doth God suffer it It is added Israel joyned himselfe unto Baal-peor and the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel T is that sinne which he will revenge and severely So the forenamed place Hos 9.10 may be read in this sense to signifie the punishment which God will inflict They went to Baal-peor and separated themselues 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to shame that is to their owne shame I the rather enlarged my selfe upon this because the sinne hath some pleaders and patrons as if it were veniall and not so hainous as severer Preachers seeme to make it But as it was spoken in another case Ah! Let Baal plead for himselfe To defend unchastitie in the least measure were to be a Baud to prostitutes They are loose ungovernd wanton times wee may feare God may send a sweeping destruction to make cleane a loathsome nastie foul-spotted people 2. Thus wee see in them the parallel of our sinnes secondly let us now take notice of their of our aggravations 1. Our boldnesse in sinning Wee breake out no bonds no Law no discipline restraines us But as we haue seene a mightie furious Torrent when the proud waues grow strong with the addition of new waters it swells over the bankes makes breaches and rushes over what ever lyes to hinder the course So and much more are wee mad after sinne and neglect all Law made to oppose or curb our violence I thinke that it is the Metaphor the Prophet here useth They breake out Iob hath another and a fit one of the Horse prepared to the Battell it cares not for the noyse of the Trumpets for the clattering of weapons and armour for the confused Cryes of men wounded but ventures on without feare So the bold sinner rushes upon evill and cares onely to sinne without feare of an after-reckoning Men are not now bashfull to offend but though wicked workes are called workes of darkenes they are committed in the day in the sight of the Sunne It aggravated the fault of Absolom that he lay with his Fathers Concubines before all the people That Zimri and Cosbi worshipped Peor before the face of Moses in the sight of all the Congregation Heretofore men blushed when they sinned I haue heard men say that the extortions of griping Officers were called Gratuities for expedition but now those Wormes dare speake loud the language of Elyes sonnes If any say Faile not to burne the fat presently and then take as much as thy soule desireth They are readie to answere Nay but thou shalt giue it me now and if not I will take it by force 1 Sam. 2.16 The Apostle intimates that shame attends sinne What fruit had yee then of those things whereof yee are now ashamed Rom. 6.21 But where is that ingenuitie which Paul found among the Romans Where that modestie Men are not ashamed of whoring drinking swearing envying but as the Apostle in somewhat another sense Gal. 5.19 Now the workes of the flesh are manifest Men sinne with courage with confidence with violence They breake out 2. Our multitude of sinnes Bloud toucheth bloud a generall profanenesse hath spread it selfe The sinnes of former times were but as drops or as small gliding brookes ours as Torrents broad deepe Chanells by the confluence of many waters Some men that are not old remember when Drunkards were as Owles gazed on and hooted at by boyes now every Alehouse hath a full croud and which I would the Magistrates that are present would take notice of the Benches there are thronged when sometimes the seates here are more emptie Oaths were more rare now they are vied with words in a neglectiue manner men use them and forget that they use them It were not an easie matter to name those many sinnes that with ease are committed wastfulnesse pride wantonnesse worldlinesse contempt of the Word slighting the Ordinances and other the like are beyond Arithmeticke I cannot marshall them into their rankes because of the throng Bloud toucheth bloud 3. Wee are of Israel El is the name of God The name of God is named upon us It were not so much for enemies for strangers to offend but as we are to offend is not onely to displease but to reproach our God T is the relation that makes the dishonour redound to him A foolish sonne dishonoureth his father and is a shame to his mother and therefore a shame because a sonne We all haue indignation at it that we heare of some about us that liue disordered but it doth not more particularly touch us then others but if the sonne of any of us should lead the disorder this would touch with discredit as well as indignation It is our profession our religion which we are unanswerable unto that dishonours God and aggravates our sinne Here is the strength of the aggravation and motiue to repent The name of Solomon is named upon the Shulamite and therefore Returne returne O Shulamite returne returne Cant. 6.13 God is named upon his people Heare the word O Israel 4. We are Inhabitants and what doth more aggravate sinne then to sinne against strong engagements the Lord challenges such unkindnesse of unnaturalnesse and exclaimes against it