apprehension and sense of mine owne unworthinesse and sinne how can I be importâ—nate with God in my prayer How can I pray in faith or be confident that He will heare me This must needs deprive a man of all boldnesse discourage and make him afraid to speake unto God This effect the sense of sinne seemes to have had in David when he cryed Psal. 40. 12. Miâ—e iniquities have taken hold upon me so that I am not able to looke up they are more than the haires of mine head therefore mine heart faileth me But to this I answer that no faithfull man hath cause to feare this For Gods people have never beene so strong with Him in prayer as when they were most abased and dejected in themselves insense of their owne weakenesse and unworthinesse When I am weake saith the Apostle 2 Cor. 12. 10. weake and dejected in my selfe through sense of mine owne infirmities and afflictions then am I strong strong in the Lord and fittest to do Him service in an acceptable manner See an example and type of this in Iâ—cob Gen. 32. 25 26 Never was he so strong with God as when the hollow of his thigh was out of joynt He had power over the Angell over Christ the Angell of the covenant saith the Prophet Hos. 12. 4. and prevailed He wept and made supplication unto Him He found Him in Bethel Why wept he so Certainly from the sense of his owne infirmity and unworthinesse but he prevailed with God in his supplications neverthelesse but much the more for that See this also in the good woman of Canaan do you not thinke she was much abased in her selfe upon those three repulses that she had received Mat. 15. 27. yet was her prayer then most strong and effectuall with God Vers. 28. And this is surely another cause why our prayers for our brethren have beene so weake and without force with God we are too strong too well perswaded of our selves to do Gods people any good with our prayers Fourthly We must bring with us unto prayer an unfeigned desire and a full purpose and resolution of heart to reforme that that is amisse both in our selves and others and so to remove the cause of Gods displeasure that is kindled against us Certainly this would give wonderfull force unto our prayers This was that that gave such force unto the fasting and praying of the Ninivites Ion. 3. See their care and desire Let them turne every one from his evill way say the King and his Nobles in their proclamation Verse 8. and from the violence that is in their hands See also both the performance of that they resolved to do and how nothing so much prevailed with God for the successe of their prayers as this Verse 10. God saw their workes that they turned from their evill way and God repented of the evill that He had said He would do untâ— them and He did it not Therefore hath it been usuall with Gods people in their solemne fasts not onely to make full and particular confession of their sinnes but also to vow unto God that they would leave and forsake them yea they were wont solemnly to bind themselves unto this All this is evident â—eb 9. 12 38. 10. 29. When Phinehas stood up and executed judgement upon Zimri and Cozbi as Moses and the Iudges had before done of many others that were joyned unto Baal-Peor Numb 25. 4 5. and so removed the cause of Gods displeasure the plague was stayed saith the Prophet Psal. 106. 30. All the weeping of the whole congregation before the doore of the tabernacle of which we read Numb 25. 6. could do nothing without that O that God would put into the hearts of all our Magistrates not onely to appoint and keep solemne and generall fasts but also by severe execution of the lawes to remove the causes of all our plagues Our King and State blessed be God have made good Lawes against idolatry swearing prophanation of the Sabbath murther and drunkennesse but alas we want such as Phinehas to see the lawes executed upon any of these offendors and therefore it is no marvell though the plague be not stayed While these fowle sinnes are winked at and go unpunished what hope can we have that either our owne prayers or the prayers of all the Saints upon earth should prevaile with God for our Land Till the Achans be found out and punished as found they may easily be for they do every where declare their sinne as Sodom they hide it not as the Prophet speaketh Esa. 3. 9. but till they be punished as God did say to Ioshua Icsh. 7. 10 11. Get thee up wherefâ—re lyest thou thus upon thy face Israel hath sinned so will He to us why do you thus fast and pray and make such shew of humiliation as you do find out the sinnes and punish them that are the causes of Mine anger and then I wil be appeased toward you and your Land Certainly one chiefe cause why our fasting and praying hath done so little good is because this â—aâ—h not beene done Nay many of these lewd men that are guilty of these foule sinnes intrude themselves into our assemblies and joyne with us in these holy duties And we know that the sacrifice of the wicked is abomination unto the Lord Prov. 15. 8. Let me therefore exhort you beloved that as you desire to please God in this profession of humiliation that you make and to benefit your selves or your brethren by your prayers resolve both to forsake every knowne sinne and vow unto God this day amendment of life in such particulars as thine owne heart can tell thee thou hast most offended God by and which of us all is it that hath not something to reforme remembring alwayes that speech of the Prophet Psal 66. 18. If I regardiniquity in my heart the Lord will not heare me as also 2. to do what lies in thee to reforme others Fiftly and lastly We must joyne workes of mercy with our prayers 1. Let no man thinke he shall be a looser by that that he gives out of conscience towards God unto the poore He that hath pitie upon the poore lendeth unto the Lord saith the Holy Ghost Prov. 19. 17. and that that he hath given will He pay him againe 2. Of all almes that is given that is best and most pleasing unto God that is given in our Church-assemblies for it is an ordinance of God and even a Sabbath-duty that collection should be made for the poore when we meet together as is plaine by that speech of the Apostle 1 Cor. 16. 1 2. And of that that is thus given you may have much more assurance that it shal be given to them onely that have need than you can have of much of that that you give at your doores 3. There is great force in this worke of mercy to further the good successe of our prayers els would not the Angell have said thus unto Cornelius
