ordained you a Magistrate vnder his Maiestie and hath put the Sword of Iustice into your hand I would desire you to take notice that he hath also an Axe in his hand therefore like a good tree bring forth good fruit in that place wherein he hath set you be the Orphans father and the Widowes husband be of a good courage and bee zealous for your great Lord and Master your Maker the Lord of hosts protect and countenance the good correct and cut down the bad lest the Lord hewe you downe and cast you into Hell fire 4 Iudges and Lawyers Ye Reuerend Iudges of the Land and all ye that trauell in the Study and Practise of the Law remember there is a dreadfull Judge aboue you euen the Lord of Heauen and Earth who will one day call all of you to a strict account for all your courses Therefore like good trees bring forth good fruite in your seuerall places as you will answer it at the Barre of his Tribunal Let neither the feare of greatnes nor vnrighteous Mammon let neither priuate spleene nor particular affection so preuaile with you as to interturbe and ouerturne the course of Iustice but walk vprightly and conscionably as hauing the feare of God before your eyes lest he hew you downe and cast you into hell fire 5 Tradesmen All ye that exercise your selues in Ciuill commerce come hither and consider what I shall say vnto you What will it aduantage you to bee Lords ouer the whole world to loose your owne soules Luke 9.25 Therefore so Sell and Buy and Barter that ye make not shipwracke of a Good Conscience loose the kingdom of heauen into your Bargaines that is deale honestly and sincerely with al men as it becommeth the Seruants of Christ and doe not go about cunningly to intrap any with termes of Equiuocation and to cheat them with false Wares Measures and Weights for these things are an abomination vnto the Lord. But aboue all things take heed of that most frequent and most fearefull custome of swearing worth and credit into your Commodities lest while ye labour to make them marchantable and good penny-worths with man yee loose your credit and your penny that is your Crowne of Glory with God Thinke vpon it for beleeue it the time will come when the Lord shall weigh you in his Ballance as he did Belshazzar and shall Daâ— 9 25. if he find you too light seperate you from the Kingdome of Heauen as farre as the East is from the West and the North from the South for euery Tree that bringeth not forth good fruite shall bee hewen downe and cast into the Fre. In the next place take notice of this all ye 6 Maried folke whom the Lord hath linked together in Holy and Honourable Matrimony that so yee may bring forth fruit beseeming so holy and so honourable an estate Make conscience of performing those seuerall Offices and respects God in his Sacred Word requireth of you one towards another Bee Carefull Religiously and Constantly to obserue and pay those Solemne vowes yee made before God and Men at the Solemnization of your Nuptialls More particularly and principaâ—ly seeing God hath made you One of Two Gen. 2.24 suffer not the Diuel to make you Two of One but liue peaceably discreetly and loyally together nourish mutuall affection 1. Thess 4.4 and possesse your vessels that is your bodies in holinesse and honour and keepe your selues one to another as vndefiled members of Christs Body Hâ—b 13.4 free from lusting after strange flesh least yee bee hewen downe and cast into the Fire Againe shall euery Tree not bringing forth good fruit be hewen downe and cast into the fire Consider this all yee whom the Lord hath blessed with the fruite of the Wombe 7 Parents least this temporall blessing proue your eternall bane Thinke it not enough that yee bring forth children into the world and prouide for them an earthly inheritance vnlesse yee also bring them vp vnto the Lord and so fit them for the Kingdome of Heauen Alasse what is their first generation more then their Corruption Psal 51 5. for they are shaped in wickednesse and conceiued in sinne and so poore Infants Damnati antequam nati they are damned before their mothers are deliuered and being so what is your Temporall prouision vnto them though neuer so plentifull if after their ioy in this World if they know any they be so farre from knowing any in the next that on the contrary they lye howling in Hell flames for euer If therefore you truely loue your Children for their sakes vndertake a second labour and bring forth this good fruite of your Fatherly loue towards them once more trauell in paine of them but as Paul did of the Galathians till Christ be formed in them Gal. 4.19 labour that they may be begotten a new in Christ by the immortall seede of the Word 1. Pet. 1.23 and bee made heyres of the Kingdome of Heauen Let it be your care whatsoeuer it cost to haue them brought vp euen from their Child-hood in the feare of God That when they leaue this world they may attaine vnto the Land of euerlasting life there to raigne with Christ world without end And if you will not doe thus much for their sakes at least doe it for your owne sakes For know to bring forth this good fruit of true fatherly affection to bee carefull for the Spirituall well-fare of your Children and to promote and further it to the vtmost of your power is a dutie God strictly inioyneth And if through neglect hereof your Children rebell against God Ephes 6.4 he will require their blood at your hands For as God doth visite the sinnes of the Fathers vpon the Children So he doth visite the sinns of the Children vpon the Fathers For an instance remember Old Eli 1. Sam. 2. when his Sonnes trespassed against God He did not sharpely reprooue and correct them but suffered theÌ„ to run on in their Sins this was his ruine In a word remeÌ„ber the IudgmeÌ„t here threatned in my Text be moued thereby to bring forth the good fruite of true Fatherly affectioÌ„ instruct your Children in the feare of the Lord reproue correct theÌ„ wheÌ„ they offend the Lord least the Lord hew you downe and cast you into the fire 8 Children In like manner yee Children remember the Rocke out of which yee were hewen the Stocke whereof yee are stemmes your Parents from whom next vnder God yee haue receiued your naturall beeing Oh wound not their tender hearts with your vntoward carriage and rebellious courses the only course to accelerate and hasten their heads to the graue but like good Children bring forth the good fruit of filiall feare and affection that yee may exhilarate reioyce their Soules to the prolonging of their dayes Reuerence them inwardly in your hearts outwardly in your Behauiour yeeld vnto