to the witnesse of insensible creatures Heare O heavens and giue eare O earth I haue nourished and brought up children and they haue rebelled against me Esay 1.2 Bounty tyeth us to the observance of a benefactor what Land a Land made happy by the Gospell and a continued peace together with the Gospell yet we rebell This is the last aggravation in the Text The Lord hath a controversie with the Inhabitants of the Land I haue done with the first and proceed to a second application 2. Vse As we haue found out so let us endeavour to remoue the cause of wrath Punishment is the shadow while sinne stands unremoved and if that be removed this continues not The controversie is Gods and it is not possible for us to resist God he hath many wayes to plead his owne cause to accomplish his fury as himselfe speakes and useth that phrase Ezek. 6.12 He that is farre off shall die of the pestilence and hee that is neere shall fall by the sword and he that remaines and is besieged shall die by the famine thus will I accomplish my fury upon them To prevent such fury men haue usually recourse unto their several strengths for all men frame unto themselues some strength where they may refuge themselues from danger The Idolaters strength is his Idol but that cannot deliver from God and therefore it followes in the thirteenth verse Then shall ye know that I am the Lord when their slaine men shall be among their Idols round about their altars the place where they did offer sweete savour to all their Idols We cannot prevaile by standing out as God hath his action against us so his processes to fetch us in There is a capias or exigi facias in causes of treason or felony and God pleases to keepe a
primitiue Churches began with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to moue the people to attend and continue reverent 2. The Message In that we consider these particulars 1. There is a Controversie Heare yee the word of the Lord for the Lord hath a Controversie It is not I but the Lord that expostulates with you There is a suite of the Kings peace against you God hath his action or suite or processe or plea against us all those words are expressiue and God himselfe speakes in such a forme My spirit shall not alwayes striue with man Gen. 6.3 2. The partyes in the Controversie God with the Inhabitants of the Land That giues at least an oblique and tacite touch upon their ingratitude and Gods goodnesse they were still Inhabitants of that Land which they had forfeited 3. The cause of the Controversie Because there is no truth nor mercy c. The forme is thus in the Civilians instance Titius and Maevius contract and agree Maevius breakes the Articles contracted Titius sues him God had covenanted with Israel Israel stipulated The Covenant on the part of God was performed They were Inhabitants at present of the promised Land on Israels part it held not The breach is objected 1. Their sinnes 2. The Aggravations 1. Their sinnes of omission and commission 1. Of omission 1. No truth that is no civill Faith for Emeth is not taken Metaphysically here 2. No mercy that is no inward pittifulnesse or outward relieving for Chesed signifies both mercifulnesse and beneficence 3. No knowledge of God that is neither feare nor reverence So Thargum Ionathae renders it Neque qui ambulent in timore domini This summes up the other sinnes they breake the Law as if there were no God there is no truth nor mercy in a word to giue the ground of all there is no knowledge of God in the Land 2. Of Commission 1. No truth but 1. Swearing 2. Lying Both to colour fraudulent and untrue dealings 2. No mercy but 1. Quoad corpus in respect of life and safetie Killing 2. Quoad bena in respect of goods and estate stealing 3. Quoad famam in respect of credit and reputation Committing adultery 2. These were their sinnes secondly wee haue proposed the aggravations of their sinnes 1. Their boldnesse in Sinning They breake out they doe Transire terminum as the word notes they goe over or beyond their bound No hedges of Law or Discipline could keepe them in order or quiet obedience 2. The multitude of their sinnes Bloud toucheth bloud 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as in the translation of the Seventie Ionathas giues a double sence Generam filios ex uxoribus proximorum suorum aggregant peccata peccatis Aben-Ezra would restrain it to the sinne of frequent murders the bloud of one slaine man touching the bloud of another slaine But while the Thargum enterprets it of Incest Aben-Ezra of Murther they are both too strained but the minde of the Prophet seemes rather to denote their multitude that sinnes were chained together heaped upon one another which is to haue the hands full of bloud according to the phrase of another Prophet Esa 1.15 I haue kept you too long in the clearing of a Text not difficult all that I entend to make use of in it I shall reduce to one generall head That sinne causeth Gods Controversie with a Land The Scripture abounds in the proofe of this doctrine Heare yee O