thou haddest faith it would apply Iesus Christ vnto thy owne soule in particular though not at all times with the like assurance this Paul begged for the Colossians That they might bee filled with all wisedome and spirituall vnderstanding that they might bee able to comprehend what is the breadth and length and depth and height Col. 1.9 Eph. 5.18 and to know the loue of Christ So that wee see that the true knowledge of God and of Christ it is such a iewell that God will not trust all men with but onely the Elect. Now let vs see what vses this Doctrine may affoord vs for our further instruction Vse 1 This may serue in the first place to reproue those that rest vpon a confused and superstitious knowledge of God such knowledge as may bee had by the light of nature or such as may bee gathered by the sight of creatures but will some say are there any such amongst Christians vndoubtedly there be who hauing liued in the bosome of the Church and in the cleare light of the Gospell ten twenty yea thirty or more yeares together and yet to their shame be it spoken haue no more true sauing knowledge of God then the very heathen that neuer heard of Christ so that Heb. 5.12 whereas in regard of their continuance in the Church and the meanes that haue beene offered vnto them They might haue beene teachers of others yet haue they need to bee taught the beginning of faith and are such as haue need of milke and not of strong meat who can consider without griefe of heart in what state the greatest number of our people stand at this day how many haue wee amongst vs I will not say as God said of the Infants of Nineueh that know not their right hand from their left but men growne and of riper yeares which in regard of their time might haue beene teachers of other yet themselues are ignorant in the maine principles of Religion these are like to the Potters clay ready to take any form What false religion and idolatrous worship if it were authorized would they not subscribe vnto a lamentable case that wee should be still as babes and children ready to bee drawne away with euery blast of vaine Doctrine not being able to decerne the darkenesse of error from the light of truth seeing as our Apostle saith 2. Cor. 4.3.4 2. Thes 2.11.12 If our Gospell bee hid it is hid to them which perish in whom the God of this world hath blinded their minds Thus doth God send them strong delusions that they should beleeue lyes That all they might bee damned which beleeue not the truth but had pleasure in vnrighteousnes Io. 5.39 Let vs then seeke for knowledge as for treasures and let vs Search the Scriptures that in them wee may haue eternall life Let vs haue the word of God dwell plentifully in vs which is able to make vs wise to saluation Let vs vse all good meanes to beget knowledge in vs euen this sanctified knowledge which will bring a man to eternall life Let vs often call our own wayes to an account and labour to bee humbled for our sins beg hard for mercy and pardon of them at Gods hands then vse all good meanes as hearing the Word reading praying c. For if by these things we make not way to our knowledge whereupon it may be built as vpon a sure foundation Alas our knowledge it will be but vaine idle swimming in the braine and farre from leading a man to the Kingdome of grace or of glory Oh then thinke of this betimes whilest the day of grace lasteth Oh man thou art laboured with from Sabbath to Sabbath that thy heart may be seasoned with the knowledge of saluation and that now thou mayest bee prepared for Christ if now therefore thou reiect this kindnesse of his it shall at last bee iust with God to turne this thy great ingratitude as dung into thy face and because thou hast hated knowledge Mat. 1.23 Pro. 7.22 therefore the Lord may iustly say Depart from mee yee cursed I know you not And that wee may bee able to try our selues whether we haue this knowledge in our hearts which puts vs into the reall possession of eternall life it hath certaine notes and properties whereby it may bee decerned The properties of this sauing knowledge 1. Io. 3.3 Act. 15.9 The first effect and property of this sauing knowledge is this that being put into the heart of a Christian it will purge a mans soule mind will and affection Euery one that hath this hope speaking of this knowledge of God hee will purge himselfe as hee is pure And againe Faith purifieth the heart so then hereby thou mayest trie and proue thy knowledge whether it bee this sauing knowledge of God 1 It purgeth the heart or not if thou finde that it purifies thy heart purgeth thy mind will and affection from sinne this is an infallible marke and token that it is this blessed and sanctified knowledge that is begunne in thee whereas on the contrary part carnall knowledge puffes vp the mind but this knowledge expels pride and casts a man downe for his sins and therefore if thou finde thy heart filthy and thy will rebellious thy knowledge then is but fleshly and carnall and it is not this sauing knowledge that is within thee Secondly this knowledge is not a dead knowledge but it is a liuing knowledge 2 It will quicken those that haue it it is a quickning knowledge and therefore called Eternall life because it is liuing and will quicken those that haue it in their breasts it will not suffer a man to lye dead in sin and rotting in sin but it will rayse him vp and quicken him in all holy duties to doe the Will of God The third property of this Knowludge is 3 It is euer working to destroy sinne it is not an idle knowledge onely swimming in the braine but it is an operatiue and working knowledge it will worke in them that haue it the mortification of sinne and it will abolish naturall corruption by little and little it will be powerful to worke many graces in them which haue it as Faith Repentance Mortification and newnesse of life loue of God zeale of his glory sincere obedience to his Will in all things The fourth property of this sauing knowledge is this 4 It is permanent it lasts for euer that being put into the mind of any Christian man or woman it is durable and permanent and therefore our Sauiour cals it Eternall Life because this Knowledge lasteth not for a day or two or for a yeare or two but being begunne in this life it lasteth for euer Wee know in part onely in this life but our knowledge shall bee perfect in the life to come Now seeing what this Knowledge is and what properties Vse 2 and effects it hath namely that this Knowledge is such a blessed gift
had beene done amongst them of Sodom they had remayned to this day But I say vnto you that it shall bee easier for them of the land of Sodom in the day of iudgement then for thee In this place our Sauiour declares vnto vs that such places as haue had the preaching of the Word amongst them and haue accounted light of the same shall receiue at the last day a greater measure of condemnation then those that neuer heard the sound therof You wil think it a harsh comparison if I should compare our land to Sodom Gomor wee know how the Lord destroyed them with fire brimstone from heauen And yet I say vnto you in the name of God from the warrant of his sacred word by the which wee shall all one day be iudged that if we liue in the open contempt of Gods truth ignorance blindnesse and prophanesse which sins are scarce the tenth that may bee found amongst vs at this day it had beene much better that wee had beene borne Sodomites and Gomoreans yea the time shall come when many amongst vs shall cry out and wish that they were Sodomites and Gomoreans Oh that I were a Sodomite Oh that I were one of them of Gomorah and that because wee knew not the day of our Visitation And this fauour and mercy of our God that now we enioy to heare him to speake vnto vs in his Word and that wee haue his seruice and worship amongst vs shall bee so farre at the last day from procuring vs any fauour or mercy at Gods hand as that wee hauing had the same amongst vs and wee most prophanely did neglect and contemne the same shall reape euen therefore the greater measure of condemnation Deu. 32.29 Oh that men would bee wise then would they consider their latter end Secondly seeing that most excellent prerogatiues Vse 2 and priuiledges will not serue to keepe backe Gods anger and to deliuer vs from destruction if wee liue in sinne and bee not reformed in heart and life then let vs labour to ioyne to our outward profession of the Word sound obedience true repentance and reformation of our wayes and marke then what will follow If yee will hearken and obey yee shall then eate the good of the land Wee must not stand so much vpon the largenesse of the leaues of our profession who should professe most as wee should vpon sincerity who should practise most I am sure it is our behauiour concerning the things of the world There is no man but had rather be rich then accounted rich be wealthie then seeme to bee wealthy And yet for that true riches that shall make vs rich vnto saluation wee can content our selues with shadowes and shewes of it and looke not after the substance Like Iehu who made great boast of the zeale hee had for the glory of God Come with mee sayth he to Ionadab And see the zeale that I haue for the Lord 2. Reg. 10.16 but yet for all this his heart was not vpright in the sight of God Act. 24.16 but the Apostle Paul was affected otherwise who endeuoured himselfe to haue alway a cleare conscience towards God and man And surely this is it that shall bee our comfort in life in death after death Esay 38.3 that wee can say with good King Ezechiah Remember Lord that I haue walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart Doct. 5 Againe seeing the Lord complaines here of Ephraim and Iudah that is of the whole body of the people and