alone that must open our hearts as hee did the heart of Lydea and annoint our blind eyes Act. 16 Reu 3.18 else wee shall neuer see And therefore the Spirit of God is sayd to reueale such things vnto men as neuer came into the heart of any carnal man once to thinke 1. Cor. 2.10 Euen the secret things of God And what bee those surely such things as the most learned in the world maybe ignorant of And the poore vnlearned and vnlettered man may haue greater knowledge in these then the greatest Doctor of all namely Note the Spirit of God makes knowne to his children the loue of God in Iesus Christ the pardon of sin hee sees in his Soule and conscience Rom. 8.15 what a blessed thing it to haue the pardon of sin to feele the comfortable power of Gods Spirit teaching vs to cry to him Abba Father and none else can haue this same sauing knowledge of God so as the same may be powerfull and effectuall vnto their soules and consciences saue the children of God How God the Father is to be known of vs. Deu. 6.6 Math. 22.37 Luk. 10.17 Now concerning God the Father wee must know and acknowledge and that truely soundly and beleeuing that hee is the onely true God and that there is none other God in heauen or earth but him alone therefore he alone must bee adored worshipped beleeued and prayed vnto as the onely true God Secondly wee must know and acknowledge that God the Father is not onely the true God but our God not onely the Father of Christ but also our Father and hath adopted vs to be his children in Iesus Christ and hath put his Spirit into our hearts whereby we cry Abba father he that doth thus know God is in the right way to eternal life But he that cannot thus beleeue God sauingly 2. Tim. 1.12 soundly and particularly that the onely true God is his God and that the Father of Iesus Christ is his Father that he loues him as his child and will bestow the Kingdom of Heauen vpon him as his inheritance alas hee abides in death and hath not this sanctified knowledge of God within him Then wee must not rest vpon this bare knowledge to know that God the Father is the onely true God the Father of Christ for this is a bare knowledge a naked knowledge and such a knowledge as may befal a wicked man Iam. 2. Mar. 1.23 yea the Deuill himselfe for he beleeues and trembles he acknowledgeth Christ to be the Sonne of God And yet alas how many thousand soules amongst vs come short of this knowledge of God which the Deuill hath how many feare tremble to thinke of God and of the day of iudgement but let vs euery one euery man and euery woman and euery mothers child amongst vs if we would not bee in worse case then the Deuill himselfe labour to goe beyond the Deuill and all wicked men watsoeuer to know and that soundly and particularly that the onely true God is our God and that the Father of Christ is our Father that wee labour to get assurance of his loue towards vs that he loues vs as his children and wil bestow the kingdome of heauen vpon vs at the last And if wee thus know God to be our God and our blessed Father wee must labour to performe all such duties as belong vnto him as our God and louing Father First that man that beleeues God to be the true God and vnto him a louing Father Duties that are to be performed vnto God this man must imitate him and follow him for it is the will of God that his Children should be like vnto himselfe Secondly euery one that knoweth and beleeueth God to be the true God and in Christ his Father this man must as a good child bee obedient to his fathers will in all things for of them doth God the Father approue of to bee his children And hence it is that God sayth If I be a Master where is my feare Mal. 1.6 Mat. 12.50 If I bee a Father where is my honour And againe Whosoeuer shall doe my Fathers will which is in Heauen the same is my Brother my Sister and Mother M. Perkins on the Creed Where wee see plainely taught vs this second duty that if God be our Father then as good children wee should shew obedience vnto him but if we disobey him then we must know that that saying of Christ wil be verefied vpon vs Yee are of your Father the Deuill Io. 8.44 for the works of the Deuill yee will do And indeed no man can be so like to his Father that begot him as are the disobedient and rebellious sinners like to their Sire the Deuill Thirdly euery one that knoweth and beleeueth God to be the true God and in Christ his Father hee must learne to beare all crosses and outward afflictions patiently knowing that they come from God to wayte for deliuerance from him For whom God loueth hee chastiseth If two children should be fighting and a man comming by should part them and giue correction to one of them euery man would conceiue that hee were his child whom he corrected and surely when the Lord doth lay his rod heauiest vpon his children yet euen then doth hee shew