they lived The spirits of just men saith the Apostle Heb. 12. 23. when they are once separated from their bodies and translated to heaven and not before then are made perfect 3. And lastly their workes follow them Rev. 14. 13. Death puts them in possession of their eternall happinesse and of that blessednesse whereby God hath promised to reward their obedience and all that care they have had to please him Certainly the least thing that any child of God hath done in love and obedience unto him shall not be forgotten nor unrewarded of God no not the dutifulnesse and diligence and faithfulnesse of a poore servant to his master Knowing saith the Apostle to such Col. 3. 24. that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of inheritance for ye serve the Lord Christ. And whosoever saith our Saviour Mat. 10. 42. shall give to drinke unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water onely in the name of a Disciple verily I say unto you he shall in no wise lose his reward But this reward is many times not given to Gods servants in this life When the even is once come and we have done working then will the Lord of the vineyard as we read Mat. 20. 8. give unto all his labourers the wages he hath covenanted to give unto them Now because of this great advantage and benefit that in all these three respects comes to our Christian friends by their death we faile much in the love we pretend to have borne unto them if we mourne immoderately for their departure from us Old Barzillai was willing even out of his love to his sonne to part with him and forgo the great helpe and comfort he might have had from him in his age because of the great preferment he knew it would be to his sonne to leave him and live with David in his court 2 Sam. 19. 37. And what comparison is there betweene that preferment and this that every child of God is advanced unto by his death 3. And lastly out of respect unto ourselves we should moderate our griefe for the departure of our Christian friends because we have not quite lost them but we shal be sure to enjoy them againe with much more content and comfort in their society than ever we did here By this consideration David moderated his sorrow for the death of his child 2 Sam. 12. 23. I shall go to him but he shall not returne unto me For though we shall not know one another nor enjoy the society and company one of another in the life to come in that naturall and carnall manner as we did in this life yet shall we certainly rejoyce much more one in another than ever we did in this world And this comfort that the faithfull shall have in heaven in their mutuall society is oft mentioned in the holy Scripture as one part and degree of that unspeakable happinesse that they shall enjoy there They shall sit downe with Abraham Isaac and Iacob saith our Saviour Matthew 8. 11. in the kingdome of heaven They shall be admitted into the general assembly and church of the first-born which are written in heaven and to the spirits of just men made perfect And the Apostle saith of the Thessalonians who were won to God by his ministry and in whom he had taken great comfort in this life 1 Thess. 3. 19 20. that he knew well that in the life to come even in the presence of our Lord Iesus and at his comming they â—â—ould be his glory and joy and crowne of rejoycing he should take farre more comfort in them then than ever he had done in this world And this may suffice for answer to all thâ—se foure things that have been objected and to settle your hearts in this truth that the man that lives a godly and fruitfull life may be sure to die happily and comfortably and none but he And thus much also shall serve to have been spoken at this time Let us now praise God for his mercy and commend this that we have heard to his blessing by humble and faithfull prayer FINIS TO HIS MOST WORTHY AND MVCH HONOVRED PAtrone Master William Cokayne Merchant at his house in Austine Fryers in London SIR I Hope the world will not blame me for increasing the crowd of Englishwriters with which it is so much troubled nor censure me of folly for thrusting this little Booke into the throng where it is like to be smoothered if I may be admitted to put in this plea. To the first that as a dutifull sonne in honour of my deare fathers Name and memory I strive for some place for this Monument which may be some meanes to perpetuate the same in Gods Church as a faithfull Executor I am carefull to discharge this part of his though but nuncupative will to endeavour the publishing of this and some other of his Workes which himselfe intended and had prepared for the presse To the latter I plead that though it be in it selfe but small yet will it finde in the throng a booke to which it is neerely allyed a childe of the same Authors braine and heart the Lectures on Saint Iohn 4. which having found free and speedy passage will make way for this and easily procure it welcome and entertainment where it selfe hath found the like and I presume elsewhere also for somuch as the company of this may be procured at a farre easier charge then the former and as it hath one already to lead the way so God willing ere long I hope it shall be seconded by another of later bâ—â—th but greater growth It no way becometh me to commend this or any other worke of his let me rather strive to imitate him my selfe then to commend him or any thing of his to others his very name will commend them And least under that name the reader should suspect he may bee abused I heere solemnly promise that what is or shall be by me published under his name shall not be loose notes that have beene taken by some ignorant Scribe nor shall it be made up with additions and alterations of my owne buâ— the Copies under his owne hand carefully transcribed And as for publishing these Sermons I have good reason so for dedicating them to your selfe The occasion of them was that heavy Visitation which was then upon your City the drift of one part of them was to moove his auditors to commiserate the then wofull estate of it to you therefore as a Citizen of no meane note have I directed them but principally to you as my Patrone I have not nor expect anything of mine owne worthy publique view this I owne not as Authour but as Heire to the Authour and it being in mine hands I thought it my duty being the first booke I had to dispose of to present it first into those hands which freely bestowed the Presentation to this Parsonage upon me I have beene for above these foure yeeres covetous of
of heart wherin we are to be principall agents our selves for we may do much in this worke our selves are these 110 1. We must make choise of a fit time to goe about this worke 111 2. We must separate our selves from company and make choise of a fit place to doe it 118 3. We must seriously and impartially examine our owne hearts 119 4. We must cry earnestly to God to helpe us in this worke to blesse our indeavours in it 128 SERMON VIII NEcessary to have notes and signes given us whereby sincere and saving sorrow for sinne may be discerned 130 1. He that is truly humbled mournes more for the evill of sinne then for the evill of punishment 133 2. He mournes for sinne not so much in respect to himselfe as unto God because he is offended and dishonoured by his sinne 137 And 3. notes to try whether a man doth so 141. 142 THE AVTHOVRS Prayer before his Lecture THy Word O Lord is holy and pure as is thine owne Majesty and being sincerely preached worketh either to the salvation or condemnation of the hearers And we all that are heere assembled before thee at this time are of uncircumcised hearts and eares utterly unworthy by reason of that sinne wherein we were conceived and borne and of those actuall transgressions that wee have multiplyed against thy Majesty in thought word and deed from our first being untill this present houre once to set foot into thy Temple or to heare thy Word at all Vtterly unfit and unable by reason of our custome in sinne and the hardnesse of our hearts to profit by it when as we heare it So that Lord we are at this time in danger to be unprofitable hearers of thy holy Word and by being unprofitable bearers of the same we are in danger of thy heavy displeasure Yet forasmuch as it hath pleased thee in mercy to command us this exercise to appoint it to be the onely ordinary meanes whereby thou wilt worke Faith and repentance in thy children and the principall meanes whereby thou wilt increase them to promise also graciously that thou wilt accompany the outward ministery of thy Word with the inward grace and blessing