1. Shushan.

BY Shushan here some under­stand a six stringed instrument, upon which the chief Musician was ordained to play the praises of God, contained in this psalme; we have the like title prefixed to the fourtie five psalme, To the chief Musician upon Shoshannim, that is, a six stringed instrument so called from the Hebrew word Shesh, which signifieth six; [...] others not without good reason think that this psalme be so called, for its beautie, because it is pleasant and of a good savour, like a Lillie, who for its six leaves is in the Canticles called Shoshan, Cant. 2.1 I am the Rose of Sharon, and the Lillie of [Page 6] the Ʋalleyes; Dearly Beloved, this day have brought for yo [...] comfort this most pleasant Lill [...] from the Garden of God.

2. Eduth.

SEcondly it is called Eduth, th [...] is, the testimonie, this declaret [...] the Psalme to be a testimonie o [...] Davids faith in the day of troubl [...] wherein both through God, an [...] for God he did most valiantly or it may be called Eduth, the test [...] monie, because it was ordaine [...] to be sung by the Priests befo [...] the Arke, Exod. 40.5 which was called Aron-Eduth the Arke of the test [...] monie, because it was a Testimonie or witnesse of Gods presen [...] among his people.

3. Michtam of Da­vid to teach.

THirdly, the Psalme is calle [...] Michtam of David to teac [...] [Page 9] that is a golden Psalme, full of [...]olden doctrine, to teach chiefly [...]en of warre on whom to re­ [...]y in a day of Battell. The He­ [...]rew word Michtam is from that other word Cethem, [...] which signi­ [...]ieth most fine gold; the Spouse [...]n her Song giveth this word to Christs head; My beloved, said [...]he, is white and rudy, Cant. 5 10 the fairest [...]mong ten thousand; his head is Cethem as the most fine gold. Massa au­ri vel au­ram obri­zum. Such [...]s this Psalme well in the margent [...]f your Bibles called a Golden Psalme: there be great riches; I [...]ring unto you this rich propine [...]rom God, a most excellent trea­ [...]ure, and offer it unto you this day; The thieves, the men of warre may steele or spoile you of your Gold, as the Danites did to Mi­ [...]ah when they bereaved him of his Silver-images, Judg. 18.18 but if ye get this gold, ye shall live and die rich, [...]n despight of all the world.

I think that there was Silver [Page 8] and Gold in great aboundance i [...] Laodicea, whose words were s [...] rich, Rev. 3.17 I have need of nothing but because that Church had ver [...] little of this Gold, Christ Jesu [...] proclaimed her a begger, mis [...] rable and poore.

If ye consider this most fin [...] gold, this land of all lands is th [...] most rich in Gold mines; there [...] no such plenty of Gods word under the cope of heaven, as by h [...] favour we have this day; Go [...] word is our gold; for this gol [...] we must all be ready to lay dow [...] our lives: Rev. 3.11 It was Gods counse [...] to Philadelphia, Hold fast th [...] which thou hast, that no man ta [...] thy crown; let us do so with th [...] gold of GODS word; let n [...] man take it from us.

This gold is better then an [...] gold of the earth; the earth gol [...] is both dumb and dead, it can sa [...] nothing for the comfort of it [...] [Page 9] owner, in the terrours of death, but this gold is a teacher; it is heer called Michtam of David for to teach: This is not the gold of Papists idols Elilim, teachers of vanities. So called from Elil, [...] Lev. 26.1 that is nothing, these golden no­things with their golden beards, have mouthes and speake not, eyes and see not, eares and heare not; Behold a great plague, these that make them are like unto them; Psal. 135.18 so is every one that trusteth in them, or maketh any religious use of them; It is no wonder that Papists can not easily be drawne from their idolatrie; the reason is this, there is a fearfull curse upon them, they are by GOD in his wrath stupified and made deaf like their golden idols; Blessed be the Lord, our Bibles are Michtams jewels of gold, for to teach souls what to do in such terrible dayes, as are these wherein we live; therein we [Page 8] have comforts both in life an [...] death.

4. When he strove with [...] Aram Naharaim and with Aram-Zobah, when Joab returned, and smote of Edom in the valley of salt, twelv [...] thousand,

THe occasion and Subject o [...] this Psalme, were many enemies Syrians and Edomites gathered in Battell against David wh [...] fought against them, and by th [...] power of GOD ouercame them▪

The enemies who were Syrian [...] are here called Aram Naharai [...] and Aram-Zobah; the Syrian [...] are called Aramites from Aram the Son of Shem, the Son Noah▪ Shem had Elam, and Ashur, and Aram, and Arphaxad; the Assyrians came of Ashur, and the Syrians of Aram, Gen. 10.22 and the Israelite [...] came of Arphaxad, for Arphaxad [Page 13] begat Salah, and Salah begat Heber, from whom GODS people were first called Hebrews, after from Ja­ [...]obs wrestling were called Israelits, And last of all from Judah the son of Jacob, were called Jews: The [...]nd of Aram, which was Siria, [...]ad manie parts, as Padan aram, Gen. 28.2 1 Chro. 19 6 Gen. 24.10 [...]nd Aram Maacah, and Aram of [...]amascus; here we have Aram [...]aharaim so called from the He­ [...]rew word Nahar, that is a flood, [...] be­ [...]ause it did lye between the two [...]vers Tigris and Euphrates; for his cause by the Greeks it was [...]alled Mesopotamia, that is the [...]nd between the rivers, here also made mention of Aram-Zobah, which was a countrey neere the [...]ther; unto these were joined E­ [...]om, the posteritie of Esau, who [...]as called Edom, that is red, because [...]hen he was borne, he came out [...]ed all over like a hairie mantle; Gen. 25.25 [...]hese Edomites joined with the o­ther [Page 12] [...] [Page 13] [...] [Page 12] Syrians, came against Dav [...] in hope to have Canaan, whic [...] as they esteemed, belonged b [...] better right unto the posteritie [...] Esau, who was the elder b [...] ther; mention here is onely ma [...] of twelve thousand Edomites ki [...] led; the rest of the historie is [...] downe at large in the eigh [...] chapter of the second boo [...] of Samuel.

The place where this batt [...] was foughten is called the val [...] of Salt, a place as some thin [...] neere unto the lake Asphalti [...] where Sodome and Gomorah we [...] before their destruction, a [...] where Lots wife was turned i [...] a pillar of Salt: Gen. 19.26 Gen. 14.3 In Genesis, t [...] valley is called the valley of S [...] dim, which is the salt Sea, a pla [...] by God, in a manner sown w [...] salt, and made barren by Go [...] curse, Psal. 107.34 who when he is angrie p [...] teth a fruitfull land to Saltne [...] [Page 13] that is to barrennesse, Deut. 29.23 for Salt causeth barrennesse.

1. The Petition. Give us help from trouble.

THe help he seeketh from God is, that God would help him from trouble.

The troubles of this world are of two sorts, the troubles of the wicked and of the godly; As for the wicked, they for a time have their good things heere; Luk. 16.25 during [Page 16] this time they are strong and stu [...] dy, they are so brawned and sear [...] and sealed up with senselesnesse o [...] Gods wrath, that they seeme o [...]ly happy; If at any time the [...] conscience begin to grumble, mu [...] ter, or make a noise, they ano [...] drowne the voice with earth [...] sounds, like the Israelites drumm in their Sacrifices to Moloc [...] which hindered them to he [...] the pitifull squeels of their children burning in the fire of Tophe [...] They all have an eating wor [...] in their Conscience, Mark. 9.44 which the feed with earthlie comforts a [...] men feed with raw flesh, the wol [...] or feaster in the armes or legges but oh, when the dayes of the ease is expired, and these raw fles [...] ly comforts removed, there be n [...] troubles like their troubles, which [...] are filled with such strong, an [...] strange ingredients of feares, an [...] Bedlam fits, that they (like A [...] ­pen [Page 17] leaves) tremble at their owne shadow; Hell is already within them; when they begin to be thus gnawed with the worme that di­eth not, they are so tared and tor­tured, that they imagine hell on earth to be worse then hell be­low; Note. Thus desperate Francis Spira said often, ‘That hee envied Cain Saul and Judas, wishing rather any of their roomes in the dungeon of the damned, then to have his poore heart so rent in pieces with raging terrours, and fie­rie desperations upon the bed of death.’

