sinne in wicked men as it were the top of all iniquitie and impietie Psal 1.1 hee describeth the wicked thus He sitteth in the seat of the scorner By all which testimonies it may appeare that it is a cleare euidence and demonstration of a notorious wicked man to be giueÌ„ ouer to this sinne of mocking And it must needs be so For Reas 1 First we see men commonly mocke at Fooles and folly now in what esteeme are the godly with the wicked but as fooles and religion it selfe 1. Cor. 1.21 what is it esteemed but as Foollshnesse to those that are naturall men and therefore it is no maruell though the godly be contemned and reproached and their best performances scorned and derided Secondly this proceeds from Reas 2 the abundance of malice and corruption that is in the hearts of wicked men for so saith Christ O generation of vipers Mat. 12.34 How can ye being euill speake good things for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh Cursed language euill speaking mocking and reproachfull speeches is the naturall language of wicked men being led by the spirit of darknesse their words and actions must needs be sinfull and wicked that must tend to vtter darknesse This may teach vs then how to iudge and esteeme of such men Vse 1 as are giuen ouer to this sinne namely as notoriously wicked for when Dauid speakes of the degrees of sinne and sinners by a gradation Psal 1.1 the Seat of the scorner he placeth in the last place as worst of all And yet it is lamentable to how many wee haue amongst vs that glory in the dexteritie of their wit and thinke it their praise that they can breake some wittie iest on others that may cause laughter but such do but glory in their shame Let such be admonished in time to breake off this sinne by repentance for seldome or neuer doth it escape the reuengefull hand of God What became of Cain Ismael the two and fortie youngsters that mocked Elizeus the Prophet What became of this desperate malefactour that mocked Christ Yea let it be obserued and wee shall finde it true that such as haue beene guiltie of this sinne that haue beene mockers of the Word of God of Gods Ministers and of the professors of the Gospell whether some token or other of Gods vengeance hath not ouertaken them euen here in this life wherein the Lord doth vsually shew his indignation against this sinne Secondly it may teach vs carefully Vse 2 to heed our selues as to auoid all sinne so especially this sinne of mocking railing and euill speaking which the Lord in so speciall a manner hath made a marke and a brand of a wicked man And last of all doe none but Vse 3 wicked men vse it why then let vs not regard it let vs not care how we are iudged by them that speake not out of iudgement but malice as they are masters of their tongues so let vs be masters of our eares by the vse whereof we may learne to contemne contempt it selfe Text. Saue thy selfe and vs. It is not the pardon of his sins that this Impenitent Thiefe desireth at Christs hands but deliuerance from his temporall punishment Sinne affects him not but the punishment of sinne Note hence Doct. 3 That wicked men in time of affliction are more troubled with the punishment Wicked men are more troubled for their misery then their sinne the effect of sin then with sinne it selfe the cause of punishment They cry out not against their sins but against their punishment Gen. 4. My punishment is greater then I can beare saith Cain Exod. 9. Pray ye to the Lord that this plague may be remoued saith Pharaoh to Moses And this we may see by experience daily of many that complaine of their miseries their crosses and afflictions but neuer complaine of their sinne the cause of all And whence is this But from That doting respect which they beare to themselues Reas which drowneth all the respect they ought to haue towards God So that they looke not vpon God offended but themselues punished they looke not vpon their sinnes with an holy compunction but vpon themselues with a foolish confession they looke not vpon the wronging of Gods Iustice but the heauy effects of it in respect whereof the doore of their lips moues like a doore vpon rusty hinges with words of murmuring and complaining It may serue then for the triall of our owne hearts during the presence of any affliction It is a brutish thing to cry onely for want the young rauens the yong Lyons doe as much wee must grieue principally for the withdrawing of Gods fauour and countenance from vs aboue all crosses or losses or any other outward misery that can or doth betide vs. We must say as Mephiboseth to Dauid Let Ziba take all the lands it is enough that I see the Kings face A generous spirit whose ancestors were attainted cares not so much for the restitution of his lands but of his honour of his bloud So must it be with a Christian to be restored againe into Gods fauour when wee