GOD'S Lift-up Hand FOR Lancashire, Presented in a Sermon Preached before the Honourable Committee of the County at Lancaster. Upon the 18th of December 1645. Being a Solemn day of Thanksgiving to God for clearing of the County, in subduing the enemies thereof. By NEHEMIAH BARNET, Minister at Lancaster. LONDON, Printed by W. WILSON, for JOHN WILLIAMS, and are to be sold at the Crown in Paul's Churchyard. 1646. To the Worshipful, Mr. Major, The Bailiffs and Burgesses of the Town of Lancaster, N. B. desireth their sanctification on earth, and glorification in Heaven. GENTLEMEN, MY thoughts have been long perplexed to find out some way or other whereby I might return some acknowledgement of the many expressions of love, and underserved favours, which I have received from you; I dare not deny, but I am deeper indebted to you; then to any people under Heaven, and the debt I own to you is above my ability, not willingness, to pay; I here tender you earnest, let your goodness please to accept of this in part, (if it may be in good part) till the whole comes. I offer herein some of my first fruits unto you, and do earnestly desire you would accept them, and wish them safe protection, for I dedicate not only them, but myself unto you, necessitated thereunto by an obliged duty of thankfulness; and receive them as from one that unfeignedly desires the salvation of your souls. In the preaching of this Sermon you might perceive, I did not seek so much to please, as to profit, not to inform the judgement, as to work on the affections; but till God blessed it in both, I never purposed it should have been broached abroad, because it might seem as a candle lighted at noon day; it found such approbation, that it was thought fit that it should not be confined within the narrow limits of a Parish; but that it should be communicated to others, by these silent speaking characters. It is a true saying, that Printing is a kind of Preaching, though not so * Solet acceptior esse sermo vivus quam scriptus. Bern. plausible and prevalent to persuade, yet it is of larger extent (seeing a man may Preach to more by his pen then his tongue, and be farther heard out of the Press, than the Pulpit) for a dead man may live in his books, and by them preach to the living, though unborn, when he dieth. I would account it a double happiness if I could do good both ways. I am sensible of the curiosity of the times, and of my own insufficiency, those small abilities God hath given me to profit others, are rather in the Pulpit, than the Press: yet for the benefit of sleepy and secure Malignants in the North (whereof some received some light from this poor talon of mine) therefore it is come to light, and for a light; that they may see how fare in the day it is, that it is time for blind believers to awake, and behold God every day by his lift-up hand, putting matter of thanksgiving both in our hands and hearts. It is a part of my prayer that God would wind up our hearts to the right tune of Hallelujahs, and that the rest may have as much cause of praising the the Lord of Host as the North hath had, that so God might perfect his own work of reformation, and put a period to our wars and depopulations. You know too well, how sad and deplorable was the Condition of this ancient Corporation, when the common and cruel enemy had plundered your houses, and loaden themselves with your Wealth, which (with much Labour and Sweat) all your life time you had been gathering for you, and your posterity, and wanting light to steal away what they had possessed themselves of, therefore their malice set on fire your habitations, & brought many of them to ashes. When your Castle was left carelessly by Commanders, that had it not been for God's lift-up Hand, that which was left unburnt, had been at their command, and yourselves Slaves to those bloody Towne-Burning Adversaries. Then you became the subject of many prayers, and object of many tears, so that you might have said with Saint Paul, 2 Cor. 1.8, 9, 10, 11. We were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired, even of Life: but we had the sentence of Death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in GOD which raiseth the dead, who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us. Yea, also helping together by Prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us, by the means of many persons, thanks may be given by many on our behalf. Hath God raised you out of this woeful condition, and do your dead bones live? Let then the language of your praises be that of david's, Psalm 18.46, 47, 48, 49. The Lord liveth, and blessed be my rock; and let the God of my salvation be exalted: It is GOD that avengeth me, and subdueth the people under me; he delivereth me from my enemies, yea thou liftest me up, above those that rise up against me: thou hast delivered me from the violent man. Therefore will I give thanks unto thee, O Lord, among the Heathen; and sing praises unto thy Name, * Psal. 62.18, 19 and blessed be the Lord God of Israel, who only doth wondrous things. What misery did formerly befall the Town, by the lift-up Hand of GOD'S Justice, was for sin; And now GOD seems to smile upon you, and is willing to be reconciled with you; never return again to your former folly; for new-provoking Transgressions, or old, unrepented of, will procure new depopulations. Therefore sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto you. Sin is the ruin of a Town, nay of a Kingdom; and if that our Enemies did at any time ruinated our estates, we may thank ourselves. Sin is like a Traitor in our bosoms, that will open the gates of the strongest Castle to the enemy. Sin weakens the hands, and makes them unapt to fight; it was not the strength of AI that overcame the Israelites, but ACHANS sin: The sins of LANCASTER, were the enemies of LANCASTER; these cursed CANAANITES are always rising up against us: but it must be our Repentance that must repair our Ruins, and be our future Fortress, in the days of dangers: The LORD in mercy destroy our sins, and not our Towns, lest our unrepented sins force him to fire the remainder of our houses, to fire us out of our Formalities, and manifold iniquities. Let us not provoke GOD any more, lest the next blow be the last blow, and the everlasting destruction of us. I confess the course you have lately taken in Reforming the Sabbath, hath wrought much good, and the executing Justice on profane sinners, hath been a good work, and may prove the only means to turn away the wrath of God from us (which was increased by drunkenness, and profaneness.) I beseech you go on in the work and way you have begun with courage and constancy, and be assured the LORD is with you, while you are with him: Your joining the sword of your power to the word of your Minister, is the highway to a blessing; your prudent perseverance in the work so well begun, will procure many praises to GOD, many prayers for you, and much joy in the hearts of all them who sincerely affect you: Of which number you may reckon him who is Your most humble Servant, for the good of your souls, NEHE. BARNET. Gods lift up Hand for LANCASHIRE. OR, A Sermon Preached upon the day of Thanksgiving, for the clearing of that County in subduing the Enemies thereof. ISAIAH. 