watchmen for the people because they abused their office For many ambitious men creeping into the seate of the Church were ashamed of the humilitye of Christ Which al thinges are truely verefied in the Romish Church where the Pope challengeth to be Oecumenical and vniuersal Bishop of the whole Churche and so is noysome to all churches And woulde to God this noysomnesse had onely kept it selfe at home in Rome had not also infected some Christian Churches But such is the misery of our times thorough sinne as we can witnesse of manye troublesome watchmen which count them selues so in the Church of God in many places Yea the noysomnes of that Romishe crew hath sore annoyed the Churches beyond the seas and ceaseth not to trouble and vex our Church of this lande by sending out their Seminary Papists and scattering abroade that Viperous brood of the Iesuites which greatly molest our Church and land through their seditious and traiterous practizes that they might bring the spouse eueÌ„ the church of England in bondage againe to that daungerous whatchman the Pope which I hope shall neuer be For hee ceaseth not to smite and wounde where soeuer hee can reach and to disturbe the true Spouse of Christe Iesus For he playeth the roynish ruffler with the Spouse where soeuer he becommeth and all his complices and adhearentes are troublesome watchmen and smiters Furthermore there are some other which for want of warrines smite the sincere professors and their fellow brethren wounding them either with doctrine misapplied as Ezek 13. or with complaining of them as Amaziah did of Amos. Amos. 7. Or by open reproch or some such kind of Ishmaeliticall persecution Othersome as the Brownists if I may so terme theÌ„ they smite all spare none yea the carefullest Preachers are most charged of theÌ„ as reuolters c. they seeke after a sort the subuersion of the whole state Finally many vngratious men of a filthy life and seruile nature which pretend som better shew for the time seeke to occupy the roomes of the Church which are manye times sooner admitted a room I know not by what negligence and grosse ouersight then they which are careful to discharge a conscience in that calling But would to God that they in whose handes it is to reforme would bend themselues to root out such loytering idle and loose men out of the Church But thus the vanitie which SolomoÌ„ noted in the world is to be séen Folly is set in great excellency and the rich set in the law place I haue seene seruants on horsebacke and Princes walking as seruants on the ground Ecc. 10.6 For many vile and vnworthy persons as I said are crept I know not by what ouersight into the Church liuinges Ruffians gamesters fornicators idolaters popish prelates idol ministers as Esay speaketh domb dogges belly Gods Isai 59.10.11 2. Pet. 2.13.14.17 louers of filthy lucre wels with out water empty cloudes wandring stars c. also sectuaries Famelists or Louists many other vnworthy persoÌ„s are set on horseback when many worthy meÌ„ for their learning Godlinesse grauity yea as Solomon calleth them princes are fayn to go on foote like seruauntes For so many blinde Dolts of the Country Ploughmen and artificers thorough Symmony and corruption steale into the liuinges of the Church that the learned and meete persons in the Vniuersitie which shold be called foorth are fayn to be without place Which happeneth partly by default of Patrons which make not conscience of the Lordes people partly by other corruptions but howsoeuer it be the poore soules of the people are in extreame hazard thereby and the people for the moste part see not their owne misery and therefore pitty not themselues nor vse any prayer to the Lord in such causes wherein lyeth the cheefest daunger of soules so as both people and ministers in many places conspire to murther and spoyle their own fouls For if they may haue an honest quiet man as they term him and a good fellow they are best with such a one though he hath no graces from the Lord méet for that honourable and high ambassage which is a lamentable case And the Lorde punisheth the neglect contempt of oure times with the iust plague of the famine of their soules in some place As Hoshea mentioneth chap. 9. ver 7.8.9 The dayes of recompence are come Israel shall know it The prophet is a fool the spiritual man is mad for the multitude of thine iniquity therefore the hatred is great The watchmen of Ephraim shoulde bee with my God but the Prophet is the snare of a fowler in all his wais hatred in the house of his God So that they exercised hatred in the Church bringing such as desire to be taught in to coÌ„tempt to be wondred at as Owls in the day time being made a sign to nod the head at euery man hath a pul at theÌ„ raising vp scornful reproches lies troubles vexations against the godly Esay 8.18 yea they lift them vp on the scaffolds of the worlde as monsters among men to be displaied and laide foorth to contempt