CLII lectures vpon Psalme LI preached at Ashby-Delazouch in Leicester-shire / by that late faithfull and worthy minister of Iesus Christ, Mr. Arthur Hildersam.

Lecture CXIII. On Psalme 51.6. March 17. 1628.

[ 2] THE second duty which we owe unto them that are in misery, is this. We are bound to take to heart the miseries of the Churches abroad & to work our hearts unto unfeined griefe and sorrow for them. Certainly none of us can have any comfort in our estate, till wee can heartily grieve for the miseries of our brethren. It is our dutie we know to condole any man that we see to be in miserie. Iob tooke great comfort in his greatest affliction, in this that he had

done so. Did not I weepe (saith he, Iob. 30.25.) for him that was in trouble? Was not my soule grieved for the poore? And if we must be thus affected with the mise∣ries of all men, then much more with the miseries of Gods people.

Three sorts of proofes I will give you for this. 1. Examples. 2. A precept. [ 1] 3. The reasons and grounds both of the examples, and of the precept also. And the examples that I will give you, shall be of two sorts.

First. When the holy servants of God did but fore-see by the spirit of pro∣phesie, [ 1] the troubles and afflictions that should befall the Church, they have bin wont to be exceedingly affected and grieved for it, though they were not to hap∣pen untill many yeares after themselves were dead and gone. Three notable examples we have for this.

The first is of Elisha, of whom we read, 2 Kings. 8.11, 12. that when he [ 1] looked stedfastly upon Haza••l, the man of God wept. And when he asked him why he did so; Because I know (saith he) the evill that thou wilt doe unto the children of Israel, their strong holds wilt thou set on fire, and their young men wilt thou slay with the sword, and wilt dash their children, and rip up their women with child. And this was certainly no more, nor so much neither, as the bloudy Papists have done to many of Gods people where they have come.

The second example is of the Prophet Esay. I will weepe bitterly (saith he, [ 2] Esay 22.4, 5,) labour not to comfort me, because of the spoiling of the daughter of my people. Why? There was no such spoile made of Gods people in all his time, in the dayes of Vzzia, Iotham, Ahaz, and Hezechia, in whose times he prophesied, as you may see, Esa. 1.1. No, but he did foresee by the spirit of prophesie, a day of trouble, and of treading downe (as he saith verse 5.) and of perplexity by the Lord God of hoasts, in the valley of vision, breaking downe the walls, a day of crying in the mountaines. The thinking upon the mise∣ries that the valley of vision, the true Church of God should endure from the Caldeans (which was to be above an hundred yeares after his owne death) and considering that this was to be done by the Lord God of hosts, it was to bee the Lords doing, and a fruit of his wrath, I say, the consideration of this, made the ho∣ly man to weepe bitterly, and refuse to be comforted.

The third example is of Daniel, Dan. 8. who when he did fore-see the mise∣ries [ 3] that Gods people were to endure under Antiochus Epiphanes (which was not to be before above two hundred yeares after his owne death) how Antio∣chus should take away the daily sacrifice, verse 11, 12. and by reason of the transgression of Gods people, should cast downe the truth to the ground; how both the sanctuary of God and the host (and armies of Gods people) should bee given unto him, to be troden under foot, as it is verse 13. how hee should destroy wonderfully the holy people, and prosper in it, as it is verse 24. When (I say) he did by the spirit of prophesie fore-see these miseries that should befall Gods people, it is said verse 27 that he even fainted and was sicke of griefe for it cer∣taine dayes. What would these holy men have done, how would they have mourned, if they had lived in the times wherein all this had beene fulfilled, which they did prophesie and fore-tell? If all these evills had fallen upon the Church in their dayes, as they have done in ours? Alas, we have seene a day, a long day of trouble, and of treading downe, and of perplexity, by the Lord God of hosts in the valley of vision. We have seene, and knowne the daily sacrifice (the true worship of God) taken away from many Churches. We have seene the truth of God cast downe to the ground in many places, and abominable he∣resies, and false doctrine set up in the roome of it. We have seene and known both the sanctuaries of God, and the hosts, and armies of his people given of God to the enemie to be troden under foot, and trampled upon. We have seene the dayes, wherein the proud enemy hath destroyed, and made havocke of the holy people wonderfully, and prospered in it. Certainly those holy men that were so

