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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
master_n	abraham_n	servant_n	time_n	367	4	3.6686	3	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A02741	Tvvo treatises I. The purchase of Grace, shewing the excellency of Christ, and the graces of his spirit. II. The soules delight in Gods tabernacles, shewing the excellency of time, spent in duties of God's solemne service. Instances in the chiefe, viz. prayer, word, and sacraments. Motives and directions for right performance. Lastly, the chiefe usurpers of time discovered, with apt remedies against each of them. The contents of the booke are methodically exprest in the margent, which to the diligent reader may serve instead of a table. By William Harrison, Mr. of Arts, and minister of the Gospell at Canwicke neare Lincolne.	Harrison, William, minister at Canwick.	1639 (1639)	STC 12871; ESTC S103879	208,196	400

night or a Masters returne home who hath set no time but commandeth his servants to watch Watch ye therefore for yee know neither the day nor the houre saith our Saviour Mat. 25. 13. But blessed is that servant whom his Lord when he commeth shall finde so doing watching and working with all diligence Luk. 12. 43. Thirdly After wee once begin to serve God we had need to use all diligence and spend as much time as wee can that way because wee are long before wee spend any time at all to this purpose Some stay twenty thirtie fortie fiftie yeares before they doe God any service at all to any purpose all such had need to worke hard when they have once begun Yea and such as begin betime they stay long before they enter our child-hood and youth are a great part spent before we enter into Gods Vineyard Matth. 20. 1. There were some that began early in the morning but it was the third houre our nine of the clocke before any more came verse 3. and some stayd untill the eleventh houre five a clocke at night an houre before Sun set and therefore such had need to worke hard Generally we spend time for our selves for the world for Sathan before we spend any time for God for ye are all the children of wrath by nature Ephes. 2. 3. serving diverse lusts and pleasures Tit. 2. 3. So that for the most part it is long before we serve God Marke that speech of the Apostle to this purpose Romans 13. 11. And that knowing the time that it is high time to awake out of sleepe It is high time to serve God for the night is farre spent that is the time of this life is farre spent it is high time to fall to worke Now lay these together the time of this life is the only time that wee have to serve God it is very short and uncertaine at best and withall it is very farre spent before we begin therefore wee had need to ply our worke with all diligence This is the Apostles chiefe Argument to perswade us to spend much time in Gods service or according to his will 2 Peter 4. 2. That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men but to the will of God Why so see verse 3. For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles i. e. it is enough and too much alas that wee have mispent so much of our precious time already it is now high time to redeeme time to spend in Gods service Hee that hath but a small stocke in all and mispendeth some part of that too had need to bee sparing and frugall with that which is left here is our very case our time that we have to spend in Gods service the whole time of our life is but short wee have mispent much already wee had need to spend all the rest if it were possible wholly in Gods service Fourth Motive to perswade us to spend much time in Gods service is drawne from the consideration of the excellency of that Master whom wee serve Behold Lord how that I am thy servant saith David Psalme 116. 16. Ye call me Lord and Master saith our Saviour and yee say well for so I am Iohn 13. 23. Yea Lord so thou art absolutely the best and most incomparable Master in heaven and earth This I will strive and endeavour to manifest in sundry particulars which will be so many severall Motives to perswade us to spend as much time in his service as we can possibly First Our heavenly Master is a most potent or Almightie Master able to defend us from dangers able to provide for us he is God Almightie as we professe in the first Article of our Creede So 2 Cor. 6. last Thus God himselfe encourageth Abraham to doe him service Gen. 17. 1. I am God Almightie or the Strong God walke before me and be upright He is able to bring to passe what he pleaseth in heaven or earth Psal. 115. 3. Is any thing too hard for the Lord sayth God himselfe Gen. 18. 14. He is able to defend us from all dangers that may befall us and to supply us with all necessaries so that we neede feare nothing if we be carefull to serve God Gen. 15. 