them If Dauid were brought to such a strait that he was euen at his wits ende and in exceeding great anguish for doing one thing which in mans reason might seeme very lawfull Oh what horrible terrors shall seaze on their soules who doe continuallie rush vpon a multitude of hainous offences which all the world crieth out against especially when they shall be called to answere not before Gad as Dauid was but before the Maiestie of the great Lord of heauen and earth not for one sinne but for all their sinnes not to endure three dayes punishment in mercie but euerlasting woe and miserie and that in iudgement and heauie displeasure Dauid had great sorrow indeed for the offences which he committed yet no more then hee should haue how then doe they thinke to escape that are not wrought vpon at all with any remorse for their grieuous transgressions but are euen as a lumpe of dead flesh altogether insensible of any stroke of God that is threatned or inflicted vpon themselues or others Verse 10. Doct. 3 I haue sinned exceedingly Now followeth the second step vnto sound repentance Confession of sinne must folowe griefe for sinne namely a true full particular and hearty confession of his sinne that so wounded his heart which all that would obtaine remission of their sinnes must be carefull to bring before the Lord as Dauid did But this point hath hene more largely handled elsewhere in M. Dods Serm. on Prou. 28. Doct. 2. I beseech thee take away the trespasse of thy seruant c. This is the third worke of repentance viz that he craueth pardon for his fault and that is the next point that with confession of our sinnes Doct. 4 we must alwaies ioyne requests vnto God for the pardoning of the same so doth Dauid in this place as also Psal Asking pardō must be ioyned with confession Luk. 18.13 Daniel 9.19 Nehem. 9. 51 so doth the Publican Lord be mercifull vnto me a sinner and in a word so doth Daniel Nehemia and the rest of Gods seruants as may be seene in their seuerall confessions And for incouragement vnto the performance of this dutie we haue 1 First the name of God which is to pardon iniquitie Exod. 34. transgression and sinne euen all without exception great or small if we repent for them they shall be pardoned if we acknowledge our miserie we shall assuredly finde Gods mercy 2 Secondly we haue the couenant of God Ezeck 36. that he will wash vs from all our filthinesse by powring the bloud of his sonne vpon our sinfull soules 3 Thirdly Mat. 1. we haue the name of Christ to incite and moue vs to become suters for a pardon for he is called Iesus because it is his office to saue his people from their sinnes This Doctrine serueth First for the confutation of the Papists Vse 1 who clog mens consciences and lay on them heauie and yet vnnecessarie burdens enioyning them if they would get remission of their sinnes to goe in pilgrimage to this or that place to pray to this or that Saint to make some satisfaction to God c as if they should finde mercie any where rather then by seeking it at Gods hands and they speed accordingly for whereas Dauid went vnto the Lord for fauour and obtained it they haue still vnsetled hearts and restles consciences or hard hearts and benummed consciences neuer getting any true peace or sound comfort in the assurance of their reconciliation with the Lord. 2 Secondly Vse 2 for reproofe of those whose offences are very many and very grieuous and they see and acknowledge so much and yet will they not be so presumptuous as they tearme it to expect pardon for the same indeed they thinke it fit for such holy men as Dauid was to aske and looke for mercy from the Lord but for themselues they are such hainous offenders that they dare not doe so neither can they conceiue any hope to speed well if they should doe so But why should we put in conditions where God doth not and as it were interline Gods couenant doth not he promise without any exception 1. Ioh. 1.9 that if we confesse our sinnes he is faithfull and iust to forgiue vs our sinnes and to cleanse vs from all vnrighteousnesse It is therefore a great fault to thinke that any hath more abundance of sinne then God hath of mercy to forgiue it Thirdly Vse 3 heere is an vse of instruction that we should be very importunate for the obtaining of Gods fauour in the pardoning of our sinnes which earnestnes that we may attaine vnto let vs vse these two helpes following How we may attaine to earnestnesse in asking pardon which Dauids example directeth vs vnto First let vs labour that our hearts may thorowly smite vs and that our consciences may euermore checke vs when we doe offend for wheresoeuer there is the checke of conscience it will make the party grow not onely to hartie confession but also to earnest petitions for grace and fauour The greater therefore is their follie who when the Lord doth strike their drowsie consciences for any wickednesse committed by them will presently betake themselues to merry company so by iesting and laughing and drinking and sporting seeke to driue away their melancholie fit as they call it but God meeteth with them accordingly for when they will not take benefit by that mercifull warning which he giueth them they commonly fall to maruellous hardnes of heart and after breake foorth into some horrible sinne which ouerwhelmeth them with shame and confusion Let vs therefore obserue when the Lord smiteth our hearts and with Peter get out of company speedily and lament bitterly that so we may turne the rebukes of our soules into holy requests that the Lord would for giue vs and not enter into iudgement with vs for our grieuous prouocations against his Maiestie Secondly when sinne is so odious vnto vs that our hearts doe condemne vs for it then let vs striue to be perswaded that it is pardonable yea and that it shall be pardoned vnto vs that though we deserue to be throwne out of seruice because we haue dealt so foolishly yet seeing we are Gods seruants he will not goe to extremities with vs but deale as a father with his owne children this ancor of hope we had need still to hold fast by for if we be not in some good measure resolued that we shall finde the Lord gratious and that we our selues are not hypocrites but such as to whom mercy belongeth we shall presently giue ouer prayer for who would seeke vnto a Chirurgion to cure him of whom he is afraid lest he should wound him in that be hath cause and abilitie so to doe Therefore hold this for a firme ground once Gods childe and euer once his seruant and neuer his enemie in which regard we may come with confidence vnto him and say Lord I am vnworthy to be called thy sonne yet
