in thought word and worke O Lord our God we must needs confesse with mourning and sorrowing hearts and spirits that we were all borne in sin all conceiued in iniquity and that all our life hitherto hath beene most fearefully corrupted and stained with all manner of sinfull transgressions to the great dishonour of thine owne Maiestie to the great discomfort of our owne soules and to the euerlasting confusion both of soule and body in thy iust iustice and iudgement in the world to come Yea O Lord we cannot but confesse that so soone as euer wee came into the world thou mightest iustly for our sinnes haue taken vs both body and soule and giuen vs our portion in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone it is thy great mercy that thou hast spared vs hitherto and not consumed vs from the face of the earth To thee therefore God of endlesse compassion we most miserable wretches make our pitious mone to thee in Christ Iesus wee come now for mercy heare vs heale vs helpe vs and haue mercy vpon vs pardon and forgiue vs all our sinnes let shine thy fauourable countenance towards vs and say vnto our soules that thou art our saluation Thou hast promised in thy holy and heauenly Word that a broken and a contrite heart thou wilt not despise Fulfill therefore now O Lord this thy gracious promise to vs that are weary and laden with the affrightments of sinne and that offer vp our prayers with grones that cannot bee expressed Wash vs O Lord in the bloud of Iesus Christ make vs cleane within and without by thy sanctifying and renewing grace preserue vs both in body and soule from the guilt and punishment of all our mis-doings assure our consciences of the same by faith and seals vs by thy good Spirit to the day of redemption And heauenly Father wée humbly intreate thee to worke thy good worke in euery soule of vs to giue vs faith in thy promises zeale to thy glory loue to thy truth obedience to thy will care and conscience to walke vpright before thee in all our wayes and to offer vp our soules and bodies a liuely sacrifice to the seruice of thy Maiestie in holinesse all the dayes of our life to come And in these our prayers we craue also at thy mercifull hands thy gracious blessings for all thy faithfull Children and elect persons wheresoeuer dispersed and howsoeuer distressed vpon the face of the earth and more especially for these thy churches amongst vs of Great Brittaine France and Ireland replenish the Kings most excellent Maiestie with all necessarie graces meet for so worthy a Personage Redouble thy gracious Spirit vpon our most hopefull Prince and multiply thy blessings vpon all His Royall Issue Blesse all the Nobility of our Land all the reuerend Clergy from the highest to the lowest all of the ciuill Magistracy all Schooles of learning with the two Vniuersities of Cambridge and Oxford and all the Commons of this Realme shew pitty vpon all thine that are in any kinde of tribulation or affliction especially vpon all those that suffer persecution for thy Gospels truth comfort all those that lye languishing in spirit Soule-sicke at the heart for remorce of their sinnes say vnto their Soules that thou art their Redemption Blesse moreouer we beseech thee all that are deare and neere vnto vs in the flesh as our Parents Father and Mother Brother and Sister and Kinsfolke together with our deare Friends and Christian acquaintance absent or present Lord bee present with them and keepe them as the apple of thine owne eye from euery euill worke and way to thy euerlasting Kingdome and saluation And holy Father we finally entreat thee to redouble thy gracious blessings vpon euery one of vs at this time humbled in Prayer before thee blesse vs bodily and spiritually giue vnto our bodies comfortable rest and sleepe that so wee may be the fitter to do the works of our seueral vocations before thée and grant vnto our soules the continuall assistance of thy grace that they may neuer sléepe in sinne but that they may be alwaies waking and wayting for the comming of our Lord Iesus to Iudgement that so Soule and body may bee preserued from the euill of sinne in this life and from the euill of damnation in the world to come and that for Christ Iesus his sake our sole Sauiour and onely Redéemer to whom with thée and thy blessed Spirit thrée glorious persons but one Essentiall God we offer vp all possible Thanksgiuing and praise this euening and euerlasting Amen FINIS Tormenting TOPHET OR A TERRIBLE DESCRIPTION of HELL Able to breake the hardest heart and cause it quake and tremble Preached at Pauls Crosse the 14. of Iune 1614. The fifth Edition corrected and amended Esay 30. 33. Tophet is prepared of old it is euen prepared for the King he hath made it deepe and large the burning thereof is fire c. Printed at London by George Purslow and are to be sold by John Clarke 1620. TO THE RIGHT Worshipfull and my verie deare friends Sir Lestraunge Mordaunt of Massingham Hall in the Countie of Norfolke Knight Baronet and Lady Frances Mordaunt his most louing Bed-fellow HENRY GREENVVOOD Wisheth all increase of Grace in this Life and Eternall Life in Life to come IT is and hath beene long since Right Worshipfull the custome of the Learned that when they commended to publike view therein ayming a◠common good their Christian pains and diuine indeuors knowing that the truth hath and alwayes had many oppositions and detractions to present them to men of high place and well affected in Religion that so their works might passe with lesse feare and danger of disgrace and opprobry I though vnlearned making bold to imitate their Christian policie herein haue presumed to present that doctrine to your Worships eyes that lately in publike place was sounded in your eares both of which senses are great instruments in the furtherance of our soules in the way of Gods Kingdome for as the eare conuayeth grace to the affections of the soule so the eye bringeth much matter to the vnderstanding of the minde nay the eare cannot so often be an Andito as the eye an Oratour to the Conscience For which cause your Worships nothing more affecting than growth in grace and Religion I haue attempted to commend to your often consideration Tormenting Tophet for as nothing allureth the heart to grace more then Gods mercies so nothing is more preualent against sinne than his fearfull and terrible Iudgements If therfore your gracious Worships shall vouchsafe to accept of these my poore presented pains it will giue much content to mine own heart doubtlesse answerable comfort to your owne soules And to conclude as the Lord hath aboundantly blessed your Worships with graces internal blessings externall So to vse the words of the Apostle the very God of peace sanctifie you still throughout and I pray God that your whole spirits and Soules
God Thirdly because God doth there raigne perfectly and to him there is done absolute obedience Fourthly because from thence hee manifesteth himselfe to vs by Reuelations Oracles Visions and the like and from thence hee gouerneth the world sending light heate raine and such like So that in that he is said to bee in Note Heauen his Maiestie doth not onely appeare but also his Dominion and Power to which all things in heauen and earth are subiect as his Goodnes in the word Father so his power in these words in heauen are manifested to vs. Vses This therefore first teacheth vs that wee must humble our selues in ◠our prayers before the great God of heauen and earth who is able to damne both body and soule in hell fire Secondly wee must come before Him with all possible reuerence because Hee is not an ignoble father or earthly but an heauenly Father and a glorious Maiestie Thirdly wee must mount vp our hearts to heauen when wee pray and there be present with God Fourthly wee must pray especially for Heauenly things we must look for all good things for body and soule from thence and our conuersations must likewise be holy and heauenly Thus much of the second part of this Preface The second part of this Prayer are The secōd part the Petitions themselues in number sixe The first thrée concerne Gods glory The first Petition the latter three our owne good The first Petition Hallowed bee thy Name This is put in the first place to Note shew that Gods glory is to bee preferred aboue all things euen aboue the care of our owne soules saluation By hallowed or sanctified is not Hallowed meant that we should adde holinesse to God but to acknowledge Gods Maiesty holy and euery way excellent as it is the like phrase is vsed in the Gospell of Luke Wisedome is iustified Luk. 7. 35. of her Children That is acknowledged and declared to be iust By the name of God is not heere Name meant his Commandements as Leu. 22. 32. Neither the authority of God as Math. 28. 19. But by the name of God is vnderstood the Essence of God as 1. Kin. 5. 5. and Psa 116. 13. and his Attributes by which his Maiesty is made knowne in some measure to vs as his Wisedome Power Holinesse Mercy Iustice c. So that in this Petition we desire these three things First that we may bee enlightned to know the Maiesty of God aright Secondly that wee may confesse and acknowledge the Lord to be such a one as the Scriptures haue recorded of him concerning his Greatnes Worthinesse and Attributes that he is a spirituall substance most Wise most Holy Eternall Infinite that he is Great without quantity Sweet without quality Euerlasting without time in his Greatnesse Infinite in his Power Omnipotent in his Wisedome inestimable in his Iudgements terrible Inuisible yet séeing all things Immutable yet changing all things Immoueable yet mouing all things Thirdly that wee may giue vnto ◠him his due honour and beare his Image of holinesse before the world in the heart by louing him and beléeuing in him in the tongue by reuerent speaking of him by praying to him and praysing him in the whole man by obeying him and holily liuing to him These therefore faile in the performance of this first Petition First all Atheists that acknowledge no God Secondly all Heathen Idolaters ◠and ignorant persons that worship not God aright Thirdly all Infidels that depend not vpon his al-commanding Power and might Fourthly all proud personal that séeke not Gods glory but their owne Fiftly all swearers and all that vnreuerently take the name of this great IEHOVAH in their mouths Sixtly all hard hearts that will neither be allured by his mercies nor moued by his iudgements Seuenthly all vnthankfull wretches for the benefits continually receiued from him Eightly all that are negligent in offering vp the Spirituall sacrifice of prayer and call not vpon his Name Ninthly all prophane people and vngodly liuers whatsoeuer as Adulterers Drunkards Lyers c. Thus much concerning the first Petition The second Petition Thy Kingdome The secōd Petition Thy come This word Thy sheweth that there is a double Kingdome First the Kingdome of God Secondly the kingdome of Satan called the kingdome of darknesse Col. 1. 13. Wee pray therefore that sinne may not reigne in our mortall bodies that wee may not bee bond-slaues to the prince of the ayre but that the Lord would admit vs into his Kingdome and rule and reigne ouer vs by his holy Word and Spirit This word Kingdome is taken Kingdom many wayes in the Scriptures First it is taken for the gouernment of the whole world as Psalme 145. 13. Thy Kingdome is an euerlasting Kingdome and thy Dominion endureth throughout all ages Secondly it is taken for that gouernment whereby the Lord ruleth and reigneth in the hearts of the Elect in this World by his Word and Spirit which is called the Kingdome of Grace The Kingdom of God is within vs Luke 17. 21. Thirdly it is taken for that gouernment whereby hee ruleth in heauen most perfectly in the Saints and Angels and this is called the Kingdom of Glory In this Kingdome the Elect shall reigne with Christ for euer Psal 94. 14. In this Petition the first acceptance is not to be vnderstood but the second of Grace and the third of Glory So that in this Petition we desire these thrée things First that the Lord would build in vs the Kingdom of Grace and rule in our hearts by his Word and Spirit sanctifying our spirits to all obedience and godlinesse Secondly that this Kingdome of Grace may bee increased in vs dayly that wee may grow Ephes 4. 15. in grace and godlinesse from the measure of the gift of Christ Eph. 4. 7. to the measure of the age of the fulnesse of Christ Ephes 4. 13. Thirdly that our hearts may bee inflamed to long for and desire the Kingdome of Glory that sinne and all wickednesse confounded we may perfectly glorifie our heauenly Creator as Paul prayed Phil. 1. 23. I desire to bee dissolued and bee with Christ and as the Saints of God Romans 8. 23. Wee that haue receiued the first fruites of the Spirit euen wee doe sigh and mourne waiting for the Adoption euen the Redemption of our body These therefore faile in the performance of the second Petition First they that suffer sin to raigne in their mortall members and yeeld obedience therevnto Secondly they that quench the Spirit of God and will not be ruled by the good motions and holy directions of the same Thirdly they that make no conscience of their wayes that contemne the counsell and hearing of the word and pray not heartily for the frée passage and flourishing estate of the same Fourthly they that labour not for perfection in grace Fiftly they that are not prepared for the comming of CHRIST neither wish nor long for
