whosoever he is that he is the very Picture of death he is in a spirituall lethargy dead in sinnes and trespasses yet sees it Ephes 2. 1. not feeles it not he sees not the hand writing upon the wall which made Belshazers knees Dan. 55. knock one against another hee sees not the hand writing in the scripture that the wages Rom. 6. 23 of sinne is death and thus it is with the drunkard he takes much pleasure in his Cups but if he did but consider that there was mors in olla death in the pot he would not take off his cups so roundly what is this more then to live in pleasure and wantonnesse to bee lovers of pleasures more then 2 Tim. 3. 4 lovers of God how sweete a name too do they give their pleasures sweete pleasures for my part I do wonder what they do or can sweeten can they sweeten death here or can they sweeten death hereafter can they sweeten the paynes of hell Solomon had as much pleasure as the world could afford hee had costly houses fayre Vineyands gardens Orchards hee had much cattel and much coyne hee had also men servants and mayde servants hee had men singers and women singers what his eyes delighted in hee witheld not from them but what was the issue of all this goodly pleasure hee looked on all his workes that his hand had wrought and that this was also vanity and vexation of spirit and there was no profit under the sunne Set Eccles 2. 11 then thy cheefest delight and pleasure in God at whose Right hand are pleasures and fulnesse of pleasures for ever Ps 16. 11. more Now I will shew thee the second impediment or hinderance in the way to salvation and that is golden Profit this it quid non mortalia pectora cogit is which draweth away many from the consideration of goodnesse their owne happinesse how many are there that like the foole in the Gospell sing Requiems to their soules and why because they have goods layd up for many yeares his goods were the ground of all his mirth his profit was the cause of all his pleasure but God made him a foole upon Record for Luk. 12. 19. his labour Thou foole this night shall thy soule bee taken from thee c. yet strange it Per marâ— per terras currit mercator ad Indos is to see what suing what running what riding what sayling what swimming and all to get a little profit which is no sooner had but presently betakes it selfe to it's wings and flyeth away but Prov. 23. 5. this is not to use the world as though they used it not not to 1 Cor. 7. have the conversation witbout covetousnesse not to have the 1 Pet. 1. 15 conversation in heaven from whence there is expectation of a Saviour Object I but sayth the carnall Philip. 3. 20. minded man if I should pray and follow this heavenly calling so much I should soone become a beggar Answer To stop this fond and fooish Objection and plea for advantage of sinne let him first tell me what advantage sinne hath at any time procured hee that winneth the whole world and looseth his owne soule hath but a poore Math. 16. 26. bargayne of it cannot a man live unlesse hee spend his whole life in carking and caring for the things of this world cannot a man have time for God and his calling too Religion must bee the unum the one thing of this life but not the unicum the only thing of this life to doe that and nothing else a man may serve God in Carking care forbidden the performance of his calling no man is forbidden to follow his calling but hee is desired to give God a place with it There is a great difference betwixt the Church bell and the market bell the market bell ringes but once yet at the sound of it what running is there to the market by troupes happy is hee that gets thither first but for the Church that may ring Peale after peale one Peale after another yet much a do to get a man to the Church and if his body bee rung into the Chureh yet a thousaud to one but his mind is gonne a wollgathering after the things of the world the very Math. 6. 21 desires of his heart are upon the world the world is his treasure and there his heart is Phil. 3. 8. also but it is otherwise with a child of God all things with None but Christ None but Christ is the Godly mans note him are but dung and drosse in comparison of Christ Jesus hee lives in this world but not according to this world hee lives in the flesh but not according to the lusts of the flesh hee so useth the Creature that hee alwayes hath an eye on the Creator but let thy conversation bee in heaven from Philip. 1. 23. whence thou expectest a Saviour first in thy meditations on God and heavenly things secondly in thy affections desiring to bee dissolved and to bee with Christ which is best of Act. 23. 1. all Thirdly in thy practise living in a good conscience toward God and towards men though thy hand bee upon the Helme yet let thy eye bee upon the starres thy heart being thus planted in heaven thy hands thy head thy foote will become the happy instruments of Gods glory and all that is within thee praise his holy name This Enemy the world being thus layd open and discovered The Christian Soldier in battle agaynst the world stand ready armed and take unto thee the sword of the spirit which is the word of God take this I say into thy hand and strike with it If the world seeke to allure thee to pleasure hit him home with that saying of Solomon hee that loveth Pleasures shall bee a poore man Prov. 21. 17. and 1 Tim. 5. 6 agayne with the Apostle hee that liveth in pleasure is dead while hee liveth and at hin agayne with that of Job My delight must be in the Almighty Rom. 6. that the wages of sinne is death and therefore thou must not thou mayst not thou darest not doe this great trespasse and so sinne agaynst God but if the world shall still persist to tempt thee reach him with Gods promises which hee hath made to these that take pleasure in him that hee that delights in him he will give him his hearts desire Psalm 37. 4. If the world come upon thee agayne with profits and riches tell him that the treasures Prov 10. 2 of wickednesse profit not but Righteousnesse delivereth Esay 44. 9. from death Prov. 10. 2. and agayne that delectable things Math. 6. 26 shall not profit Esay 44. 9. and what were it for thee to winne the whole world and to loose thy owne soule But if for all this the world shal stil assault thee at him boldly tel him that Godlinesse
