may be saued therefore God will send them strong delusions that they should beleeue lyes that all they may bee damned that beleeue not the truth but take pleasure in vnrighteousnesse The Lotd graunt vs more sanctified hearts that wee may make better vse of his gracious oportunities that hee doth offer vnto vs that for the time to come we may make more righter steps to his kingdome This Doctrine maketh First for the iust reproofe of all Papists and all such Vse 1 as are popishly affected as such as the Lord may most iustly taxe with this great ingratitude of contemning the meanes of their owne saluation that will rather hearken to erronious and hereticall doctrine then to the truth of God contained in his holy Word Let them stand neuer so much of their works of piety and deuotion as Fastings prayer almes c. they are without the Word but abhomination to the Lord the Lord hates them and his soule abhorres them being not done in faith repentance and true obedience as Salomon sayth He that turneth away his eare from hearing the Law euen his prayer shall be abhominable But oh the iust iudgement of God vpon them they haue refused to embrace the loue of the truth and haue beleeued lies and therefore it is a righteous thing with God to giue them ouer to hardnesse of heart and rebrobate minds to be deluded by Sathan and so to perish with him for euer Secondly this Doctrine doth nearely concerne Vse 2 vs all Wee see here what a fearefull sinne it is before the Lord to contemne his Word to neglect his Doctrine and lightly to esteeme of the meanes of our saluation it is of that nature that the Lord cannot at any hand put it vp but will most surely punish the contempt therof as we haue seene before by the examples of the old world the Sodomites the people of the Iewes and the like And yet alas wee see it a sinne too too common so as men doe generally neglect contemne if not desperately despise the means of their saluation the most glorious Gospell of Iesus Christ making no account of it but trample it vnder foot esteeme no more of the Word preached then they do of their old shooes they wil not go to the dore to heare it but rather lye vpon their beds sit by the fire talke in the streetes play in their bowling Allies and to doe any base or vaine thing then to come into Gods house to heare his Word whereby their poore soules might be saued Oh horrible impietie Well I remember that Saul obserued Dauids seat when hee was wanting much more doth the Lord take notice of our emptie seates and solitary Pewes when wee are wanting Will you heare how the Lord hath grieuously punished such contempt yea the neglect of holy meanes and hath not the Lord met with vs for this sinne yes questionlesse as the plague and pestilence is sent for sin so I am perswaded no one sinne of the land hath been a greater cause to prouoke the Lord to anger and to plague our land so often with the pestilence and other grieuous iudgements of vnseasonable weather the like then our long our generall and our continuall contempt of his most holy Word and prophaning of his Sabbaths so as the Lord may say to vs for this cause haue I cut you downe euen by hundreds and thousands for the contempt of the gracious means I haue vsed to do you good Oh then I beseech you in the feare of God let vs lay this to heart and seeing the Lord will neuer suffer the contempt of his Word goe vnpunished let vs now at last repent of this sinne let vs esteeme better of the Word let vs receiue it beleeue it and bee more carefull to heare it otherwise if wee liue in the open contempt of it as now wee doe I say vnto you in the name of the Lord and from the warrant of his sacred Word by the which wee shall al bee iudged at the last day Mat. 11.21 that it shall bee easier for the men of Sodom Gomor then for vs yea the time may come when wee shall weepe and howle crie out and say Oh that I were a Sodomite Oh that I had beene borne one of Gomorah and enuy the felicity euer of the Sodomites in comparison of our own torments Heb. 2.3 If now wee neglect so great saluation Thirdly and lastly seeing the Word preached and taught is the ordinary meanes of our saluation and the neglect and contempt thereof doth draw downe Vse 3 such heauy iudgements vpon vs as we haue heard before how may this teach vs all according to godly Salomon his aduice to take heed to our feet when we come into Gods house and as our Sauiour sayth Eccl. 4.17 Mat. 13. Luk. 8.18 to take heed how wee heare It is not to bee accounted a light matter that we haue this liberty to come into Gods house that wee may heare him speake vnto vs in his Word for if wee benefite not by these holy exercises of religion and draw nearer vnto heauen wee are made by them the more hardned in sinne to our greater confusion at the last let vs not therefore come for fashion sake or for custome but for conscience sake before God in obedience to his commadement And to this end wee must learne to prepare our selues before wee come by heartie prayer to God both that he would direct the tongue of the Minister his seruant that hee may deliuer the Word truely and powerfully as also that hee would open our hearts as hee did the heart of Lydea that wee may attend vnto those things that shall bee taught which godly preparation if it were carefully obserued of our hearers it could not bee after so much and long teaching they should remaine so ignorant and barren of Gods Worke as generally they bee Well to conclude this Doctrine let this be for our present instruction that if we would bee free from the accusation of wicked graceles and prophane persons let vs labour to bee willing and well affected hearers that wee come with hungring and thirsting desires vnto the spirituall food of our soules that it may bee vnto vs a sauor of life vnto a better life and that the Lord may neuer bee constrained to vse the same as here hee did to this people namely as an instrument to Cut downe and a meanes of our further condemnation at the last would wee not haue beene loath to haue beene in Sodom when God rained downe fire and brimstone from heauen vpon their heads Oh Lord how should wee quake and tremble to thinke of this slaughter that the Lord threatneth here namely To cut downe by his Prophets and to slay by the words of his mouth I haue cut downe IN that the Lord professeth here that he was the author of their punishment The Author of this iudgement and did inflict this iudgement on them for their
remembrances vnto them and his corrections are their instructions and the Lord thus exercising his Children in the Schoole of afflictions doth thereby breake in them the power of sinne let out as it were the superfluous humour of pride and selfe-loue which are ready to corrupt euen our best actions So that albeit afflictions bee grieuous and bitter yet they are not vnprofitable to those whom God hath chosen to better graces The mercies of God indeed ought to leade vs to repentance and the more aboundantly the Lord doth bestow his mercies vpon vs the more should bee our obedience But alas it fareth otherwise with vs for his blessings and benefites are vnto vs many times occasions of euill insomuch as wee turne the grace of GOD into wantonnesse And therefore farre better were it for many in respect of the good of their soules that they had alwayes beene held in the bedde of affliction then enioying health peace prosperitie strength of body c. they should abuse the same to the great dishonour of God and the ruine of their owne soules Vse 3 Seeing that afflictions when the Lord doth lay the same vpon vs to this end to better vs in obedience are so auaileable that they worke a reformation in the whole man We are hereby put in mind of our duety how wee ought to behaue our selues vnder the hand of God that if the Lord hath humbled vs by long and tedious sicknesse by losse of goods children friends c. or by any other meanes whatsoeuer that then we trie and examine our hearts what reformation these things haue wrought in vs whether they haue made vs to call our owne wayes to account and straightly to examine our owne hearts what euill thoughts corrupt words or sinfull action hath passed from vs that hath thus made the Lord to strike and to punish vs and when wee haue taken as it were a Catalogue of all our sinnes if it were possible then let vs try our sorrow whether wee be truely humbled for them Lam. 3.39 or no This duty is vrged by Ieremie Wherefore is the liuing man sorrowfull Man suffereth for his sins Let vs search and trie our wayes and turne vnto the Lord. For surely this is the marke that God doth ayme at not by affliction to destroy vs or to confound vs for euer but to make vs to call our owne hearts to account to see our sinnes and to bring vs home to himselfe Vse 4 And last of all wee are taught here not to measure the fauour and loue of God towards our selues or others Eccle. 9.2 eyther by prosperity or aduersity for as Salomon sayth All things come alike to all and the same condition is to the iust and to the wicked And as the Apostle sayth Rom. 14.17 The Kingdom of God standeth not in meat and drinke c. So that if wee desire some euidences of Gods fauour and loue towards vs we must not seeke for it in our outward peace and tranquility of body mind heere or in continuall aduersity both which are common to the iust and vniust to the good and bad onely try them by the effects of affliction for in the godly they bring forth the quiet fruit of repentance whereas they make the wicked but the more obdurate and hardned in their sinnes the godly in their sufferings communicate with the Crosse of Christ Psal 126.6 whereas the wicked in their sufferings communicate with the curse of sinners and take this for a rule that neuer fayleth That the Crosse if care bee had to profite thereby neuer departeth but it leaueth a blessing behind Come let vs returne Here we may see what is the counsell that they giue one to another in affliction namely to make speed to turne vnto God whose wrath and heauy displeasure they had prouoked against them by their sinnes and whose iudgements were already gone out against them they were assured that there was no other way or meanes to pacifie the wrath of God Luk. 13.5 but onely to breake off their sinnes by repentance and therefore they call one vnto another Come let vs turne c. Here wee are taught this lesson for our instruction Doct. 2 euen from the example of these beleeuing Iewes What counsell it is that wee must giue to others in aduersity stirring vp one another in the time of affliction to return againe vnto God by repentance from whom they had departed by their sins What is the counsell that wee must giue one to another in affliction namely to exhort men to turne vnto God to confesse their sinnes to bee grieued for them Dan. 4.24 and to beg the pardon of them This is the counsell that Daniel gaue to Nabuchadnezar namely to breake off his sinnes by repentance Wherefore O King let my counsell bee acceptable vnto thee and breake off thy sinnes by righteousnesse and thine iniquities by mercy towards the poore c. Again the Prophet Ieremy obserues the same Lam. 3.39 Wherefore is the liuing man sorrowfull Man suffereth for his sinne Oh let vs search and try our wayes and turne vnto the Lord. And surely this is the best counsell that any Christian man or woman can giue to another in affliction namely to breake off their sinnes by vnfained repentance and turning vnto the Lord This is the right way to stoppe the breach of Gods wrath and to call in his iudgements Many men haue sought other meanes and wayes to preuent the Lords iudgements but alas as the cause of all iudgements are our sins Our sinnes turne many good things from vs And a fruitfull land maketh hee barren for the wickednes of them that dwell therein So vnlesse they be taken away by true vnfained repentance wee doe but weary our selues in vaine for we must first remoue the cause of Gods iudgements our sinnes else the hand of God cannot bee remoued Wee see in a lacke so long as the weight hangs vpon the corde it moues the wheeles but take off the lead and it will cease Our sinnes bee as a mighty Milstone to plucke downe Gods fearefull iudgements vpon vs now remoue our sinnes then Gods anger shall cease but let vs know till wee cease from sinning Leuit. â—6 Hos 4.1.2 the Lord cannot cease from smiting Nay if wee walke stubbornely against him and will not turne hee will euen whet his sword and neuer cease smiting till he make an end of vs. Yea the Prophets and holy men of God in such times when we lye open to Gods wrath haue called vs to repentance stirred vs vp to prayer moued vs to humiliation and acknowledgement of our sinnes which haue deserued such chasticements What is the reason that the Lord sends such barrennesse vpon the earth vnseasonable weather immoderate raine surely our sinnes our ignorance contempt of the Word our abuse of the Sacraments yea our abuse of plenty in drunkennesse whoredome swearing c. Now what 's the way to haue
throweth his children into continuall miseries and afflictions Answere continuall pouerty and sicknesse all their dayes and the paine of a wounded conscience and troubled spirit till their last end yet it is for their good for by this meanes the Lord wil purge their corrupt cankered hearts to humble them throughly and to exercise their faith and patience to mortifie their carnall hearts to make them more earnest with God in praier and by their continuall afflictions to preserue and keepe them and preuent them from manifold sinnes and rebellions And yet notwithstanding God heares his children in their miseries and forsakes them not but in two dayes or at the most in three dayes that is in a very short time sends them comfort though hee take not their afflictions away yet he giues them that which is better for them Our Sauiour Christ prayed vnto his Father most earnestly with cries and teares to be freed from death Heb. 5.7 And was heard in that hee feared How was our Sauiour Christ heard in his Petition praying to be freed from death and yet hee must needes taste of the bitter cuppe of death Ans He was heard on this manner first in that hee was strengthned not onely to beare and suffer the death vpon the Crosse but to ouercome it and to vanquish it his Father sent an Angell to comfort him and afterward he was freed from the sorrowes of death And so it is with the poore members of Christ they be afflicted they liue in sorrow in pouerty in sicknesse in griefe of mind Well the Lord he giues them patience to suffer this affliction so as it is not tedious and grieuous vnto them and by his continuall afflicting of them he humbles them and purges them of their cankered corruption and stirres vp in them the feruency of prayer makes them out of loue with the world and makes them more to hunger after his mercy and to depend on his fatherly goodnes And thus though men thinke God forgets vs in our afflictions yet hee doth remember vs and giues vs that which is better for vs then if hee should altogether remoue his correction Iacob serued seuen yeers for Rahel and it seemed vnto him but a few dayes because hee loued her Gen. 29.20 And surely if we be perswaded of the loue of God that though hee afflict vs seuen times seuen yeares wee shall thinke it but a short time But the child of God oft complains that they be afflicted not onely with continuall pouerty and sicknesse but that they bee tormented with griefe of Soule and feele the heauy burthen of their sinnes and the anger of God against them for the same yet remember what befell thy Lord and Master Iesus Christ when hee went to execution the cruell Iewes made him carry his owne Crosse on his backe so long till hee could carry it no longer hee was so faint then behold the Lord sent a good Symon of Syren to carrie his Crosse for him So art thou crossed with affliction is thy soule wounded with the griefe and smart of sinne and doest thou pant and breath vnder the heauy burthen of the Crosse remember what thy Sauiour sayth vnto thee Come vnto mee all yee that trauell and bee heauy laden Mat. 11.28 and I will refresh you If thou canst runne to Iesus Christ in the middest of thy griefe and misery by true repentance and earnest prayer then he will become a blessed Simon to beare thy Crosse for thee hee will put vnder his owne shoulder hee will take thy sinnes and the anger of God and beare them on his owne backe and if wee can but fling our selues into the blessed Armes of his mercy hee will giue euerlasting rest vnto our soules And lastly whereas many of Gods children complaine Lam. 1.12 as Ieremy See if there were euer any sorrow like my sorrow And as the Prophet Dauid complaines Hath God forgotten to bee gracious and hath hee shut vp his louing kindnesse in displeasure Yet they must know and confesse that God doth in a short time comfort his children and that his afflictions are neyther troublesome nor tedious for though they last for the space of a mans life what is a mans life but a spanne long and a thousand yeares with God are but as a day Againe when they bee past and gone though they lasted many yeares it seemes but a short time And what is twenty yeares affliction in comparison of eternall ioy and happinesse in heauen who had not rather leade their liues in misery here then in eternall torment in Hell fire in the life to come Well seeing the afflictions of Gods children bee Vse 2 but light and moment any and last but for a few daies wee must learne that lesson which Saint Paul teacheth vs namely to reioyce in affliction knowing Rom. 5.3 that affliction bringeth foorth patience patience in suffering bringeth forth experience of Gods loue and fauour and experience hope and hope makes vs rest our selues wholly content to wayte the Lords leasure and were it not for this hope that God wil one day ease vs the hearts of Gods children would burst in sunder and his hope makes vs not ashamed seeing that such is the loue of God that he neuer failes nor forsakes his children Many indeed are our infirmities feares cares sorrowes and troubles heere yet in the middest of them all wee must say with the Prophet Psal 42.5 Why art thou cast downe Oh my Soule and why art thou disquieted within mee Wayte on God for I will yet giue him thanks he is my present helpe and my God Let vs not therfore despayre in the time of trouble Rom. 16.20 The God of peace shall tread Sathan vnder your feet shortly he is faithfull which hath promised Affliction must bee our portion heere wee must then get faith and patience into our soules that so we may hold out vnto the end The third generall obseruation is the deliuerance it selfe with the seuerall fruits and benefites therof in these words Hee will reuiue vs hee will rayse vs vp The deliuerance it selfe and wee shall liue in his sight Eph. 2.1 which words are expounded by the Apostle Paul when hee sayth Yee that were dead in trtspasses and sinnes hath hee quickned Meaning thereby that vntill such time as wee are quickned and that the Lord doth reuiue vs by the grace of Regeneration wee be no better then dead men howsoeuer we walke and talke heare and performe the actions of men yet in respect of any spirituall life or any spirituall actions alas wee are starke dead till the Lord reuiue vs this being so wee learne hence a twofold Doctrine First that by nature we are all starke dead in trespasses and sins And secondly that our Regeneration is as hardly wrought as to raise vp a dead man and to restore him againe to life Doct. 3 For the first of these wee are taught heere what we are by nature
doth import vnto vs the perseuerance that is required in all those that seeke for this Knowledge Perseuerance and constancy is required in seeking for sauing knowledge Act. 17.12 Wee see the Huntsman for his pleasure in his game hee can bee content to seeke in euery bush and to plod euery furrow till he find his game and then hee neuer leaues from morning till night Oh how much more should we seeke and neuer lin seeking for this heauenly and sauing Knowledge till wee find it The men of Bâ—rea are commended for seeking turning their books to confirme and to encrease this Knowledge in them So should wee not onely heare but also Search the Scriptures examine euery Chapter leafe by leafe and line by line till wee find this Knowledge It is not inough to begin to seeke bot wee must continue seeking for this Knowledge Luk. 11.62 Hee that puts his hand to the Lords Plough and looketh backe is not meet for the Kingdom of God Mat. 24.4 but hee which endures to the end shall be saued Againe 1. Cor. 16.13 Stand fast in the faith quite you like men and bee strong This is further cleared by that speech of our Sauiour to the Church of Smyrmye Reu. 2.10 Bee thou faithfull vnto death Gal 33. and I will giue thee a Crowne of life And Paul blamed the Galathians and called them Foolish for beginning in the spirit and ending in the Flesh for not holding on as they had begun and surely the estate of such men is most fearefull it had beene better for them that they had neuer known the truth Nay it had been better for them that they had neuer beene borne 2. Pet. 2.20 as Christ speaketh of Iudas as the Apostle obserues If they after they haue escaped from the filthinesse of the World through the acknowledging of the Lord and of the Sauiour Iesus Christ are yet tangled againe therein the latter end with them is worse then the beginning And the reason of this Doctrine is cleare Reason for of all graces vertues it is onely constancy and perseuerance that shall bee crowned As no sinne condemns a man but this final impenitency or continuance in the same sinne so no grace or vertue shall bee crowned but that which continues to the end It is only continuance and perseuerance in any grace whatsoeuer that shall bee crowned with glory for If a righteous man turne from his righteousnesse Ezec. 18.24 and do the thing that is euill all the righteousnesse that hee hath done shall bee remembred no more hut in the wickednesse that hee hath committed in the same hee shall die And therefore wee may safely conclude that continuance perseuerance in seeking after more knowledge euery spiritual grace is that which doth crowne all our vertues whatsoeuer If then thou hast entered into the profession of Religion Vse if thou hast begunne to shew thy selfe sound in knowledge and that thou hast tasted of the power of Gods Word Oh bee constant in that soundnesse and in that sincerity Goe on in the same grow dayly more and more towards perfection let thy works be more at last then at first And surely this exhortation is very needfull and cannot sufficiently bee vrged in this back-sliding age wherein many with Demas fall into loue with the world Reu. 2.4 and with the Church of Ephesus loose their first loue and grow secure and carelesse nay neyther hote nor cold in Religion but the Lord one day will spue such back sliders out of his mouth Alas wee are hardly brought on to make a beginning in matters of Religion for it fareth with vs as it did with Zacheus Luk. 19. when hee had a purpose to see Christ the multitude stood in his way that hee was constrayned to goe vp into a Fig-tree so fareth it with euery Christian man and woman when wee haue entertained any good purpose of heart to seeke the Lord to labour to get knowledge into our Soules and to grow and encrease in the same Oh how many lets and stumbling blocks will Sathan now beginne to lay in our way inward and outward and all to keepe vs from enioying of Christ But when a man shall ouer stride them all and giue vp his name to Christ and then fall away this were a most wofull estate and condition Note they are no better then dogges and swine and it had beene better for such that they had neuer knowne the truth then after they haue knowne it to fall away for how doth this man or woman cause the Lord by degrees a little little to take away from them his Spirit that whereas in times past they had a loue to the truth were carefull to heare and to sanctifie the Lords Sabbath hee might now vpon their contempt of grace giue them ouer as prisoners to Sathan who shal so manicle their hands feet yea heart and all that by degrees they shall grow to hate and contemn both grace itselfe the meanes to obtaine the same Thirdly wee must not onely vse paines and perseuer in seeking for this knowledge Doct. but wee must also take delight in the same A godly man seekes after knowledge willingly and chearefully Wee see those that follow their sport take great delight in it this pleasure of theirs swallowes vp all their pain and makes it seem nothing vnto them So should wee in seeking for this blessed knowledge find our hearts rauished with a loue and a liking and a godly pleasure in the same You shal see that this hath beene the affection of the children of God in all ages Thus did Iob I esteemed thy word more then my appointed food Iob. 23.12 And this affection was in the Prophet Dauid when hee sayth Lord what loue haue I vnto thy Law Psal 119. all the day long is my study in them And in the description of a godly man the Prophet Dauid obserues this to bee one property in him Psa 1.2 Hee meditates in the Law of God day and night which shew vnto vs that hee takes delight in it for otherwise hee would neuer by night especially meditate vpon the same And Ieremie after hee had found the Word of God Ier. 15.16 hee did eate it and it was sweet vnto him nay it was his ioy and the reioycing of his Soule Psal 16.10 And the Prophet Dauid speaking in another place of this knowledge sayth That it is more to bee desired then gold yea then much fine gold sweeter also then the honey and the honey combe And that which the Apostle setteth down concerning Almes Mat. 22.37 Rom 12.8 Deu. 6.5 2. Cor. 9.7 Ezec. 3.3 As euery man wisheth in his heart so let him giue not grudgingly or of necessity but willingly for God loueth a chearefull giuer may truly bee vnderstood of euery Christian duety When wee pray wee must pray vnto God chearefully when wee are to heare
the fore-runner of some fearefull iudgement vnto the soule of that man I haue cut them downe by my Prophets I haue slaine them by the words of my mouth IN that the Lord doth threaten this iudgement of al Doct. 4 other as the greatest that hee could bring vpon them namely to Cut them downe and to slay them The Word of God is able to pearce the hardest heart and that not by an ordinary meanes or slaughter but by his Prophets and Word that is that he would make good his Word in their mouthes and bring to passe all those terrible and fearefull iudgements that they had denounced against them from the Lord. Hence we see the great power of the Word of God it is able to pearce the hardest heart that is The word of God makes mention of two sorts of swords The sword of the mouth and the materiall sword as that place in the Hebrewes The Word of God is liuely and mighty in operation and sharper then a two edged sword Heb. 4.12 entereth thorough euen vnto the diuiding asunder of the Soule and the Spirit and of the Ioynts and the Marrow and is a decerner of the thoughts and the intents of the heart The people of the Iewes before that Peter spake vnto them were full of hardnesse of heart yea their hearts before were as hard as steele nothing could pricke or pearce them Act. 2.37 they had committed monstrous murder they shed innocent bloud euen the bloud of the sonne of God and yet they were neuer touched in their hearts for that sinne But when Peter came with his weapon namely the Word of God and told them that they were those that had crucified the Lord of life this wounded them to the quicke as that they cryed out in the bitternesse of their loules O men and brethren what shall wee doe to bee saued Oh tell vs tell vs whether there be not some course yet to be taken that wee that haue beene such desperate sinners might yet againe obtaine Gods fauour and bee saued This was a blessed battel that was fought with them behold then in them the wonderfull power of the Word of God It cuts the throat of sinne and makes men become dead vnto sinne that they might become a liue vnto God Ier. 23.29 Is not the Word of Iehouah like vnto fire It is able to melt and mollifie a heart of steele it is like a hammer that breakes the hardest stone euen so this Word of God is able to bruise a stony heart which is as hard as flint Rom. 15.16 I am not ashamed sayth the Apostle of the Gospell of God because I know that it is the power of God to saluation to all them that beleeue 1. Cor. 1.21 Yea it is compared to a sacrificing knife Ephes 2.1.2 which will kill and cut the throat of sinne and make the most rebellious heart to breake It will put spirit and life in the dead hearts of dead secure sinners euen such as lay dead rotting in sin If it enter not into thee to the rooting out of sinne and the cutting downe of thy vncleannesse for then it pearceth for thy good to life eternall It wil bee sure to wound and to pearce thy dead and benummed soule to the hardning of thee in thy sinnes to death eternall Esay 55. for it neuer returnes in vaine but is eyther the sauor of life vnto life or the sauor of death vnto death The Lord sent his word vnto Pharaoh againe and againe by Moses and Aaron but hee would not bee humbled by it Exod. 9. â—7 1. Reg. 22.8 therefore hee became the more hardned in sinne And Ahab was then the deadliest enemy to his owne soule Mich. 2.7 when hee hated Michai for not speaking to his fantasie but warned him faithfully of the iudgement which afterward came vpon him Zach. 7.11 The Word of God is an aduersary to none but to such as are aduersaries to themselues Note this well neyther doth it condemne any but such as without repentance assuredly shall one day bee condemned of the Lord. And therefore let the wicked wretches of the world stoppe their eares neuer so much from the hearing of the threatnings of the Word yet they shall neuer stoppe that iudgement which the Word hath threatned There is a cry that will come at Midnight and will waken the dead But Oh blessed are they who in time are wakened out of the sleepe of their sinnes before that dreadfull iudgement come This serues to commend vnto vs the excellencie Vse 1 and power of the Word of God which is able both to kill sinners and to make them aliue again and puts a manifest difference hetweene the Word of man the Word of God All the wisdom learning eloquence and wit of men is not able to wound the hard heart of a wicked obstinate and rebellious sinner onely the Word of God can doe it euen the plaine and simple preaching of the Word can doe it 1. Cor. 1.21 Psal 19. The Law of the Lord is perfect to conuert the soule There is more power in the plaine rude and simple preaching of the Word of God to conuert a sinner then in the most learned and excellentest eloquence in men nay Rom. 10.14.15 it is impossible for all the eloquence in the World to saue a Soule it is peculiar onely to the simple preaching of the Gospell nor all the Writings of men cannot turne the heart vnto God vnlesse the Lord doe blesse the preaching of the Word to doe it and though nothing bee so contrary to our Nature as the Word of God yet nothing is so powerfull to conuert as is this word by Gods blessing vpon it being his owne ordinance appointed to that end Secondly seeing the Word of God is of this power Vse 2 that it will enter and pearce into stony hearts and seeing if it cut not downe sinne and corruption it will wound to death eternall all rebellious and hard hearted sinners Oh then let vs submit our hearts vnto it let vs suffer the Word to pearce and wound our hearts for sinne to cut downe all sinne and corruption in vs here or else it will bee the Lords Sword of the Spirit to kill vs and to wound vs to death eternall Ephes 6.1 Hee will smite the earth with the rodde of his mouth and slay the wicked and rebellious with the breath of his lippes that is the Lord will make good all those feareful iudgements which his seruants haue denounced against them in his name Esay 11.4 And as the raine that fals makes the earth more fruitfull or else more barren so it fareth with the Word it eyther cuts downe sinne to our amendment or else leaues most deadly wounds in our soules euen to death eternall Now then seeing the Word of God is so powerfull Oh how should this stirre vp euery man and woman to the hearing of