tongue and beare much more malice in heart These cursed Hypocrites these dissembling Hel-hounds and these venemous Vipers are the very pictures of the Diuell and liuely representations of the old Serpent For as the Diuell lyeth coggeth counterfaiteth and dissembleth so doe these The subtill Serpent pretended great kindnesse to our first Parents counselling them to eate of the forbidden fruit that so they might see and be as gods but he intended their euerlasting destruction so these crafty Foxes séeme to be charitable Christians and to giue good counsel whersoeuer they become but yet they deuoure 〈…〉 Widdowes houses and that vnder colour of long prayers The subtill Serpent séemeth to be an Angell of light but yet he is a diuell of darknesse settered with the chaines of euerlasting darknesse So A 〈…〉 these Apes of the Diuell do beare an outward shew of holinesse and puri ty yet they are Wels without water and clouds carried about with euery tempest to whom the blacke darknesse 2. Pet. 2. 17 is referned for euer These Hypocriticall mock-gods may fitly be compared to Idols For as an Idoll hath an outward shape of 〈…〉 in 〈…〉 a liuing man but yet hath no life at all within So Hypocrites séeme to liue by the life of grace yet are they dead in sinne and rotted in corruption They are new vpstart Gyants hauing two faces vnder one hood they come neere vnto God with their 〈…〉 â—9 â—3 mouthes and honour the Lord with their lips but their hearts are farre remoued from him Deum laudant in tâ—mpaâ—o seâ— non in choro iâ— They praise the Lord in the Tabor but not in the dance they serue God in shew but not in truth they beare with the Figgâ—â—trée great store of leaues but no fruit at all But alas alas these Hypocrites that thus deceiue theÌ„selues hauing their reward on earth which they through vaine glory gréedily look for at the hands of men shall neuer obtaine a Crowne of righteousnesse being altogether vnrighteous but they shall haue their portion with Hypocrites where shall be weeping wayling 〈…〉 â—5 â—5 and gnashing of teeth For the Lord abhorreth all hollow hearts and double tongues all outward odlations and burnt sacrifices all outward shew and hypocriticall worship he is a Spirit and he will spâ—e all such out of his mouth as worship him not in Spirit and Truth Simulâ—ta sanâ—litas duplex iniquitas i. Counterfait godlinesse is so farre from holinesse aâ— it is double vngodlinesse I say therefore vnto thée with Saint Chrysostome Aut esto quod appares aut appar◠〈…〉 〈…〉 id est Either be as thou seemâ—st or seem as thou art It is not séeming but being that shall goe for pay Non audiâ—oâ—â—s sâ—d fâ—â—â—orâ—s legis iustisic ibutur id est Noâ— the hearers but the doers of the â—â—â—â— shall be iustified Nâ—â— eandem prâ—â—iâ—â—ntes sed eidem obedientes glorifiâ—â—â—untur id est Not professors but performers shall be glorified Woe therefore to all hypocriticall Mock-gods that run not in the Race of Christianity as they boast themselues by profession they shall roare at the gates of heauen and say Lord Lord haue wee not by thy name prophecied and by thy name cast out diuels and by thy Name done many good workes haue wee not professed thy Gospell and borne the name of thine But because they did not the will of our heauenly Father our Sauiour shal send them packing to hell with a Nescio vos professing on this manner vnto them I neuer knew Mat. 7. 22. 23. Mat. 23. 23 you depart from me yee workers of iniquity O yee viperous Serpents O â—ee generation of Vipers how shall ye escape the iudgement of hell Let euery Christian therefore beware of the leauen of the Pharises which is Hypocrisie Beware of false Prophets which come vnto you in â—â—◠〈…〉 Sheeps cloathing but inwardly are rauening Wolues yee shall know them by their fruits doe men gather grapes of thornes or figges of thistles Walke wisely towards them that are Col. 4. 5. without redeeming the time for the dayes are euill That you may therefore preuent the damned traditions of this diuelish brood I say vnto you as our Sauior said vnto his Apostles a little before his Passion Behold I haue told you Mat. 24. 25 before Let euery Christian therefore auoiding all counterfait and hypocriticall profession runne in the Race of godlinesse seruing the Lord with all his heart with all his Soule with all his strength in holinesse and righteousnesse all the dayes of his life God calleth for our hearts My sonne giue me thy heart The Lord Pro. 23. â—â— Augustâ—ne as saith S. Augustine Quia totum fecit totum exigit id est Because hee made all hee will haue all not a piece of the heart nor a roome in thy heart but the whole heart for the Lord is a iealous God and as a iealous husband cannot indure that his wife should giue her hart or any part therof to any other man so the Lord cannot abide that wée should giue any part of our heart â—rom him He calleth not for a stony heart nor for a double heart but for a fleshy heart a heart purged by faith in CHRIST IESVS bathed in the bloud of the Lambe and throughly clensed by the fire of the Spirit not an old heart neither a corrupted heart but a new heart and a new Spirit for which the Prophet Dauid begged Create in Psal 51. 10 me a new heart O God and renew a right Spirit within me Let vs therefore I beseech you brethren by the mercies of God giue vp our bodies a liuing Sacrifice holy and acceptable vnto God which is our reasonable seruing of God and let vs Rom. 12 1 2. not fashion our selues like to this world but let vs bee changed by the renewing of our minde In stead of dead beasts let vs giue vp our bodies which are liuely Sacrifices And in stead of the bloud of beasts which was but a shadow and pleased not God of it selfe let vs giue vp the acceptable sacrifice of the spirituall Man framed by faith to Godlinesse of life Let vs sanctifie the Lord 1 Pet. 3. 23. in our hearts who dayly calleth for our hearts let vs say with Dauid My Soule praise thou the Lord and all Psal 103. 1. that is within mee praise his holy name Let vs praise him in his Sanctuary and in the firmament of his power let vs praise him in his mighty acts and according to his excellent greatnesse let vs praise him in the sound of a Trumpet vpon the Violl and Harpe yea let euery thing that hath breath praise the Lord And that not onely in word and in tongue but in déede and in truth not in outward shew and profession only but in our pure lines and holy conuersations that so running in the Race of Godlinesse to the end of our liues we may be blessed for euer and
which are there are innumerable Euen as a learned Geometrician finding Hercules his foot 's length vpon the high hill Olympus drew out his whole picture by the proportion of the same though farre vnequall to it so we may ghesse at the greatnesse of the ioyes of Heauen though far vnequall to them As the Quéene of Sheba hauing heard the wisedome of Salomon which before shee beleeued not sayd to Salomon Loe the one halfe was not told mee So the Saints of God inioying the vnspeakeable ioyes of Heauen may say it is true which we haue heard concerning the ioyes of Heauen by the mouth of preaching Ministers but loe the thousand part of them was not told vnto vs. The greatnesse of these ioyes doe appeare in the entertainment of the faithfull Seruant into ioyes by our Lord Iesus saying Enter into thy Masters ioy Our Sauiour saith not Let thy Masters ioy enter into thee but Enter thou into it shewing vnto vs that the ioyes of Heauen are so many as the thousand parts of them cannot be contained in the soule of man Thus at large haue I spoken of this reward the more to allure all men to runne in the Race of Christianitie which is the high way to this glorious reward Foure things there are that being well considered are excellent motiues to cause men to leaue the broad way of iniquity and to betake themselues to runne in this Race Celestiall The day of death The day of doome The ioye of Heauen and the torments of Hell Let euery Christian therefore as he tendreth his euerlasting saluation cast his eyes vpon this reward and runne in the race of Godlinesse so long as life shall last that whensoeuer it shall please the Lord to call him out of the vale of teares hee may hauing his name written in the booke of Life be welcommed into his Masters ioy with this blessed haruest song Come thou blessed of my Father inherite the Kingdome prepared for thee from the beginning of the world To the which thrice-blessed Kingdome he bring vs that hath so dearely bought vs euen Iesus Christ the righteous who hath taken away the sinnes of the world To whom with God the Father and God the Holy Ghost thrée Persons but one eternall and euerliuing God we ascribe both now and euer as is most due all power glory dominion and thanksgiuing Amen A MORNING PRAYER O Most glorious God the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ and in him our Father the Fountaine of all our wel-fare and the giuer of all grace wee thy poore children according to our bounden duty are at this present assembled together before thee in Prayer to offer vp euen from the ground of our hearts the Morning Sacrifice of Thanks-giuing for all thy louing mercies and tender kindnesses whatsoeuer bestowed vpon vs. We highly blesse thy Maiesty for electing vs in thy Christ to life eternall before all worlds for creating vs after thine owne most glorious Image in purity and perfection of holinesse for iustifying vs by the perfect obedience of thy Sonne for sanctifying vs by thy holy Spirit and for the hope that thou hast giuen vs of our future glorification with thée hereafter in Heauen We also returne vnto thée all due and possible praise for preseruing of vs hitherto of thine especiall goodnesse and mercy supplying abundantly all our necessities both in soule and in body and at this present wee heartily magnifie thy name for thy watchfull prouidence ouer vs this night and for thy blessing vpon vs and ours keeping vs from diuers dangers that might iustly for our sinnes haue come vpon vs both spirituall and corporall O what shall wee render vnto thée for all these thy mercies done vnto vs what are we that thou shouldest thus respect vs or what are our deseruings that thou shouldest thus esteeme vs To vs O Lord to vs most miserable sinners there nothing belongeth but shame and confusion If thou Lord markest strictly what is done amisse who is able to abide it O how farre doth thy mercy exceede thy iustice O the deepenesse of thy fauours towards vs So vnsearchable are they as no man can expresse them so vn-vtterable as no man can declare them And most mercifull Father wee humbly intreat for thy Christs sake the continuance of these mercies towards vs blesse vs this day and euer with thy heauenly protection and benediction guide vs by thine owne Spirit into all godlinesse that wee may profitably and conscionably walk before thee in our vocations both generall and particular blesse vs in the house and blesse vs in the field blesse vs in the basket and blesse vs in the store blesse vs in our out-goings and in our commings in compasse vs on euery side with thy mercies guard thine Angels round about vs keep vs from the euill of this world and euery worke of darknes and sanctifie both our soules and bodies with thy feare to thy seruice that as heretofore we haue serued the Diuell and the World by prophanenesse so euer