himselfe a louing Father vnto vs Now if our earthly Fathers corrected vs and wee gaue them reuerence taking it patiently should wee not much rather bee in subiection to the Father of Spirits that we may liue In a word if wee thus know God to bee our God and our blessed Father we must loue him as our God and Father feare him as our God obey him beleeue in him rest vpon him both in prosperity and aduersity as vpon our mercifull God The second thing to bee knowne to eternall life is Iesus Christ the Sonne of God How God the Sonne is to be known of vs. And therefore seeing no man can know the Father vnlesse he know the Sonne therefore this knowledge is as necessary as the former and concerning this Saint Iohn sayth We must not onely know the Father but him also whom the Father hath sent Iesus Christ Now to that end wee may know him aright wee must know and beleeue particularly that hee is our Iesus our blessed Sauiour and Redeemer who by his perfect obedience and his bitter death and passion Reu. 1.7 hath saued vs from all our sinnes and from the curse of God and eternall damnation due to the same And in this one point is contained the height depth of all knowledge thus assuredly and beleeuingly to know in particular that Iesus Christ was sent of his Father that in our Nature he might die for our sinnes and rise againe for our iustification Oh blessed and thrice happy is that man and woman which hath this blessed knowledge put into their hearts by the spirit of God Rom.
point let no conceit in the world nor perswasion whatsoeuer hinder vs from a present conuersion vnto God but out of hand while it is called To day let vs turne vnto him Thus much for the Exhortation The Reasons follow For hee hath spoyled and hee will heale vs he hath wounded vs and hee will bind vs vp WE haue heard already the godly perswasion of the beleeuing Iewes one to another Reasons to inforce the former exhortation to turn to the Lord from whom they had departed by their sins Now followes the reasons of their exhortation and they are twofold The first is drawn from the iustice of God in these words He hath spoyled vs hee hath wounded vs. q. d. We haue beene plagued and smitten Well it is the Lord that hath layd these heauy iudgements vpon vs it is the correcting hand of God that hath brought these grieuous afflictions vpon vs therfore let vs now Returne vnto him The second is drawn from the mercy of God in these words Hee will heale vs hee will binde vs vp q. d. Though the Lord hath smitten vs yet hee will helpe vs and heale vs if we will seeke to him for succour And surely these two reasons ought to be of force to moue euery one of vs to turne vnto God if his iudgements cannot compel vs yet his louing mercies ought to draw vs and allure vs to turne vnto him Doct. 1 Whereas the people of God in this place do not onely perswade one another simply to Returne vnto God Mans nature so corrupt that it stands in need of many reasons to perswade to holy duties but vse reason vpon reason to induce and to perswade them thereunto Hence wee may obserue the frowatdnesse and the vntowardnesse and great backwardnesse that is in all men by natuae to perform any holy duty That wee thus stand in need of so many arguments and so many reasons to perswadr vs thereunto In the whole Scriptures it is the vsuall manner of the Prophets and Apostles and holy men of God when they exhort to any vertue or dehort from any vice to adde sundry reasons that by the force thereof they might draw men to obedience This is practised of the Prophet Dauid when hee perswaded his sonne Salomon to haue a care to learne and practise the will of God 1. Chro. 28.8 And thou Salomon my sonne know thou the God of thy Fathers and serue him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind And hee addes reasons to perswade him thereunto For the Lord searcheth all hearts and vnderstandeth all the imaginations of thoughts if thou seeke him hee will bee found of thee but if thou forsake him hee will cast thee off for euer Again when Moses doth exhort the people of Israel to obserue to keepe the commandements of the Lord how many forcible arguments and reasons doth hee alledge to moue the people and to perswade them thereunto some taken from the mercies of God If thou shalt obey the voyce of the Lord thy God Deut. 28.1.2.3 v. 15.16 c. Leuit. 