India as is in Sozomenus lib. 2. cap. 23. And a prisoner woman conuerted the Iberians Sozomenus lib. 2. cap. 6. And the king of Bulgaries sister conuerted that countrey saith Zonaras Athanasius but a child would reason with his plar-fellowes of the mysteries of religion Ruff. lib. 1. cap. 14. So the children of Samosata when Lucius an Arrian Bishop as they were at Ball-play had with his foote touched their ball they would not play with it vntill they had drawne it thorow the fire Crying their Ball was defiled by the heretiques foote Theodoret lib. 4. cap. 15. And no lesse worthy to bee remembred are the children of Merindoll in France who were so expert in the principles of religion that questioning one with another before the Bishop of Cauaillon with such grace and grauitie as was maruellous to heare thereupon a religious man come lately out of Paris said to the Bishop I must needs confesse that I haue often beene at the common schooles of Sorbone in Paris where I haue hard the disputations of the diuines but yet I neuer learned so much as I haue done by hearing these yong children according to Matth. 11. 25. Act Mon. pag. 868. Thus we see how Gods children watched ouer their babes from their infancie and what good effects it brought forth in and by them and so would with vs if we did the like the Lord open our hearts and make vs see how many millions of babes and infants come to fearefull designements by reason of parents sleepinesse and securitie in this behalfe Wherefore my next vse shall be to admonish and in Christ Iesus to entreat all parents to pittie their infants and while they be yong to nurture them in the feare and knowledge of God and that for these reasons among others 1. Because God commandeth it Deut. 6. 6. c. Eccles. 12. 1. Lam. 3. 27. Psal. 78. 4. 2. All the godly in all ages performed this dutie whose examples we should follow and further know that as the Iewes children were after the circumcision so soone as might be instructed in the Lords waies so should wee after Baptisme be in the lawes of Christ. 3. It is necessary for vs so to doe for all men know and confesse that Sathan spits and beares an implacable hatred to young babes and infants because they be the seede of the Church and therefore labours to draw and keepe them in all prophanenesse as he caused the Iewes by an Apish imitation of Abrahams offering of Isaack to sacrifice their children to Moloch contrarily Leuit. 18. 21. and 20. 2. So in Popery be Priests Monkes and Nunnes kept from lawfull marriage beget children and in the birth stifle them witnesse Huldericke Bishop of Ausbrough who in an Epistle to Pope Nicholas the first relateth how Pope Gregrorie the first vpon a certaine day sent vnto his fish pond for fish and aboue 6000 infants heads were brought vnto him which were taken out of that pond or moat whereupon he confessed his restraint of Priests marriage to be the cause thereof and if this was in one pond what was in euery place and at all times 4. Euery man is so full of originall as actuall sinne that vnlesse we be sanctified and from our cradles seperated to pietie wee shall neuer or very hardly be saued for looke what licour the new caske taketh it longest tasteth thereof and we reade how the figge tree was cursed though the time of figs was not yet Mark 11. 13. To teach vs to watch that at all periods of our liues we should be fruitfull in good workes and holy life and we see how the Beares tare in peeces 42. little children at Bethel that mocked Elisha their littlenesse excused them not 2. King 2. 23 24. 5. The yonger they bee in glorifying God the greater blessing of God shall light vpon them for admit they wote not what they say yet God who heareth the spirit speaking in them woateth and accepteth of their words as if they vnderstood them as we see in Math. 21. 15. Mark 10. 14. c. Psal. 8. 2. And we see how fearefull it is to heare a little childe sweare curse or name the diuell though he knoweth not what he speaketh all will presage that hee will approoue an vngratious childe and is of an vncleane spirit Let parents then as the Eagle and Pellican build their nests on high that the olde Serpent come not nigh their yong and know that the best in heritance they can prouide for and bequeath their children is pictie And heare would I willingly for comfort and ease in this long Watch for long a breeding but soone done away to parents giue some poore direction and open my mouth for the dumbe Prouerbs 31. 8. And speake with a stammering tongue precept vpon precept line vnto line there a little and there a little Else how will babes be taught knowledge Isa. 28. 