didst offend so good a God so gratious a father adde unto faith patience unto patience godlinesse unto godlinesse brotherly kindnesse with brotherly kindnesse love for if these things bee amongst and abound they will make you that you never shall be idle 2 Pet. 1. 5. 6. c. Iob. had Job 42. 10. many encounters but the perseverance to the end was the Crowne of all S. Paul had many stripes endured much imprisonment stoning shipwrack though every foote of ground hee trod was a mine to blow him up yet for all that not a Crowne but then when hee had fought the good fight of faith when hee had finished his Course then with joy hee stretched out his hand for the Crowne hence-forth sayth hee is layd up for me a Crowne of Righteousnesse quid tu 2 Tim. 4. 8. Paulo acceptior Dost thou thinke to have it without a Victory it cannot bee vinceâ—â— dabitur it is only for them that conquer for them that continue to the end Then comfort thy selfe in this that thou art not bidden to fight but for a prize not to labour but for wages though God might enforce thee yet hee invites thee when hee calls thee to it it is for a Reward if it bee to repentance hee will ease thee if to affliction he will give thee patience if to suffer with him then thou shalt bee sure to reigne with him and if to perseveronce then thou shalt have a Crowne of Righteousnesse which God the Lord will give thee in that day and not only to thee but to all them that love his appearing and continue to the end there is a sublimit as â—â—atiae as well as gloriae faith â—ove patience charity may bee in theyr height but perseverance is the top of all that sets the Crowne upon thy head that only lyes at the threshold of heaven non qui pugnat habet victoriam non qui currit habet palmaÌ„ sed qui perseverat coronatur Finis coronat opus it is he only which endureth to the end shall be saved The excellency of this sheild of faith is that it doth The excellency of the sheild of faith not only cover the body but is also a meanes to preserve and keepe the other peeces of Armor from danger what is the breastplate of Righteousnesse without the sheild of faith without faith all thy good workes all thy Righteousnesse will bee as nothing whatsoever Rom. 14. 23. Gal. 11. 12 is not of faith is sinne It is faith only that justifies by the merits of Christ and not by the workes of the law O the excellency and efficacy of faith It is stronger then Lyons by it Daniel closed up their devouring jawes it is stronger Dan. 6. 21 Dan. 3. 5. then fire not a hayre of the three children was touched nor any part of their cloathes singed it is stronger then water when that Elisha the Prophet made the Iron to swim 2 King 5. 6 R. B. faith is that powerfull favourite of heaven it hath speedy accesse to Christ A man may be dumbe overwhelmd with horror of conscience and as it were even stifled by Sathan or by reason of some great sinne not able to speake for himselfe yet where faith resides prospectabit ex altissimo sanctitatis suae Jehova God will looke downe from his Ps 102. sanctuary that hee may heare the mourning of such as be in Captivity and deliver the children of death nay hee will do thus much if there be but singultus fidei a sob or a sigh of faith nay which is lesse if but a pant of faith present it selfe I will up saith the Lord helpe them set them Ps 12. at rest nay which is least of al though the pulse of faith beat not atal though David be like The very panting of faith prevayleth with God a deafe maÌ„ which heareth not or as one that were dumbe not opening his mouth yet God will looke downe upon him in mercy as hee did upon the poore man sick of the Palsey Faith is the Covenant Math. 19. 2 of all Evangelicall promises it is the hand that must bee reached out to receive all blessings Christ exacts it only Christ appropriates all to faith he lookes quite through patience and charity upon faith faith is the Mother of all these Androgothemos in the 11. of the Hebrewes faith giveth name to Christians it sets the stampe on the metall by the stampe of Caesars image the coyne was knowne to whome it did belong by the impression of saith a beleever is knowne to bee Gods peculiar Act. 15. 9. by faith the heart is clarifyed and cleansed by faith being dead thou art revived by faith thou art regenerated and Ephes 2. 8. borne agayne by faith thou art justified preserved and thy Ro. 3. 28. soule eternally saved by faith thou art raysed from sinne to newnesse of life by faith thou knowest God and art blessed of God lastly by faith thou mayst through Gods assistance expel the Devil and malignant encounters and so in the end having fought the good fight attayne everlasting Salvation an inheriance that never fadeth nor never will decay Ths 1. 58. but will endure for ever The fift weapon is the Helmet of hope or salvation take The fift weapon of gods armory the Helmet of salvation A Helmet in warres is res per necessaria more then ordinarily useful it doth not only keep off darts that might otherwise be offensive but makes him that wears it looke the Enemy in the face couragiously and to goe on victoriously Even so he which trusteth to this Helmet of hope marcheth on undaÌ„tedly against all the Assaults of the flesh the world and the Devill it makes him looke death in the face assuring himselfe of victory it makes him invincible in the day why called the Helmet of hope First Reason Heb. 6. 9. of triall it is called the Helmet of hope for two Reasons First because Salvation is the mayne end of thy hope which thou doest stil expect and wayt for It is called Anchora animae Hope is the Anchor of the soule by which itlayeth fast hold on Christ therefore it is that the Apostle couples both together Thes 5. 6. and for an Helmet the hope of Salvation intimating that Salvation is the end of our hope and confidence Secondly Hope is a meanes Second Reason to obtaine Salvation it is one of those steps which thou must climbe to Heaven by by Hope wee are saved Hope will cause Ro. 8. 24. thee to rest assured of Gods protection The Mariner having cast Anchor lyes downe and sleepes securely so he that hath cast the Ancor of his Hope in Heaven whose hope is in the 1 Cor. 15. 19. Lord needes not then to feare any thing but may say and that as confidenly as ever David did I will not be afraid of ten thousand of men that have set
