There is a reward for the righteous Q. BVt suppose wee haue Gods acceptance is this all wee shall haue for our well doing A. Hee that soweth righteousnesse shall also haue a sure reward Prou. 11.18 And euery man shall receiue his owne reward according to his owne labour 1 Cor. 3.8 Whether hee be bond or free Ephes 6.8 So that hee which followeth after righteousnesse and mercy findeth life righteousnesse and honour Prou. 21.21 For behold the Lord God will come with strong hand and his arme shall rule for him Behold his reward is with him and his worke before him Isa 40.10 So that a man shall say verily there is a reward for the righteous verily he is a God that iudgeth the earth Psalm 58.11 Prou. 19.8.24.4.21.21 Iob. 34.7 c. Therefore Vzziah so long as he sought the Lord God made him to prosper 2 Chro. 26.5 Hezechiah also wrought that which was good and right and true before the Lord and prospered 2 Chro. 31.20 17.3 Numb 25.11 Math. 26.13 Exod. 1.21 Zech. 3.7 Gen. 22.16 Ierem. 35.18 Heb. 11.5 Gen. 18.17.19.24.12 with 26.2 Chro. 14.7 c. 2.13 18 Psal 18.20 Ob. Much good is done which God may neither see nor obserue A. The Lord searcheth the heart and tryeth the reines euen to giue euery man according to his wayes and according to the fruite of his doings Ierem. 17.10 For hee is the great and mighty God the Lord â—f host is his name great in counsell and mighty in worke for his eyes are open vpon all the wayes of the sons of men to giue euery one according to his wayes and according to the fruite of his doings Ier. 32.18 And doe runne to and fro throughout the whole earth to shew himselfe strong in the behalfe of them whose heart is perfect towards him 2 Chron. 16.9 Psal 111.5 Ob. But may not God forget our weldoing A. God is not vnrighteous to forget your worke and labour of loue which yee haue shewed towards his name in that you haue ministred to the Saints and doe minister Heb. 6.10 For he remembred his holy promise and Abraham his seruant Psal 105.42 And when they that feared the Lord and speake often one to another the Lord hearkened and heard it and a booke of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord and that thought vpon his name Mal. 3.16 I haue waited long and yet hauâ— no reward A. Yet bee not weary in weldoing foâ— in due season you shall reape if you faint not Gal. 6.9 For how euer the sonne of man be aâ— one gone into a farre countrey to receiâ—â— vnto himselfe a kingdome yet will he returne Luke 19.11 And come in the glory of his Father with his Angels and theâ— hee shall reward euery man according to hiâ— workes Mat. 16.27 Therefore turne thou to thy God keep mercy and iudgement and waite on thy Goâ— continually Hos 12.6 Ob. As for works of mercy wherein I doe part with my goods the more good I doe for others the lesse good remaines to my selfe A. There is that scattereth and yet increaseth The liberall soule shall be made fat and he that watereth shall be watered also himselfe Prou. 11.24.25 Hee which soweth bountifully shall reape bountifully 2 Cor. 9.6 Giue and it shall be giuen vnto you good measure pressed down shaken together running ouer Luke 6.38 For God is able to make all grace to abound towards you that you hauing sufficiency in all things may abound in euery good worke As it is writen Hee hath dispersed abroad he hath giuen to the poore his righteousnesse remaineth for euer 2 Cor. 9.8 Psalm 112.9 1 Kings 17.16 Isa 32.8 Psalme 41.1 Q. Why will God thus reward our weldoing in this kind A Because the administration of this seruice not onely supplieth the want of the Saints but is abundant also by many thankesgiuing vnto God whiles by the experiment of this minsteration they glorifie God for your professed subiection vnto the Gospell of Christ and for your liberall distribution vnto them 2 Cor. 9.12 Math. 5.16 Q. What is the vse of this A. 1. To confute the scorner for what man is he then who drinketh vp scorning like water which goeth in company with the workers of iniquity and wâ—keth with wicked men For hee saith profiteth a man nothing that hee shouâ—â— delight himselfe with God Iob 34.7 And what profit is it that we haue kept hâ— ordinances and that we haue walked mourâ—fully before the Lord of hosts whicâ— call the proude happie and say that sucâ— as worke wickednesse are set vp yea theâ— that tempt God are euen deliuered Where as they that feare mee shall be mine saitâ— the Lord of hosts in that day when I maâ—â— vp my Iewels and I will spare them as man spareth his owne son that serueth him Then shall ye returne and discerne between the righteous and the wicked between him that serueth God and him that serueth him not Mal. 3.14 Thefore hearken vnto mee yee men of vnderstanding far be it from God that he should doe wickednesse and from the Almighty that hee should commit iniquity For the worke of man shall be render vnto him and cause euery man to finde according to his waies Iob 34.10 Mal. 2.17 2 Pray saying Remember me O my God concerning this and wipe not out my â—ood deedes that I haue done for the house â—f my God and for the offices thereof Neh. 13.14 Doe thou O Lord recompence my workes and giue vnto mee a full reward Ruth 2.12 And let thy mercy be vpon me according as I hope in thee Psal 33.22 3 Be strong therefore and let not your hands be weake for your worke shall be rewarded 2 Chron. 15.7 And as euery man hath receiued the gift euen so minister â—he same one to another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God 1 Pet. 4.10 Because that for this thing the Lord thy God shall blesse thee in all thy workes and in all that thou puttest thine hand vnto Deut. 15.10 And shall also recompence thee at the resurrection of the iust Luke 14.14 Deut 14.29 Gal. 6.10 Eccles 11.1 Hebrews 13.2 Colloss 3.24 Prou. 3.28 1 Tim. 6.17 Isa 3.10 Q. Among other good works shew mee how the works of charity must be done that so I neither neglecting thâ— worke nor faile in the manner of doing them may bee sure not to faileâ— my reward A. Take heed that you doe not your almâ— before men to be seene of them otherwiâ—â— you haue no reward of your Father which in Heauen But when thou doest thiâ— almes c. let not thy left hand know whâ— thy right hand doeth that thine almâ— may bee in secret and thy Father whicâ— seeth in secret himselfe shall reward thâ— openly Math. 6.1.16 And whatsoeueâ— you doe doe it heartily as to the Lord aâ—â— not vnto men knowing that of the Lord yâ—â— shall receiue the reward of the inheritance for yee serue the Lord Christ Col. 3.23 2 Hee
