forbid them And a little after he saith If you will feare men he will laugh at you if God you shall be reuerenced of men Surely I will rather yeeld my bodie to death and suffer my blood to be shed then to be partaker of this pollution For the example of the practise of Christian Churches one example likewise shall suffice which shall bee the example of the Greeke Church in former times The example of the Greeke Church 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A congregation of the faithfull who had such a reuerent estimation of this holy banket that the very name wherewith they called it argueth the same First Vocarunt eam 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is to to say a congregation of the faithfull which was so religiously obserued Quod quamuis tolerabantur in concion publicis prophani verùm vbi inchoanda erat ipsa Dominicae caenae communicatio iubebantur illi discedere accedere c. Although the wicked and open prophane were permitted to bee present at their publike preachings sermons yet whensoeuer the Supper of the Lord was to bee administred then they vsed these words Depart ye wicked and prophane and draw neere ye that truly and sincerely professe Christ and his Gospell Againe Vocarunt eam 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A holy table they called it a holy table both in regard of the holy and heauenly foode of the soule there offered as also in regard of those holy people who alone are admitted to the eating thereof So that these being well considered I will conclude this point concerning the pastors abuse in the aforesaid prophanation with this earnest wish that all who are called to this waightie calling of the worke of the ministerie with care and conscience so to behaue themselues therein as they that shall giue account in the great day of the Lord for euery soule that hath perished within their charge through their negligence For the peoples prophaning this holy Sacrament Secondly it is prophaned by the people and how I my selfe haue bin oft an eye witnesse God is my record to my griefe when I haue seene great multitudes of people in the house of the Lord My self an eye witnesse with striuing thronging pressing forwarde contend who should first receiue the outwarde elements at the hands of their minister making no better then a common banket of it or as though they were in extreame haste Againe the Parsons proctor to be reckoning for his fees in the very time of administring the Supper Great prophanation and worthie punishment and that within the Lords house not farre from the minister as great a noise of brauling about him as of singing Psalmes amongst the Communicants yea farre greater for the one is often vsed the other very seldome or neuer I might bee large in laying downe such manifold abuses as these Many moe besides these which I haue seene with mine eyes as euery one after they haue gotten their rightings for so our sillie ignorant people call it to hasten out of the congregation neuer reuerently abiding till all be partakes that they might all depart with a ioynt thanksgiuing But these are sufficient to the reader to testifie how iustly I am perswaded Ex vnguibus leonem astima that for these and such like abuses the Lorde hath rightly plagued our countrie After the receiuing of this holy Sacrament and seale of the true Christians saluation they hold on à malo in peius they then goe for good fellowship to the tauerne or alehouse altogether The Magistrates coldnes in correcting a great cause of these abuses and thence they come not till they are inflamed and made drunke with strong drinke and then out they must but otherwise then they came in for now they run out to purge themselues and their heauie stomackes by belchings and beastly vomiting others to brawle and fight so as it would wound a Christians hart to see how the senselesse soules worse then brute beasts This cryeth for vengeāce without speedy repentance doe in receiuing the bread and wine at the Supper of the Lord eate and drinke their owne condemnation Others there be more nise in outward shew As euill as the other it may be will walke solitary that day abstaine in outwarde appearance from their wonted course of sinne but if they do this for one day two were too many and therefore the morow after the Supper is as the day before euen to drinke sinne like water and draw iniquitie as it were with cartropes A third sort of vnworthie receiuers there be in our countrie whom I may very well call carnall gospellers and lip-professors Too many of such amongst vs. who doe receiue this holy Supper together with Gods deare children and thereby doe make their solemne profession of newnes of life but after a season it proueth rather worse with them then with the former for they are such that though they crie Lord Lord voce yet they deny to doe the will of their heauenly father What dangerous effect follow such wicked dealing vita and so are an occasion to the wicked and professed enemies of Gods trueth of blaspheming that glorious Gospel of Christ Iesus whereof they make profession though vnsoundly and after an vncleane manner These men to speake plainly they are very neere vnto if not the same men whereof Christ testifieth Matth. 12. that they expulse out the vncleane spirit but after a season the same spirit returneth againe he bringeth seuen other spirits with him worse then himselfe and finding all cleane swept and garnished they reenter and take possession in the man and make their dwelling there whose latter end horrendum dictu is worse then the beginning And such as Peter painteth out 2. Pet. 2. ver 20 who after they haue in shew throwne and shaken off sinne and bidden the world adiew doe notwithstanding after all this enter couenant to bee Satans seruant againe in whom the prouerbe is too true Vers 22. The dogge is returned to his vomit and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mare The Lord for his mercies sake Amen Amen work reformation hereof both in pastor and people which reformation if presently it appeare not I feare me a worse day I feare the sequell then hitherto hath been seene will insue whereof more at large hereafter And let this suffice also for proofes out of the word how the Lord for sinne sendeth troubles and sicknesses both of body and minde vpon his owne people Let vs now in a word shew how he doth it vpon the wicked wherein I may fitly vse the speech of the Apostle that if for sinne iudgement begin at the house of God what shall be the end of the wicked A fearfull end without all doubt And if hee deale thus with the greene tree what may wee thinke will be the end of the drie and withered tree but to be
