the daughter of Sion not her Seruant but her Soueraigne her King the King of Kings comes vnto her meeke And is it not then a miserable consideration a wretched spectacle to see a proud man and an humble God an angry impatient and a mercilesse man and yet a God of Loue and long-suffering I looke to Heauen and thence I finde descending the Sauiour of the World 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is his description in Heor 1.3 the brightnesse of his Fathers Glory and the expresse image of his person in shape not onely of a man but of a Seruant Hee that commands legions of Angels and whose attendants they were in the wildernesse and proud of the office to serue him as his cookes butlers And shall not this example worke on mee that am but dust and wormes and keepe mee from insulting ouer inferiours who though my seruants and my meanest Hines and drudges are yet respecting him our Lord and Father both my fellow-seruants and my fellow-brethren Obserue the prouocations to this vertue Hee scornes the scorner resists the proud but giues grace to the humble The Meeke he will guide in iudgement in his iudgement hee will teach them his way Psal 25. when he shares the world he tels vs the Meeke shall inherit the Earth and delight themselues in aboundance of peace Psal 39.7 which he ratifieth in his blessing Math. 5.5 But this is earthly blessing is it not heauenly in things so Heare him in his Prophet * Isa 61.1 The Spirit of the Lord God is vpon mee because the Lord hath anointed mee to preach good tydings and we know what that meanes to whom to the Meeke His first comming was for the Meeke in the same Prophet Esa 11.4 and to meete againe with the text when God shall visite when this Sonne of God shall stand vp to ludge and to cast all proud and barbarous and cruell dispositions into Hell So he will then lift vp the Meeke and neuer leaue these polisht iewels till he hath inset them in Heauenly Glory For the Lord takes pleasure in his people and will beautifie the Meeke with saluation Psal 149.4 And therefore who is a wise man saith Saint Iames Ia. 3.13 let him shew out of a good coÌ„uersation his workes in meekenesse of wisedome for such is Heauenly Wisedome at vers 17. first pure then peaceable gentle easie to bee intreated full of mercie c. If we preach it must be in Loue and the spirit of Meekenesse 1. Cor. 4. vlt. If you heare receiue with Meekenesse the Word Iam. 1.21 If wee will both Preacher and Hearers walke worthy our vocation it must bee with all lowlinesse and Meekenesse c. Ephe. 4.2 For as if in this one grace all the rest were lock'd and infoulded so doth the Apostles speake there and reckoning vp the seuerall gifts of the spirit in Gal. 5. They seeme all to be but Meekenesse diuersified to seuerall names To end I beseech you brethren by the Meekenesse and gentlenesse of Christ be yee clothed with humilitie and vpon that reason which is here in my text God visits for rigour he resists the proud but giues grace to the humble 1. Pet. 5.5 Furthermore if crueltie exclude from Paradise and disable from standing in the day of visitation Vse this for terrour against all the terrible Ones vpon earth all exalted and cruell oppressours They must heare of the wrath of this superuisor in Heauen who sees them from thence and from thence they shall in that day see him come to visite for this sinne Though they can ouersoare and escape all power on Earth yet see what a day the Lord threatens to make in Amos 8. and ioyne to that the prophesie of Esa 10.1.2.3 c. Ierem. 6.6 c. Lastly extend this for Consolation Regum timendorum in proprios greges saith hee the highest power on Earth can stretch but to their Vassalls but ouer Princes themselues in his prerogatiue and dominion that here stands vp in my Text and of whom Salomon saith hee is higher then they In the cause and quarrell of Christ Iesus then we must then put on the resolution of those three valiant Children The God whom we serue is able to deliuer vs Dan. 3. but if not we will not disobey his command for any countermand on Earth And in this all those poore Saints of God that groane vnder the Turkish yoke or Spanish inquisition all those poope tennants and seruants that liue rackt and opprest and ground to powder vnder the mercilesse and rigorous Lords and Masters must aduance the eye of their soules with comfort to the comming of this great and glorious Iudge and Lord of Heauen for that day of his visitation shall be also the day of their full redemption My third application is to foure sorts of visitours First you that are authorized