amongst vs. Let it bee considered and let his knowledge support thee in euery good action And that we may the better attaine to these graces let vs vse feruent prayer vnto almighie God and that dayly humbly beseeching him of his infinite goodnesse and mercy to beget and worke this holy feare in our hearts I will put my feare in their hearts Ier. 32.39.40 that they shall not depart from me Heere we see it is a propper gift It is musike to God to heare Christians prayers and worke of God himselfe and we must not thinke to haue it vnlesse we vse the meanes of Prayer which God hath ordained to obtaine his blessings and graces as Saint Iames speaketh Wee haue not Iam. 4.2 because wee aske not Therefore saith Dauid Vnite my heart vnto thee Psal 86.11 that I may feare thy name And God is so well pleased with our Prayers when they come vnto him that there is no melodious harmony so pleasant in our eares as a Prayer proceeding from an humble and broken heart is in the eares of the Lord of Hosts let vs present our petitions with our soules full of griefe and our eyes full of teares vnto men and wee shall bee tedious and troublesome vnto them for the most part as the woman of Canaan was vnto the disciples Send her away say they to our Sauiour Math. 15.13 for she cryeth after vs. But Christ hath no greater ioy then to heare and releiue such worthy beleeuers as she was Now sith it is a thing so well pleasing vnto him he cannot but grant and satisfie the desires of such as faithfully and feruently call vpon him Therefore seeing the Lord is so pleased with penitent sinners whē they come vnto him The true penitent sinner feareth to displease God by cōmitting the least sinne let euery one of vs labour for true and sound repentance to bee humbled in the sight and knowledge of our sinnes with godly sorrow which may continually bring foorth in vs repentance to saluation neuer to be repented of 2. Cor. 7.11 and this will bring foorth feare Behold this godly sorrow what feare it hath wrought in you The penitent sinner feareth to displease God This feare of God must be durable not onely for a time but it must bee to the end of our dayes to disobey his word or to do any thing which he knoweth will not bee well pleasing in Gods sight and so out of his true loue vnto God is afrayde lest by committing the least sinne hee should procure the anger of God against him and this our repentance must continue all the dayes of our life according to Dauids saying The feare of the Lord which bringeth repentance endureth for euer And great reason it should be so for wee are commanded to bee constant and to perseuer in godlines euen to the end but this cannot be vnlesse the feare of God be in vs alwayes therefore saith God I will put my feare in their hearts that they shall not depart from mee Ier. 32.40 And it is the speciall commandement of God that we should feare the Lord our God for our good alwayes in our youth middle-age and old age euen vnto our death and not post it off till old-age as a number doe spending all their time in ryot and all manner of prophanenesse it is long ere they beginne yet at length they bethink themselues and so are afraid to sinne as they haue done but a number of such neuer leaue sinne till sinne leaues them whose cases are pittifull and lamentable It is true which is said better late then neuer Psal 72.5 so it is as true that large teares and late repentance is not alwayes true Dauid describing the time Pal. 119.8 saith They shall feare thee as long as the Sunne and Moone endures throughout al generations let vs therfore continually vse al good meanes to keepe vs in this feare that all of vs ioyntly and each one in particular may truly say with Dauid O Lord I am deuoted to thy feare Seuenthly Let vs not be discouraged though our repentance be but in a beginning yet if it be true God will meete it with mercy Rom. 7.19 here is great comfort to al weak Christians who are much discouraged with their weak proceedings in grace they feele not their hearts so broken as they desire They desire with all their hearts to turne vnto the Lord to leaue sin but still they fall and that foulely The good they would do they do not the euill they would not do that do they dayly well is it thus yet bee thou not discouraged for though thy repentance be but in a beginning yet if it bee true God will meete it with mercy Thou sayest thou desirest Is thy desire true and vnfained 2. Cor. 8.12 Doest thou desire to walke so as that God may be glorified Doest thou expresse thy desires by vsing of all good meanes And is not thy desire idle and art thou content to doe any labour take any paines for the obtaining of grace doest thou thirst after it as the Hart doth after the riuers of waters If it be thus assure thy selfe thy dedesire is highly pleasing vnto God and most acceptable vnto him the Lord he will not reiect it nor thee in regard of it hee will not breake the bruised reed nor quench the smoking flaxe Mat. 12.20 Till he bring forth iudgement vnto victory hee doth not contemne the least measure of his owne grace he hath bestowed on thee be it neuer so smal a quantitie if true it is his owne guift his gifts are without repentance Rom. 11.29 hee cannot despise that which himself hath giuen neither take that away for euer which hee hath once bestowed thy creeping is acceptable to God goe on with comfort constantly vnto the end Lastly here the Prophet saith Prou. 3.7 Let all men therfore examine their owne consciences whether they haue left their sins if they haue they may safely conclude they are such as feare God Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord Salomon he saith Feare the Lord and depart from euill for no man can depart from euill vnlesse he feare God so none feares God truely but he doth cease from sin therefore they that boast of their feare and yet liue in their former sinnes are lyers against the truth and deceiue their owne soules Let all men therefore seriously examin their owne conscience whether they haue left their sinnes and are become new creatures in Christ Iesus and whether they haue a full purpose and resolution of heart for time to come to hate that which is euill if they haue they may conclude to their euerlasting ioy and comfort that they are such as feare God if not then let them know they cannot approoue vnto their owne soules that they haue this feare for he that continueth in the practise of sinne without any penitency hath not
