neuer haue beene Papists But when they cast a mist before the eyes of men then the blind fell into the ditch which doth containe so many grosse corruptions For mine eies haue seene thy saluation For c. Because the holy Ghost by inspiration had de-declared vnto him that he should not die till hee had leene Iesus Christ therefore the same spirit led him to the Temple and shewed that which it promised and hauing seene the same he desired and wished to die and be released from this earthly prison that he might â—iue with God As idâ—e and euill wishes are vaine because they are not according to faith not grounded vpon the word of God so though we aske as cunningly as Iacob and as earnestly as the sonnes of Zebede yet if wee aske Gen. 27. 17. 18 19. 20. c. Mar. 10. 35. 37. Iam. 1. 7. not in saith according to knowledge we cannot obtaine But wee should aske so that we may receiue that we may not returne empty Therfore the ground whereon Simeon setled himselfe to wish for death was that hee had receiued a promise of God that he should be deliuered from this miserable life when hee had once seene the light of the Gentiles the Christ and now hee had seene his Sauiour and embraced the true Messias which was promised by the Father figured by the law spoken of by the Prophets foretold by the Fathers and pointed at by Iohn Baptist For thus he reasoneth Now that I see thy saluation according to thy word and therefore the condition is now performed let thy promise also be fulfilled Now let thy seruant depart c. For mine eyes c. Mine eyes haue seene c. Then we see that Christ was no spirit neither was his body a fantasticall body for if he were a spirit Simeon could not see him and if his body were a fantasticall body then could not he haue embraced him Therfore wee Iohn 11. Luke 29. Iohn 4. Luke 10. Luke 5. see that the words of the Scripture are true which saith that Christ was perfect man in all things sinne onely excepted For he sometime wept as at the death of Lazarus and like wise ouer Ierusalem Sometime he thirsted as at the Well where the woman of Samaria disputed with him and also sometime eate as at Marthaes house as also among Publicans and sinners and in euery thing shewed himselfe to be perfect man Haue seene c. O Lord saith he I desire now to be dissolued and free from the bondage of sin which so long hath inhabited in my mortall body for now he is come by whom thou hast promised to free and set vs at liberty he is come by whom thou hast promised to breake the Serpents head and he is come that will heale our infirmities and giue strength against sin and sathan by faith peace towards God through loue And now saith hee I haue embraced him and thankfully do receiue him I beleeue am perswaded that this is the same Messias whom the Father promised and the Prophets fore-told all Israel longed expected for who is the light of the Gentiles the glory of Israel and the God of the whole world So they which loue the truth of God and waite with desire to bee filled with the knowledge thereof such shall not die vntill they haue their harts desire with contemplation therof Acts 10. Acts 8. For as Peter was sent to Cornelius and Philip to the Eunuch so the Lord will stirre vp such of his seruants as may bee fit instruments to minister the same vnto vs. Iudas indeed died before the time and liued not to see Christ crucified but the Disciples which loued Iesus did see him die like an vndefiled innocent Lambe and that to their exceeding ioy and comfort when they vnderstood how that he suffered death for loue of them and for their redemption Now if Christ cannot hide him from such as hunger after him through loue then what shall we say of our Fathers which liued in the time of ignorance that longed to see his light although they had a mist cast before their eyes Surely such died not till they saw Christ and embraced him in their hearts And this is our iudgement concerning them that died in the time of Popery And likewise as concerning the rest which thought to be saued by Purgatory and Masses after that they are dead we say that they which sleep without oyle in their lampes they die ere they are aware of and ere they wish for it like the Philistines which sent for Sampson to laugh and mocke at him and to sport Iudg. 16. themselues vpon whom the house fell and destroyed them all or the Egyptians which thought that the waters had made passage for them aswell as for the Israeliers Ezod 16. both which died in and for their security because they were not watchfull nor prepared against the Lord called them Haue seene thy saluation Seeing now hee is come for whom Simeon longed what are the troubles that are past and the sorrowes that are come to an end so when wee haue our desires accomplished feeling the sound comfort of the Gospel what should we how may we thinke either on the length