wounded doth make no account at all of the same nor neuer seekes vnto God for mercy Hee will heale vs hee will bind vs vp NOw followes the second reason drawne from the mercy of God For though hee hath spoyled vs and wounded vs yet he will heale vs and bind vs vp againe And these be the most gracious words of God himselfe Behold I am hee and there is no God but I Deu. 32.34 1. Sam. 26. I kill and make aliue I wound and make whole againe And therefore this reason drawne from the mercy of God seeing hee offers himselfe to heale vs and to bind vp the wounds of our soules Oh it ought to moue vs greatly to turne vnto him So then the point of Doctrine that offers itselfe to Doct. 1 be considered of vs is this The mercy of God must lead men to repentance that as the iudgements of God must alluremen to repentance and to returne vnto God so must his mercies I remember the speech in the Prophet where the Lord is pleased to make vs the better to conceiue of his mercy to take to himselfe the affections of a man Ier. 31.20 Hos 11.8 His bowels were troubled for Ephraim And againe How shall I giue thee vp Ephraim how shall I deliuer thee Israel how shall I make thee as Admah how shall I set thee as Zeboim my heart is turned within mee my repentings are rowled together It is all one as if the Lord should haue said Oh it goes neare me O Ephraim Exod. 34.6.7 O Israel that I should euen be forced by thy rebellion and horrible impieties to deale so straightly with thee And the Lord tels Moses Psal 86.15 that he is a Mercifull and a gracious God slow to anger and abundant in goodnesse and truth reseruing mercy for thousands and forgiuing iniquity and transgression and sinne Hee is called againe of the Psalmist A pittifull God And the like is intended in the language of the new Testament That when hee saw the multitude dspersed as sheepe hauing no shepheard his bowels earned within him Mat. 9.36 These examples and the like whereof the Scriptures are full all serue to confirm the euerlasting truth of this doctrine that God is a God of mercy that his mercies ought to allure men to repentance for though the thundering out of the threatnings and iudgements of the Law be a meanes to awake a secure heart yet nothing will so much affect a mans mind euen melt a mans soule to make a man returne vnto God as the due knowledge and consideration of the vnspeakable riches of Gods mercy and therefore it is no maruell though the Prophet here doe vse this as one forcible reason to stir vp men to make their returne vnto God by vnfained repentance for that he will bee ready to Heale our sores and Bind vp the bleeding wounds of our soules which we haue made by sinne if we will repent and returne vnto him And indeed this is one of the maine differences betwixt the godly and the wicked The iustice of God doth sometimes so farre preuaile with the wicked as that they feare and tremble but it is not for the losse of Gods fauour but for feare of torment But on the contrary the goodnesse and mercy of God doth euen cause the seruants of God to quake and to tremble lest by any means they should depriue themselues of the comfortable enioying of his loue according to that of the Prophet Dauid Psal 130.4 There is mercy with thee O Lord that thou mayest be feared Oh blessed feare when the mercy of God doth beget it in a mans Soule So then we see that the mercy of God is infinite his compassion is higher then the heauens it is the greatest dishonour done vnto God that can be to doubt of his fauour and to call his louing kindnesse into question Let vs build vp his promises as a sure foundation that shall neuer be remoued Heauen and Earth shall passe away but his word shall not passe away We haue the Word and the Oath of God as two vnchangeable Witnesses so that it is impossible he should lye or be deceyued Againe we haue the Sacraments of God as two Authenticke Seales to ratifie his promises and to make them most sure vnto vs. Mat. 5.18 Heb. 6.18 Rom. 8.16 And we haue withall the earnest penny as a pawne left vnto vs and all to assure vs of his fauour and loue and therefore this reason of the Church and people of God drawne from the mercy of God seeing that he is so ready to pardon sinne and to entertain poore penitent sinners that sue to him for mercy it ought to be most forceable vnto vs to moue vs to Returne vnto him Now let vs come to the vses First seeing that the Lord as hee doth wound vs chastice man for sinne so it is he alone that is the spirituall Vse 1 Physitian of our soules Hence then we are directed to whom to seeke for remedy euen vnto God alone who as he wounds so he heales as he breaketh asunder so hee bindeth vp If a man haue some dangerous disease in his body or other deadly wound if hee know any man to be of skill and a faithfull Chirurgion he will seeke to him and let him out and laâ—nce him Well this is our case we bee spiritually sicke euen vnto eternall death in regard of ourselues our soules be grieuously and dangerously wounded what shall we now doe but runne to Iesus Christ the blessed Physitian of our soules who is most able and willing to cure vs and heale vs And as the poore Begget vnlaps his legges and shewes his grieuous sores to those that passe by and all to moue compassion So let vs not be ashamed to lay open our soules to Iesus Ghrist let vs confesse our grieuous and manifold sinnes Let vs not be ashamed to let him see our spirituall wounds but let vs make our moane to him and craue his help and begge as for life death for the pardon of them and if wee can get but one drop of his precious bloud it will bee a plaister to heale our wounds and cure the deadly diseases of our soules When the children of Israel had grieuously sinned Num. 21. the Lord sent fierie Serpents amongst them now many of them by the stinging and biting of them were so inflamed that they died and could not be cured But when they repented and cryed to God in their misery behold he commaunds that Moses should make a brazen Serpent set it vpon hie that so many as were stung with those fiery Serpents might cast their eyes immediately vpon that brazen Serpent and so might bee cured Euen so all of vs are stung by the fiery Serpents of our sinnes and we newly wallowing in the bloud of our soules Yet see Oh see the mercy of God who hath giuen vnto vs his owne sonne who is the brazen
