point let no conceit in the world nor perswasion whatsoeuer hinder vs from a present conuersion vnto God but out of hand while it is called To day let vs turne vnto him Thus much for the Exhortation The Reasons follow For hee hath spoyled and hee will heale vs he hath wounded vs and hee will bind vs vp WE haue heard already the godly perswasion of the beleeuing Iewes one to another Reasons to inforce the former exhortation to turn to the Lord from whom they had departed by their sins Now followes the reasons of their exhortation and they are twofold The first is drawn from the iustice of God in these words He hath spoyled vs hee hath wounded vs. q. d. We haue beene plagued and smitten Well it is the Lord that hath layd these heauy iudgements vpon vs it is the correcting hand of God that hath brought these grieuous afflictions vpon vs therfore let vs now Returne vnto him The second is drawn from the mercy of God in these words Hee will heale vs hee will binde vs vp q. d. Though the Lord hath smitten vs yet hee will helpe vs and heale vs if we will seeke to him for succour And surely these two reasons ought to be of force to moue euery one of vs to turne vnto God if his iudgements cannot compel vs yet his louing mercies ought to draw vs and allure vs to turne vnto him Doct. 1 Whereas the people of God in this place do not onely perswade one another simply to Returne vnto God Mans nature so corrupt that it stands in need of many reasons to perswade to holy duties but vse reason vpon reason to induce and to perswade them thereunto Hence wee may obserue the frowatdnesse and the vntowardnesse and great backwardnesse that is in all men by natuae to perform any holy duty That wee thus stand in need of so many arguments and so many reasons to perswadr vs thereunto In the whole Scriptures it is the vsuall manner of the Prophets and Apostles and holy men of God when they exhort to any vertue or dehort from any vice to adde sundry reasons that by the force thereof they might draw men to obedience This is practised of the Prophet Dauid when hee perswaded his sonne Salomon to haue a care to learne and practise the will of God 1. Chro. 28.8 And thou Salomon my sonne know thou the God of thy Fathers and serue him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind And hee addes reasons to perswade him thereunto For the Lord searcheth all hearts and vnderstandeth all the imaginations of thoughts if thou seeke him hee will bee found of thee but if thou forsake him hee will cast thee off for euer Again when Moses doth exhort the people of Israel to obserue to keepe the commandements of the Lord how many forcible arguments and reasons doth hee alledge to moue the people and to perswade them thereunto some taken from the mercies of God If thou shalt obey the voyce of the Lord thy God Deut. 28.1.2.3 v. 15.16 c. Leuit. 26.14 Mal. 2.2 and obserue all his commandements which I command thee this day all these blessings shall come on thee and ouertake thee Blessed shalt thou bee in the City and blessed in the field c. Others taken from the iustice of God But if thou wilt not obey the voyce of the Lord thy God to keepe and to doe all his commandements and ordinances which I command thee this day Deu. 6.5 cursed shalt thou bee in the towne and cursed in the field c. And in all Pauls Epistles it is his vsuall manner Rom. 12.1 where he exhorts to any vertue or dehorts from any vice to adde sundry reasons that by the force thereof he might the better preuaile 2. Cor. 9.7 I beseech you brethren by the mercies of God that yee giue vp your bodies a liuing sacrifice holy and acceptable vnto God And againe As euery man wisheth in his heart so let him giue not grudgingly or of necessity for God loueth a cheerefull giuer And in the Ephesians Eph. 5.22.23 exhorting diuers estates and degrees of men as husbands and wiues Parents and children masters and seruants to the performance of the duties of their seuerall callings he doth still second the same exhortations with diuers arguments and reasons Eph. 6.5 Col. 3.22 1. Pet. 2.11 Wiues submit your selues to your husbands as to the Lord and he ads a forcible reason thereto For the husband is the wiues head as Christ is the head of his Church and so likewise of husbands seruants c. This course is likewise practised of the Apostle Peter when he sayth I beseech you as Strangers and Pilgrimes abstaine from fleshly lusts which fight against the Soule These and the like examples whereof the Scriptures are plentifull serue to manifest vnto vs the corruption that is in our nature that are so backward in the performance of any holy duety that we stand thus in need of reasons to perswade vs to the same Now this comes to passe by reason that the Theoricke part of man his will Reason vnderstanding and knowledge since the fall of man is so blinded and corrupted that it vnderstands not the things that are of God but the will and vnderstanding are so depraued of grace that now they are direct opposite to Gods will And this is the cursed nature of all men vnregenerate as the Apostle sayth The wisdome of the flesh is enmitie against God Rom. 8.7 for it is not subiect to the law of God neither can be Where the Apostle shewes plainely that the wil of a natural man 2. Cor. 3.5 that liues in sinne vnregenerate Phil. 2.13 Gen. 6. Rom. 3.7 is flat contrary nay Enmity it selfe against God and neyther will nor can be subiect to Gods will So that whatsoeuer God wils man wils not Wee are not able of our selues to thinke a good thought It is God alone that must touch our hearts and worke in vs power either to will well or worke well Nay the Lord sayth more Pro. 14.12 That the whole frame of mans heart is altogether euill continually The whole frame of mans heart the mind will vnderstanding conscience reason affection yea the whole frame of mans heart is euill onely and that continually so that it is cleare our wils are contrary to Gods will by nature and wee can no more set our selues to the performance of any good duty then a dead man can of himselfe rise out of his graue and performe any action but our wils are so infected and poysoned with sinne that we now onely seeke and desire that which is euill and against the will of God and the good of our owne soules Vse 1 Oh how should this humble vr when we shall consider what wee are by nature Euen vnto euery good worke Reprobate that we are not able not so much as to moue one finger to
c. Behold here what a straight charge the Lord hath giuen vnto the people of Israel and so vnto vs all to this end that no man should bee a Stranger vnto the Word And it is the commandement of our Sauiour Io. 5.39 Search the Scriptures for they are they that testifie of mee Act. 17. It was the great commendations of the men of Bereah that they searched the Scriptures to see whether those thinges were so as Paul deliuered they would not presentlie entertaine that Doctrine of theirs vpon the first view but brought the same to the Touchstone of Gods Word neyther would they reiect it though they had not before heard of the like 2. Cor. 4.3 What meanes that place of the Apostle Trie the Spirits whether they bee of God And againe If the Gospell bee hidde it is hid to those that perish in whom the God of this world hath blinded their minds So that it is most cleare that Ignorance of the Word and glorious Gospel of Christ in such as ought to know it is a most fearefull sinne and a most certaine fore runner of destruction for if this bee life eternall Ioh. 17.3 To know thee to bee the true God and Iesus Christ whom thou hast sent Then on the other part it must needs bee the beginning of eternall death in those especially in these dayes that are ignorant of the true God and Iesus Christ whom hee hath sent So that wee see clearely that it is not our good intents and meanings that will goe for payment at Gods handes in that the Lord doth require that all men should take notice of his Will reuealed in his Word This condemnes the horrible practise of the Vse 1 Papists that maintaine all Idolatry and superstition their Masse Inuocation of Saints Prayer for the dead Worshipping of Images c. And they thinke that so long as they meane well and haue good intents and purposes all is well God cannot but bee pleased with them But wee are taught heere another Lesson namely that that is not good which we thinke good but that the Lord allowes and aproues of for good And therefore seeing the Lord abhors all Idolatry and superstition as most abhominable in his sight and that therein the whole seruice and worshippe of God amongst the Papists doth consist It shall little auaile them one day that they stand vpon their good intents and meanings All these shall not bee worth a button if the Lord can say of them as hree of this people I see villany amongst them Idolatry worshipping stockes and stones praying to Saints c. This is villany in Gods account and