Whereupon he at another time being asked, if he feared more torments after this life; ‘Yes, said he, But I desire nothing more then to be in that place, where I shall expect no more.’

These and such are the troubles of the wicked below, when their [Page 16] sleeping worme is wakened; the [...] are such, that they imagine tha [...] their troubles in hell shall give ease unto their tortures on earth▪ for this reason diverse doe de­speratly either hang themselves or throw themselves downe from high precipices: as for the troubles of the godly, whereof I have to speake chieflie in this place, they are very many and painefull, though ever mixed with mercy.

The troubles of Gods servants here below are of two sorts, ei­ther inward or outward: The godly inwardlv will be horribly hemmed in with sorrowes; and sore vexed with dreadfull deser­tions, having their wounded hearts all bleeding, under the lashes of the Law, Mic. 6.7 so that they would give their first-born for their transgres­sion; the very grief of hell will lay hold on their soules; in a manner with their Master Christ they will [Page 21] descend into hell; but after many painfull wrestlings, they having received a Certificate of mercie, at last, by his Spirit, they victori­ously ascend into heaven, and so triumph over all their troubles.

As for their outward troubles here below, the Church on earth is like a ship on the sea tossed to and fro, with winds and waves; of this, our pure Church of Scot­land, hath wofull experience this day: Our whole land is now in trouble; manie godly hearts are pricked with great perplexitie; our watchmen all cry, Zeph. 1.14 The great day of the Lord is neere, it is neere, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the Lord; vers. 15. a day of wrath, a day of trouble and di­stresse, a day of wastnesse and deso­lation, a day of darknesse and gloo­minesse, a day of clouds and of thick darknesse, Zeph. 2.2 [...] the decree is in readi­nesse to bring forth; a fearfull [Page 20] tempest is fast comeing with horrible gale; Inimico­rum mali­tia est no­stra mili­tia. the whole land [...] like to be turned into a bale a fi [...] and therefore our Nation at thi [...] houre, hath great neede to cry t [...] God in the words of this tex [...] Give us help from trouble.

The time of trouble, the sa [...] and irksome houre, is the tim [...] of prayer: we have both precep [...] and prastise, and also promises o [...] deliverance to these who at su [...] times give themselves to prayer▪

The precepts are both in th [...] old Testament and new: In th [...] old Testament, God saith, C [...] upon me in the day of trouble; Psal. 50.15 the new Testament, God sait [...] Is any among you afflicted? [...] him pray. Iam. 5.13

As we have the precepts, also it hath ever been the pract [...] of all Gods children to pray their troubles; Hos. 12.4 Jacob in his tro [...] ble weept and made supplicatio [...] [Page 21] Moses prayed so that God in a manner intreated him, Exod. 32.10 to let him [...]lone, as though the power of the mans prayers had overcome his omnipotency, from doing his peo­ple Jsrael any hurt; Est quae­dam pre­cum omni­potentia. Luther was wont to say, There is a certaine omnipotency in prayer, it hath an [...]ternitie of vertue; all the godly in all times have known this, and therefore when great troubles [...]ame, their practise was to powre out many prayers; when the A­malekites did fight against Israel, Moses went up to the mount and prayed for Israel▪ Jonah in the belly of hell prayed, Exod. 17.11 Joh. 2.2. out of the belly of hell, said he, cried I, and thou heardst my voice; when Christ was in his agonie in the garden, he most fervently prayed againe and againe; all the psalmes of Davids troubles are most ex­cellent prayers. Mat. 26.42

As we have both precepts and [Page 20] practise for praying in trouble, also have we most faire promis [...] to be heard; Psal. 50.15 Call upon me in [...] day of trouble saith the Lord, a [...] I will deliver thee; In the ne [...] Testament we have Christ cr [...] ing, Mat. 7.7 Aske and ye shall receiv [...] seek and yee shall finde; the pr [...] mise is made to all, as well to th [...] beggar on the dung hill as th [...] Prince sitting on his Throne.

Heere is a King begging fro [...] God; the thing that hee seeketh, help from trouble; that which m [...] ved him to cry for help was h [...] trouble, and this was his chief [...] trouble, that his enemies in gr [...] number had this often in th [...] mouth, that God netheir would [...] could help him; Many there said David, Psal. 3.2 that say of my so [...] there is no help for him in GO [...] Davids dangers never troub [...] him so much as Gods dishono [...] when Gods glory seemed a [...] [Page 23] way in jeopardie, that was Davids [...]ouble; My teares, said he, Psal. 42.3 have [...]ene my meat day and night; while [...]hey continually say unto me, where thy God. this chiefly made David [...]eer to cry for help, give help, Lord, from trouble.

Observe heere that these who [...]re truely godly, The Do­ctrine. finde no trouble [...]o sensible as that which is by the [...]ishonour of God: Eli was a [...]ood man, though he had his own [...]ults in a too great indulgence [...]owards his children, yet in this [...]ee manifested an honest heart, [...]hat nothing troubled him so much as the dishonour of GOD: When the messenger came from [...]hat Battel, wherein the Israelites were overthrowne by the Phili­ [...]ines, & told him many evil news, [...]e sate still in his chaire, and heard [...]im; when the messenger said, [...]srael is fled before the Philistines, 1 Sam. 4.17 [...]e sate still, though with a grie­ved [Page 24] heart; after that the m [...] senger said, There hath beene [...] a great slaughter among the peop [...] these newes wounded him so [...] yet he sate still in his seat; af [...] that the messenger said, A [...] thy two sonnes Hophni and Phi [...] has are dead; this heard, ma [...] a very great wound in his hea [...] yet he sate still in his seate; b [...] as soone as the messenger h [...] said, The Arke of God is tak [...] Eli could sit no longer, 1 Sam. 4.18 but from off the seat backward, by seate of the gate, and his n [...] brake, and he died.

The 1 use; Seeing this o [...] is a day of trouble, The 1 use and of t [...] sort of trouble, that the Arke God is in danger to be taken the Philistines, let all men th [...] have a Christian heart, cry mig [...] tily with their heart, Give [...] help from trouble; The Lord co [...] plained of his people, that th [...] [Page 25] cried not unto him with their heart, Hos. 7.14 [...]hen they howled upon their beds; [...]e all now have great need to [...]y unto God▪ with our hearts, or if our day go down, and if [...]ur Gospell, the glory depart [...]om our land, we shall say that [...]e never knew what trouble was [...]ntill now: what a sorrow shall [...] be to us to hear that Israel is [...]d before their enemies? what a [...]rief to hear that there hath also [...]ene a great slaughter among the [...]ople? what a piercing of heart, [...] hear that Hophni and Phineas, [...]ur sonnes or our husbands are [...]aine or dead: But O who shall [...]e able either to stand or sit, if [...]hese newes shall come, the Arke [...]f god is taken? the Gospell of [...]esus Christ is in the hands of Gods enemies, for to be taken [...]om us? these shall be the black­ [...]st newes that ever were heard in [...]ur land, since the beginning of [Page 26] our reformation; then may [...] godly men and vvomen [...] vvith the dying vvife of Phine [...] Ichabod, 1 Sam. 4 21 vvhere is the glory? th [...] shall bee a trouble indeed; a [...] therefore before it come, let us vvith vvounded and bleedi [...] hearts cry mightilie to God Give us help from trouble.

