ENGLAND'S CONDITION PARRALELLD WITH JACOBS' For Troubles. Salvations. Hopes. Laid open in two Sermons, lately preached at Marlborough in WILTS. By john Sedgwick, Bachelor in Divinity and Pastor of the Church at Alphage near Cripplegate, London. MICAH 7. 8. Rejoice not against me O mine enemy, when I fall, I shall arise when I sit in darkness, the Lord shall be a light unto me. LONDON, Printed by R. B. for Samuel Gellibrand, at the Brazen Serpent in Paul's Churchyard. 1642. To the worshipful Philip Smith, and john Franklyn Esquiers, Members of the Honourable House of Commons, now assembled in Parliament. Increase of Courage and Constancy of Spirit. SIRS, Those who chose you unto your places of great trust and toil might have justly (by nativenesse of soil, expressions of Love, and earnestness of desires) challenged the dedication; yet they being many, and you their representative body in an eminent and public way, I hope it shall neither displease them or trouble you, that the ensuing Sermons do pass under your names to the public view: I wish them in their printing their happy success in their preaching, they were words in season to the best, and words of vexation to the worst; Our ministry cannot please the one, but it must displease the other; How ever its sit, that every one have his portion; It is my comfort that by the happy success of the Gospel in the hearts of the people, Marlborough is a Town honouring and cleaving fast to the Parliament; they chose not Burgesses either to disgrace or to desert them; neither you nor they come under the censure of Solon's Law to the Athenians who adjudged him to die, and unworthy to live that in time of civil Garboils (as careless of the weal public) withdrew himself, and became a Neuter: As you have not been drawn into unfaithfulness by the ill examples of Revolters from their fidelity to their Country: so they have not been betrayers of their own liberties in joining with any persons (though great in place) in any illegal courses of division twixt King and people. If these Sermons had an influence on them, why may they not have an effect on you? The times are increased in their troubles, the Cloud is grown blacker and bigger; some men are desperate, others despair, most see their dangers, few can believe and hope for deliverance: Out of my general respect to the Time's Lamentation, and for the raising up of yours, with other men's spirits, under our sad conditions I have gathered up my scattered Meditations, which for substance are what I then delivered, though they have received their further additions. Sirs, I will be no further troublesome to myself or you: know; that the eyes of many are upon you, the prayers of many are for You, Nay there are more with you, then against you; as you have begun well, so end well, and the great God who is the King of Kings, even the supreme judge of all the world, hold up your spirits against all discouragements, and carry on your great works unto perfection, against all oppositions, giving unto you reward with himself, so daily prayeth for you, Yours in the Faith, and Truth, John Sedgwicke. ENGLAND'S Troubles. JEREM. 30. ver. 7. Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it, it is even the time of jacob's trouble, but he shall be saved out of it. THis Text (so suitable to our times) may not be unfitly resembled to that Cloud by which God led the Israelites through the dreadful and desolate Wilderness; as that, so this hath in it. First, a dark side: viz. a dismal time for trouble and misery, the face of the times gathered blackness; the cloud of trouble appeared, and calamities did so come on and increase that nothing else could be found among the jews but troubles, great troubles even such as no age could parallel, or foregoing precedent equal: which makes the Prophet to cry out, Alas, for that day is great, so that none is like it, it is even the time of jacob's trouble. Secondly, A light side: viz. a gracious promise for salvation and deliverance, though for the present they were as men in graves and deeps under many pinch and pressures by miseries yet a day and time shall come wherein the Lord would be light, and life and salvation unto them, but he shall be saved out of it. I might from the conjunction of the parts spend much time in opening this excellent truth. That out of the same mouth proceeds both threaten and Threatening of misery, and promise of mercy conjoined. promises to the Churches of God; a Christian hath but one GOD, though many conditions: and as God hath one heavy hand upon, so hath ●ee another easing hand under his Churches; as he strikes, so he strokes them: as he doth sad, so he doth cheer them; seldom or never shall you find the Prophets in their messages to God's people more terrible than comfortable; where they threaten misery, they also promise mercy. The wise Physician rolls his bitter pill in sugar; Reason 1 Now God doth sweeten messages of misery, with the openings of mercy; partly to make it known that in the midst of wrath, he doth remember mercy, and that in his strict proceed against his servants, he sits upon his throne of grace; what ever scourging rod God takes into his hand, and what ever in●ittering course God takes with his Children, he is never of the Throne of grace, and the remembrance of his mercies: Reason 2 partly to teach that Christians cast down outwardly, should not despair inwardly; God will not that miserable times should be despairing times to his people: Though under sensible evils there will be the workings of fear, yet there should be no sinking of spirits; even in sad times, faith must have its working, and the heart ought to be razed above the present se se of evil to an expectation of much good: the eye that sees those dangers which are upon the Seas, may behold the safeties which are in the harbours, God would have Christians to know that they lie not at the mercy of any condition, and that when they are in misery, they are under mercy; simply to be threatened is a curse, but to have a mingling of a promise with the threatening, argues both love from God and good to man; unto my understanding the bitter of all threaten is taken off by the sweet of a promise, and if God will vouchsafé to men a promise of delivery, they need not over fear the threatening Cloud of misery; it's not the least of a Christians comforts, that as he hath a threatening so he hath a promising God. This meditation I shall leave with you and betake myself to the words of my Text. In the dark side whereof we may take notice of these two things. 1. The deep impression which he troubles of the Church made upon the heart of the Prophet, laid down in the word, alas! a word of sorrow and compassion, all one in meaning, with woe is me! misery hath befallen me! it doth even melt and mourn my heart within me. I am a man undone to think of those evils, which shall befall the Israel of God. The spirit of pity was not divided from the gift of prophecy; o that we could be inwardly afflicted! and greatly affected with the miserableness of our times! it is to be feared that most men do want sympathising and grieving spirits. 2. The Rhetorical expressions of the trouble: Troubles will make men Rhetorical; The Prophet is full, and fit, high, and elegant in his openings of their sad condition in and under their captivity. 1. He calls it a day, noting the manifestation and duration of the season, which was allotted for their sorrow and suffering: 2. It is that day, not an ordinary but a notable and remarkable day, even a day anciently decreed, and frequently threatened. 3. It is great and that in respect of the wrath which should be poured out, and in respect of the miseries which were to be endured, both, upon that day should, for measure be intended, and for length extended. 4. There is none like it; this phrase sets the day by ●. Sorts of days. 1. Natural. 2. Sinful. 3. Sorrowful. itself, as having no fellow: Natural days do equal one ancther; but sinful, and sorrowful days do many times run unequally; though men may commit sin enough in one ●ay to make them eternally miserable, yet one day's wickedness both materially and circumstantially, may exceed all the rest of a man's days; and though sufficient to every day is the sorrow thereof, yet some days of misery may exceed all other days for bitterness; here is intimated unto us, that their misery should be unmatchable by any foregoing precedent of misery, if that they should call to mind what they endured in times past, and compare it with the present suffering, it should seem as nothing, and indeed they found it to be so: for the people under their captivity Lam. 1. 17. are brought in thus complaining, Is it nothing to you, all yet that pass by? behold and see, if there be any sorrow like to my sorrow, which is done unto me, wherewith the Lord hath afflicted me in the day of his fierce anger. 5. It is even the time of jacob's trouble: whether we take the A twosold jacob. words personally for the man jacob, or mystically for the Nation of the jews, the seed of Jacob and the Church of God, we cannot fail of the mind of God in the Text; It is true that Jacob in his own person from the womb to the tomb was a man of troubles, himself saith, few and evil have the days of the years of my life been. And had the time of their captivity been filled up Genesis 47 9▪ with those kinds of trouble wherewithal God exercised jacob they should have had misery enough: and it is as true that the Churches and people of God wanted not their troubles when they were carried into captivity; troubles entered them into, and troubles continued with them under their captivity. There are these ten things which will make evident unto us that the time of jacob's captivity was a troublous time. 10 Things making the time of Is●aels Captivity, a time of trouble First, they were Warring and fight times; it was a day of battle, a time of Sounding the Alarm, striking up of Drummesand of arming one Nation against another: on came the Babylonians and the Chaldeans with a mighty Army against the Nation ● King's ●4. 10, 11 of the jews, and they did actually wage war with them; Now we know that where God raiseth up War, there the times must needs be full of trouble; it was said of old Tubellum causa malorum, all evils are conceived in the womb of War; alas! for the day of War, for in those times there was no peace to him that went 2 Chro. 15. 5, 6. out, nor to him that came in; but great vexations were upon all the inhabitants of the Country, etc. When covetousness, pride, discontent, malice, envy, and desire of revenge shall bring in that unruly beast, * Bellum a b●ll●a dictum: Silent leges inter a●ma. War, what can be expected but * R●●● sides pietasqu● v●●● q●i castra seq●●●tur. that Laws should cease, Religion itself be laid aside and all manner of villainy be committed. Secondly, they were affrighting and trembling times; even times over-whelming and fainting the spirits of me and women: I say that in the day of captivity the people were terribly shaken, God did appoint over t●em terror as a judgement; Now Levit 26. 16. ●●a. ●3. 1●. their hearts did meditate terror: the noise without begat terror within, now their stout spirits did fail and faint, being as the heart of a Woman under her pangs; they stood shivering and jerem. 4●. 22. quaking before their misery, and were enclosed with terror as was Pashur who was terror round about; now trembling and fearing times must needs be troublous times. jerem. 〈…〉 Thirdly, they were flying and pursuing times; the Jews were as a Partridge hunted by the Fowler upon the mountains. As they could not withstand the strength, so they could not endure the jamen. 1. ●. sight of their enemies, jerusalem was made to hot for them, they were forced to leave their own houses, and their own Country, and to flee from place to place, and knew not whither to betake themselves for safety, the enemy did so eagerly pursue them; now being in this flying posture it could not but be a troublous time. Fourthly, they were scattering and dividing times; their captivity was their dispersion; now husbands were divided from jerem. 40. 12. their wives, fathers from their children, and one friend from another, and knew not what was become one o● another; one runs East, another runs West, a third North, a fourth South, wand'ring up and down, and it may be never seeing the faces each of other again, this makes it a trouble in deed, when Husband and Wife, Father and Children shall be all under one roof, and in one Town and upon a sudden (when they least think thereof) to be parted one from another, and to be no way helpful one unto another, and it may be never to hear one of another. Fifthly, they were rebuking and scorning times: now jacob lay under the reproachand contempt of the foolish. The children job 30. 8, 9 of fools, and the children of base men that were viler than the earth made the jews their song and by word, such as did sit in the Psalm 69. 12. gate spoke against them and they were the song of the dru●kards the enemies laughed th●● to scorn, and had them in derision all the day long; they abused them by word and gestures and actions; O what gibing and jeering! What nodding of heads, making of faces, hissing of voices, and clapping of hands was to be heard and seen among their enemies; the brethren tell Nehemiah that Nehem. 1. 3. they Were in great reproach, and the History tells us; that all that passed by the way did clap their hands at them they did hisse and Lamen. 2. 15, 16▪ wag their heads upon the daughter Jerusalem, saying is this the City that men call the perfection of beauty, and the joy of the whole earth? Sixthly, they were slaying and killing times; times of blood and death, wherein multitudes lost their lives by the sword of the enemy, the very streets were filled with dead bodies, and the blood of the jews was shed like water round about jerusalem, Psal. 79. 2, 3. Now when the enemy enters with a drawn sword casting off all pity and mercy toward old and young, when they fall to cutting of throats, ripping up of bellies, strangling, hanging, and the like, this makes it to be a time of trouble. Seventhly, they were wasting and spoiling times; even days of s●ch destruction and desolation, that Cities and houses were consumed with fire, Come trod under foot, Cattles consumed and the whole land devoured and turned into a Wilderness, mark the expression; your Country is desolate, your Cities are burnt ●●ay 1. 7. with fire, your land strangers devour it in your presence, and it is desolate as overthrown by strangers, and the daughter of Zion is left as a Cottage in a Vineyard, as a lodge in a Garden of CuCumbers, as a besieged City. Eightly, They were oppressing and evil e●treating times, now things were not carried by right according to reason and the law of justice, but by might according to tyranny and injustice; the jews had wrong done to them, and they durst not to complain thereof, or if they made complaint they could find no redress, the enemies were heavy handed, and cruel hearted toward them, daily robbing and spoiling them, and did so weaken them that they made their lives tedious to them. Ninthly, They were spirit embittering and soul sadding times, even days of such unquietness, that they were bereft of all pleasure, they enjoyed not one merry day all the while they were in captivity, now their feasts were turned into mourning, and all their songs into Lamentation, it was a bitter day as the Prophet threatneth, Amos 8. 