then what will their good meaning stand them in stead Had not Vzza a good intent to stay the Arke from falling but the Lord doth not so take it at his handes for it cost him his life And therfore sayth Samuel vnto Saul To obey 1. Sam. 15. is better then Sacrifices and to hearken is better then the fatee of Rams Oh then remember that thy ignorance will not excuse thee nor thy good meanings will not goe for payment at Gods hand to say though I doe this and this I meane well as the best of them all but if the Lord like not of it nor approue of it bee thy intent what it will bee all is in vaine the same is an abhomination to the Lord. Vse 2 Secondly this may serue to condemne a great many amongst vs that notwithstanding wee liue in such an age and time that both knowledge and grace is euen thrust vpon vs yet alas doe not the very body of our Congregations remayne ignorant still This is the condemnation that Light is come into the world and men loued darknesse rather then light Ioh 3.19 because their deedes were euill It must needes bee a strange darknesse that cannot bee driuen away by the bright heames of the glorious Gospell of Christ And surely God doth euen now sitte in iudgement vpon such persons and by this their ignorance especially in these dayes makes knowne their reprobation and finall perdition The excuses of men are but vayne I am not booke learned and I hope God will beare with me Thus I am taught and instructed by my Teachers I. but what if thy Teacher bee a blinde Guide wilt not thou trie the Spirits whether they be of God Surely such persons conclude their owne iudgement and giue sentence against themselues that they want grace and are in a most fearefull condition for now to bee ignorant in the cleare light of the Gospel it argues that Gods wrath and vengeance hath taken hold on such persons as the Apostle sayth 2. Cor. 4.3 If our Gospell bee hid it is hid to those that are lost in whome the God of this world hath blinded their minds that is of the Infidels that the light of the glorious Gospell of Christ which is the Image of God should not shine vnto them Oh then seeing it is so fearefull a iudgement of God to be ignorant of his Word and Will and that it will not excuse when God shall enter into iudgement with vs Let vs I say seeke for knowledge as for treasures Let vs search the Scriptures that in them wee may finde eternall Life Let vs labour to haue the Word of God dwell plentifully in vs which is able to make vs wise vnto saluation Let vs vse all holy meanes both to begette as also to increase this Knowledge in vs that so wee may not bee ledde aside by blinde guides to commit Idolatry with this people here but that God may bee still our God and wee his People I haue seene the villany of the house of Israel and the Whoredome of Ephraim Idolatry the sinne of this people THe sinne that Almighty God doth heere accuse them of it is Idolatry and that in most vile manner ouerspred generally the whole body of this people euen all the Ten tribes which sinne to shew the vilenesse of it the Lord cals Villany whoredome things abhominable to the Lord and such as hee loathes And hee cals it Whoredome because as an Harlot or an Whore doth forsake her owne husband and commits filthinesse with another man euen so Idolaters forsake God and marry themselues to Idols It is called the Whoredome af Ephraim because Ieroboam which came of the Tribe of Ephraim had set it vp amongst them 1. Reg. 12.28 to worship the Calues in Dan and Bethel Doct. 3 Now the Doctrine wee gather hence is this that it is a wofull and an heauy iudgement of God vpon a Country or Kingdome It is a heauy iudgement of God vpon a people when the chiefe gouernors bee Idolaters 2. Sam. 6.1 when the chiefe Gouernours be men voyd of religion and giuen to superstition Idolatry We see this in this present Text for here the Lord complaines of Ephraim and the ten Tribes because they were poluted with miserable Idolatry which was set vp
before the Lord had sayd vnto him Loe all that hee hath is in thy hand but saue his life The like we see in the Gospel when Christ had dispossessed the two possessed with Deuils which came out of the graues they had not the power of themselues being dispossest to enter into the heard of swine before that Christ had giuen them leaue So that the tyranny of Sathan himselfe and of all his wicked instruments be it neuer so great yet it is bounded within the lists and limits of the power of God All these and the like examples whereof the Scripture is full serue for the confirmation of the euerlasting truth of this doctrine that all iudgements chastisements and afflictions whatsoeuer they happen vnto vs nor by chance or fortune as men say but they come from God And this is acknowledged by the godly Iewes in this place where they say The Lord hath wounded vs c. And the reason is this because the prouidence of God ruleth all things both in heauen and earth as well the smallest as the greatest so that there is no roome left for chance or fortune but by the speciall prouidence of God doe all things come to passe This doth our Sauiour teach most clearely when he sayth Are not two Sparrowes solde for a farthing and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father yea the hayres of your head are numbred Now if the prouidence of God be in such small things as in Sparrows the haires of ones head how much more in weightier things This is acknowledged by the Apostles in the Acts Doubtlesse Act. 4.27 against thy onely Sonne Iesus whom thou hast annointed Both Herod and Pontius Pilate with the Gentiles and the people of Israel gathered themselues together to do whatsoeuer thy hand and thy councell hath determined before to be done So that the Apostles of Iesus Christ doe there acknowledge that whatsoeuer hapned vnto Christ Iesus both for his apprehension arraignement condemnation it came not to passe alone through the trecherousnes of Iudas nor the malice of the whole nation of the Iewes but that God in his eternall decree had fore-ordayned the same So then if we looke vnto the prouidence of God which ruleth al things both in heauen and earth and without whose prouidence nothing can come to passe ir must needs cleare this Doctrine vnto vs that all iudgements chastisements and afflictions come from God Now let vs come to the vses of this Doctrine Seeing that all iudgements chastisements and afflictions Vse 1 whatsoeuer happen vnto vs come from God This may teach vs patience vnder the Crosse not to murmur and grudge against them but to beare them patiently seeing they come not by fortune Gen. 15.13 Ier. 25.11 Io. 19.10 Luk. 22.53 or by the malice of the Deuill but by the most wise decree and purpose of God yea the yeares and dayes the very houres and moments of time touching the afflictions of the godly are determined of God Oh let vs then learne to possesse our soules with patience whensoeuer God shal humble vs in our bodies goods or name by any iudgement or calamity eyther inward or outward assuring our selues that if the fault be not in our selues the crosse when it doth depart will leaue a blessing behind it and we shall be sure to gain more in the Spirit then we can lose in the Flesh And howsoeuer the wicked may persecute the godly here yet they are but the rod of God and they cannot passe the bonds of their commission granted them from the Lord they cannot shorten one moment of our life or adde vnto our afflictions more then what God hath purposed And in the end God will cut them off when it pleaseth him that they shall proceede no further Secondly this may condemne those that neuer Vse 2 looke vnto the hand of God but thinke all things come by fortune or else do onely look on the means but neuer looke vp vnto God who smiteth by them like a dogge that snatches the stone but lookes not after him that flung it Iob. 1.21 Iob was of another mind hee doth not so much as looke vpon the Caldeans Sabeans or the Deuill that had spoyled him but Iob acknowledgeth that it was the Lord that had done all this Not like many amongst vs in these dayes who if they haue any losse in their cattell or sicknesse in themselues wiues or children by and by they be bewitched and so runne to the Deuill for counsell How farre was this from godly Dauid when Abishai the son of Zeruiah would haue killed Shemi for cursing Dauid What haue I to doe with you yee sonnes of Zeruiah sayth Dauid hee curseth because the Lord bade him curse mee 2. Sam. 16.10 And surely this must needs be the notable policy of the Deuill that men not considering that it comes from the Lord should neuer seeke to him for remedy And here we may take occasion to reproue one common fault amongst many who thinke that Witches haue power to destroy mens goods to afflict mens bodies lame their cattell kill their children and the like Deu. 18.10 whereas if we consider the matter aright wee shall find it otherwise Indeed