of time wherein we waited for them or the tediousnes or also grieuousnes of the troubles whereby wee haue obtained them Haue seene thy saluation As Moses died on the mount where hee saw the land of Canaan so the godly die in the sight of God and in Deut. 34. the contemplation of his glory like Stephen who at the very instant of his death saw the heuens open and Christ Iesuâ— sitting at the right hand of his Father and like Simeon Acts 7. here which desireth to bee loosed and no doubt shortly died viewing ioyfully and so thankfully beholding the Lord of life Beloued you are not ignorant that the great day of the Lord is neer at hand and therfore they that haue not yet seene Christ they that haue not yet embraced him but still sleepe without oyle in their lampes shal sodainly be ouertaken without the wedding garment and shall be cast into eternall torment for euer Haue seene c. There be many sights of Christ all goe not vp to the mount as Peter Iames and Iohn all see not his face with Matth. 17. Exod. 33. Iohn 13. 2. Cor. 12. 2. Moses all sleepe not in his lappe with Iohn all are not taken vp into heauen like Paul all embrace him not in their armes with Simeon But as pleaseth God so he sheweth himselfe vnto vs and all that loue him both see him and embrace him To some he shewes himselfe as in a glasse to some generally Mat. 20. to some particularly some he calleth early and some hee calleth late and there is no houre in the day wherein he calleth not some to get labour in his Vineyard To some he sheweth himselfe by Angels to othersome by visions Abraham saw
consciences quiet and also ioyfull in Christ free from the feare of that death they haue deserued and assured by death to passe to that life which God to all faithfull hath promised earnestly wish to die in feruent loue of God and zeale of his glory that so they may cease from offending their good God and neuer cease magnifying his mercy shewing thereby that they are weary of the seruice and bondage of Sathan and sinne and assured after death to enioy the true life most fully glorifying God and most perfectly pleasing him for euer and therefore also they desire death not shortning their life but waiting his leisure and calling thereby glorifying God as in their liues they haue done and sought to doe For man was not borne at his owne will and therefore may not die at his owne pleasure Therfore they beg it of God referring themselues euer to his good will when where and how by death they shall glorifie him stil desiring it but neuer wilfully procuring it If any obiect that Sampson pluckt the house on his owne head as well as on the Philistines we must vnderstand that Sampson was a figure of Christ and therfore as it were offring himselfe to God a sacrifice first praied and then glorified God at his death more then al his life in killing so many of Gods enemies And because they waite the Lords leasure they not only wilfully murder not themselues but are carefull also lest foolishly vnwittingly they hasten it For all they are guilty of their owne blood that either by foole-hardie rash or vnwise behauing or with surfets drunkennesse or any intemperat vsing of themselues shorten their life Yea though they tender their liues neuer so deere yet are they in the guilt because they willingly vse the meanes that brings death Simeon had seene much in his many daies but when he saw Christ he was vnwilling to liue any longer to see more His desire accomplished his long longing at length is satisfied his feruent expectation with free ioy now fulfilled It is enough saith Simeon that I haue seene my Sauiour as Iacob said It is enough that my son Gen. 45. 18. Ioseph liueth How much more then should wee bee satisfied with this and in all thankfulnesse rest in it that we haue seene Christ not as Simeon in weakenes and basenesse but victorious most glorious ouer sin death and hell triumphing and are more assured then Iacob was that hee not as Ioseph vnder Pharaoh in Egypt liueth but in heauen with his Father in highest maiestie raigneth Lord ouer all hauing all power both in heauen and Ioh. 17. 14. 1. Iohn 3. 3. Rom. 8. 