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.

Speciall mercies, must have speciall Observation.

Now by reason of these Actions, the Prophet affirms that the glory of God covered the heavens, and the earth was full of his praise. Lofty expressions of the advancement of Gods glory, and the fullnesse of his praise amongst his people of the earth, which attended that mercifull deliverance, and gracious assistance. No∣thing is higher or greater then that which covers heaven, and fills earth.

Gods l 1.1 glory is exceedingly exalted, and his praise increased every where, by Acts of favour and kindnesse to his people.

That which I shall chuse from amongst many others that pre∣sent themselves a little to insist upon, is that

Former mercies with their times and places are to be had in thankfull remembrance unto them who wait for future blessings. Faith is to this end separated by them. Awake, awake, put on strength O arm of the

Lord, awake as in the ancient dayes, as in the generations of old: art not thou it that hath cut Rahab, and wounded the Dragon? Art not thou it that dried the sea, the waters of the great deep, that hath made the depths of the sea a way for the ransomed to passe over? Isa. 51. 9, 10: The breaking of Rahab, that is Egypt, so called here, and Psal. 87. 4. Psal. 89. 11. for her great strength which the word signi∣fies, and the wounding of the dragon, that great and crooked Afflictour Pharaoh is remembred, and urged for a motive to a new needed deliverance. so Psal. 74. 13, 14. Thou brakest the heads of Le∣viathan in pieces, and gavest him to be meat to the people in the wilder∣nesse. Leviathan, the same Dragon, oppressing, persecuting Pha∣raoh; thou brakest his Heads, his Counsells, Armies, Power, and gavest him for meat, that the people for forty yeares together might be fed, sustained and nourished, with that wonderfull mercy. Out of the eater came forth meat, out of the strong came forth sweetnesse.

In this Reciprocation God walketh with his people. Of free grace he bestoweth mercies and blessings on them: by grace works the returns of Remembrance and Thankfullnesse unto himself for them: then showres that down again in new Mercies. The Countries which send up no vapours, receive down no showers. Remembrance with thankfullnesse of former mercies, is the mat∣ter as it were, which by Gods goodnesse, is condensed into fol∣lowing blessings. For

Mercies have their proper end when thankfully remembred. What more powerfull motive to the obteining of new, then to * 1.2 hold out, that the old were not abused. We are incouraged to cast seed again into that ground, whose last crop witnesseth that it was not altogether barren: that sad spot of good Hezekiah, that He rendred not again according to the benefit done unto him, is set down as the opening a doore of wrath against himself, Ju∣dah and Jerusalem, 2. Chron. 32. 25. On the other side suitable re∣turns, are a doore of hope for further mercies.

The remembrance of them strengthens faith, and keeps our hands from hanging down in the time of waiting for blessings. * 1.3 When faith is supported the promise is engaged, and a mercy at any time more then half obteined, faith is the substance of things ho∣ped for, Heb. 11. 1. God (saith the Apostle) hath delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver, now what conclusion makes he

of this experience? in whom we trust, that he will yet deliver us, 2 Cor. 1. 10. It was a particular mercy, with it's circumstances, as you may see ver. 9. which he made the bottome of his dependance. In the favours of men, we cannot do so: they may be weary of helping, or be drawne dry, and grow helpelesse. Pond's may be exhausted, but the Ocean never. The infinite fountaines of the Deity, can∣not be sunk one haires bredth by everlastingly-flowing blessings. Now circumstances of Actions, Time, Place, and the like, oft-times take deepe impressions: Mercies should be remembred with them. So doth the Apostle againe, 2 Tim. 4. 17, 18. He did deliver me from the mouth of the Lyon: (Nero that Lion-like tyrant) and what then? he will deliver mee from every evill worke. David esteemed it very good Logick, to argue from the victory God gave him over the Lyon, and the Beare, to a confidence of victory over Goliah: 1 Sam. 17. 37.

The use of this, we are lead unto, Isaiah 43. 16, 17, 18. Thus saith * 1.4 the Lord which maketh a way in the Sea, and a Path in the mighty waters: which bringeth forth the chariot and the horse, the army and the power, they shall lie downe together, they shall not rise, they are extinct, they are quenched as tow: Remember yee not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Let former mercies be an Anchor of hope in time of present distresses. Where is the God of Marstone-Moore, and the God of Naseby, is an acceptable expostulation in a gloomy day. O what a catalogue of mercies, hath this Nation to plead by in a time of trouble? God came from Naseby, and the holy one from the West: Selah: his glory covered the Heavens, and the earth was full of his prayse. He went forth in the North, and in the East he did not withhold his hand. I hope the poore Towne where∣in n 1.5 I live, is more inriched with a store mercy of a few moneths, then with a full trade of many years. The snares of death compassed us, and the flouds of ungodly men made us afraid: Psal. 18. 4. but the Lord thundred from heaven, the highest gave his voyce, hailestones and coals of fire: yea he sent out his arrowes and scattered them, and he shot out lightning and discomfited them: he sent from above, he tooke us, he drew us out of many waters, hee delivered us from our strong enemy, and from them which hated us, for they were to strong for us, v. 13, 14, 16, 17. How may we say with the same Psalmist in any other distresse, O my God my soule is cast downe within mee, therefore will I remember thee from the Land of Jordan, and of the Hennomites from the Hill Missar, Psal.