26.11. Lord when thy hand is lifted up they will not see: but they shall see and be ashamed: for their envy at the people, the fire of thine enemies shall devour them. IF you please at your leisure to look back into this Prophecy, you shall find the promises that God hath made to his Church turned into the Church's Prayers, and the prayers of the Church bring forth many passages of God's providence, and the passages of God's providence to his Church and People, wind up their hearts to the true tune of praises. The experience of God's Providences hath ever provoked Primitive Christians to God's praises. When Israel had crossed the Red-seas with dry feet, and the returning waters had drowned the pursuing enemies, Moses and the people sang a Song of triumph, and spoke saying, I will sing unto the Lord, Exod. 15. V 1. for he hath triumphed gloriously, the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the Sea. V 2. The Lord is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him a habitation; my father's God, and I will exalt him. V 3. The Lord is a man of war: The Lord is his Name. When Deborah had conquered Sisera, Judges 5. with his 900 Chariots of Iron, whereby the Land had rest forty years, she sang this rejoicing Song to the Lord. Praise ye the Lord, V 2 for avenging of Israel; when the people willingly offered themselves. Hear, oh ye Kings, V 2. give ear oh ye Princes: I, even I, will sing unto the Lord, I will sing praises to the Lord God of Israel. When God restored Judah back again out of Captivity; this Chapter was their song of triumph, wherein three things are observable. First, the place where it was sung, V 1. In that day shall this Song be sung in the Land of Judah. Secondly, the persons rightly fitted and qualified for the singing of this joyful Song, set down in this Chapter by four Qualifications. 1. They are a righteous Nation, V 2. which keep the truth, v. 2. 2. They are such whose mind is stayed on God, because they trust in God. V 3. v. 3. 3. They are such who wait for God, V 8. and the desire of their souls is to his name. v. 8. 4. They are such who seek God early, V 9 with soul and spirit. v. 9 These are the persons rightly qualified for singing of this song. Thirdly, the provoking and inciting causes, for singing of this Song, are these amongst many. 1. Because they had a strong City, salvation had God appointed for Walls, and Bulwarks for them. v. 1. 2. Because in the Lord Jehovah they had everlasting strength. v. 4. 3. Because he bringeth them down that dwell on high, the lofty City he layeth it low, even to the ground. v. 5. 4. Because he will ordain peace for his people, & hath wrought all their works on them. v. 12. But I need not go beyond my Text to seek for reasons why Judah doth sing this Song. For, When God's hand is lifted up in a way of mercy for a people and in a way of Justice upon their enemies, and makes them ashamed that envies them, and destroys them with the fire of his enemies that riseth up against them, than you cannot but grant that there is good ground for singing joyful Songs of praises. So that from the course that God's people here took when they were delivered out of Captivity, we might by the way draw this Doctrine. Doct. That the experience of God's mercies in delivering his people calls for their praises to God. It's David's argument which he useth to stir up himself and others to extol and bless and praise his God, because the Lord is good to all, and his tender mercies are over all his works. Psal. 145.8. The Psalmist exhorteth the redeemed in praising God to observe his manifold providence, Psal. 107.1, 2. O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever: Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy. Which is the only argument why we should praise him, because he hath redeemed us out of the hands of our enemies, by two Demonstrations. Reason. 1 1. By disappointing their plots. 2. By weakening their power. First, by disappointing their plots and purposes, while the wicked set their wits to devise, and their bodies to execute mischief, with all the art and craft they can. While the wicked are contriving iniquity on their beds, and when the morning is light they purpose to practise it. Behold, while they travail with this their iniquity, Mich. 2.1 and have conceived their mischief, God blasts it, and it proves abortive; They bring forth nothing but a Lye. Psal. 7.14. A Lie in regard of expectation. A Lie in regard of intention. For the mischief they intended for others, falls on their own heads. For God delights to catch them in the imagination of their own hearts, and pay them in their own coin. 1. God doth this that he might not lose the glory of any of his Attributes, he will make them know, that he is a God only wise, and knows how to disappoint the plots of the enemies. 