shall befall all impenitent sinners What they are most loth to vndergoe that shall light vpon them and that at vnawares when they least thinke of it and shall continue with them and neuer leaue them till it haue either turned them vnto God or brought them vnto hell the place of all such rebrobate sinners And that we may apply this to the present occasion are there not many that are horribly afraid of the pestilence yea farre more then they are of sinne which bringeth it in so much that they absent themselues from Sermons and from publike prayers lest they should be infected Are there not very many I say that are possessed with such feares Let them looke to it for of all other strokes the pestilence is likely to fall vpon them if it were a sword in the hand of the Pope or of Sathan then it stood them vpon to beware of Gods ordinances but seeing none but Atheists will denie but it is ordered by Gods ouer-ruling hand they take a bad course to escape his stroke for where can they hide themselues but he will finde them out And whither can they flee from his all-seeing presence He can take away the infection where it is and bring it euen in a moment where it is not and therefore goe where they can they goe in continuall danger for where is the sword of God most likely to smite but where he is most displeased and where there is most prophanenesse and greatest contempt of the meanes of saluation therefore if they would escape let them fall downe before the Lord and humble themselues as Dauid did and not be so much afraid of their neighbours that haue the plague as of sinne that brings the plague and runne not so much from the occasion of this sicknesse though all good care must be had that way as from the cause which if we can doe then either God will spare vs and exempt vs from this stroke or else giue vs comfort vnder it and deliuerance from it by life or death making it a meanes vtterly to kill originall sinne which all his ordinances could but onely weaken and who would be afraid of such a cure what child of God would not be more glad to sit on a throne in heauen though he be called thereto by a boysterous messenger than to be in a prison heere on earth to be where he shall be quite freed from sinne and sorrow and temptation and haue all happinesse aboue that which his heart can desire rather than to be continually turmoyled heere in the world and euery day to taste of new tribulations The end of the first Sermon The second Sermon 2. SAMVEL 24.14 c. Verse 14 And Dauid said vnto God I am in a wonderfull strait let vs fall now into the hand of the Lords for his mercies are great and let mee not fall into the hand of man Verse 15. So the Lord sent a Pestilence in Israell from the morning euen to the time appointed and there died of the people from Dan to Beer-sheba seuenty thousand men Verse 16. And when the Angell stretched out his hand vpon Ierusalem the Lord repented of the euill and said to the Angell that destroyed the people It is sufficient hold now thy hand c. Verse 17. And Dauid spake vnto the Lord c. YEE haue alreadie heard of Dauids sinne in numbring of the people of his humiliation confession and crauing of pardon for the same also of the message that was brought vnto him by Gad what offer the Lord made him Namely that hee should haue the choise of his owne rodde the sentence was alreadie past and some one of the three iudgements mentioned Verse 13. must needs light vpon the land yet would God vse as much mildnes as might bee and therefore hee referres the matter vnto him and biddeth him consider and determine which of them hee would most willingly vndergoe Now followe the euents that ensued both vpon the sinne that Dauid committed and the message that God for the same directed vnto him The first whereof was the great distresse wherewith hee was perplexed which he bemoned to the Prophet telling him that he was in a wonderfull strait The second was the choyse that he made Verse 14. absolutely passing ouer the famine without so much as speaking of it as knowing it to bee incomparablie the sharpest scourge of the three for the Scripture faith that they that are slaine by the sword are better then they which are killed with hunger and rather also submitting himselfe to the Pestilence Lament 9. which was more immediately the sword of God from whom he expected mercie and fauour then to the violence and sword of man in whome what else in such a case is to be found but crucltie and fiercenesse The third was the execution of that plague of the pestilence Verse 15. which he had yeelded himselfe vnto which is declared as well by the manner as the minister of it it being in so short a time as in three dayes space dispersed thorough the whole Land from North to South and though not affirmed yet implied from East to West Ierusalem onely excepted as may appeare by the circumstance of the Text and in this time seuenty thousand being destroyed which stroke was inslicted by the hand of an Angell whome God had therevnto appointed as minister and executioner of the same The last was Verse 16. the ceasing and stay of this plague euen then when the stroke was lighting vpon Ierusalem to haue destroyed it And hereof are assigned two causes the one and that the principall was the Commandement of God to whom for our better apprehension of his prouidence is ascribed an humane passion of repentance which properly befalleth not him because hee cannot but doe euery thing absolutely well nor possiblie at any time bee wearie of well-doing neither is hee subiect to perturbations because he is free from all manner of corruptions But hee is said to repent when hee withholdeth that which he condicionallie promiseth or threatneth or desisteth from that which he had begun to doe sithence men many times breake off their proceedings with dislike of the beginnings thereof and their not doing of that which they saide argueth commonly that they are sorrie for saying that which nowe they minde not to doe The other cause yet of an inferiour nature and mouent as wee call it was the prayer of Dauid Verse 17. whereby hee obtained the preseruation of Ierusalem and the rest of the people and herein hee offereth himselfe to be smitten that they might be spared with acknowledgement that hee was the offender and they in this matter altogether innocent Verse 14. And Dauid said I am in a wonderfull strait The Doctrine that hence ariseth is plaine viz. that Sinne brings men into great distresses and into maruellous straits It is the proper nature of wickednesse Doct. 1 to encomber and cast men into perplexities Sinne brings
wisedome that will not submit themselues to be admonished and ordered by the Lord so are they also which are vnwilling to come vnder Gods correcting hand which is indeed of al other most desireable And because the present occasion requireth it it will not be amisse to shew that the pestilence wherewith the Lord hath now visited this Nation is a fauourable and gentle correction and that this sword of the Lord is nothing so terrible as the sword of man would be if he should cause that to be drawne out against vs and that for these reasons First Reasons why the pestilence is a more fauorable stroke then the sword because heerein we may more immediately and cleerely behold Gods hand which is a meanes to draw vs to more speedy and earnest humiliation whereas if we were pursued by the sword of men we should be more distracted sometimes with feares of and greefe for the enemies violence sometimes with hopes either of mercy-from them or of aid from others all which do either vtterly withdraw vs from or much hinder vs in the worke of humiliation Secondly in the time of the pestilence the aduersaries of Religion haue not such matter of insultation as when warres are hote in the Land for then they would triumph in this or the like manner Now these forward men shall pay for it downe they shall all the sorte of them they were wont to brag that God would be their buckler and their shield their refuge and their strong tower of defence but what will become of them now thus would they insult ouer Gods chosen in the time of warre but in the time of this sicknes they themselues are exceedingly afraid euen at their wits ende knowing that hell and destruction gape for them