there are Witches which vpon their conuiction are to die and not to be suffered to liue but withall wee must obserue for what cause they are to die not because they destroy mens goods afflict mens bodies or kill mens children for the Scriptute neuer attributes these iudgements to come from Witches but from God whose purpose and prouidence is in all things but they are to die because they haue made a league with the Deuils which are Gods enemies and because they seduce the people of God and draw them into error and into many diuelish practises to leaue God their Creator and to seeke for helpe from the Deuill or his cursed instruments Amos. 3.6 whereas indeed all iudgements and afflictions whatsoeuer layd vpon our bodies goods and children come from God and there is no more nor lesse hurt done then if there were no Witches at all neyther can the sending of the Deuill by a Witch giue him any power or commission to doe any thing more then that for the which hee hath receyued commission from God But here is the policy of the Deuill Note and here is the iudgement of God vpon sinners that will bee deluded the Deuill when he hath receyued commission from God to hurt he will not by and by execute the same till if it be possible some Witch or Sorcerer doe send him seeming all this while vnto them to be their seruant and slaue whereas indeed al this while they are his vassals and bondslaues vsing them as his cursed instruments not to receiue helpe by them but onely for a colour that hee might by that meanes draw many to seeke helpe from him and so carry them headlong into eternall condemnation for indeed the
Serpent to cure our soules for no other creature in heauen or earth could heale vs or helpe vs but hee must be our Physitian to make a plaister to heale our wounds the pains that he tooke to temper this plaister it made him sweat both water and bloud and in the end when nothing else could doe it Luke 23. hee was content to temper a plaister of his owne heart bloud such a blessed Sauiour such a louing Physitian haue we Oh then let vs runne to Iesus Christ let vs make our moane vnto him let vs not feare to lay open our wounded soules and distressed consciences vnto him who is so louing and mercifull a Physitian to poore distressed soules Art thou an hard hearted and an impenitent sinner thou art sicke at the very heart thou art wounned by sinne and Sathan vnto eternall death though thou see it not yet thy poore soule is ready to bleede vnto eternall death See Oh see heere Iesus Christ thy Sauior he offers himself to become the Physitian hee hath tempered a plaister that is able to heale thy sicke soule if thou wilt come vnto him Alas wilt thou then runne on in sinne and suffer thy poore soule to rot and fester with sinne and contemne the mercy of God and the kindnesse of Iesus Christ who offers to heale thee and to helpe thy wounded soule The poore man which fell among theeues who spoyled him and wounded him and left him for halfe dead Luk. 10. alas what had becom of him if the good Samaritan had not come by and pittied him Sinne and Sathan hath spoyled vs and wounded vs body and soule Now alas what shall become of vs if that Iesus Christ the good Samaritan and blessed Physitian of our soules doe not pitty vs bind vp our wounds and powre in the oyle of grace into our hearts to cure our sicke and wounded soules but hee is so pittifull and tender hearted a Chirurgion that he will pull off the rotten ragges of our sinnes and lap them vp in the most precious white robe of his owne righteousnes and poure into them the oyle of grace euen his owne deare and precious heart bloud to our euerlasting comfort and saluation Secondly wee obserue hence a further vse that if Vse 2 any do perish through their sinnes and transgressions he must not impute the fault therof vnto God but vnto himself for God doth cal men from their euill waies that so they might not perish but bee saued the Prophet Dauid doth speake excellently of this saying The Lord is full of compassion and mercy slow to anger and of great kindnesse Hee hath not dealt with vs after our sinnes nor rewarded vs according to our iniquities Psal 103. for as high as the heauen is aboue the earth so great is his mercy towards them that feare him As farre as the East is from the West so farre hath hee remoued our sinnes from vs As a father hath compassion on his children so hath the Lord compassion on them that feare him But some may obiect say that it is true the mercy of God is exceeding great indeed but the sinnes that I haue committed against God haue not beene so much sinnes of weakenesse or sinnes of infirmity as they haue beene presumptuous horrible sinnes yea multitudes of them besides all this I haue continued a long time in them tenne twenty thirty or more yeares together and therefore I may well doubt whether the Lord hath any mercy for me Esay 1.18 Marke therefore what the Lord himselfe sayth vnto such Come let vs reason together sayth the Lord though your sinnes were as Crimson they shal be made as white as Snow and though they be as Scarlet they shall be as wooll So that no man can say without iniury against his owne soule and giuing the lye vnto the glorious maiesty of God My sinne is greater then can be forgiuen True it is that the Scripture makes mention of an vnpardonable sinne that shall neuer bee forgiuen eyther in this world Mat. 12.31 or in the world to come The blasphemy against the spirit but that is not in respect of the sinne it selfe that it should exceed the mercies of God or for that God is not able to forgiue it but because they cannot relent and repent that commit it they are so farre gone that they can neuer Returne backe again for as no sinne is so small but is able to plunge vs down to the bottome of hell if wee liue in it without repentance so no sinne is so great and grieuous but vpon repentance there is pardon and mercy to bee found with God yet men must take heed that they abuse not Gods goodnesse and mercy as an occasion of liberty to turne his grace into wantonnesse saying as the manner of some is Oh God is mercifull hee is gracious to great and grieuous sinners and so conclude thereupon that they may liue as they list and so deferre their repentance and Returne vnto God till the last gaspe but the holy Apostle will teach vs an other vse of Gods mercy then so when he sayth Despisest thou the riches of his bountifulnesse and patience Rom. 2.4 and long sufferance not knowing that the bountifulnesse of God should lead thee to repentance So that do wee heare of the patience of God the mercy of God and the long suffering of God Oh what may it teach vs all but this lesson especially to make haste and to deferre no time to returne vnto him for what is God so mercifull and so patient that hee hath spared thee so long and giuen thee so large a time of repentance Oh then how iust and how great shall thy condemnation bee if thou reiect it and make no other vse of it then to boulster thee in thy sinnes but of this before Last of all hete is matter of consolation to all the children of God that are deiected and cast downe with the sense and feeling of their sinnes their soules being heauy and their consciences oppressed with their sin they goe drouping and hang down their heads well let them cheare vp their soules such they are that Christ calleth Math. 11.28 Come vnto mee all yee that are weary and laden and I will ease you for my yoke is easie and my burthen is light When our terrors and temptations grow thus strong vpon vs and that Sathan shall seeke to perswade vs that our sinnes are more then God can forgiue and the punishment that is due vnto vs for them is greater then can be pardoned What shall wee doe at this time but labour herein to discouer the Arch-enemy of our soules Sathan who thus as a lying spirit seekes to draw vs from this doctrine of Gods mercy to plunge our soules into the gulfe of desperation but if our sinnes bee neuer so great haue wee committed them without number haue we committed them neuer so long bee they as Crimson double dyed sinnes as infectious