hereafter redeeming the time wee may apply our selues vnto holinesse To which end we most earnestly craue O heauenly Father the presence of thy Spirit alwayes to direct vs the powerfull preaching of thy Gospell alwayes to instruct vs the holy vse of thy Sacraments alway to confirme vs that all heresie and vngodlinesse remoued farre from vs by these meanes sanctified vnto vs wee may glorifie thy holy Name by our holy conuersations in this life and be glorified of thee euerlastingly in the life to come And because by reason of our sins in stead of thy mercies we haue deserued thy furious indignation against vs we therefore seriously begge at the Throne of thy mercy in the meritorious mediation of Iesus Christ that thou wouldest remoue farre from vs and our Land all thy fearefull and heauy iudgements whatsoeuer as famine pestilence sword and the like and giue vs all grace from the King to the beast that we may be truely humbled for all our iniquities that wee repenting vs of our euill which is sinne thou maist be pleased to repent thee of thy euill which is punishment for sin Heare vs O blessed Lord God in these our Petitions pardoning our sinnes and granting to vs all our requests with all other thy graces that wee stand in need of that may make for thy glory and the sauing of our poore soules at the dismall day of Iudgement and that for Christ Iesus his sake To whom with thee and thy blessed Spirit three glorious persons but one immortall God we desire to returne all possible praise power Dominion and Thanksgiuing this morning and euerlasting Amen AN EVENING PRAYER O Most gracious God and in Iesus Christ our most louing and most mercifull Father the Father of all mercies and God of all consolations wee thy poore seruants do most humbly cast downe our selues before the Throne of thy dreadfull Maiesty confessing and acknowledging our manifold sins from time to time most grieuously committed against thee
superbia quid diuitiaruÌ„ copia What hath pride pronted him or what hath the pompe of riches done him good Alas these could not saue his Soule For as sayth the Psalmist a man by Psal 4â— 67 his riches cannot redéeme his brother he cannot giue his ransome to God so precious is the redemption of soules and their continuance for euer And in Samuel we read That-kings are not exempted from the iudgments of God If yee doe wickedly yee shall 1. Sam. 12 25. perish and your King In the first Epistle to the Corinths wee may read who they are that are threatned with Tophet neither fornicators nor Idolaters nor adulterers 1. Cor. 6. 9. nor wantons nor theeues nor couetous nor drunkards nor extortioners shall inherit the Kingdome of God This is spoken of Kings as well as of others And in the Reu. wee finde Reu. 21. â— that the fearefull and vnbeléeuing the abominable murtherers and whoremongers and sorcerers Idolaters and all lyers shall haue their part in the Lake that burneth with fire and brimstone and this is spoken of the King as well as of the Btgger for the Lord in iudgement fréeth from hell not according to place but grace not outward condition but inward disposition Nay moreouer great men Noblemen and mighty Princes are not only lyable to Tophet but the greatest part of them shall to the diuell Not many wise men nor many mighty not many noble are called for as God 1. Cor. 1. 2â— 1. 〈…〉 2. â— would haue all men saned and come to the knowledge of the truth i. some of all sorts some Iewes some Gentiles some Kings some Nobles some Preachers some Rich some Poore so of all these the greatest summe goe downe to Tophet Yet for all this great men must not bée reprooued forsooth the truth that maketh against them must not be imbraced of them Abner could not abide to heare Isbosheth 2. Sâ—m â— tell him of his going in â—o Rizpah his father Sauls Concubiae Ahab hated Micaiah the sonne o◠〈…〉 Imlah for not prophesying as he said good vnto him The people cryed out in Esayes time Dicite nobis placentia placentia Esay 30. that is speake pleasing things vnto vs. The Priests and people of Anathoth let 11. 21. threatned Ieremy to take away his life if he prophested to them in the name of the Lord. Amaziah said to Amos the Prophet Amos 7. 12. 23. Goe bee gone prophesie in Iudah but prophesie no more in Bethel for it is the Kings Chappell and it is the Kings Court. They hated him that rebuked in the Amos 5. 10 gate and abhorred him that spake vprightly The people in the time of Micah liked Mica 2. 11. them well that prophesied to them of Wine and strong Drinke I pray God that the great Ones of this Land be not tainted with this corruption Well for mine owne part I had rather be stormed against for preaching Tophet to you here then ye should curse mee in Tophet hereafter for smoothing and flattering you Yet this reprehension of great men I would wish it might be done in wisdome and humility which I beseech Rom 12. â— you O King by the tender mercies of God reforme these and these things for some in this case are indiscréet and too too sawcy and rather exasperate the hearts of their hearers against them then winne them to the Lord by their exhortation Vse If then Kings and great men bee not exempted from Tophet what should this worke in them but obedience to that counsell of the Psalmist Bee wise now therefore O yee Kings Psal 2. serue the Lord in feare Looke vp to heauen acknowledge your selues subiects to a greater As the Lord hath honoured Kings aboue others so hee looketh for a greater returne of honour from them than from others for where the Lord gineth much there the Lord requireth the more Kings and Princes are the Kéepers Deu. 17. 18 of the two Tables of the Law of God and to them is committed from God the gouernment both of Church and Common-wealth they must therefore be carefull that the Word may runne very swiftly throughout euery Angle of their Realmes So shall God gaine Psal 147. an vniuersall glory and Kings themselues a more fiable subiection Kings and Queenes are called nursing Esay 49. 23 Fathers and nursing Mothers and al to commend vnto them the care they should haue of Gods glory and the good of their people Iosua was such a Ruler that remained Ios 24. 1â— resolute and constant in the worship of God to his liues end Dauid prepared a place for the Arke 1. Ch. 15. 1. of God was carefull for the Church of the Lord. Iehoshaphat Ezechias and Iosias 2. Ch. 17. â— ch 29. 1 2. ch 34. 1 2. were reformers of their Kingdomes enemies to idolatry and graciously defended the Word of God And blessed be God for our Kings most excellent Maiesty who is maiesticall in his place in religion zealous in life vertuous and in mercy aboundantly gracious The Lord increase his graces in him the Lord anoint him with the oyle of Holinesse aboue his fellow Princes and the Lord kéepe him from this terrible Tophet and let all people that beare good will to this our English Sion to this my Prayer say Amen It is euen prepared for the King Secondly wée may here perceiue Obseru 2. Acts 10. with Peter that verily there is no respect of persons with God in iudgement he iudgeth the rich as the poore the father as the child the master as the seruant the King as the begger as the Prophet Dauid sayth With righteousnes shall he iudge the world and the people with equity Though wickednesse among men be Eccl. 3. 16. in the place of iudgement yet the Lord our God will deale iustly Though among men there is respect of persons to be had without which a confusion would and this is necessary to be vrged for men are full of contempt and too sawcy with them of superiour place and authority yet when all shall be summoned before the tribunall of God the Lord will indifferently procéede to iudgement without any respect of persons Vse And this should not only pull down the haughty minds of the noble who think for their greatnesse here it will bée easier for them hereafter than others but also this should bee an vnalterable president to all Iudges of the world As they sit in Gods place so they should imitate the Lord in iudgement this should make them obey the counsell of the Lord deliuered by the Prophet Dauid Bee learned yee that are Psal 2. Iudges of the earth O the care that Iehosaphat tooke for iust and righteous iudgement after he had made Iudges and set them in euery City of Iudah hee gaue them this charge Take heede what ye doe 2. Ch. 19. 1 6 7. for yee execute not the iudgements of man
Christian helps much profitable to your soules and as he hath abundantly blessed you withoutward honors and dignities externall he would also euen fill your heares and spirits with the inestimable riches of his al-sufficient grace that hauing granted this two-fold blessing to you in this life you may haue the more assured hope of a third in the life to come which is his blessing of glory for all which forenamed blessings your Worships shall haue my best and most deuout prayers continued to the Lord to whose sweetest protection I betake you both with your hopefull sonne this present day and euermore From Hempsted in Essex Ianuary 10. 1620. Your Worships alwaies ready to be commanded in the LORD Henry Greenwood To the CHRISTIAN Reader A Religious and right vertuous Gentlewoman curteous and I. M. Christian Reader much importuning mee for a written Copie of this extant worke vpon good consideration proues the onely occasion of this printed Tractate for things written as they are more tedious so are they lesse profitable but printed Tractates lesse tedious and more profitable I am not borne alone to my selfe my particular friends I loue to satisfie but the generall good still shall be my ayme And that my penne thus happily should turned bee to Presse I am no whit vnwilling both because few haue written vpon this worthy subiect as also for that I see this heauenly Sacrament seldome made right vse of the most contenting themselues with the bare signe very few acquainting themselues with the blessed power of the signified That therefore our profession may not be as in many Antichristian parts of the world in superficiall signe and shew alone but in substance life and power I commend vnto thy view for the better information of thine head and reformation of thine heart this short yet I trust profitable Treatise of that blessed Baptisme of our blessed Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ Here Christian friend mayst thou learne a double lesson to liue to dye to dye to that which otherwise must bee thy death to liue that Christian and happy life wherewith who-euer is not acquainted euerlastingly must dye The Lord God from my very soule I heartily desire blesse these my poore paines to the best good of thine owne Soule and worke in thine heart a death to all that is euill and a life to all grace and godlinesse that his glory more and more by thee may be aduanced and thine owne soule more more by him refreshed and that for his owne mercy sake to whose most happy protection I commend thee both in body and Soule in his deare Sonne Christ Iesus and rest Thine euer-louing in the Lord Henry Greenwood CHRISTS BAPTISME Math. 3. 16 17. And Iesus when he was baptised came straight out of the water And loe the heauens were opened vnto him and Iohn saw the Spirit of God descending like a Doue and lighting vpon him Verse 17. And loe a voyce came from heauen saying This is my beloued Sonne in whom I am well pleased AS by the disobedience of one man sinne entred Rom. 5. 12 into the World and by sinne death Rom. 5. 12. So by the obedience of one man righteousnesse entred into the world and by righteousnesse life Rom. 5. 18. Rom. 5. 18. For as Adams sinne hath bound vs all to a double misery guilt and punishment So Iesus Christ being made of God to vs Wisedome Righteousnesse 1. Cor. 1. 30. Sanctification and Redemption 1. Cor. 1. 30. hath deliuered vs both from guilt and punishment of all our transgressions The truth of which thrice-blessed report is not onely mentioned in the Gospell of God and therefore called EVAGGELION but confirmed also by sacramentall signes and seales in the first and last Testament In the first against sinnes guilt by circumcision against sinnes punishment by occasion the one a Sacrament cutting the other a Sacrament killing In the last against sinnes guilt the Sacrament of Baptisme against sinnes punishment the Sacrament of his Supper And as Adam sinned in his owne person So the second Adam for his recouery hath performed both the Sacraments and substance of the same in his owne person for hee was circumcised sacrificed baptized to take away the sinnes of the world Circumcised Luke 2. 