to see Gods Children walking in the truth Ioh. 3. Epist 4. And are aliue if they stand fast in the Lord 1. Thes 3 8. Phil. 2.7 2. Chron. 29 36. 6 By loue towards Gods Ministers For Paul doth beare record vnto the Galathians that they would haue plucked out their owne eyes and given them to him Gal. 4 15. Priscilla also and Aquila haue for his life laid down their owne necks Rom. 16 3.4 2. Tim. 1.16 1. King 18 4. 7 Loue to Gods people I could wish saith Paul that my selfe were accursed from CHRIST for my Brethren my kinsmen according to the flesh Rom. 9 3. And if saith Moses to GOD thou wilt not forgiue their sins blot me I pray thee out of thy booke which thou hast written Exod. 32 32. 2. Cor. 9 1 2 8 1 2. 2 Zeale of disliking affections For Lot that righteous man dwelling among them of the old world in seeing and hearing vexed his righteous Soule from day to day with their vnlawfull deeds 2. Pet. 2.8 And doe not I hate them O Lord that hate thee and am I not grieved with them that rise vp against thee I hate them with a perfect hatred I count them mine enemies Psal 139 21. The zeale of thine house hath eaten mee vp and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen vpon mee Psal 69 9. Psal 119 53. Psal 119 136 139 158. vers Act. 17 16. Ier. 9 2. Exod. 32 19. Nehem. 13.21 25.1 4. Isa 30.22 Num. 25 8. Rom. 15 3 9. 2 Phil. 3 18. Ezra 9 3. Dan. 10 2. 1 Sam. 4 18 21 22. Q. What may wee learne from all this A. Not to be sloathfull to doe service but to be fervent in Spirit serving the Lord Rom. 12 11. And to be valiant for the Truth vpon the Earth Ier. 9 3. Knowing that if you loose your first loue God will remoue your Candlesticke out of his place Revel 2 4. And if you shall bee luke-warme hee will spew you out of his mouth Revel 3 16. CHAP. XXIII Of Charity Iustice and Content Q. BVt with our loue to GOD shall wee also haue charitable hearts vnto men A. You are taught of God to loue one another 1. Thes 4 9. whereby the Charity of every one of you all one towards another aboundeth 2. Thes 1 3. Q. Wherein shall our Charity towards our Brethren bee exercised and exprâ—ssed A. 1 Towards their Soules 1 As STEPHEN who prayed for his persecuters crying with a loude voyce Lord lay not this sinne to their charge Act. 7.60 And as DAVID who when his Enemies were sicke his cloathing was Sack-cloath hee humbled himselfe with fasting Psal 35 13. And as ABRAHAM for ABIMILECH Gen. 20 17. MOSES for PHARAOH Exod. 8 12. for Israel Exod. 17 11. and for MIRIAM Num. 12 13. 1. Sam. 12 18. 1. King 13 6. Dan. 9 20. Zach. 1 12 13. Acts 12 5. 2 As DAVID Psal 32 8. and SALOMON Prov. 1 2. and IOB who instructed many and strengthened the weake hands Iob 4 3 So to bee a guide of the blind a light to them which are in darknesse an instructer of the foolish a teacher of Babes Rom. 2 19. In meeknesse instructing those also that oppose themselues if God per aduenture will giue them Repentance 2. Tim. 2 25. 2 Towards their Bodies and therein first Let them be as thine owne bowels in the Lord Phil. 20. That so thy bowels may sound like a Harpe as for Moab and thy inward parts as for Kirharesh Isa 16 11. Saying looke away from me I will weepe bitterly labour not to comfort me because of the spoyling of the Daughter of my people Isa 22 4. For how can I indure to see the destruction of my kindred Esther 8 6. Iob 30 25. Ier. 9 1 48 31. Psal 35.13.14 2 Sam. 1 11 c. 2 In keeping Hospitalitie as did the old man of mount Ephraim who comming from his worke and lifting vp his eyes hee saw a way faring man in the street of the Citie hee brought him into his house and gaue provander to the Asses and they washed their feet and they did eate and drinke Iudg. 19 16 21 ver And as the Brethren of Ierusalem who gladly receiued PAVL with other Disciples of Samaria and of his company Acts 21.16 And as OBADIAâ— who tooke an hundred Prophets and hid them by fiftie in a Caue and fed them with Bread and water 1 King 18 4. 2 Sam. 6.19 Acts 16.34 3 In giuing Almes For TABITHA was full of good Workes and Almes-deeds which she did Act. 9.36 CORNELIVS also gaue much Almes to the people Acts 10.2 And the Disciples every man according to his abilitie sent reliefe vnto the Brethren which dwelt in Iudea and sent it to the Elders by the hands of BARNABAS and SAVL Act. 11.29 We doe you also to â—it Brethren of the grace of God bestowed â—n the Churches of Macedonia how that 〈◊〉 great tryall of affliction c. their deepe poverty abounded vnto the riches of their liberalitie For to their power I bare record yea and beyond their power they were willing of themselues 2 Cor. 8.1 2 Cor. 9.1 2 Tim. 1.16 Acts 20.34 Rom. 16.1 2. Act. 4.32 Psal 37.21 2 Chro. 28.15 Thus the righteous considereth the cause of the Poore but the wicked regardeth not to know it Pro. 29.7 For they will send the Widowes away empty and the armes of the Fatherlesse will they breake Iob 22.9 Iob 24 6. Amos 2.7 2 Sam 23.7 Prou. 12.10 Iudg. 5.23 2 Chro. 19.2 Isa 32 6. Q. What therefore must wee doe A. Seeing yee haue purified your soules in obeying the truth through the Spirit vnto an vnfained loue of the Brethren see that yee loue one another with a pure heart fervently 1 Pet. 1 22. And bee yee followers of God as deare children and walke in Loue as CHRIST also hath loued vs Ephes 5 1. That as you abound in every thing in faith in vtterance and knowledge so that yee abound in this Grace also For yee know the Grace of our Lord IESVS CHRIST that though hee was rich yet for your sakes he became poore that yee through his poverty might bee made rich 2. Cor. 8 7 Remembring also his words how that hee saith It is a blessed thing to giue rather then to receiue Act. 20 35. 