18. earth and moreouer where he is thither shall wee come and be like him and with him as fellow-heires reigne in the kingdome of our Father for euer Simeon knew Christ as soone as he saw him and embraced him as soone as he knew him and enioyed him as soone as he embraced him so some know the word of God as soone as they heare it and beleeue it as soon as they know it and feele the comfort of it as soone as they beleeue it But others heare it as though they heard it not like deafe adders which stop their eares at the voyce of the charmer So Pharao would not heare the voyce of Moses nor Baals Priests the voyce of Elias and others Exod. 5. c. 1. King 18. though they know it yet will not beleeue it as if God were vntrue so all malitious wretches that preserre the pleasures of sinne before the glory of God and others though they beleeue it yet can they not either presently or when they will feele the comfort of it much lesse the ioy which is offred by it namely the heart oppressed the desolate afflicted soule The seede is not cast all on a heape but it is cast abroad therfore where be the fruites of the spirit that you haue brought forth For the spirit of God is not like a dead potion in the stomacke which worketh not neither can we haue this spirit in vs and feele it not For if thou hast it it will leade thee as it did longing Simeon as wee haue hitherto seene to the Temple and when thou art there it will leade thee to Christ and when thou hast receiued and embraced him it will possesse thee with ioy and so with thankfulnesse and godly care to keepe him and to entertaine him and to be obedient vnto him nay also with a longing to bee loosed hence and euermore perfectly to please him Therefore beloued iudge your selues that ye be not iudged of the Lord. Thy seruant The godly would not leaue this priuiledge for all the riches in the world for that they are the seruants of God fellowes to princes and Angels for wee serue him whom Dauid Salomon Ezechias Iosias serued yea to whom a thousand thousands Dan. 7. 10. euen innumerable Angels minister Heb. 12. 22. euen him who is most blessed for euer Euery seruing man beares the cognisance of his master vpon his sleeue What then will the Lord say when he commeth and findeth vs marked with the badge of Sathan Surely he will say giue vnto Sathan Exo. 12. 22. 23. Eze. 9. 4. 11. Re. 10. 7. 3. 5. 6 that which is Sathans But all the houses of Israel are sprinkled with the blood of the Lambe and all mourners in Ierusalem are marked and all the chosen are sealed with the seale of the liuing God Well was it said the poore receiue the Gospell The young men are more forward in the trueth and more zealous then the aged the sonne then his father the seruant then his Master Once the younger Brother stole away the blessing from the elder therefore the elder hated him euen for his zeale And when was Iacob hated more then he is now When was he so hated and persecuted as he is now by Esau Yet in the old time men were more zealous in their age then euer wee heare of them to be in their youth yea they were zealous in the Lords businesse Age hindreth not Noah from building of the Arke when God commanded him age hindered not Simeon Gen. 5. 32. 6. 22. from reioycing and mirth when he beheld and embraced the Lord Iesus Christ Then old Simeon embraced Christ and he enioyed him with hearty ioy in zeale but now where is old Simeon There be but few of them to be seene comming to the Temple to receiue Christ but Dan. 1. 8. 1. Sam. 2. 3. 1. Ti. 4. 12. Phil. 10. Mat. 21. 15. now young men receiue him yong Simeons young Daniels young Samuels young Timothies and young Onesimus and the young infants beginne to speake againe The young haue him they are zealous and J hope they wil keepe him though old men neglect him Sathan thou hast too much for nothing already In peace c. Christ brings peace with him not the peace of the world but that peace which passeth all
the son of Abraham and therefore no cause why Christ should not resort to Zaccheus house As Christ said to the penitent theefe This day shalt thou be with me in Paradise So he saith heere to the penitent Publican This day saluation is Luke 13. come vnto thy house and this day thou art become the child of Abraham Christ loueth not to be lōg in any mans debt for as he saith to Zaccheus To day I must abide at thy house so he saith to the same Zaccheus To day and hence-forth for euer thou and thy house must abide with me in heauen Here is a happy change in stead of a little worldly treasure subiect to losse by theeues and to spoile by rust and moths to haue all store of heauenly treasure which neither theeues can steale nor canker can corrupt in stead of an earthly house subiect to fire and falling Mat. 6. to haue a house giuen of GOD not made with hands but eternall in heauen 2. Cor. 5. 1. Who would not rather choose with Zaccheus to giue halfe his goods to the poore that he may be an heire of saluation and the Son of Abraham to rest in his Fathers bosome than with Diues to keep all from the poor be tormented in those eternall flames That rich glutton that denied the crums from his table chalenged Abraham for his father but he was refused because he had not the faith nor works of Abraham but Zaccheus though by nature he Luke 16. were not the child of Abrahā yet by grace he is become the child of Abraham because he walked in the steps of that faithfull Father Abraham beleeued before he was Iohn 8. 39. circumcised so Zaccheus beleeued before he was circūcised As Abraham left his countrey and all that he had Rom. 4. 