21. Sacrificed Luk. 2. 21. Heb. 7. 27. Baptized in the words of my Text And when Iesus was baptized c. In which words for methode sake I note in generall thrée First Christs baptisme And when Iesus was baptized Secondly Christs immediate action after baptisme He streight came out of the water Thirdly Gods of Christs miraculous approbation Testified by two By Vision By Voyce By Vision two wayes 1. By the heauens apertion And loe the Heauens were opened vnto him 2. By the Spirits descension And Iohn saw the Spirit of God descending c. By Voice Behold a voyce came from heauen saying c. In which voyce I note also two 1. A double circumstance 2. A singular substance A double circumstance 1. Of the Person God the Father Behold a voyce 2. Of the place supercelestiall Came from Heauen A singular substance This is my beloued Son in whom I am well pleased In Christs Baptisme â— obserue thrée First the Baptist Secondly the Baptized Thirdly the element First the Baptist and that was Iohn as it appeareth in the precedent verses Not Iohn the Euangelist but Iohn the Sonne of Zachary the Priest A worthy instrument nomene numine a gracious name and a gracious person A gracious name whereof Saint Augustine in his second Tractate vpon Iohn sayth Magnum aliquidiste Iohannes ingens meritum magna gratia magna celsitudo A great name is this name of Iohn a name of great grace a name of great valuation Magnus exim erat Iohannes virtute magnus sanctitate magnus officio Great was Iohn in power great was Iohn in sanctity great was Iohns office A gracious person sanctified in his Luk. 1. 15. mothers wombe Luke 1. 15. that which was spoken of Ieremy the Prophet is verified of Iohn the Baptist Priusquam te formarem in vtero nouite antequam illinâ— exires sanctificaâ—i te Ieremy 1. 5. Before I formed thee in the wombe I knew thee and before thou camest out of the wombe I sanctified thee At one and the selfe-same time there was in Iohn the Baptist Spiritus vitae Spiritus gratiae the Spirit of Life and the Spirit of Grace as sayth Origen Whose sanctity you may reade at large commended by Iosephus lib. 18. Antiquitatum Yea Christ himselfe sayth thus much in commendation of him that inter natos mulierum mator Iohanne non surrexit Math. 11. 11. Among those that Mat. 11. 11. are borne of women a greater then Iohn arose there not Though Enoch was translated Gen. Gen. 5. 24. 5. 24. yet was hee not greater than Iohn Though Eliah was taken vp to Heauen 2. King 2. 11. yet was hee not greater than Iohn Moses a
dreadfull Maiesty bewayling bitterly all our offences committed against thee and quaking and trembling for feare thou shouldest in thy Iustice vtterly cast vs from thée into that wofull Lake that burnes with fire and brimstone Lord we confesse by birth our foule pollution by life our manifold transgression and therefore ashamed wee are that are but dust and ashes yea worse most lothsome and abominable sinners to come before thée or commence the least sute vnto thee that art a Maiesty most pure abhorring and seuerely punishing all that worke iniquity Therefore oh Lord our God wee most humbly beséech thee not to deale with vs according to thy iustice and our owne merits for then shall we be vtterly condemned but comming vnto thée as a child that feareth to bée beat for thy Christs sake with the eyâ— of pitty and fatherly compassion look thou graciously vpon vs behold vs in him in whom thy Iustice will soone turne it selfe into mercy thy frowne into fauour thine indignation into euerlasting saluation Lord for thy fauour now and euer we craue grant therefore to vs that aske for pardon of our sins at thy hands alone we séek grant that we may finde at thy gate of Saluation we earnestly do knocke good Lord therefore open vnto vs. But because thy sacred Word doth tell vs that thou wilt looke to none but those that are of a contrite heart and tremble at thy words Lord fit and prepare vs all by true humiliation to imbrace the sauing health of our soules grant gracious God that we may mourne our sinnes thorowly and lament our iniquities bitterly not so much because they might iustly condemne vs as that they haue so highly displeased thée and moued thy Maiesty to anger that hast béene so merciful a God vnto vs O giue vs hearts to grieue for that we cannot sufficiently grieue for our sinnes committed against thée And gracious Father we further intreat that we may not â—nely taste of the sowre of thy Law but likewise receiue in thy good time and in good measure the sweet and vnspeakable comfort of thâ— Gospell grant that thy Sonne Iesus may bée Iesus to vs all that his righteousnesse may couer our vnrighteousnesse that his death may bring our soules to life that in him and for his sake thou wouldest â—e well pleased to make vs thine by adoption to witnesse the same to our soules by the infallible testimony of thy blessed Spirit to work in our hearts a strong and resolute perswasion of Faith whereby we may graspe and hold fast this thy great mercy in Christ towards vs to the peace of our consciences in this life and the saluation of our soules in the life to come And holy Father for as much as all those that haue put on Christ are become new creatures grant vnto vs a new heart and renew a right Spirit within vs purge vs from our sinnes wash vs from our iniquities infuse thy sauing grace into our Soules whereby wee may dye to all that is euill and liue to all godlinesse of life all the dayes of our life to come Frame our hearts deare God to true and perfect obedience obedience being the best sacrifice that thou requirest oh grant that all our delight may be in thy Statutes that it may be euen our meate and drinke to walke in thy Commandements indeuoring alwayes and in all places to keepe a cléere conscience both towards thee and man Teach vs blessed Father to rely vpon thée alone by faith to feare loue honour and truely obey thee in wisedome and true sanctity to giue no worship from thee that is onely proper to thee reuerently to thinke and speake of thy most glorious name and word carefully to sanctifie thy Sabbaths and wholly set them apart for thy seruice Giue vs grace also thou that art the Author and giuer of all grace to carry our selues dutifully to man to honour and reuerently respect all our superiours both in nature and place to preserue and maintaine the good name goods and bodies of our brethren amongst whom we liue and not impaire hurt or maliciously massacre the same to keepe our selues chaste and vnspotted from all fleshly lusts and euery act of vncleannes iniuriously to take away no mans right or due to speake the truth and not to beare false witnesse against our brethren to be content with our owne estates more or lesse and not to repine at or couet that which is others O grant that our liues may bee vnreprouable before thée and men But because O Lord of our selues we are able to doe no good thing but it is thou that workest the will and the deed Lord therefore stand euer by vs with thy preuenting assisting and consequent grace whereby we may be able in some measure to do thy will on earth as thy Angels doe it perfectly in heauen Moreouer heauenly Father wee fully beléeuing our selues to be true and liuely members of that body mysticall whereof our blessed Sauiour is the Head doe earnestly desire at thy gracious hands the like mercy for the whole body of Christs Church as we beg for our owne soules Lord blesse and defend thy Church and Chosen in all Kingdomes of the earth wheresoeuer inlarge the bounds of thy Gospell increase the number of thy Saints daily adde vnto thy Church such as shall bee saued Blesse the Kings most excellent Maiesty with all spirituall blessings in Christ Iesus meet for so great and worthy a personage with the Prince and His whole issue in this Kingdome and beyond the Seas Grant that He may neuer want one out of his own loynes to sit vpon his Throne for the maintenance of thy Gospell till the comming of Christ in the clouds Blesse all afflicted members whether grieued in conscience troubled in body or persecuted for the Gospell according to their seuerall ocâ—â—sions and need Blesse those that are neerer and dearer vnto vs in the flesh as are our Parents and kindred whether father or mother husband or wife brother or sister or childe with our Christian acquaintances and friends kéep them all and vs with them to thine euerlasting kingdome and saluation And in mercy good Lord this night looke downe vpon vs preserue vs and ours from all dangers bodily ghostly within doores and without giue vnto our bodies a comfortable rest and sléepe that they may be more able to do the works of their particular vocations before thee and swéet Lord watch euermore ouer our poore soules kéepe vs from sin and euill both sleeping and waking and when that sléepe of death shall fall vpon vs grant that our soules may wake to thy glory and saluation euerlasting and that for Christ Iesus his sake our onely Lord and euerlasting Redéemer to whom with thée and thy good Spirit three persons but one God wee heartily desire to offer vp all thanksgiuing and praise this euening and euerlasting Amen THe grace of our Lord and Sâ—uiour Iesus Christ and the loâ—â— of God our heauenly Father and the most blessed presence of God the holy Ghost bee with vâ— all and within vâ— all both in Soule in Spirit and in body and with all things that remaine or belong vnto vâ— either within dores or without this â—ight and euerlasting AMEN FINIS
penna leuius quid millio breuius What is lighter then a feather and what is shorter then the â—eed-mill Yet notwithstanding an innumerable company of feathers trussed vp together will breake the Porters back Small were the gnats that troubled Pharaoh yet they being Exod. 8. 24 innumerable ouercame proud Pharaoh and all the power of Egypt An houre is but a short time but Dum hora horae continua successione congeritur While one houre by continuall succession is added to another the whole course of our liues is finished Quid sâ—xo durius quid aqua liquidius What is harder then a stone and what is softer then the water Yet a Wiseman saith Gutta cauat lapidem conâ—â—mâ—tur Poâ—â— annulus vsu that is Water by continuall drops doth eate vp the stone and a ring by continuall vse is worne in pieces So an idle word although it bee but a small sinne yet many a little makes a mickle many of them heaped vp together make an intolerable lumpe It hath been is and euer will be the fond nature of man to imagine sin a great deale lesser then indeed it is A man would thinke that Adam through the diuels suggestion and Gen. 3. 6. through the abuse of his owne free will eating of the forbidden fruite had committed but a small trespasse yet â—ee was guilty of euerlasting torment for the same S man would Num. 15. 30 thinke that that poore man had coÌ„mitted but a smal sin in gathering chips of méere necessity on a Sabbath day yet he was by the Law stoned for his labour A man would thinke that Peter had giuen his Master good counsell when as Christ told him that hee must goe to Ierusalem and there suffer many things saying Master fauour Mat. â—â— â—â— â—â— thy selfe and goe not yet he was called Satan for his labour A man would thinke that Ananias and Saphira Acts 5. â— had committed but a smal sinne when as they did detaine part of the Apostles money for feare of after-plays and protested the contrary with a lye yet they dyed both sodainely at the feete of Peter So a man would thinke that an idle word were but a small sinne yet Christ saith here that a great account must bee made for the same For by thy word thou shalt be Mat. 12. 35. iudged and by thy words thou shalt â—e condemned Seeing this is true it behoueth euery man to set a watch before the dore of his lips and to kéep his tongue from idle and euill words that he may obtaine that blessednesse Blessed is hee that hath not falne by the Eccle. 1â— 1 words of his mouth 3 We must giue an account of our workes as appeareth to the Corinthians Workes 2. Cor. 5. 10 We must all appeare before the Iudgement seat of Christ and there receiue according to our works Againe the Preacher saith That God will Eccl. 12. 