that he was so wise a counseller that his counsell was like as one had asked 2. Sam. 16. 23 2. Sam. 17. 23. counsell at the Oracle of God and yet see the end of him he hanged himselfe and all for the want of the knowledge of God It had bin better therefore for him to haue had more wisedome and lesse wit Crates Aristotle Plato and others of the wise Philosophers haue either poisoned burned or drowned themselues and so wee see that the end of the worldlie wisedom is meere 1. Cor. 1. 20. foolishnesse and the foolish haue more peace then the wise for their wisedome without the feare of God doth them no more good then the Arke did to the Philistines which did nothing but torment them because 2. Sam. 5. they knew not how to vse it and therefore vnreuerently abused it For if your wisedome consist in eloquence of words in profunditie of wit to gaine craftilie and spend warily to inuent lawes to expound riddles and interpret dreames to tell fortunes and prophecie of matters by learning all your wisedome is but vexation of the spirit for all these without the feare of God doe vs no more good then their witte did these Philosophers which notwithstanding sate in darknes And I am afraid though Christ broght light vnto the Gentiles yet it may be said that the Gentiles sit in darknesse still sauing a few Leuites scattered vpon the mountaines for whose sake Sodome is spared And because those had not the knowledge of God therefore they worshipped Mars and Cupid Sunne and Moone beasts and serpents 2. King 17. 30. Iud. 16. 23. Act. 19. 33. 2 King 19. 37 Exo. 32. 4. 6. 2. King 1. 2. 1. King 22. 13. 1. King 16. 32. so the Philistines worshipped Dagon the Ephesians worshipped Diana the Assirians Nesroch the Jsraelites worshipped a calfe Ahaziah worshpiped Belzebub the Moabites worshipped Chamos the Samaritanes did worship vnto Baal so the truth to such seemeth falshood and error seemeth truth As for example that the word should be made of nothing that the Word became flesh that God and man was ioyned together in one person that one man may be righteous in the righteousnesse of another which is Christ and that the dead shall rise againe these seemed foolishnes vnto the Gentiles neither could they beleeue them No more can some Gentiles amongst vs at this day which are but naturall men therefore they do not beleeue them for when they professed themselues to be wise they became fooles saith the holy Ghost So then we see now what Christ hath done for vs Rom. 1. 22. he hath bound that Serpent which hath sowne all the tares so that the diuell is faine for want of better lodging to enter into swine Heeretofore whereas one followed God a thousand followed Baal But now Kings and Princes lift vp their heads desiring Christ to raigne with them and in them Heeretofore we made our selues like the wounded man we were spoiled we were stript naked and wee were bathed in our blood being full of wounds but now Christ hath furnished vs he hath washed vs hee hath cloathed vs and wee are now become true Israelites vs which were the vile and wilde Oliues hee hath grafted vpon the true Oliue and planted vs in a fruitfull soile And what cause can we shew for this but onely mercie For Deut. 31. heeretofore wee were called foolish but the Lord hath made vs wise according to the wisdome of God in these dayes by his Spirit but if yee deserue to bee called the foolish Nation againe then yee are most vnhappy and most cursed So now we haue heard that the Lord doth reueale his counsell vnto his Prophets and how the glorie of Israel is now reuealed to bee the light of the Gentiles And you haue the cause why because the Iewes reiected their owne saluation You haue heard that the cause was onely his mercy and his loue because mercy cannot containe it selfe within Ierusalem A light to be reuealed to the Gentiles and the glory of thy people Israel You haue heard why Christ is called light why hee is called the light of the Gentiles why the Lord did change a curse into blessing and why the Gentiles did change darkenes for light and a thousand gods for one true God Then the Gentiles receiued more grace then they desired for the Lord came vncalled vnto their houses and made a feast vnto them in their owne houses The light of the Gentiles is our light your light and my light Christ is our grace your grace my grace and Christ is our saluation your saluation and my saluation Hee came vnto the Iewes for the Iewes and yet his comming vnto the Gentiles was better then to the Iewes Hee came into the world when the world did abound in all wickednesse and saued vs when wee most deserued wrath Wonder at this you that wonder at nothing that the Lord would come to bring saluation to redeeme our lost soules euen as it were against our wils so that now wee would not bee as wee were for a thousand worlds The blindnesse of the Iewes was and is wonderfull who heard of their reiection and of