of the righteous, and reacheth them this Cordial to revive their drooping spirits. But now, saith the Lord, etc. The Prophet to approve himself a wise workman giveth mercy to whom mercy; judgement to whom judgement belongs: and as he had showed himself a right Bonoarges a Son of thunder, so now he will approve himself a true Barnabas a Son of consolation. He was not so terrible in his Commination, but he will be as sweet in his Consolation. This Consolation is delivered by way of Injunction fear not. Then the reason is annexed, or certain grounds propounded why we should not fear, from verse the 2. to the 14. verse. The reasons are drawn partly from The Nature of God, His Works. From his Nature; he is jehovah, constant to himself, ever as good as his word. From his works Past, Future. Past he instances in three great and grand works of Creation. Redemption. Vocation. Future, of Direction, he would guide them through the Water. Future, of Protection, he would guard them in the Fire. All this Summarily propounded in the first and second verses. The Injunction, or inhibition is repeated v. 5. The Arguments of confirmation they also are again and again urged by former experiences and proofs of the power, providence, and goodness of God: v. 3.4.5.6.7. etc. Notable it is to consider how these promises are pressed, iterated, inculcated: such is the diffidence of our nature that in our extremities we are apt to reject all comfort, and therefore the Lord by his Prophet labours to force them on us. I have dwelled too long in the confines, and borders, now let us draw near to the body of my Text; Consider briefly the scope and parts of it. These words carry in them a promise of Protection, an engagement royal, where in the Great Lord of Lords, King of Kings, the High & Mighty, Monarch of Heaven and Earth, gives a safe convoye to his Spouse passing through the Arabian desert, the vast and roaring wilderness of this world, that notwithstanding all oppositions and encounters of fire and water, he would set her safe in the Heavenly Canaan. This is the sum. The parts into which the sentence naturally breaks itself, as the principal branches are two. Behold here, the wrestling of jacob; the Conquest of jacob after his wrestling: behold the Affliction of joseph; the evasion of joseph out of his affliction: behold, the troubles of the Saints, the Triumph of the Saints after those troubles: Behold, the Dangers of the Church; her Deliverance and rescue from those Dangers. In the wrestling note the certainty of those In the wrestling note the variety of those In the wrestling note the extremity of those afflictions with which the Israel of God do encounter. Their certainty in that he must pass through fire and water; the variety, in that he must pass not through water only, but fire too, not through fire only, but water too; under both all sorts and kinds of affliction are comprised. The extremity; fire & water are those merciless elements, yet they must not pass by these, by the fire, by the water, but through the fire, & through the water; what greater danger then (as we say) to run through fire and water? Neither is here water mentioned only, but floods or rivers of water, nor fire only, but a flame too, so the words of the Text carry it; When thou passest through, etc. The Triumph follows, where we may observe The victory acquired. The floods, etc. The Author to whom the glory of this victory must be ascribed, I will be with thee. Therefore the floods shall not overflow thee, the flame shall not kindle upon thee. Thus by way of resolution have we taken this frame asunder, now let us view the several parts, and then set it together joint by joint. We will begin with the connexion, which I cannot pass over, seeing it affords an excellent instruction; Gods former mercies are pledges of his future favours: by what he hath done, he shows us what he will do: whom he hath created, whom he hath redeemed, whom he hath called, (they may build on it) they shall be preserved, protected. Thus it holds usually in temporal mercies; the blessings of God never go single: we cannot say to the Lord as Esau to Isaac, hast thou but one blessing my father, but rather (as Leah of Gad) a troop cometh. Gen. 39.11. The story observes how he blessed joseph in his father's house, in his Master's house, in the prisonhouse, in his own house, when a slave, when a Lord, in the stocks, on the throne, Gen. 30.42. where ever he goeth, what ever he doth, still joseph prospers. See it in jacob; though Laban change his wages ten times, yet the weakest sheep go to Laban, the strongest fall to jacobs' share. See it in Abram, in Lot: the Lord reveals himself to Abram, doth that for Abram, Gen. 12.1. as he had not done for any person or Nation. Is that all? No, he blesseth him as in his Soul, so in his estate too: Gen. 13.2.9. Abram grows exceeding rich, Lot and he their wealth parts them, one Country cannot hold them: But this holds especially, and infallibly, in spiritual mercies, one blessing here ever draws on another, so chained they are, and linked together, as one still treads on the heel of another, the lesser makes way for the greater. Take one famous instance, in stead of a thousand. It is presented by Paul, in that Golden chain with the links of it knit together, Rom. 8.29.30. Those which he knew before, he also predestinated, moreover those whom he predestinated them also he called, whom he called, them also he justified, and whom he justified, them also he glorified, Lo here is that Adamantine chain, one link so fastened to another, that Hell-gates cannot sunder them. So Philip. 1.6. the same Apostle persuades himself, that he that had begun that good work in them, would finish it; to one favour of Inchoation, he will add the other of Consummation. The strength of this diduction was notably emproued by David and Paul both. 1. Sam. 17.34.35.36. David reasons thus, he that rescued him from the claw of the Lion, and the paw of the bear, would not leave him as a prey in the hand of that uncircumcised Philistim. Paul thus, he hath delivered us, he doth deliver us, 2 Cor. 1.10. in whom I trust he will deliver us; if this will carry force in temporal, From the Greater. it holds à Maiori in spiritual cases; as in privative, so in positive blessings. The reasons hereof may be drawn, partly from the bounty, partly from the immutability of the Almighty. His bounty is such, that where he gins (I will not say he knows not) sure I am he cannot or at least he will not make an end. First he creates them, than redeems them, than calls them, than protects them; and yet comes not to a full period. The Lord is no niggard in bestowing his favours, but liberal and frank. His Bounty like a perpetual Spring, runs continually, overflows all banks. He gives exceeding abundantly above all that we are able to ask or think: Ephes. 3.20. observing * His Measure is without measure. Modum sine Modo. The second ground is his immutability, whether of his Nature or Decree. Exod. 3.14. In regard of his Nature, he is ever (I am): if merciful in former times, he is as merciful for the present, and will be for the future. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. jam. 1.17. He is without variableness or shadow of change. His Decree is as unchangeable as his Nature. His promises, his purposes are not unstable, yea and nay, but yea and Amen; yesterday, to day, the same for ever. 2 Cor. 1.10. He doth not love one day, hate the next: Bless one day, curse the next; assist this day, forsake the next. Use. A notable staff to underprop our faith. He will be jehovah (Exod 34.6.7.) ever the same constant to himself and his servants. Remember the days that are past, look back to the times of old: hath he been the God of thy fathers, he will be thy God also, Gen. 13.15.17.7. (the promise is made to them and their seed) hath he delivered their forefathers, he will not flinch from their children, if they degenerate not, but tread in their father's steps. Let us apply this to ourselves first in particular; to our Nation next in general. Hath he created thee? hath he redeemed thee? hath he adopted thee? he will deliver thee, he will sanctify thee, he will glorify thee. Treasure up experiences of forepast favours, it will keep thy head above water from sinking in present evils: needs must that Man swim, which is held up by the chin; that Soul cannot stagger which is underpropped by such precedents and patterns, I may not dwell in specials, this reacheth to our whole Nation. Good the more common, the more Good. Bonum quo communius eo melius. Never any people enjoyed more and greater testimonies of his favour, why may not we expect the continuance of his love? He hath created us after his own Image, redeemed us from the slavery of sin, from that worse than Egyptian bondage, from the yoke of Rome and tyranny of Antichrist; he hath called us by name, entered into covenant with us, stricken a firm League; He hath taken us for his people; Hosca. 1.10. we challenge him for our God. Let us but keep to him, he will not start from us. Let the Church of God ever magnify the riches of his supper abundant grace that ladeth us with his blessings, and not only cherisheth us with the remembrance of old favours, but doubles the Benefits, by giving them as pledges of future and greater. As the first fruits promised a plentiful crop, and as the earnest (though small) assureth us of the whole bargain: so the least mercy is great in this, that it is but the first fruits, but a beginning, but an earnest, a pledge of more and greater. Thus may we in general, in particular, if the fault be not our own, from that we have already received, promise to ourselves fare greater matters for the time to come. But what do I staying so long in the skirts, let us now as Moses ascended Mount Nebo, Deut. 32.4. so climb this Mount in my Text, and there take a double prospect: first we may look backward, and there view the Israel of God now passing through the Red Sea, now stung with fiery Serpents in the wilderness of this World: we may then look forward and see them victorious over fire and water, in their heavenly Canaan, like their Lord and Master, as here crowned with thorns, so there crowned with victory and glory. It seems good to their heavenly Father, to entertain them wit storms first, and after they have run some dangerous hazards, to bring a gracious calm. The affliction of joseph, is not nakedly propounded, but notably amplified, from the certainty, the variety, the extremity of it. The certainty is intimated, this the Lord takes for granted, that his Spouse must through fire and water. When thou passest etc. As if the Lord had expressed his mind in other terms. Mistake me not, I never intended to secure my chosen wholly from danger, or to set them out of the reach of affliction; that the water should not touch them, nor they touch the water; at the fire should not come near them, nor they come near the fire; but to get myself a name and glory, to magnify my power and pity, by securing them in the water, that the floods shall not overflow them, by securing them in the fire that the flame shall not kindle upon them. The Saints must have their Purgatory on earth, that of water to wash off the filth and soil contracted by sin; that other of fire to purge out the dross of corruption. The Conclusion stands as firm as Heaven and Earth. The Church Militant, while she remains in this veil of tears, and valley of misery, is not privileged from miseries and calamities. Let her be the Darling of Heaven, the favourite of the great King, the work of his hand, his Redeemed, his adopted, his Beloved one, no bonds, no entireness with God can plead an exemption. She is the Lords Ship, his Marchant-royall, and therefore must expect storms while she Sails on the tempestuous Sea of this world. His Lily, and therefore must grow in the midst of thorns; his Rose, and therefore must be environed with prickles; his Gold, and therefore must be cast ever and anon into the fiery furnace; his Campe-royall, and therefore must be ever skirmishing; his vine, and therefore ever and anon must be pruned. This is the place of her Labour, no rest from her labour, till her work be at an end; no end of her work, till an end be put to these days of sin. Blessed are they that die in the Lord, Rev. 14.13. for they shall rest from their labours. So much was shadowed out and typified by the Riding of Noah's Ark on the Waters; by the smoking firebrands, Gen. 7.17. Gen. 15.17. presented to Abram; by the wrestling of jacob; Gen 32.24. Exod. 3.2. by the Burning Bush, presented to Moses: so much is plainly expressed by our Saviour; In the world you shall have trouble. joh. 16.33. He that will be my Disciple, must take up his cross and follow we. The ground hereof may be drawn, partly from the appointment of God, partly from the malice of Satan; partly from that correspondence which should ever be maintained between the Head and the Members. First, It is that Decree enacted by the High Court of Parliament in Heaven, a Statute more firm than the Laws of the Medes and Persians, that the way to Heaven shall be strawed with crosses; that every one that will live godly in Christ jesus, 2 Tim. 3.12. shall suffer persecution. This is that thorny path which is chalked out as the common Rhode, leading to Glory. No man must expect two Heavens, one here, another hereafter. Would you know the ground of this Sanction? though his Will be a Law, Sic volo, sic iubeo; stet pro ratione voluntas. Eccles. 8.4. though it be a sauciness to say to the King (much more to the King of Kings) What dost thou? Yet sith the wise God is pleased to condescend so fare unto our weakness, as to yield an account of his actions, know it tends much to his glory, and the good of the Saints. It tends to the Glory of his wisdom, that fetcheth light out of darkness, life out of death, Heaven out of Hell; to the glory of his power, that brings strength out of weakness. So the Oracle to Paul, 2 Cor. 12.9. My grace is sufficient for thee. My power is made perfect through weakness. It turns to the good of the Saints, who are corrected with his children, that they might not be condemned with the world. Prov. 3.12. Heb. 12.6. Revel. 3.19. Prov. 22.15. Whom the Lord love's he chastens. There is much folly bound in the heart of the child (as that Mirror of wisdom gives out in his select divine Aphorisms) but the rod of correction will fetch it out. Blessed is the Man whom thou chastisest (O Lord) and teachest thy Law, so David the Father of so wise a Son. These Nocumenta are Documenta, his Corrections are Instructions. We see by experience these Stars shine brightest in the darkest night; these sheep thrive best in the saltest Marshes, and tread surest in the roughest way; Vide Christians sovereign Salve for every Soare. these Diamonds glitter most in the night; this corn is purest from chaff when under the staile: these torches blaze most when they are most beaten. Abraham's faith, jobs patience, David's Repentance, salomon's Recantation, Manassehs' humiliation, all these, with thousand more, give evident demonstration, that the graces of the Spirit (like the Arabian Spices) never yield a more fragrant smell then when they are punned and bruised together in the Mortar of Affliction. This is the first reason, God hath appointed it, and that for his glory and our good. Deus enim adeo bonus est, ut nihil mali sineret, nisi etiam adeo esset potens, ut ex quolibet malo possit elicere bonum. Thus Austin, Such is the Goodness of God, that he would permit no evil, unless he knew his Power to be