whensoeuer death taketh hold of them whereas Christians are quiet and full of peace ioy in the holy Ghost knowing that if they die they shall go from earth to heauen from a place of miserie to a palace of glorie Thirdly this is a maruellous great mercie that there doth still remaine the face of a Church that the Gospell is preached the Sacraments administred the profession of the truth openly maintained whereas if there were a forraine inuasion or a ciuill mutinie insurrection the vsuall course of the minsterie and of the exercises of religion would be stopped which now is not onely tollerated but commanded Besides now there is a continuance of the state of the common-wealth Lamen 5. whereas when the sword rageth in a land the face of the honourable is not respected the Magistrates authoritie is reckoned a matter of nothing and all lawes must giue place to the wills of violent men Againe in the times of warre there is an vtter subuersion of all meanes of maintenance and comfort we cannot enioy our possessions nor dwell in our houses nor reape the fruits of our labours which now through Gods mercie is farre otherwise And as for our estate so euen for our liues and for our soules the case is better with vs in the time of pestilence then in the time of warres for then all our families wiues children seruants and all may bee barbarously slaine or worse vsed before our eyes or we before theirs and if not so yet they must be left to Idolaters and in danger to be vassalls of sinne and Sathan but now if death come it is nothing so lamentable if life bee graunted it is nothing so dangerous for though we be taken away yet our friends shall remaine with the Saints seruants of God and they that haue bene our Christian frieÌ„ds will be theirs at least there is very great hope of their happinesse both here and hereafter in regard of that liberty of the Gospell which through Gods goodnes is still maintained And therefore great cause haue wee to magnifie the name of God that when our late gracious Queene was taken away the Land must needs bee exercised with some heauie stroke or other that hee then miraculouslie deliuered vs from the violence of the sword of man and smote our Nation with his owne sword Now when this is said to bee a fauourable stroke we must vnderstand that it is so only vnto Gods children not to the wicked concerning whose departure out of this world it is saide that Hell followeth death If they bee not reconciled vnto God but liue and die in their sinnes Reuel 6.8 their case is fearefull And therefore is it a iust hand of God vpon impenitent sinners that they should bee horriblie afraid of that sicknes No sinne nor Sathan himselfe is so much feared of them as the pestilence nay nor Gods wrath it selfe and therefore they care not what foule sinne they commit whereby they are sure to incurre the Lords displeasure so their bodies may escape this plague of God But suppose they doe escape it if they be as full of impiety and iniustice and impurity as they were wont to be the Lord hath seuen times greater plagues behinde Leâ—it 26. and his reuenging hand will be stretched out against them still Therefore let them labour to make a good vse of this to humble themselues and turne from their euill wayes otherwise assuredly some greater punishment will light on their soules or bodies or both Verse 15. The time allotted being welneere speÌ„t the points following were but briefly touched So the Lord sent a pestilence in Israel c. and there died of the people from Dan to Beer-sheba seuenty thousand men Yee heard the cause of this before to wit because Dauid partly through pride and partly through vaine confidence had numbred the people whence this point may be gathered that Doct. 3 God maketh his iudgements sutable to our sinnes Dauid was lifted vp Gods punishments are auswerable to mens sinnes Ioel. 1.5 because hee had so many strong and valient men therefore doth God lessen the number of them So Ioel 1.5 it is said Weepe howle ye drinkers of wine for the new wine shal be pulled from your mouth This was a most iust correction that they should be punished with scarcitie of drinke seeing they had before time so wretchedly abused the same In like sort doth the Lord meete with proud men turning their glory into shame as wee may obserue in Tyrus Isa 23.8 where the question is made Isa 23. Who hath decreed this against Tyrus that crowneth men whose Merchants are Princes whose Chapmen are the Nobles of the world And the answere is made vers 9. The Lord of Hosts hath decreed this to staine the pride of all glorie and to bring to contempt all them that be glorious in the earth So for couetous men they are many times brought to beggarie according to that of the wise man Hee that maketh hast to be rich Prou. shall surely come to pouertie Albeit they vse wonderfull diligence and be exceeding painfull and haue an excellent capacitie and a deepe reach for worldly things
and earnestly in considering what euils wee haue committed against our blessed Sauiour and what he hath done for vs notwithstanding let vs looke vpon him by the eye of faith and see him crucified and hanging vpon the crosse for our iniquities Gal. 3.1 And this we may better behold in the preaching of the Gospell and in the administration of the Sacraments then if we had been standing by when hee was put to death betweene the two theeues for that would haue daunted and amazed vs as it did the disciples that were Christ his followers whereas in these ordinances of God viz. the Word and the Sacrament his sufferings are liuely expressed and represented vnto vs so that wee may more clearelie and fullie see the loue of the Father and of the Sonne through the working of the holie Ghost in our hearts then they could that were eye-witnesses of his bitter passion And they shall lament for him as one mourneth for his onely sonne c. In these words as also in those that follow is declared the measure of their sorrow viz. that it was exceeding great as the two comparisons heere vsed doe euidentlie expresse whence obserue this doctrine that It is not sufficient to mourne for sinne Doct. 5 Great sorrow for sin very requisite See M. Dods Sermon on Isa 1. Doct. 1. where this point is largely handled but wee must make our sinnes to be our greatest sorrow Nothing must so pierce the hearts of Christians as that by their iniquities they haue slaine their Lord and Sauiour This thorough and sound lamentation is required Ioel 2.13 and was found in Dauid Psalme 51. and in the people of God of whom mention is made 1. Sam. 7.6 who are said in the day of their fast to draw water viz. out of their hearts and to poure it out before the Lord whereby is meant that they wept very bitterly and aboundantly for their offences against the Lord. Reasons And the reason why we must thus lament is First because sinne is the matter of all our woe and smart it is that which doth vs most hurt Isa 59.2 and that which keepeth from vs all manner of good and haue we not iust cause then to grieue that we should lodge such a guest in our soules especially if we consider how beneficiall this holy griefe wil be vnto vs for First it wil be a means to make vs pure in Gods account and so to free vs from the guilt of sinne 2. Cor. 11. and also to purge our hearts and hands from the corruption thereof so that we shall not bee in bondage thereunto any longer Iam. 4.8 And hence it will come to passe that either crosses shal not at all