FOVRE SERMONS PREACHED AND PVBLIKELY TAVGHT BY RICHARD LEAKE Preacher of the word of God at Killington within the Baronrie of Kendall and Countie of Westmerland immediatly after the great visitation of the pestilence in the foresayd Countie Ezechiel 24. vers 13. Thou remainest in thy filthines and wickednesse because I would haue purged thee and thou wast not purged thou shalt not bee purged from thy filthines till I haue caused my wrath to fall vpon thee AT LONDON Imprinted by FELIX KINGSTON for Thomas Man 1599. TO THE WORSHIPFVLL M. THOMAS STIKELAND AND M. IAMES BELLINGHAM Esquires and two of her Maiesties Iustices of the peace within the Baronrie of Kendall and countie of Westmerland RICHARD LEAKE wisheth all graces needefull for this life and the continuall encrease of all graces pertaining to eternall life to the ende of their dayes IT is not vnknowne vnto your worships and to vs all round about what great and manifold dangers haue ouerspread all our countrie by the space of these two last yeares and more as well by dearth as also by strange fearefull diseases and sicknesses It is no lesse knowne vnto vs also how little good and small reliefe all outward meanes of remedie and comfort brought vnto the distressed ones in their extremities and who knoweth not how lamentable and wofull was the state of the afflicted one especially in such places as were infected with the pestilence and what feare came vpon vs all thorough that their affliction what mourning amongst them and daily deuises amongst our selues how to auoide escape dangers I wish from my heart that the originall breeding and first occasion of these lamentable times were as well knowne or herafter may be knowne of vs all viz. how that it was not infection of the ayre distemperature in their bodies much lesse the malitious and diuelish practises of witches or yet blinde fortune or any other such like imagined causes which were breeders of these euils But the masse and multitude of our sins in rebelling against the holie one of Jsrael these I say haue been the prouokers of the Almightie to make vs drinke of the cup of afflictions these haue pulled vpon vs al these plagues and brought vpon vs all these fearefull and afflicted times wherein we haue lately been which poynt that it might appeare plaine to the sight view of all my neighbours whose hearts haue awaked at the beholding of the said calamities I haue laboured in this little treatise following to make knowne what hath caused all these woes and who hath wrought and brought vnto vs better dayes as also what dutie we owe to the Lord for our gracious and long desired deliuerance Which I am bold to dedicate vnto your Worships and that for two respects first for that I perswade my selfe that you are both fauourable and also forward to entertaine and bid welcome all that bring the glad tidings of saluation whereby I am resolued that you will not only your selues accept and take in good part these my poore labours but also patronize countenāce and defend thē against al those who shall deride and scoffe at them as they doe at all good things in my self or others and secondly for that you be Magistrates and Iustices within those limits and precincts most parts whereof haue bin infected most pitifully and I am perswaded most iustly for those great and capitall sinnes which rule and raigne amongst vs as grosse Poperie and blinde superstition in very many places in so much that I am afraide that that abhominable Idoll of indignation the Masse is vsed in diuerse places about vs and that very boldly adde hereunto filthy drunkennesse abhominable whoredomes open profanation of the Sabbath vnlawfull pastimes with infinite many moe which the further they bee ripped into the more filthy stinch ariseth out of them These and such like sinnes I say being so pregnant and rise amongst vs I doubt not but as you espied them and heard them cryed against by worde and writing you with the rest of your associats ioyning with you will holde on in zeale of Gods glory the peace of Gods children and the discharge of your owne dueties that these sinnes may haue those lawes executed vpon them which most christianly is prouided in this land for restraining them which no doubt shall so greatly tend to the glorie of God the furthering of the couse of the Gospell and the flourishing estate of our christian common-wealth that in short space the excellent effects of this zealous gouernement shall proue the trueth and vprightnes thereof And thus briefely I cease committing this little worke and the issue thereof for acceptance at your Worships hands and all other that shall reade it to the wisedome of him who hath the disposing of the hearts euen of Kings and rulers euen one God and three persons the Father the Sonne and the holy Spirit to whome be glorie maiestie dominion and praise for euermore Your VVorships bounden Richard Leake To the Christian Reader THe occasion good reader of my offering this poore mite into the Lords treasurie and of sending abroade this fruit which the increase of my small talent bringeth forth vnto the Lords familie was this I pleased God by the space of two yeares together to giue our country in the North parts of this land a taste of his power in iudgement being prouoked thereunto by our manifold enormious sinnes he visited vs with many and grieuous sicknesses as first with the hot feuer after with the bloodie issue and lastly most fearefully with the extreame disease of the pestilence inflicted vpon many and shaken at all in our whole countrie And albeit neither I nor any of the people vnder my charge were infected therewith yet had we all of vs the cause thereof within our sinfull hearts as well as any others it had inuironed vs almost round about we had scarcely any way to turne vs but mourning might be heard so that we expected no better than neighbours fare Furthermore in this time and before as it is well knowne the Lord our God did chasten and punish this whole land with dearth and famine of bread and scarcitie of other victuals in diuers places since which time of tribulation it hath pleased him who is God blessed for euer amen to make knowne his power in mercie as he had before manifested the same in iudgement For be gaue plentie and cheapnes of bread and all kinde of victuals in stead of scarcitie and dearth hee extinguished the heate of sickenesses in those places where it was most feruent with-held it from those places vnto which it was most fearefully threatned so that then might be heard amongst vs mirth in stead of mourning songs in stead of doleful sighings gladsome salutations in meetings in stead of diligent shunning each of others presence for feare of infection The boistrous stormes of afflictions now driuen away and calme showers of comfort descending the cloudes of his heauie displeasure now