1. Tim. 6 18. Pro. 17 17 14 21 14 31. Luk. 14 12. 1. Pet. 4 8. 1. Cor. 16 1 2.2 8 13. 1 Thes 4.9 10. Zach. 7 9 Iudg. 1 7. 1 Sam. 15 33 Leu. 19 33 25 35. 1 Ioh. 4 20. Nehem. 8 10. Deut. 15 7. Mâ—th 5.42 Ioh. 15 12. Of Iustice Ob. I haue obserued some men who haue beene very open handed in releeuing the poore who yet haue made no Conscience to defraud the rich A. Surely Righteousnesse and Mercy shall meete together Psal 85 10. For I will also make thy officers peace and thine exactors righteousnesse Isa 60 17. Yea thy people shall bee all Righteous Isa 60 21. And
the Kings Chappell and it is the Kings Court Amos 7 12. 7 Others thinke they are rich and increased with goods and haue need of nothing not knowing how they are wretched and miserable and poore and blind and naked Reu. 3 17. And therefore being full they despise the hony Combe Whereas to the hungry Soule every bitter thing is sweet Prou. 27 7. Ioh. 9 39 1 Cor. 1 19. Q. What are the dangers which doe aâ—tend the contempt and abuse of the Word 1. A Famine not of Bread but of hearing the Word of the Lord Amos 8 11 12. For which cause Paul and Barnabas turned from the Iewes vnto the Gentiles Acts 13 46.18.6 16 6. Ioh. 12 35. 1 Sam. 28 6. 2 Chron. â—5 3. Ezek. 7 26. Amos 8 9. 2. Vnrecoverable destâ—â—ction Because saith God I haue called and yee haue refused I haue stretched out my hand and no man regarded but you haue set at naught all my Counsell and would none of my reproofe I also will laugh at your calamitie and I will mocke when your feare commeth Prou. 1 24. And then as I cryed and you would not heare so you shall cry and I will not heare Ier 11 11. But I will doe vnto you as I haue done to Shiloh and I will cast you out as I haue cast out all your Brethren even the whole seed of Ephraim Io. â—7 13 c. For the Earth which drinketh in the Raine that commeth oft vpon it and yet beareth thornes and briars is reiected and is nigh vnto cursing whose end is to be burned Heb. 6.7 10 28. Hos 6.5 Deut. 17 12. Revel 2 16. Math. 12 41. 2 Chron. 36 14 c. Ierom. 11 6. Nehem. 9 29. Ezek. 34 13 33 33. Prou. 13.13 Q. What vse are wee to make of all this A. Therefore suffer the words of exhortation Heb. 13 22. And heare what the spirit saith to the Churches Reu. 3 13 That so the word of God may dwell in you plenteously in all wisdome Col. 3 16 For why should their bee a price put into the hand of a Foole to get wisedome and he hath no heart Prou. 17 16. Receiue my instruction and not silver and knowledge rather than choice gold for wisedome is better than rubies and all the things that may be desired are not to bee compared to it Prou 8 10. Therefore buy the truth and sell it not also wisedome and instruction and vnderstanding Prou. 23 23. Incline your eare and come vnto me heare and your soule shall liue Isa 55 3. 1 Thess 5 20. Heb. 12 25. Prou. 8 33 16 16.1 20 22 23 8 12 9. 1 Iam. 1 21. Iob. 22 22. 2 Cor. 6 11. Luk. 10 41. Deut. 11 18 4 9 Luk. 2 18. Reu. 1 3. 2 Take heed therefore how you heare for whosoever hath to him shall be given and whosoever hath not from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to haue Luk. 8 18. And with what measure you mete it shall bee measured to you Mark 4 24. Q. Tell vs therefore how wee may heare the Word with fruit A. 1. Hâ—are it diligenâ—ly my Sonne if thou wilt receiue my words and hide my Commandements with thee so that thou wilt incline thine eare vnto wisedome and apply thine heart vnto vnderstanding yea if thou cryest after knowledge liftest vp thy voyce for vnderstanding If thou seekest her as silver and searchest for her as for hid treasures then shalt thou vnderstand the feare of the LORD and find the knowledge of GOD Prou. 2 1 1 5 6. 2 Lay aside all malice and guile and Hypocrisies and enuies evil-speakings 1. Pet. 2 1. And all filthines and superfluitie of naughtines Iam. 1 21. And breake vp your fallow ground and sow not among thornes Circumcise your selues to the Lord and take away the fore skins of your harts Ier. 4.3 4. 3 As new borne babes desire the sincere milke of the Word that you may grow thereby 1. Pet. 2.2 For wheresoever the Carcase is thither will the Eagles resort Math. 24.28 4 Receiue with meeknesse the ingrafted â—ord which is able to saue your Soules â— Iam. 21. And let no man deceiue â—â—mselfe for if any man among you would 〈◊〉 wise in this World let him become a â—oole that hee may be wise 1. Cor. 3 18. For IESVS said For Iudgement I am â—â—me into this World that they which see â—ut might see and they which see might 〈◊〉 made blind Ioh. 9 39. Math. 11.25 26.5 Pray saying 1. Open thou mine eyes that may behold the wondrous things of thy â—â—w I am a stranger on earth hide not thy â—â—mmandements from me Psal 119.18 will praise thee with vprightnesse of heart â—hen I shall haue learned thy righteous â—â—dgements Psal 119.7.27 33 34 73.125.69.171 verses 2 Pray O that my wayes were directed 〈◊〉 keepe thy statutes then shall I not be ashaâ—â—d when I haue respect vnto all thy comâ—andements Psal 1â— 9.5 with my whole â—â—art haue I sought thee O let me not wanâ—â—r from thy commandements 119.10 â—eale bountifully with thy seruant that I may liue and keepe thy word 119.17 Let my heart be sound in thy statutes that I be not ashamed 119 80. Order my steps in thy word and let not any iniquity haue dominion over me 119.133 6 Be yee dooers of the word and not hearers onely deceiuing your owne soules For if any be a hearer of the word and not â— dooer he is like vnto a man beholding hiâ— naturall face in a glasse for he beholdetâ— himselfe and goeth his way and strait waâ— forgetteth what manner of man hee waâ— But who so looketh into the perfect law oâ— liberty and continueth therein he noâ— being a forgetfull hearer but a dooer of thâ— worke this man shall be blessed in his deed Iam. 1.22 Deut. 4 5.5.1.30 11. Luk. 11 28. 