A bundle of soul-convincing, directing, and comforting truths clearly deduced from diverse select texts of Holy Scripture, and practically improven, both for conviction and consolation : being a brief summary of several sermons preached at large / by ... M. Roger Breirly ...

SERMON XV. (Book 15)

Dan. 3.16.19. Then Shedrach, Meshach, and Abedneg•• answered and said to the King, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.

IN the former Chapter, Daniel had interpreted the Kings Dream, concerning the Image of Gold, Sil∣ver, Brasse, Iron, and Clay, and the destruction of several Monarchies, by the Stone hewed out of the Mountain without hands; that is to say, The power of Christ, whose Kingdom should overcome all the rest, and be everlasting, never to be destroyed: by which the King was convinced to acknowledge the great Power and Wisdom of the God of Daniel: and sell into ad∣miration, but understood not the Mysterie of Christ therein, nor the downfal of his Kingdom, & therefore presently returns to his old Idolatrie; So that,

The Word of God from God, and the great work of his power, doth for the present put man to silence, and convinceth him: yet, where the heart remains harde∣ned, and that the mysterie of Christ is hid from man, he soon returns to his old vanitie and Idolatrie of his own heart.

Thus they are often convinced by the great Works of God, Psal. 16. Yet forgot how they were brought out of Egypt, and walked not in the Covenant, but returned t•• their Lusts: And the Pharisees in Christs time often put to silence, but soon grew wise again to maintain there own Kingdom.

Yea, how manie of his followers, who saw his grea•• Workes, and confessed never man spake like him, or did the like; spake with such power and assurance, and yet forsooke him: see the stony ground, and those of Judea.

1. For ease and peace, and prosperitie being offered, and a man lothe to live without them, they choak the VVord.

2. The Knowledge of the Gospel without the power of Christ and his death, hardens above all; none such enemies to the simplicitie thereof.

3. For if the Truth and Power of God be revealed, yet if God keep not the Promise of Repentance by the Crosse, & so bring man under the power of that Word, he soon starts up and becomes Wise, and Righteous in himself: not in Christ in the flesh, not in Faith.

4. Though for the present it dash man, and convince him that he confesseth and sweareth that it is the truth; yet when it both crosseth his present ease and libertie, & brings no life but death for the present: he grows wearie, unlesse the great power and love of God pursue his Soul by his Word and Crosse. Hence comes so much back-sliding in the church, that men admire the great Power of God, yet not living in Repentance under the Crosse. Every thing starts up, and so, they turn to the old way, or a new device of their own; but do not be∣lieve the down-fal of their Kingdom for the present. For most men, when they have talked and shewed abroad their Wisdom, Righteousnesse, and increased their Glorie: they are the old men again: The World is welcome, and sweet, Sin as light, themselves at ease & secure, as they had never known such a thing.

1. And yet they know their ease and securitie ariseth not out of simple confidence of Faith, but hardnesse of heart: and clothed under a vail of Religion.

2. So it is a fearful thing to grow hardened after truth revealed; that man joyn hands with the World: & that sin become lesse sinful in conceit. This is a meer securitie and not Faith: for if a man flie off, and that the Word cease to judge man, arraigned at Gods judge∣ment seat: For Christ hath two judgements in mans heart, viz Judgement and Mercie: so it is said, Man must give an account of what he hath done, Yea, of every ••dle Word: which is true in mans heart: for they are judged, and man tormented, untill he apply to mercie. For if he be not before one of these two, he is secure; may, this we see too common in all men.

1. For though they must be brought at one time or other, to be judged in themselves, and confesse that it is ••he way of Faith: Repentance and Love it is the way

of Life: yet how soon become hardned, and cast it off, cares not for it, but gets a life else-where: that they cannot say that their joy and pleasure, and life is in Christ, but in another: in his knowledge: and righte∣ousnesse, and none abides: but with this Nebuchad∣nezzar falls off. But know, that this Word shall judge thee one day.

