labour to get our hearts seasoned with the feare of God that we may truely say The Lord is our feare Esay 8.13 our dread This will fence vs from sinne and arme vs against euery euill way such are freed from those vile abhominations wherewith the liues of all wicked men for the most part are tainted withall Yea the feare of God is such an excellent thing that all the duties wee owe vnto God Eccl. 12.13 are comprehended therein Let vs heare the end of all saith Salomon feare God and keepe his Commandements for this is the whole duty of man The priuiledges that belong to them that truely fear God Yea to such belong all these excellent priuiledges and prerogatiues First they shall not want any temporall good thing O feare the Lord O yee his Saints Psal 34.9 Psal 112.3 for there is no want to them that feare him Secondly such hath the Lord promised to acquaint with his secrets The secrets of the Lord are with them that feare him Psal 25 â—4 Thirdly such onely are vnder the Angels protection Psal 34.7 The Angels of the Lord encampe round about them that feare him Fourthly God takes speciall notice of such Mal. 3.16 A booke of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord. And last of all for the life to come no man is able to expresse the excellent priuiledges of such Psal 31.19 O how great is the goodnesse which God hath laid vp for them that feare him All which may be so many motiues to stir vs vp to get this feare of God which hath the promise of this life and the life to come and to whom alone so many excellent priuiledges belong and appertaine Text. Seeing thou art in the same condemnation 3 Argument In these words wee haue his third Argument to disswade his fellow from that his rayling on Christ and this is taken from his owne present misery A presenti miseria Thou art saith he in the same condemnation q. d. Fye vpon thee most desperate wretch Is this the behauiour meete for him that is now going to giue vp his last account before the great Tribunall and that Iudge of all the world before whom thou art shortly to appeare to giue account of all the actions of thy life past especially of this thy blasphemy against the Lord Iesus the innocent And herein as before this penitent Thiefe sheweth an excellent fruit of his owne repentance pressing his fellow with this Argument the consideration of his present misery and punishment that was now vpon him Thou art in the same condemnation Note we hence That punishments and afflictions Doct. Afflictions that summon to death should in a speciall manner cause men to looke home especially such as summon to death should in a speciall manner cause vs to looke home humble vs and cause vs to breake off our sinnes by repentance and when they produce not this effect especially when death approaches and we are to come to appeare before the Lords Tribunall it is a signe indeed that the heart is desperately wretched and sinfull It is the maine end wherefore the Lord doth send afflictions to bring men home by repentance thus confesseth the Church Lam. 3.39.40 Man suffereth for his sinne let vs search and try our wayes and turne vnto the Lord and againe Come let vs returne vnto the Lord Hos 6.1 for he hath wounded vs and he will heale vs he hath smitten vs and hee will binde vs vp The happy fruit thereof Dauid confesseth by that comfortable experience he had in himselfe Psal 119.71 saying It is good for me that I haue beene in trouble that I may learne thy commandements When we are iudged saith the Apostle wee are chastened of the Lord 1 Cor. 11.32 that wee should not be condemned with the world The Rod makes the childe to stand in awe of the Father and the Scholler of the Master and the Blewnesse of the wound Pro. 20.30 saith Salomon serueth to purge the euill When did Manasses repent 2 Chro. 33 12. wâ—s it not when he was in tribulation When came the Prodigall sonne to himselfe Luke 15. and got the happy resolution to returne againe to his Father was it not when he was pinched with the famine It was in the time of aduersitie that the Israelites remembred GOD to bee their strength who in times of prosperity rebelled against him Iudg. 6. Ephraim may thanke the Lord for his corrections that hee was reclaimed and brought to see his owne disobedience and rebellion against God who was as an vntamed Hayfer Ier. 31.18 â—0 Esa 38.14 The like we may see in Hezechiah in Iob and in all Gods people if there be any faith any hope any grace at all in the heart of man now is the time for the exercise thereof when afflictions especially such as summon to death and iudgement are vpon vs. It seemed vnto this godly Penitent a most hainous thing indeed in his fellow yea the height and top of all impietie that now the hand of God was vpon him and hee so shortly to depart this life and to make his last account before the Iudge of all the world that he should in this reprochfull