light vpon vs or at least they shall not be burdensome vnto vs. If wee keepe an Assises at home in our owne soules and find our selues guilty 1. Cor. 11.2 and condemne our selues then shall not we be iudged of the Lord but because wee deale very partially in our owne matters therfore is the Lord driuen to helpe vs by laying his correcting hand some way or other vpon vs or if crosses do not fal vpon vs in that regard but our hearts tell vs that wee deale faithfully in this behalfe then will our troubles be more easily borne for when sin lyes heauy afflictions lye light And therefore when men are so vexed and disquieted at iniuries and indignities or any outward distresses that they cannot eate nor drinke nor sleepe it is sure that they haue little godly sorrow and store of worldly sorrow for if that holy griefe did possesse their hearts it would eate vp and consume carnall vexation euen as Moses serpent did the serpents of the Aegyptian sorcerers And this euery godly man shall find in his owne experience that looke what day or houre soeuer hee hath wept most bitterlie for his offences against God then hee esteemeth crosses to be most light and easie and finds matter of thankfulnesse in whatsoeuer grieuances befall him as knowing it to be Gods goodnesse that it is not worse with him Here then are those to bee reproued that will tell vs a long tale of their repentance Vse 1 and of their sorrow for sinne but what kinde of sorrow hath it been a shallow and hollow and sleight sorrow that neuer made them to shed one teare in secret nor to make one feruent prayer from a broken heart for the pardoning of their iniquities Let them heare that one of their kine is dead or one of their horses stolne or their barne on fire or the like and they will mourne in good earnest at such a casualtie and bee more mooued to heare that their goods are in danger to bee burnt then that their soules are likely to burne in hell This is a plaine argument that what shewes soeuer they make yet they haue not trulie repented for their euill works for if the holie Ghost had giuen them an inward touch for their sinnes they would grieue most for that which hurts them most and not for those things the hauing whereof cannot much benefit them nor the losse thereof prooue verie inconuenient vnto them Yet so beastly are many that if they be vrged to sounder repentance and greater reformation they presentlie aske What would you haue vs to doe more then wee doe alreadie wee loue God aboue all and our neighbours as our selues and repent continuallie for our faults What would you haue vs so melancholie and pensiue as some are that vse to runne to Sermons nay we will be aduised of that for they are so grieued for their sinnes that they are almost driuen vnto desperation on Miserable men little doe they know what sound repentance meanes for that is the thing which Gods Ministers must aime at euen to make men despaire in themselues that so they might rest whollie vpon Christ Iesus And happie is that Sermon and happie that day which maketh men so to weepe ouer Christ Iesus as that they vtterly fall out with themselues and with their naughtie and prophane courses for this will best prooue vnto their soules that they haue receiued the Spirit of grace and haue attained vnto true repentance Secondly Vse 2 this maketh for the sharpe rebuke of those who when the Lord doth knocke at the doore of their hearts and make knowne vnto them that they are liable to Gods wrath in regard of their vile and sinfull course of life they seeke by all meanes to quench these good motions and to driue away the feare of hel from their hearts Oh little doe such know what they doe for now they grieue the Spirit of grace which doth moue them to turne vnto the Lord and doe refuse to accept of his gracious offer of mercy and fauour and therefore it may be the Lord in his iustice wil deny them the like for euerafter and suffer them to perish in their iniquities without any sense or feeling thereof at all Thirdly heere is an instruction for vs
should wee esteeme of them though they be as mighty as Zenacherib was for when he sent a disdainfull and scornefull message vnto Hezekiah and the rest of Gods people hee was indeed ignominious because he was impious and blasphemous he was vile in Gods sight and hee made him appeare vile both before men and Angels Isa 37.22 according to that of Isaiah The virgin daughter of Sion hath despised thee and laughed thee to scorne Thirdly let vs consider as what they are for the present so what they shall be hereafter and that the same Prophet Isaiah sheweth saying Feare yee not for the reproch of men Isa 517.8 neither he yee afraid of their rebukes For the moath shall eate them vp like a garment and the worme shall eate them like wood But wil some man say what great matter is this Obiect 1 shall not the wormes consume the good as wel as the bad Yes surely Answ that cannot bee denied and yet there is an euident difference betweene the wicked and the godly Note euen in this respect for though righteous mens bodies become wormes meate yet it is not in any displeasure from the Lord nor for any hurt vnto them for they are still pretious in his eyes as their soules are which euen then enioy celestiall happinesse and besides euen those bodies of theirs shall be restored and bee made euerlastingly glorious together with their soules all which things are farre otherwise with such sinfull persons as delight themselues in scoffing and deriding of the Saints of God their bodies are at best when they are deuoured by wormes they can neuer expect better but that which is farre worse shall surely come vnto them Fourthly that we may be inabled in conscience to swallow vp such reproaches as are cast vpon vs Meditate on the reward let vs seriously meditate on the reward which is promised vnto them that can so doe Mat. 5.11.12 Blessed are you saith our Sauiour when men reuile you and persecute you and speake all manner of euill against you for my names sake falsely Reioyce and bee glad for great is your reward in heauen And againe 1. Pet. 4.14 the Apostle Peter saith If yee bee railed vpon for the name of Christ blessed are ye for the spirit of glory and of God resteth vpon you This made Moses to esteeme the rebuke of Christ greater riches then the treasures of Egypt for saith the holy Ghost hee had respect vnto the recompence of the reward Heb. 11.26 Therefore when wee finde our hearts beginning to bee dismaied at the bitter taunts and iests of prophane scoffers let vs animate our selues vnto patience with these or the like considerations why should I bee discouraged at these things sinfull men seeke to vilifie and disgrace mee but doth God thinke euer the worse of me I am base and contemptible in their eyes but doe the Angels of God or any of his Saints conceiue any whit more hardly of mee in that regard Nay doth not the Lord himselfe and such as haue his image most liuely shining forth in them esteeme me so much more honourable by how much they labour to make me more vile and abiect in regard of my well doing Why then should I faint vnder the burthen of reproch wherewith they doe still load me especially seeing that this momentanie disgrace which I sustain for Christ his cause shall bring vnto me an eternal and inualuable weight of glory Of the poore From which words note this Doctrine Doct. 4 The godly vsually afflicted that the estate of Gods people is commonly a poore and