vs take heede that our Halcion-dayes doe not deceiue vs neither let vs thinke that we are priuiledged aboue others Rom. 11.21 For if God spared not the naturall branches when they did not repent will he spare vs that were wilde Oliues The Iewes in the time of Ieremiah who dwelled in Ierusalem liued in great securitie as we doe neither regarding Gods mercies nor fearing his iudgements therefore the Lord sent Ieremiah with this message vnto them Behold I begin to plague the Citie where my name is called vpon Ier. 25.29 and should you goe free yee shall not goe quite for I will call for a sword vpon all the inhabitants of the earth Euen so this example of Ierusalem yea and all the examples before mentioned doe preach vnto vs to turne vnto God not flattering our selues that we are better then they nay I feare that our sinnes are growne so great that we haue iustified Ierusalem yea Sodome and Gomorrha in their sinnes and therefore I say from the mouth of Christ vnto you except ye repent ye shall likewise perish Luke 13. Now out of this generall let vs obserue these particulars First that it is Gods great mercy without mans desert to admonish and warne sinners of their future punishments if they refuse his grace offered he hath mercie on whom he will When God then doth warne a Nation a Countrie a People or Citie he declareth his great mercie That he would not the death of a Sinner but rather that he should turne and liue This mercie of God should leade vs to repentance it should breake our stonie hearts and soften the hardnesse of them when God spreadeth out his hands vnto vs and offereth to gather vs together as a Henne doth her Chickens that wee perish not with the wicked Secondly all the Admonitions in the Scriptures are written for vs to warne vs to preuent the wrath of God and to escape the punishments of the wicked Therefore when either we reade or heare how God destroyed a Nation a People a Country yea or some particular person â—o despising his grace and reiecting his admonition let vs presently apply it vnto our selues in this manner I reade or I heare how Ierusalem and other Cities were destroyed for refusing the grace of God offered vnto them I heare how such men were seuerely punished when they would not be warned If I doe not make vse of this the same punishment will fall vpon me therefore I will pray vnto God to grant me his grace that I may take these warnings and speedily turne to God that the fall of others may be my rising Thirdly these Admonitions will leaue vs without excuse For what can we plead for our selues when so many examples and admonitions haue beene remembred vnto vs He that is once warned is halfe armed therefore there remaineth no excuse for vs if we despise these admonitions but a fearefull expectation of the iust iudgement of God Lastly these Examples and Admonitions in the Scriptures will be so many witnesses against vs and will rise vp in iudgement to condemne vs It shall be easier for Ierusalem Tire and Sidon and for Sodome and Gamorha in the day of Iudgement then for vs. God Almightie giue vs grace to make a good vse of these things Now I come to the words in particuler as they lie in order And when he was come neere vnto the Citie OVr Lord Iesus accompanied with his Disciples and much people reioycing with great triumph approacheth to Ierusalem And when he was come neere vnto the Citie he beheld it and wept for it He commeth to Ierusalem to an ingratefull and a rebellious Citie from which he had iust cause to depart for she neither would receiue his Doctrine nor beleeue his miracles His Doctrine she challenged not to be of God his miracles she ascribed to Sathan Math. 12. to Belzabub the chiefe of the Diuels his person she contemned is not this the Carpenters Sonne art thou not a Samaritan Math. 13. Yet our Lord Iesus passing by all these indignities commeth vnto her and leaueth nothing vnattempted to saue her as he himselfe by his owne words testified O Ierusalem Math. 23.37 Ierusalem which killest the Prophets and stonest them that are sent vnto thee how often would I haue gathered thee together as a Henne doth hir Chickens and thou wouldest not Behold here the loue of our Lord Iesus to an vnfaithfull and a rebellious people This example of Christ doth teach all his Ministers yea and all Christians to open their bowels of mercie euen towards the obstinate not rashly to forsake them and depart from them and to giue them ouer but rather to labour to winne them vnto Christ and to omit no time to spare no labour to effect it and to bring it to passe So did Noah labour with the old world Lot with the Sodomites Moses with Pharaoh and the Aegyptians Samuel with Saul the Prophets with the Israelites Paul with the Iewes But it may be obiected