Edward the 6. painefully to prosecute the same and now our gratious Deborah to finish and build vp that which the other two in their owne did not whose glorious and gratious gouernment God long prosper with encrease of knowledge zeale and power for the glorie of his great name the propagation of the crowne and kingdom of Christ Iesus and the vtter defacing and racing out of the traces of Antichrist Amen Amen And to conclude by the example of this poore man he had been diseased 38. yeeres old and so the lesse hope withered and dried vp so as to the iudgement of all he was like to die so as long he had liued Yet when Christ saw his appoynted and due time he came and made him a sound man as euer he was Hence as I said before let vs learne patience in our greatest miseries and though our burthens which the Lord hath laid vpon vs bee such as oft they make vs groane yet still let vs sigh and groane vnder hope The burthens of the faithfull vpholden by the Lord. with full assurance grounded vpon Gods promise that when he seeth it most meete hee will worke our deliuerance Let the due consideration hereof take away from vs all murmurings grudgings or male-contented hearts in all our troubles whether they bee troubles of the body or anguishes of the minde still grounding our patience vpon Gods reuealed promise in his word as thus All things shall fall out for the best Rom. 8.28 Vers 38. 1. Cor. 10.13 to theÌ„ that loue God Nothing shall separate vs from the loue of God in Christ And God is faithfull who hath promised he will lay no more vpon his children then he will make them able to beare but in the middest of the temptation he will giue them a happie issue and ioyfull deliuerance And when thou art wearie therewith haue recourse vnto Christ Matth. 11.28 and he will take thy burthen vpon his backe and relieue thee Now if any demaund of me the reason why the Lord doth so sore and for so long a space afflict his children before hee worke their deliuerance my answere is this The Lord doth it for diuers ends some whereof I haue here for the comfort of his afflicted ones set down as followeth First the Lord doth sore afflict his people 1 Reasons alleadged why God doth so long largely afflict his own people and long delay before he worke their deliuerance to teach them humilitie least they shuld out of measure be puffed vp For this cause did he sore afflict and buffet the Apostle Paul Secondly to teach them obedience least they should be too stiffe-necked thus did he tame the Israelites Thirdly to make them more carefully learne his law and continually studie therein Thus dealt the Lord with Dauid in afflicting him so long til Dauid could say from his very hart It is good for me that I haue been afflicted that I might learne thy law Fourthly he afflicteth them least they erre and goe astray in the dark desert of this world for this end also did Dauid make of his affliction saying Before I was afflicted I went wrong Fiftly to make vs become obedient spouses vnto our husband Christ Iesus that in matters for Gods glorie and our saluation wee admit of none else neither in part or whole for the foundation and cornerstone of our saluation Thus afflicted hee Iudah and Ierusalem who were wont to play the harlots vnder euerie greene tree Lastly hee continueth his afflictions vpon vs to teach vs that our sinnes are the cause of all our sorrow and therefore to sinne no more least a worse thing come vnto vs. Thus afflicted hee for a long time this poore man whom he now had healed The Lord grant for his infinit mercies sake The application that the long and late afflictions laid vpon vs and our countrie may worke these aforesayd effects in vs euen to pull downe our proude hearts to mollifie our hard hearts to instruct and teach our ignorant hearts to direct aright our vnstable and wandring hearts to make chast and pure our vnchast and whorish harts and to redresse and amend our wicked and transgressing hearts that so our pride being turned into humilitie stiffeneckednes into circumcision instabilitie into certaintie dishonestie against our husbaÌ„d Christ into loyaltie of a coÌ„science vnspotted and to conclude our daily sinning into a continual godly sorowing for the same we may then say with Dauid as many I meane as haue these aforesaid effects wrought in them by their afflictions glad are wee and good hath it been for vs that long largely and yet most louingly the Lord hath afflicted vs seeing they haue taught vs the miserie of our daies the danger of our sinnes the loathing of this wretched world and a loue of the life to come Doctrine In this course of continued afflictions vpon the Church of God note euery profitable and necessary doctrine vz. It is the vsuall manner of dealing with the Lord to defer his helping hand and full deliuerance till all meanes of helpe inuented by man bee frustrate and the case in the iudgement of many seemeth desperate God helpeth when all other meanes are helples The end of the Lord so long deferring thus did he with this poore man and in all the aforenamed proofes And he doth it for this especiall end that in victories conquests or deliuerances God might haue his owne which is euen the whole glorie If wee had no warrant out of Gods word for the coÌ„firmation of this poynt yet our owne experience these two yeeres by-past Our countries late visitation approue it in the most places of our countrie is of sufficiencie to testifie and witnes how true a doctrine his is seeing that no watching no gouernmeÌ„t great multitudes or carefull keeping could preuent his punishments but they came vpon vs no phisick could stint it but it encreased and continued yea when all mans remedies were administred yet were the poore afflicted ones still remedilesse so that great townes many congregations and infinit families espying all these hopes now hopelesse and though by some called comforts yet comfortles now haue in vtter despayre of them all let goe the anchor pulled downe the sayle and committed the whole custodie of their poore tossed ship to him who first raised vp the tempest against it and he euen that mightie God Iehouah who iustly for our countries rebellion against his almightie maiestie did wound the hairie scalpe of his enemies and the transgressions of his rebellious Israel did in the end O admire his mercies heale that which before he had wounded saued vs that in the sight and iudgement of many seemed as forlorne and in stead of many blacke and gloomy dayes tokens of his anger hath at last spoken peaceably vnto vs againe and granted vs more then we expected or our harts could desire O my countrimen deare then leâ—â—â—â—â—…rge the patheticall exhortation that 〈◊〉 â—oth in his