our conuersion and yet vnderstood it not neither sought to preuent Gods wrath in reiecting of them Therefore the Rocke which should haue saued them shiuered them in peeces wherein was shewed their wonderfull blockishnes hauing it so often fore-tolde by their Prophets figured in their lawe shadowed in their sacrifices and read in their Churches from sabbath to sabbath Euery thing that cōmeth to passe in Churches in Common-weales in Cities in Countries in Kingdomes and in Prouinces these are all fore-tolde in the Scriptures and yet none do vnderstand it sauing a few chosen ones whom God loueth For the comming of Antichrist the ouerthrow of Kingdomes the darknesse of popery the light of the Gospell the conuersion of the Gentiles and the reiecting of the Iewes all these are set downe in the Scriptures and yet wee cannot vnderstand it though wee heare it day by day because wee doe not giue our mindes to vnderstanding Such hearers shall stand in a maze before the righteous and terrible throne of God the dead shall rise the trumpe shall blow and all the world shall be in an vproare and they shall stand quaking when their hearing without profiting shall bee laid to their charge and they shall say O wee haue knowne no such thing but surely if the Iewes could come out of hell they would admonish vs to take better heed how we heare for we heare as though we did not heare at all our mindes are otherwise occupied Now when wee see any thing cometo passe as it is fore-told in the scriptures then we must say as Christ said This prophecie is fulfilled for all things that are written are come to Scriptum est factum est that is as sure as it is written so surely doeth it come to passe It prophecieth
at your hands But as the Priest and the Leuite Luke 10. passed by the wounded man leauing him halfe dead so we for the most part passe by our needy brethren leauing them vnreliued Thus are we euery way disobedient to the voice of Christ He teacheth vs to be humble as he himselfe is Matth. 11. 29. and we waxe proud and insolent as Satan is Hee willeth vs to be mercifull as our heauenly Father is Luke 6. 36. and we are cruell and vnmercifull as the rich Glutton was Luke 16. This is the cause why the earth deceiueth and rendreth not her fruit Esay 24. 5. This is the cause why the sword deuoureth abroad and the pestilence destroyeth at home Deut. 28. 15. Leuit. 26. 24. 25. and in a word this is the cause of all the mischiefes and calamities that are threatned euen because we are obstinate and rebellious against the Lord we are vndutifull and disobedient to the voice of Christ that calleth vs so louingly to come vnto him Math. 11. 28. Zaccheus was called but once he commeth quickly but we are called oftentimes and almost euery day and that by the voyce of Christ himselfe For hee that heareth you saith Christ Luke 10. 16. heareth mee and yet we cannot find the way to Christ The word of God which is the lanterne vnto our feete and the light vnto our paths Psalm 119. hath beene plainely and plentifully preached amongst vs these many yeers and yet many amōgst vs haue not yet learned to come to Christ Zaccheus comes quickly when Christ calleth him let vs therefore learne of Zaccheus to come quickly when Christ calleth vs. We must be quicke in the Lords busines for God cannot abide loyterers standing al the day idle Mat. 20. and as he loueth a cheerfull giuer 2. Cor. 9. 7. so he liketh a cheerfull follower It followeth therefore that Zaccheus receiued him cheerefully Still Zaccheus is a receiuer before he was a receiuer of custome now he is a receiuer of Christ Zaccheus receiued Christ two waies first into his heart when he desired to see him and then into his house when he gaue him hospitalitie Many receiued Christ to house but not into their hearts and therefore receiued him grudgingly but Zaccheus receiued Christ first into his heart and then into his house and therefore receiued him ioyfully Of Zaccheus his ioyfulnesse we must learne to be ioyfull when we do any thing for the cause of Christ we must be glad to harbour Christ in his members as Zaccheus was glad to harbour Christ himselfe As before in comming downe from the tree Zaccheus shewed his obedience so heere in receiuing Christ into his house he sheweth the loue that he bare vnto him If Zaccheus had not loued Christ he might haue sent him to some common Inne But Zaccheus is content to receiue Christ in his owne house yea he reioyceth to haue gotten so good a guest like Abraham Gen. 18. that vsed to sit at the doore of his tent and reioyced to entertaine strangers that went by the way and therefore though Zaccheus were a Gentile borne yet herein he sheweth himselfe the child of Abraham because he doth the works of Abraham Ioh 8. ver 39. So did Abraham and so we must doe if we will shew our selues to be the children of Abraham When Abraham thought only to haue entertained Abraham Gen. 18. 