part sweare neither by heavan or earth nor by any other oath let thy toung be made the numpet of gods glory let thy communication be yea yea and 〈◊〉 so thou â—â—alt not fall into condemnation Math. 5. 34. To summe up all if the Ring-leader of all those â—roopes that Lust the Ring-leader of all the troopes is lust whether it be fornication uncleanes or wantonnesse shall set upon thee take notice that he is a deadly dangerous Enemy he that is lead by him shall set himselfe against God the Father who ought to be gloryfied in his body 1 Cor. 2. 20. Secondly against God the sonne as he is head of the Church Thirdly agaynst God the holy Ghost in regard of his body whose Temple it is 1 Cor. 6. 19. Fourthly against the Church no such thing saith Thamar to Ammon ought to be done in the Church 2 Sam. 13. 12. Fiftly against the Common-wealth Jerem. 23. 10. The sinne of lust aggravated Sixtly against the Party whose Chastity is violated Levi. 21. 7. Sevently against freinds his owne body whose vessell is to bee possest in holinesse and not in the lust of concupiscence 2 Thes 4. 4. here it is that many are visibly marked in the faces and are never without an Almanack in their bones Eightly agaynst his owne good name he that committeth Adultry shall find dishonor and his Reproach shall never he taken away Prov. 6. 34. Lastly agaynst his owne soule whoredome and wine have taken away their hearts Hos 4. 11. thus runnes hee on like a foole to the stocks for correction Prov. 7. 22. and so hee is excluded out of heaven Rev. 21. 8. Is it so then walke honestly as in the day not in chambering and wantonnesse Rom. 13. 13. the Corinthians held lust to bee such an indifferent Wicked men make a mock of sinne adversary that at the last they swallowed downe incest how common lust hath beene with the Romanists let the discovery of the dissolution of Abbyes testifye Erasmus observing it to bee usuall amongst great ones tearmes it Lusus magnificus the Noblemans Recreation what duels have beene about a base prostitute that 's the cause why such a fogge hath lately overspread us as for thy part when thou seest this man doe this or that if hee be patronus causae he shall be socius poenae and thou shalt never burne the lesse in hell for having such company then pray more earnestly refrayne bad company thus did Joseph or if thou chance to fall into such demeane thy selfe so that thou mayst bee like fish keeping it selfe fresh in the midst of salt water Secondly looke to thy Eyes else the Enemy will creepe in at those winÌ„dowes thus Job Job 31. 1. made a Covenant with his eyes have a care of reading Iascivious bookes viewing wanton pictures freqâ—enting stage playes c. Thirdly cast off Idlenesse The way to shun lusts that 's the pillow of lust for hee that is busy in his calling shuts the doore upon many a wicked temptation Lastly meditate on Gods Iudgments fast often make good use of what hath beene all ready discovered thus goe on and prosper I wish thee good luck in the Lord up and bee doing and the Lord God of heaven be with thee The third grand Enemy to The third Grand Enemy the Devill Mans salvation is the Devill his dominion is great the other two the world and the flesh are under his command whereas the one is within thee and the other without thee so this is alwayes about thee the holy spirit of God hath set him out by divers names and titles but more especially hee is tearmed 1 A roaring Lyon 1 Pet. 4. 8. 2 A Murtherer Joh. 8. 44. 3 A Prince of the Ayre Eph. 2. 3. 4 The accuser of the faythfull Rev. 12. 10. First hee is a roaring Lyon The Devil a roaring Lyon seeking whome hee may devoure and very fitly is hee called a Lyon for what the world can not doe by alluring objects and 1 Pet. 1. 8. the flesh by its inticing allurements the Devill if hee can will doe by his Lyonlike invasions he is also a roaring Lyon for as a Lyon when hee looseth his prey doth swell and roare for very anger so this roaring Lyon when hee doth but loose or rather when any child of God doth make an escape out of his pawes then hee roares then hee maketh new fetches then hee is ready to fly in the very face of God himselfe how many assaults did hee make upon the patience of Job how many Job 1. crosse blowes did hee give him one in the neck of another if the Sabeans theft and Vers 16. murther of his Cattle and servants cannot moove him then the Chaldeans shall fill Vers 17. up the measure of their theevery if this will not take then the mercilesse flames of fire shall consume his sheepe and remaynder of his Cattle Vers 18. nay the stone and timber out of the wall shall silence his sonnes and daughters in the midst of their eating and drinking onely one shall bee left a live to torment his patience with the sad Relation thereof yet further if none of all these will doe it then hee sets out a higher throate and Nebuchad nezar like heates the oven of his malice seaven times hotter then before he drawes an arrowe out of his owne bosome to shoote at him sets his wife upon him on one side to pervert him and his kinred on the other side to revile him yet for all this Job sinned not with his lippes nâ—r charged God foolishly Job 1. 22. this is that which made the Devill roare aloude The Ezek. 22. 25. scriptures every where set out the roaring of the Lyon to Esay 31. 4. bee extraordinary the Hart thirsteth after the brookes of Ps 42. 1. water the yonge Ravens cry unto God for meate and all Ps 147. 9. other creatures in theyr kindes seeke their meate at Gods hand onely the Lyon hee roares when hee hath no pray and the Devill Amos 3. 4. hee roares too when he hath not some pretious soule or other to feede on nay the Devill is worse then a Lyon The Devil more cruel then a Lyon who if credit may bee given to history spareth those that fall downe flat before him but if hee should once catch thee at that advantage hee would trample thee under his feete and teare thee into a thousand peeces Secondly as hee is a roaring The Devil a Murtherer Lyon so hee is a Murtherer Joh. 8. 44. not a murtherer of one man or of the men of one Towne one City one Kingdome but of the whole world of all Mankind It was the Devils malice that brought Invida diaboli mors intravit Bonavent death into the world it was hee that brought sinne first into the world and sinne ushered in death even eternall death as for thy life naturall how doth this
