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
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
they thought to bring upon David This defeating ariseth by five steps 1. They were disappointed 2. they fell into danger 3. they were contrivers of this danger themselves 4. there was a pâ—â—nall proportion they fell into the same danger which they plotâ—ed for another 5. they were a meanes of doing good to him whom they devised evil against and raised him whom they thought to pull downe David sped the better for Shimeis malice and Achitophels pollicy See all these five likewise in the example of Haman and Mordecai 1. Hâ—man missed of his plot 2. he fell into danger 3. hee fell into the same danger which hee contrived himselfe 4. he fell into the same danger which hee contrived for Mordecai and 5. was the meanes of Mordecaies advancement It had beene enough to have woven a spiders webb which is done with a great deale of art and yet comes to nothing but to hatch a Cockatrices egge that brings forth a viper which stings to death this is a double vexation Yet thus God delighteth to catch the wise in the imagination of their owne hearts and to pay them in their owne coine The wicked carry a lye in their right hand for they trust in man which is but a lye and being lyars themselves too no marvell if their hopes prove deceitfull so that while they sow the winde they reape the whirlewinde The reason of Gods dealing in this kinde is first in regard of himselfe God will not lose the glory of any of his Attributes he will be knowne to be God onely wise and this he will let appeare then especially when wicked men thinke to over-reach him Secondly in regard of his tender care over his children they are as the apple of his eye and as they are very neare so they are very deare to him they cost him deare they are his Iewels and hee gave a Iewell of infinite price for them he is interessed in their quarrells and they in hâ—s If they bee in any misery Gods bowells yearne for them hee is alwayes awake and never slumbereth as we see in the parable the Master of the house waked while the servants slept Gods eye is upon them for good hee hath them written in the palmes of his hands Christ carryest them alwayes in his breast Christ who is the husband of his Church is Lord of heaven and earth and hath all pâ—wer committed to him and will rule in the midst of his enemies He is the onely Monarch of the world and makes both all things and persons serviceable to his owne end and his Churches good he is higher then the highest Satan the God of the world is but his and his Churches slave All things are the Churches to further its best good Another reason is the insolency of the enemies whose fiercenesse turnes at length to Gods praise for as hee is a just Lord so hee will be knowne to be so by executing of judgement it shall appeare that there is a God that judgeth the earth Againe Gods children will give him no rest when he seemes to sleepe they will awake him with their prayers They will not let him goe without a blessing from him they will prevaile by importunity as the widow in the Gospell Having to deale with a just God in a just cause against common enemies his as wel as theirs they binde him with his owne promises and hee is content to be bound because he hath bound himselfe first hee will not lose that part of his title whereby he is knowne to be a God hearing prayers But it will be objected that wicked men doe not onely set themselves against the people of God but prevaile over them even to the scorne of the beholders Tully could say The gods shew how much they esteeme of the Iewish nation by suffering them so often to be conquered Hath not Antichrist a long time prevailed and was it not foretold that the beast should prevaile where is then the bringing forth of a lye I answere the enemies have power but no more then is given them of God as Christ answered Pilate they prevail indeed but it is for a time a limited time that a short one too ten dayes c. and what is this to that vast time of their tormâ—nt the time will come when there shall be no more time for them to persecuâ—e in Besides even when they doe prevaile it is but over part onely not over the whole they prevaile over persons it may be not over the cause that stands impregnable they prevaile over mens lives perhaps but not over their spirits which is that they chiesty aime at A true Christian conquers when hee is conquered Steven prevailed over his enemies when they seemed to prevaile over him God put glory upon him and a spirit of glory into him The Chuâ—ches enemies may prevaile in some place but then as the sea they lose in another The more they cut downe Gods people as Pharaoh did the Israelites the more they multiply and the more they are kept strait the more they spread and are inlarged God suffers the enemies of his truth to prevaile in some passages to harden their hearts the more for destruction as Pharaoh prevailed in oppressing the Israelites and He rod in killing Iohn c. but yet lay the beginning and the end together and then wee shall see they prevailed not and so farre as they did prevaile it tended onely to hasten their owne ruine because the present successe lifts up the heart Wee see Antichrist prevailed but spiritually onely over those whose names were not written in the Lambes booke of life and outwardly over the Saints for so it was prefixed Revel 18. that he should make warre with the Saints and overcome them and this was objected as a fiery dart against the Christians in those times that therefore they might thinke their cause naught because they were so prevailed over but they by helpe of the spirit of God understood so much of the Revelation as concerned themselves and used this as a weapon confessing that they were the conquered people of God but yet the people of God still But the chiefe stay and satisfaction of the soule herein is to look to the day of the righteous judgment of God when wee shall see all promises performed all theatnings executed and all enemies troden for ever under Christ and his Churches feete This is a point of marvellous comfort when Israel can say They have afflicted mee from my youth but yet they have not prevailed over me the gates of hell may let themselves against the Church but shall not prevaile the Church is not ruled by mans counsell Wee neither live nor dye at mans appointment Our lives are not in our owne hands or Satans or our enemies but in Gods they can do no more they shall doe no lesse then God will who is our life and the length of our dayes God
businesse God hath a key to open the closet of their hearts let them bee never so close locked up Oh that men would more feare this al-seeing eye of God be wise for themselves and not against themselves It is a miserable wisedome when men are wise to worke their owne ruine Beloved when men have had all their plots God hath a plot still beyond them he takes them failing in something or other their devices are like a curious clock if the least thing be out of frame all is marred God suffers them to spinne a â—ine thread a great while and at length cuts the webb and there is an end And they may thanke themselves for all this for they carry a justification of God in their owne breasts they perish because they will perish and this will be the torment of all torments to gracelesse persons that they polled destruction upon themselves Malice blindes the understanding in Satan and his instruments for if their malice were not above their wit would they to gratifie their ill affections knowingly rush into the displeasure of God and into such courses as will unavoidably bring their ruine malice drinks up the greatest part of its owne poyson His owne iniquity shall take the wicked himselfe saith Solomon and he shall be holden with the cords of his owne sinne This may bee inlarged to all sinfull courses every sinner worketh a deceitfull worke and bringeth forth a lye Austin saith well Every sinne is a lye Men would be happy yet they will not live so as they