Christ neuer rest vntill you become strong in Christ nay if you bee in Christ you will not rest till you come to some perfection in him 2. Pet. 1.5 Ioyne therfore vnto your vertue faith with faith knowledge with knowledge temperance with temperance patience and with patience godlinesse and with godlinesse brotherly kindnesse for if these bee in you they will make you neither vnfruitfull nor vnprofitable Keepe then thy grace in an honest heart and it will encrease like the Widdowes oyle in the Cruise and meale in the Barrell till thou come to be a perfect man in Christ Iesus The markes of an vpright heart is vniuersall obedience Now wee are come to the last part of this blessed mans delight and that is said here to bee in the Commandements and therefore that we may make sure worke in this regard let vs try our sincerity by the good effects that doe euer accompany the same The first note therefore of a sound heart which wee should take for our tryall is to bee vniuersall in our desires and in our practise that wee haue respect to euery Commandement of God Psal 119.8 to the first table as well as to the second and to the second as well as to the first that we bee righteous towards men as well as religious towards God that wee looke to our hearts as well to our actions and to our actions as well as to our hearts Contrary to this rule is the dealing of those that will giue dispensations vpon themselues for many things so that they can make a shew of some things what if we be not so liberall to the poore say they yet we are no swearers nor blasphemers what if wee take a little liberty these are but trifles wee will not bee adulterers nor filthy speakers c this is a shrewd signe of a heart full fraught with guile and deceit The property of a good conscience is to bee willing and desirous in all things to walke honestly Heb. 13.18 if one be neuer so strickt in hearing Sermons and abstaining from swearing yet if he will helpe himselfe with a lye now and then for his commodity and if a man bee neuer so rigorous and seuere for matters of Iustice against others yet will dispense with himselfe in a corner thinking that the name of a Professor and reputation of the brotherhood will beare him out this is an argument of a false and dissembling heart therfore this must be taken heed of as being very dangerous Therefore that we may not deceiue our selues in this one tryall the sincere and honest heart as our Sauiour calls it is that which cherisheth hatred of all sin without exception and carrieth a constant purpose and resolution in nothing willingly to sinne against God but to endeauour it selfe to the vtmost in euery good way of Gods Commandements Whatsoeuer it shall know to be a sinnes it will not purposely and deliberately do it for al the world this note the Prophet Dauid giueth for hauing said Psal 119.3 Blessed are the vpright in their way hee teacheth vs to discerne them by this note Surely they doe no iniquity With my whole heart haue I sought thee saith Dauid Psal 119.10 suffer mee not to wander from thy Commandements Insinuating thereby that such as doe not seeke God with their whole hearts that is in singlenes of heart vnfainedly God will suffer them to wander in crooked blind wayes and that fearefully irrecouerably To the like purpose is that in the same Psalme Let my heart be vpright in thy statutes that I may neuer be ashamed And although Saint Iames say Iam. 3.3.2 In many things we offend all yet wee must resolue our selues to leaue all sin For if we liue lie but in one sin that one sin is sufficiēt to presse vs down to hel Can. 4.7 therfore the spouse is said to haue no spot in her for if she had but one spot then were she not beautiful in his eyes let the walls of the City bee neuer so strong if there be one breach the enemy will enter in and sacke the City if a strong ship do but leake in one place it will be drowned a beast which is caught in the snare but by one leg cannot escape one Flie falling into the Apothecaries boxe will spoyle the whole oyntment 2. Sam. 15. Let vs remember Saul and forget not our owne soules God cōmanded him vtterly to destroy the Amalekites he sparing but some of them was cast off from God his Kingdome rent from him our sinnes are the sinnes of the Amalekites which God cōmandeth vs to destroy we must kill them all and spare none lest God forsake vs so we lose a better Kingdom then euer Saul found For Iam. 2.10 Iam. 1.17 Heb. 12.1 Whosoeuer shal keep the whole Law yet offend in one point he is guilty of all for pure religion and vndefiled is to keep our selues vnspotted of the world Let vs therfore cast euery sin away which is as great weight This discouers many to be lewd and dissolute persons when the Commandements are distastfull vnto them and lay aside euery sin with which we are beset First this serueth for the discouery of many to be the sonnes of Beliall lawlesse lewd and dissolute persons to whom nothing is more grieuous then Gods gouernement and nothing more distastfull then the Commandements of the Lord Gods Word is like hard meate lying heauy vpon the stomacke that cannot easily bee digested those precepts giuen for the ordering of our waies Sweare not at all Mat. 5.34 sanctifie my Sabboth they are hard sayings who can endure them nay they could wish they were rased out of the booke and there were no such iniunction debar them from swearing you were as good sowe vp their lippes keepe them from their sports on the Sabbath day why then take away their liues nay they cannot nor will not bee so straight laced their sports they must follow their pleasures they must take and no day fitter then that thus Sampson like they break Gods Lawes like twind threds and say Depart from vs wee will none of thy wayes Let all such then know that pretend what they will they are but lawlesse persons children of Belial who desire nothing more then to be from vnder Gods Commandements and to cast his yoke from off their necks therefore I may truely say that where the Sabbath is not sanctified there is neither sound Religion nor a Christian conuersation How God esteemeth the sanctification of the Sabbath may appeare by the exact deliuery of the Commandements for he hath fenced it about like Mount Sinai Exod. 19.12 with markes and bounds at the deliuery of the Law that no prophanenesse might approach neere vnto you first by his watch-word Remember secondly Exo. 20.8 9 by his bounty sixe dayes thou shalt labour and doe all that thou hast to doe thirdly
by his soueraignty It is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God fourthly by the latitude thou thy son thy daughter thy man seruant thy maid seruant the stranger that is within thy gates must sanctifie it fiftly by his example The Lord rested the seuenth day lastly by his benediction he blessed and sanctified it These sixe markes are like the sixe Water-pots in the second of Iohn Iohn 2.7 Let euery one of vs remember to sanctifie the Lords Sabbath that shall bee a pledge of the eternall Sabbath in the kingdom of Heauen fill them vp to the brim with a holy obseruation then draw out carry to the master of the feast euen to Iesus Christ the Lord of the new Sabbath therefore let vs remember to sanctifie the Lords Sabbath and that shall be vnto vs a pledge of the eternal Sabbath in the kingdome of Heauen which shal be a day without euening shal yeeld vs rest without labor ioy without ending Secondly behold a difference There is great difference betweene the godly and the wicked in their obedience whereby wee may try our selues betweene the wicked and the godly the one desires to draw in Gods yoke and yeeld obedience to the commandements and the other desires nothing more then to cast it of let vs examine then how our heart is affected doest thou finde this inward discontentment in obeying are Gods lawes as bonds and cords in thy esteeme and as a stomackful horse dost thou foame at the bit which is put into thy mouth an euident signe of a rebellious heart but one the other side art thou content to submit thy self to Gods commandements art thou desirous that thy nature would bee more conformable to Gods law art thou content to be restrained and if it were possible to