10 the day was dark and cloudy wherein not only 〈…〉 the light of God's countenance but all other outward and inward comforts were with drawn, it was night unto them, and the day was dark over them. Tenthly, They were treacherous and betraying times; their enemies would sometimes falsely accuse and slander them giving out that they were rebels and traitors, anon the Lion would put on the Fox's skin, and pure enemies to their Religion would come in among them in sheep's clothing; by and by they would be conspiring and confederating against them, always they were plodding of further mischief against them; so that where ever they were, and in what ever they did, they were laid wait for, which makes the time to be such as the Prophet speaks of. Now if to all these things we do east our eyes upon the removing Lamen. 1. 10. of the Candlestick, the denying them the free and pure use of the Ordinances, their beholding of their Idolatries and evil manners, this would make it to be the time of jacobs' trouble in a more spiritual way. Having given unto you this light into the Text, I come to the doctrinal result, which is this. That as the Churches and people of God may have their outwardly Doct. 1. God's Church have extraordinary troublous times. peace full and prosperous times, so they m●y, and oftentimes they have their wondrous troublous and miserable times. It is with the Church for state and condition below, as it is with the natural day, each day hath a morning and an evening; or as it is with the revolution of the year; each year hath its Winter and Summer seasons: Even so the Church hath; first, days and seasons of grace, times of tranquillity and stability, wherein the Candle of the Lord may so shine upon them, that they may enjoy many outward and inward comforts and contentments, every man may sit down under his Vine and Figtree, eat the fruit of his labours, and no man rise up to make him afraid: Next, days and times of misery, called evil days, and in my Text, the time of trouble; the great day none like it; Time in Troublous times what. itself, and as it is a Creature is quiet, trouble is accidental to it; now it is said to be troublous, as peace is withdrawn from it and a Cloud of misery drawn over it; when peace takes its leave, and disorder or confusion doth approach and appear, this is that which makes time to be troublous and miserable. Further you may note that there are two sorts of troublous Sorts of troublous times. times which may befall the Churches and people of God. Inward. 1 1. One inward, wherein Soul and Conscience may lie under wounds and much disquietness; if God desert and withdraw from David, now he is troubled, Psal 30. 7. Outward which is, 1. Personal. 2. Local, or Nationall. 2. Another outward wherein the body and state of a man is under disquietness, or the Land and place wherein the Church is planted and placed is under misery and affliction. I mean this sort, and do say that the Churches of GOD may meet with Land wasting, house burning, Women ravishing, Children killing, State devouring, Religion scorning, Ordinances casting down, heart trembling, and liberties overthrowing times; in one word times may be greatly miserable and afflicting to them; and so full of sadness and confusion, that they may not know what to do with themselves, or which way to turn themselves. That outward troublous times are of two sorts. 1. Ordinary and common, even such as are usual, happening to all sorts of people in their times. 2 Extraordinary and unusual, even such as are extended and intended and cannot be equalled by any precedent, I say that sore trouble, great trouble, yea unmatcheable trouble may be the portion of the Church and people of God. Further we do not conceive troublous times only to be probable and possible to the Churches, but actual, it is not only true, that they may have troublous times, but it is also true that troublous times do befall them: which truth hath. 1. The testimony of these Scriptures in one place it is said, it is a day of trouble, and of ruin, and of perplexity, by the Lord of Esay. ●●●. Hosts in the valley of vision breaking down the City and crying to the mountains. In another place Hezekiah sends the state of the Church unto the Prophet in these words; This day is a day of trouble Cap. 37. 3. and of rebuke, and blasphemy for the Children are come to the birth and there is no strength to bring forth: add to this that prophesy of the mis●ries of the Churches under the cruel persecutions of Antiochus, when there was a time of trouble, such as never was, since there began to be a Nation unto that same time. 2. The strength of these grounds; if any man will be satisfied in the causes of the Churches troubleous times, they are these: Reason 1 First, Meritoriously troublous times do spring from the 4. Causes of the Churches troublous times. sins of the Churches of God; as the needle draws on the thread, so our sinful days being upon us our miserable days; there is nothing which doth enter men into sorrows more than their sins; sin is the mother, and trouble the daughter; there had never been a bad day or sad hour upon earth, had not man sinned; this is the Achan that troubleth Israel; when Israel sinned then Psalm. ●8 32, 33 God consumed their days in trouble, and brought them down: Ahab meeting Elijah, calls him the troubler of Israel; the Prophet deals plainly and roundly with the King and tells him to his face that it was he and his Father's house in forsaking the commandments 1 Kings 18. 18. of the Lord, and following Baalim that troubled Israel: Hence is it that God saith, Make a Chain, for the Land is full of bloody crimes, the City is full of violence, wherefore I will bring the worst of the heathen, and they shall possess their houses, I Ezek. 7. 23. 24, 25, 26, 27. will also make the pomp of the strong to cease, and their holy places shall be defiled; destruction cometh and they shall seek peace, and there shall be none; mischief shall come upon mischief, and rumour shall be upon rumour— the King shall mourn, and the Prince shall be clothed with desolation, and the hands of the people of the land shall be troubled, I will do unto them after their way, and according to their deserts will I judge them. reason 2 Secondly, furtheringly troublous times do flow from the Malignant Party, Satan and his angels: Satan himself is full of rage and malice against the Church; the glory thereof is his envy, and therefore he doth put out himself in the power of the Dragon, and in the policy of the Serpent, to create what trouble he can to the same; he is the great kindle Coal; he it was that stood at the right hand of Josuah the High Priest standing Zech. 3. 1. before the Angel of the Lord to resist him: he it was that stood Rev. 12. 4. before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour the Child as soon as it was borne; and he is that Serpent ver. 15. which cast out of his mouth wter as a flood after the woman that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood: when Satan is let lose, and hath his hour, he will set the whole world into combustion; Nay, we have another Malignant party, who are Rev. 2. ●●. the spirit and spawn of Satan; men of profane hearts and lives, who do act over the Devil, and work that business for him, which he cannot work for himself; I am sure where grace is wanting, and profaneness reigning, there the spirit of spite and misery of disturbance is to be found, men desperately set on sin have imbitterd spirits against the quiet of the Church, yea such an enmity is there between the two seeds, that wicked men are always bending their wits, laying their plots, and putting out themselves to disturb the quiet in the land; these are so set on sire of hell, that they decline peace, and delight in blood and War; Ishmael like, they must have their hands against every man, and Salamander like, they love to live and lie in the fire: Whence did all the tumults and uproars in Thessalonica arise? Acts 17. 5, 6. did not the unbelieving Jews, who were moved with envy take unto them lewd fellows of the base sort, a company of vagabonds and wicked fellows! These are fit instruments to trouble a Church and State, and Kingdom; I have observed that there are six things in wicked men making them troublous to God's people. 1. Their ignorance of the ways and Religion of God: These ●. Things make wicked men to betroubls us. joh. 1●▪ ●●. things will they do unto you for my name's sake because they have not known him that sent me: And again, They shall put you out of the Synagogues, yea the time cometh that whosoever killeth you will think that he doth God service, and these things will they do ●●. 16. 2▪ unto you because they have not known the Father nor me. Your blackest clouds and darkest nights do foretell the greatest storms; and wh●re ignorance and blindness doth most possess the mind, there is your greatest opposition against God and his cause; Paul was then a persecutor when he was under ignorance, 1 Tim. 1. 13. 2. Their Pride of spirit; a spirit of pride is a spirit of contention, a proud heart will set Kingdoms on sire; if Haman cannot get the knee from Mord●c●i, he will devise a bloody decree against the jews; if Herod and Domitian fear the losing of their Crowns and Honours, they will command that all those who are of the stock of David in Iwry be slain; and if proud and accursed Prelates be put off their Cushions, and cast out from honours, what mischiefs will they not further? They will sell themselves to their shirts to recover their places; through pride cometh contention. 3. Their exceeding Covetousness of heart; filthy lucre and horrid cruelty are seldom disjoined, when Demetrius and the craft's men saw, that the hope of their gain was gone now they stir against Paul and Sylas, and raise a mighty storm in Maccdonia, Acts 16. 19, 20, 21, etc. can you imagine that those covetous wretches whose godliness is their gain, are idle at this day and do not blow the Coal? Certainly Covetousness which is the Root of all evil, must be the cause of much trouble. 4. Their envious spirits; it was the spirit of envy in Cain 1 john ● 12. which made him to murder his brother Abel; and the Chaldeans and Courtiers envying the advancement of Daniel and his fellows above themselves, devised a means to destroy them, Dan 3. 8, 6, 3, 4. 5. Their proneness unto Idolatry; heat is not more inseparable to sire then cruelty is unto idolatry; the love of Idols in all ages hath been the Church's trouble, what stickling was there at Acts 19 28. 34. Ephesus for Diana? and we know that Iezabels Idols disturbed the kingdom of Israel. 6. Their contentedness with formality in Religion, when men must have Religion in man's dress, and are taken up more with forms of godliness than the power of it, this makes the times to be troublous and perilous, 2 Tim. 3. 1, 4, 5. Out of all this you see, that troublous times are from wicked men who never cease from troubling until they die, these are job 3. ●7. the earwigs and the biting Fleas still troubling the state of God's people. Reason 3 Thirdly, inflictingly the Churches troublous times arise from the wrath of God let fall upon them; and his displeasure conceived against them; when God is angry his Churches are troubled; Thou hidest thy face and I was troubled, and again, by Psal. 30. 7. thy wrath are we troubled. This you know that a little fire causeth 90, 7. a great deal of trouble, say that there be but a finger burned or an House on fire, doth it not occasion a great deal of trouble and unquietness? how much more shall Churches and people be disquieted through the angry countenance of God? Reason 4 Fourthly, finally Churches have their troublous times for these ends and purposes! 1. For trial and manifestation both of soundness and of graces, 3. Ends of the Church's troubles. troublous times are trying times, it is not times of peace, ●ut times of War, which trieth the mettle of a Soldier, all the while the Ship lies on the shore, or is in its harbour, its strength to bear its burden is not known, but when it's put out into the Sea, meets with blustering storms, and is tossed and tumbled, if it now hold out, than its strength is manifested; we have many Trees with fair tops and make a goodly show in calm seasons, which topple down in blustering weather, for want of firm rooting in the earth; the case is the same with men in the profession of Religion. Multitudes seem to be Religious, own the Gospel, and go for Christians in days of peace, who in more troublous days will quit their ground, and forsake their Captain, whereas now well ●ooted and throughly sanctified Christians will keep their standing, and rather die then dem Jesus Christ; grace in truth, will be grace in trial, here is the faith and patience of the 〈…〉 Sain●s, q. d. if men have faith and patience indeed, troublous times will manifest it. 2. For the manifestation of wickedmen; their madness and malignity of spirit would not appear and be evideat unto men, and they would not show themselves in their colours, if there were no troublous times: in peaceful day's enemies seem to be friends, and with the Viper they hid their teeth in their gums, but when troubles appear than they will spit out their venom making that the opportunity for their dealing cruelly with God's Saints. 3. For the correction of abused peace, when Christians do not well use their peaceful times God doth punish them with troublous times. Use 1 In the first place we may inform ourselves that outward durable peace is no infallible note of a true visible Church; the Church of God in Heaven is beyond all troubles, in Heaven there is full and lasting peace; but on earth, her condition is fluctuant with the Ark of Noah, and Militant as an Army that is in the field beset with an enemy; having so many malicious enemies she cannot be long quiet, and she may better be discerned by lasting trials, and troubles then by constant peace; Gregory the great, speaking of the Church saith, Ecclesiaest haeres orucis: the Church is heir to the Cross, and I would demand of papists what outward peace had the Church in Egypt under Pharaohs oppressions? what peace had she in her forty year's travel through the Wilderness, which was a place of temptations, journeyings, War, and many other straits and inconveniencies? tell me sadly had she not many encounters by enemies in the Land of Canaan? where was her outward durable peace whilst she was under 70. year's captivity in Babylon? and whilst Antiochus Epiphanes did waste and spoil her in her Ordinances and members? what meaneth the three hundred year's persecution by the heathenish Emperors? could these things happen to her, and yet is the true Church discernible by out ward and durable peace? by this very note we can disprove Rome from being the true Church; for when Rome was burnt by the Goths, sacked by Charles Duke of Bourbon in the days of Pope Clement the seventh, nay when their Popes were glad to fly and hid themselves, yea were banished and imprisoned, where was the outward peace of that Church? We deny not but sometimes outward peace may be the portion of visible Churches but that always they have the same, only ignorance and impudency must affirm. Use 2 Secondly, weeare not to wonder when we see the Churches of God cast into troublous times; we have this day this Scripture Times are and will be troublous upon four occasions. fulfilled; the times are troublous, the Lord in mercy look upon us, yet let us not think it strange, no new thing is happened to us; let me tell you th●t upon four occasions times will be troublous. When Dagon is to go down. 1. When Dagon and Baal is to go down: no great and prevailing evil can be hindered or cast down without much trouble and tumult, if Gideon cast down the Altar of Baal and cut down the grove by it, the men of the City keep a mighty stir about it, the man they must have that did it; and die he must for it, or it shall cost blood, read the History, Iud 6. 