FAther Iacob in his last * * Gen 49.21 . wil foresheweth , that Neptalie shoulde be a hind let go , giuing goodly wordes . The singer of the song ( beloued ) is the performer of this Prophecie , euen Barack of a a Iud , 46. Cadesh the sonne of Abinoam : for as his feet were swift in c c Iud. 4 , 10. leauing his armie against Sisera : so are his words sweete which for the victorie he here singeth with Deborah . The whole song is longer then may now be handled , this part as fittest for our purpose I haue red vnto you : for wee are heere assembled , not onely to sanctifie this Sabaoth as at other times : but also to blesse God for the late Spaniards ouerthrow . It containeth 12. verses , and consisteth of two members . In the one the battell is described : in the other a curse to Meroz and a blessing to Iael is pronounced . Three circumstances describe the battell : the place wher it was fought : the parties that fought it & the euent of it . Two places are named Taanah and Megiddo neighbor townes in half e e Iosua . 17 11. Manasses . At Megiddo good king Iosias was * * 2. King . 23.22 . 2. Chron. 35.22.23 . slaine in the battell , & to Megiddo the three spirits like Frogs in the a a Reue. 16.13 . Reuelation doe bring the kings of the earth to battel : the allusion is vnto this text , & the mening is , that pseudocatholikes should fight with no better successe against Christians , after the reuiuing of the gospel , then did Sisera against Barack at the waters of Megiddo . And in this sence , well may our narrow Seas bee called the waters of Megiddo , for thither their pride brought them , and ther were they cutin peeces . And thus much for the place , the parties that fought are now to bee considered . Sisera and his adherents is the one , and Barack and his partakers the other . Sisera his adherents are thus recorded . The kings came , they fought : then fought the Kings of Canaan . Iosua in conquering the land , killed c c Iosu. 12.24 . one & thirtie of them , Israel had expresse e e Exod , 23.33 . and Deut. 7.2 . commandement to roote out the rest : a a Iud. 1.21 . But Beniamin , a a Iud. 1.28 . Zabulon , a a Iud. 1.30 . Asher and a a Iud. 1.31 . Neptalie , thought it better pollicie to put than to tribute : they preferred gaine before godlines , but what gained they by that pollicie ? They found them prickes in their eyes , and thornes in their sides , as God had c c Numb. 33.55 . threatned : they were brought to meere beggerie and extreame slauerie , as well they deserued : meere beggerie , for their high e e Iud. 5.6 . waies were vnoccupied , and traficke ceased : extreame slauerie , for the seruant of seruantes , euen cursed Canaan became * * Iud. 4.2 . Lord ouer them . But what is not Canaan his curse vpon the Popes backe ? Is not he as rightly called the seruant of seruants as a a Gen. 9.25 . Canaan was ? If so ? Why is not his brood rooted out from among vs ? Or seeing England wil stil be pittying of them , why are they not Lords ouer her as was Canaan ouer Israel ? The difference betweene them is the reason of it : for Israel chose new Gods ; England hath renounced I dolatrie , Israel did c c Iud. 4.1 . euill in the sight of the Lord : England giueth free passage vnto the Gospel . And this I dare assure you , that so long as English lawes do countenance true religion , England shall be ours in despight of Gods enemies . Truth it is , that in space of 339. yeares Israel was e e Iud. 3.8 . Iud. 3.12 . Iud. 4.2 . Iud. 6 , 1 Iud. 10 7. Iud. 13.1 . six times oppressed : but this also is as true that no one oppression began before Israel went a whoring after other Gods . The tenne tribes were * * 2. King . 17.2 carried captiue into Ashur : but the tenne tribes had first 257. yeares continued in the sin of Ieroboam . a a 2. King . 24.14 . & 25.11 . 2. Chron. 36.20 . Daniel . 1.2 , Iudah & Beniamin were caried to Babel : but not before Iosias , his children had c c 2. King . 23.32 , & 37. & 24 , 9. & 19 ouerthrowne what Iosias had established concerning religion . And as for their posteritie which returned from Babel , to builde the temple , e e 2. King . 2● . 2 , 2. Chro. 34.2 . they became Saduces and Pharisies : they a a Mat , 27.22 . Mark , 15.13 . Luk. 23.21 . Iohn , 19.15 . ioyned with the Romaines , to Crucifie Christ , before Titus , eitheir sacked their Cittie , or burned their temple . We reade of Dauid that he c c 1 , King . 15.5 . held Religion all his daies , the like we reade of e e 1. King . 