thy weakenesse whom he loveth be loveth to the end Joh. 13. 11 there 's the perfection no crosses no losses troubles nor afflictions shall ever be able to separate thee from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus nay God will not onely follow thee with his love and fatherly kindnesse give a graciouss ansâ—er in the midst of Rom. 8. 35. â— thy afflictions pardon all thy sinnes but he will also helps thee out of all thy afflictions and deliver thee from all thy troubles When a man is sick the Phisition prescribes some choice preservatives to prevent the malignity of a worse disease which might endanger the life but afterwards upon hopes of recovery he administreth restorative cordialls for the better recovery of his health thus God that great Phisition of soules makes use of the former consolation as the Phisition of his preservatives to keepe man growne faint and heart sick with sinne from a more dangerous disease of despaire which may bring on him the God the perfect Physition Rev. 20 2. second death but now he gives him the restorative Cordiall takes him by the hand tells him that the pulse of his faith beates well assures him of the recovery of his health and bids him be of good comfort for he will bind up all his wounds heale his backsliding helpe Marke 10. 49. him out of his afflictions deliver him out of al his troubles Jerem. 30 17. Health is the thing every sick man lookes for joy is that Hos 14 4. which the grieved spirit breaths after every afflicted man long 's for ease every troubled spirit for helpe here 's health for the sicke comfort for the mourner ease for the afflicted and deliverance for the troubled spirit David had a comfortable experience in all this though in afflictions God was his deliverer though poore and needy yet the Lord thought on him though afflicted dejected rejâ—cted though a very abject in Ps 119. 153 Ps 40. 17. the world though table friends forsooke him enimies oppressed God a sure deliverance him and overwhelmed him yet here was his comfort that God was his helper and deliverer did not God thus deliver Noah from the deluge of waters was not Lot like a Firebrand snatch'd out of Sâ—dome Psal 54. 4. Abraham was in agreat strait when he had like to have lost both his life and his wife at once yet God relieved him by plaguing the heathenish Gen. 19. 22 King and all his houshold but Abraham was harder Gen. 12. 17 beset when he was commanded to sacrifice his sonne Isaack his onely Sonne that Sonne in whom all the promises of blessednesse were contracted yet even then whilst hee was lifting up his hand to give the fatall blow God step'd in with deliverance Isaac that Lambe was preserved Abraham did but lift up his eyes and behold there was a Ramme catched Gen. 22. 13. by the hornes in a bush behind him him did Abraham take up and offered in the stead of his sonne Abrahams extremity was Gods opportunity so that it is become a Proverb In monte videbitur Examples of Gods deliverance Deus God will be seene in the mountayne Thus Jacob was free'd from the service of churlish Laban and delivered from the malice of his brother Esan Joseph from the cruelty of his brethren Moses from killing drowning Exod. 2. and starving Eliah from the malice of Abab and Jesabell being sed by an Angell and the Ravens Job 1 King 17. 4. Job 41. 13. Dan. 9. 22. Jonah 2. 10. 2 King 19 35. from the dunghill the three children from the fiery fornace Danyell out of the Lyons den Jonah out of the belly of the whale Hesekiah from the wicked intendments of Zenacherib but above all how many and how great have beene the deliverances of the children of Israel from the land of Egypt out of the house of bondage in their miraculous passage from Egypt through the red sea many were their deliverances during their forty yeares abode in the wildernesse being come from thence and planted in the land of Canaan how were they infested by the Aramites Amorites Philistims Zidonians Amalekites and afterwards were they not carryed captives into Babylon nay did not Haman conspire to roote them out that they might be no more a nation yet for the this God was stil their deliverer but is not God the God of the new as wel as of the old Testament was he so great a God the God of the new as well as of the old Testament saviour under the law and is hee not the like under the Gospell he is semper idem there can be no shadow of change in him hee is yesterday and to day and the same for ever his arme is not straightned did not he deliver Paul Silas out of prison by the meanes of an Earthquake Act. 16. 28. was not S. Paul after that rescued from the malice of the Jewes at Damascus was hee not preserved from the Tyranny of Nero that boore who sought to roote up that small plantation of the Church yet in despight of him God preserved a Church in his owne house under his very nose Salute saith S. Paul the saints that aâ—t Phil. 4. 23. at Neroes house during those ten persecutions of the Primative times what cruelty was not committed what torture was not exalted one boyled in a caldron of oyle S. John S. Laur. S. Ignat. another broyld on a gridiron a third devoured of wild beasts a fourth flead alive c. but what of all this God the Lord to whom belong the issues from death did so Ps 68. 20. order it though there was a power to kill the body yet there was no power to kill the soule Math. 11. 28. these torments were but as so many viands to wast them into a better life and that bloud of theirs thus inhumanely spilt was made the Churches seminary looke but still downewards unto these dayes what an unexpressable deliverance hath this Church of England had in the expelling of those Romish fogs and mists of superstiâ—ion which for many yeares obscured the light of the Gospell and sincere profession thereof how is the candelstick removed of late in some parts of Germany Amos. 8. 11. what a famine not of bread only but of the word of God that bread of life is now amongst them how is that country depopulated their cityes wasted and what the devouring sword hath passed over biting famine hath overtaken wee in the meane time stand as lookers on surfetted as it were with the many and miraculous deliverances both of Church Gods deliverance to England and state witnesse the deliverance from that Armado of Spaine falsly termed invincible in the yeare 1588. that of the powder plot hatched by a company of S. Peter men salt Peter men I should say in the yeare 1605 that of Gods heavy hand of visitation by the