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
plenty and aboundance how may wee remoue the anger of God and his iudgements eyther already vpon or else eminent ouer our heads Surely remoue the cause of Gods iudgements namely sinne else the hand of God cannot bee remoued And therefore let vs all practise this counsell and wisely consider what the Lord hath against vs and wherefore hee is angry with vs that so wee may bee reconciled vnto him and brought into his fauour againe This Doctrine Vse may serue to condemne that preposterous course that many men doe take eyther for themselues when they lye vnder the Crosse or with others For themselues If the hand of God lye vpon them with long and tedious sicknesse how many are there that leaue the Lord and resort to Witches and Wizards that looke againe more to the meanes then they doe to the Lord without whose blessing they can doe vs no good So in time of Famine Pestilence Warre and the like how many are the windings and turnings in the heart of man to preuent the iudgements of God they will leaue no attempt vnattempted for their deliuerance But to trie their owne hearts to find out their sinnes which are so many rebellious Ionasses in the shippe of their own soules that haue moued the Lord to send those stormes of afflictions Oh this they neuer thinke vpon And as they themselues fayle in the maine point of all that is to try their owne hearts to looke into their wayes and to turne vnto the Lord by vnfained sorow So deale they with others for what is the counsell else they giue vnto others in time of sicknesse but this Be of good cheare Eate warme meats Vse good physicke c. Oh! this is not the counsell we should giue but to say with the godly heere Come returne to the Lord Repent of thy sinnes beg the pardon of them at Gods hands This is the counsell wee must giue to the afflicted and not to seeke helpe from men before wee haue sought forgiuenesse of sinnes of God Come let vs returne vnto the Lord. Heere we may see the fruit of true conuersion they seeke not euery man his owne good but the good of their brethren and therefore vse godly motions and christian perswasiōs one to another to returne vnto God Doct. 3 From whose godly practise and religious example wee gather a further poynt of Doctrine It is the duty of euery christian to labor to draw others to god that it is not inough for a man to goe to heauen himselfe but it is the duty of euery Christian to labour to draw others with them as these holy Seruants of God say heere Come let vs returne these bee their godly perswasions one to another they labour to goe hand in hand in their repentance as we say to men women Come will yee goe to the Market fayre c. So in Religion we must call one vpon another to draw men to God and as one wicked man seeketh to make another like himselfe so hee that is truely conuerted will not rest in that inward comfort of his owne conuersion but will labour by all meanes to conuert others vnto GOD and labour to make them partakers of the same comfort which they themselues haue receiued from God This thing is very apparant in the conuersion of the godly when Andrew was brought to Christ hee found his brother Simon Io. 1.41.43.45 and said vnto him We haue found that Messias that is Christ So when Christ called Phillip and said vnto him Follow me Io. 4 28. Phillip found Nathaniel and sayd vnto him Wee haue found him of whom Moses did write in the Law and in the Prophets Iesus the sonne of Ioseph that was of Nazareth The like appeares in the woman of Samaria when Christ had reueiled himselfe vnto her and offered her to drinke of the water of life after which she should neuer thirst agane shee ran into the Citty and said Come see a man which hath told mee all things that euer I did is not hee that Christ being moued her selfe she labours to moue others And this doth the Prophet Dauid promise vnto the Lord that if hee would restore him once more vnto the ioy of his saluation that then he would become a Preacher Ps 51.12.13 Ps 66.16 Ps 116. Gal. 3 2. Cor. 1.4 Esay 38.19 Luk. 22.23 and Proclaimer of the same mercy vnto others And surely this is a speciall fruit of faith and true repentance to labour by all meanes possible to conuay grace vnto others and to shew them what God hath done for our soules and to draw out the blessings which God hath bestowed vpon our selues to the good and benefit of others The Prophet Dauid doth labour herein Come sayth he and I will shew you what God hath done for my soule And the Elect are called vessels of mercy because they being themselues filled with the mercies of God should draw out the same as good liquor for the vse and comfort of others Saint Paul sayth God had mercy on him that he might shew mercy vnto others The child of God is not like vnto Nabol All for himselfe but he is taught of God to loue his brother And thus wee see how wee ought to behaue our selues in respect of Gods gifts