THese Words were spoken by Balaam the Sooth­sayer, Josh. 13.22. (as he is styled by the Holy Ghost) and for that reason are the more remarka­ble, because here out of his own mouth he stands condemn'd, while God and his Church are justify'd. We cannot suppose, that so bad a Man should speak so much good of himself, without a particular Divine impulse upon his Spirit at that time, which he had not at other times been accustom'd to; for this was hinted at his first coming to Balak, Num. 22.38. that He had no power at all to say any thing, beside the word which God put into his mouth. 2 Pet. 2.16. The Apostle Peter calls him [Page 2]a Prophet, because though he did not exercise any such constant Office among the People of God, yet he was in an extraordinary manner guided and di­rected now to foretell what should happen in the latter dayes; Num. 24.14. for his prediction does plainly reach as far as the times of the Messiah, ver. 17 if not (as some think, that the last part of it may be understood) beyond them. ver. 24 Indeed he was one that loved the wages of unrighte­ousness, and did what he could to deserve them;2 Pet. 2.15. he delighted not in blessing, but yet he was forc'd to pro­nounce it;Num. 22.32. his way was perverse, and his heart was cor­rupt, however God over-rul'd and employ'd his Tongue to deliver a Sacred Prophesie.

The Occasion of the Words was this; the people of Israel were upon their march through the Wilder­ness towards the promised Land, and had made very considerable Conquests in their way, which put the Nations round about into a general Trembling, and especially the Moabites; Exod. 15.15. (according to the Song of Moses at the Red Sea.) Balak, who was then their King, being allarmed also by the Neighbouring Princes of Midian, that perceived themselves to be in the same common distress, sends Messengers to Balaam, with the rewards of divination, and promises of great preferment, that he might come and use what skill and power he had, to weaken and destroy the Israel­ites. Balaam, out of an evil Covetousness, breaks through all discouragements and interruptions which were at first given him by God, and is permitted at length to prosecute this journey; when he was ar­riv'd in the Land of Moah, he makes various attempts by Sacrifice to reduce God to a compliance with his wicked inclinations,Josh. 24.10. but finds, that God would not [Page 3]hearken unto him; (as Joshua afterwards represents the story to the Assembly of the Tribes at Shechem.) In short, God was inflexible, and he was impotent; God would not lye nor repent of what he had resolv'd,Num. 23.19. ver. 20. and Balaam being commanded to bless, could not reverse it. Therefore, as one despairing of that success which he wish'd for, he here in his second Parable or speech to Balak, seems to give up the Cause, and though not with a chearful, yet with a firm, confidence, lays down this Assertion, surely there is no enchantment, &c. q.d. I see, I neither am, nor shall be, able to do thee that servic which thou expectest, and which I was willing to, for they have an Almighty God on their side, who hath espoused their Interest, and will not desert it; all my hopes and contrivances are blasted, because there is no wisdom, nor understanding, Prov. 21.30. nor coun­sel against the Lord.

The Text contains in it, 1. Something Negative in the former part; there is no enchantment against Jacob, &c. 2. Something Positive in the latter part; ac­cording to this time it shall be said, &c. the one respects the vanity and ineffectualness of what was design'd to their prejudice by Men, the other concerns the a­mazing greatness of what was done to their advantage by God. If we take the whole together, 'tis like the Cloud which had two sides; one very bright and re­viving to the Jews, another very dark and dejecting to their Adversaries.

Three things must be premised, for the opening of the Words.

1. That Enchantment and Divination here are not to be taken only in the strict sense, for those Magical Arts, [Page 4]which were commonly practised among the Heathens, (such as the Egyptians, Exod. 7.11. 1 Sam. 6.2. Deut. 18.10, 11, 12. and Philistims, &c.) and which were absolutely forbidden to the Jews; but we must understand these terms in the largest sense, as comprehending all those devices which are in the Hearts of Men, and all those actual endeavours which are put forth by them, in opposition to the interests of God and of his People.