that there is nothing better to turne the pride of mans heart then afflictions So Manasses a wicked Idolatrous King 2. Cro. 33.12 yet in his afflictions hee sought the Lord and prayed vnto the Lord his God whom he dishonored before Psal 1 19. Lam. 3 27. Luk. 9.23 And Dauid confesseth that it was very good for him that he was afflicted for before he was carelesse of the seruice of God Yea the Prophet Ieremy saith that a man can neuer begin too soone to suffer the crosse It is good that a man beare the yoake of afflictions from his youth And our Sauiour himselfe saith That we must take vp the crosse dayly and in very deed nothing is better for young or old man or woman then affliction if God sanctifie the same vnto vs and giue vs the true vse of them they will make a man search his heart and call his former life to accompt they will humble vs and make vs see our weaknesse they will compell vs to run to God by most earnest and harty prayer to deny our selues to put our whole trust confidence and affiance in the mercy of God in Iesus Christ Now the Lord had no sooner spoke the word that in their afflictions they would seek him but heere we see it is effected Come say they let vs returne vnto the Lord c. Doct. 1 Afflictiōs are of excellent vse to turne vs to God So that the first point of Doctrine we obserue from the text is this That afflictions are of excellent vse to turne vs to God the Church of God in generall and the seruants of God in particular when they cannot profitably vse prosperity and beare themselues thankefully in the dayes of peace doe learne in aduersity to turne vnto God and are therby brought home againe and this comes to passe not by meanes of the crosse for in it selfe it is a curse but in that the Lord doth sanctifie the same vnto his it comes to passe that the state of affliction is a safer estate Iudg. 14.14 Rom 5.3 2 Cor. 4.13 Heb. 12.11 then the estate of prosperity It is true that as the Philistims could not vnderstand Sampsons riddle how sweete came out of sower meat out of the eater so cannot worldlings vnderstād that tribulatiō bringeth out patience that our light momentany afflictions cause vnto vs a far more excellent and eternall waight of glory But the Children of God they find it true by experience that albeit no visitation bee sweete for the present yet afterwards it brings the quiet fruit of righteousnesse vnto them who are thereby exercised Esay 26.16 Psal 107. Luke 15.18 and that there is more solide ioy in suffering rebuke with Christ then in all the pleasures of sinne which are but for a season Gen. 21.16 This the Prophet setteth downe in the song of the faithfull Lord in trouble haue they visited thee they powred out a prayer when thy chastising was vpon them yea the people of God the Israelits in the time of their afflictions were humbled and sought the Lord Ionas 1.5 Lam. 3.27 Psal 119.71 Io. 15.2 who in time of prosperity forgat him and the mighty workes that he had done for them They wandred in the desart and found no Citty to dwell in Then they cried vnto the Lord in their trouble and he deliuered them out of their distresse The Prodigall sonne neuer intended to returne home againe to his Father vntill a famine had met with him and he was pinched with want then he resolued with himselfe to acknowledge his fault to entreat for pardon Hagar was proud in the house of Abraham and despised her Mistresse but in the wildernesse humbled by want Ionas sleepeth in the ship but in the belly of the Whale watcheth and prayeth It is good therefore saith Ieremy for a man to beare the yoake in his youth and Dauid acknowledgeth it was good for him that he was afflicted yea our Sauiour saith Euery branch that beares fruit my heauenly father purgeth it that it may bring forth more fruit All these testimonies and examples of the seruants of God as euident and direct consents of the Scripture do teach vs that afflictions are of speciall and singular vse to turne vs to God Amos 3.6 And this comes to passe by reason they are the workes of Gods hand there is no euill in the Citty which the Lord hath not done He hath his Quiuer full of arrowes to strike vs and to punish vs the Sword Famine Plague Pestilence yea he hath all Creatures at a beck at a cal to humble the rebellious hart of man to this end we may pray to the Lord that so he do still remember the promise made to the Sonnes of Dauid I will visite them with rods if they sinne against mee 2. Sa. 7.14.15 but my mercy will I neuer take from them that rather then that wee should bee frozen in the dreggs of our owne naturall corruptions and spend our daies in a carelesse security without the feare of his holy name that God would chang our estates and awaken vs with the touch of his owne hand purge vs with fier and chasten vs with his rods Vse 1 First seing that chastisements and afflictions are of such excellent vse to turne vs to God and that the Lord doth vse the same to bring vs home to himselfe heere wee may clearely behold the mighty power of God that can by so many waies and meanes turne the hearts of men humble them and bring them home vnto himselfe Indeed the preaching of the word is the ordinary meanes whereby God doth breake in sunder the stony heart of man Esay 5.4 Iob 33.16 Rom. 11.13 but when that will not serue but that his patience long suffering is abused and his word contemned the Lord hath sundry iudgments in store which being sent from God are powerfull to turne our hearts and to make a way for Repentance Oh the deepenesse of the riches both of the wisedome and knowledge of God! how vnsearchable are his iudgements and his wayes past finding out Let vs then here acknowledge the greatnesse both of the mercy and power of God in working out the saluation of mankind so wonderfully and that by so many meanes bringing light out of darkenesse and good out of euill Seeing that afflictions are of such excellent vse to Vse 2 turne vs to God when the Lord doth sanctifie the same to that end vnto vs Here we see the cause why the godly runne not into all euill as the Horse rusheth into the battell euen as the children of this world do into the same excesse of ryot Surely the reason is not because there is ought in them by Nature more then in other men No no wee were all warmed in vncleane bloud and the best wee haue drawne from our mothers breasts hath beene rebellion but God calleth them backe by his hand his afflictions are
conscience to sow spirituall things The Apostle could say I seeke not yours but you But these men if they would speake the truth might say Wee seeke not you 1. Cor. 9.16 but yours Paul cryes out Woe vnto mee if I preach not the Gospell Oh! woe and ten thousand woes vnto thee that art a carelesse sheepheard who though thou hast taken vpon thee the Cure and Charge of Soules yet by thy carelesnesse in thy place and calling and by thy euill example art a stumbling blocke vnto others that wilt not turne to God thy selfe nor helpe them forward that would Well as it is the duty of the Minister especially in publike so it is the duety of euery Christian man in priuate to bring others to God Art thou an husband thou hast the charge of the soule of thy wife art thou a father thou shalt answere for the soule of thy child art thou a master well looke to draw thy seruants vnto God The charge of soules is committed to you Our Sauiour Christ sayth to his Father Heb. 2.13 Behold Father heere am I and the children which thou hast giuen mee Oh what a comfort is it to a christian soule to a godly man or a christian woman when they can say O Lord heere am I and heere bee my wife my children and my seruants which thou hast giuen me You are carefull to prouide for your wiues meate drinke and apparrell and for your children lands and liuings and haue you not care of their poore soules but let them perish for want of instruction But such is the negligence and grieuous carelesnes of Masters and Parents in this miserable and cursed age of the world that it were better to bee some mens sheepe then their sonnes and their horses then their seruants for no man is so carelesse but hee will pittie his horse and looke to his sheepe but as for their sonnes or seruants they may sinke or swimme they care not for them Well thy wife may perish in her sinnes thy sonne may perish in his ignorance and thy seruant for want of thy instruction but the Lord will require their bloud at thy hands Nay wee may see in this present example that it is not onely the duety of the Minister and those which bee Masters and Parents to seeke to draw those that are vnder them to God but the same is the duety of euery Christian man and woman it is that which belongs vnto all men to call on others to draw them to God Nay if thou doest not labour to draw him to repentance Leuit. 19.17 thou doest but hate him in thy heart Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thy heart but shalt rebuke him and suffer him not to sinne In euery commandement is two parts Negatiue and Affirmatiue Now in the sixt Commandement we be forbidden to kill and therefore euery one not onely the Minister as most men erroneously thinke are bound to saue mens liues but euery one of vs be wee what wee may bee are bound by this Commandement to saue the soule of our brother Exod. 24.3 to dtaw him to God If thou see thine enemies oxe or sheepe go astray thou must bring him home Oh how much more if thou see the poor soule of thy brother of thy wife or of thy child straying from God nay going the broad way to eternall destruction how much more art thou bound to bring him backe againe to God If thou see his horse lye vnder his burthen thou art bound in conscience to helpe him vp Had God such care ouer Oxen and Asses and wilt thou haue no care of the Soule of thy brother Vse 2 Oh! let vs put this duety in practise to call one vpon another to bring others to God wee can call one another to the Market Oh let vs call one another Esay 55.1 Oh come let vs goe to the Lords Market to buy the food of our soule Labour to bring thy Family thy Wife and Children to the house of God to the word of God to the food of their soules Oh thou shalt doe a blessed worke Iam. 5.20 thou shalt conuert a sinner to God saue a soule from death and couer a multitude of sinnes Oh what a comfort will this bee vnto those who haue beene carefull for the performance of this duety that haue beene carefull to make others partakers of the same comforts they haue reaped themselues It is a blessed thing indeed when men haue endeuoured to their power to benefite others to exhort them to admonish them to comfort them and in all things to haue sought their good Oh what a wonderfull consolation and comfort shall this bee vnto vs when wee leaue this world and goe the way of all flesh to remember wee haue fought the good of others Dan. 12.3 Luk. 12.43 They that turne many vnto righteousnes shall shine as the starres in the firmament And blessed is that seruant when his Master commeth shall finde so doing Wee shall then finde more comfort of heart and ioy of conscience when wee depart this life that wee haue beene faithfull in that little committed to our trust made others partakers of the same then if we had had great abundance of earthly blessings Come let vs returne to the Lord. Here we see that they Doct. 4 doe acknowledge that they had turned themselues from God by their sinnes especially A man by sinning turns from God by Idolatry and damnable hypocrisie and here they labour by their godly counsell to exhort one another to turne again vnto God by repentance So then heere we see what it is that turnes a man from God surely sinne is that which turnes and auerts a mans soule from God according to that of the Prophet Esay Esay 59.2 Your iniquities haue separated betweene you and your God and your sinnes haue hid his face from you True it is that Idolatry is that which principally turnes a man from God onely the difference it this that Idolatry turnes a man from the whole seruice of God but other sins as theft whoredome c. in some one commandement The spirite of God speaking of the whole race and generation of mankind sayth That all are gone out of the way Psal 14.3 Rom. 3.10 And againe in the Prophet Esay All wee like sheepe are gone astray There is no creature more apt to wander then sheepe and being strayed Esay 53.6 none more vnapt to turne into the way againe Esay 1.3 Wee sayth the Prophet like sheepe are gone astray Esay 53.8 to shew our simplicity and how vnpossible a thing it is of our selues as of our selues to return home againe Rom. 3.16 yea the Prophet addes further Wee haue turned euery one to his owne way Yea wee walke the pathes that our owne sinnefull affections haue chosen to our selues and the way of truth wee haue no desire to know And howsoeuer many can make blinde excuses for their owne
committing of some euill if the Deuill can but spie the casements of thy soule to bee open thy eyes thy eares c. hee will then easily wind himselfe into thy heart if hee can but preuaile so farre with Dauid as but to cast his eyes vpon naked Bethshaba the battell then is halfe wonne Thus did this wilie Serpent deale with our first Parents First hee presented vnto the view of Eue the forbidden fruite Secondly shee desired it Thirdly shee tasted of it Fourthly shee gaue to her husband and he did eate Thus the Deuill by degrees doth steale vs away from God from one sinne to a second from a second to a third and from a third to a fourth as by so many steppes vntill at last hee hath euen plunged vs into the gulfe of perdition Oh that men would consider this betimes when they commit sinne lying swearing stealing whoredome drunkennesse c. By this sinne I turne my selfe from God I run from God and serue the Deuill The Lord stands on the right hand the Deuill on the left the Deuill he cals mee by pleasures profites and preferments If I listen to Sathan I shall turne away from God Oh if men had this consideration in their hearts what a bridle would it bee vnto them to keepe them from many sinnes Vse 2 If thou hast gone from the Lord by committing of sinne and seest now that there can bee no peace nor comfort vnto thy soule but a fearefull expectation of iudgement Follow the counsell of the Prophet Ieremie O search and try thy wayes and turne vnto the Lord Lam. 3.39 Endeuour by all meanes possible to returne to God again from whom thou hast departed the which thou shalt the better performe if thou haue respect to that way the footsteps whereof thou hast left behind thee and which are abominable vnto the Lord and by which thou wentest from God Follow the aduice of the blessed Apostle Cast off lying and speake euery man truth vnto his neighbour Eph. 4. He that hath stolen let him steale no more but rather labour and worke with his hands that hee may giue to him that needeth If thou hast beene a proud man by which sinne thou hast made a departure from God become now humble and lowly of mind For God resisteth the proud but giueth grace vnto the humble If thou hast made a departure from the Lord by drunkennesse returne againe by sobriety the vncleane to be chaste the couetous to be charitable yea if wee haue made a departure from God by any sinne whatsoeuer let vs draw neere vnto him againe by a reformed life holy manners godly conuersation that it may bee spoken of vs as Paul speaketh of the Ephesians Eph. 2. Yee which were a farre off are made neere Come let vs returne vnto the Lord. These words containing in them the effectuall conuersion of a sinner to God shew withall wherehence it proceedeth namely from affliction and from the knowledge and feeling of our owne misery Let vs returne say they and therefore it is a token they knew themselues to haue gone astray and that there was no true comfort to be found in those pathes of sinne in which they walked and howsoeuer before they thought well of their estate when they committed Idolatry and made conscience of no sinne yet now by the mercy of God hauing got to the sight of their sinne they call themselues to remembrance they see there is no sound comfort but onely in the fauour of God this is the matter that they debate amongst themselues and conclude of this To turne againe vnto the Lord. The Doctrine then which by the authority of the Doct. 5 Text is this namely A right vnderstanding and a true acknowledgement of our own misery the first step to Saluation that there ought to bee in euery one that desireth eternall life and saluation a right vnderstanding and a true acknowledgement of his owne wandring And to this end in the Word of God the Lord there oftentimes cals vpon men to consider their wayes to call their liues to account that so they may attaine to the sight of their own sins Know thy sinnes Ier. 3.13 Zeph. 2.1.2 O Ierusalem The like speech is vsed by the Prophet Zephany Fan your selues Oh my people Yea the Prophet Ieremy doth oftentimes put vs in mind of this duety Lam. 3.40 Oh let vs search and try our wayes and turne vnto the Lord. Yea common reason doth require the same before a man can frame himselfe to enter into a right course hee must throughly bee resolued and perswaded within himselfe that he hath been mistaken in his former course of life for why else should this man alter his former course if hee were not mistaken Reason it selfe will perswade vs to this Yea what meaned God in those his variety of demands to our first Parent when hee had sinned but that God laboured to bring Adam to the sight of his sinne Gen. 3. Where art thou Who tolde thee that thou wast naked Hast thou eaten of the tree Dauid lay a long time in his sinne 2. Sam. 11. and neuer sought vnto God for mercy but being at last awakened by the reprehension of Nathan hee sought the Lord incontinently yea the Lord by the Prophet doth assigne this as a reason of all those rebellions of the people of Israel euen ignorance of their estate saying The Oxe knoweth his owner and the Asse his Masters cribbe but Israel hath not knowne Esay 1.3 Luk. 15. Esay 46.12 Psal 16.12 my people vnderstand not The Prodigal sonne a true patterne for all sinners hee neuer seekes to his Father till at last that Hee came to himselfe which is a token that he went farre astray and was as it were in a swound of sinne but being a long while in a traunce at last hee reuiued and that his disordered life vpon his vnderstanding thereof he reformed calling himselfe to better remembrance what kindnesse he had in his Fathers house now what misery he had brought vpon himselfe by his own wilfull disobedience I might easily multiply examples of this kind but these may serue to shew that the sense apprehensiō of our own wandring from God is the onely way and meanes to bring vs to God And this was the happy condition of this people here who being for a time intangled insnared in sinne It pleased the Lord by affliction to humble them and to bring them to a true sight of their wandring that now they resolue incontinently to turne vnto the Lord. Here we see the maine cause why there is so little Vse 1 faith and true repentance in the world why men are no more humbled for their sinnes and doe not repent for them poore soules they know not that they doe euill they eyther cannot Lam. 3.40 or do not search themselues they neuer call their hearts to account Now then going on in security seeing and fearing no
Deuill is more forward to do hurt then any Witch can be Oh then let vs labour to become so spiritually wise that wee may discouer the policy of the Deuill herein and to helpe vs herein let vs assure our selues that All power is of God Mat. 28. that neyther the Deuill nor the Witch can kill man or beast at their pleasure till they haue authority first from God for it is the Lord alone by whose wise prouidence purpose all things both in heauen and earth come to passe onely our sinnes prouoke him to chastise and afflict vs God giueth the Deuill leaue as an executioner of his vengeance to correct and scourge vs for our sinnes and when he hath obtayned leaue of God he seeketh to doe it at his best aduantage as may further his owne kingdome and delude the simple For he hath spoyled vs hee hath wounded vs. We haue heard before how that they do acknowledge Doct. 4 all those iudgements that lighted vpon them to haue come from God God doth chastice his own children when they sinne against him and that most iustly for their sinnes especially for their sinne of Idolatry Before we leaue the words of this their first reason wee are to obserue one thing more from the persons afflicted He hath spoyled vs c. Euen they that were the Church and people of God whom God had honoured aboue all other nations and people vnder heauen yet when they fell away from God by Idolatry God did not spare to bring euen vpon them many and grieuous iudgements and afflictions Hence we obserue this point of Doctrine that God will not spare to chastise his owne children if they sinne against him although he take not his louing kindnes from them nor suffer his truth to fayle Numb 11.33 Yet hee will visite their transgressions with the rodde and their sinnes with scourges The history of the Israelites in their iourneying towards Canaan their manifold murmurings and rebellions is a plentifull witnesse of this truth when they lusted for flesh and loathed Manna How did God smite them with exceeding great plagues euen iudgement vpon iudgement vntill hee had consumed the greatest fort of them We may fee this in the example of Salomon when his heart was turned away from the true God the Lord was angry with him therefore the Lord stirred vp one aduersary against Salomon 1. Reg. 11. and afterwards another aduersary which did much mischiefe and euill against Israel When Ionas had disobeyed the voyce of the Lord being sent to preach against Nineueh how did the Lord vexe Ionas with his stormes Ionas 1.2.3 that the shippe could haue no rest till she had disburdened her selfe of Ionas The iudgements of God as a Serieant pursued Ionas to arrest him as a fugitiue seruant so that albeit Ionas fled from God yet the hand of God followed after him and ouertooke him Num. 12.10 When Miriam the sister of Moses contemned Moses because she was not a Prophetesse as great in authority as himselfe although Moses meekely suffered it yet the Lord reuenged the wrong and stroke her with a Leprosie that for a season shâ— was shut out of the hoast When Dauid had falne into his sinnes of Adultery and Murder though he were a man beloued of God yea 2. Sam. 12.9 a man after Gods owne heart yet the Lord did stir vp euill against him out of his owne house yea Christ Iesus himselfe vnto whom sinne was but imputed for he neuer committed any hee was afflicted with sorrowes for our defaults he was bruised for our iniquities and the chastisement of our peace was layde vpon him Esay 53.5 and by his stripes we are healed The like may be sayd of Manasses Iehosaphat Iosiah Hezechiah and the like Al which serue to confirm vs in the truth of this doctrine that God will not spare no not the godly themselues bee they neuer so neare or deare vnto him but will bring vpon them many and grieuous iudgements if they sinne against him And this did this people in this present Text find to be true by wofull experience for sinning with a high hand against God and committing Idolatry the Lord did bring most heauy and grieuous iudgements vpon them for the same And the reason is Reason that all the world might take notice of his iustice that he is no respecter of mens persons but will shew himselfe vtterly to hate an sinne whensoeuer wheresoeuer or in whomsoeuer hee findeth it The Lord hath euer in all ages shewed examples of his iustice against sinne to the end wee might quake and tremble at the committing of it he is not a God that loueth wickednes neyther shall any euill dwell with him for he hateth all them that worke iniquity bee they what they will be if they be found to commit sinne against God God wil not spare them He accepteth not the persons of Princes saith Elihu nor regardeth the rich more then the poore Io. 34.19 They being all the works of his hands This doth the Prophet Dauid acknowledge when he sayth Against thee against thee onely haue I sinned 1. Sam. 16.7 Psal 51.4 and done euill in thy sight that thou mayest bee iust when thou speakest and pure when thou iudgest So that if men breake his statutes and keepe not his commandements God will bee sure to visite their transgressions with the rodde and their sinnes with scourges and all to manifest the truth of his owne Word and to make good those threatnings gone out of his mouth against sinne yet wee must know that there is great difference between the children of God and the wicked when the Lord corrects his children they are bettered by their afflictions they are humbled confesse their sinnes and bewayle them they labour to reforme their liues and to Turne vnto the Lord by true Repentance but the wicked the more the Lord spoyles and wounds them they are the worse by it whereas the children of God take occasion by affliction to Turne to God the wicked are by them driuen the further from God they eyther see it not that afflictions come from God and so repute them to fortune or chance or some secondary causes or else they murmur and breake out into impaciency as we may see in Pharaoh the more the Lord plagued and spoyled him the more he hardned his heart Vse 1 Here then we are first of all to confesse that great is the wrath of God against sinne seeing he will not spare no not the Elect themselues those that are as neare and as deare vnto God as the apple of his owne eye as we haue seene by the example of the Israelites Gods people of Miriam Dauid Salomon and the like Oh then what miserable wretches are wee that wee should presume of Gods mercy seeing wee haue such fearefull spectacles of his iustice for the Lord doth lay to heart the sinnes of the godly more then the sinnes of the wicked