affected with the evills they did foresee, would befall the people of God, would have beene much more grieved for them, if they had fallen out in their daies. And it is therefore promised as a great favour and mercy to Iosiah, 2 Chron. 34.28. that he should be gathered to his grave in peace, neither should his eyes see all the evill, that God would bring upon Iudah and Ierusalem. The Lord knew well how much it would have affected good Iosiahs heart, if he should have lived to see (though hee had beene out of the gun-shot himselfe) all the evills and miseries that Gods people did endure, in the captivitie of Ba∣bylon.

[ 2] Let me give you also foure famous examples of this, how the servants of God that have lived in such times as these are, have beene affected with them.

[ 1] The first is that of the men of Gibeah mentioned, 1 Sam. 11.2.4. when tidings was brought them of the misery of one poore city (Iabesh Gilead) how Nahash the Ammonite that besieged them, would admit of no covenant of peace with them, but upon this condition that he might thrust out all their right eyes and lay it for a reproach upon all Israel; (And wee know that the Papists have to the poore Christians in the Palatinate and other places, offered farre worse and more reproachfull articles, and conditions of peace then this was) When this tidings I say was told them of Gibeah it is said verse 4 that as the people lift up their voices, and wept.

[ 2] The second example is that which is mentioned, 2 Sam. 1.11, 12. When Da∣vid heard how the Philistines had prevailed and what an overthrow they had given unto Gods people (As alas we have heard of a great many overthrowes that within these few yeares Gods people have received from as bad people, as ever the Philistines were) it is said there that David and all the men that were with him (all his souldiers, though many of them hated Saul mortally and one would have thought that the cutting off of that wretched man, in that battell should have mitigated much their sorrow, for the losse of all the rest) yet it is said there that David and all the men that were with him rent their clothes, and they mourned and wept and fasted for it.

[ 3] The third example for this is that of Nehemiah when Hanani and the rest had told him, Neh. 1.3. that the remnant that were left of the captivity in the pro∣vince of Iudaea were in great affliction and reproach, and that the walls of Ierusa∣lem were broken downe, and the gates thereof were burnt with fire (no worse newes then we have often heard of late of many of the Churches of Christ) When I heard these words, (saith he, verse 4.) I sat downe, and wept, and mour∣ned certaine daies.

[ 4] The fourth and last example is that of the Levites the holy Musicians mentio∣ned, Ps. 137. who as they were Church-officers ordained of God for the ser∣vice of the Temple, so did they receive such gifts from God for the discharge of that function, as that they did excell in skill all the musicians that have beene in the world. Of them we read five remarkable things in that Psalme. 1. Verse 1. By the rivers of Babylon they sat downe and wept, when they remembred Zion. The pleasantnesse of the countrey could not make them forget Zion, nor keepe them from griefe, nor from weeping when they remembred Zion. 2. Verse 2. They hanged up their harps. As if the Psalmist had said, As great as their skill was, they had no mind of musick, all that while that they remembred Zion and the miseries she was in. 3. Verse 3, 4. Though they that carried them captives, and were now their masters that had power and authority over them (and had heard doubtlesse of their excellent skill that way) required mirth of them, were earnest with them to use their skill in singing and playing upon their instru∣ments to make them and themselves merry, yet could they not get them to sing so much as one of the songs of Zion. 4. Verse 5, 6. The reason that they give for this, If I forget thee ô Ierusalem, if I doe not remember thee. Marke

