THE BRAND plucked out of the FIRE. A Sermon Preached before the Lord Major, Aldermen, and Companies of London, On Novemb. 5. at Paul's. By EDWARD REYNOLDS, D. D. LONDON, Printed by Tho. Ratcliff, for George Thomason, at the Rose and Crown in St. Paul's churchyard, 1659. Amplissimis, Praestantissimis, Consultissimis Viris D. THO. ALEYN Honoratissimo Domino Praefecto, MAGISTRATIBUS UNIVERSIS, TOTIQUE SENATUI Celeberrimae Florentissimaeque Civitatis LONDINENSIS, Concionem hanc coram ipsis habitam Ipsorumque jussu publici Juris factam, In Honoris & debitae observantiae. TESTIMONIUM, D. D. E. R. Zach. 3. 1, 2. And he showed me Joshua the high Priest, standing before the Angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him. And the Lord said unto Satan, The Lord rebuke thee, O Satan, even the Lord that hath chosen Jerusalem, rebuke thee. Is not this a brand plucked out of the fire? THis Chapter is a Collection of comforts for the Church; comforts present in the type, Joshua the Brand; comforts promised in the substance, Jesus the Branch. Comforts to Joshua, the comfort of protection against adversaries, ver. 1, 2. The comfort of Honouring and adorning him for his ministry and Office, ver. 4, 5. The comfort of Remuneration for his fidelity, ver. 6, 7. The words of the Text are a promise of protection, revealed by the Angel, published by the Prophet, two excellent witnesses to a promise. And indeed we seldom find the Church in affliction, but we find an Angel with them. With Israel, when Pharaoh and his Host pursued them, when they were Exod. 14. 19 Judg. 6. 11. in the hands of the Midianites; when they were in the hand of the Philistines; when Judg. 33. 3. they were in Babylon in the bottom amongst Zach. 1. 8, 11. the myrtle trees, with the three children in the furnace; with Daniel in the lion's Dan. 3. 28. Dan. 6. 22. Acts 27. 13. 2 Reg. 6. 17. Gen. 19 1. den; with Paul in the shipwreck; with Elisha when beset with an Army at Dothan; with Lot in the midst of Sodom; the Angel of the Lord is round about those that fear him to deliver them, Psal. 34. 7. He showed me Joshua] Israel returned but from two Captivities, from Egypt and from Babylon, and in both we find a Joshua employed, one to possess them of Canaan, another to re-edify the Temple. It was not without a great mystery, to note unto us that there is no deliverance without a Jesus: no Name but that under heaven by which we can be saved, Act. 4. 12. He alone delivered us from the wrath to come, 1 Thes. 1. 10. Joshua the highpriest] He is seldom mentioned alone without Zerubbabel, as Ezra 3. 2, 8. 4. 3. 5. 2. Nehem. 12. 1. Hag. 1. 1, 12, 14. Hag. 2. 2, 4. As in their return out of Egypt they were led by Moses and Aaron, Psal. 77. 20. so in their return out of Babylon they were led by Zerubbabel and Joshua, and being returned, these two were to engage themselves in the work of building the Temple, Ezra 5. 2. And indeed templework doth never go prosperously on, but when the Ministry of the Priest is backed and encouraged with the authority of the Magistrate. As it was by Nehemiah, Hezekiah, and other good Princes. And therefore they are enemies to the building of God's house, who go about to persuade the Magistrate that he hath nothing to do with matters of Religion, that it belongs not either to his power or duty, to take care that purity of truth and worship be preserved within his territores: of whom notwithstanding it is prophesied, that they should be nursing Fathers to the Church, Isa. 49. 23. and truly they are none of the best Nurses, that suffer their children to have poison as freely offered them, as milk or wholesome meat. There is something in it, that we find Joshua here alone. Satan would do mischief to any one whom God honours and employs. But his notable malice is against Religion, and the building of the Temple. If there be any more special instrument of that then other, him in special manner he opposeth; the more spiritual the service, the more resisted by the Devil. The true Jesus, whereof our Joshuah was a type, was no sooner called by God to build his house (for so it was said of him that he should do, Zach. 6. 13.) but we find him assaulted by the Tempter, Mat. 4. 1. Of all works this is the work which Satan most desires to oppose, as the Apostle intimates, 1 Thes. 2. 18. Standing] Both Tanquam Servus, and Tanquam Reus. 1. As a servant to Minister unto the Angel. So much the word standing frequently importeth attending upon a Ministry, Deut. 10. 8. 17. 12. 1 King. 17. 1. Heb. 10. 11. whereby is noted, 1. Reverence to the Lord whom he served. 2. readiness to receive his commands. 2. As a Defendant, who being accused stands up to answer for himself; the Judge fate, and the people stood, Exod. 18. 13. Actor and Reus were wont to stand together before the Judge. Who will contend with me? Let us stand together, Isa. 50. 8. to intimate possibly in either the confidence of a just cause; therefore it is said of the ungodly, that they shall not stand in judgement, Psal. 1. 5. Joshua was in filthy garments, yet God employed him, and Satan accused him. How low soever our condition be, God thinks not scorn to use us in his service; Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings he hath ordained praise: He will be served as well in rags as in robes. And how low soever our condition be, Satan would have us lower, from robes to rags, from rags to nakedness. His malice is like hell, without any bottom. The truth is, it is not robes or rags that trouble him, but that whether in the one or the other, we do any way stand before the Lord, and minister unto him. Before the angel of the Lord] namely, the Angel of God's presence, Isa. 63. 9 the Angel of the Covenant, Mal. 3. 1. He is the Lord of the House, and Joshua his servant, Heb. 3. 6. Mat. 24. 45. He is the Judge over the House, Acts 10. 