that it is in vaine and but labour lost to cast pearles before Swine Math. 6. and to giue that which is holy vnto Dogges I answer we ought not so to thinke by and by of such as are obstinate and ingratefull of such as are froward and stubborne for God can suddenly change them Paul was a Persecutor a Blasphemer 1 Tim. 1.13 and an oppressour but God tooke mercie vpon him Mathew and Zacheus were Publicans and Sinners when our Lord Iesus called them Therefore let vs doe our diligence and commit the successe vnto God If they continue in their disobedience they are without excuse and their condemnation is the more iust He that refuseth light is worthy to continue in darkenesse he that reiecteth grace deserueth to abide the sensure of Iustice If we with our admonitions and exhortations reclaime and winne them we saue so many soules from death Iames 5.19.20 and couer a multitude of sinnes and wee our selues shall in the day of the resurrection shine as the Starres in the firmament Dan. 12.3 He beheld the Citie AS our Sauiour Christ approached neere vnto Ierusalem so he beheld it he looked vpon it and reuoluing in his minde her blockishnesse and ingratitude neither seeing nor acknowledging Gods mercies nor yet fearing his iudgements he burst forth into weeping Now we may consider his kindnesse and loue towards Ierusalem that he looketh on her that he beheld her from whom he had iust cause to turne away his eyes yet he beholdeth her he doth not auert his face from her as men turne their eyes from their enemies Luk. 10.33 But he is that good Samaritan who seeing the wounded man is moued with great commiseration and compassion towards him pittying his distressed case and indeauouring to relieue it The vse This example is our instruction teaching vs to behold obstinate sinners to looke vpon them pittying their miserable estate which they themselues see not When therefore
IERVSALEMS FALL Englands warning LVK. 15.41.42.43.44 Verse 41. And when he was come neere he beheld the Citie and wept for it 42. Saying O if thou hadst euen knowne at the least in this thy day those thing which belong vnto thy peace but now are they hid from thine eyes 43. I 〈◊〉 the dayes shall come vpon thee that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee and compasse thee round and keepe thee in or euery side 44. And shall make thee euen with the ground and thy Childe which are in thee and they shall not leaue in thee a 〈◊〉 vpon a stone because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation THis Chapter consisteth of foure parts the first containeth the calling of Zacheus the second includeth the Parable of the Noble man deliuering his monie to his Seruants to occupy till his returne the third comprehendeth the manner of Christs riding to Ierusalem Math. 21. accompanied with his Disciples and much people who laid their garments on the Asse Ioh. 12. on which our Lord Iesus did ride with great ioy and loud acclamations The fourth and last is the purging and clensing of the Temple of corruptions crept in and allowed by the Pharisies The third part I haue chosen to intreat of wherein the Euangelist Luke declareth the great ioy triumph and reioycing of the Disciples and people with their loud acclamations as they approached neere to Ierusalem in which action they were directed by the holy Ghost that the Prophesie of Zachariah might be fulfilled which was this Reioyce greatly O daughter Zion shout for ioy O Daughter Ierusalem behold thy King commeth vnto thee he is iust and saued himselfe poore and riding vpon an Asse and vpon a colt the soule of an Asse Zacha. 9.9 Yet our Lord Iesus approching neere vnto Ierusalem and beholding it and withall reuoluing in his minde the great mercies of God offered by the Prophets and now by him and considering how the hearts of the Iewes were obdurate and hardned and their eyes blinded that they could neither see the grace offered nor beleeue the promises made vnto them he burst forth into weeping wishing that they had knowne the things that concerned their pence but because they did not hee did Prophesie the vtter destruction of the Citie and of their policie which came to passe about some fortie yeeres after and remaineth vnto this day which is an admonition to vs and to all succeeding ages to beware and take heede that we doe not despise the grace of God lest we tast of his iudgements But I come to the words themselues which offer to our consideration two things 1. An Admonition to Ierusalem 2. A Prophesie of the destruction of Ierusalem The first part of my text containeth an Admonition to Ierusalem wherein our Lord Iesus warned her of her present estate to draw her to a diligent consideration of the great mercy of God shewed vnto her First in sending