There can be no greater despite done vnto a man then when his own children rise vp against him Euen so what greater dishonour can be offered vnto the most high God then when his sonnes by adoption and grace shall rebell against him from whom he expecteth the greatest honour And therefore if they sinne against God God doth euer take it hainously at their hands and will assuredly punish them for the same And if this be the course of Gods iustice against the Elect how safely may wee thus conclude that the wicked and vngodly shall not escape howsoeuer the Lord beare for a time with the vessels of wrath according to that of the Prophet Ieremy Thus sayth the Lord of Hoasts Ier. 25.29 Yee shall certainely drinke for loe I beginne to plague the City where my name is called vpon and shall you goe free Oh how may this terrifie all vngodly wretches to consider that howsoeuer God spareth them for a time and let them run on in their vngodly courses yet their damnation sleepeth not all this while their transgressions are recorded in the booke of God and are layde vp in store for them against the day of reckoning This is that which Salomon calleth to their remembrance when he sayth Behold the righteous shall bee recompensed in the earth Pro. 11.31 how much more the wicked and the sinner And to the same purpose sayth the Apostle Peter 2. Pet. 4.17 The time is come that iudgement must beginne at the house of God And if it beginne at vs what shall be the end of them that obey not the Gospell of God If the righteous bee soarsly saued where shall the vngodly and sinner appeare Vse 2 Secondly seeing the Lord doth chastise his owne children when they sinne against him as we see in this present example Hence we may note that afflictions be not alwayes tokens of Gods anger neyther may wee measure the fauour or loue of God towards our selues or others by outward blessings or outward crosses by prosperity or aduersity for as Salomon sayth All things happen alike to all Eccles 9.2 and the same condition is to the iust and the wicked We may not then condemn those on whome wee see the Lord to lay great and grieuous afflictions as many naturall men vse to do Nay on the contrary seeing the Lord corrects euery one that he loues wee may rather iudge afflictions tokens of his loue as if wee see a man beat or correct a child and let another goe we will iudge him his sonne whom he corrects Oh then art thou spoyled and wounded in thy soule bee not any whit discouraged if thou be one of Christs Lambes thou must be content then to bee spoyled of thy Fleece and to haue the bloudy knife at thy throat all the day long but if thou be a Sheepe to be solde then thou shouldest bee pastured and fatted in the best grasse Mat. 3. The children of God be the Lords Wheat Now then they must bee content to be cut with the Sickle to bee carried into the Barne they must vndergoe the blowes of the Flaile they must be fanned and grownde to powder with the Milstone of afflictions and baked in the Ouen and Furnace of a wounded conscience before they can be bread for Gods Table Oh that we could see how our poore and miserable soules bee spoyled and wounded by sinne and Sathan Oh we haue many a deadly wound in our soules by Sinne and this is the reason why so few seeke vnto Iesus Christ the good Physitian of our soules and why so few runne to God for the pardon of their things namely because they see not themselues spoyled they neuer feele the bleeding wounds of their poore soules and consciences Oh that the Lord would open our blind eyes to see our misery how wee bee vtterly spoyled and touch our hard hearts to feele the bleeding wounds bloudy issues of our soules surely it is the beginning of all grace to feele themselues wounded at heart for their sinnes Alas the blind and carnall men of the world if they see one spoyled or wounded at the heart for sinne they by and by condemne him for a wicked man as the Heathen men did Paul Act. 26. Psal 6. 130.77 Iob. 13. Esay 38. Act. 2.37 But who euer were more spoyled then the dearest Saints and Seruants of God haue beene Looke vpon Dauid who euer was wounded both in Body and Soule as Iob was who thought that God had become his enemy he sayth that the Lord shot his arrowes at him as if hee had beene his marke to shoot at and that the very venome of his arrowes pearsed his soule and drunke vp his spirit Looke vpon good King Ezechias he sayth that the Lord broke his bones like a Lyon and wounded him sore Who euer was so spoyled and wounded as the Son of God himselfe and therfore we may not take them as tokens of Gods anger no no Iudgement begins at Gods house and if God doe not try men by crosses and afflictions let them suspect themselues that they be rather Bastards and not Sonnes for the Lord doth chastice them he loueth and if he suffer men to runne on in their owne wayes without breaking and taming them as young Coltâ— and vntaimed Heyfers it is a signe rather that God cares not for them Well then let vs confesse the hand of God in all our troubles and withall confesse our sinnes as the procuring cause of all Gods iudgements and turne seeke to him for mercy and forgiuenesse and take his fatherly corrections as tokens of his loue that he would thereby humble our hearts purge our soules draw vs to loue him and to seeke to him for mercy Vse 3 Here we are taught which is the right way to bring men to God namely to spoyle them of all hope in themselues to bring them to a flat nothing in regard of themselues that they may say I am the greatest and the chiefest sinner Oh miserable man who shall deliuer mee from this body of sinne Men must be thus wounded else they cannot be healed and as for them which neuer felt themselues spoyled and wounded at the heart for their sinnes they are not yet truly called they be not yet truly conuerted therefore let it be spoken to euery soule heere present if you neuer felt your soules wounded neuer felt your hearts pricked and your consciences touched grieued and afflicted for your sinnes Alas you are not yet turned to God you neuer had as yet true grace wrought in your hearts But those which feele the smart of sinne and feele their hearts wounded for sinne they will esteeme more of one droppe of Gods mercy for the pardon of the same and of one drop of the bloud of Iesus Christ for the saluation of their soules then of ten thousand worlds if they were offered vnto them whereas the secure and hard hearted Sinner which finds not himselfe to be spoyled and
Serpent to cure our soules for no other creature in heauen or earth could heale vs or helpe vs but hee must be our Physitian to make a plaister to heale our wounds the pains that he tooke to temper this plaister it made him sweat both water and bloud and in the end when nothing else could doe it Luke 23. hee was content to temper a plaister of his owne heart bloud such a blessed Sauiour such a louing Physitian haue we Oh then let vs runne to Iesus Christ let vs make our moane vnto him let vs not feare to lay open our wounded soules and distressed consciences vnto him who is so louing and mercifull a Physitian to poore distressed soules Art thou an hard hearted and an impenitent sinner thou art sicke at the very heart thou art wounned by sinne and Sathan vnto eternall death though thou see it not yet thy poore soule is ready to bleede vnto eternall death See Oh see heere Iesus Christ thy Sauior he offers himself to become the Physitian hee hath tempered a plaister that is able to heale thy sicke soule if thou wilt come vnto him Alas wilt thou then runne on in sinne and suffer thy poore soule to rot and fester with sinne and contemne the mercy of God and the kindnesse of Iesus Christ who offers to heale thee and to helpe thy wounded soule The poore man which fell among theeues who spoyled him and wounded him and left him for halfe dead Luk. 10. alas what had becom of him if the good Samaritan had not come by and pittied him Sinne and Sathan hath spoyled vs and wounded vs body and soule Now alas what shall become of vs if that Iesus Christ the good Samaritan and blessed Physitian of our soules doe not pitty vs bind vp our wounds and powre in the oyle of grace into our hearts to cure our sicke and wounded soules but hee is so pittifull and tender hearted a Chirurgion that he will pull off the rotten ragges of our sinnes and lap them vp in the most precious white robe of his owne righteousnes and poure into them the oyle of grace euen his owne deare and precious heart bloud to our euerlasting comfort and saluation Secondly wee obserue hence a further vse that if Vse 2 any do perish through their sinnes and transgressions he must not impute the fault therof vnto God but vnto himself for God doth cal men from their euill waies that so they might not perish but bee saued the Prophet Dauid doth speake excellently of this saying The Lord is full of compassion and mercy slow to anger and of great kindnesse Hee hath not dealt with vs after our sinnes nor rewarded vs according to our iniquities Psal 103. for as high as the heauen is aboue the earth so great is his mercy towards them that feare him As farre as the East is from the West so farre hath hee remoued our sinnes from vs As a father hath compassion on his children so hath the Lord compassion on them that feare him But some may obiect say that it is true the mercy of God is exceeding great indeed but the sinnes that I haue committed against God haue not beene so much sinnes of weakenesse or sinnes of infirmity as they haue beene presumptuous horrible sinnes yea multitudes of them besides all this I haue continued a long time in them tenne twenty thirty or more yeares together and therefore I may well doubt whether the Lord hath any mercy for me Esay 1.18 Marke therefore what the Lord himselfe sayth vnto such Come let vs reason together sayth the Lord though your sinnes were as Crimson they shal be made as white as Snow and though they be as Scarlet they shall be as wooll So that no man can say without iniury against his owne soule and giuing the lye vnto the glorious maiesty of God My sinne is greater then can be forgiuen True it is that the Scripture makes mention of an vnpardonable sinne that shall neuer bee forgiuen eyther in this world Mat. 12.31 or in the world to come The blasphemy against the spirit but that is not in respect of the sinne it selfe that it should exceed the mercies of God or for that God is not able to forgiue it but because they cannot relent and repent that commit it they are so farre gone that they can neuer Returne backe again for as no sinne is so small but is able to plunge vs down to the bottome of hell if wee liue in it without repentance so no sinne is so great and grieuous but vpon repentance there is pardon and mercy to bee found with God yet men must take heed that they abuse not Gods goodnesse and mercy as an occasion of liberty to turne his grace into wantonnesse saying as the manner of some is Oh God is mercifull hee is gracious to great and grieuous sinners and so conclude thereupon that they may liue as they list and so deferre their repentance and Returne vnto God till the last gaspe but the holy Apostle will teach vs an other vse of Gods mercy then so when he sayth Despisest thou the riches of his bountifulnesse and patience Rom. 2.4 and long sufferance not knowing that the bountifulnesse of God should lead thee to repentance So that do wee heare of the patience of God the mercy of God and the long suffering of God Oh what may it teach vs all but this lesson especially to make haste and to deferre no time to returne vnto him for what is God so mercifull and so patient that hee hath spared thee so long and giuen thee so large a time of repentance Oh then how iust and how great shall thy condemnation bee if thou reiect it and make no other vse of it then to boulster thee in thy sinnes but of this before Last of all hete is matter of consolation to all the children of God that are deiected and cast downe with the sense and feeling of their sinnes their soules being heauy and their consciences oppressed with their sin they goe drouping and hang down their heads well let them cheare vp their soules such they are that Christ calleth Math. 11.28 Come vnto mee all yee that are weary and laden and I will ease you for my yoke is easie and my burthen is light When our terrors and temptations grow thus strong vpon vs and that Sathan shall seeke to perswade vs that our sinnes are more then God can forgiue and the punishment that is due vnto vs for them is greater then can be pardoned What shall wee doe at this time but labour herein to discouer the Arch-enemy of our soules Sathan who thus as a lying spirit seekes to draw vs from this doctrine of Gods mercy to plunge our soules into the gulfe of desperation but if our sinnes bee neuer so great haue wee committed them without number haue we committed them neuer so long bee they as Crimson double dyed sinnes as infectious
quicken vs else we cannot thinke a good thought and as the Lord must beginne grace in our hearts so hee must continue it and increase it and therefore it is sayd heere Reu. 20.6 He shall rayse vs vp and make vs able to walke in the duties of pietie and religion of faith and repentance and sincere obedience Holy and blessed are they that haue part in the first Resurrection for on them the second Death hath no power If then God hath begunne to Reuiue thee to Rayse thee out of the graue of sinne Oh then thou art blessed and happy for thou mayest bee sure that the second death that is eternall death shall haue no power ouer thee but as for those which are yet in the state of Nature vnregenerate not Reuiued not quickned by the life of grace Alas alas they bee at the next dore to eternall death And vnlesse they seeke vnto the Lord by true and vnfained repentance that hee may Reuiue their dead Soules and Rayse them vp from the graue of sinne they must needs perish eternally And therefore vntill such time as the Lord shall Reuiue vs and that wee shall feele the power of Christs death within vs dye to sinne whatsoeuer the vaine and foolish perswasion of our hearts may be yet we are in a most cursed and wretched estate and condition And in the third day hee will rayse vs vp These words containe in them the second degree of their deliuerance where wee may see that there Doct. 5 bee degrees of our spirituall life Regeneration begun must be continued As we see a child first learnes to stand alone then to goe in the hands of the Nurse and after comming to more strength to walke alone So fareth it with Gods Children First the Lord must Reuiue and quicken vs else we cannot thinke a good thought and as the Lord must begin grace in our hearts so hee must continue it and increase it and therefore it is sayd heere Hee shall raise vs vp and make vs to walke in the duties of Piety and religion of Faith Repentance and true obedience So that the point of Doctrine which wee are to obserue hence is this that the worke of Regeneration begunne in vs must bee continued and dayly more and more encreased so as wee may feele the power of the Spirit dayly subduing sinne in vs 2. Cor. 7.1 our naturall corruption and carnall affections that are so deepely rooted in vs by nature It is the exhortation of the blessed Apostle Heb. 6.1 That wee cleanse our selues from all filthinesse of the Flesh and Spirit and grow vp vnto full holinesse in the feare of God And the Author of the Epistle to the Hebrews exhorts men not to satisfie them selues with the Principles of Religion which hee calleth the Doctrine of the beginning of Christ as though it were inough that they had made an entrance and a beginning but that they bee ledde forward to Perfection q. d. It is true you haue begunne well yet yee must thinke that it is not sufficient but there is a kind of perfection to bee aymed at And Paul speaking of the excellent estate of a Christian Phil. 3.13.14 sayth I count not my selfe that I haue attayned it And yet Paul was wonderfully expert in the mystery of Christ But one thing I doe sayth hee I forget that which is behind and I endeuour my selfe to that which is before and follow hard towards the marke for the price of the highest calling of God in Christ Iesus 2. Tim. 3.13 It is noted as a brand of a wicked man that hee waxeth worse and worse Deu. 29 19. and fals away dayly more from one extremity to another adding Drunkennes to thirst whereas on the contrary part It is a true note of the spirit of God in a man when they grow in grace and are led nearer and nearer to perfection And this same spirituall growth in grace and in godlines is not in mans power by nature to performe no more then the beginning thereof as we heard before but it is the proper worke of the holy Ghost 1. Thess 5.23 The very God of peace sanctifie you through out It cannot come from our parents For who can bring a cleane thing out of filthinesse Iob. 13. Iob. 1.16 but Of his fulnesse wee all receiue grace for grace It is a point no doubt well knowne vnto vs in speculation that we are to goe on from one degree of sactification to another from one measure of grace to another and therefore I forbeare any further to enlarge the point This may serue to reproue those that thinke they haue got knowledge inough into their soules like the Vse 1 Church of Laodicea Reu. 3.16 and are not ashamed many times to cloake their owne neglect of holy duties to say that they know as much as the best Preacher of them all And indeed were it not so that men were so perswaded that for matters of religion they were forward inough and had learned inough It could not be that they should make so little account of the means to bring them vnto more perfection How is it possible that they should not bee ashamed of themselues to bee found out of Gods house on the Saboath day and to make their chimney corners their Chappell of ease And how could it bee that they should be now as ignorant in the grounds of Religion as they were many yeares agoe Alas how can this holde good with this Text of Scripture that those that are once reuiued by God and quickned by the Spirit of grace that they are also Raysed vp that is dayly more and more drawn away from the earth and earthly things to Seeke those things that are aboue Oh let vs looke vnto our owne wayes betimes And turne our feet into his Testimonies And when we perceiue in vs any beginning or inclination to seeke after grace resolue with Dauid to Runne the way of Gods commandements Psal 119. Not to go forward is to go backward in Religion And howsoeuer the gift of Regeneration the spirit of grace can neuer vtterly be extinguished and lost yet when wee grow not in it it is iust with God that wee should lose the comfort of that grace and the feeling of that ioy wee were wont to finde in the same and wee can neuer recouer it without much sorrow and griefe of heart Let vs therefore remember that exhortation of the Holy Ghost Hee that is holy let him bee more holy and not to content our selues with the beginning of grace Reu. 22.11 but labour to goe on in grace from one degree to another till at last wee become perfect men in Christ Iesus Vse 2 Secondly wee are taught here that if it bee so dangerous a thing not to goe forward in religion what a fearefull sinne must it needs be then to grow backeward in holy things Luk. 11.26 Their last estate sayth
the Kingdome of Heauen where we be free Denizens And as Pilgrimes behaue themselues in an Inne they stay not seuen or eight yeares but a night or two and so are gone So must not wee settle our dwelling heere where we are but Pilgrimes but in heauen our dwelling place must our conuersation bee as if now we were in Heauen and in the presence of God And as a stranger being farre from home desires to come to his owne house thinks euer of his Wife and Children and of his own land liuing So must we heere being in a strange country thinke of our home desire still to see the face of God and of Christ our most blessed Redeemer that so wee may liue in his blessed presence Seeing this is a speciall note of a man truely regenerate and that hath truely repented to behaue Vse 1 himselfe as in the presence of God as in his sight so as hee dares doe nothing that may offend the eyes of God This shewes most plainely that most men and women are farre from true repentance and were neuer borne a new Seeing many will make conscience of sin in the sight of men which yet make no bones to commit it in the sight of God What man is so shamelesse to commit Adultery in the sight of men yet there bee many that feare not nor blush not to commit it in the sight of God Saint Paul saith They steale commit Adulterie and do all euill in the night Alas Phil. 4.5 night and day bee all alike to God the Lord is at our elbowes and therefore let vs remember this and as wee would not dare to commit any vnseemely thing in the presence of the King so let vs not dare to commit sin in the presence of God Men will looke carefully to their behauiour while they are in the presence of the Prince or temporal Magistrate though otherwise wicked and godlesse men yet in the presence of the Prince they will abstaine from euill Oh that wee were as carefull to behaue our selues in the most glorious presence of the great King of heauen and earth who is King of Kings and Lord of Lords Hee sees all wee doe heares our words pierces into the secrets of our hearts neyther can the least though of ours escape the piercing eye of the Almighty and therefore we should labour to watch ouer al our works words yea ouer the very thoughts of our hearts that they may be sincere and such as we need not be ashamed of for bee wee wel assured that wee shall giue account of the very thoughts of our hearts yea of euery idle word how much more of blasphemous oathes and most monstrous sinnes The theefe steales in the night the drunkard is drunke in the night and the filthy person commits his vncleannesse in the night and they thinke they bee sure who sees them who can accuse them Oh thy God sees thee thou standest in his presence hee heares sees all thou doest and though thou mayest keepe it close from the eyes of men yet thou canst not hide it from the eyes of the Almighty who wil one day call thee to an account for the same VERSE 3. Then shall wee haue knowledge and indeuour our selues to know the Lord his going forth is prepared as the morning and he shall come vnto vs as the raine and as the latter raine vnto the earth IN this third verse wee haue heere described vnto vs two other most heauenly and blessed effects of sound repentance Two other effects of true repentance set downe and true conuersion vnto the Lord. First that all those which doe vnfainedly mourne for their sinnes and the pardon of them at the hands of God as for life and death the Lord will not onely comfort their wounded soules but enable them by the gracious worke of his holy and sanctifying Spirit to liue holily in his sight but hee will with all poure into their soules this heauenly and blessed Knowledge which shall direct them to the true seruice and worship of God And secondly if wee doe draw neare vnto God by true repentance the Lord likewise though he defer his helpe for a time yet in the end will come assuredly with most pleasant and effectuall comfort which is described vnto vs by two most excellent similitudes First of the chearefull breaking foorth of the Sun after a tempestuous storme Secondly by the latter raine distilling vpon the scorched earth by both of which the Lord will shew that he is ready in due time to comfort the distressed soule and conscience of a poore sinner Then shall wee haue knowledge and endeuour our selues to know the Lord. Text diuided IN these words being the first part of the Verse wee are to obserue three speciall points First the roote from the which this true sauing and heauenly knowledge is deriued and the fountaine from the which it doth spring in this word Then Secondly wee are to search and to trie what maner of knowledge this is heere spoken of by the Holy Ghost It is not carnall knowledge it is not any worldly knowledge it is no Philosophicall Knowledge or the knowledge of humane Arts and Sciences But this knowledge heere spoken of is a spirituall knowledge a diuine knowledge an heauenlie knowledge a sauing knowledge which is of that nature and quality that it puts all those which haue it into a reall possession of eternall life It is the way to eternall life it is the Key to open the gate of heauen vnto vs and it is as it were the finger of God that puts vs into reall possession of eternall life Thirdly wee haue to consider another special fruit or quality of this sauing Knowledge that it will neuer suffer those men and women which haue this Knowledge put into their hearts by rhe finger of God to be content with a little or a scant measure of this knowledge but it is of that diuine nature that it wil whet them on and inflame their hearts to hunger and thirst after a great measure and portion of this heauenly and blessed Knowledge so as it will make men to labour and to endeauour to come to a greater measure of it To grow in grace and in the knowledge of Iesus Christ And first of all for the root from whence this true sauing and heauenly Knowledge is deriued Point and the fountaine from which it doth spring it is layde downe in this word Then shall wee haue Knowledge that is Repentance goes before sanctified knowledge when men are truly humbled for their sins do mourn for them and when that men haue the feare of God before their eyes so as they liue as in the presence of God and looke carefully to themselues not only outwardly in regard of their words and works but euen inwardly to the thoughts of their hearts and therein labour to bee approued of the Lord then will the Lord poure into their hearts this heauenly and
alone that must open our hearts as hee did the heart of Lydea and annoint our blind eyes Act. 16 Reu 3.18 else wee shall neuer see And therefore the Spirit of God is sayd to reueale such things vnto men as neuer came into the heart of any carnal man once to thinke 1. Cor. 2.10 Euen the secret things of God And what bee those surely such things as the most learned in the world maybe ignorant of And the poore vnlearned and vnlettered man may haue greater knowledge in these then the greatest Doctor of all namely Note the Spirit of God makes knowne to his children the loue of God in Iesus Christ the pardon of sin hee sees in his Soule and conscience Rom. 8.15 what a blessed thing it to haue the pardon of sin to feele the comfortable power of Gods Spirit teaching vs to cry to him Abba Father and none else can haue this same sauing knowledge of God so as the same may be powerfull and effectuall vnto their soules and consciences saue the children of God How God the Father is to be known of vs. Deu. 6.6 Math. 22.37 Luk. 10.17 Now concerning God the Father wee must know and acknowledge and that truely soundly and beleeuing that hee is the onely true God and that there is none other God in heauen or earth but him alone therefore he alone must bee adored worshipped beleeued and prayed vnto as the onely true God Secondly wee must know and acknowledge that God the Father is not onely the true God but our God not onely the Father of Christ but also our Father and hath adopted vs to be his children in Iesus Christ and hath put his Spirit into our hearts whereby we cry Abba father he that doth thus know God is in the right way to eternal life But he that cannot thus beleeue God sauingly 2. Tim. 1.12 soundly and particularly that the onely true God is his God and that the Father of Iesus Christ is his Father that he loues him as his child and will bestow the Kingdom of Heauen vpon him as his inheritance alas hee abides in death and hath not this sanctified knowledge of God within him Then wee must not rest vpon this bare knowledge to know that God the Father is the onely true God the Father of Christ for this is a bare knowledge a naked knowledge and such a knowledge as may befal a wicked man Iam. 2. Mar. 1.23 yea the Deuill himselfe for he beleeues and trembles he acknowledgeth Christ to be the Sonne of God And yet alas how many thousand soules amongst vs come short of this knowledge of God which the Deuill hath how many feare tremble to thinke of God and of the day of iudgement but let vs euery one euery man and euery woman and euery mothers child amongst vs if we would not bee in worse case then the Deuill himselfe labour to goe beyond the Deuill and all wicked men watsoeuer to know and that soundly and particularly that the onely true God is our God and that the Father of Christ is our Father that wee labour to get assurance of his loue towards vs that he loues vs as his children and wil bestow the kingdome of heauen vpon vs at the last And if wee thus know God to be our God and our blessed Father wee must labour to performe all such duties as belong vnto him as our God and louing Father First that man that beleeues God to be the true God and vnto him a louing Father Duties that are to be performed vnto God this man must imitate him and follow him for it is the will of God that his Children should be like vnto himselfe Secondly euery one that knoweth and beleeueth God to be the true God and in Christ his Father this man must as a good child bee obedient to his fathers will in all things for of them doth God the Father approue of to bee his children And hence it is that God sayth If I be a Master where is my feare Mal. 1.6 Mat. 12.50 If I bee a Father where is my honour And againe Whosoeuer shall doe my Fathers will which is in Heauen the same is my Brother my Sister and Mother M. Perkins on the Creed Where wee see plainely taught vs this second duty that if God be our Father then as good children wee should shew obedience vnto him but if we disobey him then we must know that that saying of Christ wil be verefied vpon vs Yee are of your Father the Deuill Io. 8.44 for the works of the Deuill yee will do And indeed no man can be so like to his Father that begot him as are the disobedient and rebellious sinners like to their Sire the Deuill Thirdly euery one that knoweth and beleeueth God to be the true God and in Christ his Father hee must learne to beare all crosses and outward afflictions patiently knowing that they come from God to wayte for deliuerance from him For whom God loueth hee chastiseth If two children should be fighting and a man comming by should part them and giue correction to one of them euery man would conceiue that hee were his child whom he corrected and surely when the Lord doth lay his rod heauiest vpon his children yet euen then doth hee shew himselfe a louing Father vnto vs Now if our earthly Fathers corrected vs and wee gaue them reuerence taking it patiently should wee not much rather bee in subiection to the Father of Spirits that we may liue In a word if wee thus know God to bee our God and our blessed Father we must loue him as our God and Father feare him as our God obey him beleeue in him rest vpon him both in prosperity and aduersity as vpon our mercifull God The second thing to bee knowne to eternall life is Iesus Christ the Sonne of God How God the Sonne is to be known of vs. And therefore seeing no man can know the Father vnlesse he know the Sonne therefore this knowledge is as necessary as the former and concerning this Saint Iohn sayth We must not onely know the Father but him also whom the Father hath sent Iesus Christ Now to that end wee may know him aright wee must know and beleeue particularly that hee is our Iesus our blessed Sauiour and Redeemer who by his perfect obedience and his bitter death and passion Reu. 1.7 hath saued vs from all our sinnes and from the curse of God and eternall damnation due to the same And in this one point is contained the height depth of all knowledge thus assuredly and beleeuingly to know in particular that Iesus Christ was sent of his Father that in our Nature he might die for our sinnes and rise againe for our iustification Oh blessed and thrice happy is that man and woman which hath this blessed knowledge put into their hearts by the spirit of God Rom.
