Alexander Henderson’s Sermons

a/src/0053.pm b/src/0053.pm index 1f63bfe..9976286 100644 --- a/src/0053.pm +++ b/src/0053.pm @@ -294,7 +294,7 @@ presently the glory of the kirk began to decay; for the glory of the kirk is not to be discerned and looked to, as many judge, by her outward face, but by her inward grace. And as Egesippus told that, albeit there were many ills entered into the kirk then, yet even by these ten bloody persecutions there were many hid graces keepedkept by them undefiled in the kirk; for if there had not been persecution, all had followed their course, and so had been corrupted and defiled.

a/src/0053.pm b/src/0053.pm index db72d47..1f63bfe 100644 --- a/src/0053.pm +++ b/src/0053.pm @@ -1,6 +1,6 @@ #lang pollen

The great blessing of peace, whilkwhich the Lord hath promised to his people even in this life, (for where the Lord gives mercy to any, he gives them peace also, peace and grace are inseparably joined together), their peace, I say, does not consist in this, that the people of God shall have no enemies: no, for there is @@ -15,9 +15,9 @@ children of God, that although their enemies molest, persecute, and afflict them, they shall not harm them; at the least they shall not harm them but the godly in Christ shall be victorious, and shall be more than conquerors; and they shall get the blessings of God heaped upon them. But, for the wicked, all the threatenings whilkwhich God has threatened in his word shall fall upon them, because they are enemies of God and his people. And as it is, ◊ref{Deut.29}, (whilk(which ye heard lately exponed to you), all the curses of God shall rest upon the enemies of his people, as that being their proper element; for it is there that all the judgments of God takes them rest. They find no rest whill (till) they come there, and when they come there they remove not: even as all the @@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ come to all them who hate Sion,--- "that they may be ashamed and confounded." And he assures himself that though they were going fordward in an ill course with never so great speed, yet God shall interrupt their course; "he will bring them back." And albeit they prosper for a while in the beginning, as grass will do whilkwhich is growing on a house-top, yet when harvest comes, there shall be nothing there to fill the mower's hand. And, moreover, these who knows God, and knows what his blessing means, when they come to them, and sees them at their work, they shall not pray to God for them to send them good speed; nor is there @@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ neither shall any who comes by them, and sees them working, say, "The blessing of the Lord be upon your work,"---God send it a good success, and you a blessing unto it.

Beloved, these are four points whilkwhich are very necessary for you to consider on, and very behooveful for you to think upon; for it is not enough for you, or for me, or for any particular person, or such a number of persons, to think upon God's great works, but Israel should do it: the whole kirk should say with one @@ -77,14 +77,14 @@ they afflicted me from my youth?" and the kirk of Scotland may say, "The plewers have plewed upon my back: they have made long their furrows." Thirdly, we should ascribe this glory to God, that he has interrupted the course, and say that it is God who has cutted their cords, and disappointed all their plots whilkwhich they had laid, and that because he is righteous and just to execute wrath against his enemies, and [because of] his truth and power to perform his promise, and deliver his children. Fourthly, If so be that we be not haters, but lovers of Sion, then we may be assured that our enemies shall be ashamed and turned back; and we may be sure that God shall not bless them who are enemies to Zion: neither is there any who comes by them, and sees them ut their work, or who hears what they are working, who will pray for a blessing to them, if they know God. And for this same matter, whilkwhich is presently in hand among us, many among us prays for a blessing to it; and through other nations, they pray for a blessing to the kirk of Scotland, and to the good cause they have in hand:◊footnote{It is to be inferred from this that assurances of sympathy and @@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ is a good summer coming, and that not only of nature, but of grace, then why should we not flock together, and acknowledge that it is the Lord who has sent it, and praise him for the doing thereof? And so we should not interrupt the Lord, by our sinning against him, and not acknowledging of his goodness: but we should further him to go on, by our praising of his name for that whilkwhich he has done. Secondly. When many joins together in a good work, it is a great good to Israel, and to the saints and kirk of God, for this is the way how to find and to observe the loving-kindness of the Lord; according to that, ◊ref{Ps.107.43}, @@ -212,7 +212,7 @@ whom justly I may call another churlish Nabal, (for, changing the letters, it is so). And when any man might have thought that his troubles were at an end, then they began to grow greater and - more grievous by his children. Simeon and Levi became murtherers; he had but one daughter, and she was ravished; and the greatest of all was Reuben's incest; then Joseph was sold; and, whilkwhich was as great an affliction as any of them, even the miscarrying of Judah, in whom the birthright was now established. So that he could look upon none of his children, at least upon few of them, but they were an affliction to him. And so @@ -279,9 +279,9 @@ church that was nearest the times of the apostles was the most pure and perfect church." Henderson, as appears from what follows, held that it was not the church, which was "nearest the times of the apostles," that was most pure and perfect, but the church that existed in the ◊it{very days} of the apostles.} whilkwhich was the time when Antichrist began to be set up, and the apostles told that Antichrist was already begun before they died. Howbeit, indeed, I think many of these fathers did that whilkwhich they did ignorantly, for I think, if they had known what it would turn to, they would have been loath to have done as they did. And therefore let us hold this to be true, that the greatest perfection that ever the kirk was at, or will be at, was in the time of the @@ -335,7 +335,7 @@ some ill and some good things for him: and therefore he has so disposed that his children shall suffer all their ill in this life; they shall suffer none in the life to come, but they shall have only good: and for the wicked, he has ordained that they shall get all their good in this life, but no good in the life to come, but only ill. This is that whilkwhich Abraham is brought in speaking to that rich man, ◊ref{Luke.16.25}. When he was only desiring that Lazarus might give him one drop but of cold water, to cool the neb (point) of his tongue, Abraham answers, "Son, remember that thou in thy life receivedst thy @@ -395,7 +395,7 @@ this time related to a ◊it{free Assembly} and a ◊it{free Parliament}. See th that there would be no more trouble then? No, I will assure you it would not be so, for the devil is not dead yet, and he has evermore his own supposts, and malignant spirits enough to raise up to trouble his kirk. And what would it breed if it were thus? Nothing else but security, whilkwhich is a very dangerous case for a Christian to be in; and then, after a while's security, there would arise another new trouble again. And therefore think not that ye shall have a heavenly peace so long as ye are here; but ye must put on the whole armour of @@ -419,7 +419,7 @@ knows that: and there is also another pleugh spoken of by our Saviour, ◊ref{Luke.9.62}. "He that puts his hand to the pleugh, and looks back again, is not meet for the kingdom of God." This is the pleugh of the gospel: whether he be pastor or professor that once puts his hand to this pleugh, he must not look back again. But here there is a third pleugh, whilkwhich is ordained for troubling of God's people. The great husbandman who aught (owns) this pleugh, (at least by whose permission this pleugh goes,) is God. Not only is it God who makes your common pleughs to gang, and sends the gospel into a land, but it is God @@ -433,7 +433,7 @@ the land upside down, yet he will let them teil (till) no more of it nor he sees meet. Now for the plewmen of this pleugh, they are Satan and the evil angels; they hold the pleugh, and are gademen to it: and they yoke in the oxen into the pleugh, and drives them up with their gades (goads.) And they have a sort of musick also, whilkwhich they whistle into their ears, to make them go the faster: and that is the allurements and provocations of the world. And for the oxen who draw into this pleugh, it may be princes, when they turn persecutors of the kirk; it may be prelates; it may be politicians in the world; these are @@ -509,7 +509,7 @@ asunder the cords of the wicked." So that this pleugh has somes◊footnote{◊it{Somes}. A rod or chain attaching the foremost oxen to the plough. It is fixed to the muzzle, and passes between the animals next the draught.} and thetes◊footnote{◊it{Thetes}---the traces attaching the oxen to the plough.} whereby it is drawn, whilkwhich are the plots and enterprises of the devil and wicked men. And why was it that God cut asunder the enemies' cords? Not because Israel deserved it, but because the enemies deserved it, and "because the Lord is righteous." @@ -519,7 +519,7 @@ with him, and therefore it is that he prevails with men also. Then, if so be that we will wrestle with God for a blessing, and prevail with him, then we need not to fear but we shall wrestle the enemies out of it also. And if we be the people of God, and insist in wrestling against his enemies, we need not to fear but to be victorious. The kirk is a studdy (stithy) whilkwhich has worn many hammers, and broken many arms, with striking upon her, and yet she is to the fore. Many kings and monarchs has striven against the kirk, and now there is no memory of them, but only that they have been; and yet, for all that, the kirk @@ -532,7 +532,7 @@ his kirk, and all the rest are the members. And therefore as he has wrestled and overcome all his enemies, so shall we also, if we be in him. This is a kingdom whereof there are a number of the subjects thereof in heaven already, by their fighting and prevailing; and if so be that we will use that armour whilkwhich they used, and will fight as they did, why then shall not we prevail also? and so we shall be partakers with them of that same crown of glory.

Now the cause why Israel prevailed, and not the enemies, was because "God cut

a/src/0053.pm b/src/0053.pm index d394bd5..db72d47 100644 --- a/src/0053.pm +++ b/src/0053.pm @@ -193,8 +193,8 @@ might so justly say, "Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth." I will not enter here to speak of the sufferings of Christ: they began soon, they were many, and they were great; and so he was a vive (lively) representation of the kirk. There is also another in the Old Testament, and this is he who is named here Israel, and he is also called Jacob. These two names are ordinary to him in Scripture, and both of them are put for the expressing of the estate of the kirk. When they speak of the affliction of the kirk, and of her humiliation, then it is expressed under the name of Jacob; but when the Scripture speaks of the victories of the kirk, then it is expressed under the name of Israel, who

a/src/0053.pm b/src/0053.pm index 86df839..d394bd5 100644 --- a/src/0053.pm +++ b/src/0053.pm @@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ neither shall any who comes by them, and sees them working, say, "The blessing of the Lord be upon your work,"---God send it a good success, and you a blessing unto it.

Beloved, these are four points whilk are very necessarnecessary for you to consider on, and very behooveful for you to think upon; for it is not enough for you, or for me, or for any particular person, or such a number of persons, to think upon God's great works, but Israel should do it: the whole kirk should say with one

a/src/0053.pm b/src/0053.pm index f18d570..86df839 100644 --- a/src/0053.pm +++ b/src/0053.pm @@ -193,7 +193,7 @@ might so justly say, "Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth." I will not enter here to speak of the sufferings of Christ: they began soon, they were many, and they were great; and so he was a vive (lively) representation of the kirk. There is also another in the Old Testament, and this is he who is named here Israel, and he is also called Jacob. These two names are ordinarordinary to him in Scripture, and both of them are put for the expressing of the estate of the kirk. When they speak of the affliction of the kirk, and of her humiliation, then it is expressed under the name of Jacob; but when the Scripture speaks of

a/src/0053.pm b/src/0053.pm index 295dfe2..f18d570 100644 --- a/src/0053.pm +++ b/src/0053.pm @@ -9,19 +9,20 @@ this, that their enemies shall not assault them: neither does it consist in this, that their enemies shall not molest and afflict them. We do but deceive ourselves if so be that we imagine, so long as we are in this our pilgrimage, and in our warfare here, if we promise to ourselves a peace of this kind; for while we live in this world, we shall still have enemies, and these enemies shall assault us, and persecute and afflict us. But this is the peace of the children of God, that although their enemies molest, persecute, and afflict them, they shall not harm them; at the least they shall not harm them but the godly in Christ shall be victorious, and shall be more than conquerors; and they shall get the blessings of God heaped upon them. But, for the wicked, all the threatenings whilk God has threatened in his word shall fall upon them, because they are enemies of God and his people. And as it is, ◊ref{Deut.29}, (whilk ye heard lately exponed to you), all the curses of God shall rest upon the enemies of his people, as that being their proper element; for it is there that all the judgments of God takes them rest. They find no rest whill (till) they come there, and when they come there they remove not: even as all the blessings of God are prepared for his people, and find there proper element to rest there.

This that I am speaking to you now, it is the comfortable doctrine of this psalm. The kirk, under the name of Israel, is brought in here expressing her @@ -79,13 +80,13 @@ say that it is God who has cutted their cords, and disappointed all their plots whilk they had laid, and that because he is righteous and just to execute wrath against his enemies, and [because of] his truth and power to perform his promise, and deliver his children. Fourthly, If so be that we be not haters, but lovers of Sion, then we may be assured that our enemies shall be ashamed and turned back; and we may be sure that God shall not bless them who are enemies to Zion: neither is there any who comes by them, and sees them ut their work, or who hears what they are working, who will pray for a blessing to them, if they know God. And for this same matter, whilk is presently in hand among us, many among us prays for a blessing to it; and through other nations, they pray for a blessing to the kirk of Scotland, and to the good cause they have in hand:◊footnote{It is to be inferred from this that assurances of sympathy and support from the Reformed Churches abroad had already reached the Covenanters.} but we never heard of any yet, who prayed for a blessing to these, who were @@ -104,9 +105,9 @@ the Lord, this shall be my resolution, I and my house, we shall serve the Lord. At such times, I say, it is best to take to Joshua's part of it: "If ye will serve the Lord, or if ye will serve other gods, do what ye will, I and all that I may command shall serve the Lord." We cannot bring all to God, but when there is a division into the land, then let each one say for himself, and each one who knows the Lord promise to serve him. But at such a time, when the enemies of the kirk has assaulted her, and assayed to overcome her, and yet has not prevailed, all should join together and say, It is the Lord who has done these great things for us, and say, The afflictions, wherewith our enemies afflicted us, were great and many, and yet, for all that, they have not prevailed. There @@ -146,17 +147,18 @@ these who will observe the afflictions of God's people, how he has afflicted them, and suffered the enemies to molest them, and yet, for all that, has preserved his people, and granted them victory, and has destroyed the enemies; whoso will observe these things, shall see the loving-kindness of the Lord towards his people, and still praise God for it; and then shall see his kindness towards himself. And as it is, ◊ref{Ps.78.6-Ps.78.7}, they who knows the works of the Lord, they shall report it to their children, and to their children's children, that they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of his hands. And, indeed, there is a work already done into this land, albeit the Lord should stay it and not let it go any farder on, that is well worthy to be remembered for ever. And, indeed, it shall not be forgotten, so long as this land is possessed by any, and while the world stands.◊footnote{Here we observe the inborn conviction of the enduring importance of their work, which is common to all the guiding spirits in the history of the world.} So ye see it is Israel who is describing her affliction here. "Many a time."

II. "Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth. The plewers, etc." If we will look narrowly to the words in Israel's describing of her afflictions, we @@ -213,8 +215,8 @@ Levi became murtherers; he had but one daughter, and she was ravished; and the greatest of all was Reuben's incest; then Joseph was sold; and, whilk was as great an affliction as any of them, even the miscarrying of Judah, in whom the birthright was now established. So that he could look upon none of his children, at least upon few of them, but they were an affliction to him. And so he was different in his afflictions from others, for some will get a foul bitter shower in the morning, but will get all the rest of the day fair; some will get a foul shower at the noontide of the day, and yet have it fair both morning and evening, as Job had; and some will have it fair all day, and get a @@ -392,16 +394,16 @@ this time related to a ◊it{free Assembly} and a ◊it{free Parliament}. See th "Articles" ◊it{in extenso} in ◊it{Stevenson's History}, pp. 218-220.} think ye that there would be no more trouble then? No, I will assure you it would not be so, for the devil is not dead yet, and he has evermore his own supposts, and malignant spirits enough to raise up to trouble his kirk. And what would it breed if it were thus? Nothing else but security, whilk is a very dangerous case for a Christian to be in; and then, after a while's security, there would arise another new trouble again. And therefore think not that ye shall have a heavenly peace so long as ye are here; but ye must put on the whole armour of God, and resolve to fight; for if there be no other thing to trouble thee, yet, in the time of the external peace of the kirk, thou shall find afflictions in thy own bosom to trouble thee, and to hold thee doing; and thou will find these also sore to fight against, yea, sorer and harder than any without thee. For thus the Lord deals with his kirk. Even as when there is a pestilence into a country, there will not be many other common diseases to trouble folks, but when it is away, then there will be more common diseases; so while the kirk is in trouble, the members thereof will not have many horrours of conscience, nor @@ -411,9 +413,9 @@ resolve for trouble so long as we are here.

◊it{Thirdly}. Now for the grievousness of their affliction, it is set down in a borrowed comparison taken from plewmen. "The plewers have plewed upon my back; they made long their furrows." This is such a pleugh as we have not heard tell of before. There is a common pleugh, wherewith ye labour your land; all of you knows that: and there is also another pleugh spoken of by our Saviour, ◊ref{Luke.9.62}. "He that puts his hand to the pleugh, and looks back again, is not meet for the kingdom of God." This is the pleugh of the gospel: whether he be pastor or professor that once puts his hand to this pleugh, he must not look @@ -471,11 +473,12 @@ the vyces of ministers}, among other the humor of novation."--- Baillie ii. 45.} nor ye who are people has not done your duty, whereunto ye were bound by the gospel, therefore it is that the Lord has yoked the pleugh of persecution among us; and if we make mnot better use of the gospel every way, the pleugh shall not be loused yet, but the Lord shall suffer the enemies to hold it going. And, indeed, there are none who are readier to be instruments to draw this pleugh, than these who has once put their hand to the pleugh of the gospel, and then looked back again.◊footnote{The Church of Scotland had bitter experience of the truth of this ere long in the persecution that followed, 1660--1688.}

Ye may perceive here that these who are persecutors of the kirk have not great rest nor ease in the world: oxen who draws in a pleugh daily has not an easy @@ -491,8 +494,8 @@ shall be the wages that they shall get. A word that is used of them, marg., "go out guilty or ◊it{wicked}." The word in the original is the same as in the passage commented on.} signifies condemned persons, and so they shall reap condemnation for their pains; as Job says, "They sow wickedness, and they shall reap mischief." But for the sufferings of the godly, they are not in vain, for at last they bring forth the quiet fruits of righteousness. All these furrows that are drawn upon their back is nothing else but a preparing of their heart for receiving the word of God, and making it that good ground spoken of in the gospel (where ye know there are three ill grounds and but one good); and @@ -529,8 +532,8 @@ his kirk, and all the rest are the members. And therefore as he has wrestled and overcome all his enemies, so shall we also, if we be in him. This is a kingdom whereof there are a number of the subjects thereof in heaven already, by their fighting and prevailing; and if so be that we will use that armour whilk they used, and will fight as they did, why then shall not we prevail also? and so we shall be partakers with them of that same crown of glory.

Now the cause why Israel prevailed, and not the enemies, was because "God cut asunder their cords." Certainly the world, they have many cords wherewith to @@ -541,24 +544,24 @@ strongest; for when his providence comes in, he cuts their strong cord. And all this is ascribed to the justice and righteousness of God only.

And the rest of this purpose tells us, that as it has been with the kirk and the enemies thereof in former times, so shall it also be afterwards. Albeit they run fast in an ill course, and go far on into it, "yet they shall be confounded and turned back, who hate Sion." And then he shews that he would not have the kirk to be offended, albeit their enemies prosper for a while, for it shall be but like grass upon the house-tops, or like deaf corn; it shall not fill the mower's hand, nor shall it have any weight or substance with it. And so he would have the kirk to take comfort for time to come, by experience that she has had of deliverance in by-past time.

And, finally, he closes with this, that they who come by them, when they are at their work, shall not say, "God speed you well," or "God bless you and your labours." And surely, beloved, we may say this upon good grounds, and from experience, that in all the troubles of our kirk, when prelates and politicians were coming to a height, there was none who said, The Lord bless them, and send them good speed in their work.◊footnote{ So far from this, we read that "All of them [the petitioners against the innovations] wrestled with God, in their private prayers, and public supplications and fastings, that the counsels of the king might be turned to the public good of the church and state, ◊it{and that he would disappoint the attempts of enemies, who were employed in undermining the church}, that was already in a very shattered condition." Hist. Mot. p. 35.} And when they were persecuting a poor minister for standing to the @@ -576,11 +579,11 @@ righteous; he hath cut asunder the cords of the wicked." Ay certainly, if the Lord had not cut asunder their cords, we had been in a desperate and a miserable case or this time. For the enemies of the kirk in this land, they were come to such a height that they resolved, If we get our pleugh but this once about, then we shall get our turn done, and this kirk shall be quite undone. Yet even when they were come to the rig's end, and beginning to turn, and wynding about,◊footnote{◊it{Wynding about}. Turning to the left.} the Lord did cut their cords, and made the pleugh to stand stil. Now let us not say, "Unto us, unto us belongs the glory of this;" for who of us dared say, that we deserved that the Lord should have done this to us? but let us say that the Lord is just and righteous in executing wrath against his enemies, and is true in performing his promises to his people; aud therefore let us say that it is

a/src/0053.pm b/src/0053.pm index 9a83c51..295dfe2 100644 --- a/src/0053.pm +++ b/src/0053.pm @@ -35,10 +35,10 @@ because of the kirk's deservings, but because "God is righteous and just," and because the enemies deserved it, that it should be done to them. And as the Lord has done this in times past, so they pray that he would do it for time to come to all them who hate Sion,--- "that they may be ashamed and confounded." And he assures himself that though they were going fordward in ◊scottish{ane#an|one}an ill course with never so great speed, yet God shall interrupt their course; "he will bring them back." And albeit they prosper for a while in the beginning, as grass will do whilk is growing on ◊scottish{ane#an|one}a house-top, yet when harvest comes, there shall be nothing there to fill the mower's hand. And, moreover, these who knows God, and knows what his blessing means, when they come to them, and sees them at their work, they shall not pray to God for them to send them good speed; nor is there @@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ the Lord, this shall be my resolution, I and my house, we shall serve the Lord. At such times, I say, it is best to take to Joshua's part of it: "If ye will serve the Lord, or if ye will serve other gods, do what ye will, I and all that I may command shall serve the Lord." We cannot bring all to God, but when there is a division into the land, then let ◊scottish{ilk#each|every} ◊scottish{ane#an|one}each one say for himself, and ◊scottish{ilk#each|every} ◊scottish{ane#an|one}each one who knows the Lord promise to serve him. But at such a time, when the enemies of the kirk has assaulted her, and assayed to overcome her, and yet has not prevailed, all should join together and say, It is the Lord who has done these @@ -174,8 +174,8 @@ ever the kirk . had innocency, it behoved to be in her youth, and therefore it testifies the enemies' injuriousness and cruelty. The second, ◊it{many a time}, is a document (proof) of the constancy of the kirk. She is afflicted again and again, and yet, for all these afflictions, she ceased not to serve God continually. And it i1s also ◊scottish{ane#an|one}an argument of the malicious pertinacy of the enemies, who never ceased to afflict the kirk. The third is ◊scottish{ane#an|one}an evidence of the patience of the kirk, who endured all that, and of the cruelty of the enemies, who could find in their heart to do so to her.

