further and make hym returne the more effectually vnto GOD or hee passeth it ouer as a matter of course perswading hymselfe that there is no further matter in it So then heere is the triall of thy selfe GOD punisheth that we might amende and wee doe not then surelye wee are such as profite not in his schoole on the other side GOD layeth his crosse vppon mee I feele it I acknowledge it his rodde for mine offences and I am brought to a more carefulnesse and heede-taking vnto my wayes then may I conceiue comfort vnto mine own hart in that I profit by the Lords correction The second sermon Vers. 3. Tell you your children of it and let your children shewe it to their children their children to another generation TEl it vnto your children Hauing shewed how strange a thing it is that hee is to speake least they should think that it were but for the time present or for themselues alone he sheweth in these words that they must so learne and marke it that they may from time to time recount it and teach it their children with charge to haue it propagated vnto the generations that shoulde come after whereby wee learne first that wee are not to heare or make vse of the words of God for the time present or consider of his workes in mercie or iudgemēt while they are fresh and newe and no longer but to vse his word as we do the foode of our bodies that is to eate it that we may digest it be norished by it and made more able in the strength of it to walke in the course of this life Againe wee see that it is enioyned them not onely to knowe and consider those thynges themselues but also to make them knowne and teach the right vse of them to their children which being spoken to them in one particular is also enioyned vnto vs in regard of y e whole worde of God in generall that is that we haue a care to instruct and bring vp our children in the knowledge and feare of God that the honour of God may bee retained among men and to their posteritie as also that wee may leaue behinde vs a godlie seede the which albeit it was enioyned vnto them vnder the lawe and confirmed vnto vs in the time of the gospell that it might appeare to be a duty for euer required of the people of God yet we see how litle it is almost euery where regarded in so much that for lacke of godly education the parents letting them run at randon the youth of this land doth seem already to haue receiued vnto themselues the profession of Atheisme and al impietie which if parents thought it their duetie to instruct them otherwise should among vs be redressed But lette all that feare GOD and make a conscience to obey his will looke vnto their dueties in this behalfe and take heede that they passe not ouer with carelesnesse the education of their children as is the manner of the wicked among whom they doe dwell Besides this we see that the Prophet willeth this to be made knowne to the generations folowing and so from one to an other and yet it is a particular action the force whereof they onely felt which teacheth vnto vs that the workes of God that hee bringeth to passe in extraordinarie maner vppon the face of the earth are in regard of the vse and end of them to be considered and regarded in all generations For if they bee the workes of hys wrath in the punishementes of hys foes or sharpe and bitter afflictions vppon hys people falling from obedience to hys truth or yet of his mercie shewed vnto penitent sinners or reuenge for the iniuries doone vnto his saints the Lorde being alwayes the same they are to be looked for vppon the like occasions and especiallye those that it hath pleased the holie-ghost to register in the holie Scriptures which are therefore set downe that we might learne by them the punishments that wee sin not as they did that felte them least wee feele them also and the mercies that wee may take the same course which they did that in the loue of God wee may finde the like fauour and so make the worde of GOD both in the preceptes and also examples therof a continuall direction for the course of our whole life That which is left of the palmer-worme c. This is the thing that hee hath made so much preparation for the summe whereof is thus much that the hand of God was so vppon them with punishment by famine and dearth that not their superfluitie or a part of their necessarye foode was kepte from them but the LORD hadde sent his seuerall punishementes vppon them one after an other that among them they had deuoured all and left nothing Now if wee looke into this that the Prophet speaketh according to the action don there was none of the people that needed to be so prepared that they might vnderstand it for it was apparant euen before their eies so that the prophet seemeth after so great speeches afore hande at the end to say in effect nothing for if a man should come among vs and call men in the market-place to drawe neere and calling for attention to a solemne