4.23 thus particularly to know and beleeue that Iesus Christ is their Iesus and Sauiour who hath died for them to saue their soules And indeed this is the sweetnesse of the Gospell and the marrow of all Religion not simply to know that Iesus Christ is a Sauiour but to know that hee is my Sauiour not simply to know that he died for sinners but for mee the chiefe of al sinners not simply to know that there is an eternall life but to know that there is eternall life layde vp for me So that wee see that it is not inough for a Christian to know the history of the Bible that Iesus Christ is the Sauiour of the world and dyed for those which beleeue in him for this knowledge the Deuill himselfe hath hee knoweth and doth acknowledge Iesus Christ to bee the Sauiour of the world but wee must labour for this particular knowledge this certaine and experimentall knowledge so as wee can say in truth of heart Note I beleeue and know that Iesus Christ is not onely the Sauiour of the world but my Sauiour not onely that he dyed for them which beleeue in him but that hee dyed for me and shedde his bloud to saue my soule And though this were true that though but one man or woman in the whole world should bee saued yet we ought to haue this certaine knowledge to beleeue I am the man I am the woman and they which haue this certaine and vnfalilble knowledge they are in the right way to eternal life but they which haue only a general and confused knowledge swimming in the braine alas they abide in death The third speciall thing which wee must know is the Spirite of God How God the holy Ghost is to be knowne of vs. when as we can find and feele the worke of Gods Spirit within vs when wee acknowledge him to bee the author and sole worker of this knowledge when wee can know by experience in our owne selues in our soules and consciences that the Spirit of Christ is in vs Gal. 2 20. 2. Cor. 13.5 that wee can say with the Apostle Christ liueth in mee and that hee doth make vs with boldnesse to call vpon God and to cry vnto him Abba father Rom. 8.15 when wee doe feele the blessed worke of the Spirit to mortifie our corrupt nature by little and little weakening the strength of sinne and naturall corruption within vs and dayly raysing vs vp to newnesse of life and repayring in vs more more the blessed image of God in holinesse and righteousnesse which hath greatly defaced in vs by reason of sinne and Sathan This is that Knowledge which whosoeuer finds put and powred into their soules by the Spirit of Christ Iesus they are happy and blessed they are in reall possession of eternall life but as for those which want this knowledge seeme they neuer so excellent nor thinke they neuer so well of themselues they bee but miserable and cursed and abide in eternall death and damnation Doct. Hauing thus at large shewed what is that knowledge heere spoken of Ignorance of God and his word in matters of Religion is dangerous and also the excellent fruits effects that come from it and what it is that wee must know as also what great profite this knowledge brings to all those which haue it namely eternall life It shall not now bee amisse to consider in a word how dangerous a thing it is to want this sauing knowledge what great misery come to men and women by ignorance and want of knowledge The blessed Sonne of God himselfe who being most true nay the very truth and life it selfe when he would shew the root and very spawne of sinne and iniquity hee tels the Scribes Pharisees Mat. 22.29 Yee erre because yee know not the Scriptures and the power of God And to what should we impute this in these dayes that men runne into errors and teach false heretical nay damnable doctrine surely to this because men know not the Scripture and haue no knowledge in the word What is the cause that men liue in sinne in drunkennesse whoredome adultery swearing couetousnesse c Alas the cause of all is this because they haue no knowledge There is an excellent place to this purpose in the Prophet Hosea Hos 1.2 where the Lord by his Prophet takes vp a great and grieuous complaint against the inhabitants of the land because there was no Mercy nor Truth to bee found but that men liued in Swearing lying killing whoring theeuing c. And the reason of all these is there layde down in these words There is no knowledge of God in the land Read the fourth Chapter of Leuiticus Leuit. 4. and there it wil appeare how highly Almighty God condemned this sin of Ignorance by those Sacrifices that were to bee offered vp euen for the same Heb. 2.1 Now Ignorance is threefold 1. It is a simple and meere ignorance 2. Is a carelesse ignorance 3. Is a wilfull and an affected ignorance All these kinds of ignorance are heere forbidden and condemned as the greatest enemies to this knowledge The first of these is simply for want of meanes 1 Of simple ignorance which few men in these dayes and times wherein wee liue are able to obiect for the voyce of Gods Ministers haue sounded the Lords Trumpet of warning in most places of this land so that if men now should bee ignorant it must needs bee a wilfull and an affected ignorance for by the mercy of our God wee liue now in such times as knowledge is euen thrust vpon men both by publike authority and the restlesse labours of Gods faithfull Ministers 2. Cor. 4. so that we may conclude with the Apostle If the Gospell bee hid it is hid to them that perish whom the Prince of this World hath blinded their minds yet notwithstanding that men should want these means of knowledge yet wil not their ignorance excuse them in the day of the Lord It may excuse à tanto but not à toto as Diuines affirme their punishment may be something the lesse but it shal not free them from hauing any at all The second kind of ignorance that is heere condemned as an vtter engine to this knowledge 2 Of carelesse ignorance is carelesse ignorance which is indeed the onely sinne of these times when hauing the means of knowledge we care not for it but neglect and contemne it this is farre worse then the former and if the former sort of ignorance will not excuse a man much lesse will this Oh it is the sinne of thousands in the world at this day that out of negligence and carelesnesse neglect the meanes of knowledge offered vnto them 2. Cor. 4. Oh what a fearefull sinne is this considering that if the Gospell bee hidde it is hid to them that perish and that Christ Iesus will come at the last to render Vengeance
the Word preached and taught read receiue or what duty else wee are to perform in Gods seruice chearefulnesse is required And indeed this is that which puts the difference betwixt the godly and the wicked in all Christian dueties whatsoeuer The wicked man with Cain comes with his Sacrifice as well as Abel And so for hearing reading prayer receyuing and the like the Hipocrite comes so maskt vnto these duties that the child of God at all times is not able to decerne betwixt them both the godly and the wicked yet if they would sit as Iudge ouer their owne hearts they might euen by the rule of this Doctrine Note perceiue a great difference for the one doth performe these duties for fashion sake for feare of the Law shame punishment or the like whereas the child of God doth performe them willingly and chearefully notwithstanding no temporall Law did require the same but onely in obedience vnto Gods most righteous lawes and holie commandements And surely there can be no greater ioy to any Christian soule then to know how God the Father is affected vnto him and loues him as his child to know that Iesus Christ hath been content to shed his owne heart bloud to saue his soule and to know the power of Gods Spirit weakning our corruption and making vs to cry Abba Father this knowledge passeth all knowledge in the world Rom. 8.15 this wil bring peace of conscience and ioy in the Holy Ghost Seeing that wee must seeke after Knowledge so willingly and so chearefully Vse as the Huntsman after his game And so that all duties in Gods worshippe and seruice are to be performed of vs willingly and chearefully we learn how God doth esteeme of our actions and that not according to the worke it selfe but according to the affection of the doer This is cleare by the Lords own words when he sayth This people come neare mee with their mouth Esa 29.13 and honour mee with their lips but their hearts are farre from mee Alas what the better to draw neare to the Lord with our lippes when our hearts are from the Lord It is the seruice of the heart that tht Lord looks after and this was Ezechias comfort and cheare when he was to goe the way of all flesh that hee could say in truth of heart Esa 28.3 Remember Lord that I haue walked before thee in truth and with an vpright heart And what is the cause why carnall men and women neuer seeke for this knowledge but come alwayes to the Ministery of the Word for custome and for fashion sake Alas they could neuer find the excellency of this Knowledge they neuer felt the power of this Knowledge they neuer yet tasted of the sweetnesse of this Knowledge then no maruell they prize it not nor heare it with any chearefulnesse at all Oh then let vs all labour to feele our spirituall want of it that so wee may hunger and thirst after it as the spirituall foode of our Soules Then shall wee endeuour our selues to know the Lord. One thing more may be noted from these words that seeing the child of God vpon his Repentance true conuersion vnto God Doct. hath not onely true sanctified Knowledge Gods children labour for an encrease of knowledge dayly in thē Then shall wee haue Knowledge but more then that Wee shall endeuour our selues to know the Lord that is not rest content with a small measure of the Knowledge of Gods will but to attaine euerie day to a greater measure of the same Hence wee are taught this point of Doctrine that the children of God are not content with a little knowledge but they still desire for more and labour to grow and to encrease in Knowledge The couetous man the more hee hath the more hee couets Euen so the Christian man and woman is right couetous of heauenly matters hee couets dayly for more knowledge in the Word to haue a greater part in this blessed Knowledge of God and of our saluation by Iesus Christ and in this regard the child of God is like vnto a man in a dropsie the more he drinks the more he is a thirst Euen so the more knowledge the child of God hath the more he hungers and thirsts after this Knowledge that he may grow in the same And this is a speciall point to bee noted that there is no standing at a stay in Religion for eyther wee must goe forward or backward eyther wee must grow dayly in Knowledge 1. Thes 4.4 or else we must needs decay in Knowledge And for this cause Saint Paul doth often pray for those Churches to whom hee writes that they may grow in Knowledge and spirituall vnderstanding and Saint Peter hee exhorts vs 1. Pet. 2.2 As new borne Babes to desire the sincere milke of the Word that wee may grow thereby Where hee layes down three most excellent points First that here wee be but as babes in Knowledge and children in vnderstanding of the Word Wee know heere but in part Secondly hee shewes the means whereby we must encrease in knowledge namely the sincere Milke of the Word of God the Preaching of the Gospell of Christ it is the foode of our soules whereby wee must bee nourished to eternall Life And thirdly the end of the preaching the Gospell namely that wee may grow in knowledge grow in faith grow in obedienc so that though men heare the Word yet if they grow not and are not bettered by it they are no good hearers the Word hath no good fruit in them This duty of growing and increasing in Knowledge and all spirituall graces is often vrged in the Scripture 1. Cor. 13.9 1. Thes 4.4 2. Pet. 3.18 Heb. 6.1 Pro. 4.18 We beseech you brethren exhort you in the Lord Iesus that yee encrease more and more grow in grace And againe Let vs bee ledde forward to perfection And the Prophet compares the graces of God in the Elect to the waters flowing from the Sanctuary Ezec. 47.3 which were at the first to the Ancles then to the Knees next to the Loynes and last to a Riuer that could not bee passed ouer So are the graces of God in the Elect though their beginning be but small yet they encrease dayly till they come to that full measure the which the Lord hath allotted to euery Christian The Doctrine being thus cleared wee will now come to the vses of the same Vse This Doctrine doth concerne vs all very neerely wee professe our selues Schollers in the Schoole of Christ now then let vs not proue Trewants after long teaching and preaching to proue ignorant of the Principles of Religion as the a.b.c. If our children goe to Schoole and learne nothing it must needs be that they play the Truants or else they haue a bad Master Euen so we being long taught in the word what shame is it that wee should still proue ignorant of the Word of God We are trees
them in that hee shewed himselfe so mercifull God doth not proceede in iudgement before hee hath offered all means of mercy as first to vse all the meanes hee could to conuert them and humble them before hee punished and destroyed them If the Lord had but shewed one meanes as the Word preached it was his great mercy for hee might iustly take all aduantage at our hands to cut vs off in the height of our sins damne vs presently for the same but in that he vseth so many meanes so long a time it shewes his wonderfull mercy to these people in that he sayth Oh what shall I do how shall I entreat It shewes the Lord had vsed all the meanes hee could his word his mercies his iudgements threatnings punishments and yet all would not humble them So that hence we may obserue the wonderful mercy of God towards his people in that hee vseth so many meanes to humble them for their sins ere hee cut them off The truth of this Doctrine is confirmed by diuers places of Scripture Ier. 7.13 as that of the Prophet Ieremy I rose vp earely and spake vnto you but when I spake yee would not heare mee neyther when I called would yee answere And that of the Prophet Esay Esay 68.2 I haue stretched out my hand all the day long vnto a rebellious people Ioel. 2.13 This is further confirmed vnto vs by the Prophet Ioel when hee sayth Rent your hearts and not your garments and turne vnto the Lord your God for hee is gracious mercifull slow to anger and of great kindnesse Ezech. 33.11 and repenteth him of the euill And so much doth God himselfe teach vs of himselfe when he sayth As I liue sayth the Lord God I desire not the death of the wicked but that the wicked turne from his way and liue 2. Sam. 12.1 When the Prophet Dauid had committed very haynous and horrible sinnes how graciously did the Lord send vnto him his Prophet Nathan to awake him out of his sinne and to call him home by repentance And againe afterwards 2. Sam. 24.10 when in the pride of his heart hee had numbred his people hee sent the Prophet Gad vnto him to humble him for the same Yea the Lord is so rich in mercy that hee offereth the same vnto the wicked themselues though they in their prophanesse neglect and contemne the same When Cains heart beganne to boyle in malice against his brother Abel Gen. 4.6.7 the Lord sayd inough to him if hee had had grace to haue kept him from that horrible sinne of murder Why art thou wroth sayth Almighty God to Cain and why is thy countenance cast downe If thou doest well shalt thou not bee rewarded c. And after that Cain had slaine his brother the Lord left him not Gen. 6.3 but laboured to bring him to remorse when hee asked him Cain where is thy brother Abel And againe The voyce of thy brothers bloud cryeth from the earth And when God was purposed to destroy the olde World 2. Pet. 2.1 Gen. 19. 2. Reg. 21.28 what meanes did hee vse first to reclaime them hee gaue them a hundred and twenty yeares to repent in and all this while sent vnto them Noah that Preacher of righteousnesse to warne them of that iudgement to come yet they repented not So dealt hee with the filthy Sodomites by placing iust Lot amongst them to labour their conuersion Mat. 27.19 and was so farre preuailed with by Abraham that if ten righteous soules had beene found in those Cities God had spared them for their sakes The like may bee sayde of Ahab and of Pilate yea the Lord offered his mercy vnto Iudas when as before any thing was effected Christ put him in mind of his bloudy thoughts against him making it manifest that hee was the man that should betray him Thus haue wee seene cleared the truth of this Doctrine that God is a God of mercy that hee will not easily proceede in iudgement before hee hath offered all meanes of mercy What shall I doe vnto thee how shall I intreat thee The meanes by the which the Lord doth humble men Now the meanes by the which the Lord doth humble men are diuers First and principally the Ministery of his Word Thus dealt the Lord with his seruant Dauid as wee heard before sending his Prophets vnto him to bring him to the sight of his sinne 1 The Ministery of the Word and to this end hath the Lord commaunded his Prophets and Ministers to cry aloud Esa 58.1 Pro. 8.1.2.3 9.1.2.3 and to lift vp their voyces like Trumpets to preach the Doctrine of repentance and to shew the people their sins And Salomon in diuers places of his booke of Prouerbs bringeth in Christ Iesus the wisedome of God sometimes crying aloud in his owne person and sometimes by his Ministers to summon men to repentance Thus dealt hee with the Nineuites sending vnto them his Prophet Ionas to preach repentance vnto them that there rested but forty dayes Ion. 3.4 and then without repentance Nineueh should lye in the dust And hence is it that the Apostle Paul calleth the Ministery of the Word The power of God to saluation to euery one that beleeueth And in another place hee sayth Rom. 1.16 that howsoeuer the seeming Wisemen of the World do account of Preaching but as foolishnes yet it hath pleased God By that foolishnesse of preaching 1. Cor. 1.21 to saue them that beleeue And this Word of God is called the Lords Hammer Ier. 23.29 whereby he knockes at the dore of our hard hearts and this is the most principall the most powerfull and effectuall meanes being Gods ordinance to conuert sinners and to bring them to repentance Secondly his manifold mercies and blessings the which hee Renueth towards vs euery morning 2 His Blessings and by this meanes doth the Lord seeke to wooe and winne our hearts to him hee giues vs life and health meate Lam. 3.23 drinke apparrell lodging hee keepes vs from many dangers and poures downe thousand blessings vpon vs and euery one of these giue a knocke at our hearts and cry aloud in our eares that the Lord by them doth labour to draw and winne vs vnto him this was that that made Dauids sinne exceeding sinnefull namely That God had annointed him King ouer Israel 2. Sam. 12.7.8 and had deliuered him out of the hands of Saul and had giuen him his Lords house and his Lords wiues into his bosom c. And would if that had been too little haue giuen him much more and therefore his vnthankefulnesse must needs bee the greater to sinne against so gracious and mercifull a God Thirdly by his corrections and chasticements which God doth lay vpon vs His iudgements by these doth the Lord ring many a warning peale in our eares sometimes by long and tedious sicknes diseases crosses losses
this people were and their maruellous obstinacy and rebellion in that though Almighty God did vse all meanes to humble them and reclaime them yet they could by no meanes bee brought to goodnes to bee humbled but notwithstanding all the gracious meanes God vsed they continued rebellious and stubborne still And this appeares by the Lords complaint in vpbraiding them with sinne still q. d. I perceyue thou wilt bee stout against mee thou wilt not yeeld thou wilt be brought to no good passe thou art exceeding obstinate and rebellious and thus doth the Lord complaine of them in another place Wherefore should I smite them any more And againe Esay 1.5 Thou O Lord hast striken them but they haue not sorrowed thou hast consumed them Ier. 5.3 but they haue refused to receiue correstion for they haue made their faces harder then a stone and wil not returne Amos. 4.6 And againe by the Prophet Amos hee complaineth thus I haue giuen you cleannesse of teeth in all your Cities and scarsenes of bread in all your places yet haue yee not returned vnto mee sayth the Lord. If wee looke vpon examples Gen 4.6 wee shall finde diuers in the Word of God that proue the same as that of Cain albeit the Lord did forewarn him of that wrath hee had conceiued against his brother Abel that hee would neuer be at rest till hee had killed him And this is clearely seen in the old World when the Lord saw the wickednesse of man to waxe great vpon the earth Gen. 6.3 hee stirred vp Noah that Preacher of righteousnesse to warne them of iudgement to come yet they continued still in their sinnes The like may bee sayd of Sodom and Gomorah of Pharaoh Iudas and the like So that it appeareth to bee an euident truth that wicked men continue stil in sinne notwithstanding all the means that God doth vse to the contrary Pro. 27.22 according to that of Salomon If thou bray a foole in a morter yet will not his foolishnes depart from him And this thing so comes to passe in them because God in his iust iudgement hath giuen them ouer to a reprobate sense Reason according to that of the Apostle Paul God gaue them ouer vnto vile affections Rom. 1.26 to worke filthinesse against nature c. And as it was sayde of the sonnes of Ely 1. Sam. 2.24 They would not heare their Fathers voyce because the Lord would destroy them Vse 1 Seeing wicked and vngodly men continue still in sinne notwithstanding all gracious means to the contrary This may be a terror to all wicked and vngodly wretches to consider that as their hearts are hardned and their consciences seared so great shall bee their iudgement and by this means they doe but increase their punishment Rom. 2.4.5.6 and hoard it vp as a treasure against the day of Gods wrath Despisest thou the riches of his bountifulnes and patience and long sufferance not knowing that the bountifulnes of God leadeth thee to repentance but thou after thy hardnesse and heart that cannot repent heapest vp vnto thy selfe wrath against the day of wrath In which words wee may see the wofull and miserable estate and condition of all those that runne from euill to worse that their damnation all this while sleepeth not but when the measure of their iniquity is once full the Lord will bee sure to bring his iudgements vpon them Againe to apply this doctrine somwhat more neerly Vse 2 vnto our selues was this the desperate estate of this people and damnable rebellion against all the gracious meanes God vsed Alas if we compare our estate with theirs wee shall find our case to bee farre worse for the Lord hath vsed more means to humble vs then them but yet we are hard hearted stil we are not humbled wee haue not melting hearts how did the Lord smite the creatures this last winter by frost and snow that many thousands of them perished in euery place and corner of this land besides for this summer which is the pleasantest time in the yeare hath not euen now the creature mourned vnto vs to teach vs to mourne What fearefull and lamensable fires haue hapned within these few yeares in most peaces of this land and yet good Lord how few are the number of those that lay these iudgements of God to heart Well let vs take heed that if these humble vs not least the Lord send such iudgements and plagues amongst vs that the very Sorcerers of Egypt if they were amongst vs would acknowledge it to bee the finger of God When that Moses smote the Rocke it gushed out with water the Lord hath often smitten our hard and flinty and rocky hearts with the rodde of his iudgements and stil smites but all in vaine for we are stubborne and rebellious still So that wee may iustly feare that as he cast off this people slew them consumed them and destroyed them euen so will hee deale with vs in his anger and that because wee haue not profited by his iudgements nor yet no meanes that hee hath vsed can preuaile with vs to bring vs to repentance If we contemne so great saluation how can wee thinke to escape Doct. 3 Thirdly out of this patheticall and compassionate speech of the Lord The Lord takes it hardly that the meanes of our good should bee contemned O Ephraim what shall I doe vnto thee O Iudah how shall I intreat thee Wee may learne that it is a grieuous thing vnto the Lord and vexeth his spirit to see all the meanes hee doth vse in mercy to doe vs good and to saue vs to bee carelesly regarded and lightly esteemed or proudly and desperately contemned of vs for the Lord hath tryed all possible meanes to doe them good yet they regarded them not but lightly esteemed them and passed them ouer and therefore the Lord takes vp this pittifull complaint O Ephraim what shall I doe vnto thee O Iudah how shall I intreat thee It is all one as if he should haue sayd It grieues me right sore to see you so stubborne against mee This Doctrine is cleared in diuers places of the Holy Scriptures as that speech of Almighty God himselfe when hee sayth to the people of Israel Deu. 5.29 when they had made that solemne promise to obey Moses the seruant of the Lord in all things Oh that there were such a heart in them to feare mee to keepe my commandements alwayes that it might go well with them and their children for euer Psal 81.13 This affection the Lord expresseth in another place when he sayth O that my people had hearkned vnto me and Israel had walked in my waies Yea our Sauiour himselfe doth expresse the same affection in him in the dayes of his flesh Luk. 19.41.42 And when hee came neare it hee beheld the City and wept ouer it saying Oh if thou haddest knowne at the least in this thy day those things