@@ -191,7 +191,7 @@ might so justly say, "Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth." I will not enter here to speak of the sufferings of Christ: they began soon, they were many, and they were great; and so he was a vive (lively) representation of the kirk. There is also another in the Old Testament, and this is he who is named here Israel, and he is also called Jacob. ◊scottish{Thir#These|those}These two names are ordinar to him in Scripture, and both of them are put for the expressing of the estate of the kirk. When they speak of the affliction of the kirk, and of her humiliation, then it is expressed under the name of Jacob; but when the Scripture speaks of @@ -207,13 +207,13 @@ in his mother's womb, he wrestled there for the birthright. Then what afflictions followed there, when he had gotten the birthright by (over) his brother! Then he is constrained to endure servitude for a long time from Laban, whom justly I may call another churlish Nabal, (for, changing the letters, it is so). And when any man might have thought that his troubles were at ◊scottish{ane#an|one}an end, then they began to grow greater and - more grievous by his children. Simeon and Levi became murtherers; he had but one daughter, and she was ravished; and the greatest of all was Reuben's incest; then Joseph was sold; and, whilk was ◊scottish{als#as|also}as great ◊scottish{ane#an|one}an affliction as any of them, even the miscarrying of Judah, in whom the birthright was now established. So that he could look upon none of his children, at least upon few of them, but they were ◊scottish{ane#an|one}an affliction to him. And so he was different in his afflictions from others, for some will get a foul bitter shower in the morning, but will get all the rest of the day fair; some will get a foul shower at the noontide of the day, and yet have it fair both @@ -266,8 +266,8 @@ days, it may be called the perfection of the kirk, by the same reasons. For then her lines were farder extended; then there was further knowledge of things; and then in respect of the manner how she was taught.

This is not ◊scottish{ane#an|one}an idle discourse we are occasioned to you by the word ◊it{youth}. For, first, it meets with ◊scottish{ane#an|one}an unsavoury and tasteless discourse of our adversars, who say, when they are speaking of the ages of the kirk, that in the apostles' times, then the kirk was at her bairnage; but they say that n the time of the ancient and godly Fathers, then was the perfection of the @@ -350,12 +350,12 @@ wicked, all the good things that ever they will get is gotten here, and therefore when this life is gone, there remains nothing but sorrow and grief for them. And this same has made some of the children of God, when God has heaped favours and benefits upon them in this life, to fear that they were not in the right way, and to be so ◊scottish{mickle#large|much|great}much the more diligent to see if they were in the right way, and to take the better heed unto themselves, and to work out the work of their salvation with fear and trembling.

2. A second reason wherefore the Lord afflicts his kirk so oft here, it is because it does ◊scottish{mickle#large|much|great}much good to the kirk. Indeed, it is not possible for any to tell what sweetness there is into that bitterness, what meat there is into that devourer; for when affliction comes upon the kirk, it makes many to know God, who knew little of him before; it makes many to seek the Lord, who would not @@ -366,7 +366,7 @@ the will of God in everything, who knew little what obedience did mean before. It brings out of the estate of nature, and enters them into the estate of grace; and having gotten some grace, it makes them to long for more grace: and being afflicted in the estate of grace, it makes them to long for glory. And so the Lord helps fordward his own, and does them ◊scottish{mickle#large|much|great}much good by afflictions and crosses.

3. It serves greatly also for the glory of God. For before we be in trouble we @@ -376,7 +376,7 @@ God so well at no time as we do in trouble: before, we only hear of his manner of dealing with his children, but then we do both hear and also perceive his manner of working.

And may I not say that the troubles of the kirk of Scotland has done us ◊scottish{mickle#large|much|great}much good, and driven us to God more earnestly? for would we have been about this this day, if so be we had not been in trouble? No certainly, for long or now we had been drunken with ease; but trouble coming upon us has made us to draw our @@ -385,7 +385,7 @@ Christian warfare. And therefore make this use of it, that ye should not imagine that ever the kirk, so long as she is here, shall be free of afflictions. I suppose, (and it should be our wish and desire that it should be so,) that all things were done in the house of God in this land according to his will, and there were such ◊scottish{ane#an|one}an Assembly and Parliament as our hearts could wish,◊footnote{ Two of the "Articles for the present peace of the kirk and kingdom of Scotland" that were drawn up and insisted on by the Covenanters at this time related to a ◊it{free Assembly} and a ◊it{free Parliament}. See the @@ -399,7 +399,7 @@ another new trouble again. And therefore think not that ye shall have a heavenly peace so long as ye are here; but ye must put on the whole armour of God, and resolve to fight; for if there be no other thing to trouble thee, yet, in the time of the external peace of the kirk, thou shall find afflictions in thy own bosom to trouble thee, and to hold thee doing; and thou will find these ◊scottish{als#as|also}also sore to fight against, yea, sorer and harder than any without thee. For thus the Lord deals with his kirk. Even as when there is a pestilence into a country, there will not be many other common diseases to trouble folks, but @@ -411,8 +411,8 @@ resolve for trouble so long as we are here.

◊it{Thirdly}. Now for the grievousness of their affliction, it is set down in a borrowed comparison taken from plewmen. "The plewers have plewed upon my back; they made long their furrows." This is such ◊scottish{ane#an|one}a pleugh as we have not heard tell of before. There is ◊scottish{ane#an|one}a common pleugh, wherewith ye labour your land; all of you knows that: and there is also another pleugh spoken of by our Saviour, ◊ref{Luke.9.62}. "He that puts his hand to the pleugh, and looks back again, is not meet for the kingdom of God." This is the pleugh of the gospel: whether he @@ -437,14 +437,14 @@ oxen who draw into this pleugh, it may be princes, when they turn persecutors of the kirk; it may be prelates; it may be politicians in the world; these are the oxen, Satan and the ill spirits inciting them, and stirring them up to go fordward in their intended course. Then consider here, that this pleugh and ◊scottish{thir#these|those}these plewmen and oxen goes about as God thinks meet; but what is it that they are doing in the meantime? Nothing else but preparing the ground for seed, and so the Lord employs them to prepare his people better to receive the seed of his word and of his Spirit. And this is the fruits that comes after this pleugh; as our Lord says in the gaspel, "He that forsakes father or mother, etc., for my name's sake, shall have a hundreth-fold more in this life, and afterward life eternal." That is, when this pleugh of persecution makes a man willing to forsake ◊scottish{thir#these|those}these things, it is a making him ready to reap a plentiful harvest and comfortable here, and much more plentiful and comfortable hereafter.

@@ -478,7 +478,7 @@ then looked back again.◊footnote{The Church of Scotland had bitter experience of the truth of this ere long in the persecution that followed, 1660--1688.}

Ye may perceive here that these who are persecutors of the kirk have not great rest nor ease in the world: oxen who draws in a pleugh daily has not ◊scottish{ane#an|one}an easy life. It's true the kirk suffers of them, but they are exercised also. And therefore afterwards he gives them a name answerable to this---he calls them ◊it{wicked}.◊footnote{ The word in the original is from a root (רָשַׁע) which @@ -542,7 +542,7 @@ this is ascribed to the justice and righteousness of God only.

And the rest of this purpose tells us, that as it has been with the kirk and the enemies thereof in former times, so shall it also be afterwards. Albeit they run fast in ◊scottish{ane#an|one}an ill course, and go far on into it, "yet they shall be confounded and turned back, who hate Sion." And then he shews that he would not have the kirk to be offended, albeit their enemies prosper for a while, for it shall be but like grass upon the house-tops, or like deaf corn; it shall not fill the @@ -554,7 +554,7 @@ And, finally, he closes with this, that they who come by them, when they are at their work, shall not say, "God speed you well," or "God bless you and your labours." And surely, beloved, we may say this upon good grounds, and from experience, that in all the troubles of our kirk, when prelates and politicians were coming to ◊scottish{ane#an|one}a height, there was none who said, The Lord bless them, and send them good speed in their work.◊footnote{ So far from this, we read that "All of them [the petitioners against the innovations] wrestled with God, in their private prayers, and public supplications and fastings, that the counsels @@ -565,7 +565,7 @@ Mot. p. 35.} And when they were persecuting a poor minister for standing to the truth, there was none who prayed for good speed to them; but there were many who were deprecating it, and praying to God to turn the chase. No surely, I think themselves durst not pray to God to send them good speed in their course. And these who has been praying to God against it, let them take it for ◊scottish{ane#an|one}an answer to their prayers, that God has begun to turn back their course. But for the cause that we have in hand, it has filled the mouths of many, and that not only among ourselves, but even in other nations about us, to pray to God for

a/src/0053.pm b/src/0053.pm index 8c0f3c1..9a83c51 100644 --- a/src/0053.pm +++ b/src/0053.pm @@ -3,21 +3,21 @@ The great blessing of peace, whilk the Lord hath promised to his people even in this life, (for where the Lord gives mercy to any, he gives them peace also, peace and grace are inseparably joined together), their peace, I say, does not consist in this, that the people of God sallshall have no enemies: no, for there is a immortal and endless enmity against them. Neither does their peace consist in this, that their enemies sallshall not assault them: neither does it consist in this, that their enemies sallshall not molest and afflict them. We do but deceive ourselves if so be that we imagine, so long as we are in this our pilgrimage, and in our warfare here, if we promise to ourselves a peace of this kind; for while we live in this world, we sallshall still have enemies, and these enemies sallshall assault us, and persecute and afflict us. But this is the peace of the children of God, that although their enemies molest, persecute, and afflict them, they sallshall not harm them; at the least they sallshall not harm them but the godly in Christ sallshall be victorious, and sallshall be more than conquerors; and they sallshall get the blessings of God heaped upon them. But, for the wicked, all the threatenings whilk God has threatened in his word sallshall fall upon them, because they are enemies of God and his people. And as it is, ◊ref{Deut.29}, (whilk ye heard lately exponed to you), all the curses of God sallshall rest upon the enemies of his people, as that being their proper element; for it is there that all the judgments of God takes them rest. They find no rest whill (till) they come there, and when they come there they remove not: even as all the blessings of @@ -35,32 +35,32 @@ because of the kirk's deservings, but because "God is righteous and just," and because the enemies deserved it, that it should be done to them. And as the Lord has done this in times past, so they pray that he would do it for time to come to all them who hate Sion,--- "that they may be ashamed and confounded." And he assures himself that though they were going fordward in ane◊scottish{ane#an|one} ill course with never so great speed, yet God sallshall interrupt their course; "he will bring them back." And albeit they prosper for a while in the beginning, as grass will do whilk is growing on ane◊scottish{ane#an|one} house-top, yet when harvest comes, there sallshall be nothing there to fill the mower's hand. And, moreover, these who knows God, and knows what his blessing means, when they come to them, and sees them at their work, they sallshall not pray to God for them to send them good speed; nor is there any word of blessing in their own mouths; but their labour is accursed of God, and all who comes by them prays for a curse to them.

That ye may take up this purpose the better, and that it may be the more profitable to you, ye sallshall consider of it in these parts. 1. In whose name it is that this psalm is conceived; "Israel may now say." 2. There is Israel's description of his afflictions and his troubles; "Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth. The plewers have plewed upon my back: they made long their furrows." 3. There is Israel's deliverance out of these troubles. These plewers sallshall not prevail in their intended purpose, because "The Lord is righteous: he hath cut asunder the cords of the wicked:" or he has cutted asunder the somes◊footnote{◊it{Somes}. A rod or chain attaching the foremost oxen to the plough. It is fixed to the muzzle, and passes between the animals next the draught.} wherewith they were drawing the pleugh of their cruelty. And why? because God is just and righteous. 4. There is the vengeance and judgment that is prepared for the enemies of Israel at all times. Albeit they prosper for a while, as the grass doeth upon the house-tops, yet they sallshall be ashamed and turned back, who hate Zion; they sallshall reap no increase of their labours; neither sallshall any who comes by them, and sees them working, say, "The blessing of the Lord be upon your work,"---God send it a good success, and you a blessing unto it.

@@ -79,8 +79,8 @@ say that it is God who has cutted their cords, and disappointed all their plots whilk they had laid, and that because he is righteous and just to execute wrath against his enemies, and [because of] his truth and power to perform his promise, and deliver his children. Fourthly, If so be that we be not haters, but lovers of Sion, then we may be assured that our enemies sallshall be ashamed and turned back; and we may be sure that God sallshall not bless them who are enemies to Zion: neither is there any who comes by them, and sees them ut their work, or who hears what they are working, who will pray for a blessing to them, if they know God. And for this same matter, whilk is presently in hand among us, many @@ -100,11 +100,11 @@ not taken here for Jacob as he was a man only, but it is taken for the whole kirk of God. It's true indeed, in time of defection, when the whole people will not choose to serve the Lord, then it is best for every particular person to say for himself, and them whom he may command, If so be that ye will not serve the Lord, this sallshall be my resolution, I and my house, we sallshall serve the Lord. At such times, I say, it is best to take to Joshua's part of it: "If ye will serve the Lord, or if ye will serve other gods, do what ye will, I and all that I may command sallshall serve the Lord." We cannot bring all to God, but when there is a division into the land, then let ilk ane◊scottish{ilk#each|every} ◊scottish{ane#an|one} say for himself, and ilk ane◊scottish{ilk#each|every} ◊scottish{ane#an|one} who knows the Lord promise to serve him. But at such a time, when the enemies of the kirk has assaulted her, and assayed to overcome her, and yet has not prevailed, all should join together and say, It is the Lord who has done these @@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ there were none but thou alone for a good turn in a whole paroch, that is honour to God; but when multitudes flock together, then the promise is the greater. There be two times that people should flock together. 1. They should flock together when they apprehend a judgment is coming, to the end that they may all humble themselves, and pray to God to avert that judgment affoff them, and to turn it upon a people who knows not God. 2. They should flock together when God gives any hope of a deliverance to his people, and bless him for that. Even as they report of the storks in other countries,◊footnote{ "Yea, ◊it{the stork @@ -141,18 +141,18 @@ should further him to go on, by our praising of his name for that whilk he has done. Secondly. When many joins together in a good work, it is a great good to Israel, and to the saints and kirk of God, for this is the way how to find and to observe the loving-kindness of the Lord; according to that, ◊ref{Ps.107.43}, "Whoso will observe these things sallshall see the loving-kindness of the Lord." So these who will observe the afflictions of God's people, how he has afflicted them, and suffered the enemies to molest them, and yet, for all that, has preserved his people, and granted them victory, and has destroyed the enemies; whoso will observe these things, sallshall see the loving-kindness of the Lord towards his people, and still praise God for it; and then sallshall see his kindness towards himself. And as it is, ◊ref{Ps.78.6-Ps.78.7}, they who knows the works of the Lord, they sallshall report it to their children, and to their children's children, that they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of his hands. And, indeed, there is a work already done into this land, albeit the Lord should stay it and not let it go any farder on, that is well worthy to be remembered for ever. And, indeed, it sallshall not be forgotten, so long as this land is possessed by any, and while the world stands.◊footnote{Here we observe the inborn conviction of the enduring importance of their work, which is common to all the guiding spirits in the history of the world.} So ye see it is Israel @@ -166,21 +166,21 @@ frequency and iteration of these afflictions. They were ◊it{oft} and ◊it{man "Many a time." 3. There is the grievousness of these afflictions, expressed by a comparison. "The plewers plewed upon my back: they. made long their furrows." So these were old afllictions---◊it{from her youth}. Then they were oft---◊it{many a time}. MoeMore times than can be numbered; moemore nor seven times, aye, moemore nor seventy times seven, for the word imports ◊it{often}. And then they were grievous, even like iron pleughs, drawing deep and long furrows on their back. The first testifies the innocency of the kirk at this time, for if ever the kirk . had innocency, it behoved to be in her youth, and therefore it testifies the enemies' injuriousness and cruelty. The second, ◊it{many a time}, is a document (proof) of the constancy of the kirk. She is afflicted again and again, and yet, for all these afflictions, she ceased not to serve God continually. And it i1s also ane◊scottish{ane#an|one} argument of the malicious pertinacy of the enemies, who never ceased to afflict the kirk. The third is ane◊scottish{ane#an|one} evidence of the patience of the kirk, who endured all that, and of the cruelty of the enemies, who could find in their heart to do so to her.

◊it{First}, "From my youth." He speaks here of the kirk as of one particular man; he brings in Israel as speaking of his awinown life in particular. And, indeed, there be two men in the Scripture, one in the New Testament, another in the Old, who does very well express the estate of the kirk in their life. In the New Testament there is Jesus Christ; he is the head of the kirk; he was a @@ -191,7 +191,7 @@ might so justly say, "Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth." I will not enter here to speak of the sufferings of Christ: they began soon, they were many, and they were great; and so he was a vive (lively) representation of the kirk. There is also another in the Old Testament, and this is he who is named here Israel, and he is also called Jacob. Thir◊scottish{Thir#These|those} two names are ordinar to him in Scripture, and both of them are put for the expressing of the estate of the kirk. When they speak of the affliction of the kirk, and of her humiliation, then it is expressed under the name of Jacob; but when the Scripture speaks of @@ -207,20 +207,20 @@ in his mother's womb, he wrestled there for the birthright. Then what afflictions followed there, when he had gotten the birthright by (over) his brother! Then he is constrained to endure servitude for a long time from Laban, whom justly I may call another churlish Nabal, (for, changing the letters, it is so). And when any man might have thought that his troubles were at ane◊scottish{ane#an|one} end, then they began to grow greater and - more grievous by his children. Simeon and Levi became murtherers; he had but one daughter, and she was ravished; and the greatest of all was Reuben's incest; then Joseph was sold; and, whilk was als◊scottish{als#as|also} great ane◊scottish{ane#an|one} affliction as any of them, even the miscarrying of Judah, in whom the birthright was now established. So that he could look upon none of his children, at least upon few of them, but they were ane◊scottish{ane#an|one} affliction to him. And so he was different in his afflictions from others, for some will get a foul bitter shower in the morning, but will get all the rest of the day fair; some will get a foul shower at the noontide of the day, and yet have it fair both morning and evening, as Job had; and some will have it fair all day, and get a sicker◊footnote{◊it{Sicker}---firm and decided; as applied to a shower smart or heavy.} shower at night, as Peter, "When thou was young, thou girded thyself, and went whither thou wouldst, but when thou art old, another sallshall gird thee, and lead thee whither thou wouldst not."◊footnote{See the Author's affecting dedication, prefixed to his sermon before the Lords, July 1644, in which this text, along with others, is quoted in illustration of his own experience, that @@ -229,7 +229,7 @@ by God, contrary to his own inclinations, to take a prominent part in public affairs.} But Israel in his whole life was afflicted, as I told you Christ was, from his birth to his burial; and so in this he does vively (in a lively manner) represent the estate of the kirk. Howsoever he who was first Jacob prevailed with God, and so was called Israel; so sallshall the kirk also be victorious over all her enemies.

I would have you to consider in this, that the kirk was afflicted from her @@ -237,7 +237,7 @@ youth. If ye would consider of the different times of the upcoming (progress) of the kirk, it may be considered in these particulars. 1. In her infancy. 2. In her youth. 3. In her perfection. 4. In her old age. First, for the infancy of the kirk, we may go farder than that time they were in Egypt, or to Abraham: we may ascend to that promise, "The seed of the woman sallshall tread down the head of the serpent." From that time to the flood, in Noah's time, was the infancy of the kirk. Secondly, The bairnage or youth of the kirk was from the flood till Christ's coming in the flesh. For a long time it was contained only in @@ -266,8 +266,8 @@ days, it may be called the perfection of the kirk, by the same reasons. For then her lines were farder extended; then there was further knowledge of things; and then in respect of the manner how she was taught.

This is not ane◊scottish{ane#an|one} idle discourse we are occasioned to you by the word ◊it{youth}. For, first, it meets with ane◊scottish{ane#an|one} unsavoury and tasteless discourse of our adversars, who say, when they are speaking of the ages of the kirk, that in the apostles' times, then the kirk was at her bairnage; but they say that n the time of the ancient and godly Fathers, then was the perfection of the @@ -285,9 +285,9 @@ they did. And therefore let us hold this to be true, that the greatest perfection that ever the kirk was at, or will be at, was in the time of the apostles; but the youth and infancy thereof was before Christ. And when the Holy Ghost descended, that is the only pattern of reformation that must ever be looked to: and when it sallshall please the Lord to call in the Jews again, who has been so long strangers to himself and to his Son Christ, the reformation of the kirk sallshall be as it was then. And then after the apostles were gone, then presently the glory of the kirk began to decay; for the glory of the kirk is not to be discerned and looked to, as many judge, by her outward face, but by her inward grace. And as Egesippus told that, albeit there were many ills @@ -298,8 +298,8 @@ defiled.

Another use that we may make of this---If that was the youth of the kirk, and Israel was troubled in his youth, then we need not to think it strange, that the kirk in our days should be put to suffer. SallShall a child suffer for the truth, and sallshall not we who are come to perfect age (at least should be so) not suffer for it? It is a shame for us, let be (not to say) a sin, if we resolve not before hand to do it, and when it comes, to do it indeed.

