is craved thereupon which is too too usuall with most 4. Following upon the Commission of sinne as theirs of whom Salomon They sleepe not except they have done mischiefe and their sleepe is taken away unlesse they cause some to fall 5. Our soules during the continuance thereof satiate themselves with the seeming pleasures of sinne whereof our usuall dreames may sufficiently informe us 6. Wee become thereby the more strengthened to continue in sin and to commit the same Extraordinary Naturall meanes occasioning extraordinary sleepe occasioned either through naturall or through supernaturall meanes Naturall through 1. Care and griefe as was that of the Disciples Luk. 22.45 2. Wearinesse as was that of Sisera's Judg. 4.21 3. Long watching as was that of Eutychus Act. 20.9 4. Intemperance as was that of Noahs Gen. 9.24 5. Labour according to that of the Preacher Eccles 5.12 The sleepe of a labouring man is sweet whether he eat little or much 6. Heate as was that of Ishbosheth 2 Sam. 4.5 7. Artificiall Potions made of Poppy Lettuce c. which is brought to passe sometimes for a good end as when meanes are used to bring sicke weake and aged persons into a sleepe Sometimes for a bad as when Dalilah made Sampson sleepe Iudg. 16.19 that shee might betray him into the hands of his enemies Supernaturall as which commeth immediatly of God and that sometimes on the godly as on Adam Gen. 2.21 Gen. 15.12 when Hevah was formed and on Abraham when God confirmed his promise to him by a vision Sometimes on the ungodly as on Saul 1 Sam. 26.12 when David tooke his Speare ad the cruise of water which stood at his bolster Figuratively The acceptions of sleepe and that as well in respect of the godly figuratively taken in respect of the godly and the ungodly severally as in respect of both joyntly considered Severally In respect of the godly 1. For abundant prosperity tranquillitie peace of conscience quietnesse and rest of minde voide of carking care and free from such distractions as during the state of Nature disquiet the whole man I laid me downe and slept said David Psal 3.5 And againe Psal 1 27.2 He giveth his beloved sleepe Agreeable herreunto is that of Ezekiel Ezech. 34.2 They shall dwell safely in the wildernesse and sleepe in the woods 2. For a spirituall slumber and drowsinesse in the mind and heart touching heavenly things occasioned through abundance of peace and pleasures wherewith a Christian may bee at sometimes so overtaken as that though bodily awake with David hee falleth into the sleepe of sinne 2 Sam. 11.4 Such was the Spouses slumber Cant. 5.2 I sleepe saith she but my heart waketh Such also the slumber even of the five wise virgins Mat. 25.5 When the Soule either through carelesnesse or by reason of some temptation ceased from good then doth it thus sleepe Hereof what one is there which may not justly complaine How often doth man seeme unto himselfe wise just humble rich in grace how often goeth hee on in his vanitie glorying in the multitude of his spirituall riches and saying in the pride of his heart Rev. 3.17 I shall not be moved for ever I am rich and increased with goods and have need of nothing but when hee shall awake hee will be ashamed of such fancies and dreames The ungodly for sin considered in generall In respect of the ungodly and that as well for sinne as the effects of sinne Sinne considered both in generall and in particular In Generall As in that of the Apostle Rom. 13.11 Now it is high time to awake out of sleepe And againe Eph. 5.14 1 Thes 5.6 Awake thou that sleepest And againe let us not sleepe as doe others Neither is it without especiall cause that sinne is thus expressed Resemblances betweene sleepe and sinne there being indeed betweene sinne and sleepe no small resemblance as may thus appeare 1. Sleepe is naturall to the body so is sinne to the Soule Naturally Gen. 6.5 every imagination of the thoughts of our hearts is onely evill continually Wee leave the paths of uprightnesse to walke in the wayes of darknesse Prov. 2.13.14 Isa 5.18 wee rejoyce to doe evill and delight in the frowardnesse of the wicked wee draw iniquity with cords of vanity and sinne as it were with a cart-rope 2. Sleepe steales upon man as it were by degrees so in like manner doth sinne Suggestion produceth delight Delight consent Consent act Act the habite thereof 3. Man being overtaken with sleepe feares no danger bee it never so neere never so great as the examples of Ishbosheth 2 Sam. 4.6 and Ionah witnesse so sinne driveth into security Ionah 1.5 We have made a covenant with death said some in the daies of Esay and with hell Isa 28.15 are wee at an agreement when the over-flowing scourge shall passe through it shall not come unto us Agreeable hereunto is that of the Lord by Amos Amos 9.10 All the sinners of my people shall die by the sword which say the evill shall not overtake nor prevent us of whom Zephaniah Zeph. 1.12 Luk. 17.27 28. They say in their heart The Lord will not doe good neither will he doe evill Of this sort were the old world and Sodomites 4. A man given to sleepe doth for the most part retyre himselfe from the company society and fellowship of others to some one corner or other that so neither himselfe may be perceived nor his rest disturbed Lycost Theat vitae humanae Such a one also neither affecteth light nor noise as Sibertus who banished dogs and trades-men from the place of his residence lest thereby his sleepe should be broke agreeable unto the Poets description of sleepe in these words Neere the Cimmerians lurkes a cave Est prope Cimmerios longo Spelunca recessu mons cavus c. Ovid. Met. 11. Translated by Master G. Sandys in sleepe And hollow hills the mansion of dull sleepe Not seene by Phoebus when he mounts the skies At height nor stouping glooming mists arise From humide earth which still a twilight make No crested fowles shrill crowing here awake The cheerefull morne no barking sentinell Here guards nor geese who wakefull dogs excell Beasts tame nor savge no wind-shaken boughs Nor strife of jarring tongues with noises rouse Secured ease c. So sinners if not past shame doe especially in secret commit their villanies Ezech. 8.10 Gen. 4.8 Cain getteth his brother out into the fields and then slayeth him Josh 7.21 Achan hideth his stollen goods Gehezi without the knowledge of his Master as hee conceived taketh money and raiment of Naaman 2 King 5.24 and they that are drunke saith the Apostle are drunke in the night 1 Thes 5.7 And lest they should not thus sleepe long enough and safe enough they stop the light of the Word
