of goodnes in his behauiour vnlesse he haue a spring and fountaine of grace in his soule The Apostle S. Iohn is plentiful in this point 1. Ioh. 3. 7. 8. 9 maketh discourse thereof with many words Little children saith he let no man deceiue you be that doth righteousnesse is righteous as Christ is righteous He that committeth sinne is of the deuill whosoeuer is borne of God sinneth not for his seede remameth in him neither can he sinne because he is borne of God In this are the children of God knowne and the children of the deuill whosoeuer doth not righteousnes is not of God c. Where to do righteousnes is the same as heereto walke in vprightnesse to bee righteous as much as as heer to feare the Lord to commit sin is that which is heer to be lewd in his wayes and to be of the diuell is nothing different from that which is here the despising of God First the heart is in the man as the sappe in the tree and his Reasons 1 waies all one with the fruite therefore they declare what the man and his heart is as the fruite doth shew what the tree the sap is It is not onely meant of false Prophets but likewise of false hearted professours when our sauiour said that a bad tree cannot Mat. 7. 18. bring forth good fruite nor onely of faithfull ministers but also of sincere christians when he said that a good tree cannot bring forth bad fruite Secondly the communion which Christians haue with Christ doth cause their conuersation to be holy the wāt of the same in the wicked doth make their waies to be onely lewd and sinfull And so much S Iohn doth intimate saying If that we say that we haue fellowship with him and walke in darkenes we lie and doe ◠Ioh 1. 6 7. not truely But if we walke in the light as he is in the light wee haue fellowshippe one with an other Thirdly God himselfe doth iudge reward euery one according to his works and therfore the works are correspondent to the heart and the heart to the regenerate or vnregenerate estate of the man I the Lord saith he by the prophet search the heart Iere 17 10. try the raines euen to giue euery man according to his waies and according to the fruite of his workes Consolation to faithfull men though not void of infirmities against Vse 1 the temptations of Sathā the calumniations of wicked mē the feares of their own harts None are so much accused of cōtempt against God as they which are most religious in his seruice none are so much burdened with imputations of hypocrisie as they which are most vpright in their harts The deuil in his malice because he seeth their tēder cōsciēces easily affrighted doth labour to perswade thē that there is nothing in thē but fraud falshood Sinfull men when they can charge them with no misdemeanors not lewdnes of life take vpon them Gods office to be come iudges of the heart exclayming that they are hypocrites and dissemblers yet proceede contrary to Gods iustice condemning those of hypocrisie and dissimulation whome he doth commend for truth and sincerity And many doubts arise in theire owne soules by reason of the manifold imperfections of theire liues They feele want of knowledge in their minds and disorder in their affections they are priuy to them selues of duties neglected or negligently performed they finde a guiltines in regard of sundry sinnes committed and of diuers not soundly auoided they see still in their nature a pronenes to pride and many vanities but no aptnes to that which is good and needefull to be exercised All these things trouble their harts make them very suspicious of themselues least all their piety bee nothing but an outward profession and all their former comforts but meerly illusions But are they desirous vnpartialie to keepe euery commaundement if there power were answerable to their will Doe they indeauour truely to please God although they cannot do it perfectly Are they of the mending hand to yeeld more obediēce to the commandements of God though they cannot fulfill them Then there is no cause of discomfort then they are vpright in their waies and walke in the law of the Lord then God testifieth of them here that they are of the number of those that feare him and else where he testifieth of all those which feare him that they are blessed True happinesse is appropriated to them that none but they can be pertakers of it and none of them but haue a portion in it Conuiction of profane persons to their terrour whose onelie hope of happines cōsisteth in this that they haue a good soule towards God howsoeuer men think and speake of them for they loue him with all their heart with all their strength and that is as much as he requireth and as the holiest of them all performeth And therefore preachers and others are too full of iudging when they repute him to be so bad and their faults to be so haynous and their state to bee so dangerous But will you haue the matter to be referred to God himself as it must be whatsoeuer your will is And will you stand to his sentence therein as you shall bee compelled though it bee against your wills Then heare what he pronounceth of you that he which is lewd in his waies despiseth him nay yet more for the greater aggrauation of the sinne that hee is a despiser or despising of him which is more emphaticall and imployeth an habite accustomable practise and professed contempt You imagine that men are too