14 bring to Iudgement euery worke with euery secret thing whether it be good or euill Hee that hath liued in sinne shall receiue the reward of sin which is death and damnation and hee that hath liued in faith and amendment of liâ—e shall receiue a crowne of glory which the Lord will giue him at that day It is the duty therfore of euery Christian to labor and to endâ—uor with all â—â—ligent carefulnesse â—o liue well that at the day of Iudgement he may sâ—â—d well 〈…〉 〈…〉 that is liâ—e wel should be the delightsome posie sweet perfumed Nosegâ—â— of euâ—ry Christian thus line well that that mayst die well after death eternalâ— speed wel obtaining that blessednes Blessed are they that dye in the Lord 4 We must giue an account of ouâ— 4 Good temporall goods how we haue gotten them whether iustly or vniustly how wee haue spent them whether wee haue cloathed the naked with them or whether wee haue made naked the cloathed for them how wee haue disposed them lest there hee any debate for them after wee be gone therefore Esay telling Hezekiah that he should not liue but dye saith Dispone domum tuam 〈…〉 Set thine house Esay 38. 1. 〈…〉 in order for thou must not liue but dye How then shall those griping Vultures make an account that haue by oppression vndone their brethren The world is grown so hard-hearted that men will rather suffer their brethren to starue in the streets then to succour or relieue them The dogs shall haue the remnant of the Rich mans table before poore I azarus shall Luk. 16. 21. haue one â—rum that falleth from the same â—ow shall these fiinty hearts â—oâ—ke for one dram of mercy at the day of Iudgement Let them looke with what measure they haue measured to others it shall bee measured to them againe let them know that if they will stop their eares at the cry of the poore they shall cry themselues and shall not be heard if they will be partakers with the Saints of the ioyes of heauen their brethren must be partakers with them of their wealth on earth For this is to treasure vp treasures in heauen to lay out their treasures on earth Let men therefore so vse their temporall goods and worldly riches as they may at the day of account receiue a Crowne of immortall Glory 5 We must giue an account of the 5 Time time wherein we liue and of our seuerall vocations how we haue employed our selues in the same Saith Bernard Omne tempus tiâ—i Bernard impensum requiretur à te qualiter fuerit expensumâ—d est All the time that God hath giuen thee shall be required at thy hands how thou hast spent it Whether in the seruice of God or in the seruice of Satan The Prince must giue an account how he hath gouerned his kingdome whether hee hath as it becommeth Gods Vice-gerent mildely louingly and carefully trained his Subiects vp in the worship of God or as a bloudy Nero and hard-hearted Tyrant cruelly oppressed them The Ministers of the Word of God who haue taken vpon them curum animorum The charge of soules must giue an account how they haue behaued themselues in their Ministery whether they haue preached Christ for Christ that is for the conuersion of sinners to Christ or as hirelings for lucre and gaine of worldly trash whether they haue fed their Flocks carefully or fed vpon their Flocks couetously The Magistrate must giue an account how he hath behaued himselfe in his Magistracy whether â—ee hath sought the maintenance of Vertue and the confusion of Vice or hath his eyes being blinded with siluer scales maintained iniquitie and oppressed the innocent The Householder how he hath gouerned his Family whether in reading of holy Scriptures and Prayer to the praise and glory of God or in reading of foolish fables in gaming dicing playing swearing and such like Yea euery man must giue an account of the time spent in his seuerall calling from the highest to the lowest Let euery Christian
vnto them When yee pray say Our Father which art in heauen c. So that Christ gaue them this prayer not onely to vse the prescript forme thereof but also to frame all their prayers sutable to the same â— Secondly The brâ—uity hereof containing but â—â—â—e and those short Petitions It pleased Christ in his wisedome to make it briefe and short for these three causes 1 That it might be sooner learned and better kept 2 That it might bee often repeated â— and not wearisome 3 That it might take away all excuse â— from those that in any respect neglect prayer Thirdly The excellencie hereof â— and that is double 1 In respect of the Author it was made by Christ himselfe who is the wisedome of the Father 2 In respect of the Subiect for it containeth in it though neuer so short whatsoeuer is necessarie for Gods glory our present good and euerlasting comfort Fourthly The necessity hereof it is as necessary to the Christian soule as a Castle or Bulwarke to the Citie This Prayer whereof I haue spoken containeth in it generally three things First a Preface Secondly Petitions Thirdly a Conclusion The Preface is set downe in these The Preface words Our Father which art in heauen The Preface consisteth of â— parts The first part concerneth our own selues in these words Our Father The secoÌ„d part The second part of the Preface concerneth God in these words Which art in Heauen The first part of the Preface concerning our selues containeth in it two things First a Duety Secondly a Prerogatiue First a Duety in this first word Our In this word Our we are taught Our Note what loue care and affection should raigne in the members of the Mysticall Body Wee should pray for the whole Body of the Saints as well as for our own soules The eye séeth not for it selfe alone but for the good of the whole body the hand laboureth not for it selfe alone but for the whole body So should we craue all comfortable Graces for our Brethren and for the whole Body of Christ Iesus as well as for our owne selues Secondly a Prerogatiue in this word Father By Father héere is not onely vnderstood Father the first Person of the Trinitie but the whole Trinity For as God is said to be our Father in respect of Creation Redemption and Preseruation So the whole Trinity haue their parts in them all Againe the name of Father when it is put with any other Person of the Trinity is taken personally that is for the first Person of the Trinity but wheÌ„ it is put with his creatures it is taken essentially for the whole Trinity So that in Christ our Mediatour Wee that were by nature the children Ephes â— 3. of wrath are become the Sonnes of GOD and Heires of eternall Life And this is the great prerogatiue of the Children of GOD. To bee the sonne of a mighty Monarch Note and great Prince is high eminence but to be the Adopted Sonne of God vnspeakable is the excellency of this title Vses Herein the loue of God doth first appeare vnto vs Behold what loue the FATHER hath shewed on vs 1. Ioh. 3. 13 that wee should bee called the Sonnes of GOD. Secondly by this word Father our faith is much strengthned in our prayers for we pray not to an inexorable iudge but to a merciful Father who can deny vs nothing as we may comfortably reade Mat. 7. 9 10 11. Thirdly wee haue good warrant to call God Father and it is no impudency so to doe for we haue Gods promise You shall be my people and Ezek. 36. 28. I will bee your GOD Wee haue Christs warrant When ye pray say Luke 11. 2. Our Father And wee haue the holy Ghosts instruction Rom. 8. 1â— Yee haue receiued the Spirit of Adoption whereby we cry Abba Father Fourthly if God be our Father then let vs haue a continuall care like good children to giue him his due loue and deserued honour as hee calleth for the same of vs in the Prophet A Sonne honoureth his Father Mal. 1. 6. and a Seruant his Master If I bee a Father where is then mine honour and if I be a Master where is then my feare Thus much of the first part of this Preface The second part of this Preface The secoÌ„d part concerneth God in these words Which art in Heauen This second part concerning God containeth in it a double description First A description of the Maiestie of God Secondly A description of the Habitation of God The description of the Maiesty of GOD in these words contained Which art is double First A description of his Immutability Which art Which are Note The Lord in his Essence is immutable and in his Attributes without shadow of change the Lord therefore sending Moses to Pharao bad him say Exod 3. 14 on this manner I AM hath sent me And as God is thus immutable in his Essence and Attributes so is hée immutable in his Word Heauen and Mat. 24. 35 earth shall passe away but my Words shall not passe away And this is a Doctrine of much comfort that the Lord in his Word and Promise is vnalterable and without mutabilitie or change Secondly A description of the Eternity Note Which art The Lord is to day yesterday and the same for euer Hee was before all beginning and shall neuer haue ending Hee was not in time neither shall Hee end in time but remaineth the same ror euer Thirdly A description of Gods habitation in these words In heauen In 〈…〉 en We are here to know that God cannot properly be said to bee in a place because he is an infinit and incomprehensible Spirit Hee is in heauen by his glory in earth by his mercy in hell by his vindicts and in the depth of the seas by his miracles Behold the 1. King 8. 27. heauens and the heauens of heauens are not able to containe the Lord. Heauen is his feat earth is his footestoole c. Yet the Lord is said to bee in heauen as Psal 2. 4. But hee that dwelleth in heauen shall laugh them to scorne and Psalm 113. 5. Who is like to the Lord our God that hath his dwelling on high that is in heauen and Psal 123. 1. I lift vp mine eyes to thee that dwellest in the heauens God is said especially to be in heauen for these foure causes First because his glory is most â— manifested in Heauen euen as the seate of the soule the head and the heart may bee said to bee because the soule is most seene there though it be not in any one place of the body included so the Lord is said to be in heauen because his glory doth there most appeare Secondly because heauen is the â— place where Christs Body is and heauen is the Palace of Angels and Court of Saints where they behold the glorious face of
greatest temptation of all not to bee tempted at all Thirdly those that presumptuously â— thinke that of themselues they are able to withstand temptations and of their owne power Fourthly those that are carelesse and respect not whether they ouercome or be ouercome of temptation that are as ready to yeeld to temptation as the Diuel and the flesh are ready to tempt them Fiftly those that liue and lie in sin â— and séek not to be deliuered from this their damnable estate Sixthly those that flie not the appearance â— of euill that preuent â—ot the beginnings of sinne and eschew not the company of traders in iniquity Thus much concerning the sixth and last Petition The third and last part of this The third part The conclusion Prayer is the Conclusion in these words set downe For thine is the Kingdome the Power and the Glory for euer and euer Amen For thine is the Kingdome 〈…〉 The Kingdome is said to bee the Lords for these two causes First because hee is owner of all â— things that are Secondly because hee hath soueraigne â— rule ouer all things at his wil. The Power All power is of God 〈…〉 and from God that we haue And Glory All glory is due to the And Glory Lord our God First the reason why wee pray to â— God is because whatsoeuer wee haue we haue it from God for he is King and Lord ouer all and whatsoeuer strength of grace wee haue wee haue it from God the fountaine and giuer of all grace Secondly the reason why wee would haue our prayers granted is that Gods Kingdome Power and Glory may be aduanced because the Kingdome and Power is the Lords to him we pray and because all glory appertaineth to him wee returne to him thanksgiuing and the glory of al saying with the Psalmist Not to vs P 〈…〉 â—1 5â— O Lord not vnto vs but vnto thy name giue the glory These therefore faile in the right knowledge of this conclusion First that deny the generall gouernment and prouidence of God thinking all things come by for 〈…〉 or chance Secondly that deny hâ—â—◠〈…〉 tency â— and that all power and strength do come only from God and that rest vpon their abilities for any thing Thirdly that take to themselues â— or giue to any other glory and honour which onely are due vnto the Lord. Amen This last word is taken Amen two wayes First for a witnesse of our faith and then the acceptance of this word