quicken thou me in thy way thou shouldst have no such cause to object V. It is not done of set purpose A. Of set purpose leave it undone A. Let it be thy stedfastresolution whilst thou art at Church not to give sleepe to thine eyes norslumber to rhine eye lids VI. Sleepe there is but napping a small time a shutting of the eyes a winke and away A. Yet so that thou thereby losest the whole Sermon A. Though thou hearest the Word now and then yet how it hangeth on the former how it precedeth the latter thou canst not tell Sect. 2. The persons committing it The persons committing it I. I am accustomed hereunto that either J must stay at home or notwithstanding of mine unwillingnesse to sleepe and paines which I take to shake it off sleepe when I come to Church A. A. 1. Though thou customarily sleepest at Church yet come for haply as Master Latimer once said thou maist be there taken napping Mr. Latimers Serm. 2. If thou dislikest it art humbled for it and strivest against it it is not thy sinne neither shall it be laid unto thy charge 3. If thou findest thy selfe prone thereunto it is the sinne that God especially calleth thee to keepe watch and ward against II. I am old and weake and so am to bee borne withall Whatsoever it is in others in me I hope it is no great sinne to sleepe at Church A. A. 1. The older thou art the more need hast thou to abstaine therefrom as being nigh thine end 2. Thou wouldest be loath that whilst thou art thus sleeping death should seize on thee 3. As old as thou art thou canst watch longer about thine owne businesse or in hearing some vaine triviall sinfull discourse or in seeing a Play or some vaine show Canst thou thus watch and not watch one houre in hearing Gods Word 4. Simeon was as old as thou art yet when he came into the Temple Luk. 2.28 did hee not thus behave himselfe and Anna the Prophetesse Verse 36 who was a widow about fourescore yeares departed not from the temple Ioh. 3 2◠but served God with fastings and prayers night and day yea and Nicodemus to enjoy Christs company came by night unto him when hee should have slept III. I watch on the other dayes of the weeke A. and labour hardly A. 1. Thou wert then in thy calling for the good of thy body and therefore didst watch and when thou commest to Church thou art then also in thy calling for the good of thy soule and therefore shouldst watch 2. Thou hast watched indeed Eras apophth lib. 4. but was it for thy neighbours good as Parmenio excused Philip of Macedon unto the Grecians which complained one time that hee sleept by day wonder not saith he that Philip now sleepeth for when yee slept and seemed carelesse of your owne affaires hee was awake was it not rather for his good or to worke him some mischiefe Iob 24.14 15 16 17. The murtherer rising with the light saith Iob killeth the poore and needy c. for the morning is to them even as the shadow of death To the same purpose is that of the Poet Horat. Theeves rise by night that they may slay men as hath beene already alleaged If thou hast thus watched unto villany whilst others were at their rest thou shalt find one day that better it had beene for thee that thou hadst beene asleepe 3. If thou hast done thine owne workes on the other dayes thou must doe Gods on his Since he hath not deprived thee of thy due which notwithstanding is onely thine by his gift thou must not rob him of his 4. Thou must not so toile on the weeke-dayes as thereby to make thy selfe unfit for the sanctifying of the Lords day 5. Even by night are wee to watch in Gods service Psal 134.1 Psal 119.55 much more then by day and on Gods day IIII. I rose very early A. 1. A. Didst thou not rise about thine owne worldly affaires and art thereby made unfit for this duty was it not to meet such a friend in such a place to bee merry with him for an houre or two before Sermon was it not to make up such and such a bargaine formerly spoken of was it not to cast up thy accompts and looke after thy Debtors If thou didst rise for these or the like ends better it had beene for thee to have lyen a bed 2. If thou rosest not for those or the like ends thou hadst the more time to prepare thy selfe in private for the performance of thy duty in publike neither would that have beene any let unto this nay rather prayer reading meditation and conference preceding it would bee especiall furtherances thereunto V. I have farre to Church sit farre from the pulpit am thicke of hearing and the Preachers voyce is weake A. A. Though thou canst not doe as thou wouldest doe so much as thou canst Rise earlier and come sooner and sit or stand nigher waiting on Gods providence who as he hath given thee eares and both can and hath made the deafe to heare so may be pleased to bestow on them their proper office of hearing Mar. 7.37 yea though thou canst not heare and so profi◠thy selfe yet thou must not sleepe lest thou offend others which may and would heare VI. I know my duty already as well as they that give bes◠attention A. A. Suppose thou doest yet shouldest thou know it much better by thy watchfulnesse neither doth the Word onely teach thee to know Gods will but calleth upon thee to be a doer thereof Iam. 1.22 Bee yee doers saith S. Iames and not hearers onely VII What I shall lose at one time by sleeping at Church I can get up either when J come home or at another time when I goe to Church At home either by reading as good a Sermon or one on the same subject if not the very same words or by hearing the same repeated by some one in my family which writeth the Sermon At Church by giving attendance unto what shall bee then and there delivered A. A. To the first branch of the former To the former and 〈◊〉 branch thereof Mal. 2.7 1. Experience teacheth that the lively voyce is more effectuall then ocular reading 2. As the Priests lips are to preserve knowledge So art thou required to heare it at his mouth Mal. 2.7 c. 3. If thou canst so well profit at home why dost thou come to Church at all 4 Sermons are not therefore printed that thou mightest heare no more but to put thee in mind of what thou hast already heard Thou art to profit as well by the Sermon which thou hearest as those which thou readest To the second branch The second branch 1. Doth hee so write it as that hee neither addeth thereto nor taketh ther-from I suppose few or none have such cunning