proclamation shoulde in the end tell the people that corne is deare and so depart a number would condemne him of follie and yet hee should say as much in effect as the wordes of this prophet do expresse but wee must vnderstand and that it is not simplie the thing that the prophet nameth them to consider of and no more but it is their sencelessenesse and securitie in that they beeing thus smitten of the Lord were not yet mooued with repentance nor cared any whit to seek reconciliation with his maiestie so that the meaning of the holie ghoost beeing euident it remaineth that wee obserue those thinges out of the words that are to be noted for our instructiō first these so diuers and present punishmentes one after another to execute that part of the Lordes determination which y e former had left vndone doth cōmend to vs y e power that God is of to punish y e sinners transgressors of his law to y e end that we may learne to take heed beware that we cast not behind our backs as many mē do y e consideration of Gods high hand against iniquity but rather cōsidering his power to plague his foes to haue all watchfulnes ouer our own affections regard to his cōmandements to do thē least we procure against our selues y e force of that his power which taking hold on vs must needs throw vs into a most forlorne wretched cōditiō Besides this we may behold y e readines of the lords wil to put this his power in executiō which also is to be obserued for euery one of vs is easly drawn to acknowlege gods power abilitie to do what he
of the East countreis to go in long garmences which when they were to do any labour of importance they did gird vp to the end that they myght no waie be hindered but might perfourme the same with more readines and more effectuallie Now the prophet by this kinde of speach dooth teach the ministers first that they imploy themselues in the execution of those means that may turne awaie the iudgementes of God from the people with all expedition and teacheth vs this lesson that whatsoeuer the Lorde commaundeth vs out of hys woorde wee take heede of deferring or putting of from daie to daie for that the wrath of the Lorde commeth of a sudden and with all speedines endeuour to do the same not consulting with flesh and blood but propounding before our eies the authoritie of him that commaundeth and the punishments which doe abide the transgressiâ—ours and disobedient Secondlie in this kinde of speach hee willeth the Priestes the Lords ministers to laie aside all lettes and impediments that might any way keep them from or make them colde in the perfourmaunce of this dutie whereby wee learn that the Lord our God doth not only require at our handes in a generall sort that wee do his will but also that wee doe waxe wise by obseruation and diligentlie marke by experience what things they be that are anie waie a hinderance vnto vs in the discharge of that dutie that we owe vnto God carefullie to vse al those meanes that may direct vs to auoyd them which is a lesson that is verie needfull to be learned of euerie Christian and beeing rightly vsed shall greatlie increase vs in true spiritual wisedome and holines for in this regard it is that christians are called souldiours not onelie that they may fight against the enemies of their soules but also that by experience they may waxe wise and spirituallie polliticke to obserue diligentlye wherein it is that they bee most ouertaken and carefullie to fortifie them selues there not onelie by strengthening their spirituall armour but also by lessening the power of the olde man in taking away all those allurements or baytes that hee hath fedde him selfe vppon to fight against the soule Hee willeth them to lament which is that earnest griefe whiche is conceiued in the heart by the liuelie sence of anie miserie And this is not onelie enioyned vnto them as they are a part of the people and therfore subiect to the generall punishment but especiallie for that they beeing the ministers of GOD to stand as it were in the gappe betweene God and his people to intreat the Lorde for them and to speake in the name of all for which cause it is requisite that the Ministers of God bee suche as haue an especiall sence of the thinges that the people stand in neede of and that in more measure then anie common Christian for els shall they neuer deale effectuallie with the LORDE for them nor faithfullie with them from him Againe He biddeth them lie in sackcloth which is also a phrase of speech expressing the manner of their behauiour in the actions of griefe and sorrowe for they were woont in suche cases to couer themselues wyth Sackclothe that they myght be the more induced vnto mourning the meaning for the generall equitie and trueth thereof vnto the Godlie for euer is that as wee were taught out of the woord Gird to remooue from vs all impediments that maie let vs from well-dooing so in this wee