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 XXIII. (Book 23)

1. Sam 4.3.4.5. So when the people were come into the Camp, the Elders of Israel said, Wherefore hath the Lord smitten us this day before the Philistins.

VVHen God had governed Israel by Judges for many years, and manifested his power and truth by his Priests and Prophets, in bringing them into the Land of Promise, according to the Covenant; and given them many victories o∣ver their enemies. Israel grew secure and presump∣tuous, yea, the Egyptian Priest himself grew so care∣lesse of the Lords sacrifice: yea, even Ely himself, committed them into the hands of his Sons, who filled their bellies and lusts, and that without reproof: Whereupon the Lord intended to destroy that vain confidence, and to proceed against the house of Ely,

which he fore-tells in the second Chapter, by a man of God; and in the third, by Samuel, which in the fourth Chapter, he brings to passe. First, by giving Israel into the hands of their enemies once again, and then de∣livering the Ark into the hands of the Philistins, destroy∣ing Ely and his two sons.

After Israel had received the overthrow at the hands of the Philistins, they make way for a second, by run∣ning further from God; So that,

This is the way of man, for man by every affliction is either brought nearer to God, or else driven farther from him, and so makes way for greater evils to befall him.

As David, who to hide his shame, ran into murther: so Adam having sinned to hide his shame, hides him∣self from God; so Saul to the Witch of Endor; like a child that grows more cunning, after the whip, more w••lly, but not more wise: And this through stubbor∣ness and hardness, and pride of wit. But Joshua, when they f••ll before Ai, never ceased till he had found out the curse from God, & cast out the execrable thing.

Many things light upon man that touch not his heart but is so blinded with lust and self-love; that the light of the truth leads him not out, but his wit will needs guide him; God doth nothing in vain

If man regard not Processe, or any hatchment that is coming, he shall see that a writ of Rebellion is coming: and if he regard not that, than a Bailiff comes, and to prison he must: and that God by the righteousnesse of the Law may bring down mans high heart, that he may depend on mercy.

Thus man grows more vile after a judgement to pre∣vent it, but no more yielding and obedient to ••scape it. It may be, God hath taken away thy wife, thy husband and father, thy stay and rest; and yet thou onlie invents new devices to rise, but returns not to God that smote thee. But look for it, if God have com•• near thee and thou yet blind, he will come nearer thee yet, if he in∣tend thee good.

Shall God be still mocked, to see that nothing doth man good, till his heart be brought down and flee all, that he may rest in God? For he hath as much to do, to bring down thy wit, as thy will, and to destroy thy carnal confidence, and draw thee from thy object. All misery come in at the door, that is by fleeing from God.

Yea, thus doth God deal with his people & children, he delivers them into the hand of their enemies: and then they think to worke it out: and still God makes their works void; then they seek to know all, and he makes that void, &c. and suffers nought to prosper, till man rest in Faith.

The Ark had remained in Shilo three hundred years, from J••shua's time: as Jos. 18.7. All the time of the Judges, and now must for the security of Israel be re∣moved away: So that,

The long continuance of the Gospel is no argument to prove the perpetuity thereof in any place.

As to the Jewes and Churches of Asia and Corinth. So when man grows more secure thereby, God must remove it, even so to man,

Thou hast lived in the light and peace with God, but if a man grow wanton thereby, the light will grow to darknesse: If with Israel thou grow confident of these in thy self, because of these priviledges, they will not stand.

In the words, note Israels fainting and trouble ••f heart upon their overthrow.

1. Their fleshlie device for future safety.

2. Their vain confidence in that device, that it might save them.

3. Their vain joy arising thence.

4. The fear of the Philistins.

5. Israels overthrow, and losse of the Ark, when the Lord had not given them the Victorie, they fainted & began to enquire and murmure, as they did by the Word of Samuel, but not by believing hearts; but now, because they had a Prophet, they were strong enough: So that,

A faithlesse way is a fearful fainting way, and a fainting way is alwayes vexed and tormented at the heart by every crosse, where faith waits not in sub∣jection to Gods will and truth.

So the Disciples, Why do you fear, O you have little faith?

But saith David, I will not fear what man can do unto me: no, not if ten thousands compasse me about Mat. 16. Peter was compassed with fear when Christ should suffer, because he savoured not the things of God.

Nay, Experience teacheth us, that faithlesse men are ever afraid at every rumor of danger: At the last day, mens hearts shall fail them for fear of that day: When a believing man, with David & Paul goes through all dangers with courage: as those, Heb. 11. And the Mar∣tyrs, nay, in mans self he shall find, that when faith is darkened, he fears every thing, but when he believes, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 overcomes all.

For man walks in darknesse, therefore is the way so fearful: as crosses threaten some ruine to mans fleshlie Kingdom, which lust would not part with all, & he sees no other. This is it that makes the World so full of f••ar: yea, other faith, fear or security fills all: nay, everie crosse to the worlding gives a wound to the heart: But, What shall his case be, when all shall be taken away.

Even so is all the Power and Will of man, whereby he stands full of fear, because he trusts not God. Not a fe••r in regard of our weaknesse, and so attending on faith, but a bottom fear, for want of God & his power: and therefore, a running to mans shifts.

No safe way to man then, but by believing under the crosse, and never to judge according to our selves, but still s••••ing and feeling the weaknesse of man to wait on him in patience.