put out the light of their owne consciences and forbid even those whose office it is to awake them out of sleepe to awake them till they please Ier. 44.16 As for the word which thou hast spoken to us in the name of the Lord Amos 7.12 13. we will not hearken to thee said the people unto Ieremiah O thou Seer said Amaziah unto Amos goe flee thee away into the land of Iudah and there eat bread and prophecie there but prophecie not againe any more in Bethel for it is the kings Chappel and it is the Kings Court Yea as a man being asleepe doth for the most part take it ill when he is awaked so a sinner when hee is called upon to forsake his sinnes Prov. 6.10 yet a little sleep saith he a little slumber a little folding of the hands to sleep The time is not come Hag. 1.2 the time that the Lords house should be built said the people unto Haggai Hast thou found me 1 King 21.20 O mine enemy said Ahab unto Elijah If Iohn the Baptist say unto Herod Math. 14 3.4 It is not lawfull for thee to have thy brother Philips wife hee will lay hold on him and put him in prison If Paul reason of righteousnesse temperance and judgement to come Felix will tremble and answer Act. 24.25 Goe thy way for this time when I have a convenient season I will call for thee If Micaiah detect the forgery and falshood of Zedekiah Zedekiah will smite him on the cheeke 1 King 22.24 saying Which way went the Spirit of the Lord from me to speake unto thee 5. Sleepe during its continuance hindereth and letteth men even from the Performance of civill offices as the Souldier from fighting the Labourer from working the Carpenter and Mason from building and the like so cannot wee by reason of sinne performe any thing which is acceptable to God though the same bee in it selfe lawfull and warrantable till wee be raised there-from Psal 50.16 17. What hast thou to doe saith God unto the wicked to declare my statutes or that thou shouldest take my Covenant in thy mouth Seeing thou hatest instruction and castest my words behind thee Jsa 1.11 To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto mee saith the Lord unto his people I am full of the burnt offering of rams Jsa 1.15 c. your hands are full of bloud Gen. 4.5 As Cain could not offer up an acceptable sacrifice unto God being asleepe in sinne so whilest it goeth over our soules binding up the faculties of the same and bringing an heavinesse or rather deadnesse into all the powers thereof we are altogether unfit to goe about the actions of an holy life Hence commeth it to passe that the mind never thinketh seriously of God the conscience never or seldome accuseth for sinnes committed the will never or seldome willeth that which is truly good the affections seldome or never are moved at Gods word or workes yea so long as it beareth sway over us we can neither pray aright heare the Word aright nor rightly performe any other dutie 6. In sleepe wee doe often conceive our condition to bee better then indeed it is The poore man dreameth of riches the sicke of health the imprisoned of liberty the hunger-starved of dainty fare delighting themselves with a kind of content in the imaginary fruition of these things So doth a sinner blesse himselfe in his course I am saith Babylon and none else beside me Jsa 47.8 I shall not sit as a widow neither shall I know the losse of children Luk. 12.19 Soule said the rich man in the Gospel to his owne soule thou hast much goods laid up for many yeares Luk. 18.11 take thine ease eat drinke and be merry God I thanke thee said the vaine-glorious selfe-conceited hypocriticall Pharisee that J am not as other men are extortioners unjust adulterers or even as this Publican In particular In Particular 1. For carelesnesse Sloath and negligence whether in Pastors Isa 56.10 or people His watchmen are blind saith Esay they are all ignorant they are all dumbe dogs they cannot barke sleeping lying downe loving to slumber Hos 7.6 Their baker sleepeth all the night saith Hosea But while men slept saith our Saviour his enemy came Mat. 13.25 and sowed tares among the wheate and went his way Prov. 6.9 How long wilt thou sleepe O sluggard saith the Wise man when wilt thou arise out of thy sleepe 2. For whoredome or uncleannesse Come said Lots eldest daughter unto her sister Let us make our father drinke wine Gen. 19.32 and we will lye or sleepe with him that we may preserve seed of our father The effects of sinne The effects of sinne 1. Eph. 4.19 On the Soule even in this life a spirituall lethargie or deadnesse of heart by the custome of sinne when as the heart is made past feeling and altogether senslesse through continuance therein Whereof Isaiah Isa 29.10 For the Lord hath poured out upon you the spirit of deepe sleepe and hath closed your eyes 2. Perpetuall and irrevocable destruction Psal 76.5 Psal 13.3 whereof the Psalmist The stout-hearted are spoyled they have slept their sleepe And againe lighten mine eyes lest J sleepe the sleepe of death Ier. 51.39 So the Lord by Ieremiah Jn their heat J will make their feasts and I will make them drunken that they may rejoyce and sleepe a perpetuall sleepe and not wake saith the Lord. Ioyntly The godly and ungodly joyntly considered in respect both of the godly and ungodly either death being by sleepe significantly expressed The godlies 1 King 2.10 as David slept with his fathers Ioh. 11.11 Mat. 27.52 Our friend Lazarus sleepeth and the graves were opened and many bodies of saints which slept arose The ungodlies 1 King 14 20 1 King 15.8 1 King 16.6 as Ieroboam slept with his fathers Abiam slept with his fathers Baasha slept with his fathers c. Quest Quest But as David of Abner 2 Sam. 3.33 died Abner as a foole dieth Is there no difference betweene those and these the godly and the ungodly in death Ans In some respect there is no difference at all Sol. according to that of Solomon Eccles 2.16 How dieth the wise man as the foole But in others very great according to that of the same Author Prov. 14.32 The wicked is driven away in his wickednesse but the righteous hath hope in his death Their agreement consisteth in these particulars Wherein that death of the godly and wicked agree 1. Our beds represent our graves the sheetes wherein wee lye our winding-sheets wherein were shall bee wrapped The cloaths that lye on us the clods of earth that shall bee cast upon us when wee are laid in our graves yea as they that are asleepe are for the time voide of care and insensible