2. That Jacob and Israel are not to be taken for the Person that had those names, but for his Posterity, the Church of the Jews, which spruing from him; and not for them onely, but for the whole Church of God in following Ages. For all the Faithful are the spiritual seed of Jacob (which spiritual seed does now inherit, instead of the carnal) and the Gospel-Church is styled the Israel of God. Gal. 6.16.

3. That this time which is mentioned here, is not to be restrained to the Dispensations of those days, but may be accommodated to all the like appearances of Providence which fall out, till the end of the World. Balaam seems principally to aim at Gods bringing of the People out of Egypt, ver. 22 and furnishing of them with the strength of an Ʋnicorn, ver. 24 and of a great Lion, for the subduing of the Canaanites; but when God out of the Treasury of his Goodness brings forth any new Mercies which suit with these works of old, we may justly look upon these words as again fulfilled before our Eyes.

The Observation which the Words thus Explained, do offer to us, is this,

Doctrine. That Gods powerful defeating of all the Methods of [Page 5]his Churches Adversaries, and Glorious Workings for the Church it self, ought to be taken notice of, with Admiration.

In the managing of it, I shall follow this Order.

• First, Shew, What are those usual Methods of the Churches Adversaries, which God does powerfully defeat.
• Secondly, What is there in the Workings of God for his Church, which should be especially taken Notice of.
• Thirdly, What Grounds and Reasons are there for Admiration.
• Fourthly, Apply it, by directing to the Duty of the present time.

I I begin with the First thing, which is to Enquire, What are the common Methods of the Churches Ad­versaries, which God hath powerfully defeated; or, (to speak in the Language of the Text) what kinds of Enchantment and Divination the generally levell'd against Jacob; which have been render'd vain and unsuccessful. I must perform this part, as one, whose Soul never entered into their secret, who never knew any more of their Mysteries of Iniquity, and Depths of Satan, than what are obvious to the World, and therefore shall onely insist upon the six following Methods, which the Enemies of the Church have frequently taken.

1. The first is, Labouring to engage Heaven against the Church. This (as I have already shewn) Balaam thought to do; and thus many Idolatrous Worshippers [Page 6]have hoped (as it were) to charm the Almighty, and make God their Confederate and Friend, by a multi­tude of costly Ceremonies, or of imaginary Intercessors, which instead of prevailing with God to shine upon their Counsels, have provok'd him to overthrow them. It may be, that by the building of Religious Houses (falsely so called), the adorning of splendid Altars, the making of rich Oblations, the maintaining of mer­cenary 'Priests, a tedious handling of Beads, or using the names of this and that Saint, and particularly of the 'Blessed Virgin, they have expected to bring over God to their own side, that they might see their desires upon his people. But this labour, being not in the Lord, hath prov'd to be in vain: for the 'Prayers of such men are sin, and their Worship is an abomination. We know, John 9.31. that God heareth not sinners; least of all, when the thing which they pray for, and the manner which they pray in, is so much against his Will. Their crying to the true God upon such accounts, signifies no more, than calling upon a false one; for the onely defference lies in this, that a false God cannot hear them, and the true One will not.

2. A second Method is, Consulting and conspiring with Hell against the Church. Of this Nature were the Enchantments, Num. 24.1. which Balaam did ordinarily seek for. When the Adversaries of the Church do find that God will not come in to their Assistance, they make their Applications to Satan, and try their interest with the Infernal Powers to rase the Foundations of Sion. And indeed, it is no wonder, that the seed of the serpent should seek instructions from their Parent, or that the children of the devil should advise with their Father; for this is much more natural to them, [Page 7]than the having of any reconrse to God. The Beast is fitly coupled with the Dragon, Rev. 13.2. chap. 9.2, 3. and the Locusts which come out of the bottomless pit, will keep a correspon­dence with the place of their Original. Now, though this course looks more likely to the effectual than the former, yet this also is brought to nought; because the things under the earth are under the rebukes and restraints of Heaven, and if God sets bounds even to the Cloven foot, and sayes, hitherto shalt thou come, it can go no further. If we cannot rejoyce, that the Devils are subject to us, I am sure, we may rejoyce, that they are subject to him. As Hell is naked before him, so 'tis limited and consined by him; and the foolishness of God, which is wiser than man, does likewise infinitely excel the subtilty of Satan.