sharpe in their censures and condemnings you shall feele vnlesse you repent that the Lord will bee farre more seuere in this sentence with the execution of it You will sweare and blaspheme the name of God if it be but to anger them that like not of it you will vse wanton sinfull exercises on the Lords day in despig it of those that bee grieued at it You will proceede on your owne wayes and vilifie all such as shall reprooue you for it but whom in the meane time doe you contemne and whome haue ye sought to reproch Euen the mightie and glorious God who is both able in power and ready i◠wrath to returne your waies vpon your owne heads Hee will bee honoured and you shall be despised he will haue eternall praise and you shall haue euerlasting confusion But for those that sinne not so presumptuously nor with such an high hand if that they be in the power of sinne and without repentance this point is very vncomfortable They dreame that the Lord is not so much offended with them and their behauiour as they heare spoken in sermons but that he will lightly passe by those things which heere are counted great matters but let them know that he is more righteous then man and hateth euery sinne more then all men hate all sins And
aduancement credit if we will vse his meanes to attaine vnto it but shame will insue vpon it and confusion when we giue ouer our selues to be directed by him Wealth and riches he knoweth man naturally to hunger and hunt after and therefore he commonly doth feed their humour with hope of commodity but when they bite at his bayt they swallow downe the hooke withall and so are made his pray to their perdition And though they misse of the gaine which they looke for yet he misseth not of their soules which he fisheth for if he can fasten his angle vpon their desires and catch them by the gills For so the Holy ghost himselfe witnesseth saying They that will be ritch fall into temptation and snares into many 1. Tim. 6 9. foolish and noysome lusts which drowne men in perdition and destruction If we be fallen into any sinne let vs seeke to this welspring for remedy against it for as it preserueth some from entring into Satans nets so it will be a meanes to others to bring them forth God thereby giuing them repentance that they may know the trueth and that they may come to amendment out of the snare of the diuell 2. Tim. 2. 25. 26. But it is sit that we make all possible speede to procure our liberty because the longer we continue in the net the more we shall be intangled and with greater difficulty get out This holy direction is giuen to rash sureties which are come Prou. 6. 4. 5. into the hands of their neighbours whose state is insnared with the words of their mouthes that they should hasten as fast to auoyde that danger as the nimble hart runneth from the hunter or the swift bird flyeth from the fowler and not sleep vpon it one night before they haue obtained their indeÌ„nity much more then it coÌ„cerneth them which are fallen into the hands of satan of Gods iustice and be subiect to eternall death to bestir them and not suffer one moment to passe before they labour effectually for their freedome Reprofe of their ingratitude and folly that contemptuously reiect this water of life those holy instructions which are deriued out of Gods word and louingly giuen vnto them to rescue their soules from death Is it not a currish part to snarle at and bite that hand which is offered to them for helpe to draw them out of the snares of destruction And yet few doe better requite them that deale vprightly and faithfully with them They account them their enemies because they tell them the trueth and they that most loue them are least beloued of them Vers 15. Grace giueth good successe but the way of the transgressours is rough GRace that is the worke of Gods holy spirit begetting true piety righteousnes doth giue good successe it maketh good men to deale wisely and prosperously in all their affaires But the way of the transgressors is rough Their life is vnhappy and full of many vexations The sense and opposition standeth thus Grace giueth good successe and therefore the way of the obedient is plaine and comfortable and sinfulnesse bringeth euill successe therefore the way of the disobedient is rough and troublesome So farre as any man is truely religious and godly in heart he is Doct. 1 sure to be prosperous and happy in his waies This is a point that is scantly beleeued of men and few will giue credit vnto it and therefore it is largely set downe by God and many Scriptures consent in the confirmation of it As in the first Psalme the man that delighteth in the law of the Lord and constantly meditateth in the same is promised that whatsoeuer he Psal 1. 3. shall doe shall prosper In the third chapter of this booke it is giuen for a commendation of holy wisedome that her waies are waies Prou. 3. 17. of pleasure and all her pathes prosperitie Jn the prophecy of Isaiah the carelesse Iewes are vpbrayded with their sinfull folly that had bereft themselues of so good an estate whereunto the Lord was most ready to haue promoted them Oh saith he that thou hadst harkned to my commandements then had thy prosperitie beene Isay 48. 