@@ -317,7 +317,7 @@ night, and a little shower. This may seem strange and wonderful, that the Lord should thus exercise his kirk with repeated and reiterated afflictions, so that there should be no end of her afflictions;---she may well get some little refreshment, but it is only a breathing time. What can be the cause of this? SallShall we say that because it is thus, therefore God has not a providence over his kirk in her afflictions? For some say, If God had a providence over his kirk in her afflictions, would he thus exercise them so hardly who are in covenant with him, and whom he professes to love so dearly, even as the apple @@ -330,9 +330,9 @@ that is a very wise providence of God in afflicting his kirk thus. Only consider three causes of it. 1. The Lord, his course of dealing with men is thus: There is no man, but when he comes into the world, the Lord ordains some ill and some good things for him: and therefore he has so disposed that his children sallshall suffer all their ill in this life; they sallshall suffer none in the life to come, but they sallshall have only good: and for the wicked, he has ordained that they sallshall get all their good in this life, but no good in the life to come, but only ill. This is that whilk Abraham is brought in speaking to that rich man, ◊ref{Luke.16.25}. When he was only desiring that Lazarus might give him one drop but of cold water, to cool the neb (point) of his @@ -350,12 +350,12 @@ wicked, all the good things that ever they will get is gotten here, and therefore when this life is gone, there remains nothing but sorrow and grief for them. And this same has made some of the children of God, when God has heaped favours and benefits upon them in this life, to fear that they were not in the right way, and to be so mickle◊scottish{mickle#large|much|great} the more diligent to see if they were in the right way, and to take the better heed unto themselves, and to work out the work of their salvation with fear and trembling.

2. A second reason wherefore the Lord afflicts his kirk so oft here, it is because it does mickle◊scottish{mickle#large|much|great} good to the kirk. Indeed, it is not possible for any to tell what sweetness there is into that bitterness, what meat there is into that devourer; for when affliction comes upon the kirk, it makes many to know God, who knew little of him before; it makes many to seek the Lord, who would not @@ -366,7 +366,7 @@ the will of God in everything, who knew little what obedience did mean before. It brings out of the estate of nature, and enters them into the estate of grace; and having gotten some grace, it makes them to long for more grace: and being afflicted in the estate of grace, it makes them to long for glory. And so the Lord helps fordward his own, and does them mickle◊scottish{mickle#large|much|great} good by afflictions and crosses.

3. It serves greatly also for the glory of God. For before we be in trouble we @@ -376,47 +376,47 @@ God so well at no time as we do in trouble: before, we only hear of his manner of dealing with his children, but then we do both hear and also perceive his manner of working.

And may I not say that the troubles of the kirk of Scotland has done us mickle◊scottish{mickle#large|much|great} good, and driven us to God more earnestly? for would we have been about this this day, if so be we had not been in trouble? No certainly, for long or now we had been drunken with ease; but trouble coming upon us has made us to draw our clothes to us, and gird them fast on, and make us for a journey, and for our Christian warfare. And therefore make this use of it, that ye should not imagine that ever the kirk, so long as she is here, sallshall be free of afflictions. I suppose, (and it should be our wish and desire that it should be so,) that all things were done in the house of God in this land according to his will, and there were such ane◊scottish{ane#an|one} Assembly and Parliament as our hearts could wish,◊footnote{ Two of the "Articles for the present peace of the kirk and kingdom of Scotland" that were drawn up and insisted on by the Covenanters at this time related to a ◊it{free Assembly} and a ◊it{free Parliament}. See the "Articles" ◊it{in extenso} in ◊it{Stevenson's History}, pp. 218-220.} think ye that there would be no more trouble then? No, I will assure you it would not be so, for the devil is not dead yet, and he has evermore his awinown supposts, and malignant spirits anewenough to raise up to trouble his kirk. And what would it breed if it were thus? Nothing else but security, whilk is a very dangerous case for a Christian to be in; and then, after a while's security, there would arise another new trouble again. And therefore think not that ye sallshall have a heavenly peace so long as ye are here; but ye must put on the whole armour of God, and resolve to fight; for if there be no other thing to trouble thee, yet, in the time of the external peace of the kirk, thou sallshall find afflictions in thy awinown bosom to trouble thee, and to hold thee doing; and thou will find these als◊scottish{als#as|also} sore to fight against, yea, sorer and harder than any without thee. For thus the Lord deals with his kirk. Even as when there is a pestilence into a country, there will not be many other common diseases to trouble folks, but when it is away, then there will be moemore common diseases; so while the kirk is in trouble, the members thereof will not have many horrours of conscience, nor many grieved hearts; but when the outward trouble is away, then their awinown secret ills kythes more. And therefore it is evermore best and safest for us to resolve for trouble so long as we are here.

◊it{Thirdly}. Now for the grievousness of their affliction, it is set down in a borrowed comparison tanetaken from plewmen. "The plewers have plewed upon my back; they made long their furrows." This is such ane◊scottish{ane#an|one} pleugh as we have not heard tell of before. There is ane◊scottish{ane#an|one} common pleugh, wherewith ye labour your land; all of you knows that: and there is also another pleugh spoken of by our Saviour, ◊ref{Luke.9.62}. "He that puts his hand to the pleugh, and looks back again, is not meet for the kingdom of God." This is the pleugh of the gospel: whether he be pastor or professor that anesonce puts his hand to this pleugh, he must not look back again. But here there is a third pleugh, whilk is ordained for troubling of God's people. The great husbandman who aught (owns) this pleugh, (at least by whose permission this pleugh goes,) is God. Not only is it God who makes @@ -437,14 +437,14 @@ oxen who draw into this pleugh, it may be princes, when they turn persecutors of the kirk; it may be prelates; it may be politicians in the world; these are the oxen, Satan and the ill spirits inciting them, and stirring them up to go fordward in their intended course. Then consider here, that this pleugh and thir◊scottish{thir#these|those} plewmen and oxen goes about as God thinks meet; but what is it that they are doing in the meantime? Nothing else but preparing the ground for seed, and so the Lord employs them to prepare his people better to receive the seed of his word and of his Spirit. And this is the fruits that comes after this pleugh; as our Lord says in the gaspel, "He that forsakes father or mother, etc., for my name's sake, sallshall have a hundreth-fold more in this life, and afterward life eternal." That is, when this pleugh of persecution makes a man willing to forsake thir◊scottish{thir#these|those} things, it is a making him ready to reap a plentiful harvest and comfortable here, and much more plentiful and comfortable hereafter.

@@ -453,8 +453,8 @@ yokes the pleugh of the gospel in her; and when it is not holden going, then he yokes the pleugh of persecution next, and makes that to draw furrows on their back;---not on their breast where all their noble parts are, and so to destroy them, but on their back, and so to prepare them for seed only. As it is said of Christ and the serpent, the serpent sallshall but bruise Christ's heel, but Christ sallshall break his head, so it is the back of the kirk that is plewed. Always (nevertheless) this plewing is because the gospel is neglected, and so ye may see that the best course that any can take to hold away the pleugh of persecution is to hold the pleugh of the gospel going, in hearing the word, in @@ -471,14 +471,14 @@ the vyces of ministers}, among other the humor of novation."--- Baillie ii. 45.} nor ye who are people has not done your duty, whereunto ye were bound by the gospel, therefore it is that the Lord has yoked the pleugh of persecution among us; and if we make mnot better use of the gospel every way, the pleugh sallshall not be loused yet, but the Lord sallshall suffer the enemies to hold it going. And, indeed, there are none who are readier to be instruments to draw this pleugh, than these who has anesonce put their hand to the pleugh of the gospel, and then looked back again.◊footnote{The Church of Scotland had bitter experience of the truth of this ere long in the persecution that followed, 1660--1688.}

Ye may perceive here that these who are persecutors of the kirk have not great rest nor ease in the world: oxen who draws in a pleugh daily has not ane◊scottish{ane#an|one} easy life. It's true the kirk suffers of them, but they are exercised also. And therefore afterwards he gives them a name answerable to this---he calls them ◊it{wicked}.◊footnote{ The word in the original is from a root (רָשַׁע) which @@ -486,12 +486,12 @@ signifies ◊it{to make a noise}, or ◊it{tumult}.---See Gesenius' Heb. Lex.} " hath cut asunder the cords of the wicked:" that is turbulent creatures, still troubling others and themselves. And Esay calls them like the sea, still casting up filth; and ye know the sea never rests. And this tells also what sallshall be the wages that they sallshall get. A word that is used of them, ◊ref{Ps.109.7},◊footnote{"When he shall be judged, let him be ◊it{condemned};" marg., "go out guilty or ◊it{wicked}." The word in the original is the same as in the passage commented on.} signifies condemned persons, and so they sallshall reap condemnation for their pains; as Job says, "They sow wickedness, and they sallshall reap mischief." But for the sufferings of the godly, they are not in vain, for at last they bring forth the quiet fruits of righteousness. All these furrows that are drawn upon their back is nothing else but a preparing of their heart for receiving the word of God, and making it that good ground spoken of @@ -514,7 +514,7 @@ Not because Israel deserved it, but because the enemies deserved it, and "Yet they prevailed not against me." Israel prevailed with God in wrestling with him, and therefore it is that he prevails with men also. Then, if so be that we will wrestle with God for a blessing, and prevail with him, then we need not to fear but we sallshall wrestle the enemies out of it also. And if we be the people of God, and insist in wrestling against his enemies, we need not to fear but to be victorious. The kirk is a studdy (stithy) whilk has worn many hammers, and broken many arms, with striking upon her, and yet she is to the @@ -526,35 +526,35 @@ foundation, and all the stones are well seamed together, therefore she must remain sure. The stones, indeed, among themselves may seem to be scattered asunder, yet all of them are joined together in Christ, for he is the head of his kirk, and all the rest are the members. And therefore as he has wrestled and overcome all his enemies, so sallshall we also, if we be in him. This is a kingdom whereof there are a number of the subjects thereof in heaven already, by their fighting and prevailing; and if so be that we will use that armour whilk they used, and will fight as they did, why then sallshall not we prevail also? and so we sallshall be partakers with them of that same crown of glory.

Now the cause why Israel prevailed, and not the enemies, was because "God cut asunder their cords." Certainly the world, they have many cords wherewith to draw their pleugh; and when they have made a threefold cord for destruction of the kirk of God, the Lord makes that same cord to turn to their awinown execution. And sometimes the Lord breaks their cord in pieces, when it seems to be strongest; for when his providence comes in, he cuts their strong cord. And all this is ascribed to the justice and righteousness of God only.

And the rest of this purpose tells us, that as it has been with the kirk and the enemies thereof in former times, so sallshall it also be afterwards. Albeit they run fast in ane◊scottish{ane#an|one} ill course, and go far on into it, "yet they sallshall be confounded and turned back, who hate Sion." And then he shews that he would not have the kirk to be offended, albeit their enemies prosper for a while, for it sallshall be but like grass upon the house-tops, or like deaf corn; it sallshall not fill the mower's hand, nor sallshall it have any weight or substance with it. And so he would have the kirk to take comfort for time to come, by experience that she has had of deliverance in by-past time.

And, finally, he closes with this, that they who come by them, when they are at their work, sallshall not say, "God speed you well," or "God bless you and your labours." And surely, beloved, we may say this upon good grounds, and from experience, that in all the troubles of our kirk, when prelates and politicians were coming to ane◊scottish{ane#an|one} height, there was none who said, The Lord bless them, and send them good speed in their work.◊footnote{ So far from this, we read that "All of them [the petitioners against the innovations] wrestled with God, in their private prayers, and public supplications and fastings, that the counsels @@ -565,7 +565,7 @@ Mot. p. 35.} And when they were persecuting a poor minister for standing to the truth, there was none who prayed for good speed to them; but there were many who were deprecating it, and praying to God to turn the chase. No surely, I think themselves durst not pray to God to send them good speed in their course. And these who has been praying to God against it, let them take it for ane◊scottish{ane#an|one} answer to their prayers, that God has begun to turn back their course. But for the cause that we have in hand, it has filled the mouths of many, and that not only among ourselves, but even in other nations about us, to pray to God for @@ -576,7 +576,7 @@ righteous; he hath cut asunder the cords of the wicked." Ay certainly, if the Lord had not cut asunder their cords, we had been in a desperate and a miserable case or this time. For the enemies of the kirk in this land, they were come to such a height that they resolved, If we get our pleugh but this once about, then we sallshall get our turn done, and this kirk sallshall be quite undone. Yet even when they were come to the rig's end, and beginning to turn, and wynding about,◊footnote{◊it{Wynding about}. Turning to the left.} the Lord did cut their cords, and made the pleugh to stand stil. Now let us not say, "Unto

a/src/0053.pm b/src/0053.pm index 1cb4c19..8c0f3c1 100644 --- a/src/0053.pm +++ b/src/0053.pm @@ -584,4 +584,4 @@ us, unto us belongs the glory of this;" for who of us dared say, that we deserved that the Lord should have done this to us? but let us say that the Lord is just and righteous in executing wrath against his enemies, and is true in performing his promises to his people; aud therefore let us say that it is he alone that has done it. Now to his great name, Father, etc.

a/src/0053.poly.pm b/src/0053.pm similarity index 100% rename from src/0053.poly.pm rename to src/0053.pm

a/src/0053.poly.pm b/src/0053.poly.pm index b4eb897..1cb4c19 100644 --- a/src/0053.poly.pm +++ b/src/0053.poly.pm @@ -475,7 +475,7 @@ sall not be loused yet, but the Lord sall suffer the enemies to hold it going. And, indeed, there are none who are readier to be instruments to draw this pleugh, than these who has anes put their hand to the pleugh of the gospel, and then looked back again.◊footnote{The Church of Scotland had bitter experience of the truth of this ere long in the persecution that followed, 1660-1688.}1660--1688.}

Ye may perceive here that these who are persecutors of the kirk have not great rest nor ease in the world: oxen who draws in a pleugh daily has not ane easy @@ -584,4 +584,4 @@ us, unto us belongs the glory of this;" for who of us dared say, that we deserved that the Lord should have done this to us? but let us say that the Lord is just and righteous in executing wrath against his enemies, and is true in performing his promises to his people; aud therefore let us say that it is he alone that has done it. Now to his great name, Father, etc.

a/src/0053.poly.pm b/src/0053.poly.pm index 9a6ab9b..b4eb897 100644 --- a/src/0053.poly.pm +++ b/src/0053.poly.pm @@ -193,7 +193,7 @@ many, and they were great; and so he was a vive (lively) representation of the kirk. There is also another in the Old Testament, and this is he who is named here Israel, and he is also called Jacob. Thir two names are ordinar to him in Scripture, and both of them are put for the expressing of the estate of the kirk. When they speak of the affliction of the kirk, and of her ‘humiliation,humiliation, then it is expressed under the name of Jacob; but when the Scripture speaks of the victories of the kirk, then it is expressed under the name of Israel, who was a prince with God, who wrestled with God and prevailed, and so gat a

a/src/0053.poly.pm b/src/0053.poly.pm index 3ff1876..9a6ab9b 100644 --- a/src/0053.poly.pm +++ b/src/0053.poly.pm @@ -135,7 +135,7 @@ the Israel of God, and flee in to him, and beseech him to keep us from it. Again, when the Lord gives us any spring time, and we see it likely that there is a good summer coming, and that not only of nature, but of grace, then why should we not flock together, and acknowledge that it is the Lord who has sent it, and praise him for the doing thereof 7thereof? And so we should not interrupt the Lord, by our sinning against him, and not acknowledging of his goodness: but we should further him to go on, by our praising of his name for that whilk he has done. Secondly. When many joins together in a good work, it is a great good to @@ -197,7 +197,7 @@ kirk. When they speak of the affliction of the kirk, and of her ‘humiliation, then it is expressed under the name of Jacob; but when the Scripture speaks of the victories of the kirk, then it is expressed under the name of Israel, who was a prince with God, who wrestled with God and prevailed, and so gat a blessing. TI say, he who is here called Israel (and that very deservedly, because now through the power of God the kirk prevailed over all her enemies), in his life he represents well to us the estate of the kirk, for there is a difference betiveen his life and any other whom we read of in Scripture; for @@ -249,7 +249,7 @@ was fully set up at last, so that the kirk was almost lost, and she had one foot in the grave; till it pleased the Lord to renew her age, as he doeth the eagle's, by casting her bill, as it is ◊ref{Ps.103.5}◊footnote{ "As the eagle decayeth and groweth lean, when her ◊it{bill} or ◊it{beak} groweth so long and crooked as she cannot eat for it; and when she casteth her ◊{bill},◊it{bill}, and her ◊it{beak} is now better fitted to take her food, then she is revived and strengthened, and as it were groweth young again: so fareth it with the soul of the believer, etc." Dickson on ◊ref{Ps.103}.}. And, indeed, that we have seen @@ -465,7 +465,7 @@ who are pastors and ministers has not done our duty in preaching of the gospel,◊footnote{Henderson was always very free in pointing out and censuring the faults and shortcomings of ministers, as may be seen in many of his published Sermons and Papers. Baillie allades to an instance of this. "On Wednesday, 27th [July, 16427,1642], was a fast [at St. Andrews]. Mr. Hendersone preached graciouslie and wyselie on ◊ref{2Cor.6.1-2Cor.6.3}; ◊it{taxed freelie the vyces of ministers}, among other the humor of novation."--- Baillie ii. 45.} nor ye who are people has not done your duty, whereunto ye were bound by @@ -584,4 +584,4 @@ us, unto us belongs the glory of this;" for who of us dared say, that we deserved that the Lord should have done this to us? but let us say that the Lord is just and righteous in executing wrath against his enemies, and is true in performing his promises to his people; aud therefore let us say that it is he alone that has done it. Now to his great name, Father, etc.

a/src/0053.poly.pm b/src/0053.poly.pm index dfb4220..3ff1876 100644 --- a/src/0053.poly.pm +++ b/src/0053.poly.pm @@ -119,79 +119,76 @@ flock together when they apprehend a judgment is coming, to the end that they may all humble themselves, and pray to God to avert that judgment aff them, and to turn it upon a people who knows not God. 2. They should flock together when God gives any hope of a deliverance to his people, and bless him for that. Even as they report of the storks in other countries,◊footnote{ "Yea, ◊it{the stork in the heaven knoaveth her appointed times;} and the turtle and the crane and the swallow observe the time of their coming."---◊ref{Jer.8.7}.

"Who bids the stork, Columbus-like, explore Heavens not its own, and worlds unknown before? Who calls the council, states the certain day, Who forms the phalanx, and who points the way?"---Pope.} and as some birds do among ourselves, before the winter come they flock together, and flies to some safer part, that so they may eschew the storm, and hides themselves in the holes of the rocks; and then in the spring time again, before the summer come, they all flock together to come home again. So when the Lord is frowning and glooming, and we see like to be a stormy winter coming, then we should flock together as the Israel of God, and flee in to him, and beseech him to keep us from it. Again, when the Lord gives us any spring time, and we see it likely that there is a good summer coming, and that not only of nature, but of grace, then why should we not flock together, and acknowledge that it is the Lord who has sent it, and praise him for the doing thereof 7 And so we should not interrupt the Lord, by our sinning against him, and not acknowledging of his goodness: but we should further him to go on, by our praising of his name for that whilk he has done. Secondly. When many joins together in a good work, it is a great good to Israel, and to the saints and kirk of God, for this is the way how to find and to observe the loving-kindness of the Lord; according to that, ◊ref{Ps.107.43}, "Whoso will observe these things sall see the loving-kindness of the Lord." So these who will observe the afflictions of God's people, how he has afflicted them, and suffered the enemies to molest them, and yet, for all that, has preserved his people, and granted them victory, and has destroyed the enemies; whoso will observe these things, sall see the loving-kindness of the Lord towards his people, and still praise God for it; and then sall see his kindness towards himself. And as it is, ◊ref{Ps.78.6-Ps.78.7}, they who knows the works of the Lord, they sall report it to their children, and to their children's children, that they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of his hands. And, indeed, there is a work already done into this land, albeit the Lord should stay it and not let it go any farder on, that is well worthy to be remembered for ever. And, indeed, it sall not be forgotten, so long as this land is possessed by any, and while the world stands.◊footnote{Here we observe the inborn conviction of the enduring importance of their work, which is common to all the guiding spirits in the history of the world.} So ye see it is Israel who is describing her affliction here. "Many a time."

II. "Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth. The plewers, etc." If we will look narrowly to the words in Israel's describing of her afflictions, we will find three things presented to us---1. How old these afflictions are; "From my youth." Ay, from my infancy, birth, and conception. 2. There is the frequency and iteration of these afflictions. They were ◊it{oft} and ◊it{many}: "Many a time." 3. There is the grievousness of these afflictions, expressed by a comparison. "The plewers plewed upon my back: they. made long their furrows." So these were old afllictions---◊it{from her youth}. Then they were oft---◊it{many a time}. Moe times than can be numbered; moe nor seven times, aye, moe nor seventy times seven, for the word imports ◊it{often}. And then they were grievous, even like iron pleughs, drawing deep and long furrows on their back. The first testifies the innocency of the kirk at this time, for if ever the kirk . had innocency, it behoved to be in her youth, and therefore it testifies the enemies' injuriousness and cruelty. The second, ◊it{many a time}, is a document (proof) of the constancy of the kirk. She is afflicted again and again, and yet, for all these afflictions, she ceased not to serve God continually. And it i1s also ane argument of the malicious pertinacy of the enemies, who never ceased to afflict the kirk. The third is ane evidence of the patience of the kirk, who endured all that, and of the cruelty of the enemies, who could find in their heart to do so to her.

