our selves generally well in all our sufferings 2. In particular Wee must doe well to them that doe us wrong First I say in afflâ—ction our carriage must bee generally good in respect of God by a meeke behaviour under his hand without murmuring against him 2. In regard of the cause of God that wee betray it not through feare or cowardise through base aymes and intentions c. but indeavour to carry it with a good conscience in all things when wee make it cleare by managing any thing that wee are led with the cause and conscience of our duty it works mightily upon them that wrong us 1. It winnes those that are indifferent and 2. CoÌ„founds the obstinate and stops their mouthes Therefore let us carry our selves well not onely before but in suffering we may not fight against them with their owne weapons that is be malicious as they are malicious and raile as they raile Beloved this is as if a man should see another drinke poyson and hee will drinke too for company he is poysoned with malice and thou to revenge thy selfe wilt bee poysoned too What a preposterous course is this Ought wee not rather to behave our selves as befits the cause of Christ as becomes our Christian profession and as befits him whose children wee are Wee should have an eye to God and an eye to our selves and an eye to others and an eye to the cause in hand so wee shall doe well Wee must not commit our soules to God in idlenesse doing nothing at all nor yet in evill doing but in well doing We must have a care if wee would suffer with comfort not to study how to avoid suffering by trickes so to hurt the cause of Christ this is to avoid suffering by sinne to leape out of one danger into another Is not the least evil of sinne worse than the greatest evill of punishment What doth a man get by pleasing men to displease God perhaps a little ease for the present Alas what is this to that unexpressible horrour and despaire which will one day seise upon thy soule eternally for betraying the blessed cause and truth of Christ How can wee expect God should own us another day when we will not owne him in his cause and his members to stand for them now thinke on that speech of our Saviour Whosoever shall be ashamed of me or of my words in this adulterous and sinfull generation of him shall the Sonne of man be ashamed when hee commeth in the glory of his father Therefore avoid not any suffering by sinne see how blessed S. Paul carried himselfe in this case The Lord saith he hath delivered me and will deliver mee from what from death no from every evill worke What will God keepe him from evill sufferings No for immediately after he was put to death what then why hee will preserve mee from every evill worke that is from every sinfull act which may hurt the cause of Christ or blemish my profession this was it Paul chiefly regarded not whether hee will preserve mee from death or trouble I leave that to him but this I hope and trust to that he will preserve me froÌ„ every evill work to his heavenly kingdome Thus should it bee with every Christian in the cause of religion or in a cause of justice c. for there is not any good cause but it is worth our lives to stand in if wee bee called to it It is necessary wee should be just it is not so necessary wee should live A Christians main care is how to doe well and if hee can goe on in that course he is a happy man But I cannot doe well but I shall suffer ill Labour therefore to carry thy selfe well in suffering evill not only in the generall but even in particular towards those persons that doe thee wrong endeavour to requite their evill with good there is a great measure of selfe-deniall required to bee a Christian especially in matter of revenge to pray for them that carseus to doe good to them that persecute us c. and so heape coales of fire upon our enemies heads How is that There are 1 Coales of Conversion 2. Coales of Confusion You know Coales doe either melt or consume if they belong to God wee shall heape coales of fire to convert them and make them better by our holy carriage in suffering If they bee wicked gracelesse wretches we shall heape coales of fire to consume them for it will aggravate their just damnation when they doe ill to those that deserve wel of them Some will say Christianitie is a strange condition that enforceth such things upon men that are so contrary to Nature It is so indeed for we must be new moulded before ever wee can come to heaven wee must put off our whole selfe and he is gone a great way in Religion that hath brought his heart to this passe None ever overcame himselfe in these matters out of religious respects but hefound a good issue at last It is a sweet evidence of the state of grace none better when a man can love his very enemies and those that have done him most wrong it is an argument that such a man hath something above nature in him What is above nature if this bee not for a man to overcome himselfe in this sweet appetite of revenge Revenge is most naturall to a man it is as Sugar as the Heathen saith and for a man to overcome himselfe in that it argues the power of grace and godlinesse in such a one As Christianity is an excellent estate an admirable advancing of