18. as the floud and thy righteousnes as the waues of the sea First grace will conduct men to the right way of truth and equity Reasons 1 preseruing them from all vnrighteous causes restrayning them from all vnrighteous courses for bâ—inging of their purposes to passe Secondly it doth aswell make them prudent to deale wisely as righteous to deale warrantably in all their behauiour where wisedome and iustice ioyne hands in working the effect must needs be comfortable which they ioyntly produce But it commeth to passe commonly as is daily to be seene in Obiect many places that the most gracious are least prosperous and the best men seem to be in the worst state Many of them are poore many of them are despised many of them are oppressed and all of them are afflicted If they be free from troubles at one time they fall into them at another if they escape those crosses which other feele they feele those griefes which others escape if they be exempted from outward calamity and molestation they shall be assaulted with inward anxiety and temptations and how then can it truly be sayd that grace doth giue them good successe Ansvv As good men do faile in some duties and haue not so much grace as they might attaine vnto so are they many times corrected of God for the same whereby it commeth to passe that their faults and defects do worke their woe and not their faithfulnes and graces Moreouer it is not absurd to say that the afflictions and troubles of Gods children in regard of the end happy issue thereof are helpes of their prosperity as raine thunder are diuers times more seasonable weather for come and grasse then Sun-shine Well was it for Iacob at the last though maruailous bitter at the first that Ioseph was sould and sent away from him into Egypt And Ioseph was highly promoted by that way which seemed only to tend to his ruine The violence of his brethren to sell him the falshood of his mistrisse to defame him the rashnes of his master to imprison him all these were occasions and meanes to aduance him Thirdly they deuolue their waie vpon the Lord as he biddeth them and therefore he will bring it to passe as he promised them Psal 37. 5. They seeke the knowledge of his will for direction they craue the aide of his hand they propose the praise of his name for the end of their enterprises and how then should they miscarry in their affayres Fourthly he taketh delight to conuerse with them offereth his fauourable his helpfull and prouident presence vnto them according as he incourageth Ioshuah and all other that are faithfull Ioshua 1. 5. and obedient in Ioshuah his person saying I will be with thee I will not leaue
bewraieth openly and publisheth abroade his ignorance and foolishnesse He onely dealeth well both for his comfort and credit that Doct. groundeth his affaires on certainty and not on likelyhoods This is not the worke and behauiour of some few rare and speciall wise men who therein are singular by themselues and without companions but it belongeth as our Text saith to euerie one that is wise to walke in this way none is to be reputed prudent that is a stranger vnto it A reall example hereof we haue in our sauiour Christ whose steps we ought to walke in and who will impart to his people the wisedome of his spirit that they may be able to walke in his steps He as the Prophet Isaiah foretold of him doth Isay 11. 3. not iudge after the sight of his eies neither approue by hearing of his eares but with righteousnes c. That is he will not proceede by coniectures vpon slight and superficiall shewes without a cleare insight in the matter nor determine any thing vpon hearesay with out full hearing and examination of the cause for if he should so doe he could not but fayle in iustice whereas now taking due knowledge of all things hee ordereth all things with perfect equity First they that doe not worke by knowledge doe not walke Reasons 1 in obedience for then men shew themselues truely obedient when they duly performe those duties which they know Secondly whatsoeuer is not done in knowledge is not wrought by faith and whatsoeuer is not of faith is sinne Thirdly they shame themselues as the latter part of the Text notifieth which rush headily into any affaires and haue not before hand informed themselues of the state of the same and how they may deale orderly in them Instruction therefore to be as diligent to get knowledge as Vse 1 we see it necessary to vndertake any actions especially to performe any seruice to God It is farmore easie to worke and walke without light or eies then to doe any thing that is acceptable to him without vnderstanding Nay it is as possible for a man without the knowledge of Gods will to doe any thing well as for the body without the soule to doe any thing at all Reproofe of them that put hope and good meaning in place of knowledge whereas knowledge ought to be the mother and nurce and directer of hope and good meaning Without it though they make themselues beleeue that they meane well yet they shall not be able to deale well and though they trust that their hope is good yet they shall trie that their successe will bee bad And many are here to be reprehended for their temerity and rashnes which suddenly and without good grounds set their tongues and hands on worke to their ignominy and rebuke Some answer a matter before they heare it and so as the Scripture saith it turneth to follie and shame vnto them Some take vpon Prou. 18. 