If we do this duetie diligen [...] I dare promise in the Name [...] the Lord, that all these who r [...] fuse this day to set up altars to that shamefull thing, Jer. 11.13 shall last see a hand work such a gl [...] rious work in this land, that t [...] world shall know, that our GO [...] is the Lord; many nations sh [...] cry as the Israelites did (wh [...] God brought down fire upon E [...] jahs sacrifice) The Lord, he is t [...] God, 1 King. 19 39 the Lord he is the God; b [...] otherwise, if we be negligent vicious, if the Lord hath ca [...] to say, Amo. 2.4 For three transgressio [...] [Page 27] and for foure, if we by our sins continue to presse our God under [...], as a cart full of sheaves, Am. 2.13 it [...]ay be that he will suffer his [...]rk, his Gospel to be taken pri­ [...]ner, and set it in the Temple [...]f their idols, but at last (after [...]hat the Lord hath corrected his [...]eople, for the contempt of his Gospel) he shall do with all Po­ [...]ish idols, as he did with the [...]hilistines Dagon, which first he made to fall upon his face to the [...]ound, 1 Sam. 5.3 and after they had set [...]im up again, cut off his head, and [...]he palmes of his hands, vers. 4 onely the [...]mp of Dagon was left to him; [...]fter that where ever Gods Ark [...]emained prisoner, the Lord smot [...]is enemies on the hinder parts [...]ith Emrods; they had no rest [...]ntill they sent it back againe; [...]us the Lord most gloriously [...]elped his people from trouble. If we will continue in sinceritie, [Page 28] to fast and pray, there shall [...] be a stone in the field, but shall be like that stone of Sam [...] el, which he called Eben-ezer, t [...] stone of help; in whatsoe [...] danger we shall be, we shall [...] with Samuel, 1 Sam. 7 12 Am. 4.1 Hitherto hath [...] Lord helped us; hear this word ye [...] of Bashan, who push with yo [...] hornes against Gods dear s [...] vants, as though God did [...] regard, or could not give us from trouble.

The 2 use The 2. use. Let this serve reproofe to these base and bea [...] bodies, whose names are wri [...] in the earth, Jer. 17.13 who have neit [...] heart nor hand nor tongue, fo [...] help Gods Church from trouble, th [...] have not a thought of pitie, th [...] know not what it is to be g [...] ved for the affliction of Jose [...] they have made their hearts an Adament-stone, Amo. 6.6. they are [...] and beastly, Zach. 7.12 they have no [Page 29] courage in their hearts; they have [...]o hands for the good cause; [...]heir tongue by their words, as [...]y a Sibboleth, bewrayeth them, Jud. 12.6 [...]at they are not on Gods side; [...] send such to hearken Deborah [...] her song, cursing bitterly all [...]hose that come not to help the [...]ord, Jud. 5.23 to help the Lord against the mightie;

If Meroz was cursed because [...]hey came not to help the Lord, [...]ll the curses of Ebal shall, like fire [...]nd brimstone, raine downe upon [...]ll these, who for a short glance [...]f proseritie, for a vaine hope of preferment, for a vanitie of [...]anities, for a golden dreame, [...]ome against the Lord, for to [...]urt the good cause; a cloud of wrath, a world of woe, a hell [...]pon earth, shall one day come [...]pon all these, who rejoyceing [...]n the Churches desolations, say, [...]th, so would we have it; Psal. 35.25 such [Page 30] shall either perish by fire wi [...] that companie of Corah, or swallowed up with Dathan, shall die by the sword with [...] laam, or shall burne themselv [...] with Zimri, or shall hang the [...] selves with Judas and Ahitoph [...] the Lord shall set wicked n [...] over them; Psal. 109.6 7.8. &c. Satan shall stand their right hand; when they sh [...] be judged, they shall be conde [...] ned, their prayers shall be tur [...] into sinne, their dayes shall few, and another shall take th [...] office; their children shall be [...] therlesse, and their wives widow [...] their children shall be vagabo [...] and beg: the extortioners shall ca [...] all that they have, &c. In a vvo [...] their possessions shall be made t [...] breeding of nettles, and a perpet [...] desolation; Zach. 2.9 all the imprecatio [...] that David made in that Psal [...] against his enemies, shall come [...] pon these that refuse to help t [...] [Page 31] LORD, and his Church from trouble.

The vvord trouble here is in the Hebrew, Tsar, [...] which signifieth straitnesse or distresse as vvhen a man is so driven into some narrow place, that he knovveth not to vvhat hand to turne him. When God being angry at King David, for numbering the people ordained his Prophet Gad, not in a smooth and silken Court-sermon, but in a divine authoritie, to give the King his choise of seaven yeares famine, or of three moneths fly­ing before the enemies, or of three dayes pestilence, David the King said unto the Prophet, 2 Sam. 24 14 I am in a great strait; in the Hebrew it is Tsar-li; as if he had said, [...] I am besiedged on all sides, I know not to what hand to turne me, I doubt of what plague to make choise.

Observe heere, The Do­ctrine. vvhat is often [Page 32] the condition of Gods dearest children, their life heere is full of troublesome turnings; their condition of life is to be driven into great straits; this vvas the complaint of the Church, They have often afflicted mee from my youth, Psal. 129.1 and againe immediatly af­ter, they have often afflicted me from my youth; the doore of heaven is called the straite gate, and the vvay thereunto is called the nar­row vvay: Mat. 7.13 Satans rage is restlesse, his trade is a trade of blood, he is that old spevving dragon, vvho casts out of his mouth floods of ve­nime after the Church; Rev. 12.15 vvhat is Christs Church on earth, but like a scorched heath, or a root in dry ground? All these that novv sing in heaven have mourned heere; before they came to these mansi­ons of joy, they all past thorovv the valley of Baca, a vvorld of teares and troubles; S. John [Page 33] in the Revelation, saith, that one of the Elders of heaven came un­to him, and said, Rev. 7.13 What are these that arc arraide in vvhite robes? men all filled with joy; S. John could not tell what kinde of men they were; Sir said he, thou know­est; then the Elder said to John, these are they which came out of great tribulation; vers. 14 there be no soules in heaven now, but first on earth they have beene in great tribulati­ons; they in great terrours and anxietie have all cryed, Give us help from trouble, in the day of their small things they all have beene in a great strait. Zach. 4.10

The 1. use; The 1 use Let us all heere learne, that in this world many swarmes of sorrowes, and vexa­tions are prepared for us that minde the way to heaven; the best hearts below are often cram­med with sighs, and groanes; the grief of minde consumes their [Page 34] marrow, chills their bloud, wasts their spirits, shortneth their life, maketh them pale and wanne; that we should not startle, in our feares Christ hath foretold and said, Joh. 16 33 In the world yee shall have tribulation; Againe, the vvorld shall laugh, Joh. 16.20 but you shall vveep: the divel, the Prince of this vvorld, Joh. 12.31 still goeth about to fasten his fangs upon redeemed soules, and to spite fire bals at the faces of best Christians; the church by Zacharie, is compared to mirtle trees in a bottome, Zach. 1.8 or low valley, that is in a low base and con­temptible condition; heere is not our rest, and therefore let us not thinke among so many dog­ged Doegs, cursed Curres, to come to heaven, but by a way that is straite, narrow, and troublesome, a way of deepest sighs and salt­est groanes, a way strovved vvith losses and crosses; Satan can not [Page 35] forget his trade of tempting, and of spewing floods of troubles against the Saints; the word of God tells us, that he hath fearful depths, Rev. 2.24 2 Cor. 2.11 craftie devices and strange plotted wiles to bring a mischief upon all these that truely feare God; [...] Eph. 6.11 If we live godly in Christ let us re­solve to suffer persecution, to saile thorow seas of sorrowes: yea, to be in the belly of hell like Jonah, where troubles like waters shall compasse us about, even to the soule; Joh. 2.5 as long as the Divel is out of hell, he will not cease to devise pestilent plots against all these that walke towards heaven: By the Crosse Christ himself went to the Crowne; will we be able to finde another way? are we dearer to God, then David was? Hear him heer crying to God, Give us help from trouble; Jacob that Prince of God, Gen. 32.28 an Israel, who by wrestlng over­came God, Gen. 47.9 walked also in the [Page 36] way of troubles; few and evil said he, Gen 47.9 have my dayes been; Daniel, Dan. 10.19 a man greatly beloved, wa [...] cast into a den of Lions, after a great vision he fainted, and wa [...] sicke many dayes; Dan. 8.27 Christ himsel [...] is called a man of many sorrovves, he suffered hunger, Isa. 53.3 thirst, nakednesse, and at last, was put to deat [...] like a Traitour, attached on a rack After him came a world of hi [...] worthies, of whom the work was not worthy, of whom (lik [...] others before him) some were tortured, and others had tryall o [...] cruell mockings, Heb. 11 35 and scourgings, o [...] bonds, and imprisonments; of other it is said, that they were stoned and savven asunder, vers. 36 and slai [...] vvith the Svvord, and that th [...] vvandred about in sheep skinnes and goat skinnes, being destitute afflicted, vers. 37. tormented; As it hat [...] beene, so it shall be with God servants on earth, untill tbe lo [...] [Page 37] day of mankinde come to its even: seeing it is so, let all of us now in these dayes of trouble resolve vvith Ezekiel, Eek. 12 18 to eate our bread vvith quakeing, and drink our drink vvith trembling, because vve have sinned; if the Lord send a per­secution, let us purpose, yea re­solve to cast off our most costly apparell, to forsake all other de­lights, for to go vvith Christ, have­ing the sheep-skinnes or goate-skinnes upon our backes: heb. 11 37 let us be content in our dayes of tryall for Christ, to put on Joshuahs filthie garments, Zach. 3.3 the vilest ragges of captivitie: We have enjoyed a long rest, a most vvonderfull peace; vve knovv not but by hearing, or reading, vvhat the Crosse is; now in all appearance the time is come, that the Lord vvill let it be seene vvho are his true servants: it may be that he permit novv such a cruell triall, [Page 38] the like whereof hath not be [...] in our land, and therefore it is o [...] duetie in this day of our publi [...] fast, to intreate the Lord most earnestly for one of two, that eith [...] (according to the words of m [...] text) he would give us help from trouble, in delivering us rom th [...] great evils we feare, or els tha h [...] would give us strength, patience and courage to suffer for his sake yea, to rejoice with the Apostle that we are counted worthy to suffer either shame or paine for hi [...] name: Act. 5.41 Outward torments fo [...] Christ are nothing to these wh [...] have a good conscience, tha [...] heavenly musician singing mo [...] sweetly day and night: One sait [...] very well, that the teares of good conscience have more pleasure in them, then the world greatest joy; they are full of th [...] sweetest juice, marrow, hone [...] kernell, comforts, relish th [...] [Page 45] the heart of man can conceive; Cum suspi­riis inenar­rabilibus conjunctū est gaudi­um ineffa­bile. they have an unspeakable joy with inuterable sighs.