certainly be inflicted Yea to intimate the vndoubted certaintie thereof it is not heere said in the future Tense The tree which bringeth not forth good fruit shall bee hewen downe and cast into the fire but is hewen downe and cast into the fire it being as certaine as if it were already inflicted So hee which beleeueth not Iohn 3.18 is already condemned saith our Sauiour The Law hath already denounced the Sentence of malediction against the Sinner Cursed is hee that confirmeth not all the words of the Law to doe them Deut. 27.26 And what the curse of the law is is not vnknown to the veriest Babe in Christianitie it is the eternall destruction of body and soule in hell fire So that there is nothing wanting vnto the certaintie of this Penaltie but a more solemne declaration and a reall execution thereof which shall be then effected when the Sonne of man our Lord Iesus Christ shall come in the clouds in his Glory accompanied with all his holy Angels to iudge the quicke and the dead then shall hee pronounce that dreadfull Sentence of condemnation Discedite a me maledicti Matth. 25.41 Depart from me ye cursed into euerlasting fire which is prepared for the Diuell and his Angels and then shall it be put into execution for they shall goe into euerlasting torments verse 46 The Generalitie or exteâ—t of the Penaltie And let no man delighting in impiety delude his own soule with a vaine hope of impunitie let him not thinke to escape the iudgement of God whilest he commiteth such things as are worthy of death Rom. 1 32. for the Lord is a powerfull and an impartiall Iudge Who can stand before his wrath or who can abide the fiercenesse of his wrath His wrath is powred out like fire and the very Rocks are broken by him saith the Prophet King Nebuchadnezzar though a most puissant Prince a great Tree as the Scripture stiles him strong and high vnto heauen Dan. 4.11 in whose boughes the Birds of the ayre did build their nests yet saw in a Vision a Watcher Verse 14. a holy One comming downe from Heauen who cried alowd Succidite arborem Hew downe the Tree and Destroy it Tophet is prepared for the King Esay 30.53 saith the Prophet Esay Though his excellencie mount vp vnto the heauens and his head reach vp to the clouds yet shall he perish for euer like his owne dung Iob 20.6.7 saith Iob. Regum timendorum in proprios greges Hor. Carm. lib. 3. Ode 1. Reges in ipsos imperium est Iouis Clari Gygant eo triumpho cuncta supercilio mouentis God hath an vnresistahle power ouer the most Commanding Princes Pro 3.15.16 By him Kings raigne Princes Nobles and all the Iudges of the earth doe rule saith Salomon the greatest Prince that euer ruled vpon the earth At his footstoole the mightiest Monarchs must lay downe their Crownes and make their appeaâ—ance before his most dreadfull presence submitting themselues to be censured and sentenced and suffer according to their demerits God spareth none though neuer so mightie yea for that respect hee dealeth more sharpely with them For as Hieronimus Guadalupensis vpon this Text obserueth Quanto quisque potentior sinon ferat fâ—uctum tanto maiori dâ—gnus est supplicio qui â—occasio est multis non ferendi bonos fructus Scilicet in vulgus manaut exempla regentum Claudianus The more Potent a man is if he doe not bring forth good fruite the greater punishment he deserueth because He is an Occasion vnto many of their not bringing forth good fruit Men ordinarily suffering theÌ„selues to be directed lob-led by the exaÌ„ple of their Superiors like the Spaniard that held his neck awry because Alphonso of Arragon his king was wry neckt It is no mans Greatnes that can shelter him from the smoking showre of Gods wrath Euen that Mitred man of Sinne which treadeth Scepters vnder his feet and exalteth himselfe aboue all that is called God though hee plead both a canonizing and a confounding power yet He also shall one day be brought before the Barre of Gods Iustice to be arraigned for all his Abominations wherewith he hath infatuated and besotted both himselfe and Gods Inheritance and shall drinke of the dregges of Gods wrath cup the promerited reward of his workes And let no hood-winkt Catholike deride this peremptory assertion as proceeding from a distempered braine for I know what I say If his Holinesse cannot procure his owne immunitie from the paines of Purgatory as for example De Gemitu Columbae li. 2. c. 9. Pope Innocentius the third who as Bellarmine writeth is to continue there till Doomes day much lesse shall he be able by his pretended power to deliuer himselfe from hell fire Now if these lofty Cedars of Lebanon and sturdy Oakes of Basan cannot auoid the stroke of the Axe but shall be hewen downe and cast into the fire what shal become of the lesser trees the lower shrubs Certainly God will be impartiall in his judiciary proceedings his eye will spare none Rom. â— 9 11 12. vâ—â—â—â—â— Tribulation anguish vpon Euery soule of man that doth euill of the Jew first and also of the Gentile