Jerichoes Down-fall, As it was Presented in a Sermon preached in St. Margaret's Westminster, before the Honourable HOUSE of COMMONS At the late solemn Fast, Septemb. 28. 1642.  
By THOMAS WILSON Preacher of the word at Otham in Kent.  
Published by Order from that HOUSE.  
LONDON, Printed for JOHN BARTLET, and are to be sold at the Gilt Cup, near to S. Austin's Gate, 1643.   

Die Mercurii 28. Sept. 1642.  
IT is this day Ordered by the Commons House of Parliament, that M. Hollis, and Sir Robert Harley are appointed to return thanks, from this House, to M. Hodges, and M. Wilson, for the great pains they have taken in the Sermons they preached this day at St. Margaret's Westminster, at the entreaty of this House. And that they desire them to print their Sermons; And that no man presume to print them but such as they shall appoint, until the House shall take farther Order.  H. Elsing Cler. Parl. D. Com.  

To the honourable HOUSE of COMMONS Now Assembled in PARLIAMENT.  
THE Great God, the Lord your God, God of Gods, and Lord of Lords, in pity to his people, and mercy to this Land, hath raised up (in our great distress) 
a Micah 5. 5.  seven shepherds and eight principal men, out of the several divisions of the kingdom; when the enemy would come in like a flood, the spirit of the Lord hath lift up a S●andard against him. God hath called you for such a thing as this, at such a time as this, to this Great Court, your call is high, your work is hard, you know why you are borne, for the benefit of many, as Bucers' physicians said to him, non sibi se, sed multorum utilitati esse natum; You are our deliverers from heavy burdens, our reformers of great corruptions, You find Church and State bruised and diseased. You are our healers, 
b {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman}. Sept. ligator vulneram. Chirurgus & Reip. medi●us. {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} ab {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman}, medela Corn●l. à Lap. in Isai. 3.7.  What though Israel fret? shall Moses faint? when men of renown murmur at the instruments of good, the Lord will show who are God's; no man suffers so much injury as God doth contumely, as Melanchthon said, nullum hominem tantum sustinere malorum, quantum contumeliarum Deus. It is not strange that some prefer Egyptians Onion● to Canaan, and its dainties; yet their Caleb (a noble spirit) fully followed the Lord. Bucer and Melanchthon framed a form of reformation, with approbation of the peers and States, but the Clergy in the college of Colen (wherein were some stood right affected, but more were contrary) 
c {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} in alta omnia iverunt. Melchior Adam. vita Buceri. p. 217.  rejected with slander, and affirmed they had rather live in Turkey, then under such a reformation, sub imperio Turcico malle se vivere, quàm sub Magistrat● qui reformationem illam sequatur. Nehemiah, when he was in the Lord's work, was scorned, resisted● accused, threatened, and by Nobles in Judah, (sworn unto Tobiah) deserted, yet he builds and prospers, desists not his work, defieth his adversary's factions, dreads not words, nor letters: men's 
d Furere ist●ic & ●●emere reges, principes, populos, adversus Christum Domini: foelix Omen puto, ac melius, quam si blandiren●ur, &c. Id. vita Lutheri. p. 158.  fury against Christ (is a good Omen) is better than their flattery, they laugh at him, (weep not for it) God laugheth at them. God's infinite providence (the seven eyes upon ●ne stone, Zechar. 3.9.) is upon the church's foundation, all things below are wheeled about, as the r●ngs full of eyes, infinitâ Dei providentiâ, Iun. in Ezek. 1. 18. Build you, God will prosper your work, make up the hedge, (God hath sought you for it) stand in the gap before the Lord, that he may not destroy the Land, who now visits our ingratitude, as Luther to Melanchton, valdè cupio ut sint adversus Satanae furores inaestimabiles aliquor reliqui, qui se pro do more Israel muros opponant, in hoc die furoris Domini visitantis nostram, sicut dignum est, ingratitudinem. 
Id. vita Melan. p. 358.  You love our Nation, your acts are national, execute judgement and seek the truth, (thus love our Land) and the Lord will pardon, Ier. 5. 1. do men hate him that rebuketh in the Gate, and abhor him that spèaketh uprightly? it is known by it, it is an evil time, you contend for peace and truth, be constant, and confident, your war is peace, as Zwinglius de bello Helvetico, writing to his friends, 
Id. vita Zwing. p. 36.  Bellum cui nos instamus, pax est, nonbellun, they strove to preserv verity & liberty of the gospel. Men may (may be not) hurt the body, but they cannot reach, not touch the soul that spiritual sparkle, as Zwinglius his heart was whole (cor illaesum) when his body was turned into ashes. Luther warmed Melanchthons' spirit by a letter about the common cause then molested by pontifical rage and Caesar's fury, I (saith he) about the public cause have a quiet mind, assured it is just, true, and unappalled, I fear not the fierce and cruel Papists, 
Id. vita Luth: p. 138.  if we be overthrown, Christ shall be overthrown with us, and come what can, malo ego cum Christo ruere, quam cum Caesare stare, I had rather fall with Christ, then stand with Caesar. You fast, you pray, you consult with the God of heaven, who will answer in due time with good and comfortable words, Zechary 1.13 Pray (as 
e Tanta reverentia aliquid petit ut cum D●o, tanta spe & fide, ut ●um patre & amico se loqui s●ntiat. p. 142.  Luther was wont to do) with rever●nce as to a God, and with confidence as to a friend and father.  
The day of fasting allows no ornaments in lesser things than Sermons, it was only my purpose to speak something pertinent to the day; fasting must have prayer, prayer faith, and faith activity; What can be more necessary in the ca●se of faith, than faith? 
Luther● animosa ep. de negotio Evang●lii ad Spalatin.  in tantum est opus fidei, ne causa fidei sit sine fide; your difficulties many, faith (which hath a kind of omnipotency) will carry you through all, tantum possumus, quantum credimus. In this service my study was that the word of truth propounded, your hearts (lift up in the way of the Lord to the work of the Lord) might continue in their height and heat by the spirit of burning, till all our filth and blood be purged, and washed away, till fasting be turned into feasting, till men may use this speech in England, concerning the State, The Lord bless thee o habitation of justice; and concerning the Church, The Lord bless thee o mountain of holiness; till there be one Lord, and his Name one. That this Parliament (the repairer of the breaches, the restorer of the Paths to dwell in) by loyalty to our sovereign, fidelity to the kingdom, and zeal to Religion may be the joy of many Generations; which is the prayer of  
Your devoted servant, and daily Petitioner to the God hearing Prayer, THOMAS WILSON.   

JERICHO'S DOWN-FALL. A SERMON PREACHED before the honourable House of COMMONS, at a solemn Fast, Novemb. 28. 1642.  HEB. 11. 30. 
By Faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were compassed about seven days.  
THE authority of this Epistle depends not on the Writer, but on the author: 

The Epistl● to the Hebrews.  

1. It's author.  
2. Its matter.    not on Ma●, but on God; whose Spirit of truth held and ruled the pen of the Writer.  
It evidently sets forth, 

1. Christ's 1. Person, God and man; and 2. Offices, 

King.  
Priest.  
Prophet.    
2. The Christians duty, in faith and holiness. This Chapter (a little book of Martyrs●) contains the encomium of faith, commended by its heroical acts and marvellous effects; by (no● the worlds, but) the Lord's Worthies, in every age of the Ancient Church, whose neck is like the tower of David builded for an armoury, whereon there hang a thousand bucklers; all shields of mighty men. Can. 4.4.    
These mighty men of God are renowned and recorded, powerfully to persuade men with courage and comfort to continue in the faith, sustained with the precious promises of the blessed God.  

Fidei documentum in toto populo edi●um. Iun. & Par. in Hebr.  The words read, rehearse the famous fact of Israel's faith, under the prosperous conduct of Joshua (the Hebrews general) the conqueror of Canaan.  


This text, 

1. Interpreted  
2. Divided.     1. The interpretation.  
By faith.] By faith, both in Joshua and Israel, his and their faith; not by arms, and engines; not by common sense, nor carnal reason; not by faith historicall● yet they knew the word; not by faith miraculous, albeit this oracle tells us of a miracle: but by faith (called by Divines) justifying and saving principally, not only as it justifieth, but as it looketh towards God, and apprehends any promises, works, and benefits of God, past, present, or future, revealed in his word.  

Nixi Dei Praecepio, Promissione: Par.  faith's prop was 

1. A word of precept, to compass the city; ye shall go round about the city. Iosh. 6. 1.  
2. A word of promise annexed, the walls should fall; the wall of the city shall fall down fl●t. vers. 5.    
Jericho.] It was a strong walled tower in their way, and first entrance into Canaan, after they had so safely passed over I●rdan.  
The walls of it fell down.] The great walls, this townsmen's strength tumbled down without man's hand, warlike engine, or violence.  
After they were compassed about. 
{non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} ] They pitched not the ●●●ld against it, nor did they undermine or scale the walls; but go abo●t them.  
A mean, to man's reason, 

1●Very childish; seven Priests, sounded seven rams horns; would not Jericho laugh at it? Iosh. 6. 4.  
2. Very perilous; had there been such Guns as be in these dangerous days. M. Perk.   Yet after they had circuited the walls, 

1. In obedience to God's command,  
2. In dependence on God's promise,    
The walls fell down. Obedience to God, in the event meets with good: first, they mind duty; after it, they find mercy. First, they go about Jericho; and then, they go into Jericho.  
Seven days.] The walls fell not on any of the six days, nor until the seventh time the seventh day. Till then the walls never shake, and then (nothing seen before) they fall● it was God's appointed time, in which every thing is beautiful: one of these days was the Sabbath, the observation whereof yields (for man's good) to this special command of God the great lawgiver.  
2. The parts● Jericho's downfall the walls fell down.  

