and euery one for himselfe no atturneyes no proxies Thinke too thinke of our distance shall I speake to the Lord that am but dust and ashes what words shall I chuse saith he Iob 9.15 Alas all thought of answere then will bee in vaine for besides that we are not able to answere him one thing of a thousand that day is his day his day of wrath the time of mercy is ouer past irreuocably past his day of doome is come 't is come to sentence and therefore what shall we doe why while we haue time put in our answere yet the Chancery and Court of Requests is open Now is the accepted time now is the day of Saluation My text is future yet he shall come he shall visite Here is a latitude for repentance yet hee expects calls for our answere and we know to what we haue his Bill his Articles Interrogatories that is his Law written and engrauen in our hearts we must now frame and put in our answere what is it Repentance first for so may that of the Apostle be vnderstood in Eph. 6. where he enioines the Christian souldier to haue his feete shod with the preparation of the Gospell of peace I know some take that preparation of the Gospell for a readinesse to preach the Gospell which should they belong alone to vs Ministers others for a promptnesse in profession others euangelicall obedience and some take it to bee patience and not vnlikely But may it not also endure this meaning of Repentance too considering it is made the first step in the way of life and so the first entrance into the field against Satan by Iohn first the day starre who rose before the Sunne and came to prepare they way how Repent c. And our Sauiour in the same minde vpon the same text Repent for the kingdome of Heauen is at hand Sad sighes and prayers and teares make vp the first part of Repentance and make vp so the sacrifice of a broken and contrite heart which God will not despise And hast thou thus Is the rocke clouen come drops of warme blood in anguish from thy heart break there flouds of bitter weping from thine eies This is a faire piece of an answere Such teares haue a voice that reaches Heauen and not from Dauid onely The Lord hath heard the voice of my weeping but from Manasses too a fearefull Sinner Because thou hast wept before mee I haue heard it 'T is musicke to the Almighties selfe and raises a ioy in Heauen Can the Prodigall that had wasted all his stocke of grace say but Father I haue sinned See before he can come to say so God he meetes him on the way and receiues him to mercy But this answere hath a second part Take heede least your hearts bee hardned by sinnes deceitfulnesse It is a Circe and a Syren wee must stop our eares and resolue to bee deafe to all her charmes charme shee neuer so wisely neuer so worldly wisely giuing not a faint and cold but a peremptory and small answere with the Psalmist Away from me for I will keepe the Commandements of my God Will keepe them I that is I haue sworne and am stedfastly purposed This is the meaning of the Apostle Tit. 3. The grace of God hath appeared teaching Vs what Our answere and how that by denying vngodlinesse and worldly lusts The best answere is a flat denyall a round refusall like our head Christ Iesus who being tempted had his answere readie And this is our first answere in a full Repentance made vp of griefe and Resolution 2. A second answere is Obedience our workes for words will not carry it Not euery one that saith Lord Lord And some answeres we reade of shall not serue the turne Some will answere Lord thou hast preach'd in our streetes and we haue preach'd in thy Name Tell not mee of preaching saith our Sauiour vnlesse your lifes haue preacht too Away from me you workers of iniquitie God will haue this answere complexioned of piety and honesty when these are married they are crown'd with the grace and blessing of God A number deceiue themselues as the Iewes when they cry Corbun once as the Papists cracke of Ecclesia catholica Romana so these conclude all lies in beeing professours zealous magnifying themselues and despising others But what were the Pharisees by Christs owne testimony religious and yet wicked People may draw neere with their lips and their hearts farre enough off If thou hast faith faith Saint Iames let vs see it Let your light shine how why in action shine or else to bare profession our Sauiour threats a round and proportionall answere At that day I will professe to you I know you not Obiection But will the weake soule say May I trust to these answeres May I first trust to my Repentance I feele indeede the weight of sinne and finding the offence of an infinite Iustice I am horribly afraid deiected like Dauid when hee ask'd his sad soule why art thou so heauy I am so so wounded pierced strucke thorow and my heart rebounds into my eyes I weepe and I crie mightily for mercy but can I helpe it Is not sinne a Serpent a Sea a Fire a Poyson was I not stung by this Serpent drown'd in this Sea