Gods reuealed will the onely rule of righteousnes 2. Cor 3.18 1. Cor. 15.49 and that from one degree vnto another vntill at the last hee hath Gods image repayred and restored in as ample and better manner then euer it was at the first Psal 17.15 Eph. 5.27 to the prayse and glory of Gods rich grace VVHen on the contrary a wicked man is such an one A description of a wicked man Ephes 2.1 1. Tim. 5 6. Eph. 4.18 2. Tim. 2.26 Eph. 2.3 1. Cor. 2.14 Phil. 2.13 Prou. 15.8 Esa 26.10 as beeing the cursed off-spring of rebellious Adam is by Gods eternall and iust appointment left in that damnable estate who beeing dead in sinnes and trespasses that is to say hauing his minde darkened his will captiuated his affections disordered is not able to vnderstand will or doe any thing pleasing vnto God in the whole course of his life yea notwithstanding all the meanes God vseth and fauour he sheweth to reclayme him there is none effectuall vnto him he will not learne righteousnesse but dayly walke in the willfull breach of Gods righteous Lawe waxing worse and worse and treasuring vnto himselfe wrath against the day of wrath 2. Tim. 3.13 Rom. 2.5 â— and reuelation of the righteous iudgment of God FIrst if wee now make a suruay of the face of the world 1. Vse wee shall finde the wicked swarme and gather together in great multitudes but for men qualified according to our description of the righteous man the number will be very small so that we may haue iust cause to obserue and bewaile the paucitie and fewnesse of those that are truly righteous God in the old world found onely Noah that righteous man and a preacher of righteousnesse 2. Pet. 2.5 Gen. 7.1 Thee haue I found righteous before mee in this generation In Sodom and Gomorrha there was not found ten righteons men though they might haue saued the whole Cities from perdition Gen. 18. Onely Lot is deliuered that righteous man that dwelt amongst them who seeing and hearing 2. Pet. 2.7 vexed his righteous soule from day to day with their vnlawfull deedes Iob 1.8 In Iobs time there was none like to him in the earth Yea it is the continuall complaint of the Prophets and Apostles Psal 12.1 Esay 57.1 Mich. 7.2 Rom. 9. that few are found walking in Gods righteous Law And shall we that are fallen into the dregges of time looke to sinde a greater plentie though wee search the world with lights But what shall we say or doe when wee finde such scarcitie and want of righteousnesse on the earth We must pray that righteousnes may looke downe from heauen Psal 85.11 Psal 4.1 Let vs desire the God of our righteousnesse to array the Church his Bride with fine linnen cleane and white the fine linnen is the righteousnesse of the Saints Reuel 19.8 In particular let vs put vp our suites in the behalfe of our English nation Prou. 14.34 that righteousnesse may exalt it and that sinne may not be a reproach vnto it In speciall manner for the Kings most excellent Maiestie Prou. 16.12 25.5 Psal 7â— 1 that his Royall throne may still bee established through righteousnesse Giue thy iudgements oh Lord vnto the King and thy righteousnesse vnto the Kings Sonne Let vs not forget the Illustrious Prince and Princesse Palatine with their hopefull issue but pray that God would blesse him in all his iust designes that his righteousnes may be brought forth as the light Psal 37.6 and his iudgement as the noone day Let all in authoritie vnder his Maiestie in Church and Common-wealth be compassed about with righteousnesse Let the Magistrates put on righteousnesse as a Robe and a Diademe Iob 30.14 Psal 132 9. and let thy Priests bee cloathed endue thy Ministers with righteousnesse yea let vs pray that euery priuate man may haue on him the brestplate of righteousnesse Eph. 6.14 that we may offer daily the sacrifice of righteousnesse Psal 4.5 putting our trust in the Lord Oh Lord leade euery one of vs by thy Spirit in the pathes of righteousnes vntil thou commest to iudge the world in righteousnesse Psal 9.8 Act. 17.31 2. Pet. 3.13 making a new heauen and a new earth wherein shall dwell righteousnesse Amen and Amen Vse 2 Secondly vpon our survay wee exclude from all comfort of this doctrine the greatest part of the world which are openly prophane and grossely wicked That hold the truth in vnrighteousnesse Rom. 1.18 whose lust is there