afflicted estate Therefore in the originall the word poore is not vsed in the Plurall number but in the Singular and carries this sense ye haue made a mocke of the counsell of that poore one implying thereby what is the common case of al namely to bee full of calamities and distresses through many tribulations to enter into the kingdome of God Act. 14.22 Rom. 8. and to be conformable vnto their head Christ in afflictions and sufferings And this the Lord in his wise prouidence will haue to be so for these reasons First Reasons that thereby the flesh might bee discountenanced and haue no cause to reioyce before him 1. Cor. 2. Secondly that men might embrace religion for it selfe and in conscience vnto God not in any outward respects Whereas if most of those that are Christians were of great place many would make a shew of being religious Note that they might thereby grow to aduancement in the world and so seeke earthly things in spirituall exercises Thirdly that his children might grow in nearer acquaintance with him who otherwise would be strangers vnto their owne father Hos 5.15 In their affliction saith God they will seeke me diligently Before that time they would rather sue vnto any then vnto the Lord therefore was hee driuen to break them with one breaking vpon another that so hauing no other refuge to betake themselues vnto they might haue recourse vnto him This is cleare in the example of Manasse who being in bonds and in irons humbled his soule before the Lord and praied vnto him for fauour and mercy and found it at his hands whereas before such time as hee was pressed downe with grieuous misery hee obstinately refused to hearken vnto the Lord and to his messengers and was so far from calling vpon his name that hee dishonoured it by al manner of abominations 2. Chron. 33.2 which he committed with an high hand euen to anger the Lord. Fourthly God would haue his people often to taste of aduersities troubles that so they might learne to trust in him whereas otherwise they would make the arme of flesh to bee their stay and confidence This the Lord himselfe auoucheth in the prophecie of Zephanie saying Zeph. 3.12 I will leaue in the middest of thee an humble and poore people and they shall trust in the name of the Lord. This point maketh for the confutation of an errour which withholdeth diuers from the profession of the Gospell Is this the word of God Vse is this your holy ministery say they and are these your good men that doe embrace the same a companie of simple base fellowes of poore Artificers and the like who can imagine this to bee the truth which such kinde of men as these doe giue credence vnto How many Gentlemen or Noblemen or men of learning and policie are of their minds and for those that are haue they not manifold afflictions in their hearts or vpon their bodies and estates This is iust the cauill of the Pharisies against the doctrine of our Sauiour Neuer spake man like this man say the officers that were sent to take him Ioh. 7.46.47 but did not Then answered the Pharisies Are yee also deceiued Doth any of the Rulers or of the Pharisies beleeue in him but this people which know not the law are accursed Therfore let not vs bee
God saith he we thank thee and praise thy glorious name But who am I and what is my people that we should be able to offer willingly after this sort c. O Lord God of Abraham Isaac and Israel our fathers keepe this for euer in the purpose and thoughts of the hearts of thy people and prepare their hearts vnto thee From which words it is apparant that it is an admirable and supernaturall worke to haue a well disposed minde and a well affected heart vnto any thing that concernes the worship of God and his glory to bee franke and free-hearted in bestowing ones substance vpon sumptuous buildings costly apparell great house-keeping setting vp Lords of misrule and the like is a thing not worth the speaking of because a meere carnall man in arrogancie and vaine-glory may bee very lauish and prodigall to such ends and purposes But to haue a liberal heart for good vses either for the furtherance of Gods seruice or for the reliefe of the distressed Saints is a matter that we should take speciall notice of and be carefull to magnifie the name of the Lord for it and earnestly to entreate the continuance of it as Dauid doth in this place And though we be not alwaies alike but now and then dull and heauie and lumpish and drowsie when it pleaseth the Lord for our humbling to let the flesh play it part yet if wee sometimes and for the most part finde spirituall motions and affections and from thence proceed to holy speeches and actions as occasion and ability is offered wee haue great cause to blesse the name of God for his singular fauour and goodnesse towards vs in that behalfe THE SEAVENTH SERMON ISAIAH 30. Vers 19. Vers 19 Thou shalt weepe no more hee will certainely haue mercy vpon thee at the voice of thy cry when he heareth thee he will answere thee THe purpose of these words is to comfort the elect Iewes against those sorrowes and miseries that should fall vpon the Church and Common-wealth Wherein is declared 1. First what fauour the Lord would shew them viz. 1. That albeit they should tast of the common distresses which befell the rest and so be in heauinesse for a time yet at length they should be comforted and refreshed Thou shalt weepe no more 2. More generally the Prophet affirmeth that hee will haue mercy vpon them not naming the particulars because he intended to inrich them with euery good blessing needfull for their soules or bodies 2. Secondly what duty they were to performe namely to craue this fauour at the Lords hands and that not coldly and sleightly but vehemently and earnestly and then at the voice of their cry God promiseth to heare them yea so to heare them as to answere them in granting that which they should desire of him hee could no sooner heare their crying voice but they should feele his helping hand Vers 19. Thou shalt weepe no more Whence obserue this doctrine that All the sorrowes and teares of Gods Children shall end in ioy Doct. 5 All the afflictions of the Saints shall end in consolations Isa 30.20.29 Psal 30.5 As they haue their times of feeding vpon the bread of aduersity and the water of affliction so haue they also seasons of reioycing and of singing Psalmes of praise for their happie deliuerance out of troubles and miseries Heauinesse may abide at euening but ioy commeth in the morning They may sow in teares for a time but they shall reape in ioy Eccles 2. vlt. This is the very patrimonie and inheritance of the Saints as the Wise man saith Surely to a man that is good in his sight to wit through Christ God giueth wisdome and knowledge and ioy this he may build on and make full account of euen in the middest of all his sorrow and anguish And there is good reason why it must needs be thus First Reasons 1 because the afflictions of the Saints do exceedingly humble them for they looke vpward in their distresses and behold Gods righteous hand smiting them and thereupon descend vnto themselues and diue deepe into their hearts to search what corruptions doe lurke there whereby the Lord is incensed against them that so those being remoued by sound repentance his heauie displeasure may bee turned away from them and his louing countenance may shine vpon them This is it that Gods children will sooner or later come vnto albeit for a fit they bee passionate and