Bishop in which callings then they liued like Epicures hauing nothing of a good Christian saue the title only Yea Princes of this Land haue renounced their Crownes and Kingdomes and entered into Monasteries and haue put their sonnes and daughters into Cloysters Shall not these condemne vs Nay will not the very heathen rise vp one day in iudgement against vs who haue giuen their sonnes for sacrifice vnto their Idols and caused them to passe through the fire thinking them not too deare to be offered to their gods Let vs looke on these and be ashamed of our selues For certainly the best and noblest amongst the sonnes of men are a thousand-fold more vnfit for that high place than that calling is or can be thought vnworthy of them And as for such as are already called to this high place let all beware of despising of them It is the Apostles rule that they which rule well should haue double honour First honour of countenance and then of maintenance one of these is not enough without the other for it must be double Beautifull are the feet saith this our Prophet Isaiah of them that bring good tidings that publisheth saluation c. If their feet be beautifull how beautifull should their face be who should be so welcome to vs as these who more esteemed or reuerenced Remember how the Lord hath euery way endeuoured to make them so as by giuing them titles of highest respect as Embassadors for Christ and Messengers for the Lord of Hoasts Fathers the first title of honour that was in the world Angels which are the noblest of the creatures Besides he hath giuen them wonderfull authoritie He hath put the Keyes of the Kingdome of heauen into their hands to open and to shut Power to remit and retaine sinnes Thus the Lord is pleased to ratifie their regular proceedings in the Court of Heauen Likewise he hath giuen them extraordinary gifts aboue the common rate as Knowledge Experience Comfort and the like Is it safe despising these whom God hath thus highly dignified A last vse may be for comfort vnto vs who wait at Gods Altar Let vs count it our honour to be called hereunto and preferre it before all other callings whatsoeuer not giuing way to any thoughts of discontentment in respect of the many ignominies or persecutions that we daily doe or are like to vndergoe so as to be grieued at the Lords leading of vs to so toilesome and in mans iudgement disgracefull a vocation or to be moued to leaue and giue ouer our function in that respect As sometimes that Cardinall of Loraine did who after he had preached once vnto the people and was therefore derided by the Prelates of his Order left off vtterly the Office of preaching as a calling too base for his Cardinals Hat-ship Let this be farre from vs. If we doe our duty the world will hate vs True But if we doe it not God will curse vs By the first we are in danger to lose our goods our names our liues by the second our soule our heauen our God Now whether it be better to pelase God or man iudge ye Let euery Minister therefore doe his dutie and albeit most in the world contemne vs yet we shall finde some in the world who are not of the world that will reuerence and respect vs. So long as the widow of Sarepta hath any oile we shall not want Howeuer though here we haue troubles to weary vs yet in the end we shall haue heauens ioy to refresh and comfort vs. It is enough we haue deserued our worke shall haue a reward And thus much for the first particular to be considered in this Preface the second followes And that is the nature and kinde of the Treatise indited and is A Song or Poem And here occasion is offered to speake somewhat in the defence of Poetric and Verse The Position is Poesie and Poetrie is an Art and exercise ancient lawfull and praise-worthy The practises of the seruants of God make this good Moses that man of God was excellent herein as appeareth by that same Canticle which he made in commemoration of Gods goodnesse for his peoples deliuerance out of Egypt and for the destruction of their enemies which Song is held to be the most ancient Song that euer was I am sure it is that we reade of in Scripture and is thought to be first composed in Hexameter verse though it is not certaine For it is no easie matter to finde out the Scansion of verse vsed amongst the Hebrewes such was the varietie of their Measures As also by that which he made a little before his death which he commanded should be taught the Children of Israel yea the text saith he himselfe wrote it and taught it them Thus Deborah and Barak also composed a Song and sang it to the Lord. So Dauid that same sweet singer of Israel had an excellent gift this way as is euident by that same funerall Song or Epitaph which he made for Saul and Ionathan after their deaths Besides diuers Odes and Hymnes which he composed to the honour of God in various kindes of Verse This likewise was the practise of Christians in the Primitiue Church