by an vtter destruction chastening in the meane time the countries round about vs as hauing some hope of their turning and amendment Let vs therefore with all speed humble our selues vnder Gods mighty hand and make a godly vse of his iudgments that euery litle chastismēt of his may driue vs to a lothing forsaking of our former euil waies that we may stand in awe and not sinne for our God is a iealous God and a consuming fire so shall he smel a sauour of rest and receiue an attonement for the land so shall the light of his countenance be lifted vp vpon vs and so shal it go well with vs and with our children after vs in their generations The word preached Gods Ministers Another very direct meanes to this end is the preaching of Gods word the voice of his Prophets ministers rising vp early premonishing vs of our dāger shewing vs the way wherin we should walk Therfore the Lord when he sent the Prophet Ieremie to the people of Israel and Iuda he bade him proclaime a fast and tell them what he had threatned against them Ier. 36. Because saith the Lord it may be when they heare the euill that I purpose to bring vpon them they will returne from their wickednesse and so by that meanes I may forgiue them their sinnes and receiue them to fauour This is the manna that came downe from heauen this is the immortall seed by which so many are borne to God How great cause haue wee to blesse the Lord that it hath pleased him so to dispose of vs that wee should be borne and bred in such a time and among such a people as professe the faith of Iesus Christ and are daily taught and instructed both to beleeue and liue accordingly Our Fathers longed to see these dayes and could not see them we feare no burning nor imprisonment for professing the doctrine of Christ wee neede not crosse the seas to seeke instruction wee may in a blessed freedome of minde and body approch to Gods altars and sit at the feete of the Lords Prophets and heare those heauenly comforts and directions from their mouthes Neuer was London so well supplied with godly reuerend Ministers since the first stone of her walles was layd then in this very day The Lord Iesus continue and encrease the number But what account make we of these meanes we can content our selues to sit an houre in the Church to heare Gods word taught not for conscience but for fashion as our deedes make plaine For where almost is he or she that hath left any one deere sin this seauen yeares though twice seauen yeares they haue heard it condemned nay which is strange vpon the monday we commit those very sinnes which vpō the Sabbath day before were to our faces most particularly reprooued which were enough to discourage vtterly those men of God in the worke of their ministerie they taking such paines watching for vs whē we sleep studying and spending their spirits to bring vs to repentance and we like wretches making small account of it and profiting little in godlinesse by it but that the Lord hath sayd his word shal neuer goe forth in vaine but either it shall lift vs vp higher to his courts in heauen or sinke vs downe deeper into the pit of hell And the labours of his Ministers shall be as highly rewarded for leauing the gracelesse ones without excuse as for conuerting a weake soule from going astray A Seruaunt when hee is commaunded to do any thing by his Master will feare to looke his Master in the face or to come in his way if hee neglect it and doe it not How dare wee then hauing sate in the Church and there heard out of the Pulpit the seate of Gods Oracles sin forbidden repentance enioyned our negligence taxed not once but continually from time to time with precept vpon precept line vpon line I say how dare we presse so boldly without any awe or reuerence into the presence of God the great Master of all Masters in the world Sabbath after Sabbath and yet guilty to our selues in the meane time of so great disobedience vnlesse wee come thither in an insolent fashion to stout and out-face the Lord or to laugh in our sleeues at his weaknesse that will be borne in hand with a cunning semblance and as well pleased as if the deede were performed O my brethren tremble to dally in this sort with the Almighty if hee speake let his seruants heare if hee command deferre not to doe it receiue it not as the word of man but as it is indeede the word of God Pray aforehand that you may feele the vertue and power of it in your heart renuing and changing your willes and affections let the feete of them be beautifull that bring this tidings of peace and good things vnto you They are the Embassadours of the euerliuing God and disposers of his secrets they are our Fathers in Christ by whom wee are new begotten to eternall life The Lord hath giuen them power out of his word to pronounce his sentence so that what they binde on earth is bound in heauen and what they loose on earth is loosed in heauen Let vs