of Christ is a greater conqueror then ever as yet lived The first advice then that I shall give thee shall be that Advise against fleshly lusts of Socrates though an Heathen yet his councell is good Homo vince teipsum O man overcome thy selfe how many are there that are able to beare a way great Monarches Kingdomes by conquest and yet are borne a way and beaten downe by theit owne lusts Phillip the Macedonian Alexander the great Cyrus that Monarch Zerxes Darius and others very Valiant couragious and stouthearted men they had wonne by force and power many Kingdomes and Nations had devastated and depopulated many great and famous Cityes yet for all this when they came to this poynt the cheefest of all the rest they could not overcome their own untamed and unbridled lusts but were so swayd with the concupiscence and desire of them that I may very well conclude Se ipsum vincere maxima est victoria It is the greatest victory to overcome thy selfe Bis vincit qui se vincit Sayth another Heathen he overcomes twice that overcomes in such a victory as this is Valentinian the Emperor said at the point of death that he did most of all glory in one victory above all his great conquests whatsoever and being demanded by those that stood about him his friends acqua intance what victory that was O saith he Inimicorum nequissimum devici I have conquered my most wicked enemy my owne flesh a most famous and noble conquest indeed this is that which made St. Paul come off Victory over the flesh is victory indeed with Rejoycing I have fought the good fight I have finished my course c. And for every man thus to do it is no easie matter a man must undergo many a hungry meale indure many agrevious afflicti on sustayne many a losse suffer many a crosse fetch many a grone shead many a teare before he can fully over come this unbridled flesh Anger a notable Champion for the flesh I will instance but in one perticular lust of the flesh and that is Anger for how manyare there that are so transported with Anger and the desire of Revenge that they have quite lost the nature though they still retaine the names of Christians he is now a daies in no request that hath not a bigge looke and a bold presumptuous carriage I meane to outface wickednesse and to colour it over with a faire glosse nay this passion of Anger is so violent that it spareth neyther man woman nor child freind nor acquaintance and this it was that made Solomon confesse that Anger is crâ—ell and wrath is raging but who can stand before Envy Prov. 27. 4. What saith the Cholerick man Prov. 27. 4. if that he be but dishonored with any thing or any thing hath crossed him flesh and bloud cannot endure it it is true indeed flesh and blood of it selfe cannot sustaine or indure it nnlesse the God of heaven give patience to support and undergoe it O how irkesome is a crosse to flesh and blood but if the holy spirit of God were the director it would teach a lesson Matt. 5. 24. even to pray for Enemies that brought them Moses prayed for the stubborne and unfaithfull Jewes even then when they rebelled agaynst him Exod. 32. 11. Exod. 32. 11. Blessed St. Stephen in the midest of torments prayed for his Enemies Lord lay not this sinne to their charge St. Paul wished himselfe to be accursed from Christ Act. 7. 60. that his kinsmen the Israelitâ—s might be saved Rom. 3. 9. But above all that patterne Rom. 3. 9. of true patience Christ Jesus himselfe who so dearly Examples of true patience loved us even when wee were Enemyes that he gave himselfe to the death of the Crosse for sinfull mans sake and as he hung on the Crosse prayed to his heavenly father not for his freinds not for the Angels but for sinfull man who was his utter Enemy Luk. 23. 24. These are written for thy examples Luk. 23. 24 these are patternes for thy imitation these being set before thy eyes and well considered will take off thy haughty and cholerick spirit suppresse thy dominering swaggering carriage and bring thee down to the depth of all humility Now I have discovered this Enemy the Flesh wiâ—h some of the choicest of his company how strong they aâ—e how they lye encamped what seeming frendship they make the easier to make way for their own victory and thy ruine I have also shewed thee how hard it is to put them to the foyl I wil now use some motives to encourage thee to the battle then being well prepared I will put the sword into thy hand wherby thou mayest be able to overcome them all Then first of all consider with thy selfe that to harbour First Motive to be armed against the flesh these lusts is a sinne and to be lead by them is a great Offence to the Almighty be advised then by St. Paul not to make Rom. 13. 14. Care of the mayne chance commended provision for the flesh to fulfill the lusts thereof Rom. 13. 14. thou mayest provide for the flesh in seeking after mayntenance and providing meat and drinke for the body but thou mayest not fulfill the lusts thereof when by immoderate eating and drinking thou surfettest with gluttony and drunknesse thou maiest provide for the flesh in the diligent labour of thy hands to get som competency of estate for thy better subsistance Esay 3. 15. in after times but thou mayest not fulfill the lusts thereof when to encrease thy estate thou dost it in the oppression of thy brethren in the grinding of his face either by cruel extortion or biting usury againe it is the same blessed Apostles proposition that thou mayest walke in the flesh 2. Cor. 10. but thou mayest not warre after the flest 2. Cor. 10. 3. every child of God hath fleshly lusts in him and divers suggestions of his corrupt flesh remayning but hee doth suppresse and keepe them down that they shall not rule over him he is alwayes strugling and striving against them in so much that if he offend at any time it is not he but sin that dwelleth in him Rom. 7. 17. Sinne may dwell but shall not raigne in his mortall body Rom. 6. 12. there is in him such a combustion between the flesh and the spirit that he cannot be at Rest nay he will not ly downe in his sinne and continue in his shame can two walke together except they be agreed can thy spirit and thy flesh which Amos. 3. 3. are Enemies lye together and be still without any resistance except they be agreed If it be so it is a certaine signe that thou and thy sinne are well Quam bene conveniunt agreed together it is the manner of lewd and wicked livers thus to be at ease they are ready to say I thanke God I