may be happy what more deceitfull than this It will be the complaint of every sinner at length that was Fvah's The Serpent hath deceived me It was S. Pauls complaint and it will be the complaint of all sinfull wretches at the last day What hath pride profited us What can the favour of men upon whom wee beare our selves doe us good now Sinne promiseth us contentment continuance secrecie full satisfaction c. but doth it make good this Were ever any when the beginning and ending was laid together established by wickednesse Take it from God himselfe we have a commission to speake it Say it shall not goe well with the wicked though they escape an hundred times yet it is but a reprivall for some further service which God hath to doe by them Be not deceived God is not mocked When wee can bee more subtile than the Devill or more strong than God we may thinke to thrive by sinne Can wee thinke God will alter the course of divine justice for us Had we not better beleeve this than finde it so hereafter Beloved hell is for those to feele that will not beleeve Certaine it is that those who will sinne notwithstanding Gods justice shal be severely punished notwithstanding his mercy God is not more peremptory in any one thing than in this If any man blesse himselfe in an ill way my wrath shall smoake against him therefore it is a good prayer Lord give mee not over to lying that is not to trust in that which will lye and deceive me This is the unhappinesse of us Ministers all other professions are beleeved when they discover danger but who beleeveth our report Wee are mens enemies because we tell them the truth Wee labour to take away the sweet morsells from men their Herodians and to divide betwixt men and their sins which they love better than their soules No creature but man loves that which will bee its owne bane Onely wretched man seek os happinesse in the way to misery and heaven in the way to hell I beseech you therefore as you would not bee deceived as indeed who would take heede of the deceitfull workes of darknesse Satan that tempts us is but a lying spirit which hee is not ashamed to confesse and sinne is like unto him What got Ahab by his vineyard Iudas by his thirty peeces of silver What god Haman and so of the rest by their sinnes at the last Men are usually ashamed of an ill bargain because the very thought thereof upbraids them with weaknesse and folly What ever we get by sinne for the present it will prove the worst bargaine that ever we made Oh therefore let us use our wits and parts to better purpose if wee will needs bee plotting let us plot for eternity that is worth the plotting for Let us plot how to avoide Satans plot Our time is short Opportunity the flower of time shorter Our talents are many our accounts strict our Iudge unpartiall Let us be sowing to the spirit Let us labour to be like our judge who went about doing his Fathers worke and came to destroy the workes of the Devill Oh beloved shall we build up that which Christ came to destroy All his miracles tended to goods he wrought the salvation of those that wrought his destruction hee shed his blood for those that shed his blood Satan is all for mischiefe and rather than he will not doe hurt he is content to be set about drowning of swine And such are all those that are led with his spirit men witty to destroy and acute to malice others who take a great deale of paines to goe to hell and carry others with them Those that are skilfull in the story of nature write of the Scorpion that hee whets his taile often upon stones that so it may bee sharpe and ready for a mischiefe some crooked wits there are which make it their exercise to vexe the quiet of the land it is as naturall to them as poyson to a Scorpion But our happinesse is how to be like the Idea the patterne of all grace and the glory of our nature by whom we hope to bee saved Our happinesse is to bring forth fruit and our owne fruit in due season to have opportunity ability and a heart to doe good how comfortable is death when it takes men so doing The time will be ere long when it will comfort us above all things in the world besides that wee have beene honoured to be instruments of doing good and stood in the gappe to hinder evill Beloved we serve a good master we shall not lose a good word for a good cause there is a booke of remembrance for every good word and worke we doe When wicked men have beaten their braines spent their spirits and wasted their strength what becomes of them at length A conscience often wounded will receive no comfort but take Gods part against it selfe When the other powers are wearied then Conscience comes and doth its office then the eyes of the soule are opened to see what it would not see before then sinne that lay at the doore at the going out of this life flyeth in our faces pleasure and profit for which wicked men project and contrive so much comes all to nothing but sinne it selfe and the punishment of it abides for ever Men like Popes will dispence with themselves and
incouragement from him Indeed he was a man of speciall use and service and as he honored God in his life so God hath honored him in his death as you may see by this honorable assembly of worthy people met in love to him His death was as the death of strong men useth to be with conflicts betweene nature and his disease but with a great deal of patience and in his sicknesse time hee would utter Pauls disposition Oh saith he You keepe me from heaven you keepe me from glorie being displeased with those that kept him alive with conference out of love Hee had a large heart to doe good for though hee were fruitfull and studied to be fruitfull yet oft in his sicknesse in a complaining manner hee would say Oh I have not beene so wise for my owne soule as I ought to be I have not beene provident enough in taking opportunities of doing and receiving good Beloved shall such a man as he was so carefull so fruitfull so good shall he complaine thus what shall a company of us do Beloved those that have warmed their hearts at the fire of Gods love they thinke zeale it selfe to be coldnesse and fruitfulnesse to be barrennesse Love is a boundlesse affection hee spake not this from want of care but love knows no bounds therefore hee tooke the more opportunities of doing good Well I beseech you beloved let not this example Passe without making good use of it God will call us to a reckoning not only for what we heare but for what we see he will call us to a reckoning for the examples of his people therefore as wee see here what a holy disposition was in St. Paul and in this blessed man now with God so let us labour to finde the same disposition in our selves Paul hath now his desire hee is dissolved and he is with Christ that is best of all This holy man hath his desire he desired not to be kept from his glory and happinesse on which his mind was set before let us therefore labour with God in the use of good meanes to have the same disposition And in this moment let us provide for eternitie out of eternitie before and eternitie after issueth this little spot of time to doe good in Let us sow to the spirit account all time lost that either we doe not or take not good in opportunitie is Gods Angel time is short but opportunitie is shorter let us catch at all opportunities this is the time of working oh let us sow now shall we goe to sowing then when the time comes that wee should reap some begin to sow when they die that is the reaping time while we have time let us doe all good especially where God loves most to those that are good Consider the standings and places that God hath set us in consider the advantages in our hands the price that wee have consider opportunitie wil not stay long let us therfore doe all the good wee can and so if we doe beloved we shal come at length to reape that that this blessed Saint of God Saint Paul here in the text and this blessed man for whose cause we are now met doe enjoy Therefore if wee desire to end our dayes in ioy and comfort let us lay the foundation of a comfortable death now betimes To die well is not a thing of that light moment as some imagine it is no easie matter But to die well is a matter of every day let us daily doe some good that may helpe us at the time of our death every day by repentance pull out the sting of some sin that so when death comes we may have nothing to doe but to die to die well is the action of the whole life he never dies well for the most part that dies not daily as Paul saith of himselfe I die daily he laboured to loose his heart from the world and worldly things if we loose our hearts from the world and die daily how easie will it be to die at last he that thinks of the vanity of the world and of death of being with Christ for ever and is dying daily it will be easie for him to end his daies with comfort but the time being past I will here make an end Let us desire God to make that which hath been spoken effectuall both concerning Paul and likewife concerning this blessed man for whose cause we are met together FINIS CHRISTS SUFFERINGS FOR MANS SINNE Laid open in a Passion Sermon at Mercers Chappell London vpon Good Friday By R. SIBBS D. D. Isay. 53. 