haue the wicked inclination of thy heart abolished surely then thou needest not to want comfort thy state will affoord it goe on therefore constantly vnto the end Here is great comfort for all such as find vprightnes in their harts thogh they haue many imperfections Thirdly here is great consolation for all such as find these notes of vprightnesse in themselues and that they haue part in the commandements though they haue many corruptions and imperfections mixed with their best works yet seeing they haue pure hearts they are happy and blessed and shall find the good effects of their blessednesse true holinesse and true happinesse are neuer separated As for perfections God looks not for it at our hands if sinne hang on vs but wee would faine cast it off if we finde vnbeleefe but would most gladly get faith if wee bee troubled in our hearts with hardnesse but are desirous of softnesse if we be humbled for that we cannot be humbled sufficiently nor get such a large heart as we would to desire and exspect grace from heauen yet let vs not be discomforted for our defects and frailties for the Lord will spare vs and be gratious vnto vs in his beloued sonne according to that worthy prayer of good king Hezekiah 2. Chro. 30.18.19 The good Lord be mercifull toward him that prepared his whole heart to seeke the Lord God of his fathers though he be not cleansed according to the purification of the sanctuarie Fourthly this serueth for comfort to the children of God Our good purposes shall be rewarded to let them see how highly God prizeth good purposes and desires accepting and rewarding them when they come to him as if they came accompanyed with the deedes themselues Dauid did but conceiue a purpose to build God a house 2. Sam. 7.16 God rewards it with the building and establishing of Dauids house hee did but conceiue a purpose to confesse his sinnes Gods eare was in his heart before Dauids confession could bee in his tongue Psal 32.5 The poore beggers that haue wanted food for themselues Christ yet shall say at the last day Ye haue fed mee when I was hungry onely in regard of their strong affection if they had had abilitie Luk. 15.20 the prodigall child when hee was but conceiuing a purpose of returning was preuented by his fathers first comming to him Isa 65.24 and as Isay sayth God will answer vs before we call that is in our purposes of prayer O sweete comfort when wee addresse our selues to prayer in our priuate meditations and bethinke our selues of our sundry wants we purpose with our selues to beg such and such things whereof yet happily wee forget some in the vocall prayer shall any good soule now thinke that the memories weakenesse shall any thing preiudice her in this case no thy purpose of asking the thing forgotten was a most effectuall asking of it Therefore when the Lord shall put any good motions into our mind let vs not delay but speedily put them in practise and vnto thee belongeth the comfort of that saying I will heare before they calll Therefore seeing the Lord doth so highly esteeme good purposes let vs not delay but speedily put then in practise Before the Iron coole it is good striking while the waxe is plyable it is good setting on the Seale doest thou then feele at any time that thy heart is warmed with good motions enlarged with good affections lift vp to heauen in spirituall meditations doest thou feele any sparkles of the heauenly fire take take thou the bellowes presently blow till the flame cherish in thee and make much of the smoking flaxe Eccles 5.31 and therefore what Salomon exhorteth in the case of vowes is generally to be practised in all holy purposes and motions bee not slacke to performe them they that know themselues know how fickle and vnconstant their hearts are now as we would deale with a variable and vnconstant man so let vs deale with these hearts of ours we would take such a one at his word and lay hold of the opportunity least within a short space he alter his minde our hearts are more vnconstant then any man is or can be let vs then learne this wisedome presently to lay hold of euery good motion and put it in practise do not stand debating the matter when God putteth any good thought into thy heart or rayseth vp any good purpose or desire within thee but presently proceed to execution make no long tarrying before thou doest put them in action there haue beene many who haue resolued to leaue such a sinne Delaying of time very dangerous or doe such a dutie and put in practise what they haue heard but by reason of their deferring vntill the next day or such a time those motions die and purposes vanish and come to nothing for want of speedy execution The right way to try our selues is to know that wee haue forsaken our sins And therefore let vs trye our selues if these good purposes haue wrought in vs a forsaking of sinne and a reformation of life if it bee thus then it is well for this it is
much more in the world to come If any then shall come vnto vs to entice vs vnto any wickednesse whatsoeuer as Potiphars wife came vnto Ioseph Gen. 39.8 and enticed him vnto vncleanenesse wee shall not consent vnto him therein no more then hee did vnto her who was kept therefrom by the feare of the Lord. This should teach euery one of vs dayly to thinke of and bee fully perswaded of the glorious and continuall presence of Almighty God The presence of God euer looking vpon vs should be a meanes to keepe vs from sinne That wheresoeuer we are and whatsoeuer we thinke speake or do God vnderstands it knowes it beholds it our thoughts our words Psal 139.4 There is not a word in my tongue but thou O Lord knowest it altogether our deeds in publike secret Prou. 15.3 the eye of the Lord is in euery place beholding both the euill and the good This consideration and perswasion wee ought all to labour for it being a notable meanes to worke true feare in our hearts therefore let vs esteeme of euery place as Iacob did of Bethel what hee then sayde vrge still vpon thy soule The Lord is present and I was not aware of it Let thy shop bee a Bethel thy chamber a Bethel thy closet a Bethel for God is there present Oh that this meditation did take place in our hearts how many sinnes would it keepe vs from how conscionably should wee walke how vpright would be The chiefe sountaine of all hypocrisie is either ignorance or not cōsidering of this diuine property of God and surely if any thing will banish hypocrisie this will do it A man cannot chuse but be good sayth Boetius who still remembers that he stands in the presence of the Lord. Let this meditation then be euer in our mind that God is before vs and behind vs within thee and without thee on thy right hand and on thy left hand alwaies neere and neuer farre off and so shalt thou walke vprightly Holy Iob we see tooke that course that the Lord would haue vs take for the repressing of all inordinate lust and affections I made sayth he Iob. 31.1 a couenant with my eyes why then should I thinke on a mayde A carnal man would haue thought this too much curiosity and nicenesse what not to looke on the beauty and comely visage of a woman at least not to take some liberty for thoughts tending that way it is too too much precisenesse who can take any notice of such things in vs Vers 2. Oh sayth Iob what portion should I haue of God from aboue and