they bee not Reuiued if they bee not borne againe translated out of Adam and ingrafted into Iesus Christ alas they are but as a dead corps that is trimmed and stucke with so many goodly flowers yea the due consideration of that miserable estate and condition in the which they are by nature may cause them to droupe Tit. 1.15 and to hang downe their heads for by their owne filthinesse and impuritie all these their excellent ornaments are defiled and become impure for so sayth the Apostle To those that are defiled is nothing pure but euen their minds and consciences are defiled Oh if this point were wel considered how it would pull downe the pride of mans heart and make men to hasten to come out of so fearefull an estate and condition Doct. 4 The second point of Doctrine wee obserue hence by the authority of this Text is that our regeneration is as hardly wrought Regeneration a worke of new creation Rom. 5.12 Rom. 6.23 as to rayse vp a dead man to restore him againe to life as hard a thing to saue a soule that is dead as to giue life to one that hath a long time lyen rotting in the graue Death is gone ouer all sayth the Apostle and The wages of sinne is death And God told Adam Gen. 2.17 that in that day that he should eate of the forbidden fruit Hee should die the death Now in so much as wee haue all taken part with him in his disobedience wee must also partake with him in his punishment and the punishment is Death not death in respect of any being of the creature as all wicked and vngodly sinners might wish it were but Death in respect of our eternall separation from God In whose presence is life and at whose right hand is pleasure for euermore This is our estate and condition by nature vntill the Lord doe Reuiue vs and to Reuiue vs and quicken vs is as hard a matter as to rayse vp a dead man out of his graue This doth the Prophet Dauid acknowledge when he desired of God that he would Create in him a new heart Psal 51.10 And surely it is as great a matter to Create a new heart as for the Lord againe to Create a new world yea and in some respects it may seeme harder for in the Creation of the world the Lord but spake the Word and all was made there was no hinderance there was no opposition but in the creation of the heart a new there are many lets and hinderances first within a man for euery man by nature is an enemy vnto his owne saluation and the flesh resists this worke besides the Deuil he labours by al means possible to hinder so blessed a worke Besides all this it is a worke of great difficulty not accomplished without great labour and paine and therefore it is called in the Scripture A Birth a Death a Circumcision now as no Birth no Death no cutting off the Flesh can be without paine and sorrow no more can the conuersion of a sinner the Infant is not deliuered out of the Mothers wombe without paine and doest thou thinke O man to part with sinne that is within thee which was conceiued in the wombe with thee and euer since hath been nourished and brought vp with thee as a familiar companion and not taste of paine Eph. 2.1 and heart smart in thy new birth no assuredly it will not be but it will cost thee much sorrow many a sigh and many a bitter teare before this work of grace be effectually wrought in thee It is not in this case as in producing the forms of many Natural things here below which are brought è potentia materiae out of a capable pronenesse of the thing it selfe to receiue such a forme but in the worke of our Regeneration God doth by his spirit deliuer the mind from blindnesse and ignorance the will from rebellion the affections from disorder and all the powers and faculties of the soule from corruption when man is altogether opposite thereto This Doctrine doth iustly condemne most men Vse 1 women amongst vs we think it is an easie matter to be a Christian and so be saued that it is an easie maner to goe to Heauen and many men who be starke dead in sinne and blesse themselues in their euill wayes yet blush not to say they hope to come to heauen as well as the best Preacher of them all Oh poore soule thou art but a dead man in the sight of God wounded at the heart with sinne and vnlesse thou bee reuiued quickned and raysed out of the graue of sinne by the wonderfull worke of God thou canst not bee saued Our Sauiour Christ being working of some great miracle hee tels his Disciples that they should do greater works then that namely they should saue mens soules and that is farre greater then to saue and helpe the body God created all things with his bare word breathed into Adam the Breath of Life Gen. 2. Io. 11. Our Sauiour Christ raysed Lazarus with his word but before hee can rayse a Sinner out of the graue of sinne and put into vs the breath of spirituall life the Sonne of God must come from Heauen and suffer a most cruell and shamefull death 1. Cor. 1.21 Iohn 17.17 euen the death vpon the Crosse before he can quicken and Reuiue vs and therefore it is not so easie a matter as most men take it to bee to become a good Christian No no it is the hardest thing in the world to become a good Christian and so to be saued And therefore seeing this is the estate condition of vs all Oh how carefull ought wee to bee to vse all good meanes that God hath appointed Act. 15.9 to saue our soules as namely the Word preached the Sacraments Prayer Meditations in the Law of God seeing that by these meanes the Lord doth quicken and Reuiue our dead soules Ps 119. Vse 2 Secondly wee are taught heere that seeing we are all dead in Adam by nature vntill such time as the Lord doth quicken vs and Reuiue vs let no man then content himselfe with this diuelish conceit and perswasion that hee can at his owne time and leasure deliuer himselfe from the bondage of sinne and Sathan as it is the corrupt thought of many that though they haue beene the seruants of sinne and of death twentie or forty yeares together yet they thinke that one Lord haue mercy vpon me will open the Heauen gates but O thou vaine man O thou vaine woman Oh see heere that it is the Lord that must worke in thee this worke of grace for by nature thou art Reprobate vnto euery good worke And this new birth is not giuen to euery one No no onely Gods children who are carefull to vse the meanes as hearing the Word preached and taught Sacrament Prayer c. for by these doth the Lord Reuiue vs and
blessed Knowledge euen when that men haue the feare of God before their eyes to liue and behaue themselues As in his sight Heere then wee are taught in the first place what Doct. 1 is the ground and foundation of the true knowledge of God which as our Sauiour sayth Humiliation for sin must goe before the sanctified knowledge of God Io. 17.3 will bring a man to eternall life and without which wee cannot be saued Namely this the sight of a mans sins and of his wandring from God by error of life When a man sees the most wofull and miserable estate in which he is by reason of sinne and hath in him a godly purpose of heart to cleaue vnto the Lord and for the time to come so to liue and to walke as euer in the sight of God Surely this is the foundation that must be layde by euery Soule to get this Knowledge of God Pro. 1.7 Agreeable to this is that of Salomon The feare of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom It is the chiefest part of true wisdome indeed Deut. 4.6 This is your wisdome and vnderstanding that you keepe these ordinances and do them If we looke into the Scripture we shal see good proofe for this point namely that the true sight of our own wandring from God by our by-past error of life with a godly care and christian resolution that for the time to come we will Liue as in his sight that is in his blessed presence is the ground-worke or foundation of this Knowledge of God which will bring a man to life eternall Wherefore did almighty God so expostulate the matter with our Grandfather Adam after he had sinned Gen. 3. by his variety of demaunds Adam where art thou Who tolde thee that thou wast naked Hast thou eaten of the tree But all to this end to bring Adam to the sight of his sin and thereby to make way for a further worke of grace Ier. 8.6 And Ieremie lamenting the backwardnesse of people that there was no true conuersion to be found amongst them Psal 14.3 Rom. 3.10 Esay 53.6 Esay 1.3 assigneth this as the cause of all I hearkned sayth he but none spake aright no man repented him of his wickednesst saying Alas what haue I done q. d. There was not a man to be found amongst them that had so much as a conceit of his owne wandring from God but euery man was highly conceited of himselfe and of his owne worthinesse that their present courses were right and vnblameable and that is the cause why so few conuert turne to the Lord. So then by this that hath been spoken it appeareth clearely that true humiliation for sinne and reuerent awe of the presence of God must be the ground-work and foundation of this sanctified Knowledge of God which as our Sauiour sayth will bring a man to life eternall And now wee come to the vses Vse 1 First seeing wee are taught heere that the sight of a mans sinne with this godly purpose and resolution of heart to leaue and forsake them and a reuerent awe of Gods presence is the beginning and foundation of that true sanctified Knowledge which will bring a man to life eternall If then wee doe thinke that there is a God in heauen which is true of his word and that this Doctrine now deliuered is part of that holy truth by the which wee shall all be iudged at the last day if wee bee not able to deny but the renouncing of our old and accustomed sins which haue been so neare and so deare vnto vs Io. 17.3 must euer goe before this Knowledge of God which will giue vs one day