3. men he receiueth the Angels in the shape and likenesse of men and when Zaccheus thought to entertaine the sonne of man he receiueth the sonne of God himselfe Let vs therefore as the Apostle willeth vs. Hebr. 13. 2. be mindfull to entertaine strangers for as much as thereby Lot Gen. 19. 3. some haue receiued Angels into their houses vnawares and why should we not hope to entertaine the like or better guests if we be giuen to hospitalitie as those godly Fathers were For as the Angels came to them in the likenes of men so Christ himselfe comes to vs in the likenes of a poore man of a lame man and of a blind man and when he commeth he commeth hungry or thirsty or naked or harbourlesse or sicke or imprisoned and happy are they that feede or cloath or harbour or visite him when he commeth thus afflicted When Abraham entertained the Angels he was not onely busie himselfe but his wife and all his houshold were carefull to make prouision for them so when Zaccheus receiued Christ into his house his whole familie no doubt were no lesse willing and carefull to entertaine Christ then their Master was and therefore not onely to Zaccheus but euen to his whole house saluation is promised because the whole family reioyced at Christ his comming Let rich men learne of Zaccheus to entertaine Christ in his needy members and let rich mens seruants learne of Zaccheus family to shew themselues mercifull like their mercifull masters that they may receiue the reward of mercy and hospitalitie at the last day Come ye blessed for I was harbourlesse and ye tooke me in Generally as Zaccheus gladly receiued Christ so let euery one that is able be glad to distribute to the necessity Math. 25. of the poore Saints if we haue much let vs giue plentifully if we haue little let vs giue gladly of that little if wee be not able to giue a penny yet happily wee may affoord a morsell of bread if not that yet there is none so needy that cannot giue a cup of cold water and euen so small a gift shall not lose his iust reward Matth. 10. 41. Zaccheus receiued Christ into his heart but many amongst vs are ready to driue Christ out and to receiue Sathan instead of him Zaccheus receiued Christ into his house but there are many rich men amongst vs that like Diues Luke 16. will not affoord poore Lazarus the crummes that fall from their table but as the damosell Acts 12. opened not the doore for ioy when she heard Peters voyce so by contrary these men for verie griefe shut their gates when they perceiue a begger there Finally Zaccheus was ioyfull when he entertained Christ but many amongst vs are sorrowfull when they should relieue the poore like churlish Nabal 1. Samuel 25. that reuiled Dauid when he should haue releeued him So long as Iob prospered hee kept a worthy and a worshipfull house he suffered not the stranger to lie in thee streets but opened his doore to the Trauailer that went by the way Job 31 32. But now many Gentlemen of the country are content to suffer the stranger the fatherlesse and the widow not onely to lie but euen to starue and die in the streets with hunger and cold and neuer receiue them to house or harbour nor affoord them any reliefe or succour But as the voyce of Abels blood did cry from the earth to God for vengeance against Gen. 4. 10. his brothers crueltie so the voyce of the poore and their piteous cries shal enter into the eares of the Lord and
is in vs more then other men but for your sakes that we might reueale it to you Therfore heare vs euen for this cause because the Lord hath reuealed vnto vs these things for your sakes and good From the calling we come to the charge Arise and goe to Niniue that great c. God commeth and findeth vs all asleepe then he bids vs arise for they are not fit to conuert others which are not yet conuerted themselues according to that saying of Christ to Peter When thou art conuerted strengthen Luk. 22. 30. thy brethren teaching them by your experience Now adaies men take vpon them to reprooue others for committing such things as themselues haue practised and do practise without amendement notwithstanding their diligence in teaching others their dutie they can teach all the doctrine of Christ sauing three syllables that is Fellow me Therefore these are like some Taylors which are very busie in decking and tricking vp of others but goe both bare and beggerly themselues Yet they will not let vs plucke out the more that is in their eyes vntill wee haue plucked out the beame which is in our owne eyes Go to Niniuie Niniuie was the greatest and the antientest Citie in the land of Assyria and the name of it signified Beautifull which name was giuen it rather for the greatnesse and beautie thereof then for the name of Ashur which was the builder and first founder thereof as we reade in the booke of Genesis It had a faire name but foule deedes like this Citie Gen. 10. 