what inheritance from the almighty from on high I durst not giue any way vnto the flesh in any sort for that were the directest course to depriue my selfe of the comforts of the word and spirit here and of the crowne of happinesse which is reserued for the Saints in the world to come Albeit I should speede litle the worse with men yet I should bee sure to come short of many speciall fauours and blessings of the Lord and further he addeth Is not destruction to the wicked and strange punishments to the workers of iniquitie Suppose I should escape the censures of men yet hath not the Lord meanes that I cannot conceiue of for the punishment of rebellious sinners and though things may be smothered for a time cannot he bring secret sins to open shame grant that it be kept close from the eyes of the world yet doth not he behold my wayes and tels al my steps though the eyes of men take the view onely of the outward actions yet hee looketh vpon the inward disposition and affection of the heart These and the like reasons he vsed to keepe himselfe in order and fright his conscience from all manner of sinne and impietie as is more fully described vnto vs in that chapter Fifthly this may serue for terror to all such as liue in sinne what greater terror to a theefe then to haue the iudge an eye witnesse of his vilany Let all dissemblers take notice of this So what greater terror to the wicked then this to haue the Lord behold their doings Come then and learne thou dissembling hypocrite thou that coggest and dallyest with the Lord God hath spyed and doth espy thy rottennesse within for all thy painted outside Hee knoweth that though thou wearest Christs liuery on thy backe thou wearest the diuels fauour in thy bosome Thinke vpon this you lurking diuels close enemies of the Church whose sleepe departs from you till you haue caused some to fall the Lord seeth your plots and cunning deuises your close practises against his Church and people But hee that sitteth in Heauen shall laugh you to scorne Psal 2. the Lord shall haue you in derision Take notice of this all you adulterers and whoremongers who say in your hearts Who sees vs wee are compassed about with darkenesse we need not feare Behold the Lord himselfe seeth thy villany and looketh thee in the face in the act of doing Let vs all consider this and bee better aduised thinke not by denying excusing colouring or cloaking them to auoyde the shame for what if men do count you innocent yet God will bring in euidence to finde you guilty and therefore he himselfe will witnesse against thee Psal 50. and set thy sinnes order before thee Sixthly this may serue to stirre vs vp and encourage vs to well doing What lazie seruant will not put foorth his strength when his maisters eye is on him So who is it were he well perswaded that the Lord is a spectator and beholder of his doings would not put foorth his strength to the Lords worke Were this well considered how couragious should wee bee both in the duties of our generall and speciall callings Seeing the Lord is the beholder of all our actions and wil reward thē let this enflame vs to practise pietie cause vs to make euen holy thoughs precious how forward would we be to euery good work Be not then slothfull in Gods seruice stand not all day idle be euer doing of good Not the least good can be done but he doth know it be it done neuer so secretly yet he seeth it hee seeth thy prayers hee heareth thy grones hee bottles vp thy teares which are shed at midnight and will reward them Thou needst not looke for witnesse to take notice of thy actions God himselfe is witnesse and thy owne conscience also thy conscience is as a thousand witnesses and God as a thousand consciences how many witnesses wouldst thou haue canst thou desire more Let this enflame vs to pietie and cause vs to make euē holy thoghts pretious for as there is not the least euill in the heart which can escape Gods knowledge no more is there the least good motion and cogitation Oh that this were well weighed then would not there bee so many lazie Christians as now there bee
remembrance written for them thar feare the Lord Mal. 3.16 and in this Chronicle all our good seruices euen euery action of obedience is recorded that it may bee rewarded our labour then shall not bee lost nor so much as our teares but they are blotted men may forget vs as Pharaoh did Ioseph Iudg. 9.17 Gen. 41 42. and Sechemites Gedeon but God wil not our reward is sure though not so speedy as wee desire Here is great comfort to all faithfull Ministers who spend their strength to turne sinners from their euill wayes great is their reward in Heauen We must liue the life grace heare if we meane to shine in glory hereafter God heere assures vs of reward in the Kingdome of Heauen Behold what comfort shineth from hence to all you who haue spent your strength in the seruice of God and conuersion of sinners great is your reward in Heauen you shall shine as starres in the Ftrmament for euer and euer From hence we learne that the degrees of glory heereafter shall bee according to the degrees of grace here so that if wee would then shine in glory now we must shine in grace therefore take the aduantage of this thy corruption shake of all spirituall sloth vse it as a goade in thy side to make thee sweat againe in Gods worke double paines shall bring thee double pleasure double deligence double delight double holinesse double honour Who will be a common stone in the building when he might be a Piller Who would be a Doore-keeper when he might be a Steward therefore let vs looke to the whole course of our liues God rewards vs not according to our good or euill worke but according to our workes to the ordinary course of them this must teach vs faithfully to walke before the Lord in the discharge of our seuerall callings let vs look well to our worke that wee doe it and God will looke farre better to reward our worke Oh then that instead of taking thought how to get this or that good thing promised wee would once take thought how to doe this or that good thing commanded and so doing our duty we should be happy for euermore In worldly affaires no weighty thing can bee done without diligence farre lesse in spirituall Cursed be he that doth the worke of the Lord negligently how shall hee looke for the penny that hath stood idle Oh that there were no such to bee found in these our dayes 2. Tim. 4 2. forgetting the rule of the Apostle Preach in season and out of season Hence it commeth to passe that their Sheepe belonging to their charge are like Pharoa his Kine so leane and euill fauoured and so weake as euery bush is able to entangle and euery ditch ready to drowne them and euery blast of vaine Doctrine able to blow them away Oh that this charge were considered and that we remembred that belongeth to them that preach not the Gospell Art thou a Steward Art thou an Ambassador Why then dost thou not distribute Gods food vnto his people How wilt thou be able to looke him in the face at whose barre one day all flesh must stand Luke 16.21 and if the rich man were cast into Hell who did not relieue poore Lazarus with his bread What shall become of those that haue famished the Soules of their people for want of holy admonition and instruction First to all bee it spoken both Minister and people let vs auoyd all