ouer vs you see God will discharge his office doe you set God euer before you his example and his feare and first learne his first visitation in mercy in kindenesse to vs your brethren to doe vs good 'T is God we confesse appoints degrees of Superiority and excellence in all Orders of Angels in Heauen in the Skie greater lesser lights Lower still Eagles and Flies Cedars and Shrubs among the very Stones the brightest tincture giuen to the Ruby clearest light to the Diamond But by comparing parts of the body the Apostle prooues the head cannot want the foote among vs specially of the clergy no proud insulting for the rule holds on this side the water too that the Capuchin and Cordelier the poorer part of this Tribe vphold the dignity of Priesthood ballancing with the pompe of some superiour prelates Secondly doe you visite as God ad correctionem and not hold it a vertue laxare disciplinam Remember the worlds intertaining Mahumetisme is ascribed to three causes Pâ—â—tis Arrianae Manichaes furores and the third d sciplina laxata But wherein doe we neede your inspection in both our learning and our life First see to our insufficiency ignorance what silly things suffered not onely to reade but clothing their fancies with pretext of the Spirit to preach too and then the maine way of teaching in many places yet vnpractis'd and that is Catechising Alas what is it to enrich the peoples cares for an howre who if they sleepe not gape and praise the Sermon as they like the tune saith Ezekiel as they doe a Loue-song Eze. 33.32 Then are you ouer mens liues too ouer the Layety to curbe their woluish and fox like shifts and cousenage in the Lords portion but chiefly in that sinne whereto my text appoints you in Gods stead for whore mongers and adulterers God will Iudge he will visite does it dayly and will then doe it dreadfully In the meane time are you his Deputies Delegates Commissioners What though the scornefull fooles as Salomon cals them make a mocke of this sinne a sport and pursue it as an art and trade Yet you know it is
and euery one for himselfe no atturneyes no proxies Thinke too thinke of our distance shall I speake to the Lord that am but dust and ashes what words shall I chuse saith he Iob 9.15 Alas all thought of answere then will bee in vaine for besides that we are not able to answere him one thing of a thousand that day is his day his day of wrath the time of mercy is ouer past irreuocably past his day of doome is come 't is come to sentence and therefore what shall we doe why while we haue time put in our answere yet the Chancery and Court of Requests is open Now is the accepted time now is the day of Saluation My text is future yet he shall come he shall visite Here is a latitude for repentance yet hee expects calls for our answere and we know to what we haue his Bill his Articles Interrogatories that is his Law written and engrauen in our hearts we must now frame and put in our answere what is it Repentance first for so may that of the Apostle be vnderstood in Eph. 6. where he enioines the Christian souldier to haue his feete shod with the preparation of the Gospell of peace I know some take that preparation of the Gospell for a readinesse to preach the Gospell which should they belong alone to vs Ministers others for a promptnesse in profession others euangelicall obedience and some take it to bee patience and not vnlikely But may it not also endure this meaning of Repentance too considering it is made the first step in the way of life and so the first entrance into the field against Satan by Iohn first the day starre who rose before the Sunne and came to prepare they way how Repent c. And our Sauiour in the same minde vpon the same text Repent for the kingdome of Heauen is at hand Sad sighes and prayers and teares make vp the first part of Repentance and make vp so the sacrifice of a broken and contrite heart which God will not despise And hast thou thus Is the rocke clouen come drops of warme blood in anguish from thy heart break there flouds of bitter weping from thine eies This is a faire piece of an answere Such teares haue a voice that reaches Heauen and not from Dauid onely The Lord hath heard the voice of my weeping but from Manasses too a fearefull Sinner Because thou hast wept before mee I haue heard it 'T is musicke to the Almighties selfe and raises a ioy in Heauen Can the Prodigall that had wasted all his stocke of grace say but Father I haue sinned See before he can come to say so God he meetes him on the way and receiues him to mercy But this answere hath a second