42. 6. where is the God of Elijah, divides a new the waters of Jor∣dan, 2 Kings 2. 14.

The following verses set forth the glory and power of God, in * 1.6 the accomplishment of that great worke of bringing his people into the promised land: with those mighty things he performed in the wildernesse. Verse 4. if I mistake not sets out his glorious ap∣pearance on Mount Sinai: of which the Prophet affirmes two things:

• 1. That his brightnesse was the light:
• 2. That, he had hornes comming out of his hand, and there was the hid∣ing of his power.

For the first: is it not that brightnesse which appeared, when the mountaine burnt with fire to the middest of Heaven: Deut. 4. 11. A glorious fire in the middest of clouds and thick darknesse. The like description you have of Gods presence, Psal. 18. 11, 12. hee made darkenesse his secret place, and brightnesse was before him. As the light, the sun, the fountaine and cause of it: called light Iob. 31. 26. Now this glorious appearance holds out the kingly power and Majesty of God in governing the world, which appeareth but unto few. The Lord reigneth let the earth rejoyce, clouds and darkenesse are round about him a fire goeth before him, his lightnings inlightened the world, Psa. 97. 1, 2, 3.

Secondly, he had hornes comming out of his hand. So the words most properly, though by some, otherwise rendred. That o 1.7 hornes in Scripture are taken for strength and power needs no proving. The mighty power of God which he made appear to his people, in that glorious representation of his Majesty on Mount Sinai, is by this phrase expressed. There his Chariots were seene to be twenty thousands, even many thousands of Angels, and the Lord among them in that holy place, Psal. 68. 19. There they perceived that he had hornes in his hand: An Almighty power to do what he pleased. Whence it is added, And there was the hiding of his power. Though the ap∣pearance of it was very great and glorious, yet it was but small to the everlastingly hidden depths of his omnipotency:

(The most glorious appearance of God comes infinitly short of his own eternall Majesty as he is in himselfe: it is but a discovery, that there is the hiding of infinite perfection.) Or, there his power appeared to us, which was hidden from the rest of world.

When God is doing great things, he gives glorious manifestations of his * 1.8

excellencies to his secret ones. The appearance on Sinai, goes before his passage into Canaan. Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secrets unto his servants the Prophets. Amos 3. 7. When he is to send Moses for the deliverance of his people, he appeares to him in a burning unconsumed bush, Exod. 3. 2. a signe manifesting the presence of his power, to preserve his Church unconsumed in the middest of burning fiery Afflictions. Vnto this very end, were all the visions, that are recorded in the Scripture; All of them ac∣commodated to the things which God was presently doing. And this he doth:

That they may thereby be prepared to follow him, and serve * 1.9 him in the great works he hath for them to do. Great works are to be done without great incouragements. If God appeares not in light, who can expect he should appeare in operation? He that is called to serve providence in high things, without some especiall * 1.10 discovery of God, works in the darke, and knowes not whither he goes, nor what hee doth. Such a one travailes in the wilder∣nesse, without a directing cloud. Cleare shining from God, must be at the bottome of deepe labouring with God. What is the rea∣son, that so many in our days, set their hands to the plow, and looke back againe? begin to serve providence in great things, but cannot finish? give over in the heat of the day! They never had any such Revelation of the mind of God upon their spirits, such a discovery of his excellencies, as might serve for a bottome of such undertakings. Men must know that if God hath not appea∣red to them in brightnesse, and shewed them the hornes in his hand, hid from others, though they thinke highly of themselves, they'l deny God twice and thrice, before the close of the work of this Age. If you have no great discoveries, you will wex vaine in great undertakings. Now workings on old bottomes, are like new wine in old bottels, both are spoyled and lost. The day is the time of work, and that because of the light thereof: those who have not light may be spared to go to bed.