2. In regard of the enemies, whose fierceness turns to God's praises in disappointing their plots, he lets them know that there is a God that ruleth the earth. Secondly, his mercies are seen in breaking the power and strength of the enemies; By the blast of God they perish; Job 4.9. and by the breath of his Nostrils are they consumed: therefore with confidence David saith; for lo thy enemies, Psal. 92.9. o Lord, for lo thy enemies shall perish, all the workers of iniquity shall be scattered. When the Lord our God shall send the rod of his strength out of Zion, Psa. 111.2 and rule in the midst of our enemies, than there is cause of loud praises to God for this his mercy. When God expresseth his mercies to a people in suppressing the power and pride of their enemies, this calls for loud praises. Use. 1 To reprove these whose eyes are filled with envy, at the prosperity and proceed of God's goodness to his people; such a spirit were Sanballat and Tobiah of, who were exccedingly grieved, because God out of respect to the prosperity of his Church, had stirred up Nehemiah and others to be repairers of her breaches. that To reprove those likewise man are the worse for God's mercies, ifested to them in particular, or the whole Church in general, it is a grievous thing that the more merciful God is to us, the more undutiful and unthankful we are to him; never was more mercies requited with less pity, less obedience, less practical praises. Use. 3 Let every one who hath tasted of God's goodness, (and what man is there which hath not?) who is partaker of deliverances, and sees what great things God hath done for us, sing joyful praises to him for it, and let this praising him be not with our lips only, but especially with our lives Now that you might be fit persons to sing songs of praises, & utter joyful Hallelujahs to the Lord for his deliverances, you must have these qualifications following. First, we must become spiritual, and therefore we are admonished by the Apostle Paul, to be filled with the Spirit, Ephes. 5.18, 19, 20. if we will make melody in our hearts to the Lord. Secondly, we must become penitent, we cannot rightly praise him, till we are restored by repentance: David after he had fallen into those four gross sins, which he calls presumptuous sins, he presseth God with arguments to give him repentance that his mouth may be opened to praise him. Psal. 51.12, 13. Thirdly, we must become just men, upright men, such that walk uprightly in their conversations, that walk as in God's presence, all their actions to God, to man, are done as in the presence of the pure and piercing eyes of the Almighty. Therefore David with confidence says, Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy Name: the upright shall dwell in thy presence, Psalm 140.13. We must become Covenant-keepers; those religious Vows which we have made to God in times of troubles, and days of dangers, must be performed: Offer to God , and pay thy vows to the most High, Psal. 65.1. Psal. 50.14. Those that are adorned with these properties may be fit persons for the performance of this day's duty. But I fear I have held you too long in the Suburbs of this my unless I could promise you the sight of a better City, such that were of curious building, and at unity in itself, at least look upon it, enter into it, and God grant it may enter into all our hearts. My Text is a strain of Judah's joyful Song for Gods bringing them bacl from Captivity, and we may seasonably make it this day ours; if we apply the next Verse to the Text, V 12. to our times. For, the Lord hath ordained peace for us, and hath wrought all our works in us. Therefore my desires are, that the God of heaven would give me a tongue of praise, and thanksgiving to sing this strain to you; and you hearing ears to understand it, and all of us thankful hearts to embrace it. I pray God my Sermon may be as profitable as it is seasonable. My Text seems to be a complaint of the Prophet against a blind, shamed and envious enemy, who till the fire of God's wrath be destroying them, will not see God's hand lifted up against them. Lord when thy hand is lifted up, they will not see; but they shall see, and be ashamed, for the envy of the people; yea, the fire of the enemies shall devour them. The sense, and sum, of my Text is this, among many Expositors, I take this to be the truest: Ad percutiendos impios elevare secreto, Oleaster. ne ipsi eam videant nisi cum percutiuntur. Esa. 6.16. God's hand lifted up to smite the wicked secretly, and they perceive it not till God's hand is on them, till they feel the very smart of it. Aut excelsa est manus tua ad elevandos tuos, seu ad benefaciendum illis, sea melius ad eos liberandos, non videbunt eam nunc inimici eorum, sed postea videbunt eos liberatos, & invidebunt illis, quia non solum eos eripies, Esa. 66.5. sed inimicos consumes. Oleaster. The scope of the Prophet is this, Lord thy hand hath been lifted up in much mercy to thy people, in bestowing many benefits on them in saving and delivering them. Thy hand hath been lifted up in justice upon thy enemies, but they will not see, i.e. thy hand of rescue, thy hand of revenge, thy hand of vengeance on them, they do not take notice that it is thy hand, but they shall see the success of thy lift-up hand, they shall see the hand of thy mercy towards thy people, they shall see the hand of thy Justice towards themselves, and be ashamed when they shall perceive thy hand hath frustrated their hopes, and hath turned all their designs to nought, they shall be ashamed for the envy, the malice and bitterness they have expressed in word and deed against any people, yea the fire of thine enemies shall devour them. 1. There's a fire of God's indignation upon his people, but this is a trying fire, and not a consuming fire; this is a purging fire, and not a destroying fire; this is to purge Jerusalem with the spirit of Burning, Esa. 4.4. 2. There's a fire of GOD from HEAVEN which consumes them, which falls upon the Wicked as upon a Company of Enemies, and this he calls the fire of his enemies; with this he devours them up as Stubble, and Briars, and Thorns. This seems to be the meaning of the words; from which we may gather these three natural Doctrines. Doct. 1 That there is a time when the Lords hand is lifted up. Doct. 2 That when the Lords hand is lifted up, there are some that will not see it. Doct. 3 That those that will not see God's hand lifted up at first, shall feel it at last, with shame and confusion; for the fire of thine enemies shall devour them. Ordine quidque suo. But first, of the former. Doct. 1 That there is a time when the Lords hand is lifted up. In handling hereof we shall use this Method to show you, First, How God's hand is lifted up. Secondly, When it is lifted up. Thirdly, Why it is lifted up. And then we shall labour to press the practice of all by application. How is God's hand lifted up? 1. Quomodo. For the understanding hereof, we must know that hand applied to God, signifieth, 1. Either Gods eternal & effectual purpose of things to be done, Acts 4.28. where the people of Israel are said to be gathered together, for to do whatsoever Gods hand and his Counsel determined before to be done. 2. Or God's actual power working all things which be done according to his purpose. Therefore David saith, Ps. 118.16 The right hand of the Lord is exalted, the right hand of the Lord doth valiantly. Solomon blesseth the Lord God of Israel, who hath with his hands fulfilled that which he spoke with his mouth to his Father David, 2 Cron. 6.4. and the like in v. 15. 