9 10 11. Wherefore for the right institution of a childe I presuppose the parents to be religious and not of that number who wil laugh when their children sinne but weepe if they be godly addicted I would haue the mother who is the nurse else is no better then an Ostridge and worse then the Dragons which draw out the brests and giue sucke to their yong Iob 39. 17. Lament 4. 3. So to frame if she can her childes speech that the first word hee speaketh should bee God to perfume and sanctifie the rest of his words and meete this should be so for shee nurceth now the sonne of God and therefore should be taught to name and call vpon his heauenly father then to this word adde blesse me next Iesu saue me and blessed Spirit of God sanctifie me 2. As his vtterance encreaseth teach him at his vprising to say I praise God for my sleepe Lord keepe and blesse me this day and likewise to thanke God for his foode going to bedde to commit himselfe to the Lord euer being carefull that no vncleane thing nor person nor any of the children of the wicked corrupt him in word nor deede 3. Then in this progresse as wit and discretion with plainnes of speech commeth teach him by rote the Lords prayer then the beleefe after the Decalogue and so pithie questions and answers concerning the principles of Religion then some short graces which he is before and after his meals to say with some short prayers for morning and euening to say vpon his knees which will be all he can do the two first yeeres after he begin to speake that is vntill he be full fiue yeares old 4. Then to learne by heart some parts of the Bible as he groweth capable thereof And to this worke must the father likewise reatch his helping hand and if there be more children of riper yeeres in the house whom he vseth as his play-fellowes let them in their sports teach on another the elder the yonger and so their recreations
regard the ioyes of this sinfull troublesome world but still will call Come Lord Iesu. The third Vse should serue for a warning to the wicked who cannot abide in his heart any of Gods Elect if hee beare the name of a godly man nor yet of his Ministers if he be a strict reproouer of his sinnes but euer rideth and derideth them slanders reuiles and abuseth them with all indignities and ioyeth in nothing more then in spoyling beggering and persecuting them but one day they shall heare our Sauiour their Iudge name them the blessed of his Father call them cheerefully to him to iudge them Math. 19. 28. Luke 22. 30. and 1. Cor 9. 1. 2. and doe they not now make a faire hand to mis-â—all such as Christ calleth blessed that is intire and dearely beloued to him to his Father precious and glorious in his sight what welcome and entertainment doe they hope for this day when they stand before the Ministers they reuiled robbed and persecuted what fauour canst thou O bloudy persecutor and robber of Christ and his Ministers expect at their hands or with what face canst thou desire them speake a good word for thee that thou maist be receiued to heauenly Tabernacles but rather looke that they will aggrauate thy sinnes to the Iudge to reward thee as thou didst serue them and to execute iudgement mercilesse to thee that shewedst them no mercy loue nor kindenesse not so much as to a dogge Be wise then in time and make them thy friends that as Abraham for Abimâ—lech and Iob for his three friends they may now pray for thee and then giue testimony of thy reformed godly life else thou art like to finde as little fauour from them as the rich glutton found of Lazarus Luke 16. 25. 26. but aboue all humble thy soule in true faith and repentance and make now whilest thou heere liuest the chiefe Iudge himselfe thy friend and he will fully secure thee and if the chiefe Iudge take thy part all the bench will and whom the King fauours all the Court will doe so likewise And so farre of the tenth Motiue The eleuenth Motiue to watchfulnesse is to consider the manner of Christs proceeding in iudgement vpon the Elect and Reprobate which shall be by a true and iust triall of euery mans particular life heere ledde be it good or euill none shall complaine of partiality or want of due triall not indifferent â—earing for shall not the Iudge of all the world doe right Gen. 18. 25. Psal. 96. 13. yes Christs proceedings that day with all the world shall bee most righteous sincere and vpright for as at the barre of an earthly Iudge the prisoners are from the goale brought forth and presented before the Iudge and there the bookes are opened their causes examined and they according to the produced euidences acquitted or condemned so in that great day shall euery man without exception be brought before Gods tribunall to be tried according to their workes 2. Cor. 5. 