law who haue no feare of God before their eyes Psal 36.1 c. as yee may reade euery where in the booke of God Against such the wrath of God is reuealed from heauen 1. Cor. 6.9 Verse 10. Know yee not that the vnrighteous shall not inherite the Kingdome of God Be not deceiued neither fornicators nor idolaters nor adulterers nor effeminate nor abusers of themselues with mankinde nor theeues nor couetous nor drunkards nor reuilers nor extortioners shall inherite the Kingdome of God And is this all their punishment this is punishment enough It is a hell to be out of heauen yet it were happie for them if they might escape with the depriuation of heauen but they shall be turned into hell Psal 9.17 the place prepared of old for the diuell and his angels Mat. 25.41 It was principally ordained for the diuell and his angels but wicked men sinning doe as it were encroach vpon the diuels right It is iust with God since wicked men will sinne like the diuell that they be punished with the diuell But oh thou liuing man while their is life in thy bodie there is hope of thy soule if thou wilt turne vnto the Lord he will receiue thee into fauour as I liue saith the Lord I haue no pleasure in the death of the wicked Ezech. 33.11 but that hee should turne from his way and liue Turne yee turne ye from your euill waies for why will ye die ye house of Israel Discite iustitiam moniti non temnere diuos Learne in time before the gate of Gods mercy be shut to breake off thy sinnes by righteousnesse and thine iniquities by shewing mercie to the poore Dan. 4.27 by a holy restitution of wrongs by the daily practise of repentance if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquilitie both in this life and in the life to come Let my counsell bee acceptable vnto thee doe not sell thy selfe to worke wickednes and gaine nothing but a roome in hell 1. King 21.25 in Tophet ordained of old Yea for the King it is prepared saith the Prophet he hath made it deepe and large Esay 30.33 the pile thereof is fire and much wood the breath of the Lord like a streame of brimstone doth kindle it Vse 3 Thirdly by this description we also vncase the hypocrite and ciuill man Luk. 18.9 Prou. 30.12 who haue
onely the outward shew and conceit of righteousnesse without the inward sound solide and substantiall change in heart and life Math. 23.27 28. Woe vnto you Scribes and Pharises Hypocrites for you are like vnto painted Sepulchres which indeed appeare beautifull outward but are within full of dead mens bones and of all vncleannesse euen so ye also appeare righteous vnto men but within are full of hypocrisie and iniquitie Therefore let me say vnto you as our Sauiour said vnto his hearers Except your righteousnesse exceede the righteousnesse of the Scribes and Pharisies Math. 5.20 ye cannot enter into the kingdome of heauen Ye see in what damnable estate you are in ye are in no better case then notorious sinners nay I feare in worse There are most woes denounced against such Math. 23. The hypocrite is hatefull to God and man Fained sanctity is accounted double iniquitie and when God threatneth to punish extreamely hee will giue them their portion with hypocrites Mat. 24.51 Vse 4 Fourthly wee hence enforce a double exhortation 1. That euery one of vs would goe out of our selues First exhortation Rom. 13.14 Matth. 22.11 and get into the true fountaine of righteousnesse Put on the Lord Iesus Christ Put him on as a rich robe of righteousnesse the onely wedding garment of our soule Let vs not content our selues with a dreame figment and vaine shadow of righteousnesse but labour with S. Paul to be found in him not hauing our owne righteousnesse which is of the Law but that which is through the faith of Christ Phil. 3.9 the righteousnes which is of God by faith If we be not found in him cloathed with his righteousnesse we shal be cloathed with perpetuall shame Let not the enemies of Gods grace the Papists perswade vs to weaue the spiders webbe of our owne workes Act. 13.10 Esay 39.5 They shall not become garments neither shall they couer themselues with their workes saith the Prophet Indeede if we presume to bring before God our workes they will bee in his sight but workes of iniquitie Verse 6. as in the same place Yea Beloued in the Lord Knowing that a man is not iustified