we must not hide them in the ground or in a napkin but wee must imploy the same to the good of others This may serue to reproue that common conceite Vse 1 in mens minds that so long as they doe well themselues they need not care how other◠doe whether they sinke or swimme whether they goe forward or backeward grow vpward or downeward to God or the Diuell but it is impossible for any Christian man or woman who hath truely tasted of the worke of grace in his owne heart but hee must communicate the same to the good of others Indeed most men little regarde this they cannot be perswaded that they bee bound to saue the soules of their brethren and therefore they say euery man for himselfe and God for vs all but the truth is that when euery man seeks himselfe the Deuill gets all To saue soules to draw men to Christ Oh wee thinke this is the Ministers duety it belongs to him alone it belongs not to vs. True it is that it belongs especiall to the Minister to labour to saue mens soules and therefore they are especially bound to labour by continuall teaching and preaching of the word of God as also by their godlie life to draw men to God to exhort them to call vpon them to turne vnto the Lord and if they bee negligent and carelesse the flocke of Christ must needs go to ruine yet many there are that feed themselues to the full but regard not to feed the flocke ouer which the holy Ghost hath made them Ouerseers These are they that liue of the Altar but care not to minister at the Altar They will bee sure to reape carnall things but they haue no
before the Lord had sayd vnto him Loe all that hee hath is in thy hand but saue his life The like we see in the Gospel when Christ had dispossessed the two possessed with Deuils which came out of the graues they had not the power of themselues being dispossest to enter into the heard of swine before that Christ had giuen them leaue So that the tyranny of Sathan himselfe and of all his wicked instruments be it neuer so great yet it is bounded within the lists and limits of the power of God All these and the like examples whereof the Scripture is full serue for the confirmation of the euerlasting truth of this doctrine that all iudgements chastisements and afflictions whatsoeuer they happen vnto vs nor by chance or fortune as men say but they come from God And this is acknowledged by the godly Iewes in this place where they say The Lord hath wounded vs c. And the reason is this because the prouidence of God ruleth all things both in heauen and earth as well the smallest as the greatest so that there is no roome left for chance or fortune but by the speciall prouidence of God doe all things come to passe This doth our Sauiour teach most clearely when he sayth Are not two Sparrowes solde for a farthing and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father yea the hayres of your head are numbred Now if the prouidence of God be in such small things as in Sparrows the haires of ones head how much more in weightier things This is acknowledged by the Apostles in the Acts Doubtlesse Act. 4.27 against thy onely Sonne Iesus whom thou hast annointed Both Herod and Pontius Pilate with the Gentiles and the people of Israel gathered themselues together to do whatsoeuer thy hand and thy councell hath determined before to be done So that the Apostles of Iesus Christ doe there acknowledge that whatsoeuer hapned vnto Christ Iesus both for his apprehension arraignement condemnation it came not to passe alone through the trecherousnes of Iudas nor the malice of the whole nation of the Iewes but that God in his eternall decree had fore-ordayned the same So then if we looke vnto the prouidence of God which ruleth al things both in heauen and earth and without whose prouidence nothing can come to passe ir must needs cleare this Doctrine vnto vs that all iudgements chastisements and afflictions come from God Now let vs come to the vses of this Doctrine Seeing that all iudgements chastisements and afflictions Vse 1 whatsoeuer happen vnto vs come from God This may teach vs patience vnder the Crosse not to murmur and grudge against them but to beare them patiently seeing they come not by fortune Gen. 15.13 Ier. 25.11 Io. 19.10 Luk. 22.53 or by the malice of the Deuill but by the most wise decree and purpose of God yea the yeares and dayes the very houres and moments of time touching the afflictions of the godly are determined of God Oh let vs then learne to possesse our soules with patience whensoeuer God shal humble vs in our bodies goods or name by any iudgement or calamity eyther inward or outward assuring our selues that if the fault be not in our selues the crosse when it doth depart will leaue a blessing behind it and we shall be sure to gain more in the Spirit then we can lose in the Flesh And howsoeuer the wicked may persecute the godly here yet they are but the rod of God and they cannot passe the bonds of their commission granted them from the Lord they cannot shorten one moment of our life or adde vnto our afflictions more then what God hath purposed And in the end God will cut them off when it pleaseth him that they shall proceede no further Secondly this may condemne those that neuer Vse 2 looke vnto the hand of God but thinke all things come by fortune or else do onely look on the means but neuer looke vp vnto God who smiteth by them like a dogge that snatches the stone but lookes not after him that flung it Iob. 1.21 Iob was of another mind hee doth not so much as looke vpon the Caldeans Sabeans or the Deuill that had spoyled him but Iob acknowledgeth that it was the Lord that had done all this Not like many