manner blaspheme an innocent euen the Lord Iesus Christ himselfe before whom he was shortly to appeare and to giue account of all the things that he had done in the flesh But what shall I say There are some whom al the torments in the world cannot moue or make them better sicknesse pouertie shame in the world all the buffettings of Sathan or miseries that can bee thought vpon alas moue them not nor any whit affect them to worke remorse of conscience compunction or sorrow for sinne to make them any whit the better But what may be the reason can any affliction presse out of the creature that was neuer in it If a whole mountaine were laid vpon a dry or rotten sticke will it yeeld any sappe no no it will first be ground to powder The impenitent Thiefe for all his misery that he was in or thoughts of death or of iudgement that now were vpon him is not brought to the least remorse of conscience for sin but the Penitent Thiefe he being vnder the same affliction yeelds the sweet sap and liquor of faith and repentance he confesseth his sinnes pleads Christs cause and compassionates the misery of his fellow and shewes most admirable fruits of repentance Yea if there bee any grace at all in the heart of man now is the time for it to shew it selfe otherwise wee perish without hope Seeing then that afflictions Vse 1 should thus make vs to looke home and that then in a speciall manner the graces of the heart will manifestly appeare This shewes the misery of euery wicked man that as he hath been a stranger from the life of grace in life so must needs want the
this mercy shewed him euen at the last to bee conuerted by Christ and so saued Note hence first the generall Instruction and herein first That the Lord many times of Doct. 1 his infinite mercy doth call home of the most desperate and wretched offenders God can make of great sinners great Saints and makes of great sinners great Saints Yea where there is true repentance it is not the greatnesse of sinne the numberlesse number of our sinnes no nor the long continuance in the same that can any whit hinder vs of his mercy Yea the Lord hath of all sorts and conditions of men some that belong vnto the election of grace and appertaine vnto his glorious kingdome Here wee haue an example of Gods mercifull dealing towards a most desperate malefactour one that had spent his life in a most desperate course of sinning yet now at last brought home by repentance What a fearefull estate was Paul in before his conuersion Act. 9. a grieuous persecuter and bloud-succour yet called of God and made an instrument of much good in his Church Heb. 11. Rahab an Harlot that came of cursed Cain a Cananite of a cursed people of a cursed Citie yet had mercie shewed her and is honoured with a blessed memory in the Catalogue of Gods Saints for her admirable faith Ionas the Lords Prophet Ionas 1. how fouly and fearefully fell he And so Dauid likewise in the matter of Vriah 2. Sam. 11. yet vpon their repentance restored againe to fauour Mary Magdalene branded with a brand of notable infamy yet is she one of the witnesses of Christs glorious resurrection And why should this seeme strange vnto any since First Gods gifts depend not Reas 1 vpon any respect to man but are free on Gods part and altogether vndeserued on ours Rom. 9. I will haue mercy on whom I will haue mercy Secondly the Lord herein will Reas 2 shew his owne power wisedome and goodnesse that can when it pleaseth him make his enemies his friends and such as haue been bloudly persecuters blessed Preachers and great and grieuous sinners on earth blessed Saints in heauen Reas 3 Thirdly the Lord doth it that he may magnifie his own mercy by turning the crimosin dye of scarlet sins into the whitenes of snow that where sinne hath abounded grace might superabound Vse 1 This serues first of all to magnifie the wonderfull wisedome and goodnesse of God who knoweth how to vse all things to his owne glory and can when and where it pleaseth him make of great sinners great Saints and bring backe some from their wicked wayes as a Brand plucked out of the fire Vse 2 Secondly we are taught here to esteeme of men as they are and not as sometimes they were according to their present condition and not as in times past The Apostle reckoning vp many horrible sinnes that were committed amongst the Corinthians saith Such were some of you 1 Cor. 6.11 but now ye are washed now ye are sanctified It is indeed a common fault in the world the fals and infirmities of Gods seruants are still laid in their dish albeit they haue giuen good testimony of their hearty sorrow and true repentance for the same It is not seuen yeares that can weare out of minde such a sinne in such a one the world keepes Registers of such mens faults and as occasion serueth still they shall heare of it This is not the Lords manner of dealing with vs. Thirdly this may warne vs to