1. The mean of it, faith in God's word.  
2. The m●●●er of it, in compassing it seven days.   
1. The downfall of the walls, the strength of this city, the h●lp whereby it was fortified as invincible, falls, this wall is cast down and demolished; the city is taken, and a straight way opened to the Israel of God. Joshua 6. 20.  

Observ. 1. Church-enemies helps will fail them.  The greatest helps of Church-enemies will fail them, their walls which hinder God's Church in the way to happiness, will fall down, and their defence departs from them. Numb. 14. 9  


Herodot. & Xenoph. Decima persurbis est tota bod●erna Romae Pontificia.  
M. Mede.   As it is with this cursed city Jericho: So with old Babylon, the wall of Babylon shall fall, Ier. 51.44.  
The broad walls (fifty cubits thick, and two hundred cubits high, say Historians) of Babylon shall be utterly broken, ●er. 51. 58.  
Thus with Mystical Babylon it is thrown down as a great millstone cast into the Sea; thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down and shall be found no more at all, Rev. 18.21.  
The tenth part of the city, (the whole kingdom of Popery, Br.) fell, was diminished by the revolt of the Germans; the earthquake ordinarily signifying a great change of the estate of matters, Rev. 11. 13.  

* 
The enemy's walls.  

1. Principality.  
2. Prelacy.   
Satan's Vicar the Antichrist of Rome, instigated Charles the most puissant Emperor, to attempt war, that by violence the doctrine of the gospel, and the liberty of Germany may be oppressed; And the united Princes compelled to the service and observance of his wicked and devilish religion. Sleid. Comment. li. 17.   1. The enemy's walls to stop the church's way, which will fail and not be a shadow to them, be 


1. Principality and imperial power, Princes and their people, Emperors and their vassals, were a wall to the enemy; the ten horns shall give their power and strength to the beast, Revel. 17. 13.  
CHARLES the Great, and K. Pipin arose with stout and fierce contention in the Beasts quarrel, advanced and honoured the popedom.  
These shall make war with the Lamb, vers. 14. in rebellion against Christ; yet the Lamb (Christ) shall overcome them. In God's appointed time, the Emperor CHARLES the fift, persecuted the Princes of Germany with a lamentable war, because they required a liberty to worship the Lamb; but the victorious Lamb the lion of the tribe of Judah, got the victory (a free confession of truth) which the Lamb wrung from the Emperor against his will. And this by Christian soldiers, and armies of Protestants; Called, chosen, and faithful, vers. 14. Yet by the good pleasure of God Christian Princes shall rise and make themselves ready against Rome, to bring the whore to an horrible destruction, contrary to her expectation, and their former profession for her.  
1. These shall hate her, curse her, which bewitched Kings of the earth.  
2. Make her desolate, they converting to Christ, revolting from her and ministering no aid to her.  
3. Naked, by their confessions, by their writings which discover her filthiness and lewdness.  
4. Shall eat her flesh, not physically, 
Exossatio non Physicè se● mysticè.  but mystically, cutting away her toll-money, wealth gotten by her chaffering in their dominions.  
5. burn with fire, who will not otherwise be purged; she shall be burnt as an whore not washen with nitre.  
Many Princes have failed popedom, Revel. 17. 16.   
2. Prelacy, purple Prelates, and their corrupt Clergy, hinder the passage of God's redeemed ones into Canaan, heaven, and shall down: As the troop of Trent Bishops fortified themselves; and made a wall about Popery, that erroneous doctrine and corrupt worship might be continued; notwithstanding this, the man of sin, hi● jurisdiction and his generation must down and be destroyed, that wicked one the Lord shall consume with the spirit of ●is mouth, 2. Thes. 2. 8.    
Prelacy ro●● and branch shall be taken away● every plant which God hath not planted shall be plucked up by the root; all false callings, false doctrine, false worship, God threatens, Mat. 15. 13. as a tree that cumbers the ground, must be cut down; the Church and pure religion cannot thrive by it, under it, near it. Prelacy is not only not fruitful, but hurtful, and if the vinedresser find no fruit, his word is, Cut it down, Luk. 13. 7. There is no ju● divi●um to plead for it, it will come to nought as Gamaliel's word was Act. 5. vers. 38. The Prelates were daubing a wall with untempered mortar, made of Canons, oaths, Constitu●ions, & Superstitions, yet all falls that one may say, where is the wall and they that daubed it? God will effect it, 
Contusi● Antistitum fals●m religionem ●●entium, Bran:  that the pride of their glory shall be strained● he shall tread upon Princes as mortar, and as the Potter treadeth the clay, Isay. 41.25.  


The defence of the enemies walls.  

1. Policy. 

1. Detected.  
2. defeated.    
2. Patrimony.  
3. Power of. 

1. One man.  
2. Many men.      ●. The defence of the ene●ies wall● departs from th●●.  

1 Policy, that fails, when they work by subtlety, yet nothing in man, no wisdom, understanding, nor counsel, by all plots and hellish practices can prevail against the Lord his will and work. Pr. 30. 


1. 〈…〉 detected albeit most secre●, as the Syri●ns plot against Isr●●l, 2. King. 6.9. yet God told the P●ophet of it, and the man of God told the King, v●●s. 10. the King of Syria suspected some to by im●●●sty, vers. 11. but his servan●s ●●ll him Elisha revealed to the King of Israel, the words which he spoke in his bedchamber, v. 12.  
●od knows, and can point at the man, or men that gives evil counsel, Ezek. 11.2. He knows all that comes into their minds, v. 5.  
The folly (not wit) of them who resist the truth shall be (Near their fall) manifest to all men: How many plots of mentlesse men, have been discovered before the eyes of all men? have they not proclaimed to every one by their way, this their folly? 2 Tim. 3.9.   
2. It is defeated, their counsel comes to nothing, but to the hurt of the authors: as Ahitophel a deep Politician, gives counsel against a good man, but the good God disappointed it; for the Lord had appointed to defeat the good counsel of Ahitophel, 2 Sam. 17. 14. Men advanced for their wisdom, are oft times made a prey, and Judges who should keep a commonwealth from civil dissensions, and ruins, do themselves (when God pleaseth) become fools, He maketh the judge's fools, Iob. 12.17.    

2. Patrimony and possessions will fail them, the tenth part of the city fell; 
Hanc urbis decimam casuram; agro sibi pro patrimonio a●tributo spoliatam, Ponti●ice vi jude pulso, praerogativam & dominium in urtes & populos amissuram M. Mede.  {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} nomen tributi; the revenues, profits, first fruits, tributes, commendams, lands, taken away, Rev. 11.13. In that fall many men were slain, not in their bodies, but in their estates, spoiled of Monasteries, Nunneries, Abbeys, whereby many filled their paunehes, as Lordly Prelates, all-belly Abbots, evil beasts, slow bellies: it was a death indeed to be brought to true poverty, from their former luxu●y, v. 13. the vine was gathered, many cloisters, and clusters pulled, and cut down, in the days of that great Prince, Henry 8. who not only did shake off the Antichristian yoke, but did confiscate the lands of many friaries, Priories, &c. whereby the stalls of the fatlings were destroyed, and havoc made of Papists goods, that the horses of them set over the business, seemed to swim in their spoils, as it were in a river of pressed grapes; to the great good of many who had no small good, by the fall of this oak, Rev. 14.19,20.  

Euphrates ●●gnificat praecipua Babylonis Antichrist: praesidia, quibus ad tantam excrevit potentiam: Et in vigore stetit hactenus. urbs slumine q●àm muri●●rat munitior. Par.  The water of Euphrates was dried up: as Cyrus when he took Babylon, the way of Romish traffic decayed. Euphrates notes the chief safeguard of Antichristian Babylon, which was stronger by this river, than their wall. 16.12.   
3. Power: mountains be made a plain: however they swell, and seemed invincible, immovable, unpassable, inaccessible; yet God contemns the enemy's mightiness, and will remove all impediments of the restauration of the Church, and make it as easy to march over, as a plain and even champain. Zechar. 4.7. 

1. In the might of one man is no safety for sinners against Zion, as Haman a great favourite, highly promoted and advanced, no man had either priority, or parity, Esther 5.11. yet he abode not in honour, he began to fall before Mordecai, 6. 13. he is detected and accused as the adversary, and enemy of the Jews. 7.6. he is cast off by the King, v. 7. he is cut off, for they hanged Haman on the gallows which he had prepared for Mordecai, he made a net for his own neck, his pride falls, and power fails, 7.10.  
2. In the multitude of many men is no strength to uphold the evil doers. Captain Sisera had in his company nine hundred Charets of iron, and much people, Iud. 4. 13. yet the Lord discomfited them, ver. 15. there was not a man left, ver. 16. The Midianites were numberless, Iud. 6. 5. as the grasshoppers for multitude, 7.12. yet before Gedeon and his three hundred, ver. 16. all the Host ran, cried, and fled, v. 21.     
Many nations, of divers abominations, wickedly consulted, & unanimously consented in a cursed confederacy, and cruel combination, against the Lord of glory, (Who hate his Church hate him) Ps. 83. 5, 6, 7, 8. which by some is supposed to be in the days of Jehoshaphat, whom Moab, Ammon, and Edom beset and assaulted, 2 Chron. 20.1. a great multitude there was, v. 2. yet they were smitten, v. 22. one helped to destroy another, v. 23. that Judah looking on the multitude, and behold, they were dead bodies, fallen to the earth, and none escaped, v. 24. The Ethiopians came against Asa, with a huge host of a thousand thousand, and three hundred Charets, 2 Chron. 14.9. yet they fled, v. 12. Thus it is clear that no policy of man, no patrimony in the world, nor power of united forces, can be a sure wall to secure the sons of wickedness. 