With him there is no respect of persons for as many as haue sinned without the Law shall also perish without the Law and as many as haue sinned in the Law shall bee iudged by the Law Psalm â—â— â—1 God will wound the hairy scalpe of Euery one that goeth on in his wickednes saith the Prophet Dauid Ezâ—kiel 18.4 The soule that sinneth shall dye Indeed the Gibeonites could gull Captaine Ioshua with their old shooes their mouldy crustes Ioshua â— 4 5. and thred bare garments and so saue themselues from his sword But God hath oculum in Sceptro as he is omnipotent so hee is omniscient he is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Psalm 13â— â— the Hearts searcher he knoweth vs all and all our wayes too well to be deceiued by vs. Cic. Offic li. 3. It is not the wearing of a Gyges Ring can keepe vs out of Gods sight for there is nothing that hath a being in nature which is not the obiect of his eye If I say Psal 139.11.12 Surely the darkenesse shall couer me euen the night shall bee a light about me yea the darknesse hideth not from thee but the night shineth as the day the darkenesse and the light are both alike to thee In a word when the Lord shall call the sonnes of men to a particular account for their transgressions then vana salus hominum as saith the Psalmist Mans helpe is all but in vaine Though hand ioyne in hand Prou. 11.25 saith Salomon the wicked shall not escape vnpunished that is saith our English Glosse Though they make neuer so many friends or thinke themselues neuer so secure yet they shall not escape It is not the phantasticall treasure of the Saints
the open streets Nay such is the height of their impudency that they will not forbâ—are to offer violence vnto the honour of our Calling euen before Gods own face euen in the Sanctuary it selfe which hath alwayes bin reputed a place of priuiledge as if they would out-beard out-braue almightie God himselfe Is it possible such a high-handed disrespect and contempt should raigne where the Gospell of Christ is so plentifully and so sincerely preached But I doe the lesse maruell at it when I call to mind the base vsage wherwith the Son of God Hebr. 6.20 that High Priest for euer after the Order of Melchisedeck our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ was saluted in the dayes of the flesh He was in the world saith the beloued Euangelist and the world was made by him Iohn 1.10 11. and the world knew him not He came vnto his owne and his owne receiued him not Nay they did not onely not receiue him but did as ye may read at large in the History of his life prosecute and persecute him with a world of indignities euen vnto the death Math. 10.24 25 Now the Disciple is not aboue his Master nor the seruant aboue his Lord. It is enough saith our Sauiour for the disciple to be as his master is and the seruant as his Lord. If they haue called the master of the house Beelzebub how much more them of his houshold Our Lord hath drunke vnto vs out of this bitter cup and we must resolue to pledge him round O thrice happy we if wee could so apprehend it that he is pleased to accept vs into his sufferings For if we suffer with Christ 2 Tim. 2.12 we may bee assured we shall also raigne with Christ But vnhappy all those whose delight to grieue our spirits by their disrespectiue cariage and vnconscionable courses shall make vs to be called Great in the kingdome of heauen yea thrice vnhappy and accursed if they breake not off this their sinfulnesse by a more sanctified and conscionable course of life We are indeed but weake Earthen vessels 2 Cor. 47. as the Apostle stileth vs. We are sinfull men men full of sinne and therin not vnlike your selues let him that is among you with out sinne cast the first stone at vs. Iohn 8.7 Yet consider that we are your Spirituall fathers 1 Cor. 4.15 Reuel 3.1 that wee are the Angels of God and Ambassadours for Christ 2 Cor. 5 20. If we be your Fathers where is our honour What though Elisha be bald shall the children of Bethel cal him Baldpate vnpunished 2 Kin. 2 2â— 23. No two Beares come out of the Forrest and tare them in pieces What though Noah be drunken shall his sonne Ham mocke and deride him without a curse Genes 9.25 No Canaan is cursed a seruant of seruants shall hee bee vnto his brethren If we be Angels of God and Ambassadours for Christ where is that homage and reuerence you owe vnto vs in the name of our Lord and Master Will an earthly Prince which is but a piece of clay take to heart as done to himselfe whatsoeuer indignitie is offered vnto his Ambassadours And will not Almightie God be sensible of that dishonour which is daily done vnto his Ambassadours I haue heard credibly related how superciliously and contemptuously the Palsgraues Countrey hath looked vpon their Clergie In what case that Countrey now standeth I suppose the remotest Christian Region is not ignorant I will not presume peremptorily to determine that this one sinne hath been the procuring cause of so fearefull a Iudgement Thus much I am sure of that the contempt of the Messengers of God cost Ierusalem a desolation 2 Chron. 