42. and Joshua his Subject. And in both capacities he stands before him, to execute the commands of his Lord, to answer the accusations of his adversary. And Satan standing at his right hand] the right hand seems to have been the place of the Accuser, Psal. 109. 6, 7. And it is the Hand of Action. A wise man's heart is at his right hand, Eccles. 10. 2. he doth what he doth heartily as to the Lord. Satan hopes, if he speed not at accusing, he shall at resisting, that he shall prevail either as an Adversary or a Tempter. But here is Joshua's comfort, though Satan be at his right hand to tempt, God also is at his right hand to support him, Psal. 16. 8. He an Accuser at our right hand, and Christ an Advocate at God's right hand, 1 Joh. 2▪ 1, 2. To Resist him] or to accuse him. To Resist him in his Ministry, to accuse him for his failings. What these failings were we may guess by the story. 1. He ministered not in the priest's robes, but in filthy garments, v. 3. 2. He delayed the building of the Temple, till pressed thereunto by the Prophets, Ezra 5. 1. 3. His sons were, some of them, defiled with strange wives, Ezra 10. 18. What a white devil have we here? Satan transforming himself into an Angel of Light, zealous for God's worship, which is the thing that he chiefly maligneth. Even the haters of Religion will pretend zeal for it, so they may do it mischief, and when they rejoice at the failings of good men, will yet seem greatly offended for them. They did so here; they would fain have had an hand in building the Temple, the building whereof they most earnestly maligned, Ezra 4. 1, 2. Dalila will take Samson on her knee to cut off his hair. Judas will kiss his Master that he may betray him. Christ's enemies will court him that they may entrap him, Mat. 22. 16. and Paul's enemies will preach Christ to add affliction unto him, Phil. 1. 16. we find Satan one while tempting Christ, another while confessing him, denying him in the Pharisee, John 7. 52. acknowledging him in the man possessed, Mark 1. 24. (but with a mischievous purpose in both, as if it were Learning to deny him, as if it were madness to confess him,) one while leading him to the Temple▪ another while showing the World. He hath Temple temptations, and secular temptations, it is all one to him, the serpent's skill or Samuel's mantle, so he may either way be doing mischief. And the Lord said unto Satan] The Lord Christ, the angel before whom Joshua stood, the mediator and Intercessor for his servant. The Lord rebuke thee O Satan] restrain thy pride; silence and muzzle up thy mouth, cast out thy Bill of complaint, throw thee over the bar, that thou mayest not rise against his servant any more. And if thou be still clamouring, than once again. The Lord that hath chosen Jerusalem, rebuke thee] Must God's holy Tribunal be still troubled with the obstreperous malice of a common Barrater? canst thou hinder the Adoption, or alter the immurable Election of God? we see hereby the Rage of Satan, he never gives over accusing till God silence him. And we see the Love of God, be Satan never so clamorous, God never gratifies him with an hearing, but answers all his accusations with his own free love, and gratuitous Election. The Lord that hath chosen Jerusalem, rebuke thee. Is not this a Brand plucked out of the Fire?] Hath he not suffered enough already, except he be quite burnt up? have I begun to deliver him, and shall I not perfect it? did I bring him out of the furnace of Babylon sore against thy will, that I might gratify thy malice in destroying him here? Can I be weary in showing mercy, when thou art unwearied in doing mischief? I have delivered him to build my Temple, and to set up my worship, and the mercy begun, I will finish maugre all thy malice. The words contain a Vision of a special mercy to Joshua, set forth in the manner of a juridical process. Wherein we have 1. Joshua his Ministry and defence. He stood tanquam Servus. Reus. 2. The adversary, Satan and his work against Joshua to Resist. Accuse. 3. The Advocate. The Lord. 4. The victory over Satan, The Lord rebuke thee. 5. The foundation thereof, God's Election of Jerusalem, and his compassion to Joshua. He showed me Joshua] That which the Prophet The Vision. saw was only in a Vision and Representation, not really and in effect: for where was the Priest to minister but in the Temple and at the Altar? and these things were yet but in consultation, nothing finished; yet in a Vision the Prophet seeth it all done. With God, promises and threatenings give a kind of being unto things before they are produced. 1. They exist in decreto Dei; in God's decree, and so are known only to himself, Acts 15. 18. 2. They exist in verbo, in the word; and so are known only to faith, which is {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman}, the very present subsistence of things which to hope are but future▪ Heb. 11. 1. 3. They exist really in opere & effectu▪ in the work done, visible to the sense of all beholders▪ and so wicked men know the works of God in execution which they knew not in denunciation, as our Saviour tells us, Matth. 24. 38, 39 though Noah had threatened the deluge, yet they knew not until the stood came and took them all away: When there was no Temple the Prophet sees Joshua ministering: When Ahab was not yet gone to Ramoth Gilead, the Prophet saw all Israel scattered, 1 Kings 22. 17. when there was no natural strength. Abraham saw Sarah conceiving, Rom. 4. 19, 20, 21. Whatever the faith of a Prophet can fee in a vision, the faith of a believer can see in a promise. When therefore we have God's promise, how cross soever it may appear to sense or reason, we should with David encourage ourselves in the Lord our God, 1 Sam. 30. 