have none of these troubles my heart is at ease I have no griping in my conscience but all goes well with mee but let mee tell them it is a signe that sinne is the cheifest copesmat and The carnall mans security companion with them that their fellowship is with the unfruitfull workes of darknesse put then on a holy resolution not to warr after the flesh noâ— to be lead by the lusts of the same thou knowest how usuall a thing it is if that a friend would have thee to doe Ephes 5. 11 any thing or goe any whither which having resolved with thy selfe not to go or not to do thou answerest I am resolved otherwise and so forbearest the action accordingly how could I wish that thou wouldest but resolve if the flesh provoke thee not to fulfill the lusts thereof from henceforth to know no man after the flesh 2. Cor. 5. 16. and as no man so nothing that may draw away thy mind from God or lead thee to the performance of thy fleshly defires but rather to have no fellowship with them and to reprove them Eph. 11. 11. In the second place to adde Second Motive to be armed against the flesh more courage unto thee that thou mayst bouldly stand out in defiance of the flesh consider the end of all the end I say proves all and indeede Finis corâ—nat opus the end will be without end never to end till thou coÌ„mest to Hell there to be in endlesse torment for ever flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdome of heaven there is an impossibility in it it cannot for in that place entereth no unclean thing no dunghil cogitations can bring thee thither then dost thou thinke to sowe to the flesh and reape in the spirit thou canst not do it be not deceived with such windy hopes if thou sowest to the flesh thou shalt of the flesh reape corruption Gal. 6. 8. 1 Cor. 15. 5 not the Crowne of immortality which is the fruit of the spirit it is playne then that he which makes his heaven here upon earth not bettering himselfe in the way to the tâ—ue heaven is the worse and so the neerer to Hell O what a miserable condition that man is in that makes his flesh his guide there are too many wofull examples already be not deceived thy corrupt lust being sinfull the Rom. 6. 23 wages thereof must needs â—e death cozen not thy owne soule to expect any better reward to winne the world to pamper thy flesh and to loose thy own Soul will be but a sory bargaine in the coâ—clusion Now having prepared and encouraged thee to the The Christian Souldier in battle against the flesh Combat I will put the sword into thy hand wherewith I would have thee to lay about thee for the Enemy stands upon his defiance and resolves to stand it out to the Adultery the first Champion of the flesh utmost if he shall set upon thee with one of his prime Champions Adultery feare him not he shall be surely put to death Lev. 20. 10. if this will not serve the turne answer him that God is on thy side and as he is the great Judge both of heaven and earth so he will come to Judgement against him and all his Companions Mat. 3. 5. But if the Enemy shall be so audacious as to lift up his head againe let him know that thou hast nothing to do with him that thy conversation is in Heaven from whence Phil. 3. 22. thou expectest a Saviour but for his part thou art sure that he hath no interest therein God hath spoken it you will beleeve it that no Adulterer 2 Cor. 6. 9. shal inherit the kingdom of heaven if Idolatry should appeare in the second ranke turne not to him Lev. 19. 4. but flye from him 1 Cor. 10. 14. and keep â—ot thy self from him 1 Joh. 5. 21. againe if this great Enemy shall at any time bring Idolatry a second Champion of the flesh that great Generall of his Army against thee which is drunkennesse tell him that he is a woefull wretched leader wo to the drunkards of Ephraim Esay 28. 1. bid him awake weepe and howle Joel 1. 5. as for thy part thou art resolved Drunkennesse the great Generall of the Army to take heed not to be overprest with him Joel 1. 5. nor to be drunke with wine wherein there is excesse Ephes 5. 18. But if any of his pot company shall yet stand out tell them boldly that there are twelve miserable discommodityes that will arise from their society Imprimis The soule is endangered The body is infected Reason is troubled Understanding dulled 12 Discommodityes of inordinate drinking Commendations banished Sustenance wasted Letchery provoked Man-hood defaced Beastlynesse resembled And lastly God sayth no drunkard shall inherit the kingdome of Heaven Over and besides It spends the time vainely Consumes money wickedly It causes the dropâ—ie and other diseases It is the high way to beggery It causes freinds forsake them The godly to abhor them Neighbours to shunne them Youth to mock them Their own houshould to despise them None to regard them God to forsake them And the Devill to take them Then who would be a Drunkard This raging drunken Adversary with his staggering troopes hath like a large tree almost overspread the whole kingdome nay almost the whole world I could wish it to be cut down to the Root that neither stock stemme nor stump of it might once appeare above Toto grassatur in Orhe ground I could wish that there were some course taken with those that make a trade of drunkenesse if there were a mulct set on every sutling boothe belonging to the Comp I meane a fine set on every Taverne and Alehouse out of which any were seen to come Drunke then there would be speedy Reformation if the house were thus punished for selling of dunken cups there would be fewer drunkards if there were no Receivers there would be no theeves It was a strange law that if the Parent brought in his child drunke before the Magistrate he was to be stoned Deut. 12. 20. By this it may appeare what hatred God hath to drunknesse As for those that will not be reclaymed I could wish that as the poore BP being taken by the Donatists had two dead dogs tyed unto him so they might have the like tyed â—nto them and led about the streetes for he that gives himselfe to drinke is no better then a dog that returneth to his vomit againe Justice for these things is already fallen on her knees and it is to be feared will ere long fall upon her face in the continuance of such wicked and debauched courses Sweairng with his Ruffians If swearing with his ruffians shall affâ—â—nt thee in the next place let him know that the land mournes under him and therefore he shall be cut Jer. 23. 10 off Zach. 5. 3. as for thy