is It shall be so we beléeue that the Lord in his good time will grant our requests Secondly for a testification of our feruent desires and then the acceptance of this word is So be it wee desire the Lord to grant our Petitions made vnto him In the first acceptance wee are admonished to pray Faithfully in the second we are admonished to pray Feruently which two Faithfully and Feruently are the principall things to be obserued in prayer And this word is as well to be spoken of the Minister as the people though for the most part the Minister putteth it off to the people These therefore fayle in the right vse of this word First that offer vp prayers to God and are not perswaded in their hearts that the Lord will heare them and helpe them these finde small comfort in their prayers Secondly that pray luke-warmely and coldly their tongue walking and their hearts without feeling that are not earnest with the Lord and that end them not vp with grones that can not be expressed Three Prayers neuer speede for a blessing First Tâ—midâ— a Fearfull Prayer when we beleeue not that we shall be heard Secondly Tâ—pidâ— a Luke-warme Prayer when we pray in deadnesse of heart and drowsinesse of minde without feruency of Spirit Thirdly 〈◊〉 a rash Prayer when wee pray either without wisedome or due consideration Three prayers speede for a blessing First Fidelis a Faithfull Prayer â— when wee are perswaded that in Christ the Lord will grant all good things vnto vs. Secondly Humilis an Humble Prayer when wee considering the greatnesse of Gods Maiesty and our owne basenesse and vnworthinesse in all humility and lowlinesse call vpon his name Thirdly Feruens a Feruent Prayer when we powre out our hearts before God when wee pray with zeale and entire deuotion of the soule Thus much concerning the conclusion of the Lords Prayer THe Lord of infinite mercy and of endlesse consolation guide our hearâ—â— and direct our Spirits by the 〈…〉 direction of his good Spirit in all 〈…〉 prayers and in all other our Chri 〈…〉 duâ—â—â—s that we may in them all â—iue him â—rue seruice and answerable obedience and so follow him faithfully and obediently in grace in this world that wee may be admitted to sing Halleluiah to his Maiesty for euermore in the world to come and that for Christ Iesus his sake who is our onely Lord and Sauiour To whom with the Father and the blessed Spirit three glorious Persons but one and the self-same Essentiall God we offer vp from the bottome of our hearts all possible Power Honour Dominion and Thanksgiuing for euer and euer Amen FINIS THE RACE CELESTIALL OR A speedie Course to Saluation The Fift Impression 1. Cor. 9. 24. So runne that yee may obtaine LONDON Printed by George Purslowe and are to be sold by Iohn Clâ—â—â— 1â—â—0 TO THE MOST High and Mighty most Gracious and Religious PRINCE IAMES by the grace of God of Great Brittaine France and Ireland King Defender of the Faith Apostolâ— call c. All blessed hap in this life and eternall blisse in the life to come THe picture of puritie and patterne of Piety most Gracious and dread Souâ—râ—ignâ— Lord holy Bernard by name deciphereth oâ—t at large thâ— grosse enormity of that vgly vâ—â—â— Ingratitude saying that it is Inimica animae exinanitio merâ—orum dispersiovirtutum c An enemy to the Christians soule an exile of merits a ruine of vertues and a consuming fire that scorcheth vp the fountaine of all godlinesse Lest therefore I should condemne my selfe of this sensuall sin and challenged bee of grosse Ingratitude I haue presumed crauing pardon for my arrogant audacity herein in token of my loyall duty to your sacred Maiesty to transport these lines Laconicall and letters Impolite to the happy hauen of your Princely heart wishing to your Royall Grace the siluer of all earthly prosperitie and the gold of all celestiall â—elicitie If your Highness respect the matter it is celestiall â—f your Supremacy the manner it is tâ—o tâ—o terrestriall Yet pardon most religious Prince this my bold attempt partly weighing the compulsion of â—ntire affection and partly considering the necessity of your simplest subiects erudition Thus ceasing further troubling your Maiesties sacred â—ares prosterning my selfe vpon the knees of submission at your Highnesse foot-stoole for pardon for my presumption herein I begge without intermission before the Throne of Grace that it would
is a great plenty of men but there is a great scarcity of good men These wayes seeme pleasant to be walked in yet Nouissima illarum mors est The end of these wayes is death for the diuel like a subtill fisher sheweth the bait but hideth the hooke sheweth the vnprofitable profit and vnpleasant pleasure of sin but h 〈…〉 th the hooke from mens eyes which is death according to that of S. Paul Stipendium 〈…〉 mors est The wages of sinne is death here hell and damnation hereafter Sinne seemeth at thâ— first to fawne vpon a man but yet in the end it will with Caines dogge Gen. 4. plucke out the very throats of our soules In these main rodes the more is the pitty doth the greatest part of mankind run headlong to perdition without any checke of conscience remorse for their sinnes or any reclamâ—tion in the world Sinne neuer more then in these our dayes of the Gospell abounded the diuell hath more followers then Christ the whole multitude â—â—â—ed Crucifie him Crucifie him bâ—â— Mar. â—â— 1â— there was but one and thâ—t a â—â—lly woman that laboured to set him â—râ—e The saying of Paul to the Romans is verified in thâ—se our dayes of sin There is none righteous no not one Rom. 3. 10. 11. 12. There is none that vnderstandeth there is none that seeketh God all haue gone out of the way all are altogether vnprofitable there is none that doth good no not one Pride Whoredome Gal. â— 19. â—â— â—â— Adultery Fornication Vncleannesse Wantonnesse Idolatry Witch-craft Hatred Debate Emulation Wrath Contention Sedition Heresie Couetousnesse Drunkennesse Swearing Forswearing Blasphemy Prophanenesse coÌ„tempt of the Word despising of Gods Messengers and the like abominations are raigning in euery angle of this our Iland yea our Land is become a sinke of sin a pit of pollution and a place of abomination defiled with iniquity A vertice capitis vsque ad plantam pedis id est from toppe to toe hauing no sound part throughout it yea our whole Land is out of course And it is the great Lam. 3 2â— mercy of God that wee are not consumed Yea these last dayes of the world are like to the daies of Israels prouocation of the Lord in the wildernesse wherein wee preferre the slauery of Egypt aboue the sweete Manna of heauenly blisse Yea that saying of the Prophet is verified of the most part of mankind That the Children gather stickes the Ierem. 7. 8. Fathers make the fire and the women bake cakes for the Queene of Heauen That is they offered sacrifice to the Sun and Moone and Planets which they called the Queene of Heauen So the beast of Rome with his Antichristian crue doth sacrifice to Mary making her an idoll and calling her as in their Salue Regina and Regina Coeli laetare doth appeare the Queene of Heauen They make Ignorance the mother of their Deuotion Sir Iohn Lacke-latine and Sir Anthony Ignorance are their chiefest Clarkes and best Masse-mongers Yea the world is growne to that height of reprobation that that which is written in Iob is verified of many They say to Goâ— Depart â—rom vs Iob. 21 14. 15. â—or we desire not the knowledge of thy wayes who is the Almighty that wee should serue him Full little thinking that the Lord shall answer them with the like Disâ—â—â—â—â—e Depart from me yee Math 7. 2â— workers of iniquity Thus we â—ée how the worldlings run in the race of iniquity the broad way to the lake vnquenchable some in the race of Atheisme some in Papisme some in Mahumetisme some in Paganisme but few there are that run in the race of Christianisâ—â—â— But thou that wouldest be saued thou that wouldest so runne that thou maist obtaine run not in any of these wayes but flye from sin as from a stinging Serpent and a biting Cockaâ—riâ—â— For they that doe such things shall not â—al â— â—â— inherite the Kingdome of God The right way therefore wherein Hâ—c 〈…〉 we must runne is the way of Godlinesse the way of Christianity the way of the Word of God framing all our thoughts words and operations according to the precise and strict rule of the same For Factores legis iustificabuntur id est The doers of the â—aw shall be iustified saued and glorified This way of Godlinesse is a blessed way to walke in It is sweeter than Psal â—â— Mat. 11. 3â— the hony or the hony combe Iugum Christi sâ—â—ue est onus suum leue id est The yoke of Christ is easie and his burthen light Mandata â—â—â—s graâ—ia â—on 1. Ioh. 5. 3. sunt id est His Commandements are not grieuous and his Commandements Psal 119. are exceeding large Her wayes are wayes of pleasure and her pathes Prou. 3. 17 â—sâ—l 119. â—â—5 prosperity It is a lanthorne to our feet and a lâ—ght vnto our pathes It is a pillar of fire to carry vs thorow the wildernesse of this world to the Celestiall Canaan It is the power of God Rom. 1. 1â— to saluation to euery Beleeuer both lew and Grecian It is able to saue our Iam. 1. 2â— soules it is able to make vs wise to saluation is is profitable to teach to improue 2. Tim. â— 15 1â— 17. to correct to instruct in righteousnesse and to make vs perfect in all good works It is comfortable in all cases and parts of our life both in prosperity and aduersity both in life and death If we fight it is a sword if we hunger it is meate if wee thirst it is drinke if wee be naked it is a garment if we be in darknes it is light yea in a word the Word of God is The high-way to Heauen Enter therfore Mat. 7. 13. in at the straight gate of amendment and run in the same from faith to faith from grace to grace from vertue to vertue from strength to strength till thou beest a perfect man in Christ Iesus Cast away the workes of darknesse Rom 13. 12 13 14 and put on the armour of light walke honestly as in the day not in gluttonie and drunkennesse neither in chambering and wantonnesse nor in strife and enuying but put on the Lord Iesus Christ and take no thought for the flesh to fulfill the lusts of it Bee Mat. 10. 16 wise as the Serpent be innocent as the Doue Amongst diuers points of wisedome to bee found in the Serpent this is one namely Shee casteth her coat and so renouateth her age as Aristotle saith These three beasts Arist de nat Aâ— mal lib. 8 cap. 17. Stellio Tum Vere tum Autumno both in the Spring as also in Autumne doe cast their skinnes viz. the beast like a Lizzard called in Latine Stellio Quia habet maculas quasi stellas collo infixas Because hee hath spots in his necke like starres Lacertus the Lizzard and Lacertus Serpens the Serpent And to doe this