3. It signifies God's blessing, protection, and deliverance. Thou openest thy hand, and fillest them with good; it is the language of the Prophet David in Psalm 104.28. 4. Likewise Gods heavy displeasure manifested by punishing the wicked and chastising the godly. Judg. 2.11.15. When the Children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord, and served Baalim, then whensoever they went out, the hand of the Lord was against them for evil. David in his great strait desireth, 2 Sam. 24. v. 14. rather to fall into the hand of God, than man, into Gods correcting hand, than man's cruel crushing hand; and gives the reason of it; for God's mercies are great. God hath blessing and protecting hands, correcting, and scourging hands, angry and revenging hands, to fall into these hands it is a fearful thing. I confess God's hand is in every work, there's not a Sparrow that falls to the ground, but he hath a hand in it: but Gods lift up had appears not in every thing; for the lift up hand of God, is some proper, and peculiar work of God, wherein much of God is seen, and little of man. 1. Which may be either a work of mercy; as when the Lord brought bacl Judah's Captivity, was a work of mercy; the subduing our enemies, and freeing us from their slavery, was a work of God's mercy, wherein his lift-up hand appeared. 2. Or God's lift-up hand may appear in a work of justice, when God thereby brings down them that dwell on high, as in verse 5. of this Chapter, when God doth drive down his people's enemies, and manifests his wrath and vengeance on those that are his adversaries. When is God's hand thus lifted up? 2. Quando. 1. When his people are lifted up in praying, then is God's hand lifted up in delivering, and protecting them: when we lift up the hands of fervent prayers, than God lifts up the hands of sweet mercies to his people. When Moses on the hill lift up his hands, than Gods were lifted up, and Israel prevailed; but when Moses grew weary, and let them down, Gods were so, and then Amalek prevailed. When God's people make a great noise at heaven gates. When God can have no rest night nor day for them, Esa. 62.7. when they will not keep silence. When with a Jacob-like importunity they wrestle with God, lay violent hands on him, (if I might say so) and will not let him go, till he have lift up the hand of favour for them; for God regardeth the prayers of the destitute, Psal. 102.17. and not despise their prayer. When Gods enemies sin with a high hand, 2. Sign. then it's God's time to lift up his hand against them. When they lift up a high hand of finning against God, he lifts up a heavy hand of vengeance against them, when their sins are come to their full height, and come to their growth, and full ripeness and maturity. When they sinne daringly, presumptuously, maliciously: when they commit sins of blood and blasphemies, as if they would dare the God of Heavens to do his worst. Then God can endure no longer, he can suffer no longer this at their hands, Shall not I visit for these things, saith the Lord? Ps. 68.21. God shall wound the head of his enemies: and the hairy Scalp of such a one as goeth on still in his trespasses. Sign. 3 God lifts up his hand of Providence, power, protection for his people, when he sees his people hearty lifting up their thanks in a Covenant with their God, for reforming their ways; 2 Chron. 15.12, 13, 14. when Judah and many of Israel had entered into a Covenant to seek the Lord God of their Fathers, with all their heart, V 12. and with all their soul. That whosoever would not seek the Lord God of Israel should be put to death, V 13. whether small or great, whether man or woman. V 14. And they swore unto the Lord with a loud voice, and with shouting, and with Trumpets, and with Cornets. And all Judah rejoiced at the Oath; V 15. for they had sworn with all their heart, and sought him with their whole desire, and he was found of them, and the Lord gave them rest round about. Asa and Judah's times were like these of ours, there was no peace to him that went out, nor to him that came in; for Nation was destroyed of Nation, and City of City, and God did vex them with all adversity; but other they entered into Covenant to seek the God of their Fathers, with all their hearts and soul: the Lords hand was lifted up for them, and gave them rest round about, rest from fears, rest from troubles, from war, and adversity: For there was no more war unto the five and thirtieth year of the Reign of Asa. V 19 Sign. 4 When God's enemies lift up a hand of rage and blood, in wrath and fury against the Church and people of God: then God lifts up the hand of his Justice upon them, of rescue and revenge: when they show themselves most malicious, then God shows himself most gracious, and merciful to his people, by the lift-up hand of his Justice, and judgements upon their enemies; when they come to a height of cruelty of burning, and depopulating, then is God's time to act his part; what saith God, will they plunder, and burn, and destroy all before them, and thus use my people before my face, and shall I lift not my hand against them, but sit still and let them alone? When David saw the enemy in this fury and madness, see what arguments he useth to move God, to lift up his hand against them, Psalm 74.10. Oh God, how long shall the adversary reproach, shall the enemy blaspheme thy Name for ever? why withdrawest thou thy hand? pluck it out of thy bosom. And when God sees the wrath of wicked men break forth into blasphemies and cruelties, and hears the importunate arguments of his people, to stretch out his hand against them; then he cannot let them alone long. The enemy said, Exo. 15. V 9 I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil, my lust shall be satisfied upon