either of joy or paine neither being affected with the miseries of others to mourne with them nor with their prosperity to rejoyce with them but having their eyes bound up from seeing their eares from hearing as their other senses from the execution of their severall functions are wholly ignorant of things done about them so is it with those that are dead To this purpose Job Job 3.12 13. Why did the knees prevent me or why the breasts that I should sucke for now should I have lyen still and beene quiet I should have slept then had I beene at rest And Isaiah tells us Isa 63.16 that now Abraham is ignorant of us and Israel doth not acknowledge us Hence it is Iob 7.2 that as a servant earnestly desireth the shadow and as an hireling looketh for the reward of his worke so not a few doe daily gape for death that thereby they may bee freed from their troubles It is now enough O Lord 1 King 19.4 said Elijah take away my life for I am no better then my fathers Jonah 4.3 Take J beseech thee my life from me said Jonah for it is better for me to die then to live And in those dayes saith 8. John Rev. 9.6 namely when unto the locusts that came out of the bottomlesse pit power was given to torment those men which have not the seale of God on their foreheads shall men seeke death and shall not find it and shall desire to die and death shall flye from them Agreeable hereunto is that of Philo Anton. Max. ser de somno Aelian lib. 2. who being asked what sleepe was answered The image of death and rest of the senses and that of Gorgias who being very aged and seeling deadly sleepe or death to creepe on him unto a friend who asked him how hee did answered Bras lib. 6. cap. 8. Sleepe now beginneth to commend me unto his brother and that of Epaminondas who having slaine one of the watch whom hee found sleeping thus justified his fact Such a one as I found him saith he I have left him Eustat ad Hom. Ibid. Tertull. de anima Chrys ad pop an t homil 5. Arist lib. 19. de animal To this purpose is it that of some sleepe and death are said to bee brethren or cousin-Germans Sleepe Deaths looking-glasse death a sleepe longer then usuall yea sleepe a kind of middle thing betweene death and life 2. Sleepe as it is common to all men and cannot bee driven away or avoided of any how sparing soever or well-spenders of time Heb. 9.27 Rom. 5.12 Psal 89.48 so it is appointed unto him once to die Death passeth upon all men and what man is he that shall not see death 3. Sleepe though usually it commeth by degrees as after labour meat wearinesse watching and the like yet doth it often steale on men at unawares So death though usually 1 King 13.24 and by course of nature it followeth sicknesse as the forerunner thereof yet seazeth it often on men both good and bad on the very sudden Act. 5.5.10 So did in on the man of God that came unto Bethel so on Ananias and Sapphira Luk. 12.19.20 Then said God unto the rich man Thou foole this night shall thy soule be required of thee when he had said unto his soule Soule thou hast much goods laid up for many yeares take thine ease eate drinke and be merry 4. Sleepe is proper to the body not the soule Cord vigilamus etiam cùm corpore dormimus Aug. de verb. dom Ser. 22. Isa 26.19 for even then are we to be awake in soule when wee sleepe in body so dieth man in respect of his body not his soule Though the body rests and dwells in the dust of the earth yet doth not the soule so rest The dust that is the body returneth to the earth Eccles 12.7 as it was and the spirit returneth unto God who gave it Anima quieti nunquam succedit Tertul. de anima yea if the soule doe yea if the soule doe not now sleepe whilst it is in the prison of the body much lesse shall it being freed therefrom As the soules of the godly are carried into heaven Luk 16 22. so are the soules of the ungodly into hell eithers bodyes in the meane time remaining in their graves Hist Florent lib. 7. As Cofimo the Florentine to some Rebels that sent him word they slept not answered that hee beleeved the same because their sleepe was taken from them So may it be affirmed of mens soules that as here they cannot sleepe so hereafter they cannot die 5. Sleepe though it bee of longer continuance with some then with others yet lasteth it not alwayes with any even the sluggard being at the length awaked or awaking therefrom so death must at the last restore her dead how long soeverthey have beene under the power and in the possession thereof 1 Cor. 15.52 For the trumpet shall sound saith the Apostle and the dead shall be raised incorruptible and we shall be changed Agreeable hereunto is the of S Iohn Rev. 20.13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them The difference between them in these Wherin they differ 1. Though such as are asleep may of shall awake yet doth not their awaking prove alike comfortable for Pharaohs Butler was restored and his Baker hanged according to Iosephs interpretation of their dreames So both the ungodly and the godly die yet doth not either death prove advantagious Ioh. 5.28 The houre is comming in the which all that are in the graves shall heare the voyce of the Sonne of man and shall come forth they that have done good unto the resurrection of life and they that have done evill unto the resurrection of damnation Saith our Saviour himselfe All the ten virgins which slumbered as well the wise as the foolish arose Mat. 25.7.10.12 but the wise onely went in with the Bridegroome unto the mariage the others being excluded Depart from me ye cuâ—sed Mat. 25.34.41 shall it be said unto the wicked on the day of judgement but unto the godly Come yee blessed of my Father 1 Cor. 15.56 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chrys ad Heb. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Aâ—â—est Unto these death is not as death as having the sting thereof removed which is sinne but as a sweet sleep unto those it is otherwise even of fearfull things the most fearfull Those lose but these gaine thereby a palace for a prison rest for labour liberty for bondage God for men the company of Angels for the company of sinners and finally heaven for earth 2. As sleepe proveth unto many fatall wherein they die and from which they never rise so unto the ungodly the death of the body is a forerunner of that second death the death both of