the generall multitude of both Kingdomes Though God doth offer the meanes of saluation vnto all yet few receiue them that they were wicked and rebellious and profited not by al the gracious means that he vsed to reclaim them we learne hence that though the Lord do offer the means alike to all as his Word iudgements admonitions corrections c. yet very few doe receiue them profite by them and the greatest part remaine ignorant vnrepentant and rebellious against the meanes as wee may see heere in this people they had the meanes al alike to call them to repentance yet the greatest part and the greatest number vnreformed still so that the Lord speakes heere of the whole Nation and people of the Iewes O Ephraim O Iudah those that resolued to Returne vnto the Lord as in the three first verses of this chapter their number was exceeding small in comparison of those that did neglect and contemne the same and therefore he speakes of them wholy together Ephraim Iudah This Doctrine is further cleared by the example of the old World that notwithstanding the meanes of deliuerance was offered to all men alike yet only Noah was moued with reuerence Gen. 6.3 Heb. 11. Gen. 19. to feare Gods iudgements when all the rest of the world were euen drunke in security and lay weltring in their sinnes So in Sodom one righteous Lot Elias sayth Hee was left alone hee could not see one open professor of Religion in his time Woe is mee sayth the Prophet For I am as the Summer gatherings and as the grapes of the Vintage Mich. 7.1 Ier. 3.14 Luk. 12.32 Mat. 27. there is no cluster to eate Alas when the haruest is in the gleaning it is very small heere an eare and there an eare One of a City and two of a Tribe And Christ cals his flocke a little flocke Feare not little Flocke All cried against the Sonne of God Crucifie him Crucifie him Reu. 13. All receyued the Marke of the beast This is plaine by wofull experience in our dayes how few true worshippers of God sound Christians though wee haue the meanes alike how few profit by them the greatest part remaine ignorant still vile rebellious and prophane and so few that they bee like a handfull of corne in a heape of chaffe many hypocrites many meere Laodiceans neyther hote nor cold Reu. 3.17 many halfe Christians with Agrippa onely those that profite truely by the meanes are exceeding few Hence wee see that Multitude is no note of a true Vse 1 Church And therefore it confutes the Doctrine of the Church of Rome who would make men beleeue that therefore they must needes bee the true Church because their Religion is so generally receiued and imbraced of many Kingdomes But here wee see Luke 12.32 that the greater part is the worst and Christs flocke is a little flocke and therefore this Doctrine beates and batters down one of the maine pillars of Popery whervpon they ground their religion and supplant their Church they ground vpon this sandy foundation the pillar is a number and multitude of men that many receiue their religion and few ours but if this reason be good then those few beleeuing Iewes that repented as in the three first verses of this Chapter should not bee the children of God but Ephraim Iuda euen the common multitude should be accounted the Church which is most false for
hypocrites in the sight of God though not so discerned by men because of their gifts and outward shewes but are here taken for Christians members of Christs Church such men and women who make so glorious a shew and so professe Christ in outward manner that in the iudgement of men yea many times of themselues they be taken for Christians and members of the Church of God but yet in truth are not so And of this sort wee haue thousands that deceiue the world that haue the vizard of Christianity on their faces and hardly are discerned Now what gifts graces one of these hypocrites may haue and yet be damned M. Perkins on Mat. 7. v. 21. a most reuerend Diuine of our time hath most liuely discouered vnto whom I send the Reader We wil now conclude the Doctrine with these vses First of all to apply it to our selues hath this been Vse 2 the propertie of Hypocrites to stand vpon Ceremonies and the outward parts of Gods worship and seruice to offer sacrifices and to bee precise in obseruations traditions and inuentions of men and to neglect the inward worship of God neglect faith repentance obedience reformation of their hearts liues Alas then it stands vs in hand to looke to our owne soules to try our selues and to enter into our owne hearts and wee shall find that the most of vs be no better then this people all that wee ayme at in Gods seruice is it any more then this people did performe doe wee goe beyond them If men come to Church heare the Word and receiue the Sacrament now and then for fashion sake and abstain from grosse sinnes that the world cryes out on men then thinke they haue done all that God requires of them hee can desire no more at their hands is not this the common religion of most men and al the profession they make and thus farre they come and will goe no further which shews that most mens case is not so good as they take it to bee Esay 1.11 Ier. 7.12 thus farre this people came in this place yet all this while they bee ignorant soules without the true sauing knowledge of God vniust dealers filthy liuers vse no conscience in buying and selling couetous mercilesse proud malicious and giuen to reuenge Alas if this bee thy case thou maiest come to Church long inough heare the Word and receyue the Sacrament but thou art no better then an Hypocrite Mar. 6. Herod went thus farre Saul and Iudas might do all this but let vs if we would find comfort to our soules in the seruice and worship of God giue him our hearts My Sonne giue mee thy heart Let vs go beyond all the hypocrites in the World in true repentance Esay 13.29 hatred of sinne in reformation of our hearts and liues in an earnest study and endeuour to please God and to walke in his wayes in doing the duties of the first Table to God and of the second Table to men Vse 3 Againe seeing that Hypocrites may attaine vnto many singular gifts and graces and yet perish in the end Let vs know that we had need to take heed and suspect our selues that wee come not to performe these holy duties in hypocrisie but in truth of heart let vs call our selues to a reckoning suspect our faith repentance and obedience for feare wee deceiue our selues yea as Paul sayth 1 Cor. 13.5 Proue your selues whether ye bee in the faith for an Hypocrite and one that shall finally perish and bee danmed may goe farre with the child of God in outward profession and haue many common gifts and graces Onely the doers of the Word shall bee instified and therefore our Sauiour opposeth these two sorts Sayers and Doers If a man had a seruant which shewed great dutifulnesse to his Master in word and yet would neuer doe that hee bids him or cleane contrary to his mind would any man thinke he were a good seruant Euen so fareth it with many amongst vs If God will be content with our faire words and promises hee shal haue ynnow but deeds he shal haue none Oh let vs at last bee warned and let vs labour to bee found doers of Gods will and not to content ourselues with a bare and naked profession for this will little auaile vs in the day of Gods searching account Marke here this wicked people they grew so secure Doct. 4 and carelesse that they did not onely content themselues with the outward seruice and worship of God Wicked men make religion a cloake for sinne but withal they would make it a cloake of all their sinnes the euils and corruptions not onely towards men but towards God for they thought that so long as they offered sacrifice to God and came into the temple and brought their beasts and made some shew that God was beholden vnto them and that hee could not bee angry with them Thus they made the seruice and worship of God a cloake of al their euils and a couert of al their vile and enormous dealing as blindnes ignorance cruelty oppression couetousnesse pride malice c. so as if the Prophets of God did reproue them they were ready to tell them Oh Sir you see I hope we bring our offerings sacrifices and oblations and come dayly to the Temple and though wee bee somewhat ignorant wee hope so long as wee meane well and doe this wee hope God will beare with vs wee shall doe well inough Ie. 7.11.12 Mat. 6. So did the people in the time of the Prophet Ieremie and the Scribes and Pharisies in the time of our Sauiour Christ Vse And is not this the common sinne of most men in these dayes doe not men and women vnder the shew of religion and colour of profession of the Gospell go about to cloake their hypocrisie their couetousnesse pride malice enuie and other sinnes yes doubtlesse they make their outward shew and profession of Religion a cloake of all their abhominable sinnes thinke so long as they come to Church and bee no enemies of Religion doe not persecute the Ministers and Professors Ier. 7.13 they thinke God will not call them to account for their couetousnesse pride enuy murder ignorance drunkennesse vnconscionable dealing c. And what is this but to make the house of God a denne of theeues a company of Atheists and prophane beasts Oh then let vs beware of this and take heed how wee abuse our holy profession take heed that we make not religion and the outward seruice and worship of God a cloake of sinne to boulster vs vp in euill to face out our impieties and abhominations If a man should get the Kings cloath or a Noblemans cloath and so should vnder the colour of that rob defraud and oppresse poore men and doe it vnder pretence of his masters cloath how would his master bee angry turn him out of his seruice plucke his cloath ouer his eares Euen so
