The healing of Israels breaches. VVherein is set forth Israels disease. Cure. Physitian. Danger. All paralleld with, and applyed to the present times. As they were delivered in six sermons at the weekly lecture in the church of Great Yarmouth. By John Brinsly minister of the Word, and pastor of Somerleiton an adjacent village. Published by order of a committee of the House of Commons.

Israels Danger.

It shaketh.

AN Argumēt or Reason (as I told you) taken up by the Psalmist to presse his request, taken (as you have heard) from the eminency of the Danger where∣in that his Kingdome then was. It shaketh, or it is shaken. A metaphoricall expression borrowed from an Earthquake, (as I have already explained it) where the Earth being big, and in travell, as it were, with some windy vapour, which it strives to bring forrh, and to be delivered of, it trembles, and shakes. So wavering and unsetled was Isra∣els condition at that time, by reason of those forraine Invasions, and homebred Divisions, and Distractions, that the very foundations of it see∣med to shake, threatning Ruine, and Destruction.

Such may the state of the Church of God upon earth

sometimes be, wavering, tottering, shaken. Even as we read of Mount Sina at the giving of the Law, though it stood fast in respect of the foundations of it, yet it was shak••n, it quaked. The Church of God, in respect of the foundation, it standeth sure, being built upon a Rock, so as the Gates of Hell, all the Power, and Policie of Satan, and his Instruments shall never be able to prevaile a∣gainst it; yet may it be shaken. So was the Ark of God at the threshing floore of Nachon or Chidon though it fell not, yet it was shaken. So may the Church of God, and Religion of God be; though they shall never be quite overthrowne, yet they are subject to shakings. So is the Church.

And that through these Breaches, which are both from Without, and from Within: (as I have al∣ready shewn you in the case of Breaches.)

From without, by persecution, and Opposition from Enemies abroad. From within, by and through homebred Divisions and Distractions, which like a windy vapour inclosed in the bow∣els of the earth cause shaking and trembling. This it was that made Israel shake, her intestine, and civill Combustions. Nothing more dangerous to a State, a Church, moe ominous, and pernicious then these, Intestine Breaches. Such Breaches are sha∣kings, dangerous presages, in their own nature Destructive, presaging downfall, and Ruine, un∣lesse they be Healed. Both these wayes is the Church subject to shakings.

And that (as I have said heretofore) partly through Satans malice, who hereby intends the

Ruine and downfall of the Church. Thence is it that he raiseth, and bringeth stormes, and tem∣pests in, and upon it: Even as he did that Tempest which he brought from the wildernesse, which smote the foure corners of the house wherein Iohs children were banqueting, so as it fell, burying them in the ruines of it.

Partly through Gods effectuall Permission, and Ordination, who sometimes shakes his Church as he did Mount Sina: Thereby intending,

First, Sometimes to manifest his Displeasure against a People, a Nation. Thus at the Death of our Saviour the Earth shook and trembled, as a token of Gods indignation against the Iewes for that hor∣rid Act of theirs in Crucifying the Lord of Life. Like construction David maketh of this Earth∣quake, these shakings here in the text, he took them as tokens and evidences of Gods wrath and dis∣pleasure, O God, thou hast been displeased.

Secondly, Sometimes God shakes his Church to Purge it, as the Husbandman shakes his Come to and fro in the fant to cleanse out the Chaffe and Drosse.

Thirdly, Sometimes God doth it to Humble his people, and so to fit and prepare them for some speciall mercy. Thus when God descended upon Mount Sina he shook the Earth, both the Place, and the People; putting both into a trembling fit, there∣by fitting and preparing the people for the recei∣ving of that holy Law of his. Thus when God in∣tends to come downe upon his Church in a way of speciall grace and favour, he oft-times prepares

it by these shakings: Even as the Whirlewinde, and Earthquake at Mount Horeb, made way for the still voyce, wherein God was. Seldome it is that God worketh any great Changes in his Church with∣out these shakings going before. But I must not dwell upon it. The use I shall make of it shall be only a double exhortation.

1. That we would lay to heart the present state and condition both of this, and the neighbour Kingdome, which by reason of the Breaches made in them and upon them are shaken. So was Israel, and so are they. Be we affected herewith. So wee would be with an Earthquake. Did we feele the Earthquake and tremble under us, who but would tremble with it? This doth the State, the Church in these Kingdomes at the present. Let every of us be deeply affected with these shakings; so lay∣ing them to Heart, that,

In the second place, we may be excited and stir∣red up every of us to do that office & duty to, & for the Church of God amongst us, that David doth here for Israel, viz. to seek the Healing of the Breaches thereof. These Breaches (how sleight so ever any may make of them) they are shakings, presages of Ruine and Downfal, unlesse they be healed. And therefore let both our Hearts work, & Hands work towards the Healing of these Breaches. This it was that made Vzzah so forward in putting forth his hand to touch the Ark, he saw that it was shaken, and he knew not what the danger might be. Stupid is that Heart which apprehends the Ark of God shaken, and shall not be ready to put forth an

hand to the staying of it. This let every of us doe. Only taking heed of that Errour into which he through a suddain unadvisednesse fell; observing the severall places and stations wherein God hath set us, do we what appertaineth to thē. Publike per∣sons in their places, and Private persons in their places. Those which may not touch the Ark it selfe, let them lay hand upon the Cart, which if Vzzah had done, and no more, that act of his (I suppose) had been not onely warrantable, but ac∣ceptable. This caution being observed, then let it be the holy ambition of every of us to be found of God, and man in the number of those, which shall be called (not the makers or Maintainers, but) the Repairers of Breaches, and the Restorers of Paths to dwell in; Even of those ancient, and truly Chri∣stian pathes (which I wish were more beaten and trodden then they are) of Religious Peace and Love, which if they be wanting, the Church (how well so ever accommodated, and furnished with all other necessaries, and conveniences, yet) will scarcely be found habitable. For the furthering of you in this blessed work, I shall say no more unto you, then what the Apostle doth to his Philippi∣ans, Phil. 4. 9. with whose words I shall dismisse both you and the Text: Those things which ye have both learned, and received, and heard from me, (I goe no further) Doe, and the God of Peace shall be with you▪ Amen.

Notes

• D. Israel subject to shakings.
• Exod. 19. 18.
• Mat. 16. 18.
• 2 Sam. 6. 8. 1 Chron. 13. 9.
• Breaches are shakings.
• The Church subject to shakings through Sa∣tans malice. Iob 1. 19.
• 2. Through Gods Provi∣dence, hereby
• 1. Sometimes manifesting his displ••asure. Mat. 27. 51.
• 2. Purging his Church.
• 3. Humbling his people, and so preparing thē for some spe∣ciall mercy.
• 1 King. 19. 11, 12.
• Vse. Be we affected with the sha∣king of our Is∣rael.
• Seek the hea∣ling of her Breaches.
• 2 Sam. 6.
• Every one in his Place.
• Esay. 58. 12.
• Phil. 49.