as Eusebius reporteth out of Philo Iudaeus They contemplate saith he not only diuine things but they make graue Canticles and Hymnes vnto God in a more sacred ryme of euery kinde of metre and verse If any doubt remaine notwithstanding what hath beene shewed of the truth of our propounded point let then this be considered of how Verse is the forme of speech which it hath pleased that wise and all-knowing Spirit to choose to reueale a great part of his reuealed will in for besides those speciall Psalmes and Canticles before mentioned there are sundry parts and bookes of holy Scripture Poetically pend as the booke of Iob the booke of the Psalmes the booke of the Prouerbs with Solomons Ecclesiastes and Canticles as the most learned Fathers of the Church haue testified And many other parcels of holy Scripture which we haue meerely translated into Prose are Verse in the Originall This me thinkes should put all out of doubt For who can be so irreligious as to think or imagine that the Holy Ghost would euer haue vsed any vndecent or vnlawfull manner of expression of his holy Mysteries and cause vs to giue credence to this truth viz. Poetrie and Poesie is an Art and exercise lawfull and praise-worthy The commendable properties of which Art appeare in these two ancient Verses Metra parant animos Comprêndunt plurima paucis Aures delectant pristina commemorant Which I finde by one thus Englished to my hand Verse doth the soule prepare and much in briefe affords It rauisheth the eare and things long past records There is Ryme Reason or Reason for Ryme First it prepares fits the soule for holy duties
any bill of complaint to God against them yet the sinne it selfe will cry though they be silent Clamitat in coelum vox sanguinis Sodomorum Vox oppressorum merces retent a laborum Euery sinne indeed hath its voice to discouer it selfe to God saith one and not a voice only but feet also yea and wings too to make way and speed into heauen for vengeance but yet there are foure sinnes and but foure as is obserued mentioned in Scripture that are said to cry The first is Homicide murther or manslaughter whereof Almighty God thus speaketh vnto Cain The voice of thy brothers bloud crieth vnto mee from off the earth The second is Sodomie a sinne against nature whereof the Lord speaketh thus vnto Abraham Because the cry of Sodome and Gomorrha is great and because their sinne is exceeding grieuous I will goe downe now and see whether they haue done altogether according to the cry which is come vnto me The third is this of Oppression as the places before quoted shew as also that of Habakkuk where the very timber and stone from the building that is founded vpon falshood and oppression is said to cry for vengeance from heauen The fourth is The keeping backe of the labourers hire as that place euen now brought out of S. Iames for the proofe of our point witnesseth These sinnes are not only vocall but importunate they will haue no nay but hale downe iudgements vpon the heads of the miserable authors and wretched actors of them So then it is impossible for oppressors to escape vnpunished and howeuer vengeance may seeme limpingly to pursue them yet it will ouertake them in the end without repentance hinder As for the poore oppressed this may serue for their comfort and it may teach them patience He that is ouerswayed with might against equitie right in some one Court yet is not out of heart nor hope so long as he may appeale to some other that is higher especially if he be perswaded of the integritie and vprightnesse of that Iudge to whom he makes Appeale Art thou then wronged and iniured by the mighty yet be not discouraged for though thou canst haue no helpe at mans hand yet there is a higher to whom thou maist appeale euen God in his holy habitation who beholds thy troubles heares thy sighes bottles vp thy teares is acquainted with all thy griefes and will right thy wrongs For the oppression of the poore for the sighing of the needy now will I arise saith the Lord I will set him at libertie from him that puffeth at him Heare this you fatherlesse and widowes you poore and needy ones and albeit these mighty Nimrods ride ouer your heads and plow vpon your backs making long furrowes there and thus wound your flesh yet let them not wound your patience but let your weake hands be strengthned and your feeble knees confirmed for behold your God will come with vengeance your God will come with recompence Commit therefore your cause to him who iudgeth righteously and see you asswage your griefe and sorrow when you are thus oppressed He will come he will come assuredly in due time he will come and deliuer you from out the pawes of the bloud-thirstie and cruell man Though Passion therefore possesse your bodies yet let Patience possesse your soules And now for the Ecce which is here twice vsed Behold oppression Behold a cry once vsing it is not enough Behold and behold