with the disciples, cry out, Hosanna, and own him; when at the same time, the scribes and pharisees in council make an order and decree to apprehend him, John xi. 53; with John xii. 12; and Matt. xxi. 8, 9. God loves to take those things and persons that stand behind, and to bring them before. The temple is refused, and the synagogue is kept. In the Jews' time, when any were proselyted, they were washed and circumcised; the great ordinance of circumcision was laid aside, and washing advanced unto a sacrament of baptism. At the passover, they had their ordinary supper and the paschal lamb: the use of the paschal lamb laid aside, and bread and wine, which was used in the ordinary supper, exalted to the sacrament of the Lord's supper. Thus God exalts low things, and lays by greater. I speak not this that men should neglect the ministry; preachers' lips shall and do preserve knowledge; but rest not on means, though they be never so learned; despise not means, though they be never so unlearned. Who more despised for want of learning than the Waldenses,* and yet the first blessed instruments of reformation.

In seeking truth, "look not to gather grapes on thorns, or figs on thistles;" to find the scions of truth upon a crabstock of error or carnal principles.

They write of the partridge, that if one hen lay the egg, and another hatch the bird, it will return to the true mother when it is well grown. And this, saith Drusius Caminus Jerome, is the meaning of that in Jer. xvii. 11, "As the partridge sitteth on eggs, and hatcheth them not; so he that getteth riches and not by right, shall leave them in the midst of his days, and at his end shall be a fool." But this we know certainly, that though an hen sit on a raven's egg, yet when the young raven is hatched, and its wings well grown, it will fly away and leave the hen in the lurch. So will all carnal principles deal by spiritual truths. Oh, therefore, let not any gospel truth be planted on a legal principle; not a spiritual truth on a carnal or mere philosophical principle ; not a truth of Christ on an antichristian principle.†

* Vide Hist. Waldens.

Ex philosophorum principiis omnis hæresis animatur; omnes hæreses ex philosophorum regulis constant, cum dogmata hæreticorum frigent et volare non possunt, sedem sibi et requiem inter Aristotelis spineta reperiunt.

Again, In seeking the truth, do not so hold the greater as to neglect the lesser; do not so seek the lesser as to forget the greater. Indeed, no truth of the gospel purchased by Christ's blood is small or little, though comparatively with others it may be called so.

And here I cannot but say I have seen a sore evil under the sun, men losing their religion in seeking for religion; losing the power of religion in seeking for the due form: others losing the right form and circumstantials in resting upon fundamentals. We have enough to bring us to heaven, what need we more? say some.* Would you therefore so seek the truth as you may find it? do not forget your old acquaintance, those great and precious truths which nursed you in the cradle of your godliness; the great truths of Christ, the power of godliness, and humiliation for sin committed. And take heed that you do not look awry, or cast a proud look on small truths, yea, though strangers, for some have entertained angels by receiving these strangers. Every truth is a stranger at the first. What truth was ever received but was first opposed? Christ and his gospel is first a little stone, then a great stone, then breaking the mountains, then filling the world. Hold, therefore, your old fundamental truths, yet so as you may raise your buildings. Seek your buildings, yet so as you may keep foundations. Thus seek the truth, this part of righteousness.

And, again, If you would know what to do in the day of God's anger, so as to be hidden; seek meekness: righteousness and meekness.

And so I come unto the fifth and last doctrine.

Fifthly, That if any man can do any good in the day of God's anger, either for himself or others, it is the "meek of the earth;" therefore the text calls on them especially for to seek the Lord.

The meek of all other men have the promise of the earth. "The meek shall inherit the earth." This promise, or spring, rises in the Old Testament, the head of it is there, and runs down into the New: "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth," Matt. v. It seems this entail was not cut off by the coming of Jesus Christ.

* Minimè bonus est qui melior esse non vult; et ubi incipit nolle fieri melior, ibi definis esse bonus.

The meek of all other men do most honour Christ, the way of Christ, and the gospel. The heathens had this notion amongst them, as Lactantius reports,* that the way to honour their gods was to be like to them; and therefore some would be wicked, counting it a dishonour to their god to be unlike to him. I am sure we have a meek and sweet dispositioned Saviour: "Learn of me (saith he) for I am meek and lowly." A physician and surgeon, who as he hath a quick eye, so a mild heart and a tender hand. The more meek a man is, the more he is like to him, and honours him. What says

the world? Aye, there is a man of a humble, quiet and sweet disposition; if all professors were such, then I would become

one too.