amongst vs in these dayes who if they haue any losse in their cattell or sicknesse in themselues wiues or children by and by they be bewitched and so runne to the Deuill for counsell How farre was this from godly Dauid when Abishai the son of Zeruiah would haue killed Shemi for cursing Dauid What haue I to doe with you yee sonnes of Zeruiah sayth Dauid hee curseth because the Lord bade him curse mee 2. Sam. 16.10 And surely this must needs be the notable policy of the Deuill that men not considering that it comes from the Lord should neuer seeke to him for remedy And here we may take occasion to reproue one common fault amongst many who thinke that Witches haue power to destroy mens goods to afflict mens bodies lame their cattell kill their children and the like Deu. 18.10 whereas if we consider the matter aright wee shall find it otherwise Indeed there are Witches which vpon their conuiction are to die and not to be suffered to liue but withall wee must obserue for what cause they are to die not because they destroy mens goods afflict mens bodies or kill mens children for the Scriptute neuer attributes these iudgements to come from Witches but from God whose purpose and prouidence is in all things but they are to die because they haue made a league with the Deuils which are Gods enemies and because they seduce the people of God and draw them into error and into many diuelish practises to leaue God their Creator and to seeke for helpe from the Deuill or his cursed instruments Amos. 3.6 whereas indeed all iudgements and afflictions whatsoeuer layd vpon our bodies goods and children come from God and there is no more nor lesse hurt done then if there were no Witches at all neyther can the sending of the Deuill by a Witch giue him any power or commission to doe any thing more then that for the which hee hath receyued commission from God But here is the policy of the Deuill Note and here is the iudgement of God vpon sinners that will bee deluded the Deuill when he hath receyued commission from God to hurt he will not by and by execute the same till if it be possible some Witch or Sorcerer doe send him seeming all this while vnto them to be their seruant and slaue whereas indeed al this while they are his vassals and bondslaues vsing them as his cursed instruments not to receiue helpe by them but onely for a colour that hee might by that meanes draw many to seeke helpe from him and so carry them headlong into eternall condemnation for indeed the
Father preuented him with his loue he went out to meet him and when he met him such was his ioy that hee fell on his necke and kissed him This Father of the Prodigall is indeed God our Father and his loue and kindnes remembred in that Parable is recorded for all posterities to the end of the World to assure them of Gods mercifull dealing towards those that doe truely repent and turn vnto him that hee will receiue them againe into fauour which is heere meant by The sight of God or his presence And the Prophet Dauid sayth Ps 16.11 In his presence is life and fulnesse of ioy and happinesse for euermore And thus wee see that howsoeuer by our sinnes we make a separation betwixt God and vs and cause him to plague and punish vs heere yet His mercy is ouer all his works And vpon our repentance hee will receiue vs againe into fauour Reason And the reason of this the mercifull dealing of God is especially for the comfort and reioycing of Gods poore people that none to the end of the world should despaire of obtaining mercy for the mercy of God in Christ is aboue all his works hee extendeth it to thousands it is infinite without measure And the Lord is not content onely to promise mercy and fauour vnto penitent sinners but also confirmes vs in the assurance of it by the examples of his manifold mercies shewed to others before vs When we looke vpon them let our weakenesse bee strengthned and let vs not thinke that the Lord will shut that dore of mercy vpon vs ere wee repent who hath opened the same to so many before vs Hee hath beene found of them that sought him not sayth the Prophet Hos 11.4 and will he hide himselfe from vs if forsaking our sinnes wee seeke him in Spirit and truth His mercies shewed to others must be vnto vs Cords of Loue to draw vs amongst the rest vnto him The Doctrine being thus cleared Let vs now come to the vses of it First seeing there is mercy in store for the Penitent and howsoeuer by sinne we deserued vtterly to bee cast out of Gods fauour yet if wee can repent and Returne vnto him he will receiue vs againe into fauour And we shall liue in his sight It requireth of vs speedily to repent and to Turne vnto him and not to deferre our repentance from day to day lest it come to passe that our hearts be hardned through the deceitfulnesse of sin As no sinne is so great but vpon repentance it is pardonable so no sinne is so small but without repentance it is able to plucke vs downe to the bottome of Hell Let vs then take heed that wee abuse not his goodnesse nor to take occasion of liberty Rom. 4.2 to turne his grace into wantonnesse for wee doe not know how soone the threed of our fraile life will bee cut off when there shall bee no place for Repentance though with Esau wee seeke the same with Teares Heb. 12. Luk. 12.20 1. Thes 5.3 Luk. 17.27 There was but a little time betweene Soule eate drinke c. and Thou foole this night will they fetch away thy soule from thee And againe the Apostle sayth When men shall say peace peace then shall come vpon them sodaine destruction The olde World neuer thought themselues more secure then when the floud came vpon them G 9.23 The morning was faire when