22.43 . Iehoshaphat , the like of * * 2. King , 18 , 3. Ezechias , and the like of a a 2. King , 22.2 . Iosias , and who of all their enemies preuailed against their land in their daies ? And yet to that purpose , how often and how dangerously were they assaulted ? Twise Philistims army was c c 1. Chro. 14.11 . & 13. pitched in Baalperasim : once Edom , Ismael , Moab , Ammon , Philistims , Amalakites , Hagarens , Gebalites yea and Ashur too had e e 2. Chro. 20.1 . & , 2. and Psal. conspired together , and were approched to Engeddi : * * 2. King . 18.17 . Rabsache had brought his host to the walles of Ierusalem : and to such a plunge Necho Pharao put Iudah that she lost her a a 2. King . 23.29 . King in the battell euen good King Iosias . And to come to those sower c c Reuel. 9.14 . vnto . 20. Angels of Gods wrath , I meane the Turkes and Sarasins , what though for their multitude , they are c tenne thousand thousands : for their force horses : for their courage Lyons heades : for their great desolation they make burning where they come , they haue Habergions fierie blew , and brimstone , and for their dooing this vpon a word , fire , smoke and brimstone come out of their mouthes : yet Christian nations they ouerrun not , only they kill such men as will bee still e e Reue. 9.20 . worshiping of Deuils , and Idols of gold , siluer , stone & wood , there onely making desolation where Gods wrath is prouoked by Idolatrie .

Salomon was as a Lyons whelpe couched in his denne whilest hee helde Religion , but after that his thousand wiues had * * 1. King . 12 3. turned his heart , who then had not a hart to rise vp against him ? Hadad , Reson , Ieroboam how pittifully did they a a 1. King . 12.14.23 . & 26. verse afflict him ? And at the last c c 1. King . 1● . 20 . rent in two peeces his kingdome . Israel had e e Exod. 34.24 . promises of her God to be kept safe in her land , whilst she held his ceremonies . His ceremonies we hold whilest his sonne we professe , for he is the end of them , & the truth of them , and therfore as safe as were the Israelitish women from the enemie at home , whilst their husbands appeared before God at Ierusalem : so safe are we from the Papists , whilst wee hold fast our profession . Salomons temple was seauen yeares in * * 1. King , 6.38 . building , Nabuchadnezar , a a 2. King . 25 , 9. burnt it , he was seuen yeares to be a c c Dan. 4 , 22 , beast for it : yet Daniel giueth him this e e Dan. 4.24 . assurance , that if he would breake of his sinnes by righteousnesse , and his iniquities by pittying the poore people , there shold be a prolonging of his peace , * * Eliza. 1 Our Queene hath broken the necke of Poperie , hath receiued into her kingdome Christs righteousnes , & pittying the poore souls of her ignorant subiects hath caused it to be preached among them . And why should wee distrust God for the continuance of our peace , whilst she and her successours continue this course ? Yea but Moyses telleth Israel , that if they doe not all Gods commandements , the enemies shall eate the fruites of their land . Now England is so ful of sinne that in steade of al it seemeth to performe scarcely and one of them . * * Leui. 26.15 , 16. The text is , if ye keepe not my commandements but breake my couenant then &c. Now England , howsoeuer it faileth in ciuill duties , yet holding the couenant shee is not subiect to this punishment . Neither is shee therefore the rather to be secure : for wherefore is pestilence and famine so often among vs ? Wherefore so often is the sword of the enemie vpon our souldiers abroad ? The sword of the magistrate vpon our malefactors at home ? But for her sinnes . Neither yet anye whit the more is shee the to spare the Papists , for doe they not denie the nature & offices of Christ ? Doe they not giue vnto that a a Reuel. 9.11 . Abaddon what is due vnto our Soueraigne ? They are heretiques and in truth very Traytors , & yet you would thinke them the best subiects , if you consider but their dealings with vnreformed ministers : they are so zealous in speeches against them , and so importunate with Iudges til sentence be giuen against them . But O ye fooles , can ye imagine no other let for bringing in againe your superstitions , but only that the learned ministers their mouthes are still opened ? Are the lawes so soone altered ? Will England bee so soone at your becke , as when with the Dog she returned to the vomite , and with the swine to the mire ? Hath she these 37. yeares hated the whore , left her naked and burnt her with fire , and should she now againe begin to loue her ? I tel you God hath put these things into her heart to doe them , striue not longer against his gouerment . Come out of Babell as we haue done , kisse his Sonne & then liue in our land , yea liue for euer . But if stil you will haue a Sauls eye against Gods Embassadors : then O ye iudges doe ye Iustice , & let not c c Conser . Ezra . 