28, 29. if the Goddess Diana be in danger, what a noise and uproar is there in the City, they shout and make a hubbub, Acts 19 28, 34. I conceive thus much, that England hath many bad tenants who having gotten possession and can plead prescription (though no Scripture title) for themselves are resolved not to go out without blows and blood; neither can it be imagined (unless a miracle be wrought by God, as was in the case of the Scots) that so many proud Prelates, so many idle scandalous Non Residents, and so much Rubbish of humane invention crept into God's worship, will ever be cast down or carried out without troubles; can you conceive tha● Satan will lose a Kingdom and never wag his tail; believe it, brethren; there are many thousands in the Kingdom so set upon Idolatry, Superstition and the ways of formality that they cannot be quiet if these things be taken from them. When the Temple is to go up. 2. when the temple is to be re-edified: No great and good work can be carried on to perfection without much trouble; this is certain that God hath brought us to Church reforming times and these always have been troublous times. The Angel said to Daniel, the street and the Wall shall be built in troublous 〈…〉 times. Out of which Text I note these two things. 1. That when the Church gins to go up, then troubles begin to come on. 2. That though troubles come on, the Church shall go up. The 〈◊〉 was 〈…〉 the Temple was 〈…〉 I conceive that the times were very troublous when the City and the Temple was in building upon these eleven reasons. First, They were mocking and scorning times to the jews, as is plain in these words, But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the servant the Ammonite and Gesh●m the Arabian heard it, they langhed us to scorn, Neh. 2. 19 These fellows fell a jeering the jews, thinking thereby to dash the work out of credit and the bvilders out of countenance. Secondly, They were false accusing and slandering times to the jews: the enemies did not only give it out among themselves that they were Rebels and Traitors, but they did accuse them to the King and their own faces of Rebellion, and yet they were not able to prove the same as you may read, Ezra 4. from v. 6. to v. 16. and Neh. 2. 19 What is this thing that you do; will ye rebel against the King? Thirdly, They were hindering and inhibiting times to the jews: The Lord Chancellor Re●um, Secretary Shimsai, and the rest of their companions so fare prevailed with the over credulous ●●ing Artaxerxes that he gave command that they should cease building, and by this means there was a stand put unto the work for many years, Ezra ●. 17. to 22. Fourthly, they were insinuating and dissembling times to the Jews, the pure enemies to the work of building came unto them with tenders of their service, as if they had been willing to bear part of the charge and to do some great work for the building up of the Temple; let us (say they) build with you, for we seek your God as you do, etc. Ezra 4. 2. Neh. 6. 2. Fifthly, they were conspiring and confederating times against the jews, now the enemies held a Council, and called a convocation to see what was to be done to hinder them in this good work, and at last it was resolved upon; that they should try all their ●●inds, send out into every County to gather together tag and rag and no man were he never so base and vile in condition that would come in and join with them should be put by; as you may read Neh 4. 8. Sixthly, They were treacherous and betraying times to the Jews; when their enemies saw that they could do little harm to them whilst they were a party united among themselves, they practise a most perilous attempt, namely to divide; that so they might have a party among them: and to this end they bribe juda, and Levi, certain of the false hearted Nobles and superstitious Prophets, which became a disgraceful snare to themselves and a mighty hindrance to the work: Now Nehemiah had much to do to keep up the hearts of the people and to hold them together for that great work. Consider, judah comes in thus playing his part: The strength of the bearers of the burdens is decayed, and there is much Rubbish, so that we are not able to build the Wall, and Neh 4. ●●, ●1. our adversaries said they shall not know n●r see till we come in the midst among them, and slay them, and cause the work to cease. Was not here a fair disheartening tale which might easily take with such whose spirits were lazy and fearful, might not the lazy ones have thus reasoned amongst themselves, I promise you these men speak reason, this worketh maketh my shoulders to ache, I have carried out so many burdens already, and what a deal of carriage doth remain yet; toil and moil who will, I will be an Issa●ar no longer, seeing I may have my ease and the Nobles like well of it I will accept it; work who will work for me, and if the Temple be not built up until I further it, it shall never be built might not the fearful ones have thus reasoned, what shall we die and be slain? build who will for me, Skin for skin and all that a man hath will he give for his life: join to this the carriage of the prophetess Noadiah, and Shemajah the son of Delajah, they Neh 〈…〉. 12, 13 shut up themselves and preach to the people, get into the house of God within the Temple, and shut the doors of the Temple, etc. was not this a taking plot to have grave and learned men come in with their Counsels, caveats, and arguments? might not the jews have said surely the danger is great, there cannot be all this smoke without some fire? come let us take warning in time and give off working, we have heard and seen the say and do of many of our Nobles, men great in birth and blood and see which way they incline, but now the Prophets who are men inspired of God they come with a warning from Heaven to us and if we shall slight them also, shall we not be guilty of our own death, if we shall continue in this work of building. Seventhly, they were opposing and withstanding times to the Jews: the enemies were not always in deliberation and speech but they proceeded to action, we read that Tatnai Shethar-Bosnai and their adherents came to the heads of the jews, and did question them by what authority they did build up the City and 〈…〉 make up the Wall: and not contented with this they begin to raise an Army that they might come and fight against Jerusalem, 〈…〉 and with the utmost of their power they did set themselves against the building. Eightly, They were self descending times to the jews; Nehemiah was forced to divide the servants, half wrought in the work, and the other half of them held both the spears, the shield and the bows and the Habergions: Nay the bvilders of Neh. ●. 16. 17. 18, 21, 22, 23 the Wall, and the bearers of the burdens were but half handed, for in one hand they held the Trowel and in the other hand the Sword: further the jews were forced to their no small trouble and cost to keep a strong guard about themselves day and night. Ninthly, They were despising and undervaluing times; the enemies in reproach of their work said what do these feeble Jews? will they fortify themselves? will they sacrifice? will they Nehem. 4. 2. make an end in a day, will they revive the stones out of the rubbish which are burnt? when the Army of Samaria had thus spoken, Tobiah the Ammonite makes his scoffing speech. Saying, Even that which they build, if a Fox go up he shall even break down their stone wall: as if they should have said. What do these silly and self deceiving men intent, do they imagine ●hat they are considerable to go forward with this great work, they think to carry all clear before them, that they shall meet with no adversaries or that we will stand by as lookers on holding our hands; no such matter, we'll warrant them, they shall find stout men among us, yea ten for their one, who will oppose them. What do they imagine to have their old sacrifices, solemn days and assemblies, in this they are mistaken; see how early they rise, how lustily they work, and how late they leave off, as if all the building should up, before any body heard of it; let them go on the work which they have taken in hand, they shall never be able to effect it. For we will hold their noses to the grindstone, and they shall find it to be another manner work to finish than they look for: see how these doting men are glewing the old stones together again, as for new ones where will they get them let them alone; suffer them to go on, see what they will do, and when they have done the most and the best that they can, they shall but build Castles in the air, yea so weak shall be their work, that if a Fox come up he shall with his feet overturn all, we are sure that we can overthrow all at our pleasure. Tenthly, They were self justifying and clearing times: the jews were forced to bring out the King's authority, and to show quo warranto, they did enterprise the work, we read of many self acquitting Orations which were made by them, Ezra 5. They were forced to plead their own loyalty to their Sovereign and to testify their own innocency to the world. Lastly, They were enemies answering times: Sometimes Sanballat Nehem. 6. 21. verse 2. to 9 and Geshem sent messengers for meetings and conferences, they sought by Parliances to hinder them from going on in their building, which when they could not obtain (though requested four times) than they fall to writing of letters, some of them containing unjust charges, other some expressing unreasonable demands, all which took up much time in their reading and answering, which could not but be a great trouble to Nehemiah and very delaying to the work. By these instances you see how heavily the good work went on, and how justly I affirm that a Church can neither be founded or reform, but the times will be very troublous; if God be casting a Corner stone upon which he intends to raise up a spiritual building, and if he call together a company of labourers to forward that work (as he hath now done among us by those worthies in PARLIAMENT) resolve upon it, that the Dragon will wag his Tail, and the times will be very troublous. When enemies are to go down 3. When enemies are to be defeated and destroyed: troublous times may then happen to God's Churches, when either the disappointing, or the destruction of wicked and malicious enemies is at hand; this we find that when Pharaoh and his Host were nearest unto their ruin, than was the trouble of Israel greatest; in the Church's storms wicked men many times suffer shipwreck; their own stir against, and strive with the Churches have been the means of their own ruin and trouble; Haman went down in the time of the Church's trouble; and this is observable, that the greatest troublers of the State of England and Scotland have been thrown down in the times of the Church's trouble; had we not had our troublous times, we had not seen so many Lucifers cast down among us! What times have more discovered enemies, what times have more crossed enemies, nay what times have been more destructive to enemies then the times of the Church's trouble? these winds blow them no good, they always presage their downfall, if you look that great enemies should fall down th●n expect troublous times for mine own part I do verily believe that all the troubles in Ireland and in England will end in the shame and confusion of many powerful and politic enemies; such who begin the Church's trouble must perish ere the Church hath peace. 4. When mercies are at hand. When the Church is nigh to the enjoying of some great and unexpected mercy: this is observable, that the Church's greatest mercies have sprung out of the greatest troubles; She hath not enjoyed such mercies in her calm seasons, as she hath in her blustering times, the nearer the woman is to the time of her delivery the quicker and the sharper are her pangs and pains, when the frost is nearest to its breaking, then is the air sharpest in its pinching; the Churches good is not divided from the Church's trouble, under toss and tumblings she is not only expecting but prepared and fitted for mercies, the cross going of the wheels doth further the right going of the Clock, the fruitfulness of the spring is it not hindered by the sharpness of the Winter; the Church's troubles are far from hindering the coming in of mercies, the Sun will shine though the winds blow, and the stronger the gale of wind is the quicker is the dispatch of the ship unto the desired haven; we see that when Pharaoh was in his greatest rage, than Israel was nigh unto deliverance; out of that troublous womb came their greatest quiet; if there were no war there would be no victory; though troubles create not mercies, yet they occasion and antecede mercies, and it is God's manner to give great mercies in troublous times, I am verily persuaded that England which is now in great trouble is big with child of some extraordinary mercy, we may not think that these troubles shall end without a blessing, even that longed for reformation both of Church and Commonwealth. Let the consideration of these things stay your thoughts and settle your minds under the apprehension and sense of these present troubles. Use 3 Thirdly, this may advise us well to prepare ourselves for days and times of trouble; the counsel is seasonable, for we have just fears started up among us of very troublous times to befall us. England hath at this day. Motives to prepare for troublous times. First, time troubling sins; it is the sins of a people that troubleth times; and brings down disquietness; that which is the trouble of Heaven, and the trouble of the heart, will be also the trouble of a Nation: I say that sins of all sorts, and in all sorts so abounding amongst us as they do, cannot but bring with with them much and great trouble unto the whole Land: have we not among us all Land wasting, and Land weakening sins? most of our Pastors are either ignorant and blind, or corrupt and unsound, or scandalous and wicked; so fare from reforming themselves that they are enemies unto the much desired Reformation, They see vain and foolish things, and do not discover unto Lamen. 2. 14. the people their iniquity to turn away their captivity; may not God say, Many Pastors in England have destroyed my vineyard, jerem. 12, 10. 11. and trodden my portion under feet, they have made my portion a desolate Wilderness, they have made it desolate and being desolate it mourneth unto me? Many of our Rulers and great ones, are Idolatrous, Adulterous, full of pride, and idleness, leading many thousands into wickedness by their evil example following the footsteps, of jeroboam who made Israel to sin; and as for the people of the Land, the pride of Moab, the cruelty of Edom, the formality of Israel, the Apostasy of Judah, together with the abundance of all sins taketh hold of them; we are an exceeding sinful people before the Lord and what can we expect should be the issue but troublous times? Secondly, Troublous times warnings, God hath fired many Beacons, and shot of many warning pieces among us, which do tell us that troubles are coming toward us, not only Germany, and Ireland are all on a fire and flame, but we have the break out of the same among us by most unhappy divisions between Prince and people; O for the divisions of Reuben there should be great thoughts of heart. Thirdly, Time troubling enemies; we have lodging and lurking among us men of no Religion, (swarms of Atheists) men of a false Religion (a great Popish party;) men of no rank and quality whose mouths are full of scoffs and hands full of blood, unworthy and base Cavaliers whose only hopes lie in this that shortly they shall ravish our virgins, deflower our wives, cut our throats, and divide our estates; what meaneth the countenancing and maintaining those vermin and of-scouring of the Land, but that troublous times are at hand? certainly the kingdom cannot vomit out these frogs or quit itself of these Locusts without much ado. Fourthly, time troubling opinions: all heresies are bitter springs and can produce nothing but troubles within a Church, when the Heresies of Arrius, Pelagius, Arminius, Socinus, and others crept into the Churches they did not a little increase the troubles of the eastern and western parts of the world, and for mine own part I cannot believe but that the like effects will follow in this kingdom by men's deserting of old truths and embracing of new errors; when people turn Anabaptists, Eatonists, Tra●kites, Antinomians, Familists and what not; this will fill a Land with trouble and division. Fifthly, time troubling actions; men study nothing more than how to be unquiet; each man is full of discontent, and set upon thwarting and crossing, who almost among us is not for his own will and way? and so that their egg may be roasted, they care not though the kingdom burn for it. Finding these things among us we have great cause to fear that God is going about to make our times troublous. Secondly, It is to be suspected that our long enjoyment of peaceable times hath eaten up our expectation of, and preparation for troublous times: we dream of a durable peace and put away the evil day from us, as did the jews; few persons do think of Amos 6. 