1. Feare not Abraham I am thy Shield therefore nothing can hurt thee and I am thy exceeding great reward therefore make no question of thy wages let no man thinke or say it is in vaine to serve God for we serve such a Master as is both able to defend us and pay us our wages to the full that we neede never repent our worke For he is able to doe for us exceeding abundantly above all that we can aske or thinke sayth the Apostle Ephes 3. 20. there is his power This made the three noble Iewes sticke to Gods service they would by no meanes change their Master because they knew his power and abilitie both to defend and reward them Dan. 3. 17. Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us and he will deliver us out of thine hands O King So that if we serve this Master we neede feare nothing in regard of his power Secondly He is such a Master as is alwayes present with his servants to defend them If a Master be able yet what are his servants better for him in his absence ●ow our heavenly Master is ever present 〈◊〉 us to defend us his eye is continually 〈…〉 Psal. 33. 9. Thus God encouraget●● ●●uah Chap. 1. 9. Have not I commanded thee Be strong and of a good courage be not afraid c. for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest Now if God be with us we need not feare who are or can be against us Rom. 8. 31. Especially we never set our selves to serve God in the duties of his publike worship and service but he is present with us in a speciall manner Mat. 18. 20. Mat. 28. 20. Loe I am with you alwayes unto the end of the world This is an excellent argument to perswade us to spend much time in Gods service how difficult or dangerous soever it may seeme to be because wee may be sure of Gods presence with us Isa. 41. 10. Feare not I am with thee be not afraid I am thy God I will helpe thee c. What if we passe through the fire or water afflictions yet we need feare nothing so long as wee are sure the Lord is with us Now see what a promise wee have for this Isa. 43. 1 2. Feare not sayth the Lord I have redeemed thee thou art mine i. e. thou art my servant by purchase or redemption What then Ver. 2. When thou passest through the waters I will be with thee and through the rivers they shall not overflow thee when thou walkest through the fire thou shalt not be burnt neither shall the flame

kindle upon thee neither fire nor water can hurt us if God be with us This made Ioseph prosper so exceedingly in all his dangers He was first cast into a pit then sold into Aegypt then cast into prison put in the Stockes the iron entred even into his soule but in all these extremities the Lord was with him Gen. 39. 21. Yea and at last made him Ruler of all Aegypt This made Hezekiah prosper so exceedingly in all his enterprises see how the Text reporteth it in 2 Kings 18. 5. He trusted in the Lord God of Israel and clave unto him and served him ver 6. Then see the event ver 7. And the Lord was with him and prospered him whithersoever he went and therefore see how he could encourage his Souldiers against the invasion of the King of Assyria in 2 Chron. 32. 7. Be not afraid of the King of Assyria be strong and couragious for notwithstanding all his multitude there is more with us then with him Now see how he proveth it ver 8. both by way of confession and by direct affirmation With him indeede is an arme of flesh but with us is the Lord our God to helpe us and to fight our battells Yea thus the Lord encouraged Paul to an unwearied painfulnes in preaching the Gospel Act. 18. 9 10. Be not afraid but speake and hold not thy peace for I am with thee and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee This will make a man couragious even in the strongest dangers in the very jawes of death Psal. 23. 4. Though I walke through the valley of the shadow of death I will feare no evill sayth holy David for thou art with me thy rod and thy staffe they comfort me Let us therefore be couragious and abundant in the duties of Gods service for the Lord is ever present with us to defend us and to provide for us This is Davids reason in the verse immediately following the words of this Text ver 11. of this Psalme For the Lord is a Sunne and a Shield he will give grace and glorie and no good thing will he withhold from them that walke uprightly in his service So Jer. 1. 19. Thirdly He is a pitifull and tender-hearted Master full of compassion marvellous readie to lay to heart the afflictions of his servants In all their afflictions he is afflicted Isa. 53. 9. Excellent to this purpose is that of St. Iames 5. 