THE GODLY MERCHANT OR The great gaine A Sermon preached at Paules-Crosse Octob. 17. 1613. By WILLIAM PEMBERTON Bachelour of Diuinity and Minister of Gods Word at high Onger in Essex 1. TIM 4.7.8 Exercise thy selfe vnto godlinesse For bodily exercise profiteth little but godlinesse is profitable vnto all things hauing the promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come LONDON Printed by Edw. Griffin for Samuel Macham and are to be sold at his Shop in Pauls Church-yard at the Signe of the Bul-head 1613. TO THE RIGHT Honourable and truely religious Lord Robert Lord Rich Baron of Leeze c. my singular good Lord and Patrone all happie increase in the great gaine of Godlinesse and godly contentment OVr blessed day of Grace Right honourable Lord in this bright sun-shine of the Gospell in this Land as it affordeth vnto vs happie opportunitie so it exacteth of vs studious endeauour for prudent foresight and timely prouision of things most behoouefull for our future vse Luc. 19.42 And oh that we would know euen we at least in this our long and faire Summers day the things which belong to our eternall peace We fairely beare our selues and others in hand that our Couenant with God of life and peace Mal. 2.5 is firme and sure euen euerlasting because the word of this couenant is still remaining with vs and that God will not turne away from vs to doe vs good Iere. 32.40 because the Lords goodnes is yet magnified toward vs. And surely the Lord will not be vnmindfull of his Couenant with vs nor vnfaithfull in performance of his promise to vs Psal 103.17.18 if we start not backe and prooue vnfaithfull but keepe couenant and promise with the Lord our God 2. Chro. 15.2 The Lord is with vs while wee are with him if wee seeke him he will be found of vs but if wee forsake him he will forsake vs. Are our hearts then vpright toward the Lord and is the feare of God euen godlinesse within our hearts Esa 55.3 If this be so O happie wee and euer blessed for then shal our soule liue and the Lord will make his Couenant euerlasting with vs euen the sure mercies of Dauid True indeede Gods name be praysed Christs true religion the Doctrine of Godlinesse is by wholsome lawes of our most gracious Soueraigne constant Defender of the true Faith most firmely established by a good part of his Maiesties most loyall subiects sincerely embraced and generally approued or formally professed of all vnlesse of those vnhappie Romish Nurselings who haue more deepely drunke of the golden cup of that Babilonish strumpet Reuel 17.4.5 whose soule-killing poison doth secretly spread to more dangerous infection within the wombe of our complaining Mother complaining I say because her life is in daily hazard by them and yet she can neither cure and heale them as her heart desireth nor yet be cured and eased of thē as her safetie would require God graunt her mildnes toward them create not new dangers against herselfe Did the power and practise of Godlinesse in the rest attend the forme and shew thereof then had she not cause of so great complaint but matter of ioy and good contentment to see her children grow and prosper in Godlinesse though this viperous broode lie still crawling and gnawing within her bowels But alas alas our times are perilous our estate dangerous 2. Tim. 3.1 the world is a gainer God a looser And howsoeuer God hath graciously giuen all things that belong to life and godlinesse 2. Pet. 1.3 yet is there but little increase or embrace of Godlinesse either in heart or life Many through blindnes are sottishly ignorant of it and cannot be brought to sight of their miserie without it Many through securitie are carelesse of it and will not be affected with any liking to it Some through weakenes grow ashamed of it and are affraid to vndergoe any hardship for it Many through lewdnesse are a shame vnto it and by their inordinate liuing bemire and deface it And it is well if some through profanesse would not out-face and shame it and by their gracelesse impietie oppose against it Many by an art of seeming haue painted their faces but want the trueth and substance of being in the heart Many through sacietie grow weary of this Manna and their full stomacks begin to loath this honie-comb Numb 11.6 Prou. 27.7 And many hauing walked with God on earth are daily taken hence to liue with Christ in heauen Now while so many are seduced by the errour of the deuill so many are enthralled by the lusts of the flesh so many are insnared with