◊it{First}, "From my youth." He speaks here of the kirk as of one particular man; he brings in Israel as speaking of his awin life in particular. And, indeed, there be two men in the Scripture, one in the New Testament, another in the Old, who does very well express the estate of the kirk in their life. In the New Testament there is Jesus Christ; he is the head of the kirk; he was a man of many sorrows from his cradle to his burial. His life was full of sorrows; he was hardly used all his time, and at his end was mocked, buffeted, scourged, etc. There was never any who might more justly say, no, never any who might so justly say, "Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth." I will not enter here to speak of the sufferings of Christ: they began soon, they were many, and they were great; and so he was a vive (lively) representation of the kirk. There is also another in the Old Testament, and this is he who is named here Israel, and he is also called Jacob. Thir two names are ordinar to him in @@ -218,45 +215,45 @@ great ane affliction as any of them, even the miscarrying of Judah, in whom the birthright was now established. So that he could look upon none of his children, at least upon few of them, but they were ane affliction to him. And so he was different in his afflictions from others, for some will get a foul bitter shower in the morning, but will get all the rest of the day fair; some will get a foul shower at the noontide of the day, and yet have it fair both morning and evening, as Job had; and some will have it fair all day, and get a sicker◊footnote{◊it{Sicker}---firm and decided; as applied to a shower smart or heavy.} shower at night, as Peter, "When thou was young, thou girded thyself, and went whither thou wouldst, but when thou art old, another sall gird thee, and lead thee whither thou wouldst not."◊footnote{See the Author's affecting dedication, prefixed to his sermon before the Lords, July 1644, in which this text, along with others, is quoted in illustration of his own experience, that although naturally addicted to a retired and studious life, he had been called by God, contrary to his own inclinations, to take a prominent part in public affairs.} But Israel in his whole life was afflicted, as I told you Christ was, from his birth to his burial; and so in this he does vively (in a lively manner) represent the estate of the kirk. Howsoever he who was first Jacob prevailed with God, and so was called Israel; so sall the kirk also be victorious over all her enemies.

I would have you to consider in this, that the kirk was afflicted from her youth. If ye would consider of the different times of the upcoming (progress) of the kirk, it may be considered in these particulars. 1. In her infancy. 2. In her youth. 3. In her perfection. 4. In her old age. First, for the infancy of the kirk, we may go farder than that time they were in Egypt, or to Abraham: we may ascend to that promise, "The seed of the woman sall tread down the head of the serpent." From that time to the flood, in Noah's time, was the infancy of the kirk. Secondly, The bairnage or youth of the kirk was from the flood till Christ's coming in the flesh. For a long time it was contained only in some families, and the most that it came to was in a (one) nation. Thirdly, In the days of the apostles, and when the Holy Ghost descended, then was the strength and vigour of the kirk. Fourthly, After the apostles' times then came the old age of the kirk, when Antichrist began to be set up in his chair, and was fully set up at last, so that the kirk was almost lost, and she had one foot in the grave; till it pleased the Lord to renew her age, as he doeth the eagle's, by casting her bill, as it is ◊ref{Ps.103.5}◊footnote{ "As the eagle decayeth and groweth lean, when her ◊it{bill} or ◊it{beak} groweth so long and crooked as she cannot eat for it; and when she casteth her ◊{bill}, and her ◊it{beak} is now better fitted to take her food, then she is revived and strengthened, and as it were groweth young again: so fareth it with the soul of the believer, etc." Dickson on ◊ref{Ps.103}.}. And, indeed, that we have seen some returning of the age of the kirk, so that it was never better since the beginning, we have great reason to bless God for this. Justin divides the ages of Rome thus, and it is the right division of the ages of the kirk. All the time till the coming of Christ may be rightly called the infancy and youth of @@ -269,35 +266,35 @@ days, it may be called the perfection of the kirk, by the same reasons. For then her lines were farder extended; then there was further knowledge of things; and then in respect of the manner how she was taught.

This is not ane idle discourse we are occasioned to you by the word ◊it{youth}. For, first, it meets with ane unsavoury and tasteless discourse of our adversars, who say, when they are speaking of the ages of the kirk, that in the apostles' times, then the kirk was at her bairnage; but they say that n the time of the ancient and godly Fathers, then was the perfection of the kirk:◊footnote{ See Henderson's Third Paper for his Majesty---"I know it is a common opinion, but I believe there be no strong reasons for it, that the church that was nearest the times of the apostles was the most pure and perfect church." Henderson, as appears from what follows, held that it was not the church, which was "nearest the times of the apostles," that was most pure and perfect, but the church that existed in the ◊it{very days} of the apostles.} whilk was the time when Antichrist began to be set up, and the apostles told that Antichrist was already begun before they died. Howbeit, indeed, I think many of these fathers did that whilk they did ignorantly, for I think, if they had known what it would turn to, they would have been loath to have done as they did. And therefore let us hold this to be true, that the greatest perfection that ever the kirk was at, or will be at, was in the time of the apostles; but the youth and infancy thereof was before Christ. And when the Holy Ghost descended, that is the only pattern of reformation that must ever be looked to: and when it sall please the Lord to call in the Jews again, who has been so long strangers to himself and to his Son Christ, the reformation of the kirk sall be as it was then. And then after the apostles were gone, then presently the glory of the kirk began to decay; for the glory of the kirk is not to be discerned and looked to, as many judge, by her outward face, but by her inward grace. And as Egesippus told that, albeit there were many ills entered into the kirk then, yet even by these ten bloody persecutions there were many hid graces keeped by them undefiled in the kirk; for if there had not been persecution, all had followed their course, and so had been corrupted and defiled.

Another use that we may make of this---If that was the youth of the kirk, and Israel was troubled in his youth, then we need not to think it strange, that @@ -306,8 +303,8 @@ truth, and sall not we who are come to perfect age (at least should be so) not suffer for it? It is a shame for us, let be (not to say) a sin, if we resolve not before hand to do it, and when it comes, to do it indeed.

◊it{Secondly}. As the afflictions of the kirk began early, so they continued long, and there was a iteration of them; "Many a time." And in such sort they continued, that the course of the kirk was nothing else but a continual change, blenks up (gleams of sunshine) and incontinent down again; even as it is in the course of nature, betwixt summer and winter, a fair blenk and a shower, the @@ -324,11 +321,11 @@ Sall we say that because it is thus, therefore God has not a providence over his kirk in her afflictions? For some say, If God had a providence over his kirk in her afflictions, would he thus exercise them so hardly who are in covenant with him, and whom he professes to love so dearly, even as the apple of his eye? ◊it{A}. Ay certainly, (to beat this back upon themselves who say so), since some has observed the course of time to be so, and acknowledge that the kirk of God is often under affliction, then I say that even because of that, God must have a special care and providence over his kirk. And indeed that is a very wise providence of God in afflicting his kirk thus.

Only consider three causes of it. 1. The Lord, his course of dealing with men is thus: There is no man, but when he comes into the world, the Lord ordains @@ -337,26 +334,25 @@ his children sall suffer all their ill in this life; they sall suffer none in the life to come, but they sall have only good: and for the wicked, he has ordained that they sall get all their good in this life, but no good in the life to come, but only ill. This is that whilk Abraham is brought in speaking to that rich man, ◊ref{Luke.16.25}. When he was only desiring that Lazarus might give him one drop but of cold water, to cool the neb (point) of his tongue, Abraham answers, "Son, remember that thou in thy life receivedst thy good things, but Lazarus his evil things;" and therefore, as he would say, Resolve upon this, and set your mind to rest; for ye must be tormented, but he must be comforted. As if he said, Ye need to speak no more of that matter; there is nothing ordained for you now but torment, for ye have gotten all the good that ever ye will get, or that God has ordained for you: but for Lazarus, it's true God ordained many ills for him, but he has gotten them all already; and now there remains no more ill for him, but only good. And so ye see that the kirk of God and these who belong to it get all their ill things here, and therefore they get only good things when they are out of this life; but for the wicked, all the good things that ever they will get is gotten here, and therefore when this life is gone, there remains nothing but sorrow and grief for them. And this same has made some of the children of God, when God has heaped favours and benefits upon them in this life, to fear that they were not in the right way, and to be so mickle the more diligent to see if they were in the right way, and to take the better heed unto themselves, and to work out the work of their salvation with fear and trembling.

2. A second reason wherefore the Lord afflicts his kirk so oft here, it is because it does mickle good to the kirk. Indeed, it is not possible for any to @@ -377,7 +373,8 @@ crosses. know not what it is to pray to God as we will do then; we do not give thanks to God, and bless him so heartily for any benefit as we will do then. We know not God so well at no time as we do in trouble: before, we only hear of his manner of dealing with his children, but then we do both hear and also perceive his manner of working.

And may I not say that the troubles of the kirk of Scotland has done us mickle good, and driven us to God more earnestly? for would we have been about this @@ -389,27 +386,25 @@ imagine that ever the kirk, so long as she is here, sall be free of afflictions. I suppose, (and it should be our wish and desire that it should be so,) that all things were done in the house of God in this land according to his will, and there were such ane Assembly and Parliament as our hearts could wish,◊footnote{ Two of the "Articles for the present peace of the kirk and kingdom of Scotland" that were drawn up and insisted on by the Covenanters at this time related to a ◊it{free Assembly} and a ◊it{free Parliament}. See the "Articles" ◊it{in extenso} in ◊it{Stevenson's History}, pp. 218-220.} think ye that there would be no more trouble then? No, I will assure you it would not be so, for the devil is not dead yet, and he has evermore his awin supposts, and malignant spirits anew to raise up to trouble his kirk. And what would it breed if it were thus? Nothing else but security, whilk is a very dangerous case for a Christian to be in; and then, after a while's security, there would arise another new trouble again. And therefore think not that ye sall have a heavenly peace so long as ye are here; but ye must put on the whole armour of God, and resolve to fight; for if there be no other thing to trouble thee, yet, in the time of the external peace of the kirk, thou sall find afflictions in thy awin bosom to trouble thee, and to hold thee doing; and thou will find these als sore to fight against, yea, sorer and harder than any without thee. For thus the Lord deals with his kirk. Even as when there is a pestilence into a country, there will not be many other common diseases to trouble folks, but when it is away, then there will be moe common diseases; so while the kirk is in trouble, the members thereof will not have many horrours of conscience, nor many grieved hearts; but when the outward trouble is away, then their awin secret ills kythes more. And therefore it is evermore best and safest for us to resolve for trouble so long as we are here. @@ -419,9 +414,9 @@ borrowed comparison tane from plewmen. "The plewers have plewed upon my back; they made long their furrows." This is such ane pleugh as we have not heard tell of before. There is ane common pleugh, wherewith ye labour your land; all of you knows that: and there is also another pleugh spoken of by our Saviour, ◊ref{Luke.9.62}. "He that puts his hand to the pleugh, and looks back again, is not meet for the kingdom of God." This is the pleugh of the gospel: whether he be pastor or professor that anes puts his hand to this pleugh, he must not look back again. But here there is a third pleugh, whilk is ordained for troubling of God's people. The great husbandman who aught (owns) this pleugh, (at least by whose permission this pleugh goes,) is God. Not only is it God who makes @@ -467,54 +462,54 @@ believing in it by faith, in bringing it to the heart to work repentance and a new life. If we would do this, it would hinder the yoking of the pleugh of persecution; or if it were yoked, yet it should not teil sore. But because we who are pastors and ministers has not done our duty in preaching of the gospel,◊footnote{Henderson was always very free in pointing out and censuring the faults and shortcomings of ministers, as may be seen in many of his published Sermons and Papers. Baillie allades to an instance of this. "On Wednesday, 27th [July, 16427, was a fast [at St. Andrews]. Mr. Hendersone preached graciouslie and wyselie on ◊ref{2Cor.6.1-2Cor.6.3}; ◊it{taxed freelie the vyces of ministers}, among other the humor of novation."--- Baillie ii. 45.} nor ye who are people has not done your duty, whereunto ye were bound by the gospel, therefore it is that the Lord has yoked the pleugh of persecution among us; and if we make mnot better use of the gospel every way, the pleugh sall not be loused yet, but the Lord sall suffer the enemies to hold it going. And, indeed, there are none who are readier to be instruments to draw this pleugh, than these who has anes put their hand to the pleugh of the gospel, and then looked back again.◊footnote{The Church of Scotland had bitter experience of the truth of this ere long in the persecution that followed, 1660-1688.}

Ye may perceive here that these who are persecutors of the kirk have not great rest nor ease in the world: oxen who draws in a pleugh daily has not ane easy life. It's true the kirk suffers of them, but they are exercised also. And therefore afterwards he gives them a name answerable to this---he calls them ◊it{wicked}.◊footnote{ The word in the original is from a root (רָשַׁע) which signifies ◊it{to make a noise}, or ◊it{tumult}.---See Gesenius' Heb. Lex.} "He hath cut asunder the cords of the wicked:" that is turbulent creatures, still troubling others and themselves. And Esay calls them like the sea, still casting up filth; and ye know the sea never rests. And this tells also what sall be the wages that they sall get. A word that is used of them, ◊ref{Ps.109.7},◊footnote{"When he shall be judged, let him be ◊it{condemned};" marg., "go out guilty or ◊it{wicked}." The word in the original is the same as in the passage commented on.} signifies condemned persons, and so they sall reap condemnation for their pains; as Job says, "They sow wickedness, and they sall reap mischief." But for the sufferings of the godly, they are not in vain, for at last they bring forth the quiet fruits of righteousness. All these furrows that are drawn upon their back is nothing else but a preparing of their heart for receiving the word of God, and making it that good ground spoken of in the gospel (where ye know there are three ill grounds and but one good); and this is a mean to make the ground good for receiving the seed of the word, that it may yield increase.

III. Only but a few words of Israel's deliverance from their enemies. "Yet have they not prevailed against me." And what was the cause that the enemies prevailed not? Was it because of Israel's strength? No, but because "God cut asunder the cords of the wicked." So that this pleugh has somes◊footnote{◊it{Somes}. A rod or chain attaching the foremost oxen to the plough. It is fixed to the muzzle, and passes between the animals next the draught.} and thetes◊footnote{◊it{Thetes}---the traces attaching the oxen to the plough.} whereby it is drawn, whilk are the plots and enterprises of the devil and wicked men. And why was it that God cut asunder the enemies' cords? Not because Israel deserved it, but because the enemies deserved it, and "because the Lord is righteous."

"Yet they prevailed not against me." Israel prevailed with God in wrestling with him, and therefore it is that he prevails with men also. Then, if so be @@ -533,10 +528,9 @@ asunder, yet all of them are joined together in Christ, for he is the head of his kirk, and all the rest are the members. And therefore as he has wrestled and overcome all his enemies, so sall we also, if we be in him. This is a kingdom whereof there are a number of the subjects thereof in heaven already, by their fighting and prevailing; and if so be that we will use that armour whilk they used, and will fight as they did, why then sall not we prevail also? and so we sall be partakers with them of that same crown of glory.

Now the cause why Israel prevailed, and not the enemies, was because "God cut asunder their cords." Certainly the world, they have many cords wherewith to @@ -557,26 +551,25 @@ have the kirk to take comfort for time to come, by experience that she has had of deliverance in by-past time.

And, finally, he closes with this, that they who come by them, when they are at their work, sall not say, "God speed you well," or "God bless you and your labours." And surely, beloved, we may say this upon good grounds, and from experience, that in all the troubles of our kirk, when prelates and politicians were coming to ane height, there was none who said, The Lord bless them, and send them good speed in their work.◊footnote{ So far from this, we read that "All of them [the petitioners against the innovations] wrestled with God, in their private prayers, and public supplications and fastings, that the counsels of the king might be turned to the public good of the church and state, ◊it{and that he would disappoint the attempts of enemies, who were employed in undermining the church}, that was already in a very shattered condition." Hist. Mot. p. 35.} And when they were persecuting a poor minister for standing to the truth, there was none who prayed for good speed to them; but there were many who were deprecating it, and praying to God to turn the chase. No surely, I think themselves durst not pray to God to send them good speed in their course. And these who has been praying to God against it, let them take it for ane answer to their prayers, that God has begun to turn back their course. But for the cause that we have in hand, it has filled the mouths of many, and that not only among ourselves, but even in other nations about us, to pray to God for good success to us.◊footnote{See above . 265, note. TODO} And indeed the kirk of Scotland may truly say, "Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth. The plewers have plewed upon my back: they made long their furrows. The Lord is righteous; he hath cut asunder the cords of the wicked." Ay certainly, if the @@ -585,10 +578,10 @@ miserable case or this time. For the enemies of the kirk in this land, they were come to such a height that they resolved, If we get our pleugh but this once about, then we sall get our turn done, and this kirk sall be quite undone. Yet even when they were come to the rig's end, and beginning to turn, and wynding about,◊footnote{◊it{Wynding about}. Turning to the left.} the Lord did cut their cords, and made the pleugh to stand stil. Now let us not say, "Unto us, unto us belongs the glory of this;" for who of us dared say, that we deserved that the Lord should have done this to us? but let us say that the Lord is just and righteous in executing wrath against his enemies, and is true in performing his promises to his people; aud therefore let us say that it is he alone that has done it. Now to his great name, Father, etc.

a/src/0053.poly.pm b/src/0053.poly.pm index ef53a39..dfb4220 100644 --- a/src/0053.poly.pm +++ b/src/0053.poly.pm @@ -1,51 +1,49 @@ #lang pollen

The great blessing of peace, whilk the Lord hath promised to his people even in this life, (for where the Lord gives mercy to any, he gives them peace also, peace and grace are inseparably joined together), their peace, I say, does not consist in this, that the people of God sall have no enemies: no, for there is a immortal and endless enmity against them. Neither does their peace consist in this, that their enemies sall not assault them: neither does it consist in this, that their enemies sall not molest and afflict them. We do but deceive ourselves if so be that we imagine, so long as we are in this our pilgrimage, and in our warfare here, if we promise to ourselves a peace of this kind; for while we live in this world, we sall still have enemies, and these enemies sall assault us, and persecute and afflict us. But this is the peace of the children of God, that although their enemies molest, persecute, and afflict them, they sall not harm them; at the least they sall not harm them but the godly in Christ sall be victorious, and sall be more than conquerors; and they sall get the blessings of God heaped upon them. But, for the wicked, all the threatenings whilk God has threatened in his word sall fall upon them, because they are enemies of God and his people. And as it is, ◊ref{Deut.29}, (whilk ye heard lately exponed to you), all the curses of God sall rest upon the enemies of his people, as that being their proper element; for it is there that all the judgments of God takes them rest. They find no rest whill (till) they come there, and when they come there they remove not: even as all the blessings of God are prepared for his people, and find there proper element to rest there.

This that I am speaking to you now, it is the comfortable doctrine of this psalm. The kirk, under the name of Israel, is brought in here expressing her afflictions, and says that they are many, they are grievous, and they are old afflictions; yet this is her comfort in the midst of all these afflictions, when the enemies has beset her round about, "yet they have not prevailed." And no thanks to Israel or to the kirk for this, but the praise thereof belongs only to God; for "God has cut asunder the cords of the wicked," that is, all their enterprises, their plots, their machinations. And this was not done because of the kirk's deservings, but because "God is righteous and just," and because the enemies deserved it, that it should be done to them. And as the Lord has done this in times past, so they pray that he would do it for time to come to all them who hate Sion,--- "that they may be ashamed and confounded." And he assures himself that though they were going fordward in ane ill course with never so great speed, yet God sall interrupt their course; "he will bring them back." And albeit they prosper for a while in the beginning, as grass will do whilk is growing on ane house-top, yet when harvest comes, there sall be nothing there to fill the mower's hand. And, moreover, these who knows God, and knows what his blessing means, when they come to them, and sees them at their work, they sall not pray to God for them to send them good speed; nor is there any word of blessing in their own mouths; but their labour is accursed of God, and all who comes by them prays for a curse to them.

That ye may take up this purpose the better, and that it may be the more profitable to you, ye sall consider of it in these parts. 1. In whose name it @@ -55,16 +53,16 @@ afflicted me from my youth. The plewers have plewed upon my back: they made long their furrows." 3. There is Israel's deliverance out of these troubles. These plewers sall not prevail in their intended purpose, because "The Lord is righteous: he hath cut asunder the cords of the wicked:" or he has cutted asunder the somes◊footnote{◊it{Somes}. A rod or chain attaching the foremost oxen to the plough. It is fixed to the muzzle, and passes between the animals next the draught.} wherewith they were drawing the pleugh of their cruelty. And why? because God is just and righteous. 4. There is the vengeance and judgment that is prepared for the enemies of Israel at all times. Albeit they prosper for a while, as the grass doeth upon the house-tops, yet they sall be ashamed and turned back, who hate Zion; they sall reap no increase of their labours; neither sall any who comes by them, and sees them working, say, "The blessing of the Lord be upon your work,"---God send it a good success, and you a blessing unto it.

Beloved, these are four points whilk are very necessar for you to consider on, and very behooveful for you to think upon; for it is not enough for you, or for @@ -87,62 +85,49 @@ Zion: neither is there any who comes by them, and sees them ut their work, or who hears what they are working, who will pray for a blessing to them, if they know God. And for this same matter, whilk is presently in hand among us, many among us prays for a blessing to it; and through other nations, they pray for a blessing to the kirk of Scotland, and to the good cause they have in hand:◊footnote{It is to be inferred from this that assurances of sympathy and support from the Reformed Churches abroad had already reached the Covenanters.} but we never heard of any yet, who prayed for a blessing to these, who were bringing in a strange worship into this land; yea, I think there be none who dare pray for it to God.