farre from recantation as they willingly chose to lose their lines in tribulation And thus were the thrée Children tryed in the furnace By affliction are the children of the â—oâ—d and the so wâ—s oâ— â—eliai discâ—râ—ed Euen a◠〈…〉 vesselâ— will breake 〈…〉 in pieces when they come to the fire and the sound onely hold out So the wicked like counterfaits will bewray themselues when they come to the faggot and the godly onely stand to it as we reade in the Gospell of S. Luke They depart from him in the Luke 8. 15. time of tribulation Many will with Peter vow to follow Christ Iesus and to sticke close to him but when they come to Pilars Hall a silly Mayd will make them forsweare him The Lord therefore afflicteth vs to try our Faith our Patience our Hope and other vertues Faith is exercised in affliction by Faith considering the causes of Gods permission and by beleeuing most assuredly his promises concerning our deliuerance Hope is exercised in affliction by Hope assuring our selues of the rewards promised to all those that suffer patiently Loue is exercised in affliction by Loue. considering the loue of Christ in suffering for vs and thereby we are prouoked to suffer for him againe Obedience is exercised in affliction ObedieÌ„ce by conforming our wils to the will of Christ saying with Christ Not as we will but as thou wilt O Lord God of Hosts Patience is exercised in affliction Patience by suffering quietly willingly and cheerefully and by welcomming them sent of God for our good Humilitie is exercised in affliction Humility by abasing our selues in the sight of God acknowledging that they are but as flea-bitings in respect of the torments of hei which by our lewd liues for euermore we haue deserued Fifthly the Lord suffereth vs to be afflicted in this world that the greatnesse of his power the infinitenesse of his mercy might bee shewne in the deliuery of vs. We reade in the Gospel of Iohn that the Apostles hauing asked our Sauiour the reason why the man was borne blind he answereth them Ioh. 9. 2 3. Not for his fathers nor for his owne sin but that the workes of God should be shewne on him From which wee may truly gather thus much namely that the man was borne blind especially to this end that our Sauiour might haue occasion to shewe the greatnesse of his power in curing him Againe in the same Gospell wee reade that Lazarus dyed to this end that God might be glorified in raising him from death The wonderfull Ioh. 11. power of the Lord was shewed in the deliuery of the three Children from sire by his Angell of Ionas from drowning by the Whale of Susanna from death by Daniel of Daniel from the Lâ—ons by his owne immediate power of Eliah from staruing by the Râ—…ens And our gracious Soueraigne Lord King Iames from the sword in Scotland and from the Powder-treason in England by his extraordinary fauour and wonderfull loue which hee had to this his gracious seruant which the Lord in mercy vouchsafe vnto him and his Royall Progeny for euermore Thus the Lord bringeth men into deepe afflictions that his power might bee shewne in bringing them out againe Dominus deducit ad inferos 1. Sam. 2. 6 reducit id est The Lord bringeth to hell and bringeth backe againe to great afflictions and out of them Poet. againe Vna eademque manus vulnus opemque tulit The same hand that woundeth the same hand cureth Vulnerat â—ob 5. 18. medetur percutit sanum reddit â— Hee maketh the wound and bindeth it vp he smiteth and his hand maketh whole So that howsoeuer many are the troubles of the righteous in their iourney to heauen yet the Lord powerfully in his good time deliuereth them out of all if hee seeth it best for their good otherwise suffering for the testimony of the truth and the glory of his name they shall change this life for a better Thus haue I somwhat largely spoken of Afflictions both in regard of their necessity as they cannot bee shifted of any that run in the way of Godlinesse as also in regard of their conueniency being more helpe then hindrance in this spirituall iourney that so we may make good vse of theÌ„ when it shall please the Lord to send them And thus much shal suffice for this third point namely for perseuerance in this course of Godlinesse beséeching the Lord of his goodnesse to giue vs grace that we may not shrinke back for feare of afflictions but wade throrow with patience holding out in this Race to the end of our Race So runne that ye may obtaine Text. The third thing in order to be spoken of is Prâ—mium promissum id est the promised reward But before I enter into the handling thereof one thing necessarily must bee obserued and that worthy of annotation The Apostle saith not here Seeme sâ— to 〈…〉 that ye may obtaine or make â—â— outward shâ—w of running 〈…〉 â—â— run that ye may obtaine â—n which speeâ—h he excludeth all hypocrisie and banisheth all counterfait godlinesse from this Christian Race For in this visible Church there are many that outwardly professe CHRIST but inwardly serue Belial Christians in name but Reprobates in déede Saints in shew but diuels in conuersation Many Hypocrites there are like painted Sepulchers dissembling Pharises faire without but foule within Lambes in apparition but Wolues in condition Ones habitu Bernard as saith S. Bernard Vulpes actu crudelitate lupiâ— id est Sheepe in shew Foxes in deed and Wolues in crueltie Mente sub agnina latitat mens saepè lupina Poet. Id est They haue Lambs skinnes but Wolues hearts Yea howsoeuer they séeme to be members of Christs body courteous and kind to the flock of Iesus zealous louers and earnest embracers of the sincere milke of the word running in the path of true godlinesse yet neuerthelesse they are a Mat. 3. 7 generation of Vipers of whom the Euangelist speaketh ready to sucke out the very heart blood of the Saints of God and rend them in pieces like rauening Wolues they haue Mel in ore fel in corde id est Hony in their mouthes but gall in their hearts sugred words to intrap but poysoned hearts to torment carrying themselues like Iudas who saluted his Master with a kisse hauing the poyson of Asps lying vnder his lips For Quando bonum ore faris mala corde tamen Poet. meditaris Oscula quae Domino Iudas dedit haec mihi tu daâ— Id est When men speake well and thinke ill their kindnesse is treason as was the kisse of Iudas And for all other enmities in the world this is the greatest as saith Cassiodorus Grauissimum 〈…〉 inimicitiae est genus corde aduersarios lingua simulare deuotos id est This is a most grieuous kind of enimie when men pretend much loue in
and bodies may be kept blamelesse to the comming of our Lord Iesus Christ Amen From Hempsted in Essex Ianuary 10. 1629. Your Worships alwaies ready to be commanded in the LORD Henry Greenwood To the CHRISTIAN Reader CHristian Reader I commend to thy charitable view this terrible and lamentable description of Hell a subiect most necessarie in these dayes wherein Iniquity hath gotten the vpper hand the greatest part of mankinde laboureth of this dangerous disease namely hardnesse of heart and contempt of all grace I therefore for the remouing of this damnable euill haue prepared this Tormenting Corrasiue Blame me not if I be too bitter in denouncing Gods Iudgements against sinne the presumption of the time compels me this only is the ayme of my intention herein that many may be saued from the damnation hereof Thus commending this Tractate to thy Christian consideration and thy selfe to Gods most blessed protection I rest Thine euer-louing and wel-willing brother in the Lord Henry Greenwood Tormenting TOPHET Or A terrible description of Hell able to breake the hardest heart and cause it quake and tremble Esay 30. 33. Tophet is prepared of old it is euen prepared for the King hee hath made it deepe and large the burning thereof is fire and much wood the breath of the Lord like a Riuer of Brimstone doth kindle it ALbeit the LORD in the beginning created man in glorious manner omnino ad imaginem sui ratione sapientem vita innocentem dominio potentem altogether after his owne most glorious Image in purity and in perfection of holinesse both in soule and body yet withall he gaue him naturam flexibilem a mutable and changeable nature creating him in potestate standi seu posse cadendi in power of standing and in possibility of falling power of standing that he had from God his Creator possibility of falling that he had from himselfe being a creature A reason whereof S. Augustine giueth Augustine in his booke of Confessions Because the Lord created man ex nihilo of nothing therefore he left in man possibility to returne in nihilum into nothing if he obeyed not the will of his Maker And as Basil saith Si Deus dedisset Basil Adae naturam immutabilem deos potius quà m homines condidisset id est If God had giuen Adam an immutable and vnchangeable nature he had created a God not a man for this is a maine truth in Diuinity immutabiliter esse bonum proprium solius est Dei id est to bee immutably and vnchangeably good only proper to God Adam therfore being thus created that he might either stand or fall by the Diuels subtill suggestion and by the abuse of his owne frée will receiued a double downe-fall the fall of sinne by disobedience and the fall of death by sinne the last fall being the wages of the first fall as ye may read Rom 6. last verse The wages of sinne Rom. 6. 23. is death The Lord therefore hauing pitty vpon this his miserable estate vouchsafed in his Sonne to shew mercy vpon some by election to saluation as to shew iustice vpon other some by reprobation to damnation According to which irreuocable decrée the LORD hath prepared euen from the foundation of the earth answerable places a glorious habitation for the one and a terrible dungeon for the other Which generall truth is confirmed in the words of my Text hauing particular reference to the reprobat Assyrians For as the Lord in his mercy doth promise in this Chapter to his people repenting them of their sins manifold blessings spirituall and corporall temporall and eternall so doth he threaten in his iustice terrible vengeance to their enemies the Idolatrous Babylonians and Assyrians not only temporall but also eternall not to the meane subiect alone but to the King himselfe saying Tophet is prepared of old it is euen prepared for the King c. Not to insist therefore too long vpon introductions lest it should be said to me as once a flowting Cynick sayd to the Citizens of Myndus a little City with great gates Shut your gates lest your City run out I come to the Text it selfe which containeth in it a terrible and lamentable description of Hell prepared of old for the tormenting of all vngodly people of the world of what estate or condition soeuer they be euen for the King For Tophet is prepared of old it is euen prepared for the King c. In which terrible Description of Hell I obserue so many seuerals as the Beast had heads in the Reu. 13. 1. Reuelation that must be tormented in her First the certainty of this place of torment Tophet is prepared of old Secondly the parties for whom for all vngodly wretches yea euen for the King It is euen prepared for the King Thirdly the impossibility of getting out once in He hath made it deepe Fourthly the great number that shall be tormented in her expressed in this word Large Fiftly the extremity and bitternes of the torments of Tophet the burning thereof is fire Sixtly the eternity and euerlastingnesse of the torments of Tophet much wood so much as shall neuer be wasted Seuenthly the Authour or inflictor of these fearefull tortures and that is the Lord offended in these words The breath of the Lord like a Riuer of brimstone doth kindle it wherein I note the seuerity of God against sinne and sinners The certainty of this place of torment The first part is here described by thrée by the Name by the Act by the Antiquity First by the Name Tophet Secondly by the Act is prepared Thirdly by the Antiquity of old Tophet is prepared of old This Tophet was a valley neere Tophet vnto Ierusalem iuxta piscinam fullonis agrum Acheldema ad austrum Sion that is Neere to the Fullers poole and the field Acheldema on the South side of Sion Called also Gehinnom the valley or dale of Hinnom Quia locus iste in praedio erat viri cuiusdam Hinnom Aretius dicti Because this place was in the possession of a certaine man called Hinnom as saith Aretius In which place the Iewes following the cursed example of the Ammoniâ—es did sacrifice their children in the fire to the Idoll Moloch Quem pro Mercurio colebant whom they worshipped for Mercury as saith Montanus or rather pro Saturnâ— Montan. in Esay colebant for Saturne as saith Scultetus Quem Poetae proprios fingunt Scultet in Esay deuorasse filios whom the Poets fained to haue deuoured his owne Children This Moloch was Idolumaereum Scultet in Esay concauum passis brachijs ad excipiendos infantes sacro nefario destinatos subiectis prunis torrendos that is A brazen Idol hollow within his hands spred abroad to receiue Infants that were through their cursed Idolatry tortured in the fire and sacrificed to him as writeth Scultetus Snepfsius describeth this Snepfsius in Esay Idoll on this manner Idoli statua erat cuprea sic enim