3. A third Method is, the flattering and corrupting of those, whose power may be serviceable to them in this World. If they can but gain the shields of the earth to defend their cause, they are ready to think them­selves invincible, and the true Christian interest irre­coverable. Therefore this hath alwayes been one of the main Policies of the Antichristian party, to in­sinuate into their favour, who might frown the Servants of God into Destruction, and Ereep into their Bosomes, who could give them the power of stinging and tor­menting others. What hath been more visibly pur­sued and aim'd at in the World, than to bring the hon­our and strength of the Nations into Babylon, and to place those Men as Horns upon the Beast, who should be the Guardians and Protectors of the Church? And certainly no way of accomplishing their grand Design hath seem'd more probable than this; yet even this hath not prosper'd. Some have escap'd their strong [Page 8]delusions, whose authority and influence would have tended to promote them: These Vipers have been shaken off from those hands, where they hop'd to fasten; and the Pillars upon which some Kingdomes stand, do still support the Cause of the Reformation, though great endeavours have been used to pluck them away from it. God hath not suffer'd the Emissaries of Rome to find Reception every where, and there are places which have lodg'd them once, but now know them to more.

4. A fourth Method hath been, the Stirring up of those whose Ruine they intend, to reproach and per­secute one another. What Engine hath been oftner employ'd, or what Art more practic'd, by the Ene­mies of God than this, to set his Friends at variance a­mong themselves? to make Israelites the troublers of Israel, and to put them upon smiting with the tongue and fist of wickedness, who joyn in the same profession of Faith and Holiness? This hath been carried on sometimes very violently, and very far, to the wear­ing out the saints of the most High, Dan 7.25. Acts 8.3. and making havock of the Church, while the secret Agents and Contrivers have laught at the calamity of the one party, and triumph't in the folly of the other. But Providence hath revealed this iniquity too, and by that means there hath been a disappointement of the expected success; men have seen (with shame) whose Instruments they were, and whose ends they have serv'd. Popish ma­lice hath suggested a great deal of Reviling and en­flamed a great many proceedings, which (we hope) now will want Tools to vent it self by; for when such Men have been so plainly discover'd to kindle our fires, no good man can be again for blowing of them up.

[Page 9] 5. A fifth Method hath been, to Amuse and deceive the People of God by fair pretences of Kindness and Compassion. Grievous Wolves sometimes have seem'd to put on bowels of mercy; and such as have intended our greatest hurt, have expressed the tenderest Affe­ction. How fatal might their Hatred cover'd by deceit have been,Prov. 26.26. if God had not shewed their wickedness be­fore the whole Congregation? We might have been rock'd so fast asleep with plausible allurements, as that nothing but utter and unavoidable destruction should have awaken'd us: and so we might have cryed out of Treachery, when it was too late to break the snare. There is a Generation of Men, who are more proper­ly of the Order of Judas, than the Society of Jesus, that sudy the betraying of Disciples (as once the Ma­ster was) with a Kiss, and strive to Enchant them by a short Liberty into a more lasting Bondage. But this project hath miscarried also; we are rescued from the danger of Trusting those, who affirm that there is no Faith to be kept with us; and that God, who watches over Israel, when they are most careless of themselves, and least jealous of their Enemies, hath prevented our security from being our ruine. Mens Eyes have been open'd to discern a real enmity through the appear­ances of a sudden friendship; and the Cruel Nature of the Roman Church hath been unmaskt at a time, when she hath fawn'd much more, than in former Ages.