I. "Israel may now say." This is the first part of the psalm; and ye see here, the psalm is conceived in the name of Israel. " Israel"Israel may now say:" That is, king and princes, and all the people of God has now reason to say. It is not enough for some persons to say it: that is not the meaning here, for Israel is not taken here for Jacob as he was a man only, but it is taken for the whole kirk of God. It's true indeed, in time of defection, when the whole people will not choose to serve the Lord, then it is best for every particular person to say for himself, and them whom he may command, If so be that ye will not serve the Lord, this sall be my resolution, I and my house, we sall serve the Lord. At such times, I say, it is best to take to Joshua's part of it: "1f"If ye will serve the Lord, or if ye will serve other gods, do what ye will, I and all that I may command sall serve the Lord." We cannot bring all to God, but when there is a division into the land, then let ilk ane say for himself, and ilk ane who knows the Lord promise to serve him. But at such a time, when the enemies of the kirk has assaulted her, and assayed to overcome her, and yet has not prevailed, all should join together and say, It is the Lord who has done these great things for us, and say, The afflictions, wherewith our enemies afflicted us, were great and many, and yet, for all that, they have not prevailed. There be two reasons for people to join together. First, When many joins together for a good work, then there is the greater honour to God. It is true, I grant, if there were none but thou alone for a good turn in a whole paroch, that is honour to God; but when multitudes flock together, then the promise is the greater. There be two times that people should flock together. 1. They should flock together when they apprehend a judgment is coming, to the end that they may all humble themselves, and pray to God to avert that judgment aff them, and to turn it upon a people who knows not God. 2. They should flock together when God gives any hope of a deliverance to his people, and bless him for that. Even as they report of the storks in other countries,* and as some

* «Yea, thecountries,◊footnote} "Yea, ◊it{the stork in the heaven knoaveth her appointed times;times;} and the turtle and the crane and the swallow observe the time of their coming."'--- Jer. viii. 7.

« Who bids the stork, Columbus-like, explore Heavens not its own, and worlds unknown before?

Who calls the council, states the certain day, Who forms the phalanx, and who points the way? '---PorE.

267/ 267 ---

PSALM CXXIX. 267coming."---◊ref{Jer.8.7}.

"Who bids the stork, Columbus-like, explore Heavens not its own, and worlds unknown before? Who calls the council, states the certain day, Who forms the phalanx, and who points the way?"---Pope.} and as some birds do among ourselves, before the winter come they flock together, and flies to some safer part, that so they may eschew the storm, and hides themselves in the holes of the rocks; and then in the spring time again, before the summer @@ -158,49 +143,38 @@ his goodness: but we should further him to go on, by our praising of his name for that whilk he has done. Secondly. When many joins together in a good work, it is a great good to Israel, and to the saints and kirk of God, for this is the way how to find and to observe the loving-kindness of the Lord; according to that, Ps. cvii.,* " Whoso◊ref{Ps.107.43}, "Whoso will observe these things sall see the loving-kindness of the Lord." So these who will observe the afflictions of God's people, how he has afflicted them, and suffered the enemies to molest them, and yet, for all that, has preserved his people, and granted them victory, and has destroyed the enemies; whoso will observe these things, sall see the loving-kindness of the Lord towards his people, and still praise God for it; and then sall see his kindness towards himself. And as it is, Ps. Ixxviii.,+◊ref{Ps.78.6-Ps.78.7}, they who knows the works of the Lord, they sall report it to their children, and to their children's children, that they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of his hands. And, indeed, there is a work already done into this land, albeit the Lord should stay it and not let it go any farder on, that is well worthy to be remembered for ever. And, indeed, it sall not be forgotten, so long as this land is possessed by any, and while the world stands.{ So ye see it

* Ver. 43. t Ver. 6, 7.

1 Herestands.◊footnote{Here we observe the inborn conviction of the enduring importance of 268/ 268 ---

268 SERMON.their work, which is common to all the guiding spirits in the history of the world.} So ye see it is Israel who is describing her affliction here. " Many"Many a time."

II. "Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth. The plewers, etc." If we will look narrowly to the words in Israel's describing of her afflictions, we will find three things presented to us---1. How old these afflictions are; "From my youth." Ay, from my infancy, birth, and conception. 2. There is the frequency and iteration of these afflictions. 'TheyThey were gff◊it{oft} and many: " Many◊it{many}: "Many a time." 3. There is the grievousness of these afflictions, expressed by a comparison. ‘"The"The plewers plewed upon my back: they. made long their furrows." So these were old afllictions Jromafllictions---◊it{from her youth.youth}. Then they were oft---manyoft---◊it{many a time.time}. Moe times than can be numbered; moe nor seven times, aye, moe nor seventy times seven, for the word imports offen.◊it{often}. And then they were grievous, even like iron pleughs, drawing deep and long furrows on their back. The first testifies the innocency of the kirk at this time, for if ever the kirk . had innocency, it behoved to be in her youth, and therefore it testifies the enemies' injuriousness and cruelty. The second, many◊it{many a time,time}, is a document (proof )(proof) of the constancy of the kirk. She is afflicted again and again, and yet, for all these afflictions, she ceased not to serve God continually. And it i1s also ane argument of the malicious pertinacy of the enemies, who never ceased to afflict @@ -208,27 +182,15 @@ the kirk. The third is ane evidence of the patience of the kirk, who endured all that, and of the cruelty of the enemies, who could find in their heart to do so to her.

First, "¥rom◊it{First}, "From my youth." He speaks here of the kirk as of one particular man; he brings in Israel as speaking of his awin life in particular. And, indeed, there be two men in the Scripture, one in the New Testament, another in the Old, who does very well express the estate of the kirk in their life. In the New Testament there is Jesus Christ; he is the head of the kirk; he was a man of many sorrows from his cradle to his burial. His life was full of sorrows; he

their work, which is common to all the guiding spirits in the history of the world.

269/ 269 ---

PSALM CXXIX. 269

was hardly used all his time, and at his end was mocked, buffeted, scourged, etc. There was never any who might more justly say, no, never any who might so justly say, "Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth." 1I will not enter here to speak of the sufferings of Christ: they began soon, they were many, and they were great; and so he was a vive (lively) representation of the kirk. There is also another in the Old Testament, and this is he who is named @@ -257,21 +219,16 @@ birthright was now established. So that he could look upon none of his children, at least upon few of them, but they were ane affliction to him. And so he was different in his afflictions from others, for some will get a foul bitter shower in the

270/ 270 ---

270 SERMON.

morning, but will get all the rest of the day fair; some will get a foul shower at the noontide of the day, and yet have it fair both morning and evening, as Job had; and some will have it fair all day, and get a sicker *sicker◊footnote{◊it{Sicker}---firm and decided; as applied to a shower smart or heavy.} shower at night, as Peter, " When"When thou was young, thou girded thyself, and went whither thou wouldst, but when thou art old, another sall gird thee, and lead thee whither thou wouldst not."+not."◊footnote{See the Author's affecting dedication, prefixed to his sermon before the Lords, July 1644, in which this text, along with others, is quoted in illustration of his own experience, that although naturally addicted to a retired and studious life, he had been called by God, contrary to his own inclinations, to take a prominent part in public affairs.} But Israel in his whole life was afflicted, as I told you Christ was, from his birth to his burial; and so in this he does vively (in a lively manner) represent the estate of the kirk. Howsoever he who was first Jacob prevailed with God, and so was called Israel; so sall the kirk @@ -282,7 +239,7 @@ youth. If ye would consider of the different times of the upcoming (progress) of the kirk, it may be considered in these particulars. 1. In her infancy. 2. In her youth. 3. In her perfection. 4. In her old age. First, for the infancy of the kirk, we may go farder than that time they were in Egypt, or to Abraham: we may ascend to that promise, ‘‘ The"The seed of the woman sall tread down the head of the serpent." From that time to the flood, in Noah's time, was the infancy of the kirk. Secondly, The bairnage or youth of the kirk was from the flood till Christ's coming in the flesh. For a long time it was contained only @@ -293,24 +250,12 @@ the old age of the kirk, when Antichrist began to be set up in his chair, and was fully set up at last, so that the kirk was almost lost, and she had one foot in the grave; till it pleased the Lord to renew her age, as he doeth the eagle's, by * Sicker---firm and decided;casting her bill, as applied to a shower smart or heavy.

1 See the Author's affecting dedication, prefixed to his sermon before the Lords, July 1644, in which this text, along with others,it is quoted in illustration of his own experience, that although naturally addicted to a retired◊ref{Ps.103.5}◊footnote} "As the eagle decayeth and studious life, he had been called by God, contrary to his own inclinations,groweth lean, when her ◊it{bill} or ◊it{beak} groweth so long and crooked as she cannot eat for it; and when she casteth her ◊{bill}, and her ◊it{beak} is now better fitted to takea prominent part in public affairs.

271/ 271 ---

PSALM CXXIX. 271

casting her bill,food, then she is revived and strengthened, and as it is Psalm ciii.*were groweth young again: so fareth it with the soul of the believer, etc." Dickson on ◊ref{Ps.103}.}. And, indeed, that we have seen some returning of the age of the kirk, so that it was never better since the beginning, we have great reason to bless God for this. Justin divides the ages of Rome thus, and it is the right division of the ages of the kirk. All the @@ -324,37 +269,21 @@ days, it may be called the perfection of the kirk, by the same reasons. For then her lines were farder extended; then there was further knowledge of things; and then in respect of the manner how she was taught.

This is not ane idle discourse we are occasioned to you by the word youth.◊it{youth}. For, first, it meets with ane unsavoury and tasteless discourse of our adversars, who say, when they are speaking of the ages of the kirk, that in the apostles' times, then the kirk was at her bairnage; but they say that n the time of the ancient and godly Fathers, then was the perfection of the kirk:+kirk:◊footnote} See Henderson's Third Paper for his Majesty---"I know it is a common opinion, but I believe there be no strong reasons for it, that the church that was nearest the times of the apostles was the most pure and perfect church." Henderson, as appears from what follows, held that it was not the church, which was "nearest the times of the apostles," that was most pure and perfect, but the church that existed in the ◊it{very days} of the apostles.} whilk was the time when Antichrist began to be set up, and the apostles told that Antichrist was already begun before they died. Howbeit, indeed, I think many of these fathers did that whilk they did ignorantly, for I think, if they had known what it would

* Ver. 5. "As the eagle decayeth and groweth lean, when her i/ or beak groweth so long and crooked as she cannot eat for it; and when she casteth her 4i/l, and her beak is now better fitted to take her food, then she is revived and strengthened, and as it were groweth young again: so fareth it with the soul of the believer, etc."" Dickson on Psalm ciii,

t See Henderson's Third Paper for his Majesty---" 1 know it is a common opinion, but I believe there be no strong reasons for it, that the church that was nearest the times of the apostles was the most pure and perfect church." Henderson, as appears from what follows, held that it was not the church, which was " nearest the times of the apostles," that was most pure and perfect, but the church that existed in the very days of the apostles.

272/ 272 ---

272 SERMON.

turn to, they would have been loath to have done as they did. And therefore let us hold this to be true, that the greatest perfection that ever the kirk was at, or will be at, was in the time of the apostles; but the youth and infancy @@ -377,8 +306,8 @@ truth, and sall not we who are come to perfect age (at least should be so) not suffer for it? It is a shame for us, let be (not to say) a sin, if we resolve not before hand to do it, and when it comes, to do it indeed.

Secondly.◊it{Secondly}. As the afflictions of the kirk began early, so they continued long, and there was a iteration of them; " Many"Many a time." And in such sort they continued, that the course of the kirk was nothing else but a continual change, blenks up (gleams of sunshine) and incontinent down again; even as it is in the course of nature, betwixt summer and winter, a fair blenk and a shower, the @@ -386,25 +315,16 @@ night and the day, so was it with the kirk. Albeit she was not afflicted at all times, yet she was afllicted many times. Sometimes she would have a long foul winter and but short summer, a long dark night and but a short day, a long sicker shower and but a short blenk of the sun: sometimes again a long summer,

273/ 273 ---

PSALM CXXIX. 2473

and a fair long day, and a long clear sunshine, and but little winter, a short night, and a little shower. This may seem strange and wonderful, that the Lord should thus exercise his kirk with repeated and reiterated afflictions, so that there should be no end of her afflictions;---she may well get some little refreshment, but it is only a breathing time. What can be the cause of this? Sall we say that because it is thus, therefore God has not a providence over his kirk in her afflictions? For some say, If God had a providence over" his kirk in her afflictions, would he thus exercise them so hardly who are in covenant with him, and whom he professes to love so dearly, even as the apple of his eye? 4.◊it{A}. Ay certainly, (to beat this back upon themselves who say 50),so), since some has observed the course of time to be so, and acknowledge that the kirk of God is often under affliction, then I say that even because of that, God must have a special care and providence over his kirk. And indeed that is a @@ -416,26 +336,15 @@ some ill and some good things for him: and therefore he has so disposed that his children sall suffer all their ill in this life; they sall suffer none in the life to come, but they sall have only good: and for the wicked, he has ordained that they sall get all their good in this life, but no good in the life to come, but only ill. ‘ThisThis is that whilk Abraham is brought in speaking to that rich man, Luke xvi*◊ref{Luke.16.25}. When he was only desiring that Lazarus might give him one drop but of cold water, to cool the neb (point) of his tongue, Abraham answers, " Son,"Son, remember that thou in thy life receivedst thy good things, but Lazarus his evil things; "things;" and therefore, as he would say, Resolve upon this, and set your mind to rest; for ye must be tormented, but he must be comforted. As if he said, Ye need to speak no more of that matter; there is nothing ordained for you now but torment, for ye have gotten all the good that ever ye will get, or that

* Ver. zZs S

274/ 274 ---

274 SERMON.

God has ordained for you: but for Lazarus, it's true God ordained many ills for him, but he has gotten them all already; and now there remains no more ill for him, but only good. And so ye see that the kirk of God and these who belong to @@ -468,15 +377,7 @@ crosses. know not what it is to pray to God as we will do then; we do not give thanks to God, and bless him so heartily for any benefit as we will do then. We know not God so well at no time as we do in trouble: before, we only hear of his manner of dealing with his chil

275/ 275 ---

PSALM CXXIX, 27§

dren,children, but then we do both hear and also perceive his manner of working.

And may I not say that the troubles of the kirk of Scotland has done us mickle good, and driven us to God more earnestly? for would we have been about this @@ -488,7 +389,12 @@ imagine that ever the kirk, so long as she is here, sall be free of afflictions. I suppose, (and it should be our wish and desire that it should be so,) that all things were done in the house of God in this land according to his will, and there were such ane Assembly and Parliament as our hearts could wish,*wish,◊footnote} Two of the "Articles for the present peace of the kirk and kingdom of Scotland" that were drawn up and insisted on by the Covenanters at this time related to a ◊it{free Assembly} and a ◊it{free Parliament}. See the "Articles" ◊it{in extenso} in ◊it{Stevenson's History}, pp. 218-220.} think ye that there would be no more trouble then? No, I will assure you it would not be so, for the devil is not dead yet, and he has evermore his awin supposts, and malignant spirits anew to raise up to trouble his kirk. And what would it breed if it were thus? Nothing else but security, whilk is a very @@ -504,36 +410,22 @@ pestilence into a country, there will not be many other common diseases to trouble folks, but when it is away, then there will be moe common diseases; so while the kirk is in trouble, the members thereof will not have many horrours of conscience, nor

* Two of the "« Articles for the present peace of the kirk and kingdom of Scotland" that were drawn up and insisted on by the Covenanters at this time related to a _free Assembly and a free Parliament. See the " Articles" in extenso in Stevenson's History, pp. 218-220.

276/ 276 ---

G 7 SERMON.

many grieved hearts; but when the outward trouble is away, then their awin secret ills kythes more. And therefore it is evermore best and safest for us to resclveresolve for trouble so long as we are here.

Thirdly.◊it{Thirdly}. Now for the grievousness of their affliction, it is set down in a borrowed comparison tane from plewmen. "The plewers have plewed upon my back; they made long their furrows." This is such ane pleugh as we have not heard tell of before. There is ane common pleugh, wherewith ye labour your land; all of you knows that: and there is also another pleugh spoken of by our Saviour, Luke ix.*◊ref{Luke.9.62}. "He that puts his hand to the pleugh, and looks back again, is not meet for the kingdom of God." This is the pleugh of the gospel: whether he be pastor or professor that anes puts his hand to this pleugh, he must not look back again. But here there is a third pleugh, whilk is ordained for troubling of God's people. The great husbandman who aught (owns) this pleugh, (at least by whose permission this pleugh goes,) is God. Not only is- it God who makes your common pleughs to gang, and senidssends the gospel into a land, but it is God also who disposes and overrules this same pleugh of persecution. For without his license the pleugh cannot be yoked; and being yoked cannot enter to gang whill (till) he direct; and he tempers the irons, so that they cannot go one @@ -547,17 +439,6 @@ into the pleugh, and drives them up with their gades (goads.) And they have a sort of musick also, whilk they whistle into their ears, to make them go the faster: and that is the allurements and provocations of the world. And for the oxen who draw into this pleugh, it may be princes, when they turn persecutors

* Ver. 62.

277/ 277 ---

PSALM CXXIX. 277

of the kirk; it may be prelates; it may be politicians in the world; these are the oxen, Satan and the ill spirits inciting them, and stirring them up to go fordward in their intended course. Then consider here, that this pleugh and @@ -570,12 +451,12 @@ etc., for my name's sake, sall have a hundreth-fold more in this life, and afterward life eternal." That is, when this pleugh of persecution makes a man willing to forsake thir things, it is a making him ready to reap a plentiful harvest and comfortable here, and much more plentiful and comfortable hereafter..

By this ye may perceive the Lord's manner of dealing with his kirk. First he yokes the pleugh of the gospel in her; and when it is not holden going, then he yokes the pleugh of persecution next, and makes that to draw furrows on their back;---mnotback;---not on their breast where all their noble parts are, and so to destroy them, but on their back, and so to prepare them for seed only. As it is said of Christ and the serpent, the serpent sall but bruise Christ's heel, but Christ sall break his head, so it is the back of the kirk that is plewed. Always @@ -586,76 +467,53 @@ believing in it by faith, in bringing it to the heart to work repentance and a new life. If we would do this, it would hinder the yoking of the pleugh of persecution; or if it were yoked, yet it should not teil sore. But because we who are pastors and ministers has not done our duty in preaching of the gospel,*

* Hendersongospel,◊footnote{Henderson was always very free in pointing out and censuring the faults and shortcomings of ministers, as may be seen in many of his pub,

278/ 278 ---

278 SERMON.published Sermons and Papers. Baillie allades to an instance of this. "On Wednesday, 27th [July, 16427, was a fast [at St. Andrews]. Mr. Hendersone preached graciouslie and wyselie on ◊ref{2Cor.6.1-2Cor.6.3}; ◊it{taxed freelie the vyces of ministers}, among other the humor of novation."--- Baillie ii. 45.} nor ye who are people has not done your duty, whereunto ye were bound by the gospel, therefore it is that the Lord has yoked the pleugh of persecution among us; and if we make mnot better use of the gospel every way, the pleugh sall not be loused yet, but the Lord sall suffer the enemies to hold it going. And, indeed, there are none who are readier to be instruments to draw this pleugh, than these who has anes put their hand to the pleugh of the gospel, and then looked back again.*again.◊footnote{The Church of Scotland had bitter experience of the truth of this ere long in the persecution that followed, 1660-1688.}

Ye may perceive here that these who are persecutors of the kirk have not great rest nor ease in the world: oxen who draws in a pleugh daily has not ane easy life. It's true the kirk suffers of them, but they are exercised also. And therefore afterwards he gives them a name answerable to this---he calls them wicked.¥ " He◊it{wicked}.◊footnote} The word in the original is from a root (רָשַׁע) which signifies ◊it{to make a noise}, or ◊it{tumult}.---See Gesenius' Heb. Lex.} "He hath cut asunder the cords of the wicked:" that is turbulent creatures, still troubling others and themselves. And Esay calls them like the sea, still casting up filth; and ye know the sea never rests. And this tells also what sall be the wages that they sall get. A word that is used of them, Ps. 109,}◊ref{Ps.109.7},◊footnote{"When he shall be judged, let him be ◊it{condemned};" marg., "go out guilty or ◊it{wicked}." The word in the original is the same as in the passage commented on.} signifies condemned persons, and so they sall reap condemnation for their pains; as Job says, " They"They sow wickedness, and they sall reap mischief." But for the sufferings of the godly, they are not in vain, for at last they bring forth the quiet fruits of righteousness. All these furrows that are drawn upon their back is nothing else but a preparing of their heart for receiving the word of God, and making it that good ground spoken of in the gospel (where ye know there are three ill

lished Sermons and Papers. Baillie allades to an instance of this. « On Wednesday, 27th [July, 16427, was a fast [at St. Andrews]. Mr. Hendersone preached graciouslie and wyselie on 2 Cor: v 1,2,.35 taxed freelie the vyces of ministers, among other the humor of novation."--- Baillie 1i. 45.

* The Church of Scotland had bitter experience of the truth of this ere long in the persecution that followed, 1660-1688.

t The word in the original is from a root (™) which signifies fo make a noise, or tumult.---See Gesenius' Heb. Lex.

1 Verse 7. "When he shall be judged, let him be condemned;> marg., "go out guilty or awicked."" 'The word in the original is the same as in the passage commented on.

279/ 279 ---

PSALM CXXIX, 279

grounds and but one good); and this is a mean to make the ground good for receiving the seed of the word, that it may yield increase.

III. Only but a few words of Israel's deliverance from their enemies. " Yet"Yet have they not prevailed against me." And what was the cause that the enemies prevailed not? Was it because of Israel's strength? No, but because " God"God cut asunder the cords of the wicked." So that this pleugh has somes *somes◊footnote{◊it{Somes}. A rod or chain attaching the foremost oxen to the plough. It is fixed to the muzzle, and thetes +passes between the animals next the draught.} and thetes◊footnote{◊it{Thetes}---the traces attaching the oxen to the plough.} whereby it is drawn, whilk are the plots and enterprises of the devil and wicked men. And why was it that God cut asunder the enemies' cords? Not because Israel deserved it, but because the enemies deserved it, and " because"because the Lord is righteous."

"Yet they prevailed not against me." Israel prevailed with God in wrestling @@ -676,24 +534,12 @@ his kirk, and all the rest are the members. And therefore as he has wrestled and overcome all his enemies, so sall we also, if we be in him. This is a kingdom whereof there are a number of the subjects thereof in heaven already, by their fighting and prevailing; and

* See above, p. 264, note. + Thetes---the traces attaching the oxen to the plough.