10. Math. 25. 35. 42. because their outward works are plaine euidences of their hearts and inward graces or vices Now the manner of this manifestation is two-fold first their workes must be made known what they be secondly they must be prooued to be good or euill The reuealing of the workes is said in Dan. 7. 10. Reuel 20. 12. to bee by opening of the books not that God hath or needeth bookes to register all mens workes for this would imply that his memory were defectiue brittle and failing as mans and so were hee not a most wife perfect omniscient and an all knowing God in and of himselfe but it is so said in respect of the weakenesse of our capacity which otherwise cannot conceiue Gods mysteries but by earthly similitudâ— and comparisons as Isa. 28. 9. for we are very children in heauenly things tell a childe of the latter iudgement and the circumstances therof and he vnderstandeth nothing therof at all no more then if you tould him parables and why but because hee is a childe and this booke is to him as clasped or sealed as that in Reuel 5. 2. 3. so the naturall man perceiueth not the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishnesse vnto him neyther can hee know them because they are spiritually discerned 1. Cor. 2. 14. Therefore the Lord in mercie humbleth himselfe lispeth and speaketh after the manner of men for as Iudges when they come to the bench and the prisoners are set before them then the bookes of their information euidences and inditements c. are opened and read before them whereupon a Iury is impanelled to determine whether the parties be guilty or not and then accordingly the Iudge giueth sentence so shall it be heere that albeit all things are open in his sight and hee euer knoweth all mens workes as if hee had written and read them out of a booke Psal. 139. 16. Ier. 23. 23. yet it is said that then the bookes shall bee opened These books be first the Word of God which is the ground and foundation of all for as the Law was deliuered at Sinai to be a rule for euery mans life and the Gospell a rule for faith so now must all bee iudged according to that booke So our Sauiour affirmeth in Iohn 12. 48. and 17. 20. The word that I haue spoken shall iudge him in the last day and saith Paul Rom. 2. 16. At the day when God shall iudge the secrets of men by Iesus Christ according to my Gospell The second booke is the booke of euery mans Conscience Rom. 2. 12. 14. 15. They shall shew the effect of the Law written in their hearts their Consciences also bearing them witnesse and their thoughts accusing one another or excusing for the Lord by his secrets and omnipotent power shall in that day so awake and touch euery mans conscience with the guilt of their sinnes which now is rocked in the cradle of security and sleepeth as a snorting dogge or as a clasped booke is shut vp that it dare not peepe nor mutter that they all shal be brought as fresh and perfect into their remembrance as they were the very day they were done with all the circumstances thereof that possibly they cannot bee denied 1. Cor. 4. 5. So that being left excuseless needs they must confesse them as men at the gallowes and holding vp their hands cry guilty as Gen. â— 13. Iob 20. 20. Math. 27. 4. Iohn 8. 7. 9. for their Consciences shal be as a thousand witnesses enforcing them to accuse iudge and vtterly condemne themselues before the Iudge doe iudge or condemn them which will be the cause that they shall not bee able as wicked as they be to finde any fault with the Iudges proceeding against them for they confounded at the sight of their sinnes will abhorre themselues and confesse they deserued all punishments as God will put vpon them and
A DISCOVRSE OF CHRISTIAN WATCHFVINESSE Preparing how to Liue how to Die and to be discharged at the Day of Iudgement and so enioy Life Eternall By IOHN ROGERS Minister to the Church of Chacombe in Northhampton-shiere Habbac 2. 1. I will stand vpon my watch and will set me vpon the Towre and will watch to see what he will say vnto me and what I shall answere when I am reproued LONDON Printed by William Iones dwelling in Red-crosse Streete neere Saint Giles Church 1620. TO THE WORshipfull and religious Gentleman Master Thomas Bigges Esquire and Iustice of the Peace and Quorum in the Countie of Worcester And to the Worshipfull and right vertuous Gentlewoman Mrâ—â— Anne Bigges his Wife grace mercy and peace from God the Father in Iesus Christ our Lord. Worshipfull Sir WE reade that when a certaine Lacedemonian Phylosopher had made a New Booke and was about in open hearing to recite it as the manner then was Antaloides demanded whereof the argument was who answering that it was of the praise of Hercules replyed