MEROZ CURSE FOR NOT HELPING THE LORD Against the mighty.  
BEING The Substance of a SERMON, Preached on a day of Humiliation, at St. Sepulchers, LONDON, Decemb. 2. 1641.  
By that powerful and Godly Divine, m STEPHEN Martial.  
Published in one sheet of Paper, (not by the Author) but by a Lover of the Truth, for their good especially, that are not able to buy bigger books. Being a very seasonable Subject, wherein all that either out of policy or sloth, refuse to help the LORD, may see their danger; and they that are willing are called, and directions given to them, both what manner of persons they ought to be, and what they ought to do to help the Lord. Wherein also every true Christian may see, that though they be never so weak or poor, yet they may, and aught to help the Lord, and by what means.  
Ezekiel 13. 5. ye have not risen up in the gaps, neither made up the hedge for the house of Israel, to stand in the battle in the day of the Lord.  
LONDON, Printed in the year, 1641.   

MEROZ Curse.  Judg. 5. 23. Curse ye Meroz, said the Angel of the Lord, Curse the inhabitants thereof, because they came not to help the Lord, to help the Lord against the mighty. 
THis Verse contains a Curse against a whole City, and all in it, wherein we may consider these particulars:  
1. A duty that should have been performed, and that was, a coming out to the help of the Lord 
1.  against the mighty, the omission whereof was the cause of the Curse.  
2. The persons cursed and they were the inhabitants of Meroz. 
2.   
3. The commander of the Curse, The Angel of the Lord, to wit, Christ Jesus himself, who is the angel of the Covenant, and captain of the Lord's host.  
In the duty that should have been performed, we may consider, first, the parties they should have helped, the Lord: secondly, against whom they should have helped the Lord, and that is, against the mighty.  
In the persons cursed, we may consider, first, what the curse was; and that I do confess I cannot tell, whether it was fire or pestilence, but this is most certain, God's curse is the ruin of those people on whom it lights: secondly, we may consider what this city Meroz was, and for that, I shall tell you, I cannot find in the whole book of God this city mentioned once again, and therefore cannot certainly tell you where it was situated, only this we may certainly conclude, that it was near unto the place where the Lord's people were in danger of their enemies.  
I have begun this Text in another Congregation, I will therefore give you the brief heads of what I have elsewhere more largely delivered, and so come to that which remains.  
First, from the consideration of the parties against whom they should have holpen, the Lord, it is said they were mighty; whence we have observed this point.  
That the mighty ones of the earth do many times oppose the Lord.  
Secondly, from thence we have also observed: 
Doctr.   
That God's people should not be afraid to oppose the mighty, when the cause is the Lords. 
Doctr.   
Secondly, from the consideration of the parties whom they should 
2.  have holpen, they were the people of God, and yet the Lord calls it his own people, whence I observe:  
That to help God's people, is to help the Lord. 
Doctr.   
Thirdly, from the consideration of this nearness to the people of 
3.  God in regard of habitation I observed:  
That the nearer a people are to God's people in distress, the more is 
Doctr.  their help required, and the greater is their sin, if they do not help them: this I applied to ourselves, in regard of that case of Ireland.  
Fourthly, from the Consideration that the curse extends to all the inhabitants of the city, I observed: 
4.   
That there is neither man nor woman, but they may afford some 
Doctr.  help to God's people in distress, if they have grace in their hearts; thus far have I gone already and now the main point that I intend to insist upon at this time, is this.  
That they are all cursed that help not the Lord, that is, that help not the Lord's people in the time of their distress; for the proof of this 
Doctr.  point, observe but that reprehension of Moses, Numb. 32. 6. to the children of Gad and the children of Reuben, Shall your brethren, saith he, go to war, and ye tarry here? no by no means. And so our Saviour, in Mat. 25. 41. will say, go ye cursed into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry, and ye gave me no meat; I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink. But I will stand no longer on the proof of the point, but come unto the use of it, which I do principally intend to stand upon.  
And first of all, is it so, that they are all cursed that help not the Lord against the mighty? then surely they are cursed with a heavy curse, that 
use.  help the mighty against the Lord: but I hope there be few or none such in this Congregation, and I desire not to speak much to them that be absent; yet if any of you that hear me have any friends that are guilty of it, I pray you tell them what a fearful condition they are in, that set themselves against the Lord.  
But there are others, who are not so bad as to help the mighty against the Lord and yet not so good as to help the Lord ag●inst the mighty, but stand as neuters at such times when it is hard to say, whether the Lord or the mighty will prevail; and of these there are two sorts.  