should abound in sinne This is the reason why the Lord taxeth Gilead here euen because it was one of those sixe Cities of refuge Mat. 23 38. Luk. 19. because it was the Nursery of the Priests and Leuites This wee may see of Ierusalem for there had our Sauiour bestowed his greatest paines continually teaching and preaching amongst them in Ierusalem he wrought there the greatest part of his wonderfull heauenly miracles there hither his Prophets and Apostles were sent to teach and instruct them in the Word of God and to bring them home to Iesus Christ yet for al this our Sauiour was constrayned to weepe for the wofull misery of this City yet for all this Ierusalem must be destroyed defaced and extinguished and made a spectacle of his wrath to all posterities for euermore This is clearely to bee seene by those seuen Churches of Asia Reu. 2.3 that sometimes were so famous in the world in the dayes of Saint Iohn What is become of Ephesus Philippi Constantinople and Rome so glorious Churches sometimes in the world Are they not gone and become the Cage of vncleane birds 2. Thes 2.10 euen of Antichrist himselfe who preuayleth in them that perish because they receyued not the loue of the truth that they might bee saued And therfore God hath sent them strong delusions to beleeue lyes Surely God in all ages of the world hath declared the same vnto vs now peace now persecution peace being abused the Lord hath not fayled to bring his iudgements vpon the sonnes of men But of this before Well seeing this is the righteous dealing of God Vse 1 that those places which hee hath most priuiledged aboue others and bestowed most meanes on aboue others they shall drinke deeper of the cup of his anger if they bee wicked and vngodly liuing in sinne then others that haue not enioyed the like fauours from God Then it must teach vs all in the feare of God to looke about vs that according to the meanes God doth bestow vpon vs wee labour to bee answerable to the same in fruites in knowledge in faith in repentance and obedience zeale patience c. But aboue all things take wee heed that wee doe not degenerate and grow worse then others to abound with iniquity and impiety with lying deceit swearing couetousnesse c. For then let vs know that the Lord will make our punishment answerable to Tyrus Sydon yea to Sodom Gomer yea their iudgements shall be lighter then ours as our Sauiour sayth Mat. 11.20.21 Ezech. 16.46.53 It shall bee easier for Sodom in the day of iudgement then for you And the Lord by the Prophet Ezechiel threatneth thus that because the iniquities of the people of Israel were like vnto the Sodomites Therefore will I bring againe their captiuity and the captiuity of Sodome and her Daughters and the captiuitie of Samaria and her daughters euen the captiuity of thy Captiues in the middest of them And surely if wee shall grow worser then other places and abound in sinne more then other men how can wee but looke to reape a greater measure of punishment thē other There is no sin greater then the contempt of the Gospell nor no mercy greater then the peaceable enioying of the liberty of the same and therefore no punishment or reward of sinne shall be more horrible then the punishment that shall bee infflicted for the neglect or contempt thereof Oh take wee heed then least we contemne the Gospell and so being found guilty of one of the greatest sinnes wee incurre Gods wrath against vs and cause him to bring vpon vs his greatest punishments Secondly seeing the Lord doth threaten heere Vse 2 euen Gilead one of those sixe Cities of refuge and the Citty that was inhabited with the Priests and Leuites Religion is not tyed to one place that euen Gilead should bee cut off and slaine as in the fift verse going before that is that God would bring to passe vpon Gilead all those threatnings which his seruants the Prophets had denounced in his name Hence wee see that Religion and the worship of God is not tyed to any place to any kingdome towne or City no longer then they doe walke in the duties of Religion and of the true seruice and worship of God yea if Ierusalem that holy City the wonder of the world that place which God himselfe had chosen fall from God and beginne to forsake his son Christ and to contemn his sonne Christ Ierusalem then must looke for heauy plagues and grieuous iudgements yea if Gilead that was so priuiledged aboue other Cities and places of the world will not walke holily and beare themselues thankefully in the daies of peace the Lord will not fayle to bring euen vpon Gilead many plagues and grieuous iudgements against sinne Oh then if all things that are written bee written for our learning then let the iudgement of God vpon this City bee a warning to vs all Wee haue by Gods mercy the pure seruice and worship of God his Gospell sincerely preached and taught amongst vs almost these threescore years together Now let vs see whether our case bee not like the state of Gilead they were grieuous sinners so are we amongst them were found many great and grieuous sinnes a Citie that abounded with all manner of iniquitie as swearing lying deceit murder oppression vncleanesse c. and are not wee guilty of the same sinnes yes yes they were neuer more plenty in Gilead then they are in England and therefore wee may well feare that wee that haue beene like to Gilead in sinne shall one day be like to them in their punishment The Lord by his Prophet Amos hath threatned there a great and a grieuous iudgement against the neglect and contempt of his Word and other the gracious meanes that hee doth vouchsafe vnto vs for our good Behold the dayes come sayth the Lord Amos. 8.11 that I will send a Famine into the Land not a famine of bread or thirst of water but of hearing the Word of the Lord. Oh it is greatly to bee feared that wee may one day feele the smart of this iudgement the want of the Word and glorious Gospell of Christ that made so light account of the same in the time of peace then shall wee mourne then shall wee lament then shall wee lye in the dust then wee shall weepe and wayle and wring our hands and wish that wee might heare if it were but one Sermon to comfort our distressed Soules And in very deed if wee consider Gods dealing towards vs wee may see that these blacke stormy dayes are drawing on Doth not the Lord picke out from amongst vs the most renowned men from Church and common wealth the pillars of the Church and stayes of Religion doth not the Lord euen by this meanes giue vs a faire warning that vnlesse we amend and become sincere Christians and bee zealous in his seruice and worshippe and more highly
Doct. 1. HVmiliation for sinne must goe before the sanctified knowledge of God Fol. 109 Doct. 2. The true knowledge of God in Christ is giuen onely to the Elect after their conuersion Fol. 114 Doct. 3. It is God himselfe that is the obiect of a sanctified knowledge Fol. 122 Doct. 4. Ignorance of God and his Word in matters of Religion is dangerous Fol. 128 Doct. 5. Labour and paines required in all that will get sauing knowledge Fol. 739 Doct. 6. Perseuerance and constancy is required in seeking for sauing knowledge Fol. 141 Doct. 7. A godly man seekes after knowledge willingly and chearefully Fol. 144 Doct. 8. Gods children labour for an encrease of knowledge dayly in them Fol. 146 Doct. 9. Howsoeuer God doth humble his children for a time hee forsaketh them not for euer Fol. 150 VER 4. Doct. 1. GOd doth not proceed in iudgement before hee hath offered all meanes of mercy Fol. 160 Doct. 2. Wicked men continue still in sinne notwithstanding all meanes to the contrary Fol. 167 Doct. 3. The Lord takes it hardly that the meanes of our good should bee contemned Fol. 170 Doct. 4. No outward priuiledge will free a man from punishment when reformation of heart and life is wanting Fol. 174 Doct. 5. Though God doth offer the meanes of saluation vnto all yet few receiue them Fol. 180 Doct. 6. It is the property of hypocrites to minde more the outward part of Gods worshippe then the inward Fol. 184 Doct. 7. The wicked haue sometimes good motions in them but not lasting Fol. 187 Doct. 8. Sincerity of heart and perseuerance in godlinesse a true note of the child of God Fol. 194 VER 5. Doct. 1. TO contemne the meanes of saluation is a grieuous sinne and neuer goes vnpunished Fol. 199 Doct. 2. The Lord is the author of all punishments for sinne Fol. 204 Doct. 3. Hard heart the greatest iudgement that can bee layd vpon man Fol. 208 Doct. 4. The Word of God is able to pearce the hardest heart Fol. 215 Doct. 5. The Word of God in the mouthes of his Ministers shall be accomplished Fol. 219 Doct. 6. God neuer strikes with his iudgements before he giue warning Fol. 227 VER 6. Doct. 1. GOd esteemes not of our outward seruice when it it is not performed in faith and obedience Fol. 233 Doct. 2. Lawfull things must bee done lawfully Fol. 238 Doct. 3. Property of an hypocrite to content himselfe with the outward parts of Gods worshippe Fol. 247 Doct. 4. Wicked men make Religion a cloake for sinne Fol. 253 Doct. 5. God doth preferre the duties of loue and mercy to men before his owne worship Fol. 256 VER 7. Doct. 1. THe breaking of our couenant with God the cause of all iudgements Fol. 258 Doct. 2. Man by nature vnconstant in any holy dutie Fol. 271 Doct. 3. That which is most excellent in the sight of an hypocrite is most abhominable in the sight of God Fol. 272 VER 8. Doct. 1. THose that haue the greatest meanes of knowledge should abound most in holy duties Fol. 278 Doct. 2. Those places that haue had most meanes shall be most seuerely punished for the neglect thereof Fol. 280 Doct. 3. For no worldly respect must men be drawn to peruert iustice Fol. 285 VER 9 Doct. 1. MInisters that teach not at all or else teach erronious