part Take heede least your hearts bee hardned by sinnes deceitfulnesse It is a Circe and a Syren wee must stop our eares and resolue to bee deafe to all her charmes charme shee neuer so wisely neuer so worldly wisely giuing not a faint and cold but a peremptory and small answere with the Psalmist Away from me for I will keepe the Commandements of my God Will keepe them I that is I haue sworne and am stedfastly purposed This is the meaning of the Apostle Tit. 3. The grace of God hath appeared teaching Vs what Our answere and how that by denying vngodlinesse and worldly lusts The best answere is a flat denyall a round refusall like our head Christ Iesus who being tempted had his answere readie And this is our first answere in a full Repentance made vp of griefe and Resolution 2. A second answere is Obedience our workes for words will not carry it Not euery one that saith Lord Lord And some answeres we reade of shall not serue the turne Some will answere Lord thou hast preach'd in our streetes and we haue preach'd in thy Name Tell not mee of preaching saith our Sauiour vnlesse your lifes haue preacht too Away from me you workers of iniquitie God will haue this answere complexioned of piety and honesty when these are married they are crown'd with the grace and blessing of God A number deceiue themselues as the Iewes when they cry Corbun once as the Papists cracke of Ecclesia catholica Romana so these conclude all lies in beeing professours zealous magnifying themselues and despising others But what were the Pharisees by Christs owne testimony religious and yet wicked People may draw neere with their lips and their hearts farre enough off If thou hast faith faith Saint Iames let vs see it Let your light shine how why in action shine or else to bare profession our Sauiour threats a round and proportionall answere At that day I will professe to you I know you not Obiection But will the weake soule say May I trust to these answeres May I first trust to my Repentance I feele indeede the weight of sinne and finding the offence of an infinite Iustice I am horribly afraid deiected like Dauid when hee ask'd his sad soule why art thou so heauy I am so so wounded pierced strucke thorow and my heart rebounds into my eyes I weepe and I crie mightily for mercy but can I helpe it Is not sinne a Serpent a Sea a Fire a Poyson was I not stung by this Serpent drown'd in this Sea miserably schorcht by this fire enuenomed in the whole masse of my nature with this corruption before I was borne And since alas I haue added to this Ocean put fewell to this fire helpt to infixe this sting and worke into my heart the contagion and then am I able to resolue against sinne to deny vngodlinesse to reiect the tempter to giue my Iusts their finall answere I finde indeede naturall men morall men when they will compound an happy man put in this as one ingredient responsare cupidinibus sibi imperiosus enabling him to checke and controule to Commaund and subdue rebellious passions by the dictates of rectified reason And their seuerall answeres to diuerse corrupt affections are enough to shame me and all that professe themselues christians But were they able to keepe their owne rules or am I able What to hate sinne so as I ought with a perfect hatred I flie some enormous vices for feare of Lawes But tolle periclûm iam vaga prosiliet c. and though I know there is death in the pot the wages of sinne is no better though I pull the fruite and taste it and prooue it to be naught but gall and bitternesse nay barrennesse and shame Yet such is my madnesse to pursue a new shame and seeke death in the errour of life falling like a birde or a beast Nay no bird no beast would so oft fall into the same snare same pit into the same sinne whereof I haue againe and againe repented me What then shall I doe Shall I rely on my second answere and trust in my owne righteousnesse Some bold men dare doe so and dare teach others so dare boast a stocke and