3. troubles before hand and most will not believe that they shall have troubles though they see nothing above them, but a cloud of blood, and behold nothing beneath them but a red Sea. Thirdly, That troublous times are therefore to hard for many because they are not well prepared and fitted for them, and indeed every the least trouble will be too strong for an unarmed and unprepared Christian: But happily you will say what would you have us to do, that when troublous times come, we may look up and hold out? My advice is this. First, Keep fair quarter with heaven; let not God be your enemy or one that frowns upon you when troubles come; acquaint 10. Preparatives against troublous times. job 22. 21. yourselves With him, and be at peace, and thereby good shall come unto you: if men are in covenant with God and reconciled unto God in and through the Lord Jesus they cannot be und one by troublous times; the favour and love of God will be security enough to Christians in evil times, this was Noah's Ark that he found grace in the eyes of God; he had a friend in heaven. Secondly, preserve purity and peace within; let not Conscience be filthy or unquiet; the meeting of a foul Sea, and blustering storms do make the passage of the ship very troublous, and thus it is when a man's conscience is filthy, and defiled by the love and power of lusts that there are seven abominations in it, if troubles come he cannot tell what to do with himself, for now conscience is more unquiet than the times; believe me in this, that if troublous times, and a troubled conscience do meet together, you will be of all men most miserable: O therefore make it your work, to get your Consciences pacified, and purified through the sprinkling of the blood of Christ; labour that Conscience may learn to read its own acquittal from the guilts of sin, and that it may be very holy and spiritual, and then though you are cast into the Seas and do meet with the greatest of dangers you are well provided for, if conscience be not your hell, you are well enough for heaven. Thirdly, Affect not a life of ease and delicacy; could we now me ourselves to hardness, we should the better endure troublous times: if we shall daily pamper our bodies, and remain under our wont niceness, being all for pleasure and ease; if the meat that we are to ease is never fine enough, if the wine and bear we drink can never be strong or sweet enough, if the beds whereon we are to lie are not soft enough, and the clothes that we are to put on fashionable enough to us: pray tell me, what shall we do in troublous times? Good Christians consider, how will you be able to run before a bloody Cavalier without stockings and shoes for ten, twenty, or thirty miles together to save your lives, if you use now your feet to that niceness, that you c●n scarce endure to tread upon a stone? how will you be able to make the field your bed, or a stone your Pillow, if that you do not now use yourselves to hard lodgings? I pity most of you who now put your heads in a bag and must have hoods for your faces, and what not for bravery and pleasure, Alas! should God bring many of you into the condition of your poor sisters in Ireland what would you do? how could you endure to be stripped of your clothing, to hid yourselves in dens and caves, to drink up puddle water, and to make acorns a feast unto you! o that I could prevail with you, now to inure yourselves unto hardness! it would put you into a fit temper for troublous times; it is noted of holy Bilney that being persuaded he should be burned for the Gospel, he would often put his finger into the Candle to see if he could be able to endure the fire before he came into the fire; I wish that in England, this point were more pressed and thought upon. Fourthly, Get quit of the Creature, in point of heart interest: this you shall find, that those waters which are running down to the main Ocean are more unquiet than waters that are narrowed up in a well; and of this I am certain that a worldly temper is most unfit for a troublous time, if troubles should come, then to have a Child in the heart, and an estate in the heart, will prove a greater trouble to a man then the trouble itself; O then get the Moon under your feet, and the world out of your hearts! Seek not great things, and engage not your hearts to worldly things! trouble not the little world by the great world! be as was the holy Martyrs, who made nor Wife, nor Children, nor Estates a block to them in the way, and could cry out farewell world, and say, Bavaria is not so dear unto me as my Wife and children, yet for Christ's sake I will forsake them cheerfully; when Carpenter. a man hath little or nothing to lose he can the better endure the sight of a thief, but when he hath great sums of money about him the coming of the thief is terrible to him; In this last years trouble at London, many had not been so much troubled as they were, had they not been so rich as they were; they than were as much taken up where they should hid their wealth as in times past how they might get their wealth; he was in a fit travailing posture, that said I have my learning in my head, and my staff in my hand, and as for the world take it who will. This I conceive, the world is for use, not for cumber: we are to hold it i● our hands, and to keep it from our hearts, if we mean well to pass through troublous times. Fifthly, take not Gods work out of his hand: he that will meddle of God's part and not do his own duty shall never bear u● in troublous times, that, I intent is this, most people do trouble themselves about issues, and in mean time never keep close to duties; Oh! say some, Sir, for mine own part I could well pass over these troubles, but that which doth most trouble me is this, what shall become of my poor children when my throat is cut, or my life taken from me? who shall take care of them, and see that they be not brought up in the Popish and Idolatrous Religion? ah poor creatures! do not issues belong to God and duties to man? what, is that God on whom thou reliest void of care and providence? Oh that we could make a deed of gift of all our Children to God, and that we could bequeath and commit them to God, trusting him withal, and over all leaving the success in his hands, who knoweth how to do his own work better than man can direct him. Sixthly, Make sure your harberous and hiding places: Every si●ly creature will provida itself of a place of refuge against the storm cometh, and should not Christians fore seeing evil times get themselves hiding places? Sure I am of this; that the name Prov. 18 10. of the Lord is a strong Tower, the Righteous run into it and are safe, nay God calls upon his people thus: Come my people enter Esay 26 22. thou into thy Chambers and shut thy doors about thee: hids thyself as it were for a little moment until the indignation be overpast; these places do show unto us that there are harbours to be had, o that we could now be securing the presence of God with us and the attributes of God for us, if God be with us and for us we are sure to do well enough; in the world you shall have trouble, but in me ye shall have peace: if we are once united to jesus Christ, 〈◊〉 1●. and are found in him then, we shall be safe, Christ will be sanctuary and Tower of defence unto all that trust in him. Seventhly, Gather up hearts cordials from the promises: when persons are going to Sea they will furnish themselves with hot waters: and ask them the reason of the same they will tell you that the Sea is cold and unquiet, and the stomach will be qualming and now and then a little of this will do them a great deal of good; the same say I of the spirits, which may be gathered from God's promises, when as men are going into troublous times this will bear up their spirits, and make them to bear their burdens with ease and joy; I say one dram of covenant comfort will raise us up to admirable patience and delight; O that we would skill ourselves more and more in the promises, now is our time to find them out, and to get them into our hearts as well 〈…〉 as our heads if we have the promises to seek when we are to suffer we are undone. Eighthly, furnish yourselves with spiritual armour; I find that these troublous times have made men careful to get armour into their houses, but I doubt that if troubles shall boil up to the height of malicious projects, many would be found naked and unarmed for their souls, it's not a gilded sword, or a dagger of ye that will stead a man in time of War, neither will a mere outward profession or show of godliness uphold the heart in evil times nay it must be grace in truth, and grace in power that will do it. Wherefore above all things gain. 1. Faith which may keep up your confidences upon the truth and goodness of God in the promises. 2. Patience which may enable you to stoop to the will of God in taking up the Cross. 3. The spirit of Prayer by which you may open your mind unto God, bring down seasonable succours and assistances from GOD or be able to commit yourselves into the hands of God. Ninthly, well spend and improve your free times: if in days of peace men can get a stock of grace into their hearts, well husband all soul opportunities, be much in the exercises of humiliation and the practice of holiness, they will be the better prepared for the worst of times, the best doing Christian will prove the right suffering Christian. Tenthly, Be sitting of yourselves for the best of ends, and then you are well prepared for the worst of times; if men did think more frequently and seriously of death, and were daily putting themselves into a dying posture, they would be well prepared for troublous times, for he that is in case to die, will be in case to suffer; here is our fault that we think of troubles, but we do not think of death, or we look upon troubles, as be falling us before death, whereas God knoweth many of us may be dead before the troubles come, as well as many of us die by the troubles when they come. Use 4 Fourthly, Learn to be sensible of the times of jacob's trouble: Use 4. Let them have the same impression upon our spirits which they had upon the spirit of the Prophet; he cries out, alas, for that day is great, etc. so should we, times of the Church's desolation should be ti●es of the Christians Lamentation; as the sins so the sorrows of the Church should work us to much inward pity and compassion and to extraordinary and continued mourning and weeping. Evils among men. One Prophet saith, look away from me, I will weep bitterly, labour Esay 2●: ●. not to comfort me because of the spoiling of the daughter of my people: and another Prophet saith, Let mine eyes run down with jerem. 14. 17. tears night and day and let them not cease for the Virgin daughter of my people is broken with a great breach; good Nehemiah sits Nehem. 1. 4. him down and weeps as if he would have wept his heart out when he heard of the distresses and distractions of his brethren: This is the great sin of England that men look upon the troubles of the times with a regardless eye; Ireland's miseries, and ENGLAND'S miseries are not laid to heart; there are these evils under the Sun, I wish that I could not charge them upon many. 1. One is to grieve at the Church's prosperity: Ezra 4. Nehemiah 4. 2. A second is to rejoice in their misery, as Psalm 137. 3. Obad. ver. 12. 3. A third is to be given to mirth and pastime when the Churches are in heaviness, as it is written; that the King and Haman sat down to drink, but the City Shusan was perplexed: Hest. 3. 15. It is noted of the French that when the Goths came in upon them, they were without sense and feeling of their brethren's calamities, the Historian saith, Confundebatur vox morientium, & ●alv●anus de dei ●ubernati, lib. 6. vox bacchantium, & vix discerni poterat pl●bis ejulatus qui fiebat in bello & sonus populi qui clamabat in circo, &c) the voice of the dying could hardly be distinguished from the roar of the drunken (then when the people who were without the City cried out for fear of the enemy, those who were within the City made a noise at their sports;) I doubt that we have too too many like those Gallants of old who would Crown their heads with rushes. when the Kingdom and Commonwealth was in great troubles; our feasting, and dancing, and gaming doth witness against us. 4. A fourth, Is not to mourn for the Church's miseries, men have hard, and stony, dead and senseless hearts, even like to the Priest and Levite, who passed by the wounded man, and had no compassion on him. 5. A fifth, Is to seem to mourn and yet not to mourn for the troubles of the Churches; we have too too many funeral, and formal mourners among us, men who are Clouds without waters; happily upon notice of the Churches troubles they can weep, but they do not mourn, always tears from the eyes do not argue mourning in the heart; Ishmael could weep as he went, and yet ●erem. 41 ●. he grieved not at the miseries of Zion and jerusalem; and it is recorded that julius Caesar did shed tears for Pompey's death which he himself caused: it is no new thing for to find a tear in the eye, and joy in the heart; surely most of us are too sudden, too shallow, too short, and too open in our mourning which doth show it to be wholly formal; beloved, let me entreat this of you: let no Church of God bleed, but do you bleed with them, weep with them that weep, weep over Ireland, weep over England, go and say with the Prophet, I will wail and howl, I will go stripped and naked, I will make a wailing like the Mich. 1. 8. 9 Dragons and mourning as the Owls: for her wound is incurable, for Means to be mourners. it is come into Judah, he is come unto the gate of my people even to Jerusalem: and that you may do this, get a soft and tender heart, a heart that can truly mourn for your own sins. 2. Get a public spirit that can look abroad and make the Church's 2. cause and condition its own. Use 5 Fifthly, This may work upon us to take notice with thankfulness of the peaceful times which God hath continued unto us of this Land, when other Nations and kingdoms have had their trembling and troublous times, we have (by free grace) enjoyed Haltion M●ns sin a●● peaceful time days; had we laid under the miseries of Germany, France, and Ireland we would this day have prized our peace at an high rate; this is our great sin. 1. That we do not take notice of our own times of peace, and look upon the same as a great outward mercy which continueth many choice things unto us. 2. That we do not make a right use of our long enjoyed peace, we have abused our good days by running into all manner of riot and falling into several divisions and contentions; England hath made her peaceful times her sinful times; the mildest Winters and Springs do not more bring forth the worst and most of weeds, than our peaceable and quiet times hath occasioned the committing of most foul and terrible sins, we have tainted ourselves exceedingly, in so much that God might say of us, ease Prov. 1. 