such, as he could draw good out of evil. Add to this (in the second place) the envy of Satan and his Instruments. The Devil will at least make us have a wet seede-time, if he cannot hinder our joyful harvest; he will be sure to make us live discomfortably in earth, if he cannot hinder us from reigning gloriously in Heaven; he will bruise our heel, if he cannot break our head. His instruments carried with the spleen of their father the Devil, will trouble us, though they cannot hurt us, with Midianitish wiles, they will vex the Israel of GOD, whom they cannot Conquer: these snarling, bawling Curs will bark and snatch at the Moon, though they cannot stay her course. If we do but set our faces towards jerusalem; if we but steal a look to Heaven-ward, these Samaritans will be strait on our backs. Heb. 5.7.8. The last Reason stands with equity, that we might be made conformable to our Highpriest, who was consecrated by afflictions. The Head was a Man of sorrow, and shall the body know no sorrow? The head was crowned with thorns, and all gore blood (tota cicatrix) shall the body be decked with Roses? joh. 13: 16. Shall the servant look to far better than his master; Luk. 24.26. if they called me Beel-zebub, how much more those of my family, as the Lord forewarns his Disciples. If that hold, Opertet Christum pati, then much more, Oportet Christianum pati, so one of the Ancients. Must Christ suffer? is there not the same Must, for every Christian? Whence another of the Father's descants on the name, Christianus quasi Crucianus. Use 1 Let this check those fond Christians, whether lazy Protestants, or ignorant Papists; the former wish it were, the latter affirm it, that ease, peace, calms, and faire-weather, are the marks and badges of a true Church; which they set out of the reach of persecution, which they make to be blessed with a perpetuated succession of an vninterrupted peace, plenty, and tranquillity; as if they only (contrary to the ordinary course) must be carried to heaven on a featherbed; as if it were possible to sail through the tempestuous Seas of this world, and never meet with a storm; as if all crosses to them were turned into roses and rushes; as if the servant should be more cockered than the Son: Austin put this out of doubt, Vnicum filium habuit sine peccato, neminem habuit sine flagello. God had one Son that knew no sin, never any that felt no smart. What is, if this be not repugnant to the plain Text, and strong current of holy Writ? Which prophesies not of peace but of war, not of security but of calamity; not of sleeping in a whole skin, but of bearing in our bodies the wounds or the Lord jesus, not of a smooth gale, but of many cross, nay, adverse blasts. It is given a note rather of that Whore of Babylon, to sit as a Queen, a Lady, Revel. 18.7. having her mountain so strongly founded, so rarely assaulted, that she never dreams of a change, When the Daughters of Zion; hang their Harps upon the Willows, and sit weeping at the waters of Babel: It is for Moab rather to be settled on her lees, jere. 48.11. because she is not shaken from vessel to vessel: When the Israel of God are tossed from post to pillar: Psal. 129.1.2. from my youth up have they afflicted me, will Israel say from my youth up, etc. It is for the Generation of Esau to carry the world before them in a continued line of succession, Duke upon Duke. Twelve Dukes were found in Edom, when the children of jacob were labouring at the Brick-kilns in Egypt. Luk. 12.19.20. It is for the fool in the Gospel to sing a lullaby to his Soul, Soul take thine ease, etc. Who had his Paradise, his Consolation here. We that expect that Glory to come, must not look for an Heaven upon earth. Use 2 Let this lesson those holy Ones what to expect in this world, even that which they have ever found, fire and water. Oppositions, troubles, and persecutions. God will allow no peace to the wicked, the wicked will afford no peace to the godly. In the midst of our discomforts, let this be our comfort, it is the common Lot of the Saints, why should we shrug at it? When so many have broken the ice before us; since it is no new thing; why should we think it a strange thing to hear or feel the fiery trials? Since it is the will of God, bear it patiently, since it makes for the Glory of God, glory in it exceedingly; sith the Good will be our own, take it thankfully; so shall your Cross be your Crown, so shall you be as glorious in your greatest misery, as the wicked are miserable in their greatest glory. I have done now with the Afflictions of joseph; and yet I have not done neither; give me leave to recall myself, the Spirit pulls me back, this is not all. The Spouse is not subject to affliction only, (this is but the beginning of sorrow) but to many and great afflictions. Many for variety; great for extremity. She must through fire and water. Both these streams run into one and the same fountain; the matter will be Co-incident, that we may not enter fiere, let us wrap both in one, and give you the Doctrine in the words of the Kingly Prophet. Doct. 2 Many are the Troubles of the righteous; that is, many and great, Multa &c magna, so much the Original word doth intimate. Psal. 34.19. For their number many; for their measure great; for their nature weighty. Take the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 first, that it is so, and then the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, why it is so, as they speak in the Schools. To begin with my Text, here is not fire only, but water too, not water only, but fire too: fire and water comprehend all sorts of trials; there is the variety. Again, here is fire and water; those two merciless Elements, (good servants, but cruel Masters) which comprehends the greatest danger, the extremest misery that can befall a man. When the tender Father in the Gospel (seeking the cure of his possessed son) would stir up the bowels of our Saviour to commiserate the distressed Daemoniaks, how doth he paint out the cruelty and tyranny of the Devil? delivers it to the full in these emphatical terms; Lo, Mat. 17.15, He casts him sometime into the fire, sometimes into the water, and not able to hold any longer, he bursts out into tears, Lord take pity on my Son. Yet to add to the heap of their misery, here is not water mentioned only, but waters, rivers, floods of water; not fire only, some few sparkles, but flames of fire, there is the extremity. To this of Isaiah answereth that complaint of David. Psal. 42.7. Abyssus abyssum invocat; one deep calleth upon another deep. Here is a depth of misery to note the extremity; deep and deep, to note the variety: neither was this to some one member that might fall into these quagmires, but the whole Church makes her moan; Many a time haue they afflicted me from my youth, may Israel now say, many a time have they afflicted me from my youth up. Psal. 129.12. That chosen vessel forewarns the Antiechians, that through many tribulations, they must enter into the Kingdom of God. Act. 14.22. As for the Apostle himself, he had his share as deep as any, perils by Sea, perils by Land, etc. Strange it is to see what variety of troubles, what a world of afflictions (as it were can Army of Pikes, 2 Cor. 6.4.11.13. 2 Cor. 4.9.13 or a thicket of thorns) Paul ran through. David, a Man after Gods own heart, what troubles underwent he at home? What dangers abroad? What from his enemies? What from his friends? What inward affliction? What outward persecution? As a man borne to sorrow, that scarce ever came where tranquillity grew. So that Mirror of patience job, how came his crosses and losses thick and threefold, like showers of haile-shot; job. 1.14.15. Velut undam undam sequitur, as wave follows wave in the midst of the Sea. Solomon (Proverb. 