26.14 Mal. 2.2 and obserue all his commandements which I command thee this day all these blessings shall come on thee and ouertake thee Blessed shalt thou bee in the City and blessed in the field c. Others taken from the iustice of God But if thou wilt not obey the voyce of the Lord thy God to keepe and to doe all his commandements and ordinances which I command thee this day Deu. 6.5 cursed shalt thou bee in the towne and cursed in the field c. And in all Pauls Epistles it is his vsuall manner Rom. 12.1 where he exhorts to any vertue or dehorts from any vice to adde sundry reasons that by the force thereof he might the better preuaile 2. Cor. 9.7 I beseech you brethren by the mercies of God that yee giue vp your bodies a liuing sacrifice holy and acceptable vnto God And againe As euery man wisheth in his heart so let him giue not grudgingly or of necessity for God loueth a cheerefull giuer And in the Ephesians Eph. 5.22.23 exhorting diuers estates and degrees of men as husbands and wiues Parents and children masters and seruants to the performance of the duties of their seuerall callings he doth still second the same exhortations with diuers arguments and reasons Eph. 6.5 Col. 3.22 1. Pet. 2.11 Wiues submit your selues to your husbands as to the Lord and he ads a forcible reason thereto For the husband is the wiues head as Christ is the head of his Church and so likewise of husbands seruants c. This course is likewise practised of the Apostle Peter when he sayth I beseech you as Strangers and Pilgrimes abstaine from fleshly lusts which fight against the Soule These and the like examples whereof the Scriptures are plentifull serue to manifest vnto vs the corruption that is in our nature that are so backward in the performance of any holy duety that we stand thus in need of reasons to perswade vs to the same Now this comes to passe by reason that the Theoricke part of man his will Reason vnderstanding and knowledge since the fall of man is so blinded and corrupted that it vnderstands not the things that are of God but the will and vnderstanding are so depraued of grace that now they are direct opposite to Gods will And this is the cursed nature of all men vnregenerate as the Apostle sayth The wisdome of the flesh is enmitie against God Rom. 8.7 for it is not subiect to the law of God neither can be Where the Apostle shewes plainely that the wil of a natural man 2. Cor. 3.5 that liues in sinne vnregenerate Phil. 2.13 Gen. 6. Rom. 3.7 is flat contrary nay Enmity it selfe against God and neyther will nor can be subiect to Gods will So that whatsoeuer God wils man wils not Wee are not able of our selues to thinke a good thought It is God alone that must touch our hearts and worke in vs power either to will well or worke well Nay the Lord sayth more Pro. 14.12 That the whole frame of mans heart is altogether euill continually The whole frame of mans heart the mind will vnderstanding conscience reason affection yea the whole frame of mans heart is euill onely and that continually so that it is cleare our wils are contrary to Gods will by nature and wee can no more set our selues to the performance of any good duty then a dead man can of himselfe rise out of his graue and performe any action but our wils are so infected and poysoned with sinne that we now onely seeke and desire that which is euill and against the will of God and the good of our owne soules Vse 1 Oh how should this humble vr when we shall consider what wee are by nature Euen vnto euery good worke Reprobate that we are not able not so much as to moue one finger to
quicken vs else we cannot thinke a good thought and as the Lord must beginne grace in our hearts so hee must continue it and increase it and therefore it is sayd heere Reu. 20.6 He shall rayse vs vp and make vs able to walke in the duties of pietie and religion of faith and repentance and sincere obedience Holy and blessed are they that haue part in the first Resurrection for on them the second Death hath no power If then God hath begunne to Reuiue thee to Rayse thee out of the graue of sinne Oh then thou art blessed and happy for thou mayest bee sure that the second death that is eternall death shall haue no power ouer thee but as for those which are yet in the state of Nature vnregenerate not Reuiued not quickned by the life of grace Alas alas they bee at the next dore to eternall death And vnlesse they seeke vnto the Lord by true and vnfained repentance that hee may Reuiue their dead Soules and Rayse them vp from the graue of sinne they must needs perish eternally And therefore vntill such time as the Lord shall Reuiue vs and that wee shall feele the power of Christs death within vs dye to sinne whatsoeuer the vaine and foolish perswasion of our hearts may be yet we are in a most cursed and wretched estate and condition And in the third day hee will rayse vs vp These words containe in them the second degree of their deliuerance where wee may see that there Doct. 5 bee degrees of our spirituall life Regeneration begun must be continued As we see a child first learnes to stand alone then to goe in the hands of the Nurse and after comming to more strength to walke alone So fareth it with Gods Children First the Lord must Reuiue and quicken vs else we cannot thinke a good thought and as the Lord must begin grace in