againe One cals this a starrie note Another compares it to a hand in the margent of a booke pointing to some thing of great succeeding consequence Another compares it to the sounding of a trumpet before some proclamation Another to the ringing of a bell before the Sermon of some famous Preacher And indeed as often as it is vsed for it is vsed six hundred times in Scripture it is neuer vsed but in matters of great moment worthy of our deepest and most serious obseruation being still put for a word of wonder and note of admiration So here Behold the wonderfull and vnspeakable mercy and goodnesse of the Lord towards this his Vineyard how great things he had done for it and what meanes he vsed for the prosperitie and welfare of it yea in euery one of the former particulars behold it Againe behold the horrible ingratitude of this his Vineyard Ingratitude in its full proportion with all the dimensions of its vgly stigmaticke forme in it behold Yea we may moue attention from this word to all that hath beene said For there is nothing in this Song but deserues to haue this Character Behold to be stamped on it Consider well of all this Scripture examine euery parcell let not one iod or tittle passe away vnregarded God hath commended yea recommended what is here taught vnto vs with this remarkable note Behold yea behold againe See therefore that you haue beene here present with your minds as well as with your bodies And all you that are here present behold from the highest to the lowest for it deserues deepe pondering vpon Let him that hath eares to heare heare And let him that readeth consider Euen so consider we what hath beene said and the Lord giue vs vnderstanding in all things FINIS AN ALPHABETICALL Table for the readier finding out the chiefe and most materiall things contained in this BOOKE A GOd cannot faile of his end in any of his Actions Pag. 139 Affections of people must be wrought vpon by Gods Ministers 58 Afflictions are Gods Winepresse 132 Not to bee bettered by our Afflictions is dangerous 199 Gods holy hand is in all Afflictions 223 Both the time measure and end of our Afflictions are ordered by God 224 Why God doth vse wicked instruments in the Afflicting of his people 225 How we may looke vpon second causes in our Afflictions 229 God is to be sought vnto when wee are Afflicted 230 They doe not disable vs from being Gods children 236 Amoz the father of Isaiah and Amos in the number of the small Prophets not both one 16 The Angels watch for the godly mans safety 111 Application is the life of Doctrine 278 Arrogancy a sinne to be auoided 101 Attendants of the godly honourable 121 Authority must bee shewed for what Gods Ministers doe deliuer 64 B BArren Professors are good for nothing 79 The world is full of such 159 Man degraded beneath the Beasts 85 Names of Beasts giuen to the wicked 254 Behold how often vsed in the Scriptures 318 It is euer vsed in matters of importance ibid. The abuse of Gods Blessings causeth the Lord to depriue vs of them 238 Pray for a sanctified vse of them 166 Bribery is no better than theeuery 308 Busie-medling dangerous 101 C CHildren are not saued by the faith of their parents 289 They should bee thankfull for religious Parents 295 Gods owne Children chastised 231 The Church weake in it selfe 79 112 She is
is a thing counted both common and easie to performe this duty and no man doubts hee is herein to seeke when notwithstanding this is as true as God is true who is Truth it selfe that no more doe truly loue God than are from all eternity elected by God to saluation And wee know or may know for Scripture saies it that the number of them is small yea very small comparatiuely considered their account will soone be made it is but a short worke into a short summe shall they be gathered Seeing then it is as narrow as Gods election and that is very narrow let each one search narrowly his bosome for this grace A rule of three 1. our Affections 2. our Words 3. our Actions will sufficiently discouer it By our affections will it soone bee seene what loue we beare to God For Loue as the greatest wheele sets all the rest a worke It is the strongest affection and to it doe all the rest giue place where that goes before Desire followes after What I loue I desire to enioy and it is not where it begets not a desire of society Ammon was very sicke through loue his flesh did pine and waste away because he could not enioy his sister Thamar Dauid and Ionathan did loue intirely and as the Text saith their soules were knit together whence it was that they tooke such pleasure and contentment each in other the story shewes what shifts they made to meet what weeping and heart-sorrow there was when they were to part and all because they loued Thus hee that loues the Lord must needs desire to haue society with the Lord A ioy it is to his soule to meet him and nothing doth he desire so much as to enioy him And