the allurements of the world and many of the best are remoued from earth to heauen where doeth the sound Christian and true godly man appeare or if he be seene as God be thanked he is yet his life and courage is not such it may be feared as once it was or now ought to be Oh what shall become of Religion in this land if our first loue to religion shal languish in vs Reu. 2. v. 4. or what shall become of vs in this land verse 5. if our Candlesticke be once remoued from vs Iere. 9.1 Psal 119.136 Fountaines riuers of heart-bleeding teares suffice not to bewaile our sinnes which threaten our miserie nor to preuent our miserie deserued by our sinnes The Lord in his great mercie graunt vs grace to know the time of our gracious visitation Luc. 19.44 and to bethinke our selues of the things that belong to our peace last hereafter they he hidden from our eyes Oh that we could in time grow wise in heart and rich in grace and nourish the feare of God euen godlinesse within our hearts Then would the Lord surely reioyce ouer vs to doe vs good Iere. 32.40 and still plant vs in this land with his whole heart and with his whole soule No power nor plot of wicked enemies shall preuaile against vs if the God of power and wisedome be loued and embraced of vs. The Lord will soone subdue our enemies Psal 81.14 and turne his hand against our aduersaries No want of good or sense of euill shall discontent vs if this gaine of godlinesse be fully possessed of vs. Wherefore it behooueth all from the highest to the lowest to giue care to that godly exhortatiō of that religious Ruler Iosua Feare the Lord Iosh 24.14.15 and serue him in sinceritie and in truth Or if the foolish and vnhappie multitude will not embrace such blessed counsell but it seeme euill to them to serue the Lord yet must euery wise and couragious Iosua put on this constant resolution as for me and my house we will serue the Lord. What is that seruice of God in that holie resolution of that courageous Captaine but the exercise of that Godlinesse which ruled in the heart of that religious Ruler What was the groūd of
excellent creatures in comparison of whose brightnesse the very sunne is darke in comparison of whose puritie the very heauens are polluted Iob. 15.15 for resplendencie of whose glory the very Angels couer their faces Esa 6.2 before whose dreadfull presēce the earth melteth Psalme 97.5 Esa 51.6 the heauens flie away the deuils tremble and all creatures stand astonished and amazed Iam. 2.19 Godlinesse springeth from the knowledge of Gods al-seeing eye Prou. 15.4 Hebr. 4.13 al-knowing wisdome al-beholding presence whereby God pondereth the pathes obserues the gestures heareth the wordes Ier. 17.10 searcheth the hearts tryeth the reines Prou. 15.11 Iob. 26.6 and pryeth into the bottome of hell and destruction it selfe Godlinesse springeth from the knowledge of Gods al-ruling prouidēce Mat. 10.30 al-commanding power soueraigne authority and vnlimited Lordship Whereby God can and will ouer-awe and order all creatures and actions conditions and estates and curbe and keepe vnder al proude resisters and rebellious opposers can bruise them in peeces with his iron rod Psal 2.9 and consume them to nothing with the breath of his nostrilles Yea command and worke the weale or woe life or death felicity or misery of all manner his creatures Godlinesse springeth from the knowledge and acknowledgement of Gods exact iustice and impartiall equitie whereby the Lord Rom. 2.11 not accepting persons nor taking rewards doth distribute and diuide to euery one his deserued right in good or euill rewards or punishments for obedience or breach of his holy diuine and soueraigne reuealed good will and pleasure And all these considerations doe strongly vrge and powerfully enforce vnto piety or godlinesse But that godlinesse may indeed bee wrought and grow and flourish in the heart of a Christian and that hee may draw neere to God and not be deterred from God hee must aboue al find and feele the quickening iuice of Gods eternall loue issuing out of the roote of the true vine Christ Iesus through conueiance and sweete influence of the spirit of God which arising into the heart of a true Christian will both mollifie heate and effectually affect the heart and most kindly cause therein true godlinesse and religious respect of God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Nazianz. And thus this true godlinesse wrought in the heart being an habite of good things as Nazianzene