But who dispraiseth him intimating it a needlesse worke to praise whom all men admired So I occasioned to declare my hearty affection to your Worsh for sundry extraordinary fauours which could not be performed without relating of many excellent vertues wherewith the Lord graced you I considering these premisses in the very enterie retired lest I should seeme to vndertake an vnnecessary labour in commending whom none dispraised Wherefore diuerting from this purpose I tooke it more beseeming for me to ioyne and â—oy with such as congratulate and praise God for you who in these your greene yeares endued you with such pietie wisedome and grauitie which few of gray haiâ—es in our Country attained vnto whereby for your place and Worshipfull calling you in executing Iudgement and Iustice releeuing the Fatherlesse and Widdow doing good to all and iniuring none of all sorts are highly magnified drawing as with a secret Load-stone the hearts and prayers of your people vnto you and for you and which is the Crowne and Garland of all vertue and generositie approue a sincere fauourer and furtherer of Christs holy Religion and the professors thereof Many for glory of the World become famous Common-wealths men but few for the glory of God approue good Church-men and Religious Gentlemen for al-be it in policie they can afford braue salutations and reach the hand to some rare Preachers yet is it but as Sauls fauour to Dauid by fits and fashions being at continuall warre and hatred with their owne Parish Ministers which made it a Prouerb That Gentlemen are Venison in Heauen but howsoeuer they take Religion to be but a foolishnesse and a base slauery to serue the Lord yet is there not any thing that more honoureth a Gentleman or Nobleman then to be a faithfull professor of Religion and vpholder of his Ministers as to your cost you doe which causeth them take vp Pauls prayer for you and yours The Lord giue mercy vnto the house of Onesipherous for he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chaine which shall one day doe you more good then tenne thousand worlds to the wicked and irreligious For howsoeuer they bragge in the depth of their sensuality that they can be godly when they lâ—st and will the while bathe themselues in impiety yet try it who please and I would it would please them to try and goe through therein they shall finde it an harder matter to become truly Religious then they thinke which I speake not to discourage any from being godly for God will sweeten and make casie the way to all that seeke his face but for your comfort and the high commendations of all Gods Elect who for sake all with Peter and Paul for Christ and account them but dung And let them know that for men and women abounding in all worldly contents to forsake themselues their ease their wealth their pleasures and profits and to giue themselues wholly first to God as did the Macedonians and then for his sake to his Church deuoting themselues wholly to his Worship and seruice whatsoeuer it cost them not only to the losse of their goods but also of their liues if the Lord call them to it is an extraordinary grace and vnspeakeable gift of God for which they are euer to be thankfull vnto the Lord for vnlesse God had by the mighty grace and power of the holy Ghost wrought this admirable worke in their hearts they could not possibly get that great victory against their owne selfe-loue Couetousnesse distrust in Gods prouidence and promises yea against the very power of the Diuell himselfe and all his complices who with vnited forces labour to hinder this worke which they see bringeth so great glory to God credit to the Gospell and Saluation to mens Soules But blessed be God who from among many seâ—ected you to this high calling making you heire not onely to your Worshipfull Parents possessions but also to their piety and godly profession And albeit the Lord for causes best knowne to himselfe hitherto maketh you childe-lesse yet to his glory and your comfort hath hee made you and your most vertuous wife parents of your spirituall children which saith Ambrose are farre better then any carnall posterity or names of sonnes and daughters In which respect may it truely and comfortably be sald Blessed are the barren and reioyce thou barren that didst not beare c. for the desolate hath more children then the married wife c. so that as King Cyrus when Lysander the Lacedemonian Ambassador saw his Orchard called the Paradice of Sardis and admiring the highnesse and straightnesse of the Trees and how euen the rankes were set quadrangle-wise demanded who had so set them he answered These trees haue I planted these rankes haue I deuised and many of these plants