Reasons why the enemies walls will fall.  
1. The enemies  
1. Impiety, being 

1. prayerless  
2. full of cursing.  
3. Idolatrou●     Reasons why the Enemies walls will fall.  
1. In regard of Church-enemies  
1. Their impiety: they are a cursed generation; iniquity will cast them down, as the inhabitants of Jericho, whose wall fell, were Canaanites, a seed of evil doers, to be utterly destroyed, both man and woman. Ios. 6.21.  

1. They are prayerless, they cannot, they will not, they do not pray, they twit prayer in the spirit, they (by predominancy of atheism) call not upon God: hence is that prediction of wrath, to fall on them who call not on God's name, Psal. 79.6.  
2. They are full of cursing, and it shall come unto them; cursing men be cursed men: What is in their mouths, but fearful, self-damning imprecations, and innominate soule-damning oaths? the mercy they desire God to show them, is to damn them; such words be heard, as those who wished they might die in the wilderness, God took them at the word, As ye have spoken in mine ears, so will I do to you, Numb. 14. 28.  
3. They are idolatrous; who withstand the Church, in the way to reformation, they desert God and his pure worship; and cannot prosper by that means, but must fall, they and all their confidences, as is manifest, in those vain men, children of Belial, who gathered to Jeroboam, 1 Chron. 13. 7. who had golden calves for gods, the gods of the land of bondage, v. 8. who cast out the Priests of the Lord, v. 9 who kept not God's charge but forsook him, v. 11. who (albeit Israelites in name) opposing God, (a graceless act) cannot prosper, v. 12. God smote Jeroboam, and all Israel, v. 15. that Israel fled, v. 16. fell down, v. 17. and were brought ●nder at that time, v. 18.   

2 
The vanity of their helps.  

1. Horses.  
2. Men. 

1. Faint.  
2. Fearful.   

1. Kings.  
2. Merchants.  
3. Mariners.      2. The vanity of their helps; their walls high and broad, are earth, dust, built on the sand.  

1. Their horses (how many soever troops they have) be but vain for safety, the strength of horses cannot be the deliverance of man, in danger, Psal. 33. ●7. it is not well with them, but woe to them who stay upon horses, because they are many and strong, Esay 51. 1.  
2 Their men, 

1 are faint, frail, feeble; men, and not God; when the Lord stretcheth out his hand, both he that helpeth shall fall, and he that is holpen shall fall down, and they all shall fail together, Esay 31.3.  
2. Are fearful, afraid to help: as when the great city falls, her lovers take up a lamentation, but do not, dare not help her.   

1. The Kings of the earth, the spiritual sons of the Roman See, 
Romanae sedis filii spirituales qui cum Papa perseverabunt. Par.  the whore's slaves: as the King of Spain and others, who have committed fornication, and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, Rev. 18.9. Standing afar off, when they see the smoke of her burning, they hast not to help, but are in a bodily fear, by beholding the whore's misery, they fear their own safety, and will not venture themselves for an old withered harlot, v. 10.  
2. The Merchants of the earth, which chaffer with spiritual matters, 
Nundinatores spirituales, Camerae Pontificiae Quaestores. Par.  rather than corporal, who by making countries serviceable to Rome, by their confederacy, prove brave and gallant fellows, and gained well by this merchandise, getting bishoprics, Cardinalships, as C. Woolsey, a notable ambitious, tumultuous, flourishing Romish Merchant, who durst brave, and beard, yea outface, and out-brag King Hen. 8. a mighty Prince, Rev. 18. 11. thus all stand afar off, having short horns and no hearts to repel this imminent danger, v. 15. only they cry, Alas, expressing the truth and terribleness of their grief for this change, v. 16.  
3. The Mariners, Shipmasters, sailors, they cannot not keep Rome's ship from sinking, nor S. Peter's fishboat from the sands, or rushing on the rocks, although many a lusty lubber hath laboured hard to promote Rome's lustful laws, as Cardinals, Patriarchs, Archbishops, Bishops, Deans, Arch-Deanes, Abbots, Jesuits, Priests, Priors, friars, monks, the canonical Clergy, and all inferior officers; yet the more they would cover, the more they discover, the whores and the Pope's filthy wickedness; and more at length, when the whores wages for their acts of wickedness be detained, denied, consumed, Rev. 18.17,18. Many greater and lower Churchmen are of the mind of Demetrius, and the craftsmen, concerning this happy Reformation, intended, & entered upon, whereby their gain ceaseth, they live by a craft, By this craft we have our gain, Acts 19.25. their rotten props removed, & corrupt courts abolished, this one craft is in danger to be set at nought, v. 27. Their Diana despised, and her magnificence destroyed, v. 27. this trade of theirs is decayed, their wares not merchantable, for no man buyeth their merchandise any more, Rev. 18.11.   

2 
God his 

1. Contrari●ty.  
2. Commination.  
3. Promise.     2. In regard of God  

1. His contrariety to the enemies and their helps: God faith, he will arise against the house of evil-doers, and against the help of them that work iniquity; if God arise, they must fall, Esay 31.2. God is contrary to them, that he will make a city a heap, a defensed city, a ruin, a palace of strangers to be no city, it shall never be built, 25.2 God in his power, over-powreth the enemies, that he bringeth down them that dwell on high, the lofty city he layeth it low, he layeth it low e●●n to the ground, he bringeth it even to the dust, 26.5.  
2. His commination: God hath threatened this fall of the enemy, and his word will take hold on men, they cannot evade his vindictive hand. Babylon is fallen, is fallen, Revel. 14.8.  
3●His Promise: God in truth hath assured his Church to remove all impediments. He is a God of his word, who saith to the Deep, Be dry, and I will dry up thy rivers; fulfilled by Cyrus, who (the Citizens of Babylon not dreaming of it) dried up their Euphrates, and brought Babylon under his hand, isaiah 44. 27. God means not to leave a Canaanite in the house of the Lord, and will perform the good thing which he hath promised: There shall be no more the Canaanite in the house of the Lord, Zechar. 14.21.   
1 To wicked men: yet misled. 
1 
Exhort.  
1. Wicked men be not 

1 Vain con●ident.  
2 Impenitent.      

1 Be not confident in any means to wall about you: What? can Princes protect you? can Prelates support you? will policy, patrimony and power fail you? how can you be confident? Babel's brickmakers would build a city, to prevent scattering, Gen. 11.3,4. but God disappointed them, for he scattered ●hem abroad, and they left off to build the city, v. 8. God is against you, who is unresistible, for all your association; Associate you selves, & ye shall be broken in pieces, gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces, gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces: take counsel together, and it shall come to nought; speak the word, and it shall not stand, for God is with us, Esay 8.9,10.  
2 Be not impenitent, nor hardened in the sins of the enemies: H●● will a hard heart endure whe● God casts down its defence and confidence? O repent before the fall; el●e ye are in danger to perish in the fall; o walk not in a way contrary to God; o receive not the beasts mark in the forehead, which is to profess openly their homage and submission unto the holy Apostolic Catholic See of Rome, the Popes vassals, they called Catholics; receive not his mark in the hand, to advance and prefer with your best power, the Romish prerogative; this, Emperors, Kings, and great men of the earth received, by being obliged to the Pope by solemn o●th, 
T.W. in his Dist.  promising and binding themselves to be defenders and protectors of the chief Bishop, and the holy Church of Rome: All, small and great repent and worship God, or else they must drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture, into the cup of his indignation, and they shall be tormented with fire and brimstone, in the presence of the holy Angels, and in the presence of the Lamb, Rev. 14.9,10. Be not at rest now in fin; they have no rest, day nor night who worship the beast; v. 11.   

2 
Godly men 

1. Come out from the enemies.  
2. Be not afraid of the enemies.     2 To the godly.  


1 Come out from the enemies: Come out of Babylon, is counsel to God's people; have no share in Rome's sins, & ye shall have no part in her plagues, Rev. 18.4. it is our lesson when we hear such news of its fall, v. 2.  
Do as Rahab, when she perceived their city to be in danger, she provided how to get out of it, Ios. 2. 12. to be saved alive. v. 13. So she perished not with them, who believed not, when all who remained in Jericho were destroyed, Heb. 11.31.  
O get out of the way of evil men, and save yourselves from an untoward generation, which you hear will come to desolation, Acts 2.40.   
2 Be not afraid of enemies, whose walls will fall; God hath threatened it. Caleb and Joshuah said to Israel, Their defence (but a shadow) is departed from them, fear them not, Numb. 14.9. be strong and courageous, be not afraid of them, nor dismayed for them, they have but the arm of flesh, all their help is vanity; Why do men tremble when the enemies walls shake? 2 Chron. 32.78.   
It is a comfort, 
2 
Consolat.  
Comfort when the enemies be 

1. In power.  
2. In policy.  
3. In prosperity.     that the helps which uphold the enemies, will fail; rejoice, be glad, and ●hout for joy at this fall, when Babylon with violence is thrown down, Rev. 18. 21. then abundant joy comes to all the godly; rejoice over her, thou heaven, (the universal multitude of the Saints on earth) and ye holy Apostles and Prophets, the Godly and learned teachers of the Church, in the days of reformation; these more deadly hated by the whore by whom they endured much tribulation, are now called to rejoice most, v. 20. Shout against Babylon, round about, her walls are thrown down, as sure of victory; as if all were already effected, Ier. 50.15.  
It is firm ground of strong consolation, 

1 When the enemies, be 

1. In power, and pride; as Haman had such a principality, who but he? he could write what he pleased, he could accuse, and none could gainsay him, yet he, when he was well (in his conceit) walled, and ●xpected to rise to more honour, (ambition is never satisfied) would be higher, yet in his pride he fell, as did T.E.St. in great jollity, he was laid in the dust, his neck brought under foot; pride hath a certain fall, Esth. 6.13.  
2 In policy, full of plots and projects against Christ and Christians, than all is in vain, they fail, they take counsel together against the Lord, Psal. 2.2. to reject his commands, which they judge too strict, v. 3. The Lord laughs at them, v. 4. and dasheth them in pieces. Christ will be too hard for them who plot against him, v. 9 The late cannoneers cast Canons to defend their walls, but they recoiled upon themselves, they traveled with iniquity, conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood, Psal. 7. 14. Wicked men make pits, and dig them, but fall into the ditch which they made, ver. 15. their mischief return upon their own head, and their violent dealing comes down upon their own pate, v. 16.  
3 In prosperity, they fall into misery: David's observation may be presented to us, I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree; yet he passed away, and lo● he was not, yea I sought him, but he could not be found; Psal. 37.35,36. 
How manifest is this, in the Arch-B. W. L. and the re●t of the Prelates, come down when they were in their Pontificalibus? When wicked men flourish, it is an evidence they shall perish; when the wicked spring as the grass, and all the workers of iniquity do flourish, it is that they shall be destroyed for ever, Psal. 92.7.     
2 When the Church is 

1. In the impotency of men, 
2 
When the Church is 

1. In impotency of men.  
2. In the insufficiency of means.     the enemies helps fail when friends be few and feeble, The foot shall tread it (the lofty city) down, even the feet of the poor●, and the steps of the needy, Isay. 26. 6.  
2. In the insufficiency of means, rams horns in appearance a childish thing to cast down such walls, as ●erichoes were, Iosh. 6. 20.      
But God can cause the enemies fall; 

1. By a weak hand, 

God can cause enemies fall. 