280/ 280 ---

280 SERMON.

if so be that we will use that armour whilk they used, and will fight as they did, why then sall not we prevail also? and so we sall be partakers with them of that same crown of glory.

Now the cause why Israel prevailed, and not the enemies, was because ‘" God"God cut asunder their cords." Certainly the world;,world, they have many cords wherewith to draw their pleugh; and when they have made a threefold cord for destruction of the kirk of God, the Lord makes that same cord to turn to their awin execution. And sometimes the Lord breaks their cord in pieces, when it seems to be @@ -702,45 +548,36 @@ this is ascribed to the justice and righteousness of God only.

And the rest of this purpose tells us, that as it has been with the kirk and the enemies thereof in former times, so sall it also be afterwards. Albeit they run fast in ane ill course, and go far on into it, ""yet"yet they sall be confounded and turned back, who hate Sion." And then he shews that he would not have the kirk to be offended, albeit their enemies prosper for a while, for it sall be but like grass upon the house-tops, or like deaf corn; it sall not fill the mower's hand, nor sall it have any weight or substance with it. And so he would have the kirk to take comfort for time to come, by experience that she has had of deliverance in by-past time.

And, finally, he closes with this, that they who come by them, when they are at their work, sall not say, " God"God speed ouyou well," or ""God"God bless you and your labours." And surely, beloved, we may say this upon good grounds, and from experience, that in all the troubles of our kirk, when prelates and politicians were coming to ane height, there- was none who said, The Lord bless them, and send them good speed in their work.* And when they were persecut *work.◊footnote} So far from this, we read that " All"All of them [the petitioners against the innovations] wrestled with God, in their private prayers, and public supplications and fastings, that the counsels of the king might be turned to the public good of the church and state, and◊it{and that he would disappoint the attempts of enemies, who were employed in undermining the church,church}, that was already in a very shattered condition." Hist. Mot. p. 35.

281/ 281 ---

PSALM CXXIX. 281

ing35.} And when they were persecuting a poor minister for standing to the truth, there was none who prayed for good speed to them; but there were many who were deprecating it, and praying to God to turn the chase. No surely, I think themselves durst not pray to God to send them good speed in their course. And these who has been praying to God against it, let them take it for ane answer to their prayers, that God has begun to turn back their course. But for the cause that we have in hand, it has filled the mouths of many, and that not only among ourselves, but even in other nations about us, to pray to God for good success to us.*us.◊footnote{See above . 265, note. TODO} And indeed the kirk of Scotland may truly say, ‘" Many"Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth. The plewers have plewed upon my back: they made long their furrows. The Lord is righteous; he hath cut asunder the cords of the wicked." Ay certainly, if the Lord had not cut asunder their cords, we had been in a desperate and a @@ -748,80 +585,10 @@ miserable case or this time. For the enemies of the kirk in this land, they were come to such a height that they resolved, If we get our pleugh but this once about, then we sall get our turn done, and this kirk sall be quite undone. Yet even when they were come to the rig's end, and beginning to turn, and wynding about,+about,◊footnote{◊it{Wynding about}. Turning to the left.} the Lord did cut their cords, and made the pleugh to stand stil. Now let us not say, "Unto us, unto us belongs the glory of this;" for who of us dared say, that we deserved that the Lord should have done this to us? but let us say that the Lord is just and righteous in executing wrath against his enemies, and is true in performing his promises to his people; aud therefore let us say that it is he alone that has done it. Now to his great name, Father, etc.

: * See above . 265, note. t Wynding about. * Turning to the left,

282/ 282 ---

[FAST. Mav 5, 1638.]

[AFTERNOON.] PREFACE.

It is a very notable testimony that the apostles and these who were believers in the time of the primitive kirk received, when it is said of them at the time of the first establishing of the gospel into the world, that they continued, or endured, in prayers and supplications unto God; because it is no small matter for to endure in prayers and supplications. It contains two things. 1. It contains fervency or earnestness, for the word has a certain strength in it. 2. It contains constancy. Divide thir two, and then prayer is ane easy matter. For the first, who is there who will not be zealous for a while in prayer? but incontinent they fall aff it again: and again, it is ane easy thing to be constant in prayer, where there is no earnestness. And so fervency and falling back in prayer may be together; and slowness and slackness in prayer and perseverance may be joined together; but to make this. conjunction,---to be fervent and constant in prayer, it is no easy matter. Surely, except we have both these, (and these who has faith has them both, and according to the measure of faith so will the measure of these be), there is no possibility for us to attain our desires from God. And therefore when we pray to God at any time, let us take heed what we pray for to God; but even also take heed how we pray: and in the hearing of the word, let us not only take heed what we hear, but let us also take heed how we hear. For what, albeit the word of God be preached unto us according as he has commanded,

283/ 283 ---

PREFACE. 283

and in the simplicity thereof, if so be we hear it not as it becomes us? or what, albeit these petitions that we put up be lawful, and warranted by him, if so be we put them not up as it becomes? Princes and great men will not be content that petitions and supplications be put up to them, whilk are not according to their will, both in matter and in manner; should we not then take heed that our supplications to that great King be right, both in matter and in manner? Therefore learn to pray to God in faith, in constancy, and in earnestness; and then we may say confidently, as David says, Psalm cxli.,* " That our prayers sall be before the Lord as incense, and the lifting up of our hands as the evening sacrifice." There was never any incense that was offered, under the law, in the morning, nor no sacrifice that was offered in the evening, more acceptable to God than thy prayer sall be, when it is offered up in faith for these things whilk are commanded: and [if thou] prays in earnestness and constancy, then thou may resolve that what thou seeks sall be found. And although, as the pillar of incense did not stand still continually, but was blown to and fro, and did agitate, yet still the smoke of the incense ascended upward, and was acceptable; so albeit thou be tosted (tossed) to and fro thus with divers afflictions, yet if thou pray thus to God, thy prayers sall ascend up to heaven: and when they sall ascend, then we may be sure that we sall receive a comfortable answer, both for the refreshing of our souls, and also for continuing the light of the gospel, in the purity thereof. And therefore let us now fall down before the Lord our God, and seek unto him thus, that so he may be found of us, etc.

* Verse 2.

a/src/0053.poly.pm b/src/0053.poly.pm index 161ba88..ef53a39 100644 --- a/src/0053.poly.pm +++ b/src/0053.poly.pm @@ -1,57 +1,7 @@ #lang pollen

- [ ] Completed?

[Link to this page on Archive.org](https://archive.org/details/sermonsprayerspu00hend/page/262/mode/1up)

--- Page 262 ---

262 SERMON.

was pronounced by any honest minister in this land, but it sall seize upon us, if so be we keep not the covenant we have made with God.

And therefore, since ye see the will of God, and hear his threatenings and curses, and there is no remeid for you to escape these curses, nor no way to get these blessings, but only by keeping covenant with God; and it is not the day, nor yesterday, that this covenant was made, but it is ane old covenant, entered into long since; therefore let us remember how we have broken it, and repent for that, and labour to amend it. Aye, by and attoure (over and above) this covenant, whilk was so publickly made, we were oblished by that covenant, whilk we made at our baptism, to walk otherwise nor we have done. There are many perjuries into this land through breach of covenant with God; the guiltiness of any sin, it is great, but the guiltiness of perjury, it is exceeding great. Therefore humble yourselves now before God, and run the backtred* of your life, and see what ye have been doing since ye came first into the world, and especially since ye came to years of discretion, and see how ye have failed. And let me anes have but this mickle of you, that ye begin to say, What have I done? and coming to this, then ye will be forced to acknowledge, What ill is there whilk T have not done? That so ye, confessing your sins before the Lord, and sorrowing for them, and promising to amend, and resolving to do it, the Lord may yet be merciful to you, and continue his presence among you; and may

bring his blessings upon you, and hold aff his curses.

SERMON. PsaLmM cxXIX. 1., TO THE END.

The great blessing of peace, whilk the Lord hath promised to his people even in this life, (for where the Lord

* Run the backtred. Run backwards over.

- [ ] Completed?

[Link to this page on Archive.org](https://archive.org/details/sermonsprayerspu00hend/page/263/mode/1up)

--- Page 263 ---

PSALM CXXIX. 263

gives mercy to any, he gives them peace also, peace and grace are inseparably joined together), their peace, I say, does not consist in this, that the people of God sall have no enemies: no, for there is a immortal and endless enmity @@ -65,38 +15,30 @@ afflict us. But this is the peace of the children of God, that although their enemies molest, persecute, and afflict them, they sall not harm them; at the least they sall not harm them but the godly in Christ sall be victorious, and sall be more than conquerors; and they sall get the blessings of God heaped upenupon them. But, for the wicked, all the threatenings whilk God has threatened in his word sall fall upon them, because they are enemies of God and his people. And as it is, Deut. xxix.,◊ref{Deut.29}, (whilk ye heard lately exponed to you), all the curses of God sall rest upon the enemies of his people, as that being their proper element; for it is there that all the judgments of God takes them rest. They find no rest whill (till) they come there, and when they come there they remove not: even as all the blessings of God are prepared for his people, and find there proper element to rest there.

This that I am speaking to you now, it is the comfortable doctrine of this psalm. The kirk, under the name of Israel, is brought in here expressing her afflictions, and says Thatthat they are many, they are grievous, and they are old. afflictions; yet this is her comfort in the midst of all these afflictions, when the enemies has beset her round about, ‘"yet"yet they have not prevailed." And no thanks to Israel or to the kirk for this, but the praise thereof belongs only to God; for ¢ God"God has cut asunder the cords of the wicked," that is, all their enterprises, their plots, their machinations. And this was not done because of the kirk's deservings, but because * God"God is righteous and just," and because the ene

- [ ] Completed?

[Link to this page on Archive.org](https://archive.org/details/sermonsprayerspu00hend/page/264/mode/1up)

--- Page 264 ---

264 SERMON.

miesenemies deserved it, that it should be done to them. And as the Lord has done this in times past, so they pray that he would do it for time to come to all them who hate Sion,--- ‘"that"that they may be ashamed and confounded." And he assures himself that though they were going fordward in ane ill course with never so great speed, yet God sall interrupt their course; ‘he"he will bring them back." And albeit they prosper for a while in the beginning, as grass will do whilk is growing on ane house-top, yet when harvest comes, there sall be nothing there to fill the mower's hand. And, moreover, these who knows God, and knows what @@ -107,49 +49,37 @@ comes by them prays for a curse to them.

That ye may take up this purpose the better, and that it may be the more profitable to you, ye sall consider of it in these parts. 1. In whose name it is that this psalm is conceived; ‘Israel"Israel may now say." 2. There is Israel's description of his afflictions and his troubles; ¢ Many"Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth. The plewers have plewed upon my back: they made long their furrows." 3. There is Israel's deliverance out of these troubles. These plewers sall not prevail in their intended purpose, because " The"The Lord is righteous: he hath cut asunder the cords of the wicked: "wicked:" or he has cutted asunder the somes*somes◊footnote{◊it{Somes}. A rod or chain attaching the foremost oxen to the plough. It is fixed to the muzzle, and passes between the animals next the draught.} wherewith they were drawing the pleugh of their cruelty. And why? because God is just and righteous. 4. There is the vengeance and judgment that is prepared for the enemies of Israel at all times. Albeit they prosper for a while, as the grass doeth upon the house-tops, yet they sall be ashamed and turned back, who hate Zion; they sall reap no increase of their labours; neither sall any who comes by them, and sees them working, say, ¢ The"The blessing of the Lord be upon your work,"---God send it a good success, and you a blessmg mnto 1t.

* Somes. A rod or chain attaching the foremost oxen to the plough. It is fixed to the muzzle, and passes between the animals next the draught.

- [ ] Completed?

[Link to this page on Archive.org](https://archive.org/details/sermonsprayerspu00hend/page/265/mode/1up)

--- Page 265 ---

PSALM CXXIX. 265blessing unto it.

Beloved, these are four points whilk are very necessar for you to consider on, and very behooveful for you to think upon; for it is not enough for you, or for me, or for any particular person, or such a number of persons, to think upon God's great works, but Israel should do it: the whole kirk should say with one voice together. Secondly, Neither should we forget our former afflictions, suppone we have gotten a little ease.~ As for us, indeed, we are not yet fully freed of our afflictions, and so sense should make us to remember our afflictions. And may not the kirk of Scotland say indeed, ¢ Many"Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth?" and the kirk of Scotland may say, *The"The plewers have plewed upon my back: they have made long their furrows." Thirdly, we should ascribe this glory to God, that he has interrupted the course, and say that it is God who has cutted their cords, and disappointed all their plots whilk they had laid, and that because he is righteous and just to execute wrath against his enemies, and [because of |of] his truth and power to perform his promise, and deliver his children. Fourthly, If so be that we be not haters, but lovers of Sion, then we may be assured that our enemies sall be ashamed and turned back; and we may be sure that God sall not bless them who are enemies to @@ -157,29 +87,17 @@ Zion: neither is there any who comes by them, and sees them ut their work, or who hears what they are working, who will pray for a blessing to them, if they know God. And for this same matter, whilk is presently in hand among us, many among us prays for a blessing to it; and through other nations, they pray for a blessing to the kirk of Scotland, and to the good cause they have in hand: *hand:◊footnote{It is to be inferred from this that assurances of sympathy and support from the Reformed Churches abroad had already reached the Covenanters.} but we never heard of any yet, who prayed for a blessing to these, who were bringing in a strange worship into this land; yea, I think there be none who dare pray for it to God.

I. "Israel may now say." This is the first part of the psalm; and ye see here, the psalm is conceived in the name of Israel. ¢" Israel may now say:" That is, king and princes,

* Tt is to be inferred from this that assurances of sympathy and support from the Reformed Churches abroad had already reached the Cove nanters,

- [ ] Completed?

[Link to this page on Archive.org](https://archive.org/details/sermonsprayerspu00hend/page/266/mode/1up)

--- Page 266 ---

266 SERMON.

and all the people of God has now reason to say. It is not enough for some persons to say it: that is not the meaning here, for Israel is not taken here for Jacob as he was a man only, but it is taken for the whole kirk of God. It's @@ -219,12 +137,9 @@ points the way? '---PorE.

- [ ] Completed?

[Link to this page on Archive.org](https://archive.org/details/sermonsprayerspu00hend/page/267/mode/1up)

--- Page267/ 267 ---

PSALM CXXIX. 267

@@ -264,22 +179,19 @@ world stands.{ So ye see it

- [ ] Completed?

[Link to this page on Archive.org](https://archive.org/details/sermonsprayerspu00hend/page/268/mode/1up)

--- Page268/ 268 ---

268 SERMON.

is Israel who is describing her affliction here. ¢" Many a time."

II. "Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth. The plewers, etc." If we will look narrowly to the words in Israel's describing of her afflictions, we will find three things presented to us---1. How old these afflictions are; "From my youth." Ay, from my infancy, birth, and conception. 2. There is the frequency and iteration of these afflictions. 'They were gff and many: ¢" Many a time." 3. There is the grievousness of these afflictions, expressed by a comparison. ‘"The plewers plewed upon my back: they. made long their furrows." So these were old afllictions Jrom her youth. Then they were oft---many a time. @@ -308,12 +220,9 @@ world.

- [ ] Completed?

[Link to this page on Archive.org](https://archive.org/details/sermonsprayerspu00hend/page/269/mode/1up)

--- Page269/ 269 ---

PSALM CXXIX. 269

@@ -351,19 +260,16 @@ bitter shower in the

- [ ] Completed?

[Link to this page on Archive.org](https://archive.org/details/sermonsprayerspu00hend/page/270/mode/1up)

--- Page270/ 270 ---

270 SERMON.

morning, but will get all the rest of the day fair; some will get a foul shower at the noontide of the day, and yet have it fair both morning and evening, as Job had; and some will have it fair all day, and get a sicker * shower at night, as Peter, ¢" When thou was young, thou girded thyself, and went whither thou wouldst, but when thou art old, another sall gird thee, and lead thee whither thou wouldst not."+ But Israel in his whole life was afflicted, as I told you Christ was, from his birth to his burial; and so in this he does @@ -398,12 +304,9 @@ inclinations, to take a prominent part in public affairs.

- [ ] Completed?

[Link to this page on Archive.org](https://archive.org/details/sermonsprayerspu00hend/page/271/mode/1up)

--- Page271/ 271 ---

PSALM CXXIX. 271

@@ -441,17 +344,14 @@ t See Henderson's Third Paper for his Majesty---" 1 know it is a common opinion, but I believe there be no strong reasons for it, that the church that was nearest the times of the apostles was the most pure and perfect church." Henderson, as appears from what follows, held that it was not the church, which was ¢" nearest the times of the apostles," that was most pure and perfect, but the church that existed in the very days of the apostles.

- [ ] Completed?

[Link to this page on Archive.org](https://archive.org/details/sermonsprayerspu00hend/page/272/mode/1up)

--- Page272/ 272 ---

272 SERMON.

@@ -478,7 +378,7 @@ suffer for it? It is a shame for us, let be (not to say) a sin, if we resolve not before hand to do it, and when it comes, to do it indeed.

Secondly. As the afflictions of the kirk began early, so they continued long, and there was a iteration of them; ¢" Many a time." And in such sort they continued, that the course of the kirk was nothing else but a continual change, blenks up (gleams of sunshine) and incontinent down again; even as it is in the course of nature, betwixt summer and winter, a fair blenk and a shower, the @@ -489,12 +389,9 @@ sicker shower and but a short blenk of the sun: sometimes again a long summer,

- [ ] Completed?

[Link to this page on Archive.org](https://archive.org/details/sermonsprayerspu00hend/page/273/mode/1up)

--- Page273/ 273 ---

PSALM CXXIX. 2473

@@ -522,7 +419,7 @@ ordained that they sall get all their good in this life, but no good in the life to come, but only ill. ‘This is that whilk Abraham is brought in speaking to that rich man, Luke xvi* When he was only desiring that Lazarus might give him one drop but of cold water, to cool the neb (point) of his tongue, Abraham answers, ¢" Son, remember that thou in thy life receivedst thy good things, but Lazarus his evil things; " and therefore, as he would say, Resolve upon this, and set your mind to rest; for ye must be tormented, but he must be comforted. As if he said, Ye need to speak no more of that matter; there is nothing @@ -533,12 +430,9 @@ will get, or that

- [ ] Completed?

[Link to this page on Archive.org](https://archive.org/details/sermonsprayerspu00hend/page/274/mode/1up)

--- Page274/ 274 ---

274 SERMON.

@@ -576,12 +470,9 @@ God, and bless him so heartily for any benefit as we will do then. We know not God so well at no time as we do in trouble: before, we only hear of his manner of dealing with his chil

- [ ] Completed?

[Link to this page on Archive.org](https://archive.org/details/sermonsprayerspu00hend/page/275/mode/1up)

--- Page275/ 275 ---

PSALM CXXIX, 27§

@@ -600,7 +491,7 @@ his will, and there were such ane Assembly and Parliament as our hearts could wish,* think ye that there would be no more trouble then? No, I will assure you it would not be so, for the devil is not dead yet, and he has evermore his awin supposts, and malignant spirits anew to raise up to trouble his kirk. And what would it breed if it were thus? Nothing else but security, whilk 1sis a very dangerous case for a Christian to be in; and then, after a while's security, there would arise another new trouble again. And therefore think not that ye sall have a heavenly peace so long as ye are here; but ye must put on the whole @@ -614,19 +505,16 @@ trouble folks, but when it is away, then there will be moe common diseases; so while the kirk is in trouble, the members thereof will not have many horrours of conscience, nor

* Two of the ¢«"« Articles for the present peace of the kirk and kingdom of Scotland" that were drawn up and insisted on by the Covenanters at this time related to a _free Assembly and a free Parliament. See the ¢" Articles" in extenso in Stevenson's History, pp. 218-220.

- [ ] Completed?

[Link to this page on Archive.org](https://archive.org/details/sermonsprayerspu00hend/page/276/mode/1up)

--- Page276/ 276 ---

G 7 SERMON.

@@ -639,7 +527,7 @@ borrowed comparison tane from plewmen. "The plewers have plewed upon my back; they made long their furrows." This is such ane pleugh as we have not heard tell of before. There is ane common pleugh, wherewith ye labour your land; all of you knows that: and there is also another pleugh spoken of by our Saviour, Luke ix.* ¢He"He that puts his hand to the pleugh, and looks back again, is not meet for the kingdom of God." This is the pleugh of the gospel: whether he be pastor or professor that anes puts his hand to this pleugh, he must not look back again. But here there is a third pleugh, whilk is ordained for troubling @@ -664,12 +552,9 @@ oxen who draw into this pleugh, it may be princes, when they turn persecutors

- [ ] Completed?

[Link to this page on Archive.org](https://archive.org/details/sermonsprayerspu00hend/page/277/mode/1up)

--- Page277/ 277 ---

PSALM CXXIX. 277

@@ -708,12 +593,9 @@ shortcomings of ministers, as may be seen in many of his pub,

- [ ] Completed?

[Link to this page on Archive.org](https://archive.org/details/sermonsprayerspu00hend/page/278/mode/1up)

--- Page278/ 278 ---

278 SERMON.

@@ -729,7 +611,7 @@ Ye may perceive here that these who are persecutors of the kirk have not great rest nor ease in the world: oxen who draws in a pleugh daily has not ane easy life. It's true the kirk suffers of them, but they are exercised also. And therefore afterwards he gives them a name answerable to this---he calls them wicked.¥ ¢" He hath cut asunder the cords of the wicked:" that is turbulent creatures, still troubling others and themselves. And Esay calls them like the sea, still casting up filth; and ye know the sea never rests. And this tells also what sall be the wages that they sall get. A word that is used of them, @@ -758,12 +640,9 @@ commented on.

- [ ] Completed?

[Link to this page on Archive.org](https://archive.org/details/sermonsprayerspu00hend/page/279/mode/1up)

--- Page279/ 279 ---

PSALM CXXIX, 279

@@ -772,11 +651,11 @@ receiving the seed of the word, that it may yield increase.