2.13 . with Reuela . 13.18 . Adonicams children stand vp against them . Are they not e e Reuel. 11.3 . two for their fewnesse and in sackcloth for their poorenes ? Yet out of their mouthes commeth the * * Reuel , 11.5 . fire that deuoureth your enemies , they are your a a 2. King . 6.17 . fathers , and the c c 2. King . 2.12 . chariots and horsemen of Israel , they bring vnto you the glad tydings of the Gospell , which if you belieue , you shall e e Iosu , 3.16 . liue for euer , and if you still professe you shal stil be safe from your enemies . And this of Sisera his adherents . Barack is the other partie * * Iud. 4.10 . 10000. marched vnder his banner , but who reuenged his quarrel ? From heauen they fought , the starres in their courses fought against Sisera . These were dumbe creatures , yet such as Iehouah vseth to destroy his enemies . At his commaundment the waters a a Gen. 7.23 . destroied the olde world : fire from heauen c c Gen. 19.24.25 . Sodome and Gomorrath ; e e Exod. 9.24.25 . haile and * * Exod , 10 , 14 , 15. grashoppers the fruites and beasts of Egypt : the red a a Exod , 14.28 . Sea Pharao and all his host : c c Iosu. 10 , 11. haylestones more of Iosuas enemies then did all Iosuas armie , the Lord of hostes is his name . The hostes of heauen and earth are alwaies ready prest for his armies . Had the Spaniard learned this lesson he would haue trembled to haue giuen the name of God to his Nauie , for onely Iehouah is inuincible . The Centurion sheweth by his answere how well he beleeued it , I am not worthie * * Mat , 8.8 . saith hee to our Sauiour that thou shouldest come vnder my roofe , only speak the word and my seruant shall be healed : for I haue souldiours vnder me , I say to one come and he commeth , and to another goe and he goeth : As if he should say : health , and consequently all other creatures are so ready to goe & come at thy word , as are my souldiers at my commandement . But to leaue this point , and to come to the euent of the battell which thus followeth . They got not the mony they desired . The riuer Kishon swept them away , the riuer of their meetings , the riuer Kishon . Ther were the horsehoofes battered with the swift fleeing of their valiants . And was it any maruaile , though Sisera his army was thus foyled ? who euer resisted God & preuailed ? Daniels prophane kingdomes could not , yet was Babel among people as a a a Dan. ● 4 , Lyon among beasts . The Medes & Persians ruled ouer 127. nations . Alexander in sixe yeares well nigh ouerran the whole world , and the kingdome erected by his Captaines was a fearefull and ougly c c Ester . 1.1 . beast with ten hornes . These in Nebuchadnezars eyes were as a goodly image , whose head was of gold , breast & arms of siluer , belly of brasse , and feete of yron : yet for resisting God & abusing his people , in short time the Lord so powned them to a a Dan. 2.34 , pouder , that at his comming in the flesh , scarcely a remnant remained of them . And as for Rome , howsoeuer by Gods close prouidence it may remaine for a time , for the holines of Pilats vicar to abide in : yet seeing she hath c c Mat , 27.26 . killed the Lord , banished Iohn , & continually e e Reuel. 17.6 . & 18 , 24 , shed the bloud of Gods saints , her damnation is decreed , she is that a a Numb. 24 24 Chittim that must in the ende perish . In Iohns daies shee was called the c c Reuel. 17.18 . great Cittie , and rule ouer the Kings of the earth had she : But that great Cittie shall e e Reuel , 16.19 . drinke of the wine of the cup of Gods furie , * * Reuel. 16.21 . haile like talents shall fall vpon it , the whore shall a a Reuel. 18.8 . come to destruction , her c c Reuel , 18.15 . Marchants may bewaile her , but none shal be able to helpe her . But to returne to Sisera : he had e e Iud. 4.3 . 900. yron Chariots : his Ladies were assured that he could not loose the victorie , how therefore doe they comfort his mother concerning his long tarrying ? Haue they not gotten ? doe they not diuide the spoile ? a maid yea two maides to euery one . Sisera hath a pray of diuers colours , a pray of diuers colours of nedle worke , of diuers colours of nedle worke , on both sides for the necks of the spoylers . But the a a Pro. 10.28 . fooles their hope quickly perished , for Sisera is now dead , the armie fled and drowned : c c Iere. 6 . 