haue sinned must bee the principall thing wee labour and seek after Hitherto of the Impenitent Thiefe VERSE 40. But the other rebuked him sayâ—ng Doest thou not feare God seeâ—ng thou art in the same condemnation HItherto wee haue heard the fearefull estate and condition of the Impenitent Thiefe whose â—ife as it was wretched and miseâ—able so was his death fearefull â—nd damnable Wherein we haue â—eene that an euill life hath commonly attending it an euill death Now followeth in order the â—ehauiour of the Penitent Thiefe â—e this time that was crucified on â—he right hand of Christ who is â—o farre from rayling on Christ â—y the example of the high Priest â—nd Elders or with his Fellow â—he Impenitent Thiefe as that he iustifieth Christ becomes a witnesse of Christs innocencie pleadeth his cause against his malitious enemies reprooueth his fellow and maketh a publicke profession of his owne faith in a publicke auditory that for his part hee looked for life and saluation onely through this crucified Christ whom the world contemned And herein indeed setteth forth the almighty power of Christ both in respect of his Deitie that was able thus to conuert a soule in so miraculous a manner without meanes as also in respect of the power and efficacy of his death and passion which declareth it selfe most powerfully in the conuersion of this man botâ— in the powerfull worke of Mortification and viuification destroying and killing in him the works of the old man and working in him true godlinesse The blessed fruits and effects whereof will appeare in the processe of this History But the other rebuked him Here we haue two malefactors both of them guiltie of one and the same sinne and both of them brought to one and the same shamefull death yet the one left and forsaken of God the other had
contemned and despised to finde life the particulars whereof now follow in order But whence was this that he is become such a worthy confessor excusing Christ and pleading his cause who so lately before by his sinfull and wretched life had so dishonoured him No question this proceeded from the Lords free grace and mercy shewed vnto him giuing him to see his sins to be humbled for the same and by a liuely faith to lay hold on Christ It was Christ that had first looked on him with the eye of mercy that had in him no merit before he could behold his godhead now at this time vailed and he himselfe so much abased He was by nature in the same estate and condition with the other malefactor guiltie of the same sinne ouertaken with the same punishment and so had perished euerlastingly had not the Lord Iesus of this stone made a sonne of Abraham and framed his heart anew making a difference through grace where there was none by nature for so was it his good pleasure The instruction we may learne Doct. 2 hence then is this All men are alike by nature vntill God make a diâ—ference by grace that by nature there is no difference betwixt Gods children and wicked men vntill the Lord make the difference by grace we are all hewed out of the same rocke that the vildest wretch and cursedst Canibal was that euer breathed vntill the Lord doe frame the heart anew wee are all folded vp in the state of nature and are the children of wrath as well as others Doe but consider what the Scripture speaketh of this particular that we are all by nature the children of wrath Eph. 2.3 Eze. 16. that our father was an Aramite and our mother a Hittite such as wee are indeed without the couenant without God in this world Corrupted with iniquity from the womb Psal 51.7 conceiued of vncleane seed Iob 14.4 yea all the faculties of our soules how are they depraued through this originall corruption Eph. 4.18 The vnderstanding is blinde Hauing their vnderstandings darkened being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them The will is froward and rebellious Rom. 7.15 what I would that doe I not but what I hate that I doe hauing not so much power to thinke that is good And the same is true of our affections 2. Cor. 3.5 which are likewise disordered being set vpon transitorie things which profit not and altogether auerse from heauenly things inasmuch as the Apostle saith Rom. 3.23 We are depriued of the glory of God Hauing in vs no inclination at all to any thing which is good but rather indeed an inclination to all things that are euill Gen. 6.3 And in this miserable estate and condition doth the Lord finde vs when he is pleased to call vs as we may see in Saul Zacheus Acts 9. Luke 19. Ioh. 7. Mary Magdalene this penitent Thiefe and of all the faithfull it is God Who worketh both the will and the deed Phil. 2.13 and that of his owne good pleasure 1. Cor. 4.7 Who separateth thee saith the Apostle or who causeth thee to differ It is the Lord that makes this difference betwixt vs and wicked men Yea wee shall finde the whole