an admittance into eternall life How should it bee then that wee should so much deceyue our owne soules as to thinke that wee can be saued seeing yet wee haue not forsaken the deeds of the flesh nor yet neuer set one foot forward in the way that leadeth vnto life for our owne hearts doe know and besides the world is priuy to it that what sinfull courses heretofore wee liued and delighted in in the same we continue at this day Alas alas it is the iust complaint that may bee taken vp of those times that Euery man turnes to his race as the horse rusheth into the battell Where is the man amongst vs that entreth into a strict examination of his owne estate and to say Alas what haue I done How is it with mee how shall I be able to answere for this course of life in the which I haue liued when the Lord shall call mee to a stricct account for the same Alas I finde that I haue gone astray as a sheepe that is lost I haue wandred a long time in the by-pathes of sin and wickednesse and I will now at last Arise and goe to my Father and say to him Father I haue sinned against heauen and against thee Luke 15. and am no more worthy to bee called thy sonne O where is the man that thus communeth with himselfe and with his owne heart in his secret Chamber betwixt God and his owne soule but rather on the contrary euery man holds on in his wonted fashion vaine pleasures and violent catching after the things of this world as if wee were born to no other end but to adde sin vnto sin and to adde vnto the measure of Gods wrath to bee heaped vp against vs against the day of his wrath and manifestations of his most righteous iudgement And that this is so I appeale vnto the conscience of euery one amongst vs What sinne is there whereunto we haue formerly beene addicted that by the Ministery of the Word now more plentifully reuealed vnto vs then in former times wee haue for conscience sake reformed and in stead thereof haue brought foorth the fruits of the Gospell Oh how can wee looke at the last day to stand with ioy and comfort before God his Angels when hee shall come to iudge the secrets of all hearts when as that witnesse in our owne bosomes I meane our owne consciences cannot testifie for vs that wee haue reformed any one corruption Well to end this vse commend mee to thy conscience and tell it thus from me whatsoeuer thou bee that if thou abidest still in thy olde sins thy ignorance blindnesse prophanenes adulterie vncleannesse drunkennesse swearing couetousnesse malice c. 2. Cor. 5.17 This Pearle heere spoken of this sanctified Knowledge of God which will giue a man one day an admittance into eternall life can neuer bee thine hee must become a new Creature that will come into that new Ierusalem Deceiue wee not our owne selues therefore any longer eyther wee must beginne heere at the sight of our old errors or else wee can neuer tread the path that leadeth vnto life Secondly seeing that the true sight and feeling Vse 2 of a mans sinnes his reuerent feare and awe of God is the fountaine of this knowledge which brings vs
to eternall life let vs then pray vnto God that he would put his feare into our hearts that wee may not sinne against him for till such time as wee haue this feare of God till wee bee truely humbled for our sinnes and mourne for them and liue and behaue our selues as in the presence of God we shall neuer attaine to this Knowledge which is the right way to bring vs to eternall life for though men haue neuer so great knowledge in the word of God can speake of it neuer so well though they can dispute of it and discourse of the Scriptures yet if our knowledge be not ioyned with the feare of God to liue according to our knowledge Alas it is but a braine knowledge it is farre from that sauing knowledge which wee ought to haue and therfore if we would be assured that our knowledge is sound and such as one day will giue vs an admittance into the kingdome of heauen and yeeld true comfort and reioycing vnto our owne soules Let vs then labour to finde our hearts humbled for sinne past and a watchfull eye ouer our owne wayes for the time to come thtt we so carry and behaue our selues as alwayes in the presence of God for otherwise though men think neuer so highly of their knowledge if these things bee wanting in vs wee can neuer attaine to this true sanctified knowledge heere spoken of Now I come to the next point that is to consider diligently of what nature and condition this knowledge is which is heere a most blessed fruit of Repentance Point and of the feare of God And surely What knowledge it is hee heere speakes of Io. 17.3 wee shall finde that this knowledge it is no carnall knowledge it is no worldly knowledge it is not the knowledge of Philosophy or of humane arts and sciences vhich in themselues are good too but this Knowledge heere spoken of it is a heauenly Knowledge whereof our Sauiour Christs speakes hauing powred foorth vnto his Father that his heauenly prayer that he would giue vnto his children eternall life in the third verse he shews wherein this eternall life consists namely This is life eternall to know thee to be the true God and Iesus Christ whom thou hast sent Of this knowledge speaketh the Prophet Esay saying By this knowledge shal my righteous seruant iustifie many Esay 53.11 Io. 6.68 for hee shall beare their iniquities And of this Knowledge wee shall read of when our Sauiour Christ taught that all they which must liue for euer must eate the flesh of the sonne of man It is said that many of his Disciples departed from him Christ sayth to the twelue Will yee also goe away from mee Peter answereth in the name of the rest Master whither shall wee goe from thee Thou hast the Word of eternall life and wee beleeue and know that thou art Christ the sonne of the liuing God Where marke how the Apostle ioines faith and knowledge together noting indeed that this knowledge is a fruit of faith for till men beleeue in God the Father as our Father and in Iesus Christ his sonne as our redeemer and in the holy Ghost as our sanctifier wee cannot know God as wee ought to know him Now then in that this Knowledge is promised from Doct. 2 the Lord as a fruit of true repentance which shall follow immediately vpon our conuersion vnto God and without which conuersion wee can neuer attaine vnto this sanctified knowledge of the Lord Iesus which will one day giue vs an admittance into the eternall inheritance The true knowledge of God in Christ is giuen only to the Elect after their conuersion We are taught that the true knowledge of God and of Iesus Christ is giuen onely vnto the Elect and doth follow their repentance and conuersion vnto God for so is it taught vs heere after that these beleeuing Iewes had exhorted stirred vp one another to returne vnto the Lord they promise this knowledge vnto themselues as a fruit of their repentance conuersion vnto God Then shall wee haue knowledge that is howsoeuer wee haue heretofore deceyued our own soules resting vpon our owne selues our own knowledge and righteousnesse which indeede is but generall and confused and such as the wicked themselues may partake of yet now if wee will repent of our sins and Returne againe wnto the Lord from whom wee haue departed by our manifold impieties we shal haue giuen vnto vs a sanctified knowledge of the Lord Iesus yea such a liuely knowledge that will neuer leaue vs till it set vs into the full possession of life eternall according to that of our Sauiour This is life eternall Io. 17.3 to know thee to bee the true God and Iesus Christ whom thou hast sent And againe our Sauiour witnesseth the same in another place where hee sayth Io. 6.45 All the Elect are taught of God And the Prophet Ieremy maketh it the glory of all the Elect Thus sayth the Lord Ier. 9.24 Let not the Wiseman glory in his wisdom nor the strong man glory in his strength neyther let the rich man glory in his riches but let him that glorieth glory in this that hee vnderstandeth and knoweth mee sayth the Lord. It is the singular gift of Gods grace not giuen as I said before vnto al men indifferently but onely to the Elect as our Sauiour testifieth of his Disciples Mar. 4.11 To you it is giuen to know the mistery of the Kingdom of God but vnto them which are without all things are done in Parables Phil. 3.9 that they seeing may not see c. Rom. 10.2 And the Apostle Paul esteemed al things but dung incomparison of this knowledge without it zeale is little worth and sacrifice is in vaine Hos 6.6 And this knowledge is brought and conuayed vnto vs by the ministery of the Gospell of Christ Rom. 1.20 It is not the knowledge of God reueiled in the Booke of his Creatures that he heere speakes of 2 Cor. 4.6 nor a knowledge of God reuealed in the morall law of God where God requireth absolute and perfect obedience but it is that knowledge which is made known vnto vs through the couenant of grace in the glorious Gospell of Christ And hence it is that the Apostle sayth Rom. 10.3 that the Iewes knowing the righteousnesse which is by the Law and went about to stablish it and to seeke to bee iustified by it being altogether ignorant of this Euangelicall righteousnesse which is by faith without the works of the Law and no maruell for as the Apostle sayth that they whose cogitations are darkned are strangers from the life of God Well then knowest thou not Christ what hee is and what hee hath done and how his death sufferings may bee auaileable for thee to the saluation of thy Soule Let mee tell thee that thou art not yet in the way to eternall life for if