36 16 God is so tender ouer his Prophets that he will not haue them so much as toucht hee hath reprooued euen Kings for their sakes So sensibly he is affected with the wrongs they sustaine that hee taketh them as done to Himselfe Do ye rob them of their Tythes Malac 3.8 Ye haue robbed me saith the Lord. Doe ye neglect and despise them Ye despise me saith Christ Luke 10.16 and him that sent mee euen God the Father And wil not the Lord reuenge these wrongs Yea hath hee not already in some measure punished this land for them Haue not the Coales your Forefathers haue stolne from Gods altar set their neasts on fire brought a curse vpon their substance that it hath not thriued vnto a third generation yea whilst they and you haue denyed God his Tenth part hath not God taken away your Nine parts and giuen you onely a Tenth Againe hath not the Lord taken vnto himselfe many conscionable and painefull Ministers which according to the course of nature might haue liued long to haue bin worthy Instruments for your euerlasting good because ye haue so vndervalued them and set so low an estimate vpon them But alas my Beloued these are but flea-bitings if compared to the remoouing of our Candlesticke from amongst vs Reuel 2.5 and is it not iustly to bee feared that he hath euen at this present some such work in hand I pray God he hath not But say he doe continue the light of his Gospel amongst vs yet what benefit can accrue vnto vs by this light if we be taken from it and cast into vtter darknesse This God can doe and will doe if wee doe not bring forth better fruit for euery tree that bringeth not forth good fruit shall bee hewen downe and cast into the fire O consider of this all yee whose greatest glory is to bee the scourge of the Clergie lest that High Priest Christ Iesus take you in hand and ye be made to howle eternally in Hell for contemning his Substitutes his low Priestes here on earth Let the Word of the Lord and the Ministers therof be precious in your sight that you your posterity may be precious in the sight of the Lord. Haue those that are ouer you in the Lord labour amongst you in singular loue if not for their owne sakes yet for their Masters sake and for their workes sake considering how like Candles they consume and waste themselues away to light you in the way vnto perpetual happines Giue vnto them double honour and cut them not short of their due reuerence maintenance lest the Lord in his fury cut you off from the state of mercy lest ye be hewen downe and cast into the fire I haue I suppose not a little exceeded your expectation I am sure my first intention in giuing so much way vnto this last particulars extention but the time I haue borrowed of you in it I will God willing repay you to the full in the rest that follow Shal euery tree not bringing forth good fruit be hewen downe and cast into the fire My Honourable Lord 3 The Lord Maior I will giue you but a word take heed God doe not one day giue you a blow Hee hath
Axe yet both farre different for their ends that was forcibly to driue Man backe from the way but this is forcibly to driue man into the way vnto the Tree of life that whilest hee seriously considereth his fearefull estate how that his transgressions haue made him like a Tree vnto the root whereof an Axe is laid to hewe it downe that it may be cast into the fire he may presently turne vnto God and in due time bring foorth fruites meete for repentance lest hee also bee hewen downe by the Axe of Gods wrath and so perish for euer This sacred Writ may not vnfitly be tearmed a Subpoena sent from the Star-Chamber of Heauen the high Court of Almightie God and serued by Iohn the Baptist Gods especiall Bayliffe vpon certaine Pharisees and Sadduces that came vnto his Baptisme wherein is giuen thâ—m to vnderstand that they must not as formerly they had done content themselues with an outward forme of repentance a seeming godly sorrow for their sinnes but must manifest the truth thereof in bringing foorth fruites worthy repentance making their appearance out of hand before almighty God in all holinesse and righteousnesse of life vnder paine of both temporall and eternall destruction Now this Subpoena is expressed by way of Parable or Metaphor wherein God is resembled vnto an Husbandman or Gardiner trauersing his ground with an Axe in his hand hauing this resolution in his heart not to suffer any Tree to grow in his Orchyard that doth not bring forth good fruit but to cut it vp euen at the very root and to make of it fewell for the fire The whole World is Gods Orchard the men in the world are the trees of this Orchyard that man which bringeth not foorth the good fruit of good liuing the Lord will vtterly root vp out of the land of the liuing for Now is the Axe laid vnto the root of the trees euery tree therefore not bringing forth good fruit is hewen downe and cast into the fire For the resolution of this Writ may it please you to take three things into your consideration 1. The parties whom it summons and concernes expressed 1. Indefinitely 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 trees 2. Vniuersally 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 euery tree 2. The thing required of euery tree and that is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to bring foorth good fruit 1. We must 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 bring forth there is a production 2. We must 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 bring forth fruit there is a fructification 3. We must 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 bring forth good fruit there is a qualification 3. The Penaltie in case the parties proue delinquent and that is set downe 1. as intended in the first wordes Now is the Axe laid vnto the root of the trees 2. as inflicted in the words following Euery tree therefore not bringing foorth good fruit is hewen downe and cast into the fire In the Penaltie as intended obserue 1. the Instrument for the performing of it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an Axe 2. the Application of it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it is laid to the trees 3. the Place or part vnto which it is applyed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vnto the root of the trees 4. the Time of laying this Axe vnto the root of the trees 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 now now is the axe laid vnto the root of the trees In the penaltie as inflicted we