them: I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them. Thou didst blow with thy wind, the Sea covered them, V 10. they sank as lead in the mighty waters. Who is like unto thee, V 11. oh Lord, amongst the Gods, who is like thee glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders? Thou stretchedst out thy right hand, V 12. the earth swallowed him. Quare 3 Why, or wherefore is God's hand lift up? Reason 1 In regard of God's tender affection towards his people, and that near relation between him and his people. Therefore it is, that he takes a time to lift up his hand for them. He is their God, Father, Husband, Master, Head; they his People, Children, Spouse, Servants, Members: Now what is done to any of his, he takes it as done to himself. He that toucheth you, toucheth the apple of mine eye, Zech. 2.8. The eye is tender, and will not suffer to be poured at, and what hurt is done to the eye is presently at the heart, and the tongue complains. Saul, Saul, why persecurest thou me? was our Saviour's words; Christ was in heaven, and Saul on earth, yet Saul could not tread on the least Toe of Christ's, he could not persecute the meanest Member of Christ, but he was sensible of it. Christus loquitur, Christus patitur, quia in Corpore Christi, Christus est. He speaks because he suffers; he is in all his Members: so that though he be free from passion, he is full of compassion, in regard of that affection he hath to his people: in a word, wicked men cannot hate the godly, but God must needs be sensible of it: They cannot lift up their hands against them, but they will be found fighters against God, and God hath a time to reckon with them; he will take a time to lift up his hand against them, that lift up their hands against his people; in regard of that tender affection he bears to his people, and that near relation that is betwixt him and them: And this is the first Reason. Reas. 2 The Lords hand is lifted up for his people; because their hands are lifted up for the Lord. They are engaged in God's quarrels, and interested in Christ's cause. The Lord usually takes their parts that takes his, and will not suffer the Rod of the wicked to rest always on the backs of those that are righteous in his eyes, he beholds their sufferings, and will not suffer them to suffer long. Can God (who is rich in mercy, full of mercy) see his Servants, his Sons and Daughters smitten down to the ground, and stand by, and not take their parts, and right their wrongs, and revenge their quarrel? and if God own us, and stand for us, we need not fear who comes against us; if we get but him on our side, we need not fear the fraud and force of the most subtle and strongest enemies. Reas. 3 God's hand of Justice is lifted up against the enemies of God's Church and people, those that envy them, and rise up against them, because they are the disturbers of their peace, and hinderers of their prosperity. Whilst God's hand lets them alone, they are as thorns in their eyes, and therefore the fire of his enemies doth devour them. If God should let his hand rest in his bosom still, and seem to sleep still: then the Jesuits, and Papists, and Atheists, and all the Devil's instruments would make most miserable havoc in the Church of God, how would they persecute, and destroy, and tear in pieces the people of God, as so many Bears, and Lions, and Wolves, and Tigers? These wild Boars would speedily root up the prosperous estate of the Church of God. But God who loves his Church with his lift up hand breaks their power and strength, that thereby his Church might have rest, and quietness. When the host of Sisera fell upon the edge of the sword, than there was rest round about, which was good ground for Deborah to sing, So let all thine enemies perish, oh Lord, Judg. 5. last verse. Till the Bosom of destruction sweeps these Church and State troublers out of the Land, we must never look for peace. David's Prayer might seasonably be inserted here, out of Psalm 104.35. Let the sinner be consumed out of the earth, and let the wicked be no more. Use. 1 1. Since there is a time, when God's hand is lift up for his people, then let us examine, whether God's hand hath been lift up for us. Certainly every eye that is not blind may see we have had God's hand lift up for us, in the great works and turn of these times. Let our reasons speak, and Religion be silent, this last year hath been mirabilis ille annus, the year of God's wonders; hath not the proceed of every week, spoke wonderworking God? 1. Was it not the lift-up hand of God that gathered this pious Parliament together at first, and hath preserved them together to this moment of time? 2. Who was it that could discover so many secret, Antichristian, subtle, Diabolical * For they were hatched in hell, before they were acted on earth. Plots against both Houses of Parliament, since they first began, but the lift-up hand of God? 3. Who is it that could cause an Army to stand for England's Parliament, England's Laws, England's Religion, when there was but a handful, but a remnant in comparison of the whole piece and people of the Land? 4. Who was it that hath cleared our County, and driven out our enemies, broken their power, abated their pride, and put them to shame & confusion that mocked us, and risen up against us, was it not the lift-up hand of God? If so much of God hath been seen in the work, than the work is Gods: And as Moses said to Israel, so say I to England, Deut. 4.32 Ask from the one side of Heaven to the other, whether there hath been any such thing as this great thing is, or hath been heard like it. I shall not now lead you abroad to behold a sight of the lift-up hand of God, protecting, and prospering our Armies both by Sea and Land; but I shall keep me within the Confines of this County. 1. Look back into the Infancy of these bloody times by our unnatural wars, and consider the unskilfulness of Commanders and Soldiers, being bread in a Land of peace, and were ignorant in the policies and stratagems of Wars: but God's lift-up hand, which put the work into their hands, put skill into their hands, and courage into their hearts, at the very first assault of Manchester, at which time there appeared such mirth and majesty, in our Soldiers, such valour and courage in their countenances, and all their actions, that it did speak aloud to me, that God was with them, and his lift-up hand for them. 2. Look upon the number of our Soldiers at that time, not above five hundred fire-men; against thousands that came against that then naked and unfortfied Town of Manchester, yet prevailed not, but were driven bacl with loss and shame, and would not see Gods lift-up hand against them, though he caused the heavens at that time to weep for them, who could not weep for themselves. 