5. He was wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities the chastisement of our peace was upon him and with his stripes are wee healed LONDON Printed by M. F. for R. Dawlman at the Brazen Serpent in Pauls Church-yard 1634. CHRISTS SVFFERINGS FOR MANS SINNE MATH 27. 46. About the ninth houre Iesus cryed with a loud voyce Ely Ely Lamasabac-thany that is to say My God my God wâ—y hast thou forsaken me THâ— dying speeches of men of worth are most remarkeable at that time they stirre up all their spirits abilities which remaine that they may speake with greatest advantage to the hearts of others and leave the deeper impression behind them These be some of the last words of our blessed Saviours uttered from the greatest affection with the greatest faith and to the greatest purpose that ever any words were spoken and therefore deserve your best attention In this Portion of Scripture you have Christs Compellation My God and his Complaint Why hast thou forsaken me A compellation with an ingemination or reduplication of the words My God my God to shew the strength of his affection and desire of help at this time A complaint by way of exposâ—ulation Why hast thou forsaken me I will draw all that I have to say into these foure propositions 1 That Christ was forsakenâ— 2 That hee was very sensible of it even unto complaint Why hast thou for saken me 3 His disposition and carriage in this extremity his faith failed not My God my God his present griefe tyed him the closer and faster to his God 4 Neither was it onely faith but a faith flaming in prayer wherby hee expressed that God was his God Hee not onely prayed but cryed to him My God my God c. This is the summe of what I intend Christ being in extremity was forsaken Being forsaken hee was very sensible of it and from sensiblenesse complaines powring out his soule into the bosome of his Father And not onely complaines but beleeves certainly that his Father will helpe him And to strengthen his faith the more he puts it forth in prayer the fire of faith in his heart kindled into a flame of prayer and that not in an ordinary manner but in strong supplications he cryed out My God my God why hast thou for saken me To come to the particulars Christ was forsaken I will briefly
in his house so God takes his best contentment in his Church and people they are the most beloved of all mankinde 4. As in a house we use to lay up our jewels precious things so God layes up in his Church whatsoever is precious his prayses his graces yea whatsoever is good and of high esteeme that hee bestowes upon his Church and people For the further clearing of this wee must know that the Church and children of God are said to be his house either 1. As a family is said to be house or 2. As the fabrick or building is said to be the house First a man provides for his family and hee that neglects it is worse then an insidell so doth God provide for his Church the very Dragons and Ostriges the worst of the creatures al have some respect to their yong ones much more will God provide for his owne And as a man protects his house from all enemies so will God protect his Church and people and be a wall of fire and a defence round about them Now there is a mixture in the Church as in a house of good and bad vessels but the godly are especially Gods house as for hypocrites and false professors they are no more in the house then the excrements are in the body they are in the body but not of the body and therefore as Ishmael they must be cast out at length And as in every house or building there are some open places and some private closets c. So is it here God hath his private chamber and his retyring place which is the heart of every true Christian Hee counts it not sufficient to dwell in his house at large but hee will dwell in the best part of it the heart and the affections therefore he knocks at the doores of our hearts for entrance and his best children are glad he will reside in them they set him up in the highest place of their soules and set a Crowne upon him their desire is that God may governe and rule their whole conversation they have no Idoll above God in their hearts What a wonderfull mercy is this that wee are Gods house that hee will vouchsafe to dwell and take up his lodging in such desiled houses as our soules are It is no meane favour that God should single out us poore wretches to have his residence and abiding place in our soules considering there is so much â—ickednesse in the hearts of the best of us Oh what comfort ariseth to a christian soule from the due meditation of this point If wee are Gods house then God wil be our house Thou art our habitation saith Moses from generation to generation Howsoever we shuffle in the world as they did in the wildernesse now here and now there having no certaine place of abode but are here to day and gone to morrow yet in God wee have an house thou art our habitation he is ours and we are his And what a comfort is this that wee are Gods house Certainly God will provide for his owne house hee that layes this charge upon others and hath put that affection and care of provision into others for their families will he neglect his own hee that makes us love and puts that naturall affection into us of those that belong unto us hath hee not infinitely more in himselfe when as that which wee have is but a beame or ray from his infinite brightnesse This should then instruct us to labour that God may dwell largely and comfortably in us to deliver up all to this keeper of our house and suffer him to rule and raigne in us The Romish Church is become the habitation of Devils that which was Bethel is now become Bethaven Why because they would not suffer God to rule in his owne house but would have coadjutors with Christ as if he were not a sufficient head of the Church to govern it but he must have a Vicar the Pope who as if Christ were too weak will not suffer him to exercise his Kingly office unlesse hee may support help him thus they set up the abomination of desolation in the temple of God Oh beloved it much concerns us to cleanse and purifie our hearts that so wee may entertaine Christ and he may delight to abide and dwell with us you know how hainously hee tooke it when his house was made a den of theeves and will hee not take it much worse that our hearts should be made the very sinks and cages of all manner of uncleannes How should wee begge and cry to God that he would whip out these noysome lusts corruptions out of the temple of our hearts by any sharp correcction or terrour of conscience whatsoever rather then suffer them to reside there still to grieve his good Spirit Wee should take a holy State upon us as being temples of the holy Ghost and therefore too good to be desiled with sinne Our hearts should be as the Holy of Holies And therefore the Apostle exhorts us to abstaine from all filthinesse both of