a man to a higher condition so it must not seeme strange for those that are Christians to bee raysed to a higher pitch of soule then other men Sâ—e how our Saviour dealt in this particular Father forgive them they know not what they doe and so likewise Stephen being led by the same spirit of Christ desired God not to lay this sinne to their charge and so all the Martyrs in the first state of the Church when the blood of Christ was warme and the remembrance of Christ was fresh were wont to pray for their enemies committing their soules to God in well doing I beseech you let us labour by all meanes possible to bring our hearts hereunto if any thing overcome this will doe it to suffer well The Church of God is a company of men that gaine and overcome by suffering in doing good Thus the Dove overcomes the Eagle the Sheepe overcomes the Wolfe the Lambe overcomes the Lyon c. It hath beene so from the beginning of the world meeke Christians by suffering quietly have at length overcome those that are malicious and have gained eveÌ„ their very enemies to the love of the truth What shal wee thinke then of the greatest part of the world who never thinke of suffering which is the first lesson in Christianity but study their ease and
the world to hate them 3. They are strangers here and therefore no wonder if they finde strange entertainment from them that thinke themselves at home There hath ever beene from the beginning of the world a continuall conspiracy of Sathan and his instruments against God and goodnesse Emperours and Kings became Christians but Satan never yet became a Christian but hath alwayes bestirred himselfe to maintaine the first division and never yet wanted a stronge faction in the world Secondly observe that it is the character of a man wicked in an high degree to contrive wickednes the reason is 1. because it is a disposition of such as are given up by God to a reprobate sense and it is reckoned among other vile sinnes that they are full of maliciousnesse and inventers of ill c. A sonne of Beliall carries a froward heart and devises mischiefe 2. It shewes that malice is so connaturall to such that they cannot sleepe unlesse they cause some to fall wickednesse comes from the wicked as naturally and speedily as poyson from a spider 3. It argues such kinde of men worke out of a vicious habit which is a stamping of a second ill nature upon the former when as their hearts are exercised to doe mischiefe 4. It shewes they are of the devills trade whose onely worke it is to hurt and mischiefe all he can those that are broken loose from him Certainly such people as these are the children of the devill in an higher degree than ordinary It is said when Iudas began to betray Christ the devill entred into him he was the child of the devill in some degree before but now the Devill tooke stronger possession of him his unnatural treason did in some sort change him into the very forme of the devill When Simon Magus sought to turne away the deputy from the faith Saint Paul had no fitter termes for him than to style him Thou full of all subtlety and mischiefe and child of the devill And indeed there is no disposition so contrary to the sweet spirit of God which is a spirit of love and goodnesse as this is Learnâ— hence therefore as you love God to abhorre this hatefull disposition The serpent indeed was wiser then al the beasts of the field yet when hee became an instrument of mischiefe he was cursed above all the rest Satan labours to serve his turne of the best wits but what greater curse can befall a man than to serve the basest creature in the basest service and that with our best abilities Men of a devilish spirit carry Gods curse under zeale yea they cary the devil in their braine in all their workes of darknesse for alas what should the subtlety of Foxes and fiercenes of Lyons and malice of Devils doe in an heart dedicated to Christ Such men worke from a double principle the illnesse of their owne disposition within and Satan going with the tyde of that whose chief labor is to make a prey of meÌ„ of the best parts that by theÌ„ he may either snare others or else vexe them that have so much wit or grace as not to bee catched by his baites this is a course contrary to humanity as we are men contrary to ingenuity as we are civil men and contrary to Religion as we are Christian men and plainly argueth that such persons are lead with another spirit than their owne even by the Prince that ruleth in the ayre Our care and duty therefore should be to submit our spirits to the sweet guidance and government of Gods good spirit to be contented that every device and imagination of our hearts should be captivated to higher and better reasons than our owne Wee are not wise enough of our selves that our owne wils and wit should be our first movers Every thing is perfitted by subjection to a superiour where there should be a subordination to higher wisedome there to withdraw our understanding and wills is meere rebellion That which the Prophet speakes is too true of many in these dayes Thy wisdome hath made thee to rebell such are too wise to bee saved Wee need not bee ashamed to learne some things of our very enemies If