had beene done amongst them of Sodom they had remayned to this day But I say vnto you that it shall bee easier for them of the land of Sodom in the day of iudgement then for thee In this place our Sauiour declares vnto vs that such places as haue had the preaching of the Word amongst them and haue accounted light of the same shall receiue at the last day a greater measure of condemnation then those that neuer heard the sound therof You wil think it a harsh comparison if I should compare our land to Sodom Gomor wee know how the Lord destroyed them with fire brimstone from heauen And yet I say vnto you in the name of God from the warrant of his sacred word by the which wee shall all one day be iudged that if we liue in the open contempt of Gods truth ignorance blindnesse and prophanesse which sins are scarce the tenth that may bee found amongst vs at this day it had beene much better that wee had beene borne Sodomites and Gomoreans yea the time shall come when many amongst vs shall cry out and wish that they were Sodomites and Gomoreans Oh that I were a Sodomite Oh that I were one of them of Gomorah and that because wee knew not the day of our Visitation And this fauour and mercy of our God that now we enioy to heare him to speake vnto vs in his Word and that wee haue his seruice and worship amongst vs shall bee so farre at the last day from procuring vs any fauour or mercy at Gods hand as that wee hauing had the same amongst vs and wee most prophanely did neglect and contemne the same shall reape euen therefore the greater measure of condemnation Deu. 32.29 Oh that men would bee wise then would they consider their latter end Secondly seeing that most excellent prerogatiues Vse 2 and priuiledges will not serue to keepe backe Gods anger and to deliuer vs from destruction if wee liue in sinne and bee not reformed in heart and life then let vs labour to ioyne to our outward profession of the Word sound obedience true repentance and reformation of our wayes and marke then what will follow If yee will hearken and obey yee shall then eate the good of the land Wee must not stand so much vpon the largenesse of the leaues of our profession who should professe most as wee should vpon sincerity who should practise most I am sure it is our behauiour concerning the things of the world There is no man but had rather be rich then accounted rich be wealthie then seeme to bee wealthy And yet for that true riches that shall make vs rich vnto saluation wee can content our selues with shadowes and shewes of it and looke not after the substance Like Iehu who made great boast of the zeale hee had for the glory of God Come with mee sayth he to Ionadab And see the zeale that I haue for the Lord 2. Reg. 10.16 but yet for all this his heart was not vpright in the sight of God Act. 24.16 but the Apostle Paul was affected otherwise who endeuoured himselfe to haue alway a cleare conscience towards God and man And surely this is it that shall bee our comfort in life in death after death Esay 38.3 that wee can say with good King Ezechiah Remember Lord that I haue walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart Doct. 5 Againe seeing the Lord complaines here of Ephraim and Iudah that is of the whole body of the people and the generall multitude of both Kingdomes Though God doth offer the meanes of saluation vnto all yet few receiue them that they were wicked and rebellious and profited not by al the gracious means that he vsed to reclaim them we learne hence that though the Lord do offer the means alike to all as his Word iudgements admonitions corrections c. yet very few doe receiue them profite by them and the greatest part remaine ignorant vnrepentant and rebellious against the meanes as wee may see heere in this people they had the meanes al alike to call them to repentance yet the greatest part and the greatest number vnreformed still so that the Lord speakes heere of the whole Nation and people of the Iewes O Ephraim O Iudah those that resolued to Returne vnto the Lord as in the three first verses of this chapter their number was exceeding small in comparison of those that did neglect and contemne the same and therefore he speakes of them wholy together Ephraim Iudah This Doctrine is further cleared by the example of the old World that notwithstanding the meanes of deliuerance was offered to all men alike yet only Noah was moued with reuerence Gen. 6.3 Heb. 11. Gen. 19. to feare Gods iudgements when all the rest of the world were euen drunke in security and lay weltring in their sinnes So in Sodom one righteous Lot Elias sayth Hee was left alone hee could not see one open professor of Religion in his time Woe is mee sayth the Prophet For I am as the Summer gatherings and as the grapes of the Vintage Mich. 7.1 Ier. 3.14 Luk. 12.32 Mat. 27. there is no cluster to eate Alas when the haruest is in the gleaning it is very small heere an eare and there an eare One of a City and two of a Tribe And Christ cals his flocke a little flocke Feare not little Flocke All cried against the Sonne of God Crucifie him Crucifie him Reu. 13. All receyued the Marke of the beast This is plaine by wofull experience in our dayes how few true worshippers of God sound Christians though wee haue the meanes alike how few profit by them the greatest part remaine ignorant still vile rebellious and prophane and so few that they bee like a handfull of corne in a heape of chaffe many hypocrites many meere Laodiceans neyther hote nor cold Reu. 3.17 many halfe Christians with Agrippa onely those that profite truely by the meanes are exceeding few Hence wee see that Multitude is no note of a true Vse 1 Church And therefore it confutes the Doctrine of the Church of Rome who would make men beleeue that therefore they must needes bee the true Church because their Religion is so generally receiued and imbraced of many Kingdomes But here wee see Luke 12.32 that the greater part is the worst and Christs flocke is a little flocke and therefore this Doctrine beates and batters down one of the maine pillars of Popery whervpon they ground their religion and supplant their Church they ground vpon this sandy foundation the pillar is a number and multitude of men that many receiue their religion and few ours but if this reason be good then those few beleeuing Iewes that repented as in the three first verses of this Chapter should not bee the children of God but Ephraim Iuda euen the common multitude should be accounted the Church which is most false for
let this moue vs all to bee grieued for this sinne Let vs amend it Esay 1.16 Pro. 15.11 Let vs labour to come with penitent and obedient hearts else all our prayers and all things else that we doe in Gods seruice Ier. 7.7 is but Abomination to the Lord. And indeed when men are once come to this passe that they thinke they haue knowledge inough faith and repentance inough and are forward inough so long as they come to Church and heare the Word when men are once come to this passe many meanes and great meanes can doe them no good This people of the Iewes had many means the Lord sent his Prophets earely and late Ier. 7. but they could not conuert them and why because they cryed the Temple Mich. 6.6.7 the Temple and trusted in lying vanities So the Lord sent his Prophet Mica threatning them with iudgements yet they were not reformed and the reasons is because they contented themselues with these outward shewes of repentance and thought their outward worshippe was inough and that God would bee content with their sacrifices And again he heard the Prophet Ezechiel preach and denounce Gods Iudgements Ezec. 33.31.32 yea they commended him and were forward to heare him yet this vile thought and perswasion being in their hearts that it was inough to heare though they went no further stopt their hearts so as they could not repent Mar. 6. â—0 This was Herods sin who was come to this height of impiety that if Iohn Baptist would bee content with his hearing so it was but reformation of life especially of his beloued sinne hee should neuer see in him Reu. 3.15 And surely this is that that makes all good things vnprofitable to vs because men thinke they are wise inough and good inough Is it not a wonder that men should liue so many yeares vnder the meanes heare so much and read so much and yet profite so little Indeed it could neuer bee so if men did see their wants and come with penitent and obedient hearts Oh then I beseech you in the feare of God lay aside this proud conceit lay aside this vaine perswasion that you should thinke your outward seruice and worship of God is inough that you know inough and are good enough rather thinke the worst of your selues and desire more grace that yee may seeme good with more feeling and comfort Secondly in that the Lord compares their repentance and goodnes all their piety and seruice of God to a Morning cloud and to the dew before the Sunne he shewes that their Repentance was not onely vnsound but also vncertaine of no continuance some good motions came into their minds and some prickes of conscience for their sinnes but yet they would not leaue their olde sinnes and turne to God with al their hearts From whence wee obserue a further point of Doctrine Doct. 7 that the wicked themselues haue somtimes good motions in them howbeit they bee not lasting The wicked haue sometimes good motions in them but not lasting When Gods hand is vpon them by long and tedious sicknes how ready are many to make solemne vowes vnto the Lord of reformation of their liues but alas this is but while their consciences are vpon the racke but when that his iudgements are remoued it may be sayde of them as of wicked Ahaz 2. Chr. 28.22 They trespasse yet more against the Lord. This was the desperate estate and condition of this people the Lord threatned them with many great and grieuous iudgements as in the former chapter vnder the which they seemed to bee humbled for a time but alas it was but for a time for it quickly vanished away euen as the Dew when the Sun shines hote vpon it This was the case of the people in Moses time they made a fayre shew for a time Deu. 5.27 saying to Moses the seruant of the Lord Goe thou neare and heare all that the Lord our God sayth Num. 23 10. and declare thou vnto vs al that the Lord our God sayth vnto thee and wee will heare it and doe it Balam that false Prophet that loued so the wages of iniquity as that hee would haue done directly against the commandement of the Lord yet hauing his mind inlightned desired that hee might Die the death of the righteous which was in it selfe a good and a godly prayer had it not proceeded from a wicked and a gracelesse heart but it was not constant in Balam but as a sudden flashing of a lightning quickly vanishing away Exod. 9.27 What shall wee say of Pharaoh who cryed out I haue sinned the Lord is righteous but I and my people are wicked This appeareth further in the Iewes who wished to come to happinesse if that would haue serued the turne Io. 6.34 Lord giue vs euermore this bread they had grieuously sinned against the Sonne of God and yet in a certaine remorse of conscience they wished to be partakers of eternall life This the Apostle condemneth in the Galathians Gal. 5.7 Yee did runne well what did let you that yee did not obey the truth Was not this the case of Hymeneus and Philetus 1. Tim. 1.10 2. Tim. 2.18 2. Tim. 4.10 were they not held to bee great Christians in their times and obtayned a good report in the Church of God in the which they liued yet afterwards fell away making shipwracke of faith and a good conscience What shall wee say of Demas PhilemoÌ„ 24. who went so farre in Religion as that hee suffered imprisonment for the truthes sake and yet fell in loue with the world What did it profite Iehu to bee zealous for the Lord in slaying the Priests of Baal seeing he Departed not from the sinnes of Ieroboam 2. Reg. 10.25 v. 31. What did it profite Lots wife to goe out of Sodom commanded by the Angel Gen. 19.26 accompanied by her deare husband seeing shee looked backe and was turned into a piller of salt Wee must therefore contend for more faith for more knowledge and for more grace that wee may finde in our selues a dayly increase in the same for not to goe forward in Religion is to goe backeward and not to increase in spirituall graces is certainely to decrease and decay in them Wee haue in the Scriptures many lawes to incite and prouoke vs to goe forward to perfection to walke to labour and to striue for godlines but wee haue none to giue liberty to sit still to bee idle or to loyter to bee carelesse or secure This doth the Lord himselfe teach vs when hee sayth If a righteous man turne from his righteousnesse Ezec. 18.24 and do the thing that is euill all the righteousnesse that hee hath done shall bee no more thought vpon but in the wickednesse that hee hath done in the same hee shall die 1. Cor. 9.24 And this is taught by the Apostle Paul when hee sayth Know yee not
that they which runne in a race runne all yet one receiueth the prize So runne that yee may obtaine So then wee haue seene this Doctrine cleared that the wicked themselues are not so farre giuen ouer to themselues but that at somtimes they haue som touch of conscience and remorse of heart for sinne as this people heere then seemed to bee humbled vnder Gods iudgement and they seemed to repent for their sinnes but all this was but for a time it was not durable and lasting but as the Morning cloud and as the Morning dew it went away God graunt the same be not our sin Now this thing comes thus to passe in the wicked Reason because their consciences taking notice of all their sins doth assure the sinner that God is iust in punishing of sinne and therefore when the Lord shall but shake the sword of iudgement ouer a wicked man hee cannot but be humbled for sinne for the time present though they harden their hearts like an Adamant and their faces like flint yet when the stormes of Gods iudgements shall arise Act. 24.25 they shall quake and tremble as Felix did Seeing that many beginne well and yet proue but as the Morning cloud which is quickly gone We may Vse 1 from hence conclude the wofull miserable and wretched estate of all those that shrinke away that begin in the spirit and end in the flesh Surely I may say of them as Christ sometime sayd of Iudas It had beene good for them if they had neuer been borne This the Apostle Peter setteth downe fully when hee sayth If they after they haue escaped from the filthinesse of the World thorough the acknowledging of the Lord 2. Pet. 2.20.21.22 and of the Sauiour Iesus Christ are yet tangled therein and ouercome the latter end is worse with them then the beginning for it had been better for them not to haue acknowledged the way of righteousnesse then after they haue acknowledged it to turne away from the holy commandement giuen vnto them But it is come vnto them according to the Prouerbe The Dogge is turned to his owne vomit and the Sow that was washed to the wallowing in the mire Oh that all wicked and vngodly sinners would consider this aright how the holy Ghost doth esteeme of them euen no better then dogs and swine Let them seeme neuer so holy and religious if they doe not perseuere in piety and religion alas they are neuer the nearer heauen but hauing beene acquainted with Gods Word Sacraments and Prayer the greater shall bee their torment at the last for the abuse thereof Yea it is a righteous thing with God to giue ouer such men and women vnto a reprobate sense taking his spirit from them so that they shal grow by degrees to be worse and worse as wee may see in these Iewes vnto whom the Lord had vsed many meanes to humble them and to bring them home by repentance as his Word in the mouthes of his Prophets his blessings and benefites besides all this his iudgements one vpon the necke of another yet all would not serue to humble them but all labour was lost and all cost was ill bestowed Well what was the end of all this did they not grow to bee the greatest enemies to the Gospell and Crosse of Christ And thus fared it with Iudas being an Apostle became a most desperate reprobate And thus doth Almighty God as a most iust reuenger of sin many times punish one sinne by another Oh let these iudgements of God vpon the wicked breake in sunder the hard and stony hearts of the wicked that so they may anew renue their Couenant with God that he may haue mercy vpon them and that they may liue in his sight Secondly wee are taught heere that it is not innough Vse 2 to beginne well to entertaine holy thoughts godly purposes but we must withall nourish and cherish them that so wee may haue comfort by them at our latter end this people beganne well but they ended ill Oh then let vs looke to our owne soules and try whether our repentance bee like to theirs or not if wee find it vnsound that it comes not to the heart but rests in outward shewes and that it is soone vanished away then truely it is nought Dauid was humbled for his sinnes all the dayes of his life And it is reported of Peter that after his repentance Stella in Lucam hee rose euer at the call of the Cocke to prayers and other the like duties of piety and religion And so must it bee with vs otherwise God cares not for it and it will stand vs in no stead in that day of Gods searching account Now if wee may iudge of your Repentance by your life and outward behauiour truely it is to bee doubted The great drought that it is little better then the repentance of this people not worth a button but counterfeit and fayned For doth not the Lord euen call men to fasting weeping lamentation and mourning to amendment of life and true repentance and how do men performe this who layes the iudgement of God to heart who mournes for Gods anger vpon the land nay rather doe they not make this time of fasting a time of feasting Many seeme to repent and to hang downe their heads like a bul-rush and cry Lord helpe vs but truely it is but lippe-labour but forged from the teeth outward it comes not from the heart but as this people in this place Men are like to Schollers and Children when the rodde is vpon their backe they cry and yell and promise to doe so no more yet as soone as the rod is remoued doe the same things againe Euen so fareth it with most men amongst vs while the iudgements of God are vpon them and their consciences are vpon the racke they are ready to cry to the Lord for helpe and deliuerance but if the Lord doe but remoue his hand you shall see them with the dogge to the vomite and the Sow to the myre couetous still cruell still ignorant filthy and vncleane still Is not this the common repentance of our times And is not this like the Iewes heere which the Lord so highly condemneth Oh alas it is and therefore the Lord must needs bee as highly offended with vs as euer hee was with them And therefore it is now hie time to looke to our selues to ioyne to our outward profession true reformation of heart and life to build vpon the Rocke Christ and for the time to come to lay a sure foundation and be sure of an honest heart that it bee sound in the worshippe of God for the Lord prefers such a heart that comes in faith repentance and obedience before most glorious and goodly shewes when sincerity of heart is wanting And truelie it is greatly to bee feared that many now professing the Gospell in these dayes of peace if the Sun should wax hote if stormes should come and tryall
for the Gospell sake they would fal away and â—ee like this people heere whose goodnesse all they did professe was but as a droppe of dew before the Sunne Oh then let vs labour for soundnesse and sincerity in Gods seruice Let vs labour to find our eyes opened our minds illuminated our hearts softned and our affections touched that so wee may haue ioy and comfort heere and euerlasting peace and comfort in the end Thirdly seeing wee are taught heere that many Vse 3 may seeme forward for a time zealous and godly and yet the same proue in the end but as The morning cloud quickly scattered and as The Morning Dew which is quickly gone when the face of the Sun doth shew it selfe vpon it Wee are taught hence not to be offended when wee see some of those that for the time past haue seemed to be forward in Religion to fall away that the life of Gods spirit doth decay in them for there haue been euer such counterfeit Christians euen from the beginning in the houshold of Adam Gen. 4.56 there was a wicked Cain and in the family of Abraham there was a scoffing Ismael yea there is no society eyther in Church or common wealth but the Scriptures afford vs some example or other Mat. 27. that there haue been some wicked amongst them But what of all this must this discourage vs No no What if all the world will be disobedient as in the dayes of Noah What if there be but one Elias in all Israel Oh let vs ioyne with him Note and let vs euen hereby bee wise and learne to take heed by other mens harmes to take a faster hold vpon Religion and lay to build vpon a sure foundation for at one time or other God will lay some tryall or other vpon vs that wee shall appeare to bee eyther chaffe or Wheat the faithfull seruants of the Lord or the cursed limbs of Sathan and if we haue hitherto felt and enioyed peaceable times that the Lord hath not yet sifted and winnowed vs as Sathan desired to sift Peter What shall wee bee secure therefore God fotbid rather let vs in the dayes of peace prepare for the time of tryall euer looking out when God will shake his sword against vs. Your goodnes is as the morning cloud c. IN that the Lord doth compare the repentance or goodnesse of this people to the Morning cloud and to the Morning Dew because it was neyther true nor sincere nor durable not lasting but quickly gone and therefore are branded with this blacke cole of hypocrites and such as the Lord threatens to Cut downe to slay euen vtterly to roote out as in the verse following Doct. 8 Wee are taught by their example that if wee would bee religious indeed and approued for sound Christians before God Sincerity of heart and perseuerance in godlines a true note of the child of God that wee labour for that which was wanting in them and which shall approue vs for Christians before God namely sincerity of heart as also that we perseuere in the duties of piety and godlines euen vnto the end It was the commendations of Enoch and of Noah that notwithstanding they liued in sinfull times being ouerrunne with all manner of impieties yet they walked with God Gen. 5.22 Gen. 6.9 they kept themselues vnspotted of the world they made not the practise of other men an example for them but walked so as euer in Gods presence This was Ezechias his comfort when hee was summoned to die Esay 38.3 Remember Lord that I haue walked before thee in truth and with an vpright heart Iob. 16.19 And when Iob was censured for an hypocrite according as the maner of the world is at this day to despise and disgrace euery one that is more carefull to please God then themselues What was his comfort but this that hee could say My witnesse is in heauen and my Record is on hie q. d. My comfort is that though you speake your pleasure of mee now yet you shall not bee my Iudges but God that is aboue whom I haue ever serued in spirit and truth will iustifie me one day against you And this was the care of godly Paul Act. 24.16 2. Cor. 4.2 To endeuour aboue all things to keepe a cleare conscience before God and man for this is that which will approue vs to be Christians indeed when as the vizard of hypocrisie shall be taken from vs and if this be wanting in vs alas all our shewes bee they neuer so goodly and glorious shal no way stand vs in stead but the Lord will rather cast them as dung into our faces And yet good Lord men thinke they haue profited highly in Religion if they can but make a glorious shew therof before men Oh I would that men could be brought once to this passe that we might cast out this Deuil from them but of this before Seeing that sincerity of heart is such an infallible note of the child of God Vse when as all shewes and shadowes will stand in no stead this may vtterly condemn the art of Seeming which euery man almost hath learned in our time The hypocrite can come with his Lord Lord. Mat. 7.21 Iob. 31.24 Pro. 30.20 The couetous man that hath made gold his hope hee feares not The vncharitable man Whose torgue is like a Razar is not abashed The whorish woman Wipeth her mouth and sayth I haue not committed Iniquity blusheth not Thus euery one commeth into Gods house heareth Gods word receyueth his blessed Sacrament and comes vnto these dueties so maskt that they passe heere for currant coyne we are not able to see into their hearts it is the Lord alone who is The searcher of the heart that sees them And thus men if they may passe with our approbation they care for no more Ah poore soule Ah poore soule what of al this If the Lord doe not approue of thee it is not all thy shewes and shadowes be they neuer so goodly nor so glorious that wil stand thee in stead in the day of Gods searching account but hauing acted the part of an hppocrite here vpon the Stage of this World it shall at the last day be a iust and righteous thing with the righteous God to giue thee the portion of hypocrites euen euerlasting fire Depart from mee yee Hypocrites into euerlasting fire prepared for the Deuill and his Angels Oh that this might perswade vs to affect sincerity of heart What a thing were this that we should liue in these dayes and times wherein wee liue wherein knowledge and grace is euen thrust vpon vs and yet for all that wee should proue such Iudasses vnto our owne poore Soules thus to betray them into the hands of sathan I cannot but taxe many of you of this parrish of Roxwell with this sin the Lord lay it not one day to your charge At my first coÌ„ming amongst you I obserued some