body and soule under which they shall lye world without end But it is not so unto Gods children Thereby is put an end unto all their miseries Rev. 14.13 for they rest from their labours neither doe they hunger any more or thirst any more and all teares are wiped from their eyes Thereby are they freed from all sorts of sinnes Rom. 6.7 for hee that is dead is freed from sinne thereby from the being of sinne from the infection of sinne from the guilt of sinne from temptations unto sinne from the authority dominion and rule of sinne from the imputation of sinne from the reward or dangerous effect and consequents of sinne and that wholly fully perpetually Thereby from all sorts of crosses Thereby from all sorts of feares Thereby from all sorts of cares In a word thereby freed from all sorts of evill past present and to come Psa 57 1â— They lie downe in sure and certaine hope of resurrection to eternall life I Cor. 15.42 43 44. Their bodyes are sowne in corruption but raised in incorruption sowne in dishonour but raised in glory sowne in weaknesse but raised in power sowne naturall bodyes as many goe heavily to bed but raised spirituall bodyes when through the glorious beames of the Sunne of righteousnesse shining on them they shall fully recollect both their spirits and strength in all which respects that of Salomon may bee applyed unto them that Their day of death is better then the day wherein they were borne 3. As every one is not alike willing to sleepe especially such as are unusually terrified by dreames so neither are all alike willing to die The godly wait for death Iob 7.14 All the dayes of my appointed time will I wait saith Iob till my change come yea Iob 14.14 with the Apostle desire to be dissolved Phil. 1.23 Heb. 9.27 and to bee with Christ But the ungodly whose consciences tell them that after death commeth judgement Act. 24.25 doe with Foelix tremble at the very mentioning thereof yet how loath soever to undergoe it what paines or charges soever they are at when they feele it or feare it approaching to remove it and put it off doe most of them even willingly as it were through intemperancie incontincencie carking cares and such like courses bring it upon themselves 4. As through sleepe they that are in misery are fitted and enabled to undergoe more misery and they that are in a good condition become capable of more happinesse so through death are the ungodly as it were fitted for hell the godly for heaven those for unconceivable misery these for unspeakable happinesse Take we it in this Treatise in its proper signification Sleepe how taken in this Treatise but for such a sleepe as is altogether unlawfull howsoever ordinarie and common for then to sleepe when wee ought to bee swist to heare and then to bee drowsie when it concernes us to be most vigilant as at the preaching of the word and prayer who will not judge the same unreasonable and so neither lawfull nor warrantable Be this then this unreasonable unlawfull unwarrantable kind of sleepe or rather sleeping evill sleeping at Church this inordinate ordinary bodily drousinesse I say whereby the Word read or preached becommeth wholly ineffectuall and no blessing from God but rather an undoubted curse can bee expected thereupon the subject of this discourse CHAP. II. How convenient and necessary it is to handle this Argument NEither needs any to wonder that this should bee medled withall Reasons shewing the utility and necessary of this Treatise or conceive him to have little to doe unlesse to keepe himselfe awake which busieth himselfe about such a sleepy subject These with the like warrantable reasons will questionlesse justifie our proceeding 1. Because this is by most no otherwise if at all medled withall then by a bare cursory speaking against it and that not of set purpose but occasionally upon the view of some one or other sleeping yea and that but in generall tearmes which how fruitlesse and ineffectuall it proveth to reclaime any there-from daily experience sheweth As therefore for the subduing of other vices Isa 28.10 there must bee both Precept upon precept and lyne upon lyne so must there be for the subduing of this 2. Because there are so many which offend herein and yet thinke that either they have not at all or but a little offended Those standing upon their justification These going about to excuse their practise Such had need to bee wrought on brought on to see the greatnesse of this sinne Gen. 19.20 and that as Lot of Zoar they may not conceit that it is but a little one Before those must the evils hereof bee laid open Reasons disswading from the same be propounded as in like manner their severall objections to the contrary plainly and solidly dissolved 3. Because there are so many which being customarily addicted hereunto yet exceedingly desirous and willing to leave the same are notwithstanding wholly ignorant how to effect it Those must bee made acquainted as well with the Causes hereof as Remedies how to be rid of the same 4. Because there are but a few which doe truly take notice of the danger ensuing hereby or consider the wrongs occasioned through the same The ignorant therefore and carelesse are to bee shewed that hereby they wrong the blessed Trinitie hereby are stumbling blocks unto others which through their evill example in this kind prove no leste wicked then themselves Hereby the Word becommeth ineffectuall and the Ministers thereof discouraged yea that this is one maine cause why they doe so long continue in their sinnes to the griefe and hurt of their ownesoules 5. Because this sinne cannot be so well met withall by speaking against it as by writing For if a Minister should in his Sermon when an occasion is presented unto him as when is there not inveigh against the same hee might haply through weaknesse or want of memory forget himselfe neither bee able againe without much adoe to come to his matter or rather be forced by new objects of drowsinesse to renew his reproofes and continually to goe on in that argument yea though there were no feare of such destruction yet in as much as a Minister is not to nominate any of his auditors in particular Neither haply if it were lawfull for him to name them knoweth hee his Auditors by name though hee should observe them to bee asleepe his reproofes must bee generall which as in other things who doth not almost put from himself as if they did not at-all concerne him or the Minister therein had no ayme at him Mat. 26.21 Our Saviour having informed his Disciples in generall tearmes not particularizing the name of any that one of them should betray him Verse 25. Indas thereupon who indeed was the villaine the man aymed at could say notwithstanding Is it I Master so doe too too many in