speakes doth take the possession and gouernment of euery part of the soule doth their reside and rule and causeth an exercise of goodnesse 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and exerts and shewes it selfe in certaine actions and workes called the exercises of godlinesse or religious deuotion both inward in the heart The large extent of godlinesse and outward in the life which expresse the nature and power of pietie Of which kinde are these Effectuall faith diligent loue patient hope reuerend feare pure conscience sound repentance assured confidence all holy affections diuine meditations godly resolutions earnest petitions deuout gestures vnstained profession religious speach vnblameable conuersation At these actions of pietie doth our holy Apostle ayme when he aduiseth Timotheus to exercise himselfe vnto godlinesse 1. Tim. 4.7 When hee exhorts that prayers and supplications be made for all men 1. Tim. 2.1.2 for Kings and for all that are in authority that wee may leade a quiet and a peaceable life in all godlinesse and honesty Lastly at this doth the Apostle Saint Peter leuel vpon serious meditation of the finall dissolution of the world 2. Pet. 3.10 11 12 13 14. Seeing the day of the Lord shall come as a thiefe in the night in the which the heauens shall passe away with a great noyse and the elements shall melt with feruent heate the earth also and the workes that are therein shall be burnt vp seeing then that all these things shall be dissolued what manner of persons ought yee to be in all holy conuersation and godlinesse or duties of godlinesse being diligent in exercise of the offices of piety that yee may be found of him in peace without spot and blamelesse And this I take to be the sum and substantiall nature of this godlinesse which our holy Apostle commends vnto vs as the great gaine to which if we shall adde one seasoning grace it will abide the touch and bee approued of God Sincerity a seasoning grace This seasoning grace is sound sincerity of the soule and inner man freed and purged from dissembling and hollow-hearted hypocrisie so that it may abide the through tryall of Gods discerning view And so much the name godlinesse doth seeme to import as taken from God so that in my apprehension the godlinesse of a Christian is such inward disposition of heart as consorts with the nature and will of God such outward conuersation of life as beseemes the presence of God Without this soundnesse and perfection of the inwards and the heart our pretended godlinesse is little better then profanenesse Mat. 23. and our seeming pietie detestable hypocrisie Luk. 16.15 But shall this sound integrity and true candor bee dispersed as blood through euery veine of the whole body of true piety and as seasoning salt bee sprinkled on euery action and worke thereof Marke 9.50 this godlinesse shall be accepted for true and good the heart shall be sound and actions approued and then may this precious pearle of piety be commended of God and esteemed of vs as our greatest gaine and truest treasure This beloued in the Lord euen this is the comely feature of godlinesse the subiect of our gaine a thing of great worth and excellency euery way which yet notwithstanding is so smally respected yea so greatly contemned as is lamentable to behold of the most and greatest part of this foolish world Oh that our blind eyes were able to behold it Oh that our peruerse hearts were able to esteeme it Surely surely it would command both eye hand and heart and all to seeke it to embrace it to yeeld all kind and louing entertainment vnto it I will not now speake but pray That the God of all grace would graunt vnto you all this marrow of all grace true godlinesse and piety to guide both heart and life Thus much I thought good to premise concerning godlinesse alone which is presupposed as the matter and subiect of our gaine now I proceed to the attendant of godlinesse which is Contentment for godlinesse is not alone but attended of contentment Godlinesse with Contentment is our great gaine The 2. generall point of godly contentment The attendant of godlinesse is contentment a most worthy waytingmaide of so honourable a Mistresse True Godlinesse is as it were a royall Queene full of Maiesty and beauty striking admiration and reuerence into the hearts of all earnest beholders and Contentment as a young Lady and Princesse a pure and spotlesse Virgin of seemely feature and wel-pleasing demeanure euer attending godlinesse as her Lady and Mistresse Both for progenie of the blood