13. them to be sharpe censurers of other mens liues and actions and that with clamorous accusations and condemnation and yet they know nothing amisse by the persons further then they haue heard by false flying reports the causes which they passe so peremptory a sentence vpon they haue no skill at all to iudge of Let such men heare S. Peter telling them what account is to be made of them and what is like to become of them These as bruit 2. Pet. 2. 12. beasts ledde with sensualitie and made to be taken and destroied speake euill of those things which they know not and shall perishe through their owne corruption Some breake out into conuitious reuilings many times into violent outrage before the parties so rated and punished be conuicted of any fault Iob was farre from that disposition he would shew cruelty to none of his people his bondmen and handmaides and meanest in his house had liberty to speake for themselues and were sure to be equally dealt with as their cause required Some are forward and free in their testimonies being ready to giue commendations of any that will speak them faire though they haue no experience of any goodnes in them It would rise to a volume if we should declare all the euill that insueth vpon this swiftnes of praysing men at random without the proofe triall of them for the countenancing of worthy persons for the beguiling of them that giue credit vnto them and for their owne disgrace by making their testimony nothing worth If saint Iohn had taken their course he could not so boldly haue challenged a right to be beleeued Demetrius saith he hath a good report of all 3. Iohn 12. men yea and of the trueth it selfe yea we our selues beare record and ye know that our record is true Verse 17. A wicked messenger falleth into euill but a faithfull ambassadour healeth A Wicked messenger or seruant which either vndertaketh vnlawfull errands or seruices as Rabshakeh did when he was sent by his master to blaspheme defie the Lord his Church or dealeth vntrustily with them that vse him in a lawfull busines or is iniurious to them to whom he is sent either by concealing any thing from them which were fit for them to heare or adding any thing which were meet to be suppressed or doing his message in vndecent manner or returning an answer so as may turne to their hurt he shall fall into euil Gods heauy hand and iudgemēts by one meanes or other shall sooner or later light vpon him as the two churlish and imperious captaines found with their fistes which were sent for Elijah But a faithfull ambassadour or messenger he that faithfully performeth his charge whether publick or priuate doth heale is a meanes and instrument of good to his master whose mind he freeth from feares griefes so healeth the maladies thereof as a physitiā cureth the diseases of the body He is also helpfull to them to whom he is sent by deliuering cōforts comfortably lenifying that which is harsh and sharp mending that which is amisse by loue and discretion pacifying cōtentions furthering peace wherupō by cōsequence he also procureth his owne comfort So standeth the opposition A wicked vnfaithfull messenger hurteth therfore shall fall into euill but a godly faithfull messenger healeth therfore shall receiue good He that doth prosper in his own estate let him deale faithfully Doct. when he is put in trust with other mens affaires Some good men are wrōged with euill messengers yet neuer know it or passe ouer without punishment or else wāt power to giue correction but God saith and obserueth it and will surely plague the offenders for it Others are truelie dealt with yet know not how to make recompence the seruice performed to them they find to haue been faithfull but themselues are vnable to requite it notwithstanding the Lord is ritch in substance and ready in goodnes to yeeld them a proportionable and plentifull paiment
to be an aduerbe is there a verbe and signifieth to rise timely in the morning and diligently to seeke so that it signifieth aswell the due care which good parents haue for the nurturing of their childreÌ„ as their prouidence to do it in good season whiles they be tender yong before they grow to strength and stomack and so either vtterly refuse or little regard all fatherly correction And that which we translate correction doth also signifie instruction so that the sentence may thus be well Englished He that loueth him hastneth chastisement and instruction to him And those are meet to be ioyned together somtimes stripes with admonitions and alwayes admonitions with stripes For the smart of the flesh and the paine of the body will bring small profit to the soule vnlesse they heare their fault declared and haue direction how to reforme it They are the best parents which shew loue to their children Doct. without fondnes Fond loue is cruell hatred a cockering father is a deadly foe and they that most faithfully exercise Gods discipline towardes their sonnes and daughters doe proue to be their surest friends The admonition which is giuen to parents in another Chapter of this booke tendeth wholly to this purpose Correct thy sonne Prou. 19. 