3. Look upon the little Elbowroom, we then had in the County; for when Gods lift-up hand had appeared gloriously in Saltford Hundred, Blackebourne Hundred was the only other Hundred in the County that was most forward, and next appeared in the same cause; then our Enemies commanded all the Castles in the County, had four Garrisons for one, four parts of the County to command two parts, and could command as many adjacent Counties for their assistance. And was it not Gods lift-up hand which hath driven them out of all? Look upon their many means; and advantages; they had many roaring, thundering, terrifying Cannons, we but one small Piece: * Mr. Angeer. one said well of them, theirs did but play, but did no work; whilst the lift-up hand of the God of the Seas was working with the Winds to bring a Dunkirk ship, a man of War, that came from Spain, furnished with one and twenty Pieces of Brass and Iron Ordnance fit to supply our present wants, and to carry them so * Twirefoot. near our strongest Castle, which had no Cannon at all: was not this Digitus Dei, pointing at the place where they should be placed? 5. And shall we not remember the hand of GOD, in preserving the Castle of LANCASTER, after the Cannons were hastily conveyed thither; the envy of our Enemies was presently increased, and therefore with much fury, and with all their Forces, came against the Town and Castle, and were so hot that they quickly fired the Town, and thought thereby to have fired or frighted us out of the Castle, and so have gained that which Gods hand had lately given unto us. Yet unwilling to fight with our Forces that came to relieve us, fearing thereby they should lose their Plunder wherewith they were loaden, retreated, and took the opportunity to prevail against Preston, which successes surprised the spirits, and discouraged the hearts of the chief Commanders in the Castle, that they thought the safest way for themselves was to march towards Manchester, and quit the Castle. And when soldiers were left discontented, and without Commanders here, yet did God's hand appear in moving their hearts to defend that place, and those Canons, which Gods providence had given unto them. Might I speak out without offence, or without the censure of arrogating any thing to myself, I am confident, I could cause every Christian present to confess, that at this time the Lords hand was mightily lifted up for us. 6. Lastly, look upon their persons, as well as their actions, who risen up against us, (who were weak and an unworthy people of any protection from God) they were Lords, Knights, and Gentlemen of great personage, whose personages were promoted to great places, whose places were of great power: but now where are the persons, where are their places, where is their power? all vanished: by this time they may be ashamed for their envy at us, & for firing our habitations, the fire of God's enemies hath met with them, and destroyed many of them. For, Lord, when thy hand was lifted up they would not see: but they shall see, and be ashamed for their envy of the people, yea, the fire of thine enemies shall devour them. Thus much for the first Use, being a Use of examination. Secondly, suffer a word of Exhortation. Is God's hand lifted up for us? hath he extended the lift-up hand of mercy to us? Use. 2 Then let us be lifted up in duties to our God: shall God do all this for us, and shall we do nothing for our God? Hath he performed his promises to us, and lift up the hand of his providence for us? let us then labour to perform our duties to God. I might herein urge lex talionis, the Law of taliation, which will require the discharging of our duties to God, answerable to the measure of mercies received from God. Thus in general, but that I might not speak confusedly, and unprofitably, I shall digest this Exhortation into these four branches, for your better remembrance. The duties are these four, which I urge. 1. Lift up your Confidence in God. 2. Lift up your Courage for God. 3. Lift up your Prayers to God. 4. Lift up your Praises of God. Duty. 1 The first Duty I press you to is Confidence in God; we have experience of him, let us put more confidence in him, and trust in him and to him. We have had plain experience of his providence towards us, his mercies to us, his power for us. Lift up the hand of Faith, now God hath lift up the hand of favour to us; what a shame is it for us Christians, not to trust God further than we see him? most of us could not believe, that God would lift up his hand for us, till they saw what his hand had mightily brought to pass for us. We will believe in, and put trust to man, and shall we not fix our faith on God? we will say of man, he is my old friend, and he never deceived me, I dare trust to him, he hath promised me, and I am sure he will not deceive me: and tell me, what man can be found, or ever was heard of, that could say, I have trusted in God, and he deceived me? hath God promised thee protection, and shall he not perform it? hath he said it, It is easier for heaven and earth to pass, Luk 16.17. e than that one little of his Word should fail. 1 Kings 8.56. And what the Lord said to his Servant Joshua, he seems to speak to all his faithful people, Josh. 1.5. I will be with thee, I will not fail thee nor forsake thee. It is a sad thing, that though God's promises have been made good in his providence to us, he hath performed his word in his works; yet our faith is so weak, that it is not able to carry us from one County to another; nay from one Town to another, from one miracle to another, his hand is not weakened, nor arm shortened, but it may, it can, it will help another County as well as this. Let David's arguments move you to put your confidence in God, Psalm 37.3. Trust in the Lord and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the Land, and verily thoushalt be fed: and look the last Verse, see how he heaps up arguments in few words to urge and force us to trust in God; for the Lord shall help them and deliver them: V 40. he shall deliver them from the wicked and save them, because they trust in him. I'll say no more of this, but with the same Prophet, They that know thy Name will put their trust in thee; for thou Lord hast not forsaken them that seek thee. Psalm 9.10. Since God hath not forsaken us, but, we must confess, hath lift up his hand for us, let us make it appear to the world that we know him, by putting confidence in him; which is the first duty required of us. Duty. 2 Lift up your courage and resolutions for God, for God's hand is lifted up for us in our deliverance and preservation. Shall our Spirits be down, when God is up for us? It's a shame that so great and mighty a cause, which is prosperously carried on by the high God, should be managed with such poor low spirited men as we are: a good cause, and a good courage should always be companions. 