sinne and endeauour our our selues to the vtmost of our power to keepe and delight in the Commandements not one but al and that we may not deceiue our selues herein let euery man examine himselfe at this marke and with a single eye and vpright heart take a view of his affections whether his ioy bee inward and spirituall that is in the assurances of God fauour in his word in his Children in Prayer and continuall practise of Godlinesse or outward and carnall that is in attainement of greatnesse and worldly pleasures in the encrease of our Corne and Wine and Oyle vvhether hee loue the peace of Conscience farre more dearely then the fauour of men or his owne life Whether hee bee more zealous for the honour and praise of GOD then his owne Whether hee bee more afraid of secret sinnes then open shame of offending God then outward afflictions Whether he bee more angry in the cause of Religion and concerning Gods glory or for our owne priuate wrongs and so throughout the rest of our affections Secondly wouldest thou repent thee of thy sinnes turne from them and haue them pardoned then labour to know them striue to find them out Consider of thy wayes make a stand for a while and examine thy courses put the question to thy soule what haue I done and againe propound it wherein am I fayling take the light of Gods Law that will shew thee thy filthinesse that will discouer vnto thee thy great corruptions and many faylings bee not backward in this duty the more backward thou art the greater cause thou hast to feare thy estate Bankerouts that are not worth a groat do not dare look into their state because they know they bee worse then nought bee then perswaded to call thy courses to account Consider the estate wherin thou art thy case is fearefull because thou art ignorant of it but it is desperate if thou wilt not be perswaded to looke into it but on the other side if thou wilt take thy selfe aside and commune with thy owne heart as Dauid speaketh Psal 4.4 surely then thou wilt be in a fayre forwardnesse to sound conuersion But heare some may aske Obedience to all the Commandements is an infallible signe of a true iustifying faith how shall I know if I be such a one or not I answere thou mayst easily prooue it in keeping the Commandements and delighting therein by this maist thou know and therefore try thy selfe whether thou hast respect to the first Table as well as to the second to the second as well as to the first dost thou performe good duties for conscience sake dost thou as well make conscience of dissembling with the world defrauding thy neighbour lying or equiuocating for aduantage as of blaspheming Gods name of prophaning Gods Sabbath of neglecting holy exercises Dost thou lament and bewayle thy dulnesse and deadnesse thy drowsinesse and heauines in the performance of holy duties to God and honest duties to men Art thou grieued and disquieted when thou findest not the efficacies and fruit of those good exercises in thy heart hast thou learned to make conscience of sinnes of omission as well of commission Dost thou as well open thy mouth to speake to his honour as keepe it shut from dishonouring him Dost thou as well make conscience of doing these good duties on the Sabbath Day hearing reading meditating and the like which God requireth as thou dost from abstaining of the workes of thy ordinary calling which hee forbiddeth
are thine euen all things are thine and thou art Christs and Christ is Gods onely stand fast in thy faith quit thy selfe like a man and bee strong gird thy sword vpon thy thigh buckle fast to thee the whole armour of God ride on because of the word of truth Psal 45.3 and the Lord thy God bee with thee breake through for a while with vndanted courage the bitternesse of the worlds malice the keene razours of empoysoned tongs the teares and tediousnes of a few wretched daies for thou art neerer the prize of the high calling thē when thou first beleeuedst shine more and more in faith in patience in loue in knowledge in obedience and all other christian graces vntill the perfect day vntill thou reach the height of heauen and the full glory of the Saints of God A true mark of our repētance if we haue left our euill wayes to serue the liuing God First here is matter of great consolation for vs for hereby wee may gather assurance vnto our owne hearts of the soundnesse of our repentance and conuersion to the Lord if we haue indeede turned from our euill wayes to serue the liuing God so that we delight in the commandements therefore they may take this for their comfort who are still proposing of good questiōs what they must do and how they must do it by what meanes they may get out of this or that sinne and attaine to such or such a grace how they may bee profitable helpfull and comfortable to themselues and others this was the practise of the Publicans and Souldiers and all sorts that were inwardly touched in their consciences by the preaching of Iohn Baptist Luk. 3.10 euery one of them came vnto him saying What must we do and of the Iayler who when once hee began to be humbled came trembling and fell down before Paul and Silas saying Act. 18.29.30 What must I doe to be saued For howsoeuer Gods seruants haue learned for the most part what things in general must be done yet still they need to bee enformed in many things therefore if wee truely repent vs of our sinnes the Lord wil neeuer leaue vs till all our iniquities bee quite remoued from vs for they that turne to the Lord by true repentance the Lord will wash them from all their sinnes by the bloud of his Sonne that whatsoeuer offences we repent of wee shal be sure to haue thē pardoned Secondly God accepteth of penitent persons the wil for the deed as for the fulfilling of the law in absolute perfection If we haue a willing mind to performe our duty the Lord will accept the will for the deed that Christ alone hath performed he hath paid our debt and cancelled the bond and taken away the hand-writing that was against vs now this onely remaineth for vs that we haue a good inclination and a willing mind to performe our duty and labor to the vtmost of our strength so to do seeing and bewailing our manifold imperfections errors faylings in euery one of our seruices which if wee can doe God will bee as well pleased with vs through his beloued sonne as if wee had kept the whole law without any declining from it at al eyther to the right hand or to the left That which is spoken in the matter of communicating vnto the necessities of the Saints in the Epistle to the Corinthians to wit if there be first a willing mind it is accepted according to that a man hath Cor 2.8.12 not according to that he hath not holdeth as true in all other seruices that wee are accepted with the Lord according as we are inwardly affected albeit our actions bee not answerable to our desires for hee that hath a ready minde to what hee can and doth the same would bee as ready to doe a great deale more if his ability did serue and therefore the Lord will shew his gracious acceptance of that which is done by him though it be neuer so little as well as if it had beene a matter of a farre greater worth Now that the true purpose and intent of the heart is that which God principally regardeth in his seruants is plainly proued out of holy Scripture for we may reade in Genesis what God saith of Abraham Gen. 22.7 By my selfe haue I sworne saith the Lord because thou hast done this thing and not spared thine only son therefore I will surely blesse thee and yet Isaac was not slaine but Abraham withdrew his hand from him and spared him yet because hee was content to kill him and made all things ready for the sacrificing of him God accounts it as good and rewardeth it as wel as if he had killed him indeed So Dauid had but a purpose to build the temple 1. Chron. 