6. and rest upon his name, I AM, who calleth the things which are not, as if they were. He that gave Being to the world out of nothing to make good his decree of Creation, can give unto any man comfort out of nothing, to make good a promise of mercy and deliverance. He can command his loving kindness, Psal. 42. 8. He can create peace, Isa. 57 19 when all second causes, Vines, Olives, figtrees, Fields, Herds, Stalls, do wholly miscarry, we may rejoice in God, and glory in his salvation, Habak. 3. 17, 18. when our flesh and our heart fails, we have him for our strength and for our portion still, psalm 73. 26. We live in failing times, we have found men of low degree Vanity, and men of Job 8. 15. high degree a lie; we have leaned on our 2 Reg. 18. 21. house, but it did not stand; we have leaned Ezek. 29. 6. on our staff, and it hath gone into our hand. We trusted too much in Parliaments and they have been broken; in Princes, and they have given up the ghost, net vitia nec remedia ferre possumus, we have been afflicted both with our diseases and with our remedies, fear, and the pit, and the snare Isa. 24. 17. have been upon us, we have been changed Jer. 4●. 11. from vessel to vessel, and we break every vessel we are put into; our ships have been broken, our trade broken, our estates broken, our Government broken, our Hopes broken, our Church broken, nothing but our hearts and our fins unbroken. A sad Hos. 14. 3. thing, that a people will be quite fatherless, before they will think of going to God; that they will have their way hedged up with Hos. 2. 6, 7. thorns, before they will resolve to return to their first husband; that they will be Luke 15. 16, 17, 18. brought to husks, before they will come to themselves, and go to their father; that they will be brought to such extremities, as not 2 Chron. 20. 12 to know what to do, before they will have their eyes upon the Lord. Well, it hath been our sin and our folly, to trust in broken reeds, in dying and perishing comforts; Isa. 36. 6. let it at last, before the Epha be sealed, before Zach. 5. 8. the decree bring forth, be our wisdom, and our faith to trust in the living God. Zeph. 2. 2. And by repentance and humiliation to remove our sins from between God and us, and then no other impossibilities can obstruct the passage of mercy unto us; nothing can any more hinder the fulfilling of an evangelical promise, then of a prophetical Vision. Well, whether in a vision or really, he saw Joshua standing. And he stood, Joshua standing as a servant 1. Tanquam servus, to minister before the Lord. Whereby we learn, 1. That as the Ministers of the Lord have their mission from him, Rom. 10. 15. Heb. 5. 4. so they ought to receive Instructions from him, to do all in his Temple according to the pattern he gives them, 1 Cor. 28. 11. Heb. 8. 5. to speak nothing but according to his prescript and direction, His Words, Ezek. 2. 7. His Counsel, Act. 20. 27. what they have received in command from him, 1 Cor. 11. 23. A servant is {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman}, A living Instrument, & Aristot. politic. lib. 1. cap. 4. Instruments must be led by the guidance of the principal cause. Semper agat ne rogat, nec nisi jussus agit. Woe be unto us, if we Depositum Custodi, quod tibi creditum est, no● quod a tè inven●um, quod accepisti non quod excogitasti, rem non ingenii sed doctrinae. Vincent. Lyrinensis. Acts 4. 20. speak any thing in God's Name, which he hath not commanded us, Deuter. 18. 20. 2. Having received Instructions, they ought with all Reverence and readiness to obey them. We cannot but speak the things which we have heard and seen, no dignity, no excellency is a supersedeas to duty. Joshua, and other Priests; Paul, and other Elders; Angels, and other Ministers are all fellow labourers in the service of Christ; Zachary 3. 8. Colos. 4. 11. Revelations 19 10. 3. That they are always in the eye of God, to Counsel them in their duties, to search them in their performances, to hear them in their Petitions, to tender them in their sufferings, to protect them in their fears and dangers. The anointed ones do ever stand before the Lord, Zach. 4. 14. And since they do so, 1. They must learn to walk fearfully and humbly, to discharge their Ministry heartily as to the Lord, to consider the weight of their Pastoral Office, as men that must give an account, Heb. 13. 17. 2. The people must learn to pray for them. Their duties are many, their Temptations many, their Enemies many, their Infirmities many, their Discouragements many, the Infamies, Contempts, Reproaches poured out upon them, the devilish Machinations and contrivances against them, many, more than many: and therefore they have the more right unto, the greater need of the people's prayers. When enemies threatened, than the Church prayed, Lord behold their threatenings, and grant unto thy servants that with all boldness they may speak thy word, Acts 4. 29. When the Apostle knew he should meet with enemies at Judea, than he earnestly besought the Church to pray for him, Rom. 15. 30, 31. when he was an ambassador in bonds than he moves the Church to pray that he might open his mouth boldly, Ephes. 6. 19, 20. Thus he stood in a posture of service. II. Tanquam Re●s. As one accused, to As a defendant. answer for himself and others. The sins of the age than were general, 1. Neglect of building the Temple, Hag. 1. 2. 2. Marrying strange wives, Ezra 9 1, 2. Ezra 10. 13. yet Satan bringeth his accusation against the Priest only, who was to warn the people, Ezek. 33. 8. his plot was against Israel, but his practice was upon David, to number the people, 1 Chron. 21. 1. If he can overthrow public persons, cast down a Joshua, blow up a Parliament, make contemptible, and insignificant the great Officers in Church or State, the rest he hopes to have presently in his power, {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman}. Cut the Tree up by the roots, and you may easily land off all the Branches. Thus we find him sifting of Peter, and hindering of Paul, Luke 22. 