THis Text (so suitable to our times) may not be unfitly resembled to that Cloud by which God led the Israelites through the dreadfull and desolate Wildernesse; as that, so this hath in it.

First, a darke side: viz. a dismall time for trou­ble and misery, the face of the times gathered blackenesse; the cloud of trouble appeared, and calamities did so come on and en­crease that nothing else could bee found among the Iewes but troubles, great troubles even such as no age could parallell, or fore­going president equall: 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 Ja­cobs 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 pinchings 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 threatnings and Threatning of misery, and pro­mise of mercy conjoyned. promises to the Churches of God; a Christian hath but one [Page 2] GOD, though many conditions: and as God hath one heavie hand upon, so hath [...]ee another easing hand under his Churches; as hee strikes, so hee stroakes them: as hee doth sad, so hee doth cheare them; seldome or never shall you finde the Prophets in their messages to Gods people more terrible then comfortable; where they threaten misery, they also promise mercy. The wise Physitian roles his bitter pill in sugar; Reason 1 Now God doth sweeten messages of misery, with the openings of mercy; partly to make it knowne that in the midst of wrath, hee doth remember mercy, and that in his strict proceedings against his servants, hee 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, hee is never of the Throne of grace, and the remembrance of his mercies: Reason 2 partly to teach that Christians cast downe outwardly, should not despaire inwardly; God will not that miserable times should bee despairing times to his people: Though under sensible evills there will be the workings of feare, yet there should be no sinking of spirits; even in sad times, faith must have its working, and the heart ought to be raized above the present se se of evill 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 harbors, 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 bee threatned is a curse, but to have a mingling of a promise with the threatning, argues both love from God and good to man; unto my understanding the bitter of all threatnings is taken off by the sweet of a promise, and if God will vouchsafé to men a promise of delivery, they need not over feare the threatning Cloud of mi­sery; its not the least of a Christians comforts, that as hee hath a threatning so he hath a promising God. This meditation I shall leave with you and betake my selfe to the words of my Text.

In the darke 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 downe 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 [Page 3] heart within mee. I am a man undone to thinke of those evills, which shall befall the Israel of God. The spirit of pitie was not divided from the gift of prophesie; ô that we could be inward­ly afflicted! and greatly affected with the miserablenesse of our times! it is to bee feared that most men doe want sympathizing and grieving spirits.

2. The Rhetoricall expressions of the trouble: Troubles will make men Rhetoricall; 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 alotted for their sorrow and suffering: 2. It is that day, not an ordinary but a notable and remarkeable day, even a day anciently decreed, and frequently threatned. 3. It is great and that in respect of the wrath which should be powred out, and in respect of the miseries which were to bee endured, both, upon that day should, for measure bee intended, and for length extended. 4. There is none like it; this phrase sets the day by [...]. Sorts of dayes. 1. Naturall. 2. Sinfull. 3. Sorrowfull. it selfe, as having no fellow: Naturall dayes doe equall one anc­ther; but sinfull, and sorrowfull dayes doe many times runne un­equally; though men may commit sinne enough in one [...]ay to make them eternally miserable, yet one dayes wickednesse both materially and circumstantially, may exceed all the rest of a mans dayes; and though sufficient to every day is the sorrow thereof, yet some dayes of misery may exceed all other dayes for bitter­nesse; here is intimated unto us, that their misery should bee un­matchable by any foregoing president of misery, if that they should call to mind what they endured in times past, and compare it with the present suffering, it should seeme 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 passe by? behold and see, if there be any sorrow like to my sorrow, which is done unto mee, wherewith the Lord hath afflicted mee in the day of his fierce anger.

5. It is even the time of Jacobs trouble: whether we take the A twosold Iacob. words personally for the man Iacob, or mystically for the Nation of the Iewes, the seed of Jacob and the Church of God, wee can­not faile of the mind of God in the Text; It is true that Jacob in his owne person from the wombe to the tombe was a man of [Page 4] troubles, himselfe saith, few and evill have the dayes of the yeares of my life beene. And had the time of their captivity been filled up Genesis 47 9▪ with those kinds of trouble wherewithall God exercised Iacob 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 entred them into, and troubles continued with them under their captivity.

There are these tenne things which will make evident unto us that the time of Jacobs captivity was a troublous time. 10 Things mak­ing the time of Is [...]aels Cap [...]ivity, a time of trouble

1 First, they were Warring and fighting times; it was a day of battell, a time of Sounding the Alarum, striking up of Drummesand of arming one Nation against another: on came the Babylo­nians and the Caldeans with a mighty Armie against the Nation [...] Kings [...]4. 10, 11 of the Iewes, and they did actually wage warre with them; Now we know that where God raiseth up Warre, there the times must needs be full of trouble; it was said of old Tubellum causa malo­rum, all evills are conceived in the wombe of War; alas! for the day of Warre, 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, &c. When coveteousnesse, pride, discon­tent, malice, envie, 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 [...] sid [...]s pie­tasqu [...] v [...] q [...]i castra seq [...]tur. that Lawes should cease, Religion it selfe bee laid aside and all manner of villany bee committed.

2 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 t [...]rror 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 faile and faint, being as the heart of a Woman under her pangs; they stood shivering and Ierem. 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. Ierem. [...]

3 Thirdly, they were flying and pursuing times; the Jewes were as a Partridge hunted by the Fowler upon the mountaines. As they could not withstand the strength, so they could not endure the Iamen. 1. [...]. sight of their enemies, Ierusalem was made to hot for them, they [Page 5] were forced to leave their owne houses, and their owne Country, and to flee from place to place, and knew not whither to betake themselves for safety, the enemy did so [...]agerly pursue them; now being in this flying posture it could not but be a troublous time.

4 Fourthly, they were scattering and dividing times; their cap­tivity was their dispersion; now husbands were divided from Ierem. 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 runnes West, a third North, a fourth South, wan­dring up and downe, and it may be never seeing the faces each of other againe, this makes it a trouble in deed, when Husband and Wife, Father and Children shall be all under one roofe, and in one Towne and upon a sudden (when they least thinke thereof) to be parted one from another, and to bee no way helpefull one unto another, and it may be never to heare one of another.

5 Fifthly, they were rebuking and scorning times: now Iacob lay under the reproachand contempt of the foolish. The children Iob 30. 8, 9. of fooles, and the children of base men that were viler then the earth made the Iewes their song and by word, such as did sit in the Psalme 69. 12. gate spake against them and they were the song of the dru [...]kards the enemies laughed th [...] to scorne, and had them in derision all the day long; they abused them by word and gestures and actions; O what gybing and jearing! What nodding of heads, making of faces, hissing of voyces, and clapping of hands was to be heard and seene 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▪ wagge 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?

6 Sixthly, they were slaying and killing times; times of bloud and death, wherein multitudes lost their lives by the sword of the enemie, the very streetes were filled with dead bodies, and the bloud of the Iewes was shed like water round about Ierusalem, Psal. 79. 2, 3. Now when the enemy enters with a drawne sword casting off all pity and mercy toward old and young, when they fall to cutting of throates, ripping up of bellies, strangling, hang­ing, and the like, this makes it to be a time of trouble.

7 Seventhly, they were wasting and spoiling times; even dayes of s [...]ch destruction and desolation, that Cities and houses were consumed with fire, Come trod under foot, Cattell consumed and the whole land devoured and turned into a Wildernesse, marke the expression; your Country is desolate, your Cities are burnt [...]ay 1. 7. with fire, your land strangers devoure it in your presence, and it is desolate as overthrowne by strangers, and the daughter of Sion is left as a Cottage in a Vineyard, as a lodge in a Garden of Cu­Cumbers, as a besieged City.

8 Eightly, They were oppressing and evill 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 Iewes had wrong done to them, and they durst not to complaine thereof, or if they made complaint they could find no redresse, the enemies were heavie handed, and cruell h [...]arted toward them, daily robbing and spoyling them, and did so weaken them that they made their lives tedious to them.

9 Ninthly, They were spirit imbittering and soule sadding times, even dayes of such unquietnesse, 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 Lamentat [...]on, it was a bitter day as the Prophet threat­neth, Amos 8. 10 the day was dark and cloudie wherein not on­ly [...] the light of Gods countenance but all other outward and in­ward comforts were with drawne, it was night unto them, and the day was darke over them.

10 Tenthly, They were treacherous and betraying times; their ene­mies would sometimes falsly accuse and slander them giving out that they were rebels and traitors, anon the Lion would put on the Foxes skin, and pure enemies to their Religion would come in among them in sheepes clothing; by and by they would be con­spiring and confederating against them, alwayes they were plod­ding of further mischiefe against them; so that where ever they were, and in what ever they did, they were laid waite for, which makes the time to be such as the Prophet speakes of.

Now if to all these things wee doe east our eyes upon the re­moving Lamen. 1. 10. of the Candlesticke, the denying them the free and pure use of the Ordinances, their beholding of their Idolatries and evill [Page 7] manners, this would make it to be the time of Iacobs trouble in a more spirituall way. Having given unto you this light into the Text, I come to the doctrinall result, which is this.

It is with the Church for state and condition below, as it is with the naturall day, each day hath a morning and an evening; or as it is with the revolution of the yeare; each yeare hath its Winter and Summer seasons: Even so the Church hath; first, days and seasons of grace, times of tranquillity and stability, wher­in 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 downe under his Vine and Fig-Tree, eate the fruit of his labours, and no man rise up to make him a­fraid: Next, dayes and times of misery, called evill dayes, and in my Text, the time of trouble; the great day none like it; Time in Troublous times what. it selfe, and as it is a Creature is quiet, trouble is accidentall to it; now it is said to be troublous, as peace is withdrawne from it and a Cloud of misery drawne over it; when peace takes its leave, and disorder or confusion doth approach and appeare, 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 Soule and Conscience may lie un­der wounds and much disquietnesse; if God desert and with­draw from David, now hee is troubled, Psal 30. 7.

Outward which is, 1. Personall. 2. Locall, or Nationall. 2 2. Another outward wherein the body and state of a man is under disquietnesse, or the Land and place wherein the Church is planted and placed is under misery and affliction.

I meane this sort, and doe say that the Churches of GOD may meete 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 bee greatly misera­ble and afflicting to them; and so full of sadnesse and confusion, [Page 8] that they may not know what to doe with themselves, or which way to turne themselves.

That outward troublo [...]s times are of two sorts.

1. Ordinary and common, even such as are usuall, happening to all sorts of peo [...]le in their times.

2 Extraordin [...]ry and unusuall, even such as are extended and intended and cannot be equalled by any president, I say that sore trou [...]le, great trouble, yea unmatcheable trouble may be the por­tion of the Church and people of God.

Further we doe not conceive troublous times only to bee pro­bable and possible to the Churches, but actuall, it is not only true, that they may have troublous times, but it is also true that troub­lous times doe befall them: which truth hath.