6. A sixth Method hath been, the Gradual De­bauching of Mens Consciences and Manners. This (without doubt) is the very Master-piece of all, for nothing does more gratisie our Adversaries, or injure our selves, than the rotten Principles, and loose [Page 10] Practices of some that adhere (in general) to the Re­form'd Religion. When the people of Israel were brought to eat things sacrificed to Idols, Rev. 2.14. and to commit fornication with the Moabites and Mideanites, (accor­ding to the pernicious counsel of Balaam) it was like to have been their overthrow. When Jacob hath been balting, after his Enemies have touch't him in a tender part, they have found it easiest to cast him down. The preserving of a pure Conscience is the best fence against the abomination which maketh desolate; our Devourers know, that they shall never be able to say, We have swallowed them up, unless they can perswade us to swallow what they put into our mouths; but if they succeed in making us like themselves, they pre­sume that God will no longer protect us from them. It is a special providence, which hath hindred their prevailing in this point; that (if we are in the Sardi­an state) we may say (nevertheless), that we have a few Names (i.e. persons) among us,Rev. 3.4. who have not de­filed their garments; their is a number of Protestants yet remaining, whose Judgments are sound, and their Conversations unspotted; who are truly Orthodox, both in their Faith and their Works; keeping them­selves free from all tincture of the Soveraign Drug, as well as from the deadly Poyson of prophaneness.

II The Second thing proposed, was to shew, what there is in the Workings of God for his Church, which should be peculiarly taken notice of. For the clear­ing of this, I shall instnace only in these five thing.

1. First, We should observe Gods Supream Effici­ency. This is Evident from the words, What hath [Page 11][God] wrought? We should consider our Deliverance as his Work, of whom and through whom are all things. Rom. 11.36. We are to eye the operation of the first Cause in every common effect, and much more in those which are Rare and Extraordinary. Some things have such manifest Signatures upon them of a Divine Provi­dence, that every one will be ready to put the Que­stion, Who knoweth not, Job 12.9. that the hand of the Lord hath wrought this? and therefore in such Cases, it would be the greater Sin to overlook what is chiefly to be remarkt, or to separate Gods Work and his Glory, Psal. 90.16. which the Holy Ghost does so strictly take care to joyn together. As God must be acknowledged to be the principal Author of our Sufferings and Calami­ties, whatever bad men are made use of as the Rods of his Anger, so he must be look'd upon as the great Efficient of our Deliverances, whatever good Men are employ'd to be the Instruments of his Mercy. It is the Lord, who sometimes commands concerning Ja­cob, Lam. 1.17. that his Adversaries should be round about him: and it is the Lord, who at other times raises up Friends and Favourers to appear for him. The same mighty Hand which throws us into Distress, does snatch us out of it.

2. Secondly, His Irresistable manner of proceeding. God's marching on many times, without Opposition, or at least, without such as might be rationally sup­pos'd and fear'd, is very observable. This Circum­stance makes it look the more like his Act, who sayes, I will work, and who shall let it? Isa. 43.13. We saw (it may be) great Mountains of Difficulties standing between us, and our desired Mercies, which in a little while remov'd [Page 12]themselves out of the way; we saw high Walls before us, which were naturally impossible to be leapt over, or batter'd down, but they fell flat, before we came near them. God hath given us sensible demonstrati­ons, with how much ease, he can cut off mens spirits, and take away their hearts, bind up their hands, or drive them to their feet. How hath he made those very per­sons as stubble before the wind, whose 'Breath sometimes was such a terrifying storm to others! who can deny, that the Lord fought for us, when a finger was scarcely permitted to be lifted up against us? What Chara­cters of Omnipotence are here, that God should pre­vent Resistance, instead of overcoming it!

3. Thirdly, His Quickness of Dispatch. Gods cutting short of that work which he might have delayed and lengthen'd out, ought to Exercise our Consideration. The Holy Ghost speaks of his bearing Israel upon Eagles wings, Exod. 19.4. though they were kept forty years among the Thorns and Briars of the Wilderness, and their Sun oftentimes went back many degrees, before God brought them to their setting in Canaan; but how much spee­dier hath God been in his redeeming of us! When we might have fallen under swift destruction, we were surpriz'd with Goodness, and Mercy ovetook us un­awares. Our Adversaries were making haste to destroy, but God made more haste to save; they drove furiously indeed, but Infinite Power stopt them on a sudden, and turn'd them back in the twinking of an Eye. What but an Almighty Spirit in the Wheels could have cau­sed them to move so fast, and bring such great Salvation in so little time? What Arm could have accomplish'd such a signal and glorious Affair in the short space of [Page 13] Six Weeks, but only That which begun and finish'd the whole Creation in the same number of Dayes? We must give the same reason for our Deliverance so soon, as Jacob did in another Case, (in which it was not so true) viz. because the Lord our God brought it unto us. Gen. 27.20.