of thy Spirit in the hearts of them that shall be reverently and faithfully exercised in the same We therefore in humble obedience to this thy holy commandement and in full affiance and confidence in this thy gracious promise are bold to present our selves before thee at this time Beseeching thee in thy sonnes blood to wash away all our siâ—â—es so as they may never bee laid to our charge againe either in the world to come to our condemnation or at this time to bring a curse upon this our exercise Good Lord so sprinckle that blood of thy Sonne upon our consciences that we may be assured of thy love and favour towards us in him By it sanctify us at this time and thy word to our uses opening and enlightning our understanding so as we may be able to understand and conceave of thy word aright strenghtening our memories so as we may bee able to remember it softning our hard and stony hearts so as wee may be able to beleeve it to yeeld unto it to apply it to our owne soules to meditate and conferre thereupon to practise it in our lives and conversations to stirre up one another to the obedience thereof That this our exercise may tend to the increase of our knowledge and of our obedience of our Faith and of repentance the glory of thy blessed name and the everlasting comfort of our owne soules Heare us O Lord in these our requests in what else soever thou knowest good for us or any of thy Church for Iesus Christ his sake our Lord and only Saviour In whose name wee continue our prayers unto thee as he himselfe hath taught us Saying Our Father which art in Heaven c. SERMON I. AVGVST III. MDCXXV PSAL. 35. 13. But as for me when they were sicke my clothing was sackcloth I humbled my selfe with fasting and my prayer returned into mine owne bosome NOt to take up time in speaking of the former part of this Psalme these words have this coherence and dependance on that which went before David as a type of CHRIST having many mortall enemies doth in this Psalme by a Propheticall spirit pray against them or rather foretell what should befall them In this Verse and the former to shew what cause he had to do so he aggravateth their sin by their unthankfulnesse in dealing so badly with him that had deserved so well of them The parts of this Verse are two viz. a profession of 1. The kindnes he shewed to these men wherin observe the Time when he did it and the occasion he tooke to doe it When they were sicke Dutie wherby he expressed his love he prayed for them which is amplified by the extraordinary manner of it set forth by the Outward helpes he used in it Sackcloth Fasting Inward disposition of his mind in it he humbled or afflicted his soule 2. The successe and comfort he found in it Observe first Davids practise he was wont when these men were sicke to be affected with their misery which teacheth us that GODS people ought to take to heart the miseries and calamities of others the judgements of GOD that do befall others Seâ— for proofe of this both the examples of his servants and then GODS commandement also When Eliphaz Bildad and Zophar heard of Iobs misery they came to mourne with him Iob 2. 11. But he was a rare man for piety and authority also you will say see therefore another example of this duty performed towards them that were not so Did not I weepe for him that was in trouble saith Iob Chap. 30. 25. was not my soule grieved for the poore Yea see an example of this towards most wicked men Iudg. 21. 2. The people of Israel came to the house of GOD as we do now to professe their sorrow for the extreme misery that the wicked Benjamites were most justly fallen into Yea we are straityly charged by the LORD to do so to remember and thinke of them as if their case were our owne Remember them that are in bonds saith the Apostle Heb. 13. 3. as bound with them and them that are in adversity as being your selves also in the body Yea to do it with hearty commiseration Rom. 12. 15. Weepe with them that weepe Yea if the judgement be famous and exemplary we are commanded also to make publique and solemne profession as we do at this day that we are affected with their misery Levit. 10. 6. Let your brethren the whole house of Israel bewaile the burning which the LORD hath kindled Three speciall reasons and grounds there be for this Doctrine for we should take to heart the miseries and calamities of others First In respect had to them that are afflicted For admit they were not our fellow-members in CHRIST nor
the plague if we do not first make our peace with GOD all these are in vaine If we beare in our bosome the cause of the plague if we nourish and increase it daily I meane our sinnes we cannot be sure to keepe it from our townes and houses do what we can Know thou for a surety it is GOD that sends the pestilence as He saith 2 Chron. 7. 13. In this judgement above others we are said to fall into the LORDS hands as David speaketh 2 Sam. 24. 14. And as He sends it so He onely guides it whither it shall go and whither it shall not go whom it shall smite and whom it shall spare And though He do usually send it by outward and ordinary meanes yet alwayes He doth not so Some that live in the thickest of them that are infected and in a most corrupt aire do escape some that flie from the places infected into the purest aire are infected they know not how How many Physitians and Chyrurgions and nurses and keepers that have beene wont to visit the infected to sweat them to dresse their sores to wash their linnen yea how many that have daily conversed with them and lyen in bed with them also have beene knowne to have escaped the infection altogether Whereas many that have beene most carefull to keepe themselves from all that have been infected and to use all good preservatives against the contagion have beene taken by it No man may argue from hence as some foolishly have done that this disease is not in it owne nature more infectious than other diseases are No more than from this that the three noble Iewes that were cast into Nebuchadnezzars furnace received no hurt at all by it Dan. 3. 27. and that oft times one house in a street or roome in a house escape burning in the greatest fires that have beene heard of a man may conclude that fire is not in it selfe of a burning and consuming nature But in this as in the other the finger and power of GOD is to be acknowledged in restraining and setting bonds to this heavy judgement as pleaseth Him And this the LORD doubtlesse doth to hearten and encourage them that are whole to performe all necessary duties of mercy and love to them that are sicke And as the LORD can thus limit the plague of pestilence so can He if He please command it to go through our whole Land before it cease as He did through the land of Israel 2 Sam. 24. 15. from Dan to Beersheba Though we flie from it He can follow and pursue us with it as He hath done many and threatneth I will persecute and follow them with the pestilence saith He Ier. 29. 18. Though we shut our doores against it He can make it come in at our windowes as they complaine Ier. 9. 21. Death is come up to our windowes and is entred into our palaces Let no man thinke he can be sure to avoid this judgement by flying from it if he be not carefull to remove the cause of it and to make his peace with GOD. Do therefore before it come nearer to thee as the LORD Himselfe counselleth thee Amos 4. 12. Prepare to meet thy GOD. And because thou canst have no assurance in thy selfe that thou shalt be able to avoid the danger of the indignation of this King that comes against thee for ought thou knowest with so great a power learne that wisdome that our Saviour directeth thee unto Luke 14. 