24.16.) tells us they come by troops, by seven, a certain number put for an uncertain; many come, that is, certain; but how many, that is, uncertain. Who can number the stars of the sky? Who can number the drops of the water? Who can number the sparkles of the fire? Who can count the dust of jacob? Or who can number the fourth part of the afflictions of joseph? But it is their nature I must insist on rather then their number; did not Experience (the Mistress of fools) save me that labour. The dearest children of God (as we often find and feel) are they not put to great extremities, to shrewd plunges, to desperate pinches? What a straight was the Church brought to, think you, when the Edomits cried, Down with it, down with it, even to the ground? What should I protract time to instance in persons, in places? What mean these and the like phrases; The plowers have ploughed on my back, they made long furrows. Psal. 129.3. And again, Psal. 66.12. Thou hast caused men to ride over our heads, we went through fire and water; the same allusion which is here in my Text. This is that bread of affliction, that water of affliction; that gall and wormwood wherewith he feeds his; that Baptism which our Saviour forespeakes to the Sons of Zebedeus; Mat. 10.38.39. Luk. 12.50. Ye shall drink indeed of that cup that I shall drink of, and be baptised with the baptism wherewith I shall be baptised. If you take it literally, was not Noah carried through the water? Gen. 7.18. Exod. 1.22. and the Hebrew babes did they not pass through the floods? The three Children went they not through the fire, Dan. 3.23. howbeit the flame kindled not upon them? Those blessed Martyrs, how many thousands were sent up to heaven Elias-like in fiery Chariots? If you take it spiritually, these waters had even entered into David's soul, he was not drenched only, but almost swallowed up of those waves. Ps. 69.1.2. job. 16.13. job. 7.12. job complains that the Lord had set him as a Butt; that the arrows of the Almighty stuck stuck fast in his ribs, the venom whereof had drunk up his blood; he was hedged in as a Whale. jonah cries from the bottom of the Whale, from the belly Hell. jonah. 2.3.4.5. More General, Gen. 4.8. when holy Abel lay bleeding under the bloody knife of his butcherly brother Cain, was not the Church at a desperate pinch? When Isaac lay bound on the Altar, Abraham's hand now stretched out, and up ready to give the fatal stroke, Gen, 22.10, was not the Church at the last cast gasping for life? When the Hebrews were pressed, in a manner oppressed with that sore intolerable Egyptian bondage, when forced to march through the midst of that red Sea, (figuring the blood, Exod 14.22. red Sea of persecution, through which all the Israel of God must wade) when those Assyrian Bands, the Caldean armies, broke their banks, and like a violent overswelling torrent swept all before them as a general inundation, 2. Kings 18.11. was not Gods Ston in the midst of the waters? when the Roman Troops put all to the fire and the sword, not leaving one stone upon a stone, of that famous City and Temple, (the wonder of the world) not thrown down: or rather in the times of those ten fiery persecutions, when Nebuchadnezars' Oven was heated seven times hotter than ordinary, was not the Bush all in a flame? was not Zion in the midst of the fire? What might be there reason will some demand, that the troubles of the righteous should be so many and great? the same in a manner with the former. It falls out thus, partly in respect of God, partly in respect of their enemies; in respect of themselues partly, not principally. jehovah permits it, ordains it, orders it. Why? the more and the greater their afflictions are, the more doth his mercy shine, the greater doth his wisdom and power appear in their deliverance, in their rescue. When Israel was every way distressed, Exod. 14.12.12. the sea before them, the army of the Egyptians behind them pressing at their heels, the high towering Mountains hemming them in on all sides; now will the Lord get him honour upon Pharaoh and all his host. Exod. 14.4. Now will the Lord of Hosts march valiantly, and overthrow the horse and the rider. When the people of God were scattered over the four corners of the world: now for God to turn again the captivity of jacob, Isaiah 43.12.14. as the stream backward; to bring them home weeping with their faces toward Zion, this shall be to me (saith the Lord) an everlasting name, joy and honour, now he shows himself a God. The greater the stream is, the skill of the Pilot if he steer the ship aright, appears to be the greater; the more desperate the disease is, the cure is the more glorious; this may be one ground, why the troubles of the righteous are many and mighty, that the mighty and manifold wisdom, power, goodness of jehovah, might shine out in their full glory, to the admiration of Men and Angels. Another reason follows, because their enemies are many and great; Their malice great, their subtlety great, their power great, their sedulity great, their cruelty great. Consider their subtlety, the sly Midianites have a thousand wiles and ways to vex and beguile the plain hearted downright Israelites. Consider their malice; there is an eternal enmity put by God himself between the seed of the woman, and the seed of the Serpent, which how ever smothered sometimes as it were in the ashes, yet ever and anon is blown up by the bellowes of unplacable malice, Gen. 15. and breaks forth into an open flame, so unsatiable it is, that nothing but the heartblood of the Lamb will content those ravenous Wolves. Consider their cruelty; as for craft, they are foxes, and for subtlety, Serpents: so for cruelty, roaring ramping Lions, that will leave no design be it never so barbarous unattempted, but will prosecute it to the utmost of their power. Consider their sedulity, as the Devil their Master himself goes about continually, seeking whom he may devour; so his Imps, they compass Sea and Land to make a Proselyte of their own, and to render him ten-sold more the child of the Devil. Their Enemies are many, their name is Legion; their enemies are mighty, Ephe, 6.12. they fight with Principalities and Powers, which are in high places, no marvel if their troubles be many and mighty. Their enemies are many and mischievous, cruel and barbarous, needs must their trials be many, their case grievous, their estate dangerous. Finally they may thank themselves for it; their sins are many, their sins are mighty; many sin's cause many afflictions, mighty sins procure mighty troubles. Lay not the blame then on Religion, but on thy Corruption. God's dearest children will venture on noisome meat and hurtful poison; they will drink down the very gall of Asps, they will be walking near Hell's mouth, their Father therefore takes them by the heels and makes them believe he will throw them in. They will be dallying with the fire, no marvel if they be scorched with the flame; they will be running into the water, no marvel if they be drenched in the waves: they will be laying the Serpent in their bosom, no marvel if they be stung with that Scorpion. They defile themselves with gross sins, and therefore must have much washing; they take in the deadliest poison, and therefore must have working Physic: while corruption is so strong, let them look for it; many and mighty corruptions will procure many and mighty afflictions. Use 1 The improvement is made by the Apostles, 1. Pet. 1.7. chap. 4.13. think it not strange, concerning the fiery trial, so Peter; Count it great joy when you fall 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 into diverse temptations, so james. james 1.2. If we pass under severe sharp corrections, and be forced to drink of gall and wormwood, this is no new thing. Those whom he love's most he corrects most; and if we feel not the rod at