III. Only but a few words of Israel's deliverance from their enemies. " Yet have they not prevailed against me." And what was the cause that the enemies prevailed not? Was it because of Israel's strength? No, but because ¢" God cut asunder the cords of the wicked." So that this pleugh has somes * and thetes + whereby it is drawn, whilk are the plots and enterprises of the devil and wicked men. And why was it that God cut asunder the enemies' cords? Not because Israel deserved it, but because the enemies deserved it, and ¢" because the Lord is righteous."

"Yet they prevailed not against me." Israel prevailed with God in wrestling @@ -803,12 +682,9 @@ plough.

- [ ] Completed?

[Link to this page on Archive.org](https://archive.org/details/sermonsprayerspu00hend/page/280/mode/1up)

--- Page280/ 280 ---

280 SERMON.

@@ -835,7 +711,7 @@ would have the kirk to take comfort for time to come, by experience that she has had of deliverance in by-past time.

And, finally, he closes with this, that they who come by them, when they are at their work, sall not say, ¢" God speed

ou well," or ""God bless you and your labours." And surely, beloved, we may say this upon good grounds, and from experience, that in all the troubles of our @@ -850,12 +726,9 @@ church, that was already in a very shattered condition." Hist. Mot. p. 35.

- [ ] Completed?

[Link to this page on Archive.org](https://archive.org/details/sermonsprayerspu00hend/page/281/mode/1up)

--- Page281/ 281 ---

PSALM CXXIX. 281

@@ -887,12 +760,9 @@ name, Father, etc.

- [ ] Completed?

[Link to this page on Archive.org](https://archive.org/details/sermonsprayerspu00hend/page/282/mode/1up)

--- Page282/ 282 ---

[FAST. Mav 5, 1638.]

@@ -921,12 +791,9 @@ preached unto us according as he has commanded,

- [ ] Completed?

[Link to this page on Archive.org](https://archive.org/details/sermonsprayerspu00hend/page/283/mode/1up)

--- Page283/ 283 ---

PREFACE. 283

@@ -937,7 +804,7 @@ content that petitions and supplications be put up to them, whilk are not according to their will, both in matter and in manner; should we not then take heed that our supplications to that great King be right, both in matter and in manner? Therefore learn to pray to God in faith, in constancy, and in earnestness; and then we may say confidently, as David says, Psalm cxli.,* ¢" That our prayers sall be before the Lord as incense, and the lifting up of our hands as the evening sacrifice." There was never any incense that was offered, under the law, in the morning, nor no sacrifice that was offered in the

a/src/0053.poly.pm b/src/0053.poly.pm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..161ba88 --- /dev/null +++ b/src/0053.poly.pm @@ -0,0 +1,960 @@ #lang pollen

- [ ] Completed?

[Link to this page on Archive.org](https://archive.org/details/sermonsprayerspu00hend/page/262/mode/1up)

--- Page 262 ---

262 SERMON.

was pronounced by any honest minister in this land, but it sall seize upon us, if so be we keep not the covenant we have made with God.

And therefore, since ye see the will of God, and hear his threatenings and curses, and there is no remeid for you to escape these curses, nor no way to get these blessings, but only by keeping covenant with God; and it is not the day, nor yesterday, that this covenant was made, but it is ane old covenant, entered into long since; therefore let us remember how we have broken it, and repent for that, and labour to amend it. Aye, by and attoure (over and above) this covenant, whilk was so publickly made, we were oblished by that covenant, whilk we made at our baptism, to walk otherwise nor we have done. There are many perjuries into this land through breach of covenant with God; the guiltiness of any sin, it is great, but the guiltiness of perjury, it is exceeding great. Therefore humble yourselves now before God, and run the backtred* of your life, and see what ye have been doing since ye came first into the world, and especially since ye came to years of discretion, and see how ye have failed. And let me anes have but this mickle of you, that ye begin to say, What have I done? and coming to this, then ye will be forced to acknowledge, What ill is there whilk T have not done? That so ye, confessing your sins before the Lord, and sorrowing for them, and promising to amend, and resolving to do it, the Lord may yet be merciful to you, and continue his presence among you; and may

bring his blessings upon you, and hold aff his curses.

SERMON. PsaLmM cxXIX. 1., TO THE END.

The great blessing of peace, whilk the Lord hath promised to his people even in this life, (for where the Lord

* Run the backtred. Run backwards over.

- [ ] Completed?

[Link to this page on Archive.org](https://archive.org/details/sermonsprayerspu00hend/page/263/mode/1up)

--- Page 263 ---

PSALM CXXIX. 263

gives mercy to any, he gives them peace also, peace and grace are inseparably joined together), their peace, I say, does not consist in this, that the people of God sall have no enemies: no, for there is a immortal and endless enmity against them. Neither does their peace consist in this, that their enemies sall not assault them: neither does it consist in this, that their enemies sall not molest and afflict them. We do but deceive ourselves if so be that we imagine, so long as we are in this our pilgrimage, and in our warfare here, if we promise to ourselves a peace of this kind; for while we live in this world, we sall still have enemies, and these enemies sall assault us, and persecute and afflict us. But this is the peace of the children of God, that although their enemies molest, persecute, and afflict them, they sall not harm them; at the least they sall not harm them but the godly in Christ sall be victorious, and sall be more than conquerors; and they sall get the blessings of God heaped upen them. But, for the wicked, all the threatenings whilk God has threatened in his word sall fall upon them, because they are enemies of God and his people. And as it is, Deut. xxix., (whilk ye heard lately exponed to you), all the curses of God sall rest upon the enemies of his people, as that being their proper element; for it is there that all the judgments of God takes them rest. They find no rest whill (till) they come there, and when they come there they remove not: even as all the blessings of God are prepared for his people, and find there proper element to rest there. This that I am speaking to you now, it is the comfortable doctrine of this psalm. The kirk, under the name of Israel, is brought in here expressing her afflictions, and says That they are many, they are grievous, and they are old . afflictions; yet this is her comfort in the midst of all these afflictions, when the enemies has beset her round about, ‘"yet they have not prevailed." And no thanks to Israel or to the kirk for this, but the praise thereof belongs only to God; for ¢ God has cut asunder the cords of the wicked," that is, all their enterprises, their plots, their machinations. And this was not done because of the kirk's deservings, but because * God is righteous and just," and because the ene

- [ ] Completed?

[Link to this page on Archive.org](https://archive.org/details/sermonsprayerspu00hend/page/264/mode/1up)

--- Page 264 ---

264 SERMON.

mies deserved it, that it should be done to them. And as the Lord has done this in times past, so they pray that he would do it for time to come to all them who hate Sion,--- ‘"that they may be ashamed and confounded." And he assures himself that though they were going fordward in ane ill course with never so great speed, yet God sall interrupt their course; ‘he will bring them back." And albeit they prosper for a while in the beginning, as grass will do whilk is growing on ane house-top, yet when harvest comes, there sall be nothing there to fill the mower's hand. And, moreover, these who knows God, and knows what his blessing means, when they come to them, and sees them at their work, they sall not pray to God for them to send them good speed; nor is there any word of blessing in their own mouths; but their labour is accursed of God, and all who comes by them prays for a curse to them.

That ye may take up this purpose the better, and that it may be the more profitable to you, ye sall consider of it in these parts. 1. In whose name it is that this psalm is conceived; ‘Israel may now say." 2. There is Israel's description of his afflictions and his troubles; ¢ Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth. The plewers have plewed upon my back: they made long their furrows." 3. There is Israel's deliverance out of these troubles. These plewers sall not prevail in their intended purpose, because " The Lord is righteous: he hath cut asunder the cords of the wicked: " or he has cutted asunder the somes* wherewith they were drawing the pleugh of their cruelty. And why? because God is just and righteous. 4. There is the vengeance and judgment that is prepared for the enemies of Israel at all times. Albeit they prosper for a while, as the grass doeth upon the house-tops, yet they sall be ashamed and turned back, who hate Zion; they sall reap no increase of their labours; neither sall any who comes by them, and sees them working, say, ¢ The blessing of the Lord be upon your work,"---God send it a good success, and you a blessmg mnto 1t.

* Somes. A rod or chain attaching the foremost oxen to the plough. It is fixed to the muzzle, and passes between the animals next the draught.

- [ ] Completed?

[Link to this page on Archive.org](https://archive.org/details/sermonsprayerspu00hend/page/265/mode/1up)

--- Page 265 ---

PSALM CXXIX. 265

Beloved, these are four points whilk are very necessar for you to consider on, and very behooveful for you to think upon; for it is not enough for you, or for me, or for any particular person, or such a number of persons, to think upon God's great works, but Israel should do it: the whole kirk should say with one voice together. Secondly, Neither should we forget our former afflictions, suppone we have gotten a little ease. ~ As for us, indeed, we are not yet fully freed of our afflictions, and so sense should make us to remember our afflictions. And may not the kirk of Scotland say indeed, ¢ Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth?" and the kirk of Scotland may say, *The plewers have plewed upon my back: they have made long their furrows." Thirdly, we should ascribe this glory to God, that he has interrupted the course, and say that it is God who has cutted their cords, and disappointed all their plots whilk they had laid, and that because he is righteous and just to execute wrath against his enemies, and [because of | his truth and power to perform his promise, and deliver his children. Fourthly, If so be that we be not haters, but lovers of Sion, then we may be assured that our enemies sall be ashamed and turned back; and we may be sure that God sall not bless them who are enemies to Zion: neither is there any who comes by them, and sees them ut their work, or who hears what they are working, who will pray for a blessing to them, if they know God. And for this same matter, whilk is presently in hand among us, many among us prays for a blessing to it; and through other nations, they pray for a blessing to the kirk of Scotland, and to the good cause they have in hand: * but we never heard of any yet, who prayed for a blessing to these, who were bringing in a strange worship into this land; yea, I think there be none who dare pray for it to God.

I. "Israel may now say." This is the first part of the psalm; and ye see here, the psalm is conceived in the name of Israel. ¢ Israel may now say:" That is, king and princes,

* Tt is to be inferred from this that assurances of sympathy and support from the Reformed Churches abroad had already reached the Cove nanters,

- [ ] Completed?

[Link to this page on Archive.org](https://archive.org/details/sermonsprayerspu00hend/page/266/mode/1up)

--- Page 266 ---

266 SERMON.

and all the people of God has now reason to say. It is not enough for some persons to say it: that is not the meaning here, for Israel is not taken here for Jacob as he was a man only, but it is taken for the whole kirk of God. It's true indeed, in time of defection, when the whole people will not choose to serve the Lord, then it is best for every particular person to say for himself, and them whom he may command, If so be that ye will not serve the Lord, this sall be my resolution, I and my house, we sall serve the Lord. At such times, I say, it is best to take to Joshua's part of it: "1f ye will serve the Lord, or if ye will serve other gods, do what ye will, I and all that I may command sall serve the Lord." We cannot bring all to God, but when there is a division into the land, then let ilk ane say for himself, and ilk ane who knows the Lord promise to serve him. But at such a time, when the enemies of the kirk has assaulted her, and assayed to overcome her, and yet has not prevailed, all should join together and say, It is the Lord who has done these great things for us, and say, The afflictions, wherewith our enemies afflicted us, were great and many, and yet, for all that, they have not prevailed. There be two reasons for people to join together. First, When many joins together for a good work, then there is the greater honour to God. It is true, I grant, if there were none but thou alone for a good turn in a whole paroch, that is honour to God; but when multitudes flock together, then the promise is the greater. There be two times that people should flock together. 1. They should flock together when they apprehend a judgment is coming, to the end that they may all humble themselves, and pray to God to avert that judgment aff them, and to turn it upon a people who knows not God. 2. They should flock together when God gives any hope of a deliverance to his people, and bless him for that. Even as they report of the storks in other countries,* and as some

* «Yea, the stork in the heaven knoaveth her appointed times; and the turtle and the crane and the swallow observe the time of their coming."'--- Jer. viii. 7.

« Who bids the stork, Columbus-like, explore Heavens not its own, and worlds unknown before?

Who calls the council, states the certain day, Who forms the phalanx, and who points the way? '---PorE.

- [ ] Completed?

[Link to this page on Archive.org](https://archive.org/details/sermonsprayerspu00hend/page/267/mode/1up)

--- Page 267 ---

PSALM CXXIX. 267

birds do among ourselves, before the winter come they flock together, and flies to some safer part, that so they may eschew the storm, and hides themselves in the holes of the rocks; and then in the spring time again, before the summer come, they all flock together to come home again. So when the Lord is frowning and glooming, and we see like to be a stormy winter coming, then we should flock together as the Israel of God, and flee in to him, and beseech him to keep us from it. Again, when the Lord gives us any spring time, and we see it likely that there is a good summer coming, and that not only of nature, but of grace, then why should we not flock together, and acknowledge that it is the Lord who has sent it, and praise him for the doing thereof 7 And so we should not interrupt the Lord, by our sinning against him, and not acknowledging of his goodness: but we should further him to go on, by our praising of his name for that whilk he has done. Secondly. When many joins together in a good work, it is a great good to Israel, and to the saints and kirk of God, for this is the way how to find and to observe the loving-kindness of the Lord; according to that, Ps. cvii.,* " Whoso will observe these things sall see the loving-kindness of the Lord." So these who will observe the afflictions of God's people, how he has afflicted them, and suffered the enemies to molest them, and yet, for all that, has preserved his people, and granted them victory, and has destroyed the enemies; whoso will observe these things, sall see the loving-kindness of the Lord towards his people, and still praise God for it; and then sall see his kindness towards himself. And as it is, Ps. Ixxviii.,+ they who knows the works of the Lord, they sall report it to their children, and to their children's children, that they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of his hands. And, indeed, there is a work already done into this land, albeit the Lord should stay it and not let it go any farder on, that is well worthy to be remembered for ever. And, indeed, it sall not be forgotten, so long as this land is possessed by any, and while the world stands.{ So ye see it

* Ver. 43. t Ver. 6, 7.

1 Here we observe the inborn conviction of the enduring importance of

- [ ] Completed?

[Link to this page on Archive.org](https://archive.org/details/sermonsprayerspu00hend/page/268/mode/1up)

--- Page 268 ---

268 SERMON.

is Israel who is describing her affliction here. ¢ Many a time."

II. "Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth. The plewers, etc." If we will look narrowly to the words in Israel's describing of her afflictions, we will find three things presented to us---1. How old these afflictions are; "From my youth." Ay, from my infancy, birth, and conception. 2. There is the frequency and iteration of these afflictions. 'They were gff and many: ¢ Many a time." 3. There is the grievousness of these afflictions, expressed by a comparison. ‘"The plewers plewed upon my back: they. made long their furrows." So these were old afllictions Jrom her youth. Then they were oft---many a time. Moe times than can be numbered; moe nor seven times, aye, moe nor seventy times seven, for the word imports offen. And then they were grievous, even like iron pleughs, drawing deep and long furrows on their back. The first testifies the innocency of the kirk at this time, for if ever the kirk . had innocency, it behoved to be in her youth, and therefore it testifies the enemies' injuriousness and cruelty. The second, many a time, is a document (proof ) of the constancy of the kirk. She is afflicted again and again, and yet, for all these afflictions, she ceased not to serve God continually. And it i1s also ane argument of the malicious pertinacy of the enemies, who never ceased to afflict the kirk. The third is ane evidence of the patience of the kirk, who endured all that, and of the cruelty of the enemies, who could find in their heart to do so to her.

First, "¥rom my youth." He speaks here of the kirk as of one particular man; he brings in Israel as speaking of his awin life in particular. And, indeed, there be two men in the Scripture, one in the New Testament, another in the Old, who does very well express the estate of the kirk in their life. In the New Testament there is Jesus Christ; he is the head of the kirk; he was a man of many sorrows from his cradle to his burial. His life was full of sorrows; he

their work, which is common to all the guiding spirits in the history of the world.

- [ ] Completed?

[Link to this page on Archive.org](https://archive.org/details/sermonsprayerspu00hend/page/269/mode/1up)

--- Page 269 ---

PSALM CXXIX. 269

was hardly used all his time, and at his end was mocked, buffeted, scourged, etc. There was never any who might more justly say, no, never any who might so justly say, "Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth." 1 will not enter here to speak of the sufferings of Christ: they began soon, they were many, and they were great; and so he was a vive (lively) representation of the kirk. There is also another in the Old Testament, and this is he who is named here Israel, and he is also called Jacob. Thir two names are ordinar to him in Scripture, and both of them are put for the expressing of the estate of the kirk. When they speak of the affliction of the kirk, and of her ‘humiliation, then it is expressed under the name of Jacob; but when the Scripture speaks of the victories of the kirk, then it is expressed under the name of Israel, who was a prince with God, who wrestled with God and prevailed, and so gat a blessing. T say, he who is here called Israel (and that very deservedly, because now through the power of God the kirk prevailed over all her enemies), in his life he represents well to us the estate of the kirk, for there is a difference betiveen his life and any other whom we read of in Scripture; for others did not spend their whole life in afflictions, but his life was nothing but a web of afflictions, so to speak. For he began timeously; even when he was in his mother's womb, he wrestled there for the birthright. Then what afflictions followed there, when he had gotten the birthright by (over) his brother! Then he is constrained to endure servitude for a long time from Laban, whom justly I may call another churlish Nabal, (for, changing the letters, it is so). And when any man might have thought that his troubles were at ane end, then they began to grow greater and - more grievous by his children. Simeon and Levi became murtherers; he had but one daughter, and she was ravished; and the greatest of all was Reuben's incest; then Joseph was sold; and, whilk was als great ane affliction as any of them, even the miscarrying of Judah, in whom the birthright was now established. So that he could look upon none of his children, at least upon few of them, but they were ane affliction to him. And so he was different in his afflictions from others, for some will get a foul bitter shower in the

- [ ] Completed?

[Link to this page on Archive.org](https://archive.org/details/sermonsprayerspu00hend/page/270/mode/1up)

--- Page 270 ---

270 SERMON.

morning, but will get all the rest of the day fair; some will get a foul shower at the noontide of the day, and yet have it fair both morning and evening, as Job had; and some will have it fair all day, and get a sicker * shower at night, as Peter, ¢ When thou was young, thou girded thyself, and went whither thou wouldst, but when thou art old, another sall gird thee, and lead thee whither thou wouldst not."+ But Israel in his whole life was afflicted, as I told you Christ was, from his birth to his burial; and so in this he does vively (in a lively manner) represent the estate of the kirk. Howsoever he who was first Jacob prevailed with God, and so was called Israel; so sall the kirk also be victorious over all her enemies.

I would have you to consider in this, that the kirk was afflicted from her youth. If ye would consider of the different times of the upcoming (progress) of the kirk, it may be considered in these particulars. 1. In her infancy. 2. In her youth. 3. In her perfection. 4. In her old age. First, for the infancy of the kirk, we may go farder than that time they were in Egypt, or to Abraham: we may ascend to that promise, ‘‘ The seed of the woman sall tread down the head of the serpent." From that time to the flood, in Noah's time, was the infancy of the kirk. Secondly, The bairnage or youth of the kirk was from the flood till Christ's coming in the flesh. For a long time it was contained only in some families, and the most that it came to was in a (one) nation. Thirdly, In the days of the apostles, and when the Holy Ghost descended, then was the strength and vigour of the kirk. Fourthly, After the apostles' times then came the old age of the kirk, when Antichrist began to be set up in his chair, and was fully set up at last, so that the kirk was almost lost, and she had one foot in the grave; till it pleased the Lord to renew her age, as he doeth the eagle's, by

* Sicker---firm and decided; as applied to a shower smart or heavy.

1 See the Author's affecting dedication, prefixed to his sermon before the Lords, July 1644, in which this text, along with others, is quoted in illustration of his own experience, that although naturally addicted to a retired and studious life, he had been called by God, contrary to his own inclinations, to take a prominent part in public affairs.

- [ ] Completed?

[Link to this page on Archive.org](https://archive.org/details/sermonsprayerspu00hend/page/271/mode/1up)

--- Page 271 ---

PSALM CXXIX. 271

casting her bill, as it is Psalm ciii.* And, indeed, that we have seen some returning of the age of the kirk, so that it was never better since the beginning, we have great reason to bless God for this. Justin divides the ages of Rome thus, and it is the right division of the ages of the kirk. All the time till the coming of Christ may be rightly called the infancy and youth of the kirk. Because, first, the lines of the kirk were not far extended then; at the most it was but in one nation. Secondly, it was her youth in respect of her knowledge, for then she did see things but darkly, in type and shadows. Thirdly, in respect of God's dealing with the kirk, who taught her then as a child, in signs, in figures, and in sacrifices, etc. And then, in the apostles' days, it may be called the perfection of the kirk, by the same reasons. For then her lines were farder extended; then there was further knowledge of things; and then in respect of the manner how she was taught.

This is not ane idle discourse we are occasioned to you by the word youth. For, first, it meets with ane unsavoury and tasteless discourse of our adversars, who say, when they are speaking of the ages of the kirk, that in the apostles' times, then the kirk was at her bairnage; but they say that n the time of the ancient and godly Fathers, then was the perfection of the kirk:+ whilk was the time when Antichrist began to be set up, and the apostles told that Antichrist was already begun before they died. Howbeit, indeed, I think many of these fathers did that whilk they did ignorantly, for I think, if they had known what it would

* Ver. 5. "As the eagle decayeth and groweth lean, when her i/ or beak groweth so long and crooked as she cannot eat for it; and when she casteth her 4i/l, and her beak is now better fitted to take her food, then she is revived and strengthened, and as it were groweth young again: so fareth it with the soul of the believer, etc."" Dickson on Psalm ciii,

t See Henderson's Third Paper for his Majesty---" 1 know it is a common opinion, but I believe there be no strong reasons for it, that the church that was nearest the times of the apostles was the most pure and perfect church." Henderson, as appears from what follows, held that it was not the church, which was ¢ nearest the times of the apostles," that was most pure and perfect, but the church that existed in the very days of the apostles.

- [ ] Completed?

[Link to this page on Archive.org](https://archive.org/details/sermonsprayerspu00hend/page/272/mode/1up)

--- Page 272 ---

272 SERMON.

turn to, they would have been loath to have done as they did. And therefore let us hold this to be true, that the greatest perfection that ever the kirk was at, or will be at, was in the time of the apostles; but the youth and infancy thereof was before Christ. And when the Holy Ghost descended, that is the only pattern of reformation that must ever be looked to: and when it sall please the Lord to call in the Jews again, who has been so long strangers to himself and to his Son Christ, the reformation of the kirk sall be as it was then. And then after the apostles were gone, then presently the glory of the kirk began to decay; for the glory of the kirk is not to be discerned and looked to, as many judge, by her outward face, but by her inward grace. And as Egesippus told that, albeit there were many ills entered into the kirk then, yet even by these ten bloody persecutions there were many hid graces keeped by them undefiled in the kirk; for if there had not been persecution, all had followed their course, and so had been corrupted and defiled.

Another use that we may make of this---If that was the youth of the kirk, and Israel was troubled in his youth, then we need not to think it strange, that the kirk in our days should be put to suffer. Sall a child suffer for the truth, and sall not we who are come to perfect age (at least should be so) not suffer for it? It is a shame for us, let be (not to say) a sin, if we resolve not before hand to do it, and when it comes, to do it indeed.

Secondly. As the afflictions of the kirk began early, so they continued long, and there was a iteration of them; ¢ Many a time." And in such sort they continued, that the course of the kirk was nothing else but a continual change, blenks up (gleams of sunshine) and incontinent down again; even as it is in the course of nature, betwixt summer and winter, a fair blenk and a shower, the night and the day, so was it with the kirk. Albeit she was not afflicted at all times, yet she was afllicted many times. Sometimes she would have a long foul winter and but short summer, a long dark night and but a short day, a long sicker shower and but a short blenk of the sun: sometimes again a long summer,

- [ ] Completed?

[Link to this page on Archive.org](https://archive.org/details/sermonsprayerspu00hend/page/273/mode/1up)

--- Page 273 ---

PSALM CXXIX. 2473

and a fair long day, and a long clear sunshine, and but little winter, a short night, and a little shower. This may seem strange and wonderful, that the Lord should thus exercise his kirk with repeated and reiterated afflictions, so that there should be no end of her afflictions;---she may well get some little refreshment, but it is only a breathing time. What can be the cause of this? Sall we say that because it is thus, therefore God has not a providence over his kirk in her afflictions? For some say, If God had a providence over " his kirk in her afflictions, would he thus exercise them so hardly who are in covenant with him, and whom he professes to love so dearly, even as the apple of his eye? 4. Ay certainly, (to beat this back upon themselves who say 50), since some has observed the course of time to be so, and acknowledge that the kirk of God is often under affliction, then I say that even because of that, God must have a special care and providence over his kirk. And indeed that is a very wise providence of God in afflicting his kirk thus.

Only consider three causes of it. 1. The Lord, his course of dealing with men is thus: There is no man, but when he comes into the world, the Lord ordains some ill and some good things for him: and therefore he has so disposed that his children sall suffer all their ill in this life; they sall suffer none in the life to come, but they sall have only good: and for the wicked, he has ordained that they sall get all their good in this life, but no good in the life to come, but only ill. ‘This is that whilk Abraham is brought in speaking to that rich man, Luke xvi* When he was only desiring that Lazarus might give him one drop but of cold water, to cool the neb (point) of his tongue, Abraham answers, ¢ Son, remember that thou in thy life receivedst thy good things, but Lazarus his evil things; " and therefore, as he would say, Resolve upon this, and set your mind to rest; for ye must be tormented, but he must be comforted. As if he said, Ye need to speak no more of that matter; there is nothing ordained for you now but torment, for ye have gotten all the good that ever ye will get, or that

* Ver. zZs S

- [ ] Completed?

[Link to this page on Archive.org](https://archive.org/details/sermonsprayerspu00hend/page/274/mode/1up)

--- Page 274 ---

274 SERMON.

God has ordained for you: but for Lazarus, it's true God ordained many ills for him, but he has gotten them all already; and now there remains no more ill for him, but only good. And so ye see that the kirk of God and these who belong to it get all their ill things here, and therefore they get only good things when they are out of this life; but for the wicked, all the good things that ever they will get is gotten here, and therefore when this life is gone, there remains nothing but sorrow and grief for them. And this same has made some of the children of God, when God has heaped favours and benefits upon them in this life, to fear that they were not in the right way, and to be so mickle the more diligent to see if they were in the right way, and to take the better heed unto themselves, and to work out the work of their salvation with fear and trembling.

2. A second reason wherefore the Lord afflicts his kirk so oft here, it is because it does mickle good to the kirk. Indeed, it is not possible for any to tell what sweetness there is into that bitterness, what meat there is into that devourer; for when affliction comes upon the kirk, it makes many to know God, who knew little of him before; it makes many to seek the Lord, who would not have sought him, if affliction had not come to force them to it. It makes them to humble themselves, and to repent of sin, who, if affliction had not come, would never have tried and examined their own hearts: it makes them obedient to the will of God in everything, who knew little what obedience did mean before. It brings out of the estate of nature, and enters them into the estate of grace; and having gotten some grace, it makes them to long for more grace: and being afflicted in the estate of grace, it makes them to long for glory. And so the Lord helps fordward his own, and does them mickle good by afflictions and crosses.

3. It serves greatly also for the glory of God. For before we be in trouble we know not what it is to pray to God as we will do then; we do not give thanks to God, and bless him so heartily for any benefit as we will do then. We know not God so well at no time as we do in trouble: before, we only hear of his manner of dealing with his chil

- [ ] Completed?

[Link to this page on Archive.org](https://archive.org/details/sermonsprayerspu00hend/page/275/mode/1up)

--- Page 275 ---

PSALM CXXIX, 27§

dren, but then we do both hear and also perceive his manner of working.

And may I not say that the troubles of the kirk of Scotland has done us mickle good, and driven us to God more earnestly? for would we have been about this this day, if so be we had not been in trouble? No certainly, for long or now we had been drunken with ease; but trouble coming upon us has made us to draw our clothes to us, and gird them fast on, and make us for a journey, and for our Christian warfare. And therefore make this use of it, that ye should not imagine that ever the kirk, so long as she is here, sall be free of afflictions. I suppose, (and it should be our wish and desire that it should be so,) that all things were done in the house of God in this land according to his will, and there were such ane Assembly and Parliament as our hearts could wish,* think ye that there would be no more trouble then? No, I will assure you it would not be so, for the devil is not dead yet, and he has evermore his awin supposts, and malignant spirits anew to raise up to trouble his kirk. And what would it breed if it were thus? Nothing else but security, whilk 1s a very dangerous case for a Christian to be in; and then, after a while's security, there would arise another new trouble again. And therefore think not that ye sall have a heavenly peace so long as ye are here; but ye must put on the whole armour of God, and resolve to fight; for if there be no other thing to trouble thee, yet, in the time of the external peace of the kirk, thou sall find afflictions in thy awin bosom to trouble thee, and to hold thee doing; and thou will find these als sore to fight against, yea, sorer and harder than any without thee. For thus the Lord deals with his kirk. Even as when there is a pestilence into a country, there will not be many other common diseases to trouble folks, but when it is away, then there will be moe common diseases; so while the kirk is in trouble, the members thereof will not have many horrours of conscience, nor

* Two of the ¢« Articles for the present peace of the kirk and kingdom of Scotland" that were drawn up and insisted on by the Covenanters at this time related to a _free Assembly and a free Parliament. See the ¢ Articles" in extenso in Stevenson's History, pp. 218-220.

- [ ] Completed?

[Link to this page on Archive.org](https://archive.org/details/sermonsprayerspu00hend/page/276/mode/1up)

--- Page 276 ---

G 7 SERMON.

many grieved hearts; but when the outward trouble is away, then their awin secret ills kythes more. And therefore it is evermore best and safest for us to resclve for trouble so long as we are here.

Thirdly. Now for the grievousness of their affliction, it is set down in a borrowed comparison tane from plewmen. "The plewers have plewed upon my back; they made long their furrows." This is such ane pleugh as we have not heard tell of before. There is ane common pleugh, wherewith ye labour your land; all of you knows that: and there is also another pleugh spoken of by our Saviour, Luke ix.* ¢He that puts his hand to the pleugh, and looks back again, is not meet for the kingdom of God." This is the pleugh of the gospel: whether he be pastor or professor that anes puts his hand to this pleugh, he must not look back again. But here there is a third pleugh, whilk is ordained for troubling of God's people. The great husbandman who aught (owns) this pleugh, (at least by whose permission this pleugh goes,) is God. Not only is - it God who makes your common pleughs to gang, and senids the gospel into a land, but it is God also who disposes and overrules this same pleugh of persecution. For without his license the pleugh cannot be yoked; and being yoked cannot enter to gang whill (till) he direct; and he tempers the irons, so that they cannot go one inch deeper nor he thinks meet. And when he thinks it time to louse (quit work), then presently he cuts their cords, so that they cannot go once about after he thinks time to louse. Albeit when they yoke, they resolve to have all the land upside down, yet he will let them teil (till) no more of it nor he sees meet. Now for the plewmen of this pleugh, they are Satan and the evil angels; they hold the pleugh, and are gademen to it: and they yoke in the oxen into the pleugh, and drives them up with their gades (goads.) And they have a sort of musick also, whilk they whistle into their ears, to make them go the faster: and that is the allurements and provocations of the world. And for the oxen who draw into this pleugh, it may be princes, when they turn persecutors

* Ver. 62.

- [ ] Completed?

[Link to this page on Archive.org](https://archive.org/details/sermonsprayerspu00hend/page/277/mode/1up)

--- Page 277 ---

PSALM CXXIX. 277

of the kirk; it may be prelates; it may be politicians in the world; these are the oxen, Satan and the ill spirits inciting them, and stirring them up to go fordward in their intended course. Then consider here, that this pleugh and thir plewmen and oxen goes about as God thinks meet; but what is it that they are doing in the meantime? Nothing else but preparing the ground for seed, and so the Lord employs them to prepare his people better to receive the seed of his word and of his Spirit. And this is the fruits that comes after this pleugh; as our Lord says in the gaspel, "He that forsakes father or mother, etc., for my name's sake, sall have a hundreth-fold more in this life, and afterward life eternal." That is, when this pleugh of persecution makes a man willing to forsake thir things, it is a making him ready to reap a plentiful harvest and comfortable here, and much more plentiful and comfortable hereafter. .

By this ye may perceive the Lord's manner of dealing with his kirk. First he yokes the pleugh of the gospel in her; and when it is not holden going, then he yokes the pleugh of persecution next, and makes that to draw furrows on their back;---mnot on their breast where all their noble parts are, and so to destroy them, but on their back, and so to prepare them for seed only. As it is said of Christ and the serpent, the serpent sall but bruise Christ's heel, but Christ sall break his head, so it is the back of the kirk that is plewed. Always (nevertheless) this plewing is because the gospel is neglected, and so ye may see that the best course that any can take to hold away the pleugh of persecution is to hold the pleugh of the gospel going, in hearing the word, in believing in it by faith, in bringing it to the heart to work repentance and a new life. If we would do this, it would hinder the yoking of the pleugh of persecution; or if it were yoked, yet it should not teil sore. But because we who are pastors and ministers has not done our duty in preaching of the gospel,*

* Henderson was always very free in pointing out and censuring the faults and shortcomings of ministers, as may be seen in many of his pub,

- [ ] Completed?

[Link to this page on Archive.org](https://archive.org/details/sermonsprayerspu00hend/page/278/mode/1up)

--- Page 278 ---

278 SERMON.

nor ye who are people has not done your duty, whereunto ye were bound by the gospel, therefore it is that the Lord has yoked the pleugh of persecution among us; and if we make mnot better use of the gospel every way, the pleugh sall not be loused yet, but the Lord sall suffer the enemies to hold it going. And, indeed, there are none who are readier to be instruments to draw this pleugh, than these who has anes put their hand to the pleugh of the gospel, and then looked back again.*

Ye may perceive here that these who are persecutors of the kirk have not great rest nor ease in the world: oxen who draws in a pleugh daily has not ane easy life. It's true the kirk suffers of them, but they are exercised also. And therefore afterwards he gives them a name answerable to this---he calls them wicked.¥ ¢ He hath cut asunder the cords of the wicked:" that is turbulent creatures, still troubling others and themselves. And Esay calls them like the sea, still casting up filth; and ye know the sea never rests. And this tells also what sall be the wages that they sall get. A word that is used of them, Ps. 109,} signifies condemned persons, and so they sall reap condemnation for their pains; as Job says, " They sow wickedness, and they sall reap mischief." But for the sufferings of the godly, they are not in vain, for at last they bring forth the quiet fruits of righteousness. All these furrows that are drawn upon their back is nothing else but a preparing of their heart for receiving the word of God, and making it that good ground spoken of in the gospel (where ye know there are three ill

lished Sermons and Papers. Baillie allades to an instance of this. « On Wednesday, 27th [July, 16427, was a fast [at St. Andrews]. Mr. Hendersone preached graciouslie and wyselie on 2 Cor: v 1,2,.35 taxed freelie the vyces of ministers, among other the humor of novation."--- Baillie 1i. 45.

* The Church of Scotland had bitter experience of the truth of this ere long in the persecution that followed, 1660-1688.

t The word in the original is from a root (™) which signifies fo make a noise, or tumult.---See Gesenius' Heb. Lex.

1 Verse 7. "When he shall be judged, let him be condemned;> marg., "go out guilty or awicked."" 'The word in the original is the same as in the passage commented on.

- [ ] Completed?

[Link to this page on Archive.org](https://archive.org/details/sermonsprayerspu00hend/page/279/mode/1up)

--- Page 279 ---

PSALM CXXIX, 279

grounds and but one good); and this is a mean to make the ground good for receiving the seed of the word, that it may yield increase.

III. Only but a few words of Israel's deliverance from their enemies. " Yet have they not prevailed against me." And what was the cause that the enemies prevailed not? Was it because of Israel's strength? No, but because ¢ God cut asunder the cords of the wicked." So that this pleugh has somes * and thetes + whereby it is drawn, whilk are the plots and enterprises of the devil and wicked men. And why was it that God cut asunder the enemies' cords? Not because Israel deserved it, but because the enemies deserved it, and ¢ because the Lord is righteous."

"Yet they prevailed not against me." Israel prevailed with God in wrestling with him, and therefore it is that he prevails with men also. Then, if so be that we will wrestle with God for a blessing, and prevail with him, then we need not to fear but we sall wrestle the enemies out of it also. And if we be the people of God, and insist in wrestling against his enemies, we need not to fear but to be victorious. The kirk is a studdy (stithy) whilk has worn many hammers, and broken many arms, with striking upon her, and yet she is to the fore. Many kings and monarchs has striven against the kirk, and now there is no memory of them, but only that they have been; and yet, for all that, the kirk still is to the fore, for the kirk is builded upon the rock. There may indeed great storms blow upon her, but because she is well builded, and has a good foundation, and all the stones are well seamed together, therefore she must remain sure. The stones, indeed, among themselves may seem to be scattered asunder, yet all of them are joined together in Christ, for he is the head of his kirk, and all the rest are the members. And therefore as he has wrestled and overcome all his enemies, so sall we also, if we be in him. This is a kingdom whereof there are a number of the subjects thereof in heaven already, by their fighting and prevailing; and

* See above, p. 264, note. + Thetes---the traces attaching the oxen to the plough.

- [ ] Completed?

[Link to this page on Archive.org](https://archive.org/details/sermonsprayerspu00hend/page/280/mode/1up)

--- Page 280 ---

280 SERMON.

if so be that we will use that armour whilk they used, and will fight as they did, why then sall not we prevail also? and so we sall be partakers with them of that same crown of glory.

Now the cause why Israel prevailed, and not the enemies, was because ‘" God cut asunder their cords." Certainly the world;, they have many cords wherewith to draw their pleugh; and when they have made a threefold cord for destruction of the kirk of God, the Lord makes that same cord to turn to their awin execution. And sometimes the Lord breaks their cord in pieces, when it seems to be strongest; for when his providence comes in, he cuts their strong cord. And all this is ascribed to the justice and righteousness of God only.

And the rest of this purpose tells us, that as it has been with the kirk and the enemies thereof in former times, so sall it also be afterwards. Albeit they run fast in ane ill course, and go far on into it, ""yet they sall be confounded and turned back, who hate Sion." And then he shews that he would not have the kirk to be offended, albeit their enemies prosper for a while, for it sall be but like grass upon the house-tops, or like deaf corn; it sall not fill the mower's hand, nor sall it have any weight or substance with it. And so he would have the kirk to take comfort for time to come, by experience that she has had of deliverance in by-past time.

And, finally, he closes with this, that they who come by them, when they are at their work, sall not say, ¢ God speed

ou well," or ""God bless you and your labours." And surely, beloved, we may say this upon good grounds, and from experience, that in all the troubles of our kirk, when prelates and politicians were coming to ane height, there - was none who said, The Lord bless them, and send them good speed in their work.* And when they were persecut * So far from this, we read that " All of them [the petitioners against the innovations] wrestled with God, in their private prayers, and public supplications and fastings, that the counsels of the king might be turned to the public good of the church and state, and that he would disappoint the attempts of enemies, who were employed in undermining the church, that was already in a very shattered condition." Hist. Mot. p. 35.

- [ ] Completed?

[Link to this page on Archive.org](https://archive.org/details/sermonsprayerspu00hend/page/281/mode/1up)

--- Page 281 ---

PSALM CXXIX. 281

ing a poor minister for standing to the truth, there was none who prayed for good speed to them; but there were many who were deprecating it, and praying to God to turn the chase. No surely, I think themselves durst not pray to God to send them good speed in their course. And these who has been praying to God against it, let them take it for ane answer to their prayers, that God has begun to turn back their course. But for the cause that we have in hand, it has filled the mouths of many, and that not only among ourselves, but even in other nations about us, to pray to God for good success to us.* And indeed the kirk of Scotland may truly say, ‘" Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth. The plewers have plewed upon my back: they made long their furrows. The Lord is righteous; he hath cut asunder the cords of the wicked." Ay certainly, if the Lord had not cut asunder their cords, we had been in a desperate and a miserable case or this time. For the enemies of the kirk in this land, they were come to such a height that they resolved, If we get our pleugh but this once about, then we sall get our turn done, and this kirk sall be quite undone. Yet even when they were come to the rig's end, and beginning to turn, and wynding about,+ the Lord did cut their cords, and made the pleugh to stand stil. Now let us not say, "Unto us, unto us belongs the glory of this;" for who of us dared say, that we deserved that the Lord should have done this to us? but let us say that the Lord is just and righteous in executing wrath against his enemies, and is true in performing his promises to his people; aud therefore let us say that it is he alone that has done it. Now to his great name, Father, etc.

: * See above . 265, note. t Wynding about. * Turning to the left,

- [ ] Completed?

[Link to this page on Archive.org](https://archive.org/details/sermonsprayerspu00hend/page/282/mode/1up)

--- Page 282 ---

[FAST. Mav 5, 1638.]

[AFTERNOON.] PREFACE.

It is a very notable testimony that the apostles and these who were believers in the time of the primitive kirk received, when it is said of them at the time of the first establishing of the gospel into the world, that they continued, or endured, in prayers and supplications unto God; because it is no small matter for to endure in prayers and supplications. It contains two things. 1. It contains fervency or earnestness, for the word has a certain strength in it. 2. It contains constancy. Divide thir two, and then prayer is ane easy matter. For the first, who is there who will not be zealous for a while in prayer? but incontinent they fall aff it again: and again, it is ane easy thing to be constant in prayer, where there is no earnestness. And so fervency and falling back in prayer may be together; and slowness and slackness in prayer and perseverance may be joined together; but to make this. conjunction,---to be fervent and constant in prayer, it is no easy matter. Surely, except we have both these, (and these who has faith has them both, and according to the measure of faith so will the measure of these be), there is no possibility for us to attain our desires from God. And therefore when we pray to God at any time, let us take heed what we pray for to God; but even also take heed how we pray: and in the hearing of the word, let us not only take heed what we hear, but let us also take heed how we hear. For what, albeit the word of God be preached unto us according as he has commanded,

- [ ] Completed?

[Link to this page on Archive.org](https://archive.org/details/sermonsprayerspu00hend/page/283/mode/1up)

--- Page 283 ---

PREFACE. 283

and in the simplicity thereof, if so be we hear it not as it becomes us? or what, albeit these petitions that we put up be lawful, and warranted by him, if so be we put them not up as it becomes? Princes and great men will not be content that petitions and supplications be put up to them, whilk are not according to their will, both in matter and in manner; should we not then take heed that our supplications to that great King be right, both in matter and in manner? Therefore learn to pray to God in faith, in constancy, and in earnestness; and then we may say confidently, as David says, Psalm cxli.,* ¢ That our prayers sall be before the Lord as incense, and the lifting up of our hands as the evening sacrifice." There was never any incense that was offered, under the law, in the morning, nor no sacrifice that was offered in the evening, more acceptable to God than thy prayer sall be, when it is offered up in faith for these things whilk are commanded: and [if thou] prays in earnestness and constancy, then thou may resolve that what thou seeks sall be found. And although, as the pillar of incense did not stand still continually, but was blown to and fro, and did agitate, yet still the smoke of the incense ascended upward, and was acceptable; so albeit thou be tosted (tossed) to and fro thus with divers afflictions, yet if thou pray thus to God, thy prayers sall ascend up to heaven: and when they sall ascend, then we may be sure that we sall receive a comfortable answer, both for the refreshing of our souls, and also for continuing the light of the gospel, in the purity thereof. And therefore let us now fall down before the Lord our God, and seek unto him thus, that so he may be found of us, etc.

* Verse 2.