miserably schorcht by this fire enuenomed in the whole masse of my nature with this corruption before I was borne And since alas I haue added to this Ocean put fewell to this fire helpt to infixe this sting and worke into my heart the contagion and then am I able to resolue against sinne to deny vngodlinesse to reiect the tempter to giue my Iusts their finall answere I finde indeede naturall men morall men when they will compound an happy man put in this as one ingredient responsare cupidinibus sibi imperiosus enabling him to checke and controule to Commaund and subdue rebellious passions by the dictates of rectified reason And their seuerall answeres to diuerse corrupt affections are enough to shame me and all that professe themselues christians But were they able to keepe their owne rules or am I able What to hate sinne so as I ought with a perfect hatred I flie some enormous vices for feare of Lawes But tolle periclûm iam vaga prosiliet c. and though I know there is death in the pot the wages of sinne is no better though I pull the fruite and taste it and prooue it to be naught but gall and bitternesse nay barrennesse and shame Yet such is my madnesse to pursue a new shame and seeke death in the errour of life falling like a birde or a beast Nay no bird no beast would so oft fall into the same snare same pit into the same sinne whereof I haue againe and againe repented me What then shall I doe Shall I rely on my second answere and trust in my owne righteousnesse Some bold men dare doe so and dare teach others so dare boast a stocke and
GODS VISITATION IN A SERMON PREACHED AT LEICESTER AT AN ORDINARY VISITATION By T. P. ISAIAH 10.3 What will you doe in the day of Visitation and of Desolation AT LONDON Imprinted by Felix Kyngston for Robert Allott and are to be sold at his shop in Saint Pauls Church-yard at the signe of the Beare 1630. TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFVLL AND HIS WORTHY FRINDS Mr. RO. COATS MAIOR Mr. THO. Chapman Recorder Mr. Iames Ellis Alderman Mr. T.G. Mr. W.S. with all the Societie of that ancient Incorporation of Leicester Grace and Peace c. I Cannot denie but in my youth among other weakenesses I yeelded to the tentation of printing Sermons at request of such as had a power over me But since I grew both an elder man and a poore retired Vicar in an obscure angle of the Countrey I resolu'd against any more such aduentures But behold your vehement entreaties Mr. Ellis Mr. G. and charging me with my respecting Gods Glory haue drawen these poore Meditations abroad yet with this protestation that I desire if it were possible no eye might be taken of from richer stuffe and worthier Bookes wherewith the world abounds to looke on this saue only yours wherein I haue euer yet found so much so vndeserued fauour that peraduenture euen for that affectionate fauors sake this will seeme to you better then in deed it is being only plaine matter and not elaborate in stile or ornaments of quotations With it if that be any amends I dedicate my selfe and my best endeuours to rest at your Seruice And so praying for the continuance of all Gods blessings vpon you all I remaine Yours in the Lord Iesu THOMAS PESTELL Worthy Sir I Am importuned to importune you to doe that which I hope your wisedome will willingly consent vnto yet as I doe heartily wish it so I must earnestly intreat you or else I shall betray the trust that I am put in The matter is that you would be pleased both for a generall and a particular good to cause your late both excellent and learned Sermon preached at the Visitation at Leicester to be put in print that the vertue thereof by the power of God may disperse it selfe to them that heard it not I desire it not onely for your owne sake though no doubt it would make your name to smell like a pretious oyntment in the Church of God but for the glorie of Gods sake which would be much increased by the publike view thereof And you are bound in conscience to doe the best seruice you can in setting forth your Masters glory with all alacrity that hath made you so able a Minister to performe it Therefore let me intreat you not to deny the setting forth of that which may giue many thousands of Gods people much cause to blesse God for it and you also praying to God for his assistance in this and all your godly endeuors I commend you and all yours to his protection that is able to keepe you and all yours for euer Yours to be commanded IAMES ELLIS GODS VISITATION IOB 31.14 What then shall I doe when he riseth vp And when God shall visit What shall I answere him THe Text comprehends those two notions which comprehend all God and Man For the whole world was in God before hee made it and wheir hee made it he made it all for Man and made it all ouer againe in Man And made Man in his owne Image like God and that Image defac'd and Man lost to recouer him and make him new he vouchsaf'd to make himselfe Man God and