haue them in singular loue reuerence for their works sake The contempt of their persons is a notable policie of the diuell to make their teaching be contemned also Let vs shew our thankfulnesse to God for them in obeying those things which they command vs in his name They haue called vpon vs long enough for amendment let them now haue cause to commend vs that wee haue amended Let our hearing be at length a ioy to them lest their sorrow be hereafter a witnesse against vs One Ionah conuerted Niniueh what a shame is it to vs that so many Ionahs should doe no good in London Another meanes to set vs forward in the way of repentance Good bookes conference is the reading of good bookes mutuall conference and exhortation one of another These doe both after one sort bob vs continually on the elbowe and euen importune vs to well doing and would worke some good effect if we were not negligent carelesse in the vsing of them But so it is how much time doe we spend idlely in doing nothing or vnthriftily in doing naught neuer taking a good booke in our hands all the weeke long though we haue choice of manie and our trades will beare it or if wee begin it growes irksom straight before wee haue turned one leafe ouer or if we haue the patience to goe thorow to the end slightly enough wee cast it in a corner to be moulded and moath-eaten and are as much the better as he that hath lookt in a glasse is after his backe is turned because we doe not stirre vp and whet our remembrance by a second more aduised reading esteeming our olde bookes as olde friends which must euer now and then be visited
euill when the Authors themselues are displeased at it and assure vs that vpon the reckoning there is nothing but terrour and discomfort to bee gained by it And why should we not loue wel doing when the very enemies therof commend it as being the ground of a quiet conscience and that is like a cōtinuall feast where there is mirth and cheare all the day long O my brethrē it is the inward purenes of the heart that neuer makes vs change colour it is innocencie that neuer galles the mind neuer pricks the inward parts it is seasonable repentance that breedes that internall glee which is a certaine taste of the future felicity and a beginning of the ioyes of heauen in vs and that which maketh vs feele incredible pleasures amidst the most greuous troubles miseries of this life Once saith a godly writer man was in paradise Now paradise is in man and that is the ioy of a good conscience which makes him confident and secure and resolute at all times so that though the heauen should melt and the earth be remoued yet he is vnshaken for he knoweth in whom he hath beleeued and if the Lord be God he shall not miscary Wouldest thou haue this security this peace this boldnes wouldest thou liue this blessed life wouldest thou bee without frights without checks without prickings in thy hart then fly from sinne abandon all that may offend the Maiesty of GOD worke out your saluation with feare and trembling seek the Lord cal vpon him trust in him thanke him sweare not by his sacred name prophane not his sabbaths kil not quarell not hate not in thy heart let not the sunne go downe vpon thy wrath defile not thy body through lust cosen not oppresse not slander not couet not another mans labour to say truely both now and to your liues end that thou maist say with the blessed Apostle Acts. 24. I haue endeauoured to walke in all good conscience alwaies both towards God and towards men and that same peace of God which passeth all vnderstanding shall keepe your hearts and mindes in Christ Iesus But if you let go the raines to your old licentiousnes and bee more wicked to day then yesterday to morrow then to day if you say to the good motions of Gods spirit as the false friend in Salomon to his neighbour Go and come againe to morrow or as Festus to Paul when I haue a conuenient time I will heare further of you and so passe along your daies in all iollity voidnes of care your things seeming to be in peace because the strong man hath full possession of all yet when the lease of your life shal be expired and the parting houre is come vpon you then your sin which slept before the dore shall start vp lie heauy vpon your soule and conscience and then howsoeuer the Lord may haue suffered you to thriue and grow great in the world yet you shal find that it is not your soft beds nor your pretious waters nor your sweet musick nor your pleasant company nor your sealed bags nor your rich purchases nor your statutes and euidences can ease your minde or buy you this peace this blessing this inestimable treasure which a religious life might haue purchased before Beyond all this whilest we remain impenitent GOD heareth not our prayers Psal 66. If I incline my heart to any vvickednesse the Lord vvill not heare me Prou. 15. the sacrifice of the wicked is abomination to the Lord