32. While He is yet a great way off send an ambassage and desire conditions of peacewith Him If thou wouldst be free from the feare of the plague feare GOD aright Be not afraid saith the Prophet Esa. 8. 12 13. sanctifie the LORD of hosts Himselfe and let Him be your feare and let Him be your dread If we could feare the LORD as we ought we should not need to feare any thing els in the world Be sure to make thy peace with Him which how thou mayest doe I will tell thee by and by Thirdly and lastly to cause us to take to heart and to be affected with this fearefull plague consider that if this judgement be neglected as great as it is it wil be but a fore-runner of some more fearefull judgement than this is And as our Saviour speaketh in another case Matth. 24. 8. this wil be but the beginning of our sorrowes There is a judgement that this nation hath hitherto beene preserved from to the astonishment and admiration of all the world that is greater than this for it useth to bring this and the famine also with it I meane warre The sword of our bloudy and mercilesse enemies is worse than the plague This is plaine by Davids choice 2 Sam. 24. 14. Let us fall now into the hand of the LORD for His mercies are great and let me not fall into the handof man And surely we have cause to feare that if this will do us no good GOD cannot endure to have His judgements despised Heare what He saith Levit. 26. 18. If you will not for all this hearken unto Me then I will punish you seven times more for your sinnes And certainly I may say to all you that heare me this day if you regard not nor profit by this fearfull plague you heare of in London and in other parts of the Land GOD will either bring it home to you or a worse plague than it Luke 13. 3. Except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish The second duty that this Doctrine serveth to exhort us to is that we would make right use of this judgement of GOD that is upon the Land unto our selves And that standeth in foure points First seeing 1. GOD gives us in this judgement such cause of sorrow seeing He is angry and 2 not with the Londoners onely but with us with the whole Land and 3. it may be more with us than with them and 4. seeing we know not how soon this fire that burnes our neighbours house may light upon ours We must therfore examine every one of us our own wayes This direction is given us Lam. 3. 39. 40. Wherefore doth a living man complaine a man for the punishment of his sinnes As if the Church there should say why do men mourne and fret and take on so for this judgement of GOD that is justly fallen upon them Why do they not betake themselves to the right course for the pacifying of GODS wrath Which is this and this onely Let us search and try our wayes and turne againe to the LORD Every one of us should say thus within himselfe surely the LORD is very angry with the whole Land with every one of us and what have I done to anger the LORD thus to provoke Him to this wrath Ier. 8. 6 7. The LORD chargeth the Iewes that they did not know His judgement because no man said what have I done And so surely will He judge of us We know not the meaning of the
Acts 10. 4. Thy prayers and thine almes are come up for a memoriall before God His almes-deeds made his prayers more available with God than otherwise they would have beene SERMON III. Sept. 7. 1625. THe two first points observed in this Verse we have already dispatched that is first the time wherein he shewed his kindnesse unto them and the occasion he tooke to do it when they were sicke secondly the duty and meanes whereby he expressed his kindnesse unto them he prayed in an extraordinary manner for them Now this extraordinary prayer he made for them is sâ—t forth 1. by the outward and bodily helpes he used in this prayer 2. by the inward disposition of his mind and heart in it The outward and bodily helpes he used in this his prayer were two the cloathing of himâ—â—lfe with sackcloth and fasting For the first of these we shall find it was much used by Gods people in their extraordinary prayers Nehem. 9. 1. The children of Israel were essembled with fasting and with sackclâ—athes and earth upon them Ion. 3. 5. The people of Niniveh proclaimed a fast and put on sackcloth from the greatest of them even unto the least of them Yea the Lord Himselfe sometimes commanded them to do so Esa. 22. 12. The Lord God of hosts called them to girding with sackcloth Ioel 1. 13. Lie all night in sackcloth ye Ministers of my God And least you should from hence conceive that we also are now bound to use it you must understand First that in those dayes it was neither enjoyned nor used as a religious ceremony appropriated to this part of Gods worship but as a civill signe whereby men were wont to testifie their sorrow as wearing of blacke is now among us So in that mourning for Abner wherein there was no prayer nor religious duty performed David commanded 2 Sam. 3. 31. Rent your clothes and gird you with sackcloth and mourne before Abner So Hezechia and his nobles upon the hearing of Rabshakehs blasphemy to testifie their sorrow though they kept no fast then covered themselves with sackcloth 2 King 9. 1 2. Yea Benhadâ—ds servants though they knew not what extraordinary prayer meant when they were to sue to Ahâ—b for mercy to professe their sorrow and humility put sackcloth on their lâ—ines and ropes on their heads 1 King 20. 32. But how should it be so much used in this so solemne a part of Gods worship and enjoyned also by the Lord if it were meerely a civill thing and no religious ceremony I answer We are now enjoyned in our Church-assemblies to weare such apparell as is comely decent and fit for our estate and condition I will saith the Apostle speaking of the behaviour of all Gods people in the publike assemblies 1 Tim. 2. 9. in like manner also that women adorne themselves in modest apparell with shamefastnesse and sobriety and yet is that no Ecclesiasticall ceremony no matter of religion but a thing meerly civill Secondly We must understand that in these civill things that might be decent and fit in one Country and consequently commanded of God which in another Country is utterly undecent and consequently forbidden It was a great sinne among the Corinthians for a woman to come into the congregation with her head uncovered that is without a veile to cover her whole head 1 Cor. 11. 5. In our congregations because it is undecent it were a sinne for a woman to come so attired In which respect though we have oft in the New Testament mention of fasts both publike and private of sackcloth used in them we have no mention at all Now this being premised for the understanding of the words the thing we have to observe in them for our instruction is this that David in his extraordinary prayer used these outward and bodily exercises as helpes to his prayer and from this we have to learne what we should do in the like case that is That in the dayes of our humiliation besides fervent prayer and the inward afflicting of the soule there are certaine outward and bodily exercises to be used by Gods people As in our ordinary prayers there be certaine outward things may helpe us much and consequently may not be neglected as 1. fit time and place wherein we may be freest from distraction Our blessed Saviour himselfe in the morning before day went out and departed into a solitary place and there prayed as we read Mar. 1. 