4. Fourthly, The Conveniency of the Season. It's true, we who are generally impatient of Affliction, were forward enough to desire, that an end might be put to it before; and perhaps, we thought some years ago, that we had been in the Furnace long e­nough; but we must own, (unless we are wretchdly partial to our selves, and resolv'd to deny God the Honour of his Wisdom) that God hath taken the fit­test opportunity of appearing now at last. Now we may say indeed, that It was time for God to work, Psal. 119.120. when Men had made void his Laws, and their own too. It was best for him to suspend and defer our Salvation, till our Destruction seem'd to be not meerly at the Doors, but within the House; it was best not to send such a Repairer of our Breaches, till all our Hedges were pluck'd up; Isa. 41. [...]. nor to raise up the Righteous man from the East, till Idolatry and Illegal Force were coming in like a Floud upon us from the West. When we were sinking, like Peter, and reduced to that extremity, [Lord save us, or we perish] the stream of proud waters was immediately dryed up.

5. Fifthly, The Gentleness of the Means. We were not saved, so as by fire; our Redemption hath not been purchas'd by fields of Blood. Our Glorious Deliverer (under God) did not cut his way through [Page 14]the Land by Violence, but found it prepar'd for him almost by Miracle. Our Rumours of VVars have prov'd no more than Rumours, and a Sword not drawn, hath obtain'd our Peace. We heard indeed the sound of the Trumpet, Jer. 4.19. which pained our bowels, but we felt not those more dreadful Weapons, which devour flesh. If Deliverance had come, we might have suspected, that sad Desolations would have gone before it; as Balaam said,Num. 24.23. Alas, who shall live when God doth this! Our songs of Praise might have been drown'd with the cyes of the Widow, and the Fatherss; multitudes were ready to be offer'd in the Service of this Cause, who now (like Isaac) are preserv'd, and we enjoy the Comfort of their Lives and our own together. We should have been glad, though God had come in a VVhirlwind, or an Earthquake, but this Dispenfation hath been like the Prophet Elijah's still small voice, 1 Kings 19.12. Isa. 8.6. or like the waters of Shiloh, which went softly. God hath eminently shewn himself herein, and given us the most marvellous Salvation upon the cheapest terms, that ever any People in the World had: We are not rais'd to it upon the Graves of our Friends, or the Ruines of our Houses, but we have all that we had before untouch'd, and yet that whcih was wanted is given in. So that if we could formerly complain of God's selling his people for nought, Psal. 44.12. Isa. 52.3. it is as true now, that we have been redeemed without Money.

III The Third thing which I undertook, is to open, What Reasons and Grounds there are in all this, for Admiration; Or, how it does appear, that Gods de­feating of our Enemies, and working for us, so as he hath done, does really call for it. Because thus much [Page 15]is implyed in the manner of speech here, [It shall be said, VVhat &c.] the starting of the Question, is a note of Wonder. Four Grounds of it may be alledged in our Case.