nay their very prayer is turned into sinne And what comfort can wee looke for in the troubles and dangers incidēt to our life when that which should bee our refuge shelter to resort to encreaseth our danger and in stead of bearing of the storme falles downe like a ruinous house vpon our heads we are besides out of the compasse of Christs intercession he excepts worldings wicked ones by name out or his prayers And if he will not plead our cause who dares speake for vs if wee bee out of his protection where is our assurance any desperate villanie may strick his dagger to our heart the Diuell may teare vs in peeces and carry vs to hell there is none to succour vs. Moreouer whilest we take part with sinne against God all the creatures take Gods part against vs the horse hath his heeles ready to strike out our breath the bull hath his hornes ready to goare vs the boare his tuskes to haunch vs the dog his phangs to pull out our throates the tiles ouer our heads are prest to braine vs the fly in our cup to choake vs our owne knife is ready to glance into our flesh euery thing else is ready to worke mischiefe to vs euery little iob vnder our feete to giue vs a brusing fall and they doe onely wait while the word be giuen them and they wil instantly accomplish their charge Besides so long as we continue to worke euill in the sight of the Lord and doe not turne vnto him with all our harts and thinke vpon his commandements to doe them nothing shall be succesfull vnto vs Mal. 2.2 God will curse our blessings our waies shall not prosper wee shall bee cursed in the citie and cursed in the field cursed shall our basket be our dough cursed shall be the fruit of our bodie Deut. 28 and the fruit of our land and the encrease of our cattell cursed shall wee be when wee go our and cursed also when wee come in The Lord shall send vpon vs cursing and trouble and shame in all that wee set our hand to doe Marke yet further how particularly the Lord goeth on with his threatnings Thou shalt betroth a wife and another man shall lie with her thou shalt build a house shalt not dwell therein thou shalt plant a vineyard and shall not eate the fruit thereof The stranger that is among you shall clime vp aboue on high thou shalt come beneath alowe he shall be thy head and thou shalt bee the taile Thou shalt bee contemned in thine owne country Thou shalt neuer but suffer wrong violence alwaies so that thou shalt be euen mad for the sight which thine eies shall see things shall go so crosse notwithstanding all thy prouidence and industrie that it shall make thee at thy wits end to thinke of it O my Brethren who would continue in sinne one houre longer that seeth himselfe hemd in on euerie side with so many curses and iudgemēts as it were so many armies of the Lord fighting directly against him who would lay his eies together before he had made his peace with God and once for euer bid defiance to his former sins who would liue this wretched life ful of vexation and terrour and cursing forlorne of God and his creatures destitute of all succours without any care to redresse it till he be come to shake hands with it whē he may presently redresse it by present
auoiding of euill so shal they first feare to doe that which you hate and at length fall in loue with that which you practise It shall get you more authority and respect with them heere and increase the blessednes of your own soules another day that you haue been the meanes through the blessing of God to saue your poore prentises soules also And heere I shall desire my worshipful masters of this City to whose sight this little hādfull of papers may come not to take offence at any thing I haue spoken out of zeale and heartie meaning nor to impute it to arrogancie in me that I haue intermedled in their offices From which proud sin I thank my God I am free but if it be iust that I haue saied and agreeable to Gods word that they will not disdaine to do it it shall not only be no disparagement but praise and honor to them comfort to other of Gods children and ioy to the Angels in heauen that by their religious care their seruāts are made Gods seruants with them and there is such a towardly and hopefull succession to stand vp after them that as the Thessalonians were examples of godlines to those of Macedonia so Londoners at length may be like exāples of piety religiousnes to all the neighbor townes of Great Britaine also CHAP. 7. THe next good meanes to waken vs out of the sleepe of sinne and to quicken vs to a new cōuersation is the sweete consolation and ioy which God giueth vs in our soules and consciences of his seruice after we haue once made our peace with him by sound and seasonable repentance This is the peace that passeth all vnderstanding this is the earnest of our inheritance this is a present taste or say of the ioyes of the life to come I knowe my words seeme to the carnall and