12. when God called him so Zaccheus left his office and the most part of his riches when he was called by the Son of God as Abrahā desired to see the day of Christ saw it reioyced so Zaccheus desired to see Christ he saw Gen. 32. 1. Acts 7. 3. him reioyced Now is Zaccheus a gentile become the child of Abraham not only he but his whole house also is become the house of Abraham for when Zaccheus Iohn 8. 56. is conuerted his whole house is conuerted As the Master is such are the seruants if he be godly and religious they proue godly and religious if he bee an Atheist they prooue Atheists likewise Therefore keep no companie with the wicked for it is most pernicious but associate thy selfe with those that feare the Lord that thou also maiest learne to feare the Lord who for his mercy grant that we may with Zaccheus be desirous to see Christ ioyfull to receiue Christ liberall to releeue the members of Christ and ready to make amends when we haue Psal 18. wronged any of our brethren that so with Zaccheus wee may be heires of saluation and the true sons of Abraham to raigne with Christ in heauen for euer by the meanes and merites of him that died and rose againe for vs. To whom with the Father and the holy Ghost be all glorie Amen FINIS O Lord prepare our hearts to pray O Lord God our heauenly Father we thy poore and wretched creatures giue thee most humble and hearty thanks for our quiet and safe sleepe and for raising vs vp from the same We beseech thee for Iesus Christs sake to prosper vs this day in our labour and trauell that it may be to the discharging of our duty in our vocations principally to thy glory next to the profit of this Church and Common-weale and last of all to the benefit and content of our Masters Grant deere Father that we may cheerfully and conscionably do our busines labours not as men pleasers but as seruing thee our God knowing thee to be the chiefe M. of vs and that thou seest and beholdest vs with thy fatherly eies who hast promised reward to them that faithfully and truely walke in their vocation and threatned euerlasting death and damnation to them that deceitfully and wickedly do their works and labours We beseech thee O heauenly Father to giue vs the strength of thy spirit that godly and gladly we may ouercome our labours and that the tediousnes of that itksome labour which thou for our sins hast powred vpon al mankind may seem to vs more delectable sweet Fulfill now O Lord these our requests for thy Sonne our Sauiours sake in whose name we pray as he himselfe hath taught vs. Our Father which c. FOVRE SERMONS PREACHED BY MASTER Henry Smith And published by a more perfect Copy then heere tofore I 〈◊〉 to dy I dy to liue AT LONDON Printed for William Leake dwelling in Pauls Churchyard at the signe of the Holy Ghost 1610. ¶ To the right noble Lord the Lord Edward Earle of Bedford grace and peace from the Lord. AS the little Bee gathereth not hony for her selfe alone but for others so right Honourable I am bold to present your good Lordship with my Choice my Care and the Issue The first your honorable selfe and in this as you are the The Choice hope of the reuiuing of your vndoubted noble Grand father and Father so my hearty well wishing together with the prayers of all the godly is that what the Almighty graced thē with in you may be redoubled The second is the Fountaine whence the first had his streame and The Care being in me as a member of the Church what I wish to the same assured assembly of Gods people I leaue to the alone determiner of all Controuersies whatsoeuer The last I commēd to the onely direction of the Lord. Now as the faithfull disposer The Issue of Gods truth was a man linked vnto mee in assured friendship whilst he liued so I hauing with care long fithence collected these his Sermons together doe now with singlenesse of heart present the same to your Lordship and heerewith am prest to performe all such duties to your honour as God shall enable me vnto both in prayer for your health and increase of zeal to the maintenance of his poore flocke which I hope is the onely aime and end of all your honourable purposes Thus with all other graces I most heartily desire that Father of light to enrich you in this life and after this to blesse you with immortality in that place of rest for euer Amen Your Lordships to commaund W. S. The Contents Two Sermons of the Song of Simeon The third of the calling of Ionah The fourth of the rebellion of Ionah THE SWEET SONG OF OLD FATHER SIMEON in two Sermons Luke 2. verse 29. 30 31 32. 29 Lord now lettest thou thy seruant depart in peace according to thy word 30 For mine eies haue seene thy saluation 31 Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people 32 A light to be reuealed to the Gentiles