Lot went out of Sodom and yet before night were the Sodomites destroyed Act. 12.23 Well was it with Herod when hee beganne his Oration but before it was ended the Angell of the Lord smote him that hee was eaten vp of wormes Oh let vs lay these examples to heart And whereas wee haue by our sinnes turned away the louing kindnesse of God and caused him to turne away his fauourable countenance from vs and haue drawne downe his heauy iudgements vpon vs Now that the Lord hath denied vs the deawes of heauen Zach. 1.3 so as wee are cast out of his sight Oh let vs labour to be reconciled to him againe let vs pray much and often that hee would lift vp the Light of his countenance vpon vs as in times past Let vs Turne from our sinnes and the Lord will Turne vnto vs. And this duty wee would the sooner practise if we could but consider the wofull and miserable estate in which wee stand vntill such time as wee bee reconciled to God If a man were conuicted of high Treason against his Prince for the same were condemned to some cruell and shameful death and that euery moment of an houre hee expected the execution of it who could expresse the griefe of heart of this man What comfort could he take in wife or children in lands or goods in meat or musicke surely nothing in the whole World could cheare his dead heart saue onely the pardon of the Prince such a Traytor is euery impenitent sinner conuicted of hie Treason against the King of Heauen and earth and he is within an ynch of death hell there wants nothing but the execution of Gods iudgements which is sure and certain to come without repentance Good Lord who would not now labour for his peace with God Before the decree come forth Yet we are in the way we may now make our peace with our Aduersary but if wee bee once arrested by Gods Serieant Death and wee bee cast into prison there is no departure to be hoped for till wee haue payde the vtmost farthing Secondly seeing it is so blessed a thing to enioy Vse 2 the fauour and comfortable presence of God To liue in his sight How should this moue vs to Turne to God to auoyde all sinne and euery euill way and to take heed that wee doe nothing that may auert turn away his louing countenance from vs If it be a matter of great honour to liue in the presence of an earthly Prince and to be in his fauour how much more to be in the fauour of the Lord to Liue for euer in his sight 1. Reg. 10.8 and to enioy his loue fauour If the Queene of the South did truely pronounce Salomons seruants happy that stood in his sight and heard his wisdome Oh how much more are they happy men and women that liue in Gods presence and be in high sauour with the Almighty Oh that wee could labour for this priuiledge Well let vs pray much and often that the Lord would lift vp the light of his countenance vpon vs and cause his face to shine vpon vs that wee might draw neare vnto his presence by true repentance and holy obedience Thirdly wee may hence conclude the blessed estate Vse 3 of all that liue in Gods fauour Hee is counted happy in the world that hath the fauour of a Prince indeed they bring with them many Priviledges and preferments but alas they are but temporall neither last they for euer for they are most vnstable and vncertaine
their honour in a moment of time is turned into dishonour their glory into shame and confusion Haman one day the happiest man in a Kingdome next to the King the next day the most wtetched Hest 5.12 7.9 one day honoured the next day hanged Yea it is the condition of the godly themselues as wee may see in Dauid Who greater in Sauls Court then Dauid made the Sonne in Law of the King and Captaine of the Hoast yet by and by disgraced degraded and in perill of his life But it is not so with God for whome hee loueth once he loueth euer He doth not change hee cannot lie his gifts are without repentance Oh then let vs seeke for his fauour aboue the fauour of Princes and when wee haue it make much of it for the estate of that man is happy and blessed hee is at peace with heauen and earth with men and Angels with himselfe and all others with life and with death and hath this comfort and assurance from the almighty that nothing shall bee able to do him hurt Indeed the child of God hath no promise to bee freed from trials and temptations sicknesse pouerty and the like but the child of God hath this promise that these things shall neuer hurt him the Lord will sanctifie them to his children and they shall bee sure to leaue a blessing behind them This is it which the Prophet Dauid handleth at large Psa 91.1 c. Who so dwelleth in the secret of the most high shall abide in the shadow of the Almighty Surely hee shall deliuer thee from the snare of the Hunter and from the noysome pestilence c. Not that the godly shall bee freed from all these calamities but the meaning is they shall not hurt the godly but the Lord will euer giue them a sanctified vse of them that they shall gaine more in the Spirit then they can lose in the Flesh so that wee see what a maruellous comfort it is that wee are at peace with God that hee is our friend and that he hath no controuersie against vs for if God were against vs who should bee able to stand for vs but being iustified by faith wee are at peace with God Besides that wee are at peace with the elect Angels of God with the children of God with the creatures of God and with himselfe for if a man were at peace with all the world with men and Angels and yet were at warre in himselfe that his owne sinnes did muster themselues against him hee should then see what a blessing it is to haue a cleare conscience But he is at peace with himselfe so that