his Prophets Secondly in sending his Son to allure her vnto repentance that she might haue auoided the iudgements and plagues which were imminent and hung ouer her head and afterwards fell vpon her Wherein we may obserue the great mercie of God admonishing her of the danger that she should fall into if she did not preuent it by true and vnfained repentance God giues a Cauent before his Capias and doth warne before he doth wound And thus the Lord hath done from the beginning admonishing men either immediately or mediately before of the danger that auoiding it they might escape the punishment He admonished Adam before his fall immediately by himselfe shewing him the danger and punishment if he did eate of the Tree of knowledge of good and euill Gen. 2.17 in the middest of the Garden Thou shalt die the death He likewise warned Cain before he murdered Abell his Brother immediately by himselfe If thou doe well Gen. 4.7 shalt thou not be accepted if thou doest not well sinne lieth at the doore Likewise he forewarned Noah of the drowning of the world immediately by himselfe Gen. 6.8 who beleeued and escaped the mercilesse waters He admonished immediately Gen. 7.1 by meaneâ— the old world by Noah the eight Preacher of righteousnesse He admonished the Sodomiâ—ai by Lot 2 Pet. 2.5 the Aegyptians by Moses the Niniuites by Ionah Gen. 19. the Israelites by the Prophets often before they were led into captiuitie Ierusalem by the Prophets Math 23. and by our Lord Iesus as here Saint Paul saith Rom. 15.4 Whatsoeuer things are written before time are written for our learning Therefore all the admonitions comminations and examples of punishments is in the Scriptures are therefore recorded that in all times and ages they should be propounded and preached vnto men as testimonies of the iudgements of God against all impenitent sinners who stop their eares at the voice of God wincke with their eyes that they may not see the mercies of God and harden their hearts not beleeuing his threatnings Therefore our Lord Iesus denounceth a heauie woe against Chorazin Math. 11. Bethsaida and Capernaum telling them that it should be easier for Tire and Sidon and for Sodome then for them in the day of iudgement Saint Paul shewing how God slew three and twentie thousand of the Israelites for committing fornication declareth 1 Cor. 10.11 that all those things came vnto them for examples and were written to admonish vs vpon whom the ends of the world are come Psal 102.18 This shall be written for the Generation to come This Admonition then vnto Ierusalem and all other Admonitions in the Scriptures are recorded in the Scriptures to be Preached vnto all men to all Nations to all estates and conditions of men especially to those to whom the Gospell hath beene declared that it might be an example of the iust iudgement of God and an Admonition to Repentance lest they likewise despising the riches of Gods goodnesse patience and long-suffering according to their hardnesse and heart that cannot repent they heape vp wrath against the day of wrath Rom. 2. and iust iudgement of God This Admonition then concerneth vs and warneth vs in time to repent and to lay hold on the day of grace before the day of iudgement come The Gospell hath beene preached vnto vs many yeeres God hath bestowed many fauours and benefits vpon vs he hath giuen vs a long peace hee hath defended vs against our enemies that are more in number and stronger then we he hath made vs his vineyard and bedged vs round about that the wilde Bore of the forrest could not roote vs vp he hath done as much yea much more for vs then for Ierusalem he hath called vs to repentance by his seruants the Ministers and Preachers of the Gospell All the examples of Gods iudgements in the Scriptures haue beene red and pressed vnto vs yet we generally liue in securitie neither suspecting any change nor fearing any punishment But let
such abūdance as he caused his bed to swim Psal 6.6 and watered his couch with his teares In both which places though there be an Hyperbolicall excesse of speech for it is not possible for men to fill buckets with teares Cura dolorque animi lacrymaeque alimenta fuere Ouid meta li. 10. nor to cause themselues to swimme in their beds yet it signifieth that there was an exceeding great measure of griefe Againe he saith that his teares were his meate Psal 42.3 Luk. 7.38 Ioel. 2.12 day and night And Mary as before was noted shed such plenty of teares as shee washed our Sauiours feete with them Let vs then I beseech you Weepe for your selues and for your children Luk. 23.28 A good saying of a prophane mouth Ille dolet verè qui sine teste dolet Martialis lib 1. Epigra 34. turne vnto the Lord with fasting and with weeping and with mourning both for the