and the glory of thy people Israel THis is the sweet song of olde Father Simeon wherein is set forth the ioyful and peaceable death of the righteous after that they haue embraced Christ Iesus with heart and mind vnfainedly as hee did seeing their death is to bee the beginning of a better and more ioyfull and pleasant life then the former But before we proceed further in it let vs heare a little of that which went before The Euangelist saith verse 25. And behold there was a man in Ierusalem whose name was Simeon this man was iust and feared God and waited for the consolation of Israel and the holy Ghost was vpon him And a reuelation c. Simeon feared God Religion may wel be called feare for there is no Religion where feare is wanting for the feare of the Lord is the beginning of wisedome and this Prou â— 7. priuiledge hath God giuen to those that feare him that they neede to feare nothing else And waited for the consolation of Israel Simeon also waited for the consolation of Israel vntill hee had embraced in his armes him whom hee so long longed to see and feele How many waiters bee there in the world yet few wait as Simeon did but some wait for honours some for riches some for pleasures some for ease some for rewards some for money some for a deere yeere and some for a golden day as they call it but Simeon waited and expected with many a long looke vntill he had seene and embraced Christ Iesus the light of the Gentiles the glory of Israel the saluation of all that with a faithfull and zealous affection and loue doe waite for his comming to the comsort of the afflicted and to the terrifying of the wicked and vngodly which haue not already waited neither embraced him as Simeon did And waited for the consolation of Israel Faith in all afflictions doth lift vp her head waiting in assured hope beyond all hope and seeing the clouds scattered ouer her head yet she is euer comfortable to her selfe saying anon it will bee calme and although all the friends in the world doe faile yet it neuer faileth nor fainteth but euer keepeth promise in that which by the verity of the spirit of God it assureth vntill her ioy bee fulfilled All are not Israelites that are born of Israel Simeon Rom. 9. 6. was an Israelite indeed for hee waited for the Messias from God with patience and expectation so the spirit of God dwelleth alwaies with them which alwaies say Thy will be done 26 And a reuelation was giuen him If we wait as he did the spirit will assure vs as it did him that we shal see God before we die and they that long in faith to see the ioyes of heauen the spirit assureth and promiseth faithfully vnto them that they shall see it 27 And he came by the motioÌ„ of the Spirit in to the Temple Simeon came into the Temple at this time by the prouidence of God The worldlings will call it chance but Pro. 16. 13. Mat. 10. 39. the Euangelist would not chop that in because it is manifest that al things come to passe by the prouidence of God without which there is nothing done By this prouidence Rebecca came forth to wait on her fathers cattell Gen. 24. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. when Abrahams seruant praied and looked for her coÌ„ming that he might take her for Isaac to marry withal By this prouidence Saul was annointed king by Samuel 1. Sam 9. 20. 10. 1. when he had no such thought in his heart but went about seeking for his fathers asses that were lost And he came by the motion of the spirit The diuell led Christ vnto the top of an high mountaine that hee might shew him the glory of the worlde which deceiueth vnstable minds so would he doe you if you would be led by such a guide but I would not haue you to marke the vaine motions of such a spirite which leades to nothing but to vanity and pride for after he hath led you to the top and allured you by carnall pleasures as much as hee can if you then fall downe to worship Mammon embrace the world the same spirit will afterward lead you nay rather cast you downe from the top of all vnto hell Therefore I beseech you and heartily entreat you that you would bee the seruants of God and seruants of the spirit of God to be led by it to obey it and to do nothing contrary to his will that you can refraine but all those good things which you would were done by you and go thither whither you would come for all would come to heauen but all will not goe to heauen If you will all heare I will teach you all yea J wil vndertake this heare and mark my words and you shall be led by the power of the spirit to our Lord Iesus Christ And I pray to the Lord that I may neuer preach to the condemnation of any among you all yea I wish that euery one of you were more zealous and more godly then my selfe But to whom shall I compare you euen to the vagabond Iewes of wâ—â—â—â— Luke mâ—ntioneth in the Actes that they tooke vpon them to abiure euill spirites by the name of Iesus whom Paul preached to whom the Acts. 19. 1. 