Gods three arrovves plague, famine, svvord, in three treatises. I. A plaister for the plague. II. Dearths death. III. The Churches conquest over the sword. By William Gouge Doctor in Divinity, and preacher of Gods Word in Black-Friers, London.

§. 67. Of rehearsing to others matters of moment.

VI. * 1.1 MAtters worth record must be rehearsed. They must be oft spoken of an related to others. a 1.2 The Law expresly enjoyns this. This among like means of instruction is intended in that b 1.3 commendation which God giveth of Abraham, of instructing his houshold. For, God revealed the judgement which he intended to bring on Sodom to Abraham, because he knew that he would command his houshold to feare God, the rather because of the evidence of that judgement. When Iethro, Moses his father in law, came to see him, he related to him c 1.4 all that the Lord had done unto Pharaoh, &c.

By this means memorable matters, worthy to be knowne farre and neare, in ages present and to come, are divulged and propagated, to the greater praise of God, whose praise is thus spread abroad, and to the edification of many more then were present at the first working of those remarkeable things.

This especially concernes Ministers, whose office it is to declare, as the counsell of God revealed in his word, so also the will of God manifested in his works: especially, such works as are done in their owne dayes: which, being more fresh, use to be the more diligently attended unto, and the more carefully heeded. In this respect it will be their wis∣dome,

to take due notice themselves of the memorable works of God, yea, to be inquisitive after them, and to do what they can to have true and certaine intelligence thereof, that so they may rehearse them to others, and instruct their people to make the right use thereof.

This also concernes others that have charge of others, as, Parents, Masters, Tutors, and other Governours, oft to rehearse in the eares of those that are under them the re∣markable works of the Lord.

Yea, because we are all keepers one of another, it behooveth private Christians, as they have occasi∣on to meet together, to rehearse in the eares one of another such memorable matters as may according to the subject thereof, minister matter of humiliation and sup∣plication, or of exultation and gratulation. We have a good patterne hereof in Cleophas, and his compani∣on. * 1.5

Commendable in this respect is that Act of Parliament which was made in the third yeare of the raigne of King IAMES, for an annuall gratefull remembrance of our more then ordinary deliverance from the Gun. Powder-treason. It is answerable to that act which was made by Esther and Mor∣decai, * 1.6 for keeping the dayes called Purim. The annuall ce∣lebrating of the fift of November, being enjoyned by Act of Parliament, Ministers and people make conscience of ob∣serving it: and thence many Ministers take occasion yeare after yeare to set out before their people the unnaturall inhu∣manity, unsatiable cruelty, and perfidious treachery of Pa∣pists: and so bring people into an utter detestation of that more then Heathenish Idolatry. Very well did our learned King IAMES, in that speech which he made to both hou∣ses of Parliament upon the discovery of that divelish pow∣der-treason-plot, observe, that No other sect of Heretiques, not excepting Turke, Iew, nor Pagan, no, not even those of Calicute, who adore the Devill, did ever maintaine by the grounds of their religion, that it was lawfull, or rather me∣ritorious (as the Romish Catholicks call it) to murther prin∣ces

or people for quarrell of religion. And although particular men of all professions of religion have beene some theeves, some murtherers, some traitors, yet ever when they came to their end and just punishment, they confessed their fault to be in their nature, and not in their profession. These Romish Catholicks onely excepted. Preservations therefore, and deliverances from such mischievous persons are the best preservations and deliverances: most worthy to be remembred thoroughout all generations: that thorough∣out all generations due praise may be given to God. If * 1.7 the horrible mischiefe intended by that powder-plot, if the neare approach of the time of accomplishing that plot before it was discovered: and if the manner of dis∣covering the same bee well weighed, wee cannot but discerne that there was just and great cause for preserving both an annuall, and perpetuall memoriall thereof.

Though like publique memorials of all the judgements * 1.8 which God inflicteth on the enemies of the Church be not made: yet it behooveth particular Christians to take speciall notice of them, so farre as they come to their sight and hearing, and to make some private records of them to themselves: that thereby they may the rather bee provoked both to feare God, and also to trust in him.

Private means of keeping in memory Gods judgments, are such as these, frequent meditation on them, oft mentio∣ning them in our praises to God, much conferring with others about them, declaring them to our posterity, writing them in private records of our owne, and other such like.

Notes

• * 1.1

  See §. 61.
• a 1.2

  Exo. 12. 17.—13. 14. Deut. 6. 20.
• b 1.3

  Gen. 18. 19.
• c 1.4

  Exo. 18. 8.
• * 1.5

  Luke 24. 14.
• * 1.6

  Est. 9. 26.
• * 1.7

  See the Dis∣course of disco∣vering the powder-trea∣son, in the works of King IAMES.
• * 1.8

  Private memo∣rials of Gods judgements.