1● . they said peace peace , but sudaine destruction came vpon them . And this for the former part of my text . The other is Meroz , curse & Iaels blessing . The cause of her curse thus followeth . Curse ye Meroz saith the Angel of Iehouah , curse ye the inhabitants therof , because they came not to helpe Iehoua : to helpe Iehouah against the mightie . Meroz durst not venter a limme to get libertie , she was situated so nigh the battel and so faint hearted , that wel she might be some towne in Isaschar , the only tribe which Deborah * * Iud. 5.16 . vpraideth of asselike sluggishnes , and which father Iacob a a Gen. 49.14 . foretolde should bee an Asse couched vnder two burdens . She onely regarded her commodities , so shee kept them Sisera , or Iehouah whome she serued she cared not : Luke warme c c Reuel. 3 14. Laodicea was much like her in behauiour , and almost the like punishment had shee , for shee e e Reue. 3.16 . was spewed out of the Lords mouth , and Meroz is here accursed from his mouth ▪ And this of Meroz curse : Mels blessing thus followeth . Let Iael the wife of Cheber the Leuite , be blessed aboue women , aboue women , dwelling in the tents let her bee blessed . He asked water , she gaue him Milke , she brought forth Creame in a lordly dish : she put her lift hand to the nayle , and her right hand to the workemans hammer , and she smote Sisera , she tooke away the head , and battered and brused his temples . Betweene her feete he bowed himselfe , he fell , and where he bowed himselfe , there he fell depriued of his life . Before wee come to Iaels blessing , a word must bee spoken of her Country and exploit : she was neither Israelite nor Canaanite , but a Kenite , a a Iud. 4.4.11 . descended from * * Exod , 3.1 . Iethro king of Median Moses father in law the Kenite . Lot and Iethro shewed the like obedience , the one a a Gen. 14.4 left his fathers house to goe with Abraham , the other c c Mat , 11 , 5 left a kingdome to goe with Moses , and almost the like reward founde they for Ruth the daughter of Lot was the Lords mother , c and Iael the daughter of Iethro * * Iud. 4.17 . killed the Lords enemie . But why should Iael therefore be blessed , was hee not in league with her ? Did not hee * flie to her house for succour ? The league was but ciuill and priuate : But now a a a Iud. 4. publike cause is in hand & the Lords battel in fighting , she was to prefer the cause of religion before her couenant with Sisera : Her blessing was the very same that Gabriel c c Luk , 1 , 28. bestowed vpon Mary , for bearing the Lord , this onely excepted that Mary is blessed among women , but Iael aboue women . I will not now dispute whose was the greast blessing , but this I am sure of , that they were both saued by belieuing , and not by these workes , howsoeuer they had a prerogatiue aboue women for them . For this is a sealed truth , that wee are saued by e e Ephe. 2.8 9. faith , and not by the wokes of the law : Yea , Mary * * Luk. 1.47 . reioyceth in God her Sauiour . The time is past : yet a word of the Spaniard ; and that by way of comparison , with the enemie wee haue now in hand . Sisera a a Iudg. 4 3. had 900. yron Chariots , the Spaniard a Nauie inuincible : Sisera with an high hand , came downe to the riuer Kishon . The Spaniard brought their Nauy on our natrow Seas with the like affection . In Israel none doubted to follow Barack but such as misbelieued Deborah her prophecie : In England none fainted to take armour against the Spaniard , but such as knew not the course of Gods gouernment . c c Iudg 4.9 . Deborah went vp with Barack to comfort his Souldiers . And at Tilberie O Elizabeth , how were thy Souldiers encouraged at thy presence ? Maidēlike in attire , thou camest vnto them , but warrierlike in behauiour wast thou among them , voyde of feare was thy countenance , and gracious were thy speeches : Mightie was thine armie as was Baracks , but Iehouah would haue the glorie as then hee had , his windes reuenged thy quarel . O Iehouah , to thee must we sing , thou wast our man of warre in that day , the horse and his rider thou ouerthrewest in the Sea , thou hast triumphed valiantly : The Spaniard saide we will pursue , we will ouertake , we will diuide the spoyle , our lust shall be satisfied vppon them : thou blewest with thy windes , the depth couered them , they sunke to the bottome as a stone . O Iehouah , so let thine enemies perish , but they that loue thee , let them bee as the Sunne arising to his strength .