flesh and spirit for this cause that God may dwell amongst us for What communion â—â—th light with darknes Are Gods people his house Then let the enemies of the Church take heed how they deale with them for God will have a speciall care of his owne house howsoever he may seem for a time to neglect his children yet remember this they are his house still and no ordinary house but a temple whereon on sacrifice is offered to him continually hee that destroyeth the temple of God him will God destroy Here a question would bee answered which some uncharitable spirits make and that is this Whether England bee the house of God or no I answer The whole Catholike militant Church is but one house of God though there bee divers branches of the same As there is but one maine Ocean of the Sea yet as it washeth upon the British coast it is called the Brittish Sea and as it washeth on the Germans the German Sea c. It hath divers names of the divers Countries which it passeth thorow neverthelesse there is still but one maine Sea So it is with the house of God God hath but one true Church in the whole world which spreads it selfe into divers Nations and Countries upon the face of the earth One branch wherof is among us at this day How prove you that Doth not Christ dwell amongst us by his Ordinances by his Spirit working effectually in the same If a house be not in perfect repaire is it not still a house I beseech you let us rather give God cause to delight to dwell still with us then call in question whether hee dwelleth amongst us or no. But to proceed Hence further wee see that the house of God after some time will need visiting and purging seeing it will soone gather soyle
when sinne is discountenanced and condemned most for then it is the States sinne no longer but lyeth upon particular offenders But I hasten As God will visit his Church so there is a certaine time for it God as hee hath appointed a general day to judge the world in so hee appoints particular times of judgement in this life hee is the wise dispenser of times God doth not alwayes whip his Church but his ordinary course is to give them some respite as Acts 9. after Pauls conversion the Church had joy and grew in the comforts of the holy Ghost God hath rejoycing dayes for his people as well as mourning dayes fayre weather as well as soule and all to help them forward in the way to heaven Beloved God gives many happy and blessed times to encourage weak ones at their first comming on that they may the better grow up in goodness and not be nipped in the bud but after a certaine time when through peace and encouragement they grow secure and carelesse and scandalous in their lives then hee takes them in hand and corrects them God hath scouring dayes for his vessels What be those times wherein God will visit his Church I answer in generall the time of visiting the Church of God is from Abel to the last man that shall be in the earth the Church beganne with bloud continues with bloud and shall end with bloud the whole dayes of the Church are a time of persecution from my youth upward saith the Psalmist I have suffered so may the Church of God say even from my cradle from my infancy I have beene afflicted yea for thy sake we are killed all the day long and counted as sheepe for the slaughter but this is not here meant The time for the Church of God to suffer is when the glorious manisestation of the Gospell is more then in former times wee see the ten first persecutions was after that generall promulgation of the Gospell whereby the world was more inlightned then formely Wee reade in the Revelation of a white horse that Christ rides on and a pale horse of famine and a red horse of persecution that followed after him So presently after the preaching of the Gospell comes the fanne and the axe or though not very presently yet after a certaine time when our neede requires it for God will wayte a while to see how wee entertaine his glorious Gospell and whether we walke worthy of it or not More particularly even now is the time of lacobs trouble even now God hath put a cup into the Churches hand and it must goe round the sword hath a commission to devoure which is not yet called in But what be the more especiall times wherein a man may know some judgement is like to fall upon the Church of God The Scripture is wondrous ful in the point 1. God usually before any heavy judgement visits a people with lesser judgements his foot â—eps first appeare in some small token of his displeasure but if that prevayles not then he brings a greater this and this have I done saith the Lord and yet yee have not returned unto mee There be droppings before the ruine of a house Lesser judgments make way for greater as a little wedg makes way for a greater and therefore where lesse affilictions prevaile not there cannot but be an expectation of greater Why should I smite you any more saith God you fall away more and more that is I must have a sweeping judgement to carry you cleane away Againe usually before some great calamity God takes away worthy men the Councellor and the Captain and the man of warre This is a fearefull presage that God threatneth some destruction for they are the Pillars of the Church and the strength of the world they are those that make the times and places good wherein they live for they keep away evill and do good by their example and by their prayers many wayes A good man is a common good the Citty thrives the better as Solomon saith for a righteous man therefore wee have cause to rejoyce in them and it is an evill signe when such are removed God usually visits a people when some horrible crying sins raigne amongst them as 1. Atheisme Beloved God stands upon his prerogative then when he is scarce knowne in the world when they say Where is God God sees us not c. So likewise 2. when Idolatry prevailes this is spirituall Adultery and a breach of Covenant with God Againe 3. when divisions grow amongst a people union is a preserver where there is dissention of judgement there will soone be dissention of affections and dissipation wil be the end if we take not heed for the most part Ecclesiasticall dissentions end in â—ivill And therefore wee see before the destruction of Ierusalem what a world of Schismes and divisions were amongst the Iews there were Pharisees and Sadduces c. It was the ruine of the ten Tribes at length the rent that Ieroboam caused in Religion It is a fearefull signe of some great ludgement to fall upon a Church when there is not a stopping of dissentions they may be easily stopped at the first as waters in the beginning but when they are once gotten into the very vitall parts of the Church Common wealth wee may see the mischiefe but it is hardly remedyed Againe when sinne goes with some evill circumstances and odious qualities which aggravate the same in the sight of God as when sinne growes ripe and abounds in a Land or Nation at such a time as this a man may know there is some fearfull judgement approaching But when is sinne ripe 1. When it is impudent when men grow bold in sinne When sinne is ripe making it their whole course and trade of life when mens wicked courses are their conversation they cannot tell how to doe otherwise 2. When sinne growes common and spreads sarre It is an ill plea to say Others do so as well as I alas the more sin the more danger 3. When there is a security in sinning without feare or dread of the Allmighty as if men would dare the God of Heaven to doe his worst Oh beloved such persons as goe on still in their sins to provoke the Lord doe put a sword as it were into Gods hands to destroy themselves The old world you know was very secure no doubt they mocked at holy Noah when hee made the Arke as if hee had beene a doting old man not with standing hee foretold them of the wrath to come And our Saviour Christ saith Before the end of the world it shall be as in the dayes of Noah Beloved God hath his old worlds still If wee have the same course and security of finning we must looke for the same iudgements And therefore compare times with times If the times now answer