all, Heb. 12.8. well may we suspect we are bastards not children: when we read of the troubles of David, when we hear of the afflictions of joseph, when we hear, or see, or read of the calamities of our Brethren, let it not dismay us too much: What though the Churches in Bohemia, in the Palatinate, in the Low-Countries, be now floating in the midst of the water? What though in the midst of the fire, in thee furnace? What if that fire which was kindled in Bohemia, which flamed in France, which hath burnt up and devoured the Palatinate, some sparkles thereof should fly over-sea? (quod omen Deus avertat, which God forbidden) why should they or we, think much to pledge our Saviour, in that cup which he began to us? he drank the very lees and dregges of that mixed wine, we do but sip and taste the top of it. Let our troubles be never so many, Christ's were more; never so great, Christ's were greater. He went through the water, when he sweat drops of blood; he went through the fire, when like that good Phoenix, he continued on the cross, fluttering his wings over the burning coals of his Father's indignation, till by suffering the extremity of it, he quenched that flame with his own blood, which else had burnt to the bottom of Hell. Use 2 This secondly affords Comfort, as to all the members of Christ in particular, who 〈◊〉 are baptised, whether Baptismo sluminis, or baptismo slaminis, with this Baptism of fire or water; so especially to these our Churches, and this our State of Great Britain in General. If the mighty God of jacob had not called us by name, and given to this joseph that particoloured coat (the livery of his love) the Covenant of grace, we should never have been so maligned by Satan, so hated of the world, so persecuted by Sea and Land, so driven through fire and water; we should never have been hated so mortally, handled so cruelly, butchered so barbarously, plotted against so devilishly: If any Nation under the Cope of Heaven can apply this prophecy, this promise, to themselves, we may challenge it, and find it verified literally, spiritually, every way of these Churches of this State; we have gone through the fire, Psal. 129.1.2. and through them water; Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth up may England now say; many a time have they afflicted me from my youth up: Remember Edom (may England cry) remember Edom, O God, which said, Down with it, down with it, even to the ground; we will raze out their name and memorial from under Heaven. True indeed, while we carried the mark of the Beast in our foreheads, while we bore (like Balaams' Ass) that Balaam of Rome, and suffered his intolerable exactions, giving up ourselves, our states, goods, souls, as slaves and vassals of Antichrist; who but the English? Who more favoured at the Court of Rome? While our treasure was inexhastus puteus (as that Pope scoffingly) a Mine that could not be dreined: that which the Indies are to Spain, that was England to Rome, now we were his Holiness white Sons, he our Ghostly father, what blessing had we from him? What Immunities? What red hats? What Indulgences? What not? the Devil smiles while he is pleased; but ever since the time of Reformation; so courageously attempted by King Henry the eight; so devoutly prosecuted by that Noble josias, whose early holiness, King Edward the sixth. and timely seeking of the Lord deserves an everlasting Monument; so happily seconded, promoted (after some interruption) by our famous Deborah, that late matchless, peerless Queen of ever blessed memory; Queen Elizabeth. so constantly perpetuated, consummated, and to this day continued by our most wise and Renowned Sovereign Lord, King JAMES. Ever since we have shaken off that thousand times worse than Egyptian bondage; ever since we broke off that iron yoke of Babel, that so long held us under; the Devil hath showed himself in his likeness; what Bulls have roared from Rome? What Excommunications? What anathemas have been Thundered out by that Man of sin? What cursings, with Bell, Book, & Candle? How have we been adjudged for Heretics? sentenced to flames, reputed worse than Infidels, than Dogs. Vide Dr Hall. One of their jesuites gives up himself for damned, if such Heretics as we can be saved. How is it made a meritorious Act, a work of supererogation, to murder our King, to blow up our State, to desolate and depopulate our Kingdom. Many have been our Troubles, many and great; many secret conspiracies, many open incursions, many foreign attempts of enemies abroad, many intestine insurrections of bosom vipers at home: How long have we carried fire in our bosoms? and do not our feet yet tread upon Scorpions? As many, so great have been our Troubles. Great enemies were stirred up; mighty Princes, the most potent, and puissant Kings of the earth, friends to the Beast, Psal. 2. how were they enraged? How did they bandy together against the Lord, and against his Anointed? Great Stratagems were laid, even as deep as Hell, to the utter ruination, both of Church and State, to the final extirpation of our name and memorial from under Heaven. How oft hath the knife been at our throat? What treasons? What conspiracies were hatched in the days of our late Queen Elizabeth (that wonder of Women, and mirror of her sex)? No sooner was the fire quenched in one corner, but it breaks forth in another place; no sooner was one wound closed, but another bleeds afresh: Many a time were we at the pits brink, and knew it not, destinated as sheep to the slaughter; our Land quartered, Dr Hall in his Panygericke. or Doom prophesied; When that Snow melts (as they gave it out triumphantly) we shall see a flood, and pointed to the Gray-hayres of that then living Empress. But above all, two especial dangers (never to be forgotten) did threaten this Nation; never any people under Heaven were put to the like straits. You cannot forget that famous Climacterical year Eighty-Eight; That Senacherib of Spain, how confident was he to have swallowed us up quick at one morsel? How did he presume to command with his Invincible Navy Sea and Land? How did he presume to put a bridle and make a bridge over the Ocean, to overrun this spot of earth in one instant? Now I trow you were in the midst of the waters. This fifth of November minds us of another pinch as great, if not greater than the former; there wanted but the kindling of a match, to have set this City all in a flame of fire; this Country and Kingdom all in a flame of Combustion. Were we not now in the midst of the fire? If the Lord had not been with us, that water had overwhelmed all; if the Lord had not been with us, that fire had been kindled, and we all had perished in that flame. And thus are we fallen suddenly, from the danger to glance at the Deliverance, (blessed be That jehovah, that hath linked them so together, that we cannot speak of the one, but we must acknowledge the other.) Now since I am fled into this pleasant field, I will not step back; but entreat you to follow me with your attention, and as you have tasted of the bitter, so now close your Stomaches with the sweet; which I have reserved for the last, as being the best and chiefest matter intended for this day's discourse, and most suitable to the occasion of our present meeting. Hitherto you have heard only of the troubles, now follows the triumphs of the Saints; wherein was offered to our consideration, as we found in the resolution of the Text. 1. The victory itself, which is acquired; The floods shall not overflow thee; the flame shall not kindle upon thee. 2. The Author of this victory, to whom the glory of the day must be ascribed, in those words; I will be with thee. The Conquest is further commended from the time; When thou, etc. It shall come seasonably, opportunely, when they were in their greatest difficulties, in