our hearts so hee must continue it and increase it and therefore it is sayd heere Hee shall raise vs vp and make vs to walke in the duties of Piety and religion of Faith Repentance and true obedience So that the point of Doctrine which wee are to obserue hence is this that the worke of Regeneration begunne in vs must bee continued and dayly more and more encreased so as wee may feele the power of the Spirit dayly subduing sinne in vs 2. Cor. 7.1 our naturall corruption and carnall affections that are so deepely rooted in vs by nature It is the exhortation of the blessed Apostle Heb. 6.1 That wee cleanse our selues from all filthinesse of the Flesh and Spirit and grow vp vnto full holinesse in the feare of God And the Author of the Epistle to the Hebrews exhorts men not to satisfie them selues with the Principles of Religion which hee calleth the Doctrine of the beginning of Christ as though it were inough that they had made an entrance and a beginning but that they bee ledde forward to Perfection q. d. It is true you haue begunne well yet yee must thinke that it is not sufficient but there is a kind of perfection to bee aymed at And Paul speaking of the excellent estate of a Christian Phil. 3.13.14 sayth I count not my selfe that I haue attayned it And yet Paul was wonderfully expert in the mystery of Christ But one thing I doe sayth hee I forget that which is behind and I endeuour my selfe to that which is before and follow hard towards the marke for the price of the highest calling of God in Christ Iesus 2. Tim. 3.13 It is noted as a brand of a wicked man that hee waxeth worse and worse Deu. 29 19. and fals away dayly more from one extremity to another adding Drunkennes to thirst whereas on the contrary part It is a true note of the spirit of God in a man when they grow in grace and are led nearer and nearer to perfection And this same spirituall growth in grace and in godlines is not in mans power by nature to performe no more then the beginning thereof as we heard before but it is the proper worke of the holy Ghost 1. Thess 5.23 The very God of peace sanctifie you through out It cannot come from our parents For who can bring a cleane thing out of filthinesse Iob. 13. Iob. 1.16 but Of his fulnesse wee all receiue grace for grace It is a point no doubt well knowne vnto vs in speculation that we are to goe on from one degree of sactification to another from one measure of grace to another and therefore I forbeare any further to enlarge the point This may serue to reproue those that thinke they haue got knowledge inough into their soules like the Vse 1 Church of Laodicea Reu. 3.16 and are not ashamed many times to cloake their owne neglect of holy duties to say that they know as much as the best Preacher of them all And indeed were it not so that men were so perswaded that for matters of religion they were forward inough and had learned inough It could not be that they should make so little account of the means to bring them vnto more perfection How is it possible that they should not bee ashamed of themselues to bee found out of Gods house on the Saboath day and to make their chimney corners their Chappell of ease And how could it bee that they should be now as ignorant in the grounds of Religion as they were many yeares agoe Alas how can this holde good with this Text of Scripture that those that are once reuiued by God and quickned by the Spirit of grace that they are also Raysed vp that is dayly more and more drawn away from the earth and earthly things to Seeke those things that are aboue Oh let vs looke vnto our owne wayes betimes And turne our feet into his Testimonies And when we perceiue in vs any beginning or inclination to seeke after grace resolue with Dauid to Runne the way of Gods commandements Psal 119. Not to go forward is to go backward in Religion And howsoeuer the gift of Regeneration the spirit of grace can neuer vtterly be extinguished and lost yet when wee grow not in it it is iust with God that wee should lose the comfort of that grace and the feeling of that ioy wee were wont to finde in the same and wee can neuer recouer it without much sorrow and griefe of heart Let vs therefore remember that exhortation of the Holy Ghost Hee that is holy let him bee more holy and not to content our selues with the beginning of grace Reu. 22.11 but labour to goe on in grace from one degree to another till at last wee become perfect men in Christ Iesus Vse 2 Secondly wee are taught here that if it bee so dangerous a thing not to goe forward in religion what a fearefull sinne must it needs be then to grow backeward in holy things Luk. 11.26 Their last estate sayth