1. By a wea● hand.  
2. By their own hand.  
3. Without hand.     the least of the flock shall draw them out, Ier. 50 45.  
2. By their own hand, the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands, 9 16.  
3 Without hand, the mighty shall be taken away without hand, Job 34. 20.    
1. The Mean of this fall is faith, by faith they fall, the walls of Jericho could not stand before the faith of Joshua and Israel.  
Faith in God is mighty to remove the greatest impediments of good. 
Observ. 2. Faith is potent to remove impediment●.  Faith gets victory over the mightiest enemy. Faith overcomes any difficulty. Faith is stronger than all the world, This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our Faith. 1. John 5. 4.  
David feared not the Philistine, nor would have any man's heart fail because of him, 1 Sam. 17.32.  
David's faith in God prevailed over Goliath, yet there was no sword in the hand of David, verse 50.  
Israel by faith could go dry, where the Egyptians were drowned, the Sea gives way to faith, Heb. 11. 29.  
Caleb through faith, stilled the muttering and murmuring people: assuring them (albeit the Canaanites were strong, their cities walled and great; and the children of Anak there) they were well able to overcome all. Numb. 13. 30.  
The ground of this. Faith is omnipotent through Christ. I can do all things through Christ which strengthened me, Phil. 4. 13.  
God in whom we believe, is never put to a nonplus, he meets no impossibility; for with God shall nothing be impossible. Luk. 1. 37. and thus all things are possible to him that believeth, 

Ground of the Power of faith.  
1. It builds on God's word.  

1. His precept.  
2. His promise, minding in it, 

1. His mercy.  
2. His grace.  
3. His truth.      Mark. 9 23.  
1. Faith builds on G●ds word as most firm: as David; In God will I praise his word, in God will I put my trust, Psal. 56. 4. there is a strength in the Scripture, lean on it, it cannot be broken, Io. 10 35.  

1. God's word of precept is faiths warrant, God bids, 'tis enough for faith to build on: as in this compassing by Jericho, God commanded them, of Iosh●a 6. 4 Abraham also at God's word walked through many difficulties obediently, Heb 11.8. He went and followed God to his foot, whose command carried him through that great trial of offering up Isaac, verse 17. God's special command overcame reason, affection, and all hindrances: God said to him, Take thy son, thine only son Isaac whom thou lovest; and offer him for a burnt offering, Gen 22. 2.  

2. God's word of promise is a prop to faith, God promised the walls should fall, Joshua 6 20. God hath spoken the word, faith is strong upon it. Believe in the Lord so shall ye be● established, believe his Prophets, so shall ye prosper, 2 Chron. 20. 20.  
F●ith for its confirm●tion minds in the pro●ises, 

1. God's mercy to make a promise, in pity to men, by it to send in relief to man's heart. God did perform his mercy to Abraham Mic 7. 20.  
2. God's grace in his promise, all is of grace to us unworthy, 'tis free without our desire or desert. Cry grace, grace to it, Zechar. 4. 7.  
3. God's truth, he is faithful, he fails not in his word, what he promised in mercy and grace he will keep in truth; he keepeth his truth for ever, Psal. 146. 6.      
2. Faith rests on God's providence, 
2 
Faith rests on God's providence, sustained 

1. By his goodnes●  
2. By his wisdom.  
3. By his power.     who is by it a wall of fire about his Church, Zechar● 2● 5. Faith in God's providence is sustained by beholding, 

1. His goodness, who is good to do his good in a time of need, which is a great strength to them. The Lord is good and a strong hold in the day of trouble, Nahum 1● 7  
2. His wisdom, he hath millions of ways to help his which they know not of, The Lord is great in counsel; who hath an art in working for his ●his ways are not known, but the wiles of his enemies be open to him, Ier. 32● 19●  
3. His power, nothing is too ha●d for him, Ier. 32 17. Faith looks not at the deadness of men, or ●naptnesse of means, but relies on God, persuaded that what he had promised he is able to perform, Rom. 4. 19 20    
1. Faith in God being so mighty, know it, 
1 
In form.  
1. The valour of believers.   believers be most valiant victors, the chiefest conquerors, godly men relying on the word, be stronger than all the world, their spirits be hero●● call, their arms made strong by the mighty God of Jacob; kingdoms cannot stand before them. Through faith they subdued kingdoms, Heb. 11 33. Waxed valiant in fight, verse 34. David believing in the Lord, prevailed against the great and formidable Philistine: by faith Barak overpowered Sisera and vanquished Jabin: by faith Gedeon mastered the Midianites: by faith Asa chased the Ethiopians: by it the Jews brought down Haman in his glory: by it the Canaanitish Kings fell before Joshua: by it the kingdom of Saints are a peerless people. It is the honour of all the Saints to triumph over all contrary Royalty and Nobility, to bind Kings in chains, and Nobles with fetters of iron, Psal. 149. 8, 9  

2 
The vanity to expect victory by what is not of faith, as 

1. Formality.  
2. Policy.  
3. Power.     2. 'Tis a vanity in any difficulty to expect victory by what is not of faith, which is so potent an instrument; without faith there is no settling of any heart in hope or state in happiness; If ye will not believe, surely ye shall not be established, ●say 7. 9  

1. Formality in Religion: Ceremonies in God's worship, be heartless, empty, powerless; faith is the power of godliness, 'tis a deceit to rest in going to Church (as men speak) as once it was confidence in a lie to say, The temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord are these, Ier●●. 4. These are lying words, they trusted to that could not profit, vers. 8. Yet God ruined all where was no faith, both the temple, vers. 14. and Shiloh of old, vers. 12. When Israel trusted to the Ark to save them from the enemy, 1 Sam. 4. 3. ●etch the ark— let it save us; Could it save● did it save them? nay, many Israelites were ●mitten, vers. 10. and an impure pair of Priests slain, verse 11.  

2. Policy is too impotent to remove all impediments, worldly wisdom weakens men, carnal reasonings be faiths enemies, and Satan's strong holds. Lean not to thine own understanding, Pro. 3.5. carnal reason is called a bitter enemy of God.  
Luther's oracle published, 
Melch. Adam. vita Lutheri. pa. 157.  what would be the pest and perdition of Christian Religion: 

1. Oblivion of Evangelical blessings.  
2. Security generally reigning.  
3. Worldly wisdom which would reduce all in order, and heal the land with ungodly counsels.    
Jehu subtly cut off Ahab's Baal's, and in wiliness, yea wickedness, kept jeroboam's calves, 2 Kin. 10. 28, 29. yet could not he continue the kingdom; for than began the Lord to cut Israel short, verse 32.   
3. Power of many men is too weak a prop to lean on. Many provisions, several stratagems, manifold machinations, be without faith means of no value; God promised Zerubbabel, whom as special Magistrate it concerned to see the temple re-edified, n●t by might of many men, or power of one man, but by my spirit, power, providence, and gracious favour, (when all helps which be subordinate fail) will I build the Temple, Zechary 4. 6.   
1. Prove ye yourselves, 
2 
Exhort.  
A trial of faith.  
1. It casts down walls 

1. In men's hearts.  
2. In men's houses.     whether you be fitted to conquer all comers, to remove all impediments, obstacles, or obstructions in your way and work; Have ye faith? deal kindly and truly with yourselves, be not by sloth, and presumption deceived.  
1. It is a faith will cast down walls.  


1. In men's hearts, it casts down strong holds in us, 2 Cor. 10. 4. it layeth low our lofty imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, it silenceth our reasonings, verse 5. it removes the perverseness of heart, it causeth frowardness of heart to depart, Psal. 101. it cannot endure vainglory, as in Hezekiah, his heart was lif● up after a mercy, 2 Chr. 32. 25. yet he humbled himself for the pride of his heart, verse 26. Faith di●allowes worldliness, ●. in lusts after honour, greatness, reputation; as Moses by faith he refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, verse 24. ². In lusts after pleasure; faith prefers the afflictions of God's people before the pleasures of sin, verse 25. 3. Lusts after profit and pleasure; the treasures of Egypt cannot lie in faith's way to bribe it, verse 26.  
Faith wastes, ruins, and undermines all inward evil, it regards no iniquity in heart, it purifieth the heart, it cleanseth the conscience, abhors hypocrisy, security, inward vanity, Acts 15. 9   
2. In men's hou●es, it is upright in the family, as David, I will walk within my house with a perfect hea●t, Psal. 101. 2. he reforms servants, He that worketh deceit shall not dwell in my house, he that telleth lies shill not tarry in my sight, ver. 7. The father of the faithful, Abraham commanded his children and household to keep the way of the Lord, Gen. 18. 19 Jacob purged his house from all stra●ge Gods and vanities, 35. 2. and had no enemy to hurt him, for the terror of God was upon the cities round about him, verse 5. Cornelius a Centurion, a pious soldier, a devout man, one that feared God with all his house, Acts 10. 3. Gedeon, a noted man for goodness, and famous for faith, began his reformation at his father's household, and cut down his grove, and threw down the Altar of Baal, Iud. 6. 25. 27. Have ye faith to cast down evils, Idols, and to remove scandals in God's houses, to reform our Churches, Ministers and members? and is it not most serious and sincere to begin with your own hearts and houses? how unseemly, yea and unsound is it to talk of reformation ecclesiastical, and to neglect the heart, as disordered, and the family as deformed and unreformed?   
2. This faith in God is effectual, 
2 
Faith is effectual.  