3●. slayeth the foolish; and the prosperity of fools destroyeth them, it is a sad thing to have peace, and to grow weary of it, or worse by it, this will soon expose a Nation unto troublous times. Use 6 Sixthly, Let us take heed of hastening ourselves unto these troublous times: o that we could in jacobs' troubles see what may befall us; cuivis potest accidere quod cuiquam potest, allthings fall a like to all, and it hath never been the happiness of any one particular visible Church long to stand in outward peace and beauty, I think God hath made this kingdom the miracle of the world for standing peace, and may he not make it as miraculously miserable by times of trouble? and what if God should do● so? Oh the misery of England, my heart bleeds to think of the greatness of that day, as wars and troubles come in; all outward mercies and comforts would go out; the withdrawing of the Sun makes the night; the absence of a good temper casts the body into weakness, and if our peace be gone, than the high ways will be un-occupied, the travellers will walk in by ways; 〈◊〉 5. 7. Towns will not be inhabited, Cities will be left desolate, and the 〈…〉 W●●es of Zion will lament, because no man cometh to the solemns feasts, now the Church will be under a Cloud, scarcely visible, and Religion will run in ward, as the juice and sap doth into the root in times of winter; now Parents shall be deprived of Children, Children of Parents; Husbands will be scattered from Wives, and Wives from Husbands, the enemy will sack, and spoil, rob and slay, ravish and desloure; nothing shall be our own but heaviness and distress; with Germany we shall be a field of blood, and with Ireland a spectacle of misery: Oh what mournings will be in our streets, and what sadness in our hearts, what blackness in our faces, and what desolations in our kingdoms, you may think more than I can speak, a sad Tragedy will beacted. Oh that we would fear these troublous times before we feel them, and that now we would take that course which might prevent the falling down of this bloody cloud hanging over our heads; Brethren learn, 1. To get off the guilt of all those Land troubling sins which Means to prevent troublous times. are among you, you must overthrow that which will overthrow all our mercies, and all our hopes, if the guilt of England's Idolatry, Cruelty, contempt of Ordinances, unfruitfulness under the means of grace, Carnal security, embracing and entertaining errors against the foundation, formality in Religion, decaying in her first love, want of compassion to other bleeding Churches be not expiated in the blood of Christ, England will be an undone and miserable Nation; What peace so long as the whoredoms 2 Kings ●. 22. of they mother jezabel and her witchcrafts are so many? O that we could tender up JESUS CHRIST unto God for England's sins. 2 To be much in Nationall humiliation; the whole Land must be mourned for, o that we could weep over England, and grieve for the sins of England; surely the whole Land must mourn and grieve, or it cannot long stand a Nation. 3. To desire and further a Nationall reformation; there must be a purging of the Church from its dross, there must be the setting up the power and purity of Ordinances, every man must strive to reform and amend else the Kingdom will soon fall asunder. 4. To cast out the endangering enemies of our Kingdom, if you shall suffer men of blood and cruelty, enemies to God and Religion and not do justice upon them, the kingdom cannot but be ruined. 5. To give off your daily course of sinning, if God find us a people set on our sins, and that we will not give off the love and practise of iniquity he will not spare us, how can we expect the avo dance of troublous times, or the continuance of peaceful times, when we fill up the times with iniquities. Use 7 Seventhly, and lastly, Let us be fare from procuring troublous times unto the Churches of God, I know that it is a great sin to be an efficient malicious cause of trouble to the state of GOD'S Church, the Apostle doth wish them cut off that were Church troublers, and josuah proceeding to judgement against Ach●n Galath. 5. 12. said, why hast thou troubled us? the Lord shall trouble thee this day Josbuah 7. 25. it is no small crime to be a troubler of Israel; and here give me leave to acquaint you with the truth, for I find that you are abused by the false suggestions of some who bear no good will to the Parliament or the welfare of Zion. There are some who are said to be the troublers of the State of the Church and Kingdom among us, who are no more guilty of that charge then holy Elijah was, it's not those worthies now assembled in Parliament who seek to their utmost to preserve God's Religion and all your liberties, and estates that have troubled the state of our times, was it ever known that right Protestant English spirits did ever repute their chosen Knights, Burgesses, and Citizens, (who are the repairers of their breaches, and the restorers of paths to dwell in) troublers of Church and State? Did you know but the fidelity and Loyalty of their hearts to the KING and kingdom, and behold their constant pains and diligence for the good of us and all our posterity, you would bless God for them, and account (as they do indeed deserve) worthily of them. There are others who are real and actual disturbers and troublers Who are so troublers o● our times. of our times, namely, 1. Proud and discontented Prelates, together with their idle and scandalous followers, whose spirits are swollen so big that they scorning reformation have thrown PETER'S Keys into Tibur, and have taken Paul's sword in their hands, setting on that war in the Land which may truly be called Bellum Episcopale: 2. Papists and popishly affected persons, who having received the mark of the beast do seek to maintain Idolatry among us, and for their idols resolve to fight, tanquam pro aris & focis; believe me that it is the smoke which cometh out of the Pope's Kitchen, that's ready to choke the Church, and doth make so many aching heart's and weeping eyes among us, and our War is bellum papale. 3. Guilty and convicted persons, who having formerly by unjust courses, illegal patents, and other ways of oppression deceived us in our meats, drinks, and apparel, do now fear the sentence and lash of the I awe and seek rather to imbroile the Subjects in war then to yield them a just satisfaction. 4. And in a word many indebted and upstart Nobles with other beggarly and discontented Cavaliers; men without callings and Conscience, even birds of prey who flutter up and down, drinking healths to the Devil and their own damnation, if they overthrew not the Parliament, and hang up the Round Heads by whom they mean the truly godly of the Land; these and the like are the malignant and molesting party, into whose secret, let none of your souls come, with them have no confederacy, nay rather, discover their plots, resist their persons, and according to your Protestation join with those (who are ready to live and die to do you and yours good) to bring them to condign punishment. Thus when we have done our utmost to prevent troublous times if God shall bring in troubles among us we shall enjoy the peace of our Consciences and may expect in his own time the promised salvation and deliverance laid down in the next part. England's Salvations. But he shall be saved out of it. HEre we have the light side of the Text, viz. the promise of salvation out of their great trouble and misery, times of deliverance should follow times of trouble, we know that there is a threefold Salvation belonging to GOD'S Churches. 1. One spiritual which is the soul's salvation from the power A Threefold salvation. of sin in the sanctification of their natures, when men are sanctified, then are they saved. 2. Another eternal which is the delivery of soul and body from hell's damnation in the glorification of their persons, when men are brought to heaven then are they saved. 3. A third is Temporal which is their freedom from outward miseries into which their sins have cast them; of this salvation our Text speaketh. The sense is this, that though they were for the present under many and great miseries by their captivity, yet a time was designed and decreed by heaven for their deliverance, they should not always be bondmen in the hands of the Chaldeans and Babylonians, there should come the year of Inbilee, when the prisons should be opened and the prisoners set free enjoying themselves and their ordinances and their wont peace and privileges: whence I gather this point. That God hath his times and means wherein, and whereby he Doct. 2. God's Churches have salvation. will save and deliver his Churches out of their great and desperate troubles. Consider, sometimes God doth save his Churches and people from From troubles, they are exempted from destructions; Noah is saved when the old world was drowned, and Lot was saved when Sodom was burned; there was 7000. saved from jezabels' fury; UNIT =" In" and we read of a remnant that escaped: Sometimes God doth save his servants in In their troubles; though they are involved in the common miseries of others, yet care is taken for them, that they shall be safe, jeremiah was taken prisoner, and carried captive into Babylon yet God so order the matter that not a hair falls from his head, he was in more safety among the Heathens, than he could be among his own people: Sometimes God doth save 〈…〉 his people out of their troubles; when he shall let them fall into great and sore troubles, that their case seems to be desperate, even such as threatens death and ruin unto them, and out of which no possibility of deliverance by ordinary means doth appear even now when they are as a Lamb or Sheep in the mouth and paw of a Bear or Lion; shall salvation come in upon them, and a door for deliverance shall be opened to them. 2. You must know that God doth save his out of troublous 2 Sam. 10. ●● times and conditions, sometimes immediately by his own mighty arm and power no creature being used, sometimes mediately by the hand and help of those creatures, whether Angels or men whom he is pleased to make choice of, not out of any necessity that he hath of them but to show his Sovereignty over them and that readiness of disposition that is in them to obey his will and help his Churches; we read of salvation by Angels, and of salvation by Josuah and the Judges whom God raised up to be both Typical and temporal Saviour's and deliverers unto his Neh. 9 2● people. 3. You must understand that salvation out of troubles being a temporal and outward mercy is vouchsafed to Churches in general and unto Christians in particular upon God's terms and conditions, that is. 1. If God see it to be good for them; there are certain times when God though he can by his power, yet he will not in his wisdom save and deliver his out of troubles, v. g. 1, When the truth is to be sealed and ratified with the blood of his Times when God will not save his out of misery. Saints; the Lord will sometimes have his own people to bear witness unto the Gospel by dying. 2. When the Church is to be enlarged; the blood of the Martyrs ganguis martyrum 〈…〉 is the seed of the Church, and when God will have it grow and increase he doth sow and water it with the blood of his Saints; the Church before and about the times of the tyrannical Heathen Emperors when they slew ten thousands, and hundred thousands of her members did more increase them at other times. 3. When enemies are preparing for, and hastening unto their fearful destruction; God will give them time to ripen and fill up the measure of their sins, to act out and over the wickedness, and poyion that is in them, which they cannot do if the Churches should have their present deliverances. 4. When Christians are to be manifested a sacrifice of sweet Savour unto God and the world; we know that perfumes are sweetest when they are thrown into the fire, and spices do send out their smell when they are bruised in the mortar, and Christians do send out the sweet favour of their graces, than when they lie and die under their troubles. 2. Then when God seethe it to be best for them: God's time for deliverance and salvation is the best time, always outward deliverance is not best for Churches and Christians; many times we would have our mercies before that we are fitted for our mercies; all unseasonable deliverers would be hurtful deliverances; GOD Es●y 60. 22. saith, I the Lord will hasten it in his time: our times are in God's hands, and all our conditions for their kind and degree and time; he doth set down when Israel shall go into captivity, and how Times when the Churches shall be saved. long she must remain under it before she be saved out of it; this I conceive that God's times for his Church's deliverance out of troubles are these. 1. When misery is come to its height, man's extremity is God's opportunity, in the Mount will the Lord be seen: when things Genesis 22. 14. to sense are as bad as may be, so that there is little or no hope of amendment appearing, then shall deliverance come and salvation appear, and that in a special and remarkable way; when miseries do seem to enclose and encompass Churches, that they are as a City besieged round about, having all its passages stopped up, when miseries do press and oppress the Spirits to their misery; yea when miseries are lengthened out, and have boiled out themselves to their utmost, than men can scarcely see how a Church or people can be more miserable, this is the time which God takes to save his Churches, as may appear in the salvation of Israel in the Red Sea, and of the jews in Hamans' time. 2. When enemies are judgement ripe: God will let wicked men alone in their work for a while, they shall have their day and year wherein they may fill up the measure of their wickedness as did the Amonites; and this being done the Church shall have salvation according to that saying of God to Abraham, But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full●: wicked men have much 〈…〉. wickedness to commit before the Churches come to be delivered. 3 When Churches are humbled under sins and well prepared for deliverance: God, He never brings Churches out of miserabled evils, till they are humbled for their sinful evils; An unhumbled people are sure to be an afflicted people; but when the spirit of a people is brought down and laid low before God in all humility, when a people is thus fitted for deliverance it is at hand as we may see in Manasses and the Israelites. 〈…〉 12, 13. 〈…〉. 4. When prayers are sounding: usually the Lord doth make the spirit of prayer the john Baptist, to the work of deliverance; I mean he makes men to be much and mighty in prayer; he gives them enlarged hearts in prayer, they shall strive and wrestle with him in prayer, and then salvation shall come in; we see that Daniel was much in praying when the Church was near unto her deliverance, and the Christians met in prayer the same night that Peter was delivered. 