doctrine no better then theeues and murderers Fol. 289 Doct. 2. Nature of the wicked to deuise all the mischiefe they can against the godly Fol. 292 Doct. 3. Councels may erre and Magistrates and Ministers in matters of Faith and Manners Fol. 294 VER 10. Doct. 1. AS the Minister is so is the people Fol. 299 Doct. 2 Ignorance will excuse none if they liue in sinne Fol. 304 Doct. 3. It is a heauie iudgement of God vpon a people when the chiefe gouernors bee Idolaters Fol. 308 VER 11. Doct. 1. MEn by nature are apt to sucke in Popery and superstition Fol. 312 Doct. 2. Sinne is very fruitfull Fol. 316 The End of the Table The Contents COme let vs returne to the Lord for hee hath spoyled and he will heale vs he hath wounded vs and he will bind vs vp 2 After two dayes he will reuiue vs and the third day he will rayfe vs vp and we shall liue in his sight 3 Then shall wee haue knowledge and endeauour our selues to know the Lord his going forth is prepared as the morning and he shall come vnto vs as the raine and as the latter raine vnto the earth 4 O Ephraim what shall I doe vnto thee O Iuda how shall I intreat thee for your goodnes is as the morning cloud and as the Morning Dew it goeth away 5 Therefore haue I cut down by the Prophets I haue slain them by the words of my mouth and thy iudgements were as the light that goeth forth 6 For I desire mercy and not sacrifice and the knowledge of God more then burnt offerings 7 But they like men haue transgressed the Couenant there haue they trespassed against mee 8 Gilead is a City of them that worke iniquitie and is polluted with bloud 9 And as theeues wayte for a man so the company of Priests murder in the way by consent for they worke mischiefe 10 I haue seene villany in the house of Israel there is the whoredome of Ephraim Israel is defiled 11 Yea Iudah hath set a plant for thee whiles I would returne the Captiuity of my people AN EXPOSITION vpon the sixt Chapter of the Prophesie of HOSEA HOSEA 6. VER 1. 1. Come let vs returne to the Lord for hee hath spoyled and he will heale vs he hath wounded vs and he will binde vs vp THe Lord our God Exod. 34.6 Ier. 31.20 as he is gracious and mercifull flow to anger and aboundant in goodnesse and truth and therefore not easily drawne to punish and to take vengeance vpon hard hearted and impenitent sinners So when hee punisheth and afflicteth any man or woman as a most gracious God and louing Father he aimes at their good and seekes the saluation of their soules that being tamed and truely humbled for their sinnes they might turne vnto him by true and vnfained repentance that so he might haue mercy vpon them in pardoning their sinnes and sauing their soules And as this is manifest in the whole booke of God so it is very apparent out of this place when as the Lord had threatned the people of the Iewes with present destruction by and by he beginnes to exhort them to true repentance shewing this to be the onely way both to auoid the anger of God and to saue their owne soules This 6. Chapter contains two generall and principall parts Parts of the Chapter In the first is set downe the godly practises of true repentance and the fruits thereof in the person of the beleeuing Iewes from the first verse to the end of the third the which we must carefully imbrace and follow In the second is set down the
quicken vs else we cannot thinke a good thought and as the Lord must beginne grace in our hearts so hee must continue it and increase it and therefore it is sayd heere Reu. 20.6 He shall rayse vs vp and make vs able to walke in the duties of pietie and religion of faith and repentance and sincere obedience Holy and blessed are they that haue part in the first Resurrection for on them the second Death hath no power If then God hath begunne to Reuiue thee to Rayse thee out of the graue of sinne Oh then thou art blessed and happy for thou mayest bee sure that the second death that is eternall death shall haue no power ouer thee but as for those which are yet in the state of Nature vnregenerate not Reuiued not quickned by the life of grace Alas alas they bee at the next dore to eternall death And vnlesse they seeke vnto the Lord by true and vnfained repentance that hee may Reuiue their dead Soules and Rayse them vp from the graue of sinne they must needs perish eternally And therefore vntill such time as the Lord shall Reuiue vs and that wee shall feele the power of Christs death within vs dye to sinne whatsoeuer the vaine and foolish perswasion of our hearts may be yet we are in a most cursed and wretched estate and condition And in the third day hee will rayse vs vp These words containe in them the second degree of their deliuerance where wee may see that there Doct. 5 bee degrees of our spirituall life Regeneration begun must be continued As we see a child first learnes to stand alone then to goe in the hands of the Nurse and after comming to more strength to walke alone So fareth it with Gods Children First the Lord must Reuiue and quicken vs else we cannot thinke a good thought and as the Lord must begin grace in our hearts so hee must continue it and increase it and therefore it is sayd heere Hee shall raise vs vp and make vs to walke in the duties of Piety and religion of Faith Repentance and true obedience So that the point of Doctrine which wee are to obserue hence is this that the worke of Regeneration begunne in vs must bee continued and dayly more and more encreased so as wee may feele the power of the Spirit dayly subduing sinne in vs 2. Cor. 7.1 our naturall corruption and carnall affections that are so deepely rooted in vs by nature It is the exhortation of the blessed Apostle Heb. 6.1 That wee cleanse our selues from all filthinesse of the Flesh and Spirit and grow vp vnto full holinesse in the feare of God And the Author of the Epistle to the Hebrews exhorts men not to satisfie them selues with the Principles of Religion which hee calleth the Doctrine of the beginning of Christ as though it were inough that they had made an entrance and a beginning but that they bee ledde forward to Perfection q. d. It is true you haue begunne well yet yee must thinke that it is not sufficient but there is a kind of perfection to bee aymed at And Paul speaking of the excellent estate of a Christian Phil. 3.13.14 sayth I count not my selfe that I haue attayned it And yet Paul was wonderfully expert in the mystery of Christ But one thing I doe sayth hee I forget that which is behind and I endeuour my selfe to that which is before and follow hard towards the marke for the price of the highest calling of God in Christ Iesus 2. Tim. 3.13 It is noted as a brand of a wicked man that hee waxeth worse and worse Deu. 29 19. and fals away dayly more from one extremity to another adding Drunkennes to thirst whereas on the contrary part It is a true note of the spirit of God in a man when they grow in grace and are led nearer and nearer to perfection And this same spirituall growth in grace and in godlines is not in mans power by nature to performe no more then the beginning thereof as we heard before but it is the proper worke of the holy Ghost 1. Thess 5.23 The very God of peace sanctifie you through out It cannot come from our parents For who can bring a cleane thing out of filthinesse Iob. 13. Iob. 1.16 but Of his fulnesse wee all receiue grace for grace It is a point no doubt well knowne vnto vs in speculation that we are to goe on from one degree of sactification to another from one measure of grace to another and therefore I forbeare any further to enlarge the point This may serue to reproue those that thinke they haue got knowledge inough into their soules like the Vse 1 Church of Laodicea Reu. 3.16 and are not ashamed many times to cloake their owne neglect of holy duties to say that they know as much as the best Preacher of them all And indeed were it not so that men were so perswaded that for matters of religion they were forward inough and had learned inough It could not be that they should make so little account of the means to bring them vnto more perfection How is it possible that they should not bee ashamed of themselues to bee found out of Gods house on the Saboath day and to make their chimney corners their Chappell of ease And how could it bee that they should be now as ignorant in the grounds of Religion as they were many yeares agoe Alas how can this holde good with this Text of Scripture that those that are once reuiued by God and quickned by the Spirit of grace that they are also Raysed vp that is dayly more and more drawn away from the earth and earthly things to Seeke those things that are aboue Oh let vs looke vnto our owne wayes betimes And turne our feet into his Testimonies And when we perceiue in vs any beginning or inclination to seeke after grace resolue with Dauid to Runne the way of Gods commandements Psal 119. Not to go forward is to go backward in Religion And howsoeuer the gift of Regeneration the spirit of grace can neuer vtterly be extinguished and lost yet when wee grow not in it it is iust with God that wee should lose the comfort of that grace and the feeling of that ioy wee were wont to finde in the same and wee can neuer recouer it without much sorrow and griefe of heart Let vs therefore remember that exhortation of the Holy Ghost Hee that is holy let him bee more holy and not to content our selues with the beginning of grace Reu. 22.11 but labour to goe on in grace from one degree to another till at last wee become perfect men in Christ Iesus Vse 2 Secondly wee are taught here that if it bee so dangerous a thing not to goe forward in religion what a fearefull sinne must it needs be then to grow backeward in holy things Luk. 11.26 Their last estate sayth