so Dauid was affected as appeares by those many patheticall desires of his Whom haue I in Heauen but thee and there is none vpon the earth that I desire besides thee As the Hart panteth after the water-brookes so panteth my soule after thee O God My soule thirsteth after thee as a thirsty land My soule waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning I say more than they that watch for the morning These and many other such like sayings shew the affection of his soule And whereas in some places God is pleased graciously to manifest his presence after a speciall manner and in some exercises there is an especiall kinde of fellowship had with him we shall finde what a great desire the godly haue had to such places and what great loue they haue borne to those duties I haue loued saith Dauid the habitation of thy house and the place where thine honour dwelleth And else-where thus One thing haue I desired of the Lord that I will seeke after that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the dayes of my life to behold the beauty of the Lord and to enquire in his Temple And againe How amiable are thy Tabernacles O Lord of Hosts my soule longeth yea euen fainteth for the Courts of the Lord. Blessed are they that dwell in thy house A day in thy Courts is better than a thousand I had rather be a doore-keeper in the house of my God than to dwell in the Tents of wickednesse The like is his desire after the meanes and exercises of Religion Oh how loue I thy Law it is my meditation all the day I loue thy Commandements aboue gold yea aboue fine gold Euening and morning and at noone will I pray and cry aloud Yea seuen times a day doe I praise thee because of thy righteous iudgements This hath beene the desire of such whose hearts haue beene enflamed with the loue of God after his presence of grace here and as desirous haue they bin after Gods presence of glory hereafter with Paul desiring to bee loosed that hee might bee with Christ which they count best of all and with the Bride and Spirit in the Reuelation say Come Amen euen so come Lord Iesus Againe our Ioy will make knowne our loue For where loue is there ioy will shew it selfe 1. In the Presence or enioyment of the party beloued 2. In his Image or picture 3. In such things as tend to the setting forth of his Honour As loue causeth vs to desire society with the beloued party so it maketh vs to reioyce in it greatly when it is obtained and had euen as a louing wife reioyceth in the company of her Husband aboue the company of any other whatsoeuer so saith the Church I will greatly reioyce in the Lord my soule shall be ioyfull in my God The Apostle Paul calleth Christ his reioycing By our reioycing which I haue in Christ Iesus Thus do Gods children reioyce in Gods presence yea their ioy before him is according to the ioy in haruest and as men reioyce when they diuide the spoyle As they ioy in his Presence so doe they reioyce in his Image The very picture of a friend whom we entirely loue we esteeme highly of and often solace our selues in the beholding it So If we loue him that begat we loue him also that is begotten If we loue God it cannot be but we must needs reioyce in the Image of God which appeares in his children consisting in righteousnesse and true holinesse And thus did Dauid My goodnesse extendeth not to thee but to the Saints that are in the earth and to the excellent in whom is all my delight Where marke 1. His delight was In the Saints 2. In all the Saints 3. All his delight was in them The mother of Darius as I haue read saluting Hephestion in stead of Alexander who was but Alexanders fauourite blushed and was much ashamed vpon notice of her mistake which Alexander perceiuing bid her not be troubled for said he he is also Alexander Doest thou reioyce in Christ thou must then reioyce in the godly for they also are Christ And as in the Image so Loue causeth vs to reioyce in euery thing that serueth to the praise or profit of the beloued party So here As 1. generally in the Churches welfare Ierusalem shall be preferred to our chiefest ioy thus the godly in Isayes dayes Reioyce yee with Ierusalem and be glad with her all yee that loue her reioyce for ioy with her all you that mourne for her 2. More particularly The readinesse of the people to doe God seruice will stirre vp Ioy as in Dauids time The people reioyced for that they offered willingly And in Asa's time All Iudah reioyced at the oath of the couenant which they had made vnto the Lord for they had sworne saith the text with all their heart So likewise will the conuersion of sinners Thus when the Iewes heard of the conuersion of the Gentiles and that the Holy Ghost was fallen vpon them as vpon themselues at the