the Word preached and taught read receiue or what duty else wee are to perform in Gods seruice chearefulnesse is required And indeed this is that which puts the difference betwixt the godly and the wicked in all Christian dueties whatsoeuer The wicked man with Cain comes with his Sacrifice as well as Abel And so for hearing reading prayer receyuing and the like the Hipocrite comes so maskt vnto these duties that the child of God at all times is not able to decerne betwixt them both the godly and the wicked yet if they would sit as Iudge ouer their owne hearts they might euen by the rule of this Doctrine Note perceiue a great difference for the one doth performe these duties for fashion sake for feare of the Law shame punishment or the like whereas the child of God doth performe them willingly and chearefully notwithstanding no temporall Law did require the same but onely in obedience vnto Gods most righteous lawes and holie commandements And surely there can be no greater ioy to any Christian soule then to know how God the Father is affected vnto him and loues him as his child to know that Iesus Christ hath been content to shed his owne heart bloud to saue his soule and to know the power of Gods Spirit weakning our corruption and making vs to cry Abba Father this knowledge passeth all knowledge in the world Rom. 8.15 this wil bring peace of conscience and ioy in the Holy Ghost Seeing that wee must seeke after Knowledge so willingly and so chearefully Vse as the Huntsman after his game And so that all duties in Gods worshippe and seruice are to be performed of vs willingly and chearefully we learn how God doth esteeme of our actions and that not according to the worke it selfe but according to the affection of the doer This is cleare by the Lords own words when he sayth This people come neare mee with their mouth Esa 29.13 and honour mee with their lips but their hearts are farre from mee Alas what the better to draw neare to the Lord with our lippes when our hearts are from the Lord It is the seruice of the heart that tht Lord looks after and this was Ezechias comfort and cheare when he was to goe the way of all flesh that hee could say in truth of heart Esa 28.3 Remember Lord that I haue walked before thee in truth and with an vpright heart And what is the cause why carnall men and women neuer seeke for this knowledge but come alwayes to the Ministery of the Word for custome and for fashion sake Alas they could neuer find the excellency of this Knowledge they neuer felt the power of this Knowledge they neuer yet tasted of the sweetnesse of this Knowledge then no maruell they prize it not nor heare it with any chearefulnesse at all Oh then let vs all labour to feele our spirituall want of it that so wee may hunger and thirst after it as the spirituall foode of our Soules Then shall wee endeuour our selues to know the Lord. One thing more may be noted from these words that seeing the child of God vpon his Repentance true conuersion vnto God Doct. hath not onely true sanctified Knowledge Gods children labour for an encrease of knowledge dayly in thē Then shall wee haue Knowledge but more then that Wee shall endeuour our selues to know the Lord that is not rest content with a small measure of the Knowledge of Gods will but to attaine euerie day to a greater measure of the same Hence wee are taught this point of Doctrine that the children of God are not content with a little knowledge but they still desire for more and labour to grow and to encrease in Knowledge The couetous man the more hee hath the more hee couets Euen so the Christian man and woman is right couetous of heauenly matters hee couets dayly for more knowledge in the Word to haue a greater part in this blessed Knowledge of God and of our saluation by Iesus Christ and in this regard the child of God is like vnto a man in a dropsie the more he drinks the more he is a thirst Euen so the more knowledge the child of God hath the more he hungers and thirsts after this Knowledge that he may grow in the same And this is a speciall point to bee noted that there is no standing at a stay in Religion for eyther wee must goe forward or backward eyther wee must grow dayly in Knowledge 1. Thes 4.4 or else we must needs decay in Knowledge And for this cause Saint Paul doth often pray for those Churches to whom hee writes that they may grow in Knowledge and spirituall vnderstanding and Saint Peter hee exhorts vs 1. Pet. 2.2 As new borne Babes to desire the sincere milke of the Word that wee may grow thereby Where hee layes down three most excellent points First that here wee be but as babes in Knowledge and children in vnderstanding of the Word Wee know heere but in part Secondly hee shewes the means whereby we must encrease in knowledge namely the sincere Milke of the Word of God the Preaching of the Gospell of Christ it is the foode of our soules whereby wee must bee nourished to eternall Life And thirdly the end of the preaching the Gospell namely that wee may grow in knowledge grow