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
that belong vnto thy peace These testimonies and the like whereof the Scripture is full serue to confirm the truth of this Doctrine vnto vs how hardly the Lord doth take it at our hands when wee neglect and contemne the meanes of our good The vses remaine to be handled Doth the Lord take it so grieuously to see his ordinances Vse 1 contemned when men will not bee humbled by his Word and by his iudgements Oh how then must hee needs bee angry with vs the people of this land who haue grieued his Maiesty by vile contempt of his holy Ordinances how little dooth his Word moue vs and how hard hearted are wee at his iudgements What Nation vnder Heauen is there who liuing vnder a Christian Prince hearing and professing the Word of God as wee doe amongst whom the sacred ordinances of God are more contemned then amongst vs. Nehem. 1. All the meanes God hath vsed to humble vs and to saue vs and to bring vs to repentance reformation of life Alas they fall to the ground generally no man taketh them to heart Daniel in his prayer acknowledgeth Dan 9.14 that the Lord did iustly plague them for their sinne because they had not profited by Gods iudgements Now if the Lord were sore angry and grieued with his people for the not profiting by the meanes and will hee not much more bee stirred vp to wrath against vs for the contempt of all those gracious meanes the which he in mercy vsed to humble vs yes no doubt Hos 4.1 and for the same cause the Lord hath a Controuersie against the inhabitants of the Land hath taken the Rodde into his owne hand and chastened and whipt vs diuers wayes and vnlesse we do meet him by repentance with prayers and teares surely hee will poure out euen the dregger of his anger against vs at last Vse 2 Secondly seeing nothing more grieues the Lord then to see his ordinance and gracious means vsed for our good contemned and lightly regarded so as wee profit not by them Oh how should this grieue vs and humble vs that wee haue been so exceeding carelesse to profite by the meanes Wee see that a louing child will bee loath to doe any thing to vexe his kinde and louing Father and if any child should bee so stubborne that hee would not bee reclaimed neyther by his Fathers kind promises dayly gifts nor yet by his rodde and correction wee would thinke him vnworthy to liue Well the Lord hee vseth many means to humble vs and hee is much grieued to see vs profite nothing by them but still to rebel and to be stubborn and therfore it should much grieue vs and humble vs to grieue our gracious and mercifull God Oh then let vs labour to bee humbled and to profite by the meanes the Lord vseth for our good Vse 3 Thirdly this checkes the carnall man who so long as hee liues an honest ciuill life and is neyther whore nor theefe thinkes God is not displeased with him they thinke all is well and hope to bee saued aswel as the best and doubt not of Gods loue but if thou bee not bettered by Gods iudgements if thou profite not by those meanes the Lord vseth to humble thee whether it bee the Ministery of the Word his mercies or his iudgements or the like thou shalt one day know that hee is highly offended with thee and therefore let vs not flatter our selues but let vs profite by Gods iudgements and labour to be humbled by them to seeke the Lord least by the neglect and contempt thereof hee bee moued to send more fearefull and that eternall damnation in the end Fourthly and lastly heere is matter of comfort consolation to the children of God and all those that Vse 4 take the iudgements of God to heart and profite by them to repentance and seeke to God for as the Lord is grieued with those that profite not by the means dislikes all contemners and despisers of them so on the contrary hee loues and likes and fauours them that profite by the meanes that hee vseth to conuert them When Nehemie heard that Ierusalem was waste Nehem. 1.9 that the people were in heauinesse and the Church afflicted Hee sate downe and wept and fasted Hab. 3.16 and prayed vnto God for them And againe When I heard Ezech. 9. my belly trembled c. How did the Lord commaund his seruant clothed in white with a penne and inke at his side to set a marke vpon all those that mourned for their own sinnes and the sinnes of the people Well then aske this question of thy owne Soule Hast thou beene grieued at Gods anger and mourned for the sinnes and rebellion of the land Doest thou take Gods iudgements to heart Oh then comfort thy Soule for the Lord will loue thee and set his Marke vpon thee Blessed are they that mourne for they shall bee comforted They are blessed that can mourne and weepe for sinne and can take Gods iudgements to heart to bee affected with them but alas how few are the number of those that are humbled for their owne sinnes to feare Gods anger and profite by Gods iudgements vpon others Thus much of the complaint the persons follow O Ephraim what shall I doe vnto thee O Iudah how shall I intreat thee THe persons then of whom the Lord complaineth thus The persons of whom the Lord complaineth is Ephraim and Iudah namely the whole body of the Iewes and the people of both the kingdoms Israel and Iudah the greatest Tribe being put for al the rest So then the complaint is very generall euen of the common people and all the multitude of both the Kingdomes except a very few that did repent and beleeue the Word as in the three first verses of this Chapter Concerning the persons Ephraim and Iudah there is the common people and generall multitude of both Kingdoms Deu. 8.7 seeing they were those whom God chose to be his peculiar people euen because he had a loue vnto them to whom belonged the adoption glory and the couenant and to whom did belong the seruice of God the worshippe and oracles of God and vnto whom all the Prophets were sent which had many priuiledges aboue all other Nations of whom it is sayd thus Hee sheweth his Word vnto Iacob his statutes and iudgements vnto Israel Ps 147.19.20 Hee hath not dealt so with euery Nation c. Yet of this people euen of Iudah and Israel doth the Lord complaine here that they were rebellious and therefore must bee destroyed and cast off Doct. 4 Wee learne hence this Doctrine that no outward priuiledge or prerogatiue whatsoeuer No outward priuiledge wil free a man from punishment when reformation of heart and life is wanting Psa 132.4 will keepe backe Gods anger deliuer a man from destruction if they liue in sinne and bee not reformed in heart and life There was neuer Nation or people vnder
Gods Word Hard heart the greatest iudgement that can bee layde vpon man nor profite by the meanes of saluation Oh it is the heauiest iudgement that God can lay vpon man in this life and it is a sure and certain fore-runner of eternall condemnation in the end for when the Word of God doth light vpon a hard heart oh it wounds it and kils it and giues many a mortall and deadly wound though the wretched soule of the sinner see it not or feele it not The Scriptures affoord vs diuers examples and all to confirme the truth of this point vnto vs. Gen. 4.5.6 This is clearely to be seene in the example of Cain how did the Lord deale with Cain both before hee had murdered his brother and afterward and all to haue kept him if it had been possible from that most horrible sinne of his Before how did God deale with him Cain why is the countenance of thy face changed If thou doest well shalt thou not be rewarded If thou doest euill sin lyeth at thy dore Had not this beene inough if Cain had had but the least sparke of grace to haue kept him and stayed him from committing that horrible sinne but when this preuailed not but Cain would needs shed the innocent bloud of righteous Abel How did the Lord deale with Cain afterwards Cain where is thy brother Abel but what now did Cains heart relent did hee confesse his sinne with Dauid and say I haue sinned Did hee resolue into teares of repentance with Peter No no but rather despised God to his face saying Am I my Brothers Keeper Oh fearefull and horrible speech What was his conscience so seared that neyther the shame of the world the innocent bloud of his slaine brother nor the glorious presence of the Lord could any whit astonish him Behold here an example indeed of a