droue out before his Israel that they might not hinder this his Vineyards growth Hence we inferre It is not safe nor profitable for the Church to suffer wicked Idolaters or other obstinate sinners to remaine within the Church Of such Gods Vineyard must be rid and his Church purged Will you heare in a few words what the Scriptures say for confirmation hereof It is commanded in the law that the false Prophet and seducing Idolater whether he be brother or sonne or daughter or wife or friend should bee taken away and slaine without mercie or pitie that all Israel may heare and see and feare and not dare to commit the like And againe There shall not bee amongst you man nor woman nor family nor tribe which shall turne away his heart from the Lord our God to goe and serue the gods of these Nations Besides it forbad sowing of the field with mingled seed plowing with an Oxe and an Asse together the wearing of a garment of diuers things as linnen and woollen mixt together Now these lawes according to the letter seeme ridiculous saith the glosse but the thing that God intends hereby to shew is that he cannot away with a mixt Religion The Church of Ephesus was commended for hating the workes of the Nicolaitans but Pergamus was reproued for suffering them that maintained the Doctrine of Bulaam and Thyatira blamed for suffering Iesabel to teach and deceiue Gods seruants And why in Scripture are Idolaters called stumbling-blocks snares thornes traps whips and destruction but because they proue so to the people amongst whom they liue Israel found them so and England did no lesse in Queene Maries daies and France doth so For from whence spring these commotions tumults horrible massacres and bloudy tragedies but from the diuersity of Religion amongst them And indeed what agreement hath light with darknesse or God with Belial The Lord can neuer digest two contraries though neuer so well mixed or wisely tempered in matters of religion as the Church of Laodicea sheweth Hereupon zealous Elijah exhorteth the people after this manner If the Lord be God follow him and if Baâ—l be God goe after him Besides Doe yee not know that a little leauen leaueneth the whole lâ—mpe Sinne therefore being infectious the sinner is not to bee tolerated in the assembly of the righteous Take wee occasion hence to magnifie Gods name who hath beene so gracious to this his Vineyard which his owne right hand hath planted in this Land as to cleanse it of all such stones as might any way hinder the prosperity or flourishing estate of it Our streets are well swept and rid of that Popish rubbish wherewith formerly they haue beene much annoied Those dens of theeues are dispersed those buyers and sellers of Popish trash Monks Friers Massemougers and Iesuits are whipt out of the Temple and driuen from amongst vs He hath pulled downe that great Idoll of the Masse with other Idols that were set vp to bee adored and hath abolished the manifold heresies and corruptions of false doctrine And withall hath blessed vs with so religious and prudent a King as is a constant Defender of the Faith and an open aduersary to superstition and Idolatry What shall we now render to the Lord for all these testimonies and tokens of his loue towards vs but take the cup of Saluation and praise with tongue and heart the name of God acknowledging his goodnesse in deliuering vs from the Romish bondage labouring to bring forth the fruits of the Gospell to the glorie of his name and our owne endlesse saluation This likewise serueth for the Admonition 1. Of Ministers whom God hath reposed such great trust and confidence in as to be the dressers and keepers of his Vineyard that wee be found faithfull and what lies in vs remoue whatsoeuer may any way annoy it For which end Christ hath not only committed vnto vs the sword of the spirit which is the word of God wherewith we may conuince gainsayers but also the keies of the kingdome that men being conuicted and not conuerted nor reclaimed they may be cast out and expelled either for a time as the incestuous Corinthian was or for euer euen vnto the comming of the Lord Which kinde of excommunication the Apostle cals Maran-atha of Mara the Lord and Atha he commeth â— being interposed for sound sake Which censure being so grieuous as it is for it is a deliuering vp to Satan ought not to be inflicted rashly for euery trifle but deliberatly in matters of weight and moment and in such cases as expresly shut out of the kingdome of heauen such as those the Apostle mentioneth 1 Corinth 6. because it is a declaration of that which is by God done in heauen In the execution whereof let all such as it doth concerne beware of filthy lucre and faithfully discharge what is committed to them not suffering the notoriously prophane to remaine within the Church lest others bee endangered and infected by their society for their very words and much more their conuersation creepeth and corrupteth as a gangreene 2. Magistrates who must second the word of information with the rod of reformation and backe the Ministers of the Word by the vse of the temporall sword