11. Yee have heard of the patience of Iob and ye know the end of the Lord that the Lord is very pitifull and of tender mercie As if he had sayd yee may clearely see in Gods dealings with Iob that in conclusion he approved himselfe to be very pitifull and of tender mercie A strange place to this purpose is that we have Judges 10. Though he seemeth to reject them and hold them at staves end for a time yet upon their repentance see how sweetly he approveth and manifesteth his compassion towards them Ver. 16. They put away their strange gods and served the Lord and his soule was grieved for the miseries of Israel though he may shut up his bowells for a time yet at last his compassions will finde a vent his very soule is grieved for our miseries So Ier. 31. 18 19 20. Consider the estate of repenting Ephraim the Lord seemeth angry with him and speaketh against him yea and it may be smiteth him too but no sooner doth Ephraim truely repent and smite upon his thigh and fall out with his sinnes but then see how God is affected with him when he thinketh worst of himselfe then God thinketh the best of him see ver 20. Is Ephraim my deare childe It may be Ephraim thought himselfe scarce worthy the name of a servant and yet God even then calleth him his childe yea his deare childe Well how shall this appeare Surely by the Lords gracious pity and compassion towards him now he is sorry for his sinnes God is sorry that he did so much as speake against him For since I spake against him I doe earnestly remember him still therefore my bowells are troubled for him I will surely have mercie on him sayth the lord Oh who would not serve such a Master that is thus full of compassion thus readie to lay to heart and be affected with his servants miseries yea his very bowells are troubled his soule is grieved for them O let vs be plentifull and abundant in the service of such a Master Fourthly The Lord is readie to manifest this tender mercie and this gracious disposition of his in pardoning the wants and weaknesses of his servants in subduing their corruptions and in keeping covenant with them I must lap up many things together because I have not time to expresse them severally First He is sinne-pardoning Master yea he alone can doe it no man hath power on earth to forgive sinnes but God alone Mat. 9. Blesse the Lord O my soule forget not all his benefits who forgiveth thine iniquities and healeth thy diseases sayth David Psal. 103. 2 3. Here is a sin-pardoning Master yea he taketh no notice many times of our infirmities but graciously passeth by the weaknesses of his servants Numb 23. 21. He hath not beheld iniquitie in Iacob he hath not seene perversenesse in Israel or if he doe see he freely forgiveth it and spareth his servants as a man spareth his own sonne that serveth him Mal. 3. 17. And then he is a Covenant-keeping Master All his promises are yea and Amen 2 Cor. 1. 20. Daniel giveth him this title Dan. 9. 4. O God the great and terrible that keepest Covenant with them that love thee he is alwayes as good as his word and often better Faithfull is he that hath called you 1 Thes. 5. 24. namely to his service he will keepe Covenant with you Nay see a place that hath all these together in it Mich. 7. 18 19. Who is a God like unto thee The Lord is a most incomparable Master there is none like him in all the world Why so Surely for those three things whereof I have now spoken first He is a sinne-pardoning secondly a corruption-killing thirdly a Covenant-keeping Master See all these in this Text That pardonest iniquitie and passeth by transgression c. there is a sinne-pardoning Master secondly He will subdue our iniquities and heale our back-slidings as Hosea 14 4. there is a corruption-killing Master Thou wilt performe thy truth to Iacob and mercie to Abraham and therefore he is a Covenant-keeping Master If this be rightly considered this will make us spend much time in Gods service Fifthly The Lord is a soule-saving Master yea he alone is able to doe this no Master under heaven is able to doe this An earthly Master may be kinde to his servants and give them many good things but he cannot save or redeeme their soules he must let that alone for ever Even they that trust in their wealth and boast themselves in the