a little as not to thirst not to starue Galen 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Cibus potus sunt diuitiae Christianorum Hieron Bp. and grace ought to content it selfe with lesse In this case meate and drinke are the riches of Christians yea bread and water with the Gospell are good cheere More ought not to discontent if God giue more Lesse if God giue not so much Any thing is more then any man can chalenge The smalest good is aboue mans greatest desert all is of mercy nothing of merite Whatsoeuer God measures out vnto vs that ought to giue contentment to vs. And a godly man may wel content himselfe in all estates and if in any hee finde himselfe not well it is not because he might not therein be well but because hee doth not in such holy manner demeane himselfe Why a godly man is sometime not content as godlinesse would direct for so out of question hee should bee well True indeed it is that contentment which attendeth godlinesse in this life is not such a settled composednesse of minde and quiet tranquillity of all the affections as neuer meeteth with any turbulency of passion or is neuer interrupted nor assayled of discontment For as godlinesse in this life is not perfected so is the minde of a godly man not fully contented But through inward distemper and outward occurrence is sometimes shaken with vnsetlednesse and discontent The sea is not so calme in Summer but is sometimes troubled with some boysterous winde no not the stable mountaine so firme but may bee moued with some fearefull earth-quake So is it with the minde of a godly man it is sometimes moued sometimes tossed with windes and terrours Yet so well is it ordinarily composed through habituall resolution of dependance on God and equability of affection in all estates that it 's neither oftē disturbed nor long disquieted but after some lesser or shorter distemper it doth quietly compose and settle it selfe againe and through the power of godlinesse doth recouer it selfe and enioy againe this sweete Contentment Happy happy yea thrice happy is that soule that is so quietly setled and so well composed that it is not much shaken and tossed with discontent and so happy may euery one of our soules become shall we seriously consider How to come to godly contentment how wee may become so happy Which if any desire indeed to know let him lend his eare yea his heart a little and cast his eye of faith vpon the doctrine of godlinesse and hee shall therein behold such strong foundations of true contentment layde as that the gates of hell may well assaile but shall not preuaile against it 4. Grounds of godly contentment The foundation of godly contentment hath these foure degrees 1. Gods powerfull prouidence 2. Gods prudent loue 3. Gods gracious promise 4. The present portion which God bestoweth vpon a godly man The first ground of godly contentment is Gods powerfull prouidence 1. Gods powerfull prouidence whereby hee wisely ordereth and sweetly disposeth all actions and euents conditions and estates The Lord killeth and maketh aliue 1. Sam. 2.6 he bringeth downe to the graue and bringeth vp 7. The Lord maketh poore and maketh rich 8. he bringeth low and exalteth he rayseth vp the poore out of the dust and listeth vp the begger from the dunghill to set them amongst Princes and to make them inherite the throne of glory for the pillars of the earth are the Lords and hee hath set the world vpon them The Lord Psal 147. v. 4. vers 8. the Lord guides and numbers the starres in heauen hangs the clouds in the firmament Mat. 6.26.28 feeds the fowles of the ayre clothes the flowers of the field takes care for the oxen in the stall multiplies the fishes in the sea numbers the sands by the shoare preserues the haire on the head and the drowing of a swine Mat. 8.31 32. Mat. 10.29 30. the falling of a sparrow the perishing of an haire doth not escape the powerfull prouidence of our most gracious God Act. 17.28 Yea and our God in whom we mooue liue are is able for bread to giue manna from heauen Exod. 16.14 15. Exod. 16.13 Exod. 17.6 ver 78. Exod. 13 21. Deut 29.5 for flesh to send quailes from the sea for drinke to giue water out of the flinty rocke for shelter a cloude For direction a pillar of fire for want of new apparel can preserue the old Ios 3.15 16 Exod. 14.21 22. for a passage can diuide Iorden and make a drie lane with watry walles through the deepe channel of the red sea Out of bondage can giue deliuerance out of sicknesse health out of death life out of sinne good and out of miserie can draw felicity Numb 11.23 Esa 50.2 His hand is not shortened that hee cannot now helpe hee is now God al-sufficient as well as euer he was And what cannot our God doe for vs God is able saith our holy Apostle to make all grace to abound toward you 2. Cor. 9. ◠that yee alwaies hauing all sufficiency in all things may abound to euery good worke Euery word hath it waight Our God al-sufficient hath al-sufficiency for vs all alwaies in all things to cause all grace to abound to vs and to cause vs to abound to euery good worke Oh the powerfull prouidence of our gracious God Oh the vnmoueable foundation of godly contentment What feare of want or woe can discontent vs seeing our God hath al-sufficient for vs our God hath sufficient wisdome for our instruction sufficient power for our preseruation sufficient grace for our infirmities sufficient plenty to supply our penurie sufficient mercy for all our miseries sufficient comfort for all our maladies sufficient honour to wipe away our infamy sufficient life to ouercome our death and sufficient glory to perfect our felicity Thus is our God able to make all grace to abound toward vs that wee alwaies hauing al-sufficiencie in all things may abound to euery good worke On this foundation may a godly man beginne to build his house of godly contentment thus Vse The meditation of Gods povverfull prouidence Doth any euill or crosse befall mee It comes not from the haplesse stroke of blinde Fortune but from the al-ruling hand of an al-seeing God Did the spitefull tongue of my enenemy defame me Or his powerfull hand oppresse and iniure mee Or did any other creature bring any euill vpon me Whatsoeuer was the meanes or how ill soeuer affected to mee Gods ouer-ruling prouidence hath some hand therein Not indeed himselfe vniustly striking or instilling malice into the striker or exciting him to sinne or excusing him in sinne yet guiding the blow and directing it to me as an actor in not an idle spectator of the action yet no author or approuer but iudge and reuenger of the euill of the action Ier. 25 12.14 Threatning punishing the instrument
soule to God peace of conscience ioy in the holy Ghost comfort in affliction strength in temptation life in death and neuer-fading delights and riuers of pleasures the ioy and solace of a Sonne of God of a spouse of Christ of an inhabitant of heauen and of an enioyer of God in fulnesse of ioy and vnchangeable glory Oh consider I beseech you beloued in the Lord consider and weigh these things a little The matter is worthy your deepest meditation 2. A speciall comparison of the gaine of the worlding and godlieman Consider I say and you shall assuredly finde that the greatest gaine of the worldling is very smal the smallest of the godly is very great This of worth that worthlesse The greatest gaine the worldling can enioy is but outward and superficiall 1. The worldlings gaine is but outward and superficiall seruing onely for the vse of humane and corporall life which consistes in coniunction of soule and body vnited alone by the bond of nature but the gaine of the godly is inward and substantiall The godly mans inward and substantiall of vse to a life diuine and spirituall which consistes in coniunction of the whole person both soule and body with God and that by a bond of the spirit of God That frees but from some outward euill as pouertie the least of euils which one rich and ready friend may easily remedy From disgrace which may sometimes prooue glorious as for such cause or with such persons as where disgrace is honour From outward paine which may worke vs pleasure and prepare for greater ioy and solace But this freeth from the greatest euils from spirituall beggery ignominy misery and makes rich within glorious and well appayed And what were it to haue a purple coate a polluted conscience a gay gowne and a sick heart a bed of gold and a diseased minde a full chest and an emptie soule afaire face and foule affections to glister in iewels and to bee filthy in manners to bee in grace with men and disgrace with God One dramme of that true inwarde gaine is farre more worth then a thousand worlds 2. The worldlings gaine is mutable and vncertaine The worldlings gaine is mutable and vncertaine and soone God knowes is changed for a losse it is constant in nothing but in mutabilitie 1. Ioh. 2.17 the inseparable property of all