Man in one person and the consummation of all his workes which is also the consuinmation of all Mans hopes is to bring God and Man into one place But this must await his time and obey his owne methode which hee so frames by his powerfull hands his vnderstanding and his will that as in infinite mercie so with his Honour and his Iustice too hee may assume them to that place of Glory Hee will giue grace and glory Psal 84. but grace first therefore enlightning rectifying purifying their vnderstanding will affections hewing and polishing pruning and dressing euery stone in the building euery branch in the vine and in that nature we finde him here visiting looking to the wayes of Man that Man might looke vp to him Briefely not to reflect yet on the coherence at which I shall touch anon in place conuenient enough The text deliuers vs two parts First Gods office Secondly Mans office His to visit Mans to debate and answer 1. God is the visitour The Schoole makes these degrees of perceiuing God in names First negatinis remotionis What God is not not the Sunne Moone not finite mutable Secondly perfectionis affirmationis when what is most excellent in things create we apply to him by way of analogie and resemblance so wee call him iust mercifull high glorious Thirdly of supereminence such as this of a Visitour gathered from his action here and ioyn'd with the Emphasis of my text when he shall visite Men are visitours but they more easily answered their place and power but deriuatiues from this primitiue He he the grand visier Altissimus most high So that to Gods absolute power euery where presence this attribute and this transcendent ability of an holy watcher a superuisor is proper 'T is proper blazon and title sutable denoting throughout these words not height alone and power and superioritie when he shall stand vp but maiestie and terrour too what shall I answere him We haue found his office but will God performe it 'T is a question of mens performing their offices and a question too of false Gods They had an Idoll in Egypt call'd by such a name Baal Zephon Dominus speculae Lord of the watch-tower to fright their fugitiues but when Moses and the people of Israel past that way and pitched the campe there this god was asleepe but he that keepeth Israel neither slumbers nor sleepes He kept his Israel then and since hee made good the title then and since and dare we question it now But how doth God visite Search the scriptures they testifie of him Those bookes are morall to teach Man his office the whole duty of Man to make the Man of God perfect to euery good worke but they are historicall too and propheticall too instructing vs what God hath done and what God will doe Looke then to those records and wee shall finde what and when and how in his seuerall Visitations His Visitations are his actions Action is from intrinsique vertue vertue there is none such in God as supposes infirmitie or imperfection as faith hope c. But such as argue perfection mercy iustice wisedome bounty power According with these wee finde his Visits first in generall then with reference to men both wayes their persons in mercy sinne vpon their persons in iustice 1. In generall in all places and ouer all things aboue Heauen is his Throne where he ouerlooks the
treasury of mercy and satisfaction But Lord I find the language of Canaan thy holy Word and the cries of thy holy servants farre otherwise I finde thy Bernard say Nolo Horreo meritum Thy Dauid O Lord if thou enter into iudgement no flesh shall be iustified And thy blessed Saint Paul I finde another law haling me c. Rom. 7. and therefore I heare him crying ripe to say O miserable man who shall deliuer me These are yet the eiaculations of an humble soule asking seeking knocking at the gate of heauen and this very debating is a fruit of the Spirit growing on to a perfect answere In Men's consultings resoluings for worldly affaires they may they doe vsually mis-count mis-carry fortune choaks their artillerie But in these holy prouisions the end is euer gratious successe glorious If the Iailor in the Acts and Saint Peters hearers come but to a wounded conscience to be prickt at their hearts and to cry What shall wee doe Marke what followes and how fast it followe Beleeue repent be baptized and saued Saued how by beleeuing in him that is able to frame a sufficient answere Hee that made them wonder at his gracious answeres and to whom no man was able to answere a word Who was that and where is he to be had If any man sinne any man that finds himselfe a sinner Let him put his answere to his aduocate for we haue him saith Saint Iohn wee haue an aduocate Iesus Christ the righteous He is the propitiation for our sinnes Take then thy Shield of faith and quench all the fiery darts of the Deuill This is the new and liuing way of answering God by his Sonne by the blood of Iesus Hebr. 10. May not then the Christian beleeuer haue accesse