the godly man alone that repents of his sins is hee alone that is the blessed man Hee liues in Gods sight Fourthly and lastly seeing that he that repents Turnes vnto God is hee alone That liues in Gods sight Vse 4 that is in Gods fauour Alas then how fearefull and wretched is the estate and condition of all those that are yet in their sinnes and are out of Gods fauour Ah poore soules they haue no rest they can looke for no peace for both heauen earth and all creatures shall conspire against them And as it was sayd of Ismael his hand should bee against euery man euery mans hand against him God is become their enemy the Angels of God are armed to destroy them and their owne consciences conuince and condemne them Heauen gates are shut against them Hel opens her mouth maruellous wide to swallow them there is not any thing in the whole world that can truly and properly bee called a wicked mans but hell and damnation and this one day shall sure bee his portion Marke then the difference betweene the child of God and the wicked the condition of the godly is many times in shew miserable to the outward appearance 2. Cor. 6.9 but yet in it selfe most blessed and happy They are as vnknowne and yet knowne as dying and behold they liue as chastened and yet not killed as sorrowing and yet alway reioysing as poore and yet making many rich as hauing nothing and yet possessing all things Whereas on the other side the estate and condition of the wicked is in shew many times blessed and happy whereas indeede and in trueth it is in it selfe most desperate most wretched and miserable for if those that Repent and Turne vnto God Liue in Gods sight in his fauor then those that are yet in their sins are vnder Gods wrath heauy displeasure Wee shall liue in his sight or before his face that is Vel conspectu illius wee shall endeuour to leade holy liues and godlie conuersations euen as wee liued and stood before the eyes of the Lord himselfe denying all vngodlinesse and worldly lusts liuing soberly iustly and godly in this present world Doct. This Phrase that wee must liue as in the presence of God shewes how wee must behaue ourselues in this world Godly liue as in Gods sight Gen. 5.12 Gen. 22.1 namely that in all we doe we must consider that wee bee euer in the blessed presence of God So it is sayd that Enoch walked with God that is in his whole life behaued himselfe as in the presence of God So Gen. 22.1 I am God all-sufficient walke before mee and bee thou perfect And surely it is a worthy fruite of true Repentance and a sound note of a man regenerate Gen. 39. when as in all his waies hee walkes and liues as in the sight of God So did Dauid I haue set God at my right hand that I might not fall It is a true note of him that repents truely when hee doth walke as before the face of God and is afraide to sinne because he would not offend his God in whose presence hee stands Phil. 3.20 Our Conuersation sayth the Apostle is in heauen from whence we looke for a Sauiour euen the Lord Iesus Dauid makes this question Psal 15.1 Lord who shall rest in thy mountaine that is in heauen not as Pilgrimes for a time but as heyres for euer Ver. 2. And God maketh this answere Hee that walketh vprightly and worketh righteousnesse that is hee that liueth holily heere as in Gods presence he shall liue for euer hee that loueth the face of God in his Church shall one day see the face of God in his Kingdome hee that professeth the Gospell and is carefull of his wayes not walking with a leg and a stumpe as they doe who seeme religious and liue ill appearing righteous and yet prophane Hee shall stand before the Lord for euer And indeede Ps 24.3.4 though wee haue our beeing heere in this vayle of misery yet our conuersation must bee in heauen We are but Exiles heere in this world our Country is heauen We are Pilgrimes and Strangers heere our home is heauen therefore we must liue according to the lawes of our Country euen as if wee were in
to eternall life let vs then pray vnto God that he would put his feare into our hearts that wee may not sinne against him for till such time as wee haue this feare of God till wee bee truely humbled for our sinnes and mourne for them and liue and behaue our selues as in the presence of God we shall neuer attaine to this Knowledge which is the right way to bring vs to eternall life for though men haue neuer so great knowledge in the word of God can speake of it neuer so well though they can dispute of it and discourse of the Scriptures yet if our knowledge be not ioyned with the feare of God to liue according to our knowledge Alas it is but a braine knowledge it is farre from that sauing knowledge which wee ought to haue and therfore if we would be assured that our knowledge is sound and such as one day will giue vs an admittance into the kingdome of heauen and yeeld true comfort and reioycing vnto our owne soules Let vs then labour to finde our hearts humbled for sinne past and a watchfull eye ouer our owne wayes for the time to come thtt we so carry and behaue our selues as alwayes in the presence of God for otherwise though men think neuer so highly of their knowledge if these things bee wanting in vs wee can neuer attaine to this true sanctified knowledge heere spoken of Now I come to the next point that is to consider diligently of what nature and condition this knowledge is which is heere a most blessed fruit of Repentance Point and of the feare of God And surely What knowledge it is hee heere speakes of Io. 17.3 wee shall finde that this knowledge it is no carnall knowledge it is no worldly knowledge it is not the knowledge of Philosophy or of