feare spoken of in the Gospell of Matthew Feare him that is able to destroy Mat. 10. 28 both body and soule in hell This terrible report should strike vs into a threefold feare Feare to be depriued of the grace of God Feare to be excluded the louing presence of God Feare to be tormented in the Lake vnquenchable It was the practice of an holy man Exemplum who saith I feare him that is able to damne both body and soule I tremble at Hell I tremble at the Iudges countenance which is able to make all the Angels and powers of Heauen to tremble I tremble at the voyce of the Archangell I tremble at the roaring deuils I am afraid of the gnawing worne the smoke the vapour the brimstone the darknesse the burning Ah wo is me that am the sonne of bitternesse indignation and eternall wéeping This made Paul indeuour to keepe Act. 24. 16. a cleare conscience both towards God and man This made Ierome afraid to offend Whether I eate or drink saith he or whatsoeuer I do else me thinks I heare this saying sounding in mine eares Arise yee dead and come to Iudgement Arise yee dead and come to Iudgement Which when I consider it makes mee quake and shake and not dare to commit sinne which otherwise I should haue committed And what is the cause I pray that wicked wretches runne into all excesse and ryot of sinne as they doe Is it not because they lay not to heart this tormenting Tophet witnesse else the Prophet Amos who saith that they Amos 6 3. put off from them the euill day and boldly approch to the seates of iniquity If putting off the remembrance of the vengeance to come wil make men dissolute and wretchlesse then surely laying to heart the inutterable torments of Tophet will bee a notable meane to reclaime men from all vngodlinesse But if men wil harden their harts aboue the hardnesse of an Adamant and wil not be moued neither by mercies nor iudgement let all such know that Tophet groneth for them where they shall howle and yell in fiery torments for euermore Thus much in a word for the word Tophet The second obseruable for the certainty of this place of torment is the Act or thing done in these words Is Is prepared prepared Parata Tophet non paranda It is not sayd That Tophet shall bee hereafter prepared or it is now preparing but it is already prepared Tophet is prepared The malicious diuell laboureth nothing more then to perswade men that there is no such place of torment that so the more easily hée may leade them thither as the thiefe is led to execution Simile with a vayle before his eyes But for the truth hereof let these things following duely be obserued As a princely magnificence requireth Simile that a King haue a beautifull Palace for the best sort of men and a dismall prison for the rebellious So the King of kings hath a glorious Palace wherein are many mansions for his Saints and a dark and loathsome dungeon for the Diuell and his Angels The law of nations requireth that Malefactors for their offences bée banished for euer so the Lord doth banish from his gracious presence all the vngodly of the earth into the fearfull Iland of hell The Cicilian Aetna called at this Aetna day Gibello Monte where roarings are heard and flames of fire are séene the flashing of Vesuuius the cracking as it were of fire in a Furnace in the Marine Rocke of Barry what doe all these presage but assure all these that feare the Lord besides his counsell reuealed in his word that Tophet is already prepared Againe in all things naturall and supernaturall there is an opposition there is a contrariety there is good there is euill there is light there is darknes there is ioy there is sorrow there is a Heauen and therefore there must be a Hell into which the soules of the reprobate shall bee carried when they dye by the black grifly angels Againe the Scripture speaketh euery where of this place of torment Whosoeuer shall say Foole shall bee Mat. 5. 22. worthy to be punished with hell fire Againe It is better for thee to goe Mar. 9. 43. 35. 47. into the Kingdome of God with one foot with one hand with one eye then hauing two feet two hands and two eyes to be cast into Hell fire But that of the 25. of Mathew is very pregnant for this purpose where the word it selfe is vsed Goe from me Math. 25. yee cursed into euerlasting fire which is prepared for the Diuell and his Angels This doctrine meeteth with all Atheists that say There is no heauen Refut Atheist Psal 14. 1. no hell no God no Diuell As that noted foole that said in his heart There is no God With all Epicures that think there Epicure is neither time nor place either of heauen or hell after death that sung that Esa 22. 13. cursed Epitaph of Sardanapalus Ede bibe lude charum praesentibus exple Poet. Delitijâ— animum post mortem nulla voluptas Eate drinke and bee merry for after death there is no pleasure They say true for after death they shal find smal pleasure in Tophet This Doctrine conuinceth also all Heretike heretikes that deny both Resurrection and Iudgement nineteene seuerall sorts whereof are reckoned vp together all on a row by that learned writer Danaeus the Appellites Archontikes Danaeus Basilidians Bardesanists Caians Carpocratians Cerdonians Heraclites Hermaines Marcites Marcionites Ophites Proclians Symonians Saturninians Sethians Seuerians Selucians and Valentinians Vse 1 Seeing then that Hell is already prepared and standeth ready to receiue to torment all that worke iniquity séeing there is but a twine thred betwixt the soule of a sinner and this scorching flame O how should this prepare vs for the Kingdome of Heauen Paratis patet ianua imparatis clauditur that is sayd for Heauen The prepared Virgins enter in the imprepared not Imparatis patet ianua paratis clauditur and this is sayd for Hell The imprepared enter the prepared not But alas the presumptuous security of this our age men liue as though there were no Hell or if there be as though it were afarre off and yet notwithstanding it followes them as neere as the shadow doth the body Death and Hell both follow close the R 〈…〉 person of euery sinner Death to deuoure the body and Hell to swallow vp the soule Yet for all this the wicked will sport themselues in their sinnes and â—oniall be in their iniquities but mark the end Nouissima illarum est mors the end of these wayes is death as well noteth that iust and vpright man Iob Iob 21. 12 13. they reioyced in the sound of Organs and in a moment they goe downe into Tophet they say Peace peace when Tophet is prepared to take away their soules O that carelesse people would consider this
with the sheep on his right hand and singing this blessed haruest song vnto you Come ye blessed of my Father inherite the Kingdome prepared for you from the beginning of the world To the which most blessed place of glory the Lord bring euery Soule of vs at the day of our death and dissolution and that for IESVS CHRIST his sake to whom with God the Father and God the blessed Spirit thrée glorious persons but one immortall God be ascribed all honour and glory both in Heauen and Earth this day and euer Amen * ⎠* FINIS An Earnest and zealous Pray er to be saued from the damnation of TOPHET O Most glorious euerliuing and euerlouing Lord God the fountaine and well-spring of all our happinesse wee thy poore seruants vnworthy in regard of our manifold transgressions of the least of thy blessings doe most humbly fall downe before the throne of thy dreadfull Maiesty confessing in the bitternesse of our soules the basenesse and vilenesse of our estates by sinne O Lord ashamed wee are to come before thee that are nothing but sinfull corruption and abomination but thou a Maiesty most pure in comparison of whom the Angels themselues are counted impure we dare not therfore being thus lothsome and abominable presume to present our selues before thee as in our selues but in thy manifold mercies and thy Son Iesus Christ his merits in whom thou art delightfully pleased with all that faithfully call vpon thy name Lord in thy Son behold vs we humbly beseech thee accept vs in his worthinesse clense vs in his blood iustifie vs in his righteousnes sanctifie vs with his spirit and in his most precious death frée vs from the damnation of hell O till these comfortable tidings be sealed vp to our soules how perplexed are we O how do our harts quake and tremble till we haue found the saluation of thee our God! Reiect vs not O heauenly Father that faine would as be saued of thee so vprightly serue thee we plead now and euer for pardon so for grace whereby wee may in plentifull manner bring forth fruits worthy of amendement Lord kéepe vs in body and soule to thy euerlasting Kingdom and saluation Lord preserue vs from the terrible torments of Tophet O what shall become of vs if we for our sins when we dye be thrown into that Lake that burnes with fire and brimstone so bitterly as forceth screeching and screaming continually Lord deale not with vs according to our sinnes and thy iustice but in the multitude of thy mercies saue our soules aliue O consider the terrors of our troubled Soules Let not the grones of our hearts be despised but suffer them to pierce the heauens for a blessing O thou that art the God of endlesse compassion cast vs not away from thy presence we are the workmanship of thine hands O Lord confound vs not O Lord that delightest not in the death and damnation of a sinner bee moued to shewe pity vpon vs O Christ our blessed Sauior make intercession to God the Father for vs speake by thy gracious Spirit peace to our disquieted Soules bind vp our broken hearts giue vs that wée may cléerely sée our names written in the Booke of Life and our soules released from the fearefull damnation of Tophet To this end gracious God remoue all sinne from our soules and plant in the garden of our hearts all those spirituall and heauenly graces that are proper peculiar to thine Elect that we may be alwayes a swéet smelling sauor before thée giue vs faith in thy promises loue to thy Maiesty zeale to thy glory obedience to thy lawes and guide vs daily by thy blessed Spirit into all truth and godlinesse Lord giue vs to bee out of loue with the vanities of this life to hate euery worke of darknes the little sin as well as the great quicken vs O Lord by thy quickning Spirit O giue vs hearts to bee inflamed with the loue of thy truth O that wée could hunger and thirst after grace as the chased Hart doth the running Brooke O that wee could experimentally say with thy seruant DAVID that all our delight is in thy Commandements Thus O Lord we receiuing grace from thy Maiesty to repell the fiery darts of the diuell to flye euen from euery apparition of euill so doing we may reap much comfort to our soules in this world of trouble and at the fearefull day of Iudgement wee may be freed from the lamentable tortures of Tophet where howling and yelling shall be for euermore and that for Iesus Christs sake thy Sonne our Sauiour to whom with thée and thy most glorious Spirit we desire euen from the bottome of our hearts to haue offered vp all thanksgiuing and praise both in heauen and earth this day and euermore Amen FINIS A IOYEFVLL TRACTATE OF The most blessed Baptisme that euer was solemniz'd VIZ. Of the Baptism of our Lord IESVS by IOHN in Iordan The fourth Edition corrected and amended IOHN 3. 5. Except a man be borne of water and of the Spirit hee cannot enter into the Kingdome of God LONDON Printed by George Purslowe and are to be sold by John Clarke 1620. TO THE RIGHT Worshipfull M. ROBERT MORDAVNT of Massingham Hall in the County of Norsolke Esquire and Mistris AMY MORDAVNT his mostlouing Bedfellow All increase of Grace in this life and of glory in the life to come SEldome or neuer Right Worshipfull doe we finde Tractates either Humane or Diuine passe without their particular Dedications that being shrowded vnder the safe-garding gourds of honorable and right godly dispositions they might the better bee preserued from the parching detractions of malignant Cynicks I make bolde therefore discarding all selfe-humour and irregular singularity to commend this poore Present vostrum ad patrocinium to the worthy patronage of your well-affected Worships two especiall reasons mouing me hereunto First that mine vnfained gratitude entire affection and most humble duty for all your fauors inexpressible might heereby bee made apparent Secondly it being deliuered at that solemne baptisme of Charles your first born and hopefull heyre none I know more worthy of this Dication than your worthy and right Christian persons I present it to your religious considerations as a louing and friendly New-yeeres gift for it aymes at that blessed New birth and happy New life liuely in baptisme represented without which it is not possible for either of you to possesse the Kingdome of God Accept therefore I humbly beseech you and take in good worth this short Treatise short both in line and learning respect not as is that Prouerbe the measure of the gift but the minde of the giuer what is wanting in the one I dare boldly promise is made vp in the other At your best leisures vouchsafe I pray now and then to peruse it and I trust that your Christian paines herein shall bee well reguerden'd with heauenly pleasures herefrom The Lord God make this with all other like