Vse 3 take heed how we censure others that yet wander and goe astray thou dost not know what is to come a man that should haue seene this penitent Theefe how vile and sinfull hee liued euen to the end that now a shamefull and miserable death doth ouertake him could not but haue thought him in a wretched and miserable case So likewise Paul hee that should haue seene him trotting and trudging vp and down from Office to Office to get his Commissions sealed to commit vnto prison all that made profession of Christ could not but haue thought him with Simon Magus to be in the gall of bitternesse O but stay a while this is one of Gods secrets that belongeth vnto him he in whose hands are times and seasons hath his time to call home those that belong vnto the election of grace in the meane time wee may not passe a finall doome vpon any Indeed when I see a man liue a dissolute life liuing in drunkennesse swearing vsury c. and in all manner of prophane courses I may say this man is in the way to destruction but yet there may bee a time wherein the Lord may call home such a one I may come to a tree and say here is little fruit or no fruit or bad fruit but I cannot say with Christ Neuer fruit grow on thee any more Luke 11. for God may shew mercy at last vpon their vnfained repentance And last of all this may bee a Vse 4 forcible motiue vnto vs to moue vs vnto repentance and to bee a spur in mens sides to make them speedily to returne and to seeke God art thou a Drunkard a Swearer a prophane and beastly liuer that hast spent thy time in vaine prophane and licentious courses O behold here Gods mercifull dealing now at last with this poore penitent vpon his repentance the Lord doth freely receiue him againe to fauour Be not then out of heart albeit thou art compassed about with many infirmities wrong not the Lord neither wrong thy owne soule as to thinke it will bee too late for thee at last to returne vnto him It was a cursed speech of a cursed wretch Gen. 4. My sinne is greater then God can forgiue no no labour for a broken and a contrite heart and the Lord in mercy will couer all thy sins And indeed this is the true vse we are to make of all the fals and infirmities of Gods children as they are recorded in Gods book not to incourage vs in a course of sinning by their examples The true vse of other mens fals but First to put vs in minde of our weakenesse for if Dauid Peter Ionas and the like worthy stars in the Church haue fallen whither shall we fall if the Lord shall but a little leaue vs vnto our selues Secondly to keepe vs from despaire and therefore we can as ill spare the examples of their infirmities for our consolation as the examples of their vertues for our imitation What would become of vs had not the Lord left vs the examples of great land grieuous offenders whom he hath againe receiued into fauour surely wee should euen sinke vnder the burthen of those sins whereof our own hearts cannot but condemne vs. But the other rebuked him Wonderfull are the fruits of this Penitents repentance and faith beleeuing confessing giuing testimony of Christs innocency rebuking his fellow accusing himselfe and hoping aboue hope in this crucified Sauiour whom all the world
rod. Neuer childe was more submissiue to the corrections of a Father then Dauid was Memorable is that speech of his Psal 119.75 I know O Lord that thy iudgements are good and that thou of very faithfulnesse hast caused mee to be troubled To this accordeth the example of old Eli when Samuel told him That the Lord would do a thing in Israel 1 Sam. 3.18 that whosoeuer should heare thereof his eares should tingle Meaning indeed the iudgement the Lord would bring vpon him and his house how doth he behaue himselfe vnder this heauie denunciation threatned It is the Lord saith hee let him do as it pleaseth him By which answer of his we may collect how sensible he was of his own sin in his indulgent behauiour towards his sons takes the same as a iust punishment from heauen vpon the same Of this spirit no doubt sauours that of the Prodigal Luk. 15. I will go to my Father and I will say vnto him Father I haue sinned against heauen and before thee I am no more worthy to be called thy sonne Reade wee ouer the prayers of Gods Church and people at such times as Gods wrath hath broken out vpon them and his iudgements haue layne heauie vpon them Haue they not still acknowledged the Lord to bee most iust Thus Ezra in the behalfe of the people â—zra 9.10 Now our God what shall we say for wee haue forsaken thy commandements â—ch 9.33 Thus Nehemiah Surely thou art iust in all that is come vpoÌ„ vs. â—an 9.7 Thus Daniel O Lord righteousnes belongs vnto thee but vnto vs shame Yea Micah personating the whole Church and people of God in times of great affliction and sore aduersity â—ich 7.9 I wil beare with patience the wrath of the Lord because I haue sinned against