our soules for healing our sicknesses the good Samaritane to bind vp our wounds the euerlasting high Priest for bearing our infirmities euen Iesus Christ the righteous that thereby our sinnes the originall of our sicknesses may be blotted out and cleane clensed and from Christ we may heare this comfortable voyce Arise and walke c. Be whole for thy sins are forgiuen thee My beloued in the Lord No sounde course but this to saue vs from perishing except this through course be taken neuer looke for sauing sound and continuing health but euen with Gehezi to die a leprous man Now as I haue spoken of particular men for particular sinnes diuersly diseased so may I speake of whole countries kingdomes and places who for sin and iniquitie haue been plagued Some with sudden destructiō Genes 19. as Sodom Gomor Some with captiuitie as the Israelites vnder the Babylonians 2. Chro. 36. Some with hauing the godly wise and aged Counsellors taken from thē as Esay threatneth the Iewes Esay 8.1.2.3.4 1. King 20. 2. King 6.19 2. King 17.29 Some with death and famine as was Samaria and Ierusalem and as this our nation of late and some with the disease of the pestilence burning ague and bloody issues as this our owne land first not long since in the South parts We haue felt the same and now these two yeres last past in our Northerne parts And seeing it hath been proued that these corrections and punishments flow from our owne disobedience and wilfull rebellion From whence these punishments flowe therefore if euer the effect wee desire to haue remoued let vs first take away the cause which is our sinnes Sublata causa tollitur effectus and assure our selues the effect will cease which is Gods fearefull punishments Doctrine These proofes examples and vses being thus laid downe this doctrine following shall bee the conclusion of it vz. what euill soeuer wee suffer either in body or minde we may impute it to our sinnes Psal 38.5 as the originall and first occasion thereof whereupon may bee gathered a second doctrine Caluin in Ioh. cap. 5. vers 14. Non sunt fortunae hominum calamitates sed totidem sunt castigatoriae ferulae Our sicknesses diseases or griefes bee they inward or outward proceed not from fortune or by chance Amos. 3.6 but by the foredecreed counsell of the highest that they may bee as so many checkes vnto the pride of our sinnes the truth hereof being granted there ensueth an exceeding comfort to the conscience A comfort carefull of Gods seruice vz. that our heauenly father taketh no delight nor pleasure in punishing vs and therefore doth hee neuer seuerely scourge vs Calu. ibid. but whē he is highly offended by our transgressions and perforce vrged to change mercie into iudgement The Lord is haled on to iudgement by our sinnes his louing countenance into seuere corrections And thus much generally haue I set downe and proued the cause and originall of sicknesse sorrowes troubles and death itself in all men liuing vpon the face of the earth as they are Adams branches and posteritie Now least the godly man for conscience sake persecuted or for his further triall of the Lord afflicted should be too much dismaied and thinke his persecutions were but iust plagues for sinne and his crosses no comforts contrary to the sweete promises of the Gospel in that behalfe How and for what end afflictions are laid vpon the godly therefore let vs search how and in what sort they are laid vpon the godly The nature and condition of all troubles both of body and minde in respect of their first originall are qualified to the children of God and true Christians not by any dignitie or desert at all of their owne but as Elisha healed the bitter and venemous waters by casting salt into them Note well so the bitter and intolerable sting of death the bitter and vnsauorie sicknesses and diseases both of our bodies and our soules are healed the nature of them changed the poyson remoued by the sauourie salt of Christ his blood yea all sicke halt lame and withered men haue their griefes eased by the troubled persecuted scorned scoffed and crucified body of our Lord Iesus Christ as this sick man was healed in his body by troubling the cleere water Christ his blood shedding being in iudgement of wicked men as vnlikely to worke vs any good as salt to make fruitfull or muddy water to make a lame man whole In this Christ Iesus our debt for sinne is discharged and vpon his crosse is the obligation of ordinances that was against vs fastned Reuel 3.18 and he is the very purgation that cleanseth the sauing eye-salue that giueth light Matth. 3.17 Collos 1.13 2. Pet. 1.17 and the wel-beloued sonne of God by whom our cries are conueied to his father in whom he receiueth and heareth our plaints and for vvhose sake wee enioy all the blessednes and good things that euer we haue Christ wholy altered the nature of afflictions to his owne Church Now therefore in this Christ our alone Sauiour sicknesse to his faithfull members is as comfortable as health affliction as sweete as peace aduersitie as acceptable as prosperitie death as welcome as life the graue as a most sweete perfumed chamber for the bodies of the Saints to lie in for they can with S. Paul say Rom. 8.1 There is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Iesus It makes them not feare death but rather in Gods appointed time desire it in seeing the miseries of this present life and by a liuely faith soaring vp into the vnspeakable ioyes of the life to come And therefore they say with Paul We know that if this earthly tabernacle of ours be dissolued 2. Cor. 5.1 we haue a building giuen of God not made with hands but eternall in the heauens And Christ Iesus whether wee liue or die is vnto vs both in life and death aduantage yea we seeing that while we liue 1. Thess 5.10 Phil. 1.21 we are naked in this world we sigh desiring to be clothed with our house which is from heauē And seeing while we are here iournying vpon the earth wee are absent from our head and husband therefore we desire to be dissolued Philip. 1.23 and to be with our husband Sauiour which is best of all And finally seeing there is nothing in this world but corruption Eccles 1.1.2 alteration and vanitie we waite we looke and long for the day of our refreshing when we may foreuer lift vp our heads meete our elder brother in the clowdes and receiue the incorruptible crowne of glorie laid vp in store for all the Lords elect ere euer the foundations of the world were laid Thus Gods children may reioyce when the wicked shall howle and weepe they shall bee satisfied as it were with marrow and fatnesse yea euen when they seeme to be