their greatest perplexity; then, even than I will be with thee, etc. The afflictions of joseph are never so many, never so great, but they shall find an evasion. The Church can never be so straitened, but first or last, it shall be enlarged; the Church can never be so distressed, but sooner or later it shall be relieved. Her case is oft dangerous, never desperate. Let her walk in the valley of the shadow of death with David; Psal. 23.4. let her be cast into the Den of Lions with Daniel; with jeremy, Dan 6.16. let her be plunged into the deep dungeon; let her be projected with the Hebrew babes (as was noted) into the midst of the waters; with the three children, and with those innumerable troops of Martyrs, into the midst of the fire; what though the members of her body with Isaiah pass under the Saw? with james, are cut off by the sword? let their carcases be mangled and chopped into pieces, their bodies scorched, burned, racked, roasted; come what can come, Premi potest ecclesia opprimi non potest. Psal. 30.5. Psal. 112.4. the Israel of God may be pressed, cannot be oppressed; though sorrow may befall them in the evening, joy shall arise in the morning. Unto the righteous ariseth light in darkness. This is the Close, as David had learned in the School of Affliction, Many are the troubles of the righteous, but the Lord delivereth them out of all; delivered they are not from one, or few, or many, but from all. Mark the end of the upright man, his latter end is Peace; there may be storms in the way, but in the end there will follow an eternal Calm. This Ship may be tossed, cannot be drowned; Psal. 112.6. this Mount Zion may be moved, cannot be removed. Reason. She hath the word of jehovah to secure her, a word more firm than Heaven. The Lord of Hosts will come in to her succour, He comes with salvation under his wings, He comes in seasonably to help at a dead lift. Man's greatest extremity is God's fittest opportunity; when no hope in earth, then expect help from Heaven, than the Almighty comes riding on the Clouds, and commands deliverance for his jacob: let the Sea work and rage, and boil and foam, and swell up to Heaven, his word makes all hush. But what do I preventing myself? Let us leave dilating on this Subject to his proper place; and now make application of the point, and grow to that conclusion which this day doth witness, and proclaim to the whole world. Look back my Brethren, remember those Marian days, that bloody Quinqueinium, Nero his Quinqueinium famous for those sparkles of humanity; that of Q. Marry contrary. what a desperate pinch were we brought to in time of that persecution? What massacring? What butchering? What Bonnering? What burning of those chaste Virgins that would not prostitute their souls to that Whore of Babylon? that would not lick up their filthy vomit, disgorged in the days of King Edward? What streets did not flame with fires? What faggots did not fry the bones of those miscalled Heretics? What City? What Town? What Village was not watered with the blood, Sanguis Martyrum; semen Ecclesiae. enlightened with the flames of those constant crowned Martyrs? The mercies of the wicked are cruel, (as the wise King observes,) as those barbarous savage Tygertyrants, made it too true, who to show themselves more merciless than the merciless Elements (fire and water) retorted that Infant into the Mother's flames, Fox in his Acts & Mon. which the very fire as a merciful Midwife had delivered from the Mother's womb. Now they insulted, cracking what a sure foundation was laid for under-setting, and propping up their newly repaired walls of jericho; now they applaud their own wits, that had undermined the Gospel (under the name of Heresy) so as it should never be able to peep forth, or hold up head in the professors thereof. Thus when all was desperate in the eye of flesh, how suddenly was the stream turned? So the Father of julian the Apostate; nubecula est cito transibit. how suddenly was that storm of blood blown over? their high walls so lately daubed up with vntempered mortar, how did they fall in a moment, being quashed to powder? and themselves with all their rubbish sent packing over Seas. What a desperate exigent were we brought to, when that strange Horned Moon appeared on our Coasts; when that Invincicle Armado of Spain (as they styled it) was ready to encircle our Nation. Their ships were cast into the form of a halfmoon. The enemy like that great Levi●than had in conceit drawn up our jordan into his nostrils, so had he devoured us in his hopes, that already (ante victoriam trump hum canit) he sings the Triumph before a stroke was stricken; and at the putting on of his Armour, The Church of Rome. boasts as he that puts it off. The mother of Sisera looked out at the Window, and cried through the Lattesse; jud. 5.28.29.30. Why is his Chariot so long in coming? Why tarry the Wheels of his Chariot: Her wise Ladies answered, yea, she turned and answered herself; have they not sped, have they not divided the prey to every man a damosel or two? to Sisera a prey of diverse colours, of diverse colours needlework, fit for the necks of them that take the spoil. Thus they solaced themselves, when lo how all their hopes vanished into smoke. The Sun, Moon, and Stars in their courses, the winds, waters, all fight for our England. The Lord overthrows the horse and his rider, and drowns this blazing Comet in the wide Ocean, which drew the eyes of all the world to see the success of that prodigious meteor, that as some dreamt, others feared, Babylon wished, presaged a fatal period to the English Isle and Empire. So true is the word of the Lord by his Prophet; WE passed through the water, yet did not the floods overflow us. What a desperate pinch were we brought to this fifth day of November? Now we were in the fire indeed; a fire kindled in Hell, a sulphurean fire, into which not Three Children, but the Three States of our Realm, were enwrapped and all bound together, to have perished with one crack. Let us pause here, and consider the Danger of our extremity, that we may be stirred up the more feelingly, and hearty, to magnify the mercy, power, and goodness of the Lord, manifested in out delivery. Consider How cunningly it was contrived. How cruelly it was intended. How nearly achieved. How miraculously discovered. For the cunning in contriving; what secrecy of place? What secrecy of person? The place, a place of darkness, and therefore fit for a work of darkness; the secrecy of the place seemed to invite them to this bloody design; even as the opportunity of time, smiled upon them, and promised to be the unhappy Midwife to deliver the Actors (now big with their conception) of this monstrous burden. Let me now take you hand in hand, and lead you to this dark Cave, this hollow den, this fiery Aetna, this tormenting Tophet; I know not what to call it, Grammar, Logic, Rhetoric, all are posed, no Art can yield a word emphatical enough for this Artificial Phalarian invention. A strange Engine, it was invented for the torment of Innocents', but (as that of Phaleris) turned to the torment of the Inventors. See here what Barrels of Powder packed close together? What piles of wood billetted over those Barrels? What bars of iron mingled with those piles? Of all resemblances methinks a Tophet sits it best; See the description of Tophet, Isa. 30.33. and parallel them. Isaiah. 