That they may be the better enabled to give him glory, when * 1.11 they shall see the sweet Harmony that is between his Manifestati∣ons and his Operations. When they can say with the Psalmist, as we have heard, so have we seene, Psal. 48. 8. as he revealeth himselfe, so he worketh. When his power and mercy answer his appearance in the bush, it is a foundation to a prayer, The good will of him that

dwelt in the bush, blesse thee. When a soule shall finde God calling him forth to Employments, perhaps great and high, yet every way suiting that light and gracious discovery which he hath given of himselfe, one thing Answering another, it sets him in a frame of honouring God aright.

This might be of rich consideration could we attend it: for hence * 1.12

1. As I said before, is Apostasy from Gods work. He appeares not unto me, how can they go upon his Imployment? Men that have no vision of God, are in the darke, and know not what to doe. I speak not of visions beyond the word, Answers of prayers, grati∣ous applications of providences, with wise considerations of times and seasons. Some drop off every day, some hang by the ey-lids, and know not what to do; The light of God is not sent forth to lead and guide them: Psal. 43. 3. wonder not at the strange back∣slidings of our days, many acted upon by-ingagements, and for want of light, know not to the last what they were adoing.

2. Hence also is the suiting of great light, and great worke, in our days. Let new light be derided whilest men please, he will ne∣ver serve the Will of God in this Generation, who sees not beyond the line of foregoing ages.

3. And this thirdly, may put all those, whom God is pleased to imploy in his service, upon a diligent Inquiry into his mind. Can a servant do his masters work, without knowing his pleasure? we live for the most part from hand to mouth, and do what comes next: few are acquainted with the designes of God.

The going forth of the Lord with his people towards their rest, * 1.13 with reference to his harbingers is described v. 5.

Before him went the pestilence, and burning coales went forth at his feete.

Before him, at his face. The Pestilence, This is l 1.14 often reckoned amongst the weapons wherewith God fighteth with any people to consume them: and as speeding an instrument of destruction it is, as any the Lord ever used towards the children of men.

At his feet went forth a burning coale. A redoubling say some of the same stroke: burning coals, for burning diseases.

When one blow will not do the work appointed, God redoubles the stroak of his hand:

Levit. 26. 22, 23, 24, 25.

Or burning coals, dreadfull judgements, mortall weapons, as fire and flames are often taken in other descriptions of God's dea∣ling

with his enemies: Psal. 11. 6. 18. 8. prevailing fire is the most dreadfull meanes of destruction, Heb. 12. 29. Isa. 33. 14.

Exod. 23. 28. God threatneth to send the Hornet upon the Cana∣anites, before the children of Israel: some stinging judgements, either on their consciences, or bodies, or both. Something of the same kind is doubtlesse here held out: he sent plagues and diseases among them to weaken and consume them, before his peoples entrance. His presence was with Israel, and the pestilence con∣suming the Canaanites before their entrance is said to be 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 at his faces, or appearances, before him, before the entrance of the presence of his holinesse. And the following Judgements that quite devoured them, were the coals going out at his feet, which he sent abroad, when he entred their land, with his own inheritance, into theirs, to cast out those malae fidei possessores.

1. Sicknesses, diseases and all sorts of judgements are wholly at Gods disposall. Affliction commeth not forth of the dust, neither doth trouble spring out of the ground, yet man is borne to trouble, as the sons of the burning coale lift up in flying, Job. 5. 6, 7.

2. When God intends the totall destruction of a people, he commonly wea∣kens them by some previous judgements. Let the truth of this, be found upon them that hate us, and the interpretation therof, be to the enemies, of this Nation: but the Lord knows, all our hearts may well tremble, at what will be the issue of the visitations of the last years.

God never wants instruments, to execute his Anger, and ruine his ene∣mies. * 1.15 His treasury of judgements, can never be exhausted. If Israel be too weake for the Amorites, he will call in the pestilence and burning diseases to their assistance. What creature hath not this mighty God used against his enemies? An Angell destroyes Sena∣cheribs Host, Isa. 37. 36. and smites Herod with Wormes: Acts 12. 23. Heaven above sends downe a Hell of fire and brimstone on So∣dome and Gomorah, Gen. 19. 24. The Starres in their courses fought against Sisera. Judg. 5. 20. Devils do his will herein, He sent evill Angels among the Aegyptians, Psal. 78. 49. Fire consumes persecut∣ing Ahaziah's companies, 2 Kings 1. 10, 11. The Water drownes Pharaoh and his Chariots, Exod. 14. 28. Earth swallows up Korah, with his fellow rebels, Numb. 16. 32. Beares rend the children that mocked Elisha, 2 Kings, 2. 24. Lyons destroy the strange Nations in Samaria, 2 Kings 17. 25. Froggs, Lice, Boyles, Hayle, Rayne, Thunder,