1. Thess 4.1 Eph. 4.17 Phil. 4.8 Rom. 2 13. Reuel 1.3 1 Pet. 4.6 Math 7.24 Ob. I haue done my poore indeauour to obserue these rules yet when I am present at the word I cannot keepe my mind from wandring A. The eares of them that heare shall hearken Isa 32.3 And the eares of the deafe shall be opened Isa 35.5 For hee â—akeneth morning by morning he will waken thine eare to heare as the learned Isa 50.4 Or as he opened the heart of LIDDEA whereby she attended vnto the things which were spoken by PAVL Act. 16.14 Whereby thou shalt bee able to say â—eake LORD for thy seruant heareth â— Sam. 3.9 Neh. 8.3 Act. 8.6 Luk. 19. â—8 Ob. The Scripture is a booke so fast sealed and I my selfe am a man so dull of conceit that I cannot vnderstand the â—â—me Isa 28.9 c. A. The entrance in to GODS word giueth light it giueth vnderstanding to the simple Psal 119 130. Wherby they that erre in spirit shall come to vnderstanding and they that murmur â—hall learne Doctrine Isa 29.24 The people that walke in darkenesse haue â—â—ene a great light and they
1 King 8 66. Gen. 39 23. Q. What vse are wee to make of this A. Pray saying Saue now I beseech thee O Lord O Lord I beseech thee send now prosperitie Psal 118 25. Let the beauty of the Lord our GOD be vpon vs and establish thou the worke of our hands vpon vs yea the worke of our hands establish thou it Psal 90.17 2 Bee thou strong and very couragious that thou mayest obserue to doe according to all the Law which MOSES my servant commanded thee turne not from it to the right hand or to the left that thou mayst prosper whethersoever thou goest This booke of the Law shall not depart out of thy mouth but thou shalt meditate therein day and night that thou mayest obserue to doe according to all that is written therein for then shalt thou make thy wayes prosperous and then thou shalt haue good successe Ios 1 7. Ob. Righteous art thou O LORD when I plead with thee yet let mee talke with thee of thy Iudgements Wherefore doth the way of the Wicked prosper Wherefore are all they happie that deale very treacherously Thou hast planted them yea they haue taken roote they grow yea they bring foorth fruit Ier. 12 1. Behold these are the vngodly who prosper in the World they increase in riches Psal 73.12 c. Ierem. 5 27. Iob 12 6. A. My righteousnesse is like the great Mountaines and my Iudgements are as a great deepe Psal 36.6 Yet enter thou into the Sanctuarie of GOD for then shalt thou vnderstand Psal 73 16. 1 That the wicked doe reioyce in deed but not from the heart 2. Cor. 5.12 For in their laughter their heart is sorrowfull Pro. 14.13 Of such laughter I said thou art mad and of such mirth what doth it Eccles 2.2 2. They haue their portion in this life Psal 17 14. As ESAV the fatnesse of the Earth Gen. 27 39 And doe prosper till the indignation accomplished Dâ—n 11.36 3 Better is the end of a thing than the beginning Eccl. 7.8 For doth not their execellencie which is in them goe away Iob. 4.21 How oft is the candle of the wicked put out And how oft commeth their destruction vpon them Iob 21.17 Yea the light of the wicked shall be put out and the sparke of his fire shall not shine The light shall be darke in his Tabernacle and his candle shall be put â—â—t with him The steps of his strength shall be straitned and his owne counsell shall cast him downe Iob. 18.5 Yea all the hornes of the wicked shall be broken Psal 75.10 Eccl. 5 15. Pro. 24 19 20 4 Knowest thou not this of old since Man was placed vpon earth that the triumphing of the wicked is short and the ioy of the hypocrite but for a moment Iob. 20.4 I haue seene the foolish taking roote but suddenly I cursed his habitation Iob. 5 3 How are they brought into desolation as in a moment As a dreame when one awaketh so shall GOD despise their image Psal 73.19.20 5 There is hope of a tree if it be cut down that it will sprout againe c. but the wicked man dyeth and where is he Iob. 14.7 He shall returne no more to his house neither shall his place know him any more A. A faithfull man aboundeth with blessings Prou. 28 20. Even all these blessings shall come vpon him and overtake him Deut. 28 2. 1. He shall inherit the Land dwell ther in for ever Psal 37 29. And shall possesse his possessions Obad. 17. Hee shall be no more plucked out of his Land which I haue given him saith the LORD Amos 9 15. Leuit. 20.24.25.18 Deut. 11 24.2 Sam. 7 10. Ioel 3 20. Ier. 12 16. Numb 14 8 24. Iosh 24 13.14 9 14.14 But the sinners shall bee destroyed out of the Land Isa 13.9 And be brought vnto a Nation which neyther they nor theyr Fathers haue knowne Deut. 28 36. And the LORD shall scatter them among all people from the one end of the Earth even vnto the other Deut. 28 64. For hee will send vnto them wanderers that shall cause them to wander and shall empty their vessels and breake their bottels Ier. 48 12. And they shall bee among the Gentiles as a vessell wherein there is no â—leasure Hos 8 8. Then shall the Land enioy her Sabbaths as long as it lyâ—th desolate and they be in their Enemies Land even then shall all the land rest â—nd enioy her Sabbaths As long as it lyeth desolate it shall rest because it did not rest in theyr Sabbaths when they dwelt vpon it Leuit. 26 34. And it shall come to passe when yee shall say wherefore doth the LORD our GOD all these things vnto vs Then shalt thou answere them like as yee haue forsaken me and served strange GODS in your Land so shall yee serue strangers in a Land that is not yours Ier. 5 19.24.8.23.7.2 King 24 9.2 17.6.7.2.18 9 10.12 verses 114.15.2 Chron. â—6 20. Numb 14 22. 