plague of pestilence in the yeare 1625 and in the last yeares 1636. 1637. besides many others so that now this kingdome sitteth like the Queene of nations every man in peace Rev. 17. 8. under his owne vine and under his owne figtree this is the Lords doings and it is wonderfull in our eyes but to come yet nearer home to our selves I appeale unto any man living that hath not at one time or other had a large taste of Gods protection and deliverance from some danger or other how many had beene swallowed up quick whilst men rose up against them if God had not beene on their side what shall I say then Our fathers saith David Ps 22. 4. trusted in God they trusted and hee delivered them they called upon him and were delivered they trusted on him and were not confounded goe thou thy wayes and doe likewise depend on Gods protection recount what he hath done for thy soule blesse the Lord god of thy salvation who leadeth thee thus with his benefits Ps 68. 19. blesse him in his infinite essence and power blesse him in his unbounded and just soveraignty blesse him in his preservations blesse him in his deliverances take heed of offering hollow observances to the searcher of hearts they that proclamed Christ at Jerusalem had not onely Advice to blesse God for al his deliverances Hosanna in their mouths but palmes in their hands too if thy hand blesse not the Lord thy tongue is an Hypocrite away with the vast complements of vaine formalityes let thy lowd actions drowne the language of thy words for God is thy deliverance hee is the God of thy salvation thus the bitter waters of Mara shall bee made as sweete as hony crosses shall bee made blessings corrections made instructions to fortifie thy selfe against all the deceipts of the world the flesh and the Devill when thou lookest to thy owne fleshly hands there is nothing but discouragement when thou lookest to thy Spirituall enemyes there is nothing but terror but when thou castest up thy eyes to thy mighty God there is nothing but confidence nothing but comfort comfort thee comfort thee therefore ô thou feeble soule send thy bold defiâ—nces to the Prince of Darkenesse heaven is high and hard to reach hell is steepe and slippery thy Flesh is earthly and impotent Sathan strong and rancorous sinne subtle the world aluring all those yet God is the God of thy salvation let those infernall Lyons roare and rampe upon thee let the gates of hell doe their worst let the world be a cheater thy flesh a Traytor the Devill a Tyrant faithfull is hee that hath promised who will also doe it God is the God of thy Salvation blessed bee his holy name world without end AMEN Thus having shewed the use of every peece of Armor belonging to the Christian warfare the furious assaults and subtle carriage of the severall Enemyes the time of their onset and the meanes how to come off with credit I will now use three motives that may stirre thee up to take armes and being in the field to lay about thee First the consideration of death that thou must dye then there wil be no time to fight Secondly to consider the cruell torments of hell that Motives to take up armes they may enforce thee to fight Lastly to consider the Crowne and Reward the joyes of heaven that they may allure thee to fight There is an Act of Parliament First motive in heaven never to be repealed Statutum est omnibus semel mori dye thou must death knocks equally at the hatch of a cottage and the gates of a Palace hee can top the highest Cedar as well as the lowest shrub there is no man but is naturally walking downe to the chambers of death every sinne is a pace thither only Death unavoyable the gracious hand of God stayes him every man living must bee reduced to the first principles of dust and ashes from whence hee was first taken dust thou art and to dust thou must return Is there not an oppoynted time Gen. 3. 19. for man on the earth yea but when is that time hora nihil incertius nothing more uncertaine that 's in Gods hand hee that is the Lord of life hath set the period of thine his omnipotence so contrives all events that neyther Enemy nor casualty nor disease can prevent the houre of his appoyntment there is no holding of the breath if God call for it a Nothing more uncertaine then the houre of death man may have some power over his outward members but none at all over the inward hee may command the eye to see the eare to heare the hand to worke but hee cannot command the heart to move the liver to sanguine the longues to blow breath hee may swallow downe meate but cannot make the stomack to digest it that 's Gods peculiar a payre of bellowes will fall of themselves but never rise to blow againe without assistance the houre glasse will God is the Lord of life runne out of it selfe but never runne againe except it bee turned a man may send out his breath at his pleasure but not take it in againe without God for in his hand is the breath of all mankind Job 12. 10. if that King of feare death bee charged with a warrant from God hee doth not returne with a non est inventus sometimes hee is sent in the night when man is most secure thus hee came upon all the first borne in the Land of Egipt at midnight Exod. 12. 29. sometimes in the height of power thus he came also upon the Egyptians in the midst of all strength whilst they were pursuing the poore Israelites even then when they were in the ruffe of all their glory their charriot wheeles drew heavy and they were all choaked in the red Sea Exod. 14. 27. Sometimes death comes whilst a man is at his Table he comes indeed to many great mens tables but he is welcome to a few thus did he salute Belshazar in the midst of his Cups quaffing in the bowles of the sanctuary Dan. 5. 3. as a surgeon hides his lancet in a sponge or his sleeve that he may the more secretly use it so death hides himselfe sometimes in meate other whiles in drinke sometimes Gen. 7. he lyes under the Table when they of the old world were eating and drinking then came the floud and overwhelmed them in the morning was the King of Israel destroyed Hos 10. 25. the shunamites child dyed at noone 2 King 4. 20. Ezekiels wife dyed in the Evening Ezek. 24. 18. Sometimes death comes as he did upon the Rich foole witha Stulte hac nocte so whether it be in the day or night in the morning or evening in prosperity or Adversity whether full or fasting the time is still uncertayne some are taken away sodainely many in their infancy some in their youth others in age many dye younge