heart that is hardned and let the remembrance of the same euer possesse our soules to make vs watchfull ouer our owne hearts how we euer contemn the means of grace when the same is offered vnto vs. This is to be clearely seen in Pharaoh vnto whom the Lord sent seuerall plagues and iudgements vpon him his people one vpon the necke of another Exod. 9. ten in number yet all would not humble Pharaoh Exod. 7.23 but answered stoutly saying I know not the Lord neyther will I let the people of Israel goe This is taught by Iob Iob. 18.5 Zeph. 1.17 when hee sayth The light of the vngodly shall bee darkned and the wicked shall become blind because they haue sinned against the Lord. And againe Their hearts being fat their eyes heauy and their eares shut they shall heare indeed but shall not vnderstand they shall see and not perceyue And the Prophet Ieremie doth mow liuely set out vnto vs the wofull estate and condition of such a soule that is thus forsaken of the Lord and giuen ouer to sinne saying Ier. 7.16 11.14 Because you haue done these things and I spake vnto you you would not heare therefore thou shalt not pray for this people nor lift vp cry nor entreat mee for I will not heare Though Noah and Iob should intreat mee though Moses Samuel should pray vnto mee yet will I not heare neyther bee intreated This is a lamentable estate this is a fearfull iudgement for a man to bee thus left vnto himselfe giuen vp to Sathan and forsaken of God for euer Oh wofull is the estate of such a one let that exhortation of the Apostle bee precious with vs Heb. 3.12.13 Take heed brethren lest at any time there bee in any of you an euil heart and vnfaithfull to depart away from the liuing God And of the Gentiles it is sayd Ephes 4.17 that they liued in the Vanity of their minds hauing their cogitations darkned strangers from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them because of the hardnesse of their hearts So that you see that a hard heart it is the most fearefullest iudgement of God that can befall a man in this life for it is capable of no good eyther by the Word preached promises or threatnings mercies or iudgments The Word of God it is mighty in operation Ier. 23. â—9 it Diuideth the soule and spirit asunder This Word of God is called the Hammer of the Lord for by it the Lord doth breake in sunder the hard stony and flinty hearts of man This Hammer of the Lord is not able to breake the heart of a wicked man but as the bright beams of the Sunne doe harden clay and soften waxe so this most heauenly and eternall Word of God shall neuer returne in vaine but by reason of the different disposition in the Subiect it illuminateth it melteth the righteous it obdurates it hardens the wicked Now where the Word doth not preuaile with vs to humble vs there can bee no true repentance as the Apostle teacheth Rom. 2.5 when he sayth But thou after thy hardnes and heart that cannot repent heapest vnto thy selfe wrath against the day of wrath Now where there is no repentance there can bee no saluation Luk. 13.5 for so sayth our Sauiour Except yee repent yee shall all perish This is a lamentable estate indeed this is a iudgement with a witnesse for a man to bee left thus vnto himselfe to be giuen vp to Sathan and to be forsaken of God for euer Oh this this is the estate and condition of euery hard hearted sinner Oh happy then is that man or woman that sinneth least next he that returneth home by repentance soonest but most wofull is the estate of him that with Ieroboam hath solde himselfe to commit sinne for this man Rom. 1.28 1. Tim 4.2 Zach. 1.12 though hee would weepe with Esau and shed euen a fountaine of teates yet all will not helpe woe alas there is no recouery This may serue in the first place to reproue those Vse 1 that iustifie the wicked as in Malachy his time The wicked prosper and they that worke iniquity are set vp Mal. 3.13.14 They seeme to bee the onely men of the World they enioy their pleasures they seeme not to be troubled for any thing and who but they Alas alas what of all this If the heart bee frozen in the dregges of sinne they are of all men most miserable and of all men most to bee pittied For thou after thy hardnes and heart that cannot repent Rom. 2.4.5 heapest vp vnto thy selfe wrath against the day of wrath Their damnation sleepeth not all this while but still they runne in score in Gods booke and when their iniquity is once full the Lord will then come with his iudgements and they shall pay full deare for their sweet pleasures euen the losse of their owne soules for euer and euer No greater iudgement can God inflict vpon the sonnes of men in this life then such a stony heart of all Gods iudgements
will the Lord deale one day with all hypocritical seruers of God who because they bee such as make shew of Religion and seruice of God thinke that their profession may bee a cloake of all their impieties I desire Mercy and not Sacrifice THis is a most worthy sentence as it doth appeare in that our Sauiour Christ doth twice alleadge it in the Gospell of Mathew Mat. 9. â—3 when Christ kept company with the poore Publicans and sinners the Scribes and Pharisies were angrie with him our Sauiour bids them goe and learne what this meanes I will haue mercy and not sacrifice Where hee shewes that the Lord will not bee serued by outward Ceremonies and externall shewes but then men serue God when they can pardon and forgiue iniuries and wrongs and one pardon and forbeare another and are not ouer cruell and seuere one to another So when Christs Disciples pluckt the eares of corne vpon the Sabbath Mat. 12. the Pharisies were presentlie offended because they brake the Sabbath but Christ tels them this Scripture I will haue mercy and not sacrifice Where our Sauiour Christ sheweth that they were ouer cruell censurers of others thinking the keeping of the Sabbath to stand in such Ceremonies whereas they did nothing but that they might doe without offence Now as we haue cleared what it is that wee are to vnderstand of Sacrifice and Burnt offerings namely the outward and externall worship of God and all the ceremonies of the Law So now wee are to come to the two latter words Mercy and Knowledge by which we are to vnderstand the duties of Piety and Mercy faith to God and loue and mercy towards man And here the Lord compares these two together and shewes that hee preferres faith piety and godlinesse in the heart and mercifull and kind dealing towards men before the great shewes which men make in the outward seruice of God True it is the Lord will haue vs performe such parts of his seruice worship as hee commandeth in his Word and such ceremonies as hee prescribes but hee prefers faith obedience repentance feare and loue of God and loue kindnesse and mercifull dealing vnto men before all such sacrifices and burnt offerings and all other shewes whatsoeuer Yea all this outward shew and all our profession of Religion if it bee not ioyned with the knowledge of God that is with faith repentance and obedience and with the dueties of loue vnto men it is but abhomination in the sight of God Doct. 5 So then the point of Doctrine is this that seeing the Lord sayth I will haue mercy and not sacrifice God doth prefer the duties of loue and mercy to men before his owne worship that is I desire rather mercy then sacrifice It doth please the Lord better to see men performe duties of loue and kindnesse one towards another then to haue sacrifices neuer so many or great done vnto himselfe This is the Doctrine We see heere how the Lord doth farre preferre loue and kindnesse to men before al the outward shewes men make of religion whatsoeuer nay if men professe neuer so much make neuer so great a shew in the seruice of God for their hearing praying receyuing and the like yet if they want loue kindnesse to their brethren they cannot please God And this is the cause that the faith of many in the Scriptures hath growne famous in the world euen by their conscionable performance of the duties of the second Table loue and mercy vnto men I remember the Shunamites wife who called the Prophet of the Lord into her house to eate bread and sayd to her husband Behold 2. Reg 4.8.9 I know now that this is an holy man of God that passeth by vs continually let vs make him a little Chamber with walles and let vs set him there a bed and a table and a stoole and a candlesticke that hee may turne in thither when hee commeth to vs. Gen. 18. And of Abraham and Lot it is reported that they entertayned strangers into their houses Here was religion indeed when the same goes hand in hand with good works Happy Elias that hath such an Hostesse to giue him entertainement after his trauell and happy yea twice happy was shee by entertayning such a guest Deut. 10.18 This is that which Moses deliuereth by precept vnto the people of Israel The Lord our God is a God of gods and Lord of Lords a great God mighty and terrible