discontented they will at length turne their eies from looking vpon their crosses to see the true cause thereof and so be grieued for their offences against God Ier. 31.19 and smite vpon their thighs in a holy indignation against themselues in regard of their pride and vnbeleefe and vnthankfulnesse and other the like corruptions They then leaue off musing on other mens iniuries and begin to bethinke themselues of their owne transgressions that so casting downe themselues by godly sorrow 1 Pet. 5.6 the Lord may raise them vp to pure and holy ioy which he will certainly doe in due season neither shall all their sinnes and sorrowes bee able to keepe them downe when once they are thoroughly humbled vnder the holy hand of God It is his promise then to lift them vp and Christ his office to comfort them that mourne Isa 61. and therfore as those that in their miseries are passionate and desperate full of murmuring against God and of fretting against men cannot expect any ioyfull issue out of their troubles so on the other side they that are lowly and broken harted much deiected and abased in the presence of the Lord and milde and peaceable in their carriage before men they may be assured that all their sighs shall end in songs that all teares shall bee wiped away from their eyes and that in stead of the spirit of heauinesse they shall in due time be clad with the garments of gladnesse Secondly Gods seruants doe pray in their afflictions which is the very high way vnto sound comfort Psal 50. Call vpon me in the time of trouble saith God and I will deliuer thee and thou shalt glorifie me This Asa and Iehoshaphat had good experience of for when they being in a great straite 2. Chron. 14. 20. had humbled themselues by fasting and prayer their hearts were full of ioy and their mouthes full of the praises of the Lord for their wonderfull deliuerance from their enemies And the like may be said of Hester and Mordecai Hestor and the rest of the Iewes in his time Iohn 16.20 And our Sauiour telleth his Disciples Verily verily I say vnto you that yee shall weepe and lament but your sorrow shal bee turned into ioy But by what meanes should they attaine vnto this the words following doe make it manifest Ask saith he and ye shall receiue Vers 24. that your ioy may bee full When Christians doe enioy wealth and credit and ease they are oftentimes made so dull and
naturall child loueth his father naturally and though his father beate him yet he beareth it and still loueth him 2. Pet. 1.2.3.4 They haue powred and infused into them a godly nature so that they doe freely loue God their father and though hee afflict them or crosse them in their desires yet they loue him and in loue performe their obedience vnto him continually Iob 13. Therefore Iob saith Though hee kill me yet will I trust in him And this is the third marke or rule whereby to proue and trie our selues The last rule is in considering the effect of Gods mercies receiued For herein do the wicked shew their wickednesse two waies First on the right hand the mercies of God do worke in them a wonderfull contentation but not such as causeth them to returne the glory vnto God but rather to ascribe it vnto themselues for the graces of God do puffe them vp make them conceited in themselues Hereof there ariseth a great security which bringeth first neglect and after contempt of all good meanes On the left hand others offend being neuer pleased nor contented with that they haue nay indeed forgetting or lightly esteeming that they haue and still desiring new These men besides that they are vnthankfull they doe also murmure and grudge against God and are neuer pleased with him Betweene these two doe the children of God hold a middle and euen course and therefore wee shall see these things in them First a sight and acknowledgement of their wants which cause them to long for the sincere milke of the word that thereby their wants may bee supplied and their graces encreased and so farre are they from being lifted vp with pride that they reioyce when their pride may bee pulled downe whether by rebukes or threatnings or corrections from the Lord. For they know that if Paul needed meanes of humbling 2. Cor. 12. much more doe they Besides as they desire the word so they waite vntill it please the Lord to worke further in them thereby and this waiting is as earnest as theirs who hauing watched all night do wait and looke for the dawning of the day Secondly as they see their wants Psal 119.10 so doe they also see the graces they haue receiued and are for that time well apaid and contented therewith and therefore as their wants doe humble them so Gods graces doe comfort them and as their wants do call vpon them to seek more so the gifts they haue prouoke them to be thankfull for that they haue receiued And thus much for the last rule of triall These forenamed properties whosoeuer can find in himselfe he may bee assured that the spirit hath wrought in him so effectually as that it shall neuer be taken from him But what then may such cast off all care No the Apostle saith vnto such Quench not the spirit And not without cause for though the spirit it selfe can neuer bee vtterly taken from them yet doubtlesse if pride security or any other sinne begin to take place in them the graces of the spirit may decay and their cleare vnderstanding and comfortable feelings may be gone so that in their own and others iudgements the spirit may seeme to be quite extinguished Neither must this seeme strange for if the Image of God which was more perfectly placed in Adam might be quite lost then no maruell if the graces of the spirit bee drowned in vs for a time The Galathians were truly regenerated and had receiued Christ into their hearts yet their graces were so choked and quenched that hee was as it were without fashion or forme so that the Apostle did as it were trauell againe Gal. 4.19 vntill Christ was fashioned anew in them Dauid also vpon the committing of his sinne was brought vnto that case Psal 51. that he prayed God to create in him a new spirit What was the spirit quite gone No for by and by after he prayeth that God would not take his holy spirit from him but the graces thereof were wonderfully decaied and therefore he desireth that they might be renued But that none may abuse this doctrine Euils that follow vpon quenching of the spirit let vs consider what punishments doe follow vpon the quenching of the spirit in this sort First of all we must know that though the spirit bee not gotten by our labour yet that is required for the obtaining of it and it must cost vs much paines ere we can get it into our hearts all which seemeth to be lost when the graces of the spirit are withered Secondly all that peace and ioy before spoken of is gone with how great griefe and woe they know that in any measure haue tasted of it Thirdly for that time they haue no heart to do good but are made vnprofitable burthens to the earth Moreouer such are in danger of falling into reproachfull euils and so to procure the sharp correcting hand of God vpon themselues who hath said that though hee will not take his mercies vtterly from his children yet hee will visit their sinnes with the rod and their iniquities with scourges as he dealt with Dauid Last of all when the graces of the spirit of God are once decayed they cannot bee repaired but with very much sorrow for what a griefe will it be to call to mind our former transgressions to