Or 2. to Gods children and so they are moderate corrections and therefore the Prophet so often urgeth Correct us ô Lord in judgement c. God alwaies moderates afflictions to his owne children but as for the wicked he sweepes them away as doung as drosse and as chaffe c. Againe it is a comfort to Gods children that he beginnes with them first rather then God will suffer them to perish and be condemned with the world hee beginnes with them here they have their worst first and the better is to come This likewise is some comfort that the time when God corrects his children is most seasonable â—it for them God pruneth his trees in the â—ittest time A plant cut unseasonably dieth but being cut in due time it flourishes the better All the works of God are beautifull in their season Every Châ—istian may truly say God loves me better then I doe my selse hee knowes the best time of purging and visiting his people This is the time of lacobs trouble c. therefore we should lay our hands upô our mouths kisse the rodd and stoope under judgements as côsidering Gods time to be the best time and that hee knowes better what is good for us then wee doe our selves Thus you see though we have cause of fearing Gods judgments yet there is something to comfort us in the midst of all God mingles our Comforts and Crosses together whilest we are here both to keepe us in awe of offending his Majesty and to incourage uâ— in well-doing Therefore let us alwayes looke what matter of feare and what matter of hope wee have for both these are operative affetions Oh that I could stirre up this blessed feare in you it is that which preserves the soule and God hath promised that hee will put his feare into our â—earts that wee shall not depart from hiâ— I beseech you plie the thronâ— of grace and desire the Lord that it may bee to every one of your soules according to his good word Labour likewise â—or iâ—câ—urâ—gement in the waies of holinesse blessed be God yet wee have a time of respite God forbeares us with much patience goodnesse Answerable to our good courses that we take nâ—w will be our comfort in the evill day If wee carelesly goe on in sinne thinke it time enough to renew our covenant with God then when his judgments are abroad and ready to ceasse upon us we doe but delude our owne soules expose our selues to inevitable dangers Marke what the Lord saith Because I called and you would not heare c. therefore will I laugh at your destruction Is it not strange that the mercifull God should laugh at the calamity of his poore creatures yet thus it is with every wilfull sinner that dallies with God and puts off his repentance from time to time God will take pleasure in the ruine of such a man and laugâ— when his feare cometâ— because those that seeke him then doe it not out of any love or liking of God and the waies of goodnes but merely out of selfe-love and respect to their owne well-fare THE VNGODLIES MISERY SERMON II. And if it first beginne at us what shall the end of those be that obey not the Gospell THESE words are pâ—opounded by way of admiraâ—â—â— as if the Apostle had beene at his wits end could not certainly set downe how great the judgment should bee of those that obey not the Gospell it was so terrible and unavoydable The points considerable are these 1. That the seeming prospâ—rity of the wicked shall have an end 2. That it is wisedome to conâ—ider the end of gracelesse persons 3. The description of them in these words they are such as obey not the Gospell It is naturally in the hearts of carnall persons to thinke it shall be alwaies well with theÌ„ whereas the Prophet saith the happinesse of a wicked man is but as a candle that ends in â— snuffe or like a Rose the beauty whereof suddenly fades and nothing remaines but the prickles The favours of men for which theyso much offend God shall have an end their strength shall end their pleasure shall end alas they are but pleasures of sinne for a season their life it selfe the foundation of all their comforts that shall have an end but their sinnes by which they have offended God shall never have an end See what a feareful judgmeÌ„t followes every wicked wretch that which he sinnes for his honor riches delights all shall vanish and come to nothing they shall not be able to afford him one droppe or dramme of comfort at his dying day but the sinne it self the guilt of that and the punishment due to the same shall indure for ever to torment his soule without serious repentance turning to God in time But secondly if the happinesse of wicked men shall have an end and their misery shall have no end let us not bee dazeled with their present happinesse so as to imâ—tate their evill waies let us tremble at their courses whose ends we tremble at if we walke in the same path shall wee not come to the same end All wicked men that delight in the company one of another here are brethren in â—vill and shall bee like a company of tares all cast into hell fire together hereafter It is pitty they should be sâ—vered then that will not be severed now Those mens courses therefore which wee follow here of their judgmeÌ„t wee shall participate eternally afterwards Let this admonish us to have nothing to do with sinfull persons nor to bee troubled with their seeming prosperity They stand in â—lippery places God lets them alone for a while but their pleasure will end in bitternesse at last all their riches shall end in poverty beggery They shall not have a drop of â—ater to coole their tongues All their honour and greatnesse shall end in conâ—usion and shame and lie in the dust ere long In deed we should rather pitty them if wee consider their latter ends Alas what shall become of them ere long The fall of there wretches shall bee so terrible that peter could not set it downe but leaves it to the admiration of the Reader What shall the end of such be c. One difference betwixt a wise man and a foole is that a wise man considers his end and frames his life sutable therunto therefore if we would be truly wise let us consider the end of those things in this world which wicked men offend God for and set so light by Heaven and everlasting happinesse for the procurement of Alas whatsoever is here shall have an end A Christian should frame his course answerable to eternity that when his happinesse shall end in this world it may beginne in the world to come els wee may out-live our happinesse This is the misery of wicked men that their soules are eternall
till wee come to the haven None comes to heaven but they know how they come there Now God will have it thus to sweeten heaven unto us after a conslicting life peace is welcome heven is heaven indeed after trouble wee can relish it then Because God will discard hypocrites in this life who take up so much of ReligioÌ„ as stands with their case and credit in the world avolding every difficulty which accompanyes goâ—linesse but so they may swimme two wayes at once goe on in their lusts still and bee religious withall this they approve of therefore God will have it a hard matter to bee saved to frustrate the vaine hopes of such wretches Alas it is an easy matter to bee an hypocrite but not to live godly If the righteous bee saved with much adoe then never enter upon the profession of Religion with vaine hopes of ease and pleasure that it shall be thus and thus with thee c. herein thou doest but delude thy owne soule for it wil prove otherwise Forecast therefore what will fall and gett provision of grace before hand to sustaine thee As if a man were to goe a dangerous journey hee provides himselfe of weapons pons and cordialls and all the incourageâ—ents he can least hee should faint in the way where as hee that walkes for his pleasure provides nothing hee cares not for his weapon or his cloake because if a storme comes hee can runne under shelter or into a house c. He that makes Religion a recreation can walke a turne or two for his pleasure and when any difficulty arises can retire and drawe in his hornes