1. First, We have reason to Admire, that when God could fetch no Argument from us, he should draw one from himself,Ezek. 20.9. and work for his own Names sake; that God should consult his own Honour, and link it with our Welfare and Prosperity, when it was not possible that he should shew any Favour to us for our Righteousness. This was the Case of Israel, as is intimated by Balaam in this very Chapter, He hath not beheld Iniquity in Jacob, ver. 21 nor seen per­verseness in Israel. He does not say, that the peo­ple had no sin but that God would not behold it; as the Psalmist speaks,Psal. 85.2. Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people, and covered all their sin: God was pleased to cast their Transgressions behind his back, and set only their Miseries before his face. So God hath dealt with this Nation too; he hath pass'd by the Licen­tiousness and Infidelity which he might have reveng'd, and though we have provok'd him so much, and trusted him so little, yet he hath saved us to glorisie himself. Indeed he hath been more Gracious to us, than Christ was to his own Countrey, Mat. 13.58. for he hath done his mighty works among us, notwithstanding our Ʋnbelief. Surely, if it was Jacons Motto, [Less than the least of all Gods Mercies] we must needs be infinitely less than so great a Mercy.

2. Secondly, We have cause to Admire, that God should make us the Examples of Mercy to those that [Page 16]seem much fitter Objects of it than our selves, Our Sins had made us a Reproach, and our Calamities a scorn to them that were round about us; and God might have made us a waring, and a sign (like Corah and his Company heretofore to the rest of the Israel­ites. Rumb. 26.10.) Other Forreign Churches might have be­wail'd our Fall as the Emblem and Forerunner of their own, who are now strengthened and encou­raged by our Recovery. How is it, that we can return such a chearful Answer to the Messengers of the Nations, Isa. 14.32. who might rather have been the Patterns of Deliverance to us, than we to them? How is it, that we whose Burdens (if compared with others) have been Lightest, should be eased first? That God should begin with this Kingdom in a way of Mercy, which hath fallen short of so many in the World, in respect of its share in Judgement? It does not become us to say, or think, that They who are continued longer in the Fire, are greater sinners than our selves, because we are pull'd out before them; or that they partake less of the Anointing, Isa. 10.27. and are less Holy and appropriated to God, because their yoke is not yet destroyed; for the Difference which is made between them and us, is the Matter indeed of Thankful Rejoycing, but not of Carnal Boasting.

3. Thirdly, It ought to be Admirable in our Eyes, that God should now make us the Envy of those, whose Contempt we were so little a while since; perhaps I might add, that we are made in some mea­sure their Terrour too, but 'tis enough to say that we are their Envy. The Protestants were lately a [Page 17]most despised Party, and trampled on at pleasure; the proud Leviathan at Rome thought to have tumbled without Controul in our Narrow Seas; and his A­bettors were ready to set up their Banners for signs of their Triumph over us. But God by a wonderful shifting of the Scene, and turning of the Tide, hath tormented them, with sending prosperity to us; they may now vainly wish, if they will, Oh that we were, as in months past! and repine at that Tranquillity, which they have not the power to disturb. God hath left them to wither away at the new rooting of the Northern Heresie (as they term our Religion) which they were in hopes to extirpate; it is become their lot to grieve for our Deliverance, who were making merry not long ago in the thoughts of our Destruction; and all that they can do, is to gnash with their teeth (which is their Curse in both Worlds) because the prey is taken out of their mouths.Psal. 112.10. With what joyful Transports should we bless that God, who hath thus happily turned things upside down! that whereas before, our National Order was running into Confu­sion, our Confusion now is returning into Order; and those Enemies who have look'd upon us with a bar­barous pleasure, may now look with a miserable rage.

4. Fourthly, It is no small ground of Admiration, that God shoule rescue so vile and degenerate a people by the hands of such a justly Renowned Instrument. God hath sent us a Saviour, and a great one, (as the Prophet speaks) One not like Noble Cyrus of old, but Superiour to him, for he knew not God,Isa. 19.20. though he was girded by him;chap. 45.5. One not like the [Page 18] King of Babylon, Ezek. 29.19, 20. to whom God promised the wages of a Temporal Reward, for himself and his Army; for the service done at this time, hath been so clear­ly from another Principle, and with another Spirit, that I doubt not of Gods recompensing it to him, with a Throne in Heaven, and an Incorruptible Crown of Glory. Let his Enemies be Judges (if their Tongues will confess what their Hearts know) whether he be not worthy of double Honour, beyond those of his own rank; and let all men consider, whether he do not deserve our Praises the more, because his Humility declines them so much. We are undoubtedly very pure in our own Eyes, if we imagine that too much to be said of him, which was spoken by the people to David, 2 Sam. 18.3. that he is worth ten thousand of us; and there­fore wonder, that such a Person should be expos'd and hazarded for our safety and preservation. Won­der, that a man wise as an Angel of God should be found out and stirr'd up by God to deliver a Na­tion so void of Counsel; and that One who is so great an Ornament and Credit to the Protestant Profession, should willingly offer himself for us, who were so no­torious a Scandal and Disgrace to it.