14. 15. 16 euill spirits answered saying Iesus we know and Paul we know but who are yee and those which had the euill spirits ranne vpon them and ouercame them so that they sted out of that house naked and wounded and thus the diuell preuailed against them at that time because they sought to worke with an others instrument and preuaile with an others weapon If they would haue said In the name of Iesus whom we preach they might haue preuailed but they thought it sufficient that Paul preached him though they neuer professed him And so we leane vpon an others staffe and thinke to be saued because God saueth others We shall be dealt withal as were those vagabond Iewes for he will answere such I know and such I know but who are yee Therefore it behooueth vs all to pray vnto the Lord that hee would furnish vs with weapons to encounter against all the euill motions of the spirit of Sathan that we may ouercome and not be ouercome and put to flight like those vagabond Iewes but that we may haue oyle alwaies in our lamps burning and alwaies armed with watchfulnesse against our enemies lest Sathan steale vpon vs vnawares in the darke and lead vs to fulfill his lusts and spoile vs and strip vs and leaue vs starke naked 27 And he came by the motion of the spirit into the Temple c. If we would thinke that his spirit doth leade vs into the Temple we would marke very diligently the motions thereof when we are there whether it speaketh to vs in our owne soules by the mouth of the Minister of God who is
and that hee euer crieth against Doe what you will and say what you will and the Lord will not be offended with you vnlesse you sinne but if you commit sinne he is iust and therefore will not leaue til he hath by crying slaine either you or sinne that raignes in you For as an angrie man euer pursueth that which he hateth vntill he hath destroied it so the Lord crosseth and followeth vs with his iudgements vntill he hath slaine that which most deadly hee hateth sinne And cry against it c. Reproofe is the necessariest office yet is it least regarded yea most abhorred For now wee thinke if one reproue vs he hateth vs. But the Lord saith Leuiticus 19. Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart thou shalt Le. 19. 17. reproue him suffer him not to sinne noting thereby that if we flatter any in their sinne or see them sinne and not reproue them for it it is a manifest signe that we doe it of hatred how great loue and good will soeuer wee pretend toward thē seeing the matter tends to the hurt of their soules and the offence of God Yea if a Preacher reproue sinne he is thought to doe it of hatred or of some particular grudge and to be too busie too bitter too sharpe too rough and therefore say he should preach Gods loue and mercy for he is a Preacher of the gospell he tells vs of threatens with the law and so throwes vs downe too low some to despaire as though we preached the law onely or chiefly and not the Gospel also continually to them that loath and striue against their sinnes though they sinne greeuously Others as though they were galled will say let him keep his text or they will say he is beside his booke as though no text in Scripture reproued sinne and so of all doctrines the doctrine of reproofe and reprehension of sinne is most contemned and least esteemed But let a Preacher preach darke mysteries or prophane speeches or vnprofitable fables or friuolous questions or curious inuentions or odde conceits or braine-sicke dreames and any of these will be more welcome vnto them then reprehension which is most profitable and necessariest of all Balaams Asse neuer spake but once and then he reproued Then if Balaams Asse reproued Balaam how much more ought Balaam to reprooue Num. 22. 28. Asses or such as will be no otherwise then beasts in their behauiour But perswade your selues beloued which is most true though we speake as if we were angry with you and threaten as if we would hurt you and crie against you as if we hated you yet we loue you in the deerest blood we haue and therefore though with persecution we preach the law to leade you to the Gospel we preach iudgement that you may finde mercie wee preach hel to bring you to heauen whatsoeuer how soeuer we preach we doe all to fill your hearts with ioy in beleeuing and hauing made you fruitfull in all good workes present you without spot nay glorious also as a virgin most beautifull to the Lord of all grace glorie Christ Iesus Hitherto we haue heard of Ionah called and charged to cry but what should he cry Indeede it is not expressed in this place But what then Why then the Papists may say that he was charged to crie against them for neglecting their traditions Assuredly they may with as great trueth and as much probabilitie as they doe gather Iohn 16. 12. Ioh. 21. 25. Acts 1. 3. 1. Tim. 6. 20. 2. Tim. 1. 