2. Hence we see, what a Fountain of Lust and Re∣bellion is in all men, believers and others, how often hath God expounded our Dreams, restored our free∣dom, given Life in Death? and how soon are we re∣turned either to the Worlds shifts in straits, or forget the Lord, that brought us out of Egypt: and feed our selves with pleasure.

Nebuchadnezzar made an Image of Gold, fifthy cubits high: He had forgotten the God of Daniel soon, and now makes an Idol, for his own glorie: & preserva∣tion, even thus doth all; So that,

When mans heart turns away from God & Christ, that he is not known, believed and loved: every ma•• set up the idol of his own Imagination in his heart: & forsakes the God of Heaven: that is to say, a God, a Christ: and a Righteousnesse, and Wisdom in Im••∣gination.

Thus every Nation had their Gods, all reasons are 〈◊〉〈◊〉 God framed or comprehended in the witt of man 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Therefore, God gave this great Law, Thou shalt hav•• no other Gods but me.

1. Thus Satan is called the God of this World, wh•• sets up his Law in mans heart. For there is in every man the sins of all men in the root, so that as the Hea¦then, that know not God indeed: yet had many Ima¦ginary Gods: So all men that know not God, or for∣sake Christ, make many Christs: though not all of o•••• fashion, yet such as mans Imagination leads him to.

2. For mans heart must have something to uphol•• it, either real, or conceited; therefore, in want of th•• God of life, he must have some God: and somethi•• to trust to, or sometimes for which he must trust G••••

the better: in all which, though it be nothing but the Idol of his Imagination, yet Christ must bear the Name

He confesseth the God of Daniel, but hath an other Idol whom he worships. For doubt not, but all the Heathen had a general confused conceit of God: unto whom they then framed God a kind of relation in their conceit. For reason could tell them, that a creature could not save them: neither could Nebuchadnezzar believe, that any creature could yet save or deliver him when he counted himself the most patient creature in the world: but had a conceit of God, unto whom he owed Worship: Some acknowledge the true Christ, but he is not the Saviour by whom they live, but some∣thing else: So that,

Thus the World and the Church is full of Idolatrie, every man setting up the Idol of his own heart.

One sets up a Golden Image, as the King did here, and makes the World his great God. This he serves and trusts & worships; yea, in all his laws & threats, he fears the loss of his labour: For if this God smile, he laughs; if he frown, he grieves; if he threaten, he fears; if he promise, he believes: and this is the grea∣test God, most worshipped in the World. The rich adores it, the poor prayes unto it, all bow unto it: But the great Idol in the Church, is mans knowledge and righteousnesse. This is that the false Apostles set up. This he decketh with Devotion, Ze••l and Charitie, but yet not much of that; he worships God before this I∣dol, he acknowledgeth Christ, yet with circumcision joyned, this we make only God, we bow down as unto it: Nay, the Idols of mans imaginations are endlesse. For the greatest contemplators, saith Luther, Are the greatest Idolaters, for they make an Idol of their own i∣maginations, or their speculations: Christ and Paul was none of these, they lay in misery, they believed God, they practised love, and went about doing good.

1. For by how much any goes about to comprehend Christ and his Word, not believing in him, from a broken and repenting heart, but from strength of ima∣gination

he is the great Idolater; but know these ar•• cursed and the makers of them, they have mouths, but speak not; eyes, but see not the way of life: noses, but savour not the things of God; feet, but walk not in the wayes and love of Christ; and they shall not all help in time of need. Thy Knowledge shall vanish, th•• Righteousnesse be judged faultie, thy gold perish, and thy pleasures be turned into sorrow, and shall this God deliver thee? And all these are framed by man, that he may have ease and freedom elsewhere in the flesh, and have something to see and feel, that so he may live i•• peace; but the true God is found in trouble, not at the sound of Musick, but in woe and sighing: then is God present with these men, as, Daniel, Shedrach, Mechac•• and Abednego, were accused by the Officers.