IV The Fourth and last thing designed, was to make some more Practical Improvement of this, as may suit with such a Day. There cannot be a more necessary or pertinent Enquiry after all that hath been hitherto said, than What Influence and Operation it should have upon Us? In Answer to this, I shall lay down the Six following Directions.

[Page 19] 1. First, If it may be said according to this Time (as well as in the Age, when Balaam liv'd) What hath God wronght, and how hath he defeated every Divination against the English Israel? Let it teach us by Faith to despise all the futher Attempts of our Greatest Adversaries; Let us never forget these late appearances of God, so as to relapse into our former distrust. What strong Consolation will that single Day in the number of our Months, (I mean, the Fifth of November) afford us, which hath brought forth two such signal Mercies to this Sinful Kingdom! See­ing, that God hath so frustrated the tokens of the Liars, Isa. 44.25. and made the Diviners mad, it can be little better than madness in us to be afraid of them again; for indeed nothing is more likely to bring back our dangers and Calamities upon us, than our own Unbelieving fears. Let us benceforward esteem their Iron as straw, Job 41.27. and their brass as rottenwood; and not regard their cursing of us by their gods, after our own God hath so eminently bless'd us. Instead of hanging down our hands, or smiting our knees, because of their Threatnings, let the Daughter of Sion shake her head at them. In a word, let this Providence inspire us with Courage to apply that Text once more to Babylon, Isa. 47.12. Stand now with thine anchantments, and with the multitude of thy sorce­ries, wherein thou hast laboured from thy youth, if so be thou shalt be able to profit, if so be thou mayest prevail. What cannot God work, who hath wrought this? What Day so Evil, wherein God is not able to make us stand, who hath rais'd us up out of such a low Fstate.

[Page 20] 2. Secondly, Let it be an effectual Caution to us, against returning to Spiritual Egypt, or the uniting of our selves to their Assembly. If after God hath given us such deliverance as this, Ezra 9.13, 14. we should joyn in a new affinity with the people of those Abominations, we might very well expect, that he would be angry with us, till he had quite consumed us, so that there should be no remnant, nor escaping. Let none of our hands be ever used to set up that Dagon which is tumbled down, nor let that Baal be kist with our mouths, which God hath abolished, and thrown into the dirt. Seeing their sorrows, have been thus mul­tiplyed, that hastned after another God, Psal. 16.4. methinks it should quicken us to resolve (with David) that we will not offer their Sacrifices, nor take up their names into our lips. When God hath added such a mighty and astonishing Revolution to back the Light and Evidence of his Word, they must be very sottish children indeed who lick up the vomit of their Reformed fore-fathers. What a strange infatuation must be upon us, if we should ever consent to re­ceive, and take in again, what our Noble Ancestors have spew'd out!

3. Thirdly, Let us not be seduced to weaken the Protestant Interest, and uphold the contrary, by un­necessary and uncharitable separations from our holy Brethren. Let our Union with all that come with­in the compass of Jacob and Israel be inviolably main­tain'd; that every differing Party in the midst of us may agree as well, as the distinct Tribes of the Jewish Commonwealth, or as the various Members of one [Page 21] Natural Body. God forbid, that we should now break the Glorious Design of Building up Sion, by imitating the distractions at Babel. Let every one in his proper station, be a Counsellor of Peace, and not create joy among fallen Angels, by sowing tares, to make another Harvest for our old Enemies. Surely, if we lose the benefit of this great Deliverance, by the framing of new Divisions, or the reviving of those, which have begun to be extinct, we shall in the end perish unpityed by God and Men. And therefore, as we would not heal that deadly wound which God hath given to the Roman Beast, let us not be found worry­ing any of the Sheep or Lambs of Christ, but upon all occasions be willing to gather them with our Arms, and carry them in our Bosomes. How evidently shall we undo all that hath been done, if we should go to act over that Bloody Tragedy, (which was played before Abner and Joab) of every one catching his fellow by the head, 2 Sam. 2.16. and thrusting his sword into his fellows side!