vnregenerate a fained thing as the womens report of Christs resurrection did at first to the Disciples but if thou wouldst doe as they did neuer leaue till in thine owne person thou hast tried out the truth of this matter thou shouldest feele within thee such a paradise of sweetnesse as thou thy selfe were not able to vtter Thou shouldest see with what cōfortable cheere Christ would offer himself vnto thee with what delicates he would refresh thy soule what secret affections hee would inspire into thee and with how pleasant a cup of loue he would make thee merrie if thou wouldst follow his pathes forsaking the by-wayes of sinne and worldly vanities The least drop of this diuine sweetnesse would vtterly distast vnto thee all the pleasures of sinne that euen the remembrance of them would be irksome and vnsauorie For mine owne part I haue had experience of this which I say For to my shame I speake it I haue beene as leaud and as wicked a fellow as euer thou hast beene whosoeuer thou art and one that hath made as small conscience of sinning against God as euer thou hast done either in swearing or lying or prophaning the Lords Sabbath or in deriding the deere Saints and seruants of God Nay what vice would I haue left vnpractised if I might haue come to the knowledge of it what pleasure or vanitie or abomination can be named whereof I would not haue had not a dram or sip but a drunken carouse if the Lord by good meanes had not restrained me from such effusion of beastlinesse It irketh me to thinke in what a fearefull state I liued at that time for had not God beene very mercifull vnto me the earth might haue opened and swallowed me vp quick for rebelling against his great Maiestie being Lord of heauen and earth but such was his goodnesse to spare me and such was his patience to waite for my repentance for euer magnified be his holy name therefore For this cause when once it pleased his Maiestie in some measure to giue mee a sight and feeling of my sinnes through the preaching of his word which I had a long time heard in vaine before as also by meanes of some of my Brethren in Christ Iesus stirring mee vp continually with such like admonitions as I doe now stirre vp thee I consulted not with flesh bloud but presently set my selfe to resist my former euill inclinations resoluing and endeuouring euery day to change the tenor of my life and to serue God in better manner then euer I had done before giuing small regard what the companions of my leaudnesse and other of the prophane multitude did say of me nor what deriding termes they bestowed vpon men for I saw no other way but either I must be a hell-hound or be called a Puritan And therefore I chose rather to suffer reproch with the children of God and to abide the name of hypocrite and dissembler c. then to be a varlet with euery varlet or accounted an honest fellow amongst the prophane And so continuing in this course and framing my selfe to liue more more in the feare of God shaking off my olde sinnes I felt in my selfe in short time such a sweete and comfortable change and such internall heauenly ioy of Gods seruice that I would not haue exchanged it againe for all the choicest delights of the world heaped at once vpon my heart And surely my Brother if thou wouldest once enter into this resolution as I haue done turning from dead works to serue the liuing God thou shouldest see what a banquet of celestiall delicates hee would set before thee and how plentifully hee would powre forth the wine of his consolations vnto thee that thou mightest say as Iudith did in another case I will drinke now freely O my Lord Iudith 12.18 because my heart is merrie this day more then euer it was in all my life before Only for this shalt thou feele sorrow that thou hadst not sooner embraced the meanes of thy conuersion that the sooner thou mightst haue beene partaker of this diuine ioy and these soules rauishing comforts The last meanes I will speake of is the consideration of the ioyes of heauen whereof the ioy of Gods children here is but a little drop or spark that heauen the consummation perfection or euerlasting well-head of all pleasures that can be seene named or conceiued seene named or conceiued said I nay no eye hath seene no eare hath heard no thought hath euer comprehended the ioy the pleasure the felicity the glory which GOD hath layed vp in the life eternall for them that serue him with an vpright heart in this world The Scriptures doe sometimes resemble heauen to a Paradise or pleasant field sometimes they describe it by a goodly Citie sometimes by a Kings Court but what are these but worldly descriptions of that which passeth all the world Go out into the most delightfull parts of the Country view the faire hilles the flowrie vallies the crystall fountaines the cleere riuers sweet woods goodly plaines variety of fruites melody of birds c. and all this is nothing