by the workes of the Lawe Gal. 2.16 but by the faith of Iesus Christ let vs freely confesse In the Lord we haue our righteousnes and strength Esa 45.24 If God should enter into iudgement with vs no man liuing could be iustified Psal 143.2 Doth not Saint Iames labour to make men see 1. Obiect Iam. 2.24 that by workes a man is iustified and not by faith onely And yet S. Paul from good premises concludes That a man is iustified by faith without the deeds of the Law Rom. 3.28 Doe these Master builders and maine pillars of the Church differ and disagree in this fundamentall point of our saluation Answ The seeming iarres and oppositions found in Scripture may be easily reconciled if we plow with Gods Heifer S. Iames speaketh of iustification before men and so he maketh workes to iustifie Declaratiuè declaring who are to be accounted righteous in the Court of Sanctification and by this meanes the Apostle layeth the idle emptie verball professour vpon his backe who onely braggeth of faith not hauing the fruits thereof but remaine a dead and fruitlesse tree ready to bee cut downe and cast into the fire But Saint Paul speaketh of iustifying before God and so he maketh the poore hand of faith to iustifie Apprehensiuè apprehending Math. 3.10 applying and appropriating the righteousnesse of Christ vnto the sinner Rom. 4.5 by which the sinner may with boldnes appeare before Gods tribunall in the Court of iustification and by this meanes the Apostle beateth downe the proud conceited Pharisaicall Iusticiary that dares obtrude and thrust vpon God his owne good workes good intents and good meanings Yea this shall bee found an infallible truth that Christ came not to call such righteous but sinners to repentance Math. 9.13 The poore Publican that humbly confesseth his sinnes and desireth Gods mercy in the merits of Christ Luk. 18.14 is the man that goeth away iustified rather then the other Obiect 2 Doth not Dauid say Iudge me oh Lord according to my righteousnesse Psal 7.8 Ans I answer by distinguishing of righteousnes there is a double righteousnes one of the person another of the cause Dauid there would haue God to iudge him according to the goodnesse or righteousnes of his cause therefore if thou lookest euer to come to heauen cast away thine owne righteousnes as dung and drosse For as the Israelites did not possesse the land of Canaan for their righteousnes Deut. 9.4.5 6. Tit. 3.5 so thinke not thou to climbe vp to heauen by thine own workes and merits Let me deale plainely bee not so sortish to thinke of deseruing at Gods hands by thy workes of legall righteousnes considering what thou maist reade in Job against this conceit Iob 22.3 35.7 Is it any pleasure to the almighty that thou art righteous or is it gaine to him that thou makest thy wayes perfect If thou be righteous what giuest thou him or what receiueth hee of thine hand When we haue done all things commanded vs of God let vs say in truth and humility wee are vnprofitable seruants Obiect 3 Are not we enemies to good works by this doctrine Doe we not hinder well doing May not men say what vse haue we of good works when you so strictly preach faith onely Ans No we call as feruently and frequently for good workes as any Papist in the world and vpon farre better grounds and will any wise man say We are enemies to Noblemen if wee saye that Noblemen must not bee Kings Is there not other good vse in the state for Noblemen though they be not Kings and sit vpon the Regall throne So are there not other good vses of good workes though they be not admitted to be Causae regnandi and put in the top of Iustification May they not be Viae ad Regnum Eph. 2.10 wayes that God haue appointed vs to walke in Is it nothing that our heauenly Father is glorified by good workes Mat. 5.16 Gal. 6.10 2. Pet. 1.10 And that our brethren are many wayes bettered by them and that wee our selues are by the same assured of our effectuall calling and eternal election And know further that wee doe not so strictly call for faith onely but that we require works Iam. 2.18 the fruites of faith to iustifie and testifie the life and truth of the same faith Gal. 5.6 yea although faith other graces and workes be together in a Christian yet they doe not iustifie together they concurre not in the act of Iustification But as the cares and eyes are together in a man and the eyes onely see and as light and heate are together in the fire and the heat onely warmeth So faith loue and workes are in a true Christian but
