A90266:121
Eben-ezer a memorial of the deliverance of Essex, county, and committee, being an exposition on the first ten verses of the third chapter of the prophecy of Habakkuk in two sermons. The first preached at Colchester before his Excellency on a day of thanksgiving for the surrender thereof. The other at Rumford unto the committee who were imprisoned by the enemy Sep. 28. a day set apart unto thanksgiving for their deliverance. / By John Owen pastor of the church of God which is at Coggeshall.Eben-ezer a memoriall of the deliverance of Essex, county, and committee, being an exposition on the first ten verses of the third chapter of the prophesie of Habakkuk in two sermons. The first preached at Colchester before his Excellency on a day of thanksgiving for the surrender thereof. The other at Rumford unto the committee who were imprisoned by the enemy Sep. 28. a day set apart unto thanksgiving for their deliverance. / By John Ovven pastor of the church of God which is at Coggeshall.
London: printed by W. Wilson, 1648
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.
2. From what God did.
The works and labours of Gods people are transacted from them in 1heaven, before they once undertake them. The Israelites were now going to Canaan, God doth their work for them before hand They 2did but go up and take possession; Joshua and Caleb tell the people not only that their enemies defence was departed from them, but that they were but bread for them: Num. 14. 9. Not corn that might be prepared, but bread, ground, made up, ready baked, ready ⟨p. 24⟩to e at. Their work was done in heaven. Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world, Acts 15. 18. All that is done here below, is but the writing of a visible copy for the sons of men to read, out of the eternal lines of his own purpose.
The works and labours of Gods people are transacted from them in 1heaven, before they once undertake them. The Israelites were now going to Canaan, God doth their work for them before hand They 2did but go up and take possession; Joshua and Caleb tell the people not onely that their enemies defence was departed from them, but that they were but bread for them: Num. 14. 9. Not corn that might be prepared, but bread, ground, made up, ready baked, ready ⟨p. 24⟩to e at. Their work was done in heaven. Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world, Acts 15. 18. All that is done here below, is but the writing of a visible copy for the sons of men to read, out of the etenall lines of his own purpose.
Up and be doing, you that are about the work of the Lord. 1Your Enemies are bread ready to be eaten, and yield you refreshment. Do you think if our Armies had not walked in a trodden path they could have made such journeys as they have done of late? had not God marched before them, and traced out their way from Kent to Essex, from Wales to the North, their carcasses had long ere this, been cast into the field. Their work was done in heaven before they begun it. God was gone over the 2Mulberry trees; The work might have been done by children, though he was pleased to employ such worthy instruments. They see I doubt not their own nothingness, in his All-sufficiency. Go on then, but with this caution, search by all ways and means to find the footsteps of the mighty God, going before you.
Up and be doing, you that are about the work of the Lord. 1Your Enemies are bread ready to be eaten, and yield you refreshment. Do you think if our Armies had not walked in a troden path they could have made such journeys as they have done of late? had not God marched before them, and traced out their way from Kent to Essex, from Wales to the North, their carcasses had long ere this, been cast into the field. Their work was done in heaven before they begun it. God was gone over the 2Mulberry trees; The worke might have been done by children, though he was pleased to employ such worthy instruments. They see I doubt not their own nothingnesse, in his All-sufficiency. Go on then, but with this caution, search by all wayes and means to find the footsteps of the mighty God, going before you.
The trembling condition of the opposing nations round about 1when God appeared so gloriously for his people, is held out verse 7.
I saw the tents of Cushan in affliction: The curtains of the Land of Midian did tremble.
I saw the tents of Cushan in affliction: The curtayns of the Land of Midian did tremble.
You have here three things considerable.
1. The mention of two Nations enemies of the Church, Cushan and Midian. 2. The state and condition of those Nations, the tents of the one in Affliction, and the curtains of the other in trembling. 3. The view the Prophet had of this, I saw it saith he, I saw, &c.
For the first, these two nations, Cushan and Midian, were the neighbouring people to the Israelites, being in the wilderness when God did such great things for them. First Cushan, that is the Tent dwelling Arabians on the south side towards Ethiopia, being as the Ethiopians of the posterity of Cush (thence called Cushan) the eldest 1son of scoffing Ham, Gen. 10. 6. enemies and opposers of the Church (doubtless) all the way down from their profane Ancestors. These now beheld the Israelites, going to root out their Allies, and kindred the Amorites of Canaan, the posterity of Canaan, the younger brother of their progenitor Cush, Gen. 10. 6.
For the first, these two nations, Cushan and Midian, were the neigbouring people to the Israelites, being in the wildernesse when God did such great things for them. First Cushan, that is the Tentdwelling Arabians on the south side towards Ethiopia, being as the Ethiopians of the posterity of Cush (thence called Cushan) the eldest 1son of scoffing Ham, Gen. 10. 6. enemies and opposers of the Church (doubtlesse) all the way down from their profane Ancestors. These now beheld the Israelites, going to root out their Allies, and kindred the Amorites of Canaan, the posterity of Canaan, the younger brother of their progenitor Cush, Gen. 10. 6.
Midian were a people inhabiting on the East-side Jordan, on the borders of Moab: so called from their forefather, Midian the son of Abraham by Keturah, Gen. 25. 3, 4. These obtained a temporal blessing for a season, from the Love borne to their faithful progenitor. In the days of Jacob, they were great Merchants, Gen. 37. 28. At this time in less then 400 years, they were so multiplied, that they had five Kings of their Nation: Num. 31. 1. Some knowledge of the true God, was retained as it should seem until now amongst some of them, being received by tradition from their Fathers. Moses Father in Law, was a Priest of this Country, Exod. 2. 15, 16. not altogether unacquainted with Jehovah, Exod. 18 and was himself, or his son persuaded to take up his portion in Canaan, Num. 10. 29, 30. But for the generality of the Nation, being not heirs of the promise, they were fallen off to superstition and idolatry. Exceeding enemies they were to the people in the wilderness, vexing them with their wiles, and provoking them to abominations, that the Lord might consume them, Num. 25. 17.