sinnes of others and for our owne sinnes O that I could obtaine thus much of you or rather of God for you that you would weepe for your sinnes though not at this time and in this place yet when you are at home and by your selues when ye consider of this ye haue heard this day that so God may regard your teares put them into his bottle and auert the iudgements which our sinnes haue iustly deserued We haue heard how our Lord Iesus wept ouer Ierusalem now let vs consider what Ierusalem did Ierusalem was secure she reioyced she was merry she feared no danger therefore her destruction came suddenly vpon her and she could not auoide it This was the state of the first age they ate they dranke they bought they sould they married and were giuen in marriage and sodainely the floud came and swept them all away This was the state of Pharaoh and his Hoast This was the state of the Sodomites they feared no danger and suddenly were consumed with fire and brimstone from heauen This was the state of Babilon Isa 47.7 who said I shall be a Lady for euer therefore she gaue her selfe to pleasure and dwelt carelesse she said I am and none else I shall not sit as a widow neither shall know the losse of children 8. But what said the Lord now heare 9. these two things shall come to thee suddenly in one day the losse of children and widowhood they shall come vpon thee in their perfection for the multitude of thy diuinations and for the great abundance of thy Inchanters Saint Iohn likewise Reuel 18.7.8 Luk. 12.19.20 in the Reuelation prophesied in like manner of her This was the state of the rich man in the Gospell who promised to himselfe many dayes Of the rich Glutton Luk. 18. and yet the same night his soule was fetcht away This was the errour of Dauid who said in his prosperity he should neuer be remoued but he retracted it finding the contrary Now here we haue a true discription of the world and of the times wherein we liue we haue inioyed such a long peace as neither our Fathers nor our forefathers euer knew we haue had so long prosperitie we haue had so great plenty of all things but aboue all these we haue had the Gospell and word of God so plentifully and so sincerely preached among vs as scarce hath beene seene in any age heretofore Now these Halcion daies this long peace this great prosperitie makes men secure they thinke this will euer hold they feare no alteration they thinke they stand immoueable this was the state of former times and they smarted for their securitie and vaine confidence let vs then take heede and be wise Omnium rerum est vicissitudo let vs remember the change of all things is sudden if God enter into iudgement with vs if he hide his face from vs we shall be changed and our prosperitie may be turned into aduersity our ioy into mourning Mat. 24.37.38 Our Lord Iesus foretould the securitie of the world before his comming that it should be as it was in the time of Noah And Saint Paul saith When they shall say peace Thes 5.13 and safetie then shall suddow destruction come vpon them as the trauaile vpon a woman and they shall not escape Let vs not then flatter our selues with these goodly daies but let vs feare an alteration let vs like good Seruants be alwaies ready with our accompt in our hands and like wise Virgins with oyle in our Lampes that no sudden change may ouertake vs nor any aduersitie dismay vs but that we may say in any aduerse hap that may befall vs as Iob said that is come vpon me that I was affraid of Amen Saying O if thou hadst knowne at the least in this thy day those things which belong vnto thy peace IN these words our Sauiour Christ doth complaine and vpbraide the blindenesse of Ierusalem His words are passionate therefore abrupt for we know in whom earnest affections meete being surprised with griefe they cannot vtter their whole minde but breake off abruptly Christ then doth not onely complaine and pitty the destruction of Ierusalem but doth also vpbraide this ingratefull people their great wickednesse in reiecting saluation offered and drawing wittingly the heauie iudgement of God vpon them For it is very like that this thought did disquiet the minde of our Lord Iesus Behold O daughter Sion and Ierusalem I come vnto thee thy King and thy Sauiour as the Prophet promised thee but poore and humble therefore thou despisest me from whose hand thou mightest receiue righteousnesse euerlasting life I would thou hadst knowne those things which belong vnto thy peace and wert not blinde in thine owne euill and in this thy day wherein so many and such admirable things doe call thee to the knowledge of these things For now thou hast mee preaching vnto thee the kingdome of heauen the day of saluation and visitation is risen vpon thee which thou oughtest to