humane arts and sciences vhich in themselues are good too but this Knowledge heere spoken of it is a heauenly Knowledge whereof our Sauiour Christs speakes hauing powred foorth vnto his Father that his heauenly prayer that he would giue vnto his children eternall life in the third verse he shews wherein this eternall life consists namely This is life eternall to know thee to be the true God and Iesus Christ whom thou hast sent Of this knowledge speaketh the Prophet Esay saying By this knowledge shal my righteous seruant iustifie many Esay 53.11 Io. 6.68 for hee shall beare their iniquities And of this Knowledge wee shall read of when our Sauiour Christ taught that all they which must liue for euer must eate the flesh of the sonne of man It is said that many of his Disciples departed from him Christ sayth to the twelue Will yee also goe away from mee Peter answereth in the name of the rest Master whither shall wee goe from thee Thou hast the Word of eternall life and wee beleeue and know that thou art Christ the sonne of the liuing God Where marke how the Apostle ioines faith and knowledge together noting indeed that this knowledge is a fruit of faith for till men beleeue in God the Father as our Father and in Iesus Christ his sonne as our redeemer and in the holy Ghost as our sanctifier wee cannot know God as wee ought to know him Now then in that this Knowledge is promised from Doct. 2 the Lord as a fruit of true repentance which shall follow immediately vpon our conuersion vnto God and without which conuersion wee can neuer attaine vnto this sanctified knowledge of the Lord Iesus which will one day giue vs an admittance into the eternall inheritance The true knowledge of God in Christ is giuen only to the Elect after their conuersion We are taught that the true knowledge of God and of Iesus Christ is giuen onely vnto the Elect and doth follow their repentance and conuersion vnto God for so is it taught vs heere after that these beleeuing Iewes had exhorted stirred vp one another to returne vnto the Lord they promise this knowledge vnto themselues as a fruit of their repentance conuersion vnto God Then shall wee haue knowledge that is howsoeuer wee haue heretofore deceyued our own soules resting vpon our owne selues our own knowledge and righteousnesse which indeede is but generall and confused and such as the wicked themselues may partake of yet now if wee will repent of our sins and Returne againe wnto the Lord from whom wee haue departed by our manifold impieties we shal haue giuen vnto vs a sanctified knowledge of the Lord Iesus yea such a liuely knowledge that will neuer leaue vs till it set vs into the full possession of life eternall according to that of our Sauiour This is life eternall Io. 17.3 to know thee to bee the true God and Iesus Christ whom thou hast sent And againe our Sauiour witnesseth the same in another place where hee sayth Io. 6.45 All the Elect are taught of God And the Prophet Ieremy maketh it the glory of all the Elect Thus sayth the Lord Ier. 9.24 Let not the Wiseman glory in his wisdom nor the strong man glory in his strength neyther let the rich man glory in his riches but let him that glorieth glory in this that hee vnderstandeth and knoweth mee sayth the Lord. It is the singular gift of Gods grace not giuen as I said before vnto al men indifferently but onely to the Elect as our Sauiour testifieth of his Disciples Mar. 4.11 To you it is giuen to know the mistery of the Kingdom of God but vnto them which are without all things are done in Parables Phil. 3.9 that they seeing may not see c. Rom. 10.2 And the Apostle Paul esteemed al things but dung incomparison of this knowledge without it zeale is little worth and sacrifice is in vaine Hos 6.6 And this knowledge is brought and conuayed vnto vs by the ministery of the Gospell of Christ Rom. 1.20 It is not the knowledge of God reueiled in the Booke of his Creatures that he heere speakes of 2 Cor. 4.6 nor a knowledge of God reuealed in the morall law of God where God requireth absolute and perfect obedience but it is that knowledge which is made known vnto vs through the couenant of grace in the glorious Gospell of Christ And hence it is that the Apostle sayth Rom. 10.3 that the Iewes knowing the righteousnesse which is by the Law and went about to stablish it and to seeke to bee iustified by it being altogether ignorant of this Euangelicall righteousnesse which is by faith without the works of the Law and no maruell for as the Apostle sayth that they whose cogitations are darkned are strangers from the life of God Well then knowest thou not Christ what hee is and what hee hath done and how his death sufferings may bee auaileable for thee to the saluation of thy Soule Let mee tell thee that thou art not yet in the way to eternall life for if