The 2. use. The 2 use Judg. 7.16 Let this serve for reproofe to many, who have not a minde to suffer any thing for Christ, yea, not so much as to bear a pitcher for Israel, or to cry, THE SWORD OF THE LORD, AND OF GIDEON.

As long as Christ will give loaves to such, they will most fre­quently swarme about him, Joh. 6.26 they are like Ephraim; a cake not turned halfe daugh and halfe backed, Hos. 7.8 neither raw nor rosted, Rev. 3.15 lukewarm [...]ike Loadicea; Alas many thou­sands were ready to sit down with Christ, and to eate of his multiplied loaves and fishes, but where were all these at Golgotha, when the Lord like a Theefe was [...]anged up between two theeves? Yea, where then was Peter him­self? where then was Andrew, [Page 40] Peters brother? yea, where the [...] were James and Philip, and Barth [...] lomew, Thomas and Matthew and James the sonne of Alpheus where were Lebeus, and Simon the Cananite? S. Marke saith that they all forsooke him and fled onelie John tarried with him a [...] the crosse, Mark. 14 50 to whom he recommended his mother; Ioh. 19.27 what the [...] did, it was through infirmitie [...] they all loved Christ dearly but the fear of death overcam [...] their love, this was a grea [...] fault; but many among us, carnall men, soaked in sensualitie [...] who have cursedly feared the [...] owne conscience with the hote yron in the Divels forge, me [...] whose eyes are darkened wit [...] the mists of hell, have no courage for GODS worship; th [...] Taverne is their Temple, their bell is their bible and their god; the [...] are men of rotten hearts, whi [...] [Page 41] have so embraced in their armes earthly doung with Demas, 2 Tim. 4.10 that they care not for Religion; such have no courage for the truth, they have no purpose to suffer losse of lands or lives, 1 Cor. 1.18 Ezek. 28.3 for the folie of this Gospel: Behold they are wiser then Daniel: They esteeme all these but fooles, that in the torrents of troubles forsake their faire cloathes and houses to put on the goate skinnes, Heb. 11.37 and to abide in the caves and dennes of the earth; such wise worldlings cannot imagine that Christ is on the suffering side; while they rest pleasantly in their beds of yvory and of ease; Am. 6.4 they in their hearts scorne at men as fools, that quite their lands and their lives, their wives, and their houses, and their wealth, for to suffer trouble for religion, which (fy, fy,) they imagine to be but opinions of men, conceits, [Page 48] devices of giddie braines; Giv [...] unto such the black Masse, an [...] all the idols of Rome; yea, th [...] Turkish Alcoran, under som [...] other more honest names, and they shall embrace them all, before they quite their sieled houses and their silks, Hag. 1.4 for to put on th [...] sheep-skinnes, for to wander up an [...] down with the faithfull servant [...] of Jesus Christ: Heb. 11.37 while thes [...] fooles, have a hote gleame o [...] earthly glory, while the sailes o [...] their sensualitie are filled with carnall delights, they are at home yea (as they thinke) in heaven crowned with rose buds, and garlands of glory? while they thu [...] tumble in these earthly pleasures though the Lord Jesus promis [...] unto them the Crownes of hi [...] Kingdome, they are (though i [...] another sense) like the Olive-tre [...] that would not quite its fatnesse and like the figge tree, Judg. 9.9 that would [Page 49] not quite its sweetnesse; or like the Vine, that would not leave its wine for to be made Kings over the trees: if such tempori­sers keep fast their earthly good things, Luk. 16.25 their cursed bagges with holes, they care not for crownes in heaven; Hag. 1.9 their earthly ease is To sweet, that they purpose not to passe thorow the pikes, for to have need of this prayer, Give us helpe from trouble; what ever side is strongest, they minde to laugh with these, like our swallowes who forsake us in win­ter, In terras apricas. for to flie most swiftly un­ [...]o lands warmed with a hoter Sunne; If our ship go well be­fore the winde, they will saile with us; they will make up a navie, and goe in companie; but as soone as they finde the winde blow another way, they follow the blast, and set their sailes according to the weather, [Page 44] being fully resolved never to run hazard so, but that they may ever have one foot loose; the fear of troubles so nettles their nature, which is of such a cowardly con­stitution, that they can not want their ease: Let such know, that by the doome of divine wisdome, a great woe is denunced against all their ease and pleasures, which shall soone come to an end; whethe [...] they be Nobles, or Church-men, or Gentlemen, or of the Com­mon sort, that will not quite thei [...] ease for to follow Christ with a Crosse, at the houre of death they shall all finde that they have been but fooles; After that thes [...] Nobles, or Gentlemen, hav [...] in their worldly pleasures scoured the plaines with their horses and the fields and woods wit [...] their hounds, and the heauens wit [...] their hawkes, and have enjoye [...] heere what their heartes coul [...] [Page 45] wish, the short gleame of their glory shall passe in a moment; [...]hen death shall cry to these fools soaked in ease and vanitie, Alight from your horses, and goe to the dungeons of stinke; As for Church men, who are cowards behinde, whereas they should be Captaines before, like the seven Priests with their seven trumpets, Josh. 6.4 for to en­courage the men of war to fight Gods battels, they shall be great­ly disappointed like a poore man in a golden dreame, or a hungrie man at a feast in his sleepe; be­hold when they are wakened, there is nothing but poverty and emptinesse: Of all that sort of whatsoever ranke they be that are not zealous for God, truely may be said, they are lovers of pleasures more then of God; 2 Tim. 3.4 they may have [...]ome forme of godlinesse, but [...]eeing they deny the power there­of, the Apostles counsell is, that [Page 52] we turne away from such; le [...] them be, untill their day com [...] when GOD shall let loose th [...] cordes of their conscience, upo [...] their bed of death, so that in manner they shall bee strangle with the horrours of hell, an [...] damned above the ground wormes, scorpions, feare, fire▪ furies, wormewood, and gall shall be the last portion of thes [...] fearfull, Rev. 21.8 who have no courag [...] for the trueth, while it is i [...] any danger.