haue to obserue 1. The Duplicitie of it 1. an excision 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is hewen downe 2. an exustion 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is cast into the fire 2. The Certaintie of it intimated in the tense wherein it is expressed It is not said The tree which bringeth not forth good fruit shall be hewen downe and cast into the fire but is hewen down and cast into the fire it being as certaine as if it were already inflicted 3. The Generalitie or large extent of it no tree shall scape for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Euery tree not bringing forth good fruit is hewen downe and cast into the fire These are the particulars obseruable in this text I haue here as ye see Magnum in paruo a little world of matter in a few words Buâ—linger in 3. Matth. Singula verba suam habent epitasin each word hath his weight and is not lightly to be passed ouer therefore something of euery thing plainly of all I pray God as profitably vnto all The first generall Part. And first of the Parties whom this Writ doth summon and concerne indefinitely 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 trees not naturall but metaphoricall for by trees is meant men And let not this Metaphore seeme strange Marke â— 24 for as he did that was our Sauiours patient for the recouering of his eye sight so may wee see men 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 like trees It is the allusion of that renowned Heathen Aristotle that Man is planta inuersa a tree turned vpside downe his head is the root his body the trunke his armes and legges the maine branches his fingers and toes the lesser boughes his skinne the barke his soule the life of the whole And in the sacred Scripture we find it a familiar metaphor to expresse Man by a tree Matth. 12.33 Either make the tree good and his fruit good or the tree corrupt and his fruit corrupt for the tree is knowen by the fruit Where by tree is meant man by fruit his workes both Iewes and Gentiles are by Saint Paul tearmed trees Rom. 11. Rom. 11. the Iew a good Oliue tree the Gentile a wild Oliue tree Not to multiply instances let one place speake for all The Prophet Dauid describing the state of Psalm 1.5 the child of God he shall be saith hee like a tree planted by the riuers of waters Thus man is a tree cuius radix voluntas folium cogtatio flos sermo fructus opus saith Ludolphus De vita Christi his will is the root his thought the leafe his speech the flower his worke the fruit Now as of Trees some are high and loftie as the Cedars some low as the shrubs so of Men some are high and mightie like the Cedars of Lebanon and the Okes of Basan publike men men of eminent place in Ciuill and Ecclesiasticall gouernment some low like shrubs priuate men men of inferiour note and condition This Subpoena concerneth not onely some one tree particularly a princely Cedar or petty shrub but indefinitely 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 trees that is any trees yea vniuersally 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 euery tree not onely Genera singulorum some Princes some Priests some People but singula generum all Princes all Priests all People So that you cannot say vnto me as the Apostles vnto our Sauiour Matth. 26.22 when hee told them that one of them should betray him Is is J or is it I or as the high Priests to Iudas Matt 27.4 What is it to vs For as our Prognosticators in the Frontispice
abundantia gloria priuari Stapl. promp mor. Mali non tantuÌ„ dolebunt de ipsò tormento quam quod repellentur a tali consortio Ludolph Si nulla externa poena torqueret haec sola sufficeret Mestreth ex Chrysost too heauie for Nature to sustaine in her greatest strength Neither will I speake of the perpetuall priuation of the blessed vision of a most glorious God and happy societie of the holy Angels and glorified Saints a penaltie by all Diuines both antique and neotericke determined to be more terrible and fearefull then all the Positiue miseries Hell yea tenne thousand Hells can affoord The large and learned labours of Others concerning these particulars shall at this time saue me a labour I would gladly draw towards a conclusion and therefore must desire so much fauour as that I may confine my selfe vnto this in my Text as being most frequent in the Scripture and of a Positiue torment the most fearefull and intollerable Ex vngue Leonem I shall in it giue you as it were the length of Hercules foot and so leaue you to guesse at the full pourtaiture of his whole body The Tree which bringeth not forth good fruit shall be hewen downe and cast into the fire There are three things that do more punctually discouer vnto vs the fearefulnesse Hell fire most fearefull for three causes of this Penaltie The first is the Extremitie of it Many are the torments which cruell Tyrants the Deuils Engineers haue framed in the forge of their hellish inuention to make poore Nature suffer Multa sunt ab hominibus excogitata supplicia sed nullum acutius nullum vehementius nullum acrius igne Bellar. de gem Columb lib. 2. cap. 2. But of all there is none more acute none more vehement none more acrimonious then that which is effected by Fire and yet for extremity of heat so infinite are the degrees whereby this Hell fire surpasseth our Hearth fire that the most expert Mathematician is vnable to take their true distance Nebuchadnezzars Furnace though heated seauen times more then ordinary yet it compared with the extreme heate and feruour of this Fire is but as the Chill-warmth of the Sunne in an extreme cold Winters day or as the meere picture of Fire vnto the Fire which is Pictured this Fire burneth in such extremitie that in it the least moment of Paine will swallow vp whole Ages of forepast pleasures