1 the change of the number, they had spoken all the while before in the plurall number, and expressed so the joint affection of them all in this case, now they speake in the singular number, every man in his owne person so say I, and so say I. 2 Marke the reason why they would not obey their masters in this, alas (saith every one) if I should now give my selfe to mirth and musicke, it would be an evident signe I remembred not what case Ierusalem is in, I had quite for∣gotten the miseries of Gods Church. 5. Lastly, Observe in the same verses 4. & 5. the imprecation they make against themselves whereby as by an oath and vow they bind themselves from mirth and jollity during the time of Ieru∣salems misery, If I forget thee ô Ierusalem, if I doe not remember thee. As if they had said one by one. If any thing make me forget Ierusalem and her di∣stresses, nay if (as well as I love mirth and musicke, specially this, or this kind of mirth or recreation and delight, as ill as I could live without it) yet if I can∣not be content to abridge my selfe of it, for Ierusalems sake, let some strange curse of God, fall upon me. And these are certainely two strange judgements that they wish against themselves in this their imprecation. 1. Let my right hand forget her cunning. 2. Let my tongue cleave to the roofe of my mouth. For a Minister whom God hath endued with excellent gifts for his service, to have his gifts blasted and taken from him, to be strucken dumbe and loose the use of his tongue as Zachary did for a time, these are certainely great and strange judgements. In all these examples we see (beloved) how the holy servants of God, have beene affected with the afflictions of Ioseph, and how they have mourned for them. And I doubt not also but you see that we all ought to bee so affected likewise; and that we could not choose but be so, in some measure, if the same spirit were in us, that was in them.

And that you may see, they did in this no worke of supererogation, I will [ 2] shew you now (which is the second proofe I promised to give you) that they did no more the•• they were commanded to do. When the Lord had executed a strange judgement but upon two of his servants Nadab and Abihu; though the cause why he did it, the sinne whereby he was provoked to it, was apparant and notorious to all the people; yet see what a commandement is given con∣cerning this, Levit. 10.6. Let your brethren, the whole house of Israel, bewaile the burning which the Lord hath kindled. That fire was quenched and ended in the death of those two men. But the Lord hath now kindled a burning which hath lasted many yeares and burneth still outragiously, and hath consumed not two of Gods servants onely, but many whole Churches of Christ and ought not then the whole house of Israel, all Gods people much more to bewaile such a burning as this which the Lord hath kindled?

But let us see the reason why this ought to be; which is the third proofe of [ 3] the point which I promised to give you. And that is this; they that can thus take to heart the miseries of the Church (though themselves be in peace) may have great comfort in their estate, and none but they.

For first this is a signe that they are true & living members of Christs mysti∣call body. If one member suffer (saith the Apostle, 1 Cor. 12.26) all the members [ 1] suffer with it; he meaneth, if they be true & living members, for a woodden leg, or an artificiall eye cānot. Say not thou art a member of the Church of England, thou art not a member of the Church of France, or of Germany, or of Bohemi∣ah; for all the Churches of the world that professe the same faith and religion, are but one body. There is one body, and on•• spirit, saith the Apostle, Ephes. 4.4. It is not the distance of place, nor the difference of language that can fever us. There is neither Iew, nor Greek, bond nor free (saith he, Gal 3.28.) but we are all one in Christ Iesus. I believe one Catholique and Apostolique Church, saith the Nicene creed. The true Catholique Church is but one body. If thou be not a member of the same body, that all those afflicted Churches are, certainely thou

art no living member of any true Church. And how canst thou bee a member of the same body with them, if thou have no fellow-feeling of their miseries?

[ 2] Secondly, This is a singular grace of God and fruit of his spirit, that may yeeld us great comfort, and which the Lord highly esteemeth of, and hath pro∣mised to reward, when we can find our hearts affected with the miseries of the Church. Thus saith the Lord (Ier. 31.16. to his people that mourned for the captivity and affliction of his Church) refraine thy voice from weeping, and thine eyes from teares (mourne not immoderatly, as they that are without hope) for thy worke shall bee rewarded, saith the Lord; he repeateth this twice in one verse, for the undoubted certainty of it, Certainely God will not faile to reward this, as a singular good worke when hee seeth any of his people mourne in secret, for the miseries of his Church I will restore comforts (many comforts abundance of comfort) to him (saith the Lord againe, Esa. 57.18) and to his mourners. They that have beene partakers with the Church in her sufferings, and have mourned for her shall bee partakers also with her in her comforts, and none but they.