3. In that way which see m●th good in his own eyes: God will go his own way in the saving of his, sometimes he will effect their salvation ordinarily in an usual and common way of providence; sometimes he will give them silvation extraordinarily in a marvel us and miraculous way of providence, even by weak means, no means and against means, as may appear in Israel's deliverance out of Aegrpt, and at the Red Sea, and in the deliverance of the three Children out of the fiery furnace, and Daniel in the Lion's den together with many others. The truth of this proposition will appear unto us. 1. By the witness of these Scriptures; Blessed art thou O Israel, who is like to thee O people, saved by the Lord? The Lord is my Deut 33 ●●. Exod. 〈…〉 Psalm 9●, 12. streagth and song, and he is become my salvation: God is my King of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth; when the Angel had spoken unto Daniel of the greatness of the miseries of the Church under Antiochus, he saith, and at that time thy people shall be delivered 2. By th●se confirming grounds. First, In God there is every thing which may make for the salvation of his people out of troublous times: As, 1. Might and power, he is one able to save, Esa. 63. 1. Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace; Daniel 3. 1●. Yea so omnipotent is God that nothing is able to withstand his power in saving his out of trouble, and therefore it is often said that with a mighty and a strong hand even as it were by force of Arms he brought them out of the house of bondage. 2. Mercy and Love unto his Churches and people, God doth not cease to love his when they are in Captivity and Calamity; his bowels are troubled for them and therefore he will surely have jerem 31. ●●. mercy upon them and deliver them; had God no love in him, not love unto his Churches, than they might lie and rot in the prison, but we know that he loves them with an unchangeable love, they are his darlings, dear and tender unto him, and this makes him to arise to their deliverance; Israel is my son even my first b●rne Exod. 4. 12. 13 let my son go saith Moses to Pharaoh. 3. Will and desire, God is willing to save his people; Lo this Esay 15, 9 Daniel 3. 17. is our God, we have waited for him and he will save us, and he will deliver us out of thy hand O King: God hath a readiness of min● to secure and save his children out of troubles, and what can hinder their salvation? 4. Wisdom and skill, the Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly ● Peter 2, 9 out of temptations: all ways and means for salvation are to be found in God. 5. Faithfulness and truth: God hath undertaken to save, and promised deliverance; but upon Mount Zion shall be deliverance Obadiah v. 17. Zech. 8. 7, 8. and there shall be holiness, and the house of Jacob shall possess their possessions: and again, thus saith the Lord of Hosts, behold I will save my people from the East Country, and from the West Country, and I will bring them, and they shall dwell in the midst of jerusalem, and they shall be my people; and I will be their God in truth and in righteousness, 6. Care and providence; as the general care of God goeth along with all his Creatures, so his special care and providence is held over his Churches and doth compass them as the hills do compass jerusalem; hence it was that Noah had his Ark and Moses his basket or Cradle of Bulrushes 7. Name and Title, God is styled in one place the Saviour of jerem. 14. 8. Psalm 40. 17. 1 Chro●. ●6. ●●. Psalm 65. 7. Israel, in another place a deliverer; and in a third place the salvation of his people, now these Titles are made good in this Act of freeing his people and taking them out of their miserable conditions. 8. Sovereignty and dominion; God is Lord and King; the ruler and over-ruler of all persons and actions, men and devils, death and the grave, heaven and hell are at his disposal: every condition 〈◊〉 45 ● of peace and trouble, light and darkness are his creatures: all things store to him, and are ruled by him; now having this absolute command over all, he can with a nod, or a word make the Seas to give up their de●d and command deliverances for jacob, the creature shall be so fare from resisting and opposing his will that it shall further and hasten the same, and therefore it is that the Churches have their deliverance. Reason 2 Secondly, In the Lord jesus, who is the great and mighty Saviour and one that saveth his Churches spiritually and eternally; be having saved them from the greatest danger by sin will also set out himself to save them out of the less danger by misery; he is one that goes along with jacob in all his troubles; he it was that was Daniel 3. 25. in the burning furnace with the three Children; he was in the Ship with the Disciples upon the Seas, and he is that Michael, the Daniel 12. 1. great Prince which standeth up, and standeth for the Children of thy people: We may not conceive the Church to be under misery and trouble, but jesus Christ puts himself into its condition: in their affliction he is afflicted; Christ is persecuted when they are Isay 63. 9 Acts 9 6. Hebrews 4. 15. persecuted; he is an High Priest touched with our infirmity: and he will arise and show himself to be on his Church's side, and doth never fail them in present assistance, and seasonable deliverance; all the dangers of the Church are but the awakenings of Christ, and the calling of him forth unto their succour, he will now be working for their good, he saith for the oppression of my Church, I will arise; they shall not always lie among the pots, be in the graves, and burn in the fire; I will not always stand looking Psalm 12. upon their miseries, but will come down rebuking their enemies, and delivering their persons, for they are my flesh and bone, even such whom I tender as a man doth the apple of his eye. Reason 3 Thirdly, In the enemies and troublers of the Church: I know that there is no will in them to further the Church's deliverance, they are their oppressors and would still detain them under bondage as we may see in Pharaoh, yet there is a necessity in respect of them that the Churches be delivered, For 1. The ●ride of their heart must be taken down. 2. Their projects and purposes must be broken in pieces. 3 They must return with shame and dishonour. 4. They must have their spirits filled with vexation and indignation. Psalm 112. 10. Prov. 11. 8. 5. They must come into misery themselves: and in a word, 6. They must be made to confess that great is the truth, and it Zech. 12. 3. will prevail; strong is Christ, and he will overcome; heavy and burdensome is jerusalem, even such a stone, that all that burden themselves therewith shall be cut in pieces. Reason 4 Fourthly, In the Churches themselves, to make this clear to you, Note, 1. That the Church of God is not made only for misery, but misery is made for the Church: miserable conditions are the proper portion of wicked men: dangers are accidental to God's people and brought upon them for an end better and beyond troubles and therefore they must not always lie under troubles. 2. That the Churches of God under troubles and dangers are very praying; we see that the Israelites under Pharaohs bondage cried to God and plied him with prayers, now this very practice of theirs did not a little further their deliverance from Pharaoh; I sought the Lord and he heard me: and delivered me from all my Exo. 2 23, 24, 25 Psalm 34. 4. 6. fears: again, this poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. 3. That God's Churches and people must be revived, and restored, and sweetly refreshed after their storms and sufferings; thou which hast showed me sore and great troubles shalt quicken me again, and shalt bring me up again from the depths of the Earth: Psalm 7. 20. Again, I have seen his ways, and will heal him, I will lead him Esay 57 18. also, and restore comforts unto him and his mourners: one more, I jerem. 30. 17. will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds saith the Lord, because they called thee an outcast, saying this is Zion whom Esay 57 16. no man seeketh after: how could this befall them if that they were not saved out of their miseries? if they were still held under, their spirit would faint and fail within them. 4. That the Church of God must have the free and comfortable 〈…〉 use of Ordinances, when they were in a strange Land they 〈…〉 could not sing the Lords Song: the very sacrifices of the Israelites were the abomination of the Egyptians. 5. That Songs of praises for deliverance must be found in the mouths of God's people, according to that saying of David, Thou 〈…〉 art my hiding place, thou shalt preserve me from trouble: thou shalt compass me about with Songs of deliverance: Sclah. which could never be unless they received salvation from the Lord. Use 1 In the first place, we may take notice of the singular privilege of the Church of God, that hath the privilege of deliverance and salvation. Ob. 1 But you will say wicked men partake of deliverance out of dangers 〈◊〉. 1. as well as the godly, and how then do you make the Church's deliverance such a privilege? I answer that wicked men are many times kept from, and Sol. 〈…〉. delivered out of dangers, but yet they have not the deliverance of the Church, For 1. They are delivered as creatures not as Children. 2. They are delivered by common providence, not by any special promise made to them, or applied by them. 3. Their deliverance is so fare from being a blessing that it is turned into a curse unto them, it were fare better for them to lie in Chains, and to die under misery then to be delivered, for by their deliverance they take an occasion to be more free and forward to commit ungodliness; it is to them a very snare, and doth mightily enthrall them into the hands of Satan. 4. Their deliverance is not out of any love or respect which God doth bear unto their persons, but under deliverances they are hated and abhorred of God. 5. They have only an outward deliverance, for in the mean time they want all spiritual deliverance, and shall never enjoy an eternal deliverance; though they escape from Babylon they shall never escape hell, whereas the Church is delivered by the Covenant, yea and all their temporal deliverances were but types unto them of their spiritual and eternal deliverances. Ob. 2 But you will say that the Church is not always delivered, maby a Church doth lie and die under miseries. To this I answer. 1. Sometimes the Churches may have deliverance, and will Sol. Hebrews 11. 35 not accept thereof, it is written that they would not be delivered because they looked for a better resurrection. 2. That though the Church in its parts and members have not always deliverance, yet in the whole it is saved and delivered; an Army may be said to escape though many Soldiers which made up the body thereof are slain, we may not imagine that when God maketh this promise of deliverance unto jacob that none of the jews died or perished in their Captivity; jacob in the general was saved out of it, though not every particular Israelite. 3. That though God doth many times deny actual deliverance from troubles unto his, yet he doth equal and exceed that deliverance in giving them delivery from sin's power, which is a greater mercy than a thousand outward deliverances or in giving them strength and grace to endure death, and thereby translating them unto heavenly glory; But Israel shall be saved in the Lord Esay 45. 17. with an everlasting salvation. Use 2 Secondly, That it is the safest and wisest course to be with the Church of God, and to join and side therewith; God is now putting us to it, and we must shortly show ourselves to be of one side or other, we cannot long be neuters; what now is to be dene, shall we desert the Church and its cause out of slavish fears? if so, we are undone; for without the Church there is no salvation; Extra 〈…〉. 〈…〉. as Paul said in another case, except these abide in the Ship, ye cannot be saved: the same say I to you, if that you desert and disclaim the Church, ye cannot be saved; deliverance goeth along with jacob, the Church's side is the strongest side, and the surest side, because its cause is the best cause; O my brethren what mean you to meditate a flight, and now to turn politicians, even a people so and subtle in your Religion, as if that your policy not your piety should secure you? I conceive that Church levers and Church forsakers are in the greatest dangers, it's not your disclaiming from the Saints, that will save either your estates or lives▪ I have read a story how that when the Papists in England were complotting with the Spaniard abroad to bring in their cried up Armado; the time drawing nigh for their coming over, the English Catholics sent over to the grand contrivers of that design to know what course they had taken for their safety, unto whom this answer was made, we know you to be Catholic, but we fear your goods will be Lutherans: no further security can we Vos catholici, 〈◊〉 vestra Lutherani. undertake for; it is no security to men either to be of no Religion; or to be of a false religion; if you will be safe be of the true religion, be with such who have the promise with them; I know that every man wisheth his own and his family's safety in these times, now our safety is by cleaving to the Parliament, not by joining with the Cavaliers; the former are men of piety, fidelity, gravity goodness, and loyalty: the latter a base, swearing, whoring, stealing, and murderous company, who stink in all places where they come, being the abominations and burdens of all the Northern parts; can you imagine that the safety of you and your posterities is bound up any where then within the walls of the Parliament? Lose this Parliament, and all is lost, Religion is lost, Liberty lost, estates lost yea and the glory of England lost. Use 3 Thirdly, Let us expect and wait for the deliverance of jacob, in a praying and believing way, what though the Church's miseries are great grievous, and of long continuance yet be not dejected; neither do you despair your hearts: Remember what is written; O my people, ye shall know that I am the Lord, when I Ezek. 37 1● have brought you out of your graves: stand still, fe●re not, behold Exodus. 14. 13. the salvation of the Lord which he shall show unto you this d●y: when were these words uttered? was it not then when they were going into the Red Sea? Brethren pluck up your spirits: deliverance shall come to the Church; God will make a way for our escape: Oh that we could now set our prayer and faith on working; our times are fitted for prayer and faith: had we not these two pillars for our upholding, I know not what we should do: come therefore into the presence of God seeking the Church's salvation and deliverance, say with David redeem: Israel O God out of all Psalm 25. 22. 13. ●1. Esay 62. 4. his trouble, remember David and all his troubles. Oh that with the Prophet we could say, For Zions' sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as the Psalm 53. 6. lamp that burneth: Let this be the daily wish of our souls, Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion: further be you entreated to exalt your faith in believing that the Church shall have deliverance, that the earth shall open and bring forth salvation; and ●say 45. 8. Esa● 26. 1. that God will appoint salvation for walls and bulwarks, what though the times do threaten ruin and destruction, yet know, 1. That God is above all the troubles of his Churches, and doth command them: so that they shall never exceed his will and power, though dangers are great yet God is greater than all dangers. 2. That God hath all deliverances in his hand, and can command Psalm 44. 4. deliverances for jacob, the Lord saith, I form the light, and create Isay 45. 