13. and 22. out of diuers places of the new Testament that they ought to be obserued But Ionah hath not left it doubtfull what he was to cry for in the third chapter verse 2. the charge is repeated and thus expressed Goe and proclaime against it the proclamation which I speake vnto thee He was then to cry what God had commanded him O that none would crie but what God had commanded But what did God command him to crie euen that which he afterward cried Yet fortie daies and Niniuie shall be ouerturned Ouerturned yea ancient Niniuie faire Niniuie proud Niniuie must be destroyed No man sits so high but destruction sits aboue him and will fall on all that persist in their defection Iustice would haue come against them before it cried against thē but God the most gratious would haue them cried against that they might cry out woe and alas for their sinnes so preuenting deserued and threatned vengeance for they hearing the crie of God cried out themselues and that in great humbling to God so God heard their cries and tooke pitty on them Isaiah was commanded to cry and he cried All slesh is grasse yea all the glorie thereof like the flower of the Isa 40. 6. 7. field The grasse withereth the flower fadeth when the spirit of Iehouah bloweth on it Surelie the people is grasse Iohn was commanded in the spirit of Eliah to cry and he cried Prepare the way of Iehouah make euen in the desert a path for our God And Ionah was Esay 40. Matth. 3. 3. Ion. 1. 2. 3. 2. Isa 58. 1. commanded to cry and he cried Yet fortie daies and Niniuie shall be ouerthrowne And all the Preachers of the gospell are commaunded to cry and that aloude not to spare to lift vp their voyces like a trumpet to shew Gods people their defections and the house of Iacob their sinnes And then also if they thereby be truely humbled to proclaime vnto them their iniquitie is pardoned they haue receiued at the hand of Iehouah double for all their sinnes It is required of the disposers of Gods Isa 40. 4. 1. Cor. 4. 4. secrets that they be found faithfull And woe to them that loue the pleasures of sinne more then the glory of God For their wickednesse is come vp before me For c. We haue heard the charge it selfe giuen heauy newes that a most beautifull Citie a most rich Citie a most populous Citie and a most ancient Citie must be ouerturned and that within fortie daies what is the cause Their wickednes is come vp before me as if hee had said Niniuie hath followed her lusts and forgotten the Law to satisfie her desires she hath notoriously dispised her soueraigne defied all wel-meaning all good dealing and this is known to the iust Iudge and at his barre she is arraigned and her accusers stand crying at the barre for iustice Therefore she may no longer bee forborne execution of iustice must needs be done let her therefore prepare for death and that she may Cry against her yet fortie daies and Niniuie shall be ouerturned for their wickednesse is come vp before me When God sends criers vnto a people it is a most manifest signe that their wickednes is come vp before him which doth cause him thus to exclaime thus to cry out against them And then if they will not repent whilest Gods criers continue crying amongst
loiter more willingly from feare and paine to securitie and pleasure therefore seldome or neuer doth he in tempting omit this enticement It will be for thy ease for thy delight for thy securitie Therefore he saith to Ionah not onely the way to Niniuie is long and dangerous thy person and message odious therfore thy trauell must needs bee tedious thy troubles greeuous c. but also thy passage to Tarshish is easie thy security there sure thy pleasures many thy delight great Yea with this he assaulted Christ himselfe saying when hee had shewed him all the Kingdomes of the world and the glory of them All these will I giue thee c. And doth thee not so also euermore perswade vs this good this gaine this glory this pleasure or this preferment shalt thou get if thou thus and thus deale if if you will leaue the society the exercises the profession and the company of the children of God and serue me and worship mee preferring your couetousnesse your pride your lust before the seruice of God not being scrupulous to sweare for your gaine sometime nor to lie for your pleasure nor to cosen for riches then you shall not onely be free from the reproches wherewith professors are ouerwhelmed and the contempt wherein they are had and the manie heauy sighes that they are forced to fetch but you shall also grow rich soone and so be well thought of and had in estimation and by your wealth liue in ease with al pleasure procuring euery thing your at hearts desire Thus Ionah which way soeuer he looke is tempted on euery side tempted to sinne but not constrained vrged but not compelled for the diuell hath power to entice to sinne mightily but not to enforce violently Loe then comforts against this crosse Our enemies power is in our Fathers hands and our Sauiour prayeth for vs being most glorious in heauen as he on earth 1. Coâ—r 10. 