, 506 OfFalling.. etbour pride, and both bewray our infidelitie.. Neither is theendeofprayer or fatting, the negle&of theordinatiemeanes, but thepulling awayofourconfidcnceju them ;that we might rcflin theonly powerandgoodneffeofGod. Whichhow neteflarieatbingitis plainelyappea- reth in thetwo greatouerthrowes whichthe Ifraelices hadof theBeniamites,whereas theybeing more in number , better appointed in thedefence ofa goodcaufe, werenotwithfandingcon. (trainedtwice toretirewith great flaughcer,vntil at the1aff by triflingoffall confidence in them- felues, by prayerand failingacknowledging themfelues cobeenothing, theyobtainedvit1orie. For then (hall corporali encanesmoll preuade, when all thefpirituall which God commanded' hauebeenetruely vfed: And theyarefinefl to vie ehe ouewardencanes of defence, which haue learnedtoconey their faithfrom them,by thepublike exercifesof hurniliation,vnto thepromi. fesofGod. If with failing andpeayer we canwrattle with the Archangel!of God , then flrall vve neuerbeafraid ofDukeEfau norall hisEdomites; if we be Ifraelitesto prcuailewithGod, we cannotbebut lacobstopreuaile with.man, What fhould 1 fayof our forefathers, which by this faithhaue obtained theirviólories? The timewouldbe too longto tell of Galion, Baruch, Sampfon, Iepthab,,Dauid,Afa,lehofaphat,Ezechia, whothrough faith obtained theptomifes, fubdued kingdomesefcapcd theedgeof the fword, of make were madeChong,waxed valiant inbattell,turnedto fight the armies ofAliants,of Tomeofwhich it iseeprefl'ed, that theydidthere things by faith,helpedbyprayerand fatting : andof themoil partof the otherit may bewell vn- deritood. Seeingwe arecompaffedaboutwithfachadondeofwitneffes,fhallweebefobe- witched as todreameof thelike vidloties without the like faith, orto imagine of the like faith, without vfing of the like meanes? But it may bee fome willobie9, that this exercifeof bu.. miliation weakeneththehearts oftrue fubieoìs,& incourageththeenemies: this wasofold flan- derouflyobie&ed to leremie by thevnbeleeuing & carnali Princes , who wouldyet feeme tobe wife politikes. I haue heard indeed of theArch-atheill Maclaeuil,thacwriteth oftheReligionof Chrifians, thatit beingpradtifed in trueth cloth weaken their hands,making them cowards; and emboldeneth their enemiesagain( them (although there, beenodoubt many that thinke fo)yee neuer haue I heurdgodly or wifeman layfi,. Neitherdoththiskindeof humiliation lift vpour enemies the Papiftsat homeorabroad,but heirowne protidehearts and malicious =tempo. gain( Godspeople : by both which (teeingthat pridewill haue a fail', andbeforeglorie goeth humilitie) wemayaffure vstherather oftheviliorie,hauing fomanypromifes inGodsword for the fame,confirmed wuhfomany examples. In the fleádof many in the Pfál.tr9. this promife !hall fuffice: Theydraw neere thatfollow aftermalice, andarefairefromthe law: thouare fleece Prideandma. oLorde,fórallthywordsaretrue. The terrible ludgerdentuof God agaisifi theprideof Moab tiïeinPapiftr, and otherNations (who confpiring together againif rl a peopleof God) at the leaweremade their owncexecutioners,. andthe great dellrudlion of blafphemousSenacherib hishofle ,Ezz- biahkin. Iudah beingfet free from the fege,both theftbeing wrought bypublìkeand private falling,do moll euidencly confirme the fame:whichexamplesmay fernefor,vs toTookeaftter o- therswhich are many in number.' Trueit is indeed that the great fecnritiewith the floods ofour finnes flowingouer thebankes ineueryplace, have hitherto reioyced our enemiesheart; and if once theyarmethemfelues with Godswrath, (which theLord turne away for Chrifis fake)thea will they certainly frayvs: which topreuecit allmeaneswillnot helpe vs, vnleffe in fafing,wee- ping, andmourningwe rent our hearts,thoughnot our garments, vnfainedly acknowled- gingour finnes,and tremblingat hisiudgements,that fo we mayturnevinoGod w ith our whole heart by repentance,by faith, beleeuinghim tobegraciousand merciful!, flow to wrath,andof greatgoodnefe. And thisdoing, we mayaffure our felues, thatshe terrolsr of theLord fl-tall be flrickenout of ourheartes, and the fpiriteof gladnefle and power (hall be pouredupon vs:and through faith,helped byprayerand failing, fhall wedo valiantly. Thus the (pirite ofGod no- ucd IoeltheProphet, to threaten thepeopleof his time, liningvnder a profperous Raigne: unto whom this obieduion might as iufily hauebeen made , as againfl this exercife and a great dealt more, becaufe hisFall wasmore generall,his threatnings more fearefull, his defcriptionsoftheir dangers more terrible. Againe, Tome mayobie&, thatfatting is an exercife of (inners : what (hall we fay then? Ihal thehypocrifieof man makethe appointment ofGod o fnoneeffe$l?yea, was it not therefore appoiuted,that he whichcommeth hither ofculiome,may yergoawaywith confcience? mayhe being reproved, and rebuked in hisownefoule, and Peeinghis hypocnfle laíd Hebtr. pote.
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