A77366:75
A sermon preached before the Honourable House of Commons, at their public fast, Novemb.…A sermon preached before the Honourable House of Commons, at their publique fast, Novemb.…
A sermon preached before the Honourable House of Commons, at their public fast, Novemb. 29. 1643. By William Bridge, sometimes fellow of Emanuel College in Cambridge, now preacher of Gods Word at Yarmouth.A sermon preached before the Honourable House of Commons, at their publique fast, Novemb. 29. 1643. By VVilliam Bridge, sometimes fellow of Emanuel Colledge in Cambridge, now preacher of Gods Word at Yarmouth.
London: printed for R. Dawlman, 1643
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Wherefore that I may raise up your faith a little, and keep you from discouragements, I lay before you this promise; Zechariah his vision is your promise; yea it is somewhat more, for as we say of Sacraments, so I say of these two last visions, they are promises unto the eye, unto sense. When Joshua was to bring the children of Israel into Canaan, and so to meet with many enemies, before he went out, God, & Moses, and the people bestowed their several exhortations on him; and if you consult the place, you shall find that all of them, God, Moses, and people wish him to be of good courage, and not to fear; Why so? Abulensis answereth, Rationabiliter enim timere potuit Joshua; Joshua might rationally fear, for he saw how that his master Moses was occasioned by the1 Israelites to sin against God, and to be angry, in so much as he was kept out of Canaan: Whereupon Joshua might well think thus with himself, Oh Lord, if Moses who was the meekest man on earth was moved to anger, the holyest man, a man that saw God face to face, yet could not do this work, but through his failing was denied entrance into Canaan; how shall I be able to lead this people up against all these enemies? Well therefore might he fear (saith Abulensis) lest God should give both him and his people into the hands of his enemies. Well, but how then doth God remove these fears, and relieve his heart? Only thus, he strengtheneth ⟨p. 16⟩him with a promise, Fear not, (says God) neither be dismayed for I am with thee, and I will never leave thee nor forsa•e thee. So now, are there any of you oppressed with divers sears because of these horns that are risen up in several parts of the world, of this Kingdom? The Lord hath said that according to the number of the horns, the carpenters shall be. Are there enemies in every part? There shall be carpenters in every part. Will you say, Oh but our enemies are exceeding many, and very cruel? So were these mentioned in the Text, who (as Sanctius observeth the words signify) were to do mischief in quantum potuerunt & in quantum voluerunt, and as your English hath it, so that no man did lift up his head. Will you say, Oh but I do not yet see these carpenters at work? But is it not because you do not stir up your s•lves? I lift up mine eyes and saw, saith Z•chariah.