17 1. 1. Kin. 8.16 which worke was afterward layd vpon Salomon and by him performed yet the Lord giueth him a good testimony and large reward for his readinesse that way hee was content to spare him because he had beene at great paines before in shedding the bloud of many enemies of the Church and some remained yet still to be subdued by him yet this he telleth him for his comfort whereas it was in thine heart to build an house vnto my name 1. Chro. 17.10.11.12 thou diddest well that thou wert so minded and besides this he biddeth Nathan to carry him this message that the Lord would build him an house and would raise vp seed after him and employ his sonne in that honourable seruice of building an house vnto the name of the Lord and that hee would establish his throne for euer and therefore if we can beleeue that hee is pleased with our good actions we may as well bee perswaded that hee is delighted with good our motions and holy desires that are stirred vp in our hearts by his owne spirit And the reason why God taketh such small things in good worth is Psal 103.13 because hee is both in name and nature a father Mal. 3.17 yea an heauenly father and therfore hath compassion of those that feare him now hee that is a most mercifull and wise and louing father as those will be most mercifull to others that haue tasted most of Gods mercy to themselues when he seeth that his child doth as well as he can though it be but simply and poorely yet hee will shew his liking of it commend him for it and so will God deale with vs though wee cannot doe things perfitly yet if we doe them obediently hee will shew his loue and approbation of vs and of our workes When a little child doth cheerefully ayme and shoot at the marke which his father proposeth vnto him though by reason of his weaknesse he shoot very wide and short yet it is well accepted of his father as if hee did hit the white and the like fatherly dealing shall we finde in God that if wee bee faithfull in a
his fauour shall haue all good blessings flowing to them and following of them Dauid doth notably confirme this in many of his Psalmes as in the three and twentieth Psalme where professing God to bee his shepheard maketh this inference therupon Therefore I shall not want Psal 23.1.6 but doubtlesse kindenesse and mercie shall follow mee all the dayes of my life Psa 34 9.10 and againe the Lyons doe lacke and suffer hunger but they which seeke the Lord shall want nothing that is good Psal 84.11 also Dauid sayth the Lord God is a sunne and a shield vnto vs the Lord will giue grace and glory and no good thing will hee withhold from them that walke vprightly And is not this the blessing that is promised to such as feare the Lord that all good things should flow vnto them from heauen and earth that they shall be hlessed in the house in the field in their basket in their store in the fruite of their bodyes in the encrease of their cattle and in the aboundance of all things Let no man doubt of this truth for God is the Gouernor of heauen earth and the diâ—â—oser of all things thus wee see that where Gods fauour is there is want of nothing that is needfull And there is cause why we shuld rest fully resolued of this point that none of Gods household shall euer want necessary releefe because all will yeeld that God is the Gouernour of heauen and earth and the disposer of all things in them both and then they must grant further that those that are best and doe best shall speede best because God loueth them most and how then can we make question whether or no the Lord will bestow vpon them a competent measure and a comfortable vse of these earthly blessings seeing all is in his hand and he wisheth so well vnto his owne people especially seeing hee hath straightly charged vs not to care what wee shall eate or drinke Mat. 6.25 or what wee shall put on but first to seeke the kingdome of God and his righteousnesse promising vs faithfully that if wee doe so all other things shall be cast vpon vs. And as he hath promised this so hath hee from time to time performed it If we will prosper in our outward estate wee must thriue in pietie as wee may obserue throughout the booke of Iudges of Samuel and of the Chronicles for there it is to be seene that when godlinesse prospered in the soules of Gods people they prospered their outward estate wheÌ„ sinne on the other side had made hauocke in their soules then the Madianites and the Philistims and other enemies made hauocke in their countrey when they and their kings thriued in pietie and did grow in the knowledge of God and zeale of his glory then it went well with them for outward plenty and aboundance but when Idolatry and impietie beganne once to thriue in their hearts and in their land they neuer had long nor settled prosperitie but their enemies hands and swords preuayled against them for taking away of their liues and the ruinating of their estates Sinful courses can neuer prosper First here is matter of terrour for all wicked worldlings that thinke to aduantage and aduance themselues by sinnefull and and naughty courses that is an ill way to rise for the riches of iniquitie shall not prosper Pro. 10.2 Iere. 22.23.24 though they build their houses neuer so high and aduance their nests vnto the starres yet the Lords hand shall pull them thence and cast them downe into the very dust they thinke their houses their names and their substance shall remayne for euer and that they shall make themselues and theirs by ioyning house to house and land to land by oppressing the poore and needy and by defrauding the fatherlesse and widow and such as cannot right themselues but alas they little consider in the meane while that God is the Iudge of the world and that hee will reward euery man according to his workes they imagine their estate shall be according to their wealth and so it might bee indeede if God were not the gouernour of the world but sith he is so it shall goe with euery one according to that he is and not according to that hee hath and therefore as God would haue it proclaimed to the godly Isa 3.10 say yee surely it shall goe well with the iust for they shall eate the fruite of their workes so he would haue this denounced against the vngodly Wo be to the wicked it shall bee euill with him for the reward of his hands shall bee giuen him Esa 3.11 they shall reape that which they haue sowed It were and absurd thing for one that hath sowne nothing but cockle and fitches to exspect a good crop of wheat and as contrary to all reason is it for theÌ„ that sowe iniquity to think they shall reape any thing but affliction they may delude themselues with vaine hopes but they shall neuer obtaine any happinesse and prosperity from the Lord nay surely he hates both theÌ„ and their practises and therefore they their wicked seed shall be rooted out