2. It relieth on the Lord.  
2. It glorieth in the word.  
3. It worketh by love, to Christ. To his Church.  
4. It walketh by rule. 

1. In religion.  
2. In reformation.      where it is in man.  

1. It relieth on the Lord, his presence, his assistance, his arm, his name; as Judah did in 2 Chron. 13. 18. Faith will set God his word, his promise, against all. Faith hath a God to trust to, the Lord is its hope, not men, or means, Ier. 17. 7.  
2. It glorieth in the word of God, with praise to God, when it seeth nothing but present trouble, in days of fear it fears not man, his cruelty, policy, power. When King Saul misled by evil counsellors, pursued David (a loyal subject, a faithful servant) to swallow him up, Psal. 56. in the title, and verse 1. his faith cures his fear, verse 3. his soul made its boast of the promise of God, verse 4.  
3. It worketh by love, to the Lord Jesus, Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it: if a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be contemned, it cleaves to Christ in contrary temptations, Cant. 8. 7. ². To the Church, it loves the household of faith, the Saints; others it pitieth, in them it delighteth, Gal. 6. 10. this is the faith the gospel praiseth, Gal. 5. 6.  
4. It walks and works by rule, a divine Canon, 6. 16. 

1. In Religion and worship of God, it minds and credits the word of God, 
Non ex arbitrio, sed ex imperio Deo serviendum.  'tis fully for the Scripture, all that is in the Scripture, it is for: as Paul confessed, I worship God, believing all things which are written in the law; it dislikes unwritten traditions, it disallows no divine institutions, it is well pleased to be ruled by God's will, it will not accept man's lust for a law, nor except against any law of Christ, Acts 24. 14.  
2. In reformation, it minds the word as a pattern most perfect, as Moses had his pattern, not a pin was left to his discretion in that great work of the tabernacle, yet he was prudent, he was pious, but he is charged to attend to directions of God; See that thou make all things according to the pattern showed to thee, Heb. 8. 5. the word is our pattern, in the day of grace, the man of God is to hold fast the form of sound words, as 2 Tim. 1. 13. measure all by this pattern in this our new building, Ezek. 43. 10.     
Learn all the forms, all the ordinances, and all the laws of this house, and do them, verse 11.  
A faithful man is to mind that too, Ezra 7. 18.  
do after the will of your God; command, or commend nothing but by divine warrant; whatsoever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be diligently done for the house of the God of heaven, verse 23. God's words is a perfect rule, fear him; do nothing without, beside, or against the word of God; God's commands contain a man's whole duty, Eccl. 12. 13. Faith is to believe no more than may be preached, but the preachers may and must preach; not what men invent, but whatsoever Christ commands, Mat. ●8. 20.  
God's word will furnish a man with all that is profitable, 2 Tim. 3. 16. and will perfect a man in all things doctrinal, and in all things practical; more than is in that perfect word, needs neither be known, taught, nor done in the Church of God, verse 17.  
2. Procure that which is the speedy way to remove all obstacles in your work, your good work; 
2 
Procure faith.  

1. Governors.  
2. Governed.   
Non docet ●ic Christus montes transfe●re, sed certitudinem fidei ●radit, & quanta sit fidei virtu●. B.   even this wonder-working faith, Mark. 11. 22. Have faith in God, this will remove mountains, great and seemingly settled impediments: believe what God doth say, and you may have what you shall say; verse 23. Christ doth ascertain us of it, neither is it spoken of miraculous faith, which removes these mountains, it is an useful instruction unto believers now, Mat. 21. 21. 22.  

1. governors, (Ye most noble senators) trust in the Lord, this will make you incomparable, successful, freemen, as Hezekiah, a godly King trusted in the Lord, so that none was like him, 2 Kings 18. 5. and he prospered whither soever he went, verse 7. it is a glory to be a believer and a counsellor, a believer, and a Parliament man. Be wise now and kiss the son of God, with faith; 'tis your wisdom, the believer is the wise man, it will be your happiness to trust in Christ, the believer is a blessed man, Psal. 2. 11,12.  
2. The Governed people who desire to do any good at this day, when difficulties be many, this work sticks: o 'tis want of faith! believe in the Lord, believe down these walls, these high walls, when others put to their hands, have ye faith in your hearts, believe in the Lord and prosper, 2 Chron. 20. 20.   
Now ye (Right Honourable, who love our nation, and whose hearts are to build us synagogues) who meet with many oppositions, and discern many obstructions, and such dangerous distractions in this crazy State and diseased Church; 




A way to have faith among us, by 

1. Promoting preaching.  
2. Provoking unto prayer.  
3. Providing for the pure administration of the seals.     1. Promote preaching of the word of faith, which is so powerful to remove impediments: men must hear if they would believe, and how shall they hear without preachers? Rom. 10. 14.  
'Tis preaching is a notable alarm against God-forsakers, although (as Church-Papists may do) they keep their Church, and will not be called Church-forsakers. 2 Chron. 13. 12.  
Preachers be the strength of a Land, the Charets of Israel and horsemen thereof, 2. King's 13. 14. It is more needful to set up Preachers, than garrisons in towns; let them have maintenance, countenance, continuance. Exalt ye Christ's kingdom, it will down with all contrary kingdoms; Satin's, and Antichrists power fails, and is broken, where Christ is known as King, Dan. 2.44. Christ is that stone, breaks some and grinds others to powder, Mat. 21.44.  
Let Christ (the object of faith) be the head, albeit the builders (in place, name; not in 1 act, 2 nature) refused him, Psal 118.22. What is to be expected in Counties, where little or no word of faith is? there the enemy's swarm and triumph: What good can you find in men, either toward righteousness, or religion, where men are as the mountains of Gilboa, no rain nor dew of the doctrine of faith falls on them? Let your hearts be lift up in the way of the Lord, to do according to that your pious resolution, of establishing a Preaching Minister through out all the whole ●ingdome; for faith comes by the word preached, Rom. 10. 17.   
2 Provoke unto prayer: Prayer is a way to have an addition to faith, Luke 17.5. Lord increase our faith: restrain not prayer by any decree, for any time, as they wickedly did, Dan. 6. 12. Let them that can pray, pray; men are to be excited, to cover earnestly the best gifts, and not to rest in a dull devotion, but to pray in the holy Ghost; a perfect help to prayer, a blessed mean of more faith, Iud. v. 20.  
3 Provide that the seals of the Covenant of God may be purely administered, as helps of faith, this excellent grace, Rom. 4.11. Let your wisdom search the book of God, and study the will of God, that according to the counsel of the Lord, Ministers and members in all our assemblies may be sanctified sufficiently for this, 2 Chron. 30. 2. Till men be sufficiently sanctified, they cannot come to the Lord's supper no more than keep the Passover, v● 3. Remove in this all obstacles, all superstitions, profanations, v. 14. O that all migh● be according to the Word of the Lord in Pastors and peop●e! 35.6. God is the God of order, in his own ordinances. Worship him we must after the due order, lest in stead of a blessing we meet with a blow; as David discovered and reformed, 1 Chron. 15. 2.13.    


Motives to faith; then 

1. Preaching profits.  
2. Prayer prevails.  
3. The soldier triumphs.  
4. Good done by God. 

1. He will effect all.  
2● he will bring thorough difficulties.  
3. He will show his glory.  
4● He can do a world of good in a week.       Motives to this faith in God; 

1. Preaching by it profits men; How good is a word, a sermon, a promise believed! it works effectually in them that believe, 1 Thes. 2.13. whereas the gospel full of glad tidings profits not, being not mixed with faith in them that hear it, Heb. 4. 2.  
2. Prayer then prevails when it is the prayer of faith; What is fasting without prayer, (prayer being a special duty more to be mending on a fast day) or prayer without faith? this day ye fast, this day ye pray, this day ye believe and speed; Asa cried to God, relied on God, 2 Chron. 14. 11. and the Ethiopians fled, verse 12.  
3. The soldiers by this triumph, and the enemies fall; faith is good in the field, faith is the warrior's Target, the soldier's shield. Trust in God will raise us, and ruin his enemies, Psal. 20. 7.8.  
4. God will do much good for those who trust in him.    

