LIB.V. The Foyle of A M A L f. x. A To be lick, and dye in rhellrength ofyouth, in the minority ofchildren: To be pinched with poveny•.or mifcariageofchildrcn in our ngeJhow harfl1ly unfcafonable it feemes ! Bur the mfimte w1fdome that orders ourevems,knows how to order our rimes. Unlelfe we will be flllmclclfe unbeleevers, 0 Lord, we mull trull thee with onr [elves and our feafons, and know, that not charwhich we defiie; bur that which thou hallapp<)inted,is the fitcell time for our fufferings. Amalck was Eji11is ~rand.child;andthefe Ifraelitesthe Sonsof I.co6. 't~ abode of Amalek was not fo tar from £gypt, but they might well heacewhlt becameof theicCoufinsofifrael;and now,doubtletre,out ofenvywatchttheir opportunity of revenge fonheir oldg~udge.Maliceis commonly hereditaty,and runs in the bloud, and (as \ve ufeto fay ot Runnet) the older It 1s,the llronger. B Hence is that foolifl,'holliliry, which fome men unjufily nourilh upon no other groundsthen the quarrels oftheirfore-farhers, To wreak our malice upon pollerity,isar the bell,but rhe humour ofan Amalekite. How cowardly and how crafty was this Skirmifl1 of v{ma/ek! Theydoe not bid them battdl in faire tennes ofWar,but without all noife ofwarning, come fieaJing upon rhe hirtdmoll, and £1ll upon the weakand fcattered remnants ofifrael. There is no looking forfavour at the hands ofmalice:Tkeworll thlt eitherlorce or fr2ud can doe,mufi be expeded of :m Adverfary;but much more ofour lpirirual cnemy;by howmuch his hatred is deepei.Behold,this Amaltk lies inambulh to hinder our palfage untoout Land ofPromife; and fubtilljr cakes alladvantllgesofour weaknclfes.We cannot be wifeorfafe ifwe fiay behind our colourS;and firengthen c notthofe pms,where is moll peril! ofoppofition. · I doe not heareMofts fay to his Io}111u; Amakk is come up againll us ; it matters not vrhcthercho'u goeagainfi himor not; orifthou goe, whether alone or wirh company; orifaccompanied, wllcthcr withmanyorfew, llrongorweak; or if llrong men, whctherchey lightor no; I willprayonthcHill: bur, chooft "' out mm•nd g~ejight. · Then onelycanwe pr>ywichhope,whenwehave done our bell.And though the meanes C3nnot elfedchar;whichwe defire; yet God•;will bave us ufe tlie llkeliell meones on our pact, eo effcdir. Where it comes immediate!y from the chatge of God,anymeanes are cff~lluall;One llick ofwood lhall fetch wateroutofthe Rock, another lhall fetch bitternclfeour ofthewater : but in thofe projells which we D make for out owne purpofes,we mull chufe chafe helps which promife rrtofi efficacy. Invaine lliall Mojts·bc upon the Hill, if Iojhua be not inche Vallty' Prayer without me•nes, is amockery ofGod. · ' · Here are two lhadowes 0f onefubfiancc; Thefame Chrill in Iofot~•lights againll our fpirituall Amalelc, and in Mojis fpreadsout hisarmes upon the Hill;and in both, conquers. And whydoth he chmb uprhe hill rather than pray in the valley~ perhaps that lie might have the more freedom< to his thoughts ; which,following the fenfe,are fo muchmore hcavenly,asthccye fees more ofheaven.Though venuelies nor in the placc,yct choice mull be made ofrhofe placcs,which may be moll help to our devotion: Perhaps that he might be in the eyeof Ifrael. . .Theprefence and fight ?fthe Leadet gives heart FO ~he people:neithet doth ~ny E thmgmore move the mulntude, then example. A pubhke perfon camiot h1de hrmfclfe in the Valley 1 but yet it becomes him bell tO lhew himf.ifupon the Hill. Thehand of Mofis mullbcraifed,but not empty ; n<ither is it his owne Rod that he holds,but Gods.!nthe lirll meeting ofGodWith Mofls,tlie Rod was<JKofis'i; it is like,forthe ufeofhis trade: noWthepropriert is altered; God hath fa wrought by it,that now he challenges it; and Moj(s dare not coli it his ownc. Thofe things which it picafes God to ufefor hisowne fcrvice, are nowchanged in their condition.The bread ofthe Sacrament wos ·dnce rhe Bakers,now it isGods; the water was once every mans,now it is the La'l~r ofRegeneration. It is !:loth uOJull and unfafe to hold thofe things comrt10n·,wherein God hath a [ieculi~rlry. At Other rimes,upon occafion ofthe pla~ues,and oftheQ9;1iles,and oftheRocli,' hee was commanded to take the Rod in hfs hand, now hee doth it unbidden. Hea Dddd z doth
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