1. The testimony of these Scrip [...]ures in one place it is said, it is a day of trouble, and of ruine, and of perplexity, by the Lord of Esay. [...] [...]. Hostes in the valley of vision breaking downe the City and crying to the mountaines. 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 blasphemie for the Children are come to the birth and there is no strength to bring forth: adde to this that pro­phesie of the mis [...]ries of the Churches under the cruell 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 bee sa­tisfied in the causes of the Churches troubleous times, they are these:

Reason 1 First, Meritoriously troublous times doe spring from the 4. Causes of the Churches troub­lous times. sinnes of the Churches of God; as the needle drawes on the threed, so our sinfull dayes being upon us our miserable dayes; there is nothing which doth enter men into sorrowes more than their sins; sin is the mother, and trouble the daughter; there had never been a bad day or sad houre upon earth, had not man sinned; this is the Achan that troubleth Israel; when Israel sinned then Psalm. [...]8 32, 33 God consumed their dayes in trouble, and brought them down: Ahab meeting Elijah, calls him the troubler of Israel; the Pro­phet deales plainely and roundly with the King and tells him to his face that it was he and his Fathers house in forsaking the com­mandements 1 Kings 18. 18. of the Lord, and following Baalim that troubled [Page 9] Israel: Hence is it that God saith, Make a Chaine, for the Land is full of bloudy crimes, the City is full of violence, wherefore I will bring the worst of the heathen, and they shall possesse 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 desiled; destruction commeth and they shall seeke peace, and there shall be none; mischiefe shall come upon mischiefe, and rumor shall bee upon rumour—the King shall mourne, and the Prince shall be clothed with desolation, and the hands of the people of the land shall be troubled, I will doe 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 himselfe is full of rage and malice against the Church; the glory thereof is his envie, and therefore he doth put out himselfe in the power of the Dragon, and in the policie of the Serpent, to create what trouble hee can to the same; hee is the great kindle Coale; hee it was that stood at the right hand of Josuah the High Priest standing Zech. 3. 1. before the Angell of the Lord to resist him: he it was that stood Rev. 12. 4. before the woman which was ready to bee delivered, for to de­voure the Child as soone as it was borne; and hee is that Serp [...]nt ver. 15. which cast out of his mouth wter as a floud after the woman that hee might cause her to be carried away of the floud: when Satan is let loose, and hath his houre, he will set the whole world into combustion; Nay, wee have another Malignant party, who are Rev. 2. [...]. the spirit and spawne of Satan; men of prophane hearts and lives, who doe act over the Devill, and worke that businesse for him, which hee cannot worke for himselfe; I am sure where grace is wanting, and prophannesse raigning, there the spirit of spite and misery of disturbance is to bee found, men desperately set on sin have imbitterd spirits against the quiet of the Church, yea such an enmity is there betweene the two seeds, that wicked men are alwayes bending their wits, laying their plots, and put­ting out themselves to disturbe the quiet in the land; these are so set on sire of hell, that they decline peace, and delight in bloud and Warre; 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 uproares in Thessalonica arise? Acts 17. 5, 6. did not the unbeleeving Jewes, who were moved with envie take [Page 10] unto them lewd fellowes of the baser sort, a company of vaga­bonds and wicked fellowes! These are fit instruments to trouble a Church and State, and Kingdome; I have observed that there are sixe things in wicked men making them troublous to Gods people.

1. Their ignorance of the wayes and Religion of God: These [...]. Things make wicked men to betroubl us. Ioh. 1 [...] ▪ [...]. things will they doe unto you for my names sake because they have not knowne him that sent mee: And again, They shall put you out of the Synagogues, yea the time commeth that whosoever killeth you will thinke that hee doth God service, and these things will they doe [...] [...]. 16. 2▪ unto you because they have not knowne the Father nor me. 3 Your blackest clouds and darkest nights do foretell the greatest storms; and wh [...]re ignorance and blindnesse doth most possesse the mind, there is your grea [...]est opposition against God and his cause; Paul was then a persecutor when hee 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 Kingdomes on sire; if Haman cannot get the knee from Mord [...]c [...]i, he wil devise a bloudy decree against the Iewes; if Herod and Domitian feare the loosing of their Crowns and Honours, they will command that all those who are of the stocke of David in Iwry bee slaine; and if proud and accursed Prelates bee put off their Cushions, and cast out from honours, what mischiefes will they not further? They will sell themselves to their shirts to recover their places; through pride commeth con­tention.

3. Their exceeding Covetousnesse of heart; filthy luker and horrid cruelty are seldome disjoyned, when Demetrius and the crafts men saw, that the hope of their gaine was gone now they stirre against Paul and Sylas, and raise a mighty storme in Macc­donia, Acts 16. 19, 20, 21, &c. can you imagine that those covetous wretches whose godlinesse is their gaine, are idle at this day and doe not blow the Coale? Certainely Covetousnesse which is the Roote of all evill, must bee the cause of much trouble.

4. Their envious spirits; it was the spirit of envie in Caine 1 Iohn [...] 12. which made him to murther his brother Abel; and the Caldeans and Courtiers envying the advancement of Daniel and [Page 11] his fellowes above themselves, devised a meanes to destroy them, Dan 3. 8, 6, 3, 4.

5. Their pronenesse unto Idolatry; heate is not more insepera­ble to sire then cruelty is unto idolatry; the love of Idols in all ages hath beene the Churches trou [...]le, what stickling was there at Acts 19. 28. 34. Ephesus for Diana? and we know that Iezabels Idols disturbed the kingdome of Israel.

6. Their contentednesse with formality in Religion, when men must have Religion in mans dresse, and are taken up more with formes of godlinesse then the power of it, this makes the times to be troublous and perillous, 2 Tim. 3. 1, 4, 5.

Out of all this you see, that troublous times are from wicked men who never cease from troubling untill they dye, these are Iob 3. [...]7. the earewigs and the biting Fleas still troubling the state of Gods 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 hid [...]st thy face and I was troubled, and againe, by Psal. 30. 7. thy wrath are we troubled. This you know that a little fire causeth 90, 7. a great deale of trouble, say that there bee but a finger burned or an House on fire, doth it not occasion a great deale of trouble and unquietnesse? how much more shall Churches and peo­ple bee disquieted through the angry countenance of God?

Reason 4 Fourthly, finally Churches have their troublous times for these ends and purposes!