Come, let us fetch the Ark from Shilo. Here is their de∣vice, which seem like to them: but prospered not:

So that, All fleshlie devices of Mans wit, without sim••le-hearted believing, may gain a brain hope: but sh••ll fa••l and come to nought, when man comes to his 〈◊〉〈◊〉

Fleshly wisdom is a fool in Gods matters, ever lead∣ing man to a way that will not prosper, though it shape like to the eye of man.

By this, Satan beguiled Eve, and thought to have se∣duced Christ to argue the Fathers love by Wisdom, that is not subject to the Law of God, when Israel be∣lieved, Gideon, Jonathan, and David overcame with a few, contrary to all reason: When they eyed reason only, then Sauls Armour and Davids one hundred and fifty thousand could not prevail.

1. For God hides his wayes from the wit of man, and reveals it to Babes.

2. Satan lurks here to oppose the way of Faith, God hath revealed his Wisdom: but hereby Man becomes wise against God, and gives him the lye.

Thus man deviseth a device against God, and thinks thereby to thrive: and Satan thereby befools man, pro∣pounding unto him a likely way, great power and ap∣probation, that he may fix thereon; and yet hath not God in the very eyes of the World frustrated their de∣vices: as when thou hast great Riches, Land, Wisdom, Friends, and what not, had built him an nest that he might never want: yet, he had never good dayes there∣with: but either he hath spent all to beggerie, or a slave to it while he hath it: or a languishing of sicknesse: had not Gods foolish way of faith been better.

Thus Satan casts a mist before the eye of Faith when he would bring God & his way within compasse of mans witt.

Now in the Church, we grow wise to comprehend the very purpose of God, & give a reason of his will, & set a law to his justice: & faine a reasonable way of believ∣ing, & his free will & the foreseeing of Faith: God choose man: but it is so reasonable a Doctrine, it cannot prove true: for Gods truth was ever foolishnesse to wise men.

See the difference of Gods way and mans witt.

1. The one is alwayes dark and uncertain.

2. The other sure, the one forsakes God & his Word, the other cleaves to it; The one seems well and ends ill, the other contrary.

The safe way of man is not to trust the device of man, for thou hast seen these fail thee; nay, when they seem likest the other quiet contrarie, therefore never dispute how like or unlike, but lay down all & believe.

Hadst thou no Lust, nor Will, nor Witt to trust to: then had Satan no power against thee: For either thy Witt, or thy Will draws thee, on thy Will, when thou art not subject in patience: thy Witt, when thou wilt do Gods Work, thine own way is here.

They would fight Gods battels, but would not at∣tend on him at Shilo, his own place. But would draw him from thence to them, so we would have God with not but not wait on him: we would have the promise fulfilled, but not wait the time; So that,

The sure way is to wait on God in his way, though we see no way out of Reason.

Abraham abode in Canaan as a stranger, Moses and Joshua at Jordan, &c.

For the vision is for an appointed time.

Thus man workes his own woe, when he either in∣vents a way of his own, and will not stay: or joyns fleshly Wisdom, for the furtherance of Gods will; or impatience of delay, appoints a time: Take heed of preserving any thing before God, and his Work and Promise. Many are never well, unlesse the Father be still playing with them.

That it may save us. Here is self-confidence, not that they thought the Ark could save them: but because if they had the Ark with them, God would save them: This is not simple believing, but with relation to something else than God; So that,

Such is carnall confidence in man, it is a snare of Sa••an wherein he intangles men to draw the heart to look at some Work or Gift of God, and so to believe, because of that; and not for his simple truth and pro∣vidence.

So David thought, that because of the thousands of Israel, he should preserve himself; and Israel in Aarons time, These are thy Gods, O Israel, Psal. 30.

Thou hast made my Mountain strong, it shall never be re∣moved. The Pharisees they were righteous.

For this is to build a house on the sand, for there is no cause that moves God to do good, or man to believe God, but his simple Word and Truth, though God shine and manifest himself in all things; yet when the Soul is turned from God to them, they become snares, as the brasen Serpent, for the mind must have some∣thing to rest on.

So that, when God is wanting, Satan the God of this World brings in the fulnesse of the World, and the certainty thereof, and presents them to man.

1. Fulnesse of Riches and Friends will supplie.

2 Self-righteousnesse, and many lusts and failings of love; saying, They will preserve thee.

3. Or, a carnal beholding of Christ, as here to the Ark

4. Yea, believers are thus drawn, when Christ lives not in them, they suffer with him: but in all there is a bottom darknesse, and fear of hardnesse and self-pride.

Here, Satan layes the foundation of all iniquities; for why doth man covet, oppresse, deceive; but that the World may be his stay, and his confidence? as,

1. Either a blind securitie, from little medling; or, a blind presumption, because he hath this or that more than others: & yet no more certain, nor better satisfied.

Thus, the blind World is deceived: everie man stay∣ing his mind, by looking at something that he hath, or labours to get, something that he hath not; that it may save him, as the rich fool; nay, were it for thy riches and friends, where were thy believing.

Thus, all things become snares, when the mind is fixed on them, and man tyes God to them: which is not a believing of God, but of that portion.

We should worke Righteousnesse, but not look at that Righteousnesse, attend on the Ark, but believe not in it, but rejoyce in it with God.

Adam might use all creatures, but not see a good in them, it is a great point of simplicitie to enjoy all, and not to depend on it; but rejoyce in it with God, and

thereby to see the Fountain from whence it flowed, and the weaknesse of man: Nay, such is the deceit thereof, that it lifts man up above him self; man shouts before the victorie. But there will come a day of mourning to Israel, this Ark and Riches shall be taken away: