which the Seed of the word is sowed is 4. Aggravarion of the sin of Family-Impiety It is a great Discouragement to the Office of the Ministry cause of sorrow as well as discouragement to a faithful Minister Is it not matter of discontent and sorrow that the Seed-time for Corporal Bread is stopt by some rude wicked fellows in the Neighbourhood And do you think O wicked Families that it is not greater sorrow to Godly Ministers in their Office that the Seed-time for the Bread of Souls is hindered by you Is not Christ himself Lord of this Harvest who is Judge of the World Are not you the Tares and must not they be cast into the Fire not only for Being Tares but for hindering the Wheat Mat. 13. 40 41 It was the Great grief of that Holy Man and Famous Divine Mr. Ric. Greenham about the 35 Y. of Q. Eliz. That notwithstanding his Dr. F. Church History Book 9. Preaching Prayers Tears he had a Barren Obstinate Ignorant Parish Greenham had Pastures green But Sheep full lean Is it not matter of sorrow that the good Minister finds little more shew of Religion in his Congregation then what cometh in Course upon the Sabbath-Day or that most in the Parish part with Religion as soon as they turn their backs on the place of Gods Worship This troubleth the good Minister that most Heads of Families deny that at home which they seem to like well in the Congregation that some it may be bring their Bibles to the Church and never take them up all the week after that they Joyn in Publick Prayers and will not Pray in their Families And lastly This discourageth and troubleth the good Minister that many carry it like Christians in Gods House and live like Heathens in their own Our Blessed Saviour wept over Jerusalem saying Oh Jerusalem Jerusalem thou that killest the Prophets and stonest them that are sent unto thee how often would I have gathered thy Children together even as a Hen gathereth her Chickens under her Wings and ye would not Mat. 23. 37 When he beheld the City he wept over it saying If thou hadst known even thou at least in this thy Day the things which belong unto thy Peace but now they are hid from thine eyes Luke 19. 41 42. After this sort the Prophet is affected If you will not hear it my Soul shall weep in secret places for your Pride c. Jer. 13. 17. O ye Irreligious Families What will you do Will you be obstinate and impenitent because your Good Minister nay your Blessed Lord and Saviour is Tender and Compassionate Will you be careless and secure because your Minister is commanded to watch for your Souls And will you be cruel to the Souls of your Families because Ministers are sent of God to Preach Faith and Repentance Mercy and Forgiveness to you Will you harden your Hearts and stand it out because God by his Ministers is praying you in Christs stead to be reconciled to God 5. Consider That Profane Families do 5. Aggravation of Family Impiety It provoketh God to take away the Gospel from us provoke God to take away the Gospel from us and give it to a Nation that will bring forth the Fruits thereof Mat. 21. 43. God hath been pleased to Plant his Vineyard in England which since the Reformation hath taken Root and spread her Branches in abundance And Blessed be the Almighty the Wall thereof our good Laws is not broken down But where are the Fruits We hear of common seandalous sins of Drunkenness Swearing Whoredom and Pernicious Doctrines And the sin of Sabbath-breaking in Towns and Villages is notorious Notwithstanding K. W. the IIId 10th Y. of his Reign Feb. 24. 1697. his Majesties Royal Proclamation for the suppressing and preventing of Profaneness dissolute Living and all Immorallities and for the Countenancing of Vertue and Piety in this Church and Kingdom What shall we say of Loiterers Travellers Tatlers going from House to House What shall we say of Debauched Prodigals Harlots Hectors at Drunken and Filthy Meetings How few Families in Cities Towns or Villages do make any better Account of the Lords Day then Almanack Holy Days How few Christians keep Holy the Lords Day after Service in the Publick Assembly It were Just with God to Translate the Gospel to another People and to put a Bill of Divorce into our Mothers hand for the too common Disgust of the Power of Christianity and Practise of Piety It were Just with God to deliver his Strength into Captivity and his Glory into the Enemies hand Psal. 78. 61. Referring to the sins of Eli his Sons in the Priesthood 1 Sam. 2 Chap. And to the Punishment in the 4 Chap. not only of the Priests but People also And we of this our Church both Ministers and People for our sins of other Kinds have cause to fear least God deprive us of our Strength and Glory i. e. his gracious and influxive presence 6. Consider That this Profaneness of Families is the greatest reproach upon 6. Aggravation of Family-Sins They bring the greatest Reproach upon such Families them As sin leaveth behind it the forest wound upon Conscience So It marketh the Person with the Vilest Brand. What can expiate that Guilt which staineth the Heavens Curseth the Earth hath cast down Angels from their Glory and made Man as vile as the Beasts that Perish Who can blot out that which is written in Heaven in Gods Book on Earth in the Consciences of Men and unhappily Copied out to be written in the memory of succeeding Posterity Who can purge that away which Peccati inacula durat in aeternum ex se Seclusa Dei misericordià defileth the Souls of Men It is not devouring time nor flight nor Banishment nor change of Climate nor strange Inhabitants no nor Death it self of the Infamous sinner that can free his Conscience from the Guilt of his sin and wipe off the reproach and everlasting shame thereunto belonging Dan. 12. 2. And those that sleep in the Dust of the Earth shall awake some to everlasting life and some to shame and everlasting contempt The Seed of Evil doers shall never be renowned Isa. 14. 20. The memory of the Just is Blessed but the Name of the Wicked shall Rot Prov. 10. 7. Thou hast consulted shame to thy House by cutting off many People and hast sinned against thy Soul Hab. 2. 10. Are not Ahabs and Jezebels sins upon the File of Reproach There was none like Ahab who sold himself to work wickedness whom Jezebel his Wife that Cursed Woman stirred up Add hereunto Jeroboam the Son of Nebat who made Israel to sin And this is That King Ahaz Simon the Sorcerer Elymas the Sorcerer Judas the Traitor These Persons to this day have their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 their Brand of Infamy Man never came to loose his The way to true Honour Honour but by sin then he Marr'd his Creation-Robe
weigh not in God's Ballance That Man that is a Real Christian in his Family bears the Image of his Maker and therefore Raised to the Highest Pitch of Honour in this World The Righteous is more excellent then his Neighbour Prov. 12. 26. Tell me can there be a greater Reproach to Heads of Families in the best part of Christendom than to be Prophane and Irreligious in their Dwellings What a Cursed shame is it that thy House should be an Increase of a Sinful Generation that Wickedness should Survive in thy Posterity when thou art turned to Dust and that it should be alive in thy House and in Hell too How great is thy Stain and Stench left behind thee What a Plague Sore is this which neither Long-lived-Time nor Ever-abiding Eternity can wear away What a Parent a Christian Parent and yet Ungodly Careless of Heaven Covetous of the Earth and Prodigal of thine own as well as thy Childrens Salvation This is to be Parent to the Bodies of thy Children and Destroyer of their Souls Let the World Honour Parens Corporum Pernicies animarum its own with Monuments and Golden Letters Yet know that the Name of the Wicked shall Rot Prov. 10. 7. What can be more for the Raising of thy Name O Christian Parent then to serve God in thy Family whereas Vice and Ungodliness is the Blot of True Honour and Reverse the Coat-Armour of every Dignified Person in our English Church and Kingdom If it were possible to be Wicked alone without Infecting others it would not be so Infamous as to make others to Sin as do all Wicked Families That Jeroboam made Israel to Sin is the Standing Monument of his Infamy God threatneth Baasha to make his House like the House of Jeroboam the Son of Nebat i. e. A Base Ruined and Vile House 1 Kings 16. 3. And may not all Wicked Heads of Families fear least the Lord punish them and their Posterity after them for their sins and make them as vile in Ages to come as they have been wicked in times past 2. Is your Health dear unto you O ye 2. In their Health wicked Prayer-less Families Is it better then your Goods It is not in Mercy to wicked Men it is lyable to God's Curse Thy Body O wicked Man is a Fair House but the Plague is in it even the Plague of thy own Heart 1 King 8. 38. Can'st thou say from thy heart thou art in good Health and wast never sick of Sin Nusquam pejus quam in Sano Corpore Aeger Animus habitas and never knewest the Physitian of Souls Mat. 9. 12 Ah! It were better that thy Bodily Health were turned into a lingring Consumption Palsy Dropsy Stone Collick Gout or any painful Disease having health in thy Soul then to live without it in Swearing Cursing Lying Stealing Sabbath-breaking Pride Covetousness Idleness Uncleanness Oppression Questionless there is a Secret Curse running in the veins of an Healthy Body which is spent in the Pursuit of Sensual Contentments Health the Best Thing next to Grace for want of the Blessing of Allmighty God is the Worst Thing in the World next to a Life in Hell How many give the First Fruits of their Youth to Vanity and Wildness How many at Ripe Age for want of God's Grace run out of Prodigality into Covetousness thinking to make Amends by a Thrifty Sin for an Unthrifty Life or mistaking Exchange of Sins to be Amendment of Life What Comfort in that Health which is the Undoing of the Soul to all Eternity What Comfort in that Health that cannot that will not be at leasure nor spare time nor a little of its strength and vitals for Holiness and Heaven What Comfort in that Health which is subject to the Inordinacy of Sense and thereby denies the Soul its Rational and Religious Liberties for God's Worship either in his House or in their own Houses What Comfort in that healthy Body which is made a sink of Sin and slave to every noisom Lust Certainly this Corporal Health and Strength is worse then brutish for the Beast Feeds Works Resleth Playeth for the benefit of Man but a Wicked Healthy Man is not onely an Enemy but a Curse to himself and to all that partake with him in his Sin And now speak What greater Curse then thus to abuse Corporal Health for the sake of which in time of Sickness so many Friends and Relations stand Weeping and Sighing and so many Messangers and Doctors are employed VVhat a Curse is it VVhat an Absurd piece of VVickedness and Folly to part with That at any vile Rate for the Recovery of which thou art VVilling to Have Every thing though at the Highest Rate VVhat a Curse is it to Sacrifice That to the Devil and the VVorld which in Holy Baptism thou hast solemnly Dedicated and Devoted to God's VVorship VVhat a Bitter Curse is it to VVork out thy Damnation with that Health wherewith God hath commanded thee to work out thy Salvation 3. The Wicked Mans prolonged Life 3. In Long Life is a Curse to him The sinner being an hundred years old shall be Accursed Isa. 65. 20. As he fills his days and years so he fills up the measure of his sins His bones are full of the sins of his youth which shall go down with him into the dust Job 20. 11. Solomon saith A wicked Man prolongeth his life in his wickedness Eccles. 7. 15. Such a Life will prove like it self as Heavy of Curses as it hath made Light of Sinning O what a misery is it for an Old Sinner to begin to Live when he is ready to Dye What a woefull thing is it to find Governours Quidam tunc incipiunt vivere cum desivendum est c. Sen. Ep. 23. of Families in their Gray Haires taking pleasure to discourse of the sins of their youth Doe they not hereby recommend those sins to be committed by their children which they by reason of their Impotency cannot commit And is not this a sign of God's Curse impending over their Families in respect of Long Life O what a Judgment is it That Long Life is still growing Riper and Riper for Destruction to all Eternity The Amorites were not cut off because their Iniquity was not yet full Gen. 15. 16. O what a Curse is it to be an Old Gray-headed Sinner a Swearer Drunkard Sabbath-breaker Scorner of Religion O what a sad thing is it to see strong sins in feeble Age Sins in the Meridian when Life is Setting What a deplorable thing is it That Gospel-time the most precious time in the World should have ever have suffered so Great a Loss by thee and Thou so great a Punishment When the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty Angles in flameing fire takeing Vengeance on them that know not God and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ who shall he punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of
the Air and Fish of the Sea some obscure Resemblances of Government greater and lesser Societies Kingdoms Cities and Families the great Searchers into Philosophy have discovered By God's Ordination at first they keep their Places observe their Times do their Work Build Furnish make Dens Caves Burrows Nests set up House break up House breed up their Young help and dispose of them abroad for Common Good True it is these Patterns are but imperfectly drawn in these Creatures yet they point at Excellent Education Laws and Virtues and Teach the Wisest Sobriety Fidelity Chastity Amity Gratitude Vigilancy Diligence and unwearied care of themselves and those belonging to their Charge After the Almighty had finisht his Work The foundation of Families God's Institution created Adam and Placed him in Paradise he was pleased to say It is not good that Man should be alone I will make him an help Meet for him Although the Word Family strictly How the Word Family is taken here taken signifieth that Order of Mankind which is United in Marriage signifying the Terms of Husband and Wife Parents Children Master Servant yet here it doth include Housholds made of kind Friends living together for their mutual Benefit as Men and Christians And also it doth Include the Superior Societies of Academical Discipline and the Inferior of Countrey Schooles Both which as they be of great use for Magistracy and Ministry so they ought to be of Special Influence to Maintain Religion and Christian Government in Church and State That Famous Orator whose Name is The Formal and final causes of Families turned into a Sir-Name of Eloquence as Quintilian hath it speaking of the Union of Families hath Written that there is a more Noble Principle of Human Societies then Sense to wit the Attractive Power of Reason which by Counsels Precepts Converse Decisions and Judgments Cements and Strengtheneth Societies But God's Word speaking hereof strikes an higher Note no less a Union for Marriage then In the Lord with the exclusive Particle Tantum in Domino Only in the Lord. If this Union were observed How much more Happy would Families Relations Parishes Magistrates Ministers Kingdoms and Churches be It is a most Dangerous Design to think of Multiplying Vice and Impiety by gathering into Societies as if the Lesser Sins of Single Life Married into Company might take Liberty to swel into a Flood Gen. 6. 25. We may not think that Families and Societies were Constituted for Natural and Secular Ends but for Political and Ecclesiastical Ends the Good of Countrey and the Church of God Therefore that was an Excellent Plut. Conv. Answer made to one admiring a Fair House to wit Thou lookest upon the Glorious Outside of the Building and callest that an House not looking within how well Children are Governed and Educated Marriage Honoured the Family and all belonging to it prudently managed He saith the Author that hath such an House liveth in a Palace though in a Pismires Hill From what hath been said it is evident how much good or hurt may proceed from Families For although this Capacity must not Danger of great States from Wicked Families contend with greater Societies for Precedency of Honour yet for Priority of Nature and Eldership of Time it carrieth it from all Societies on Earth It being without Dispute that of Families Towns and Cities great States are Embodied Therefore as in Natural Bodies if the first Concoction be Imperfect it is hardly Corrected in the latter So in Civil Bodies if Families and Villages through want of Good Government abound in Vitious Manners the Malignancy presently infects Kingdoms and Churches to which they do belong It may be at the first that the Narrowness of Private Walls and Housholds send Evil Manners into the World with some kind of Pusillanimous Dulness which coming into Places of Publick Concourse grow Impudent and refuse to be ashamed Hence it is that Swearing Swilling Debauchery and Immorality Contempt of Religion and Sobriety become in a while Popular and all in Fashion If Parents give not Check to Family Sins in their Children at Home when they go forth they meet with Temptations and Patrons which turn their Youthful Exorbitances into Immoveable Habit. It is easy to observe that the want of Family-Religion is the Cause of the Visible Decay of the Wellfare of Church and State CHAP. II. Concerning the Church of God THE word Church is vulgarly taken The Significations of the word Church And how it is taken here for the Material place where the People Assemble to Worship God sometimes for the Juridical Power of Church-Officers and sometimes for the Church-Revenues But here it is taken for The Visible Church of Christ Militant upon the Earth as it Comprehends Believers of All Places and Times from first to last And as it is made up of Particular Churches or Societies of Believers And these made up of Believing Families A Christian Family should be the Epitome and Nursery of the Church But alas it is far otherwise at this day A Minister may go into divers Families in the Parish and Chappelry and not a Word of Scripture Read nor a Prayer made in the Family all the Week long as if Religion were An Enemy not A Friend to their House or That Religion were a Duty Onely on the Sabbath-Day and not on the Week day The Church of God at the first was Domestical not National till the Holy Line grew Strong and Populous from Good Families As from Adam Seth Enoch Noah Shem who lived till Isaac was 50 years old Abraham the Father of the Faithful by Promise c. And so it came to pass in After-times that as Posterity in Families Degenerated so the Church Degenerated as in Cain Ham Ishmael Esau. The Cause of the Churches Decay in our days Thus it is in our Days Ungodly Families are the Decay of God's Church they make Thin Congregations they bring a VVast upon the Solemn Assemblies What an Odious Thing is it to Loiter away the Lord's Day What an Absurdity to Indulge the Flesh upon the Lord's Day and give the Flesh no Rest upon the Week Day What a piece of Wickedness is it to go forth all the Week to Serve the World and Refuse to go forth on the Lord's Day to Serve him Who would think that Sabbath-Profanation were so shameless in Families called Christian Why should a poor excuse hinder Men and Women from the Church which must not from the Market How many Halts do some Make when they should Goe to the Church to Sanctify the Lord's-Day in their Conscionable Attendance upon God's Ordinances What an Unseemly Thing is it to Skulk at Home or at a Neighbours House to Chatt and Talk away to Feast away Sleep away Surfeit away Bibb and Fiddle Smoak and Pipe for Carnal Pleasure to Visit away and for Profit to Travel away the Lord's-Day when they should be waiting at the Gates of VVisdom O what pitty is it that obscure
the Lord and from the glory of his power 2 Thes. 1. 7 8 9 What a misery is it that thou hast lived to see so many Gospel-years with Rain and Sun-shine hast been partaker of the Labours of God's Husbandmen and of their Seed and should'st have come into the Barn as a Shock of Corn in his season yet now at last thou provest no better then a Bundle of Tares Ah what a Curse is it to be thus long-liv'd Is it not a sad Spectacle to see Governours of Families in Gray-haires and without the Leaves of outward Religious Duties in their Houses Matt. 21. 19 It may be said of such that they have unhappily improved the Stock of Sin as long and as far as they could and that a long-lived Eternity of Punishment is their desert Matt. 25. 41. 4. The sweetness of Friends shall be taken 4. Their Friends from the Wicked God withdraweth from them Spiritual and they have no better then Carnal Friends who are willing to please them in their sins Although this is accounted in Scripture to be Hatred to their Friends and Neighbours Lev. 19. 17. Thou shalt not hate thy Brother in thy Heart thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy Neighbour and not suffer sin upon him O what a Curse is it to make choice of such Friends as are hurtful to our Souls to wit of loose jovial vain Persons O what a Curse is it to have no better Friends then such as be Friends to our Sins and Enemies to our Souls Admit that a Worlding or a Loose Liver may carry Friendly from a Principle of common honesty and the Interest of his Reputation yet they do not they cannot and whilst such they will not shew a Christian Care over the Affairs of greatest moment namely the Education of the Posterity of the Deceased in Vertue and Piety Compute then what comfort a Wicked Man finds in his Friend or rather come and lament the Misery of all such Persons and Families considering that for the want of this faithful Christian Friendship and Trust the Children of Irreligious Worldly Families are in apparent danger to follow the steps of their Parents and Friends and so perpetuate and as it were entayl God's Curse upon the House still How should Families in matters of Trust for Posterity be careful in Chusing Feoffees I mean chiefly about Religion that it may not Dye in a Pious Family of Children when their Parents Dye If Seneca esteem'd at an high Rate Civil or Moral Friendship it teaches us to esteem at an higher rate Christian Friendship * Non judicabam me cum illos superstites relinquerem mori putabam inquam me victurum non cum illis sed per illos c. Ep. 78. I saith Seneca esteemed my Friends so much my Self that I thought my Self never Dead while they Lived that although I lived not on Earth with them yet being Dead I Lived by them so that I seemed rather to Deposit my Life as well as my Cares with them then to Depart this Life Not unlike one of our late English Senators Expressions viz. †L. Bacon's Essays A Friend is far more then a Mans Self Men have their Time and Dye in the desire of some things which they principally take to heart the Bestowing of a Child the Finishing of a Work or the like If a Man have a True Friend he may rest almost Secure that the Care of these things shall continue after him So that a Man hath as it were Two Lives in his Desires Obj. But Solomon in one place saith That the rich hath many friends Prov. 14. 20. And in another Wealth maketh many friends Prov. 19. 4 What matter then Money is my Friend my Estate is my Friend Ans. Solomon in both places discovers the Covetousness and Partiality of Men in the World who for Advantage-sake sell the Truth in Witness-bearing and accept Persons in Judgment And who knows not how apt Men are to be drawn with Silver and Gold Twist * Utilis amicitia ultimum habet locum quas amicitias utilitas conglutinat easdem resolvit Cic. in Laelia Amicitia non est nisi inter bonos Ibid. Of all sorts of Friends Money-Friends are the worst-Friends to the Purse not to the Person Hence it is that if they Judge the Gift or Fee too little then they conclude their Service and Trust too cheap and they will do far less or quite neglect their Duty The truth is A Real Substantial Friend is the Conscientious Man Neh. 7. 2. Daniel Chap. 6. 4 5. Verses It is a True saying Friendship cannot be there where Goodness is not He that loveth pureness of heart for the grace of his lips the King shall be his friend Prov. 22. 11. Parts and Endowments of Wicked Men 5. Parts and Endowments are lyable to God's Curse And what a sore evil do Parents and Masters of Families bring upon themselves and those under their Charge hereby What a Cursed thing is it to have their Intellectuals poyson'd infatuated and corrupted with Atheistical Principles dangerous Opinions and Damnable Practices What a Judgment is it to have their Gold and Silver Canker'd and their choisest Endowments vitiated Let no Wicked Person conclude and presume of God's Love to him from Gifts It is not Distribution nor Receiving of Gifts no true sign of Grace Talents but Grace to employ them well which is an Evidence of God's Love Matt. 25. 30. What great pitty is it to see Men of Breeding and Quality in the World whose Time of Education hath been as Expensive as the Lives of most Men to strip themselves of their Ornaments and trample upon them in the Vomit and Sink of Luxury and Surfeting And how sad is it afterwards in stead of Ingenuity to acknowledge to Prostitute their Gifts and Parts to make Defences for their Enormities Is not this Treason against Heaven to Clip God's Coin his Gifts to Guild their own Dross their Sins to make them Currant in the World Namely to call Healthing and Carousing Good Fellowship Loyalty or Civility To call Swearing Hectoring and Duelling Gallantry or Manhood to call Covetousness good Husbandry and Prodigality Generosity Ah What a Curse is this to become Panders and Devils to draw themselves and others into Hell more securely Is it not Cursed for knowing Persons to hide extenuate and plead for Sin Is not this to Justify that which Christ came to Condemn than which what is more vile and abominable Woe to them that call evil good and good evil that put darkness for light and light for darkness that put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter Isa. 5. 20. These are wise to do evil but to do good have no knowledge Jer. 4. 22. The light of the body is the eye therefore when thine eye is single thy whole body is full of light but when thine eye is evil thy body is full of darkness Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee
brings me to the next Particular viz. 3. And Lastly Wicked Men provoke 3. The value of Riches God to Curse them for the Value they make of Riches God placed Man over those Sublunary things and now sinful contemptible Man will stoop as low as Hell for them How strangely are Men Infatuated to Dote upon Dirt and Dross Who would think that a Reasonable Creature placed his Happiness on Thick Clay on Wind on that which is not Habb 2. 6. Eccl. 5. 16. Prov. 23. 5. Yet so we find it Luke 12. 19. Soul Soul take thine ease c. To place God and the Creature in the same Rank and Order and to Worship the Creature joyntly with the Creator is no less sin then Idolatry but to set the Creature above the Creator iâ— Atheism If this were not so the Worlds Trinity would not have so many Votaries and Sacrifices of Souls and Bodies How can such Men and Women as these be in God's Favour Can that Man or Family have the Blessing of God upon them and theirs which bow down to the Gods of Silver and Gold Ah What is Man without Divine Grace How sensual how Sad Effects of over valuing this World base how brutish in choice and affection This Rate which Carual and Forthly Men set on Temporal Things openeth a wide door to all manner of sin Bribery Oppression Dissembling Lying Perjury Flattery Oppressive Tyrannical Law-Suits Temporizing and Unhappy Disposing of Children to Services to Trades to Preferments and to Marriages But is this all No worse is behind 2. Wicked Men and their Houses lyable to God's Curse in Spiritual Things for Wicked Men and their Families are subject to God's Curse not onely in Temporal Things but in Spiritual Things that is when they perform the Outward Duties of Religion As Prayer Hearing the Word coming to the Sacrament Reading God's Word Reading Good Books and Conference about matters of Religion 1. When Wicked Men Pray Their Prayers are an Abomination He that turneth In respect of Prayer away his Ear from hearing the Law even his Prayer shall be an Abomination Prov. 28. 9. The Sacrifice of the wicked is abomination to the Lord but the Prayer of the upright is his delight Prov. 15. 8. That the Actions of Wicked Men whether Natural Civil or Religious are obnoxious to God's Curse hath been mention'd before Under another Head namely The Vocation or Employments of Wicked Men. Now as to the Matter in hand concerning outward Religious Works of Unregenerate Men whether publick upon the Lord's Day or private in the Family take notice of these following Particulars to prevent mistakes least any harden their hearts in Omission of outward Duties 1. That those Persons sin more who Pray not at all in their Houses then such as make Prayer It is better to do that which is Materially Good then that which is both Materially and Formally Evil. It is better to have a Form of Worship and Religion then Atheistical Prophaneness It is better to have Leaves of Profession then nothing but the Cursed Fruits of a Corrupt Tree It is more Eligible ex natura rei to exercise Common Gifts and Operations of the Spirit and some Feeling in the Conscience than to be Barren of All Gifts and Dead to all outward Duties of Religion Isa. 43. 23. Amos 5. 25. Thou hast not brought me the small Cattel of thy burnt-offerings c. Have ye offered unto me sacrifiee and offerings c 2. That God is pleased to Reward with Temporal Blessings such as Pray and Humble themselves for their sins though they be not true Believers and sincere therein God is pleased to Encourage all sort of sinners to observe and set up Outward Duties of Religion and they shall fare the Better It is not without Reward to perform some Formalities of Worship though done in Hypocrisy 1 Kings 21. 29. Seest thou how Ahab humbleth himself before me c. Here is a Great Temporal Mercy given to Ahab during his Life I will not bring the evil in his days 3. Consider That none be hardened in their Omission of the Externals of Religion I say let them know That sin is in the Person before it Infect the Performance In the Subject before it corrupt the Action Therefore let the blame be laid where it ought not upon Religion nor the Duties thereof but upon the Professor and his bad Life 4. Seeing the condition of Unregenerate and Wicked Men is so contagious that it pollutes all their Outward Religious Actions let them make hast to get out by the use of all means of God's appointment in order to their Conversion As by Prayer Hearing the Word Reading the Word Reading Good Books and by Good Company as before-mentioned For although the Prayers of the Wicked and Unregenerate be unpleasing to God yea an abomination yet it is their Duty to Pray that they may be turned from their Wicked ways that so their Persons and Performances may find acceptance through Christ. O let all sorts of Prayer-less Families Pray that they may Pray in Faith and that they may become sincere and down-right Christians If you have any Bowels of Compassion for your own Souls and the Souls of your Children get out of the Cursed Condition of Wicked Men. Who would lead a Wicked Life if he were sensible of his Misery and the Curse of God upon the House of the Wicked 2. Wicked Men are subject to Gods Curse In hearing the Word They are the bad 2. In respect of Hearing the Word ground which receiveth seed among Thorns and Briers Such Earth as beareth Thorns and Briers is rejected and nigh unto Cursing whose end is to be burned Heb. 6. 8. As they come unprepared to hear so they depart without profit The fault is not in the Seed but in the ground which receiveth it The life of the Wicked is compared to untilled rough thorny fallow ground Jer. 4. 3. What Fruit can be expected from it How can the Seed of the word and a wicked heart agree Who would live in the condition of a wicked Man Who trembleth not to be under Gods Ordinances without a blessing what heart dreads not to be subject to Gods Curse Who would not be afraid to hear the blessing pronounc'd and have no share in it Come then to the word for Grace to make thee a New-man to reform thy wicked course of Life Come to Bethesda there is hope of thy cure of thy conversion though thou hast a long time been in this case If thou art willing to be made whole if thou art willing to become a New Creature the work will be done Jo. 5. 6. Let nothing hinder or discourage thee because of thy wickedness or being Obnoxious to Gods Curse in hearing the word but let it much more perswade and quicken thee to a constant and conscionable attendance upon the word There is hope of Grace in the use of means of Grace but by refusing the means
nunquam desinit esse Maelum nunquam desinat esse Miser Men prolonged for ever upon Earth they would sin for ever The guilt and filth of sin descends into Hell with the Impenitent and the Damned are ever Living and ever Sining therefore it is Just that their Punishment run Paralel with their sining 2. In respect of Duration sin and punishment may be considered and in this respect they both are Infinite i. e. the malignity emnity and contrariety of sin to God's purity and goodness remaineth for ever and the punishment is inflicted for ever Gods word hath placed Rewards and Punishments one against another Mat. 25. Last And these shall go into everlasting Punishment but the Righteous into Life Eternal The wages of Sin is Death but the Gift of God is Eternal Life through Jesus Christ our Lord. As Rewards are Eternal so Punishments are Eternal As Life is Eternal so Death is Eternal By the Rule of Contraries these Illustrate one another 3. Sin and Punishment are considered in respect of the Object or against whom sin is committed i. e. against the Majesty of Heaven and Earth the supreme Law-giver of Infinite Justice and Holiness Sin in this respect may be said to be Infinite being the Transgression of the Law of an Infinite Majesty For more full Answer to this Question 1. Observe That although Mans Time of sinning be but short compared to Eternity of suffering yet this doth not appertain to the Nature of sin being Extrinsecal to it for the sin of Apostate Angels presently after the Commission was in it self abstractively taken for that Malicious defection and deformity from the chief Good as hateful and contrary to God as it was afterwards and farther on In like manner the sin of our first Parents deserved Eternal