againe An hypocrite hath his reservations and politike ends and therefore what needs hee any great provision to support him when he knows how to winde out of trouble well enough rather then to stand couragiously to any thing But a true Christian that makes it the maine work of his life to please God armes himself for the worst that can befall him and will be saved through thicke or thinne smooth or rough whatsoever comes on it so God will save his soule hee cares not but rejoyceth with Paul if by any meanâ—s he can attain the resurrectioÌ„ of the dead by any meanes it is no matter what Let fire and fagott meete with him yet hee is resolved not to retire for any trouble or persecution whatsoever that standes betweene him and happinesse Hee is purposely armed to breake through every opposition to the best things and what ever may separate his soule from the favour of God I beseech you beloved think of these things and let it bee your wisedome to make the way to heaven as easy as you can to this end begge the Spirit of Christ you know the holy spirit is full of life and strength it is a spirit of light and comfort and whatsoever is good the spirit of God is like the winde as it is subtle in operation and invisible so it is strong and mighty it beares all before it Oh therefore gett this blessed spirit to inlighten thee to quicken thee to support thee c. and it will carry thy soule couragiously along above all oppositions and discouragements whatsoever in the way to happinesse Get likewise the particular graces of the Spirit which will much cheere thee in thy Christian course above all labour for a spirit of humility an humble man is sit to doe or suffer any thing a proud man is like a gouty hand or a swelled arme unfit for any Christian performance he is not in a state to doe good but an â—uÌ„ble maÌ„ is thankfull that God will honour â—im so farre as to let him suffer for the cause of Christ hee is wondrous empty and vile in his owne eyes and admires why God should reserve such infinite matters for so base a worme as hee is When Christ would have us take his yoake upon us he advises us to learne of him to be meeke and lowly c. Some might say This yoake is heavy it will pinch mee and gall me No saith our Saviour it shall bee very light and easie but how shall I get it to be so Why get but an humble and meeke spirit and that will bring rest to your soules Againe labour for a spirit of love Love is strong as death it will carry us through all The love of Christ in the Martyrs when the fire was kindled about them made them despise all tormâ—nts what soever this will warme our hearts and make us goe cheerfully to worke Let but a spirit of love be kindled in Gods childe and it is no matter what he suffers cast him into the fire cast him into the dungeon into prison whatsoever it bee hee hath that kindled in his heart which will make him digest any thing We see the Disciples when they had the spirit of Christ within them to warme their hearts what cared they for whipping or Stockes c You see even base carnall love will make a man indute poverty disgrace what not and shall not this fire that comes from heaveÌ„ when it is once kindled in our hearts prevaile much more what will make our passage to heaven sweete if this will not Nothing is grievous to a person that loves Exercise your hope likewise set before your eyes the crowne and kingdome of heaven those admirable things contained in the Word of GOD which no tongue can â—xpresse let hope feed upon these deâ—cates cast Anchor in heaven and see if it will not make thee goe on cheerefully in a Christian course Faith will overcome the world all the snares of prosperity that would hinder us on the right hand Faith it presents things of a higher nature to the soule better than they faith likewise overcomes temptations on the left hand all terrours and discomforts whatsoever it considers these are nothing to the terrour of the Lord therefore faith is called the evidence of things not seene because it presents things that are absent as present to the soule If life and happinesse be once truly presented to our hearts what can all the world doe to hinder our passage thither Lastly we should much endeavor the mortificaâ—â—oÌ„ of our lusts for what is it that makes the way to heaven irk some unto us Is it not this corrupt and proud flesh of ours which will indure nothing no not the waight of a straw but is all for ease and quiet c. It is not duty which makes our way difficult for it was meate and drinke to Christ to doe the will of his father Why is it not so with us Because he was borne without sinne when Sathan came he found nothing of his owne in him but when hee sollicites us hee findes a correspondency betwixt our corrupt hearts and himselfe whereby having intelligence what we haunt what we love he will be sure to molest us the lesse wee have of the workes of Sathan in us the lesse
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
contentment accounting the blessed Martyrs too prodigall of their blood c. Others there are who if once they come to suffer presently fall to shifting and plotting how to get forth againe by unlawfull meanes oftentimes making shipwracke of a good conscience and dishonouring the Gospell of God I beseech you consider these things Every man would have Christ and bee religious so long as they may enjoy peace and quietnesse but if once trouble or persecution arises then farewel religion they cast off their profession then I wish this were not the case of many seeming Christians in these our dayes But suppose a man carry himselfe ill in suffering There is not the least promise of comfort in Scripture to such a man unlesse hee returne and seeke the Lord by timely repentance for all incouragement is to well doing Oh what a pittifull thing is it for the soule to bee in such a state as that it dares not commit it selfe to God A man in evill doing cannot goe home to his owne conscience for comfort nor have any inward peace in the least action he performes so long as hee doth it with false aymes and carnall affections c. who would deprive himselfe of the comfort of suffering in a good cause for want of integrity I beseech you therefore carry your selves well in any thing you either doe or suffer otherwise no blessing can bee expected for we tempt the Lord and make him accessary to us when we commit our soules to him in ill doing Even as your Pirates and other Miscreants in the world that will robbe and steale and doe wickedly and yet pray to G O D to blesse them in their base courses what is this but to make G O D like themselves as if hee approved their thest and horrible blasphemy But what must wee commit to God in well doing the keeping of our soâ—les The soule is the more excellent part witnesse he that purchased the same with his dearest blood What will it profit a man saith our Saviour to gaine the whole world and lose his owne soule who could know the price of a soule better than hee that gave his life for redemption of it yea if the whole world were layd in one ballance and the soule in another the soule were better than all Therefore whatsoever estate thou art in let thy first care be for thy soule that it may goe well with that You know in any danger or combustion suppose the firing of an house that which a man chiefly lookes after is his Iewels and precious things I have some wealth in such a place if I could but have that I care for no more let the rest goe So it is with a Christian whatsoever becomes of him in this world hee lookes to his precious soule that that may bee layed up safely in the hands of God Suppose a man were robbed by the high way and had some speciall jewell about him though every thing else were taken a way from him yet so long as that is lest he thinkes himselfe a happy man and saith they have taken a way some luggage but they have lest me that which I prize more than all so it is with a Christian let him bee stripped of all hee hath so his soule bee not hurt but all safe and well there hee cares not much But what