Happie are we if we heare aright thy law thy lore and eke thy praise will wee beare obey extoll and magnifie all the daies of our life being here on the earth This if we doe then happy shall we be stand fast for aye and a parcel of the Lords vineyard beloued for euer but if we doe not but delay the time of our repentance as we haue done oh alas I must and will tell you what he will then doe vnto vs sinfull wicked and carelesse contemners of his graces euen take away his hedge from vs breake downe his wall lay vs waste A fearfull afterclap and neither plant prime cut nor digge vs any more and then marke what wofull sequell thereupon shall follow we shall be troden downe eaten vp and destroyed by the wilde bore out of the forrest and no good shal then grow amongst vs but brambles and bryers tokens of his wrath as in Adma and Zeboim Againe as this exhortation serueth to the man that neuer tasted of repentance before that now without delay hee turne vnto the Lord cease from his sinne and bring foorth fruites worthy amendment of life so likewise it may serue and bee in place of a louing and pithie exhortation to the protestant It serueth as an exhortation to all protestants of our countrie Ioh. 11. Marke our happy case on Gods behalfe Ephes 2. and professor of Christianitie in these our daies whose case on Gods behalfe is like to Mary Magdalens out of whom went seuen diuels like to Lazarus who was raised from death to life after foure daies rotting in his graue like to the Ephesians quickened raised vp made new and brought to sit in heauenly places by the blood of Christ from aliants and strangers to the commoÌ„-wealth of Israel without hope without God in the world yea of forreners and strangers made citizens with the Saints and of the househâ—â—d of faith And to conclude on Gods behalfe like to the vntoward and trewantlike schollers of whom the author to the Hebrues maketh mention who were lightened tasted of the heauenly gift Heb. 6.3.4.5.6.7 and were made partakers of the Holy-ghost casted of the good word of God and of the power of the world to come The professors I say on Gods behalfe being in as happie a case as Magdalen grace offered from God the father by his sonne Christ to dispell and driue backe Satan and dispossesse them of many diuels as comfortable a case as Lazarus was in called by the sounding ministerie of Gods word out of the pit and graue of their sinnes where they haue not laine almost foure daies as Lazarus but by an inueterate custome of sinne all their daies rotting therein yet at last made to heare this powerfull voyce Awake thou that sleepest and stand vp from the dead c. And to conclude of no people made a beloued people of aliants from the common wealth of Israel made owners and heires thereof by grace and of seruants by nature made sonnes vnto God by adoption in Christ Iesus But these professors of the Gospell so gratious on Gods behalfe who hath layd out himselfe and his mercies wholly in his sonne Christ vnto them all yet in regard of themselues and the courses of their liues not vnlike the foolish Galathians Gal. 3.1 who did for a time run well but in the end obeyed not the trueth loued their Apostle so dearely Gal. 4.15 that they would haue plucked their eyes out of their heads to haue done him good yet after a time harkening to false Apostles they accounted him their vtter enemie Vers 16. be cause hee told them the trueth These at the first publishing of the Gospell were very feruent accompting it sweete but after some trials for the same laid vpoÌ„ them they fainted adiudging themselues vnable to vndergoe the burthen And to conclude though they begun in the spirite yet Paul was afraid of them that they would altogether end in the flesh Yea fitly may many of our Christians at this day be compared with the protestants against whom Peter wrote who promised vnto others libertie 2. Pet. 2.20 and yet were themselues the seruants of corruption who after they had escaped from the filthines of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and of the Sauiour Iesus Christ were yet againe tangled therein And to conclude as I compared them to the Ephesians before in regarde of the multitude of Gods mercies offered them so now may I againe fitly resemble them to the same Ephesians but not in the same sense as before being now comparable with them for carelesnes Apocal. 2.4 coldnes and luke-warmenes in Gods seruice For vnto the Ephesians Angell or pastor Iohn the Diuine was coÌ„manded to write diuers things amongst which this for one that the Ephesians had forsaken their first loue Thus then the case going with vs all that professe the Gospell so happily so comfortably on Gods behalfe euen raised vp to sit in spirituall places with Christ Iesus and so dangerously and so doubtfully on our own parts amongst many in regarde of their sensuall carnall and carelesse cariage of themselues in the middest of a sinfull and crooked generation this dutie of the sicke mans deliuerance laid downe and described in our text here by Christ may serue very fitly for vs all and be continually applied of euery one of vs and stil sounding in our eares as though Christ were calling vpon or conferring with vs saying Behold thou art made whole sinne no more Ye that were dead in your sins hath Christ quickened Marke well ô my brethren ye that were strangers from the life of God through the ignorance that was in you because of the hardnes of your hearts hath he illuminated and opened the eyes of your vnderstanding that ye may see and discerne of things that differ one from another Yea vnto you all that professe the Gospell let me speake Behold beho d ye that were deaffe doe heare Blessed bee God for it ye that were lame doe goe ye that were dumbe doe speake ye that were leprous are clensed and ye poore soules whom Satan once ouerruled keeping you in darknes poperie superstition to you to you I say is the Gospell preached the happy newes of saluation sent and the kingdome and glorious throne of Christ Iesus erected amongst you But me thinke I heare some say that the man to whom these wordes were first vttered by Christ The secure reasoning of many had cause and great cause to put in practise this holesome counsell for hee was made whole not onely in soule and the parts thereof but also in his body when he neuer expected any recouerie but as for vs or as for me although the spirituall blessings wee feele and perceiue yet for bodily healing or preseruing from dangers wherein can wee finde it O my beloued behold further and ye shall see what mercies the Lorde hath magnified towards you in regard of