learne that wee must take vnto our selues all prouoking meanes whereby we maie bee made more fitte and able to discharge our duties the more effectually the which is also diligentlie to bee obserued for as the nature of man being prone to all ill hath on the one side manie inticements to drawe him from all goodnes if they bee not wiselie looked vnto so hath it on the other side by reason of the dulnesse that it is of vnto anie goodnesse need of manie spurres and prickes to sturre him vppe without which hee shall not onelie keepe him selfe from the perfourming of many duties that be required at his hands but also freeze and waxe cold in that which hee hath begunne So that ioyning the former and this together hee that determineth to beecome a Christian indeede and euer looketh to attaine vnto anie acceptable measure of Godlinesse or hauing attained therevnto to contynue therein vnto the ende must carefullie watche to remooue all thinges that hee seeth maye hynder hym and diligentlie take vppe all those helpes which maie further him in the same The lacke of obseruation whereof is the cause that so many in these last and dangerous daies take vpon theÌ„ the name of christians with so smal reformation that so many shrink away from that good course which at the first they had begun It is not onelie required at their handes that they doe this but also that they lye therein all night whereby he meaneth to shew them that they must abide in that kind of humiliation and not presently to begin and end the same teaching vnto vs this doctrine that the Lorde our God doth not onely require at our hands onely that wee beginne well or that we like of good and godly motions for a time and after suffer them to be quenched and die but also that we so begin that we may continue and so continue that it may endure vnto the ende which lesson we haue great need to learne in these declining daies when men doe so generallie fall from their first loue for we see that the truth is of suche maiestie in it selfe that it captiueth the hearts of the very reprobate vnto the like thereof for a season but it is onely as the flashe of a lightning that commeth goeth almost in one moment but we are to know that albeit it be a good thing to begin well yet it profiteth vs nothing vnlesse wee continue therein for none are crowned but they y t striue aright and hee onely that endureth to the ende shall bee saued In most miserable case then be they that haue set their hand to the plough and looke backe that haue lost their first loue and fall away from the sinceritie of religion for our Sauiour telleth vs that the ende of such persons is woorse than their beginning Nowe least they shoulde take exceptions against him as one that took too much vpon him and reprooued those that were to reprooue him hee calleth them Ye ministers of my God wherein first of all he auoucheth his authoritie and warrant by vertue whereof hee did so instruct them to shew them that in disobeying his words their offence was not against him but the Lorde Secondly hee sheweth that he doth acknowledge them to be the Ministers of God and yet dooth iustly shew them their duety teaching vnto vs that euen the ministers that are to instruct others when they do amisse or faile in anie duetie are to be
religion and that is to proclaime and by his authoritie to compel them to whom the Church matters appertained to doe their dueties faithfully and therefore it is that the Holie-ghost in that place and also in that of Ionah vseth a worde farre different from this in this place for there the woorde signifieth to call or send forth which maye in generall bee applied vnto the promulgation of anye edict whatsoeuer and heere it importeth as it were a conseecration or hallowing withall which is a thing peculiar to y e Ministers of the worde so that thus farre it belongeth to the Magistrate to see it done to enioine the doing of it and if it please him to appoint the time thereof vnto the ministers but that the particular notifieng of it to y e people belongeth vnto the ministers of the worde it is euident by these reasons first that which the Lorde commaundeth out of his worde vnto the Ministers of a Church established the same vnlesse it be repealed by some countermaunde is the office of the Ministers of the word for euer but the Lorde out of his worde commaundeth in this place the Ministers of the Church of Israel which was an established Churche and that vnder a king to sanctifie a fast call the solemne assemblie therfore it is the duetie of the Ministers of y e word for euer secondly y t which cannot be done without doctrine and publike praier that same is the office of the Minister but the sanctifieng of a fast that is the preparing of the people by instruction what it is and to what ende and praying vnto God to enable them therevnto can not bee doone wythout doctrine and praier for euerie thing is