30 35.37 20.24 Ezek. 26 13 28 25 39 25. Mâ—l 14 5. Leuit. 26 39 20 22.18.24 Ier. 6 8. Iâ—r 9 16. Q. Which is the second outward blessing A. Multitude of people for who could count the dust of IACOB and the number of the fourth part of ISRAEL Numb 23 10. With whom the Land of Aegypt was filled Exod. 1 7. For they became as the Starres in Heaven for multitude Dâ—utr 10 22. And were moe and mightyer than their Enemies Exod. 1 9.12 13.2 Sam. 24 9. Isay 48 18. But if thou wilt not obserue to doe all the words of this Law c. Yee shall be left few in number Deutron 28.58.62 And your high wayes shall bee desolate Leuit. 26.22 Isa 13.20 Heare therefore O ISRAEL and obserue to doe it that it might bee well with thee and that yee may increase mightily as the LORD GOD of your Fathers hath promised thee Deut. 6 3. CHAP. XLII Of good Government Q. HOw shall so much people be governed A. It shall come to passe if yee diligently hearken vnto mee saith the LORD c. Then shall there enter â—nto the gates of this City Kings and Prinâ—es sitting vpon the Throne of DAVID riding in Charets and Horses they and theyr Princes Ier. 17 24. And your eyes shall see the King in his beauty Isay 33 17. And your Nobles shall bee of your selues and your Governours shall proceed from the midst of you Ier. 30 21 22 4. 1 Kings 2.45 But if you will not hearken vnto the LORD your GOD yee shall haue cause to say wee haue no King because wee feare not the LORD And what shall a King doe to vs Hos 10.3 For from vs GOD taketh away a King in his wrath Hos 13 12. Isa 3 2. Q. What is the hurt which commeth to a people by hauing no King or Ruler to governe them A. As when there was no King in ISRAEL every one did that which seemed good in his owne eyes Iudg. 17.6 So there
tempest stealeth them away as 〈◊〉 the night Iob. 27 20. And hey shall â—e no more and though they be sought for â—et shall they never be found saith the Lord God Ezek. 26 21. Isa 9 18.1 25. Deuâ— 32 22.28 16.19 20. Zeph. 1 14. Ezek. 24 10. Pro. 22 8 Hos 7 13 9 9. Ier. 6 11.15 2.22.8.23.10.48.13.15.5 1 Sam. 2 10 Iob. 4 20.18.11 Isa â—4 17. Amos 5 18.8 3. Nahum 1 9. Ezek. 21.6 Deut. 28.20 Ioel. 2.26 Amos. 5.24 Psalm 68.21 Behold therefore I set before you this day a blessing and a curse a blessing if yee obey the Commandements of the LORD your GOD which I command you this day and a curse if yee will not obey the Commandement of the Lord your GOD but turne aside out of the way which I command you this day to goe after other Gods which yee haue not knowne Deut. 11.26 30.15 Who is wise and he shall vnderstand these things Prudent and he shall know them For the wayes of the LORD are right and the iust shall walke in them but the transgressours shall fall therein Hos 14.9 1 Cor. 10 6. Prou. 10.6 19.16 12. 2 3.12 7 13.6 21 12 12 21 ver Psal 32 10. Ob. Whatsoeuer you Ministers say I am become rich I haue found mee out substance in all my labours Hos 12.8 Neither shall evill come vpon me And therefore the Prophets shall become wind and the Word is not in them Ier. 5 13. A. Because sentence against an evill worke is not speedily executed therefore the heart of the Sonnes of men is fully set in them to doe evill Eccl. 8.11 The Storke in the Heavens knoweth her appointed times and the Turtle and the Crane and the Swallow obserue the times of their comming but this people know not the iudgments of the LORD Ier. 8.7 They will not behold his high hand but they shall see it and be confounded Isa 26 11. The LORD indeed is flow to anger but he is great in power and will not surely â—leere the wicked Nah. 1 3. For will a Fowler take vp the snare from the Earth and haue taken nothing at all Amos 3 â— Your fathers where are they And the Prophets doe they liue for ever But my words and my statutes which I commanded my Servants the Prophets did they not take hold of your Fathers And they returned and said like as the Lord of Hosts thought to doe vnto vs according to our wayes and according to our doings so hath he dealt with vs Zach. 1 5. And despisest thou the riches of his goodnesse and forbearance and long suffering not knowing that the goodnesse of GOD leadeth thee to Repentance But after thy hardnesse and impenitent heart that cannot repent treasurest vp to thy selfe wrath against the day of wrath and Revelation of the righteous Iudgement of GOD Romanes 2 4. Take heed therefore least there should be among you a Roote that beareth gall and wormewood And it commeth to passe when hee heareth the words of this curse that hee blesse himselfe in his heart saying I shall haue peace though I walke in the imagination of mine heart to adde drunkennesse to thirst the Lord will not spare him but then the anger of the Lord and his iealousie shall smoake against that man and all the curses that are written in this booke shall lie vpâ—n him and the LORD shall blot out his name from vnder Heaven Deut. 29.18 Isa 47 7.57.11 Ezek. 21.9 Amos 6 3 9.10 Psal 50.18 Iosh 23 15. Zeph. 2 15.1.12 Isa 28.17 Zach. 1 15. Happy therefore is the man that feareth alway but he that hardneth his heart shall fall into mischiefe Prou. 28.14 The wise mans eyes are in his head but the foole walketh in darknesse Eccl. 2 14. The prudent man foreseeth the evill and hideth himselfe but the wicked passe on and are punished Prou. 27 12. A wise man feareth and departeth from evill but the foole rageth and is confident Prou 14.16.22 3. CHAP. LII The Wicked Convinced of sinne Ob. THese Iudgements may befall Heathens and such as are without but wee are the people of GOD with whom the Lord hath made a Covenant of Peace and therefore none of these things shall befall vs. A. The Lord is with you while yee bee with him and if yee seeke him he will bee found of you but if yee forsake him he will forsake you 2 Chron. 