c. may be puld out of mans minds that no string or roote of vices at all may be remaining in men through the exercise of vertue which is to take man out of man and for a man being in the body to be without the body Thus farre Ierome And the same man a little after in the same treatise saith very excellently thus He that alwaies forgetteth things past and longeth for things to come sheweth that he is not content with neither that there is any perfection in this present world The aduersaries being by the examples of the diuers falles of the faithfull in all ages their humble confessions concerning their imperfections and the manifolde testimonies of the word to this end so hampered 1. Obiection See Cal. lib. 2. instit cap. 7. that they are grauelled and can go no further haue no refuge but are constrained to flye to the almightie power of God leauing what man can do of himselfe reasoning what is Gods power in man Answer We answere and doe not denie but God can perfectly regenerate vs in this life if hee will but why hee doth it not he hath many causes among the rest note these First that wee may diligently consider the power of sin how great it is and what effect it hath in man which we see cannot bee destroyed in vs but by little and little that by the speciall grace of the spirit and therefore we are so much the more to be afraid of it Secondly that when to this life we finde no end or stay of the conflict betweene the flesh and the spirit we may so much the more long for that blessed life wherein wee shall appeare before God perfectly regenerate and holy whereas if God should out of hand renew and totally sanctifie vs the dignitie should not bee of so great accompt with vs but now by little and little bringing the same to passe in vs the perfection thereof is so much the more deare vnto vs. Lastly for this cause God doth not perfectly here regenerate vs to the end that his power may bee made perfect in our weaknesse and when wee are saued by meere grace and not of workes he that reioyceth may reioyce only in the Lord. Obiection 2 Philip. 3.15 The Scripture say they attributeth perfection to the godly saying As many of vs as are perfect let vs be thus minded Answer When Paul reckeneth himselfe amongst the perfect he speaketh not of such a perfectiō of faith in vs Cal. in Phil. 3.15 as the Perfectists do imagine but hee speaketh there of the perfection of knowledge in respect of the only foundation of our saluation Iesus Christ when casting away confidence in all things vvee reioyce in the onely righteousnesse of Christ Iesus and setting all other things aside to attaine to the fellowship of his sufferings which may bring vs to the blessed resurrection So that this proofe which they vse as a daunt to driue vs from the trueth may wee vse as a sword to pearce them thorow who withstand so plaine a trueth Secondly it is true by comparison vz. If you compare persons with persons that there is more vertue and knowledge to bee found in one man then in another so the Apostles well instructed in Christ were called perfect in respect of them who being too much set vpon ceremonies of the Law were pulled asunder from the body it selfe So Noah for his life is said to haue been a iust and perfect man in his generation Obiection 3 They alleadge further that so earnestly to maintaine this imperfection is to make Christians slothfull which otherwise by preaching perfection would be pricked forward to the attaining thereof Answer I answere that the knowledge of a mans owne imperfection in this life doth rather stirre the godly forward to endeuour to attaine to perfection and euery day to goe stedfastly forward in the course of their calling to striue with the Apostle Phil. 3.11 if by any meanes they may attaine to the resurrection of the dead Which obiection being thus answered appeareth manifestly how wicked and directly against this sound and holesome doctrine of the vnperfect obedience of the faithfull in this life is that Canon of the Tridentine Councell Can. 18. sess 6. enacting thus If any man say that the commaundements of God are impossible to be kept euen of a man iustified and vnder grace let him be accursed And here for the summary conclusion of this point I cannot omit the testimonies of two ancient learned fathers concerning the premisses August contra duas epist Pelag lib. 4. c. 10. Augustine saying thus With what presumption doe they openly gainsay the Lords prayer wherein all the members of Christ doe cry with a true heart and daily voyce forgiue vs our debts And a most excellent saying is that of Cyprian Cypr. epist de mortal who saith We haue a combat with couetousnes with wrath with ambition we haue a daily and troublesome wrastling with the corruption of the flesh and with the entisements of the world If couetousnes be vanquished lust riseth vp if lust be suppressed ambition commeth in place if ambition bee contemned wrath galleth pride puffeth vp drunkennes allureth wickednesse cutteth off friendship and yet it pleaseth a man to stay long amōg these snares of Satan whereas wee ought rather to wish to make haste vnto Christ where we may bee freed from them all The last point that I haue thought good to note out of these wordes Sinne no more is the priuate and particular vse and application that euery one partaker of any deliuerance either spirituall or corporall from the Lorde must make to his own soule concerning such dutie as the Lord requireth of him which is this That the wordes and power of them should euer sound vnto his owne soule as a summon to bid him awake stand vp and walke no more in the course and waies of his former wickednes as thus O thou man whosoeuer thou bee who hast tasted most abundantly the sweete mercies of thy God escaped many dreadfull dangers passed many perils the Lord still preseruing thee and shadowing thee vnder the wings of his mercie till they were all ouerpast looke now to thy selfe how thou walkest hereafter not so loosely negligently and disobediently as thou hast done before sinne no more in vnthankfulnes as thou hast done sinne no more in contemning Gods long louing and gratious visitation sinne no more in prophaning the Lords day sinne no more by thy drunkennes adulterie Atheisme contempt of Gods word and many moe sinnes wherein thou hast been found faultie let Gods iudgements shaken at thee as a sword for thy sinnes terrifie thee let the same now remoued allure thee euer hereafter to walke and worke as in the presence of the Almightie And thus may euery priuate soule now saued from daungers sound out the alarme of his continuall dutie in manner and forme aforesaid euer labouring and striuing that the Lords