the case we have in hand 6. Because there are no lawfull meanes who will judge this unlawfull Deut. 22.1 2 3. which Christians are not to use for the good one of another Yea if the Lord require of us the manifestation of brotherly love even in such things as concerne our neighbours our enemies e-estate Deut. 22.1 2 3. much more doth hee it in such things as concerne the welfare of their bodies and if of their bodies much more of their soules Now what can be more advantagious unto their soules then their carefull and conscionable hearing of the Word and how can they thus heare it if they sleepe thereat and sleepe they will if meanes be not used to keepe them awake As therefore one of the Persian kings Chamberlaines was every morning to come unto his Masters bed-side and to awake him with these words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Plut. Arise O King and be carefull of the businesses whereof Mesoromasdes willed thee to take care So may every Christian must every Christian carefully use meanes whereby as well to with-hold themselves as withdraw others from this sleeping evill May it be lawfull in the words of Solomon to rowse up the sluggard Prov. 6.9 How long wilt thou sleep O fluggard when wilt thou arise out of thy sleepe And will any judge this unlawfull yea should wee not thus endevour our selves according to our abilities to prevent or to amend the same we might aswell be truly reputed as justly punished for partaking with others in sinne which according to S. Pauls caveat who is not bound carefully to avoide 1 Tim. 5.22 7. Because Canon 18. this is a breach of one of our Church-Constitutions which requireth that None either man woman or child of what calling soever shall bee otherwise busied in time of Service or Sermon then in quiet attendance to heare marke and understand that which is read preached or ministred And that They shall not disturbe the Service or Sermon by walking and talking or any other way 8. Because as toward the rearing up of the Tabernacle Exod. 35.22 some brought bracelets and earings Verse 23. and rings and tablets all jewels of gold Verse 24 and the Rulers brought Onix-stones and stones to be set for the Ephod and for the brest-plate So others brought goats haire and red skinnes of rams and badgers skinnes neither of which were rejected but the offerings of either accepted yea and our Saviour did more commend the poore widow Luk. 21.3 for her two mites which shee cast into the treasury then the rich for their liberall offerings inasmuch as they out of their abundance cast into the offerings of God Verse 4. but she of her penurie cast in all the living she had So if towards the encrease of the kingdome of Christ and building up one another in our most holy faith Some with the Captaine of the Aramites medled onely with the king of Israel 1 King 22 32. that is great sinnes as swearing adultery murther and the like as some worthily and profitably have done or detect and confute heresies resolve cases of conscience set forth large commentaries on the Scriptures and handle controversies which are as gold silver and pretious stones and all to the singular good of Gods people why may not others bring their goates haire I meane discover and oppose even the pettiest offences As there must bee meat for men of which kind are the Fathers Councels Schoole-men large Commentaries ' on the Scriptures c. So must there milke for babes of which kind are Catechismes plaine Sermons Prayer bookes books of Meditations and such like short godly discourses whereof questionlesse no small benefit daily ariseth as their often impressions cleerely witnesse Nay even the greatest schollers and most learned men have not thought their time II bestowed in writing on such low discourses as Salomon spake of the hysope that springeth out of the wall to the capacitie of the meanest 1 King 4.33 CHAP. III. Whence it is that Church-sleeping is so ordinary and usuall THE causes hereof not to mention Gods justice on the contemners of his Word who for the most part being come to Church are cast into such a deepesleepe that though they have both eyes and eares yet for the time they are deprived of the use of either neither seeing with the one nor hearing with the other of whom it may be said as of Saul and his troups 1 Sam. 26.12 a deepe sleepe of God as upon them that they doe not awake The Causes I say hereof may he reduced especially into these three The first arifing from Satan The causes of Church-sleeping The second arising from our selves The third arising from others both Preachers and people Sect. 1. Satan From Satan As Dalilah made Sampson sleepe on her lap to the losse as well of his liberty Iudg. 16.19 as life so doth Satan rocke us asleepe at Church that hee may leade us captive at his pleasure to the utter and everlasting ruine both of bodies and soules Hereof tooke Machetes of whom Cassianus maketh mention good notice Lorinus in Acta Apost pag. 591. for observing his fellow Monkes when hee began to speake unto them of heavenly things suddenly thereupon to fall asleepe but when of other matters to lend their attentive eares hee informed them that the same came of Satan yea how many are there found which if they had no mind nor inclination to fleepe a day or two before will notwithftanding sleepe at Service and Sermon whence commeth it to passe assuredly from Satan who is ready and busie enough to besprinkle their temples with his spirituall opium of evill motions and suggestions and having maliciously enclined them to drowsinesse diligently rocketh the cradle that they may sleepe the more soundly Who bringeth to passe This hee bringeth diversly to passe as 1. By working with outward meanes occasioning sleepe such as heat weaknesse griefe long watching and the like 2. By keeping men and women in ignorance or without the knowledge of the Word 3. By perswading that the Preacher is not worth the hearing and so that his words are not to be regarded or that in his Sermons he venteth his owne spleene and malice 4. By propounding that though the Minister should preach never so well and they should give never so diligent heed thereunto yet that it will be to no purpose they being unable to conceive any thing by him delivered which for the most part through his meanes in most proveth too too true 5. By working a generall dislike of the Word preached in respect of its opposition unto those things which are with most in most request 6. By drawing the attention and intention another way Sect. 2. Our selves From our selves in sundry particulars 1. Through sloathfulnesse according to that of Salomon Pro. 19.15 Slothfulnesse casteth into a deep sleep which may bee no lesse appointed