aggrauate them by all circumstances to apply the terrible threatnings of the law to our stonie harts and the like The consideration of all which discommodities should cause vs to beware how we quench the spirit Yet here is matter of comfort also for though we may suffer a great decay of Gods graces yet by the rod or by the word or by both they shall be renued in vs againe A Discourse of murmuring in the time of affliction MAny men hearing of the often murmurings of the Israelites doe iudge them the worst people vnder the Sunne but such doe little consider either the temptations whereby they were prouoked to murmure or the corruption of their owne hearts which will as bitterly murmure vpon lesse occasion For albeit they were an obstinate and stiffe-necked people yet heerein they were vehemently tempted that they came from plenty in Egypt to scarsity in the wildernesse hauing neither meate nor drinke for all that multitude being sixe hundred thousand men besides women and children Wherefore let vs cease to wonder at this people and in them see our owne corruption For do not many amongst vs beholding the abundance which the Lord hath bestowed vpon Magistrates or Ministers for the discharge of their duties doe they not I say rather murmure at it then shew themselues thankefull for troubles that they are freed from and for sufficiencie that the Lord hath giuen them to liue vpon True it is that notwithstanding the greatnes of this peoples temptation their sinne was very hainous for Gods mercies had been wonderfull towards them euen immediatly before and that the vnthankfullest of them
had been driuen to confesse Psal 106. yet did they wish to returne to their former bondage rather then to be brought to such straits but notwithstanding the grieuousnesse of this their sin many now adaies come nothing behind them for their eyes are so vpon their wants that the want of one thing which they doe desire though it be but small doth more disquiet them then manifold blessings do comfort them to make them thankfull But this discontentment we must bee armed against which wee shall bee if wee can receiue the fauour of God for it selfe though it come alone yea though trouble doe come therewith for hauing it wee haue all things and wanting it wee haue nothing Againe if wee haue it no misery can make vs miserable and if wee haue it not in greatest prosperity we are most miserable But the Israelites here dealt after a cleane contrary manner for the want of bread in the wildernes being but for their bodies did make them to despise their great and wonderfull deliuerance out of Egypt which was vnto them a signe of their spirituall deliuerance And this is the nature of all worldlings they had rather forgoe many spirituall benefits then one corporall commodity they grieue more at the losing and reioyce more at the hauing of wealth then of godlinesse But to returne to the point in hand sith murmuring is so great a sinne it shall be profitable to consider of some remedies against it Now for as much as impatiencie proceedeth from infidelity Remedies against murmuring the remedie therof must be fetched from faith in Gods mercies in the merits of Christ in the hope of the resurrection and in Gods fatherly prouidence First I say Gods rich mercy and fauourable dealing with vs being duly considered cannot but worke in vs patience foâ—seeing that the Lord forbeareth vs and that when for the ripenesse of our sinnes he might confound vs hee doth rather heape blessings vpon vs this cannot but bridle vs from murmuring though all things fall not out according to our hearts desire Especially seeing that the Lord will deale with vs still as he did with the Israelites that when ordinarie meanes failed had extraordinary prouision made for them the clouds giuing them bread and the rocke water to teach vs that man liueth not by bread only as Moses applieth it Deut. 8. but by the word of God A second remedy is to haue a liuely faith in the worke of our redemption to wit the remission of our sins the imputation of Christ his righteousnesse and inherent sanctification First then if we can stedfastly beleeue that God for Christ his sake hath freely forgiuen vs all our sinnes and giuen his sonne that in him we might be blessed we cannot but be assured Rom. 8. that with him he will giue vs all things For seeing sin which is the cause of all miserie is taken from vs wee may bee sure that no crosse shall euer hurt vs. Againe if wee could beleeue that as God doth lay our sinnes vpon Christ so he doth impute his righteousnes to vs how should we doubt of food or raiment c For by this meanes hee is made our mercifull and louing father who is for power able and for will readie to helpe vs in all extremities And thus doth he abide for euer and is neuer changed To these two former must be added the second part of our redemption namely the sanctification of the spirit which if we feele in our selues may be a great helpe vnto vs against impatiency for it is a greater thing to sanctifie a sinner then to worke wonders in nature Therfore if we can beleeue in our hearts that God is able to make of sinfull and wicked men iust righteous of whoremongers chast persons c. and that he is able and willing to deliuer vs from all our corruptions be they neuer so strong by nature or custome if I say wee can giue credit vnto this why should wee euer doubt that hee will faile vs in outward things Further if we can beleeue that God hath prepared a kingdome for vs and that he will raise vs vp at the last day in body soule to enioy the same how can wee but bee assured that hee will giue vs lesser matters euen the things of this life Another thing to stay our hearts vpon when murmuring doth assaile vs is faith in Gods prouidence which is either generall or particular The generall prouidence of God must be considered first in the creation of all things secondly in the preseruation of them Doe wee then beleeue that the Lord made all things of nothing and shall we doubt of his ability to prouide for vs When God created light before the Sun Gen. 1.3 the Moone or the Stars and caused grasse to grow vpon the earth before there was either raine or dew to water it he did thereby teach vs first that we should not put too much trust in them whilest we haue them and againe that rather then wee should suffer hurt by the want of light grasse or other such things the Lord both could and would prouide for vs without them Yet now if wee should not haue the Sunne wee would thinke that light were taken from vs and if wee wanted raine wee would soone thinke wee should neither haue grasse nor corne but the Lord hath ordained these meanes to serue his prouidence not for himselfe for without them hee can easily helpe vs but for our weakenesse who otherwise could not easily be assured of his goodnesse Secondly we must beleeue that God preserueth all Matth. 10. so that a sparrow doth not fall to the ground without his prouidence and hee hath a great care of beasts and fowles Matth. 6. doth the Lord prouide for these and will he not prouide for man for whom these were made and are are preserued Hereunto we must ioyne the particular prouidence of God Hath he made our bodies and will he not cloathe vs hath he giuen vs life and will hee not minister vnto vs food for the sustaining thereof He could prouide for the Israelites in the barren wildernsse fortie yeeres together yea he could preserue Moses and Elias fortie daies without any meate at all which euidently proueth that Gods blessing is all in all whether there be meanes or no meanes Dauid obserued by experience that the righteous seed of the righteous was neuer forsaken Psal 37. nor begged their bread and if wee could bee righteous as then many were wee should find the same true in our owne experience as he did These things well considered will worke in vs a patient minde the properties whereof are First Properties of a patient mind Philip 4.11 to be contented with whatsoeuer the Lord sendeth alwaies acknowledging godlinesse to be great riches for we ought not to seeke great matters nor suffer our desires to bee carried after high things Ier. 45.4 for this did the Prophet Ieremie rebuke in