he was rich 2. Cor. 8.9 yet for our sakes became poore Hee was poore in his birth life and death Luk. 2.7 His birth was not allowed a fit roome in a common Inne In his life the foxes and foules Luk. 9.58 had a more certaine dwelling At his death he had not a graue of his owne to be buried in Ioh. 29.42 Ergo they must in some proportion drinke of Christs cup of pouertie The Disciple is not aboue his Master Luk. 6.40 2. That he may put a difference between the time of our nonage and the time of possessing our inheritance Gal. 4.1 that wee may sensibly discerne the time of our soiourning here 1. Pet. 1.17 Act. 3.21 from the times of the restitution of all things God will not let vs finde a heauen vpon earth Math. 17.4 and so dreame It is good for vs to be here 3. Being Pilgrimes and Trauellers in their present condition Heb. 11.13 it is not meete they should bee cumbred and loden with too much thicke clay God will allow vs a light staffe to ease vs in our way but not a heauie burden to hinder our progresse 4. That the wicked may haue occasion to doe good that their mouthes may be stopped and they not able to say but that there was some little ones in estate to doe good vnto Mat. â—5 45 Mark 14.7 Deu. 15.11 according to that Ye haue the poore with you alwaies and whensoeuer ye will ye may doe them good 5. That he may exercise his speciall graces in their hearts In infortu nus vnâ—â—s â—â—â—cet as Faith Patience Hope Humilitie c. Faith for if they should haue riches in abundance they would goe neere to trust in them 〈…〉 in dead vncertaine riches and not in the liuing God and therefore God often keepeth backe greatnesse that himselfe might be our chiefest trust and stay Patience God brought Iob to a little Iob 1. that hee might inure his patience in very truth God by this dealing will trie how willingly we submit and subscribe to his prouident allowance Hope He will haue vs hope for a plenty else-where 1. Cor. 15.19 If in this life onely we haue hope we are of all men most miserable Humilitie because riches doe eleuate and lift vp the heart God by the Prophet telleth the Prince of Tyrus Thou hast encreased thy riches Ezech. 28.5 and thy heart is lifted vp because of thy riches Obiect He was a heathen and a wicked man but Gods children are of a better mould frame and disposition Answ Nay in this point God is iealous of his owne people that are in speciall couenant with him He bids them Take heede that when they haue eaten and are ful and haue built goodly houses c. Deut. 8.14 that their heart be not lifted vp and they forget God which brought them forth of the land of Egypt from the house of bondage Omnibus nobis vt res dant sese ita humiles aut elati sumus Terent. in Hecyra For the most part as the purse filleth the heart swelleth The heathen Poet could say as much According to our outward estate wee are either proud or humble It is pitie faire weather should doe hurt but it commeth often to passe that in abundance Gods children are subiect to surfeit when penury want and their competent little keepeth them in good temper Viuitur exiguo melius Prou. 30.8 9. This made Agur pray as heartily against riches as against pouerty Giue me neither pouertie nor riches least I bee full and denie thee and say who is the Lord First this doth disprooue that false glasse and crooked rule 1. Vse by which many rich men iudge of their spirituall estate before God they thinke themselues highly in Gods fauour because rich Ier. 9.23 but let not the rich man glory in his riches For alas this is a meere deceit Eccl. 9.1.2 These outward things fall out alike vnto all or commonly Gods chiefe Fauourites haue the least portion when prophane Esau Gen. 27.39 whom God hateth is allowed the fatnesse of the earth Prou. 3.16 I tell thee riches are but a gift of the left hand and if any haue the vantage it is the poore man Haue ye not read that God is called the God of the poore and needie the Father of the fatherlesse Psal passim Hath not God chosen the poore in this world rich in faith and heires of the kingdome which he hath promised to them that loue him Iam. 