1. God will effect what they commit to him, trust to this Commissioner, and he will bring all to pass; works shall succeed and be prosperous, when men rest on the Lord: without faith, things will be at a st●nd, and not be effected: you would have all ended comfortably that is happily begun, rest on the Lord, and he will do it to your hand; Faith puts the business in, and will not take it out of God's hand, as Psal. 37. 5.  
2. God will carry believers thorough mids of manifold troubles, and difficulties, with great ease, comfort, and safety; the red Sea was for believers made dry land: ye whose unparalleled pains have met with unheard of difficulties in your proceedings, cast the eye of your faith upon the Lord, to make your way plain and passable, that the Lord's flock may go (albeit through the wilderness,) Canaan-ward, Heb. 11. 29.  
3. God will show believers his glory, his glory of power to help, of mercy to pity, of truth to keep promise, of wisdom to counsel them: men without faith, miss and meet not with God: but bow the ear to that of Christ our Saviour, Said I not unto thee, that if thou wouldst believe, thou shouldst see the glory of God, John 11.40.  
4. God can do a world of good for men in a week, 

Ratio quidem non ass●quitur, quomodo ex nihilo sint omnia; in●ò, ratio contradicit ex ni●ilo nihil fieri; quod verò ratio non capit, fides intelligit. Par. in Heb. 11. 3.  
In coelo plantat● & terra renovata— Ecclesia intelligitur. Sanct. in lo●.   he made a world in six days, that may cause us to rest on him; What great things can God do in a day in your great council, for this sinful kingdom, and corrupted Church! mind what a day may bring forth, or a week bring about; and rest on the Lord, who can work all our works for us: were a matter as hard as to make a world, yet God can by his own hand (he needs no in●truments, who are all unactive without him) plant the heavens, and lay the foundation of the earth, isaiah 51.16.   
2. The manner of this fact, they are diligent every day, early compassing this city Jericho seven days, having no rest till the work be done, the walls be down, as the Lord had told them.  
Faith in God is active for God, till it have done the will of God, 
Observ. 3.  the work of God, as Joshua and Israel did as God bade them without ceasing; so Caleb a man of a generous spirit, having a regenerate heart, when others would turn back, he would on to Canaan in the act of faith, he fully followed the Lord, who promised them the land, Numb. 14. 24.  
Faith's activeness is 


A●●● bete co●omoda & removete quaecunque sunt incommoda ad promovendam ecclesiam. I●n. The good Kings of Judah, 1. abolished idolatry, and superstition, & 2. planted true religion D. Will. on. Dan.  1. In removing stumbling-blocks as walls out of the way, that God's people may hold on in God's way and not decline: it is a command, Prepare the way, take up the stumbling-block out of the way of my people, isaiah 57 14.  
2. In restoring the worship of God, that all divine institutions may be enjoyed in a right manner and due order: thus David was solicitous and reckoned himself afflicted, till the Ark of God was set in its proper place, Psal. 132. 1. David's afflictions, his religious care to bring the Ark home before that breach upon Uzzah. ●un: he vowed, and laid a solemn tye upon his soul; an oath, a forcible obligation, verse 2. he would not give sleep to his eyes, or slumber to his eyelids, ver. 4. in his new house which he had builded in the city of David, verse 3. till he found out a place for the Lord, represented by the Ark, verse 5.    
In that faith is so active it may inform us, 



1 Inform.  1. 'Tis no wonder, that many (unwilling to be good, or wise to do evil) so hinder and oppose faith in the means of it; the enemies have reason (as they would be true to a cursed cause) to resist it, which will not rest till it have razed their walls, ruined their building, crossed their cause, overthrown their helps, and dashed their hopes.  

1. The devil hinders faith, that it be not preached to men: Paul would have come to the Thessalonians, for the furtherance of faith; but Satan (an adversary) hindered, 1 Thes. 2. 18. the devil in his instruments turns away men (desirous to hear the word of God) from the faith, as Elymas (the child of the devil) dealt with the Deputy Sergius Paulus, a prudent man, Acts 13. 7,8,10.  
2. The world allows and likes no believers, they are all under the observation of an envious eye, as ●ahab was in Jericho, Ios. 22. the men of this world, not men of God, forbid preaching, the word of faith, and salvation, 1 Thes. 2. 16. they are stiff opposers: as apostatical Alexander greatly withstood (who had once stood for) Paul's preaching, 2 Tim. 4. 14, 15.   
They put away, shoulder, 
{non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman}.  and thrust out the word of God, Acts 13.46   

2. Many persons be wicke● men, men of no faith, as is evident by their non-activity for God, for whom faith is active; and of this sort are they, 

1. Who be pleaders for Baal, and his wall that it should not down; when it was down, that men if they do not stigmatize, yet they particularize reformers, eminent men, as Gedeon, (a man, well known in those corrupt times, by his work of faith) appointed to die. Baal's Altar was cast down, Iud. 6.28. they said Gedeon had done it, verse 29. they willed his father Joash, to bring him forth that he may die, verse 30. a fitter censure for those who will plead for Baal; he that will plead for him, let him be put to death, verse 31.  
2. Who be neuters, as lu●e-warme, most loathed persons, who will not meddle, nor have a hand in any good, as cursed Meroz, a people who came not to the help of the Lord, Iud. 5. 23. men bitterly cursed of God, as the Reubenites, mere worldlings, minding their folds and flocks, verse 16. lazy Gilead tarried at home, verse 17. Dan tarried, minded his trade, his ships and traffic, ibid. Asher on the Sea coast abode in his breaches to fortify himself as weak, verse 17. and secure Jabesh Gilead yielded, sent in none to punish delinquents, men of great folly and villainy in Israel, Iud. 21. 9 albeit it was by an ordinance of their Parliament in a general Assembly, 20. verse 2. 9, 10. that the children of Belial might receive condign punishment, verse 13.     

3. Who be active against the Church, for the enemy, with the enemies of Church and State, as Edom, Moah, Ammon, join with Philistines, Tyrians, Assyrians, degenerate professors, fit companions, (in service against the Church, albeit they pretend the Church-service) of lewdest persons, Papists, Atheists, and men of flagitious lives, Psalm. 83. 5, 6, 7.  
This did Amelek, feared not God, but smote the Church in its way for liberty, Deut. 25. 17,18. These as Balaam (hired to curse the Church of God) can pray, read a prayer, yea preach against the children of God, under the notion of heresy, hypocrisy, schism, rebellion, treason, Numb. 22. 17. 23. 8.   

4. Who be builders of jerichoes walls, as the men who set up superstitions, Altars, images, innovations; they be known men, God (if they belong to him) grant them repentance, lest that curse be clapped upon them, Cursed be the man before the Lord, that riseth up and buildeth this city Jericho, Joshua 6. 26.     
Faith in God, being so Active for God, 
2 Exhort.  as men persuaded of this, be active, quit yourselves like men, as did general Joab to his brother Abishai in that fight against Ammon and the Syrians, Be of good courage, and let us play the men for our people, and for the cities of our God, and the Lord do that which seemeth him good, 2 Sam. 10, 11, 12. receive that counsel, put yourselves in array against Babylon round about; all ye that bend the bow shoot at her, spare no arrows, for she hath sinned against the Lord, Ier. 50. 14.  
1. Rulers, ye Worthies of our Israel, called out of Noble families in the several coasts of the kingdom, as they in Israel out of Ephraim, Benjamin, Machir, Issachar, Zebulon, and Naphtali, be● ye of raised and stirring spirits in the work of the Lord, Iud. 5. 14, 15, 18.  
1. In the civil State. Most sage Senate, touch the mountains of proud incendiaries, they will become a plain before you, Zechar. 4. 7. Scatter the everlasting mountains of firm settled Canaanites, make the perpetual hills bow, Hab. 3. 6. Remove the wicked from before (they will rush into the presence of the, as special servants, and chaplains in Ordinary to) the King, that his throne may be established in righteousness, take away the dross from the silver, impious persons be very pernicious to Princes, as Darius' counsellors, Herod's flatterers, Pharaoh's sorcerers, Rehob●ams young companions, with many Haman's to Ahasu●●●●, D●●g● to Saul, who blemish the repu●ation of Princes, 
Spiritus dicuntur, quia professione erant spirituales Patres; tres, multi su●ficientes negotio suo peragendo; impuri, ortu, ingenio ac moribus; ●imiles ranis, sordibus, impudentia, loquacitate, clamositate, aures regum obtundunt; ranarum quadrata capita geometricis Pileis referunt, Par. i● lo●.  as Sh●bna did Heze●iahs, Prov. 25. 45. Leave no frogs, that creep into King's chambers, provoking them by their croaking to make war; they are known by the g●●ter whence they come, out of the mouth of the Dragon, out of the mouth of the beast and the false Prophet; they are spirits of devils, which go forth unto the Kings of the earth, to gather them to battle; Prince against his Principality, King against Parliament, kingdom against kingdom, nation against nation, England against Scotland; by Men like frogs impudent in croaking, the frogs head like their caps; quadrata ranarum capita; frogs are an Egyptian plague, Rev. 16. 13,14. Here is work for the power of a Parliament, that the King may have no croakers in his Chamber or Court, to be offensive to his royal ●ares, ●ha●●he kingdom distracted and bleeding may have justice and peace● this (God commanding you so) do according to your wisdom, given you of God.  
1. 〈…〉, 
A n●w decree made, ● by Nebuchadn●zzar, to punish blasphemers, Dan. 3. 29.  binding 〈◊〉 any vanity● or burdens which lie heavy on the Church: the King's word was changed, Dan. 3. 28. the decree ●ullified, verse 10. as did Darius, Dan. 6. 26. and Haman● letters of Mart reversed by Ahas●●r●s to Esther and Mordecai, Esther 8. 5. 8.  