The first sort do it out of policy, as now at this time, the Church of God in England, by reason of the mighty, hath been long under tyrannical 
●.  government, and the Lord, we hope is now at wars with them, why there are some politicians that stand looking on to see which side will prevail. And if the Lord should now reform this government, and so prevail, why then they would be on the Lord's side, but if the mighty should prevail, which the Lord forbid, than they would be on the mighties' side. But as Gideon said to the men of Succoth, when they refused to give morsels of bread to his people that followed after Zebab and Zalmunna, Kings of Midian, when the Lord hath delivered them into 
Iudg. 8. 7.  mine hand. I will tear your flesh with thorns of the wilderness, and with briers, so say I to such, if the Lord prevail against the enemies of his Church the Lord will make them smart, be sure of it, for that you will now afford him no help against them.  
The second sort are such as refuse to help the Lord, not so much out of policy as out of sloth and negligence, like unto the men of Jabesh Gilead, 
2.  that went not to war with their brethren against the Benjamites: but let such consider, what the Israelites did unto them, by reason of this their sloth and negligence, as you may read, Iudg. 21. 8. &c. to wit, how they fell upon them and destroyed them, because they came not up to Mizpeth to the Lord.  
The next use shall be for exhortation to you all, is it so, that they are 
use.  cursed that help not the Lord against the mighty? why then brethren, as you desire to be freed from this curse, and to obtain a blessing at the Lord's hands, be exhorted to put forth your hands now to the help of the Lord, I pray you look on me as on one that cometh amongst you this day to beat a drum in your ears, to see who will come out to follow the lamb. Now then beloved, so many of you as are willing, come, and I will give you direction what to do, that you may all of you afford some help to the Lord at this time.  
And first let me tell you, that the Lord doth not require your help so much for any need he hath of it, as for to honour you thereby; for beloved, you are to know, that it is an honour to help the Lord, the Lord, as I may say, scorns to have help from every one, no, you must be fitly qualified before you be meet to help the Lord, and that with these three things.  
First you must be godly, or else you are unfit to be helpers of the Lord; 
1.  the lamb's followers must be such as are chosen and called, and faithful they must be holy men, and holy women; therefore, you that are ungodly persons, believe it, you are not called to this help of the Lord.  
Secondly, you must be self-denying persons, you must deny your 
2.  own profit your own ease, your own friends, yea and all that you call your own; the Apostle Paul writing to the Philippians, saith, he hath no man like minded to Timotheus, and in the next verse he gives the reason, saying, for all seek their own, and not the things of Jesus Christ 
Phil. 2. 20. 21. Ruth 1. 16  therefore I say, you can never be fit to help the Lord, until you put off all that is your own, and say to Christ, as Ruth said unto Naomi; Whither thou goest I will go, and where thou dwellest I will dwell, thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God.  
Thirdly, you must be such persons as have a love to the Church; for 
3.  beloved, you shall meet with so many rubs in the way, so many discouragements to flesh and blood, that if you have not a great love to the cause of Christ, you will be subject to turn back from the Lord's cause when there is most need of your help, therefore, alluding to that of the Apostle, 1 Cor. 13. I say unto you, the most excellent way is love, it is that which constitutes a man to be a meet follower of Christ; you know it is said of Jacob, Gen. 29. 20. that the seven years he served for Rachel, seemed unto him but a few days, because he loved her; even so brethren, if you get a love to Christ and his Church, you will willingly help the Lord, though you meet with some difficulties, therefore never rest, until thou hast so much love, as to say, as I remember a godly Minister said, I praise God, I am not troubled at any cross, but at the afflictions of God's Church, nor I care for no welfare so much, as for the welfare of Christ Church.  
But it may be some will say, O Sir, but how should I do to get such 〈…〉 the Church of Christ? 
Quest.   
〈…〉 ●●nsider how dearly Christ hath loved it, that he hath given 〈…〉 it. 
Answ.   
〈◊〉 consider that he hath left his Church here amongst us, and 〈…〉 distress, to try our love to it. 
2.   
〈…〉 ●●nsider, that if thou be a member of it, than all the rest 
3.  〈…〉 thee, even thy brethren and sisters.  
But 〈…〉 be willing to help the Church to my power, what direction 〈…〉 
Quest.  〈◊〉 give me that I may put forth that power which I have?  
First 〈…〉 godly Nehemiah, Daniel, and old Eli did, that is, inquire 
Answ.  diligently what the state of the Church is, and let me tell you, brethren, I am persuaded that it is a great fault of many of us here in England, that we do not perform this duty as we ought, wherefore be exhorted to labour at this time to find out the state of God's Church, both in England and in 〈◊〉.  
Secondly, when thou hast sound out the state of the Church, and so consequently what it wanteth, than in the next place, consider what 
2.  thou hast in thine hands to supply the want thereof: thou must observe this rule, that whatsoever good God hath put into thine hands, thou art but a Steward of it, and thou art to employ it for the good of God's Church; all God's people have an interest in that talon that God hath committed to thy employment.  