vse all careful diligence in Preaching the Word in season and out of season in labouring and vsing al careful diligence to saue mens Soules to teach them to Catechize them and to instruct them that so they may be saued Vse 2 Secondly for the people they are to know and to bee assured that Ignorance of Gods Word is a great and feareful sin The Hearers duety and a heauy iudgement of God vpon this Land it abounds wonderfully with ignorance and so long as men be ignorant they wil bee prophane I would to God I had no iust cause to complaine of this our people but the truth is that though wee bee the Lords Vineyard and hee hath hedged vs about and planted a Vine-presse euen the Preaching of the Gospel to water the Land yet as Paul sayth Mat. 22.29 1. Cor. 15. I speake to your shame some haue not the knowledge of God Now if Paul might say so to the Church of Corinth surely this may as well bee verefied of many in our Church I speake to your shame some haue not the knowledge of God Nay that complaint of the Holy Ghost in another place may iustly bee taken vp against vs Whereas concerning the time yee ought to bee Teachers yet had yee need to bee taught the Principles of Religion Euen so whereas the most of vs if we respect the long time God hath taken in teaching vs we might haue been teachers yet the truth is the most had need to be taught the a. b. c. euen the principles of Christian Religion Oh then I beseech you in the feare of the Lord that you would now at last looke into your estates It is not the least of Gods fauours towards vs that hee hath spared vs so long that he hath not cut off the thred of our life in the dayes of our ignorance and blindnes as many haue been before vs Let vs now make hast to Returne vnto the Lord repent of this sin That wee may liue in his sight Thus much for the second fruit of our conuersion and sincere Repentance Wee shall haue knowledge Now it is further added And endeuour our selues to know the Lord. AS a true liuely Meaning of the words and sauing Knowledge is a fruit of true Repentance and Conuersion vnto God so in these words Wee shall endeuour our selues to know the Lord is heere layde downe the fruit of sauing knowledge namely to hunger after more knowledge as the Man of God had no sooner cast his Mantle vpon Elizeus but hee ran after him so if the Lord do but cast one dramme and put one sparke of this sauing knowledge into the heart of any man or woman it wil make them to run after the Lord with an earnest desire and endeuour to get more knowledge The Word heere translated Endeuour it signifyeth to prosecute earnestly Three things required to get this sauing knowledge and to hunt after the knowledge of the Lord euen with no lesse paines nor lesse perseuerance nor with no lesse pleasure then the Huntsman doth follow his game So then this word commends three most excellent vertues vnto vs in seeking after the Knowledge of God for as those which follow the game take great pains run through thicke and thin And secondly they perseuere and continue from morning till night and wil not leaue til they kil and thirdly take great delight in their paines Euen so should wee in seeking this blessed knowledge of God vse these three First vse all pains diligence Secondly persist and continue in seeking And thirdly take pleasure in it Hence then out of the first of these Doct. Labour and pains required in all that will get sauing knowledge we are taught this Doctrine that a Christian man or woman must not bee secure idle or slothfull but vse all possible paines diligence and labour for the attaining of this sauing knowledg We shall endeuour our selues to know the Lord sayth the Text that is wee shall vse al possible meanes to attaine to this sauing knowledge of the Lord Iesus For it fares with this heauenly knowledge as with a man in a dropsie the more hee drinks the more he thirsts and desires drinke so Wee shall endeuour ourselues that is wee shall hunger and thirst after this heauenly knowledge as the foode of our Soules and neuer bee glutted with it but labour to abound more and more in it And for the further confirmation of this point of doctrine the Scriptures afford vs diuers examples of Gods children who haue been content to take great paines to seeke this knowledge of God 2. Reg. 4.23 When the Sunamite would goe to the Prophet Elizeus her husband answered Why wilt thou goe seeing it is neythor New Moone nor Sabboth day Out of which words it appeares that vpon such dayes they vsed to goe yea farre iourneys to be instructed in the Word Lâ—k 8.1.2 Act. 8.27 Luk. 13.24 So in the Gospell wee shall read that the people tooke long iourneyes and great paines to heare our Sauiour Christ It was not the tediousnes of the weather the distance of place nor the weakenesse of their Sexe being many of them women that could any whit discourage them from seeking after Iesus Christ the Sauiour of their soules And we read of the Eunuch who went a long troublesome and costly iourney to Ierusalem to get this knowledge of the true God And it is the Precept of our blessed Sauiour himselfe That wee striue to enter in at the straight gate These examples and the like whereof the Scripture is full al serue to confirme the truth of this point vnto vs that diligence labour and paines are reqvired in all those that would attaine to this blessed knowledge It is not for a Christian man while he is heere to cast himselfe vpon a bed of ease as Iezabel vpon her bed of fornication and to promise a rest vnto himselfe heere but there must bee a continuall growth and proceeding of knowledge faith repentance and the like graces And if a man to gain worldly riches or honour or knowledge or the like will goe farre and neare by sea and by land how much more ought a Christian man to take paines to obtain that knowledge which will bring vs to eternall life and puts vs into a reall possession of Gods Kingdome This doth most iustly condemne many amongst vs of great contempt and damnable negligence Vse who wil not take any paines to get this Knowledge nay though it be brought vnto them yet many vngratefully trample this blessed Knowledge vnder their feet Alas if wee could see the want of this Knowledge what a dangerous thing it is euen that which brings endlesse confusion Io. 17.3 and also the good and gain which comes by it namely eternall life and saluation then surely wee would seeke far neare for it as the people of God doe and haue done But of this before Secondly Doct. this word Endeuour
doth import vnto vs the perseuerance that is required in all those that seeke for this Knowledge Perseuerance and constancy is required in seeking for sauing knowledge Act. 17.12 Wee see the Huntsman for his pleasure in his game hee can bee content to seeke in euery bush and to plod euery furrow till he find his game and then hee neuer leaues from morning till night Oh how much more should we seeke and neuer lin seeking for this heauenly and sauing Knowledge till wee find it The men of Bâ—rea are commended for seeking turning their books to confirme and to encrease this Knowledge in them So should wee not onely heare but also Search the Scriptures examine euery Chapter leafe by leafe and line by line till wee find this Knowledge It is not inough to begin to seeke bot wee must continue seeking for this Knowledge Luk. 11.62 Hee that puts his hand to the Lords Plough and looketh backe is not meet for the Kingdom of God Mat. 24.4 but hee which endures to the end shall be saued Againe 1. Cor. 16.13 Stand fast in the faith quite you like men and bee strong This is further cleared by that speech of our Sauiour to the Church of Smyrmye Reu. 2.10 Bee thou faithfull vnto death Gal 33. and I will giue thee a Crowne of life And Paul blamed the Galathians and called them Foolish for beginning in the spirit and ending in the Flesh for not holding on as they had begun and surely the estate of such men is most fearefull it had beene better for them that they had neuer known the truth Nay it had been better for them that they had neuer beene borne 2. Pet. 2.20 as Christ speaketh of Iudas as the Apostle obserues If they after they haue escaped from the filthinesse of the World through the acknowledging of the Lord and of the Sauiour Iesus Christ are yet tangled againe therein the latter end with them is worse then the beginning And the reason of this Doctrine is cleare Reason for of all graces vertues it is onely constancy and perseuerance that shall bee crowned As no sinne condemns a man but this final impenitency or continuance in the same sinne so no grace or vertue shall bee crowned but that which continues to the end It is only continuance and perseuerance in any grace whatsoeuer that shall bee crowned with glory for If a righteous man turne from his righteousnesse Ezec. 18.24 and do the thing that is euill all the righteousnesse that hee hath done shall bee remembred no more hut in the wickednesse that hee hath committed in the same hee shall die And therefore wee may safely conclude that continuance perseuerance in seeking after more knowledge euery spiritual grace is that which doth crowne all our vertues whatsoeuer If then thou hast entered into the profession of Religion Vse if thou hast begunne to shew thy selfe sound in knowledge and that thou hast tasted of the power of Gods Word Oh bee constant in that soundnesse and in that sincerity Goe on in the same grow dayly more and more towards perfection let thy works be more at last then at first And surely this exhortation is very needfull and cannot sufficiently bee vrged in this back-sliding age wherein many with Demas fall into loue with the world Reu. 2.4 and with the Church of Ephesus loose their first loue and grow secure and carelesse nay neyther hote