they be so pragmaticall for evill why should not wee be as active for good I am sure we serve a better Master true love is â—ull of inventions it will be devising of good things so soone as ever our nature is changed the streame of the soule is turned another way the bent of it is for God Alas it is a small commendation to be onley passively good and it is a poore excuse to bee onely passively ill A good christian thinkes it not enough to see good done by others but labours to have a hand in it himselfe and he that suffers evill to be done which he might have opposed and hindered brings the guilt thereof upon his owne head Curse you Meroz saith God for not helping the Lord against the mighty c. What shall wee thinke then of those that helpe the mighty against the Lord that cast oyle to kindle where they should cast water to quench that inflame the rage of great persons when they should labour to reduce all to â— moderation Of this spirit was that Apostate which stirred up the Emperour to kill man woman and child of the Protestants with all their kindred and allyance fearing left any living should revenge the others quarrell Wee see God hath stooped so low as to commend his cause unto us as if hee stood in neede of our helpe and usually what good hee doth to us is conveyed by men like our selves therefore wee should labour to appeare on his side and owne his cause children In the house of God there be vessels of al kinds some are of more honorable use than others some make the very times and places good where they live by an influence of good others as malignant Plannets threaten misery and desolation where ever they come these are the calamities of the times Men may know whether they be vessels of mercy or no by the use they are put too the basest of people are sit enough to be executioners the worst of men are good enough to be reds of Gods wrath how much better is it to bee full of goodnes as the Scripture speakes of Iosiah and Hezekiah c. Indeed what is a man but his goodnes such men live desired and dye lamented yea their very name is as the oyntment of the Apothecary poured out they leave a sweet favour in the Church behinde them Now I come to their miscarriage they brought forth a lye a lye in regard of their expectation their hopes deceiving them but a just defeating in regard of God it was contrary to their desire but agreeable to Gods justice Neither were they disappointed onely so as to misse of what they intended but they met with that misery they intended not yea even with that very misery which
had put his hand to the Plough Alexanders opposing because it sprung from extremity of malice towards the profession of godlinesse him he curseth The Lord reward him c. Weaker Christians who failed him from want of some measure of spirit and courage tetaining still a hidden love to the cause of Christ their names he conceales with prayer that God would not lay their sinne to their charge But whilst Paul lived in this cold comfort on Earth see what large encouragement had hee from Heaven Though all forsooke me yet sayes he God did not for sake me but stood by me and I was delivered out of the mouth of the Lion And the Lord will deliver me c. In the words wee have in Pauls example an expressing of that generall Truth set downe by himselfe Rom. 5. 3. And not onely so but we glory in tribulations also knowing that tribulation worketh patience and patience experience and experience hope c. So here affliction breeds experience of Gods mercy in our deliverance experience breeds hope of deliverance for the time to come and both his Experience and Hope stirres him up to glorifie God who was his deliverer so that here offer unto us to be unsolded 1. Pauls experience of Gods loving care of him in his deliverance past 2. His assured hope built upon his experience for the time to come set downe in two Branches 1. The Lord will deliver me froÌ„ every evill work 2. He will preserve mee to his heavenly kingdom 3. The issue hee maketh of both as they flow from Gods grace so he ascribes him the glory of both To whom be glory for ever and ever Amen For the first I finde that most both Ancient and Moderne writers by Lion understand Nerâ— that cruell Tyrant thirsty of blood especially of Christians Some also understand it to be a provetbiall speech to expresse extremitie of danger both which are true but if wee take the words in the just bredth of the Apostles intent we may by Lion understand the whole united company of his crull enemies as David in many places hath the like and by the mouth of the Lion the present danger he was in by reason of their cruell malice Whence observe 1. That enemies of the truth are oft for power alwayes for malice Lions 2. That God suffers his dearest children to fall into the mouthes of these Lions 3. That in this extremity of danger God delivers them For the second his hope built upon his experience both Branches thereof hath its limitation and extent The Lord shall deliver me not from evill suffering but from evill workes this hee could boldly build on he could not conjecture what he should suffer because that was in the power of others but he could build upon this what God would give him