be for we see them that most offended florish faire and stand as wel as the best and besides his iudgements are but threatned with a peraduenture or perhaps take heed ye catiffes and thrise blinded men of the world For this word least signifieth thus much That hee aduiseth them to beware for if he doe not A bone for such to gnawe vpon assuredly a worse thing will come vpon him And that Gods iudgements threatned against the wicked are without any peraduenture as coÌ„ming froÌ„ a God not vncertain what to do marke what Moses speaketh in the person of the Lord If I whet my glittering sword and my hand take hold on iudgement Deut. 32.41.42 I will execute vengeance on mine enemies and will reward them that hate me I will make my arrowes drunke with blood and my sword shall eat flesh And Dauid saith God shall wound the hairie scalpe of such an one as goeth on still in his wickednesse And the authour to the Hebrewes hauing perswaded to holinesse of life addeth the daunger Heb. 12.29 and saith For our God is euen a consuming fire Again the same author sheweth the danger all such are in as by their continuance in sinne after they haue receiued the knowledge of the truth do crucifie againe the sonne of God addeth as a coÌ„clusion these words It is a fearefull thing to fall into the hands of the liuing God Heb. 10.31 To conclude therfore this point Gods iudgements being threatned against the wicked for sinne they are ineuitable without alteration vnlesse they presently put in practise the holsome counsell of the Apostle Paul to the Corinthes What will alter Gods iudgments aduising them to enter into a serious and sound adiudging of themselues and so they should escape the great and fearefull iudgementes of the Lord 1. Cor. 11.31.32 which was partly begunne alreadie in execution amongest them and partly was readie to be inflicted vpon them It must be an eye to see Gods iudgement a heart to feele Gods iudgement a conscience to condemne and all concurring together to prostrate throwe downe and truly to humble the sinfull man vnder Gods mightie hand crying with the prodigal sonne O father I haue sinned against heauen and against thee and am not worthie to be called thy sonne I say it must be all these wrought most soundly by the worke of Gods spirit in the sinner that must be as a stoppe to Gods iudgements and a stay of his anger manifested Least a worse thing come vnto thee c. These words may be the speech of a master to his seruant thus I haue taken thee napping twise or thrise nay often and haue louingly admonished thee of it but if thou plaiest the like again thou shalt smart for all or of a schoolmaister to his scholler whose waggish trickes and great negligence he hath often pardoned but now threatneth the next time shall pay for all Euen so God from time to time seemed to winke at the sins of this man What the Lord long forbearing requireth yea euen at the sinnes of vs all and like a louing schoolemaster beares a while with our offences but either now cease from sinne learne to doe well and be a good scholler in Christes schoole or else looke thy lord and master the Lord Iehouah will take an account for all and in the ende pay thee home Least importeth necessitie Least this word least vsually in the scriptures importeth great necessitie of the matter in hand to be put in speedie execution as in Ieremie Ierm 4.4 Breake vp your fallow ground sow no more among the thornes be circumcised to the Lord and be no more stifnecked least my wrath breake forth and burne like a fire c. Psal 2.12 And the Psalmist Kisse the sonne least he be angrie and so ye perish sodainely if his wrath be kindled yea but a little c. And that necessarie admonition of our Sauiour Christ to his Disciples Watch and pray least ye enter into temptation Luke 22.40.46 Math 26.36 Mar. 14.32 And last of all that earnest caueat of the author to the Hebr. to all the godly Iewes for perseuerance in the profession of the Gospell and practise of holy daies meete for the measure of the grace of God they had receiued saith thus Take heed brethren least at any time there be in any of you an euill heart and vnfaithfull to depart away from the liuing God Heb. 3.12 vers 13. Out of all these aforenamed phrases may be gathered the vrgent necessitie that was imposed vpon this man healed presently to put in vre the continuall dutie of his deliuerance The vrgent necessitie of performing dutie to the Lord. and insinuateth also vnto euery one of vs or rather as a continuall cry soundeth in our eares O ye negligent coole carelesse disobedient and scornefull people in the North parts of England who deseruing Gods wrath for your manifold sins are yet now in the multitude of his mercies An Alarme to the North parts of England freed deliuered from the effect of his wrath sinne no more least if you againe tempt and prouoke the liuing Lord to anger he call you to recken and giue an account for your selues Heb. 3.9 so ye shall neuer be able to answere one of a thousand Further in that our Sauiour Christ heere admonisheth the man healed of his daily danger if euer after hee doe not crucifie the olde Adam with the lustes thereof God euer warneth before he plagueth we note the louing care mercy of God not to bring destruction vpon any before he hath both largly louingly forewarned them of the danger yea he desireth not the death of a sinner but rather that he conuert and liue according to the rule of the Apostle Ezech. 18.23 the Lord is not slack as some men count slacknes but is patieÌ„t towards vs would haue no maÌ„ to perish 2. Pet. 3.9 but would haue all men come to repentance and all are inuited to the mariage of the Kings sonne To conclude therefore this point Matth. 22. No cause to censure the Lord of hard dealing in iudgement we learne heere that all excuse or censuring the Lord of hard dealing in iudgmeÌ„t is remoued froÌ„ the wicked seing all of theÌ„ before they vndergo the intollerable burtheÌ„ of his wrath are offred most abundaÌ„tly to drinke of his loue A worse thing For the consideration of the measure and greatnes in some sort of this punishment which heere is threatned the man if he offend againe View in particuler I wish thee diligent wise reader to gâ—ue a glaunce backe to the viewe of his former sicknesse and certainly that will giue thee some probable demoÌ„stration of the measure of his punishment againe Cal. in Ioh. Cap. 5. vers 14. It is very likely that his correctioÌ„ was laid vpon him in his youth and the verie time which by