and faithfull servant because thou hast beene faithfull in a few things have thou authoritie over ten Cities Yea who must have the odde Talent but he that had ten before Ver. 24. And he sayd unto them that stood by Take the Talent from him and give it to him that hath ten Talents They said unto him v. 25. Lord he hath ten Talents i.e. he hath enough alreadie now observe the answer ver 26. For unto every one that hath shall be given c. He that hath most grace to spend most time in Gods service on earth shall have the greatest reward and the most glorie in heaven Oh therefore beginne betime to get grace that thou mayest have the more glorie in heaven Fifthly The sooner we beginne to spend time in Gods service the sooner shall we beginne to requite our Parents love and to affoord them comfort The childes well-doing is the Parents comfort Yea many Parents that are not so religious themselves rejoyce yet to see their children zealous and forward that way A wise Sonne maketh a glad Father sayth Salomon Prov. 10. 1. A wise Sonne that is a religious childe one that setteth himselfe to serve God in his youth he rejoyceth the heart of his Father But a foolish Sonne that is an ungodly Impe is the griefe of his Mother Vngodly children like a viperous brood do eate out the very hearts of their parents and doe stab their hearts with sorrow and heavinesse It is a strange speech of Salomon 17. 21. He that begetteth a foole that is an ungracious child for that is Salomons foole doth it to his sorrow and the Father of a foole hath no joy I marvaile not more that old Ely brake his necke with his fall at last then that his sonnes had not broken his heart long before with their vicious courses Oh let us therefore serve God in our youth that it may be a comfort to our Parents in their age Here is the fifth Benefit But besides the Vtilitie let us in the second place consider the Necessitie For besides the expresse charge that wee have from God to this purpose see the dangerous consequences and inconveniences that follow upon the neglect of it So that wee must needs doe it or we must doe worse Now the mischiefes that doe especially flow from the neglect of Gods service in our youth are principally five First If we doe not serve God in our youth we shall serve worse Masters sc. the Devill the world and the flesh He that serveth not God must serve the Devill it is unavoydable observe it Ephes. 2. 2. Wherein in times past ye walked according to the course of this world according to the Prince of the power of the ayre the Spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience But how came this to passe See Ver. 12. At that time yee were without Christ c. without God in the world He that is without Christ and without God will not nor cannot be without his lustes Vntill we become the servants of God we are all the vassals of Sathan and slaves to our own filthy lustes Titus 3. 3. For wee our selves were sometimes foolish serving diverse lustes and pleasures c. Loe our woefull Masters untill we set our selves to serve God Living in malice hatefull and hating one another sayth the Apostle there Yee cannot serve God and Mammon sayth our blessed Saviour Mat. 6. 24. As if he had sayd Yee cannot but serve one of them He that committeth sinne is the servant of sinne a wofull Master See what lamentable wages such Masters usually give their servants in the end The wages of sinne is death sayth the Apostle Rom. 6. 23. See then how necessary it is to serve God and that speedily for till then we must of necessitie serve wofull Masters for wofull wages But O the happinesse of such as spend time in Gods service Ver. 22. But now being made free from sinne and become the servants of God yee have your fruit unto holinesse and the end everlasting life There is excellent wages Secondly The longer we stay before we set our selves to serve God the more difficult and hard we shall finde it if we doe returne to God at last He that posteth the contrary way is still the farther from his journeys end and will have the lesse minde to returne Continuance in evill breedeth a custome in sinne which is not left without great difficultie Ier. 13. 23. Can the Aethiopian change his skinne or the Leopard his spots then may yee also doe good that are accustomed to doe evill It is exceeding difficult When a man hath gotten a custome of swearing or drinking or gameing how hard is it for such to be reclaimed A twig is easily dealt with which is immoveable if it grow till it become a tree How tractable was Joash in his youth but in his age intolerable He that was guided by Jehojada in his youth killed his sonne Zachariah afterward Much more he that is bad in his youth may be worse in his age Thirdly How just is it with God to reject them in their age which have rejected his service in their youth Men thinke any thing is good enough for God the rotten old age the blinde and the lame and the sicke but how much they are deceived the Prophet sheweth Mal. 1. Offer it now to thy Prince or thy Governour sayth the Lord would he accept it at thy hands Suppose that a Souldier should spend all his youth in service against his Soveraigne and then in his old age should offer his service to his Prince How justly might such a base offer be rejected Why should we spend the flower of our youth in vanitie and yet thinke that God should accept of us in our age He that runneth from God the greatest part of his life God may hide himselfe from him at his death witnesse Spira and the Kentish Apothecarie how wofully did God hide himselfe from them in death that had neglected his service in their life When the Father seeth the childe readie to play with every toy or feather and not to minde his way he steppeth behinde a bush and hideth himselfe a good while before the childe can finde him so dealeth God with his children Verely thou art a God that hydest thy selfe O God of Israel the Saviour Isa. 45. 