nor cold in Religion but the Lord one day will spue such back sliders out of his mouth Alas wee are hardly brought on to make a beginning in matters of Religion for it fareth with vs as it did with Zacheus Luk. 19. when hee had a purpose to see Christ the multitude stood in his way that hee was constrayned to goe vp into a Fig-tree so fareth it with euery Christian man and woman when wee haue entertained any good purpose of heart to seeke the Lord to labour to get knowledge into our Soules and to grow and encrease in the same Oh how many lets and stumbling blocks will Sathan now beginne to lay in our way inward and outward and all to keepe vs from enioying of Christ But when a man shall ouer stride them all and giue vp his name to Christ and then fall away this were a most wofull estate and condition Note they are no better then dogges and swine and it had beene better for such that they had neuer knowne the truth then after they haue knowne it to fall away for how doth this man or woman cause the Lord by degrees a little little to take away from them his Spirit that whereas in times past they had a loue to the truth were carefull to heare and to sanctifie the Lords Sabbath hee might now vpon their contempt of grace giue them ouer as prisoners to Sathan who shal so manicle their hands feet yea heart and all that by degrees they shall grow to hate and contemn both grace itselfe the meanes to obtaine the same Thirdly wee must not onely vse paines and perseuer in seeking for this knowledge Doct. but wee must also take delight in the same A godly man seekes after knowledge willingly and chearefully Wee see those that follow their sport take great delight in it this pleasure of theirs swallowes vp all their pain and makes it seem nothing vnto them So should wee in seeking for this blessed knowledge find our hearts rauished with a loue and a liking and a godly pleasure in the same You shal see that this hath beene the affection of the children of God in all ages Thus did Iob I esteemed thy word more then my appointed food Iob. 23.12 And this affection was in the Prophet Dauid when hee sayth Lord what loue haue I vnto thy Law Psal 119. all the day long is my study in them And in the description of a godly man the Prophet Dauid obserues this to bee one property in him Psa 1.2 Hee meditates in the Law of God day and night which shew vnto vs that hee takes delight in it for otherwise hee would neuer by night especially meditate vpon the same And Ieremie after hee had found the Word of God Ier. 15.16 hee did eate it and it was sweet vnto him nay it was his ioy and the reioycing of his Soule Psal 16.10 And the Prophet Dauid speaking in another place of this knowledge sayth That it is more to bee desired then gold yea then much fine gold sweeter also then the honey and the honey combe And that which the Apostle setteth down concerning Almes Mat. 22.37 Rom 12.8 Deu. 6.5 2. Cor. 9.7 Ezec. 3.3 As euery man wisheth in his heart so let him giue not grudgingly or of necessity but willingly for God loueth a chearefull giuer may truly bee vnderstood of euery Christian duety When wee pray wee must pray vnto God chearefully when wee are to heare
seeing the Flocke of Christ is small and they few that beleeue be the true Church of God this reason is more against them then with them Secondly this may serue to condemn them that Vse 2 excuse their sinnes by the example of the multitude as Pride couetousnesse c. I doe but as others doe It is the fashion and I am not alone And thus poore soules they thinke they haue alleadged an argument that cannot bee answered What shall wee go to Hel for company Psal 50.18 Wee see it is dangerous to doe as most doe The gate is wide that leadeth to destruction and many goe in thereat Let vs rather suspect our selues because wee doe as the most doe and Fashion not our selues like vnto the world but ioyne with the little Flocke of Christ and if there bee but one Elias that feares God let vs ioyne with him to obey God And therefore let men know that by shrouding themselues vnder the multitude Exod. 23.2 Ier. 6.13 they are so far from excusing themselues as that the rather they accuse themselues because commonly the greatest part is the worst Vse 3 Thirdly this may comfort the Ministers of the Word of God who when they study take paines preach in season and out of season and yet see no fruit of their labour few beleeue and repent it is that which indeed doth much grieue them and discourage them as wee see in Elias but this must bee our comfort that it hath euer been so in olde time in the Prophets times in Christs time and since and wil be so to the end of the world onely let euery faithfull Minister of Iesus Christ doe his indeuour and commit the successe to God And thus much of the persons of whom the Lord complayneth the complaint it selfe followeth For your goodnes is as the morning cloud and as the Morning Dew it goeth away HEre is the third generall point in the complaint namely the cause of it The complaint it selfe which so moued the Lord to complaine of this people And it is indeed the preuenting of an obiection and cauill of this people for they might obiect and say What aileth him he hath no cause so to exclaime and complaine of vs that he cannot bring vs to repentance and to serue God why doe wee not bring our Sacrifices to his Altar doe wee not come dayly to serue God Yea we haue lamented our sinnes and humbled our selues before his face crauing pardon at his hands What would hee haue vs to do more To this cauill of theirs the Prophet answeres in laying open the cause of this complaint in these words For your goodnesse c. By goodnesse here he meanes their outward seruice and worship of God their fayned repentance they had some outward shew of holines and of repentance and seruice of God but it was voyd of sincerity and soundnesse of heart it was not in truth but from the teeth outward and therefore it was vanishing and vnconstant and of the sodaine like vnto the Dew or Morning cloud which is dispersed in a moment by the Sunne In this people here we may behold the nature and Doct. 6 property of all hypocrites they content themselues with the bare naked and outward seruice of God It is the property of hypocrites to minde more the outward part of Gods worship then the inward neuer looking for the truth of it in their hearts soules for though they offered Sacrifices and oblations came to the Temple seemed to repent yet it was onely in outward shew not sound nor sincere it neuer came from their hearts And what account such seruice of God is with God hee declares by his Prophet Esay when hee sayth Esay 1.14 My soule hateth your New Moones and your appointed Feasts They are a burden vnto mee I am a weary to beare them They would keepe the Sabbaths and frequent the solemne assemblies but it was but for custome and for fashion sake they would learne nothing at al though their bodies were there yet their hearts were not there And this sinne of theirs Almighty God layeth to their charge else where when he sayth Esay 29.13 This people come neare vnto mee with their mouth and honour mee with their lips but their hearts are far from mee He blameth them not for that they came not into Gods Temple and into the Assembly of Gods people for herein they were very forward but that they brought now a lame Sacrifice vnto the Lord it was but a lippe seruice and a Will worshippe and the Lord doth esteeme no better of it then the killing of a man and the cutting off of a dogges necke or the offering vp of Swines bloud all which are abominable vnto the Lord for God is a spirit and therefore will bee worshipped Esay 66.3.4 not onely according to the outward ceremony of his worshippe but in spirit truth To whom will I haue respect vnto but to him that is poore of a contrite spirit Ier. 7.7 Pro. 15.11 and trembleth at my words And if this bee wanting all that wee can doe in the seruice and worshippe of God is but sinne vnto vs and shall adde vnto the measure of our iniquities And surely this is the onely reason as I take why men profit no more vnder the Preaching of the Word in this time of the Gospell namely this because men perswade themselues that so long as they performe the outward rites of Gods worshippe seruice as to come to Church heare the Word receiue the Sacrament and the like all is well with them they need no more In these Iewes wee may clearely see a counterpane of our people and time What is the cause why after Vse 1 so much and so long preaching men should remayne so ignorant so couetous so vile and so sinneful stil is it not because most men content themselues with the outward seruice and worship of God Why did not the meanes that conuerted those Iewes in the beginning of this Chapter conuert these of whom the Lord speaketh in this place Surely the Prophet giues a reason of it in this verse namely because these Iewes thought that they had goodnesse inough and religion inough so long as they performed the outward part of Gods worshippe and seruice and for this very cause all these meanes could doe them no good And is not this the sinne of our times and people Note doe not most men content themselues with the outward seruice and worshippe of God to come to Church to heare the Word receiue the Sacrament and thinke then they haue honoured God highly and serued him aswell as the best of them all and that God can require no more at their hands I appeale vnto your hearts and consciences whether this be not so that most doe content themselues with the very outward action of Gods worshippe neuer looking for soundnesse of heart to come in faith repentance and obedience Oh then