Baruck And Christ would haue vs to pray onely for our daily bread which also was Iacobs prayer Gen. 28. that he might haue food and raiment wherewith the Apostle would haue vs to be content 1. Tim. 6. Let vs first seeke the kingdome of heauen c. and then if the Lord giue plenty let vs be more thankfull and seruiceable if not his fauour is sufficient of it selfe and we shall bee more comfortable with a little Psalm 4. then other are in great abundance without that But if we caÌ„not rest in the fauour of God though wee want these outward things it is certaine wee doe not truly esteeme it neither haue wee at that time any comfortable assurance of the remission of our sinnes The second property of a patient mind is simply to giue vp it felfe vnto God and to commit it selfe into his hand waiting at all times for helpe from him who onely is the author of all goodnes yet neither prescribing the meanes nor appointing the time nor in any case indenting with him for the Lord will haue the disposition of his mercies free vnto himselfe to giue and bestow when and where and how it pleaseth him and as it may most make for his glory and therefore wee must wholly resigne vp our selues vnto him Which if we can doe so mercifully doth God vse to deale that when we least desire outward things then we shall haue them and when wee freely giue them vp to him he will giue them to vs againe Abraham gaue vnto the Lord Isaac his sonne which when the Lord did behold hee quickly gaue him his sonne againe and so will hee deale with vs still The readiest way to retaine life goods c. is to yeeld them vp wholly into Gods hands not with this condition that he shall giue them to vs againe for that were to mocke the Lord but without all care to haue them we must giue them to him being heartily well content for his glory to forgo them and then if they be good for vs wee shall receiue them againe if not wee shall receiue some spirituall grace which shall better supply the want of them Yea the infinite wisdome and mercy of God doth wonderfully appeare herein that sometimes hee keepeth vs long without these things because that if we had them he seeth that we would abuse them and preferre them before spirituall blessings And sometime the Lord seeing our small regard of spirituall things will by the want of these outward things bring vs to make greater account of them that when wee can well want the one and highly esteeme the other we may haue both together FINIS TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE ANNE LADY WAINTVVORTH increase of all true honour and happinesse c. RIght Honourable may it please you to take in good worth my bold attempt in presuming to recommend vnto your fauourable patronage these SermoÌ„s following Your honours vndeserued respect of me made me desirous to testifie my vnfained thankfulnesse which I could not imagine how with greater conueniencie to expresse and manifest then by taking hold of this present occasion especially considering that your constant and more then ordinarie pains-taking to heare such holy instructions is a sufficient argument to euince your loue and liking of the matter therein comprised and your good regard of the authors well knowne vnto me gaue me â—ccasion to thinke that their labours in this sort offering themselues vnto your eye would be no lesse welcome then formerly they haue beene being in another manner presented vnto your eare Concerning the Tract of Zeale annexed to these Sermons it is a collection of diuers rules which I heard read touching that subiect principally of such as were scattered heere and there in Maister R. Greenhams Workes which being exceeding vsesull I thought good to gather them into one with an addition of sundrie prooses of Scripture for the ease and helpe of those that are well affected especially of such whose abilitie will not reach to the price of that great volume of M. Greenhams labours And thus humbly beseeching your Honour to pardon my boldnesse and to beare with my manifold defects which shall be found in the penning of these Sermons I recommend you to the gratious protection of the Almightie Your Honours according to my poore abilitie readie to be commanded IOHN WINSTON THE POINTS OF DOCTRINE HANDLED IN THE SERMONS following SERMON I. DOCT. I. THe first steppe to true and sound repentance is to be wounded and disquieted in our hearts for sinne 2 Lawfull things must be done lawfully and good things in a good manner 3 With confession of sinne must be ioyned earnest requests for pardon thereof 4 The more sinfull any one is the more foolish he is 5 It is a wonderfull hard thing to take downe the pride of mans heart 6 The more speedily we iudge our selues the more mercifully the Lord will deale with vs. SERMON II. DOCT. I. SInne brings men into maruellous straits 2. Gods seruants neuer find so great fauour as with God himselfe 3 God maketh his iudgements sutable to our sinnes 4 When God sets in with his iudgements they shall be farre dispersed in a short time 5 As God appointeth iudgements to be inflicted on his people so he himselfe will see execution done 6 A good man will lay a greater burden on himselfe then on another SERMON III. DOCT. I. ALthough humane helps and earthly friends do faile Gods people yet they are not helpelesse nor hopelesse 2 No outward thing comes neerer the hearts of Gods children then the decay of good men 3 Deceitfull friends are worse then openfoes SERMON IIII. DOCT. I. THe more skilfully and artificially any contriues his ill purposes the more fearefull destruction shall fall vpon him 2 The more wicked men boast of their mischieuous intents the neerer mischiefe is vnto them 3 No man hath the royaltie of his owne tongue nor the ordering of his owne speech FINIS The first Sermon 2. SAMVEL 24.10.11.12 Verse 10. Then Dauids heart smote him after that hee had numbred the people and Dauid saide vnto the Lord I haue sinned exceedingly in that I haue done therefore now Lord I beseech thee take away the trespà sse of thy seruant for I haue done very foolishly 11. And when Dauid was vp in the morning the word of the Lord came vnto the Prophet Gad c. IN these words is set foorth the repentance of Dauid for his sinne committed in numbring the people wherin the holy Prophet sheweth 1. What meanes hee vsed to be reconciled vnto God Namely 1. First that he was touched with inward remorse and hearty griefe for his offence Then Dauids heart smote him after that hee had numbred the people 2 Secondly that he made a particular and very earnest confession of his fault I haue sinned exceedingly in that I haue done 3 Thirdly that hauing bewayled and acknowledged his sinne he instantly craued pardon for the same therefore now Lord I