should wee desire our soules to bee kept from in this world From sinne and the evill consequents thereof Beloved we have great neede our soules should be kept by God for alas what sinne is there but wee shall fall into it unlesse God preserve us in peace and comfort and assurance of a better estate what would become of our poore soules if wee had them in our owne keeping Achitophell had the keeping of his owne soule and what became of him first hee did runne into the sinne of Treason and afterwards being a wicked Politician and an Atheist having no delight in God was the executioner of himselfe We shall bee ready as Iob saith to teare our owne soules if God hath not the keeping of them wee shall teare them with desperate thoughts as Iudas who never committed his soule to God but kept it himselfe and wee see what became of him The Apostle bids us goe to God in prayer and committing our soules to him to keepe from sinne despaire distrust and all spirituall evill whatsoever and then the peace of God which passeth all understanding as the word in the Originall is shall guard our soules in Christ our soules have need of guarding and we of our selves are not sufficient to doe it therefore wee should commit them unto God for except hee preserve us wee shall soone perish I am ashamed to speake of it and yet notwithstanding the courses of men are such that they inforce a man to speak that which hee is even ashamed of What doe I speake of committing your souleâ— to God when many thousands in the world live as if they had no soules at all I am perswaded that your common swearers prophane wretches who wrong their soules to pleasure their bodies and prostitute both body and soule and all to their base lusts thinke for the time that they have no soules they thinke not that there is such an excellent immortall substance breathed into them by God which must live for ever in eternall happinesse or endlesse misery Did they beleeve this they would not wound and staine their precious soules as they doe they would not obey every base lust out of the abuÌ„dance of prophancnes in their hearts even for nothing as many notorious loose persons doe Oh could wee but get this principle into people that they have immortall soules which must live for ever they would soone bee better than they are but the Devill hath most men in such bondage that their lives speake that they beleeve they have no soules by their-ill usage of them But must wee not commit our bodies and our estates to God as well as our soules Yes all wee have for that is onely well kept which G O D keepes but yet in time of suffering we must be at a point with these things if God will have our liberty if hee will have our wealth if he will have our life and aâ—â— wee must hate all for Christs sake but wee must not bee at such a point with our soules wee must keepe them close to God and desire him to keepe them in well doing Suppose it come to an exigent that wee must either sinne and hurt our soules or else lose all our outward good things We must desire God to preserve our soules whatsoever becomes of these our principall care must bee that that bee not blemished in the least kinde for alas other things must bee parted with first or last this bodie of ours or whatsoever is deare in the world must bee stripped from us and layed in the dust ere long But here is
the soule Being justified by faith wee have peace with God Those that are hurried in their life with false doubts and perplexities What shall become of mee what shall I eate and what shall I drinke c Though they use lawfull meanes yet commit not themselves to God as they should for where there is a dependance upon God in the use of meanes there is an holy silence in the party All stubborne and tumultuous thoughts are hushed in him My soule keepe silence to the Lord saith David and trust in God why art thou so vexed within me still there is a quieting of the soule where there is trust Can that man put confidence in God that prowles for himselfe and thinkes he hath no Father in heaven to provide for him Doth that childe trust his father that besides going to schoole thinkes what hee shall put on how he shall be provided for and what inheritance he shall have hereafter Alas this is the Fathers care and belongs not to him Wheresoever these distractions are there can be no yeelding up of the soule to God in truth There be two affections which mightily disturbe the peace of Christians 1. Sinfull cares and 2. Sinfull feares to both which we have remedies prescribed in the Scripture 1. Feare not little flocke saith Christ for it is your fathers will to give you a kingdome As if he had said Will not hee that gives you heaven give you other things In nothing be carefull saith the Apostle that is in a distracting manner but doe your duty and then let your requests bee made knowne to God and the peace of God shall keepe you and therefore were we redeemed from the hands of our enemies that wee might serve him without feare all our dayes A Christian should keepe an inward Sabbath in his soule and goe quietly on in doing all the good hee can what a fearfull thing is it to see men lie groveling in the earth and live without God in the world troubling and â—urmoyling themselves how to compasse this thing and that thing as if they had no God to seeke unto nor no promise to relye upon Againe where this committing of a mans selfe and his soule to God is there will bee a looking to God onely in all a man doth not fearing any danger or opposition that may befall him from without as the three yong men said to Neâ—ucâ—adnezar Our God can keepe us if he will But what if hee will not Yet know O King that wee will not worship nor fall downe before thy Image So it is with a Christian foreseeing some danger disgrace or displeasure of this or that man which may befall him he resolveth notwithstanding in despight of all to commit himselfe to God in doing his duty come what will whether God will save him or no hee will not breake the peace of his conscience or doe the least evill hee is no foole but foresees what may befall him for well doing this inconvenience may come that trouble yet he sets light by these he hath an eye to heaven and sees more good to himself in the Creator that gave him his beeing of nothing and more good for the time to come that will make him a blessed Saint in heaven then there can be ill in the creature therefore come what can come his heart is fixed to trust the Lord and rather than hee will displease him desert his honour and his cause or doe any unworthy action he will commit himselfe to God in the greatest dangers The ground hereof is this A Christian is the wisest man in the world and hee understands well enough that God is Alsufficient hee sees there is a greater good in God than hee can have in the Creature and counts it madnesse to offend God to please the creature because there is a greater evill to bee expected from God than from the Creature though it were the greatest Monarch in the world considering therefore that he hath his best good in his union with God and in keeping his peace with him hee will not breake with him for any Creature And thus hee doth wisely for hee knowes if hee lose his life he shall have a better life of God than hee hath in his body for God is his life God is his soule and his comfort and hee hath his beeing from God hee is his Creator and hee hath a better being in God when hee dyes than he had when he lived for our beeing in God makes us happy and therefore Christ saith He that loves his life before God and a good cause hates it and hee that hates his life when Christ cals for it loves it for hee hath a better life in him wee give nothing to God but hee returns it a thousand times better than we gave it Let us yeeld our lives to him wee shall have them in heaven if they be taken away on earth Hee will give us our goods a thousand sold we shall have more favour in God then in any Creature and therefore a Christian out of this ground commits himselfe to God though hee foresee