18. while there is hope and let not thy soule spare which is to kill him The Holy ghost maketh them accessary to the destruction of their children which be so indulgent vnto them and tender ouer them as that their hearts will not yeeld to giue them correction The example of God himselfe the father of spirits doâ—h euidently confirme our point in hand His loue to euery one of his children doth infinitely surmount the loue of all the fathers in the world to theirs and he doth not only declare it vnto them by promises and blessings but likewise many times by chastisements and crosses insomuch that the Apostle saith to the Hebrewes Whome the Lord loueth he chasteneth and scourgeth euery Heb. 12. 6 8. sonne that he receiueth If therefore ye be without correction wherof all are partakers then are ye bactards and not sonnes First euery child whatsoeuer his estate or birth or disposition Reasons be hath need correction by reason of deprauatâ—â—â— of nature which is in all For frowardnes and folly would ouerrunne them if they were not awed and ordered by feare and stripes And therefore saith Salomon Foolishnesse is bound in the heart of Prouer. 22. 15. a châ—ld but the rodde of correction shall driue it awaie It is in vaine to bid foolishnes be gone vnlesse it be expelled and to as small purpose to perswade him to cast it out vnlesse you helpe to loose it Secondly the comfort and profite that insueth to children by castigation and stripes doth make their loue appeare that therein shall be friend them and discouer their vnkinde dealing which deny theÌ„ that benefit It is one of Gods ordinances wherby they are deliuered from many euils from hurts of bodies from ruine of state from blindnes of mind from sinfulnes of hearte from wickednes of life from destruction of the whole man And therfore doth the Lord testifie that the rod and correction giue Prou. 29 15. wisdome And therefore doth he also require that our children be not defrauded of it Withhold not saith he correction from the child if thou smite him with the rodde he shall not doe Thou shalt smite Prou 23 13. him with the rodde and deliuer his soule from hell Now what inhumanity is it for a man to see his son in daunger and will not succour him to see him plunged in a riuer and will not plucke him out to see him falling into the fire and will not preserue him to see him sinking into hell and will not helpe to saue him Reproofe of them that vse all the shiftes that they can deuise Vse 1 to exempt themselues from shewing this laudâ—ble loue and also their children from receiuing such wholesome correction Of all professions they are most vnwilling to become phisitions neither are so loath to minister to anie as to their owne whom God hath appointed to bee theire patients Though they lye and sweare and steale and bee stubborne yet theire faulâ—s bee not so greate they saie children will bee children and did not wee commit as grieuous offences our selues when we were yonge But are not childrens faults sinnes againste the Lord Are not childrens sinnes punishable by the lawe of the Almighty Are not children mortall and subiect to death aswell as men of grâ—â—â—â—â— age Shall not children appear before the iudgment seate of Jesus aswell as those which are elder And sithence we had the same corruptions our selues it should cause vs to bee more pittifull towards them and watchfull ouer them otherwise it is to be doubted whether as yet we be healed of the sins of our youth and pardoned for them But it is needelesse say they so far to trouble our selues yeares will bring wit and discretion or at least their owne rod will be ate them and make them to amend But who tould them that they shall liue to the yeras of discretion How if the sword of iustice cutte them off before for theire lewdnes and giue no time for theire owne rodde to worke anie goodnesse in them And though they should remaine and smart also for the sinfulnes of their childhood yet there is greater danger lest their hearts wil be more hardned and made worse than hope that they wil repent and be made better because Gods medicines haue beene deteined from them and his blessinges are not promised vnto them And who shall make any praier for them with comfort of good successe The sinfull sonne is neither able to doe it nor willing nor accepted if he shoulde and the negligent fathâ—r hath small incouragement to intreate the Lorde to doe that wherein hee himselfe hath vtterlie fayled of all dueties to serue his prouidâ—nce But graunting all this to bee true that so much euill proceedeth from the neglect of correction and so much good by the seasonable and moderate vse thereof yet one impediment hindereth them that they cannot bee broughte to exercise it Theire kinde hearte is so tenderly affected towardes theire little ones that they cannot endure to heare them crie or see them weepe and the rodde will make them doe both and therefore they muste needes forbeare it But you mistake the cause and miscall your affâ—ction it is not kiâ—dnesse but crueltie nor the tendernesse of your hearte but the hatred in it according to Gods testimony that can rather indure the diseases of sinne in your childrens soules then the curing of them with teares and sorow And yet this vnmercifull fauour doth rather prepare them to sorowe then priuiledge them from it because it will increase their misery in time to come If Dauid had moâ—â—â—rieued Adonitah with the rod rebukes when he was a child it is like that he might haue escaped the sinne