worke of grace of Conuersion and saluation to be wholly attributed vnto him he is the Alpha and Omega the first and the last the beginning and the end that is all in all in the worke of our saluation First Election which is the ground foundation of al grace Election this comes from him Hee hath predestinated vs to bee adopted through Iesus Christ in himselfe Epees 1.5 according to the good pleasure of his will Secondly vocation and a Christian mans effectuall calling Vocation outwardly by the word and inwardly by the Spirit this proceeds likewise from him and his free and vndeserued grace and fauour alone 2. Tim. 1.9 He hath saued vs and called vs with an holy calling Gal. 1.6 Not according to our workes but according to his owne purpose and grace Thirdly Faith is the instrument or the hand Faith by the which we come to lay hold vpon and apply Christ and his righteousnesse vnto our owne soules in particular Heb. 11.6 and without which we cannot please God Now from whence haue we this grace truly to beleeue Ephes 2.8 for By grace ye are saued through faith and that not of your selues it is the gift of God Fourthly Obedience from him alone proceedeth what will what power or abilitie soeuer we haue for any holy duty Ezek. 36.27 28. A new heart saith the Lord will I giue you and a new spirit will I put into you I will take away the stony heart out of your body and I will giue you a heart of flesh I will put my spirit within you and cause you to walke in my statutes Fifthly to haue the Word and Sacrament effectuall vnto vs this comes from him otherwise Paul may plant 1. Cor. 3.6 and Apollo water but all in vaine I haue planted and Apollo watered but God gaue the increase 6 Perseuerance Finally the gift and grace of perseuerance to hold out in our Christian race vnto the end this is likewise from him I will giue them one heart and one way Ie. 32.4.41 that they may feare me for euer I will put my feare in their hearts and they shal not depart from me And That God who hath begun that good worke Phil. 1.6.29 will performe it vntill the day of Iesus Christ So that it is he that is the Alpha and Omega the first and the last that is all in all in the matter of grace and saluation So as we must say with the Church Isa 26.12 O Lord thou hast wrought all our works for vs. And it must needs be thus For Reas 1 First God will haue the whole glory of this worke of our conuersion and saluation and none other That all matter of glorying in our selues might bee taken away and that we might say with the Psalmist Not vnto vs Lord not vnto vs but vnto thy Name giue the praise He will haue the glory of his owne worke and the praise of his owne mercy and will teach vs to go out of our selues and to say with Paul By the grace of God I am that I am Secondly we haue nothing of Reas 2 our owne or within vs that should moue the Lord to elect vs vnto life or to adopt vs as sonnes wee are miserable orphans and haue naught else to plead vnto God to commiserate our misery we are beggers and destitute of all good things Our penury is such as that we are faine to begge at his hands Our daily bread he oweth vs naught and they are but his owne gifts and graces giuen vnto vs that he crowneth with glory Vse 1 This serues first of all to humble vs
Land-lord or some great man in the Country that is a Papist or an Atheist vpon whom he hath some dependency whose displeasure he is not able to beare doth make him pull in his head that he dares not bee too forward that way These men are like Symon of Cyrene who bare the Crosse but suffered nothing So these weare the cognizance of Christ but will suffer nothing for Christ O this is a grieuous and a fearefull sinne I would commend vnto such a one these places of Scripture to bee duely thought vpon Heb. 10.38 The iust shall liue by faith but if any man draw backe my soule shall haue no pelasure in him Reu. 21.8 The fearefull and vnbeleeuing shall haue their portion in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone which is the second death Mar. 8.38 Whosoeuer shall bee ashamed of me and of my words among this adulterous and sinfull generation him shall the sonne of man be ashamed of when hee commeth in the glory of his Father with all his holy Angels O that these things were duely thought vpon how would they make vs tremble to consider how vpon euery light occasion we are ready to pull in our heads euery threat euery mocke and disgrace euery frowne of a mortall man that is but dust is ready to make vs stagger in the good way of righteousnesse and to abate our zeale in our holy profession An euident demonstration that the zeale of the Lords house hath not yet consumed vs. Secondly learne from this Penitent thus clearing Christs innocency pleading his cause and acknowledging his Deitie when all besides scorned and derided him neuer to thinke thou hast profited