11. Rom. 8. 34. Luke 22. 32. in humility prayed for his Apostles that our faith faile vs not Bebold then also encouragements to fight against his assaults yet see a greater God hath giuen vs this priuiledge this promise haue we Resist the Diuel and he shall flie from you Iam. 4. 7. God hath giuen no promise to the diuell that if he perswade hee shall preuaile if he vrge we shall yeelde what a shame is it to vs that Sathan is bolder in tempting then we are in resisting Is he not O that we could truely say wee are as wise as watchfull as thoughtfull to withstand Sathans assaults as he is wilie vigilant and more then diligent to assault But what doth Ionah thus as we haue heard by sathan assaulted resists he as manfully as the Diuell hath set on him cunningly Alas no Ionah is no sooner disswaded to goe to Niniuie then he is perswaded it were great folly he is as soone resolued as he is enticed to go to Tarshish thinking it a chiefe point of wisedome to seek his owne ease his owne pleasure his owne sweet delight One said God spake and it was done Surely the diuel Gen. 1. also but speakes and it is done for he is such an orator as no man can deny him For who can gaine say him that counselleth as a special friend yea as a most holy Angell For he would seeme to be not onely carefull both to keep vs from danger and the feare thereof and to procure vs all good but also iealous of Gods honour fearefull lest men should despise the word and so their owne saluaton therfore he made not onely Gehezi to take a 2. King 5. 22. 2. Tim. 4. 10. Mat. 26. 48. 70 Gen. 11. 8. Gen. 27. 13. 14. 18. Gen. 16. 43. bribe Demas to embrace the world Iudas to betray his Master and Caine to kill his brother but Rebecca also to perswade Iacob and Iacob to be bold by lying to seeke for the blessing yea the Father of the faithfull to commit folly with Hagar as here Ionah not to go to Niniuie lest forsooth God should not be true of his word as if what to man seemeth vnlikely that were with God impossible and he could not be righteous vnlesse wee shew our selues impious We haue seene some causes why sathan assaulting vs hee straight ouercomes vs would any see more we haue bin taught his power malice watchfulnes and wilines we haue most fit and sufficient armor ministred vnto vs we haue a promise that resisting him we shall make him Eph. 6. 11. 14. 10. 16. Iam. 5. 7. flie from vs. Therefore surely we forget our enemie or neglect the promise or take not to vs the whole armour of God specially we like not that armor-bearer humility submit your selues to God and then resist he diuell But moreouer we to our owne certaine perill and paine so corrupt are we ioyne with our enemy more readie to doe his will then Gods word Hereof no doubt foolish Balaam asked againe and againe till God seeing him bent contrary to that he had bin commanded left him Num. 22. 8. 19. 21. vnto himselfe and so Balaam went on in sinne so long till the very Asse whereon he rode was constrained to reproue him But would you howsoeuer Sathan temmpts not be turned by him out of the right way howsoeuer he fights not to be foiled by him would you haue him soone to forsake you speedily to flie from you that is would you resist him for when wee begin valiantly to fight then forthwith he flies Consider how shamefull a thing it is being euery way encouraged to fight to shew our selues most dastardly cowards how dishonourable to our captaine Christ to yeeld the victory to his deadly enemy how dangerous for our selues knowing he is a most cruell tyrant and most inexorable that most glorieth and specially takes pleasure in putting vs to the most bitter paine that possibly he can and therefore hauing ouercome vs will for euer continue vs in most intollerable torments Yea saiest thou these things considered would make vs couragiously to encounter with Sathan and so soone to conquer him but he comes often as a friend as an Angell of light how shall I then descry him that I may desie him and make him to flie How here indeed is the hardnes for he is a notable hypocrite the father of hypocrisie But thou must follow the counsell of Christ Reu. 3. 18. Thou must anoint thine eies with the eye salue that thou maiest see Thou must be fulfilled with the knowledge of Gods will in all wisedom spirituall vnderstanding moreouer watch Col. 1. 9. 1. Pet. 5. 8. and be sober And lastly consider first how thy spirit is affected for our owne spirit by nature euermore hard if it be moued by the spirit of God is sad soft and flow but if it be moued by the spirit of Sathan is proud boysterous and stout then whether that which thou art indeed mooued to be good or euill if good that is