haue I set with mine owne hands So when you in the great Day of the Lord shall appeare before God accompanied with all these your spirituall children whom you your most gracious wife haue begotten and nursed vp to your Christ and he demand of you who these multitudes be you shall ioyfully answere These thy Ministers wee euer countenanced cheered and contributed vpto to these Widdowes and Orphanes vvee haue beene as Father Mother these poore afflicted haue we releeued and many of these haue we brought vp in our owne house and all thine elect people haue we euer louingly embraced Whereunto the Lord of glory shall answer Well done good seruants and faithfull enter into your Masters ioy Which the Lord grant you both to doe for these indeed are the right Hounds and Hawkes as Alphonsus King of Arâ—â—gons telleth an Ambassador desiring to see his hunting Hounds where with all good Nobles and Gentlemen should hunt for the Kingdome of Heauen euen Christs poore afflicted members And as Bâ—naiah and the people tell king Dauid of Salomon
is that they are suddenly taken at vnawares and vnprouided and this makes them vnpatient and to cry for some respit to make them ready for Death that is the Lord must stay for them stil but let them watchfully prepare for Death and wait for the Lord as is meet and say Come Lord Iesu come quickly 2. The vnprepared want faith for had they neuer so little faith it would free them from this feare and would animate them against all terrors as Psal. 46. 1. c. for as the body so long as the soule remaineth therein liueth so man so long as Faith abides in his soule needeth not feare Death no more then we feare sickenesse whiles wee enioy perfect health or pouerty while wee abound in wealth 3. There is no feare of death where there is no sinne for sinne is the cause that God depriueth vs of life but the vigilant and godly in time pull out the stings of Death and in Christ their sins are couered and not imputed vnto them Psal 32. 1. 2. Rom. 4. 7. and they sinne not 1. Iohn 3. 9. yea now to them death it selfe is slaine and swallowed vp in victory by the death of Christ 1. Cor. 15. 54. 55. 56. foreseeing that the prick or sharpnesse of Death is sinne and the power of sinne is death Iesus Christ hath accomplished the Law for vs and thereby taken away the sting of Death so that it shall neuer hurt vs any more and so to vs death now is no death but an entrance to life 4. God is euer with the Elect in their troubles and will not for sake them and though they walke in the valley of the shadow of death they will feare nothing Psal. 23. 1. 4. Gen. 46. 4. Luke 22. 43. hee being with them how can they feare to say nothing that he is in league and couenant with them to doe them all good and to remooue from them all harmes and hurts as Isa. 43. 1. c. Feare not I haue redeemed thee I haue called thee by name thou art mine when thou passest through the waters I will be with thee and through the riuers they shall not ouerflow thee when thou walkest through the fire thou shalt not bee burnt neyther shall the flame kindle vpon thee c. 5. Death is but a passage or vvay to life which now is so broad and smooth beaten by all Gods Saints that a man may blindly in the darke tread it without stumbling 6. Such as die in the Lord rest from their labors and their workes follow them and what labouring man after his dayes toyle and trauell would not rest from his labours and betake him to his bed and sleep so we by death shall rest from all the miseries whereunto this life is subiect and shall sleepe as in our beds and what a blisse is this specially to the godly who of all others in this life bee most miserable for they are subiect not onely to the common calamities of this life as of sicknesse pouerty losses c. but also besides these the world doth hate reuile persecute them that so bitterly and extreamely that many of them be imprisoned racked and tormented and cruelly put to death as Heb 11. 36. c. and 2. Cor. 11. 23. c. So that to them it is a great happinesse to rest from their labours and yet to rest from their labors by Death is but a part and not perfect blisse or happines for then a labouring Oxe or trauelling Horse were happy when they died yet they loath tremble to die but they that die in Christ haue another increase of happinesse for they enter into glory and their workes that is the reward of their workes follow them for they shall bee in euerlasting ioy why then should Gods children feare death seeing it is an end of present euills and a beginning of felicitie eternall 7. Death bringeth vs in glory to see God our Father and Iesus Christ our sweet Sauiour and the Holy Ghost our sanctifier of whom wee haue seene nothing hitherto but his pourtrait described by the Prophets Apostles which one thing ought to moue vs more then any thing to desire our dissolution for if the Queen of Saba came so farre to see Salomon and to heare his Wisedome how farre should wee goe to heare a greater then Salomon Luke 11. 