as wee may see it verified in many of the kings of Israel as in Ieroboam Ahab Baasha c. And most notably in that place of Ieremie concerning Iehoiakim the sonne of Iosiah woe vnto him sayth the Lord that buildeth his house by vnrighteousnesse Ier. 22.13.89 and his Chambers without equity hee vseth his neighbour without wages and giueth him not for his works c. Shalt thou raigne because thou closest thy selfe in Cedar did not thy Father eate and drinke and prosper when he executed Iudgement and Iustice c. Where is declared in the example of Iosiah Ios 11.23 No certaine way to prosper in but in the practise of godlines for that bringeth all true honor and prosperity the godly Father on the one side that the true knowledge of God and the practise of godlines and righteousnesse bringeth all true honour and prosperity and on the other side in the example of Iehoiakim the wicked sonne is shewed that impiety ioyned with oppression and cruelty with fraud and deceit and iniurious dealing man liues a base and dishonourable life and dyes a shamefull and Ignominious death as wee see it many times comes to passe that while he is in the World he shall liue vndesired and when he goeth out of the World he shall die vnlamented The best way to thriue in all the world is to get Religion into our hearts Therefore let this encourage men if they would haue good things either in right or in possession to labour to get Religion into their hearts and to be as much afraid of sinne as of misery and as desirous of grace as they are of prosperity which if we could do we should find Gods eyes open to consider of vs and his hand to relieue vs continually in all
all so that it will make vs blessed happy in all our waies so that the feare of the Lord brings with it alwaies a plenty of al good things and comes laden with the blessings of God wheresoeuer it comes for all these causes now rehearsed should we feare the Lord and endeauor to please him The feare of the Lord giueth vnderstanding to the simple Fourthly hee that feareth the Lord hath the promise of spirituall graces as knowledge instruction wisedome and the like Art thou ignorant in Gods matters and wouldest faine know and vnderstand the wayes of God then feare the Lord. For what man is he that feareth the Lord him shall hee teach in the way that hee shall choose Psal 25.12 Verfe 14. yea the secret of the Lord is among them that feare him and he will shew them his Couenant the feare of the Lord is the beginning of wisedome A good vnderstanding haue all they that doe thereafter Psal 111.10 Wouldest thou haue the Lord to shew pitty and compassion vpon thee and to forgiue thee all thy sinnes O then feare the Lord Mal. 3.16.17 For the Lord wil spare them that feare him as a man that spareth his owne sonne that serueth him as a father pittieth his Children so the Lord pittieth them that feare him Yea the mercy of the Lord is from euerlasting to euerlasting vpon them that feare him and his righteousnesse vpon childrens children Againe Psal 103.13 the Lord heareth the Prayers of those that feare him and granteth their request Yea the Lord will giue grace and glory and no good thing will hee withhold frō them that walke vprightly Psal 84.11 Thus wee see no grace needefull to saluation shall be wanting to vs if we feare the Lord Lastly it hath the maine promise of eternall life in the world to come His endlesse mercy is on them that feare him from generation to generation The maine reason to enforce vs to labour for this holy feare is that it hath the promises of eternall life in the world to come Luke 150. Psal 85.9 Mal. 2.5 Psal 25.12 This is a main reason to enforce vs to labour for this holy feare and howsoeuer the wicked beleeue it not but account it altogether in vaine to feare God and serue him yet let no man doubt of it who belongs to God for as Dauid speaketh Surely Gods saluation is nigh all them that feare him And the couenant of life and peace was with Leui because he feared God and the soule of him that feareth God shall dwell at ease Deut 5.20 yea If we feare the Lord alwayes it shall be well with vs and with our children for euer The consideration of all which should moue euery one of vs to breake out with the Prophet saying Who would not feare thee Ier. 10.7 Reuel 15.7 Psa 115.13 O King of Nations and with Gods seruāts Who wil not feare thee O Lord and glorifie thy Name for thou onely art holy Loe These gracious promises should moue vs to feare the Lord. 2. Cor. 7.1 Phil. 2.12 Esay 8.13 thus will the Lord blesse them that feare him both small and great Therefore seeing we haue such promises let vs cleanse our selues from all filthinesse of the flesh and spirit perfecting holinesse in the feare of God Worke out your saluation with feare and trembling sanctifie the Lord of Hosts himselfe and let him be your dread Now let the feare of the Lord be vpon you take heede and doe it And whatsoeuer yee doe doe it in the feare of the Lord faithfully and with a perfect heart Let vs with good King Iehosaphat feare the Lord 2. Chr. 19.79 and set our hearts earnestly to seeke him For as the Heauen is high aboue the Earth 2. Chr 20.3 Psal 103.11 so great is Gods mercy towards them that feare him as farre as the East is from the West so farre hath God set our transgressions from vs. Psal 33.8 O let all the earth feare the Lord let all the Inhabitants of the World stand in awe of him Psal 2.11 Serue the Lord with feare and reioyce before him with reuerence The Lord of his mercy giue vs this grace and good Lord vnite our hearts to thee that wee may feare thy Name For thou onely Psal 86.11 Psal 76.7 O Lord euen thou art to be feared and who may stand in thy sight when thou art angry Wherefore let vs performe these things with care and conscience and no doubt but wee shall haue the true feare of the Lord within vs which will bee a comfort vnto vs for euermore Our chiefest ioy and delight should be in the Commandements of God Now follwes the practise of this blessed man and that is in actions of piety and delights greatly in his Commandements that is the whole Doctrine diuinely inspired is the very ioy of his heart and delight of his soule It is sweeter vnto him then the Honny and the Honny-combe It is more precious vnto him then gold yea then much fine gold It is more worth vnto him then the whole World and where the heart is once enkindled with loue there the imagination imbraceth with dearest apprehension the thoughts are impatient of any other obiect all the powers of the Soule are vnited in a strong endeauour for the attainement the whole minde must needes bee possest with Meditation and Prayer If hee delight in the Law of the LORD his GOD hee must needes meditate therein And this feruency of the heart cannot possibly be inclosed within the compasse of the brest it will spred it selfe in speech and actions as is plaine by Dauids speech Psal 37.30 The mouth of the righteous will speake of wisedome and his tongue will talke of iudgement for the Law of God is in his heart Psa 119.167 and Dauid saith My soule hath kept thy testimonies for I loue them exceedingly And this loue delight meditation and exercise in the Commandements of God of this blessed man is not a morning cloud and as the morning dew before the Sunne but like the light of the Sunne that shineth more and more vnto perfect day it is not for a start for feare vpon restraint for rereputation for aduantage or to couer the terrors of conscience for a while but it is out of a free resolution and with vndaunted constancy as hee speakes else where day and night So that Gods Law and Word cannot simply profit vs Gods word cannot bee profitable except first it be comfortable vnto vs. except we take ioy and comfort in the same We must first taste and proue the sweetenesse thereof wee must before hand finde out and feele the vertue thereof When wisedome entreth into thy heart Pro. 2.10.11 Psal 1.2 and knowledge delighteth thy soule then and not before shall counsell preserue thee and vnderstanding shall keepe thee and deliuer thee from the euill way and from the man that speaketh