4. Fourthly, Let this Good Work of God perswade us to turn from our cvil Works. Let our Lusts fall under the same fate with our Enemies, and be as wax melting before the fire; Isa. 4.4. that our filth may be wash'd away by a spirit of judgment and burning, as they have been swept away by an Hand of Providence. Oh, that by this the Iniquity of Jacob might now at last be purged, and that what hath not been yet produc'd by our just Afflictions, might be the fruit of our undeserved Mercies! What rejoycing would there be in He [...]ll as upon Earth; if this Nation should [Page 22]be born again, chap. 66.8. as it hath been born, in a day! Or, if after God hath lifted us out of the Dust, we were sitting down in paenitential Ashes, from one end of the Land unto the other! How happy would it be, to see our People Righteousness, as well as our Exactors, and to see Holiness upon mount Sion together with Deliverance! Obad. 17. But if our Leprosies cleave to us still, what can we look for, but that our Walls should be totally defac'd, and our Dwellings finally demolish'd? For (as Solomon says of those that are often reproved) they who being often deliver'd,Prov. 29.1. harden their necks, shall be suddenly destroyed, and that without remedy.

5. Fifthly, Let us Work whth God in our several Capacities and Spheres, and not by our private mur­murings and discontents go about to oppose him. It was a shame to the Israelites heretofore, that they were so often quarrelling with God, and best Conduct and Government in the World. So it will be inexcusa­ble Unthankfulness in us, if we open our mouths against any part of this work which God hath wrought in our Dayes, or withdraw our hands from promoting it. Sunch as will do nothing to work out, and help forward, their own salvation, must be condemned by all Manking, as a people fit to be destroyed. God seems now to put the Question to us, as Christ did to the Impotent Man at the Pool of Bethesda, John 5.6. Will you be made whole? But if we either lye still, or are resolved rather to hinder our Cure, than to assist it, we do in effect tell him, that We will not; and that Nation which is so fond of its disease, as to reject [Page 23]the Balm, and the Physician, deserves to be stript of both for ever. The things of our peace are now before our Eyes; God grant that we may know them; and not let slip such a Day of Visitation, without improv­ing it to those blessed purposes, for which we do enjoy it.

6. Lastly, Let us Apply our selves to God with humble Requests, that as he hath Ʋndertaken for us, he would also perfect that which concerns us. Such an unlook'd for Dispensation of Providence does encou­rage us to come boldly to the Throne of Grace, to argue from the beginnings of Mercy, and plead for their Accomplishment. We may now with an Holy Con­fidence desire the fastening of that nail, which God hath given us yet again in his holy place; and say with Da­vid, Strengthen, oh Lord, Psal. 68.29. that which thou hast wrought for us. Supplication may very well be joyn'd with Thanksgiving; and therefore, while we are praising of God for the Mercy which we have receiv'd, let us be also praying to him, that the Residue of it may be brought forth,Isa. 25.10. and that in this Mountain the Hand of the Lord may rest, till Antichrist with all his Con­federates are trodden down by it; like straw upon the Dunghill.

To Conclude, let us make it our daily Petition, that these Mighty Workings of God (as it is said of the Waters in the Prophets Vision) may rise higher and higher, till at lengt they swell into a River, Ezek. 47.3, 4, 5 which our Enemies shall never be able to pass over: [Page 24]Then may We who have been thus Miraculously Revived, Hos. 6.2. continue to live in Gods sight, and have a Glorious Establishment to confirm and secure our Glorious Deliverance.