31. Saint Austin wished he had liued to see Roman triumphantem Paulum praedicantem Christum in carne but those sights were nothing to these in the highest Heauens wher Christ with all his Angels Saints triumph in glory for now shall that blessing of our Sauiour in Luke 10. 23. be perfectly in vs fulfilled viz. Blessed are the eyes that see the things that ye see for I tell you that many Prophets and Kings haue desired to see these things which ye see and haue not seene them c. the only contemplation of whom will make vs fully content and will dampe and take from vs the remembrance and sense of all other profits and pleasures whatsoeuer Then with him wee shall see all the Angells Patriarchs Prophets Apostles Martyrs and Saints of God who haue in all ages excelled in vertue and godlinesse with all the holy Preachers who shine as the Sunne and Starres in the firmament of Heauen a sight surpassing that which Socrates hoped after his death to see to wit the Noble Heathens that liued before him as Agamemnon Aiax Vlisses c. 8. By Death our soules shall be separated from our bodies and made more free and capable of the profound mysteries of Gods Hierarchy and Heauenly Kingdome for then the vaile being remoued from our eyes and as Nazianzen writeth Our heauenly soules no longer pressed downe by our earthly bodies wee shall see the Lord face to face and know him as wee are knowne 1. Cor. 13. 2. and plainely behold that which we now worship for them shall we enter into the sanctuary of our God euen to the Holy of Holies there will God shew vnto vs as to his intire friends the whole glory and riches of his house and blessed kingdome and keepe nothing backe from vs. Blessed Death wilt thou not make hast to come and conduct vs thither for thou art the wholesome Physicke which curest vs of all diseases and afflictions and by casting vs into and vnder the earth liftest vs to the highest heauens to liue with God for euer 9. Death is to vs the beginning of life which Epaminondas a Heathen at his Death could see saying to his frends Be merry for now I begin to liue and so Ignatius Now I begin to be Christs Disciple so then in truth death is life and the life wee heere lead is but a limping death onely the one and the other are masked vnder false visages for as writes Chrysostome Our life which is full of misery hath a faire visour on which causeth fooles to loue it and Death which is the beginning
for husbands and parents impiety separated from God and stand in the same transgression If to thy Minister he it is whom thou hast euer hated robbed persecuted and which is another vexation hee shall anon sit in iudgement vpon thee If to the Saints they haue not oyle enough for themselues If to thine own good workes they as smoake vanish being all done in hypocrisie and for vaine-glory and from an vnregenerate heart If to thy former life behold a blacke cloud of trecherous inditements against thee If to Satan thy suggester he now stands in the like condemnation If to the Angells they are the haruest-men sent to gather the tares and to cast them into the fiery furnace If to the Iudge himselfe he calls thee to surrender thy talents and stewardship If to carnall shifts and helpes the Iudge will not be corrupted with bribes nor mooued with flattery nor deluded any longer with promises nor terrified with threats nor touched with pitty thy threats will not bee respected wringing of hands pulling of hayre tearing of thy flesh weeping howling and endlesse lamenting will not be regarded praiers be but babling vowes past date no truce no sureties no appeale no repriuing no delay no repentance a wicked life calleth for iustice sin for death contempt of God for finall damnation turne thee what way thou wilt there is no cōfort euery creature proclaims that the mighty must be mightily tormented and woe is to the wicked for now it shall goe euill vvith him for the reward of his hands shall bee giuen him What shalt thou doe looke vp to heauen it is shut against thee to the Iudge hee commeth to denounce the sentence vnder thy feete hell gapeth for thee within thee is a condemning conscience without thee the bookes opened about thee the reprobates mourning to goe forward is vnpossible to goe backward is not permitted to stand still thou canst not to runne away is bootlesse no remedy but miserably to sustaine and vndergoe all torments and extremities of this fearefull