Now, there is one talon which I am sure every child of God that is effectually called hath, though they be never so poor, and that is the talon of prayer; for indeed, it is the surest evidence to witness unto them, that the spirit of Christ is in them, when they can cry Abba Father: according to the laws of our kingdom, a child cannot be proved to be borne alive, except there be witness that it was heard to cry; even so we say in Divinity, that every one that hath the new birth can cry to God his Father in prayer; so that I say, every child of God hath this talon of prayer.  
And this talon the Lord requires they should use and employ for the good of his Church and people, according to that Scripture, Pray for the peace of Jerusalem, and that in isaiah 62. Ye that are the Lord's remembrancers, give him no rest, till he set up Jerusalem, the praise of the world; and beloved, let me tell you, the exercise of this talon of prayer, is charged upon all ranks and conditions of men, for that the exercise of no other talon can do any good without this, neither the governing of the Magistrate, nor preaching of the Minister, nor fighting of the soldier, nor the contribution of the rich man, will do any good without prayer, it is prayer that brings a blessing down upon all; yea, the exercise of this talon of prayer many times doth more good than all the rest. A praying Christian (let me speak it with holy reverence) can do all that God can do, and therefore, in 1 King. 8. Solomon reckoneth up all the hard conditions that the Church of God can fall into, and always concludes, then hear thou in heaven, &c. and then God answers, I have heard thy prayers and supplications that thou hast made before me; with this talon of prayer the servants of God have overcome God, and held his hands, in so much that the Lord, if I may so speak, hath been glad to entreat them and command them to hold their tongues, and let him alone. Beloved, as God only can remove the church's troubles, so prayer only can prevail with God to do it; it is prayer that bringeth all God's promises into performances; there is not any part of the world, but a Christian can reach it by prayer; there is not a blessing in heaven, but prayer can fetch it down; prayer can knock down enemies; when Moses held up his hands, Israel prevailed; David by prayer choked Achitophel; Hester 
Exod. 17. 11  and her people by prayer hanged Haman. So that I may say of prayer, as the Author to the Hebrews saith of the faith of those worthies there mentioned, the time would be too short, to reckon up all that a Christian can do by prayer.  
And yet alas, I fear me, there are some Christians who have grace in their hearts, that have not employed this their talon for the good of God's Church, whose conscience will witness unto them that they have not spent an hour in their closets, in exercising this talon for the good of God's Church: O, be humbled this day, for this your selfe-love, and want of love to God's Church. And I am persuaded, that the want of this hath been the cause that the enemies prevail so in Ireland at this time, and that things go on so heavily at Parliament here at home.  
Wherefore you that fear God, I beseech you be humbled for your omission of this duty; and be exhorted to set upon the practice of it, O pray, pray for the Parliament, O pray, pray for Ireland, and call upon others to pray; there is no man so mean in his estate, or weak in his body, but if he be a Christian, he may contribute something towards this great work, though he be not able to lend a penny, yet he may give a subsidy of prayers. Beloved, if all Christians would exercise this talon aright, their prayers would be as a thundering Army against the enemies of God's Church.  
But how shall I do to exercise this talon aright? 
Quest.   

Answ.  First be sure that prayer be prayer, let it not only be in speech, but pour out thy desires before God; and to this end, get a heart truly affected with the thing thou prayest for.  
Labour to get an humble and self-denying spirit, remember Abraham, when he came before the Lord in prayer, confessed he was but dust 
2. Gen. 18. 17.  and ashes, and Icob; when he came before the Lord in prayer confessed himself unworthy of the least of all God's mercies; and David cries out, hear me O Lord, for I am peore. 
Gen. 32. 10.   
Always when thou goest to prayer, be sure to carry thy Mediator along with thee, by faith in the promises, and beg earnestly for the 
3.  Lord's sake, as Daniel did, that so thy prayers may be fervent; O beloved Christians, if you would pray, and pray thus, you would be the 
Dan. 9 17.  most useful people in all the world, yea, you would be the very props to these united kingdoms; mark it than you men of the world, you sons of Belial, that have been wont to scoff at praying Christians, and to wish them all packed hence, and at new England, alas, you know not what an evil you wish unto yourselves therein, if they were gone, woe be to you.  
And thus much shall suffice to have been spoken of the talon of prayer; in the next place what outward abilities soever thou hast, thou must also employ for the good of God's Church; for he that is a rich man, if he pray and hold his purse, he cannot expect that his prayers should be available.  
Wherefore, if God have given thee both grace and money, I do in the name of God beseech thee, to employ both for the good of God's Church and people, else it is to be feared, it may be as truly said to thee, as the poor man said to the Bishop, who asking him a penny for Christ his sake, the Bishop answered, I will not give thee a penny, but I will give thee my blessing; the poor man answered, ah Master, if you loved your blessing as well as your penny, you would not give me that neither. Wherefore then to conclude, whatsoever God hath given thee that may do the Church good, be willing to part with it for the Churches good.  
FINIS.