who doth right vnto the Fatherlesse and widdow and loueth the stranger giueth him food and raiment loue yee therefore the stranger Where we see that Moses vrgeth this duty of mercy and loue vnto others euen from the example of God himselfe who is euer at hand to helpe them Esay 58.7 This is it which the Prophet Esay commendeth Is not this the fasting that I haue commaunded to deale thy bread to the hungry and that thou bring the poore that wander vnto thy house when thou seest the naked that thou couer him and hide net thy selfe from thy owne flesh And this is noted as one part of the innocency and integrity of godly Iob that hee could say The stranger did not lodge in the streetes but I opened my dores vnto him that went by the way Iob. 31.32 It is the straight charge that Christ himselfe giueth If thou bring thy gift to the Altar and there remembrest that thy Brother hath ought against thee leaue there thine offering before the Altar and goe thy way first bee reconciled to thy Brother and thou come and offer thy gift Where we see that men do but lose their labor that come to hear the Word pray receyue c. or to any part of Gods worship that liue in malice hatred or desire of reuenge 1. Cor. 13.1 Though I had the gift of Prophesie and knew all secrets all knowledge yea if I had all faith so that I could remoue mountaines and bad not loue I were nothing Where wee see if men want loue that is mercy and kindnesse to men they can doe nothing to please God so highly the Lord esteemes of this duty of mercy to men that he sayth There are but two Commandements this is one to loue our neighbour as our selfe and giues Peter commandement to forgiue his brother Mat. 22.37 1. Reg. 17. Act. 16. 2. Tim. 1. not till seuen times but till seuenty seuen times Lydea intreated Paul and his companions to come into her house and to abide with her Onesiphorus sought out Paul and refreshed him in time of his necessity All these examples the like whereof the Scriptures are full all serue to teach vs the truth of this Doctrine that the works of loue and mercy to our brethren serue to commend our faith to God and are more accepted with him then all things else wee can doe in his seruice and worship when they are wanting in vs. Now come we to the vses If the
shall bee a heape and the mountaine of the house as the high places of the Forrest The false Prophets did not onely procure Gods wrath against themselues but the common people were punished for their sakes It is that which our Sauiour himselfe concludeth of If the blind leade the blinde they both fall into the ditch And in the Reuelation Reu. 3.14 that Church being committed to a wicked man they were guilty of the same sinnes with their Pastour And in those Epistles sent to the seuen Churches in Asia where the Pastor is commended for any vertue so are the people and when the Pastor is reproued for any vice the people also haue part in the same reproofe For such as the Pastors bee such bee the people such as the Shepheards bee such bee the Sheepe In them lyes the bad or the good estate of the Flocke For where the Minister is blinde ignorant and dumbe that neyther can nor will reach where hee is carelesse and vnconscionable liues solely and wickedly how can it chuse but the people must needes bee ignorant blinde and vnskilfull in Gods matters prophane wicked and irreligious This is proued indeed by wofull experience in the World Goe to any Towne or Parrish in the land where there liues a carelesse and vnconscionable Minister an ignorant sot a beastly liuer a miserable worldly man that seldome or neuer preacheth and when hee doth so colde and so raw as good neuer a whitte as neuer the better You shall finde generally sinne to raigne in that place the people like their Pastor blinde ignorant rude so simple and so ignorant in Gods matters that they know nothing of the Scriptures what Faith Sacrament Repentance or New birth meanes no not the meaning of one Article of their Faith or petition in the Lords prayer Seeing the state of a Congregation doth depend Vse 1 so vpon the Pastor This serueth to reproue all such Ministers as take this charge on them and yet not as Gods Ministers to preach the Word to bring good tyding of the Gospell doe seldome or neuer preach the Word of God These the Lord doth not esteeme as Ministers but Murderers not Shepheardes but Wolues they will take the dignity but doe no duty The Prophet Esay cryes out against such Pastors Io. 21. Esay 66. calling them Dumbe Dogges that cannot barke They looke to the Fleece but not to the Flocke Secondly this reproues such as leaue the sincere Milke of the Word of God and teach their own fantasies their owne dreames Toyes and Fables which doe not labour to make the people to vnderstand the sense and doctrine of the Scriptures and hence it comes to passe that though they teach and preach yet they finde little fruit few conuerted because they teach not Gods Message but their owne deuises Thirdly such as are reprooued as in bringing the Lords Messuage and deliuering it to the people seeke not the honour of God and the credite of their Master that sent them but their owne credite and honour Neyther doe they desire to preach Iesus Christ plainely in the euidence of the Spirite but in the intising Words of mans wisedome Yea whereas Saint Paul had rather speake fiue wordes in a knowne tongue to edifie 1. Cor. 14. then fiue thousand in a strange tongue Some there bee who thinke they neuer speake wel vnlesse they speake so as none can vnderstand And here also wee may note the folly of our common people who doe they esteeme and account of as a good Preacher but hee that speaketh eloquentlie in a strange tongue him whom they vnderstand least they commend most And no maruell for they learne nothing at such a Sermon therefore they admire it and commend the man least they should seeme to say nothing Vse 2 Seeing this is so Like Priest Like People Wicked Priest Wicked people carefull Pastor good Sheepe for Knowledge Faith Repentance and Obedience Then wee see that a good Gouernour Pastor and Minister is a singular blessing of God that not onely can but is willing to take all possible paines to doe good to teach in season and out of season to bee like a Cocke first to awake himselfe by reading meditation and prayer and secondly the people by his Crowing like a Candle that spendes himselfe to giue comfort to others such a one is a maruellous blessing of God when hee is bestowed vpon a people for when the Lord would shew his loue to the people hee sayth I will giue them Pastors after my owne heart Such as should watch ouer their soules to feed to instruct and to comfort them Oh how should men with thankefull hearts blesse God when they haue such set ouer them But on the contrary part it is a feareefull iudgement of God to liue vnder such as bee blinde ignorant vnconscionable prophane wicked and irreligious for how can they teach and instruct others that are ignorant themselues And how can they seeke to conuay grace to others Mat. 18. Ier. 3. â—4 that haue not tasted of the worke of grace themselues If the blinde lead the blinde they both fall into the ditch together And by the Prophet Ieremie the Lord there threatneth this as a grieuous plague to giue them naughty Ministers It seemes the Prophet had no reason to accuse the poore people and to complaine of them alas Obiect they did but as the Priests taught them they meant well Answere Neyther the euill life Answere and ignorance of the Priests nor yet their owne intent and purpose could any whit excuse them so long as they liued in sinne But wee see here that the Lord complains of them that hee saw villany in the house of Israel There is the whoredome of Ephraim Israel is defiled Hence then wee learne that neyther the wickednesse of the Priests and Gouernours nor yet the good intent and meaning of the people can please God or any way excuse themselues if men liue in sinne in impietie and prophanesse They are farre wide that thinke their ignorance will excuse them Doct. 2 Ignorance may excuse indeede à tanto but neuer à toto Ignorance may lessen faults but not change their natures Ignorance will excuse none if they liue in sinne sinne shall still be sinne though a man doe the same neuer so ignorantly for as men are commaunded to take notice of the Princes Lawes and being found to trespasse against them their ignorance shall not excuse them so the Lord hath straightlie commaunded vs to take notice of his Lawes that so we may performe our obedience vnto him The Commandement of God to this end is very staight These words which I commaund thee this day Deu. 6.6.7.8 shall be in thy heart and thou shalt rehearse them continually vnto thy Children and shalt talke of them when thou tarriest in thy house and as thou walkest by the way when thou lyest downe and when thou risest vp and thou shalt binde them for a signe vppon thy hand