This added to their Captivity, for that herein is doubl•• bondage, though they were advanced as Rulers in Ba∣bylon, yet brings them into bondage: that they migh•• not fit in Babylon, but upon their God and his Word, So that,

When God intends good unto man, he keeps him under the Rod of miserie without, and weakness•• within: that Faith may be kept pure, and the flesh a•••• man may have no stay but in him.

Thus with Job, David, Psal. 107.39. He brings dow•• their heart with sorrow, thus with Christ

1. For till man be throughly whipt, he flies to so•••• new shift, and God in love chaseth him from all hold•• that he may not setle in carnality.

2. For Abraham had no Child, then Isaac was bo•••• and then hope of him seemed to be taken away. Thi•• was ever Gods dealing with his Church, they had som•• breathing time: yet he renewes his rod, when they gre•• wanton and turn from him: Man would lay hold i•• any thing, rather than drown: but thus God plunge•• him into the deep, and then he prayes.

1. Thus we all seek rest in the flesh, and find it: ar•• say, We shall not be moved, the Pipe and the Tabr•• is in our Feasts, but sorrow and repentance is hid fro••

us: But if God intend thee good, he will keep thee from fleshly ease. Thou thinks it an heavy bondage, to lose wife, husband, world and all: but when guilt shall ap∣pear within, and God is departed, and death at hand; who shall comfort thee?

2. But we are altogether for ease and peace: Our Church is fleshly. The Church in Canticles, sought and enquired after him in the night, but no such need with us: we feel not the grief and captivity of others. They are now full, anon, taken away; Now in health, anon strucken dead. Children cries, wives lament; husbands slain, none left to comfort them: but cruel enemies to make an end of them: which shewes the cursed strength of flesh, never well but under the rod. This made some ••un into Monasteries.

We are not careful. That is, we seek no shifts, but trust ••n our own God; and fear not the fire, nor afraid but God will deliver us: So that,

Faith only staying the heart, only Christ makes man ••old again from death and miserie: and purgeth the heart from fear.

This was promised by Christ, Be not afraid: so the Midewives of Egypt feared not the King, seeing him ••hat is Invisible. Thus the Martyrs not afraid to answer ••heir Adversaries.

1 For it overcomes the World, gives joy in tribula∣••ion, after patience, experience; Isa. 58. A Smith lif•••• ••ot up a hammer, but by me.

2. Man fears only so far, as he trusts himself or the ••reature.

3. Faith keeps the heart safe, whatever becomes of ••e flesh.

1. Now there is a fear natural, from Constitution.

2. A fear wordly, because we trust and love it.

3. A fear spiritual, either of wrath or judgement, or ••f fear in regard of himself and his own weaknesse and ••bellion•• but fear makes man-believe.

1. Why doth man fear, but because he believes not? ••ence our shrinking hearts: that when trouble approa∣cheth,

he deviseth and invents how to answer & escape and recover. For affliction indeed shakes all frothy faith, but purifieth the rest as gold.

2. But woe to the hardened hearts, that fear nothing, because the World is strong in our hearts, but like blind byard run into a pit.

3. See the safetie of believers, who have a friend at back; that when flesh pleads with Saul to David, thou art not able: and Jonathans man: they are manie judgeth nor after outward appearance, but believes and waits for deliverance: Be not afraid, only believe.

4. And this is the Fountain of all, the careful life of an unbelieving man: alwayes caring to encrease theirs: to be delivered, because they trust not in him thats able.

Our God is able here, opposeth their God to the cum∣ber & wrath of the King: we seek not thy favour nor life, nor ease: but our God whom we serve is our only ••tay: So that, The believing heart, so f••r as he believes in Christ, and Christ in him; in all extremities cries from a believing mind, None but Christ.

Thus Solomon when he had tried all vanities, Psal. 73. I have none in heaven, save only thee. Eliah against Baal, The Lord he is God: And the Prodigal, Father, I have sinned against thee, therefore I am no more worthy to be called thy Son. Phil. For we are the Circumcision which worship God in the spirit, and rejoyce in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.