35. and commands us Mat. 6. 6. to go into a closet to make our private prayers and to shut the doore to us and 2. fit gestures also as kneeling when we can O come let us worship and fall downe let us kneele before the Lord our maker saith the Prophet Psal. 95. 6. and standing up when we cannot conveniently kneele The Publican though he were much humbled and dejected in himselfe stood when he prayed even in the Temple as we read Luke 18. 13. For that also is a signe of reverence and humility When Eglon heard Ehud say he had a message to him from God he arose out of his seat Iudg. 3. 20. so in our extraordinary prayers there be certaine outward and bodily exercises that may helpe us much and are therefore not to be neglected by us And those are of two sorts some consist in doing and performing certaine duties and some in forbearing some such things as at other times we may use Foure things I find performed by Gods people at the times of their extraordinary prayers and dayes of humiliation specially such as have been publike and solemne First The reading and preaching of the Word Two notable examples we have for this Neh. 9. 3. They stood up in their place and read in the Booke of the Law of the Lord their God one fourth part of the day And how did they read That you shall find Neh. 8. 8. They gave the sense and caused them to understand the reading Yea they applied it so effectually that it wrought marvellously upon the peoples hearts as appeareth Verse 9. The other example is Ier. 36. 5 6. Ieremiah commanded Baruâ—h saying I am shut up I cannot go into the house of the Lord therefore go thou and read in the roll which thou hast written from my mouth the words of the Lord in the eares of the people in the Lords house upon the fasting day And why did they use this Not so much for the inlightning and informing of the judgement as 1. for to worke upon the heart and further it in humiliation for the Word is powerfull that way Ier. 23. 29. Is not my Word like a hammer that breaketh the rocke in peeces It is like Aarons rod that is able to fetch water out of the rocke Exod. 17. 6. And 2. to quicken the heart to fervent prayer This reason Ieremy gives why he would have preached to them on the day of their fast and when he could not do that would needs have Baruch read the
and humbledst thy selfe before me and didst rent thy clothes and weep before me I have even heard thee saith the Lord. Wherein also we may observe how well God is pleased to see his people fall into these passions of feare and sorrow when he by his word doth rebuke and threaten them Which the Lord also professeth Esa. 66. 2. But to this man will I looke even to him that is poore and of a contrite spirit and trembleth at my Word So when God hath shewed himselfe to bee angry and displeased with them by executing any of his judgements upon them they have then beene wont and it was their duty then to afflict their soules If her father saith the Lord of Miriam Num. 12. 14. had but spit in her face should shee not be ashamed seven dayes See a plaine proofe of this 2 Chron. 7. 13. If I send pestilence among my people if my people shall humble themselves and pray and seeke my face Marke not their owne losse by the judgement should trouble them so much as Gods anger and therefore in their prayer they seeke Gods face and favour above all things And this is very pleasing unto God to see his people humble themselves so under the strokes of his hand See a notable example of this 2 Chron. 12. 3 4. Shishak King of Egypt came against Ierusalem with a mighty Army and tooke the fenced Cities that pertained to Iudah and came to Ierusalem See what followed 2 Chron. 12. 6. The Princes of Israel and the King humbled themselves and they said the Lord is righteous And what followed upon that verse 7. And when the Lord saw that they humbled themselves the word of the Lord came to Shemajah saying they have humbled themselves therefore I will not destroy them Thirdly When they have seene God dishonored by the sins of others then have they also mourned and afflicted their soules Ieremy professeth 13 17. If you will not heare my soule shall weep in secret places for your pride So David professeth that the Zeale of Gods house the inward vexation of his soule through zealous sorrow and indignation for the neglect and profanation of Gods worship had even eaten him up and consumed him Psal. 69. 9. Specially the foule sinnes that they have knowne in the places Townes Congregations Families where themselves lived So it is said of Lot 2 Pet. 2. 8. That righteous man dwelling among them in seeing and hearing vexed his righteous soule from day to day with their unlawfull deeds So Paul saith the Corinthians should have done 1 Cor. 5. 2. Ye are puffed up and have not rather mourned And see how highly God is pleased with this when his people can mourn for this cause Ezek. 9. 4. And the Lord said unto him that was clothed with linen and had the writers inkhorne by his side Goe through the midst of the City through the mids of Ierusalem and set a marke upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof Fourthly and lastly The chief cause why they have beene so given to mourning and weeping why they have afflicted themselves so much hath beene their owne sinnes whereby themselves have offended and dishonoured God This David professeth was the cause why his sorrow was continually before him he was sorry for his sinne Psal. 38. 16. 17. This was the cause why Mary Magdalen wept so abundantly that shee was able to wash Christs feet with her teares shee was a sinner Luk. 7. 37 38. This sorrow God wonderfully delights in more then in all outward worship whatsoever Psal. 51. 17. The Sacrifices of God are a broken spirit a broken and contrite heart O God thou wilt not despise Now come we to the second inquiry to find out the true causes and reasons of this why God should so much desire and delight to see His people humbled with sorrow to see them afflict and chasten their soules in this manner It is said of Him that He hath pleasure in the prosperity of His servants Psal. 35 27. that He doth not afflict willingly Lam. 3. 33. that in all the afflictions of His people He is afflicted Esa. 63. 9. And indeed it is true that our sorrowes in themselves please not God but onely in respect First of the causes and fountaines from whence they proceed that is 1. They are the worke of His owne Spirit It is the Spirit of God onely that gives to any man such a fleshy and soft heart as we may see by that promise Ezek. 11. 19. I will give them one heart and will put a new spirit within you and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh and will give them an heart of flesh And I will powre upon them my spirit and they shall mourne abundantly saith the Lord Zach. 12. 10. And God must needs take pleasure in the worke of His owne grace and holy Spirit 2. These teares proceed from our love to God Kindnesse you know causeth teares more than any thing els so it is in this case Christ saith of the woman that wept so abundantly that she loved much Luke 7. 47. And that which makes men most of all to mourne for sinne is the Spirit of grace which perswades us of Gods free love to us and that Christ was pierced by and for us Zach. 12. 10. And this above many other workes of His Spirit God greatly delighteth in 1 Cor. 8. 3. If any man love God the same is knowne of Him Secondly In respect of the end that this sorrow tends unto the issue and effect of it the Lord greatly delighteth in it He seeth we have need of it 1 Pet. 1. 