1. This is God's precept. 2. This is his people's practice. For the first see Josh. 1.9. Have not I commanded thee, be strong and of a good courage, be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee, whithersoever thou goest? Deut. 31.6 Consider Christians who are our enemies that we should fear them, since we see God's hand is against them. Why should one fear them that fear not God? they have lifted up their hands against God, therefore God's hand is lifted up against their power, plots, policies, and all their preparations. 2. This is God's people practice. Neh. 6.11. When Sanballat and Tobiah, (both grand enemies to Reformation) practised by craft, by rumours, by hired Prophecies to terrify Nehemiah, and hinder his good work of Reformation, yet lifts up his courage; Shall such a man as I flee? As if he had said; shall such a man as I, who have so many promises made to me by my God, I that have so many experiences of God's providences, I that have seen so often times Gods hand lifted up for me, shall I flee? I will not. When the children of Ammon and the Syrians came against Israel, David puts on courage, and encourageth the people; 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 Samuel 10.12. That Ironical speech of the Prophet Isaiah is very pregnant to this place, Isa. 8.9, 10. Associate yourselves, o ye people, V 10. and ye shall be broken in pieces, and give ear all ye of far Countries; 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. Is it not manifest God is with us, by his hand lifted up for us? Therefore let our courage be lifted up for God; which is the second duty required of us. Duty. 3 Let us lift up our hands, and hearts to God in Prayers: for our God hath his hands lifted up for us in his Providences, he hath heard our Prayers, and granted our requests, let us be encouraged to pray continually. I am persuaded that prayers have done as much as weapons in subduing our enemies: The Church's prayers have been as prevalent as our Soldier's Swords. The praying people in the Land have done best service in the cause of God. Worthy Commanders, I confess you have done courageously, and deserve much for your fidelity and magnanimity, but assume nothing to yourselves, but ascribe all to the lift-up hand of God. Valiant Soldiers, I confess you have played the men for your Country, and the Cities of our God, but take nothing to yourselves, though you deserve much; but give all to the lift-up hand of God; and let all our hands and hearts be lifted up to God in prayers, who hath lifted up his hand for us in Providences. Prayers are powerful with God, able to bring the promises of God into gracious performances. Prayers have a power to undermine all the plots, and break in pieces the power of our enemies; Esth. 4.16. Esther, Mordecai, and the Jews prayed, and they prayed haman's Plot to confusion, Esth. 7.10. and his person to the Gallows. Let us therefore with a Jacob-like importunity wrestle with God in Prayer, and resolve not to let him go, till he bless us with the perfecting of all our works in us, and for us. Let us keep no silence; let the Lord have not an hour's rest, till he have given rest to England, and deliverance out of all her troubles. What the Prophet spoke to God's Remembrancers, Esa. 62.6. his Messengers, I speak to all my hearers; Never hold your peace day nor night, keep not silence, give the Lord no rest till he establish, and till he make our Jerusalem a praise in the earth. This is the third Duty required of us. Duty. 4 Let us be lifted up in praises to God, for God is lifted up in providences to us. Let us lift up the voice of praises to God, he hath done great things for us, whereof our hearts this day are glad; let us praise him for it with lift-up tongues, with lift-up hands, with lift-up hearts. 1. The tongue is made to interpret the meaning of the heart, the lips are the Trumpet, but it is the heart that gives it breath to sound out God's praises; therefore David saith, With a loud voice will I praise thee, Psal. 48. and with the voice of triumph: let our tongues talk of God's righteousness all the day long. Psal. 89. 2. The hands must play their parts in this day's duty, or else our praises are spoiled: praising God in words is little worth, without we praise him in our works. Therefore the Jews when they dedicated days of thanksgiving to God, Est. 9.22. gave gifts to the poor. 3. Let our hearts be chief in discharging this day's duty, make melody in your hearts to the Lord this day, for if our hearts be not in tune, we shall make no harmony in God's ears this day, it must be homo cordis, the man of the heart, that must make us thankful men: when we are about this duty, let our resolutions be that of david's, I will praise thee with my whole heart, Psal. 138.1. Let us not only this day perform this duty, but let our lives all the days of our life praise God, which is the life of praises: it is a poor praising of God with our lips, when our lives dispraise our God. God's hand is lifted up in multiplying his mercies upon us. God enable us to multiply our duties to God, by trusting in him, being courageous for him, praying to him, praising of him. I have dwelled long on this first Doctrine, but shall therefore be very brief on the next. Doct. 2 That when the Lords hand is lifted up, there are some that will not see it. They see by the eye of sense and reason; but not as it is the hand of God, they