Part 4 (2/2)

To Abraham was given no other defence, after he had discomfited four kings, whose posterity and lineage, no doubt, he, being a stranger, greatly feared, but only this promise of G.o.d made to him by his holy word, ”Fear not, Abraham, I am thy buckler;” that is, thy protection and defence.

The same we find of Isaac, who flying from the place of his accustomed habitation, compelled thereto by hunger, got no other comfort nor conduct but this promise only, ”I will be with thee.”

In all the journeys and temptations of Jacob the same is to be espied; as when he fled from his father's house for fear of his brother Esau; when he returned from Laban; and when he feared the inhabitants of the region of the Canaanites and Perizzites for the slaughter of the Shechemites committed by his sons; he received no other defence, but only G.o.d's word and promise.

And this is most evident in Moses, and in the afflicted church under him when Moses himself was in such despair, that he was bold to chide with G.o.d, saying, ”Why hast thou sent me? For since that time I have come to Pharaoh, to speak in thy name, he hath oppressed this people; neither yet hast thou delivered thy people.”

This same expostulation of Moses declares how sorely he was tempted; yea, and what opinion he had conceived of G.o.d; that is, That G.o.d was either impotent, and could not deliver his people from such a tyrant's hand; or else, That he was mutable, and unjust in his promises. And this same, and sorer temptations, a.s.saulted the people; for in anguish of heart, they both refused G.o.d and Moses. And what means did G.o.d use to comfort them in that great extremity? Did he straightway suddenly kill Pharaoh, the great tyrant?-No. Did he send them a legion of angels to defend and deliver them?-No such thing: but he only recites and beats into their ears his former promises to them, which oftentimes they had before: and yet the rehearsal of the same wrought so mightily in the heart of Moses, that not only was bitterness and despair removed away, but also he was inflamed with such boldness, that without fear he went in again to the presence of the king, after he had been threatened and repulsed by him.

This I write, beloved in the Lord, since you know the word of G.o.d not only to be that whereby heaven and earth were created, but also to be the power of G.o.d to salvation to all that believe, the bright lantern to the feet of those who by nature walk in darkness, the life to those that by sin are dead, a comfort to such as are in tribulation, the tower of defence to such as are most feeble, the wisdom and great felicity of such as delight in the same. And, to be short, you know G.o.d's word to be of such efficacy and strength, that thereby sin is purged, death vanquished, tyrants suppressed; and, finally, the devil, the author of all mischief, overthrown and confounded. This, I say, I write, that you, knowing this of the holy word, and most blessed gospel and voice of G.o.d, which once you have heard, I trust to your comfort, may now, in this hour of darkness, and most raging tempest, thirst and pray, that you may hear yet once again this amiable voice of our Saviour Christ, ”Be of good comfort, it is I, fear not.” And also, that you may receive some consolation from that blessed gospel which before you have professed, a.s.suredly knowing, that G.o.d shall be no less merciful unto you, than he has been to others afflicted for his name's sake before you; and albeit G.o.d speedily removes not this horrible darkness, neither suddenly pacifies this tempest, yet shall he not suffer his tossed s.h.i.+p to be drowned.

FOOTNOTES

1 The Editor may here state, what cannot be unknown to many of his readers, that there are some of the sermons of our early Divines, which, from various circ.u.mstances, are not, as entire discourses, available for a publication like the present. From such, however, as also from works which do not come under the appellation of Pulpit discourses, striking and useful pa.s.sages will be given from time to time, when they can be inserted without interfering with those complete discourses which will form the body of this work.

2 The Sermon is founded on the whole Chapter, which was the lesson for the day, in the Church of England service.

3 Universal faith.

4 It should be observed that other commentators have taken other views of the meaning of this parable.

5 Greatest or entire hinderance.

6 Opposing.

7 Combined.

8 Covered over, weighed down.

9 Manage.

10 Alluding to the political troubles of that day.

11 Cried out against it.

12 The cattle of Edinburgh was shooting against the exiled for Christ Jesus' sake.

13 Forbidden.

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