earthly vanities Now a man is rich presently poore now in honour anon in disgrace now in pleasure euen now in paine Prou. 23.5 Riches take their wings and flie away honour with euery crosse blast is blowen away and pleasures melt in the taste as dew before the morning sun How soone are our feastes turned into fastes and our sweetest songs into mournefull lamentations Lament 3.5 They that did feede delicately are desolate in the streetes and they that were brought vp in scarlet embrace the dunghill 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Poet. Instin histor lib. 2. How soone fayre-shining Fortunes fall and faile Renowmed Xerxes the fame of antiquity passed ouer into Greece in passing state and pride but returned home in great basenesse and feare As he went he couered the seas with his gallant shippes but as hee came was scarce prouided of a meane fishers boate Hee went guarded with an army so huge and mighty that it emptied deepe riuers did eate vp large countries and was a burden to the very earth but he returned not attended of a wayting boy And he who of late was the terrour of the world a broade was presently in contempt with the meanest of his house at home Would you see an admirable spectacle of humane mutability Munster Chronol de Tureis lib. 4. c. 64. cast your eyes vpon Baiazet that terrible Turke and cruell scourge of Greece How soone was he subdued by Tamerlane the Tartar led about on a scaffold as a beast in a chayne of gold and carried with him abroad in all his expeditions as a footestoole to tread on when hee mounted on horse-backe and as a dogge to picke crummes from vnder his table And what became of the estate of this cruell conquerour who in deuilish pride disdayning the name of man would bee stiled the wrath of God the vastity and calamity of the world Hee left his kingdome stuffed with wealth and treasures to be dissipated and extinguished by his disagreeing sonnes Read the historie of Adoni-bezek Iudg. 1.6 7. Who hauing in his pride and cruelty caused 70. Kings hauing their thumbes and great toes cut off to bee g'ad like whelpes to gather crummes from vnder his table hee was requited of God and brought to like misery and experienced the mutability of all earthly states What should I mention the known History of Croesus Herodet Clio. sine lib. 1. who in the top of his prosperity would needes haue Solon to pronounce him happy but anon ouer-topt by Cyrus and set on a pile of wood to bee burnt finding his sudden change from supposed happinesse to certaine calamity cryed out in griefe and sorrow of heart Oh Solon Solon Solon The cause of this out-cry when Cyrus vnderstood he gaue him his life and intreated him kindly fearing the like misery to befall himselfe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hered ib. as knowing the instability of humane affaires and calamity whereto all men are subject as the Historian doth well obserue Of all the daies of this mortall life the latter findes him not as the former left him No maruell though Tiberius the Emperour refused the stile of Pater patriae father of his country on this ground of vncertainty of all these earthly thing saying All mortall mens estates are vncertaine Cuncta mortalium incerta quantoque plus adeptus foret tanto se magis in lubrico dictitaus Tacit. annal lib. 1. De Ciuit. Dei l. 1. c. 1 Esa 28.4 man hath gotten the more slippery is his condition Let me in one word with Saint Augustine speake thus of them all Sunt omnia terrena cacumina temporali mobilitaie nutantia All terrene heights doe reele with temporall mutabilitie Heare the Lord himselfe The glorious beautie of all earthly excellency which is on the head of the fatte valley shall bee as a fading flower and as the hastie fruit before the Summer which when hee that looketh vpon it seeth it while it is yet in his hand he eateth it vp The best settled states grow soone vnsetled and these adamantine kingdomes haue foundations of sand The godly mans chief gaine is immutable and certaine But the choise gaine of godlinesse is immutable and certaine 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Kingdome vnshaken The heauenly calling and special guifts thereof are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hebr. 12.28 Rom. 11.29 Beza in Locum Nec prodi nec perdi possunt Aug de ciuit deil l. 1. cap. 10. Such as whereof God can neuer repent himselfe that hee gaue them or repenting take them backe againe These good things can neither bee