2.5 Luk. 7.22 Yea to the poore is the Gospel preached ordinarily the poorer sort of people do giue best well-come and entertainment to the same 1. Cor. 1 26 when not many mightie and rich in the world are effectually called Ioh. 7.48 Haue any of the rulers beleeued on him How hardly shall they that haue riches enter into the kingdome of God such as trust in riches Mark 10.23 24. as is there expounded Therefore I may say to rich and poore Ioh. 7 24. Iudge not after the appearance but iudge righteous iudgement and alwaies remember that in heauen is poore Lazarus aswell as rich Abraham pouertie Luk. 16. ragges nakednesse cannot separate vs from Gods loue in Christ Rom. 8.35 He that feareth God and worketh righteousnesse is accepted of him though he be neuer so poore Act. 10.35 this is ancient doctrine that God accepteth not the persons of Princes Iob 34.19 nor regardeth the rich more then the poore Vse 2 Secondly this exhorts vs to contentation hauing Iacobs request foode and rayment Gen. 28.20 1. Tim. 6.8 Heb. 13.5 things for the present our portion our lot our little let vs therewith be content let vs learne with the Apostle a deepe point of Christian learning I haue learned saith he Phil. 4.11 12. in whatsoeuer estate I am therewith to be content I know both how to be abased and I know how to abound euery where and in all things I am instructed Simus contenti ista mediocri fortuna c. modico substantiola Westmer both to be full and to be hungry both to abound and to suffer neede Learne then since God hath cut thee out but a little to bee heartily well content with his good will and pleasure Obiect 1 But our little may prooue too little and so we perish in want begge starue in the streete c. Answ I will not goe out of this Psalme for an answer Verse 25. Obserue the Prophets long experience I haue beene yong and now am old yet haue I not seene the righteous forsaken nor his seed begging bread Obiect 2 We daily see that which he did not the righteous ouer-whelmed with pouertie and beggery Answ If we obserue who be the common beggers in the world we shall finde the to be the vilest gracelesse and godlesse persons of all the earth There are but a
few Lazarusses to be found out of heauen The walking disorderly bringeth and keepeth multitudes in the base estate of beggery 2. Thess 3.11 when religion doth so schoole the righteous that he worketh in some lawfull vocation and so is not vsually brought to so great extreamitie Salomon in the booke of Prouerbes is very copious and plentifull in this Argument shewing that through sinfull courses many miscreants doe come and crouch for a peece of siluer and a morsell of bread In particular By meanes of a whoorish woman a man is brought to a peece of bread Prou. 6.26 Againe The drunkard and the glutton shall come to pouertie Prou. 23.21 and drowsinesse shall cloath a man with ragges These are the fruitfull mothers that bring forth the numberlesse troupes of our euill beasts and slow bellies I meane those vnprofitable burdens the caterpillars and deuouring droanes of our Common-wealth viz. the wandring sturdie and incorrigible rogues Hee becommeth poore that dealeth with a slacke hand but on the other side Prou. 10.4 the hand of the diligent maketh rich In all lawfull and honest labour there is profit Prou. 14.23 but the talke of the lippes tendeth onely to penury Seest thou a lazie slothfull idle wretch with his hand in his bosome that can talke of worke but doe nothing there is more hope of the homeliest labourer then of him the poore plow-boy shall come to preferment before him He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread Prou. 12.11 but hee that followeth vaine persons is voyde of vnderstanding and so in iust proportion shall want bread and begge in the end as a witlesse and improuident foole Obiect 3 But wee see that God plungeth those which you would make vs beleeue are his onely Fauourites into a deepe pit of pouertie Answ Wee see not things as they are they are not so poore as we take them to be Reade what the Script 2. Cor. 6.10 saith As poore yet making many rich as hauing nothing yet possessing all things Not simply poore but quasi pauperes as poore No no God will make hard shift that I may speake it with reuerence before his children shall want necessaries the