and dost thou not rest in Negatiues abstaining only from what is forbidden but hast thou also regard to affirmatiues doing what God hath enioyned to bee done esteeming this latter as necessary as the former Surely if it bee thus thou mayst haue comfort that thy obedience to the Commandements is sound and good but yet a little further thou abstainest from grosse euils and art seuere and sore against others that fall into them such such sinnes thou dost not commit but what is the ground of thy abstaining Is it the law of the Magistrate feare of Gods wrath or shame of the World or is it because thou wantest ability or opportunity if this be the ground let me tell thee this is a false ground will deceiue thee in the end But dost thou leaue these H s 3.5 Psal 130.4 because they are euill and displeasing to the Lord Dost thou feare the Lord and his goodnesse and tremble to offend him because of his mercy Why then it is an euident signe of a sanctified soule Oh that we would deale truely with our selues that we would now at the last learne to be wise and not gull our soules as most doe and therefore consider with thy selfe and be thou better aduised cast of all profainenes follow holines and piety for without it no man shal euer see God to his comfort Seeing therfore examination is so necessary for euery one Examination so necessary that without it no state of life can bee rightly ordered let vs goe one step further in this tryall of our selues Hast thou felt by thine owne experience this great worke of regeneration and change wrought vpon thy soule Hath the powerfull Word by the inward and effectuall working of his Spirit broken and bruised thy hard stony heart Hath it pierced and purged the very closest and vnsearchable corners thereof hath it humbled it with the sight of thy sinnes hath it filled it with fearefull terrours remorse and true sorrow for thy life past hath it after quieted and refreshed it with a sure faith in Christ Iesus and a delight in heauenly things hath it mortified thy inward corruptions broke the heart of thy sweet sin hath it planted a holy moderation in all thy affections that whereas heretofore they haue beene enraged with lust with immoderate anger with ambition with insatiable desire for the inlargement of thy possessions greatnesse and with hatred of Gods dearest seruants and their holinesse are they now inflamed with zeale for Gods honor truth seruice with a feruent loue vnto the Lord and his Saints with Christian courage to oppose against the sinnes of the time to defend goodnesse good causes to contemne the lying slanders and profane scoffes of worthlesse men hath it begot in thy will an hunger and thirst after the spirituall foode of thy soule the Word and Sacraments so that thou hadst rather part with any worldly good then not enioy the incomparable benefit of a conscionable and constant ministery are thy thoughts which hertofore did wander vp downe at randome wickedly idly wantonly are they now bounded within a sacred compasse and spent vpon holy things and the necessary affaires of thy honest lawfull calling Is thy vnderstanding informed acquainted with the mistery of saluation which the world the wise men thereof account nothing but madnes and folly is thy memory which hath heretofore bin stuffed with trash and toyes vanities and follies now capable and greedy of diuine knowledge are thy words which heretofore haue bin full of profanenes worldlines now directed to glorifie God to giue grace to the hearers Nay yet further besides this reuocation of the faculties of thy soule hath the power of grace sanctified all thy outward actions Dost thou order in euery particular all the businesses of thy vocation religiously conscionably by direction out of the Word of God Dost thou now heare the Word of God not only of course and custome but of zeale conscience to reforme thy selfe by it to liue after it Do not the weekdaies duties and worldly cares drown thy mind on the sabbath dost thou exercise daily with fruit feeling prayer that precious cōfort of the faithfull Christian Thou being conuerted dost thou labor the cōuersion of others especially of those which are committed any way to thy charge and for whom thou must giue a more strickt account as if thou be a master of a family dost thou pray with them instruct them in the doctrine of saluation wayes of godlinesse dost thou now not only sticke at and forbeare great and grosse sinnes but dost thou euen hate the garment spotted of the flesh and all appearance of euill Thes 15.22 doth the tendernes of thy conscience check thee for the least sin make thee feareful to offend thogh it be but in a wandring cogitation after euery fal into infirmities art thou carefull to renew thy repentance learn wisedom watchfulnes to auoid thē afterwards dost thou feele thy selfe profit grow increase in these fruits effects of grace hast thou such a gracious taste of the glory of God of eternal life that thou art euen willing desirous to meete thy Sauior in the clouds not so much to bee rid out of the miseries of this life as to be freed from the heauy burden of Heb. 12.1 sin which hangs on so fast to enioy his presence in the heauens for euer in a word as thy soule giues life spirit motion to thy whole body euery part thereof doth the Spirit of God euen so inspire thy soule and body and all thy actions with the life of grace why then thou art possest of the state of true blessednes Here is great comfort for all such as can find this vprightnesse in themselues they neede not feare thogh the earth should bee mooued yet they shall abide and be safe in the Day of the Lord. thou art then happy that euer thou wast borne thy life is certainely the way of life and I can assure thee and I dare boldly speake it that thou art already out of the reach of all the powers of Hell Satan is chained vp for euer doing thee any deadly hurt all the creatures are reconciled vnto thee at league with thee thou hast filled the angels with ioy at thy conuersion they will for euer gard thee thou shalt neuer more be afraid for any ill tidings though the earth bee moued Psal 46.2 and though the mountains fal into the middest of the sea thy heart shall abide strong vnshaken and comfortable when thou fallest downe vpon thy bed of sickenesse thou shalt finde no mortall pryson in thy flesh no sting in death no darkenesse in the graue no amazement at that great and fearful day for all the merits and sufferings of Christ are thine all the comforts of Gods children are thine all the blessings in the booke of God