30.33. Tophet is ordained of old, yea for the King it is prepared, he hath made it deep and large, the pile thereof is fire and much wood, the breath of the Lord like a stream of brimstone doth kindle it. Lo here a right Tophet, ordained of old, hatched in the latter years of the reign of our late Queen Elizabeth; prepared not by God, but by Men; not by Men, but by Devils; Was it not digged deep? and made large, made for the King, yea and Queen, Prince, Prelates, Lords, Commons, all; the burning of it was fire and much wood, a stream of Powder, as a river of brimstone was to kindle it, a right Tophet. Some place Hell in the Centre or midst of the earth, here you might have found it somewhat beneath the superficies of the earth. Thus were their villainies buried in the bowels of the earth, Isa. 29.15. they dig deep to hide their Council from God and Man. The persons will be as secret as the place; these Catholic conspirators, to make all sure, to sow their lips fast, swear a silene, and bind that Oath with the Sacrament. O flagitious unheard-of impiety! God himself (will he, nill he) must have as much as in them lay, an hand in this transcendent Treason; let no man henceforth wonder at the fury of that Romish Catiline, who forced his followers to pledge each other in Healths of humane blood. Behold here that Romish Catesby, with his Complices, take the Blood of God (at least his Body) and 〈◊〉 they maintain it, the real essential blood of 〈…〉 of God must be caroused, to glue up their lip●… 〈…〉 the discovery of this Hellish Design. Thus closely and covertly was it carried, so lapped in the mantle of darkness, that none but the Devil as they gave it out (the Lord was fare from their thoughts) could unveil it, and pluck off the mask from this Hag; yet was their cruelty no whit inferior to their secrecy. Let me begin in the words of Moses; Deut. 4.32. Ask of the days of old that have been since God created man upon the earth, from one end of Heaven unto the other, if there came to pass such a great thing as this, or ever the like was heard of; Search all Chronicles, turn over the Records of all Nations; no age, no story, humane or divine, can match this matchless precedent, so that we may well take up the Heathen Poet's complaint. Audax, omnia perpeti gens humana 〈◊〉 vetitum 〈◊〉 nefas. 2 Sam 16. 2 Sam. 15.31. The Treason of Absalon; the Conspiracy of Achitophel; the Conjuration of Catiline; the Machination of Haman, Esth. 3.8. to root out the whole Nation of the jews; the Massacre of France; the slaughter of the Indies; wherein worlds of people were most cruelly made away: all heinous transcendent crimes, all fall short of this Nero that Sponge of Blood and Monster of Men, as the Stories record, wished, all the people of Rome had had but one head, that he might chop it off at a blow; that which was but desired of Nero, was not wished only, but plotted, and attempted by these Sanguineous Antichristian nero's, had their plot taken effect, not the head of Rome, but of England had been cut off at a Blow. Nero caused the City of Rome to be fired, and laid the blame on the Christians. If their train had blown up our Church and State, the imputation of so foul a fact by these equivocating Catholics, must have been cast on the Puritans. Three famous kingdoms by a blessed Peacemaker, united into one happy Monarchy, Vno actu tactu ictu, with one blow, and blast in a day, an hour, a moment, had perished, ere they knew who hurt them: no sect, no sex, no person, nor age might be spared, no not those of their own Religion, the Powder, like the Duke of Medina his Sword, These be your charitable Catholics. would have known no difference between Protestant and Papist. The King's Majesty, the Golden Head of this Land, the Lords Anointed, and the breath of our nostrils; His dear Queen, the Root that bore so royal stems; His Princely heir, the pledge of our succeeding hopes; the Honourable Council, the eye of our Land, the Noble Lords and Baron, the Shields and shoulders of our Land, the Reverend Bishops and Clergy, the Chariots and Horsemen of Israel; the grave Sages and judges, the Hands of our Land for execution of justice; the flower of our Gentry and Commons, the feet of this Land; root and branch, Priest and people; Head, root, branches, eyes, shoulders, arms, tongues, hands, feet, all, all should have been torn up and mounted on high, to fall headlong, their carcases mangled, the sheep brained and burnt by an unheard-of kind of execution. In their wrath they digged down a wall, and in their anger would take away a whole nation as one man, Cursed be their anger for it was fierce, and their wrath for it was cruel; into their secrets let not the righteous enter, my soul be not thou joined with their Assemblies. How near was it come? even to the point of execution? the Children were at the birth; we had but the burning of a match to live; not a haires-breadth between us and this Death, these flames. How miraculously was the plot discovered rod? how opportunely were the traitors defeated? the wisdom of the King came from the inspiration of the Almighty; strange it is to consider, what English his Majesty did pick out of a dark and Enigmatical letter, going against all Grammatical construction; He that sits in Heaven, made their own hands and Pens to bewray all; so the Preacher, Curse not the King, Eccles. 10.20. no not in thy thought, for the fowl of the Heaven shall carry it; and that which hath wings shall declare the matter. If the Lord had not now been with us, Prov. 16.10. among us, for us, and put a word of Divination into the lips of our gracious Sovereign, we had all been long ere this as Sodom and Gomorrha. King, Prince, Noble, Peers, Prelates, judges, Gentry, Commons; Our peace, plenty, the Gospel of peace (the comfort of our lives, and the life of all our comforts) all had vanished into Ash-heapes. Thus am I fallen upon the Author of this Great Deliverance; who kept us in this fire, that the flame did not so much as kindle upon us. So literally are the words of this Prophecy fulfilled of this Church and State, who kept us? jehovah, saith my Text, jehovah saith this day; I will be with thee. The safety of the Church consists in the presence of the Lord. jehovah is that Cloud which gives light to the Israelites, Exod. 14.25. strikes terror into the Egyptians, and takes off the Wheels of their Chariots. jehovah is that Wall of fire that fenceth his elect, and consumes his enemies; the Lord is my Rock, my Fortress, so David. The name of the Lord is a strong Tower, Prov. 18.10. into which the righteous Nation shall enter, so Solomon. This Tower is invincible, this Bulwark impregnable; this Fortress is out of Gun-shot, and therefore cannot be battered; this Wall reacheth higher than the Heavens, and therefore cannot be scaled. The Lord is ever with his Church, what he speaks of the Temple, the type of the Church; Mat. 28.20. needs must it be verified of the Church, the truth of that type. 2 Chro. 7.16. I have chosen this place, that my name may be there for ever, and mine eyes, and my heart shall be there perpetually. There is he present and resident, and that not as a naked Spectator, to behold their miseries, but as a tender Father, as a mighty Saviour. As a tender Father, commiserating their distresses, caring the cares, grieving the griefs, and fearing the fears of his chosen; Isa. 63.9. In all their troubles he is troubled. When the foot was trod upon in earth, the Head cries from Heaven, Saul, Saul, Acts. 9.4. why persecutest thou me. He is present, secondly, as an Almighty powerful Saviour; is there any thing too hard for him? Is his arm shortened? Did not he wound Rahab? Smite the Dragon, overthrew the horse and his rider, make a path in the great Water, and allay the heat of the fire? He works with means, without means, against means, and doth what ever he will in heaven or earth Hath not he set bounds to the Sea, job. 38.11. though it rage and foam, here it must stay, thus fare it shall come, and no farther, here the proud waves must be broken. Hath not he Satan in a chain, job. 1. and all his instruments, that they cannot pluck a hair from the head of his servants, without his leave and licence? Use 1 Si Deus nobiscum, quis contra nos? Rom. 8.31. Behold now the safety, the security of the Church: if God be with us, who shall be against us? If God be with us, what need we fear what man can do unto us, men or Devils? No marvel if the Prophet command, fear not. He that is thus guided, thus guarded, how can he fear or faint? So the same Prophet, Isa. 51.12.13 Chap. 51. Vers. 12.13. I, even I am he that comfort thee, who art thou that thou shouldest be afraid of a man, and of the son of man, which shall be made as grass; and forgettest the Lord thy Maker, etc. jehovah hath undertaken to be the Lord Protector, or Lord-keeper of his Red vine. Isaiah. 