1. For there is he that giveth life in death.

2. They are one by faith, as the husband & the wife.

3. This is the Law accomplished by the Gospel, against the world, who worship one God, and trust in another; nay, all have any but thee. Faith is a simple thing separate from all: Christ only lives in m••n, and answers Satan with this, Our God is able to deliver us. If he see it best. He can: to which will we are subject and believe his power: yet, if he see it not good, we be∣lieve his power, He is able to uphold us in suffering; & we are pleased with his will whatsoever: So that,

So that simple believing of Gods power, & free sub∣jection

to his will in all things, is the only stay & hearts ••ase of man in trouble and misery.

As in Abraham, he believed that he was able to raise him up from the death, though he know not that he would; in that he submitted to his will, Rom. 11. Concerning Israel, God is able to graft them in again, & David, When he was driven by Absolom, God can bring me again to the Citie and Tabernacle, if not, here I am: let him do what see∣meth him good: So saith the Leper, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean; and God can save by few as by many.

For he that comes to God must first, believe that God is, that is to say, there is Power, and Truth, & Wisdom in him; who, by his Power commands the Heavens, and they were made: who causeth light to shine in darknesse, Thus he argues in Isaiah and Jeremiah, Its I that measure the Sea in my hand. He that made the Heavens and the Earth, that doth lead through the Fire and Water, and brings down to Hell and Death. And this he hath promised, that he will not leave man in distresse, but all shall turn to good.

So that, to denie all creatures and strength of man, & believe his power: to denie our selves, and be subject to his will is our only ease. For Christ so knew his Father was able to save him from that hour, yet was subject to his will, not my will, but th••ne be done. But Man hath a Will of his own, which God doth not alwayes answer according to his fleshly appearance, which man seeks to accomplish by his own; or, because man sees not all∣wayes a sign or way of deliverance in himself, he fears and thinks all is lost; when God in Wisdom hides all from him, and takes away all stayes in the flesh, that he may despaire in himself, and trust in another, and denie his will, that he may be made subject.

Thus, we all denie the Power of God, & think there can be no comfortable living in the World without fulnesse of the World; nor that Wife and Children cannot live when we are gone, unlesse we leave them full portions: but who fed Elias, and the Widdow of Sarepta? who fed the Ravens and clothed the Lillies?

Nay, we do not see, that all the care and power of man cannot make him prosper, when Gods hand is against him: and do we not see how many he raiseth out of the dust, and setteth them with Princes: and yet this we trust more than him: If we have friends and riches, we believe: if not, we fear, as though his power was limited to this.

1. Nay, thus in the way of Religion, we denie his power and will needs help God, as that he cannot save us without our help, Works, Wisdom, & Rigteous∣nesse and these must be set up to look at, and we behold Christ through these, and Circumcision: & so we stand not as Beggers to receive of his fulnesse, but as Traders in Religion, to bring something unto him, as a thousand Rams.

2. But what safety to the Citie, if God watch not, or what ease by rising earlie, if God blesse not: so that none believes the power of God, but he that knows his own weaknesse, and of all creatures: For still God ma∣nifests his Power Wisdom, and Mercie in the Weak∣nesse, Foolishnesse, and Unworthinesse of Man, and this believing Gods, Power, never more seen than in trouble; For while we are full, we believe, because of our fulnesse: but when all fails, then we denie him and limit him by, that we see, or feel; and hence, we denie him in our hearts: I shall never get out of this Miserie; I cannot tell what course to take, I see no help, I have no friends: the enemies is full of Wrath and Power, I can∣not escape his hand.

Did he not put a Bridle in the Lips, and a Hook in the Nose of Senacherib, slaying a thousand and fifteen hundred in one night: Hath he not Promised to give thee a Mouth and Wisdom, therefore thogh thou canst not tell what to do, commit all to him, and see what he can do: As we do in any trouble, when we are wea∣ry with striving, we give our matters to another, to make what end he will, and we are content: So do with him, as Job, laying his hand on his mouth, and see what an End God made.