as Esay in his time complayneth I and the children whom thou hast giuen me are as signes and wonders in Israel by the Lorde of Hostes which dwelletb in mâ—â—nt Sion Of the one side diuers harsh spirites vnder the pretence of zeale for the reformation of the Church which all the godly hartily wish for and procure in their callings what they may they doe sore assault the Church and the tender consciences of such simple ones as they can preuail with rashly condemning all thinges and seeking soule good thing after an vngodly and vnlawfull manner as the Brownists and such like which labour to alienate the mindes of men from their teachers and from the worde and Sacramentes in the Churche of this Lande because of their priuate dislikings whome I would wish to learne more modesty I speake not to discredite any but to wish men to be wise and stayed in their zeal without rashnesse But thus the saintes of God are tryed by diuers means and haue many repulses in their comming on and by these means some that shold be the watchmen smite the spouse and pull of her vaile playing the rufflers with her Which as it is not without the Lordes witting but by his prouidence so it shal be reuenged vpon them by the same God when he shal take the cause of his church into his hand here we sée then that the church somtime findeth greatest lets and hurts at their hands who should chiefly preferre the cause of the church yet these watchmen they go about the city to visit but to what end they are painful as many now a daies can haue nimble eies to spy out the best forwardest not to further theÌ„ but to hinder them Now let vs sée what the spouse doth in these lets afflictions she groweth not blockish neither waite on other to doe
dumpes a while that after in his good time hee might the more recouer our zeale loue fayth hope patience and waiting on the Lorde that wee may say with Dauid Psal 77.7.10 I sawe it was but mine owne infirmitye In which Psalme Dauid speaketh of greate tryalles and so causeth his Sayntes to make so muche the more of his mercy and fauour howe much the more Sathan and our incredulitie seeketh to hide it from vs. And this hyding of Christ is described here of Solomon by the figure of louers which sometime by shewing of strangnes one to the other mak one the more faine on the other Likewise Christ by his strangenes somtimes kindleth the desire of his saints the more towards him So Christ shewed himself strange to the woman of Cananea was of a verie grown countenance not vouchsafing to answere her a while Math. 15.22 and when hee answered it was as a man would thinck a verie churlish answere but al was to stir vp and trie her faith Somtime also Christ séemeth to leaue his church afflicting it so that when it séeketh after him he séemeth to be awaie Which somtime dismaieth the Godly they thinck that the Lord neglecteth them as Dauid complaineth Why hidest thou thy face in the needfull time of trouble and againe Why art thou so far from my health from the teares of my complaint The like complaints he maketh Psalm 89.46 to the ende and Psalm 69.17.18 And this last manner of Christes holding off by afflicting his Sayntes doth amaze them when they see the Churche of God left in the Bryars and the wicked tryumphing For wee thinke that the Lord put vp too many iniuries at the handes of his enemies I sought him but I coulde not finde him c. See how the Spouse though in a maze and mammering at the absence of her loue yet lingreth after him and seeketh out for him but as yet she findeth him not neyther will hee aunswere when shee calleth This should not discourage vs or put vs off from inquiring after God though he seem to absente him selfe for a time and though wee haue not out of hande the knowledge fayth zeale loue obedience or that measure of repentaunce which wee woulde fayne haue yea though we haue often craued for some grace at the hande of God wayting long for it and yet he seemeth to denye it vnto vs in not graunting that grace which wee pray for yet let vs not giue ouer but still pray and euen wrastle with the Lorde till wee obtayne the blessing For God deferreth off long sometime before hee will heare that hee might trye oure Faithe for hee will bee tyed neyther to time meanes nor measure so as wee muste not prescribe him neither when how or how farre he shall graunte oure requestes onelye lette vs still bee inquiring after him and calling vppon him seeking him whereas hee is to be founde euen in his word and when hee is to be found which is so long as hee maketh offer of his grace by his worde This inquiring after God is a part of his worshippe as wee may gather from the contrary Zephany 1.5 where God threatneth to cut of al that sought not after God nor inquyred for him So then wee see what a damnable state all those are in what so euer they are which doe not seeke after God aright in his word and are not daily inquiring after his will to do it but rather