never so much danger like to fall upon him Againe if we doe in deed and not in pretence commit our selves to God as to a faithfull Creator we will not limit his Majesty as many carnall hearts doe oh if God will do so and so for them then they would trust him if they had but so much to live on a yeare and sâ—ch commings in c. then they would depend upon God but they must have a pawne and so much in hand first What a shame is it that wee should trust the vilest man in the world as farre as wee see him and yet unlesse wee have somewhat to leane on we will not trust God Beloved when a man limits God in any thing such a one may talke but hee trusts him not at all Indeed wee should indent with God and tie him to looke to the salvation of our soules but for other things leave them to his owne wisedome both for the time for the manner and measure doe what hee will with us Suppose it come to the Crosse hath hee not done greater matters for us why then should we distrust him in lesser If times come that Religion flourish or goes downward yet relye on him still hath hee not given his Sonne to us and will hee not give heaven also Why doe wee limit the holy One of Israel and not cast our selves upon him except hee will covenant to deale thus and thus with us A true Christian hath his eye alwayes heaven-ward and thinkes nothing too good for God O Lord saith he of thee I have received this life this estate this credit and reputation in the world I have what I have and am what I am of thee and therefore I yeeld all to thee backe againe If thou wilt serve thy selfe of my wealth of my selfe of my strength thou shalt have it If
and labour to improve our Talents that when we give any thing to God we may say Lord according to the grace I have received I have kept it and therefore now returne it to thee againe Beloved when trouble of conscience comes when sicknesse and death comes what will become of a man that hath not this sweete acquaintance with God hee was a stranger to God in the time of prosperitie and God is now a stranger to him in adversitie Saul was a prophane spirited man hee did not acquaint himselfe with God in the time of his happinesse and therefore in time of distresse he goes first to the Witch and then to the sword poynt So fareth it with all wicked wretches in their great extremities no sooner doth any evill beâ—ide them or the least danger approach them let conscience never so little fliâ— in their faccs c. but presently they goe to cursed meanes and runne upon desperate conclusions Therefore as we desire to die even in Gods armes yeeld up our selves into the very hands of the Almighty with comfort let us daily inure our selves to this blessed course of committing our selves and all our wayes to him in doing good Come and see saith the Scripture Beloved if you will not beleeve me make tryall of this course a while did you once taste the sweetnesse of it how would your drooping spirits be cheared up Let a man continually keepe a good conscience and hee shall bee satisfied with peace at last Suppose hee meetes with danger and opposition in the world this may seeme harsh at the first ô but he shall know afterwards what it is to part with any thing for Christs sake to commit his cause or whatsoever hee hath unto God as to a faithfull Creator Then wee â—aste of God to the purpose when wee put him to it for God will not be indebted to us wee never finde such sweete immediate comfort from him as when wee deny our selves comfort of the Creature for his sake Little doe wee know what times may befall us there is much danger abroad and wee have cause to feare not farre from us It may bee the clouds even now hang over our heads Oh if wee would be hidd in the day of the Lords wrath have no evill come nigh our dwellings let us above all things in the world make sure our interest in Christ and title to the promise Wee should seeke to know God more and then wee would trust him more They that know thy name will trust in thee saith David Oh the blessed estate of a Christian that now he may bee acquainted with God that through Christ there is a Throne of Grace to flie unto I beseech you improve this happy priviledge and then come what will come famine come danger of warre or pestilence c. God will bee a Sanctuary and an abiding place to you A Christian carries his Rocke and sure defence about him I will bee unto them a little Sanctuary in all places saith God What a comfort is it to have a wall of fire still compassing us about a Sheild that our enemies must breake through before they can come at us Hee that trusts in God shall bee recompensed with mercy on every side it is no matter what dangers compasse him though hee be in the midst of death and hell or any trouble whatsoever if he commits himselfe to God in obedience out of good grounds of faith in his Word he shall be safe in the evill day THE TABLE A ABsence of Gods Spirit discourageth us in the way to salvation Part 1. Pag. 111 Affliction necessary 1. 16 17 It happens in the Sunsnine of the Gospell 1. 25 Small ones not regarded make way for greater 1. 27 Our carriage therein must bee good 1. 140 God will deliver his out of all 2. 94 How 2. 95 96 Godly afflicted more than others and why 1. 18 This discovers false brethren 2. 93 Art aggravates sinne 2. 7 Assurance of Gods love is to bee sought betimes 1. 197 Atheisme brings judgement 1. 28 Attributes of God are to be applyed to our selves 1. 17â— B A Christians best things are last Part 1. Pag. 47. Part 2. Pag. 196 Brethren thâ—â— are false discovered by affliction 2. 93 C Calamity in the common calamity the wicked dare not appeare 1. 122 Christianity contrary to nature 1. 145 Children of God are knowne by Gods correcting them 1. 46 The Devill their enemy 1. 107 These must be committed unto God 1. 232 Church of God is his house 1. 5 Why 1. 6 He provides for it 1. 7 Whether the English Church bee Gods house 1. 13 Proved 1. 14 The Church needs purging 1. 15 God clenseth it when need is 1. 17 It should severely punish sinne 1. 23 It is Gods Spouse 1. 80 Impregnable 2. 31 Commonnesse of sinne is a signe that it is ripe 1. 30 Conception of minde is like the body 2. 2 Conscience good feares not death 2. 189 Constancy in sinne to be shunned 2. 7 Correction shewes we are Gods Children 1. 46 Covenant wee must bee in Covenant with God 1. 187 Creator comfort from God as a Creator 1. 168 180 184 D Death is a departing 2. 184 How Paul desired it 2. 186 Not to bee feared by a Christian 2. 192 It may be desired by a wicked man but for some by-ends 2. 194 Our ends must be considered 1. 58 The death of the godly to be lamented and why 1. 209 211 Their deaths a signe of judgment approaching 1. 28. 2. 23 Deliberation in what things to bee used 2. 179 Deliverance we have dayly from God should cause us to glorifie him 2. 151 Desire what 2. 182 Despaire to be avoided 2. 101 Devill an enemy to Gods Children 1. 107 Diligent we are diligent to sinne 2. 7 Disobedience against the Gospell the greatest sinne why 1. 68 How knowne 1. 86 Division 1. 44 in a land is a forerunner of judgement 2. 29 Doctrine we should keepe sound that doctrine which was left us pure 2. 162 Doubting Romish doubting disallowed 1. 198 E End our end must bee considered 1. 58 Enemies to be prayed for 1. 146 147 Enemies of the Church represented two waies 2. 68 Envy snarles at greatnesse when joyned with goodnesse 2. 13 Eternity our desire of Gods glory should be carried to eternity 2. 158 Evill we must not plot to doe it 2. 48 The difference betwixt evill done and suffered 2. 113 Manifestation thereof aggravates it 2. 114 Examination of the grounds of Religion a meanes to escape judgement 1. 40 Examples of Governours prevaile much 2. 163 Experience of Gods care and love exprest we may collect the future â— 201. 2. 1â—â— F Faith it 's efficacy 1. 119 It takes hold by a little 1. 182 Active and Passive 1. 188 It is strengthened by deliverance 2. 129 It is a signe of our interest in heaven 2. 147 Faithfulnesse of God to bee trusted to 1. 177 He is faithfull 1. 171 Wee