15. If Gods children will walke so neare hell mouth the greatest part of their life no marvell if at the time of death the Lord take them by the heeles and make them beleeve he will throw them in So I conceive the Lord dealt with Spira and the Apothecarie I love them that love me sayth Wisedome and they that seeke me early shall finde me Pro. 8. 17. To intimate unto us that it is possible for a man to come too late There is a time when God will not be found as is intimated Isa. 55. 6. See an experiment of such as come

of diverse sorts 1. Sort. 1. Such as can finde time for every thing but onely for Gods service 2. Sort. Are such as spend more time in idle pleasures and recreation then in Gods service Remedies against this 1. Remedie 2. Remedie 3. Sort. Are such as stay long before they beginne to spend any time at all that way Simile Antidotes against this Gods command Consider that the time wee have to spend is very uncertaine The longer we are before we beginne the more difficulties wee shall meete withall Consider how just it is for God to reject such as doe turne at last 4. Sort. Such as spend some time in Gods service but not enough 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 The stronger our assurance of salvation Wee shall bring credit to our profession 5. Sort. Such as spend more time in the Devils service then in Gods Preservatives 1. Remedy Whilest we live thus we are children of wrath 2. Remedy God wil not heare their prayers that doe so 3. Remedy All such are at utter enmity with God 4. Remedy Consider that the devill is the worst Master that we can serve 6. Sort. Such as will neither spend Time in Gods service themselves nor suffer others Luk. 11 52. See the wofull estate of all such Guilty of the bloud of soules Ezec. 33. 6. A sinne of a large extent reacheth up unto heaven The wrath of God is ready to fall on them to the uttermost A fearefull signe of reprobation A signe they belong to Sathan Vse 3. sc. For Exhortation to sundry duties especially three 1. Duty That wee begin betimes and set our selves ever speedily to serve the Lord and without all delay Motives 2. 1. The utility as appeareth in sundry benefits which flow from hence Benefit The Lord taketh it exceeding kindly if we set our selves to serve him in our youth 2. Benefit It will prevent the Lustes of youth which will else lie heavie upon us in our age Service of sinne bitternesse in the end 3. Benefit Quo semel est imbuta c. It will make us constant in Gods service in our age 4. Benefit The more comfort for the present the more glory hereafter 5. Benefit Hereby wee shall comfort our parents and requite their love 2. Motive 2 Necessity Eccles. 12. 1. Sundry mischiefs which flow from the neglect of it 1 Mischiefe Wee shall serve worse Masters 2 Mischiefe The more difficult Qui non est hodie cras minus aptus erit 3. Mischiefe God hath just cause to reject such in their age See their Histories Mr. Harris Abs. Funerall Mischiefe As none can be saved except he repent● so none can repent unlesse it be given him from above Men may dye three wayes 1 Suddenly 2 Sullenly 3 Desperately Qui dat misericordium poenitentibus non dat semper poenitentium petentibus Aug. Vt vera poenitentia nunqu●m est sera sic sera poenitentia raro vera Bis dat qui citò dat Sen. Proverbe 5. Mischiefe Bringeth Gods wrath upon children Vse of Exhortation 2. Branch sc. To bee constant in Gods service when wee have once begun Motives Which are threefold The equity God is our Master and wee his servants many wayes Wee are Gods servants by profession 2 His sworne servants We are his made servants His bought servants or by way of Redemption Simile We are his hired servants Psal. 105. last 2. Motive From the Vtilitie as appeareth by sundry benefits 1. Benefit It will assure us 〈◊〉 when wee dye we shall goe to heaven 2. Benefit This will be our crowne of glorie in our age 3. Benefit This will also assure us that we 〈◊〉 Christs Disciples 4. Benefit That God will heare our prayers 5. Benefit All such shall bee taught of God and directed in his truth 6. Benefit This will afford us comfort in the greatest troubles that can befall us yea even in death 3. Motive The neces●itie of it Constancie in