2 By Darius for true Religion, 6. 26. A great change in Kings and laws.  2. Contend with great one●, Nobles, Judges, Just●ces, that be profan● themselves, or counten●nce ●●iquity in the kingdom; as did renowned Ne●emi●●, with those men who profaned the Sabbath, N●h●m. 13. 17, 18.  
3. Destroy the accursed, d●aw the wheel over the wicked, take away the accursed things, 
Vnius faci●us pesti● multorum Salvian. de guber. Deo. l. 7.  else God will have a controversy with England, and deny us his presence in all our proceedings; away with achan's, Iosh. 7.11. 12.  
2. In the Church.  
1. Cast out block●, stumbling blocks: as Asa took courage and put aw●y abominations out of the land, 2 Chron. 15. 7, 8. and Jehosophat took away the high places & groves out of Judah, and did not leave them to please the people, 17. 6. Show you your integrity, as that pious Prince, 20. 32. let it be the people's blemish, to affect and keep ●p high places, verse 33. Remember the Prelates, as that proud Primate Diotrephes, with malicious words, 
{non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman}.  prating against and casting out good Church-members, 3 Ioh. 10. bear not, but be imp●tient with men who pretend to be apostolical, and are apostatical liars, Rev. 2. 2. Forget not the odious sin of non-re●idency, idle, dumb, and scandalous ministers, which make the people loathe the offerings of the Lord, drive them out of God's house for the wickedness of their doings, Hos. 9 15. Regard the godly discipline of zealous Josiah, he put down idolatrous Prie●●s, 2 Kin. 23. 5. that they should not come up to the Altar of the Lord in Jerusalem, verse 9 It is recorded what Nehemiah did in his zeal and reformation, he cleansed the Chambers (of intruders) in the Courts of the house of our God, Nehe●. 13. 7, 8,9. and chased away Sa●ballats sons in law from him, ve●. 28. These (as the Ierich●n●i●es●hut their gates, Iosh. 6. 1.) hinder the passage of the people of God into the land of Canaan. Mat. 23. 13. ●ee ●inder; people be too slow, but it is laid on the Priests as the impediment, ye would not, verse 37. It is considerable what was done to the leprous house: 


Levit. 14. 40.  1. Take away the stones in which the plague is.  
●. Take other stones and put in the place of them, Lev 14. v. 42. If after the house be scraped and plastered, the plague come again and break out in the house, v. 43. then break down the house, the stones of it, and timber thereof, and all the mortar of the house; it is a fretting leprosy, verse 45.    
A leprosy was discovered in Queen Mary her days, after that zealous Prince King Edward the sixt, but all was new plastered in the reign of that England's Deborah, Queen Elizabeth: but the plague is broken out again, wherefore down must the house, leave not one stone upon another unthrowne down. For profaneness from the Priests is gone out through all the land, profaneness, superstitions, are spread; down with their walls, their builders, their repairers, their defenders, as Joash judged, Iud. 6. 31.  
2. Erect ● wall about the Church in building it up, as Exod. 15. 2. prepare God an habitation, with a stirring spirit do the Lord's work, Hag. 1. 14. and then prosper in your work, From this day will I bless you; consider what success hath followed since the voting down the Prelacy, what blessing God gives you, Hag. 2. 18, 19  
2. Preachers be active to cast down Antichrist, Popery in doctrine, and wor●hip; the Churches be called Reformed, not only in doctrine true, but in discipline pure.  
1. In preaching the word of truth; Preachers must do their work as well as Princes, to cast down the man of sin; God casts him down with the spirit of his mouth, 2 Th●s. 2. 8. preach the gospel, Christ conquers by it, riding on the white horse, Revel. 6. 2. Dagon will fall before the Ark, 1 Sam. 5. 3.  
2. In praying, coveting the best gifts, to lift up a prayer, not in their hand, but in their heart for Zion's happy deliverance; not in a formal customary bedulling manner, but watching thereunto according to all occasions and seasons; we having the same spirit of prayer as Isaiah had, let us lift a prayer as Isaiah was bid, 2 King. 19.4.  
3. In our examples, as patterns; be patterns of believers in spirit, 1 Tim. 4. 12. be as the he-goats before the flocks, Ier. 50. 8. The Priests circuited Jericho, go into the gap, stand in the hedge for the house of Israel to stand in the battle in this day of the Lord's controversy with England, Ezek. 13. 5.  
3. People be active for God.  

1. By their portions. 
Quis Domino mente credit & facultate noncredit? quis Deo animam suam ma●cipat & pecunia● negat? Salvian. ad Eccl. Cath. lib. 2.  Honour the Lord with your substance, now when his enemies would rob us of Religion, let your merchandise be holiness to the Lord, isaiah 23. 18. Prov. 3. 9  
2. By their persons, power, and lives; it is a glory in ●ebulon and Naphtali, they jeoparded their lives, Iud. 5. 18.  
3. By prayer: earnest prayer was made by the Church in a troublous time, Acts 12. 5. that God would remember Church-enemies Edomites, Psal. 137. 7.   
1. The manner of this activeness.  


1. Obedientially, do all according to God's will, rule and call, else a man may smart for it, as Jehu did, Hos● 1, 4. Jehu reformed after his own and not God's heart, and God would be revenged on the house of Jehu. do all according to the law of God, and then let all obey● as Artaxerxes to Ezra, Ezra 7 25,26. God's laws are not new but old ways, his law is not novelty, but the best antiquity; ask for the old way, Ier. 6. 16.  
Away cast up of God to go in, isaiah 57 14.  
Thus peace shall be to you in doing as God commands you, Exod. 18. 23.   
2. Diligently; the Israelites go about Jericho seven days, and seven times the seventh day, most of all on the Sabbath: enemies receive greatest blows, and the Church greatest help, blessing, victories on that day; Be not weary of your work albeit it cost you many days, work not slothfully, He is cursed who doth the work of the Lord negligently, Ier. 48. 10.  
3. unanimously they all compassed it; unity is happy in the people, in the Preachers, in the Parliament, all as one man, all one way, Ne●em. ●. 1. no divisions● Are ye not Members in this High Court, both Houses one Parliament, all vote for the truth, for holiness, for justice against iniquity, sc●ndall, Popery? it is the good ha●d of God to our joy to give you one heart, 2 Chron. 30. 12. with your magnanimity, to grace you with unanimity. You call to mind this day, we have one Covenant and Protestation to maintain truth, to withstand evil; be enlarged in covenanting, as of Jehoiada 'tis writ, He made a covenant between the Lord and the King and the people, that they shoul● be the Lord's people; (when this was) than all the people of the land brak● down thoroughly Baal his house, altars, and images to pieces; unanimity works effectually to cast down iniquity, 2 Kin. 11. 17, 18.  

4. Patiently, 1. in tarrtance for a fit time, the Lord's time; we see nothing done (We call great things nothing, who the other year would have been glad of some of those many things be now effected) at many day's work, as they in compassing Jericho many times, 12 times saw never a stone fall'n, yet it will succeed well in the end, and all will down. Though the vision tarry, wait for it; at the end it shall speak, and not lie; it will surely come, it will not tarry, Hab. 2. 3.  
2. In silence, mutter not; in this compassing of Jericho, not one spoke a word till the last day; and than ye shall shout, Joshuah 6. 10.  
Stand still, fear not, hold your peace, Exod. 14. 13. 14.  
Wait ye for the salvation of the Lord, 2 Chron. 20. 17.   
5. Confidently by faith, an active grace, valia●tly be strong in the Lord, who will not deceive, Heb. 11. 34. Stagger not at the promise, Rom. 4. 20. call to mind ye mighty men, the Magistrates must have lion-like courage in every p●ssage of their work, all the steps of Solomon's throne were s●pp●rted with lions, 1 Kings 10. 19 20.  
6. Constantly till the wall be down, the work be done, and way be made for the Lord's peopl● to pass on toward their inheritance; wait on God till mercy come, Psal. 123. 1, 2. till the Lord l●ok down upon us, Lam. 3. 49, 50. as Israelites w●astling till we have a blessing, Gen. 32. 26. nev●r h●ld your peace day nor night, keep not silence, give the Lord no rest till he establish and make Jerusalem a praise in the earth, isaiah 62. 6, 7.   
2. The motives to this activeness.  

1. In regard of the enemies. 

1. They are active, a busy world it is, they lay their heads together to plot mischief, and as Samson's foxes turned tail to tail to burn up all, they are set on fire, Iud. 15. 4. they take crafty counsel, they consult: shall they stir against good for evil, and we sit still and not move against evil for good? Psal. 83. 3. Philistines could animate one another, Be strong, quit yourselves like men, against the Israel of God, 1 Sam. 4. 9 they encourage themselves in an evil matter, Psal. 64. 5, 6.  
2. They would ruin all, Jerusalem must (so they have their will) down to the ground, raze it, raze it even to the foundation, Psal. 137. 7. they would have the name of Israel no more in remembrance, 83.4. They would cut off Ireland, that none might remember the Lord any more. May not this provoke men's zeal (to see the wicked devour the men more righteous than themselves) to help Ireland with all forwardness? alas for it, the day is great, cruel men have shed blood, the blood of Saints, the blood of Prophets, and in justice they must have blood to drink: for they are worthy, Rev. 16.5,6. Reward Babylon as she hath rewarded you, double to her double, in the cup she hath filled, fill to her double, 18. 6.  
3. They be spiritless, faint and fearful, they fly away, follow on; the Canaanites hearts melted before the armies of Israel, Iosh. 5. 1. and no courage left in Jericho, 2. 11. near a ruin, they are dead, 6.21. A hornet of fear is before their fall; fear not them who are half dead men, Exod. 23. 27, 28.  
4. They are fall'n, Babylon is fall'n, is fall'n; it is repeated, it is certain, Revel. 18.8. fall'n 1. in dominion, Kings and persons fall from them. 2. In doctrine, her folly is manifested. 3. In credit for religion and holiness, which made them feared and honoured. 4. In rich revenues taken away by the power of the gospel, the whore is a withered, that once was a well favoured harlot, the beasts kingdom is full of darkness, 

{non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman}  
Rev● 16.10.11.   a Scottish mist is fall'n on Episcopacy, the vial is on them, and yet they repent not. Go on and prosper in your work, and the Lord hasten Babylon's full and final fall. Rev. 18. 2.    
2. In regard of the work. 