know by my doctrine and miracles wrought before thy eyes in the middest of thee But O thrise and foure times vnhappy these things are hid from thee thou doest maliciously blinde thy selfe that thou mightest not see them therefore thou doest rage and art mad against me and seekest my bloud whom with an earnest affection thou shouldest receiue and embrace as thy Sauiour By this then it appeareth that our Lord Iesus complaineth against the blindnesse stubbornenesse and ingratitude of Ierusalem that by no admonitions no benefits nay not with teares she would not be mollified nor warned to auoide her future calamities Simile For euen as a good Father labouring to draw a stubborne and disobedient Sonne to grace and goodnesse by all good meanes but doth not preuaile hath the greater cause to complaine euen so our Lord Iesus had great cause to complaine against Ierusalem not considering the grace that was offered vnto her And this affection of so great mercy which we see was in
Christ the Sonne of God the like we reade that God the Father doth declare to be in himselfe in many places of the Scriptures As when he complained against the Israelites for their stubbornenesse and ingratitude he saith thus Psal 81.13.14 Oh that my people had harkned vnto me and Israel had walked in my wayes I would soone haue humbled their enemies and turned my hand against their aduersaries 15. The haters of God should haue beene subiect vnto him and their time should haue endured for euer 16. And God would haue fed them with the fat of wheate and with honey out of the rocke would I haue satisfied thee Againe Isa 48.18 Oh that they were wise then they would vnderstand this they would consider their latter end Deu. 32.29 Oh that there were such an heart in them to feare me and to keepe all my commandements alway that it might goe well with them Deut. 5.29 and with their children for euer By these Scriptures it is euident that mans perdition is of himselfe and in himselfe and not of God Hos 13 9. Eze. 33.11 Pro. 1.29 Thy perdition O Israel is of thy selfe but thy helpe is in me I liue saith the Lord I would not the death of a sinner I haue called saith wisedome and ye haue refused Math. 23.37 Oh Ierusalem Ierusalem saith our Lord Iesus how often would I haue gathered thee together as a henne doth her chickens and thou wouldest not 1 Tim. 2.4 God would haue all men to be saued 1 Tim. 2.4 and to come to the knowledge of the truth Here then those wicked and prophane men are to be reproued who ascribe their damnation to God when it is in themselues For God cals and they stop their eares like the deafe Adder and will not heare God offers grace and they refuse it God warnes them of their miseries to come if they doe not repent but they will not beleeue and turne to God but harden their hearts as Pharaoh did till destruction come vpon them Thou THis word Thou is emphaticall for euery word in the Scriptures hath his weight and euery sillable his sence Oh that thou thou Ierusalem whom God hath chosen to be his sanctuary to be his dwelling place to put his name there with whom hee hath made a couenant vpon whom hee hath bestowed so many benefits whom he hath hedged about and defended against all enemies Oh that thou which in priuiledges and prerogatiues excellest all the Cities in the world hadst knowne the things that belong vnto thy peace Other Cities haue knowne their peace and the time of their visitation in mercie as Niniuie who repented at the preaching of Ionah Oh that thou wert in the number of them The vse Here the Ministers and Preachers of Gods word are taught to apply their admonitions to the whole Nation yea to particular Cities yea to particular Townes yea to particular persons when they wilfully and obstinately reiect the grace and mercy of God then they may iustly complaine against them and fitly vse this manner of speaking Oh that thou hadst knowne the things that concerne thy peace Oh that thou Adulterer Oh that thou Drunkard Oh that thou Blasphemer Oh that thou prophaner of Gods Sabboath Oh that thou Vsurer thou Oppressour wouldest feare the iudgements that will light vpon thee if thou knowest not the things that belong vnto thy peace and dost not by true repentance turne vnto God whiles he doth speake vnto thee and warne thee Hadst knowne OVr Lord Iesus wisheth that Ierusalem had knowne the things that belong vnto her peace Whence we learne that knowledge is an excellent thing wee should all labour for to attaine vnto it For to know God and Iesus Christ to know the mysteries of saluation to know the things that belong vnto our peace to know the time of our visitation in mercie this is mans Summum bonum his happinesse Ioh. 17.3 his glory This is life eternall to know thee and whom thou hast