in faith grow in obedienc so that though men heare the Word yet if they grow not and are not bettered by it they are no good hearers the Word hath no good fruit in them This duty of growing and increasing in Knowledge and all spirituall graces is often vrged in the Scripture 1. Cor. 13.9 1. Thes 4.4 2. Pet. 3.18 Heb. 6.1 Pro. 4.18 We beseech you brethren exhort you in the Lord Iesus that yee encrease more and more grow in grace And againe Let vs bee ledde forward to perfection And the Prophet compares the graces of God in the Elect to the waters flowing from the Sanctuary Ezec. 47.3 which were at the first to the Ancles then to the Knees next to the Loynes and last to a Riuer that could not bee passed ouer So are the graces of God in the Elect though their beginning be but small yet they encrease dayly till they come to that full measure the which the Lord hath allotted to euery Christian The Doctrine being thus cleared wee will now come to the vses of the same Vse This Doctrine doth concerne vs all very neerely wee professe our selues Schollers in the Schoole of Christ now then let vs not proue Trewants after long teaching and preaching to proue ignorant of the Principles of Religion as the a.b.c. If our children goe to Schoole and learne nothing it must needs be that they play the Truants or else they haue a bad Master Euen so we being long taught in the word what shame is it that wee should still proue ignorant of the Word of God We are trees
for the Gospell sake they would fal away and â—ee like this people heere whose goodnesse all they did professe was but as a droppe of dew before the Sunne Oh then let vs labour for soundnesse and sincerity in Gods seruice Let vs labour to find our eyes opened our minds illuminated our hearts softned and our affections touched that so wee may haue ioy and comfort heere and euerlasting peace and comfort in the end Thirdly seeing wee are taught heere that many Vse 3 may seeme forward for a time zealous and godly and yet the same proue in the end but as The morning cloud quickly scattered and as The Morning Dew which is quickly gone when the face of the Sun doth shew it selfe vpon it Wee are taught hence not to be offended when wee see some of those that for the time past haue seemed to be forward in Religion to fall away that the life of Gods spirit doth decay in them for there haue been euer such counterfeit Christians euen from the beginning in the houshold of Adam Gen. 4.56 there was a wicked Cain and in the family of Abraham there was a scoffing Ismael yea there is no society eyther in Church or common wealth but the Scriptures afford vs some example or other Mat. 27. that there haue been some wicked amongst them But what of all this must this discourage vs No no What if all the world will be disobedient as in the dayes of Noah What if there be but one Elias in all Israel Oh let vs ioyne with him Note and let vs euen hereby bee wise and learne to take heed by other mens harmes to take a faster hold vpon Religion and lay to build vpon a sure foundation for at one time or other God will lay some tryall or other vpon vs that wee shall appeare to bee eyther chaffe or Wheat the faithfull seruants of the Lord or the cursed limbs of Sathan and if we haue hitherto felt and enioyed peaceable times that the Lord hath not yet sifted and winnowed vs as Sathan desired to sift Peter What shall wee bee secure therefore God fotbid rather let vs in the dayes of peace prepare for the time of tryall euer looking out when God will shake his sword against vs. Your goodnes is as the morning cloud c. IN that the Lord doth compare the repentance or goodnesse of this people to the Morning cloud and to the Morning Dew because it was neyther true nor sincere nor durable not lasting but quickly gone and therefore are branded with this blacke cole of hypocrites and such as the Lord threatens to Cut downe to slay euen vtterly to roote out as in the verse following Doct. 8 Wee are taught by their example that if wee would bee religious indeed and approued for sound Christians before God Sincerity of heart and perseuerance in godlines a true note of the child of God that wee labour for that which was wanting in them and which shall approue vs for Christians before God namely sincerity of heart as also that we perseuere in the duties of piety and godlines euen vnto the end It was the commendations of Enoch and of Noah that notwithstanding they liued in sinfull times being ouerrunne with all manner of impieties yet they walked with God Gen. 5.22 Gen. 6.9 they kept themselues vnspotted of the world they made not the practise of other men an example for them but walked so as euer in Gods presence This was Ezechias his comfort when hee was summoned to die Esay 38.3 Remember Lord that I haue walked before thee in truth and with an vpright