aright in the Schoole of Christ if either feare or shame abate thy zeale or cause thee to deny that truth thou hast professed or any way to estrange thy selfe from the professours of the same especially in time of their afflictions Heb. 11.25 It was Moses praise and an argument of his loue to God and his people that he could chuse rather to share with them in their present afflictions then to enioy the pleasures in Pharaohs Court There is no one thing that doth yeeld more sound comfort vnto a mans owne soule then this that he hath stood for Christ and his truth and howsoeuer such a one may meet with troubles and persecutions here hee is faithfull that hath promised Great shall be your reward in heauen Mat. 5.12 Hee that loseth his life for my sake shall finde it saith Christ And therefore as Caesars eye made his souldiers prodigall of their bloud so Gods eye that alwayes is vpon vs and his cause which principally ought to affect vs should cause vs stand to his truth aboue our owne credit libertie life and all But this man hath done nothing amisse Text. It came not to passe but by an extraordinarie prouidence that this Penitent Theefe should in this wise giue testimony vnto Christs innocēcy especially at this time of his wonderfull abasement when all contemned and despised him Iudas betrayeth Pilate condemneth the Scribes and Pharisees and Elders mocke and reuile him the common people and passers by wagge their heads at him the other Thiefe reproacheth him yet in the middest of them all here is one that will take his death on it that Christ dyed an Innocent Note we hence That in all ages and from time to time In all ages God hath had some witnesses of his truth God hath had some that haue giuen testimonie vnto his truth At all times hee hath had some to defend him and cleare his innocency in times of the hotest persecution some that sticke fast to the truth when others denie him No doubt this could not but be a corrasiue at the very heart of the high Priest and Elders and people that pursued Christ to this death to haue this man thus to acknowledge Christ For it is commonly a matter of great weight whereon one taketh his death So in rebuking exhorting admonishing or any other dutie when one vrgeth it dying it leaues the greater impression behinde it The brethren of Ioseph can pleade this to their brother Gen. 50.16 Thy father say they commanded a little before his death that thou shouldest forgiue the trespasse of thy brethren Here wee haue the last words of a dying man now leauing the world and going to giue vp his last account and behold this is the testimonie he giues of Christ This man hath done nothing amisse When Gods truth hath beene most of all oppugned and resisted God hath had at all times some witnesses of his truth When Antichrist should most of all flourish I will giue power saith the Lord vnto my two witnesses c. Reu. 11.3 Let Ieremy be cast into the dungeō Ie. 38.8 the Lord hath a Ebedmelech to plead his cause to the King and to be a meanes of his delivery If the Scribes and Pharisees go about to condemne Christ Nichodemus will pleade his cause whatsoeuer come of it Let Christ be mocked and derided of all yet this poore Penitent confesseth him to be the Lord of life Luk. 23.50 and will take his death vpon it that Christ dyeth an Innocent Yea when they sat in councell to condemne Christ there is in the company one Ioseph a good man and a iust That consented not vnto his death When Christ was risen againe from the dead he appeares to the two Disciples that went from Ierusalem to Emaus that they might giue testimonie of the truth of the same So are Mary Magdalene Luk. 24. and Mary the mother of Ioses made witnesses likewise of the truth thereof And for the further clearing of this truth the Apostle Paul saith 1. Cor. 15.6 Hee was seene of moe then fiue hundred brethren at once The Reasons are Reas 1 First the Lord will haue wisedome to bee iustified of her children though others regard it not and his truth to flourish and to remaine to posterities 1 Pet. 1.24 All flesh saith the Apostle is grasse and the glory of man as the flowre of the field The grasse withereth the flower fadeth away but the Word of the Lord endureth for euer Secondly he it is that hath the Reas 2 hearts of all men in his hand to turne them at his pleasure and can when it pleaseth him make of a persecuting Saul a preaching Paul Acts 9.15 and appoint him to bee a witnesse of his truth to beare his Name vnto the Gentiles that had beene a persecuter of the same yea as Christ saith Luk. 19.40 If these should hold their peace the stones would crie But why should Christ make choice of such meane witnesses to giue testimonie to him and his truth Quest Answ Why Christ chuseth such weake witnesses to giue testimony to him and his truth For two respects First that he might haue the glory of the worke who commonly chuseth the weake and foolish things of the