let this moue vs all to bee grieued for this sinne Let vs amend it Esay 1.16 Pro. 15.11 Let vs labour to come with penitent and obedient hearts else all our prayers and all things else that we doe in Gods seruice Ier. 7.7 is but Abomination to the Lord. And indeed when men are once come to this passe that they thinke they haue knowledge inough faith and repentance inough and are forward inough so long as they come to Church and heare the Word when men are once come to this passe many meanes and great meanes can doe them no good This people of the Iewes had many means the Lord sent his Prophets earely and late Ier. 7. but they could not conuert them and why because they cryed the Temple Mich. 6.6.7 the Temple and trusted in lying vanities So the Lord sent his Prophet Mica threatning them with iudgements yet they were not reformed and the reasons is because they contented themselues with these outward shewes of repentance and thought their outward worshippe was inough and that God would bee content with their sacrifices And again he heard the Prophet Ezechiel preach and denounce Gods Iudgements Ezec. 33.31.32 yea they commended him and were forward to heare him yet this vile thought and perswasion being in their hearts that it was inough to heare though they went no further stopt their hearts so as they could not repent Mar. 6. â—0 This was Herods sin who was come to this height of impiety that if Iohn Baptist would bee content with his hearing so it was but reformation of life especially of his beloued sinne hee should neuer see in him Reu. 3.15 And surely this is that that makes all good things vnprofitable to vs because men thinke they are wise inough and good inough Is it not a wonder that men should liue so many yeares vnder the meanes heare so much and read so much and yet profite so little Indeed it could neuer bee so if men did see their wants and come with penitent and obedient hearts Oh then I beseech you in the feare of God lay aside this proud conceit lay aside this vaine perswasion that you should thinke your outward seruice and worship of God is inough that you know inough and are good enough rather thinke the worst of your selues and desire more grace that yee may seeme good with more feeling and comfort Secondly in that the Lord compares their repentance and goodnes all their piety and seruice of God to a Morning cloud and to the dew before the Sunne he shewes that their Repentance was not onely vnsound but also vncertaine of no continuance some good motions came into their minds and some prickes of conscience for their sinnes but yet they would not leaue their olde sinnes and turne to God with al their hearts From whence wee obserue a further point of Doctrine Doct. 7 that the wicked themselues haue somtimes good motions in them howbeit they bee not lasting The wicked haue sometimes good motions in them but not lasting When Gods hand is vpon them by long and tedious sicknes how ready are many to make solemne vowes vnto the Lord of reformation of their liues but alas this is but while their consciences are vpon the racke but when that his iudgements are remoued it may be sayde of them as of wicked Ahaz 2. Chr. 28.22 They trespasse yet more against the Lord. This was the desperate estate and condition of this people the Lord threatned them with many great and grieuous iudgements as in the former chapter vnder the which they seemed to bee humbled for a time but alas it was but for a time for it quickly vanished away euen as the Dew when the Sun shines hote vpon it This was the case of the people in Moses time they made a fayre shew for a time Deu. 5.27 saying to Moses the seruant of the Lord Goe thou neare and heare all that the Lord our God sayth Num. 23 10. and declare thou vnto vs al that the Lord our God sayth vnto thee and wee will heare it and doe it Balam that false Prophet that loued so the wages of iniquity as that hee would haue done directly against the commandement of the Lord yet hauing his mind inlightned desired that hee might Die the death of the righteous which was in it selfe a good and a godly prayer had it not proceeded from a wicked and a gracelesse heart but it was not constant in Balam but as a sudden flashing of a lightning quickly vanishing away Exod. 9.27 What shall wee say of Pharaoh who cryed out I haue sinned the Lord is righteous but I and my people are wicked This appeareth further in the Iewes who wished to come to happinesse if that would haue serued the turne Io. 6.34 Lord giue vs euermore this bread they had grieuously sinned against the Sonne of God and yet in a certaine remorse of conscience they wished to be partakers of eternall life This the Apostle condemneth in the Galathians Gal. 5.7 Yee did runne well what did let you that yee did not obey the truth Was not this the case of Hymeneus and Philetus 1. Tim. 1.10 2. Tim. 2.18 2. Tim. 4.10 were they not held to bee great Christians in their times and obtayned a good report in the Church of God in the which they liued yet afterwards fell away making shipwracke of faith and a good conscience What shall wee say of Demas PhilemoÌ„ 24. who went so farre in Religion as that hee suffered imprisonment for the truthes sake and yet fell in loue with the world What did it profite Iehu to bee zealous for the Lord in slaying the Priests of Baal seeing he Departed not from the sinnes of Ieroboam 2. Reg. 10.25 v. 31. What did it profite Lots wife to goe out of Sodom commanded by the Angel Gen. 19.26 accompanied by her deare husband seeing shee looked backe and was turned into a piller of salt Wee must therefore contend for more faith for more knowledge and for more grace that wee may finde in our selues a dayly increase in the same for not to goe forward in Religion is to goe backeward and not to increase in spirituall graces is certainely to decrease and decay in them Wee haue in the Scriptures many lawes to incite and prouoke vs to goe forward to perfection to walke to labour and to striue for godlines but wee haue none to giue liberty to sit still to bee idle or to loyter to bee carelesse or secure This doth the Lord himselfe teach vs when hee sayth If a righteous man turne from his righteousnesse Ezec. 18.24 and do the thing that is euill all the righteousnesse that hee hath done shall bee no more thought vpon but in the wickednesse that hee hath done in the same hee shall die 1. Cor. 9.24 And this is taught by the Apostle Paul when hee sayth Know yee not
rauening Wolues and cruell murderers of soules for then it may bee sayd Like Priest like people an ignorant prophane couetous Minister a vile ignorant and prophane people and therfore in the three first Chapters of the Reuelation wee shall find that what fault soeuer the Lord finds there with the Minister the people are guilty of the same If the Minister be reproued they are reproued If the Minister be praised so bee they And on the contrary to haue a carefull Moses or a painefull Paul to bee set ouer vs it is counted a singular testimony of Gods loue a great mercy of God for if the Minister bee painefull and carefull to teach in season and out of season it must needs be that the people will bee wise full of knowledge zeale patience and all heauenly graces Oh then let vs pray vnto the Lord to remoue that iudgement if it bee on vs and intreat the Lord to shew vs that mercy that we may not haue a cruell murdering Priest of Baal but a true Prophet of God that may watch ouer our soules as one that must giue account of them at the last day Io 21. Act. 28.20 Ezech. 34. that may feed the sheepe and Lambes of Christ with the pure and wholesome food of Gods word and not with the stinking trash of mans inuention Doct. 2 Againe seeing those Priests of Baal which were but theeues and murderers in the sight of God set themselues to inuent cursed councell against the Prophets and people of God Nature of the wicked to deuise all the mischiefe they can against the godly to deuise mischiefe against them then to practise it as occasion was offered we may from hence obserue the nature of false Prophets whom Christ cals theeues and murderers They seeke to deuise all the mischiefe they can against the true Prophets of God and to the vttermost of their power practise and effect it That of Amaziah against Amos doth manifest the same Amos. 7 1â— and that conspiracy against Ieremy when no means else could serue Come let vs deuise some euill against Ieremy Ier. 18.18 and smite him with the tongue So they confesse Dan. 6.5 they could find no fault against godly Daniel vnlesse it were the worshipping of his God they sought out many things against him but nothing could they find but euen his piety and religion and when all other meanes fayled that was matter sufficient to worke vpon but their mischiefe fell vpon their owne pate and they spunne a threed to hang themselues withall Alike plotte and practise against the Church wee see in the dayes of Mordecai and Esther when Haman was exalted Hest 3.1.6.13 his seat set aboue all the Princes of the Kingdome hee thought it too little to lay hands on Mordecai and therefore hee layde his plotte to destroy all the Iewes young and old in one day And this is plentifully taught vs in the booke of the Lamentations Lam. 5.4 Our necks are vnder persecutors wee are weary and haue no rest c. These places teach vs that the enemies of Gods Church howsoeuer many times they couer the depth of their hearts are full of all vnrighteousnes wickednesse enuy murders haters of God without naturall affection mercilesse without humility and humanity But of this else where Let all such men as be like to Ieroboams Priests that Vse 1 set their cursed heads a worke against the Lord and against his true and faithfull seruants let them know that this mischiefe the which they now so craftily deuise is not so much against man