31. 1 Thes. 2. 18. Therefore in the Law as great a sacrifice was required for the Priest, as for all the people, Lev. 4. 3, 13, 14. Their sin is of a diffusive nature, from them profaneness goes into all the Land, Jer. 23. 15. They are the snare of a fowler, by which others are entrapped, Hos. 9 8. the sin of him that hath knowledge emboldeneth others, 1 Cor. 8. 10. the Priests sin brought contempt upon the very offerings of the Lord, 1 Sam. 2. 17. And therefore all public persons, Magistrates and Ministers, should be so much the more vigilant over themselves, by how much the more Satan is busy both to tempt and to accuse them. Plutarch hath written a Book of profiting by Enemies. Certainly next unto this, that they stand before the Lord, and have his eye over them, there can hardly be a more profitable consideration for men in office, then to remember that Satan is at their right hand, to tempt, to accuse, to observe and to resist them. They say those Roses are sweetest which have stinking weeds grow near them; the nearer we know that Satan is to us, the more holy and pure should our lives be. We have seen Joshua standing; Let us Satan standing. now see Satan standing, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him, to accuse him▪ If we do our duty, Satan is at our right hand to hinder us: If we do not our duty▪ Satan is at our right hand to implead us. Whether we be conscionable, or whether we be careless, he will have some design upon us, something to do against us. 1. He withstands us as a Tempter▪ No As a Tempter. sooner was Christ called out to his Office and Ministry, but Satan presently sets upon him to tempt him, Mat. 4. 1. and usually the more work the more temptation. He stands at the working hand. And the more public the work, the more sharp and eager the temptation. None more exposed to Satan's opposition than a Zerubbabel and a Joshua, a conscionable Magistrate and a zealous Minister. When Magistrary and Ministry are most opposed, we may conclude Satan is most busy. Their office is most against his kingdom▪ and therefore his malice is most against their function. 2. He opposeth us as an Accuser, Rev. As an Accuser. 12. 10. As the young man said unto Joab, If I should have done as thou sayest, thou thyself wouldst have set thyself against me, 2 Sam. 18. 13. Is most true of Satan, Impii diabolum habent primo suggestorem, dei● tortorem, Cyprian de Jejunio & Tentat. if he can by any means tempt us into sin, he will be the first to accuse us of it. But how did Satan resist Joshua? no other way that we know of but by stirring up the Samaritans to hinder the building of the Temple, by hiring Counsellors, writing accusations, and procuring an Edict against them, which they hastily put in execution, Ezra 4. 5, 6, 23. Satan as the general and chief captain useth wicked men as his drudges and instruments in all his oppositions against the Church. All the world are under two Heads, in their peaceable capacity, Una civitas & una Civitas, Babylonia una, Hierusalem una; illa R●ge diabolo, ista Rege Christo, &c. Ang ii Psal. 61. under two Princes, holy men, under Christ the King of Saints, and wicked men under Satan the Prince of this world, that worketh effectually in the children of disobedience, Ephes. 2. 2. and in their military capacity, holy men under Christ the Captain of our salvation, Heb. 2. 10. and wicked Rev. 15. 3, 17▪ 14, 19, 16. Joh. 12. 31. ●oh. 5. 14, 15. Heb. 2. 10. Rev. 12. 7. men under Satan, the great Dragon, who are taken by him at his will, 2 Tim. 2. 26. And therefore, 1. Believers must accordingly arm themselves with the whole Armour of God, Subsicuturis testationibus munimenta praestruimus, Tert. de Baptismo, c. 20. vid. Aug. Epist. 148. when they give their name to Christ, and provide for sharp troubles from principalities and powers, especially the Ministers of Christ in the service of his Church: No life more comfortable, more honourable but a warfare belongs unto in. The weapons of our warfare, saith the Apostle, are mighty through God, 2 Cor. 10. 5. and endure hardness, saith he to Timothy▪ as a good soldier of Jesus Christ, 2 Tim. 2. 3. Every good Sermon storms some or other strong hold of Satan, and mortifies, at least aimeth at mortifying some one or other lust that is subservient unto his kingdom. There will be continual Temptations, we must labour and pray for Grace to overcome them. And there will be continual Accusations, we must labour and pray for Faith to answer them. 2. Wicked men may see in opposing Joshua▪ in building the Temple, in withstanding the Ministers, and work of Christ in his Church, what Master they serve, and whose interest they: promote. They are but vassals of Satan, acted by the s●me principles of enmity and malignity which are in him. He that committeth sin, is of the Devil, 1 John 3. 8. And whereas men may be of the Devil two manner of ways, 1. Per modum servitutis, as obeying his commands. 12. Pen modum imaginis, as resembling his disposition: opposing of the work of Christ in his Church, is of this last and worst kind, wherein men show themselves not his Servants only but his Children. As when Elymas the Sorcerer withstood Paul, and would have turned the Deputy from the faith, the Apostle thereupon called him the child of the Devil, Acts 13. 10. Whoever sow tares in the Lord's field, do the work of him who is the Lord's enemy, Matth. 13. 25. O how many workmen hath Satan amongst us at this time! when the Lords' husbandmen are so decried, and mischievous doctrines so boldly and with open face published▪ The Lord grant that we may not be so long smitten with blindness, till we be led even into Samaria. But here is the church's comfort, That The Advocate for Joshua, and his victory over Satan. there is a Lord our Advocate with the Lord. As the Lord said to the Lord, sit at thy right hand, psalm 110. 