Iohn the Baptist rough austere they crie he hath a Deuill or if enlarged in freedome of conuersation like our Sauiour away with him a glutton and a winebibber a friend of publicans and sinners So that the ground of the quarrell rests not in being thus or thus affected or qualified or endowed but they hate vs for our very calling But what answere haue we I could tell you one a harsh one of the Cynicall Phylosopher who being demaunded how it happened that the great and wealthy people affected rather to bee liberall in rewarding fooles and players and iesters and beggers then men of his profession answered for that they might perchance haue some hope of proouing such themselues but no hope of turning schollers This was bitter But we haue learn'd a better of the Apostle I passe not to be iudged by you and a better yet of a better master Let not your hearts be troubled they called our master Belzebub and shall I not drinke of the cup which my father giues me saith he so shall wee not drinke the potion which our Lord hath begun to vs which by tasting first hee hath sweetned for vs. Is the Disciple greater so is hee daintier then his Master Were wee like the Apostles persecuted whipt imprison'd that consideration would make vs march on in all these difficulties and like hardy souldiers non gementes sequi imperatorem But rather reioycing that we were counted worthy to suffer any thing for his Name sake and if it came to death wee know our answere Christ is to mee life and death is to mee aduantage But I forget my selfe for I am bound to a further port to that which is appointed after death for after that to iudgement When God shall visite c. Of this finall iudgement the text informes vs two things It shall be and it shall be most dreadfull therefore needes debating and casting for our answere first it shall be hee will visite Euen the heathen had an apprehension an expectance of such a day a time quo mare quo tellus correptáque regia coeli ardeat mundi moles operosa laboret All this frame vnling'd vnpin'd and burnt and the new-discouered world haue discouered his too though who discouered it to them is hard to determine But I speake to Christians who as fully as wee beleeue God in Heauen beleeue from thence he shall come to iudge the quicke and the dead But where when what where I know not about Mount Oliuet and they thinke they argue it fairely and probably from what we finde in the prophet of the valley of Iehosophat Ioel 3.2 and that of the Angels This Iesus which is taken vp from you into Heauen shall so come againe as you haue seene him goe into Heauen Act. 1.11 Howeuer that sure we are of this his elect by his Angels from the foure windes from one end of Heauen to the other shall bee gathered into one place Math. 24 3◠When tell vs when shall these things be you know who ask'd that question and you know our Sauiours answere Take heede that no man deceiue you and when wicked mockers ask'd it the Apostle sets no day he durst not he could not Iob was resolued in the article hee shall stand the last vpon earth Iob 19. but no time limited The prophecie father'd on Elias tells vs of 2000. yeeres inane 2000. Lex 2000. dies Messiae and then the conflagration But our Sauiour controuls all ouer-rules all of that day and houre knowes no man nor angell nor the Sonne himselfe Onely by maine signes accomplished by the Apostles calling those the last dayes then what may wee imagine now if but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 then a tantillum then That span of time is now contracted to an inch and he that shall come will come and will not tarry But what what will hee come for hee will come to Visite such a session visitation as none before it No Star chamber no high Commission no Parliament barre no councell table no inquisition so formidable Why who comes the circuit The LORD the LORD chiefe Iustice Iudge of all the World wise incorrupt with power and great glory with such a traine all his Saints all his Holy Angels and this is that day the day the great day of his wrath Zeph. 1. Of his wrath who is a consuming fire and will come so in flaming fire to render vengeance with strange effects the Sunne obscur'd the Moone lost Starres fallen Powers of Heauen shaken the Heauens themselues passing away with a noyse Elements melting with feruent heate Earth and all her workes burnt vp 2. Pet. 3. with the great sound of a Trumpet which euen the dead shall heare Graues shall fling open their marble doores and Seas vomite vp millions of drowned carcases Hell it selfe shaking thereat and yet all this passing in a moment in a twinckling falling on the world as a snare stealing as a thiefe rowling as the flood confounding like lightning from the East Then for strictnesse in this Iudges proceeding as for reward first wherein mens lawes are lame and defectiue ther 's a Kingdome his owne thy Masters ioy the same Throne Reu. 3. and then the puritie of that blisse which Angels enioying adore and last the eternitie in Psal 16. at thy right hand are pleasures for euermore So contrary those foure conditions of hell torments for variety the most greatnesse insufferable for purity vnmixt with least allay of