2. The reason. For vaine is the help of man.

WEE have heard of the petition, Give us help from trouble; now let us heare hi [...] reason, it is in these wordes, fo [...] [Page 53] vaine is the help of man, as if he had said to God, O Lord we de­pend upon thine help alone, and not upon the strength of our ar­mie, which without thee is but a vaine thing: David had learned this when he fought against armed Goliah, having nothing but a scrip and a sling; If David had not known that an armed man had beene a vaine thing, he durst never have looked Goliah in the face; It is written, that when the Israelites armie saw the man, 1 Sam. 17 24 they fled from him, and were sore afraid, vers. 25 and the men of Israel said one to another, Have yee seen this man that is come up? as if they had said, we never saw such a man as this; But David who had the Lord with him, cared not for him, for he saw him but a vaine man, and that all the help that he could make for the Philistines, should be no­thing [Page 48] but a vaine help, for (a [...] is heere said) vaine is the hel [...] of man: whether mans help b [...] for us or against us, this re­maines sure and true, Vaine i [...] the help of man: the Hebrew word (Shave) signifieth a lie, [...] rash, false, vaine, idle, of n [...] vertue, or worth.

Observe here what are these most mighty armies that men can make either for to help us, The do­ctrine. or to hurt us; they are but men; the Scriptures say, What is man? He is but flesh, Psal. 8.4 and all flesh is grasse, 1 Pet. 1.24 what are his bones the [...] pillars and master timber of his ta­bernacle? how easily are they broken and bruised into powder▪ I (said Hezekiah) reckoned till morning, Isa. 38.13 that, as a Lion, so will he breake all my bones; the most valiant Captaines, the bravest souldiers, (if the Lords strength sinew not their armes and leggs [Page 49] are all but a deceiving lie: [...] a lie [...]ntill it be known seemes to be some thing, whether it be to [...]ejoice us or to affright us, but (as soone as it is known) either [...]he joy or the fear it brought unto us, perish away like smoak; If we see a great armie for us, if Gods help be not with us, mens help will be but a lie, even a staffe of a broken reede, Isa. 36.6 whereon if a man leane, it will goe into his hand and pierce it: Men with­out God have neither hearts nor hands to fight; Behold, (said Nahum) thy people in the midst of thee are women, that is, Nah. 3.13 fear­full and faint hearted bodies: when Israel went out with their armie against the Philistines, having the Arke of God with them, they thought that the victorie was certaine, and there­fore they all shouted with a great shout, so that the earth rang againe; 1 Sam. 4.5 [Page 56] but because God was not at th [...] battell with them, all their co [...] rage and force was found to b [...] but a lie; All the Captaines o [...] Israel were that day like the grea [...] grassehoppers, Nah. 3.17 which camp in th [...] hedges in the cold day; but whe [...] the Sunne ariseth, they flee away and the place is not known wher [...] they are: likewise on Gilboa [...] where Saul and Jonathan wer [...] slaine in the Battell, all the captaines that day were found to be but a lie; How, 2 Sam. 1.25 said David are th [...] mighty fallen in the midst o [...] the battell? When Israel wen [...] to battell against the Benjamites▪ for the quarrell of the Levites con­cubine that ruefull spectacle, they understood not this part of my text, vaine is the help of man▪ they knew not that mans strength and courage was but a lie, and therefore relying upon the strength of men, they resolved to bring [Page 57] to the battell against Benjamin the tenth man of the land; wee, Jud. 20.10 said they, will take men of an hundred, throughout all the tribes of Israel, and an hundred of a thou­sand, and a thousand out of ten thousand, so their armie came to the number, of foure hundred thousand tbat drew Sword: All these came against the Benjamites, vvho vvere but six and tvventie thousand and seven hundred, but Israel found, that vaine was the help of man; for in the first day of the Battell, they lost twentie and two thou­sand, in the next day they lost eighteene thousand; untill the Lord by fasting and prayer vvas moved to help them, they found the truth of my text, that vaine is the help of man.

As man vvithout God is vaine in his help, so if he come against God, he is more vaine in his [Page 52] hurt; God called King Belsh [...] zar that enemy of his Church Tekel a man of no weight or wort [...] Behold vvith vvhat a pompe Ki [...] Pharaoh gathered the horses a [...] charets of Egypt, Dan▪ 5.27 [...] for to bri [...] back Gods people to their bo [...] dage; Hee, as is said of Ki [...] Agrippa, Act. 25.23 and Bernice his Queen came [...] with great fantasie, pompe or fool [...] vaine shew; I said he, will pu [...] sue, Ezod. 15.9 I will overtake, I will divi [...] the spoile, my lust shall be satisf [...] upon them; I will draw my swor [...] my hand shall destroy them; the [...] were King Pharaohs bigge bra [...] while his army put on the harn [...] but God did blow with his win [...] and the sea covered them; vers. 10. they sh [...] as lead in the mighty water he had to doe vvith one strong then himselfe: Senacherib f [...] this vvhen God put his hook [...] his nose, 2 King. 19 28 and his bridle in his h [...] [Page 53] though his armie was like the sand of the sea shoare for num­ber, he vvas not able to hurt Gods people; the Papists could not prevaile against this land neither by fire nor vvater; by vvater they came by open force, by fire they came like black di­vels under the earth, hid in vauts, but blessed be the Lord, both the one and the other vvas a lie, rash, false, vaine, of no vertue; not a hurt but a help to teach our Kings and the Na­tion, not to suffer the bloodie hounds of that profession, to abide any more in our bosome.

The use; The use. Seeing that men without God, either in their help or hurt are but vaine, a lie, false, of no vertue, let us beware, ei­ther to trust too much in the forces of men that are for us, or yet in a cooled courage, to be too afraide for the forces of men that are [Page 60] against us: God vvas very vvr [...] vvith David for numbering t [...] people; they vvere thirteene hu [...] dred thousand valiant men, 2 Sam. 24 9 b [...] because David caused numb [...] them, as if the help of man h [...] not beene vaine, the LORD▪ three dayes killed by the pest [...] lence threescore and ten thousa [...] let us beware to count our for [...] our forts, and our friends, o [...] Colonels, our Captaines and o [...] Canons; all these things are b [...] vaine things; they, for to stri [...] them on the right veine, are b [...] as is in my text, a lie; If t [...] Lords help be not for us, thoug [...] our men were like Saul and Jon [...] than, 2 Sam. 1 23 swifter then Eagles, a [...] stronger then Lions, the fearf [...] day of Gilboah, a black saturn [...] shall come upon us; nothing sha [...] be heard but groanes and lame [...] tations, How are the mighty f [...] len, 2 Sam. 1 27 and the weapons of warre p [...] rished! [Page 53] the Lord for our sins, shall deliver us into the hands of bru­ [...]ish men that are skilfull to de­ [...]troy. Ezek. 21 31

But if we can be truely hum­bled; if every one will turne from [...]heir evill wayes, and goe to God in sinceritie with fasting and prayer, for to seek GODS help, whose charets are charets of sal­vation, Hab. 3.8 we shall not need to feare [...]he forces of men; these who have eyes to see Gods charets of fire round about his Church, 2 King. 6 17 as [...]hey were about Elishah, may [...]corne all the forces of Princes; It is for blinde Gehazis, when they see great armies of men to tremble and say, 2 King. 6 15 Exod. 14 13. Alas master what shall we doe? If we can stand still with Moses, we shall see the salvati­on of the Lord, we shall sing and rejoice; when Moses saw King Pharaoh and all his bravest Cap­taines gasping in that gulfe of the [Page 54] sea, wherein they were drowne like dogges, he tuned up hi [...] song, Exod. 15 3. The Lord is a man of warr [...] God save our King, the anointe [...] of the Lord; the lap of his ga [...] ment shall never be cut by us but if Gods enemies, these R [...] mish and Arminian troupes, wi [...] still like the Egyptians pursu [...] Gods Church in this land, for t [...] speak in Pharaohs words, Exod. 15 19 to satisf [...] their lust upon us, let us stand sti [...] upon our most holy faith, and w [...] shall see the salvation of the Lord Scotland shall sing the song o [...] Moses, The Lord is a man o [...] warre; Exod. 15.3 if his help come to th [...] Battell, wee shall not need t [...] flie with Israel, or in great feare say, of a most mighty armi [...] as the Israelites trembling, said of Goliah, 1 Sam. 17 25 Have yee seene th [...] man, or this armie that i [...] come up?