* 1.1Now to make some application of this to our selves, Alas how few are there of us, to whom these comforts doe belong. We heare and talke of the mise∣ries and troubles of the Churches, as of a matter that concerneth not us at all. We read the Currantoes and listen after this as we do after other newes, but are no more affected with it, then Merchants use to be when they heare of the casting away of a ship, that themselves have no share in. No man abateth ought of any of his delights for this matter; but we are even as senslesse in this case, as if we were rather meere professed enemies to the Churches, then their friends, and members of the same body with them. The King and Haman (saith the holy story, Est. 3.15.) sat downe to drinke when the whole city Shu••shan was perplexed. We drinke, and quaffe, we flaunt it out in all kind of bra∣very, we run into all excesse of riot, neverthelesse for this, that the whole city of Shushan is perplexed, that all the Churches of Christ are in so extreame di∣stresse. Our long peace and plenty, the delights and pleasures of all sorts that we glut our selves withall, make us void of all compassion of the miseries of our brethren; Like unto those of whom we read, Amos 6.6. They drinke wine in bowls and annoint themselves with the chiefe ointments, and they are not grieved for the afflictions of Ioseph. But marke what followeth in the next words, verse 7, 8. and tremble at it. Therefore now shall they goe captive with the first that goe captive, the Lord hath sworne by himselfe saith the Lord the God of hosts, I abhorre the excellency of Iacob, and hate his palaces, therefore will I deliver up the city with all that is therein; therefore even because they grieve not, nor are affected with the afflictions of Ioseph, therefore will I thus plague them. In applying of this place to us I cannot say (as the old translation without any warrant from the originall readeth it) that no man is sorry for the affliction of Ioseph. For I nothing doubt but there are in this land many, and even among you some, that have beene wont sometimes in secret to thinke of, and grieve for the afflictions of Ioseph; whose eyes (with the Prophet, Ier 13.17.) have sometimes in secret wept sore, and run downe with teares, because the Lords flock, is carried away captive; that have sometimes abridged themselves of their lawfull delights, even for this cause. And blessed be God that hath put it into the heart of the King, to proclaime a publique and generall fast to bee kept on fryday next for this cause principally (as it hath pleased his Majesty to expresse himselfe in his royall Proclamation) that we might altogether professe our sor∣row and humiliation for the deplorable condition, of all the Churches of Christ. But alas there be few or none in comparison, that are at all affected with this matter. And if we shall make a shew of keeping a fast for them, and bee not at all humbled for them, nor touched in heart with a fellow-feeling and griefe

for their miseries, we shall but play the part of hypocrites, & be in danger to do them no good at all, and our selves much hurt by our fast; No temper and dis∣position of the soule, doth so well beseeme us in a fast, as sorrow and humi∣liation. Sorrow I say, 1. For our own sins. 2. For the sins of our own land. 3. For the judgements of God present, and imminent upon our selves. 4. For the Churches of Christ, whose case we are to commend to God in our prayers. Remember the fearefull sentence of God against that man that shall keepe a fast, without this sorrow and humiliation of soule, Levit. 23.29. Whatsoever soule it be that shall not be afflicted that same day, he shall be cut off from among his people. Gods curse will be upon him. And to keepe you from this curse, to helpe both my selfe and you to this humiliation of soule upon the day of our fast, I have thus enlarged my meditations in this point. In the other two that remaine I must be the briefer.