Gods service is necessarie Arguments Els we loose all the pains we have taken in Gods service heretofore Danger of backsliding It is a thing most odious and hatefull to God Necessary to bee constant because the devill seeketh continually to doe us mischiefe and bring us backe to his kingdome Meanes Generall A right disposition of the heart shewing it selfe In sundry specialties 2. Speciall 1 It must bee a faithfull or beleeving heart A loving heart An heart fraught with the true feare of God A sound and upright or a good and an honest heart An heart yeelding obedience in lesser matters Dike Deceitf of heart page 191. Lastly an heart ●tored with courage and pa●●ence 3. Dutie To spend as much time in Gods service as wee can possibly Motives Time present is the only time for this purpose 2. Motive This time is short Ars longa vitabrevis 3. Motive Wee stay long before we begin 4. Motive The excellency of our Master Almightie Master able to defend his servants and to provide for them He is ever present with them Very pitifull and full of compassion Readie to pardon the wants and weaknesses of his servants A soule-saving Master Accepteth the will for the deed Helpeth his servants in doing their duties to him A good pay-master and bountifull Taketh pleasure in their prosperitie Heareth p●avers and revengeth the wrongs and injuries that are offered to them * Rom. 10. Meanes And directions how to spend much time in Gods service 1. An heart rightly fitted and prepared for this purpose 2. Direction Sc. Constancy in the private duties and exercises of Religion 3. Direction 1. Beginne each day with the private duties of Religion 4 Direction Wee must labour to have our hearts fraught with the love of Gods house and Ordinances Motives To perswade us to the love of Gods house and Ordinances 2. Motive The worth and excellencie of Gods Ordinances 3. Motive The singular use and benefit of them 1. Benefit Of the Word preached it is the Word of God 2. Benefit The Word of Health 3. Benefit The Word of Comfort 4. Benefit The Word of spirituall consolation 5. Benefit The word of eternall life and salvation 5. Direction Redeeme the Time Whately Redemption of Time All mispenders of time must be suppressed Let. 1. 1. Sinnc Quest. Resp. 1. Remedy Sinne must be discovered and found out 2. Remedy Smite it with the two edged sword of the Spirit Heb. 4. 12. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Super ●mnem gladinm ancipitem 3. Remedie Fl●e unto Heaven for a●de b●●ervent praye● Whateley's Husbandry pag. 8 Ibid. p. 8● M. Bernard Isle of man pag. 165. 4. Remedie 1. Medit. Iam. 1. 21. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2. Medit. 3. Medit. 2. Let. Excessive sleeping or sluggishnes 1. Rule or Remedie To habituate or accustome our selves to timely rising 2. Rule or Remedy Take heede of immoderate use of the Creatures 3. Let. Immoderate carking and caring for the things of this life The great hurt that this thiefe will doe us It keepeth us from the performance of holy duties Or

thus wee are children of wrath and in the state of nature as the Apostle sheweth Ephes. 2. 3. All the while wee live thus we can looke for nothing but the wrath of God to come upon us as it doth upon the children of disobedience as the Apostle speakes Ephesians 5. 6. The wrath of God is even revealed from heaven against such Romans 1. 18. See a notable place for this purpose in Romans 2. 8 9. But unto them that are contentious and doe not obey the truth but obey unrighteousnesse marke the condition of all such indignation and wrath tribulation and anguish upon every soule of man that doth evill upon the Iew first c. See here the estate of such as spend time in the devils service instead of Gods Secondly Consider that all such have cause to feare that God will deny to helpe and succour them when they stand in the most need of it and seeke for it with greatest earnestnesse If I regard wickednesse in my heart God will not heare my prayer saith David Psalme 66. 18. Yea we know that God heareth not sinners saith the blind man Iohn 9. 31. and therefore if God doe not heare wicked mens prayers in their extremities but lets them perish in their sinnes it is not for want of power or mercy in God but onely for want of piety and repentance in them according to that excellent place which wee have to this purpose in Isa. 59. 1 2. Behold the Lords hand is not shortned that he cannot save neither is his eare heavie that he cannot heare where is the fault then that you shall see in the next verse verse 2. But your iniquities have separated betweene you and your God and your sinnes have hid his face from you that he cannot heare Oh the wofull estate of all such as cry unto God in their extremities and are nothing at all regarded Yea God hath told them already that hee will not heare them observe it Proverbs 1. 