grace to doe and so he limits his considence He will deliver me from evill workes and he will preserve me from what from daâ—ger from death no here is the limitation He will preserve me to his heavenly Kingdome He will not preserve me from death and yet he will doe that whilst I can doe his service by my life but sure I am hee will preserve me beyond death to a state of security and happinesse He will preserve me to his heavenly Kingdome And then for the third after his experience confidence and hope wel built as his fashion is when his heart was once warmed he breakes our into thanksgiving in the consideration of Gods favours past and to come his tongue is large thereupon and God hath the fruit of it To whom be glory for ever and lastly he seales up all with the word Amen I was delivered out of the mouth of the Lion c. Beloved by nature we are all Lions and nothing will alter us save the effectuall knowledge of Christ Education may civilize but not subdue A Sound knowledge of Gods Truth hath a changing power for when the spirit becomes tender and when the heart which lyes in a cursed estate under and in danger of the wrath of a iust God whose eye cannot spare iniquity unrepented of is cited and affrighted effectually by the spirit of bondage it will cast downe and pull sorrow from the strongst spirit making it melting and tender Againe in this estate when the soule hath felt favour shining upon it when the eye is opened to see the high prerogatives and exceeding riches of Christ when we finde ourselves that we are delivered from the Lions mouth wee cannot but shew that pity to others which wee felt from God our selves Paul thirsts as eagerly after the conversion of others now as ever he did for their blood before The Iaylor also a man by nature custome and calling hardened in the practice of cruelty yet after hee had felt the power of Gods blessed truth shewed forth those bowels of pitie hee felt from Christ which were shut before Let us then be thankfull that God hath changed us from being Lions and with meeknesse submit our selves unto Gods ordinances desiring him to write his Law not onely in our understandings but in our very hearts and bowels that wee may not onely know that we should walke harmelesse and full of good but be so indeed resembling him by whom we hope to be saved in a right serviceable plyablenesse to all duties of love And because our impersect measure of mortification in this life hinders us from a full content in one anothers communion let this make us the more willing to be translated to Gods holy Mount where being purged from all such lusts as hinder our peace and love we shall fully enioy one another without the least falsenesse or distrust then shall wee see totall accomplishment of these promises which are but in part fulfilled in this life That God suffereth his children to fall into the mouth of Lions or into some danger proportionable where in they shall see no helpe from him is a truth cleare as the Sunne The History of the Church in all ages shewes as much Was not Christ in the mouth of the Lion so soone as borne when Herâ—d sought to kill him Did not satan and all the spirituall powers of Hell daily come about him like ramping roaring Lions And hath it not been thus with Gods Church from Abel to this present as appeares by the children of Israel in Egypt at the redsea and in their iourney to Canaan being invironed round about with cruell enemies and dangers on every side like Daniel in the midst of Lions So farre God gave them up to the power of their enemies that the wisest of the Heathen iudged them a forlorne people hatefull to God and men For particular instances see Iob and David so neare as there was but a step betweene them and death Besides God often awakens the consciences of his children and exerciseth them with spirituall conflicts their sins as so many Lions stand up against them ready to teare their
my salvation with feare and trembling In such a thing I have done ill such a thing I have omitted so they are enemies to their owne comfort inlarge this in your owne meditations and consider what will comfort you hereafter when you shall need most comfort So I leave the text and come to the occasion This holy and blessed man whose funerall now wee solemnize was of S. Pauls spirit hee did desire to die be with Christ he had a desire while he lived to take all opportunities to doe good I speake of that time when he lived that is when hee was good for we live no longer than wee are good let us not reckon that Life wherein we doe no good After God had wrought upon his heaâ—rt he had a publique heart to doe good If I wanted matter to speak of I could tell you of his allyance and birth having two worthy Iudges of reverend esteeme the one his grand father the other his unckle the one bred him the other cherished and promoted his studie and indeavours but what should I speake of these things when hee hath personall worth enough I need not goe abroad to commend this man for there were those graces and gifts in him that made him so esteemed that verily I thinke no man of his place and yeares lived more desired and dyed more lamented For his parts of naâ—ure they were