may see the work, but they know not it to be the work of God. The Lord labours by the Prophet Isaiah to convince the people, Esa. 48.6, 7, 8. of their foreknown obstinacy, in these words. Thou hast heard, see all this: and will not ye declare it? I have showed thee new things from this time, even hidden things, and thou didst not know them. Yea thou heardest not, V 8. yea thou knewest not, yea from that time that thine ear was not opened: for I knew that thou wouldst deal very treacherously, and was called a transgressor from the womb. But we shall lay you down briefly some grounds of this Doctrine. Reas. 1 Why some will not see the Lords Lift-up hand; because they want a spiritual eye: for the things of God are spiritually discerned. A carnal man cannot discern God's hand, he cannot perceive the passages of God's providence, 1 Cor. 2. v. 14. he is blind in things of God. He may be quick sighted in natural things, but as blind as a beetle in spiritual things; V 15. for he that is spiritual discerneth all things. Reas. 2 This may be in respect of God, withdrawing the spiritual sense of discerning the ways of his providences, and judgements. God may deny it to many. What Moses said of many in Israel, I may say of many in England. Ye have seen all that the Lord did before your eyes in the Land of Egypt unto Pharaoh, Deut. 29.2 4. and unto all his servants, and unto all his land. The great temptations which thine eyes have seen, the signs, and those great Miracles: yet the Lord hath not given you a heart to perceive, and eyes to see, and ears to hear unto this day. Because God in his just judgement may give them over to the God of this world, 3. Reas. that Prince of darkness, to be blinded to their destruction: of such the Apostle Paul speaks, Eph. 2.2. which were amongst the Ephesians, who walked according to the course of this world, according to the Prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience. So that they (in a just judgement) are blinded, that they cannot discern the ways of God. Of all judgements these spiritual judgements are heaviest, and this judgement is mentioned by the Apostle Paul, Rom. 9 v. 8. according as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber; eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear unto this day. The Apostle here hath reference to the Prophet Isaiah his prophecy of the obstinacy of the people unto their desolation. And he said, Esa. 6.9, 10. Go and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not: and see ye indeed, but perceive not. Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes, lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed. The Lord open our eyes, and boar our ears, and touch our hearts, with his gracious Spirit, that we may never fall into these worst of his judgements. Use. 1 This informs us of a blind generation in the world who cannot see, and will not see God's hand lifted up, that will not take notice what God is doing in England. They are a churlish dogged people, that bark and snarl at the works of God, that speak the language of Sanballat and Tobiah, Neb. 4.2, 3. What do these feeble Jews do? will they fortify themselves? will they sacrifice? will they make an end in a day? will they revive the stones out of the heaps of the rubbish which are burnt? So these say, What will these brainsick Puritans, and Roundheads do? will they presently build a new Religion, will they have a new Discipline? etc. It's these our blind Britain's, which makes our Parliament Worthies stand in Nehemiah's posture, working, consulting with the one hand, and holding their weapons in the other. Use. 2 These wilful blind miserable men being discovered to you, in the next place I might thunder terror to them, that oppose the hand of God lifted up for the Church's cause. Wilt thou go on to fight against God now his hand is lift up against thee? thou wouldst be ashamed, if thou didst perceive and understand what thou art doing; thou layest about thee, and knowest not who thou smitest; thou knowest not what thou dost. If God in mercy would open thine eyes, thou wouldst see & plainly perceive, that thou art opposing Gods work, that thou hast lifted up thy hand against God, and buffeted him, and wounded through the sides of his servants, God himself. Couldst thou see this, thou wouldst be ashamed. Did Pharaoh see that none of his devices prospered against Israel, and that he could not work wisely enough to destroy them: Did he see that the more violent he was, the more God took their part, and followed him with Plagues, so that his servants asked him, Exo. 10.7. If he would see all Egypt destroyed before he would let them go; yet he would not see, but runs on in mischief, till the fire of God's enemies had devoured him. Use. 3 Suffer a word of Exhortation, and then I shall close: it looks (beloved) on you whose eyes have seen the great things God hath done for these parts, how mercifully God's hand hath been lifted up for this County: You ought now to bless God that you have eyes, that have seen; oh bless God that you were not blinded to your own destruction: therefore now learn to fear the Lord, & serve him with all your hearts, all your days. It's the lift-up hand of God that hath crowned this poor County with his blessings, in enlarging the borders of our tranquillity; so that as Moses said of Israel, so may I say of Lancashire, Happy art thou, oh LANCASHIRE, Deu. 33.29 who is like unto thee, o people, saved by the Lord, the shield of thy help, and who is the sword of thy excellency? and thine enemies shall be found liars unto thee, and thou shalt tread upon their high places. We must all of us confess with the Prophet David, Psal. 40.5. That many are the wonderful works which God hath done for us; and his thoughts which are to us wards, they cannot be reckoned up in order: If I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered. So that I must conclude this Text at this time with samuel's counsel, 2 Sam. 12.14. Only fear the Lord, and serve him in truth, with all your heart, for consider how great things he hath done for you: Which counsel (if it please God to give us grace to follow it) will be a means to move God to lift up the hand of his Protection over us, and destruction upon our enemies: and bring them to shame that envy us, and cause the fire of his enemies to devour them. FINIS.