Gods Word Hard heart the greatest iudgement that can bee layde vpon man nor profite by the meanes of saluation Oh it is the heauiest iudgement that God can lay vpon man in this life and it is a sure and certain fore-runner of eternall condemnation in the end for when the Word of God doth light vpon a hard heart oh it wounds it and kils it and giues many a mortall and deadly wound though the wretched soule of the sinner see it not or feele it not The Scriptures affoord vs diuers examples and all to confirme the truth of this point vnto vs. Gen. 4.5.6 This is clearely to be seene in the example of Cain how did the Lord deale with Cain both before hee had murdered his brother and afterward and all to haue kept him if it had been possible from that most horrible sinne of his Before how did God deale with him Cain why is the countenance of thy face changed If thou doest well shalt thou not be rewarded If thou doest euill sin lyeth at thy dore Had not this beene inough if Cain had had but the least sparke of grace to haue kept him and stayed him from committing that horrible sinne but when this preuailed not but Cain would needs shed the innocent bloud of righteous Abel How did the Lord deale with Cain afterwards Cain where is thy brother Abel but what now did Cains heart relent did hee confesse his sinne with Dauid and say I haue sinned Did hee resolue into teares of repentance with Peter No no but rather despised God to his face saying Am I my Brothers Keeper Oh fearefull and horrible speech What was his conscience so seared that neyther the shame of the world the innocent bloud of his slaine brother nor the glorious presence of the Lord could any whit astonish him Behold here an example indeed of a heart that is hardned and let the remembrance of the same euer possesse our soules to make vs watchfull ouer our owne hearts how we euer contemn the means of grace when the same is offered vnto vs. This is to be clearely seen in Pharaoh vnto whom the Lord sent seuerall plagues and iudgements vpon him his people one vpon the necke of another Exod. 9. ten in number yet all would not humble Pharaoh Exod. 7.23 but answered stoutly saying I know not the Lord neyther will I let the people of Israel goe This is taught by Iob Iob. 18.5 Zeph. 1.17 when hee sayth The light of the vngodly shall bee darkned and the wicked shall become blind because they haue sinned against the Lord. And againe Their hearts being fat their eyes heauy and their eares shut they shall heare indeed but shall not vnderstand they shall see and not perceyue And the Prophet Ieremie doth mow liuely set out vnto vs the wofull estate and condition of such a soule that is thus forsaken of the Lord and giuen ouer to sinne saying Ier. 7.16 11.14 Because you haue done these things and I spake vnto you you would not heare therefore thou shalt not pray for this people nor lift vp cry nor entreat mee for I will not heare Though Noah and Iob should intreat mee though Moses Samuel should pray vnto mee yet will I not heare neyther bee intreated This is a lamentable estate this is a fearfull iudgement for a man to bee thus left vnto himselfe giuen vp to Sathan and forsaken of God for euer Oh wofull is the estate of such a one let that exhortation of the Apostle bee precious with vs Heb. 3.12.13 Take heed brethren lest at any time there bee in any of you an euil heart and vnfaithfull to depart away from the liuing God And of the Gentiles it is sayd Ephes 4.17 that they liued in the Vanity of their minds hauing their cogitations darkned strangers from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them because of the hardnesse of their hearts So that you see that a hard heart it is the most fearefullest iudgement of God that can befall a man in this life for it is capable of no good eyther by the Word preached promises or threatnings mercies or iudgments The Word of God it is mighty in operation Ier. 23. â—9 it Diuideth the soule and spirit asunder This Word of God is called the Hammer of the Lord for by it the Lord doth breake in sunder the hard stony and flinty hearts of man This Hammer of the Lord is not able to breake the heart of a wicked man but as the bright beams of the Sunne doe harden clay and soften waxe so this most heauenly and eternall Word of God shall neuer returne in vaine but by reason of the different disposition in the Subiect it illuminateth it melteth the righteous it obdurates it hardens the wicked Now where the Word doth not preuaile with vs to humble vs there can bee no true repentance as the Apostle teacheth Rom. 2.5 when he sayth But thou after thy hardnes and heart that cannot repent heapest vnto thy selfe wrath against the day of wrath Now where there is no repentance there can bee no saluation Luk. 13.5 for so sayth our Sauiour Except yee repent yee shall all perish This is a lamentable estate indeed this is a iudgement with a witnesse for a man to bee left thus vnto himselfe to be giuen vp to Sathan and to be forsaken of God for euer Oh this this is the estate and condition of euery hard hearted sinner Oh happy then is that man or woman that sinneth least next he that returneth home by repentance soonest but most wofull is the estate of him that with Ieroboam hath solde himselfe to commit sinne for this man Rom. 1.28 1. Tim 4.2 Zach. 1.12 though hee would weepe with Esau and shed euen a fountaine of teates yet all will not helpe woe alas there is no recouery This may serue in the first place to reproue those Vse 1 that iustifie the wicked as in Malachy his time The wicked prosper and they that worke iniquity are set vp Mal. 3.13.14 They seeme to bee the onely men of the World they enioy their pleasures they seeme not to be troubled for any thing and who but they Alas alas what of all this If the heart bee frozen in the dregges of sinne they are of all men most miserable and of all men most to bee pittied For thou after thy hardnes and heart that cannot repent Rom. 2.4.5 heapest vp vnto thy selfe wrath against the day of wrath Their damnation sleepeth not all this while but still they runne in score in Gods booke and when their iniquity is once full the Lord will then come with his iudgements and they shall pay full deare for their sweet pleasures euen the losse of their owne soules for euer and euer No greater iudgement can God inflict vpon the sonnes of men in this life then such a stony heart of all Gods iudgements
the Word of God continually to frequent Sermons to listen to the Doctrine of God to beleeue that they heare to yeeld vnto it and to lay their hearts open and naked that this Sword of Gods Spirit way wound them for sinne for though thou beest a notorious sinner a monstrous blasphemer a common drunkard a filthy whoremaster yet if thou shalt heare this Word and giue credite to it it is able to wound thy Soule and to pearce thy heart and experience teacheth that the Word of God hath done great things it hath conuerted most fearefull and monstrous sinners as Dauid 2. Sam. 12.1 Act. 9. Rom. 1.16 Saul Peter Mary Magdalen Zacheus c. And therefore wayte on the meanes attend on the Word heare Sermons and thou shalt find in the end that the Word of God shall bee the power of God to saue thy Soule if thou doe not harden thy heart against it And as for those the which do despise the Word and will not goe to the dore to heare it truly such men and women doe euen wilfully cast away their owne soules and suffer themselues to bee led euen blindfold to hell but if with care and conscience thou wilt attend vnto it as Lydea did and not cast it vp againe as those that haue queasie stomackes doe wholesome Physicke surely thou shalt find great power in the Word to saue thy soule By my Prophets and the words of my mouth HEre is layde downe now the meanes and the instruments which God vsed for the effecting of his iudgements namely his seruants the Prophets The Instrument I haue cut downe by my Prophets that is I haue brought vpon you those plagues and iudgements which were threatned against you by my faithfull seruants the Prophets euen those iudgements the which they haue denounced against you in my name I haue inflicted and brought them vpon you to slay and to destroy you for your sins Seeing the Lord did effect and bring to passe Doct. 5 those iudgements the which the Prophets pronounced against his people for their sins to slay them The Word of God in the mouthes of his Ministers shall bee accomplished and to destroy them Hence wee learne that the Word of the Lord in the mouthes of his Ministers it shall be accomplished Looke what iudgement they pronounce against sinne in the name of the Lord if men will not repent they shall certainely bee accomplished and come to passe howsoeuer men regard them not and will not beleeue them Indeed many times his iudgements are deferred and his punishments are prolonged because hee is a patient God would not the death of a sinner Mat. 14.35 yet hee is euer iealous of his Word that not one iot or tittle of his Word shal not passe but shall hee fulfilled This is clearely to be seene by the examples of Gods iudgements in all ages Gen. 2.17 3.7 Consider this truth in our first parents God threatned them that if they tasted the forbidden fruit they should die the death and did not God accomplish the same yea all their posterity do to this day feele the smart of the same curse When all the World were disobedient in the dayes of Noah that Preacher of righteousnesse 2. Pet 2.5 Gen. 6.3 God gaue them time space to repent in euen a hundred and twenty yeares and when they repented not the Lord did not fayle to bring his Iudgement vpon them A most cleare and liuely example of this wee haue in the booke of Iosuah Iosu 6.26 The man is cursed there before the Lord that should attempt the rebuilding of the City Iericho and this is the curse that should passe vpon that man namely this That hee should lay the foundation of it in his eldest sonne and in his youngest sonne shall hee set vp the gates of it This was the irreuocable curse that almighty God had threatned against the man that should attempt the building of that City Now afterwards when this threatning seemed to bee quite forgotten God is still mindfull of his Word and time is not able to weare that out 1. Reg. 16.34 for when Hiel the Bethelite did goe about to erect the same God doth bring his former iudgement to passe vpon him What shal wee say of Ahab and of Iezabel vnto whom many fearefull and terrible iudgements were denounced by Elias the Prophet of the Lord 2. Reg. 9.37 That the carkas of Iezabel shall bee as dung in the field of Israel This did God in his due time bring to passe vpon Iezabel and vpon the whole house of Ahab according to the Word of the Lord. So that we may safely conclude this point Num. 23.19 Sam. 3.19 and say with Moses that seruant of the Lord God is not as man that hee should lie or the Sonne of man that he should repent Gods iudgements threatned may seeme to vs as vnlikely as the plenty the Prophet spake of seemed to one of the Princes of Samariah Though the Lord would make Windowes in heauen could it come so to passe But what sayd the Prophet Behold 2. Reg. 7.2 19.20 thou shalt see it with thy eyes but thou shalt not eat thereof and so it came vnto him for the people trode him in the gate and hee died Thus did our Sauiour foretell the destruction of the City Ierusalem which came so to passe accordingly within the space of forty yeares after our Sauiour his Ascention Mat. 24. And is not the Word of God as true now in the mouthes of his Ministers yea whatsoeuer iudgement they shall proclaime in the name of the Lord and by vertue of the Word of God it shall certainly come to passe As they haue a long time threatned famine pestilence and the like iudgements and hath not the Lord brought these iudgements and the like most iustly vpon vs for our sins doe not wee feele the truth of it yea this Winter and Summer last when the Lord seemed to stoppe his eares at the prayers of his seruants and would not a long time be intreated And therefore let all wicked and vngodly wretches lay this Doctrine to heart that are ready to say Where is the promise of his comming and where bee those iudgements our Preachers haue so long spoke of Oh they shall know euen to their eternall shame and confusion at the last that the Lord will make good his Word bring to passe all those iudgements that haue been denounced against them And as it is true of Gods iudgements against rebellious sinners so is it true of the gracious promises of the Gospell to all them that doe truely repent Iesus Christ was a Minister of the Circumcision for the truth of God Rom 15.8 Ps 89.33 And againe I will not falsifie my Truth my Couenant will I not breake nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lippes This was that worthy resolution of the Prophet long before Christ was
borne Thou wilt performe thy truth to Iacob Micha 7.20 and mercy to Abraham as thou hast sworne to our fathers in olde time Tit. 1.2 Psal 102.27 And as this was accomplished touching the comming of the Messias In the fulnesse of time So the same holds true concerning all other the promises of God made vnto his Church and people And the reason of all is this because God is of an vnchangeable nature Reason Mal. 3.6 I am the Lord I change not Whatsoeuer he hath sayd shall be done and whatsoeuer hee hath spoken shall bee accomplished For with him is no variablenesse nor shadow of change Vse 1 This checks those proud spirits and despisers of the Prophets of the Lord who esteeme of Gods seruants and messengers as the scumme of the world will not giue any credite to their Doctrine make iests of them and if they pronounce iudgements against sin Tush wee hope it is not so as these Preachers tell wee hope wee shall doe well enough for all their threatnings They haue denied the Lord and sayd It is not hee neyther shall the plague come vpon vs Ier. 5.12.13 neyther shall wee see sword nor famine And the Prophets shall bee as wind and the Word is not in them Like to them are many of our people amongst vs they make but a Tush of all those threatnings that Gods Ministers doe denounce against them in the name of the Lord till they come vpon them then they can acknowledge they had a fayre warning Read that place diligently in Zachariah and the Lord giue vs a right iudgement in all things Zacha. 1.4.5.6 the words are these Bee yee not as your Fathers vnto whom the former Prophets haue cryed saying Thus sayth the Lord of hostes Turne you now from your euill wayes and from your wicked works but they would not heare nor hearken vnto mee sayth the Lord Your Fathers where are they and doe the Prophets liue for euer But did not my words and my statutes which I commanded by my seruants the Prophets take holde of your Fathers and they confessed and sayd As the Lord of Hoasts hath determined to doe vnto vs according to our own wayes and according to our works so hath hee done vnto vs. See heere how the Lord sends these rebellious Iewes to former times euen to looke vpon Gods iudgements vpon their forefathers q. d. Though your Fathers bee dead yet my iudgements in punishing them ought still to be before your eyes and though the Prophets bee dead yet their Doctrine remaineth for euer Behold yee then the force of my Doctrine in punishing your Fathers and feare yee the threatnings contayned in the same and declared a fresh vnto you by my Prophets Oh may not this bee a fayre warning to vs that yet liue to admonish all those that despise the Word of the Lord in the mouthes of his Ministers to take heed how they contemne Gods faithfull Ministers which esteeme their words but as wind for if they speake in the name of the Lord and haue the Word for their varrant it shall certainely bee accomplished Shall I spare such a people sayth the Lord shall I not bee auenged on them Ier. 5.14 Behold fayth the Lord to his Prophet I will make my Word as fire in thy mouth and this people shall bee as wood and it shall deuoure them Euen so shall the Lord vse his Word in the mouthes of his Ministers as the sword of his Spirit to Cut down slay and will bring to passe his iudgements proclaymed by them so as all wicked and vngodly men at the last shall confesse and say Oh I had a fayre warning I was told of this long agoe if I had beene wise to beleeue it and now I see the Word of God is true in the mouthes of his Ministers Oh what shall become now of all rebellious and hard-hearted sinners who seeme to haue Made a Couenant with Death Esay 28.15 and an agreement with the graue which go on in sinne and feare no danger but what followeth Your Couenant with Death shall bee disanulled and your agreement with hell shall not stand c. Their hopes shall faile them in the end God will not bee mocked they shall bee sure to pay full deare for their contempt when it shall bee too late to amend Oh let vs not then harden our hearts through the deceitfulnesse of sinne Esay 55.6 but Let vs seeke the Lord while he may bee found and call vpon him while hee is neare Secondly wee are taught heere not to bee dismayed when wee see the wicked to prosper and to flourish heere spreading themselues as the greene Bay-tree Vse 2 for loe God doth set them in slippery places their damnation sleepeth not Gods iudgements are gone out against them they are determined with God there wants nothing but the execution of them the which in Gods due time shall bee accomplished euen by an irreuocable decree Now what if in the meane time they rufle it out with great words and shewes and who but they Alas their estates are rather to bee pittied then enuyed because Gods Word is against them their sinnefull courses and by it at the last they shall bee sure to bee Cut downe Psal 2. Pharaoh and the Egyptians may take crafty counsell together against the people of God But hee that dwelleth in heauen doth laugh them to scorne And this Pharaoh which seemed for a while to bee so terrible his end was most fearefull And what if Ahab and Iezabel plotte together and abuse their authority for the winding in of Naboths Vineyard into their owne posession and Naboth is slain 1. Reg. 21. Gods Word went out against him therfore by his Prophet Elias and it was not his walled Pallace that could keepe backe Gods iudgements A man that had seen Lazarus a poore begger Luk. 16.22 destitute of all helpe and comfort lying at the rich mans gate his mind possest with cares with his body full of sores whilest the rich man within was clad of the finest and fed of the daintiest a man I say that had beheld these rwo if hee had had no more then naturall reason would easily haue concluded the begger to bee miserable and the rich man to bee happy But God sees not as man sees neyther are his thoughts as mans thoughts for euen in this great misery of this poore begger hee was a happy and a blessed man notwithstanding the great pompe of the other in the middest of it all hee was but wretched and miserable Then let vs not rest in beholding the present face of outward things but possesse our soules with patience considering that All things happen alike to all Yet in the end it shall goe well with the iust And howsoeuer the wicked prosper wel in the world Psal 73.17 yet they are set but in slippery places Gods threatnings in Gods due time shal be inflicted vpon them
Thirdly seeing the menaces and threatnings of Vse 3 God shall bee accomplished vpon the wicked and vngodly so is it true of the blessed promises of the Gospell so as looke what promise God hath made there either of pardon of sinne or of life and saluation they shall likewise bee performed wee are not to doubt of it for will God keepe touch with the wicked and will hee not much more remember his promise to his children this were iniurious to the Spirit of God so to thinke Oh then let vs learne to depend vpon God 2. Cor. 1.20 and to wayte duely vpon his gracious promises Knowing that all his promises are yea and Amen and Hee is faithfull which hath promised Let vs learne then to rest vpon him for the pardon of our sinnes the hearing of our prayers the resurrection of our dead bodies and life euerlasting the Lord is iust and true in all his promises Oh what a comfort is this to poore distressed soules Doest thou mourne for sinne and desirest to feare thy God and walke in his wayes wel assure thy soule that whatsoeuer gracious promise hee hath made vnto thee in his Word it shall be performed Heauen and Earth shall passe but one iot or tittle of my Word shall not passe away but a◠euery iudgement and plague pronounced against sinne and sinners shal bee brought vpon them to destruction euen so euery gracious promise made to Gods Church and people shall bee performed to their eternall comfort and saluation and therefore let vs beleeue this and rest vpon it that the Lord will perform his Word in the mouths of his Prophets and Ministers Whatsoeuer yee bind on earth I will bind in heauen Mat. 16.19 and whatsoeuer yee loose on Earth I will loose in heauen And thy iudgements were as the light that goeth forth The equity of the iudgement IN these words the Lord shewes that they could not pretend ignorance of the will and Word of God for the Lord had taught them and declared vnto them manifestly and apparantly what hee would haue them to doe for by Iudgement in this place is meant the doctrine of God taught vnto them by his seruants the the Prophets q.d. my Doctrine in the mouthes of my seruants where I shewed and layde open before your eyes the way to lead holy liues and to serue mee it was cleare as the light as the Sunne-shine at Noone day when there is no cloud so as you haue now no excuse at all for yourselues but must needs acknowledge that my iudgements are now iustly inflicted vpon you and that you haue of malice with a hie hand and most rebellious heart sinned against mee So then you see what is heere meant by the iudgement of the Lord namely the cleare and manifest doctrine of God to direct vs in the way to life eternall Seeing the Lord doth heere professe vnto his people Doct. 6 that his Iudgements that is the Doctrine of God wherein hee would haue taught them how ro liue well and blessedly was cleare and manifest God neuer strikes with his iudgements before hee giues warning and that they could alleadge no excuse of ignorance Hence we learne that the Lord doth neuer strike with his iudgements but hee first giues warning so as if men would bee wise to beleeue his Word and to amend their liues they might auoyde his iudgements but if they will bee so rebellious and hard hearted that they will not amend they must needs acknowledge confesse that they are most worthy to bee plagued and punished This was Gods mercifull dealing towards the people of the old world vnto whom the Lord vouchsafed one hundred and twenty yeares to repent in before hee brought his iudgements vpon them besides all which time he vouchsafed vnto them Noah that Preacher of righteousnesse Gen 6.3 2. Pet. 2.5 warning them still of a iudgement to com to this end that they hearing from Noah what iudgement the Lord had intended against them if they repented not their condemnation might be so much the more heauy vpon them Thus dealt the Lord with those sinnefull Sodomites Gen. 19. vnto whom hee sent his seruant Lot Exod. 9. Whose righteous soule was vexed from day to day Thus dealt hee with Pharaoh and his people vnto whom hee sent Moses Aaron againe and againe and still againe to admonish him to let the people of Israel goe When this preuailed not he sent iudgement vpon iudgement and all to humble the hard heart of Pharaoh What shall wee say of Ahab and Iezabel vnto whom the Lord sent Elias such is the goodnesse of God towards the sonnes of men that hee will euer warne before hee strike and admonish before hee correct for so did the Lord deale with this people as in the former verse Oh Ephraim what shall I doe vnto thee Hos 11.8 Oh Iudah how shall I entreat thee Meaning thereby that the Lord had vsed many wayes and meanes to humble them if it might bee before he proceeded in iudgement against them This is most liuely set out vnto vs in the booke of the Prouerbs Pro. 1.20.21 where Salomon brings in Christ Iesus the wisdome of the Father sometime by his Ministers and sometimes by himselfe calling and crying vnto vs to heare his voyce and to receyue instruction and if this fayre meanes that the Lord shall vse will not serue to humble vs the Lord doth there threaten That the time shall come when wee shall cry and call vpon him and hee will not heare vs Yea hee will bee then so farre from pittying in the time of our distresse as that hee will then Laugh at our destruction and that because wee did not chuse the feare of the Lord. This was the mercifull dealing of God towards the Niniuites Ion. 3.4 vnto whom hee sent his Prophet Ionas to bring them home by repentance and thus dealt hee with Ierusalem Mat. 23.38 vsing all means possible to humble them before the iudgement came foorth For if God would reclaime vs by his Word hee would neuer take his Rodde But of this before And the reason of this Doctrine is cleare Reason because the Lord by this meanes will leaue the wicked and those that are reserued to destruction without all excuse for this doth the Apostle declare Act. 14.16.17 when he sayeth In times past hee suffered all the Gentiles to walke in their owne wayes Neuerthelesse he left not himselfe without witnesse in that hee did good and gaue them raine from heauen and fruitfull seasons filling their hearts with ioy and gladnesse Now if the giuing of them showers of raine the dew of Heauen bee vnto them the Lords witnesses and the Testimonies of his power Oh how much more thē is the word of God which is the sauor of life vnto those that beleeue Surely this warning that the wicked haue heere hence shall much more leaue them without excuse in the day of
the Lord. Seeing then the Lord is not easily drawne to the Vse 1 execution of iudgement before hee hath offered many meanes of repentance and reconciliation Oh let vs apply this Doctrine to our selues Let vs looke backe vnto our former times Let vs take notice of Gods mercifull dealing with vs Hath not the Lord warned vs by many meanes and proued vnto vs that there is a necessity imposed vpon vs that wee must needes Returne vnto him I appeale vnto thy conscience whosoeuer thou art that readest this Haue wee not beene told plainely of our sins that liuing in that course wee doe at this present we cannot be saued hath hee not againe warned vs of his iudgements by his Ministers wee know wee know euery one in the secret of his owne bosome that the Lord hath spoken vnto vs warning vs of iudgement but when this means would not serue to bring vs home to himselfe by repentance nor to returne vnto God Now the Lord hath met vs with iudgement euen this vnseasonable weather that makes the creature to mourne vnto vs to teach vs to mourne besides how many particular afflictions chasticements hath the Lord layd vpon vs in our bodies goods and good names wife children cattell and the like do not they al summon vs to repentance and cry aloud in our deafe eares that the Lord is at hand with his udgements Oh let vs bee warned betimes to seeke vnto him by repentance lest the Lord vsing all these meanes vnto vs to bumble vs and wee remaine rebellions and hard hearted still bee take occasion euen therehence to lay the heauier iudgement vpon vs. Let vs then acknowledge the Lord to bee a iust God that giues vs such warning and when his iudgements shall lye heauy vpon vs let vs not accuse the Lord of any hard dealing but rather accuse the hardnesse of our owne hearts which would not bee warned by his Word and Iudgements Dan. 9. Daniel confesseth that because the people would not beleeue the Lords Prophets and faithfull seruants therefore they were iustly plagued for their sinnes Let vs do the like and take heed that wee doe not neglect the checks of our owne conscience reprouing vs of our sinful waies for the time commeth apace and wee know not how soone when this conscience of ours the which now doth checke vs shall iudge vs and this heart of ours the which now doth reproue vs shall torment vs and that because wee haue wilfully neglected the meanes of our owne saluation when the Lord hath offered the same vnto vs. Vse 2 Secondly seeing the Lord doth vse so many means to humble vs and to bring vs home to himselfe by repentance wee are taught hence that if any doe perish in his sinnes hee must not impute the fault vnto God but vnto himselfe for the Lord may iustly say vnto vs as somtimes to the people of Israel Esay 5.4 What could I haue done more to my Vineyard that I haue not done so what should I haue done more to the soule of this sinner that I haue not done my Word my Iudgements my mercies the motions of my Spirit all these haue I vsed to humble them So that in all our plagues and iudgements in all our woes and miseries whether in this world or in the world to come the whole blame must light vpon our selues whose hearts are so hard that they will not repent from this fearefull iudgement or hardnesse of heart the Lord keepe vs all for his Christs sake VERSE 6. For I desire mercy and not sacrifice and the knowledge of God more then burnt offerings THe Lord hauing threatned this rebellious people by his iudgements manifested his anger for their sinnes disobedience especially because they would not bee reformed of their euill courses and bee humbled by his word Now the Lord doth preuent an obiection which this people might or did make The preuention of an obiection and takes away all colouâ— of excuse For thus they might say why should the Lord bee thus angry with vs and thus to chide vs to cry out vpon vs to threaten vs by his Prophets Doe wee not serue God doe we not kill our beasts to offer them in sacrifice to God Do wee not thus and thus but wee can neuer please him hee will neuer be content with vs let vs doe what wee can though wee offer neuer so many sacrifices and burnt offerings yet the Lord is alwayes chiding and finding fault with vs. To all this the Lord seemes here to answere I passe not for these outward Ceremonies and outward worship vnlesse you ioyn true faith and obedience to God and true loue and charity vnto men Duties of piety to God ioined with the true knowledge of God and true reformation of our hearts and liues together with iust honest and vpright dealing with men Hence then first of all wee may obserue what account Doct. 1 the Lord makes of Sacrifices and Burnt offerings that is of all the outward seruice of God God esteemes not of our outward seruice when it is not performed in faith and obedience the outward actions and ceremonies belonging to the same seuered from the knowledge of God true repentance and hearty obedience with loue and iust dealing with men hee professeth here that hee cares not for them hee hath no delight in them they stinke in his eyes are abominable vnto him What haue I to do sayth the Lord with the multitude of your sacrifices Esay 1.11.12 I am full of your burnt offerings of Rams and the farre of fed beasts I desire not the bloud of Bullocks nor of Lambes nor of Goates When yee come to appeare before mee who required this at your hands to tread in my Courts Where wee may see that although Almighty God commanded these sacrifices for a time as aydes and helpes vnto this people for the exercise of their faith to leade them to Christ yet because they offered them vp without faith or repentance God detested them and they were abomination vnto him This is cleared by the same Prophet in another place Esay 66.3 Hee that killeth a Bullocke is as if hee slew a man hee that sacrificeth a sheepe as if hee cut off a Dogges necke Hee that offereth oblation as if hee offered Swines bloud hee that remembreth incense as if hee blessed an Idoll yea they haue chosen their owne wayes and their soule delighteth in their abominations This people heere thought themselues holy by offering of their sacrifices though they performed them neyther in faith nor repentance therefore the Lord sheweth them in this place that hee doth no lesse detest these Ceremonies then hee doth the Sacrifices of the Heathen who offered men dogs and swine to their Idols which things were expresly forbidden in the Law Ier. 7 9. This is taught by the Prophet Ieremy where he sayth Will you steale murder commit adultery sweare falsly burne incense vnto Baal and