Thirdly. We ought in such times as these are, not only to informe our selves [ 3] by the best meanes we can, how it fareth with the Churches of Christ, and to mourne and grieve for their miseries, but also to importune the Lord for them, and never to forget them in our prayers unto God. Yea, that have escaped the sword (saith the Lord, Ier. 51.50. as blessed be God we have hitherto done) stand not still (be not idle, but doe what you can) remember the Lord afarre off, and let Ierusalem come into your mind. Though we be a great way from them, yet may wee not forget them, but remember them, and put the Lord in mind of them, in our prayers continually. Yee that are the Lords remembrancers (saith the Prophet Esay 62.6, 7. For so I read it, and so it is in the margine of your Bibles) keepe not silence, and give him no rest, till hee establish, and till he make Ie∣rusalem a praise in the earth. He hath for many yeares, made Ierusalem his poore Churches a reproach, and an hissing to the whole world; we that are his remembrancers, and solicitors (as all the faithfull, all that have the spirit of prayer are) should (like the importunate widow in the Gospell) give him no rest, till hee have established and setled his poore Churches in peace, and gi∣ven them beauty and glory againe, even upon earth, and in the sight of their enemies. Thus did Nehemiah (though a great man) testifie his compassion of the Churches miseries. Nehemiah 1.4. he sat downe and wept, and mourned certaine daies, and fasted, and prayed for them. And even by this meanes he relieved them greatly, as appeared by the successe he had in the next chapter, in his suit hee made unto the King for them. And certainely so might wee even the poorest and meanest of us all, helpe our poore brethren much this way if we could doe this for them, in that manner as we ought to doe it. Oh let it be our care so to prepare our selves to the fast, to pray so for our brethren, as we may doe them good by our prayers, and prevaile with God for them. When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turne backe, (saith David, Psalme 56.9.) this I know (saith he) for God is for me. Oh let us labour so to cry unto God, as we may give the enemy a foyle and overthrow. When Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed (Exod. 17.11.) when Moses let downe his hand, Amalek prevailed. Certainly the heavinesse of our hearts, and hands this way, hath bin a chiefe cause why Israell hath had so many foiles, why Amalek hath prevailed so much as he hath done.

Fourthly and lastly. The example of the Lords so strange severity towards all other Churches, should make us feare the like towards our selves. When [ 4] we see God executeth strange judgements even upon most wicked men, it should worke feare in the best of us. For who is so good, but he knoweth there is matter enough to deserve Gods fierce wrath even in himselfe also? All Israel when they saw Korah and his company swallowed up (Numb. 16.34.) cryed, and were afraid that the earth would swallow them up also. The righ∣teous shall see and feare (saith David, Psal. 52.6.) when they see Gods strange

judgement upon Doeg. But these strange judgements of God upon his owne people, give us much more just cause to feare our selves.

Observe I pray you these just causes we have to feare our selves, and our owne estate.

[ 1] First. The manner of the Lords proceeding hitherto, and the strange suc∣cesse he hath given unto the enemy all this while, and the conveighing of the cup of his fury from Church to Church, from nation to nation, these many yeares, may give us just cause to feare that he hath given a charge to his sword of vengeance, to goe through all the Churches in the world, that professe his Gospel. And that he hath said of all his Churches, as once he spake of all Is∣rael, Ezek. 21.4, 5. My sword shall goe forth of his sheath against all fl••sh (against all Israell) from the South to the North; that all flesh may know, that I have drawne forth my sword out of his sheath; it shall not returne any more, till it have gone through all Israel.

[ 2] Secondly. The very same sins whereby God hath beene provoked against o∣ther Churches abound in our land. And we know God hateth sin as much in us, as he did in them, neither have we any priviledge more then they. Goe yee now (saith the Lord, Ieremy 7.12.) unto my place which was in Shiloh, where I set my name at the first, and see what I did unto it, for the wi••kednesse of my people Israel. As if the Lord should say to us all, Goe and see what I have done to my Churches in Bohemia, Germany, and France, where I set my name at the first, and that were in Christ before you.

[ 3] Thirdly and lastly. Even our strange want of feare, and generall security under all these examples of Gods so marvellous severity upon them, may (a∣bove all other things) give us most cause to feare, that there are greater plagues in brewing for us, then any that they have endured; that they have drunke but the top of the cup of Gods fury, that the bottome and dregs of it are reser∣ved for us. Oh if we could but learne by all these examples, and by all other the signes of Gods indignation against us to feare, if our hearts were tender, and we could humble our selves as Iosiah did, 2 Chron. 34.27, 28. we should be safe enough as Iosiah was. But our generall senslesnesse in such times as these are, is a most dangerous signe of some fearefull ruine determined against us. It was of the Lord (saith the holy Ghost of the Canaanites, Iosh. 11.20) to har∣den their hearts, that he might destroy them utterly. And remember what I told you even now out of Amos. 6.6, 7. They were not grieved for the afflictions of Io∣seph; therefore now shall they goe captive, with the first that goe captive.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Applic.