unto this then unto any other Hee that is sloathfull cannot but sleepe wheresoever he is Neither the feare of danger nor hope of reward will keepe him awake Languido sumus ingenio in somnum ituro Senec. de Provid cap. 5. wee are all naturally of a very dull and drowsie disposition by reason of that lumpish flesh of ours that abideth much even in the best by meanes whereof it commeth to passe that wee doe often-times sleepe and slumber be we never so carefull and diligent much more being sloathfull As it is with drowsie persons if they sit still and doe nothing they will soone fall asleepe so if we give our selves over to slothfulnesse wee shall soone be overtaken with this dismall sleepe 2. Through carelesnesse or want of attention when the mind is not set on its right object the preaching and reading of the Word but roveth on by-matters neither are the eyes fixed on the Preacher but walke hither and thither then is it no wonder but that sleepe by degrees creepeth on Therefore have we caveats and warnings propounded Rev. 2.7 Hee that hath eares to heare let him heare Take heed how yee heare Mar. 4.24 Jam. 1.19 Be swift to heare and the like 3. Through intemperancie When the stomacke is full how can the eyes bee but heavy Thereby the senses are so oppressed that during the same they cannot execute their office and experience sheweth that wee doe oftener and more readily sleepe at Church in the afternoone then in the forenoone Yea if this shutteth out the Spirit according to that of the Apostle Eph. 5.18 2 Pet. 2.5 Gen. 9.21 2 Pet. 2.8 and be not drunke with wine wherein is excesse but be filled with the Spirit made Noah a Preacher of righteousnesse discover his nakednesse occasioned just Lot who dwelling among the Sodomites Gen. 19.33 34 c. in seeing and bearing vexed his righteous soule from day to day with their unlawfull deeds in beastly manner to abuse himselfe by filthy incest with those that came out of his owne loynes and through the same the day of judgement shall take men at unawares as is implied in that of our Saviour Luk. 21.34 And take heed to your selves lest at any time your hearts bee over-charged with surfetting and drunkennesse and cares of this life and so that day come upon you unawares How can it but in like manner occasion this Ecclus. 31.20 Sound sleep saith the sonne of Sirach commeth of moderate eating but this for the most part of immoderate 4. Through hatred of the Preacher when wee cannot abide him as Ahab could not indure Micaiah when we are so affected towards him as the Iewes towards Paul and Steven will wee attentively heare what he delivereth Many indeed even thus affected afford the Preacher their bodily presence but like images having eyes they see not Psal 115.5 having eares they heare not or if they afford them their eyes and eares it is to a sinistrous end even that they may have some ground or other from his cariage or from what hee delivereth to bring him into trouble and molestation 5. Through disesteeme of the Word read or preached Too too many thinke that there is no more wisdome therein then their Teachers shew out of it which in their conceit being very small or none at all they neither watch thereat nor thereunto As no man cares for grace but hee that knowes its worth so none cares for the Word but hee that hath it in high esteeme for its unspeakeable excellencie Those prize it above thousands of gold and silver Psal 119.72.78.148 Psal 19.10 and unto them as unto David who meditated therein day and night it is sweeter then the honey and the honey combe They that have drunke of this water of life doe more and more thirst after it and as Peter being informed how necessarie it was that our Saviour should wash his feet said unto him Joh. 13.8 9. Lord not my feet onely but also my hands and my head rest not satisfied with sipping or tasting hereof 2 Sam. 23.15 but long as it were as David to drinke of the water of the well of Bethleem which is by the gate even to be drunke therewith Where this desire is there is watchfulnesse where it is wanting drowsinesse 6. Through disobedience unto the admonitions and reproofes of the Word when being admonished of our drowsinesse wee notwithstanding doe not amend but rather grow worse and worse as the people in the dayes of Ieremie Ier. 44.16 As for the word which thou hast spoken to us in the name of the Lord wee will not hearken unto thee When I say being againe and againe admonished wee notwithstanding amend not doe we not as it were through our obstinacie put out the light that wee may sleepe the more securely 7. Through shamelesnes When we become so impudent that though we be detected noted pointed at spoken of spoken against spoken to as common sleepers at Church and so consequently contemners of the Word yea and certainly informed that thereby we make our selves as gazing stocks or common objects of laughter yet having as it were an whores forehead wee are not ashamed but doe the more goe on in the same Of us may it be said Isa 3 9. The shew of their countenance doth witnesse against them and they declare their sinne as Sodome they hide it not Yea as drowsie sluggards which love to sleep how loath are we how unwilling to be awaked how froward how angry when wee are awaked 8. Through inconsideratnesse or want of consideration as well of the excellencie of the Word and necessity of hearing the same as of our owne pronenesse unto drowsinesse Satans endeavours to lull us asleepe and our owne weaknesse to resist the same Were wee affected with those wee could not but bee more watchfull 9. Through the want of Gods feare Gen. 20.11 As Abraham unto Abimelech enquiring of him why hee had said of Sarah that shee was his sister because I thought surely the feare of God is not in this place and they will slay me for my wives sake So may wee of Church-sleepers that wanting Gods feare they will make no conscience of sinne Yea Psal 36.1 2 3 4. as David layeth downe the want of Gods feare to be the ground of the ungodlies ungodly both workes words and thoughts so may wee nolesse confidently affirme that it is the ground of this wickednesse and as Salomon Prov. 1.7 The feare of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge so wee Iudg. 16.20 The want of it is the beginning of this particular follie Sampson not being afraid of the Philistims slept to the destruction of his body as too too many being voide of Gods feare sleepe at Church to the destruction both of soule and body 10. Through custome and willingnesse For when being come to Church and no sooner set but wee set our selves to sleepe