1. For tryall and manifestation both of soundnesse and of graces, 3. Ends of the Churches trou­bles. troublous times are trying times, it is not times of peace, [...]ut times of Warre, which trieth the mettle of a Souldier, all the while the Ship lies on the shoare, or is in its harbour, its strength to beare its burden is not knowne, but when its put out into the Sea, meetes with blustering stormes, and is tossed and tumbled, if it now hold out, then its strength is manifested; wee have many Trees with faire tops and make a goodly shew in calme seasons, which topple downe in blustring weather, for want of firm roo­ting in the earth; the case is the same with men in the profession of Religion. Multitudes seeme to be Religious, own the Gos­pell, and goe for Christians in dayes of peace, who in more trou­blous [Page 12] dayes will quit their ground, and forsake their Captaine, whereas now well [...]ooted and throughly sanctified Christians will keepe their standing, and rather die then dem Jesus Christ; grace in truth, will be grace in tryall, 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 madnesse and ma­lignity of spirit would not appeare and be evideat unto men, and they would not shew themselves in their colours, if there were no troublous times: in peacefull dayes enemies seem to be friends, and with the Viper they hide their teeth in their gummes, but when troubles appeare then they will spit out their venome mak­ing that the opportunitie for their dealing cruelly with Gods Saints.

3. For the correction of abused peace, when Christians do not well use their peacefull times God doth punish them with troub­lous times.

Vse 1 In the first place we may informe our selves 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 Arke 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 shee may better be discerned by lasting tryalls, and troubles then by constant peace; Gregory the great, speaking of the Church saith, Ecclesiaest haeres orucis: the Church is heire to the Crosse, and I would demand of papists what out­ward peace had the Church in Aegypt under Pharaohs oppressi­o [...]s? what peace had she in her forty yeares travell thorough the Wildernesse, which was a place of temptations, journeyings, Warre, and many other straites and inconveniencies? tell me sad­ly had shee not many encounters by enemies in the Land of Ca­naan? where was her outward durable peace whilst she was un­der 70. yeares captivity in Babilon? and whilst Antiochus Epi­phanes did waste and spoile her in her Ordinances and members? what meaneth the three hundred yeares persecution by the hea­thenish Emperors? could these things happen to her, and yet is the true Church discernable by out ward and durable peace? by [Page 13] this very note we can disprove Rome from being the true Church; for when Rome was burnt by the Goth [...]s, sackt by Charles Duke of Burbon in the dayes of Pope Clement the seventh, nay when their Popes were glad to flie and hide themselves, yea were bani­shed and imprisoned, where was the outward peace of that Church? Wee deny not but sometimes outward peace may bee the portion of visible Churches but that alwayes they have the same, only ignorance and impudencie must affirme.

Vse 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 foure occa­sions. fulfilled; the times are troublous, the Lord in mercy looke upon us, yet let us not think it strange, no new thing is hapned to us; let me tell you th [...]t upon foure occasions times will be troublous.

When Dagon is to goe downe. 1 1. When Dagon and Baal is to goe downe: no great and prevai­ling evill can be hindred or cast down without much trouble and tumult, if Gideon cast downe the Altar of Baal and cut downe the grove by it, the men of the City keep a mighty stirre about it, the man they must have that did it; and die he must for it, or it shall cost bloud, reade the History, lud. 6. 28, 29. if the Goddesse Diana be in danger, what a noise and uproare is there in the City, they shout and make a hubbub, Acts 19. 28, 34.

I conceive thus much, that England hath many bad tennants who having gotten possession and can plead prescr [...]ption (though no Scripture title) for themselves are resolved not to goe out without blowes and bloud; neither can it be imagined (unlesse 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 Gods wor­ship, will ever bee cast downe or carried out without troubles; can you conceive tha [...] Satan will loose a Kingdom and never wag his taile; believe it, brethren; there are many thousands in the Kingdom so set upon Idolatry, Superstition and the wayes of for­mality that they cannot bee quiet if these things be taken from them.

When the Temple is to goe up. 2 2. when the temple is to bee reedified: No great and good worke can be carried on to perfection without much trouble; this is certaine that God hath brought us to Church reforming times and these alwayes have beene troublous times. The Angell said [Page 14] to Daniel, the streete and the Wall shall bee built in troublous [...] times.

• 1. That when the Church begins to goe up, then troubles be­gin to come on.
• 2. That though troubles come on, the Church shall goe 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 Iewes, as is plaine 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 scorne, Neh. 2. 19. These fellowes fell a jearing the Iewes, thinking thereby to dash the worke out of credit and the builders out of countenance.

Secondly, They were false accusing and slandering times to the Iewes: the enemies did not onely give it out among themselves that they were Rebels and Traitors, but they did accuse them to the King and their owne 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 doe; will ye rebell against the King?

Thirdly, They were hindering and inhibiting times to the Iewes: The Lord Chancellor Re [...]um, Secretarie Shimsai, and the rest of their companions so farre prevailed with the over credulous [...]ing Artaxerxes that he gave command that they should cease buil­ding, and by this meanes there was a stand put unto the worke for many yeares, Ezra [...]. 17. to 22.

Fourthly, they were insinuating and dissembling times to the Jewes, the pure enemies to the worke of building came unto them with tenders of their service, as if they had beene willing to beare part of the charge and to doe some great work for the buil­ding up of the Temple; let us (say they) build with you, for we seeke your God as you do, &c. Ezra 4. 2. Neh. 6. 2.

Fifthly, they were conspiring and confederating times against the Iewes, now the enemies held a Councell, 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 [Page 15] and no man were he never so base and vile in condition that would come in and joyne with them should be put by; as you may read Neh 4. 8.