pregnant and sollid but as one said to Melancthon his disposition and loving minde did gaine as much love from men as his parts though they were great His learning was good for beside his owne prosession hee was a generall scholler and had good skill in that we call elegant learning controverted points of divinitie he was a good divine Indeed in the turning of his life when he should have adventured upon a profession he had some thoughts of being a divine had not his friends especially his uncle Iudge Telverton disposed him otherwise by promoting his studie in the Law and when hee tooke upon him that profession he grew so in it that he was a credit to the profession for integrity sincerity and abilitie For his disposition he was every way a man of an excellent sweet temper milde and yet resolute meeke and yet bold where cause was discreet yet not overdiscreet so as not to stand out in a good cause in the defence of it he was humble yet thought himselfe too good to bee instrumentall to any services other then stood with the peace of his conscience he was tractable and gentle yet immoveably fixed to his principles of piety and honestie he was exact in his life yet not censorious very conscionable and religious but without any vaine curiositie indeed he was every way of a sweet temper if he stood out in dislike of any in any matter he carryed it usually with evidence of such sinceritie and deniall of selfe-seeking that he usually prevailed where he put in To come to his private personall cariage it was very pious he was wont to sequester himselfe from his imployment and labour to bring his heart under to God to the guidance of Gods spirit his study was to study to die for he gathered choise things out of the sermons hee heard about death many yeares before he died to lay up store of provision against that time And two or three Termes before he died he had a speciall care to enquire of nearer communion with God he enquired of those he conversed with of the way to attaine the same and was willing to heare any discourses that tended that way For his care of the Sabbath it was his delight his custome was after Sermon to retyre and ruminate upon what he had heard to turne it into his spirit Alas for want of this how many sermons are lost in this great Citie how much seed is spilt in vaine What nourishment can there be without digestion it is the second digestion that breeds nourishment when wee chew things and call them to minde againe and make them our own This was his custome every Sabbath For his carriage to others he was a constant friend and his studie was to labour to make those good he conversed withall he conversed with few but they were the better for him he was so fruitfull and hee would have intimate society with none but he would doe good or take good from them you have many in the society where he lived that may blesse God al the daies of their life that ever they knew him For his carriage in his government of the Place where he lived I thinke there are none that are able to judge but will give him the testimony of a faithfull prudent governâ—ur he was so careful of the towne where he was Recorder that he provided for them after his death and gave them a large legacie 200. marke to set the poore on worke For the honourable societie wherein he was a governor hee carryed himselfe with that resolution for good order and good exercises and was such a strict opposer of any abuse which he judged to be so that the house will have a speciall want of him I feare rather I desire from my soule that that honourable societie may so flourish as they may have no want of good Master Sherland For his more Publick carriage by vertue of his place at Northampton where hee was Recorder he was called to be a member of the body representative in Parliament wherein both his abilitie and spirit appeared to all that knew him you may see by this what manner of man wee have lost He died before he was come to the middle of his yeares a young man to speake of and he did a great deale of work in a little time God had ripened him for his businesse extraordinarily and gave him a spirit to bestirre himselfe to doc all the good hee could These bee wondrous ill times beloved to lose such men as he was therefore we have cause to lay it to heart the more the common-wealth wants him the towne and countrey where hee lived will want him the societie where hee was a governour will want him the family where hee was a governour will finde a misse in him hee went wisely in out hee was able for family duties hee had more than ordinary sufficiency he was of Iosuahs mind Choose who you will serue but I and my house will serve the Lord and to helpe him the more hee had the happinesse to marry into a religious family hee had a good helper Now for the Church though his profession was the Law yet that will have a great want of him hee was a heartie and true Promoter of the cause of Religion and shewed his love to the Church by his care of it now hee is departed hee gave foure hundred pounds to buy in impropriations hee gave an hundred pounds for the breeding up of Poore schollers and there is never a good Minister round about where he lived but had