mountaines the Lords Controversie and yee strong foundations of the earth for the Lord hath a controversie with his people and he will pleade with Israel But wherefore is the suit or how occasioned The Lord doth not quarrel but their ingratefulnesse and rebellion forceth a Complaint Oh my people what haue I done unto thee and wherein haue I wearied thee testifie against me Thus we finde Hosea's Sermon in the mouth of Micah Mic. 6.2.3 And before that the same Hosea had delivered the same message Plead with your mother plead for she is not my wife neither am I her husband and the reason was because her adulteries were betweene her breasts Hos 2.2 And though Ieremiah laments Gods stroake he cannot challenge Gods Iustice but every where cleares that For the multitude of her transgressions her children are gone into Captivitie Lam. 1.5 The joy of our heart is ceased our dance is turned into mourning the Crowne is fallen from our head woe unto us that wee haue sinned Lam. 5.15.16 David is expresse Fooles because of their transgression are afflicted Psal 107.17 â—e not presse more testimonies yet they are not unneedfull to answere proud mans Question Rebellious man sometimes questions Gods dealings and God answers If thou say in thy heart Wherefore come these things upon mee For the greatnesse of thine iniquitie are thy skirts discovered and thy heeles made bare Ierem. 13.22 But we shall see it more confirmed if we touch at the grounds of this Truth 1. Sinne breakes Covenant and therefore no wonder it procureth a suite When God Covenants he Articles with man He sets a Law and Articles for obedience sinne is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a transgression of Articles a departure from the Set-Law and God must needs be offended at such a Breach 2. Sinne breakes love-tyes and when sacred relations are slighted it not barely occasions but provokes unto a suit For the bond of friendship for the sake of a knowne amitie God would not haue sinne entertained of his Leaguers but when sinne is welcom'd it separates God Your iniquities haue separated between you and your God he was you God in an holy relation but iniquitie hath put a distance he becomes a stranger that was wont to entertaine you friendly he that was wont to afford a smiling face now distasts you your sinnes haue hid his face from you Esay 59.2 Gods dealings with man are expressed in his owne expression of his carriage toward Ephraim Hos 11.4 He drawes us with cords of a man with bands of loue deales gently with us not tyrannically he is to us as they that take off the yoke he is wise and pittifull to ease us when over-wearied and hee layes meate unto us he is plentifull and provident for our necessities these are tyes of loue and God so speakes as if he were not at quiet within himselfe as being just yet loth to be severe How shall I give thee up Ephraim how shall I deliver thee Israel How shall I make thee as Admah Ephraim hath deserved Sodoms destruction but the Lords repentings are kindled together What then Shall Ephraim Shall Israel be secure Nay if wee are bent to back sliding from him He will haue a controversie as is plainly enough discovered in the second verse of the twelfth Chapter of the same Hosea 2. Sinne is offensive unto God and so it becomes an action of trespasse There are bonds of neighbourhood and in respect of the keeping of these we are said to bee righteous unto one another and an offence against these is called
legall course in his writs he begins with a venire facias if we answer not he sends a capias pluries but not to triflle or play with the metaphor I meane we cannot be out of Gods reach And when we appeare there is no contending for he is Iudge of the cause and the Court is his and shall wee contend with the Iudge in his owne Court Wee are sure to be cast yet he is not unjust to make a partiall decision but we are therefore sure to be cast out because he is just How then or what course shall we take Wee must first worke on his will which I would haue entertained in the sense I meane it and shall explaine it and after upon his power Wee cannot overcome the Lord unlesse the Lord bee pleased to shew which way he may be overcome so Samson dealt with Dalilah if it be not presumption to compare this matter with such a type Samson was strong beyond the Philistins power till at length himselfe told where his strength lay and how the otherwise weake might overcome him God hath revealed the way to make vs conquerors wee must meet him by humiliation and repentance This is our wisedome to be submisse By submission God winnes of us and wee of God God quarrells but for his glory he strikes us to make us humble that wee acknowledge him our Soveraigne when wee are submisse God hath tamed us and wee giue God challenges his honour in our subjection and obedience That which we striue for is our safetie submission prevailes for that for God leaues to strike when wee leaue to be stubborne By this meanes both are Conquerors and both Triumph Let us set upon this remedie Gather your selues together before the decrees bring forth before the day of the Lords anger come upon you seeke yee the Lord all yee meeke upon the earth Zeph. 2.1.2.3 The meeke or the broken for so the word sounds like the Hebrew 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mach attrivit or marcuit must seeke the Lord they shall be hid in the day of the Lords anger Obserue what God promiseth to our incouragement Levit. 