Secondly the fearefulnesse of this Penaltie appeareth in the Vniuersalitie of it this terrible Fire burneth not a finger onely Math. 10.28 or a hand or a foot but the whole body yea the whole man both body and soule For as both like Simeon and Leui haue beene brethren in the euill of Sinne So both shall be brethren in the euil of suffering both shal be tormented in this Flame be cast into this Fire Thirdly the fearefulnes of this Penaltie appeareth in the Perpetuitie of it Though the whole man be extremely terribly tortured yet it were some comfort if this acrimonious Penalty might haue either some ende or some ease In Corporall griefs it is an experimentall Maxime Nemo potest valde dâ—lere diâ— Seneca â—p 78. Praeceps morbus alterum facies aut extinguâ—tur aut extinguet Ibid. Doâ—or quò incitatior â—o citiùs in alienaâ—ione fluporemque conuertitur hoc itaque solatium est vasti doloris quod necesse est desinas illum sentirâ— si nimis senseris Senec. Ibid. ministreth some comfort vnto the sick Patient a Disease the sharper the shorter the more violent the lesse permanent It is impossible saith Seneca for a man to be in great paine and a great while in paine for either it wil suddenly leaue Him or He suddenly leaue it And if neither his Disease be suddenly taken from him nor he from his disease yet certainly his Paine cannot long continue in extremity but will at length be translated into a stupiditie it will produce a Stupefaction and numnesse in the parts it affecteth and so the Partie ouersensibly affected ceaseth to be sensible of his griefe Againe a violent and virulent Disease though it be a long time ere a man can wholly shake it off and bid it farewell sometime not till his last of time Si longus est habet intercapedinem dat refectioni locum multum temporis donat necesse est vt exurgat desinat Idem ibidem Diseases commonly comming on Horsebacke but going away on foote yet it is no small comfort vnto the sicke Patient that it commeth but by fitts it doth not keep a continuall Terme in his body but hath sometimes its recesses and Vacations it doth not alwayes sit in commission sometimes it hath an intermission and leaueth Man to himselfe to recollect his scattered spirits and repaire the ruined and crasie walls of his earthly Tabernacle whereby he is the better enabled to hold out against the furious assaults thereof Besides there are diuers artificiall Confections which the skilfull in Physicke are able to prescribe and prepare if not for the extirpation of his disease yet at least for the remission and mitigation of his Paine there are lenitiues to asswage and quallifie the raging madnes thereof Howsoeuer at length that Catholike Esculapius Doctor Death will one day visit the perplexed Patient and giue him a dyet drink that will vndoubtedly cure him of all his griefes Thus I say though a man bee infested with a disease that doth extremely plague and torture him yet he hath these comfortable hopes and helpes to sustaine him in it either He and his Disease will suddenly take their last farewell one of an other or if it continue any time with him it will in processe of time through extremity of pain produce a stupefaction or admit of some friendly intermission or at least of some gentle remission to make it the more supportable howsoeuer the Patient and his paine must one day part and then there is an end of all his sorrowes But alas it is not so here he that is cast into this fire is not capable of the least of all these comforts for the extremity of his paine is perpetuall his torments are both endles easeles It was indeed the opinion of Origen and his Disciples that all the damned August lib 21. de Ciuitate Dei Cap 17. yea euen the Deuils themselues should one day be absolued from their paines Tanto inuenitur errare deformius contra Dei veâ—bâ— peruersius quanto sibi videtur sentire clementius August ibidem and receiued into the societie of the Saints which though it be a very merciful opinion yet it is a very foule errour and hath bin therefore iustly exploded by the Church as contradicting both reason and plaine text of Scripture Reason requireth a correspondeÌ„cy between the reward of righteousnes and the wages of iniquitie that as he which like a good tree bringeth forth good fruit shall be remoued from earth to heauen
ashes Wormes and not Men by Nature mere aliens from the Common wealth of Israel and strangers from the couenants of promise seeing in lewdnesse of life and Conuersation we are nothing inferiour to the Collapsed Angels or reiected Israelites My beloued I must ingeniously acknowledge with the Prophet Ieremie Ieremy 1.6 Puer sum et nescio loqui I am but a child and know not how to speake fitter like an Auditour to sit at Gamaliels feete Acts 22.3 Matt. 23.2 then like a Doctor in Moses chaire Yet seeing the Lord hath called mee to this place and put his word into my mouth I beseech you suffer with all patience and reuerent attention a word or two of premonition and exhortation It may please God so to magnifie his strength in my weaknesse as to make the wordes which hee hath taught mee effectually powerfull for the reformation of your liues and consequently for the euerlasting saluation of your Soules and Bodies Shall euery tree not bringing forth good fruit bee hewen downe and cast into the fire 1 Clergy O lay this vnto heart with mee yee Chariots and horsemen of Israel yee that are of the house of Aaron and the Tribe of Leui my beloued fellow-labourers in the worke of the Ministerie Let vs consider that the Lord hath committed vnto vs the dispensation of his Word 1 Cor. 4.1 1. Pet. 1.23 that most precious and immortall seede whereby Christ may be conceiued in vs and we become spirituall Fathers of many Children in Christ 1. Cor. 4.15 O then let euery