sanctified vnto vs by the woorde and praier therefore to call a solemne fast is the office of the Minister thirdly whatsoeuer belongeth to the publike seruice of God in the congregation that same is the proper dutie of the Minister but to sanctifie a fast belongeth to the publike seruice of God in the congregation therefore it is the proper duetie of the Minister And that it belongeth to the publike seruice of God in the congregation it appeareth by the turning of the reason thus whatsoeuer is required of a Minister in regarde of hys ministerie that same is a part of the publike seruice of God but to sanctifie a fast is required of the priests in this place in respect of their ministerie and therefore it is a part of the publike seruice of God But you may say vnto me euery Minister hath his proper charge the limits whereof he may not passe but a solemne fast is a generall thing peraduenture thorowe a whole kingdome and therfore is it a matter that being larger than he hath authoritie to deale in belongeth not vnto him Wherevnto I answere that it is true one Minister hath no further authoritie than his particular flocke and therefore can cal no publike fast further than amongest his owne people But the whole Church being guided by a Councell of Ministers is to be prepared to a fast by the authoritie of the whole You may further saye vnto me What if the Eldershippe of Ministers doe not or will not proclaime it whether oughte a particular Minister who in that case is as a priuate manne to doe it or no I answeare that if other men will not doe their duetie yet I may not meddle wyth it but the example or authoritie of others must not make me leaue mine owne duety vndone So that it is true a general fast in a whole kingdome or in manie partes thereof may not be proclaimed by one minister yet may hee and by the worde of God hee ought when God threatneth or punisheth call his owne charge vnto this same exercise Lastly he sheweth in the latter ende of the verse to what ende all this is to wit that they may crie vnto the Lord that is bee the more effectually drawne vnto the feeling of their sinnes and the desert therof that so they might powre out their praiers more effectually vnto the Lord for the remission of the same so that this fasting or solemne assemblie or anye other of the outward thing thereof he not commaunded as any part of Gods seruice for bodily exercise profiteth nothing and whether we eate we are not the worse or whether wee eate not we are neuer the better in respect of any religion or holinesse but as meanes to drawe vs the better vnto it And therefore when all these things are enioyned to the ende that wee may crie vnto the Lorde wee learne that it is not an ordinary sorrowe for sinne a crauing of pardon that will serue the turne at suche a time but as the circumstaunces bee more and the causes more weightye so must our humiliation bee in more measure than at anye other time before or after if it may bee accepted of the Lorde Alas for the day The crie that they are to make vnto the LORD is in generall sorte sette downe in this Uerse wherevnto the entraunce is wyth a kinde of speache not onelie expressing a great and heauie griefe but also a minde exceedingly troubled in the same for the words Alas this day which should go together doe in effect signifie thus much Great and greeuous is our miserie and the burthen thereof lieth so heauie vppon vs that thys day we are as vtterly cast away and feele such a smarte of the Lordes displeasure at hande as we tremble and quake to thinke of it So that these woordes doe expresse vnto vs what humbled soules and what greeued heartes wee are to bee of when the Lorde threatning to punish vs wee are employed in this exercise to the ende that wee may learne euen as it were to breake our owne heartes and to enforce them vnto a more deepe meditation of our forlorne condition than euer hath entered into vs heretofore Againe whereas they are willed to say the day of the Lorde is at hand hee dooth not meane that generall day wherein hee wil call to account both the quicke and the dead but in consideration of that miserable ruine which was to fall vppon the land wherein the people thereof shall seeme to be cutte off from vnder heauen and in regarde of the mighty power wherewith the Lorde will stretche out his arme in such a manner as though he meant to consecrate it as a peculiar daie to expresse his maiestie For as the Lorde is saide of manne to sleepe when hee sheweth not foorth his might and as it were to haue lefte thinges vnto theyr owne disposition so on the other side it is saide to bee hys daye when by any extraordinarie power he declareth himselfe eyther by deliueraunce of hys or ouerthrowe of their foes Moreouer it is saide to bee at hande thereby to teach them that if they woulde in such maner as might be acceptable vnto God humble themselues before him then must they