15.2 For at what instant I shall speake concerning a Nation and concerning a Kingdome to build and to plant it if it doe evill in my sight that it obey not my voice then I will repent of the good wherewith I said I would benefit them Ier. 18 9. And the punishment of the iniquity of the Daughter of my people is greater than the punishment of the sinne of Sodome that was overthrowne in a moment Lam. 4 6. Wherefore trust ye not in lying words saying The Temple of the LORD the Temple of the LORD the Temple of the LORD are these Ier. 7.4 But goe yee now vnto my place which was in Shilo where I set my name at the beginning and behold what I did to it for the wickednesse of my people Israel Ier. 7,12 For so will I make this House like Shilo and make this Citie a curse to all Nations of the Earth Ier. 26.6 1. King 9.6 Exod. 32 35. Isa 57.3.4 Deutr. 8.19 Ob. We doe not onely liue in the Church but by Baptisme are made members of the same A. Baptisme verily profiteth if thou keepe the law but if thou bee a breaker of the Law thy Baptismâ— is made no Baptisme Rom. 2 25. Circumcision is nothing and Vncircumcision is nothing but the keeping of the Commandements of GOD 1 Cor. 7 19. It is 〈◊〉 that Aegypt and Iudah and Edome and the Children of Ammon and Moab even all these Nations are vncircumcised and thou art vncircumcised in heart Ier. 9.25 And therefore thou shalt die the deaths of the vncircumcised by the hand of the strangers for I haue spoken it saith the LORD GOD Ezek. 28 10. 1 Cor. 10.1 Ob. I haue not only bin entred and inrolled a member of the Church but also haue ioyned with others in the worship of GOD and in the profession of the same Iudg. 17.3 Isa 58.3 A. There is a generation that are pure in their owne eyes and yet is not washed from their filthinesse Prou. 30.12 Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and Sacrifices as in obeying his voice Behold to obey is better than Sacrifice and to hearken than the fat of Rams 1 Sam. 15.22 The Sacrifices of the wicked is abhomination to the Lord but the Prayer of the vpright is his delight Prou. 15. 8.21.27 Iam. 1.27 But vnto the wicked saith God what hast thou to doe to declare my Statutes or that thou shouldest take my Covenant within thy mouth Seeing thou hatest instruction and castest my words behind thee Psal 50 16. For the LORD loveth Iudgement and hateth Robberie for burnt
shall not bee delivered Amos 9 1. But it shall be with you as if a man did flye from a Lion and a Beare met him or went into the house and leaned his hand on the wall and a Serpent bit him Amos 5 19. Isa 30.16 Amos 2 14. Ob. If we cannot escape by flying we will then hide our selues in some darke Corner of the earth Iob. 22 12 13. Psal 94.7 Isa 29 15. A. I know Ephraim saith GOD and Israel is not hid from me Hos 5 3. Neither is there any creature which is not manifest in his sight but all things are naked and open vnto the eyes of him with whom we haue to doe Heb. 4.13 Whereby it shall come to passe that though you die into Hell thence shall my hand take you though you climbe vp to Heaven thence will I bring you downe and though you hide your selues in the top of CARMEL I will search and take you out thence and though you be hid from my sight in the bottome of the Sea thence will I command the Serpent and hee shall bite you Amos. 9.2 Hos 7 2. Zach. 4. 10. Iob. 12.22 Ob. If this be our case wee will then cease from open sinning against GOD and what wee doe wee will doe in such sort as no eye shall see vs A. Woe vnto you that seeke deepe to hide your Counsell from the LORD and your workes are in the darke and you say who seeth vs And who knoweth vs Surely your turning of things vpside downe shall bee esteemed as the Potters clay For shall the worke say of him that made it hee made mee not Or shall the thing framed say of him that framed it he had no vnderstanding Isay 29.15 You take Counsell but not of me and you cover with a covering but not of my spirit that you may adde sinne to sinne Isa 30 1. But the spirit of man is the candle of the LORD searching all the inward parts of the belly Prou. 20.27 And his eyes behold his eye-lids try the Children of men Psalm 11.4 To giue every Man according to his wayes and according to the fruit of his dooings Ierem. 17 10. Psalme 139.2 c. Ob. But will not a guift in the hand pacifie Gods wrath A. The LORD your GOD is the GOD of Gods and LORD of Lords a great GOD a mighty and a terrible which regardeth not persons nor taketh rewards Deut. 10 17. For every Beast of the Forrest is his and the Cattell vpon a thousand Hils Hee knoweth all the Fowles of the Mountaines and the wild Beasts of the Feild are his If he were hungry he would not tell thee for the world is his and the fulnesse thereof Psal 50.10 Wherefore then doe you harden your hearts as the Aegyptians and PHARAOH hardened their hearts 1 Sam. 6 6. For because there is wrath beware least hee take you away with his stroke then a great ransome cannot deliver thee Will hee esteeme thy riches No not Gold nor all the Forces of strength Iob. 36 18. Ob. Whatsoeuer you can say I know that GODS mercies doe surpasse the measure of our sinnes and hee that made vs will saue vs. A. He that made you will not haue mercy on you and hee that formed you will shew you no favour Isa 27.11 But it shall come to passe when you heare the words of this curse and you blesse your selues in your heart saying Wee shall haue peace though wee walke in the imagination of our hearts to adde Drunkennesse to thirst the LORD will not spare you but then the anger of the LORD and his iealousie shall smoke against you and all the curses that are written in this booke shall lye vpon you and the Lord shall blot out your Name from vnder Heaven Deut. 29.19 Ob. I know that God is not so much without pitty but that if when trouble commeth wee doe crie vnto him hee will heare and haue Mercie vpon vs. A. You shall then cry vnto the LORD indeed but hee will not heare you hee will even hide his face from you at that time as you haue behaved your