6. Now for a season if need be you are in heavinesse The Lord seeth it will do us much good and therefore He is so well pleased with it Eccles. 7. 3. By the sadnesse of the countenance the heart is made better 1. It makes us more capable of every grace of God and fitter to receive it As the vessell that is full can receive no good liquor but all is spilt that is powred upon it and the emptier it is the more it will receive So is it in this case Iam. 4. 6. God will give grace to the humble For knowledge Psal. 25. 9. The meeke will He teach His way and for comfort 2 Cor. 7. 6. God comforteth those that are cast downe 2. It worketh repentance unto salvation and the heart is never wont to be truly turned unto God and changed but the change begins here 2 Cor. 7. 10. Godly sorrow worketh repentance unto salvation not to be repented of 3. It makes Christ and Gods Word and Promises sweet unto us and all Gods mercies to relish well as hunger makes us relish our meat and thirst our drinke Prov. 27. 7. The full soule loatheth an hony-combe but to the hungry soule every bitter thing is sweet The prodigall when he had beene pinched with hunger
would have beene glad with all his heart to have fared as his fathers servants did Luke 15. 19. O what sweetnesse found Paul in Christ I determined saith he not to know any thing among you save Iesus Christ and Him crucified 1 Cor. 2. 2. And what made his tast so good He had been deeply humbled in sense of his sinnes as appeares plainly by this that he counted himselfe lesse than the least of all Saints Eph. 3. 8. and the chiefest of all the sinners that Christ came to save 1 Tim. 1. 15. And what sweetnesse did David find in Gods Word and promises Psal. 119. 103. How sweet are thy words unto my taste Yea sweeter then hony to my mouth And how came he to this O he had beene greatly humbled with sense of sinne as appeares Psal. 40. 12. Innumerable evils have compassed me about mine iniquities have taken hold upon me so that I am not able to looke up they are more then the haires of mine head therefore my heart faileth me Yea this makes all Gods mercies relish well and our hearts to rejoyce and be thankfull for them a farthing token is to a very poore man most acceptable This we shall see in Iacobs example hee vowed great thankfulnesse to God if hee would give him but bread to eate and raiment to put on as wee see Gen. 28. 20. because hee was so humbled in the sense of his owne unworthinesse and could say Gen. 32. 10. I am not worthy of the least of all thy mercies 4. It makes them seeke to God more earnestly and pray more fervently As it is said of our Saviour himselfe Luk. 22. 44. that being in an agony he prayed more earnestly his inward abasement through anguish of soule did adde much to the fervency of his prayer So it is also with all his members they never pray so fervently as when they are most humbled and afflicted in spirit Lord in trouble have they visited thee saith the Prophet Esa. 26. 16. they poured out a prayer when thy chastning was upon them 5. And lastly It makes a man fit to walke and converse with God no man can be fit to doe so till then Mic. 6. 8. The Lord requires we should humble our selves to walke with our God We can never walke nor converse with God til we can humble our selves And that both 1. In respect of the Lord who can not delight to converse with any till he be humbled as no great man will be familiar with a saucy unmannerly foole that knowes not how to carry himselfe before his betters nor to give due respect unto him God cannot abide that flesh should glory in his presence 1 Cor. 1. 29. 2 Sam. 22. 28. The afflicted people thou wilt save but thine eyes are upon the haughty that thou maist bring them downe The more we are humbled in our selves the more the Lord delights in us to bee and converse with us Though the Lord be high saith the Psalmist Psal. 138. 6. yet hath hee respect unto the lowly but the proud he knowes afarre of And Esa. 57. 15. He will dwell with him that is of a contrite and humble spirit 2. In respect of our selves wee are never fit to walke with God till we be truly humbled We cannot serve God so as to please him till we can doe it with reverence and feare Heb. 12. 28. Till then we cannot heare the word as we should All thy saints are in thine hands saith Moses Deut. 33. 3. and they are humbled at thy feet to receive thy words Till then we can never pray as we should Till we can consider God is in the heaven of high and incomprehensible majesty and we upon earth base and vile worms wee shall bee apt to bee rash with our mouths and our heart will be hasty to utter any thing before God as Salomon speaketh Eccle. 5. 2. Till then men will never bee fearefull to offend him no wee can never know him nor our selves rightly till we have beene soundly humbled I have heard of thee saith Iob 42. 4. by the hearing of the eare but now mine eye seeth thee Iob had a true and saving knowledge of God before as he had also beene truly humbled in soule before but nothing to that he had when God had thorowly humbled him And so it is said of Manasseh 2 Chron. 33. 12. 13. That when he was in affliction and had humbled himselfe greatly then Manasseh knew that the Lord he was God Till then we cannot yeeld any acceptable and constant obedience unto God Ier. 44. 10. They are not humbled even unto this day neither have they feared nor walked in my Law nor in my statutes that I set before you and before your fathers SERMON V. Octob. 12. 1625. TWo Uses this Doctrine serveth unto principally First for exhortation and then for comfort And first to exhortus that we would all of us strive to aâ—teine to this grace that David heere speaketh of and hath beene commended unto us in this Doctrine that is to be able to afflict our owne soules with godly sorrow And for my better proceeding in handling of this use and for the help of your memory and edification I will deliver unto you 1. The motives whereby you may be provoked to seeke this grace 2. The meanes you must use for the atteyning of it 3. The signes and tokens whereby you may discerne it First Motives I say for you had need to have forcible reasons shewed you why you should desire it none of us desire it as we ought most men abhorre all sorrow they put farre away the evil day Amos 6. 3. and give themselves to all meanes of mirth that they can devise Amos 6. 5 6. And even in these times wherein the Lord by so many meanes cals to mourning and to weeping behold joy and gladnesse every where as it was in the Prophets time Esa 22. 12 13. Every mans heart is in the house of mirth Eccle. 7. 4. You had need therefore have forcible motives given you to persuade you to seeke and labour for godly sorrow for an afflicted and humbled heart In the stone of the kidny or bladder men need not be persuaded to desire or seeke remedy but in the stone of the heart they doe First Consider the examples of Gods servants whom God in his Word hath commended to us and whom we count happy men as the Apostle speaketh Iam. 5. 11. and we shall see they were men of tender hearts they were deeply humbled and much given to mourning and weeping for their sinnes David was much given to weeping for sinne he spent whole nights in weeping abundantly Psal. 6. 6. And Peter when he repented wept bitterly Mat. 26. 75. Paul was so humbled all his dayes for the sins he committed before his calling that hee counted himselfe not worthy to be called an Apostle 1 Cor. 15 9 Yea he judged himself lesse then the least of all Saints Ep. 3.