which they must not beare for nought but as the Ministers of God take vengeance on them that doe euill These are Gods Surrogates and the Preachers hopes Our words are thought aire where their hands doe not compell Good lawes are made against the wicked and prophane but what are wee the better for Gods owne lawes without execution If those who haue the charge imposed and the sword put in their hands stand like the picture of S. George with his hand vp yet neuer strike it will fare full ill with the Vineyard of the Lord. Let it bee their care with Dauid earely to destroy the wicked of the Land and to cut off all wicked doers from the City of the Lord. Take vs the foxes the little foxes that spoile the vines for our vines haue tender grapes Let neither young nor old bee spared And of all other let that Romish Reinard and his Cubs extrauagant Priests and Iesuits with other obstinate Recusants bee hunted as most hurtfull to our Vineyard For what thinke you of these Positions 1. Neighbours if Heretikes meaning thereby Protestants may lawfully be spoiled of their goods though indeed it were better say they to doe it by the authoritie of the Iudge 2. It is lawfull for Parishioners to defraud Protestant Ministers of their Tithes and of this Non est dubium say they there is no doubt to be made 3. Men are not bound to restore that which they haue receiued or to satisfie their creditours who are tainted with heresie 4. A Catholike wife is not bound to giue due beneuolence to her husband being a Procestant
reckoned for no other end but to make our reckoning the heauier So many meanes will the Lord one day say I haue afforded you so many Ministers haue liued amongst you and warned you so many hundred Sermons you haue heard and lost We reade that he tooke account of how many men were won by a Sermon and shall we then thinke he doth not take an account of how many Sermons are lost by men Oh! how should this make euery one see that they profit by the meanes which God affords Wherefore when I looked that it should bring forth grapes brought it forth wild grapes Whether we take this second member as a complaint made by God against himselfe for that he expected fruit from so bad a Vineyard as we noted before some doe or else as a complaint made by him against them for nor profiting by the meanes it is not much materiall From either of them both we may collect God takes it grieuously that the meanes which he vseth for mans good should be contamned For this is a complaint and proceedeth as it were from a grieued heart and troubled minde To proue this point remember what is said of the old world after Gods Spirit had striued with them a long time by admonition reprehension threating expectatiō for that is there meant by his spirits striuing labouring in vain to bring them to repentance It repented the Lord he had made man on the earth it grieued him at the heart This caused the Lord to take vp that pitifull complaint against Israel and Iudah Ephraim what shall I doe vnto thee O Iudah how shall intreat thee for your goodnesse is as a morning cloud as the morning dew it goeth away As if he should haue said Hitherto I haue vsed al means that possible I can to humble you for your sins and to do you good so that I know not what I shall doe more for you and yet I can bring you to no good passe therefore it grieues me for you and I cannot but mourne to see you so rebellious And thus our blessed Sauiour beheld Ierusalem and wept ouer it saying If thou hadst knowne euen thou at least in this thy day the things which belong vnto thy peace c. Hee considering the obstinacie and stubbornnesse of this people despising his Word reproching his miracles and reiecting his grace could not refraine but hee must burst forth into teares By these Scriptures it is euident that it is grieuous vnto God to see men neglect the good meanes ordained and afforded for their good and welfare And indeed a little vnkindnesse at their hands of whom we haue deserued well must needs be grieuous when much indignity receiued from an enemy shall neuer bee regarded Whose example may be for our Instruction When we see the froward and peruerse disposition of wicked ones who will not be reclaimed by any meanes that is or can bee vsed let vs grieue and mourne for the hardnesse of their hearts My leannesse my leannesse crieth out this our Prophet Isaiah woe is mee the treacherous dealers haue dealt very treacherously yea the treacherous dealers haue dealt very treacherously Hee did so grieue at the transgressions of the people that hee became exceeding leane therewith as the doubling of the word importeth The Prophet Ieremiah likewise is full of passion in this behalfe and cries out My bowels my bowels I am pained at my very heart my heart maketh a noise in mee I cannot hold my peace Yea he wisheth that his head were full of water and his eies a fountaine of teares that hee might weepe day and night for the sinnes of the people And also tels them That if they still contemne the meanes and turne away the eare refusing to heare his soule should weepe in secret places for them and his eies should weepe sore and runne downe with teares Thus did righteous Lot vex his soule with the vncleane conuersation of the wicked And thus did Samuel weepe for the sinnes of Saul And so did Dauids eies gush out with teares because men kept not Gods Law Thus did Ezra weepe for the sinnes of the people in his time And Paul weepe for them that did walke inordinately amongst the Philippians Did Gods children so weepe in those daies for the obstinacy and hard-heartednesse of the wicked How comes it to passe then in these daies that wee are so dried Is it because the men of this generation are not so bad or rather as the truth is wee that professe our selues Christians are not so good Soone may we guesse then of what stampe they are of who are so farre from mourning and grieuing at the sinfulnesse and hard-heartednesse of this age as that they make themselues merry therewith and reioice thereat In Theaters Play-houses and such like meetings not onely with patience but with content and delight heare blasphemy and behold vncleannesse Blasphemy Pride Drunkennesse and such like prophanenesse they can see heare without remorse yea laught at What monsters are these Meroz must be cursed bitterly for not helping the Lord against the mighty and can such looke to be blessed that laugh with those that fight against him When thou seest the iniquity of the people remember God grieues for it and wilt thou reioice at it If those infernall and hellish spirits haue any delight this is their delight to see men sinne and offend their God And wilt thou make the Deuils delight thine Doe not so but bee thou contrary to him and grieue at that which he takes pleasure in Wouldest thou in stead of a smile afford a teare when thou seest sinners to transgresse it might so come to passe that thy griefe might worke also a griefe in them and thy tears cause them to relent as many times we see the seeing others fall heartily to their meat brings on their stomacke when thy smile confirmes them in their wickednesse And secondly seeing this is so that God takes it grieuously when the meanes hee vseth for our good is contemned by vs let this serue to presse that vse which we lately heard and cause vs to profit by all the gratious meanes that God affords Thou art afflicted and liest vnder Gods correcting hand oh how grieuous will it bee to God if thou commest out of this fire not refined Thou commest to his house and sittest downe at his Table and departest againe away lesse iustified than thou camest thither Oh! how doth this cause God to mourne Haue you no regard of this his sorrow Is it nothing to you all you that passe by What creature is there that God hath made in heauen earth seas or all depths brings heauinesse into the Courts of happinesse except man It is he and onely he that doth it Thou mockest at thy oppressions oathes sacriledges lusts frauds for these hee grieues Thou scornest his Gospell preached hee bewailes thy
a Garden enclosed 73 It stands in need of daily looking to ibid. She is exposed to many dangers 74 She is deare vnto the Lord. 75 93 She is but one 76 99 The more the Church is afflicted the more she flourisheth 78 She is outwardly blacke but inwardly glorious ibid. It is her priuiledge that God is her keeper 89 Why the Deuill seekes to persecute her 93 She may be corrupted with Idolatry 95 Church in England not to be forsaken for some wants 97 Which the Papists make to bee the Catholike Church 99 Her enemies are but weake 245 The miseries of the Church should moue vs to pitty her 265 Christ only deserues our loue 61 Members of the Church receiue the sap of grace from him 76 All that are in the Church are not truly incorporated into Christ 77 Comparisons may lawfully be vsed 82 Company of the godly to be frequented 55 Mans Conscience shall iustifie Gods proceedings 182 The Conscience shal one day be awakned 183 The Cheeks of it not to be neglected 183 198 Contention and discord the beginnings of warre 264 Conuersation of Christians should bee such as that our aduersaries may iustifie it 185 The Creature is become mans Schoolemaster 86 A double vse to be made of them 88 They are a defence for the godly 111 They are Gods hoasts 286 All of them are against the wicked 287 The godly Conquer when they seeme conquered 253 God remembreth mercy in his Corrections 257 D DEath of the godly a forerunner of Iudgement 213 Necessity of Gods Decree no excuse for wickednesse 196 Discipline not wanting in our Church 97 It is not of the essence of the Church 133 Dignity of the godly very great 121 The Deuill hath not power ouer any creature but by Gods permission 246 How he is the God of this world 282 Authors of Diuision in the Church sinne fearefully 102 We must receiue nothing for Doctrine but what is grounded on Scripture 165 Dowry great giuen by Christ to his Spouse 62 Diuersity of gifts giuen by God for the good of the Church 16 E EArthly things afford heauenly instructions 83 Wee may make resemblances betwixt things Earthly and heauenly 82 What Errors make a Church to bee no Church 98 Enuy a sinne vnnaturall 101 The way how to become Excellent 125 The wicked Excuselesse 194 Excommunication a grieuous censure 115 Not to passe for small trifles 116 F FAith is the root of other graces 147 Personality of Faith needfull 149 Families to be purged of prophane persons 119 Famine how grieuous at the destruction of Ierusalem 259 Our owne Faults propounded in anothers person soone espied 6 Nothing to be attributed vnto Fortune 227 Fruit bring forth to God 94 By bearing Fruit we glorifie God 104 142 Such as are Fruitfull shall grow more fruitfull 106 Gods cost on vs should moue to Fruitfulnesse 136 Euery creature is in it kind Fruitfull 138 Fruitfulnesse of a Christian the ground-worke of prosperity 139 If we be Fruitfull there is no Law against vs. 140 It is high time we should bring forth Fruit. 141 We must first be transplanted and set into Christ before we can beare Fruit. 143 Such as are in Christ bring forth Fruit incontinent 144 The properties of good Fruit. 149 G GArison strong about the godly 112 The Godly are runne to in the day of trouble 80 God is the Protector of his people 111 He is the husbandman of his Church 89 God is not the Author of sinne 194 The Godly to bee esteemed aboue others 124 The exceed all others in growth in grace 77 God hath little Glory in the world 34 Gods Glory should be our aime in all our actions 32 The Godly preferre it before their owne saluation 35 By Glorifying God we bring glory to our selues 36 Iudgements fearefull on such as rob God of his Glory 36 We ought to Grow in grace 105 H HOw God Hardens 194 The godly Hated and why 93 Hearers must be carefull what they receiue for Gospell 65 They may not rashly censure their Teachers for some disabilities 271 They must pray for them 272 Hearers must suffer the word of application as well as of doctrine 280 They may not finde fault with their teachers for their plainnesse 83 Heauens are diligent learned and Catholike Pastors 34 Humane testimonies may lawfully be alledged in Sermons 14 God Husbands his people 89 Husbandry a commendable vocation ibid. Submit our selues to Gods Husbandry 91 How to know whether God hath Husbanded the heart 90 Hypocrisie in the end shal be discouered 133 Humility and tendernesse of heart to bee laboured for 145 I I Dolaters not to be familiar withall 118 Ignorance no good plea. 86 Impropriations held by an improper title where some obiections answered 304 Ingrossers are oppressors 311 Irreligious persons enemies to King and State 118 Isaiah a noble Prophet and eloquent together with his death 2 He fainted not in his function 3 He was of Christs kindred 9 Iudgements of God diuers waies foretold 212 The way to preuent Gods Iudgements is to Iudge our selues 184 Iustice in our dealings the touchstone of true Religion 298 K KIndred of the godly noble 120 Kingdome weakned by sinne 242 Knowledge of God a meanes to loue God 53 Sinnes against Knowledge fearefull 199 L LAndlords many are oppressors 310 Law-suits are durable 309 No Law against the godly 140 Leaues of profession not enough 146 Loue God before all 53 Christ only deserues our Loue. 61 How our Loue to God may be discouered 42 The way to bring our hearts to Loue the Lord. 53 We may not answer God in any thing except in Loue. 54 Lewd Life of a Professor dishonours God 37 Sinfull Lusts ouershadow the soule 146 God is the absolute Lord ouer all 282 M MAgistrates as the head should gouerne wisely 100 Priuate persons may not meddle with the office of Magistrates 101 Magistrates should back the Ministers of the Word with the vse of the temporall sword 116 Meeknesse to be shewed in our dealing with sinners 175 Sinnes against the Meanes fearefull 197 The more Meanes the more obedience doth God expect 270 To contemne the Meanes grieues the Lord. 200 No Meanes can reclaime the wicked 201 Meanes contemned causeth the Lord to depriue vs of them 267 Meanes to bring our hearts to loue God 53 Meanes to make vs fruitfull 143 It is fearefull to make our selues Merry with others sinnes 202 Ministers are builders stewards 279 Wherein they must shew themselues faithfull ibid. They must bee painfull in their function 109 They must wooe for Christ 58 They must deliuer nothing but by warrant from God 64 They must attend their callings 67 They should be well prouided for 68 They are the subordinate Husbandmen of the Church 89 Idle Ministers like Harlots 108 Ministers must seeke to God for ability to discharge their function 273 They may not be discouraged so as to surcease their paines 11 Their life is a spirituall piscation 11 They are not