1. So here the Lord saith to the Lord, Lord rebuke Satan. The Lord sent Christ the Lord to conquer Satan, and Christ the Lord prays unto the Lord to rebuke Satan. 1. When Satan is the church's Accuser, Christ is the church's Advocate, we have an Advocate with the Father; Jesus Christ the Righteous, 1 John 2. 1, 2. When Satan is an Adversary to resist, Christ is a captain to defend, Heb. 2. 10. He was for this purpose manifested, that he might destroy the works of the Devil, 1 Joh. 3. 8. And he hath destroyed Satan three manner of ways, 1. Per viam sapientiae, he hath outwitted Satan, and made his own devices to return upon his own head. By malice Satan brought Christ to his cross, and on that cross Christ spoiled principalities and powers, and triumphed over Satan, Col. 2. 15. He swallowed the bait of his humanity, and was caught by the hook of his Divinity▪ 2. Per viam potentiae, in a way of war and combat, being stronger than the strong man, he overcomes him, takes from him his armour, divides the spoils, Luke 11. 21, 22. makes his people set their feet upon the neck of {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman}.— Homer Iliad. Satan, as Joshua did call the captains of Israel to tread on the necks of the Kings of Canaan, John 10. 24. He vanquished him in a single combat of temptation himself, so that Satan was fain to leave the field, Matth. 4. 11. and he vanquished him in his war against the Church, so that he and his Angels are cast out, Rev. 12. 9 3. Per viam judicii, in a way of juridical process, He bringeth Satan to his Tribunal, as Prince of Peace, as Judge of the world, makes him accountable for all his Temptations, for all his persecutions, for all his Usurpations and Tyrannies over the souls of men, pronounceth Judgement upon him, and casts him out, and casts out all his accusations against the Brethren, John 12. 31. 16. 11. Rev. 12. 10. This is a ground of great Comfort, though Christ suffer Satan to tempt and to oppugn his Church, to put out his venom, and power, and policy against it, yet he will still be a wall of fire round about it. If Satan go to and fro to devour, Job 1. 7. Christ hath his Angels going to and fro to protect, Zach. 1. 11. If Satan have four Horns to scatter the Church, Christ hath as many Carpenters to fray them away, Zach. 1. 18, 21. What ever poison there is in Satan, there is an Antidote in Christ against it. He a Destroyer, Christ a Saviour; He a Tempter, Christ a Comforter; He an Enemy, Christ a Captain; He an Accuser, Christ an Advocate; He a Prince and God of this world, Christ a King of Saints and Lord of Glory. Three names Satan hath given him from his three most active Principles, A Serpent for his Cunning, Gen. 3. 1. A Lion for his Strength, 1 Pet. 5. 8. And a Dragon for his Malice, Rev. 20. 2. And Christ hath a name which meets with every one of these, A Counsellor, no subtlety of the Serpent can deceive him: A mighty God, no strength of Isa. 9 6. the Lion can overcome him: An everlasting Father, no malice of the Dragon can outact him, and he is wonderful in All these, ordering and improving his wisdom, his Power and his Love unto the peace▪ of his people against whom Satan warreth. II. And further we may here note, That when Satan accuseth, Joshua doth not stand upon his defence, nor plead his own cause, but he answers by his Counsel, his Advocate pleads for him. When we are tempted and assaulted by Satan, we must put off our Adversary to Christ. If we go against him in our own strength, he will certainly be too hard for us. Paul was buffeted by a Messenger of Satan; he doth not buffet Satan again, but cries to the Lord to help him, 2 Cor. 12. 7, 8. No name to oppose to the Accusations and fiery Darts of Satan, but the name of Christ. We know not what to do against Principalities and Powers, but our eyes are upon him. Satan brings in his Charge to condemn; What's the Rom. 8. 33. Answer? Christ died, Christ is risen, Christ is at the right hand of God, Christ is our 1 John 2. 1. Advocate with the Father, Christ hath a plenitude and sufficiency of Grace, Christ 2 Cor. 12. 9 can save to the utter most those that come unto Heb. 7. 25. Luke 11. 21. God by him, Christ is stronger than the strong man, Christ hath exceeding abundant 1 Tim. 1. 14. grace to save the chief of sinners, Christ Psal. 68 18. ascended up on high and gave gifts unto men, even unto the rebellious: If God will not hear the blood of his Son, if Christ will not hear the cry of his servant, if Satan can out-bawl the Intercession of Christ, if Satan can pluck Christ from the right hand of his Father, or can pluck away the compassions of Christ out of his bowels, then, never till then, shall penitent sinners that trust him with their souls and salvation, be cast in their suit, and be put to shame. We see by what weapons Satan is to be overcome; not by human counsel or power, but by the Increpation of God, and by the Intercession of Christ; He only is able to succour those that are tempted, Heb. 2. 18. In his name alone we must go out against this Goliath. Though Satan be trod down under our feet, yet it is the Lord alone that doth tread him down, Romans, 16. 20. Stand before him, Appeal to him, Implore his Rebuke, and you are safe. One thing more the Apostle Jude teacheth us from this Increpet, Not to despise Dominion, not to speak evil of Dignities, since Michael the archangel contending with the devil, durst not bring against him a railing Accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee, Jude v▪ 8, 9 This as it is severely forbidden by God, Thou shalt not revile the gods, nor curse the Ruler of thy people, Exod. 22. 28. So is it noted by the Apostle as an evidence of walking after the flesh, of Uncleanness, Presumption▪ Self-willedness, to despise Government, and not to be afraid to speak evil of dignities, 2 Pet. 2. 