very extreamity of griefe sometimes so oppresseth and overwhelmeth mens hearts as David complaineth of himselfe Psal. 143. 4. My spirit is overwhelmed within me my heart within mee 〈◊〉 desolate as they cannot ease themselves either by words or teares Gods people have beene oft in that extreamity of griefe as they could not pray I meane not expresse in words the desires of their heart but with sighes and groanings Rom. 8. 26. In extreamity of sorrow some men cannot weepe It is said of David and his company 1 Sam. 30. 4. they had no more power to weepe So that I may say to thee that if thou canst by the signes that I shall by and by give thee approve that thou art able soundly to mourne and bee humbled for thy sinnes though thou canst not weepe for them thou mayst be in the state of grace for all that But secondly I answer That if the constitution of thy body will serve thee to weep for other things and yet thou couldst never weep for thy sinnes surely thy case is fearefull As to the man that can remember other things well enough a tale a play but a sermon a chapter of the Bible he cannot remember and excuseth the matter thus my memory is naught I may say it is naught indeed with a witnes it is sinfully it is damnably naught so to thee that canst weepe for other things but not for sinne I may say flatter not thy selfe but strive to bee able to doe as thou hearest other the good servants of God have done and that God hath beene so highly pleased with them for strive to bee able to weepe for thy sinnes The second motive to persuade you to seeke for this grace is the consideration of the manifold promises God hath made in his word to them that can afflict their soules and be rightly humbled for sinnes and the great benefite that this grace will bring with it First This sorrow shall not be everlasting Rev. 7. 17. but it shall end in comfort Iohn 16. 20. Yee shall be sorrowfull but your sorrow shall be turned into joy Psal. 126. 5. They that sow in teares shall reap in joy It is appointed unto them that mourne in Zion that they shall have the â—ile of joy given them for their mourning the garment of praise for the spirit of heavines Esa. 61. 3. The Lord who is the father of mercies God of all consolation is cald a God that comforteth al those that are cast downe 2 Cor. 7. 6. Never found Gods people that coÌ„fort in Gods mercy in the assurance of the pardoÌ„ of their sins as when they have beene most humbled and able to weep most for their sinnes Esa. 29. 19. The meeke shall increase their joy in the Lord and the poore among men shall rejoyce in the holy one of Israel The day of humiliation when Gods people afflict their soules before him is called a day of attonement Levit. 23. 27. For so is Gods promise Zac. 13. 1. In that day there shall be a fountaine opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Ierusalem for sinne and for uncleannesse First No man need feare hee shall bring himselfe to desperation if he give way to this tendernesse of heart and sorrowing for sinne For there is no such medicine in the world to free thy heart from legall and desperate feares and sorrowes and to bring thy heart to sweet peace and comfort in God as this is if thou couldst rightly mourne and be humbled for thy sinne When those poore wretches that had crucified Christ and were pricked in their hearts with intollerable feares and sorrowes and anguish of soule for it and cried out to the Apostles what shall we doe Act. 2. 37. Marke what remedy Peter prescribes them verse 38. Repent saith he Why Did they not repent already of that they had done Yes with legall repentance for endaungering themselves but his meaning is repent and mourne that you have offended God And indeed so is Gods promise Esay 57. 15. I will dwell with him that is of a contrite and humble spirit to revive the spirit of the humble and to revive the heart of the contrite ones He may be sure to have his heart revived and comforted that can be humbled enough Secondly Yea there is no such remedy against wordly sorrow as this if when we feele our hearts dejected with any sorrow for any worldly crosse we would labour to turne our heart from the consideration of the crosse to the consideration of our sinne that hath beene the cause of it And this remedy you shall finde prescribed Lam. 3. 39. Wherefore doth a living man complaine chafe and fret and disquiet himselfe a man for the punishment of his sinnes let us search and try our wayes I beseech you lay this second Motive to your hearts every one of you 1. Many of you never yet had any comfort in God in the assurance of the pardon of your sinnes never found sweetnesse in Christ nor in Gods promises 2. Many of you are much disquieted with legall and desperate feares 3. Many of you are alwayes heavy hearted somtimes by reason of crosses you meet with and sometimes you know not why And what is the true cause of all this You were never yet rightly humbled for your sinnes Why will you continue in this uncomfortable estate Learne to mourne and weepe for thy sinnes and that will help all The second promise made unto it and benefit this sorrow will bring is that it will make us capable of and able to thrive in every saving grace This benefit you shall find pressed as a motive unto this 1 Pet. 5. 5 6. God giveth grace to the humble humble your selves therefore saith the Apostle under the mighty hand of God Iam. 4. 6 7 9. God giveth grace to the humble submit your selves therefore to God bee afflicted and mourne and weep Men use not to come to the rock to be well grounded and setled in grace till they have digged deep Luk. 6. 48. Such shall attaine to a cleare and certaine and sanctified knowledge of the truth Psal. 25. 9. The humble he will teach his way Such shall get power over their corruptions 2 Cor. 7. 10. Godly sorrow worketh repentance unto salvation not to be repented of Eccle. 7. 3. Sorrow is better then laughter for by the sadnesse of the countenance the heart is made better These teares are of a purging and cleansing nature no sope no nitre is so effectuall to get the spots and staines out of cloth as these are to wash out the spots of thy soule That which Salomon saith of a slanderer Prov. 25. 23. An angry countenance will drive him away may be said of this if sinne be not cockerd and made much of if we would shew our selves discontented sad and heavy while it tarrieth with us this would drive it away Take this also to heart I pray you 1 Many of