as it is against God Hee that heareth you heareth mee and hee that despiseth you despiseth mee So that they doe but striue against the streame and shall in the end draw downe the heauie wrath of God vpon them And let it admonish all those which doe deuise euill against Syon against Gods truth and against his holie Seruants and the professors of his name let them know that they doe it to the dishonour of God and he will one day call them to account for it Touch not mine Annointed and doe my Prophets no harme And this their mischieuous imagination against the Lord and his truth shal not prosper Vse 2 Secondly seeing this is the portion of Gods children to find such hard dealing from the wicked wee are here to consider the cause of it it is not for euill but for goodnesse sake Esay 59.5 Whosoeuer refrayneth from euill maketh himselfe a prey This was the estate of the Church euen from righteous Abel whose bloud cried for vengeance Consider then what manner of Religion it is that wee take vpon vs to professe euen that the which hath the Sunne Moone and Starres against it Our Sauiour himselfe telleth vs what will follow the profession of the Gospell I came not to send peace into the earth Mat. 10.34 but the sword For I came to set a man at vaiance with his father c. We must take notice of this aforehand before wee giue vp our names to Christ that this must bee our entertainement in the World and at the hands of wicked men that so these crosses which shall happen vnto vs heere may not any way daunt vs but that wee bee still prepared for them By Consent Doct. 3 Note here that it was not the sinne of one or two or some few of the Priests Councels may erre and Magistrates and Ministers in matters of Faith and manners that had thus sinned against the Lord but it was the sin of the multitude of them they all confederate together and ioyne in one both in condemning the innocent and iustifying of the nocent From whence wee learne that Rulers and Ministers of a particular visible Church may erre in matters of faith and manners and that councels haue been against the Lord and against his Church Which Doctrine is very cleare by diuers places in the booke of God as that of the Prophet Esay Esay 6.10 The Watchmen are all blind they bee a sleepe and delight in sleeping Now in what state could this people be in when their Watchmen were blind those that were the heads and guides of the people Againe 2. Chr. 36.14 All the chiefe of the Priests also and of the people trespassed wonderfully according to all the abhominations of the Heathen and polluted the house of the Lord which hee had sanctified in Ierusalem And this doth the Prophet Ieremy shew when hee sayth Ier. 3.5 I will get mee to the great men and will speake vnto them for they haue known the way of the Lord and the iudgement of their God but these haue altogether broken the yoake burst the bones This is cleared by the Prophet Hosea Hos 7.7 when hee sayth They are all hote as an Ouen and haue deuoured their Iudges all their Kings are fallen Mich. 6.16 there is none amongst them that calleth vpon mee sayth the Lord. This is that which
the Apostle confesseth in his prayer Why did the Gentiles rage and the people imagine vaine things Ps 2 1. Act. 4.25.26.27 Mat. 26.66 The Kings of the earth assembled and the Rulers came together against the Lord and against his Christ For doubtlesse against thy holy Sonne Iesus whom thou hast annointed both Herod and Pontius Pilate with the Gentiles and people of Israel gathered themselues together In the daies of Ahab did not all the men of Israel euen the Elders and Gouernours thereof the Nobles and others assembled themselues together and pronounced death against innocent Nabaoth for his Vineyard sake the which hee had before denied vnto Ahab surely the Scriptures are full of examples to confirme the truth of this point vnto vs. Reason Now this thing so comes to passe in the wicked because as our Sauiour sayth No man can gather grapes of thornes or figges of thistles they themselues being euill can they performe that is good Surely as Saint Iames sayth Out of one fountaine cannot come sweet water and bitter Besides this our knowledge is but in part now ignorance is the mother of error Vse 1 The Doctrine being thus cleared as a certaine truth that Councels may erre in matters of Faith and Manners this may serue in the first place to conuince the Doctrine of the Papists which teach and maintaine that their Church cannot erre nor a Councell being the representatiue Church as though the Spirit of God were at their commandement and were tyed to places and persons or being present did lead them into all truth as it did the Apostles but what did not foure hundred false Prophets aduise Ahab to that which was contrary to the Will of God I but sayth the Iesuite they were not assembled by the High Priest but onely by the King But what say yee then to that Councell that was assembled by the High Priest and haue erred most fouly In Iohn we haue mention made there of a Councell that met together Io. 9.22 Mar. 14.64 and decreed to excommunicate all that professed Christ Iesus Tell mee did not they erre And therefore it is but a vaine thing of the Papists to say and affirme that the Spirit of God is tyed to the Church of Rome and that shee cannot erre but there was neuer so famous a Church since the Apostles time but haue erred in some thing or other in Doctrine of Faith or Manners and therefore Rome hath no such a priuiledge as shee pretends to haue but hath and doth erre most fouly yea as blinde guides leading poore blind soules shall at last without Repentance fall into the pitte of destruction together Vse 2 Seeing that the wicked plot and combine themselues against the Church Wee are taught here our duety namely to bee solicitors and remembrancers vnto God in the behalfe of his Church that it would please him to bee mercifull to his Church and to bee vnto them a Tower of defence And surely now is the time that wee are to ply the Lord with prayers because wee see his enemies to increase dayly the malicious and bloudy Papists whose Religion as it is a Religion of bloud so is their practice the practise of bloud Yee shall know them by their fruites a Religion to be abhorred of euery true Christian being the Nurserie of Treasons Gun-powder Treason and the Mother of all abhominations yet wee see how the number of them increase dayly and wee cannot but for euer remember their horrible Treasons pretended against the Lord and against his Church and Gods mercy to vs in our Deliuerance Well it cannot bee that they will bee quiet long their good Maister the Deuill or his deare Child the Pope will haue some imployment for them They cannot but go whom the Deuill driues Oh let it bee our wisedome to intreat the Lord to stand still by his Church and to giue vnto all Christian Princes the Spirit of zeale and of courage to rise vp against Antichrist and his followers that so they may the better assure themselues of their owne peace both with God and themselues for sure it is the more strict a Papist the more grounded Traytor Thirdly and lastly wee may hence obserue Vse 3 the difference betweene the Elect and the Reprobate The wicked doe not onely thinke euill and deuise mischiefe but they doe most eagerly practise the same Now come to the Child of God hee hath in him indeed wicked thoughts and sinnefull desires yet so as they doe bridle them curbbe them and restraine them and not suffer them to come into action they sinne not with greedinesse as the wicked doe who are neuer well till they are eyther deuising mischiefe or working iniquity Oh then let vs take heed that wee commit not sinne with delight and greedinesse for sure it is this is a note of a gracelesse heart and no better indeed then a brand of a Reprobate VERSE 10. I haue seene villany in the house of Israel there is the whoredome of Ephraim Israel is defiled THe Prophet now comes to the common people and doth accuse them of villany and vile Idolatry against God I haue seene villany in the house of Israel there is the whoredome of Ephraim Israel is defiled First for the coherence of this verse with the former When as the Lord had accused the Priests before to bee wicked and exceeding bad men And now comes to the common people and layes open their sinnes to bee like vnto the Priests ful of abhominable and vile Idolatry Wee learne hence that if the Priests be naught Doct. 1 if they bee vile and filthy persons Children of Belial it is not possible the people should be as they ought to bee for Like Priest like people As the Minister is so is the people This is clearely to bee seene in this place the Priests were like to theeues and murderers and the people were monstrous blinde and abhominable Idolaters So hath it beene in all ages Pro. 29.18 The words of Salomon are most true Where vision failes there the people decay It is the Decree of God touching Priest and people Mal. 2.7 The Priests lippes shall preserue knowledge and the people shall heare the Law at his mouth Now then when this Priest is ignorant blind and vaine Alas in what wofull estate must this people needs bee in the Prophet Micha doth declare Mich. 3.11.12 saying The Priests teach for hire And the Prophets prophesie for money yet will they leane vpon the Lord and say Is not the Lord amongst vs no euill can come vpon vs. This was the behauiour of the Priests in those dayes their hearts were so set vpon Couetousnesse that they spake pleasant things vnto the people and layde to please them more then God But what followed they by this drew the iudgements of God not onely vpon their owne heads but also vpon the heads of the people Therefore shall Sion for your sakes bee plowed as a Field and Ierusalem