10, 11. How careful were the Apostles in their days to caution Christians against this sin, Let every soul be subject to the higher powers, they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation; ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but but also for Conscience-sake, Rom. 13. 1, 2, 5. Put them in mind to be subject to Principalities and Powers, to obey Magistrates, Tit. 3. 1. Inculcate it upon them, they are apt enough through Pride and Arrogance to forget it. Submit your sel●es to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, to Kings, to Governors; use not your Liberty for a cloak of maliciousness, but as the servants of God, 1 Pet. 2. 13, 16. And yet the Princes in whose time they wrote, were Monsters of men for wickedness. Christian Religion doth ratify and bear up, it doth not despise or destroy Magistracy, but owneth it to be of God, as his Ordinance and Institution, By whom King's reign who putteth his name, and an impress of sacred Authority upon them, Prov. 8▪ 5. Psal. 82.6. and setteth them as his Ministers to be eyes to the blind, and feet Job 29. 15. to the lame, and Fathers to the poor, and Sanctuaries to the afflicted. Great therefore the wickedness of those that despise them, horrid and execrable the enterprises of those which would blow them up, and destroy them. If Corah, or Sheba, or Absolom, or Zim●i had peace, such as these may look for it too, but Solomon assures us of these men, That their Calamity shall rise suddenly, and who knoweth the ruin of them, Proverbs, 24▪ 22, Lastly, From the double Increpation we may draw, 1. Matter of Caution, not to think ourselves secure at any time against the Assaults of Satan, He is like the flies, of which he hath his name, Impudent, and Importunate: When he is beaten off once, he will come on again, when he hath been foiled and rebuked once, he will venture a second Increpation: there is no truce to be held with him: when he was infinitely overmatched, yet he departed from Christ but for a season, Luke 4. 13. 2. Matter of Comfort, That we should not despond under the Assaults of Satan. When he multiplies Temptations, Christ will multiply Increpations; he will deliver a second time, Isa. 11. 11. In six and in seven troubles, Job 5. 19 From the terror by night, and the arrow by day, Psalm 91. 5. Christ is never less active and vigilant to help, than Satan is to hurt the Church. If where sin abounds, Grace doth superabound, and God doth multiply to pardon, Rom. 5. 20. Isa. 55. 7. Much more when the rage of Satan abounds▪ succour shall superabound, and God will multiply to rebuke. Repetitions and Ingeminations in Scripture, note 1 Certainty, as the dream of Pharaoh was doubled, because of God's fixed purpose concerning it, Gen. 41. 32. Satan in all his oppositions against the building of God's house shall certainly be disappointed. 2. Constancy, Thou shalt follow Justice, Justice, Deut. 16. 20. thou shalt never give over following it. The Lord will constantly and perpetually rebuke Satan in all his assaults against Joshua and his fellows. 3. Vehemency and Ardency of affection; it intends the sense, and makes it superlative, O Earth, Earth, Earth, a pathetical excitation! Jer. 22. 29. Holy, Holy, Holy; an ardent expression of the infinite Holiness of God. Isa. 6. 3. The Lord will vehemently, and with much zeal and earnestness rebuke Satan in his Hostility against the Church. 4. Consummation and completing of what is gone about, I will overturn, overturn, overturn, Ezek. 21. 27. When I begin, I will make an end. God will never give over rebuking and oppossing Satan, till he have wholly subdued him, and brought him under Christ and his people's feet. And since Christ doth thus certainly, constantly, earnestly, completely rebuke him, Let us keep our ground, oppose him with treble and unwearied prayers, 2 Cor. 12. 8. Resist him with steadfastness in the Faith, 1 Pet. 5●▪ 9 With patient continuance in well doing, Rom. 2. 7. Let us stand, and stand, and stand, pray with All prayer, pray with All perseverance in prayer in this spiritual combat, Ephe. 6. 11, 13, 14, 18. Christ rebukes and rebukes again, Let us resist and resist again. There remains only the double foundation The foundation of the Victory 1. God's gracious Election of Jerusalem. of this Victory; 1. God's gracious Election, The Lord which hath chosen Jerusalem, rebuke thee. The Doctrine of Adoption by free Grace is the strongest weapon that we can wield against the malice of Satan: Thou art my God from my mother's belly, and therefore since bulls, & Dogs, & lions do compass and beset, and gape, and roar upon me, Do thou deliver and save me, Be not thou far from me, Psalm 22. 10, 13. 20. 21. God will admit no Charge against his Elect, Rom. 8. 33. 35. If I were to be saved by Merits of my own, want of merit would condemn me: But where all is of Grace, and free gift, no guilt can condemn him, who hath the Righteousness of another freely bestowed upon him. It is five times together called the Gift, the free Gift, the Gift of Righteousness, Rom. 5. 15, 16, 17. O thanks be unto God, Thanks for ever be unto God, for his unspeakable gift, the gift of the Righteousness of Christ bestowed upon us. The next foundation of this Victory, is Joshua's past deliverance, Is not this a brand 2. His deliverance of Joshua. plucked out of the fire? Whence we learn, 1. That Past-Mercies are pledges of more. The work of God is perfect, especially his work of Mercy, Deut. 32. 4. If he snatch out of the fire, he will bring unto his Temple: If he lay a foundation, he will bring forth the Head stone, Zach. 4. 9 He will perfect that which he hath wrought: If he begin a good work, he will finish it, Psal. 138. 8. Phil. 1. 