By what meanes an hunger after the Word may be wrought in us Take a tast thereof in private by reading and meditation Hereby the soule cannot but get much both instruction and consolation 2. Consider the excellencie necessity and utilitie of the same whereof I have already spoken at large Psal 19.10 Prov. 3.15 and 8.10 and wereof both David and Salomon did make so much account that they esteemed it above gold silver rubies and what not 6. Resolve to attend unto and make conscience of the sacred ordinance of preashing there delivered as Job Job 31.1 J have made a covenant with my eyes why then should I thinke upon a maide So doe we make a covenant as with our eares to heare so with our eyes not to sleepe at Church Such was Davids religious care for the Arke Psal 132.4 that hee would not give sleepe to his eyes nor slumber to his eye-lids untill he found out a place for the Lord and habitation for the mighty God of Jacob And such must ours bee at the Word if wee would have any communion with God in that sacred ordinance Jacob being Labans shepheard Gen. 31.40 and making conscience of his duty his sleepe by night departed from his eyes and assuredly so would sleepe depart from ours especially by day if we made conscience of hearing the Word 7. Vse the creatures sparingly both sleepe for what is said of drinking water may be said of this Quo plùs sunt potae plùs sitiuntur aquae the more it is taken the more it is desired and meate and drinke for when men have over-liberally eate and drunke they are wont to bee heavie and drowsie ready to slumber as they sit fit for nothing but for sleepe Such excesse as it is a meanes even to drowne the mind and by casting reason and understanding into a deepe and deadly sleepe to make men unable to watch against the motions of sinne to shut the doore of the heart against all vertues and to set it open to all vices so much more stupifieth it the body contrarily 1 Thes 5.6 Sobrietie is an especiall helpe to vigilancie 1 Pet. 47. which therefore the Apostles are usually wont to joyne together 8. Consider whither wee are going before whom to what end and who wee are To Gods house into the presence of the God of heaven to bee made partakers of the Word for the good of our soules wee being as of our selves of all others the most unworthy 9. Pray as for the Preacher that his lips may preserve knowlede Mal. 2.7 he may be faithfull in delivering the whole Counsell of God unto us Act. 20.27 and hee may powerfully and wisely speake to our consciences Rom. 1.16 and the Word read or preached that it may bee unto us the power of God unto our salvation 2 Cor â—2 16 the savour of life unto life and as good seed sowne in a good ground so for our selves and others that our eares may be attentive our eyes fixed on the Preacher our mindes bee opened to understand and our hearts and affections sanctified to obey the holy Word Ob. Ob. I cannot possibly spare so much time from my Calling as to thinke on these things or be thus prepared A. Sol. 1. As our Saviour unto Martha Martha Martha thou art carefull Luk. 10 41 4â— and troubled about many things but one thing is needfull and Mary hath chosen that good part which shall not bee taken away from her so may I unto thee The soule is to bee preferred unto the body and thou art more carefull of this then that 2. Bodily exercise profiteth little but godlinesse is profitable unto all things having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come 3. Seeke ye first the kingdome of God 1 Tim. 4.8 and his righteousnesse and all these things shall bee added unto you 4. Even in the doing of the workes of our Calling wee may both meditate pray resolve c. and so that bee no let to this Wee omit not our bodily recreation notwithstanding the workes of our calling and why should wethis 6. Wee take time to finne and why should wee not take time to prevent sinne Sect. 2. When wee come to Church When wee come to Church wee must In Generall In generall 1. Take heed unto our affections which the Preacher signifieth by these words Keepe thy foot when thou goest to the house of God Eccles 5.1 and be more ready to heare then to give the sacrifice of fooles 2. Get our eyes to bee anointed with eye-salve that we may see Rev. 3.18 and our eares open that wee may heare Remembring that as God hath bestowed upon us eyes and eares so when wee are come into his house both must be set on worke As our eyes must bee seeing so must our eares bee hearing and obedient as we our selves swift to beare Iam. 1.19 to this purpose is that so often reiterated phrase Hee that hath eares to heare Mat. 11.15 let him heare Yea as it is usuall for one that is drowsie to wash and rub his eyes or that feeleth any impediments in his eares to picke them so when wee perceive drowsinesse to creepe on us at Church wee must then rouse up our selves 3. Bee possessed with Gods feare Isa 66.2 1 Sam. 4.13 that wee may tremble at the Word As Eli whilst hee sate on a stooleby the way side watched because his heart trembled for the Arke of God So if when wee are at Church our hearts shall tremble in respect of our present danger through Satan wee shall be kept waking Dan. 2.1 Nebuchadnezzar being troubled his sleepe went from him so were wee troubled for sinne or did stand in awe of god because of the same it would not fall on us Griefe and sorrow occasion sleepe Luk. 22.44 Vigilabis si timebis August Timor domini janitor animi Ber. formido facit solicitudinem Ter. Psal 4.4 Pro. 16.6 but feare and care make vigilant and watchfull This is as a Porter set at the doore of our soule and will also keepe our eyes waking There is no affection more watchfull then this Stand in awe and sinne not yea as by this men depart from evill so shall wee through it from this of sleeping at Church This being kept fresh in our hearts will make us carefull to shunne and fearefull to doe ought that may offend him whom we feare In feare of invasion men are wont to keepe due watch and ward but when there is no such danger misdoubted like the men of Lachish Iudg. 18.7 they are the more carelesse and secure and thereupon are often upon the sudden oppressed At the hearing of the Word wee are at all times in danger of the assaults of Satan there is then neither time nor place to sleepe thereat The Crane which is by the rest appointed for Sentinell