walke after other gods whom yee know not and come and stand before mee in this house c. Pro. 29.8 Ioh 9.31 Psa 50.17 The Prayers of the Wicked are an abhomination vnto the Lord. Againe If I regard wickednesse in my heart the Lord will not heare me So that what sacrifice soeuer wicked men offer vp vnto God as prayer thanksgiuing comming to the Sacrament all they doe is abhomination to the Lord when they stand vpon the outward Ceremony of Gods worship Mich. 6.6.7.8 and leaue vndone the duties of faith and repentance Wherewith shall I come before the Lord and bowe my selfe before the high God Shall I come before him with burnt offerings and come with Calues of a yeare old Will the Lord bee pleased with thousands of Rams or with ten thousand riuers of oyle shal I giue my first borne for my transgression euen the fruit of my body for the sinne of my soule Hee hath shewed thee O man what is good and what the Lord requireth of thee Surely to doe iustly and to loue mercy and to humble thy selfe and to walke with thy God Reade these places Marke here and see the state of an hypocrite they goe so farre with the child of God as that they aske how to please God and are content to offer sacrifice thinking thereby to auoyde Gods anger Ier. 6.19.20 Micha 6.8 Mat. 5.20 6.1.2.3 Amos. 5.21 but they will not bee brought to mortifie their sinnefull affections And therefore the Prophet enioyneth them in the eight verse to the obseruation of the second Table to performe the duties of loue of iustice and mercy In all which places the Lord shewes that hee hath no delight nor pleasure in these outward partes of his seruice when mens hearts remaine sinnefull and they seuer the same from the knowledge and obedience to his Word and from the dueties of loue and equity to men The reason of this Doctrine is cleare Reason The Lord will bee sanctified in all that come neare vnto him Numb 16. Hee is a holy God and all that will worship him must be holy and repent of their sinnes beleeue in Iesus Christ Besides this the Lord hath respect to the manner as to the matter of our sacrifices neyther is it inough to do a good thing as to offer sacrifice to pray to receiue the Sacraments to giue to the poore these bee good duties in themselues but they must bee done in a holy manner namely in faith repentance and true obedience vnto Gods commandements for otherwise The sacrifice of the wicked is abhomination to the Lord Cain and Abel performed both one action Pro. 15.8 yet God had no respect to Cain nor his sacrifice but to Abel hee had Peter preached the Word and prayed so did Iudas but the Lord hated all that Iudas did both his preaching and his praying The Scribes and Pharisies gaue much to the poore the poore Woman gaue but a little shee was approued they condemned So that we see it is not inough to doe a good thing or matter but wee must withall doe it in a good maner and to a good end namely Gods glory and the good of our neighbour as also in faith and obedience to Gods commandements with hearts humbled for sinnes past and hating sinne for the time to come Seeing the Lord esteemes no more of these outward things as Sacrifices oblations and burnt-offerings Vse 1 c. When as they bee seuered from true faith repentance and obedience Then let vs learne hence not to content our selues to come to Church to heare the Word to pray c. but especially let vs looke to our hearts to reforme them that wee may doe all in faith good conscience and obedience and ioyne with our duties of Piety to God loue to men else the Lord cares not for them Oh let not men then any longer blesse themselues in their fond deuotions as to think when they haue been at the Church haue heard the Word receiued the Sacrament prayed with the Congregation that therefore they haue pleased God as well as the best Alas all this they may do and yet as Salomon sayth Doe but offer the sacrifice of fooles which is abhomination to the Lord. Now what a lamentable thing were this that men should liue twenty thirty forty or more yeares in the Church of God and yet all this while doe nothing to please God this is the lamentable estate and condition of many of our ciuill honest men as we call them who want the knowledge of God and haue not repented of their sinnes so as they might performe these duties in faith repentance and obedience Secondly this condemnes the whole Lumpe and Vse 2 trash of Popery which stands indeed in nothing else but in a company of foolish Ceremonies and outward shewes inuented by man not warranted nor agreeable to the word of God as the abominable Sacrifice of the Masse Praier for the dead Inuocation of Saints worshipping of Images and a Thousand the like al which as they haue no footing nor warrant from the word of God being the cheefe part of their religion so they shall find that the Lord will neuer put vp this Sacriledge at their hands and that they haue in the middest of them all when they haue beene most deuoute in the performance of these things been so farre from pleasing God as that they haue rather stirred him vp to wrath against them Thirdly and lastly seeing those men that haue gone Vse 3 so farre as to offer sacrifice vnto the Lord according to Gods commandement haue notwithstanding beene cursed and miserable and euen by their sacrifices haue sinned highly and prouoked the Lord against them as wee see heere in this people Oh then how miserable and wretched must the estate of those men be that haue not yet proceeded so farre that are so farre from offering sacrifice vnto God themselues as that they despise those that doe or if that they do it themselues it proceedes from them but coldly and carelesly this people heere were very forward to performe the outward ceremonies of Gods worship but they neuer looked vnto the right manner of doing of them which made the same to bee abhomination vnto the Lord. Now if their fall shall bee so horrible and fearefull that build and that with the good Word of God doing those duties that God doth require as this people did though they fayled in the manner of doing of them how terrible must their iudgement needes be that are so farre from building as that they are rather pullers downe and came so farre euen behind these wicked Iewes themselues in the very shews of goodnes as that they rather go beyond thē in euery kind of grosse wickednesse If these men that made such shewes of godlinesse and piety were notwithstanding accursed because they wanted reformation of heart and life Oh what shall become of those that want euen outward ciuility it selfe whose liues rather
vaine incense is abhomination vnto mee I cannot suffer your new Moones nor Sabbathes nor solemne dayes it is iniquiry not solemne assemblies My soule hateth your New Moones and your appointed Feasts they are a burden to me I am weary to beare them Thus they came not short in any Ceremony of the law they were very strict in the obseruing of them but they looked after no other thing to examine themselues in what manner they came vnto them Againe Will yee steale murder Ier. 7 9. and commit adultery sweare falsly burne Incence vnto Baal walke after other gods whom yee know not and yet come stand before mee in my house Though they continued in most horrible and grieuous sinnes Mich. 6.6 yet so long as they came into Gods house and performed there the outward duties of his worship they thought all was well And again the Lord sayth of them thus This people draw neare vnto mee with their lips Esay 29.13 but their hearts are far from mee They did onely professe outwardly in hypocrisie and the Lord declares plainely that he regarded them not Againe in the Prophet Ieremies time the people there debate the matter with the Prophet and say Oh wee come to the Temple we pray wee offer sacrifice what would yee more Oh sayth the Prophet when yee liue in sinne this is but to make the Lords house a denne of theeues And by the Prophet Esay the Lord threatneth destruction to them that come vnto the seruice of God in hypocrisie and our Sauior Christ in diuers places doth threaten a woe to the Scribes and Pharisies because they did all in hypocrisie to bee seene of men and not of conscience towards God Well then wee see the Doctrine sufficiently cleared that it is the property of an hypocrite to content himselfe with the outward part of Gods worshippe Two sorts of hypocrites and neuer lookes after sincerity of heart within Now there are two sorts of Hypocrites the grosse Hypocrite and the close Hypocrite The first is hee that outwardly in words professeth the name of Christ and yet in heart and life vtterly denies him and these men are such as come to church heare the Word receiue the Sacrament and perform all outward actions of Gods worship and seruice as if they were true Christians but if you looke into their liues they are most vile and prophane The holy Apostle Saint Paul describes them thus They professe they know God Tit. 1.16 and yet by their works they deny him being disobedient and to euery good worke reprobate For they wil so professe Christ and the Gospell as still they wil liue in sinne in lying stealing drunkennesse whordome Three sorts of grosse hypocrites swearing couetousnesse pride or ignorance these be grosse hypocrites which will cry Lord Lord and yet their liues are vile and wicked And of these there are three sorts First the Atheist who professeth Christ in Word Atheists and yet in heart contemnes him these are they which for feare of the Law come to Church heare the Word and receiue the Sacrament of this sort are the greatest sort of our Church-Papists all contemners of the Word and the like professing Christ in shew but yet in heart they deny him contemne him make no account of God nor his Word but tread it vnder foot Secondly those which for feare and fashion sake professe Christ come to Church heare the Word Temporists receiue the Sacrament yet all for fashion and custome nothing for conscience sake and of these wee haue thousands amongst vs who performe all these duties for custome and fashion sake Oh let vs take heed that we doe not professe onely in outward shew but looke to our hearts that wee may doe all of conscience to please God in obedience to his commandements let vs not make it a matter of custome to come to heare the Word to receiue the Sacrament or for feare of the Law but of conscience towards God otherwise these things will turne one day to our greater condemnation And the third sort are the Epicures which make their pleasures sports and pastimes their God Epicures and will spend more houres in eating drinking sports and pleasures then in the seruice of God then hearing reading praying singing of Psalmes and holy meditaon all their profession of Christ is but in hypocrisie from the teeth outward the heart is not sound these mē may ptofesse Christ long inough come to church heare the Word and receiue the Sacrament yet so long as their heart is set so eagerly on the World on their profites and pleasures they doe but deceiue their owne soules Our Sauiour teacheth vs that men may come with open mouth Mat 7.21 and cry Lord Lord if they lead not holy liues and haue godlinesse and true obedience in their hearts they shall perish 2. Thes 1.7 It is not Lord Lord that will serue the turne but men must labour to know the Word and will of God and ioyne to their knowledge christian obedience Oh then in what a lamentable estate and condition Vse 1 bee most men and women seeing this is the common bane of our time that men and women content themselues with the outward naked profession of Christ onely to performe the outward parts of his worshippe and seruice though in heart they care not for him if they come to Church and here spend an houre for fashion sake or for feare of the Law they looke after no more though all the weeke after they contemne Christ and serue the Deuil the World and their own vncleane lusts and desires Oh let such men and women bee heere admonished that it will not serue their turne or goe for pay before God Oh let vs learne then to goe farther and in heart to beleeue in Christ and in our liues to obey him the people in Moses his time say Oh wee will doe all but what sayth the Lord Oh Deu. 5.27 that there were such an heart in them shewing indeed that they were but hypocrites they had Gods word Wee will doe all Wee will come to the Church we will heare the Word receyue the Sacrament and what yee will Here were goodly words golden speeches glorious promises but their hearts were naught Oh is not this our case wee haue goodly words wee can cry Lord Lord with open mouth What will yee more wee come to Church wee heare the Sermon wee receiue the Sacrament c. But tell me is thy heart sound is thy heart set vpon God doest thou hunger after Iesus Christ doest thou loue the Word of God aboue gold and siluer if thou find not this affection in thee thy heart is naught neyther canst thou bee saued vnlesse thou repent The second sort of hypocrites are the close ones Close hypocrites which make a goodly shew and a fayre outward profession of Christ yea haue sundry good gifts and common graces yet are but
hypocrites in the sight of God though not so discerned by men because of their gifts and outward shewes but are here taken for Christians members of Christs Church such men and women who make so glorious a shew and so professe Christ in outward manner that in the iudgement of men yea many times of themselues they be taken for Christians and members of the Church of God but yet in truth are not so And of this sort wee haue thousands that deceiue the world that haue the vizard of Christianity on their faces and hardly are discerned Now what gifts graces one of these hypocrites may haue and yet be damned M. Perkins on Mat. 7. v. 21. a most reuerend Diuine of our time hath most liuely discouered vnto whom I send the Reader We wil now conclude the Doctrine with these vses First of all to apply it to our selues hath this been Vse 2 the propertie of Hypocrites to stand vpon Ceremonies and the outward parts of Gods worship and seruice to offer sacrifices and to bee precise in obseruations traditions and inuentions of men and to neglect the inward worship of God neglect faith repentance obedience reformation of their hearts liues Alas then it stands vs in hand to looke to our owne soules to try our selues and to enter into our owne hearts and wee shall find that the most of vs be no better then this people all that wee ayme at in Gods seruice is it any more then this people did performe doe wee goe beyond them If men come to Church heare the Word and receiue the Sacrament now and then for fashion sake and abstain from grosse sinnes that the world cryes out on men then thinke they haue done all that God requires of them hee can desire no more at their hands is not this the common religion of most men and al the profession they make and thus farre they come and will goe no further which shews that most mens case is not so good as they take it to bee Esay 1.11 Ier. 7.12 thus farre this people came in this place yet all this while they bee ignorant soules without the true sauing knowledge of God vniust dealers filthy liuers vse no conscience in buying and selling couetous mercilesse proud malicious and giuen to reuenge Alas if this bee thy case thou maiest come to Church long inough heare the Word and receyue the Sacrament but thou art no better then an Hypocrite Mar. 6. Herod went thus farre Saul and Iudas might do all this but let vs if we would find comfort to our soules in the seruice and worship of God giue him our hearts My Sonne giue mee thy heart Let vs go beyond all the hypocrites in the World in true repentance Esay 13.29 hatred of sinne in reformation of our hearts and liues in an earnest study and endeuour to please God and to walke in his wayes in doing the duties of the first Table to God and of the second Table to men Vse 3 Againe seeing that Hypocrites may attaine vnto many singular gifts and graces and yet perish in the end Let vs know that we had need to take heed and suspect our selues that wee come not to performe these holy duties in hypocrisie but in truth of heart let vs call our selues to a reckoning suspect our faith repentance and obedience for feare wee deceiue our selues yea as Paul sayth 1 Cor. 13.5 Proue your selues whether ye bee in the faith for an Hypocrite and one that shall finally perish and bee danmed may goe farre with the child of God in outward profession and haue many common gifts and graces Onely the doers of the Word shall bee instified and therefore our Sauiour opposeth these two sorts Sayers and Doers If a man had a seruant which shewed great dutifulnesse to his Master in word and yet would neuer doe that hee bids him or cleane contrary to his mind would any man thinke he were a good seruant Euen so fareth it with many amongst vs If God will be content with our faire words and promises hee shal haue ynnow but deeds he shal haue none Oh let vs at last bee warned and let vs labour to bee found doers of Gods will and not to content ourselues with a bare and naked profession for this will little auaile vs in the day of Gods searching account Marke here this wicked people they grew so secure Doct. 4 and carelesse that they did not onely content themselues with the outward seruice and worship of God Wicked men make religion a cloake for sinne but withal they would make it a cloake of all their sinnes the euils and corruptions not onely towards men but towards God for they thought that so long as they offered sacrifice to God and came into the temple and brought their beasts and made some shew that God was beholden vnto them and that hee could not bee angry with them Thus they made the seruice and worship of God a cloake of al their euils and a couert of al their vile and enormous dealing as blindnes ignorance cruelty oppression couetousnesse pride malice c. so as if the Prophets of God did reproue them they were ready to tell them Oh Sir you see I hope we bring our offerings sacrifices and oblations and come dayly to the Temple and though wee bee somewhat ignorant wee hope so long as wee meane well and doe this wee hope God will beare with vs wee shall doe well inough Ie. 7.11.12 Mat. 6. So did the people in the time of the Prophet Ieremie and the Scribes and Pharisies in the time of our Sauiour Christ Vse And is not this the common sinne of most men in these dayes doe not men and women vnder the shew of religion and colour of profession of the Gospell go about to cloake their hypocrisie their couetousnesse pride malice enuie and other sinnes yes doubtlesse they make their outward shew and profession of Religion a cloake of all their abhominable sinnes thinke so long as they come to Church and bee no enemies of Religion doe not persecute the Ministers and Professors Ier. 7.13 they thinke God will not call them to account for their couetousnesse pride enuy murder ignorance drunkennesse vnconscionable dealing c. And what is this but to make the house of God a denne of theeues a company of Atheists and prophane beasts Oh then let vs beware of this and take heed how wee abuse our holy profession take heed that we make not religion and the outward seruice and worship of God a cloake of sinne to boulster vs vp in euill to face out our impieties and abhominations If a man should get the Kings cloath or a Noblemans cloath and so should vnder the colour of that rob defraud and oppresse poore men and doe it vnder pretence of his masters cloath how would his master bee angry turn him out of his seruice plucke his cloath ouer his eares Euen so
And those which once were enlightned and afterwards haue fallen away their end is most miserable according to that of the Apostle If they after they haue escaped from the filthinesse of the world 2. Pet. 2.20 c. are yet tangled againe therein and ouercome the latter end is worse with them then the beginning And this doth the Lord most iustlie bring to passe vpon manie because they contemne grace quenching the blessed motions of the spirit of God in them that whē they haue some good motions in them and godlie purposes of heart to cleaue vnto the Lord they haue not striuen with the Lord by praier for the encrease thereof but careleslie haue put out that light that began to shine in their hearts Oh let vs learne euen from their fearefull estate and condition to make much of the least seed of godlinesse sowne in our hearts and labour by all godlie meanes to worke the increase of grace in vs If wee haue tasted how gracious the Lord is Secondlie seeing this is our Nature to bee so vnconstant Vse 2 especially in Gods matters that wee are so easilie drawne to shake off the yoake of obedience and so ready to fall into sin and to breake the commandements of God This must teach vs all a lesson of humilitie not to presume too much of our owne strength for wee are like a staffe in a mans hand if he take away his hand it wil down one way or other it cannot stand of it selfe Euen so fareth it with vs al if the Lord take away his hand Mat. 26. Alas wee shall then shew that wee are but weake and fraile men It was Peters sinne that hee presumed too much of his owne strength he thought himselfe so strong that he would neuer haue denied Christ but being left to himselfe hee fell most fouly and if Christ had not layde to his hand hee had fallen euen into the gulfe of hell It is the Deuils policie to make vs ouerweene our selues and to presume of that that God wot is not in vs and all to bring vs to confusion for Sathan knoweth well that man is neuer nearer to destruction then when his heart is puffed vp with a vaine conceit of his owne worth according to that of Salomon Pro. 16.18 Pride goeth before destruction and a high mind before the fall And hence is that warning giuen by the Apostle Let him that thinketh hee standeth take heed least he fall God hath not hired vs to labour in his Vineyard for an houre or two neyther giueth vs liberty to depart out of his seruice when wee will but we must perseuere and hold out euen vntill the Euening of our dayes and wee must dedicate to him both soule and bodie both our life and death both the beginning and end Oh then let euery soule lay hold of this betimes and learn hence that seeing God alone is hee that must hold vs vp and support vs that wee lay hold on the sweete mercy of God in Christ Iesus and come boldly before the throne of his grace aad not rashly presume too much vpon our owne strength and worthinesse but rather rely vpon him and seeke earnestly vnto him by prayer that hee would support vs and beare vs vp in his Armes that wee run not vpon ground make shipwracke of faith and a good conscience ere wee bee aware for we are very weake and verie vnconstant of our selues easily drawne away from our obedience to our God verie apt to sin if the Lord doe but a little leaue vs to our selues Thirdly seeing wee are thus weake by nature and so easilie drawn to sin against our God and to breake Vse 5 our couenant of obedience to his Word that wee can stand no longer then he holds vs vp As this should greatly humble vs and break down our pride conceitednesse so it should stirre vs vp to earnest prayer night and day vnto our God that hee would neuer leaue vs vnto our selues that hee would not withdraw his fauourable presence from vs and to leaue vs vnto our selues for alas then we shal quickly marre all and cleane fall from God and rush headlong into all sinne and wickednesse for this is the nature of mankind wee are all lyers Truce-breakers and Couenant breakers with our God ready vpon euery occasion to fall into sinne euery man by nature is lighter then vanity most vnconstant in keeping our promises vnto God Let vs then intreat the Lord that hee would knit our hearts vnto him that wee might not starte aside Psal 119.8 Psal 51. and with Dauid pray O stablish mee with thy free spirit that I may not moue through my owne weaknesse from thee my God Euen there haue yee trespassed against mee HEre the Lord meets with these hypocrites telling them wherein they sinned namely in that they did most glory and most rely vpon Wherein they sinned their sacrifices outward worship of God wherein they did most glorie and boast themselues in as a thing most like to please God Euen in this they had fayled and transgressed and departed from Gods ordinances For he did giue and prescribe vnto them these Ceremonies and Sacrifices not as any part of Gods worship and seruice that could please him of themselues but onely as helps of their weaknesse and types and figures to lead them to Iesus Christ the true propitiatory sacrifice the onlie Lambe of God that takes away the sinnes of the world This was the very end of all those Sacrifices that God appointed them to offer not that they could please God of themselues but that they might be the meanes to bring them to true repentance for when they should see their beast slaine and their bloud shed it might admonish them of their bloudie sinnes and that they stood in need of the bloud of Christ for the pardon of them This was the Lords Couenant but they broke this and euen in these sacrifices the which they so gloried in Euen there haue yee trespassed against mee saith the Lord euen there they failed and abused Gods ordinances and whereas they should haue beene helps to haue led them to true repentance and faith in Christ Iesus they now thought nothing lesse then of repentance and of Iesus Christ but perswaded themselues that so long as they did offer their beasts all was well and the Lord was pleased with them they had done inough to satisfie Gods anger for their sins Thus they corrupted the true and onely vse of sacrifices which were not to satisfie Gods anger for sinne but onely to bring them to repentance and to lead them to Christ Iesus Now wee come to the Doctrine Doct. 3 Hence mark a notable point of doctrine namely that that which is most excellent in the sight of Hypocrites and carnall men That which is most excellent in the sight of an hypocrite is most abhominable in the sight of God the same is most abhominable in the sight of