Obj. Yes, I know God is able, but yet I know not that he will.

Answ. In this nothing but subjection brings peace, for it is not our curious searching that finds it, We all lost to know and see, rather than to be subject to his Will in patience, We would all know the time when, & by what means, we would have it now and by Fire from Heaven. He hath promised and is able to supplie our wants, but we would know and feel it, and have it in abundance. Thus, Man would be a chief Lord in the Church, and leave nothing for Christ to do, he would have all things in his own hands, and yet for ought I know, when man hath most, he believes God the least, and when he hath most confidence in himself he hath least in God.

But these argued not with God, nor tempted him, but cast all upon him, he is able, and if he will, he can, and if not, his will be done. Thus man in strength of his own will fights against God daily; we pray, Thy will be done, but we never think of it: but rather that our wills might be accomplished, that His will might be the fulfilling of our lusts, rather than suffering want to be∣lieve Him. We professe that he will turn all to the good of His, we believe not truth, for else how comes this murmuring in want; but we think nothing can turn good, but that wherein we find present good: We would know and feel all, but believe and suffer nothing.

And he will deliver us. They stick to the Promise, & are delivered: So that,

Faith and sticking to the Word of Promise, gives as∣surance & frees man, when all else fails.

Be it known, However He do, yet we will not forsake Him; So that,

The believing heart willingly suffers all miserie, ra∣ther than forsake God, or trust any, but Christ.

As Paul, For I am not only readie to be bound, but to suffer all things.

Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury; When he saw his power contemned, his will crossed, his glory thus

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opposed by these, and of another which he saw not, nor believed: his rage was kindled, and he grew mad, and commanded the furnace to be made seven times hotter than before; So that,

The way of Faith doth most cross the power & wis∣dom of the world, of any thing; and therefore doth the World cast it off, and grows furious and mad against it.

John preached Repentance, and they cast him into prison because he told them, that their high mountains must be cast down: and that in that way they could not be saved. Christ preached faith, to the convinc∣ing of the world, that they should believe, and they look at nothing but Him: And they hated the light, because their deeds were evil: Therefore, were they mad against Him. Paul preached Salvation by Christ, and over∣threw circumcision, and they stoned Him. And so the elder brother, the prodigal; Luther preached free justi∣fication by faith, without the righteousnesse of man, and the whole army of Antichrist was up in arms against him. So these stick to God, and the King is furious.

1. For this leaves nothing for the heart to fix upon, but Christ, a thing unknown to flesh and blood: If man would fasten on the world and rest there, Christ shews it is a vain and a broken staff, & that a mans life stands not in that, for moths corrupt it; and as the rich man builded his barnes, this night will they fetch away thy soul: So that the worlding hates it in his heart.

2. If man will fasten on his righteousnesse, & know∣ledge, opinion, or any qualitie, Christs beats it down, & Paul makes it worse than nothing; and leavs all under sin: And so the wise and righteous men are alwayes the greatest enemies to Christ: for they think much that all that which they have gotten with such labor & cost should serve for nothing: For man would have a life out of all things, but flees death in all things.

3. Nay if man think to store up joy and peace & ease by believing, and so make his mountain strong, by

his revelations, gifts, and great joyes. Yet then Christ also comes with darknesse and sufferings, and seems to forsake these men: and this makes the stonny ground to fall off: and these for a time rejoiced in his light, but forsakes him after: So that, Christ may well say, Who hath believed our report? for of all other things this is least welcome to man: Nay, all hearts rise against it, but he that is down already. The Worlding is tyed in his lust, and worldly confidence, and his ears stopped, and his heart riseth against it: for he would sit at ease and enjoy his portion: So also the righteous and religious man, that excelleth others, and professeth Christ; yet lives by circumcision: He storms and argues and disputs against it, and gets strong conceits and opinions to joyn the world, and ease, and Christ together, and none embra∣ceth it, but the poor and miserable heart.