Sixthly, They were treacherous and betraying times to the Jewes; when their enemies saw that they could doe little harme to them whilest they were a party united among themselves, they practise a most perillous attempt, namely to divide; that so they might have a partie among them: and to this end they bribe Iuda, and Levi, certaine of the false hearted Nobles and superstitious Prophets, which became a disgracefull snare to themselves and a mighty hinderance to the worke: Now Nehemiah had much to doe to keepe up the hearts of the people and to hold them toge­ther for that great worke. Consider, Iudah 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 worke to cease. Was not here a faire disheartning tale w ^ch might easily take with such whose spirits were lazie and fearefull, might not the lazie ones have thus reasoned amongst themselves, I promise you these men speake reason, this worketh maketh my shoulders to ake, I have carried out so many burdens already, and what a deale of carriage doth remaine yet; toile and moile who will, I will bee an Issa­ [...]ar no longer, seeing I may have my ease and the Nobles like well of it I will accept it; worke who will worke for me, and if the Temple be not built up untill I further it, it shall never be built might not the fearefull ones have thus reasoned, what shall we die and be slaine? build who will for me, Skin for skinne and all that a man hath will hee give for his life: joyne to this the carriage of the prophetesse 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 doores of the Temple, &c. was not this a taking plot to have grave and learned men come in with their Counsells, caveats, and arguments? might not the Iewes have said surely the danger is great, there cannot be all this smoake without some fire? come let us take warning in time and give off working, we have heard and seene the sayings and doings of many of our Nobles, men great in birth and bloud [Page 16] 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 wee shall slight them also, shall wee not bee guilty of our owne death, if we shall continue in this worke of buil­ding.

Seventhly, they were opposing and withstanding times to the Jewes: the enemies were not alwayes in deliberation and speech but they proceeded to action, we read that Tatnai Shethar-Bosnai and their adherents came to the heades of the Iewes, and did que­sti [...]n them by what authority they did build up the Citie 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 selfe desending times to the Iewes; Nehe­miah was forced to divide the servants, halfe wrought in the worke, and the other halfe of them held both the speares, the shield and the bowes and the Habergions: Nay the builders of Neh. [...]. 16. 17. 18, 21, 22, 23 the Wall, and the bearers of the burdens were but halfe handed, for in one hand they held the Trowell and in the other hand the Sword: further the Iewes were forced to their no small trou­ble and cost to keepe a strong guard about themselves day and night.

9 Ninthly, They were despising and undervaluing times; the ene­mies in reproach of their work said what doe these feeble Jewes? will they fortifie 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 goe up hee shall even breake downe their stone wall: as if they should have said.

What doe these silly and selfe deceiving men intend, doe they imagine [...]hat they are considerable to goe forward with this great worke, they thinke to carry all cleare before them, that they shall meete with no adversaries or that we will stand by as lookers on holding our hands; no such matter, weele warrant them, they shall finde stout men among us, yea tenne for their one, who will oppose them. What do they imagine to have their old sacrifices, [Page 17] solemne dayes and assemblies, in this they are mistaken; see how early they rise, how lustily they worke, and how late they leave off, as if all the building should up, before any body heard of it; let them goe on the worke which they have taken in hand, they shall never be able to effect it. For we will hold their noses to the grinstone, and they shall find it to be another manner work to finish then they look for: see how these doating 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 ayre, yea so weake shall bee their worke, that if a Fox come up hee shall with his feete overturne all, we are sure that wee can overthrow all at our plea­sure.

10 Tenthly, They were selfe justifying and clearing times: the Iewes were forced to bring out the Kings authority, and to shew quo warranto, they did enterprize the worke, wee read of many selfe acquitting Orations which were made by them, Ezra 5. They were forced to plead their owne loyalty to their Soveraigne and to testifie their owne innocency to the world.

11 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 obtaine (though requested foure times) then they fall to writing of letters, some of them containing unjust charges, other some expressing unreasonable demands, all which tooke up much time in their reading and an­swering, which could not but be a great trouble to Nehemiah and very delaying to the worke.

By these instances you see how heavily the good worke went on, and how justly I affirme that a Church can neither bee foun­ded or reformed, but the times will bee very troublous; if God bee casting a Corner stone upon which hee intends to raise up a spirituall building, and if hee 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 wagge his Taile, and the times will bee very troublous.

3 When enemies are to goe downe3. When enemies are to be defeated and destroyed: troublous times may then happen to Gods Churches, when either the disap­pointing, or the destruction of wicked and malitious enemies is at hand; this wee finde that when Pharaoh and his Hoast were nearest unto their ruine, then was the trouble of Israel greatest; in the Churches storms wicked men many times suffer shipwrack; their owne stirrings against, and strivings with the Churches have beene the meanes of their owne ruine and trouble; Haman went downe in the time of the Churches trouble; and this is observa­ble, that the greatest troublers of the State of England and Scot­land have beene throwne downe in the times of the Churches trouble; had wee not had our troublous times, we had not seene so many Lucifers cast downe 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 Churches trouble? these winds blow them no good, they alwayes presage their downefall, if you look that great enemies should fall downe th [...]n expect troublous times for mine owne part I doe verily beleeve that all the troubles in Ireland and in England will end in the shame and confusion of many powerfull and politicke enemies; such who begin the Churches trouble must perish ere the Church hath peace.

4 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 Churches greatest mercies have sprung out of the greatest troubles; Shee hath not enjoyed such mercies in her calme seasons, as shee hath in her blu­string times, the nearer the woman is to the time of her delivery the quicker and the sharper are her pangs and paines, when the frost is nearest to its breaking, then is the aire sharpest in its pinch­ing; the Churches good is not divided from the Churches trou­ble, under tossings and tumblings she is not onely expecting but prepared and fitted for mercies, the crosse going of the wheeles doth further the right going of the Clocke, the fruitfulnesse of the spring is it not hindred by the sharpnesse of the Winter; the Churches troubles are far from hindring the comming 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, [Page 19] then Israel was nigh unto deliverance; out of that troublous wombe came their greatest quiet; if there were no warre there would bee no victory; though troubles create not mercies, yet they occasion and antecede mercies, and it is Gods manner to give great mercies in troublous times, I am verily perswaded that England which is now in great trouble is bigge with childe of some extraordinary mercy, wee may not thinke that these trou­bles shall end without a blessing, even that longed for reforma­tion both of Church and Common-wealth.

Let the consideration of these things stay your thoughts and settle your mindes under the apprehension and sense of these pre­sent troubles.