6. He who will not have us be weary of well-doing, will not be weary of well-doing himself. His mercy is from everlasting to everlasting upon those that that fear him, psalm 103. 17. Satan can no more hinder the continuance of it unto Eternity, than he can cause it not to have been from Eternity. 2. No condition is so sad or desperate out of which the Lord cannot rescue his people. He carries them through the fire, Zach. 13. 9 he preserves them in the fire, Dan. 3. 25, 27. He brings them through fire and water into a wealthy place, psalm 66. 12. And this he doth suddenly, in the very nick of danger. In the Mount will the Lord be seen, Gen. 22. 14. and hastily, laying merciful hold on us while we linger, Gen. 19 16. He repenteth concerning his servants, when he seeth that their power is gone, Deut. 32. 36. and when they are as very outcasts, whom no man looketh after, Jerem. 30. 17. In our greatest perplexities and fears, if we could glorify God by believing, and stand still without sinful doubts, disquiet murmurings, and diverting unto sinister and perverse means, carnal Sanctuaries, and a refuge of lies, we might comfortably expect to see the salvation of God. 3. This Brand God will not only save, but Honour, turn it into timber to build his house withal. When the Lord rescueth a Great and a Good man, out of great troubles and temptations which were ready to consume him, usually he maketh him an Instrument of great and special service. Moses drawn out of the water, Joseph out of prison, Daniel out of the lion's den, David from a world of persecutions and dangers, Mordecai out of the pit of Haman's malice, and here Joshua out of the furnace of Babylon: and all afterwards eminent Instruments of great and honourable services for the Church of God. This is a worthy fruit of afflictions, when they season and prepare us to be beams in God's House. As the greatest Timber hath the most seasoning. Luther was wont to say, That Prayer, Meditation and Temptation are excellent preparations for the Ministry. 4. God can use weak, improbable, despised Instruments unto great and excellent works. He that could make one loaf of bread enough to feed thousands, can make one Brand Timber enough to build Temples. He that drew the Prophet out of a pit with rotten rags, can erect a glorious Temple out of the dust with burnt firebrands. He blew down the Walls of Jericho with Rams horns, discomfited an huge Host of Midianites with a few broken pitchers▪ converted the world with twelve fishermen, and chooseth the weak, and base, and foolish things, things which are not to bring to nought things that are, 1 Corinth. 1. 27, 29. He hath more regard to the lowliness of those that are weak, then to the abilities of those that are proud. To teach us not to despise Truth, or Comfort, or any mercy by what hand soever brought unto us, no more than the Prophet did his meat, when God sent it unto him by Ravens, 1 Reg. 17. 5. God hath purposely put rich treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of his power might the more shine forth in the infirmity of his Instruments, That no flesh might glory in his sight. And now as on this day hath this Scripture been exactly paralleled in this Nation in the glorious deliverance we now celebrate. Joshua his work was to build a Temple, Satan's to hinder and oppose it. He is an enemy to all such Building, but that which Tertullian calls, Edificatio ad ruinam, He is all for pulling down Work. And are not Religion and laws the best part of a structure, the foundation? Are not Princes, Peers, Nobles, Fathers of their▪ country choice Stones in a building? Demosthenes tells us, {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman}. That men were Towers and Cities, and not Walls; doth not the Apostle say of the Church, ye are God's Building? 1 Cor. 3. 9 Of this Temple it was that these wicked men said, Raze it, Raze it to the very ground; down with it, down with it into ashes; up with it, up with it into fire. They would have turned things up-side down, Isa. 29. 16. down with Laws, u● with Confusion: down with Jerusalem, up with Babylon: down with the ark, up with 〈◊〉: down with Religion, up with Superstition: make Princes, and peers, and Gentry, and Ministry, the flower of a Nation, who were wont to be, like polished Saphires, very firebrands, blacker than a coal, Lam. 4. 7, 8. Tell me whether any but heads and hearts filled with the Devil, could ever have invented or executed so bloody a design. King and Parliament, peers and People were standing before the Lord; for God standeth in the Congregation of the mighty, he judgeth among the Gods, psalm 82. 1. And Satan will be thrusting in to withstand them. No place so sacred whether he will not intrude. He crawls into Paradise; we find him standing before the Lord amongst all the host of Heaven, in the midst of an Angelical consessus, 1 Reg. 22. 19, 21. But he can do no good at the hand to hinder that from working, he cannot introduce superstition and ignorance at that door. He tries therefore what he can do under the feet. He croucheth, he digs through a wall, he springs a mine, and gets a den, finds out an hell from whence to murder the innocent, psalm 10. 