of dearth and pestilence and yet being now healed thereof presently forget our punishments and God that inflicted thē vpon vs Though we forget God in our dutie yet he will not forget our sins tremble and feare for certainly then God will not forget our sinnes but if they hale him on to come against vs yet againe take heede that with his third whip he scourge vs not till blood run down from top to toe when there shall be nothing heard but a fearfull noise and lamentation alas alas in which distresse which is most fearfull the wicked carelesse contemners of his mercies shall then seeke vnto him earely and late for helpe But I make a question whether they shall finde him or no the shall call vpon him but I am afraid hee will answere in thunder and the reason doth Wisedome tell Prou. 1.28.29 because they hated knowledge and did not chuse the feare of the Lord. The cause doth Ieremy tell like disobedient children Ierem. 2.30 they did not humble themselues vnder the Lord when they were corrected And surely if a worse thing What is the cause if our countrie be plagued againe a worse plague come vpon our North-parts of this land againe it is because as diuers to their griefe haue both seene and heard that many of you great townes great congregations priuate families and persons after your deliuerances healings and restoring to your former liberty haue not with Moses and with Deborah Exod. 15.2 Iudg. 5.2 assembled your selues together and lift vp your voyces in praise to the Lord and a faithfull promise to become euer after carefull in his seruice which thing you ought to haue done Much abuse in many places townes after their late fearfull visitation But rather your meetings haue bin and are to shake hands with your former sins and to bid them welcome againe amongst you hauing for a time been taken from you by reason of your affliction Your songs haue not been to praise God but rather as I haue heard in place therof prophane Enterludes Piping and dancing Lords of misrule and disorder with many moe vnlawfull sports Esay 49.13 and generally your protestations not one to crie to another and all ioyntly to sound together saying Reioyce O heauens be ioyfull O earth burst foorth into praise O mountaines for God hath comforted vs his sinfull people and hath had mercie on vs his late afflicted ones Neither I am afraid haue you been carefull to say with Moses The Lord is our strength and praise and he is become our saluation he is our God and wee will prepare him a tabernacle he is our fathers God and we will exalt him And to conclude whereas many of you my beloued countrimen haue been depriued of the enioying of one anothers fellowship Our meeting againe after a long separation I am afraid abused in the time of your affliction which now blessed be the name of God is restored to free libertie of fellowship and societie one with another I say I am afraid that your meetings together after a long and lamentable separation hath not bin to prouoke vnto loue and to good works and to exhort one another daily Heb. 10.23 3.13 while it is called to day but rather in stead of this the drunkard to associate himselfe with his drunken companions the whoremonger to seeke for his harlot the vainglorious man for his flatterers the carnall man for his confederates the vsurer for his creditors one wicked man with another and so to renew that wicked bond and league of their sinne at all which you ought to haue taken your last farewell neuer to haue communicated any more with such vnfruitfull works of darknes Ephes 5.11 Shall come vnto thee Out of this place we may gather this excellent point namely that as the godly bringing forth the pleasant fruits of righteousnes in their liues Note well the godly goe still forward till they come to heauen but the wicked stil backward till they go down to hell haue still more more the sweete mercies of God multiplied vpon them till they enioy them in their fulnes in the kingdom of glorie Euen so the wicked that after Gods graces powred downe vpon them doe still notwithstanding bring foorth nothing but the weedes and brambles of iniquitie haue Gods iudgements still more and more increased against them till at the length they presse them downe to hell Againe I gather hence this doctrine Thanke our vnthankfulnes if moe plagues come that if euill come vpō euill and punishment vpon punishment we may iustly impute it to our owne obstinacie and wilfull rebellion Last of all let this doctrine be the conclusion both of this point and this part of Scripture Si nil ferulis proficiat erga nos Deus quibus leniter nos tanquam teneros ac delicatos filios humanissimus pater castigat nouā quasi alienam personam induere cogitur If God by his whipping of vs profit vs nothing wherewithall like a most kinde father he correcteth our contumacie and disobedience hee is enforced to take vpon him another habit and to manifest himselfe in another manner If mercie will not moue iudgement will throw downe changeing mercie into iudgement And therefore let vs euer learne the end of Gods fatherly correction to bee our daily reformation and more increasing in the gifts and graces of the holie spirit euermore remembring the danger that will ensue if daily we doe it not and the sharp censure we shall vndergoe if we forget it euen this that the Almightie Iehouah will quasi atrocioribus malleis with the heauy and insupportable beetles of his iudgements presse downe vtterly bring to desolation all those quibus mediocris poena nil profuit that is whose hearts were not mollified and their liues reformed with the Lordes former sweete and comfortable affliction The conclusion Which my beloued that the former may euer take place in vs and so escape that the latter be neuer laid vpon vs the Lord for his infinit mercies sake grant vs euen for his sonne Christs sake who by his blood shedding hath so dearely ransomed his Church and vnto whom with the Father and the holy Spirit be all glorie maiestie praise and dominion for euermore Amen FINIS