Vse 3 Thirdly, this may advise us well to prepare our selves for dayes and times of trouble; the counsell is seasonable, for we have just feares started up among us of very troublous times to be­fall us.

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 sinfull condition; She was idolatrous, adulterous, unmindfull of, and unthankfull for mercies: She sinned under, against, and with mercies, we reade of her whoredomes, adulteries between her breasts, play­ing the harlot, going after lovers, not knowing that God gave her corne, and wine and oyle, multiplying her silver and gold which she prepared for Baal, she had her dayes of Baalim, and times for lewdnesse.

2. A sorrowfull condition; Shee was divorced, stript na­ked, made as a wildernesse, set as a dry land, slaine with thirst, deprived of mercies, hedged in with thornes, and made every way miserable.

Secondly, God is represented unto us, under,

1. Acts of severe justice: He doth quickly espie, sharply rebuke, terribly threaten, and miserably punish Israel for her [Page 2] sins, she is left to enjoy the recompences of her lewdnesse, and made to feele 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 hee will speake to her heart words of comfort and pardon; and whereas for her sins she was justly stript 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 comming in of his mercy; From thence I will give her her Vineyard: even from the wildernesse: and whereas her heart under her miseries might gather feares, and doubts, that God had quite forsaken and forgotten her, and that the tyde should never turne: the Lord in the words read, under­takes to give her upholdings of spirit, saying, And the Valley of Achor for a doore 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 sinfull 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 doore of hope.

2. The signe, or token, or the meanes which God takes up for the assurance of this mercy unto them, and that is the valley of Achor.

For the first part, in briefe I shall say thus much; That in the 4. Sorts of doores. Scriptures I reade of severall doores, as 1. of Speech and ut­terance, which is an open & free mouth to preach the Gospell; Praying also for us, that God would open to us a doore of utterance Col. 4. 3. to speake the mystery of Christ: 2. Another of faith, which is the doctrine of the Gospell, opening Christ to men, and entring men into Christ: God hath opened the doore of faith unto the Gen­tiles. Acts 14. 27. [Page 3] 3. A third of opportunity and liberty, which is a time and season put into a mans hand for the edifying of others; and thus Paul saith, A great doore, and effectuall is opened unto mee, 1 Cor. 16. 9. and againe When I came to Troas to preach Christs Gospell, 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 doore of hope, What? of mercy and reliefe, notwithstanding the contrary de­sert of sin, and the present sense of troubles, when the soule is made to know, that though its condition and state for the pre­sent is very miserable, yet it is not only within the com­passe and possibility of mercy and reliefe, but shall in Gods time be admitted to the throne of Grace, and Cities of refuge, yea, and it can look out, and looke up to God in a waiting way for mercy, this is the maine nature of the doore of hope.

In the second part, we may take notice of 2. things.

1. What is this valley of Achor? this Achor 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 reade where it did lie, Jos. 15. 7. It was that valley wherein Achan (that troubler of Israel) was stoned, as you may reade, Jos. 7. 24 and verse 27. the word properly signifies, a valley of consternation, or trouble; and here is one thing notable in this Achor, what it signifies. expression, it is not said that I will give them a doore of hope in the valley of Achor, (that had been a wonderfull mercy) but I will give them the valley of Achor for a doore of hope: a speech fit for God to utter, and which God only can make good.

2. How this valley of Achor became a doore of hope? which The valley of Achor a doore 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, then their hopes began to be raised up, that surely they should passe through the length and bredth of the Land of Canaan, God having brought them hitherto, he would also bring them further; the beginnings of mercies are pawnes of further, and greater mercies.

2. As it was a place of rest and pleasure unto them after their [Page 4] troublesome passage through the Wildernesse, and their trembling passage over Jordan, this Valley was fruitfull and pleasant, as we may reade in the Prophet, Sharon shall be a fold of flocks, and the valley of Achor a place for the heards to lie downe Esa. 65. 10. in, for my people that have sought me: if God bring his people to pleasant and fruitfull 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 Ioshuahs, and the peoples, in stoning of Achan, God is said to turn from the fiercenesse 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 overthrowes 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 battels which they fought.

5. As it was the place of divine encouragement unto Ioshuah, Josh. [...]. [...], 2. here it was that the Lordsaid to Joshuah, feare not, neither bee dismaid, take all the people of Warre with thee, arise and goe up, &c.

Out of the whole I shall raise up this conclusion.

That God doth give unto his Churches and people a doore of Doctr. The Church under its trou­bles hath a doore of hope. hope in their most miserable and distracted conditions.

As there is one doore which enters them into their sorrows, and miseries, so there shall be another doore which shall raise up their soules 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 appeare in a bending and bowing way towards them, notwithstanding all that they shall suffer and endure, the re­turne of good and comfort shall be both probable and possible unto them.

Note,

1. That it is one thing to feare more evill under the feelings (of some evill, this doore of feare is the portion of the wicked) and another thing to hope for good, when men doe feele mi­serable evils.

To look upon evill, is enough for feare, 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 mans selfe: many may look upon mercy and help, in an absolute and sim­ple way, but few looke 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 withall see it as the thing which they must share in.

3. That the doore of hope is not made by any creature, it is God that doth create and bestow it: And fourthly, to one man this doore stands more open, and is larger, unto another man it is straiter and narrower: some there are who have much adoe, and doe stir mightily to bring themselves under the hopes of pardoning and succouring mercies, so great is their comming in, and on of their feares, that they are ready to de­spaire, saying with doubting David, One day I shall fall by the hands of Soul, it may be many dayes and yeares are spent in trouble and heavinesse before they can receive any hopes of their acceptance and deliverance, others there are, who can more easily looke up, and quickly espie the bendings and bowings down of mercy and reliefe to themselves, they can considently without scruples and doubts conclude the perfor­mance of promised mercy to themselves: O the large hopes that are begotten in many Christians who do lye under much misery.