turn themselues away wilfully when the Lorde seeketh to finde them As they doe which contemne the woorde will not heare it or hearing it are not mooued with Zeale to followe after God and walke in his wayes increasinge in the knoweledge of his will but thinke it euen a drudgerye to bee compelled or called on to heare the woorde or at leaste waye counte it a needelesse thing But let vs bee stirred vp beeloued to vse all meanes wherebye wee maye shake off all suche lettes as hinder vs that wee maye open vnto Christe and seeke after him euen then when hee seemeth as it were to bee turned asyde that we maye neuer let him slippe vtterlye from vs nor giue him cause by our scornefull behauiour to departe from vs leaste wee after seeke him with teares when hee will not be founde Thus at this time we haue seene some of the letts of the spouse too morrow if God will we shall see the rest so far as time shall permit The Lord our good God make all this fruitefull vnto our Soules that wee by his grace may ouerstride all lettes to imbrace Christe and seeke after him so as hee maye abide with vs for euer by his grace here and we abide with him in his Heauenlye Kingdome for euer and euer Amen Let vs pray c. The third Sermon IT followeth in the seuenth verse The watchmen that went about the Citie found me they smote and wounded mee the watchmen of the wals tooke away my vaile from me We heard yesterday concerning the lets in nature which hindred the Spouse in her comming on and how many stayes men meet with al in their Christian calling Also we haue seene that the spouse for slowing the time had some what to do afterward when she would faine haue found her loue that he with drew him selfe for a time which was some trouble to her And sure it is when men driue off long or they come to the obedience of the Gospel it is a corzie to them when they are called to see how they driue off the time with the lord God correcteth such slackinges in his saints by many means Well here the spouse inquiring after Christe her husband and hauing ouer stryded al lets in her selfe maketh report what lets shee found abroad in others And how the malice of the false and enuious teachers burst out aganst her that they abused her greatly Some vnderstand this of the Godly teachers that they found the Spouse and smote her with reprehensions of the worde and tooke away the vaile of her ignoraunce from her But because she still inquireth for her husband and louer and that of others of Ierusalem after for that she could not be satisfied by the watchmen which rather hindred her I take it therfore without question to be ment of the wicked teachers which are so farre from helping forwarde of the Godly that they pine at the zeale and diligence of Gods children labouring to disgrace them and hazard their profession to discredite among the wicked pulling off their vaile dealing roughly as roynishe rufflers to boysterous to handle or louingly intreat the tender Spouse of Christe Iesus Yea some are not ashamed to saye none are worse then those great professours and these that talke moste thus they strengthen the hands of the wicked and raylers opening the mouthes of the enemies to blaspheme euen the Gospell it selfe discountenauncing the true seruauntes of God causing them to mourne whome the Lorde hath not caused to mourne Ezek. 13.
her languishing after him This sicknes of loue many sweet souls labour of some that long after the worde hauing it not at home doe mourne for it and are faine to seeke els where for it If many were sick of that disease there were exceeding hope of happy health for such Some poore soules lye panting after Christ and pine for his comfort and residence in them who beeing ouercharged with the sight of their infirmities and seeing them selues so farre behind hand to some worthy persons of the saintes of God also so vnapt to duties and are so feareful of the euidence of their owne sinnes desiring to grow in holinesse and obedience that they thinke euery hower manye dayes till they haue more fully tasted of Christ But to these Christe commeth willinglye and amiablye as one that will not breake a bruised reed nor quench the the smooking flaxe Now followeth vpon this charge a a conference betweene the spouse and the maidens of Ierusalem standing in two questions with their aunswears The conference in two questions with their aunsweres to the 18. verse And secondly the fruites of this conference is noted in the 17. verse as we shal see afterward The first question First questiō verse 9. O thou fayrest among women what is thy welbeloued more then other welbeloued what is thy welbeloued more then an other louer that thou doest so charge vs. Here they of Ierusalem inquire the cause why shee maketh more account of her welbeloued then of any other and what singuler thing shee saw in him more then in other For her zeale had kindled the loue of the Godly And Solomon purposely noteth