one of vs in the feare of God according to the Talent wherwith we are entrusted so labour in the Word to be found faithfull dispensers of the Word feeding the flocke of Christ concredited to our charge with sauory food in season 2. Tim. 4.2 out of season that we may become fruitfull in begetting children vnto Christ for the enlarging of his Kingdome Let vs remember that the Church is Gods vineyard the People his plants and we the Ministers his hired seruants to labour in his vineyard that it may yeeld forth fruit vnto the Lord. And though Iohn Baptist may haue a back-friend in Herods court yet let vs not be put to silence or discouragâ—d but boldly with a h art strike with the Sword of the Spirit at the head of that Serpent Sinne in whomsâ—euer we see it remembring that wee are Ambassadours for Christ 2 Cor. 5.20 One who is able to maintaine his cause euen against the Deuill himselfe But aboue all let vs labour to put life into our labours by bringing forth the fruit of good liuing that so wee may the better winne our peopâ—e to entertaine the siâ—cere Profession of the Truth and saue our owne Soules at the day of the Lord Jesus Serm. de Sancto Benedicto Abbate For as Saint Bernard most sweetly Sermo vivus efficax Operis est plurimum faciens suadibile quod dicitur dum monstrat factibile quod suadetur Wee shall easily perswade the people to practise what we preach when what wee preach we practise In a word let vs remember that as there it a Vae mihi si non euangelizavero a woe vnto the Minister if hee doe not labour in the Gospell so there is a vae mihi si non bene vixero a woe vnto the Minister if he doe not liue according to the Gospell for euery Tree that bringeth not forth good fruite the fruite of good liuing shall bee hewne downe and cast into the fire In the next place thinke vpon this yee People of this place 2. Laytie of this City of this Land Sure I am there is no Nation vnder the Celestiall Poles profâ—ssing the faith of Christ ouer which the Lord hath placed so Learned so Laborious so Religious a Clergy as ouer This. Consider how in it yee are blest of God that so yee may blesse God when yee consider of it Blesse God but how why blesse him in Sacrificing vnto him the Calues of your lippes Hosea 14.2 Blesse him in consecrating vnto him the short remnant and remainder of your liues Blesse him in a reuerend estimation of his holy Ordinances In a word 1 Thess 5.12 13. Blesse him in your singular loue vnto those that are ouer you in the Lord that are dispensers of his sacred mysteries least yee bee hewen downe and cast into the fire And doe yee not so I would to God I could passe by you concerning these particulars especially the latter without apprehending any iust cause for your generall reprehension It is a Sore I no more but touched but named before intending in this place to handle it more at large and to apply vnto it a corroding Plaister if it were possible to draw away the malignant qualitie wherewith it is so much infested that it is euen swoâ—ne vp as high as Heauen to the pulling downe as is iustly to bee feared vpon this Land a sudden Babel of confusion without some speedy reformation Gal. 4.15 I doubt not but there are some Galathians amongst vs that would plucke out euen their owne eyes to doe Paul good 1 Kings 17. That there is some Zareptan that would euen hazard the hastening her owne hunger-staruing to communicate vnto Elishaes necessities for whose sakes I am perswaded the Lord hath been many wayes gracious vnto this Land and suspended the infliction of his fearefull iudgements which for our sinnes wee haue long since iustly deserued But alas all these Some these Galathians these Zareptans are but a small Summe scarce to be called a number in respect of those that are contrarily affected For as it was the sin of Ieroboam 1 Kings 12.3 with which he is branded vnto posteritie by the Spirit of God that he made Priests of the lowest and basest of the People so it is a sinne may bee seene and read in great characters vpon the foreheads of most in this Land that they make Priests the lowest and basest of People the lowest by depriuing them of their allotted Maintenance the basest by prosecuting them with all vnreuerence Not to speak of the former and therin of those violent maleuolent vnchristian-like courses wherein they are very frequent and fruitfull for the dispoyling and robbing vs of those reuenues God out of his holy wisdome hath set apart and consecrated for the maintenance of those that minister and serue at his Altar that so they might make the Leuites to stoope vnto them and hang vpon their sleeues like beggers for their Almes and voluntary contributions How vnreasonably do they load the Prophets of the Lord with all the iniuries indignities their deuilish malice can inuent The sacred title of our thrice honourable Function is but a terme of disgrace in the mouths of these scoffing Ismaels whose malignant spleene is such that they will not stick to strike at vs with the sword of their virulent tongues euen in the face of the world as we walke in