comfort or hope of mitigation and for continuance euerlasting Is it not high time to debate and answere and thither we are come Consider this you that forget God that is you that would forget him that would dampe out your owne light you that say in your hearts that is you that wish in your hearts there were none what will you do what answer him He hath answered me already that you shall not be able to answer him not able to stand when he stands vp in iudgement for the mouth of all wickednesse shall be stopp'd your answer may be a vaine cry to the hils and rockes to fall and couer you from the presence of that Iudge But I preach not I hope to Atheists desperates But when Saint Peter faith the Righteous shall scarse be saued doth hee not enforce a necessity of debating Had we a triall in law or debts on Interest wee would fall to reckoning This is more the title of our soules and eternall Saluation is at triall a debt doubted and redoubled in sinnes of youth of age of ignorance of presumption and are our purses nearer then our soules But is there no auoyding None not for the yong men that are least touched with remorse he will bring thee to iudgement Eccles 11. wee must all appeare There are wayes and those wayes are troden too many goe those wayes to elude the temporall iudgement of men But in Rom. 14.12 it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 euery one must account
respecting a mans selfe vnhallowing of Gods Temple a dismembring the body of Christ respecting others and defiling of the most holy and solemne couenant on Earth a keruing asunder those whom God hath ioyn'd and therefore stands the Commandement forbidding it betwixt Theft and Murder Lastly respecting the Land it is a fire as Iob speakes here at Ver. 12. deuouring foundations and hurling the flame round about it And are not they who haue power of coercion if they doe it not as so many spreaders of this fire as so many bawds and pandars if for bribes they wilfully palliate or winke at this disorder or looke vpon it through a false and colour'd medium And if euer there was cause to cry loud and lift vp the Trumpets voyce to waken both you and the whole state is it not now when like Egypt plagu'd with Frogges the Land euen stinkes of this corruption and had we no other infection enough to bring some fearefull curse vpon vs all But are our liues so cleare they neede no visiting neede none from you no Is not a debaucht and drunken minister within your powre Drunkennesse a crime hatefull in the lay but hideous in the cleargie man a sin in them but sacriledge in vs And are not you to visite for these things and vindicate our mother from this staine But when when shall we see a great and rich adulterer performe the open penance of the Church Or when shall I heare an Arch-deacon a Commissarie a Chancellour or a Bishop rather for that 's the title of God here an Ouer-seer rattle and fright some of these swolne and putrid offall of the Leuites these hatefull roaring drunkards in the midst of the assemblie of their brethern Remember God in his visitation on Sodome saith he will goe downe and see whether so or no So should you stay to inquire and not make the Visitation as the Countrey calls it in scorne a busie taking onely or passing ouer vs like a vision rather then a Visitation But who should helpe it how can there any thing be reformed without presentment this concernes a second sort of Visitors Church-wardens And what saith your bill my Masters Some poore Rascall will not pay his leuie or the p per hath got a bastard but how many hath your Land-lord gotten Alas Sir we are poore people and it would be our vndoing to m ddle with such But what your Minister they say is a lewd Tosse-pot a very drunken Sot O no! Omnia benè a good Fellow a little giuen to company keeping thus the best of you are content to mince it or some perhaps readie to defend him and reason why they keepe the Ale-house and he 's the prime guest if it were not for him they might knocke downe the signe Blessed be God I am perswaded you know not manie such as I describe but yet I fear'd there be some still within the compasse of these markes And dare not you present them Nay dare you present any thing Shall men in office Visitours Wardens nay Watchmen sworne thus play with their oaths What a wretched thing is it thus to feare men and despise God That great Lord Warden of his Church who when he shall visite you for this periurie what will you answere him A third sort of Visitours are our selues Seers call'd in the old Testament and Ouer-seers in the new Acts 