Midian were a people inhabiting on the East-side Jordan, on the borders of Moab: so called from their forefather, Midian the son of Abraham by Keturah, Gen. 25. 3, 4. These obtained a temporall blessing for a season, from the Love borne to their faithfull progenitor. In the days of Jacob, they were great Merchants, Gen. 37. 28. At this time in lesse then 400 years, they were so multiplyed, that they had five Kings of their Nation: Num. 31. 1. Some knowledge of the true God, was retained as it should seeme untill now amongst some of them, being received by tradition from their Fathers. Moses Father in Law, was a Priest of this Country,
These two Nations then set out all manner of opposers, gross Idolaters as Cushan, and superstitious envious Apostates as Midian.
These two Nations then set out all manner of opposers, grosse Idolators as Cushan, and superstitious envious Apostates as Midian.
2. Their state and condition severally: 1 The tents of Cushan were in Affliction: the tents, the Arabian Ethiopians of Cush, dwelling in tents: the Habitation for the Inhabitant, by an Hypallage. They were in Affliction, under vanity, under iniquity, the place of vanity, so variously are the words rendered: [Greek or Hebrew] under Affliction, Vanity, or Iniquity. Sin, and the punishment of it, are frequently in the Scripture of the same name: so near is the Relation. Aven is properly and most usually iniquity, but that it is here taken for the consequent of it, A consuming, perplexed, vexed condition can be no doubt. The Cushamites then were in Affliction, full of Anguish, Fear, Dread, vexation to see what would be the issue of those great and mighty things which God was doing in their borders for his people. uAfflicted with Israels happiness and their own fears, as is the condition of all wicked oppressors.
2. Their state and condition severally: 1 The tents of Cushan were in Affliction: the tents, the Arabian Ethiopians of Cush, dwelling in tents: the Habitation for the Inhabitant, by an Hypallage. They were in Affliction, under vanity, under iniquity, the place of vanity, so variously are the words rendred: 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 under Affliction, Vanity, or Iniquity. Sin, and the punishment of it, are frequently in the Scripture of the same name: so nere is the Relation. Aven is properly and most usually iniquity, but that it is here taken for the consequent of it, A consuming, perplexed, vexed condition can be no doubt. The Cushamites then were in Affliction, full of Anguish, Feare, Dread, vexation to see what would be the issue of those great and mighty things which God was doing in their borders for his people. uAfflicted with Israels happinesse and their owne fears, as is the condition of all wicked oppressers.
2. The Curtains of the Land of Midian, for the Midianites dwelling in curtained Tabernacles, by the same Figure as before. They trembled, [Greek or Hebrew], moved themselves, were moved, that is ⟨p. 26⟩shaken with fear and trembling, as though they were ready to run from the Appearance of the mighty God with his people. The story of it, you have in the book of Numbers: as it was prophetically fore-told by Moses concerning other Nations, Exod. 15. 14, 15, 16. The people shall hear and be afraid, sorrow shall take hold of 1the inhabitants of Palestine: Then the Dukes of Edom shall be amazed, the mighty men of Moab, &c. God filled those Nations with Anguish sorrow and amazement, at the protection he granted his people.
2. The Curtaines of the Land of Midian, for the Midianites dwelling in curtained Tabernacles, by the same Figure as before. They trembled, 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, moved themselves, were moved, that is ⟨p. 26⟩shaken with feare and trembling, as though they were ready to run from the Appearance of the mighty God with his people. The story of it, you have in the book of Numbers: as it was prophetically fore-told by Moses concerning other Nations, Exod. 15. 14, 15, 16. The people shall heare and be afraid, sorrow shall take hold of 1the inhabitants of Palestina: Then the Dukes of Edom shall be amased, the mighty men of Moab, &c. God filled those Nations with Anguish sorrow and amazement, at the protection he granted his people.
3. The Prophets view of all this: I saw it, or I see it: though it were 870 years before, supposing him to prophesy about the end of Josiah, or beginning of Jehojakim, yet taking it under the consideration of Faith he makes it present to his view.
Faith looketh backwards and forwards, to what God hath done, and to what he hath promised to do: Abraham saw the Day of Christ, so many Ages after, because he found it by faith in the promise: Habakkuk saw the terrors of Cushan and Midian so many Ages before, because faith found it recorded among the works of God to support it self in seeking the like mercies to be renewed: so that this is the sum of this Verse.
Faith looketh backwards and forwards, to what God hath done, and to what he hath promised to do: Abraham saw the Day of Christ, so many Ages after, because he found it by faith in the promise: Habakkuk saw the terrors of Cushan and Midian so many Ages before, because faith found it recorded among the works of God to support it selfe in seeking the like mercies to be renewed: so that this is the sum of this Verse.
O Lord, faith makes it evident, and presents it before my view, how in former days, when thou wast doing great things for thy people, thou filledst all thine, and their enemies, with fear, vexation, trembling and astonishment.
O Lord, faith makes it evident, and presents it before my view, how in former days, when thou wast doing great things for thy people, thou silledst all thine, and their enemies, with fear, vexation, trembling and astonishment.