hard flint Num. 20.11 the rocke of stone shall gush out water and the hungry Rauen shall bring them bread and flesh in the morning 1. Kin. 17.6 and bread and flesh in the euening as it did Eliah Heb. 13.5 We haue Gods promise that he will neither leaue vs nor forsake vs and these reasons to induce vs to beleeue the same 1 Because he prouideth for the vnreasonable Creatures Psal 145.15 104.21 Mat. 6.26 The Rauens Lyons and the rest seeke their meat at God waite vpon him and haue it in due season and will he not feed his owne deare children Shall they want No the Lyons shall lacke first Psal 34.10 and suffer hunger 2 He is kind euen to the wicked which are strangers to his Couenant his enemies ergo hee will not faile those of his owne family that are vnder his owne charge If God be the Sauiour of all men then especially of those that beleeue 1. Tim 4.10 3. Hee hath sustained vs heretofore when we were young First when we were in the wombe before we had a mouth to receiue meate his gracious hand made another passage for as in the wombe wee are wonderfully made so are wee admirably preserued and fed Then out of the womb Psal 139.14 Mal. 22.9 10. when we yet hung vpon our mothers brests he was our God When we had not a tongue to expresse want yet he made vs cry and bend by a naturall instinct to the breast of our mother richly filled with fit sustenance for vs Afterwards he fed vs when we did nothing and when we did that which was euill and can hee now faile vs about his owne businesse No Gen. 48.15 he feedeth the godly all their life long 4 He hath giuen vs his Sonne Rom 8.32 therefore he will giue vs with him all things also And this is a very strong and Apostolical argument we may reason thus If he hath giuen vs his Sonne to be meate drinke and cloth to our soules hee will not stand with vs for so small a triflle as may serue our bodies 5 He will giue vs a royall inheritance therefore we should not feare that he will starue vs before wee come of age and are capable of it Feare not little flocke it is your Fathers pleasure to giue you a Kingdome Luk. 12.32 6 And lastly if God doe forsake vs and not sufficiently prouide for vs it is because he is either vnable or vnwilling now for his ability wee beleeue that hee is Almighty and so rich in grace to all that call vpon him Hag. 2.8 Psal 50.10 11. The siluer is mine and the gold is mine saith the Lord of hostes Euery beast of the forrest is mine and the cattell vpon a thousand hils I know the fowles of the mountaines and the wild beasts of the field are mine In a word Psal 24.1 The earth is the Lords and the fulnesse thereof And for his willingnesse that is transcendent infinitely exceeding that of naturall parents towards their children yea it surmounteth and surpasseth that compassion of the most indulgent and tender mother Esay 59.15 Can a woman forget her sucking child that she should not haue compassion on the sonne of her wombe Yea they may forget yet wil not I forget thee So then content thy selfe with thy little forasmuch as thy litle will proue enough Exo. 16.18 He that gathered a little had no lacke If God giue but a little he can make a little serue the turne and be enough and then a little is as good as a feast Is thy prouision smal thy appetite shall be the lesse Remember the speech of the woman in the Martyr-booke M. Foxe Acts and Monâ—ments pag. 1874. If you take away my meate God I trust will take away my hunger We know as it is all one in respect of Gods omnipotencie to worke with meanes or without meanes and as good Jonathan sayth There is no restraint to the Lord to saue by many or by few 1. Sa. 14.6 so in regard of Gods ordinary blessing vpon the righteous it is all one to preserue them by dainty delicates or by courser commons by much or by little And learne this of our Sauiour Christ That a mans life consisteth not in the aboundance of the things which he possesseth Luk 12.15 but in the goodnesse of God engrauen vpon them whereby a few dead things are made sufficiently seruiceable to preserue and maintaine his naturall life as you shall heare by and by Part. 3 Thirdly it now remaineth that I should shew that the estate of the righteous with his little is better then the riches of many wicked Briefly then as I conceiue the matter in these three respects 1