day and place vnlesse now thou repent ioyne with Gods Church forsake thy former wickednesse and that thou maist die the death of the iust liue the life of the godly and if thou vvilt haue a wished place in iudgement and after in heauen with Gods Elect get thee a place heere vpon earth with Gods Church bee not now separated from them in the exercises of religion and holy communion of Saints and thou shalt not be diuided from them in the enioyments of the fruits thereof both in death iudgement and glory eternall in heauen for looke what place and profession thou choosest heere now among the godly or wicked and the like place shalt thou find with the like company in iudgement and euer after Behold I set before thee life and death good and euill c. as in Deut. 30. 15. to the end And thus farre of the second Motiue The eight Motiue to watchfulnesse is the consideration of the glorious comming of the Son of God to iudgement immediately after the whole world is assembled to the appointed place but so that first two euident signes shall goe before the one immediately before his comming or as I may say at his setting forth which is this 1. There shall be signes in the Sun c. as in Luk. 21. 25. The Sea and the Waters shall rore and mens hearts shall faile in them for feare for the powers of Heauen shall be shaken Luke 21. 25. 26. As for the signes in the Sunne Moone and Starres Math. 24. 29. saith they shall be darkened that is to say as the learned expound it Christs comming vnto iudgement shall be with such resplendant and vnspeakeable glory that euen the most excellent creatures shall bee thereat astonied so that the Sunne and Moone shall bee darkened and the starres as if they fell from heauen giue no light that is these most glorious and bright-shining creatures shall be clouded obscured and damped by the vnconceiuable brightnesse of Christs comming to iudgement whereat the wicked shall despaire for feare as Reuel 6. 12. to the end which place is an euident fore-running figure hereof as that also in Exod. 19. 16. to 20. Then the sea and waters shall for feare roare least now they shall bee turned to nothing such as dwell by the Sea side obserue that against tempestuous weather the Sea roareth but this being a most fearefull day in respect of Gods inquisition for sinne and sinners and all other accessaries therevnto and no storme to the tempest of Gods wrath they not onely roare but as it were set out their feare with all the strength and power they can that so the Lord might respect and preserue the miserable sencelesse creatures abused by mans sinfulnesse and the powers of heauen shall be shaken as threatning a downefall by reason of mans sinne and the Lords indignation and punishing of all sinners As when the Father of a family punisheth and whippeth in his anger any one of the seruants all the house as the very children and seruants will feare and so is it heere when the Lord in his vvrath commeth to punish all workers of iniquity the Angells the Heauens and Saints of God all subiect and guilty of their infirmities compared vvith Gods holinesse and perfection cannot but tremble and quake as we read the Prophets did in all their visions much more in this So likewise when the Master of a great family dieth the whole house is troubled the wife taketh on the children weep the seruants lament the retainers mourne the house is turned vpside-downe hospitality giuen ouer and all come to ruine and desolation so heere when man the center and glory of this world draweth to his end and triall and is like to bee vtterly confounded in hell fire Oh Lord What shall become or to vvhat vse serues this world the heauens the earth the sea and all the powers thereof but vvith man to be turned to nothing or set vpon a light fire to bee consumed to dust and ashes if the Lord in mercy do not otherwise determine and dispose of them and is it any maruell that they tremble quake and roare for feare and how much-more should man the cause hereof seeing and knowing all these things tremble weepe and howle for his sinnes now while time serueth and he may be heard but in these great water-flouds of misery they shall not come nigh him nor be heard Wee see that onely an earth-quake if it bee any thing vehement is exceeding fearefull the least extraordinary inundation of waters very terrible but now when the vvhole massie globe of this world shal thus totter and shake the mightiest seas and waters rore and rage for feare and the glorious heauens become darke and dusky how shall the hearts of men be appalled with dread and terror to behold the same and the cause thereof wise men preuent dangerous diseases lest they take away their colour and kill them