sent Iesus Christ Let not the wise man glory in his wisedome nor the strong man in his strength nor the rich man in his riches Ier. 9.24 but let him that glorieth glory in this that he knoweth me to be the Lord for I desire mercy and not sacrifice Hos 6.6 and the knowledge of God more then burnt offerings saith the Lord. Oh that thou hadst knowne saith our Lord Iesus to Ierusalem And may not we say to England yea to London yea may not euery Minister and Preacher of the word say to his perticular place where hee is resiant Oh that thou hadst knowne the things wherein thy peace consisteth At the least in this thy day IN these words is an Amplification taken from the time As if our Lord Iesus should say hitherto thou hast beene obstinate and stubborne thou hast killed my Prophets which I sent vnto thee thou hast often hitherto reiected me Oh that now in this thy day which my Father hath appointed to call thee by me thou wouldest be wise and know thy time The speech of our Sauiour Christ containeth an exclamation proceeding from his heart and vttered with so great affections of dolour that he could not perfectly declare it but breaketh it off euen as when a man is in great heauinesse and sorrow intending to vtter his griefe he is inforced to breake it off abruptly In this speech our Lord Iesus admonisheth that the day was come which God in his eternall counsell had appointed for the saluation of Ierusalem and was promised by the Prophets which opportunitie if she did not lay hold on the gate of saluation should be shut against her for euer This kinde of speech is frequent in the Scriptures Isa 49.8 2 Cor. 6.2 Isa 8.6 Now the acceptable time now is the day of saluation Againe Seeke the Lord whiles he may be found call vpon him whiles he is neere And that considering the season Rom. 13.11 that it is now time that we should arise from sleepe for now is our saluation neerer then when we beleeued 12. The night is past and the day is at hand let vs therefore cast away the workes of darkenesse and put vpon vs the armour of light The vse Here then we learne that when God giueth men a day wherein God doth call them it is not to be neglected not to be let slip Now God calleth men two waies First by his iudgements secondly by his mercies And the word day is so taken both for the iudgement of God and also for the mercy of God In the first kinde God doth call by afflictions by warre by famine Aut terrendo minis aut cordeudo flagellis aut blandiendo beneficijs Flugo in Cant. 1. by pestilence and sicknesse by captiuitie for when God doth chastise and punish vs he calleth vs to repentance In the second kinde God doth call vs by mercy and clemencie and he calleth vs
whatsoeuer from the East to the West whatsoeuer was vnder heauen was brought home vnto vs whereby our Land hath beene greatly inriched The peace of our Country is meruailous in so long and continuall troubles of our neighbour Countries round about vs and in so many consultations and deuises of the Church of Rome for the disturbance of our peace and the ruine of our Countrie Moreouer God did giue vnto her Maiestie such honour and renowne that she sat as a Iudge and an honourable Arbitratour in the causes and controuersies of the mightiest Monarches and Potentates of Europe and of all her Neighbours Now what was the cause of so great peace of so great treasure and of so great honour Verily the Word of God which her highnesse receiued embraced and promoted to the vttermost of her power Now after all these though the Papists deuised and plotted her death and many were suborned and hired by the Pope a man of sinne a maintainer of rebellion and murther wherein he sheweth of what spirit he is yet God brought her to the graue in peace by naturall death full of dayes And after her God hath giuen vnto vs a wise gracious and Religious King our King Iames whom God brought into the Land so peaceably to the astonishment of forraigne Nations and to the great admiration of vs all and he to the great comfort of all Christians loueth the Gospell and word of GOD maintaineth it to his vttermost power and commendeth the true worship of God to all his people And how hath God protected him both in Scotland and here in England against the wicked Papists who with bloudy and murthering hearts deuised such a diuellish and inhumane stratagem to ouerthrow him and his issue and to destroy the flourishing state of England so that if God had not beene on our side both his Maiestie his royall and hopefull progeny and all we that loue the Gospell had beene swallowed vp and made a prey to their teeth Happy therefore we if we know our happinesse blessed are we if we know the things that concerne our peace But now they are hid from thy eyes OVr Lord Iesus first