him By which examples and diuers more of that kinde recorded in Gods Booke we may see the propertie of a true conuert and of an heart truly humbled for sinne it can willingly and readily take all vpon it selfe and still acquite the Lord of iniustice or hard dealing when his iudgements lie most heauie vpon them Whereas on the contrary if wee looke vpon the behauiour of wicked men when the Lord most iustly hath ouertaken them in their wickednesse wee shall heare them grudging repining and complaining as if the Lord were not iust in punishing them so seuerely Gen 14.13 My punishment saith Cain is greater then I can beare Saul can plead for himselfe 1. Sam. 15.20 as if his punishment were not iust And so the Prophet Malachy brings in the wicked pleading against God Mal. 1.6 Wherein haue we despised thy Name or wherein haue we beene stout against him As if the Prophet had taken his ayme amisse and done them great wrong to charge them on that wise O the wickednesse that is in an impenitent heart The point is cleare and plaine the reasons briefely are Reas 1 First his word and spirit hath informed the iudgements of his seruants teaching them how to conceiue of the Lords distribution of his iudgements that are executed vpon them that the Lord therein cannot but bee iust Hee rewardeth euery man according to his works Psal 62 12 saith the Psalmist God doth not proceed against any in iudgement vpon malice or vpon suspition but vpon iust ground before whom all things are open and naked And hence is it that the Lord pleads this his integritie and iustice against the people of Israel Are not my wayes equall Eze. 18.2 and are not your wayes vnequall Secondly the conscience of their owne sinne causeth them to iustifie the Lord and to accuse themselues Psal 39.9 I was dumbe saith Dauid and opened not my mouth because thou didst it And againe My soule keepeth silence vnto God The godly cannot but know that they are their sinnes that haue prouoked God to anger and prouoked him to displeasure Lam. 3.39 Man suffereth for his sinne And the consideration hereof doth humble them and cause them to beare with patience the Lords corrections Seeing then in this Penitent Vse 1 Thiefe acknowledging that his punishment to be so iust we haue beene taught the propertie of a true Conuert namely to submit to Gods seuerest corrections without grudging or repining Hereby then we may take good triall of the integritie of our owne hearts and of the truth of our owne repentance Hath the hand of God beene vpon vs at any time in any kinde whether on our bodies by long and tedious sicknesse or any other misery on our goods names estates of what kinde soeuer how haue we behaued our selues and beene affected vnder the same Corrupt nature in this case will be ready to stand vpon tearmes of iustification as if wee were hardly dealt withall But a sanctified spirit and gratious heart can willingly stoope vnto God Isa 39.8 and say with Hezekiah The word of the Lord is good which thou hast spoken And with good Nehemiah Neh. 9.33 Lord thou art iust in all that is come vpon vs. If in times of affliction and aduersitie wee haue behaued our selues in this sort This is a good testimonie vnto our owne hearts of the true humiliation and conuersion of the same vnto God But if on the contrary part vpon triall had we finde that we were neuer yet so sensible of our sinnes nor apprehensiue of our misery to know and acknowledge that we haue deserued at Gods hand his sharpest plagues and seuerest corrections so that in the middest of them all wee could say Lam 3.39 It is the Lords mercy we are not consumed We can haue no sound comfort in our soules that the true worke of grace conuersion is wrought in vs. Secondly this may teach vs in all our afflictions to labour with our selues to see that sinne is the cause thereof and to learne to profit thereby to amendment of life for such men are farre enough from repentance and true conuersion which goe on sleepily in a course of life and are not humbled when the Lord correcteth And last of all wee are taught here euen in our sharpest afflictions still to iustifie God and to acknowledge that he is euer iust in his iudgements before whom the most holy that are cannot be innocent Text. But this man hath done nothing amisse 3. Iustifieth Christs innocency In these words wee haue the third proofe that manifesteth the truth of this Penitents conuersion and that is his iustifying of Christs innocency This man hath done nothing amisse 5 Argument Ab innoceâ—â—tia Christi And this is that fift and last Argument that hee vseth to his fellow to disswade him from reproaching of Christ and so to stop him in his course of sin and this is taken from Christs innocency Q. d. Wretched man that thou art thinkest thou that because this man suffereth the like punishment with thee and me that therefore his cause was alike no Wee are