Now that they have this doore of hope in troublous times, we might cleare in Abraham; had he not the doore of hope, when he said to Isaac, My son, God will provide? Moses had a Gen. 22. 8. Exod. 14. 13. doore of hope when he spake to Israel, Stand still, feare not, see the salvation of the Lord which he will shew you to day: This doore 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 Jewes had this doore of hope, for Shechaniah tels them, that there was hope in Israel concerning Ezra 10. 3. this thing.

And it cannot be otherwise, for,

First, Gods 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 stiled the prisoners of hope; turne your selves to your strong holds, ye prisoners of hope. Zach. 9. 12.

Reas. 3 Thirdly, the nature of God is gracious, tender, and merci­full, he is alwayes 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 planke, and to cre­ate a doore 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 sinke 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 bottome, and nothing floats: the heart of man, if it were left without hope in times of misery, would be as a naile cast into the water, or much after the manner of one who is cast into the deepes, that cannot swim: his spirit would faile; we have a proverbe to this purpose, were it not Esa. 57. 16. for hope the heart would breake.

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 ruine, but their profit when hee 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 drosse, and to fit and frame them to be vessels of use and honour to himselfe, if he put the bridle on them, and ride them over hedges and ditches, and plowed grounds, and heavy wayes, 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 yeeld the reason of their having now at such times as these a doore of hope.

Reas. 6 Sixthly and lastly, the people of God must act over-duties, and put themselves upon meanes of pacification and attone­ment, under their greatest miseries: Now it is hope of good [Page 7] which is the loadstone of all endeavours, despaire cuts off the use of all meanes, and makes men to quit all duty, if there should appeare no way open for escape, if there were no back­doore to get out at, to what purpose should men pray, and fast, and beleeve, and humble themselves, and stick to God for help and succour: My Brethren, God will have his people to be in no condition wherein they shall not be dutifull and ser­viceable to him, or neglect to use those meanes whereby they may doe themselves good.

This truth,

Ʋse 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 doore of presumption; they may build upon delive­rance The ungodly mans doores in sinfull and sorrow full times. and comfort, without ground and reason; I know none more ready to promise themselves good, then 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 dreames of waking men, and I may truly say, that most mens hopes are but dreames; 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 looke upon the slug­gishnesse, and carnall walking of most men in times of danger and trouble, and heare them say, that they hope for mercy and succour from God: Truly these men doe build more upon imagination then reality; alas poore creatures, your dreames may cheare you whilest you are asleep, but they will terrifie 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 then their Wolves; my meaning is, you may look long enough, but no good shall come to you.

2. A doore 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 [Page 8] should come, nay they make it a thing impossible to at­taine to the Haven and rock. 2. Miserably sink down in their spirits: oh, there is no hope, my punishment is greater then can be borne, so heartlesse are they, that they suffer shipwrack presently, and suffer themselves to sinke lower in their spirits, then they are in their troubles: O faithlesse and hopelesse creatures, why do you give off your God, and fall down into the deepes? it is just with God to deny those a doore of hope in times of misery, who doe slight him in times of prosperity.

But how is it with the godly? How? they have a doore of hope standing before them: such can say, I expect and looke for good from God, notwithstanding all the evills I feele and suffer.

Object. Object. But happily you will object and say, Sir, have god­ly men alwaies a doore of hope in distressed times? Remember whose speech was that, My hope and strength is perished from the Lam. 3. 18. Lord, and againe, Our bones are dryed, and our hope is lost, wee 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 doore of hope, but they shew the weaknesse of their faith to appre­hend the same: the Well of water was nigh to Hagar, yet un­till her eyes were opened she could not see it: the question is not how clearly Christians doe see the doore 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 evill 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.

Ʋse 2 Secondly, this may raise up our hearts this day unto much Ʋse 2. comfort and confidence: it is true that we have a doore of great misery standing very open before us, there is a threat­ning and a trembling doore setting up in the Land, it may bee such a door which may enter us into a bloody and civill War, the very beholding whereof may strike us with sadnesse: Let me now tell you for your comfort:

Grounds of comfort. 3 1. That there neither is, or shall be set up within this Land [Page 9] any doore which shall enter us into misery, but such as the good Lord whom we love, and feare, 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 doore of misery at their pleasure, God who hath the hearts, and the preparations thereof in his owne hands, hath the hands of them all in his hands, even to check, controll, and turne 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 backdoore of hope; God is as able as willing to set up doores of hope for his.

Doores of hope. 12 3. That God hath given to us this day many doores of hope, I shall name these unto you.

The doore of the promises 1 1. The full and precious promises of mercy and succour; abundant is God in his undertakings 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 soule to raise up hope; had we no promises, we could have no doore 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 wee make the promises a doore of hope?

Sol. It is the promises of God in generall that are the doore of hope, so that if we can finde our particular condition in them, we may expect mercy and deliverance.

The doore of experiences. 2 2. Experiences of former times; this was Davids, and Pauls 1 Sam. 17. 36. 37. 2 Cor. 1. 10. doore of hope, and we should make it our doore of hope; what God hath done at one time, he can also doe at another time; nay, he puts out himselfe at one time, that future Ages may make him their hope at all times: Could we looke into dayes of old, and recall the yeares 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 owne particular experiences of the many passages of God a­mong us, I thinke we should have as wide a doore of hope as ever any people had.

The doore of prayer. 3 3. Enlargement of spirit: God hath poured out the spirit of [Page 10] prayer upon the people of the Land, some, nay, many thousands there are who come to the Throne of Grace, and doe mightily and daily wrastle with God for a blessing upon England; and this is a strong doore of hope▪ it is that which keepes heaven doores open: we usually say, that when the Cock begins to crow thick, then 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, goe into all the corners of the I and, and you shall finde many Jacobs, many Daniels, and many Nehe­miahs, who doe exercise themselves in praying, surely a childe of so many prayers cannot perish.