7. darkness, I make peace and create evil: I the Lord do all these things: Say not in the fear of your hearts, by whom shall jacob arise? Amos 7. 5. Esay 33. 2. for he is small. Look upon God who is, our arm● every morning, our salvation also in the time of trouble: do not reason unbeleevingly, can these dry bones live or Churches under such deep dangers be delivered? I assure you brethren; that dry bones shall live, and miserable Churches shall be delivered; Say not that you see no means for deliverance? all means are shut up in God, and he hath means beyond our sight: what men either cannot, or will Esay 63. 4. not do that God can and will do; mark what God saith, the year of my redeemed is come: and I looked, and there was none to help: and I wondered that there was none to uphold, therefore mine own arm brought salvation to me: do not stand objecting the many blocks that stand in the way, or the many improbabilities and impossibilities for deliverance! but know that God maketh his way through the Seas, he is omnipotent; a wonder working God to whom nothing is impossible, remember what is written who art thou O great mountain before Zurabbabel, thou shalt become a Zech. 4. 7 plain, and he shalt bring forth the head stone thereof with shoutings crying grace, grace unto it: be not a disheartened people under the Church's trouble, but lift up your eyes to the hills whence salvation cometh; say with Dan, I have waited for thy salvation o Lord: Genesis 49. 18. Psalm 3. 8. Esay 49. 8. Psalm 69. 35. Salvation belongeth unto the Lord, and he will help or raise up his Churches in a day of salvation; God will save Zion and build the Cities of judah that they may dwell there and have it impossession. Use 4 Fourthly, Let us further the Church's salvation and deliverance; God doth many times save his Churches by means, he raiseth up men Saviour's, and men deliverers, and there is not a Christian man and woman among us, but they may do something for though Church's safety, though we cannot do alike, yet something we may do; will our riches and estates deliver bleeding Churches? part from that, you honour God with your riches when you lay them out for the Church's security, will your persons further the salvation of jacob? go out in your might and help the Lord against the mighty; have you no Silver or Plate, or bodies that are serviceable, then help the Church with your prayers, and tears go to God and mind him of his promise, put him to it, give him no rest night nor day till he establish and till he make jerusalem a praise in the earth; o let none us be Esay 62. 6, ● Neuters, let none of us sit still; let us up and be doing, and no doubt but God will be with us, and for his Churches. FINIS. ENGLAND'S HOPES. HOSEA 2. 15. And the Valley of Anchor for a door of Hope. IN this Chapter we have a double representation of Israel, and a double representation of God: First, Israel is represented unto us, under, 1. A sinful condition; She was idolatrous, adulterous, unmindful of, and unthankful for mercies: She sinned under, against, and with mercies, we read of her whoredoms, adulteries between her breasts, playing the harlot, going after lovers, not knowing that God gave her corn, and wine and oil, multiplying her silver and gold which she prepared for Baal, she had her days of Baalim, and times for lewdness. 2. A sorrowful condition; She was divorced, stripped naked, made as a wilderness, set as a dry land, slain with thirst, deprived of mercies, hedged in with thorns, and made every way miserable. Secondly, God is represented unto us, under, 1. Acts of severe justice: He doth quickly espy, sharply rebuke, terribly threaten, and miserably punish Israel for her sins, she is left to enjoy the recompenses of her lewdness, and made to feel the fury of an angry God. 2. Acts of sweetest mercy: In the midst of wrath God remembers mercy, under her afflictions he makes her promises, notwithstanding her sins which she had committed, and her miseries which were to be endured, God doth tell her that he will speak to her heart words of comfort and pardon; and whereas for her sins she was justly stripped of all outward and inward comforts, yet he would in his own time, and by his own free grace; make a full restitution of all good things unto her, it was not the misery of her condition which should hinder, or keep out the coming in of his mercy; From thence I will give her her Vineyard: even from the wilderness: and whereas her heart under her miseries might gather fears, and doubts, that God had quite forsaken and forgotten her, and that the tide should never turn: the Lord in the words read, undertakes to give her upholdings of spirit, saying, And the Valley of Anchor for a door of hope: q. d. Though my people by their sins have forfeited all my mercies, yet my mercy shall give them mercies, and whereas their miseries may make them fearing and despairing. I will give to them such matter and ground of confidence, that they shall have strong hopes in me, and of my mercy and love unto them. The words you see are a branch of the promised mercy of God unto his sinful and afflicted people, wherein we may take notice of two things: 1. The thing, or the mercy that God undertakes to give them, and that is a door of hope. 2. The sign, or token, or the means which God takes up for the assurance of this mercy unto them, and that is the valley of Anchor. For the first part, in brief I shall say thus much; That in the 4. Sorts of doors. Scriptures I read of several doors, as 1. of Speech and utterance, which is an open & free mouth to preach the Gospel; Praying also for us, that God would open to us a door of utterance Col. 4. 3. to speak the mystery of Christ: 2. Another of faith, which is the doctrine of the Gospel, opening Christ to men, and entering men into Christ: God hath opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles. Acts 14. 27. 3. A third of opportunity and liberty, which is a time and season put into a man's hand for the edifying of others; and thus Paul saith, A great door, and effectual is opened unto me, 1 Cor. 16. 9 and again When I came to Troas to preach Christ's Gospel, and 2 Cor. 2. 12. a door was opened to me of the Lord. 4. A fourth of hope, which is the opening of a way for the raising up of the heart to an expectation The door of hope, What? of mercy and relief, notwithstanding the contrary desert of sin, and the present sense of troubles, when the soul is made to know, that though its condition and state for the present is very miserable, yet it is not only within the compass and possibility of mercy and relief, but shall in God's time be admitted to the throne of Grace, and Cities of refuge, yea, and it can look out, and look up to God in a waiting way for mercy, this is the main nature of the door of hope. In the second part, we may take notice of 2. things. 1. What is this valley of Anchor? this Anchor was the first place of ground into which the Israelites came, being gotten over Jordan, as they went to take possession of Canaan, we may read where it did lie, Jos. 15. 7. It was that valley wherein Achan (that troubler of Israel) was stoned, as you may read, Jos. 7. 24 and verse 27. the word properly signifies, a valley of consternation, or trouble; and here is one thing notable in this Anchor, what it signifies. expression, it is not said that I will give them a door of hope in the valley of Anchor, (that had been a wonderful mercy) but I will give them the valley of Anchor for a door of hope: a speech fit for God to utter, and which God only can make good. 2. How this valley of Anchor became a door of hope? which The valley of Anchor a door of hope in 5. Respects. I conceive thus: 1. As it was the first place on which they did set foot at the entrance into the hoped for Land, when God brought them into this valley, than their hopes began to be raised up, that surely they should pass through the length and breadth of the Land of Canaan, God having brought them hitherto, he would also bring them further; the beginnings of mercies are pawns of further, and greater mercies. 2. As it was a place of rest and pleasure unto them after their troublesome passage through the Wilderness, and their trembling passage over Jordan, this Valley was fruitful and pleasant, as we may read in the Prophet, Sharon shall be a fold of flocks, and the valley of Anchor a place for the herds to lie down Esa. 65. 10. in, for my people that have sought me: if God bring his people to pleasant and fruitful conditions, this must needs make them to pluck up their spirits, and fill them with hopes through believing. 3. As it was a place of divine pacification: in this valley, upon Josh. 7. 27. that act of joshuahs', and the peoples, in stoning of Achan, God is said to turn from the fierceness of his anger manifested towards Israel, and at such time when God ceaseth to be angry with his people, the heart cannot but gather hope. 4. As it was the place wherein all the overthrows of the Israelites by any of the Kings which came out to fight with them ceased, for after they went out of this valley, they conquered in all the battles which they fought. 5. As it was the place of divine encouragement unto joshuah, Josh. ●. ●, 2. here it was that the Lordsaid to Joshuah, fear not, neither be dismayed, take all the people of War with thee, arise and go up, etc. Out of the whole I shall raise up this conclusion. That God doth give unto his Churches and people a door of Doctr. The Church under its troubles hath a door of hope. hope in their most miserable and distracted conditions. As there is one door which enters them into their sorrows, and miseries, so there shall be another door which shall raise up their souls to an expectation of good and comforts. God doth so order the matter with his, that however their pressures are heavy, and distractions many, yet divine help and comfort shall appear in a bending and bowing way towards them, notwithstanding all that they shall suffer and endure, the return of good and comfort shall be both probable and possible unto them. Note, 1. That it is one thing to fear more evil under the feelings (of some evil, this door of fear is the portion of the wicked) and another thing to hope for good, when men do feel miserable evils. To look upon evil, is enough for fear, there must be good, else there can be no hope. 2. That it is one thing to apprehend divine grace and mercy to be, and that we are such who greatly need it, and another thing to conceive a possibility of the same to a man's self: many may look upon mercy and help, in an absolute and simple way, but few look upon the same in a relative and reflecting way: it is not enough to hope, to see the thing that is good and relieving, but it must withal see it as the thing which they must share in. 3. That the door of hope is not made by any creature, it is God that doth create and bestow it: And fourthly, to one man this door stands more open, and is larger, unto another man it is straighter and narrower: some there are who have much ado, and do stir mightily to bring themselves under the hopes of pardoning and succouring mercies, so great is their coming in, and on of their fears, that they are ready to despair, saying with doubting David, One day I shall fall by the hands of Soul, it may be many days and years are spent in trouble and heaviness before they can receive any hopes of their acceptance and deliverance, others there are, who can more easily look up, and quickly espy the bend and bowings down of mercy and relief to themselves, they can confidently without scruples and doubts conclude the performance of promised mercy to themselves: O the large hopes that are begotten in many Christians who do lie under much misery. Now that they have this door of hope in troublous times, we might clear in Abraham; had he not the door of hope, when he said to Isaac, My son, God will provide? Moses had a Gen. 22. 8. Exod. 14. 13. door of hope when he spoke to Israel, Stand still, fear not, see the salvation of the Lord which he will show you to day: This door of hope was given to Paul when he was in great danger upon the Seas, In the seven and twentieth Chapter of the Acts verses, 22, 23, 24, 25. The Jews had this door of hope, for Shechaniah tells them, that there was hope in Israel concerning Ezra 10. 3. this thing. And it cannot be otherwise, for, First, God's name is the hope of Israel, as well as the Saviour Reas. 1. thereof in time of trouble. Je●. 4. 8. Reas. 2 Secondly, Christians are styled the prisoners of hope; turn yourselves to your strong holds, ye prisoners of hope. Zach. 9 12. Reas. 3 Thirdly, the nature of God is gracious, tender, and merciful, he is always sitting upon the throne of grace, and is very full of bowels and openings of divine grace towards such as are his, and this makes him to hold out the plank, and to create a door of hope: all a Christians soule-refuges and hopes are grounded in the gracious nature of God. Reas. 4 Fourthly, the nature of miseries and afflictions in themselves are sinking and despairing to humane spirits; if God should leave man to the power of a miserable condition, it would sink and drown him. I say that of an afflicted condition, which we usually say of fire and water, they have no mercy; here that is true which Strabo reports of the river Silias, wherein all things sink to the bottom, and nothing floats: the heart of man, if it were left without hope in times of misery, would be as a nail cast into the water, or much after the manner of one who is cast into the deeps, that cannot swim: his spirit would fail; we have a proverb to this purpose, were it not Esa. 57 16. for hope the heart would break. Reas. 5 Fifthly, the intention of God in afflicting, and punishing his, is very good: God doth not cast down his children to cast them off, he intends not their ruin, but their profit when he doth chastise them, if he puts his into the furnace, he doth it to melt them, in that very way that the Goldsmith doth melt his Gold, only to purge out the dross, and to fit and frame them to be vessels of use and honour to himself, if he put the bridle on them, and ride them over hedges and ditches, and ploughed grounds, and heavy ways, it is but to bring down their stubborn spirits, and to bring them to an obedient pace: Surely by all afflictions he doth but fit them for mercy; and doth not this yield the reason of their having now at such times as these a door of hope. Reas. 6 Sixthly and lastly, the people of God must act over-duties, and put themselves upon means of pacification and atonement, under their greatest miseries: Now it is hope of good which is the loadstone of all endeavours, despair cuts off the use of all means, and makes men to quit all duty, if there should appear no way open for escape, if there were no backdoor to get out at, to what purpose should men pray, and fast, and believe, and humble themselves, and stick to God for help and secure: My Brethren, God will have his people to be in no condition wherein they shall not be dutiful and serviceable to him, or neglect to use those means whereby they may do themselves good. This truth, Use 1 First, may discover unto us the different estate of the wicked and the godly in suffering and sorrowing times; For wicked men they may have, 1. A door of presumption; they may build upon deliverance The ungodly man's doors in sinful and sorrow full times. and comfort, without ground and reason; I know none more ready to promise themselves good, than men who have no title to the promises; the world is filled with a dead, and dark, and dreaming hope: Some of the Philosophers called hope the dreams of waking men, and I may truly say, that most men's hopes are but dreams; as he said of lovers, Sibi somnia fingunt, they fancy every thing shall be, because they would have it so: so may I say, when I look upon the sluggishness, and carnal walking of most men in times of danger and trouble, and hear them say, that they hope for mercy and secure from God: Truly these men do build more upon imagination then reality; alas poor creatures, your dreams may cheer you whilst you are asleep, but they will terrify you when you awake: O miserable creatures, when you have hoped your hopes, it shall be with you, as it was with Ixius, who hoped for Juno, but instead of her he had a cloud that did all to bewet him, or as it was with the Heathen, who offered Sacrifice to Hercules to drive away their Wolves, and he tormented them more than their Wolves; my meaning is, you may look long enough, but no good shall come to you. 2. A door of desperation; in the sense and apprehension of judgements and calamities they may, 1. Make a determinate judgement upon the impossibility of any good and mercy belonging to them, they cannot conceive that safety and deliverance should come, nay they make it a thing impossible to attain to the Haven and rock. 2. Miserably sink down in their spirits: oh, there is no hope, my punishment is greater than can be borne, so heartless are they, that they suffer shipwreck presently, and suffer themselves to sink lower in their spirits, than they are in their troubles: O faithless and hopeless creatures, why do you give off your God, and fall down into the deeps? it is just with God to deny those a door of hope in times of misery, who do slight him in times of prosperity. But how is it with the godly? How? they have a door of hope standing before them: such can say, I expect and look for good from God, notwithstanding all the evils I feel and suffer. Object Object.. But happily you will object and say, Sir, have godly men always a door of hope in distressed times? Remember whose speech was that, My hope and strength is perished from the Lam. 3. 