26.40.41.42 If they shall confesse their iniquitie that they haue walked contrary unto mee if their uncircumcised hearts shall be humbled and they accept of the punishment of their iniquities then I will remember my Covenant and I will remember the Land If our untamed hearts could bowe and relent before him God would lay downe the suite Will yee see what he will doe in what he hath done The instance is in the Prophet Iere. 31.18.20 I haue surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himselfe thus Thou hast chastised mee and I was chastised as a Bullocke unaccustomed to the yoke turne thou mee and I shall be turned thou art the Lord my God Is Ephraim my deare sonne Is he a pleasant childe For since I spake against him I doe earnestly remember him still therefore my bowells are troubled for him I will surely haue mercy upon him saith the Lord. Looke backe into the Scriptures upon the triumphs of humble supplicants see David remooving the pestilence Iehosaphat the invasion the Ninivites their destruction and then learne man-hood in the Combat Oh that wee could be truely humble that we were truely reformed that Magistrates would cleanse the Augaean stable that Ministers would be like the Baptist burning and shining Lights burning as well as shining that all people would be answerable to the meanes they haue to the Gospell they professe that wee would try God in the due performance of a right Fast that wee might hope that in Haggai might be spoken to us From this day I blesse you Hag. 2.19 Let us meet the Lord send forth to meet him that he may be pacified The Lord is marching on and he driues like Iehu furiously learne Iorams wisedome Ioram sayd Take an Horseman and send to meet him and let him say Is it peace 2 King 9.17 Let us send out while God is in the way in the way of his judgements let us enquire what he meanes by these visitations that he comes so neare us let us enquire Is it peace Is it peace And because wee are sure to receiue that answere not so much harsh as righteous What peace so long as the whoredomes of Iezabel remaine Therefore let us cast out Iezabel the ground of the quarrell and not goe forth to resist God but goe forth to fall downe before him It was a good policie in that servant Mat. 18.27 When his Maister commanded payment should be made the servant unable to pay and more unable to contend fell downe and worshipped him saying Lord haue patience with mee and I will pay thee all Wee onely fayle in that wee cannot promise we will pay him all wee can onely begge Lord haue patience with us When God maintaines his action and proceeds let us propitiate him by lamentation Lord we submit wee yeeld the cause where proud rebells would be stubborne to plead for Rights wee onely are wife to beg for favour This must be our way let us lament and as the phrase in Amos is very expressiue Let us call the skilfull in lamentation to lament Amos 5.16 As in other things there is a skill in the performance of holy duties many Fast and yet prevaile not because though they doe the worke they finde not the right way to doe it he laments skilfully that laments humbly thus shall our Fast be profitable God appeased and the Controversie layd downe GENESIS 32.9.11 And Iacob sayd O God of my Father Abraham Deliver mee I pray thee from the hand of my brother IF man haue a Controversie with us it is because God hath one yet this is the Christians advantage to haue recourse to God though at controversie to haue reliefe against anothers suite The Text is in the eighth Section of the Hebrew Doctors Lectures beginning at the third Verse of this and continues to the end of the thirtie-sixth Chapter This part of the Parashu is the Story of what befell Iacob in his way the relation of two dangers His feare of Esau His wrestling with the Angel While wee liue wee are upon our journey and while upon our journey wee are in the warre and haue Catenata certamina new on-sets frequent Encounters Iacob had hot Combatings he feares Esau and thinkes himselfe forsaken he wrestles with an Angel and apprehends God as an enemy yet he continues in the field prevailes in both I le not touch upon the Story to leade you on to what I haue chosen and meane to dwell upon The first part of the Story is Iacobs going home-ward wee may obserue in it 1. His meeting of the Angels ver 1.2 Iacob went on his way and the Angels of God met him There were an Host of men with Esau and here an Army of Angels with Iacob God every where affords defence unto his owne O tast and see that the Lord is good The Angel of the Lord encampeth round about