with boldnesse for shall both bleed for sinne or shall hee bleed in vaine Peccaui peccatum grande saith he I haue committed an hainous sinne yet on my faith and repentance I will goe to God say Lord thou canst haue but blood merit sacrifice satisfaction exact obedience Take then thy Son Iesus He is all these and all these to me for he is mine I receiue him by faith and I finde comfort hope liuely hope full assurance in him I will not therefore flie with Cain and cry with him My sin is greater no thy mercy reioyces against sinne and now therefore there is no condemnation to them that be in Christ Iesus My answere then to thy bill is it was torne when his bodie was torne 'T is cancelled and was nail'd to his Crosse My debt was great but is pai'd to the vtmost farthing Thy wrath let it be a cup he hath drunke it of Let it be more a whole Wine-presse he hath trode it alone I will then put on my Lord Iesus and come in the rayment of my elder brother and be roab'd in his innocencie and canst thou then denie me No thou canst not thou mayst as well denie thy selfe for if I haue it faire to shew vnder thy owne hand Euery gratious promise in thy Gospell is such yea this was thine owne act in my saluation For God was in Christ reconciling the world to himselfe But may I not prodigally and presumptuously fling away my soule in a vaine confidence of mercie Yes many doe so that will do nothing themselues not when they haue the assistance and proffer of helpe from heauen Therefore I will compound and put all these answeres together I will trust to my Sauiours merit but I will repent too and pray too and worke too and so worke out mine owne saluation with feare and trembling And though I haue no holinesse of mine owne and without it no seeing thee at the day of iudgement yet thou the God of my peace wilt sacrifice me against that day 1. Thessal 5. O blessed and full answere now and O blessed condition of such happie soules so farre from affrightment at thought of the Iudges comming that they shall then reioyce and lift vp their faces and in the meane time are of the number and Communion of those Saints that loue his appearing looking for and hasting to the comming of their Lord in glory calling crying Bow the heauens and come downe and Lord how long and come Lord Iesus Come quickly I haue done with the explication of my Text. There is a fourefold application First in generall to the land and state whereof we are a part God hath perform'd his office of a Visitour ouer vs both wayes In mercie Thus long preseruing vs and extending peace ouer vs as a floud euen then when it hath beene a Sea a red Sea of bloud and ruine round about vs. Visiting vs in his vigilancy and defeating our enemies blasted attempts in 88. In the Powder-Treason Giuing vs strange and miraculous deliuerances amongst them not the least the bringing backe our present Royall Soueraigne from the hand and land of his enemies How many other wayes hath this holy watcher from his circle and seate of heauen visited vs and kept vs vnder his wings of gratious Prouidence and if he had not would not our foes by this haue rooted out our name from vnder heauen and the name of English Protestants beene no more in remembrance for wanted there either might or malice in them hoping and proiecting oft to haue made our land like Sodome clouds of Pitch and heapes of ashes But the snare hath bin hitherto still broken and we yet deliuered by his gratious and mercifull Visitation That second way of visiting in iudgement the Lord hath also of late begunne to trie amongst vs by that plague which swept away so many thousands and by the lowd and dreadfull sound of warre in neighbour Countries that haue really tasted and actually endured all that propheticall description The noyse of weapons rowling of garments in blood spoiling their houses rauishing their wiues and Virgins and breaking their children in peeces before their eyes And these things befalne such as deserue from vs a tender and deare respect we being wounded through their sides or if these accidents beyond the water will not waken vs God hath his way in the Sea faith the Scripture and we might haue markt his dealing with vs there for a long time being able to doe no good there and our enemies able to doe vs much mischiefe from thence God hath his way in the earth and vnder it and we haue felt him there sensibly perceiued his mighty hand from thence in the ayre he hath his path too and walkes vpon the wings of the winde and there he causd those rotten vapours to blend themselues into a pestilent defluxion and powre their virulence on the earth And if wee take into consideration the present brauerie of the enemie abroad and our home-diuisions our great boughs beating one against another no man that is not extreamely stupid but will easily finde that God is angry with his people and that our sinnes deserue the hastning of the last iudgement in the