sent his Prophets to Ierusalem at length he came in his owne person for Ierusalem killed and stoned his Prophets therefore he commeth and in the middest of Ierusalem Math. 23. among all the people he doth many miracles which the Prophets foretold should be wrought by the Messias when he came he preacheth the Gospell to them wherewith hee laboured to gather them together as a Henne doth her Chickens and wherein her happinesse consisted Math. 23. as we haue heard yet all these things were hidden from the eyes of Ierusalem as our Sauiour Iesus Christ here saith This is not spoken to extenuate or lessen the fault of Ierusalem but rather in reproach her wonderfull blockishnesse is noted that she did not see God present For how could Ierusalem be ignorant of Gods will which daily had the promises of saluation in her mouth and to whom the Law was often repeated Could the Iewes be ignorant of Christ who was many yeeres conuersant among them shewing forth his sauing power not onely in teaching but in working many wonderfull workes and miracles among them Therefore our Lord Iesus in these words doth note their blockishnes and wilfull blindnesse wherewith being hindred they could not see God offering himselfe vnto them nor yet obserue his mercy nor manifest arguments of his wrath Christ therefore here doth teach that the Citizens of Ierusalem were authors of their owne destruction as also healeth a scandall which rose from their voluntary and wilfull ignorance For without doubt many were detained and kept backe by the example of Ierusalem from embracing Christ and receiuing his Gospell which they saw were reiected of them who bare the chiefe estimation of doctrine and wisedome He therefore doth admonish that their incredulity and contumacy should not offend any who being wilfully blinded with their owne pride and blockishnesse did draw vpon themselues Gods wrath and their owne destruction Let vs now apply this vnto our selues and diligently consider whether it be not our case Our Lord Iesus by the preaching of his Gospell hath manifested vnto vs his loue hath reuealed vnto vs his kindnesse hath with his Gospell giuen vnto vs a long peace and innumerable blessings but men are so besotted with the vanities of the world and so blinded with the pleasures of this life that they winke with their eyes that they cannot see and stop their eares like the deafe Adder that they cannot heare the sweet voyce of Christ calling and alluring them For it cannot be but men maliciously blinde themselues seeing the grace of God that bringeth saluation to all men hath appeared teaching men to deny vngodlinesse and worldy lusts 〈◊〉 to liue soberly iustly and godly in this present world Tit. 2.11 Tit. 2.11 Therefore if men now are blinde Deu. 30.11 Rom. 10.6.7.8 if they be ignorant of so great fauours of God whereof we haue beene eye-witnesses and haue tasted of the good word of God there is no excuse to be pretended But we may say to them as Paul said to the Corinthians If 〈◊〉 Gospell be hid it is hid to them that are lost in whom the God of this world hath blinded the mindes that is of Infidels that the light of the glorious Gospell of Christ which is the Image of God should not shine vnto them 2 Cor. 4.3.4 This is a great iudgement wherewith God doth punish the wicked contemners of his word when the eyes of their minde are blinded that they see not God present not taste his mercies nor feare the punishments that are imminent and neere at hand The Scriptures teacheth vs that no ignorance is excusable for he that knoweth not his Maisters will Luk. 12.48 shall be beaten though with few stripes because ignorance is not of creation but of deprauation and corruption of nature But he that knoweth his Maisters will and doth it not shall be beaten with many stripes because he cannot excuse himselfe therefore wilfull ignorance voluntary blindnesse is inexcusable and shall be the more seuerely punished Here then that grose errour of the Papists is conuinced who affirme without wit or blushing that ignorance is the mother of deuotion Math. 22.29 but it may better be called the mother of errour and destruction because it leadeth men to perdition and eternall punishments for if eternall life consist in the knowledge of God and of Iesus Christ Ioh. 17.3 then eternall death abideth them which know not God nor his sonne Iesus Christ If the wise man ought not to glory in his wisedome nor the strong man in his strength nor the rich man in his riches but should glory that he knoweth and vnderstandeth the Lord to exercise mercy righteousnesse and iudgement Ier. 9.23.24 Then whosoeuer is ignorant of God and his will and knowes not Christ the Sonne of God should lament and be sorry that these things are hid from his eyes