and returned And Esa. 26. 16. Lord in trouble have they visited thee they poured out a prayer when thy chastning was upon them And we find by experience that at such a time a faithfull Minister may much better worke up on the hearts of men to bring them to remorse and repentance then at another time According to that speach of Elihu Iob 33. 22 24. When a mans soule draweth neere to the grave if there bee then a messenger with him an interpreter one of a thousand to shew unto man his uprightnesse then he is gracious unto him And so speaketh Davidâ—lso â—lso Psal. 94. 12. Blessed is the man whom thou chastnest ô Lord and teachest him out of thy Law This is a singular favour of God when correction and instruction goe together And herein wee are bound to acknowledge the great mercy of God to our Land that in the time of so generall and grievous visitation as hath been upon it he hath put it into the Kings heart to command so much preaching that thereby the hearts of the people might bee effectually wrought upon now the Lord hath so by his judgement prepared them And certainly if in such a time the word doe not work upon mens hearts it will never doe them good Fiftly and lastly When wee feele a secret pensivenesse and sadnesse to come upon our hearts so as they even melt within us like ground that thaweth after a frost so as we could even weepe abundantly this is an excellent season and opportunity to bring our hearts unto godly sorrow in For 1. sadnesse and heavinesse maketh the heart more apt to bee wrought to goodnesse Eccle. 7. 3. Sorrow is better then laughter for by the sadnesse of the countenance the heart is made better 2. This is the way to turne the streame and current of our sorrow the right way by making our sin our greatest sorrow as indeed it ought to bee because it is the onely just cause of all other our sorrowes Lam. 3. 39. 40. Wherefore doth a living man complaine a man for the punishment of his sinnes Let us search and try our wayes and turne againe unto the Lord. And surely to conclude this first point in this we have all cause to acknowledge our owne folly and to bee humbled for it and to impute that want of grace and ability that is in us to mourne for our sins unto this that wee have neglected these times and seasons whereby we might have beene so much helped in this work We know the fittest seasons for the plowing and breaking up of our ground and we carefully observe them but we know not or care not to observe the fittest seasons for the breaking up of the fallow ground of our hearts which yet concerneth us much more then the other doth Breake up your fâ—llow ground saith the Prophet Ier. 4. 3. and sow not among thornes The second thing wee must doe to worke our hearts to godly sorrow is this after we have made choise of a fit time to goe about this work we must also make choise of a fit place for it even such as wherein we may be most free from all distractions For though this also be but a circumstance yet may it yeeld us some help in all exeâ—cises of devotioÌ„ Christ bids us make choise of a secret place for our private prayer Mat. 6. 6. And so did he himsâ—lfe Mar 1. 35. Hee went out and departed into a solitary place and there prayed And Act. 10. 9. Peter went up to the top of the house to pray So though it be no shame for a man to weepe for his sinnes as we have heard Gods people have done abundantly in their solemne fasts yet is a solitary and secret place the fittest to worke our hearts unto godly sorrow Commune with your own hearts upon your beds in secret saith David Psal. 4. 4. and be still Hâ—Zechiah turned his face to the wall when he prayed and wept so sore Esa. 38. 2 3. And Ieremiah 13. 17. saith his soule should weepe in secret And Zâ—ch 12. 12. it is said they should mourne every family apart the husband apart and the wife apart And Ieremy describing the man that is humbled under Gods hand aright saith Lam. 3. 28. Hee sitteth alone and keepeth silence Thirdly When wee have made choise of a fit time and a fit place also for this businesse then must we examine our hearts seriously and impartially And in this examination two things are to be performed by us 1. We must labour to find out and call to mind our sinnes for which wee should bee humbled 2. We must lay them to our hearts and so consider and weigh with our selves the hainousnesse of them and aggravate them against our selves that we may be affected with them For the first Hee that desires to have his heart humbled and to bee able to mourne for his sinnes must labour by diligent search and examination to finde out his sinnes and call them to mind and set them before his face Bring it againe to mind ô yee transgressours saith the Lord Esa. 46. 8. Let not man be affraid or unwilling to doe this To commit sinne is dangerous and hurtfull to thy soule but to call thy sinnes to remembrance hath no danger in it will doe thee no hurt at all to have an enemy or a mortall disease upon thee is dangerous and hurtfull but to be aware of them to know them when thou hast them may doe thee much good Iob knew this well and therefore prayeth earnestly to God to helpe him in this Iob 13. 23. Make mee to know my transgression and my sinne For 1. till then thou canst never truly mourne for thy sin and repent of it Ier. 8. 6. No man repented himselfe of his wickednesse saying what have I done To know in generall and in grosse that thou art a sinner wil never huÌ„ble thee aright thou must know thy sins in particular or thou canst never truely repent This was that that humbled Gods people so in the dayes of Samuel 1 Sam. 12. 19. Wee have added to allour other sinnes this evill to aske a King This was that that humbled those 3000. mentioned Act. 2. 36 37. and pricked them at the heart God made knowne to them their sinne in particular even that hainous sinne of crucifying the Lord of life 2. It is profitable for us in another respect For the more carefull we are to remember our sinnes and call them to mind the more ready will the Lord bee to forget them and cast them behind his back This is plaine by that prayer David maketh Psalm 51. 1 2 3. Have mercy upon me ô God wash me throughly from my iniquity for I know my transgressions and my sinne is ever before mee But if thou strive to forget them never to thinke of them to cast them behind thy back bee thou sure God will remember them and never have them out of his eye Thou hast