The hum­bling day­doore. 4 4. Frequency of humiliations: God hath set up in England by authority, twelve solemne humbling dayes in a yeare, which is such a mercy, that England never enjoyed, and these dayes are in many places solemnly kept; in these dayes multitudes meete together, even whole Armies of Christians beset God, the considerable part of the Land doe weep and mourne, hum­bling themselves for their sins before the Lord, and seeking mercy and pardon for the Kingdome.

The doore of utterance. 5 The erection of further and greater meanes of light and knowledge: the doore is set open for painfull and conscienti­ous preachers in such parishes and places in the Kingdome that for many yeares past never enioyed the soule-saving Mi­nistry, the spirituall food in many places is doubled and tre­bled, an excellent evidence of much good to this poore Island.

The doore of ac [...]p [...]ation. 6 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 returne; which is another doore 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 burnt offering, and a meat offering at our hands, neither would he have shewed us all these things, neither would hee have told us such things as these, q. d. Man, what talkest thou of dying, so long as God is accepting.

The doore of Reforma­tion. 7 7. The foundations that are laid for a glorious Reformati­on: God hath raised up glorious workmen, who have carried [Page 11] 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 doore of the Parlia­ment. 8 8. The zeale and courage of the worthies assembled in Par­liament: they are men so raised up in their spirits, and so united among themselves, that no threates, or discouragements can daunt or put them off from their working; they work unwea­riably, and couragiously, notwithstanding all that they doe, and all that is done against them, they shine in their faces, so that heaven may appeare to own and comfort them.

The doore of opposition. 9 9. The insolencies of enemies against the proceedings of the Parliament: when enemies of Religion are high flowne, and dare to fight against Parliaments, against Lawes, against Christians, and against all that is called God, it is an evidence that they are under the curse, and nigh unto ruine, their great braggings and base attempts must not despaire our spirits, no man ever prospered or prevailed, that malitiously and despe­rately did set himselfe against the Parliament, it is that stone, which whosoever thinkes to remove, he shall be crushed by it.

The doore of assistance. 10 10. The Earths 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 Lawes of the Land, the Liberties of the Sub­iects, and the Priviledges of Parliaments, hating and abhor­ring the courses which are destructive to the same.

The doore of heaven. 11 11. The constantnesse, and unchangeablenesse of God in his working for us, and assisting of us: England may set up Samuels 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 finde him in his old place, even when men, great men and false hearted men, who have deceived the Kingdome in their trust, doe slip their necks out of the coller, and seem to turn Renegadoes.

The doore of Achor. 12 12. We are in the valley of Achor: Now is the day and time of consternation and trouble, the tyde is at highest, the night is at darkest, our miseries are such as threaten nothing but ruine and destruction unto us, and therefo [...]e we may hope, I say that our very miseries may be unto us a doore of hope: Psal. 56. 3. Psal. 130. 1. What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee: and Out of the deepes have I cryed unto thee, O Lord: Davids searing times were his beleeving 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 relie upon, they shall never faile of a doore of hope: it is not all the blustering in the North by great ones and Cavaliers, which can hinder God from setting up a doore of hope for his servants in England.

Ʋse 3 Thirdly, let us live as men to whom a doore of hope is vouchsafed. 1. Be not distracted and distressed in your spirits by the change of things or times, and with the comming in of 4. Signes of such who have a doore of hope. Psal. 39 7. more and greater troubles; let none of those things discou­rage you, under all rumors of War, and approaches of trou­ble, say, And now Lord what wait I for? truly my hope is even in thee: speake out, yet God is good to Israel [...], these things will not endure an age N [...]be [...]ia est [...].: It is but a showre that will soone passe over. 3. Look for more than you have in hand, your pre­sent mercies are not all your mercies, there is much more be­hinde, God hath raised up the hearts of his, to expect great and wonderfull things: and as we must be thankfull for what is done, so we must wait upon God for that which is yet to bee done, reputing all our receipts to be so many pledges and pawnes of further and future good. 3. Goe 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 [Page 13] things. 4. Puzzle not your selves with disorderly plots, do not seeke to piece heaven and earth, and to compound humane and divine helpes, know what man cannot, God can, and will doe, and that things many times are better for us in the pro­mise, then in our own hands: We cannot thinke of, or finde out alwayes the best meanes to do our selves or the Kingdome good: Flesh and blood will be often at a stand in its advice.

Ʋse 4 Fourthly, learne to keep open the doore of your hope;

To this end:

1. Make not your thoughts the measure of Gods strength; Ubi des [...]nit hu­manum, ibiinci­pit divinum au­xilium. where humane help faileth, there divine help beginneth, if it be a work that man can doe, 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. Wayes of keeping open the doore 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 turne into foolishnesse the councells of all Achitophels? All things are too weak to frustrate Gods purposes and promises: Clouds and stormes may be in the ayre, but not in the highest heaven, the waters may carry down a planke, but the rocke remaines 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 doore of heaven, cease not praying day and night: if we keep up our spirits in prayer, the doore 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 perswasion of good; the truth is, that hope doth so depend ex judicio fidei, that if men beleeve not, they shall not hope, even as the inferi­ours doe move at the motion of the Superiours, so hope riseth, is furthered and continued in its working by faith: Well then, would you keep open the doore of hope, exalt faith, and let it act into the promises, whilest faith is feeding and fastning it selfe upon the promises, a man shall have hope in the darkest night, as well as in the lightest day.

[Page 14]5. Provoke not God by sinning: There is nothing but sin which can shut up the doore 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 lesse then to shut the doore againe, saying, I would have cured and reformed England, yea, I gave them faire hopes for the same, but loe her inhabitants are proud and idle, they sweare, and whore, and lie, and steale, and are drunken, and therefore now I will not give them my mer­cy and grace.

6. Be prudent in seeking the publique Reformation; Let every man keep his standing, and move to his owne Orbe: Though all Christians should have publique spirits, yet they have not publique places, if men will be discreet and quiet, things will be best amended, indiscretion may shut the doore aster then most men are aware of: Thinke of these things, warme 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.