28 29. Then shall they call c. that is in their extremity but I will not answer they shall seeke me early but they shall not finde mee because they hated knowledge and did not choose the feare of the Lord. Yea the Lord hath sent them word before hand that he will not helpe them Iob 8. 20. Behold God will not cast away a perfect man neither will hee helpe the evill doers saith the Text there O the wofull estate of all such when sicknesse comm●n or troubles come or death then they are glad to cry out Helpe Lord or else I am damned for ever Not I may the Lord say I will helpe no evill doers such as you are and therefore thou art now like to perish and dye in thy sinnes Iohn 8. 20. Yea the Lord is so farre from regarding the prayers of such people in such cases that he rather refuseth them see upon what warrant I speake it Proverbs 15. 8. The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination unto the Lord. The sacrifice what is that Surely his prayers as appeareth by the Antithesis in that place for so it followeth But the prayer of the upright is his delight God hateth and abhorreth the prayers of all such as live in their sinnes and hate to be reformed Hee that turneh away his eare from hearing the Law even that mans prayer shall be an abomination saith the Wiseman Prov. 28. 9. O wofull estate If men had but eyes to see it and hearts to consider it aright the Lord takes no pleasure in the very best services which they can doe him And no marvell for in the third place So long as men live in their sinnes without repentance and spend time in the Devils service instead of Gods there is a direct and an expresse enmity betweene God and them If when we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Sonne saith the Apostle Romans 5. 10. Yea especially those that live and goe on in their sinnes have just cause to be assured of this and that they shall smart for it accordingly See a place or two to this purpose Psalme 37. 20. But the wicked shall perish why so surely because they are Gods enemies And the enemies of the Lord shall be as the fat of Lambes easily melted into smoke shall they consume away Where we see first that the wicked are Gods enemies Secondly that they shall consume away like smoke and the fat of Lambes So in that Psalme for the Sabbath Psalme 92. 9. For lo thine enemies O Lord lo thine enemies shall perish and who are they that yee shall see in the same verse All the workers of iniquity shall bee scattered where we see both the description and the condition of wicked men They are Gods enemies there is their description dissipation and perishing there is their condition But above all to this purpose is that of Psalme 68. 21. God will surely wound the head of his enemies and the hairie scalpe of such a one as goeth on still in his trespasses O consider this ye that forget God and live in your sinnes lest God teare you in peeces and there be none to deliver you Psal. 50. 22. What estate can be more dangerous then an estate of enmity against God The adversaries of the Lord shall bee broken in peeces out of heaven shall be thunder upon them saith Hannah Samuel's Mother 1 Samuel 2. 10. Mee thinkes I have said enough if effectuall to afright men out of their service of sinne and Sathan especially if I shall adde but one thing more which shall be the fourth and the last remedy that I purpose to propound Fourthly Therefore consider that the devill is the worst master that any man can serve and giveth the most wofull and accursed wages What baser Master then the devill that great red Dragon Revelations 12. 12. That roaring Lion that goeth about continually seeking whom he may devoure A murtherer from the very beginning Iohn 8. 44. and the most damnable liar that ever was yea the very father thereof What baser Master then the Devill Yea and see what base wages he giveth Romans 6. 23. For the wages of sinne is death spirituall temporall and eternall both the first and the second death They that spend time in the devils service must goe to hell with the Devill for company Psalme 9. 17. The wicked shall be turned into hell and all that forget God They are utterly deceived that thinke to live like devils upon earth and yet for all that become glorious Saints in heaven when they dye that thinke they shall get into the new Ierusalem hereafter without being New Creatures for the present No no God hath revealed the contrary already as is evident Revel 22. 14 15. Blessed are they that doe his Commandements that spend time in Gods service for they shall enter in through the gates into the City of the new Ierusalem But without shall be dogges and Inchanters and Whoremongers and