herein how the Godly seeke to edyfie one the other by religious conference When they adde That thou so chargest vs or causest vs to sweare or takest an oth of vs for so the Hebrew word importeth as else where so in the 13. Chapiter of Exodus verse 19. Where Moses sayth that Ioseph had made the Children of Israel swear that they would cary his bones with thē out of Egypt For this spéeche is of great emphasis and force binding all men by a pryuye othe to helpe forwarde and edifie one another but as I haue noted afore especially the Ministers of the woorde are bounde by a solemne and doubble Othe as it were to expresse their care this way These speeches therefore are to discribe the vehemencye of loue which shoulde bee in the Sayntes towardes Christe that they shoulde neuer bee satisfied with his loue Wee therefore shoulde be still inquiring after Christe in his Church of his Seruauntes especiallye of his ministers who shoulde bee the mouth of God vnto vs till wee encrease and come to a full and perfect age in Christe Iesus Ephe. 4. And truely it can not bee but where the heart is truelye taken vp with the loue of Christe there will bee an excéeding ioye in his word and a desire to enquire of him more and more in the same The wiseman noteth the effect of the word when it is truely resident in the heart Pro 6.22 If my word be in thy hearte it shall leade thee when thou walkest it shall watch for thee when thou sleepest and when thou wakest it shall talk with thee Meaning that when the hearte is possessed with the word then the mind thoughts tongue and members are in some practise of it So Dauid Psa 37.31 The mouth of the righteous wil speak of wisedome and his tongue wil talk of iudgement for the loue of God is in his hart and his goings shal not slide So that the slack hearing of the word the smal longing after it the little ioy to talke of it is a token of very litle loue or none at al towards Christ and they are enemies to the Spouse which being watchmen doe not comfort her shewing her the way to Christe in his word but rather discourage hold her back But let them the truly loue Christ be euer inquiring after him cōforting one another conferring meditating praying stirring vp one another so that by these meanes as the Spouse doth here with the Godlye wee may growe on in knowledge and obedience The minister shoulde alwayes bee Catechising his people inquiring what Christ is what cause they haue to loue and make much of him aboue all other where he is how he is to be found and labour to make them pryuie to all the counsel of God as Paule did Acts. 20. and that from house to house Also th◠husband shoulde be examining and furthering his wife the wife inquyring of the husband I pray you husband sith you should be the mouth of God to me at home helpe me in knowledge let vs often pray togeather let vs read the worde and heare it comforting one an other by it The parents shoulde be trayning vp their Children to know Christ the Masters the Seruauntes For such charge is giuen in diuers places Read I pray you Deut. 4.9 6.7 and 11.19 So that we shoulde by all meanes draw other on by our example And sure it is who so euer doth not helpe to further the kingdome of Christe and the saluation of men after a sort is against him And they are vnworthy to be counted in the flocke of Christe which bestow not their care on him and labour not to gather togeather For our sluggishenesse suffereth the kingdome of God to fall when yet we are all called to further the same He that is not with me is agaynst me sayth Christe and he that gathereth not scattereth abroade Mat. 12.30 But manye which wil seem to offer curtesie to the Lorde bear him good wil in worde yet neuer mooue foote nor bestowe coste nor seeke any way to preferre Gods glory or the preaching of his Gospell neither yet to redresse sinne neither loue those vnfaynedly that feare God And truely I know not howe a man can haue any true perswasion of faith in God and true loue to his neighbour or anye comforte that hee shall perseuere to the ende when hee is not prepared in some measure to suffer with Christe euen in trouble and to further him in Peace countenauncing his Saints to the vttermoste of his power and to succour them when they are any wayes molested and afflicted And when he laboureth not to stand by the ministers of the worde in the defence and confirmation of the gospel which were the effectes and fruites which caused Paul to be so well perswaded of the Philippians Phil. 17. For whē a man steppeth backe from the defence of the gospell for feare of trouble or for losse of his credite goods estimation c. and neglecteth the seruauntes of God in their distresse not vpholding to their power their credite and good estate it is a harde signe of starting aside from God to this present worlde as Demas did I speake this by occasion of the Spouse which stirreth vp other by her zeale séeking help and furtherance of the