8, 9, 10. And this not to resist or accuse only, but utterly to destroy; to turn head, and hand, and feet, and the whole body into very firebrands. And he hath been at this work once and again. This was not the first time he had been resisting or rebuked. He tried by water in that invincible Armado in 88 And now by fire more terrible than that of Babylon, which would not have left so much as a Brand remaining, which in the twinkling of an eye would have done more mischief, then threescore and ten years' captivity in Babylon. But God be blessed we were not as a Brand in this fire, but as Moses his Bush not consumed, as the three children, not so much as singed by it. That out of this fire, not a few Brands, but many goodly Cedars, and the Vine, the weakest of trees, the poor Church of Christ amongst us, were not plucked, but preserved from it; God's mercy preventing Satan's malice, and making their own tongue to fall upon themselves, and by that little mercy which was in one of these bloody men, to snatch one brand out of this fire, quenching the flame which would have devoured all the rest; so inconsistent was this villainy with a dram of mercy. And all this not for our worthiness, but for his own free grace, because he loved England, and chose it for a place to set his Name in. And blessed be his Name, that notwithstanding all Romish attempts, and machinations, we have had his presence, and the true reformed▪ Religion in the midst of this Nation, for now a full hundred years; for so long it is from Novemb. 17. 1658. since Queen Mary died, and that glorious Princes Elizabeth, succeeded in her Throne. In this month were her fires quenched, and in this month was this fire quenched, the eyes of the Lord running through the earth, to show himself strong in behalf of this poor Nation. And now what remains, but being thus delivered, and yet through God's mercy in the possession of the reformed Religion (the Lord knows how long that yet may last) we should betake ourselves to the duties here mentioned by the Prophet. 1. To stand before the Lord▪ to have our eye still upon him, to attend his Will, to listen to his Commands, to wait on his Worship, to aim at his Glory, to have our mouths and hearts filled with the praises of his Name; who hath made us not as firebrands plucked out of the burning, Amos 4. 11. but preserved from it. 2. To put off our filthy garments, to bewail the woeful provocations of all orders of men amongst us, to make haste and be zealous to purge the house of God of those sad corruptions which have defaced it, and of that woeful leaven of heresy, which threatens to sour the whole lump. 3. To get change of raiment, to be clothed with the garments of praise, with the long white Robe of Christ's righteousness, that our nakedness be not discovered, to worship the Lord in the beauties of holiness. 4. To walk in God's ways, and to keep his Charge, to be zealous and conscionable in all our peculiar duties, to hold fast those wholesome truths which the Lord hath so long continued unto us. We know how busy foreign Emissaries are, who are said to swarm among us, under a disguise, and in a mysterious way to infuse their doctrines into the minds of credulous and seduced people. We see what hideous errors are everywhere broached; what contempt is poured out upon a learned and faithful Ministry. What dishonour is cast upon Magistrates, as if it belonged not either to their power or duty to take care either of the truth or worship of God in their Territories: What immense and boundless licence men take to write, print, publish the most horrid opinions without check or control: what sad effects this infinite liberty hath produced, in some atheism, in others scepticism, in others apostasy, in others sad divisions, jealousies, animositites, scarce any face left of that Christian love, and holy communion which heretofore shined in the Assemblies of Professors. What woeful symptoms we have of God's threatening to remove our Candlestick and his Glory from us. Calling home to himself many eminent Ambassadors in the Church, laying aside many worthy and religious Patriots in the State; exercising his Ministers that remain with the reproaches and defamings of many: our leaving our first love, and former zeal for the truths of God: The doleful confusions and changes in the State; Governments changing as it were with the Moon, up one month and down another. Certainly it is through the wrath of the Lord of Isa. 9 19 Hosts that a Land is darkened; It is for the Prov. 28. 2. Transgression of a Land that many are the Princes thereof: It was a forerunner of a final wrath amongst the ten Tribes, when God left them to pull down one another. Oh what need have we to be awakened, to lay these things to heart, to prepare to meet Amos 4. 12. Rev. 2. 5. the Lord, to do our first Works, to revive the ancient communion of Saints, to awaken the Spirit of prayer, and to cry mightily unto God, to spare his people, and not to give his Joel. 2. 17. Heritage unto reproach:▪ To receive the truth in love, and to contend earnestly for the Faith 2 Thes. 1. 10. once delivered unto the Saints: To use all holy endeavours in our places and stations Jude v. 3. to keep the glorious presence of the Lord still amongst us. To prove all things, and 1 Thes. 5. 21. hold fast that which is good: to try the spirits 1 Joe. 4. 1. Heb. 10. 24. Mal. 3. 16. Joel 2. 14. whether they be of God: To provoke one another, to speak often to one another, not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together. It may be the Lord will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him. That so we whom the malice of Satan and wicked men would gladly make Brands, may by God's blessing be Trees of righteousness, Isa. 61. 3. Isa. 5. 7. Ezek. 47. 12. Cant. 4. 16. the planting of the Lord, that the spirit blowing upon our garden, the Spices thereof may flow out, and our beloved may delight in us, and eat his pleasant fruit. So shall the enemies of the Church always find, that he whose name is the Branch, Zach. 3. 8. Deut. 4. 20. will still be too hard for the furnace of Egypt, for the staff of the oppressor. That he Isa. 9 4. 14. 5. Zach. 3. 9 Zach. 12. 3. Isa. 8. 8. who is a Stone with Eyes, will make his Church a burdensome stone, to all that set themselves against it. That he will so watch over this Land, while it continues Immanuel's Land, that we shall still, as the Prophet Isaiah speaks, chap. 24. 15. glorify the Lord in the fires, Even the Name of the Lord God of Israel in the Isles of the Sea. FINIS.