selues ill in your doings Micha 3 4. And hee will say vnto you goe and cry vnto your GODS which yee haue chosen let them deliver you in time of your Tribulation Iudges 10 14. Not that the LORDS hand is shortned that it cannot saue neither his eare heavie that it cannot heare But your iniquities haue separated betweene you and your GOD and your sinnes haue hid his face from you that he will not heare For your hands are defiled with bloud and your fingers with iniquity your lips haue spoken lyes your tongue hath muttered perversenesse Isay 59 1. Wherfore behold he will bring evill vpon you which you shall not bee able to escape and though you cry vnto him yet hee will not hearken vnto you Ier. 11.11 Hosea 5.6 Iudg. 11.7 Ier. 14.12.7.13 Ob. If Mercie cannot bee had for our owne sakes yet by the Prayers of the Righteous and for their righteousnesse sake wee shall bee deliuered A. Though these three men NOAH DANIEL and IOB were in it they should deliver but there owne soules by their righteousnesse saith the LORD GOD Ezek. 14.14 And though MOSES and SAMVEL stood before mee yet my mind could not be towards this people cast them out of my sight and let them goe foorth Ierem. 15.1 Therefore they shall not pray for this people nor lift vp crye or prayer for them neither intreat mee for I will not heare them saith the LORD Ierem. 7.16.14.11.11.14.15.5.16.5 Ob. But will GOD destroy the righteous with the wicked Genes 18.23 Or shall one man sinne and will hee bee wrath with all the Congregation Numb 16.22 A. Did not ACHAN commit a trespasse in the accursed thing and wrath fell on all the Congregation of ISRAEL And hee perished not alone in his Iniquity Iosh 22.20 2. Chron. 28.19 Notwithstanding runne yee to and fro through the streets of IERVSALEM and see now and know and seeke in the broad places thereof if yee can finde a man if there bee any that executeth Iudgement that seeketh the Truth and I will pardon it Ier. 5 1. But from the least of you to the greatest of you every one is given to Covetousnesse and from the Prophet even to the Priest every one dealeth falsely Ieremiah 6 13. The good Man is perished out of the Earth and there is none vpright among them they all lye in waite for bloud they hunt every man his Brother with a Net that they may doe evill with both hands earnestly The Prince asketh and the Iudge asketh for a Reward and the Great man hee vttereth his mischievous desires so they wrap it vp The best of them is as a Brier the most vpright is sharper than a thorne Hedge therefore the day of thy Watchmen and thy Visitation commeth now shall bee your perplexitie Micha 7 2. Numbers 16 26. Ezekiel 22.25.22.30 Ob. If I may be sure to escape so long
vntill some common Iudgement come vpon our whole Land I shall doe well enough A. If thou continue thus presumptuously to sinne the LORD shall separate thee vnto evill out of all the Tribes of ISRAEL according to all the Curses of this Covenant that are written in this booke of the Law Dâ—uteronomie 29 21. As well as he did ACHAN who for his sinne was by all ISRAEL stoned with stones and his goods with all that hee had burned with fire Ioshua 7 25. Woe therefore bee vnto thee wilt thou not bee made cleane When shall it once bee Ieremiah 13.27 CHAP. LIIII Of the Wicked Converted Q. IF our sinne guiltinesse deserue such inevitable Iudgements goe thou neere and heare all that the LORD our GOD shall say and speake thou vnto vs all that the LORD our GOD shall speake vnto thee and wee will heare it and doe it Deuteron 5 27. A. The LORD hath heard the voyce of your words and said vnto mee I haue heard the voyce of the words of this people which they haue spoken vnto thee they haue well said all that they haue spoken O that there were such an heart in them that they would feare mee and keepe my Commandements alwayes that it might bee well with them and with their Children for ever Deuter. 5.28 But yee dissembled in your hearts when yee sent me vnto the LORD your God saying Pray for vs vnto the LORD our GOD and according to all that the LORD our GOD shall say so declare vnto vs and wee will doe it And now I haue this day declared it vnto you but yee doe not obey the voyce of the LORD your GOD nor any thing for the which hee hath sent me vnto you Now therefore know certainly that yee shall dye by the Sword by the Famine and by the Pestilence in the place whether yee desire to goe and to soiourne Ier. 42 20. For yee cannot serue the LORD for hee is an holy GOD he is a iealous God he will not forgâ—â—e your transgressions and sinnes Ioshua 24.19 How long then halt yee betweene two opinions If the LORD bee GOD follow him but if BAAL then follow him 1 King 18.21 And hearken to mee yee men of ENGLAND that GOD also may hearken vnto you Iudg. 9.7 Giue glorie to the Lord your GOD before hee cause darknesse and before your feet stumble vpon the darke Mountaines while yee looke for light hee turne it into the shadow of death and make it grosse darknesse But if yee will not heare it my Soule shall weepe in secret places for your Pride and mine eyes shall weepe sore and runne downe with teares because the LORDS Flocke is carried away captiue Ierem. 13 16. Q. Wee haue indeed besides all other Sinnes dissembled with the LORD but now the Lord GOD of Gods the Lord GOD of Gods hee knoweth Iosh 22 22. that him will wee serue and his voyce will wee obey Iosh 24.24 The LORD bee a true and faithfull witnesse betweene vs if we doe not even according to all things for the which the LORD thy GOD shall send thee to vs. Whether it bee good or whether it bee evill wee will obey the voyce of the LORD our GOD to whom wee send thee that it may bee well with vs when wee obey the voyce of the Lord our GOD Ierem. 