Punishment the very first Day as well as in future time The Reason hereof is this We ought in this matter enquire into the Moral Evil Internal principles and roots of sin the formality of it emnity privation separation and aversation from Mans chief end the enjoyment of God himself the Being of Beings and Fountain of Happiness 2. Quest. But seeing that there be some that 2 Quest. dye in their Infancy some in their Childhood others in Youth ripe Age old Age. And seeing there be Greater and Lesser sins as they admit of aggravations against the Light of Nature and against the Gospel How can it be said that they suffer Justly in case all suffer Eternally Answ. Punishment hereafter is proportionable The Answer to Wicked Mens sins committed in this Life and all sorts shall have their Just Deserts Christ Jesus the Judge of all the World will reward every one according to his work Mat. 16. 27. The greater and lesser sins shall have greater and lesser Punishment but all shall have Eternal Punishment There are Degrees of Punishment in Hell as of sinning on Earth but Eternity of suffering is the Portion of all The least sin deserveth Eternal Death There are not Physical Degrees in this Death There is no Diminution in Infiniteness nor Brevity in Eternity O let every Wicked Man be upon his Knees and pray for true faith in Christ and Repentance of his sins let him give no sleep to his Eyes nor slumber to his Eye-Lids till he partake of the Mercy of God and Infinite merits of Jesus Christ the Son of God who alone delivereth from this dreadful wrath to come 1 Thess. 1. 10. CHAP. IV. The Pernicious Influence of the Sins of Wicked Families upon this Church and Kingdom from seven Aggravations 1. THere was never any Nation well 1. Aggravation of Family Impiety It depopulates Kingdoms Sir W. R. Ghost and peaceably Governed in the which Religion and a Perswasion of a Divine Providence was not well and soundly planted in the minds of Men. And the more that any one was privately devoted to Religion and the Reverencing of a Divine Spirit the more Illustrious and Famous he became in all innocency and probity of Life As the secret Atheism of Mens Judgments so the known Atheism of their Practise opens the Door to all Wickedness Injustice Pride Perjury Tyranny Sacriledge or any other Villany Psal. 14. 1 2 c. Titus 1. Last They profess they know God but in works they deny him being abominable and disobedient and to every good work reprobate It is observable that the Book called the Practise of Piety was Dedicated to King Charles the First then Heir Apparent of these Kingdoms Intimating that true Religion is the best Crown Imperial the undoubted Glory and Safety of Church and State Wisdom is better then Weapons of War but one sinner destroyeth much good Eccles. 9. Last The good of the Commonalty depends upon the Exercise of Religion If thou hast true Loyalty in Una custodia Pietas Char. of Wisdom thy heart live with an Awe of Religion in thy Family the want whereof will render thee unjust abroad as well as at home Those that are without Devoted Service to God will not be subject to Rulers for Conscience sake He that is subject only upon the account Bp. Wilkins Sermon before the King 1670. of wrath and the Power of the Sword which is over him will be no longer so when he hath an opportunity of escaping or resisting that Power Nor is there any possible way to secure Men in their quiet subjection and obedience but by their being obliged for Conscience sake And therefore such kind of Persons as by their open profaneness and contempt of Religion do endeavour to destroy Conscience from amongst Men may justly be esteemed as the worst kind of seditious Persons and most pernicious to civil Government Was it not hence that the Roman Empire suffered so much namely from their Cateline Brutus Cassius Sylla Marius and such like wicked fellows Righteousness exalts a Nation but sin is a reproach to any People Prov. 14. 34. It is the observation of Josephus in his Antiquities that the Jews were grown very prophane and careless of Religion before the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans The Lord hath a controversy with the Inhabitants of the Land Because there is no Truth nor Mercy nor Knowledge of God in the Land By Swearing and Lying and Killing and Stealing and Committing Adultery they break out and Blood toucheth Blood Therefore shall the Land mourn and every one that dwelleth therein c. Hos. 4. 1 2 3. The abominable wickedness of Canaan provoked the Lord to visit the iniquity thereof upon it and the Land vomitted out her Inhabitants Ye shall therefore keep my Statutes and my Judgments c. That the Land spue not you out also when ye defile it c. Levit. 18. 25 26 27 28. Personal sins quickly become Popular and as sin goeth not alone so it goeth not without its Contagion It is a Plague and infects others when we see them not it is as diffusive as the air which we breath in There is much danger in