27.3. I the Lord do watch over it by night and by day; He will defend it against secret treacheries, these are night-assaults; against open Hostilities, these are day-assaults. What though the Ramping Lion go about continually, 1 Pet. 5.8. seeking whom he may devour? Is not the Lion of the Tribe of judah as vigilant to defend, as Satan to assault? The destroyer of Israel never slumbreth nor sleepeth; no more doth the keeper of Israel, Psal. 121.4. he also never sleepeth, never slumbreth. Let their enemies be never so many, all nations to him are but as the dust of the Balance, Isa. 40.15. the drop of a Bucket, as nothing, less than naught. Let their enemies be never so mighty, he hath their hearts in his hand, can turn them as the Rivers of waters, and make our enemies at peace with us, jer. 33.4. changing their stabs into kisses: he hath their heads in his hand, and can infatuate the wiliest Herod, the craftiest Achitophel, turning their Counsels into folly; he hath their Hands and Horns in his hand, and can either bind them to their good behaviour, or knock out the Teeth of grators before they bite; let them dig dip, to hide their plots, the Lord will go beyond them; let them join hand to hand, they shall not prosper: Prov. 11.21. We may say it, we may swear it, we must believe it, we have had experience (never any Church more of the like) what it is to have such a Protector, whose power is unresistable, his will unchangeable, his skill unsearchable; whose Greatness is such, that he can do what he will; whose Goodness is such, that he will do what he can; and ever magnify both his Greatness and Goodness, in the protection of his Israel, and in the conversion or confusion of his enemies. Witness this day of days: on the morning of our fifth of November, they would have blown us up; on the evening of their fifth of November, God beat them down. Use 2 Is jehovah the Deliverer of his Israel? Why let God then have the Honour of his own work; not our wit, not our wealth, not our goodness, not our greatness, not our friends, not our Bulwarks, but the Lord only; it was the Lords doing, Psal. 118.23.24. let it ever be marvelous in our eyes: This is the Day which the Lord hath made, let us be glad and rejoice. Let the wicked Politician, the Machivilian Atheist sacrifice to their own nets. We will cry with that Kingly Prophet, Psal. 115.1. not unto us, not us o Lord, but unto thy Name, we give the glory. (Totum hoc quatumcunque sit quod certè miximum est, totum est tuum) the whole praise of so glorious a rescue, how great so ever it be, which indeed is exceeding great, is only due to jehovah. Let the King say it is the Lord that giveth great deliverances unto his David, Psal. 18. and showeth mercy to his anointed, and his seed for ever. Let the Great Peers and Princes say it is not our Arm that hath saved us, not our mighty strength, but the Strength of Israel jehovah. Let the House of Aaron say and sing praises, sing praises unto the Lord that hath done wisely, discovered our enemies, broken their snares, and we are escaped. Ps. 124.1.2.3. Let all England say if the Lord, had not been on our side, if the Lord had not been on our side, when men rose up against us, they had swallowed us up quick, when their wrath was kindled against us. Praise waiteth for thee O God in Zion, who is like our God who doth great and wondrous things. Honoured for ever be that Noble and Honourable Society (The High Court of Parliament) that to all ages hath set a Day apart, for the Honour of that God, who is the Protector of his Zion, the Detector the Destroyer of his and their implacable enemies: Go on still O Noble Senate, let King, Prince, Peers, Prelates, Commons, all conspire to honour the God of heaven by enacting such solemn Panagerickes to jehovah; and the God of honour will honour You, this Church, this State, your Posterity; the Generation to come, shall bless God for the deliverance of this Day; for the Record of this Deliverance, for this public gratulation upon Record. Blessed be that God which hath put it into the heart of that Great Assembly, with an unanimous and free consent to enact it for a Law in Israel, and an Ordinance in jacob for ever. If ever we forget this mercy, let our tongues cleave to the roof of our mouths, and our arms rot from our shoulders, Let all faithful, loyal, true hearted English Protestants, with one heart and voice cry, Amen, Amen. Finally, doth the security of the Church, State, all, lie in the presence of God? Where God is, there is no danger; as where he is nor, no safety; O keep him while we have him, drive him not from you, who is our Buckler, our shield, all in all unto us: keep him in his Word, in his sabboth's, in his Ordinances, and he will keep you. Would you know in a word, what drives the Lord from a land, a people, sin; nothing but sin can do it, and sin will do it; Isa. 59.2. your sins have separated between me and you; where sin is countenanced, maintained, multiplied, there is no Harbour for the Almighty. He is a God of purer eyes then to behold iniquity, what communion between God and Beliall, Hab. 1.13. 2 Cor. 6.14.15. light and darkness, Christ and Antichrist? Sin chases the Lord away, and leaves that person, that Nation naked, unfenced, exposed to the malice of men, to the fury of Satan, to the flames of hell. Every wilful sinner is a Traitor to God, his King, and Country, as well as to his own soul. Away with beloved darling sins: away with those wasting King-killing State-ruinating sins: Idolatry, contempt of God's word, worship, Sacraments, Sabbath, Ministers; scandalous enormous impieties, outfacing Authority; these if they should be found among us, will kindle a flame in our City, Country, a worse than Powder-flame, that shall burn to the bottom of hell. If we ourselves betray not our souls, our Church, our State, our Kingdom, in vain shall the Gates of Rome repine at the prosperity of England; if we pull not down our own walls with our own hands, no Engines of theirs shall ever batter them; if we do not open the sluices, and floodgates, the Inundations of that Romish Nilus, with her marish waters, shall never overflow our banks; If we carry not Flax, Tinder, Gunpowder, in our own bosoms, and strike not fire with our own fingers, their matches shall never take, their sparkles shall not burn, the flame shall not kindle upon us. For Gods-sake therefore, for your soules-sake, for your Countreys-sake; if you love your King, Country, peace, plenty, the Gospel of peace, your goods, friends, children, away with the toleration, dispensation of known, gross, scandalous, notorious, enormous Impieties; maintain a perpetual correspondence with your Heavenly Father; be in league with Heaven; delight to Honour him, his Name, Word, Worship, Sacraments, Sabbaths, Messengers, that he may delight to Watch over you; Serve him who saved us, and therefore saved us (that we being redeemed from the hands of our enemies, such subtle, cruel, barbarous, savage enemies) might serve him without fear all the days of our life, in holiness and righteousness before him. Blessed are the people, who are in such a case, who have the Lord for their God. FINIS.