sinnes and rebellions Wee learne hence this point of Doctrine Doct. 2 That the Lod is the Author of all punishments for sinne The Lord is the author of all punishments for sinne though hee vse secondary causes and some outward meanes yet hee is the Author of all iudgements and punishments vpon men and women Indeed hee vseth sometime men to do his will as his rod to punish his people for so is Ashur called the Lords rodde Esay 10.5 to whip his people and his Staffe to beat them The Lord vseth sometimes the Deuils themselues to afflict his people Iob. 1. as wee see in Iobs affliction yet so as the Lord was the chiefe Author thereof the Deuill but an instrument Euen so al iudgements come from God hee imposeth and inflicts them on his people for their sinnes Excellent is that place of the Prophet Esay to this purpose But now Esay 43.1.2.3 thus sayth the Lord that created thee O Iacob and hee that formed thee O Israel feare not for I haue redeemed thee I haue called thee by name thou art mine when thou passest thorough the waters I will bee with thee and thorough the flouds that they shall not ouerflow thee c. And againe Shall there be any euill in the City and the Lord hath not done it This point is fully declared by Moses when hee sayth If yee will not obey mee nor doe all these commandements Leu. 26.16.17 I will appoint ouer you fearefulnesse a consumption and a burning ague the sword famine and pestilence to destroy you and to make you few in number Let this schoole vs if the Lord so deale with vs If the Crosse come to vs as a thing iudged fit of God Let vs not set him a stint to say thus much will I beare and no more but leaue the same to his owne good pleasure expecting and enduring euen one vpon the necke of another taking hold of his promise by a liuely faith that Hee will neuer lay more vpon vs then wee shall bee able to beare but will giue vs a happy issue vnto them all that wee shall gaine more in the Spirit then we can lose in the flesh and that the Crosse in Gods due time shall depart to our aduantage to leaue a blessing behind it This Doctrine haue I cleared in the first verse of this Chapter Let this suffice for this Text. Wee come to the vses of it Let vs all take knowledge of this Doctrine that Vse 1 the Lord is the Author of all punishments whatsoeuer by what instrument soeuer it pleaseth him to vse for the accomplishing of the same Iob the faithfull seruant of the Lord acknowledgeth this when he saith The Lond giueth the Lord taketh away yet wee know that it was the Deuil and wicked men whom the Lord vsed as his instruments to afflict this his holy seruant And let vs learne to acknowledge that all punishments sent of God come from his hand and he imposeth and layeth them vpon vs eyther as punishments of our sinnes Iob. 2.10 as heere in this Text or else for the triall of our faith patience and the like graces But of this before Secondly this may serue to condemne those foolish Vse 2 men that impute all to fortune and chance all their troubles miseries crosses sicknesses losses and the like that happen vnto them in their bodies children goods cattell they impute them all to blind Fortune and chance and neuer looke vp to the hand of God to see his angry countenance turned towards thē by reason of their sinnes and horrible impieties Here is Ignorance with a witnesse Where is the prouidence of God all this while which rules and gouernes all things that are in heauen and earth Oh let vs labour to reforme this common fault amongst vs and looke higher euen vnto God himselfe from whence they come This knowledge and acknowledging that God doth inflict his iudgements punishments and afflictions vpon vs for our sinnes it is a good meanes to bridle vs and to keepe vs from impatiency murmuring and muttering against the Lord. The Lord sent Shemi to curse 2. Sam. 16.10 who dare say then why doest thou curse mee so Iob The Lord giueth the Lord taketh away blessed bee the name of the Lord And the want of this is the cause why men bee so impatient in sicknesse and misery because they do not consider that it is the hand of the Lord layd vpon them for their sinnes and so they neuer make any vse at al of Gods iudgements thinking eyther that they come by chance lucke or fortune or else looke onely vpon the outward means and instrument and not vnto the Lord himselfe Oh let vs learne to bee wise to lift vp our eyes higher to see that it is the hand of the Lord I draw my sword I kill and make aliue I send the plague and pestilence to consume to destroy And the knowledge of this is a good meanes to humble vs and to make vs to confesse our sinnes that the Lord is holy in all his wayes and righteous in all his works the which is acknowledged by the Prophet Dauid when hee sayth I know O Lord Psal 119.75 that thy iudgements are right and that thou hast afflicted me iustly And if wee can but once truely apprehend this that it is the Lord that striketh it will make vs euen to blesse God when hee seemes to deale with vs most hardly giuing him the prayse of equity as Dauid doth here acknowledging that his sharpest corrections are not so great as our sinnes And these two things will bee great motiues to patience in trouble if wee consider that the same affliction is measured out vnto vs from the Lord Who is faithfull and will lay no more vpon vs then we are able to beare And next that our stripes are not according to our sinnes for if he should beate vs with as many rods as wee haue grieued him with sinnes hee should adde yet ten times more vnto our greatest afflictions I haue cut downe and slaine them THe second point is the indgement and punishment it selfe and the manner of it The iudgement it selfe which shewes that the same is no small iudgement but a very grieuous punishment For I haue cut downe and slaine them as though the Lord should haue sayd whereas they would not receyue my Doctrine nor beleeue my Word that they might bee brought to repentance and so bee saued I haue now cut them down slaine their soules by my Word and wounded them euen to death eternall for as my Word which I would haue made the sweet sauour of life vnto life is now by their rebellion and stubbornnesse turned vnto them to bee the wofull sauour of death vnto death Hence wee may obserue that of all the iudgements Doct. 3 of God that befal a man in this life there is none more grieuous or feareful then an hard heart that wil not stoupe to
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