Lightning, destroy the Land of Aegypt: Exod. 8, 9, 10. Locusts are his mighty army to punish Israel Joel. 2. 25. Hailstones destroy the Canaanites, Josh. 10. 11. Stones of the wall slay the Syrians, 1 Kings 20. 30. pestilence and burning diseases are his ordinary messengers. In a word, all creatures, serve his providence, and await his com∣mands, for the execution of his righteous Judgements. Neither the beasts of the Field, nor the stones of the Earth, will bee any longer quiet then hee causeth them to hold a league with the sons of men. * 1.16

To teach us all to tremble before this mighty God. Who can stand before him, qui tot imperat legionibus? If hee will strike hee wants no weapons: if he will fight he wants no Armies. All things serve his Will. He saith, to one come, and it commeth, to another go, and it goeth, to a third, do this, and it doth it. He can make use of our selves, our friends, our enemies, Heaven, Earth, Fire, Wa∣ter, &c. any thing, for what end he pleaseth. There is no standing before his Armies; for they are all things, and himselfe to make them effectuall. There is no flying from his Armies, for they are every where, and himselfe with them. Who would not feare this King of Nations? He that contends with him, shall find it, As if a man did flee from a Lyon, and a Beare met him▪ or went into the house and leaned upon a wall, and a Serpent bitte him: Amos 5. 18, 19. No flying, no hiding, no contending. Wormes kill Herod; A Flie choak'd Adrian, &c. * 1.17

To be a bottome of confidence and dependence in an evill day. He that hath God on his side, hath also all things, that are seene and that are not seene. The mountaine is full of fiery Chariots for Elisha's defence, when outwardly there was no appearance, 2 Kings 6. 17. All things waite their Masters beck, to do him service, as for the destruction of enemies, so for the deliverance of his. What though wee had no Army in the time of war? God hath millions, Many thousands of Angels, Psal. 68. 17. one whereof can destroy so many thousands of men in a night: Isa. 37. 36. Hee can choose (when few others will appeare with him against the mighty, as in our late troubles) foolish things to confound the wise, and weak things, to confound the strong. Senacheribs Angell is yet alive, and the destroyer of Sodom is not dead. And all those things are at our command, if their help may be for our good: Judah ruleth with God, Hos. 11. 12. hath a rule by faithfull supplications over all

those mighty hosts. Make God our friend, and wee are not onely of the best, but also the strongest side. You that would be on the safest side, be sure to choose that which God is on. Had not this mighty all-commanding God been with us, where had we been in the late tumults? so many thousands in Kent, so many in Wales, so many in the North, so many in Essex, shall they not speed? shall they not divide the prey? is not the day of those factious Inde∣pendents come? was the language of our very neighbours: The snare is broken, and we are delivered. * 1.18

The Lord having sent messengrs before him into Canaan, stands himself as it were upon the borders and takes a view of the Land.

He stood and measured the earth, he beheld and drove asunder the Na∣tions, and the everlasting mountaines were scattered, the perpetuall hills did bow: his wayes are everlasting.

Two things are here considerable▪

• 1. The Lords exact fore-view of the promised land: he stood and measured the earth, and beheld the Nations.
• 2. His operation at that time, he drave asunder the Nations, and the, &c.

1. Hee stood and measured. The Prophet here representeth the Lord on the frontire of Canaan, as one taking view of a piece of Land, and exactly measuring it out, as intending it for his own, weighing and considering the bounds and limits of it, to see if it will answer the end for which he purposeth it. Gods exact notice and knowledge of his peoples possession is in those words held out. He views where the lines of every tribe shall run.

Notes

• l 1.1

  Gloria est fre∣quens de aliqua fama cum laude Ci. lib. 2. de inv. Consentiens ••••us bonorum incorrupta vox bene judicanti∣um de excellen∣te virtute. Idem Tusc l. 3. Obs. 7.
• * 1.2

  Reas. 1.
• * 1.3

  Reas. 2.
• * 1.4

  Vse.
• n 1.5

  No place in the County so threatned. No place in the County so pre∣served. Small under∣takings there blessed: Great oppositi∣on blasted. Non nobis, do∣mine non nobis.
• * 1.6

  Verse 4.
• o 1.7

  Deut: 33. 17. Psal. 75. 10. Zech: 1. 18.
• * 1.8

  Obser. 8.
• * 1.9

  Reason 1.
• * 1.10

  John 12. 35. Revel: 16. 10.
• * 1.11

  Reason 2.
• * 1.12

  Vse
• * 1.13

  Verse 5.
• l 1.14

  Exod. 9. 15. Levit. 26. 25. 2 Sam. 24. 13. Ezek. 14. 19. Mat. 24. 7.
• * 1.15

  Obser. 9.
• * 1.16

  Vse. 1.
• * 1.17

  Ʋse 2.
• * 1.18

  Verse 6.