20. all Bishops Phil. 1.1 Let vs then learne to discharge it first by heeding and visiting our owne hearts reflecting on and examining our owne soules whither the God in our Bookes in our Sermons be such in our secret brests and whether we heare or feele our selues rather when wee preach or whether our preaching run not through vs like a wooden Spowt like the old riddle of Through the wood neuer touch it neuer touch neuer affect the heart And then ore looke our learning and striue to mend our nets giuing our selues as Tully saith recoquendos till wee become workemen that need not be asham'd diuiding the word aright able to exhort and conuince soundly Tit. 1.3 for this is Ars artium regimen animarum which to performe as commonly 't is done flatteringly or lazily and perfunctorily is both easie and acceptable but it is too most miserable and damnable And then ore-see our liues and those exempt and defend from basenesse but specially that odious sinne which goes too much in blacke drunkennesse The way to make the Seer ouerseene to lose the eyes of his minde to drowne his holy vnction in drinke and suffocate the Spirit of grace he must be apt to teach saith the Apostle and addes not giuen to wine 1. Tim. 3.2 and againe be not drunke with wine but fil'd with the spirit as if the first would emptie vs of the second Briefly see to your charge whereof the holy Ghost hath made you ouerseers 'T is an high trust God makes me ouerseer of his will that will wherein he hath bequeathed so many golden Legacies and shall I not discharge this trust and reueale the whole Will of God What though the people complaine not the Court takes no very strickt bond of vs will not God require it Sonne of man I will require their blood at thy hand and the Apostle therefore pronounc'd himselfe free from the blood of all men because he had disclosd the whole counsell of God Thinke of the Apostles and Pastors gone before vs Speake and testifie you glorious companie of Apostles in heauen and you goodly fellowship of antient Prophets is there a roome in your royall armie for that cowardly or lazie souldier that betraies or preuaricates the cause of his Lord and Sauiour and respects not the precious soules of his people Thinke on the Deuill what a carefull Visitor how he goes about like a Lion roaring after his prey compassing the earth and his agents and factors those mountebanke Iesuits that creepe into houses and leade captiue our silly women boasting of their conquests and victories and triumphs and are in danger of being dull'd by assisting at so frequent conuersions Which though I take for a braue lie of the shaueling yet let vs learne sedulitie from these our professed aduersaries Last of all if nothing else let the reward aduance our industrie When the great Bishop of our soules who now cries Pasces oues and vrges vs be instant in season c. will in due season visit vs and if he come and finde vs so doing as he commands we know the blessing by heare say now but shall feele and taste it then and because we cannot comprehend it we shall then be comprehended of it We are not able to conceiue it now it cannot enter into vs but we shall enter into it then Well done good and faithfull seruant Enter into thy Masters ioy To conclude all We all are Visitors as men and as Christians to looke to our bodies estates else worse then infidels to visit God in his holy Temple to meet him often and grow familiar with him in his Word Sacraments in our Prayers to doe these things while the doores of his Temple are open and the Gospell offer'd lest there come a famine or a darkenesse seize vpon vs and then to visit men the Saints and Seruants of God and not those that are rich onely for they haue many friends many visitants too too many euen to a wearinesse tota salatatrix turba peregerit orbem like walking ghosts tormenting whom they visit but God would haue his poore members regarded Papists will tell you of pilgrimages and trauailing to shrines but not the dead images but these liuing images are in Gods Care and if we care for his finall doome at that last and most dreadfull day of his great visitation wee must visit them when poore and naked and sicke and in prison or else be visited then for our not visiting now Goe ye cursed into euerlasting fire But if we doe our dutie in this hospitall below wee shall bee chear'd and refresh'd with him and them in his dining Roome in his palace of heauen aboue with a Come ye blessed of my Father c. The last application of the Text is in our Prayers to God O Lord our great and gracious Visitor c. FINIS