to this people but herein they sought only their own gain though it were with the bloud of the people Secondly because as theeues are cruell and mercilesse so these Priests they were exceeding cruell and vsed great tyranny not onely by poysoning their soules by false doctrine but if any did make conscience of the true seruice of God they did cry out vpon him as an heretieke worthy to bee punished That this was the behauiour of these Priests wee may reade at large in the Propesie of Amos Amos 7.12 where wee may see how Amaziah sent to Ieroboam and makes a large complaint of Amos as though the land were not able to beare his words and yet hee spake no more then the Lord bade him and hee is straightly commaunded to flie into Iuda and prophesie there but to come no more at Bethel For it is the Kings chappel and the Kings Court. Hence then let vs obserue that seeing the Prophet here compares these Priests which deceiued the people and did not instruct them to theeues and Doct. 1 murderers What wee are to iudge of those which hauing taken vpon them the care of soules Ministers that teach not at all or else teach erronious doctrine no better then Theeues and Murderers Ezech. 3.17 1. Sam. 9.9 Esay 58.1 Pro 9.4 Exech 47. 2. Pet. 1.13 1. Cor. 3. Luke 12.24 Mat. 23.24 1. Pet. 5.1 yet eyther teach them not at all or else teach them false and erronious doctrine The Spirit of God doth call them here Theeues and Murderers Their names in the Scripture doth teach their duties They are called Watchmen And thou Sonne of man I haue made thee a Watchman They are called Seers Trumpeters Maidens and the like And their Successors in the New Testament are called not onely the Eyes yea The Light of the body but Remembrancers Husbandmen Stewards Leaders Elders Salt Starres Angels Shepheards and the like All which names doe import vnto vs that their calling requires labour and industry for wherefore are they called Watchmen but to admonish and to giue warning it is their duty so to doe Seers but to foretell Trumpeters but to sound Maydens but to keepe pure the Word of God and the Doctrine of Life Remembrancers to put in mind Husbandmen to prepare the ground of mens hearts and to sow the seed of Gods Word Stewards to distribute to euery man his portion in due season Leaders to goe before their people in life and Doctrine Elders to gouerne Salt to season Stars to shine and Angels to declare Oh thus their very names doth put them in mind of their duty but when men do take vpon them this holy Calling to Feed the flocke of Christ depending vpon them and they feed themselues and not their Flocke The Lord doth esteeme of them no better then theeues and murderers And looke what charge Ahab had concerning Benhadab the selfe same hath euery Minister concerning euery Soule committed vnto him 1. Reg. 20.39 Io. 10. Keepe this man if hee bee lost want that is by thy default Thy Life shall goe for his life And our Sauiour speaking of such Hyrelings as regard nothing but their gaine not the peoples good hee cals them Theeues Robbers all false Prophets all idle Ministers all carelesse Pastors the Lord doth esteeme of them but as Murderers of soules which is the greatest Which being so then let euery Minister stirre vp his watchfulnesse and care and though the faithfull discharge of his duty cannot but purchase him the malice of many yet let euery faithfull Minister bee content to make exchange of such friends for the fauour of God that so hee may not be found in the day of Gods searching account to bee a Murderer of their soules Vse 1 Well this should admonish all that haue charge of Soules to looke about them to regard the soules of Gods people to instruct them and to teach them to take heed they bee not guilty of their bloud for if thy people perish for want of thy helpe Oh thou shalt answere for them Now of all Murderers Soule-murderers bee in a wofull case It is a dangerous thing to murder the body but it is a thousand times worse to murder the Soule for looke how much more excellent the soule is then the body so much the more dangerous is the murdering of the soule then the body Excellent is that exhortation of the Apostle Peter 1. Pet. 5.23 Feede the Flocke of God which dependeth on you caring for it not by constraine but willingly not for filthy lucre but of a ready mind not as though yee were Lords ouer Gods Heritage but that yee may bee ensamples to the Flocke And when that chiefe shepheard shall appeare yee shall receiue an incorruptible Crowne of glory If wee doe not thus labour but loyter in the Lords Vineyard wee cannot assure our selues to bee the Ministers of the Lord but with these Priests and Leuites here Robbers and spoilers nay Murderers and Manslayers making a prey of the peoples soules and expose them as a prey for Sathan And what wil the Lord put vp this sinne at the hand of such men surely no for when that great Shepheard shall appeare they shall then beare the burthen not onely of their owne sinnes but of the sinnes of the people that belonged vnto their charge and their bloud shall bee layde to their charge This should admonish all those which haue charge Vse 2 of soules to looke about them to regard the soules of Gods people 2. Tim. 4.1.2 to Preach the Word is season and out of season for if we bee thus diligent the greatest labour shall haue the greatest reward Dan. 12.3 They that turne many to righteousnesse shall shine as the starres for euer and euer Those the which imployed so their Masters goods as that they gained by the same were accounted faithful seruants the ioy of their Master was their portion whereas those that were loyterers that would doe nothing but bury their Talents vtter darknesse was their inheritance Oh that all that are called to this holy calling would lay this to heart the greater paines the greater comfort and howsoeuer wee may bee discouraged in that wee see so little fruit to follow our labours 1. Cor. 15. Yet our labour shall not bee in vaine in the Lord for the faithfulnesse of a godly Minister in the discharge of his place shall bee his comfort in life his comfort in death and his euerlasting ioy and reioycing after death And howsoeuer God doth not touch the hearts of our hearers at one time he may at another times and seasons are in his hands Let vs vse the meanes to sow vnto them spirituall things and commit the successe of our labours vnto God seeing Paul planteth 1. Cor. 3.6.7 Apollo watereth but it is God that giueth the encrease Thirdly and lastly wee see what a heauy iudgement of God it is to haue such set ouer a people as be
the Apostle confesseth in his prayer Why did the Gentiles rage and the people imagine vaine things Ps 2 1. Act. 4.25.26.27 Mat. 26.66 The Kings of the earth assembled and the Rulers came together against the Lord and against his Christ For doubtlesse against thy holy Sonne Iesus whom thou hast annointed both Herod and Pontius Pilate with the Gentiles and people of Israel gathered themselues together In the daies of Ahab did not all the men of Israel euen the Elders and Gouernours thereof the Nobles and others assembled themselues together and pronounced death against innocent Nabaoth for his Vineyard sake the which hee had before denied vnto Ahab surely the Scriptures are full of examples to confirme the truth of this point vnto vs. Reason Now this thing so comes to passe in the wicked because as our Sauiour sayth No man can gather grapes of thornes or figges of thistles they themselues being euill can they performe that is good Surely as Saint Iames sayth Out of one fountaine cannot come sweet water and bitter Besides this our knowledge is but in part now ignorance is the mother of error Vse 1 The Doctrine being thus cleared as a certaine truth that Councels may erre in matters of Faith and Manners this may serue in the first place to conuince the Doctrine of the Papists which teach and maintaine that their Church cannot erre nor a Councell being the representatiue Church as though the Spirit of God were at their commandement and were tyed to places and persons or being present did lead them into all truth as it did the Apostles but what did not foure hundred false Prophets aduise Ahab to that which was contrary to the Will of God I but sayth the Iesuite they were not assembled by the High Priest but onely by the King But what say yee then to that Councell that was assembled by the High Priest and haue erred most fouly In Iohn we haue mention made there of a Councell that met together Io. 9.22 Mar. 14.64 and decreed to excommunicate all that professed Christ Iesus Tell mee did not they erre And therefore it is but a vaine thing of the Papists to say and affirme that the Spirit of God is tyed to the Church of Rome and that shee cannot erre but there was neuer so famous a Church since the Apostles time but haue erred in some thing or other in Doctrine of Faith or Manners and therefore Rome hath no such a priuiledge as shee pretends to haue but hath and doth erre most fouly yea as blinde guides leading poore blind soules shall at last without Repentance fall into the pitte of destruction together Vse 2 Seeing that the wicked plot and combine themselues against the Church Wee are taught here our duety namely to bee solicitors and remembrancers vnto God in the behalfe of his Church that it would please him to bee mercifull to his Church and to bee vnto them a Tower of defence And surely now is the time that wee are to ply the Lord with prayers because wee see his enemies to increase dayly the malicious and bloudy Papists whose Religion as it is a Religion of bloud so is their practice the practise of bloud Yee shall know them by their fruites a Religion to be abhorred of euery true Christian being the Nurserie of Treasons Gun-powder Treason and the Mother of all abhominations yet wee see how the number of them increase dayly and wee cannot but for euer remember their horrible Treasons pretended against the Lord and against his Church and Gods mercy to vs in our Deliuerance Well it cannot bee that they will bee quiet long their good Maister the Deuill or his deare Child the Pope will haue some imployment for them They cannot but go whom the Deuill driues Oh let it bee our wisedome to intreat the Lord to stand still by his Church and to giue vnto all Christian Princes the Spirit of zeale and of courage to rise vp against Antichrist and his followers that so they may the better assure themselues of their owne peace both with God and themselues for sure it is the more strict a Papist the more grounded Traytor Thirdly and lastly wee may hence obserue Vse 3 the difference betweene the Elect and the Reprobate The wicked doe not onely thinke euill and deuise mischiefe but they doe most eagerly practise the same Now come to the Child of God hee hath in him indeed wicked thoughts and sinnefull desires yet so as they doe bridle them curbbe them and restraine them and not suffer them to come into action they sinne not with greedinesse as the wicked doe who are neuer well till they are eyther deuising mischiefe or working iniquity Oh then let vs take heed that wee commit not sinne with delight and greedinesse for sure it is this is a note of a gracelesse heart and no better indeed then a brand of a Reprobate VERSE 10. I haue seene villany in the house of Israel there is the whoredome of Ephraim Israel is defiled THe Prophet now comes to the common people and doth accuse them of villany and vile Idolatry against God I haue seene villany in the house of Israel there is the whoredome of Ephraim Israel is defiled First for the coherence of this verse with the former When as the Lord had accused the Priests before to bee wicked and exceeding bad men And now comes to the common people and layes open their sinnes to bee like vnto the Priests ful of abhominable and vile Idolatry Wee learne hence that if the Priests be naught Doct. 1 if they bee vile and filthy persons Children of Belial it is not possible the people should be as they ought to bee for Like Priest like people As the Minister is so is the people This is clearely to bee seene in this place the Priests were like to theeues and murderers and the people were monstrous blinde and abhominable Idolaters So hath it beene in all ages Pro. 29.18 The words of Salomon are most true Where vision failes there the people decay It is the Decree of God touching Priest and people Mal. 2.7 The Priests lippes shall preserue knowledge and the people shall heare the Law at his mouth Now then when this Priest is ignorant blind and vaine Alas in what wofull estate must this people needs bee in the Prophet Micha doth declare Mich. 3.11.12 saying The Priests teach for hire And the Prophets prophesie for money yet will they leane vpon the Lord and say Is not the Lord amongst vs no euill can come vpon vs. This was the behauiour of the Priests in those dayes their hearts were so set vpon Couetousnesse that they spake pleasant things vnto the people and layde to please them more then God But what followed they by this drew the iudgements of God not onely vpon their owne heads but also vpon the heads of the people Therefore shall Sion for your sakes bee plowed as a Field and Ierusalem
when it was to the erecting of Idolatry he could no sooner aske for them but he had them This is clearely to bee seene by that of our Prophet Hosea where hee shewes how bountifull the people were in bestowing their Corne and Wine Hos 2.8 and Oyle together with their gold and siluer vpon Baal They thought nothing good inough that was giuen that way Now this is no strange thing Gen. 6.5 considering that All the imaginations of the thoughts of our hearts are onelie euill and that Continually Reason So that whensoeuer wee are about to commit sinne especially to set vp Idolatry Wee haue the whole streame and current of our hearts and nature with vs and indeed wee are neuer exercised in things naturall vnto vs till wee haue our hand in some plotte against GOD himselfe Vse 1 Well seeing wee are so apt by nature to set vp Idolatry and superstition It stands vs all in hand to be acquainted with the vilenesse of our Nature herein as also what the Lord esteemes of Popery and superstition namely Villany and Whoredome no better and therfore howsoeuer the Papists stand vpon their good meaning and their honest dealing yet they worship the Deuil and not God as Moses tels the Israelites that they offered not to God as they intended but vnto Deuils euen the Idols of Canaan Euen so the Papists though they brag of their good intents and meanings the truth is they offer not to God but to the Deuill neyther doe they worshippe God but the Deuill and therefore wee must take heed that wee neuer take liking to Popery though the same seem neuer so pleasing to flesh and bloud For all men are naturallie most inclinable vnto that which is euill And therefore most men being so prone vnto Popery what can bee concluded but this but that it is an euiil and a damnable Religion Oh then let vs labour to bee rooted and grounded in the truth of God to be builded vpon the rocke Iesus Christ that wee may neuer put out the hand to entertaine or to receyue any dregges of Popery and Idolatry but euen remember what Christ sayeth Reu. 18.4 Come out of her my people least yee partake of her plagues Oh let vs euer stand out against their abhominable Idolatry as no better then villany and whoredome in Gods sight Secondly seeing wee are so apt by Nature Vse 2 to receyue Idolatry and Superstition and to embrace Poperie it may bee a very good reason vnto vs to prooue that all the Religion of the Papists is most wicked and abhominable because it agrees so fitte to the corrupt heart and Nature of man for since Adams fall our Nature being corrupted wee hate GOD and hate his Truth Now touching the Religion of the Papists there is nothing in it but that which Nature it selfe doth desire Let vs instant the same by one thing for all What seemeth more against Nature practised by them then their Whippings and Scourgings and that of themselues This wee may thinke to bee against Nature But yet if wee examine the end of this punishment as rhe same is inflicted vpon them it will appeare otherwise that Nature it selfe may in some sort desire the same for that man that shall bee taught and assured Note that when hee hath committed some great and grieuous sinne as Adultery Theft Drunkennesse or the like that after such a punishment inflicted once vpon him his sinne shall bee done away and neuer after layde to his charge Who would not vndergoe such a punishment better in reason vndergoe that for a time then the guilt of an accusing conscience For as Salomon sayth A man may beare his sicknesse and infirmity but a wounded conscience who can beare And therefore seeing that by Nature wee loue Popery and Idolatry and that there is in the same nothing contrary to Nature this proues that it is not the Religion of God but the deuice of wicked men for what can delight our corrupt nature more then to see a Crucifixe the picture of Christ on the Crosse To pray to Saints Angels the Virgine Mary c. all this is very agreeable to the corrupt Nature of man and therefore cannot bee good Last of all wee may here behold the nature of Doct. 2 sinne it is like the plague easily conuayed from one to another Sinne is very fruitfull easily scattered and spread abroad as wee see a naughty and a stinking Weede it is easily spread and will runne abroad so will Idolatrie and of all other sinne that is like vnto the Lappewing it will runne as soone as it is hatcht and as a man that liues in the house with them that haue the plague is in exceeding danger to bee infected so is it with them that liue in Idolatrous places all to nothing they will bee infected The Istaelites when they came into Canaan the Lord suffering a small remnant of the Cananites to remaine still in the land for the tryall of the Israelites it is sayd Psa 81. They were mingled amongst them and learned their works It is the nature of sinne to bee euer encroaching giue it an ynch and it will take an elle It is like the Gangren or Canker it fretteth and eateth further and further as here Idolatry was onely to bee found in Israel and not in Iudah but it quickly set footing there and spred it selfe in a short time ouer all Iudah Wheresoeuer it findeth entertainement it enlargeth and spreadeth it selfe Psal 26.4 Bidde sinne home to thy house once and like a bolde and shamelesse Guest Psal 15.4 â— it will come the second time vninuited How carefull then ought euery man to be to shun and auoyd the company of Idolaters and al other wicked men Pro. 9.6 It is the graue counsell of Salomon Forsake the wicked and you shall liue Yea the Apostle labouring to confirme his new Conuerts amongst many other his Exhortations hee vrgeth this Saue your selues from this froward Generation Act. 1.40 So then wee see how dangerous it is for men and women to bee present in places of Idolatry Vse to liue and conuerse with Idolaters it is very like they shal hardly escape from being tainted with Superstition For herein the Papists haue the aduantage against vs If they perswade and intice they haue our Nature to helpe them And as wee vse to say the Wife in the bosome is the best Sollicitor But let vs deale with men eyther to perswade or disswade wee haue both Sunne Moone and Starres against vs neyther Reason nor Nature will take our part till the Spirit of God doth strike the stroke to perswade the heart of man But Oh say some this is too much nicenesse Obiect I hope wee are not so weake nor so simple but we can chuse the best and leaue the worst bee present at the Masse and yet keepe our hearts to God Conuerse with Papists and Idolaters Answere and yet bee Christians still But what haue you so good a conceit of your selues you doe thereby giue mee iust occasion to haue an ill perswasion of you that indeede yee care not much what Religion yee are of therefore they that can bee present at the Masse and thinke they are so strong that they cannot bee taynted such men doe no better then tempt God Euen so for those that make choyse to dwell in houses knowne to bee infected with Popery they shal easily bee carried away with the streame of Poperie When Iudah conuersed with Israel they were quickly poysoned with their Idolatry Then let vs take heed how wee conuerse with the wicked and like of their Company for we shall soone bee infected with their sinnes but rather shunne and auoyde their Company as noysome and hurtfull The Father of all mercy and God of all Consolation strengthen vs with his grace and keepe vs in his holy feare vnto the End Amen Gratias tibi Domine Iesu FINIS
forwardnes in you in sanctifying the Sabbath and hearing the word diligently since which time who doth not perceiue a decay of zeale a decay of hearing in a great many of this congregation that will scarce now vouchsafe God your presence in the assembly of his people once a month The full soule sayth Salomon loatheth the honey combe Reu 3.14 I feare you are full euen of spirituall pride with the Church of Laodicea Well bee warned betimes lest your footings that you haue taken so oft in your bowling Allyes surmount your steps into Gods house and so the Lord lay this sinne of ingratitude to your charge that hee should offer vnto you such gracious oportunities and ye should so carelesly neglect the same Vse 2 Secondly this condemnes the common repentance of most men and women that it is not sound nor sincere because though they condemne sinne know it to be sinne yet they neuer proceede so farre as to leaue and forsake it Mar. 6. Herod could not bee brought to leaue his Incest Demas made a fayre shew for a while but by and by left all fell into loue with the world so many men will for a brunt serue God and seeme very forward both to heare the Word read pray c. yet the strength of their owne corruptions and the loue of the World steales away their hearts so as it comes to nothing but sure it is that the grace of God when it hath taken possession in a mans soule it will throughly purge the same though not altogether from sinne for the Flesh will euer rebell against the Spirite yet from the power of sinne so as that man that is truely sanctified shall not from henceforth become a seruant vnto sinne for a purpose to continue in sin and the grace of God cannot abide both in one Soule but of this before And thus much of the Complaint the Iudgement followeth VERSE 5. Therefore haue I cut downe by the Prophets I haue slaine them by the words of my mouth and thy iudgements were as the light that goeth foorth HAuing heard of their sinue now wee are to speake of their punishment which the Lord inflicted vpon them for the same namely fearefull destruction and vtter ouerthrow In speaking of their punishment we are hence to obserue foure things Parts of the Text. First the Author of it I that is the Lord himselfe Secondly the greatnesse of it Cut downe and slaine them Thirdly the Instruments the Lord vseth My Prophets my word Fourthly the equity of it namely that the Lord made his iudgements as cleare as the noone day vnto them so as they could not plead ignorance or want of knowledge Therefore haue I cut downe Therefore that is because I haue on my part done what I can to reclaim you and bring you to some good passe but you refused and hardned your hearts and contemned my words for then the cause of Gods iudgements is their rebellion against the meanes and their contempt of the Word of God and preaching of his Prophets Doct. 1 Then hence wee learne what a grieuous sinne it is to contemne the meanes of saluation To contemn the meanes of saluation is a grieuous sinne and neuer goes vnpunished Gen. 7.10.11.12 to contemne the Gospell of Christ Iesus it neuer goes vnpunished When Noah had preached repentance to the people of the old World for the space of one hundred and twenty yeares together and the people had despised the same what followed in the end but a fearefull destruction euen a generall Deluge which swept them all away When Lot spake to his sonnes in Law which married his daughters and warned them to escape out of Sodom for the iudgements of God were at hand to bee layde vpon that City The Text sayth Gen. 19.14 that Hee seemed to his Sonnes in Law as though hee had mocked but what followed did not they perish with those sinnefull Sodomites And Iob makes this one of the marks of a reprobate They say vnto God Depart from vs Iob. 21.14 for wee desire not the knowledge of thy wayes not that there are any so desperately wicked as to vse such speeches against the Lord but the meaning is that men declare so much by their liues they liue in open contempt of the gracious meanes of their saluation whatsoeuer they pretended in words their deeds declared that they cared not to bee acquainted with Gods will To the same purpose is that complaint in the Psalme My people would not heare my voyce and Israel would none of mee Psal 81.11.12 The Lord had often spoken to that people by his seruants the Prophets but they regarded them not much like to our people in these times but what followed the Lord would neuer put vp this great ingratitude at their hands but sayth in the verse following Ver. 12.1.1 So I gaue them vp vnto the hardnes of their owne hearts and they walked in their owne councels And this is further cleared by that speech of Almighty God by his Prophet Ieremy where hee sayth Ier. 7.13 I rose vp earely and spake vnto you but when I spake yee would not heare me neyther when I called would ye answere Behold here the desperate estate and condition of this people that notwithstanding God had dealt so graciously with them from time to time to offer vnto them so many gracious oportunities of their saluation following them as it were at the heeles with the same sometimes by his Word sometimes by his mercies sometimes by his iudgements yet they neglected them al they contemned thē al. But afterward the Lord made good the words of his seruants he brought his iudgements vpon them and their Temple Verse 14. in the which they seemed so much to trust vppon the Lord made it as Shilo and as the same Prophet complaineth in another place That the wayes of Sion lamented Lam. 1.4 because no man came to their solemne feasts all her gates are desolate the Priests sigh c. It was not their outward priviledges that would now stand them in stead that they were the posterity of Abraham that they had amongst them the Arke of Gods couenant the Mercy seat Psal 132.14 the Temple of the Lord and that the Lord had appointed that for his rest for euer Seeing they contemned his Prophets Ier. 6.10 delighted not in Gods voyce but tooke pleasure in vnrighteousnesse And this is that our Sauiour layes to the charge of the people of Ierusalem Mat. 23.37 How often would I haue gathered you together and yee would not Behold now your habitation is loft desolate Mat. 11.21 Yea our Sauiour Christ tels them of Capernaum that it shall bee easier for the land of Sodom in the day of iudgement then for them so then we may safely conclude this doctrine with that speech of the Apostle 2. Thes 2.10.11.12 Because they receiue not the loue of the truth that they