A meek person leaves his cause to God, and his revenge to him; is led by the hand of God, mansuetus quasi manui assuetus: and when men do, and are so, God comes in quickly for their relief. Aaron and Miriam rose up against Moses, Moses is silent, carries it meekly, and the text says, Num. xii. "Then God arose, and was very angry.' And the reason is

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A meek man is

given, because Moses was the meekest man. subject to God in all conditions, gives up his matters to him, and so God takes himself engaged for his succour.

Again, The meek person above all others is most fit for the service of God. If I would convey a reproof, or a reprehension into the heart of a man, a meek and sweet disposition is the most fit for to do it with. If I would convey a comfort or consolation into a man's heart, a meek disposition is most fit for that. Christ gave the gospel, and he was meek; Moses gave the law, and he the meekest man upon earth in his time. So that whether law or gospel, it is best handed into the heart by meekness. I may with a soft breath blow a feather further than with strength of arm I can throw it. God loves those that are like himself. The Holy Ghost is compared to a dove, Christ is called a lamb, the Father, love itself in the abstract; no wonder, then, that a meek person, being so like to God, hath so great an interest and credit in heaven.

And if these things be so, how little is this poor nation and kingdom beholding to those that are of a froward, harsh and perverse spirit; they disturb their own souls, they disturb

* Quoniam mores et vitia regis imitari genus obsequii est; abjecerunt pietatem ne exprobrare regi (Jovi) scelus viderentur.-Lactantius.

their own families, they disturb the place and kingdom where they live. If a meek person shall be hid in the day of God's anger, oh, where will you appear that are of a froward temper? say, where will you appear in the evil day? Bear the word of exhortation. It is only to get a sweet and loving disposition. Oh, that our love might flourish at last and abound towards one another and to all the saints.

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Hereby, even your meekness, ye walk as becometh the gospel, ye inherit the earth, are made like unto Jesus Christ, have a great power and credit in heaven for yourselves and others, and shall be hidden in the evil day.

And therefore, if any are here that are of a froward and perverse disposition, go to God and say, Lord, give me meekness; and wherein I have been froward, either in my family or elsewhere, forgive me this frowardness, and let not the kingdom fare the worse by it.

It may be you will say, Oh, but he, or he, or he hath much provoked me, and I cannot bear it.

But suppose that you have a ball of gold in your hand, and another throw dirt in your face, will you throw away that golden ball at him, because of the dirt that he doth throw on you? This meekness, sweet disposition, is your ball of gold; and what though he throw dirt in your face? you must wash the dirt off his feet. Christ did so, washed his disciples' feet. And for our example, Luther calls upon magistrates, ministers, and all people, to tuck up their sleeves, and to fall a washing of the disciples' feet, by a loving and sweet submitting of our excellencies unto their infirmities.

But, Lord, how contrary are we unto Christ? He washed his disciples' feet; we throw dirt in disciples' faces. Oh that this guilt may not cleave to our souls in our dying day! If this day we could but stand up and forgive one another, and learn meekness and sweetness towards one another, it would prevail more with God than all our fasting and prayer; and without it, all our fasting and prayer is of no avail.

But my exhortation is unto you, especially, that are the meek of the earth. Ye hear what interest, power and credit ye have in heaven: seeing ye have so great an interest, away, away to your Father's knee, and for poor England's sake improve your interest, and for Ireland's, Scotland's sake hold not your peace: your dear and tender Father will bid your

prayers welcome. Take a prospect of our sad condition: do ye not hear how Ireland cries, Help, help, O living England, help poor, dying Ireland! Do ye not hear how our afflicted, plundered and spoiled brethren in other parts of this kingdom cry, Have pity, have pity upon us, oh, all our friends, for the hand of the Lord hath touched us! How the poor, ignorant cry out of the countries, Oh, help to deliver us from the wrath to come! How this whole staggering nation cries, If ever you help, help now; if you have an interest in heaven, use it now!

Now, therefore, according to all your engagements here and your interest in heaven, go pray, cry, and cease not; you may do much, you shall do much for if any man in the earth can do any good, it is the "meek of the earth." Wherefore, oh, all you that are the meek of the earth, I beseech you improve your interest, seek ye the Lord: and not only this day, but all your days, seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be you, and others by you, shall be hidden" in the day of the Lord's anger."