18. Lord, and again, Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost, we Ezek. 37. 11. are cut off from our parts. Answ. Sol. I have considered of these Scriptures which speak out the Saints infirmities, they do not say that they had no door of hope, but they show the weakness of their faith to apprehend the same: the Well of water was nigh to Hagar, yet until her eyes were opened she could not see it: the question is not how clearly Christians do see the door of hope, or how strongly they are able to raise up their expectations, but whether they have not a ground for to hope for good in evil times: wicked men can neither actually nor habitually hope, for they have no ground: the godly have a constant ground and cause for hoping, and when they cannot actually, yet they can habitually hope. Use 2 Secondly, this may raise up our hearts this day unto much Use 2. comfort and confidence: it is true that we have a door of great misery standing very open before us, there is a threatening and a trembling door setting up in the Land, it may be such a door which may enter us into a bloody and civil War, the very beholding whereof may strike us with sadness: Let me now tell you for your comfort: Grounds of comfort. 1. That there neither is, or shall be set up within this Land any door which shall enter us into misery, but such as the good Lord whom we love, and fear, and serve shall permit and suffer; God must suffer all our sufferings, it is not all the power, plots, and projects of our revolted Nobles, and Malignant party that can set up a door of misery at their pleasure, God who hath the hearts, and the preparations thereof in his own hands, hath the hands of them all in his hands, even to check, control, and turn them at his own will. 2. That if ever God suffer men to set up a foredoore of misery, he will bestow upon his a backdoor of hope; God is as able as willing to set up doors of hope for his. Doors of hope. 3. That God hath given to us this day many doors of hope, I shall name these unto you. The door of the promises 1. The full and precious promises of mercy and secure; abundant is God in his undertake to relieve distressed Christians? And what are all those engagements of God for good unto his, but the letting fall of some hints of mercy before the soul to raise up hope; had we no promises, we could have no door of hope, Remember (saith David) thy word unto thy servant, Psal. 119. 49. upon which thou hast caused me to hope. Object. But we have no particular promise of deliverance, and therefore how can we make the promises a door of hope? Sol. It is the promises of God in general that are the door of hope, so that if we can find our particular condition in them, we may expect mercy and deliverance. The door of experiences. 2. Experiences of former times; this was david's, and Paul's 1 Sam. 17. 36. 37. 2 Cor. 1. 10. door of hope, and we should make it our door of hope; what God hath done at one time, he can also do at another time; nay, he puts out himself at one time, that future Ages may make him their hope at all times: Can we look into days of old, and recall the years of the right hand of the most high, and see what God hath done for miserable Churches, and distressed Christians before us, nay, could we but live upon our own particular experiences of the many passages of God among us, I think we should have as wide a door of hope as ever any people had. The door of prayer. 3. Enlargement of spirit: God hath poured out the spirit of prayer upon the people of the Land, some, nay, many thousands there are who come to the Throne of Grace, and do mightily and daily wrestle with God for a blessing upon England; and this is a strong door of hope▪ it is that which keeps heaven doors open: we usually say, that when the Cock gins to crow thick, than the day is nearest breaking, and this is my hope, that England shall not miscarry, because she hath such a p●aying people in it, go into all the corners of the I and, and you shall find many jacob's, many daniel's, and many Nehemiahs, who do exercise themselves in praying, surely a child of so many prayers cannot perish. The humbling daydoore. 4. Frequency of humiliations: God hath set up in England by authority, twelve solemn humbling days in a year, which is such a mercy, that England never enjoyed, and these days are in many places solemnly kept; in these day's multitudes meet together, even whole Armies of Christians beset God, the considerable part of the Land do weep and mourn, humbling themselves for their sins before the Lord, and seeking mercy and pardon for the Kingdom. The door of utterance. The erection of further and greater means of light and knowledge: the door is set open for painful and conscientious preachers in such parishes and places in the Kingdom that for many years passed never enjoyed the soule-saving Ministry, the spiritual food in many places is doubled and trebled, an excellent evidence of much good to this poor Island. The door of acceptation. 6. The acceptation of sacrifices and services: God hath had respect to the prayers and humblings of his people, there hath scarce been a day of solemn meeting, which God hath not crowned with some seasonable and answerable return; which is another door of hope: when Manoah was afraid, & thought that he should die, because that he had seen God, his wife doth comfort him, saying, If the Lord were pleased to kill us, he would Judg. ●3. 23. not have received a offering, and a meat offering at our hands, neither would he have showed us all these things, neither would he have told us such things as these, q. d. Man, what talkest thou of dying, so long as God is accepting. The door of Reformation. 7. The foundations that are laid for a glorious Reformation: God hath raised up glorious workmen, who have carried out much of the old rubbish, cleared in gre●t measure the foundation, and brought in place many good materials, tending to the beautifying of the Church, I dare say, that is laid in, which all hellish opposition shall never be able to overthrow. The door of the Parliament. 8. The zeal and courage of the worthies assembled in Parliament: they are men so raised up in their spirits, and so united among themselves, that no threats, or discouragements can daunt or put them off from their working; they work unweariably, and courageously, notwithstanding all that they do, and all that is done against them, they shine in their faces, so that heaven may appear to own and comfort them. The door of opposition. 9 The insolences of enemies against the proceed of the Parliament: when enemies of Religion are high flown, and dare to fight against Parliaments, against Laws, against Christians, and against all that is called God, it is an evidence that they are under the curse, and nigh unto ruin, their great braggings and base attempts must not despair our spirits, no man ever prospered or prevailed, that maliciously and desperately did set himself against the Parliament, it is that stone, which whosoever thinks to remove, he shall be crushed by it. The door of assistance. 10. The Earth's helping of the woman: We have seen the spirits of men in all places raised up, to come to assist the cause of Jesus Christ, help hath come in to the Worthies in an unexpected way, even from such who have been thought to have no Religion, men of all sorts have combined themselves to defend Religion, the Laws of the Land, the Liberties of the Subjects, and the Privileges of Parliaments, hating and abhorring the courses which are destructive to the same. The door of heaven. 11. The constantness, and unchangeableness of God in his working for us, and assisting of us: England may set up samuel's Stone, which was called Eben-Ezer, that is, Hitherto 1 Sam. 7. 12. hath the Lord helped us: Certainly, there hath been the least of man, and the most of God discovered in the late passages, that ever Nation beheld, yea, and our God is constant with us, though men and times change, yet God changeth not, you shall find him in his old place, even when men, great men and false hearted men, who have deceived the Kingdom in their trust, do slip their necks out of the collar, and seem to turn Renegadoes. The door of Anchor. 12. We are in the valley of Anchor: Now is the day and time of consternation and trouble, the tide is at highest, the night is at darkest, our miseries are such as threaten nothing but ruin and destruction unto us, and therefore we may hope, I say that our very miseries may be unto us a door of hope: Psal. 56. 3. Psal. 130. 1. What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee: and Out of the deeps have I cried unto thee, O Lord: David's searing times were his believing times, and his dangerous times were his praying times; our greatest dangers cannot put us beyond our hopes: The Athenians when they were in great danger at Sea, were wont to cast out that great Anchor which they called the holy Anchor. Sacram anchoram solvere dicimur qu ando ad extremum praesidinm Erasmi Adaz. ex Lucia. confugimus: If the Heathens were not without hope in dangers on the Sea, shall Christians (think you) be lest without hope? nay, so long as Christians have a God to look upon, and a promise to rely upon, they shall never fail of a door of hope: it is not all the blustering in the North by great ones and Cavaliers, which can hinder God from setting up a door of hope for his servants in England. Use 3 Thirdly, let us live as men to whom a door of hope is vouchsafed. 1. Be not distracted and distressed in your spirits by the change of things or times, and with the coming in of 4. Signs of such who have a door of hope. Psal. 39 7. more and greater troubles; let none of those things discourage you, under all rumours of War, and approaches of trouble, say, And now Lord what wait I for? truly my hope is even in thee: speak out, yet God is good to Israel a 〈…〉 , these things will not endure an age b N●be●ia est 〈◊〉. : It is but a shower that will soon pass over. 3. Look for more than you have in hand, your present mercies are not all your mercies, there is much more behind, God hath raised up the hearts of his, to expect great and wonderful things: and as we must be thankful for what is done, so we must wait upon God for that which is yet to be done, reputing all our receipts to be so many pledges and pawns of further and future good. 3. Go on with your work, you may not expect great things, and cast off duty: our hope for mercy and deliverance will make us industrious and endeavouring in our places to praise and please God in all things. 4. Puzzle not yourselves with disorderly plots, do not seek to piece heaven and earth, and to compound humane and divine helps, know what man cannot, God can, and will do, and that things many times are better for us in the promise, then in our own hands: We cannot think of, or find out always the best means to do ourselves or the Kingdom good: Flesh and blood will be often at a stand in its advice. Use 4 Fourthly, learn to keep open the door of your hope; To this end: 1. Make not your thoughts the measure of God's strength; Ubi des●nit humanum, ibiincipit divinum auxilium. where humane help faileth, there divine help beginneth, if it be a work that man can do, it is not a work fit for God to do. 2. Make God, who is the God of nature, the orderer and over-ruler of all second causes, and outward impediments, all 6. Ways of keeping open the door of hope. things must stoop to God, and that in an instant, oh how suddenly can God dry up, and divide the Sea? how wonderfully can he command the hearts of Kings? and how quickly can he turn into foolishness the counsels of all Achitophel's? All things are too weak to frustrate God's purposes and promises: Clouds and storms may be in the air, but not in the highest heaven, the waters may carry down a plank, but the rock remains still, nothing can hinder the Almighty God, he hath the Malignant party under his command, as much as he had Rabsh●kah. 3. Keep open the door of heaven, cease not praying day and night: if we keep up our spirits in prayer, the door of our hopes will be kept open. 4. Advance the grace of faith to liberty of working: as the promise goes before faith, so faith goes before hope, the expectation of good ariseth out of an apprehension and persuasion of good; the truth is, that hope doth so depend ex judicio fidei, that if men believe not, they shall not hope, even as the inferiors do move at the motion of the Superiors, so hope riseth, is furthered and continued in its working by faith: Well then, would you keep open the door of hope, exalt faith, and let it act into the promises, whilst faith is feeding and fastening itself upon the promises, a man shall have hope in the darkest night, as well as in the lightest day. 5. Provoke not God by sinning: There is nothing but sin which can shut up the door of our hopes, if that at such times as these, wherein God is promising, and we are expecting mercies, we shall be an unreformed people, and discover our iniquities: what can God do less then to shut the door again, saying, I would have cured and reform England, yea, I gave them fair hopes for the same, but lo her inhabitants are proud and idle, they swear, and whore, and lie, and steal, and are drunken, and therefore now I will not give them my mercy and grace. 6. Be prudent in seeking the public Reformation; Let every man keep his standing, and move to his own Orb: Though all Christians should have public spirits, yet they have not public places, if men will be discreet and quiet, things will be best amended, indiscretion may shut the door aster then most men are ware of: Think of these things, warm your spirits by them, confer of them as you ride home from the Market, and say to your friends and acquaintance, Yet there is hope in Israel, even in England. FINIS.