he quite forgot the day of his martirdom holy S. Hilary having spent 70 yeares in devout contemplation was yet afraid of the Judgment-day the Remembrance Job 23. 15. of that day was Jobs trouble and terrour if these be in such a case ad quos Index to whom the Judg appeares in mercy what shal they doe contra quos against whom he comes in Iudgment if starres of such a magnitude beginne to twincle what dimnesse will there be then in those of a lesser body if such pillars shrinke under the burthen what will become of slender tressles surely they'lbe crush't in pieces if this be done in the sappy greene tree what will be done in that which is more zere dry my advice shall be that of Moses to the Israelites be ready on the third day and on the third day when it was morning there was thunders and lightnings and a thick cloud upon the Mount and the sound of the Trumpet exceeding lowd so that all the People that were in the Campe were afraid though there be many dayes Exod. 19. 15. assigned to Man yet there are three dayes in especiall his birth life and death that of his ingresse into the world progresse in the world egresse out of the world but this last day is the third day looke to that day aboue all dayes stand ready for it then it is that God who formerly came as a loving Father will appeare as the great Judg both of heaven and earth then shall be heard the thunderings of accusations then shall be seene the very flashy lightning of hell fire in the consciences of most men then shall the thick Cloud of their sinnes interpose betwixt them and the throne of grace the Trumpet shall sound the aire shall rattle the noise shall be the awakening of all flesh in so much that the very elect who are within the campe of Gods predestination shall be afraid what then will become of them which are without the Campe such as never tooke up armes against the common Enemy they shâ—ll then stand amazed at the barre being accused by the Heavens and the Earth and all the Creatures therin coÌ„tained convicted by a Jury of Heavenly Earthly Inhabitants the blessed Saints and Angels their consciences pleading guilty in stead of a Conscintia mille testes thousand witnesses then doth the Devill sinne the world and the flesh cry out for sentence to be pronounced against the Offenders at the barre which is no sooner desired but performed Go ye cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the Devill and his Angels a sentece most fearefull because intolerable because irrevocable intolerable because of the quality of the punishment pinching cold scorching heat more greevious then the cursed water to the suspected woman that caused her thigh to rot her belly to swell and made her detestable to all the People ibi erit fletus c. there shall be Num 5. 18. weeping for the fire that shall never be quenched gnashing of teeth for the worme that never Paines of hell intollerable dyeth if wee be sick here in this life wee may haue soft beds to lie on Phisitions to advise our health friends and kindred to come by way of comfortable visits though all these faile yet there is to be had a good and gracious God to haue mercy on us one that will lay his hand under our heads and comfortably support us but there 's no soft beds but fire the most cruell of all other elements to wallow in and not a drop of cold water to coole the scorched tongue no Phisition to advize but Devils to torment no God to haue mercy on us but hell and dispaire to seaze upon us thus shall it be with them that forget God miserable shall they be at their first ingresse into hels torments there to heare the yelling the howling the crying of damned spirits there 's no comfort no solace no ease no helpe but horror and vexation on every side Bern. Med. cap. 19. alwayes burning yet never consumed alwayes dying and never dead the best sights and cheefest companions shall be Legions of damned ghosts and furies the dyet and fare shall be pinching hunger and famine the drinke shall be lakes of fire and brimstone Rev. 14. 10 mingled with the pure wine of Gods wrath and to make up the meale there shall be musick too curses shall he the Hymnes houling the tunes blasphemy the ditties lachrymae the notes lamentation shall be the song and shricking the straines sighs sobs and teares shall bee the dolefull descant and division the Purple Rayments shall there be flames of fire the hand shall there be seared the heart wounded the eyes blinded the eares dulled the feet scorched and Paena sensus all the body utterly confounded this shall be the state of the body in that day but shall the soule go free No It was to the body as Simeon to Levi a brother in iniquity and shall therefore participate of punishments with the body The memory shall call to mind that which is past the understanding shall consider that which is present and doth shall joyne together to disquit themselves then shall it be thought upon how many good motions have beene neglected how often God knocking at the doore hath beene disregarded what joyes are Paena damni lost what sorrowes are found how easily they might have beene avoyded and how impossible it is to abtayne the least mitigation this of all is the greevous punishment of the damned in hell hitherto I have shewed but the skirts and suburbs of hell but this is the entrance within the walls and the very gates of hell that punishment of the body was paena sensus a payne sensible enough but this of the soule paena damni though it be but a privative punishment yet it hath a miserable positive effect if ever misery deserved weeping of eyes if ever losse deserved Horresco referens gnashing of teeth this is the misery that there shall be No losse like the losse of Gods favour never any comfortable fight of the blessed face of God and this is the losse that there shall be an exclusion from all society with saints and Angels if when the Arke of God was taken old Eli was so overtaken with griefe that he fell backward and dyed what a losse shall they be at that have lost the presence 2 King 14. of God Adam did but Gen. 2. 15. see the apple to be good for the taste but to be turned out of Paradise he found it very distastfull what greater griefe even in this life then to live in Mâ—sheck and Psalm 84. sojourne in the tents of Kedar it was Davids well day so to do can the Israelites be merry in their Captivity there 's no musick with them Psalm 127 they cannot sing under a strange king their harpes hang upon the willowes as sad and silent as themselves