heart Iob. 16.19 And when Iob was censured for an hypocrite according as the maner of the world is at this day to despise and disgrace euery one that is more carefull to please God then themselues What was his comfort but this that hee could say My witnesse is in heauen and my Record is on hie q. d. My comfort is that though you speake your pleasure of mee now yet you shall not bee my Iudges but God that is aboue whom I haue ever serued in spirit and truth will iustifie me one day against you And this was the care of godly Paul Act. 24.16 2. Cor. 4.2 To endeuour aboue all things to keepe a cleare conscience before God and man for this is that which will approue vs to be Christians indeed when as the vizard of hypocrisie shall be taken from vs and if this be wanting in vs alas all our shewes bee they neuer so goodly and glorious shal no way stand vs in stead but the Lord will rather cast them as dung into our faces And yet good Lord men thinke they haue profited highly in Religion if they can but make a glorious shew therof before men Oh I would that men could be brought once to this passe that we might cast out this Deuil from them but of this before Seeing that sincerity of heart is such an infallible note of the child of God Vse when as all shewes and shadowes will stand in no stead this may vtterly condemn the art of Seeming which euery man almost hath learned in our time The hypocrite can come with his Lord Lord. Mat. 7.21 Iob. 31.24 Pro. 30.20 The couetous man that hath made gold his hope hee feares not The vncharitable man Whose torgue is like a Razar is not abashed The whorish woman Wipeth her mouth and sayth I haue not committed Iniquity blusheth not Thus euery one commeth into Gods house heareth Gods word receyueth his blessed Sacrament and comes vnto these dueties so maskt that they passe heere for currant coyne we are not able to see into their hearts it is the Lord alone who is The searcher of the heart that sees them And thus men if they may passe with our approbation they care for no more Ah poore soule Ah poore soule what of al this If the Lord doe not approue of thee it is not all thy shewes and shadowes be they neuer so goodly nor so glorious that wil stand thee in stead in the day of Gods searching account but hauing acted the part of an hppocrite here vpon the Stage of this World it shall at the last day be a iust and righteous thing with the righteous God to giue thee the portion of hypocrites euen euerlasting fire Depart from mee yee Hypocrites into euerlasting fire prepared for the Deuill and his Angels Oh that this might perswade vs to affect sincerity of heart What a thing were this that we should liue in these dayes and times wherein wee liue wherein knowledge and grace is euen thrust vpon vs and yet for all that wee should proue such Iudasses vnto our owne poore Soules thus to betray them into the hands of sathan I cannot but taxe many of you of this parrish of Roxwell with this sin the Lord lay it not one day to your charge At my first coÌ„ming amongst you I obserued some
was one of the sixe Cities of refuge whither if a man had slaine a man at vnawares Iosu 20.8.9 and as wee say by chance medley then he was to flie thither and there the Priests and Leuites making inquiry of the fact if they found that the murder was of ignorance and that hee hated not his brother in times past but slew him against his will then the murderer was to stay there til the death of the high Priest and then he was at liberty againe Now this City What City Gilead was it was the place where the Priests and Leuites did dwell which were set apart to teach the people to instruct them to offer sacrifice for them to pray for them for they were to bee the light of the world they must carry the Vrim and Thummim light and perfection And Gilead should haue beene as a speciall Sanctuary for holinesse piety and true religion a Nurse and Mother City to direct others and as a fountaine from whence pure religion the knowledge of God should haue beene deriued into all the land But alas the Prophet complaines of Gilead that it was so farre from being a Nurse to Religion that it was rather a cruell steppedame to banish Religion and piety so farre from a holy City and Sanctuary of the Lord that it was euen a denne of theeues a harbour for all villany impiety and prophanesse Now this was a wonderful thing that the Priests and Leuits in whom there ought to haue shined great holinesse that should haue bin an example to the common people that all men seeing their good example their holines and piety might the rather haue followed them that they should bee euen Captaines and ringleaders to all impiety cruelty and miserable abhominations Then wee see why the Prophet is so sharpe to inueigh against Gilead and to cry out against this City namely because it should haue heen a