1. Davids couragious resolution.

THe courage of David hee (as ye may see) was very great: when the armies of Aram Naharaim, and of Aram Zobah were ready to go to battell agains [...] David, David encouraged Joa [...] the Captaine, and the whol [...] armie with these words, throug [...] God we shall do valiantly.

[...]The Hebrew word Chaijl sig­nifieth valour, force, power▪ prowesse, activitie, and courag [...] both of body and minde; In this sense David tooke it, when he said, Psal. 18.32 God girdeth me with va­lour; the word also signifieth an armie, Psal. 33.16 because in armies coura­gious men use to be, whose hearts are steeled with stoutnesse.

David the servant of God heere (though in a very great [Page 57] danger) was all full of courage, Through God, said hee, we shall do valiantly; with his courage he was both godly and wise; he was god­ [...]y, for hee relyed not upon his owne valour, nor yet upon the [...]ourage and skill of Joab his cap­ [...]aine, nor yet upon the strength of his armie, but upon GOD, whom king Nebuchadnezzar cal­ [...]ed a LORD of Kings; Dan. 2.47 this Lord of Kings was King Davids GOD, [...]hrough whom he would doe valiantly.

As he was godly in his cou­ [...]age, so also he was wise, for as [...]hrough God he hoped to pre­ [...]aile, so also he would do some­ [...]hing himselfe; he went not to [...]he other extremitie, as to say, All is well now, the Lord will be unto us a vvall and a sconce, [...]nd therefore we need not trouble our selves any more, we may all sleep now and take our rest, [Page 58] for God will doe all; no not David himself, would also do [...] something for to help the Lord through God, said he, vve sha [...] doe valiantly; that Prophet sai [...] wisely to the King of Israel, 1 King. 20 22 g [...] and strengthen thy self, and mar [...] and see vvhat thou doest; Go [...] himselfe said to Zion, Zeph. 3.16 Let [...] thine hands be slack.

The use. The use; Let us all this d [...] learne of David so to depend upon God, that we neglect not t [...] doe something our selves; If th [...] Lord hath a Sword, Jud. 7.18 let Gide [...] have another; THE SWORD O [...] THE LORD, AND OF GIDEON the neglect of the meanes is tempting of God; when Chri [...] was by Satan set upon the pinac [...] of the Temple, Mat. 4.5 he would not ca [...] himselfe downe from thence a [...] Satans desire, for needlesly to tr [...] Gods power in his preservatio [...] but used the meanes in commin [...] [Page 59] downe by the staire: God will never help these who are carelesse to help themselves; I confesse, God hath no need of our help; though a mighty armie like that of the Syrians which filled the countrey should come against us, gathered like two little flockes of Kiddes, 1 King. 20 27 the Lord should not have need to say to us, as Joab said to Abishai, 2 Sam. 10 11 If the Syrians be too strong for mee, then thou shalt help me, but if the children of Ammon bee too strong for thee, then will I come and help thee; the Lord hath no need of any mans help against all the armies of men, though all the world were in Battell array against him and his Church; what are all the strongest armies of the world, but shadowes and bubles like these which little boyes out of spittle and sope in their pastimes, blow up with their quils, which anone, [Page 60] being but winde within water burst of themselves? what rea [...] help can such brettle things mak [...] to the Lord? though men neithe [...] can properly help God, neithe [...] hath hee properly neede of any mans help, yet he declareth thes [...] cursed with Meros, who in th [...] fearefull dangers of Gods church doe not their endeavour to hel [...] the Lord, Judg. 5.33 to help the Lord agains [...] the mighty.

In such dayes of distresse, le [...] all men goe to worke; let th [...] young men in Abners language arise to play, 2 Sam. 2 14. and let the old me [...] in Gods language, arise to pray If young Joshuahs fight in the valleyes, Num. 17.9 let old Moses pray on th [...] mountaines; though God be [...] sufficiently able to do all, yet th [...] faithfull man must doe through God; through God, said Davi [...] heere, we shall doe valiantly; le [...] these who can not do through God, [Page 61] lye still like drones, let them eat, drinke, lye, and sleep still, like Epicures, but these who doe through God, shall not faile to doe valiantly.

In the word valiantly heere I observe that the servants of God, who doe through God, The do­ctrine. are the onely men of courage, men qualified for valour; the reason is, because, what they doe, they doe it through God, that is by Gods help, and for Gods glory; onely such are men of valour; this was a part of Balaams pro­phesie, Num. 24 18 and Israel shall do valiant­ly; David speaking of his ene­mies said, I did beat them small as the dust before the winde; Psal. 18.4 I did cast them out as dirt of the streets; it is the Lord that giveth the heart; onely Gods servants have true courage; the wicked, not excepting the stoutest, are called the Fearfull; Rev. 21.8 such sometimes [Page 62] may seeme to be valiant, but all their courage is but rage; lik [...] wilde Bulls or Boares, or lik [...] madde dogges, they may while [...] furiously fight, but he hath onely courage who is assured to en­ter heaven after death; there be many Colonels and Captaines who will goe boldly to an as­sault, but if they fear not God, they are but madde men; Onely these are valiant, who can true­ly say in the faith and feare of God with David, Through God wee shall doe valiantly; what true courage can a wicked man have to die, that incontinent, after his death is to goe from the earth, unto the hells unto the divell and his angles?

The use. The use; Before we goe to warre against men, let us first make warre against our sinnes; let us by repentance▪ kill all our Minion delights, and Captaine [Page 63] sinnes that they reigne no more in our mortall bodies, Let us all now in these dayes of warre so studie the practice of pietie, that all our doings may be through God that is both directed by him and for him, that is by his power and for his glory: If this wee doe sincerelie under Christs ban­ner, our courage shall never fail; wee in greatest dangers shall be like Saul and Jonathan swifter then Eagles, 2 Sam. 1.23 and stronger then Li­ons; in the valley of the shadow of death, we shall not fear any evil: yea tbough the earth be re­moved; Psal. 46.2 and though the moun­taines were caried into the midst of the sea, we shall remaine stedfast, like mount Zion; if we have God with us in his favour, wee shall not tremble in trouble; no not; Dan. 3.18 with Shadrach wee shall boldly face a fierie furnace, Dan. 6.16 and with Daniel we shall not feare the [Page 64] Lions denne, what hath made so many martyres poore simple bo­dies, in the worlds language precise fooles, so couragiously to affront and out-face the most fear­full frownings of cruell tyrants, yea, with the wings of faith to out-soare the hight of all hu­maine miseries? what enabled them to suffer most horrible tor­ments, which Captaines were not able to abide? the reason was this, they walked with GOD, and their doings were through God and for GOD, and therefore through God, they both did and suffered valiantly; Zach. 10.5 they, said Zacharie, shall fight, because the Lord is vvith them: that was a brave speach of Luther, ‘ Note.Since I am sent for, I am resolved, and certainly deter­mined to enter wormes in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, yea though I knew there were [Page 65] as many divels to resist me, as there are tiles to cover the hou­ses in wormes.’

Now it is time in this time of triall fast comming, to amend our life, to be sure of Gods love, to be sure of heaven after this life, that when it shall come, either to doe or die for the good cause, we may through GOD either doe or die most valiantly: let Zedekiahs, 1 King. 22 11 false Prophets with their hornes of yron, stout in peace, be Magor missabibs trembling, Jer. 20.3 fearfull cowards in trouble; in the dayes of danger let them go from chamber to chamber, 1 King. 22 25 to hide them­selves like Rats and Mice; but let all the faithfull servants of God, who have Christ for their Captaine; lift up their faces in times of trouble, saying with the prophet David here, through God we shall doe valiantly; he that feareth God needeth not to fear [Page 66] any thing; Psal. 23.4 though he be in th valley of the shaddow of deat [...] he is still under a most su [...]sconce, Psal. 91.1 even the shaddovv of t [...] Almighty, who ever hath a eye on every haire of his hea [...] I exhort you all to think st [...] upon this, and to doe as Dan [...] did, Dan. 7.28 who kept the matter in [...] heart.

2. The ground of Da­vids courage.

NOw in end it followeth that we consider the mai [...] ground of Davids great courag it was all from the Lords doing for he it is that shall tread downe enemies; neither hole nor hillo [...] nor rock, shall be able to hi [...] or shelter them.