12. Goeto Niniuie c. God would not suffer any people to bee vntaught therefore he hath written this name in great letters easie to bee read of all The heauens declare the glory of God and the firmament sheweth the work of his hands They haue no speech nor language without them is their Psal 19. 1. 2. 3. voyce heard Their line is gone foorth through all the earth their words into the ends of the world In them Rom. 1. 19. 20. is manifest for all what may bee knowne of God For his eternall power and God head are seene by the creation of the world but especially hee teacheth some by his word also Therefore he sent vnto the old world Noah Gen. 6. Gen. 19. Act. 16. 6. Lot to Sodome Moises to Israel and heere Ionah to Niniuie But when Paul with Silas and Timothy had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia they were forbidden of the Holy ghost to preach the word in Asia Then came they to Mysia and sought to goe into Bithynia but the spirit suffered them not Goe to Niniuie The Iewes would not heare the wod of God by Ionah and therefore the Lord sent him to Niniuie They that griue the spirit quench the spirit Then goes the Prophet from Samaria to Niniuie The word was in Samaria it went thence to Niniuie the Gospell was at Ephesus it is come into England it is gone out of the Citie Reu. 2. 4. 5. 1. Cor. 10. 12. but it may depart from England againe If any thinke that he standeth let him take heede left he fall But the Prophet goes from Samaria to Niniuie that was both to shake off the dust of his feete to witnesse against them their obstinacie and hardnes of heart and secondly to let them see that the wicked Gentiles were more righteous then they in that they repented at the voyce of one Prophet yea and that with one sermon whereas themselues refused and resisted all the holy and worthy Prophets that God sent vnto them And thirdly it may bee to signifie that the Iewes for their contempt and negligence should be reiected and the Gentiles should be receiued into the fauor of God that they might bee an holy and sanctified people vnto the Lord in their trouble That great Citie Niniuie had fifteen hundred towers in it as some doe Ion 2. 4. 11. write and a hundred twenty thousand little children as it is noted in the end of this story therefore it may well be called a great City but the greater it was the more vngodly it was For as one man taketh sicknesse of another so one man is infected by the wicked wordes and ill example of another and so taught to sinne the more till the measure of sinne be full And cry against it c. First God biddeth him Arise and shake off all impediments then to goe and call them to the battell and now he bids him cry out against them and so terrifie them Euery Prophet is a crier as appeareth where the Lord biddeth Esay to lift vp his voice like a trumpet Euery Esay 48. 1. Prophet must both bee plaine and bold and this many times maketh the poore seruants of God to speake their mindes as plaine and bold as if they sate in iudgement Iohn was a voyce a voyce would not serue he was Luk. 3. the voice of a cryer and yet hee could not make all the crooked straight nor the rough plaine And because all the Preachers of the Gospell should cry that is preach zealously in the second of the Actes it is written The Holy ghost came downe in fire and tongues but this fire is quenched and the tongues are tied vp so that they that should cry are starke dumbe but though they cannot speake they can see they can see if a great benefice fall though it be an hundred miles off and Pharaoh had more care of his sheepe then wee haue of our soules If Preachers were not deafe they needed not to crie one to another but such is the dumbnesse of Preachers and the deafenes of all sorts of hearers that there is great slownesse of followers so that there is but little good done and but a few fruits gathered If ye were not deafe we neede not to crie but because yee be dull of hearing therefore wee cry with mouth with heart with hand with foote and with all the powers of our bodies vnto you and yet how little do you regard it But are not ye commanded to heare as well as we to cry Yet the cocke croweth when men are asleep Mat. 36. 70. 72. 74. Prou. 28. 9. yea the cocke croweth and still Peter yet denieth his Master Before you cry vnto the Lord heare what the word crieth vnto you and let not your workes crie for vengeance while your tongues cry for mercie When men heare the Preacher speake against pride hypocrisie couetousnesse or anie other sinne then they looke one vpon another as though it belonged not vnto them but who can say his heart is cleane And cry against it Our sins buffet God on euerie side as the Iewes buffeted Christ first on the right side then on the left side and neuer leaue till they haue prouoked him to cry against vs. When God cries then we should weepe considering wherefore hee cries for there is nothing that can prouoke the Lord to cry but sinne