42 5. Iosh 24 21 24. A. Then gird your loynes and lament yee Priests howle yee Ministers of the Altar come lye all night in Sackcloath yee Ministers of my GOD c. Sanctifie yee a Fast call a solemne Assembly gather the Elders and all the inhabitants of the Land into the house of the LORD your GOD and cry vnto the LORD Ioel 1 13. Ier. 4.14 Zeph. 2 1. Ioel 2 12 â—5 Iona 3 8. Ioel 1 13. Psal 46 8. Lam. 2 14. Ioel 2 17. Iam. 4 8. Saying Wee acknowledge our wickednesse and the iniquities of our Fathers for wee haue sinned against thee Ierem. 14 20. Wee haue sinned and haue committed iniquitie and haue done wickedly and haue rebelled even by departing from thy precepts and from thy Iudgements Neither haue wee hearkened vnto thy servants the Prophets which spake in thy Name to our Kings our Princes and our Fathers and to all the people of the Land O LORD righteousnesse belongeth vnto thee but vnto vs confusion of faces as at this day because of our trespasse that wee haue trespassed against thee Dan. 9 5. O our GOD wee are ashamed and blush to lift vp our face to thee our GOD for our iniquities are increased over our head and our trespasse is growne vp vnto the Heavens And now O our GOD what shall wee say after this For wee haue forsaken thy Commandements Ezra 9 6 10. O LORD wee beseech thee let now thine eare bee attentiue to the Prayer of thy servants who desire to feare thy Name and doe confesse our sinnes which we haue sinned against thee both we and our fathers house haue sinned Nehe. 1.11.16 And haue gone astray like lost sheepe therefore seeke thy seruants for we will not forget thy Commandements Psalm 119.176 Turne vs againe O GOD of hosts and cause thy face to shine and we shall be saued Psal 80.7 Doe thou incline our heart vnto thee to walke in thy wayes and to keepe thy Commandements and thy statutes and thy Iudgements which thou commandedst our Fathers 1. King 8.58 That which we see not teach thou vs if wee haue done iniquitie wee will doe no more Iob. 34 32 13 23. Psalme 80.18 Psalme 143.8 2 Doe you take hold of his strength that you may make peace with him and you shall make peace with him Isa 27.5 And thereby good shall come vnto thee Iob. 22.21 And because no man commeth vnto the Father but by CHRIST Iohn 14.6 Nor vnto CHRIST except the Father draw him Iohn 6 44 Therefore pray saying Draw me we will run after thee Can. 1 4 3 Wash yee make you cleane put away the evill of your doings from before mine eyes cease to doe evill learne to doe well seeke Iudgement releeue the oppressed iudge the Fatherlesse plead for the Widdow Come now and let vs reason together saith the LORD though your sinnes bee as scarlet they shall bee as white as snow though they bee red like Crimson they shall bee as Wooll Isa 1.16 Yet the LORD will wait that he may haue mercy vpon you and therefore will he bee exalted that he may haue compassion vpon you for the LORD is the GOD of Iudgement Isa 30 18. Hosea 13.9 Ezekiel 33 11. Zach. 1.3.8.16 Ier. 18 11. Mal. 3.7 Psal 4 4. Eccl. 12.23 1 King 8 61. Isa 66 1.2 4 Beeing thus conuerted you should enter into a Covenant with the LORD your GOD and into his oath which the LORD your GOD shall make with you so shall he establish you this day for a people vnto himselfe and be vnto you a God as he hath said vnto you and as hee hath swore vnto your Fathers Deut. 29 12. Nehemiah 9.38 2 Chronicles 15.12.23.3 2 Chronicl 29.10.34.31 Ezra 10.3 Q. Good is the word of the LORD which thou hast spoken Isa 39 8 Wee doe therefore enter into a Covenant that we will be the Lords people 2 Chron. 23.16 And wee our Wiues our Sonnes and our Daughters even every one of vs having knowledge and vnderstanding doe heere enter into a Curse and into an Oath to walke in GODS Law which was given by MOSES the Servant of GOD and to obserue and doe all the Commandements of the LORD our GOD and his Iudgements and his Statutes Neh. 10.28 The Lord our God will wee serue and his voice will wee obey Iosh 24.24 Nehem. 9.38 A. Then haue you delivered your selues out of the hand of the Lord Iosh 23 31. And as you haue avouched the LORD this day to bee your GOD and to walke in his wayes and to keepe his Statutes and Commandements and his iudgments and to hearken vnto his voyce so the LORD hath avouched you this day to bee his peculiar people as he hath promised you and that you should keepe all his Commandements and to make you high aboue all Nations which he hath made in praise and in name and in honour and that yee may be an holy people vnto the LORD your GOD as hee hath spoken Deuter. 26.17 And these very stones shall bee a witnesse vnto you for they haue heard all the words of the LORD which hee hath spoken vnto you they shall bee a witnesse vnto you least yee deny your GOD Iâ—sh 24.27 For this cause wee also will not cease to pray for you and to desire that yee may bee filled with the knowledge of his will in all Wisedome and spirituall vnderstanding that yee may walke worthy of the LORD vnto all pleasing beeing fruitfull vnto every good worke and increasing in the knowledge of God Col. 1 9. Now the GOD of peace that brought againe from the dead our LORD IESVS that great Shepheard of the Sheepe through the bloud of the everlasting Covenant make you perfect in every good worke to doe his will working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight through IESVS CHRIST Heb. 13.20 And our LORD IESVS CHRIST himselfe and GOD even our Father which hath loved vs and hath given vs everlasting consolation and good hope through Grace comfort your hearts and stablish you in every good word and worke 2 Thes 2 16. Now vnto him that is able to keepe you from falling and to present you faultlesse before the presence of his glory with exceeding ioy to the onely wise GOD and Saviour be Glory and Maiesty Dominion and Power now and ever Iud. 24. And now Brethren I commend you to GOD and to the Word of his Grace which is able to build you vp and to giue you an inheritance among all them which are Sanctified Acts 20.32 The Grace of our Lord IESVS CHRIST bee with you all Amen Revel 22.21 FINIS