Heere is a Prophecie reveale unto David by him, Dan. 8.16 who betwe [...] the banks of Ʋlai, declared t [...] [Page 67] vision unto Daniel; it is a prophe­cie of victory from God, of whom it is said heere, for he it is that shall treade downe our enemies; Da­vid saith not heere, I and my cap­taine Joab with the great forces of mine armie, shall treade down our enemies; 1 King. 22 11 Mich. 4.13 he saith not we shall push them downe with hornes of yron, or we shall thresh them with hooves of brasse; he braggeth not of his shields glittering with brightnesse, Nah. 2.4. nor of his mighty charets of warre, which seeme like torches when they whirle with such furie, Nah. 3.2 that the fire sparketh out of their wheeles; the praun­sing horses, and the jumping cha­rets are not his confidence; no not; what ever good befall, he will not sacrifice unto his owne net, Hab. 1.16 nor yet burne incense unto his owne dragge, but in great vvisedome maketh the Lord the doer of all; He, saith he, it is that shall treade [Page 68] dovvn our enemies, Behold ho [...] David here endeth this Psal [...] of vvar, by giving all the glo [...] of the victory unto God. vv [...] by his infinite povver drive asunder the Nations, Hab. 3.6 and scatte [...]eth the everlasting mountaine and bovveth the perpetuall hill The Prophet Zachary speaki [...] of Christ, the man among th [...] myrtle trees saith, that he sa [...] him as a man riding upon a r [...] horse; Zach. 1.8 by that red fiery colour, [...] did imply his readinesse to be r [...]venged upon the enemies of h [...] Church; when he goeth again them, upon this red horse, [...] doth to them as Jehu did to J [...]sabel; 2 King. 9 33. he will not honour the with his hands, by overthrow [...]ing them by the least finger [...] his omnipotent povver, but ri [...]eth over them as on horsebac [...] and tradeth them under foot, lik [...] dirt or morter, he crusheth the [Page 69] by, the hooves of his wrath, which being sore pressed downe, [...]ent the hardest rocks into pieces, and grinde the greatest moun­ [...]aines into powder; He it is, saith David heere, that shall treade downe our enemies; thus he endeth [...]he psalme by giving all the glory of the victory unto God. The Do­ctrine.

Observe here, that it is the Lord who is the Lord of hostes, and [...]he God of battels, on whose side is ever the victory; Psal. 62.1 God hath spoken [...]nce, twise have I heard it, that power belongeth unto God; though Gideon carry a Sword to the Bat­tell, it is the Lord that treadeth downe: The Prophet Zacharie speaking of that glorious refor­mation of Gods Church in the dayes of Zerubabel, said, Zach. 4.6 not by might, not by power but by my Spi­rit, saith the Lord of hostes; it is so that David heere speaketh in time of warre, not by Swordes, [Page 70] not by Spears, not by Captaines, not by Horses, but it is the Lord that shall tread downe our enemies it is the Lord that treadeth dow [...] the forces of men, that come a [...]gainst his Church; what armie can stand before him, who mad that little stone in Daniel, Dan. 2.34 to grind to dust and powder the foure mo [...]narchies of the world? Let me seeke all their advantage, both o [...] time and place against his peo [...]ple, if his people trust in him the Lord shall still overthrow their enemies; After that the Isra [...]elites by the power of God ha [...] treade downe the Syrians on th [...] mountaines, the Syrians said their gods are gods of the moun [...]taines, 1 King. 20 23 therefore they were stronger then we, but let us fight against them in the plaine, and surely we shal be stronger then they; surelie they lied; for that same, God that tread them downe on the mountaines, [Page 71] overthrew them also in the plaine; Israel that day was before the Sy­rians, but like two litte flockes of Kiddes, Jer. 23.23 but the Lord who is a God at hand, and a God a farre off, made these Kiddes in the valleys, to run over the horses of these who said, that all his power was onely upon the mountaines; for in the seventh day the battel being joined, the children of Israel slew of the Syrians, a hundred thou­sand footmen in one day; the rest fled to Aphek into the city, and there a wall fell upon twenty and se­ven thousand; Behold how neither hills nor valleyes, can be able to defend these who are against the LORD, Zach. 4.7 who can make a great mountaine to become a plaine: the old walls of cities and of houses, the wilde beastes of the moun­taines, yea; the very stones of the field are all in Covenant a­gainst these who are against the [Page 72] Lord, and his Church: Who can stand before that mighy One, before whom all the Nations are but as the drop of a bucket, or th [...] the small dust of a ballance? Hi [...] presence melts the mountaines, hi [...] voice teares the rocks, at his re [...]buke the greatest hilles, the pil [...]lars of Heaven doe shake; no ar [...]mour is at the proofe of his thun [...]ders; the blast of his breath dis [...]covers the chanels of waters: i [...] is Hee that maketh the Judge fooles, Job. 12.17 vers. 21 that poureth contempt upo [...] Princes, and weakeneth the strengt [...] of the Mightie: When his wrath is kindled, his arrowes drinke blood, his sword devoureth flesh the fire of his wrath burnes t [...] the bottome of Hell; Deu. 32 22 the Heaven is his span, the Sea his handfull the wings of the winde his walk his garments are light, his pavi [...]lion is darknesse, his way is in the whirle-winde, Nah. 1.3 the clouds are the [Page 73] dust of his feete; How easie is it to him, Nah. 12.10 in whose hand is the breath of all mankinde, to tread downe the greatest Monarchs, who are all but wormes and grashoppers under the clouds, Nah. 1.3 the Dust of his Feet. By all this it is most evi­dent that God is the God of Bat­tels, the Lord of Armies; None can be able to resist him, the De­fender of his Church, of whom it is heere said, For hee it is that shall tread down our enemies.

The use; The use. Let all our men of warre learne here, to depend upon the Lord, and not to goe to battell, without the Lord; they must all say to the Lord, as Barak said to Deborah, Jud. 4.8 If thou wilt goe with me, then will I goe, but if thou wilt not goe with me, then I will not goe; a Captaine were he never so couragious, can doe nothing without the Lord: an armie of Samsons without [Page 74] God will not prevaile; it was not the cutting of Samsons haire that weakened him; no not; it is said of him, Judg. 16.20 that he knew not that the spirit of the LORD was departed from him; when that spirit of the Lord, departs from men, men have neither heart nor hand, to do valiantly; they flee like sheep before their ene­mies; 2 Chron. 18.16 Josh. 7.11 Israel hath sinned, and they also have transgressed my co­venant &c, vers. 12 Therefore they could not stand before their enemies, said the Lord to Joshua mour­ning for that shamefull flight of Israel, from before the men of Ai; It is onely the Lord that giveth courage to men: the Lord said, Psal. 144.1 David teacheth my hands to warre, and my fingers to fight; onely the men that come from his fence-schoole will be men in the day of Battell; he could make the lappers of water the [Page 75] smallest of the host of Israel, to doe valiantly; Judg. 7.13 a barley cake from his hand was sufficient to over­turne all the might of Midian; [...]he horse, saith Solomon, Prov. 21.31 is pre­pared for the day of battell; but safetie is of the LORD; all vi­ctories depend upon him: If we remaine still in his favour, and keep his Covenant, though Senacherib should arise from the dead, and cover the whole land with his men, in number like the sand of the sea, though an armie from Rome or Spaine, with all the English Papists and Arminians, like an armie of Caldeans, Habak. 1.6 a bit­ter and hasty Nation, should march through the breadth of our land, to possesse the dwellings that are not theirs, Habak. 1.8 though they should come with horses swifter then Leopards, and more fierce then the evening wolves, yea and flee as the Eagle that hasteth to eat: [Page 76] in a word, though wee seeme to our enemies but grashoppers, or creeping things that have no ruler over them, Hab. 1.14 if we abide stedfastly in Gods Covenant, the trueth of my text shall not lie, He it is that shall treade downe our enemies he shall make them in their faires [...] greenesse, Joh. 4.7 to wither away lik [...] a Kikajon or gourd; some fearful destruction shall teach these, tha [...] treade in their paths, to tremble a [...] their end.