1. It is high, an angelical work; who but angel's power out the vials. May not men work? Rev. 15. 1, 6.  
2. It is holy, a divine work, you work as Gods; you have a divine title, in office, Gods, Psal. 82. 6. You work for the King and the kingdom, for your countries, and our consciences; your and our Eternity. You work for Christ and his kingdom, you work for the Lord, 2 Chron. 19 6.  
3. It is a happy, it is a blessed work; happy you in rewarding Babylon as she hath served us; you may by just censure do to her, what she in her agents hath done to us in unjust sentence, Psal. 137. 8. You work here, but you and yours have many a prayer, every day prayer, oft in the day prayer, Christ's servants in the ministry pray for you, Christ's people his beloved ones pray for you, all that can pray, pray for you● the blessing of the poor, the prisoner, the exiled, the persecuted, the oppressed, the just, is upon you, that you may be as the Sun when it goeth in his strength, over all mountains, and sublunary impediments. Much honoured, you may well work, you are under many a prayer, with many a tear poured out to God the hearer of prayers, that you and your work may prosper: it will wither any most flourishing bay tree, to have the Church pray against it; it will put vigour and spirit into any gracious hea●t, to have God's children pray for it. Iud. 5. 31.  
4. It is Honourable, a work full of credit: Joshuah is by this made famous in the world, upon this fall his fame was noised throughout all the country, Josh. 6. 27. Great is, and greater will be the glory of this England's Parliament, albeit you meet with ill requital, by an unworthy and unthankful people, yet your work will redound to ages, to posterity that will know your name; you continue Israel's name, yea Christ's name among us; you shall be called the friends of nations, the healers of the kingdom, deliverers raised up, Saviours come up on mount Zion, the repairers of the breach, the restorers of the path to dwell in, isaiah 58. 12. Work the Lord's work, study his name and glory, he will mind your memory, and honour, your name shall be blessed, Prov. 10. 7.    
3. In regard of good to many. 


1. The King shall reign in honour, and happiness, (all impediments removed) a loving King over a li●g● people●his throne will be established i● righteousness, Prov. 25. 5. the evil (the King sitting on the throne of judgement) will be scattered away with his eyes, 20. 8. His crown will be in safety, and His Person in dignity, verse 21.  
His Subjects many to His Honour, 14. 28.  
His Countenance as life to them, 16. 15. and His Favour as the cloud of the latter rain, yea as dew upon the grass, 19 22. to the joy of his people by justice, 29. 2.   
2 The way to Canaan, heaven opened, 
Doc●tur po●● l●ngam ign●rantiam facienda● esse hominibus copiam cognoscendae veritatis. Locupletissimum veritatis incrementum, doctrin● pluribus capitibus illustratâ, enucl●atius cognitâ, distinctius traditâ. Bri● in loc.  and by the preaching of the gospel made plain, which by impediments was shut up; the Temple of God was open, Revel. 11. 19 After much ignorance, truth shall be known more clearly; the little book will be open, the veil will be taken away, Revel. 10. 2. which was marvellously overspread, isaiah 25. 7. down with these walls, and then many may go on more comfortably, hopefully, speedily, to the promised land.  
3 Liberty for God's chosen, to come out of the fellowship of Canaanites, to hold communion with true Israelites: as Rahab was freed from Jericho when the walls fell, and it was taken; She was saved alive and dwelled in Israel: many now greatly afflicted with the company of the evil doers, when the work of reformation comes to an end, shall be able to live in communion of Saints; Joshua 6. 25.  
4 An addition to the Church of God of many distressed, who by human vanities, and inhuman persons could not dwell in the land; who will come home, and fall in to us abundantly by a reformation: many went away, but went not from us; but were scattered, they love the assembly of Saints, without separation from them; when offences be taken away, they being driven away will be gathered; we shall lose none but gain many, 
Ecclesia D●i est q●asi oculus: n●m u● in oculum etiamsi parva sordes in●idit, t●tum l●men ob●aeca●; sic in Ecclesiastico corpore, etiamsi pa●ci sordida faciant, propè ●otum Ecclesiastici splendoris lumen obscurant. Sal●ian. de Gubern. Dei lib. 7. ●  whereas men's former ways have scattered Saints and increased Papists, and superstitions have overspread the face of Religion in many places: our study to continue the Church in peace by vain ceremonies, hath increased distractions in it; and the will and wit of man to content and convert Papists with maypoles and Morris-dances, is both vicious and ridiculous. King Asa his serious reformation, in putting down Idols, and in setting up God's worship, brought in men; 2 Chron. 15 8. And he gathered all Judah and Benjamin, and the strangers with them out of Ephraim and Manasses, and out of Simeon: (for they fell to him out of Israel in abundance, when they saw that the Lord his God was with him) verse 9    
4 In regard of God, 

1 His word, 

1 Calling you his choice ones to do his work, as to Solomon, God hath chosen thee to build him a Sanctuary; take heed, God's providence was in your choice, people set their hearts on you, gave voice and hand for you, to do this work; you see your call, mind your duty, authority, opportunity, and do as God hath called you, 1 Chron. 28. 10.  
2 Commanding you to do his work, be strong, and of good courage, do it; v. 20.    

2. His reward to you, your work shall be rewarded, so did Obed assure Asa, 2 Chron. 15. 7. you shall not lose your labour in God's service, Ierem. 31. 16. God will not be a man as Nabuchadnezzar, lack his wages for his Army, Ezek. 29. 19 but the Lord said, I have given him the land of Egypt for his labour, wherewith he served against it, (Tyre) because they wrought for me, saith the Lord, verse 20.  
Then he will give his voluntary servants a plenary reward, 2 John 8.  

1 internal peace, joy, hope, the fruit of well-doing in your pure consciences, inward friends, very fast and faithful to you without falsehood or flattery, 2 Cor. 1. 12.  
2 external in your houses, God will bless you, and build your families; take care of God's house, his worship, Religion, children, let God alone with your households; you are from them for to wait on God, God will be with them to wait to do you good; mind God's house now at this day● this time, God will care for yours for time to come; as to David, the Lord will build thee an house, 1 Chr. 17. 10. David said in thankfulness to his God, thou hast spoken of thy servants house for a great while to come, verse 17.  
3 eternal, the reward of faith, 
{non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman}; mercedem fidei: Bez. Praemium: Tr. inter.  the salvation of the soul, 1 Peter 1. 9 God will never give less than a kingdom, o be faithful in this kingdom, you shall have a call to inherit a prepared Kingdom; Ye blessed, inherit ye it. Mat. 25 34.    

3 His presence, behold him, Moses saw him, hence is your ability, sufficiency, safety, success, think on it every day to meet with God in your Honourable assembly, God is among you gods, God judgeth among the Gods, Hebrews 11. 27. with Psal. 82.1.  

1 To work before you: God wrought on the Jerichuntines ere Joshua came to them, Rahab told the spies, The Lord hath given you the land, your terror is fallen on them, they faint because of you, Joshua 2.9. God hath wrought before you in Scotland, an honoured nation, our dearest brethren, a loyal people, most faithful subjects. You have had your feet on the neck of the enemy, follow on in justice and holiness; so shall God do to all your and his enemies. God will clear your righteousness as the light, and your judgement as the noon day, Psal. 37. 6.  
2 To work for you: God will work all your works for you, to your hand, when they may be too hard for you, isaiah 26. 12. Christ that man with a drawn sword comes in for his, as a captain of the Lord's host, to fight for them when Joshua could not tell which way to assault Jericho, Joshua 5. 13, 14.  
3 To work with you: as with Gedeon; The Lord is with thee, thou mighty man of valour, Iud. 6. 12. the sword of the Lord and Gedeon will make the enemies run, cry, and fly away, 7. 20, 21. 
Exibitis victores, alacres, quia Deus ●rit dux vester, vosque proteget & diriget. Cornel. à Lap. in loc. Ruina Babylonis praebitura sanctis laetandi & celebra●di Dei jucundissimum argumentum. Par.   
4 To be rearward to you, to gather you up, the Lord will regard the faint and weary, he will help his on, he will shield his from fear of the enemies and hurt of evil: The Lord shall go before you, and the God of Israel shall be your rearward, Isai 52. 12.    
4 His praise and glory (your ultimate end, your chief desire) when the walls be down the people shout, Joshua 6. 20. the Church will praise God when Babylon falls, much people in heaven (the Church reformed and redeemed from the earth) were saying Allelujah, Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power unto the Lord our God, Revel. 19 1. for he hath judged the great whore, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand, verse 2. again Allelujah verse 3. all the company of Saints say again Allelujah, verse 4. a voice charging me● to praise God, vers. 5. Allelujah, for the Lord God omnip●tent reigneth, verse 6.       
Let the fear of the Almighty fall upon all your hearts who come this day to lay yourselves low before him, go from this duty with renewed purposes and confirmed resolutions to be for the Lord and his work with all activeness. Think on the enemies of the Church: Be they active? and not you! Would they ruin all? and not you study to preserve all? Be they spiritless, may not you have heartiness? Be they fallen? will you fear them? Consider what may carry you on in your work, it is high, and holy, happy, and honourable: be of good courage and do it; ponder in your hearts the good you may do in your work, the King's Honour, the Subjects peace, the way to heaven more opened, the liberty of the Church procured, and an addition to the Church of many scattered, all call upon you, and under God depend on you. With deepest thoughts regard God's word calling and commanding you; God's reward internal, external, and eternal for you; God's pre●en●e to work before you, for you, with you: and to be rearward to you; God's praise the greatest good, the chiefest fruit of all your work, who will allow you comfort; and take the glory to himself: vow this day to the Lord and perform it Say, every soul, I am the Lords, that it may be evident you have fasted to the Lord, 
Christianus nisi bona opera fecerit, fidem suam penitus approbare non possit, Salv. de Gubern. lib. 4.  prayed to the Lord, believed in the Lord, while you work for the Lord; then the Lord will turn our Trouble into Peace, our Crosses into Comforts, our Fasting into Feasting, our Prayer into Praise, our Sorrow into joy, and our Mourning into a good day.  
FINIS.