them all dutifull obedience in the Lord least ye pluck their Curse vpon your heads and the Lord hearing it 9 Masters of families hew you downe cast you into the fire Yee that haue the care of Seruants committed to your charge bring forth the Good fruite of Good Masters in your seuerall Families doe vnto your Seruants that which is iust and equall Col. 4.1 knowing that yee also haue a Master in Heauen Command them not but in the Lord and that louingly Allow them a befitting competency be it in matter of indument for the Backe or aliment for the Belly and doe not with-hold their wages from them But aboue all instruct them in the knowledge and feare of God as well by your examples as precepts and allow not their profanation of the Lords Sabaths the least Conniuence Least the Lord hew you downe and cast you into the fire 10 Seruants And yee that are Seruants serue your Masters faithfully both in word and deede and obserue them with all respectiue reuerence and submit your selues vnto them to obey them in the Lord least the Lord hew downe you also and cast you into the fire In a word to drawe towards a conclusion giue me leaue to drawe out an Eare or two of the Corne we haue already inn'd for I feare growing too voluminous and large in particularizing farther Yee haue heard how gracious and bountifull a God the Lord hath vowed to shew himselfe vnto all those that submit themselues vnto his lawes and labour to serue him faithfully in bringing forth good fruite in leading a holy and religious course of life that he will reward and crowne their holy endeauours with an eternall weight of Glory in the kingdome of Heauen Yee haue likewise heard how seuere and terrible a Iudge hee will reueale himselfe vnto all such as runne disobedient and rebellious courses that hee will wound the hayrie Scalpe of euery one that goeth on in his wickednesse yea that hee will hew downe and cast into the fire euery Tree not bringing forth good fruite If therefore the sweete blessings of Gerizim the louing mercies of God cannot worke vpon our rebellious hearts to reclaime vs from our wicked wayes let the bitter cursings of Eball the dreadfull terrours of the Law make vs feare to offend least the Lord in his wrath deliuer vs vp vnto a reprobate minde and in that fearefull estate hew vs downe that is by a violent Death rent our Soules and Bodies a sunder cast vs both soule body into the fire to be intollerably eternally tormented in the flames of Hel. My beloued as God is Iealous of so he is Zealous for his glory if he be not glorified a nobis of vs by our conuersion he will be glorified de nobis vpon vs by our confusion if we do not turne vnto him he wil turne vs into Hell for it is a conclusion so ratified as neuer to bee repealed that Euery one whether Iew or Gentile bond or free high or low rich or poore Euery tree not bringing forth good fruit shall be hewen downe and cast into the fire O then let euery one of vs make a diligent search into his owne bosome iudge himselfe least he be iudged of the Lord. Let vs dissect rip vp that body of sinne which is within vs not only that Naturall corruption which we haue all alike succâ—ssiuely receiued from our first PareÌ„ts but also those personal transgressioÌ„s which euery man hath made himselfe guilty of more or lesse Then hauing faithfully laid open our sinfulnes let vs look on it with a loathing eye a lamenting heart vnfeinedly deploring the time wherein to our iust damnation had we our deserts we haue not only brought forth no fruit but also naughty fruit fruite cursed abominable herein not only dishonored God our selues but also to our further damnation drawn others to doe the like by our lewd examples for which let vs go with faith in the blood of Iesus Christ to the throne of Grace imploring mercy at the hands of our heauenly Father who is ready willing to imbrace with the armes of his mercy al such petitioning him for grace in the Name of his Sonne let vs for the time following entertain this setled resolution into our hearts faithfully to labor in the reformation of all those faults we lament And which is the consummation perfectioÌ„ of our repentance let vs crowne our holy resolutions by putting them into action by bringing forth fruit worthy amendment of life as it is in the verse before my Text or as it is here in my Text by bringing forth good fruit by leading in our seueral places callings a right holy religious course of life For it is not a bare entertainement of better courses into our thoughts of dead of naked purposes nor an outside of Religion an outward conformity to the seruice of God will preserue vs from the wrath to come the former being but a bringing forth of good leaues the latter but of good flowers or if of fruit but of such as is false and counterfeit No wee must either bring forth good fruit that is as ye haue heard Fruit not onely outwardly beautifull and good in the eye of man but also inwardly good and sound in the sight of God or we must vndergoe the wrath of God be hewen down and cast into the fire Such fruit must euery Tree bring forth and that 1. Properanter presently 2. Abundanter plentifully 3. Perseueranter perseuerantly VVe must bring foorth good fruit First we must bring forth good fruit properanter presently it is a taske wee must take in hand out of hand 1. Presently as much is implied in the letter of my text Euery tree 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not bringing forth good fruit that is Now presently for it is a word of the present tense and doth vrge a present taske shal be hewen downe and cast into the fire This Speed is emphatically pressed in the first words of my text Now is the axe laid vnto the root of the trees as if the Baptist had more largely deliuered himselfe thus It is no delaying the time of your turning vnto God he hath taried your leasure so long that he is resolued to attend you no longer therefore looke to your selues God wil now be but a word and a blow for he hath already taken his Axe the instrument of death into his hand yea he hath already lifted vp his arme to strike nay more he hath so farre set forward his blow that he hath euen laid his Axe to the root of the trees resolutely determining to make his blow to hew you downe out of hand and cast you into the fire if ye do not presently repent bring foorth fruite worthy amendment of life O then my beloued I beseech you let vs consider that now onely is the time of making or marring our fortunes for euer Alas what