Well then seeing it is the Lord and he onely, that treadeth down our enemies, so that all depend wholly upon him, let us by al [...] meanes beware to offend him, le [...] us take good heede that we looke not to the numbers of out men, as Israel did, Jud. 20.10 when with foure hundred thousand men, they fough [...] against the Benjamites, let us learn of their losse in all humilitie, to begin with fasting and prayer; let [Page 77] us take good heed that there bee not among us an Achan, Jos. 7.18 that made Israel to flee from before the men of Ai, let us seeke out all our sinnes, as carefully as Jo­shuah sought out Achan, as curi­ously as the people of Godsought out the leaven, and let us cast them away; Deu. 16.4 Moses said to Israel at the Passeover, There shall not be seene with thee any leaven in all thy coast, So the Lord saith to you all this day, let not your sinnes, your pride, your covetousnesse, Hab. 2.6 for thick clay, your riot, your drunkenesse, your uncleanesse, your chambering, your charme­ing, your railing, your backbiting, your malice, your envie, your treacherie, Mic. 6.10 and the scant measure which is abominable, and all other such scandalous sinnes whatso­ever, let them no more be seene among you, Eph. 5.3. This is the Apostles counsell, but fornication and un­cleannesse, [Page 78] or covetousnesse, let it not be once named among you as becom­eth Saints; If yee would have God to be with you in the day of danger, Ezek. 21.6 sigh now with the breaking of your loines and with bitternesse, because the Lord is angrie with our nation, and therefore, loath your selves in your owne sight for your iniquities; Eze. 36.31 let not your old sins abide any more in your com­panie, let them no more be named among you, woe to the pot whose scumme is in it now. Ezek. 24.6

Dearly beloved, strive now to redeeme the time; Eph. 5.16 Yee may all see that the dayes are evill, and there­fore I exhort you to keepe GODS charge, Zach. 3.7 and walke circumspectly, not as fools; Let every man turn from his evill wayes; Bee like a people that hath made a Cove­nant with their God, like a peo­ple with whom God hath made a Covenant of life and peace. Mal. 2.5

If we break our Covenant with God, Note. which we have so solemnly sworne, we shall be more fearful­ly plagued then that King Vladis­laus, who by the instigation of the Pope brake the League of a concluded Peace with Amurah the Turkish Emperour, he swear­ing upon the Euangelists, and the the other by his Ambassadours, upon their Turkish Alcaron; when the Turke saw the Battell joined, and remembered the Christians perfidie, in breaking their Cove­nant with him, he pluckt the writ­ing out of his bosome, wherein the League was written, and hol­ding it up in his hand, with his eyes cast up to Heaven, said after this manner, ‘Behold, thou crucified Christ, Hist. of the Turkes, pag. 297. this is the League thy Christians in thy Name made with me, which they have without cause violated, now if thou be a God, as they say thou [Page 80] art, and as we dreame, revenge the wrong now done unto thy name and me, and shew thy power upon thy perjured people, who in their deeds deny thee their God.’

In that bloody battell of Varna as the historie records, ‘Certatum est totos dies, noctesqu [...]tres, diu fortuna ancipiti, sed tanto animorum ardore utrinque, tantoque impetu, ut caesorum san [...]guine campi stagnarem.’

That is, the space of three dayes and three nights this bloody bat [...]tell continued, so that the field where it was foughten was tur­ned into a poole of blood.

If such shame and calamities be­fell the Christians, for breaking their League with an Infidel, wha [...] worlds of miserie shall come upo [...] this Nation, if we (like the dog returning to his vomit) break the Covenant which wee have so so­lemnly made with our GOD? 1 Pet. 2.22 [Page 81] Doubtlesse all the miseries that ever came upon a Nation shall have their Rendevous heer; famine, pestilence and war shall not faile to revenge the quarrell of Gods Covenant: By famine God shall make these who are now like Na­zarites, whiter than milk, Lam. 4.7 to become dry like a stick, and blacker than a coale; by pestilence we shall fall downe in heapes; by war we shall be abolished; like Jabin in Endor our bodies shall become doung on the Earth; Psal. 83.9 Our Land shall bee an Aceldama, a field of blood, a land of bloody pooles.

And therefore, O Scotland, if thou would henceforth be under a mighty Ministry, a Goshen for God, a land of life of light, and libertie, free of all the damned mists of the doctrines of Devils, if thou would be free of a Service Booke, Romes yoke, and of all the Ceremoniall Clouts of that [Page 82] varnished Whoore, if thou woul [...] have God as it is in my text, t [...] treade downe all thine enemies, for sake not the Covenant of thy Go [...] breake never thy league made wi [...] him, have no fellowship with th [...] unfruitfull workes of darkness but walke as Children of light, Ab [...]horre all idolatrie, Mic. 6.16 the statut [...] of Omri, and returne to the anc [...]ent paths, Jer. 18.15 let the Lord no mor [...] have a controversie with the inha [...]bitants of the land; Hos 4.1 then shall y [...] see that the Lord shall worke great work in this land; Habak. 3.2 accordin [...] to Habakkuks prayer, hee sha [...] revive the worke in the midst of t [...] yeeres; Our nation shall finde that GODS mercie is not dead though our armies in the eyes o [...] our enemies, 1 King. 20 27 Judg. 7.5 Amo. 5.15 seeme but like litt [...] flockes of Kiddes, or weake lik [...] Gideons lappers of waters, if ou [...] wayes please the Lord, the Lor [...] shall be gracious unto the remnan [...] [Page 83] of Joseph; One of these shall come to passe.

Either which wee desire most, 1 God in a melting temper shall convert our enemies, and make an incorporation of them unto us, like the two sticks of Israel and Judah, Eze. 37.17 who were joined one to ano­ther into one sticke, being no more divided in profession, which Oh that wee might register in the ca­tologue of his favours. 2

Or if not so, the LORD shall change the mindes of our enemies as he did to Esau, Gen. 33.4 and shall make them that come against us to em­brace us, as brethren of one Isle, though not in Religion.

Or if not so, the Lord by some 3 forraine enemy shall turne them away, 1 Sam. 23 27. as he turned Saul from Da­vid, by sending the Philistines a­gainst the land. 4

Or if not so, he shall make them fight one against another, as hee [Page 84] did to the Midianites, whose bo­dies were all gore bloud, by mu­tuall wounds.

5 Or if not so, if hee permit ou [...] armies to joine, which the Lor [...] avert, after that by many fast and prayers, we have laid dow [...] our bleeding hearts in his bo [...]some, and by ardent desires hav [...] powred out our soules befor [...] him, wee in the Name o [...] our God will set up our Banners The Lord being with us, Psal. 20.5 ou [...] Captaines shall be swifter the Eagles and stronger then Lions our souldiers shall not say, 2 Sam. 1 23 I a [...] sicke; Isa. 33.24 the Lord himself shall b [...] Scotlands great Generall, he sha [...] give us help from trouble; he is that shall tread down our en [...]mies, Gog and Magog, papis [...] and Arminians, brethren in evil the combined friends of man rotten righteou [...]nesse; he als [...] shall tread down their gods, thei [...] [Page 85] Moloch and Chion their images, Amos 5.25. Act. 7.43 the starre of their god Remphan, their gods of stock and stone, with all their gods baken in the Oven; Hos. 4.7 the LORD shall change their glory into shame; the world shall hear it and shall wonder.

But as for us, the children of his Covenant, if we be not un­stable as water, Gen. 49.4 but stedfast in that Covenant, if wee abide in the bonde of love, like Scilurus ar­rowes in a sheafe, the Lord shall blesse us, our Gospel shall flou­rish, our land shall bee fruitfull and blossome as the rose, Isa. 35.1 our church shall be most orient and glorious, [...]ike a hill of pearles, a Cristall mountaine, or a rock of Daimonds; then shall our hearts be filled with joy, and our mouths with laughter; Moses and Miriam, both men and women, shall most sweetly sing these words of tri­umph, Exod. 15.3 The LORD is a man of [Page 86] warre, who hath set his trium­phing foot upon the neck of a [...] his enemies, as upon his va [...]quished vassals.

1 Tim. 1.17 Now unto the King eternall, im­mortall, invisible, the onely wise GOD, be honour and glory for ever, and ever, AMEN.