Sanctuary of the Lord full of knowledge piety and godlinesse but the same was rather a denne of deuils and an harbour for all manner of sinne and impiety Thus hauing seene the meaning of the wordes now let vs see what Doctrines doe arise from them This is a grieuous accusation of the Lord that that City of whom the Lord might expect most care most holinesse and duties of religion who should haue been most instructed in the wayes of God hauing bestowed so many meanes vpon them that they should thus degenerate and grow more vile then any other to be the harbour of all sin and impiety Doct. 1 Then hence wee learne that those places which haue great meanes of knowledge of instruction and therfore should abound in all holy duties Those that haue the greatest meanes of knowledge should abound most in holy duties If they grow more wicked and abound more with sin their iudgement is fearefull and very grieuous Wee see this in Gilead here how the Lord complaines of it here that those that should haue beene euen a Nurse to religion yea a Mother City from whence religion should haue flowed into the Country was notwithstanding a wicked Citty full of bloud and full of all manner of iniquity Euen so whensoeuer the Lord comes to iudgement against a land or against a kingdom those Cities Townes or Parishes vpon whom the Lord hath bestowed most meanes if they profite not by them but bee like vnto Gilead here full of bloudie sinnes pride swearing lying drunkennes whoredome couetousnesse vsury oppression the like then the Lord doth shew his anger and displeasure most against them as Gilead here that should haue gone before others in piety and religion hauing so many meanes seeing they become so vile as that they went before others in sinne they went before others in punishment And this wee shall find to bee most true by the course of the whole Scriptures that those which haue had most meanes of knowledge and instruction and so should goe before others in knowledge and Christian piety if they haue not made a sanctified vse of the same they haue euer receyued a greater measure of iudgement then others The Lord in the punishing of Ierusalem Ezech. 9.7 bids them begin at his Sanctuary because they should haue heen most holy and were found to bee most wicked So againe in another place The enemy hath stretched out his hand vpon all her pleasant things Lam. 1.10 for shee hath seene the heathen enter into her Sanctuary Ierusalem that was called the beauty of perfection and the wonder of the World when shee became full of sinne and vncleannesse then the Lord made her a spectacle of his iudgments aboue others This Doctrine is further cleared by the grieuous threatnings denounced by our Sauior Christ against those Cities where his Word had been preached and professed most and the greatest part of his miracles had beene wrought and shewed Mat. 11.21.22 Woe bee to thee Corazin woe be to thee Bethsaida for if the great works which haue beene done in you had beene done in Tyrus and Sydon they had repented long agoe in sackcloth and ashes Mat. 23.38 but I say vnto you it shall bee easier for them in the day of iudgement then for you And thou Capernaum which art lifted vp to heauen shalt bee throwne downe to Hell for if the great works which haue beene done in thee had beene done amongst them of Sodom they had remayned vnto this day But I say vnto you it shall hee easier for them in the land of Sodom in the day of iudgement then for thee These Cities of Corazin Bethsaida and Capernaum they were such places as Christ had honoured aboue Tyrus Sydon and Sodom both in respect of the preaching of the Word as also in respect of the myracles that were wrought amongst them yet because they made no sanctified vse of them but abounded in all manner of sinne and iniquity therefore our Sauiour tels them that their iudgement shall bee heauier then those places that neuer heard the sound of the Word And Gilead which before other Cities was honoured to bee a City of refuge a Nursery of the Priests and Leuites by which meanes the Lord might haue reaped much honour by it Gilead being found a Citie of iniquity must bee made a spectacle of Gods iudgement aboue other Cities Againe let vs behold and marke where the Doct. 2 iudgements of God are in most grieuous manner executed and wee shall see that in those places especially which haue had more excellent meanes then others Those places that haue had most meanes shall bee most seuerely punished for the neglect thereof where the Prophet of God and the Ministers of the Word haue a long time taken pains to instruct them in the wayes of God there I say wee may behold the greatest calamity and distresses because the Lord cannot abide that Gilead that is any place where hee bestowes much meanes should so degenerate and grow worse then others and that such places