with Christ and crucified together with him howbeit the cause of their deaths was much different Christ dyed innocently this impenitent doth suffer iustly for his wickednesse so that though the punishment seemed to be alike the cause was not alike Note hence Doct. 1 That not the punishment but the cause maketh a Martyr Not the punishmēt but the cause maketh a Martyr Non poena sed causa c. What though this Impenitent were put to the like publike shame and dyed that cursed and cruell death that Christ did he suffered iustly for his deserts and his publike punishment and shame was but the stipend of his sinne 1. Pet. 4.15 Let no man saith Peter suffer as an euill doer For what comfort can we haue in such kinde of sufferings But when we shall suffer wrongfully or in the cause or for the sake of Christ then may wee haue comfort This made those holy seruants of Christ Act. 16.25 Paul and Sylas to reioyce in prison and to sing Psalmes as if they had accounted their sufferings their greatest glory and happinesse T is true to be a prisoner is matter of no praise or commendations But to be a prisoner of Iesus Christ or for Christ this is it that wipes away the staine and blot And hence is it that the Apostle Paul often mentioneth the cause of his sufferings as his sufferings Ephes 3.1 Phil. 1. Paul a prisoner of Iesus Christ or for Iesus Christ because it was for Christs sake that he suffered Thus we reade that Ioseph lay bound in prison Gen. 39.20 with the rest of the Kings prisoners howbeit the causes were not alike Gen 40.3 So Ioseph againe with Pharaohs Baker and Butler was cast into the same prison howbeit Ioseph falsly accused by his adulterous Mistrisse The other suffer iustly for their deserts 1. Cor. 13 Though I giue my body to the fire saith the Apostle that I burn and haue not loue it profiteth me nothing It is not the paines of martyrdome nor all the torments in the world that will make a Martyr if we suffer as euill doers and not for well doing And it it must needs be so For Reas It is not the punishment but the cause that approues vs to be faithfull bearers of the Crosse For the euill of punishment in it selfe had its originall from the euill of sinne and are indeed in themselues euidences of Gods wrath conceiued for sinne And therefore if we suffer as sinners our sufferings can bring vs no comfort sith they are tokens not of the affection but of the indignation of God towards vs. And surely this may serue to Vse 1 stop the mouthes of our aduersaries of Rome that brag and boast of the sufferings of many of their Popish crew as if they had dyed Martyrs at least and some of them haue they canonized for Saints who suffered indeed as Traytors against their Prince and countrey and deserued rather to be marked out with the blacke coale of Infamy and shame to posterity then once to haue their names mentioned with the least respect of honour And what shall we say to the order of the Franciscans that is amongst them an order that makes profession of voluntary miserie as if herein they did approue themselues to be the true disciples of Christ Alas herein euen Baals Priests and Mahomets Deruices out-bid them they do something like Disciples but yet they come short He that will be my disciple saith Christ let him take vp his crosse and follow me Cyprian obserues that the first Martyrs of the new Testament were children so the cause of our martyrdome and sufferings should carry in it the innocency of children Obiect O but say some of our Romish Catholickes we haue amongst vs that suffer daily for Religion and their conscience euen to the spoyling of their goods losse of their liberties c. and what will you make of these men but holy men and blessed Martyrs Answ O but stay a while for Religion and for conscience doe they suffer If for pure Religion and good conscience this were praise-worthy indeed and such sufferings shall neuer go vnrewarded with God But we must looke well to our owne consciences that they do not misinforme vs and conspire together with Sathan to worke our ruine for Ier. 18. The heart of man is deceitfull aboue all things who can know it And Sathan himselfe is not more dangerous and deceitfull vnto a mans selfe then his owne heart and therefore we must bring our consciences to the word and see that they bee rightly informed there else wee can haue no comfort in our sufferings But these suffer indeed most iustly and that for their rebellions idolatry disobedience to authoritie c. and so as euill doers to whom no promise of true comfort in such sufferings belongs Secondly this may admonish Vse 2 vs to take heed vnto our selues that whatsoeuer trouble or affliction soeuer wee meete withall here that wee looke still to the cause of our suffering that it bee good and not euill as Saint Peter exhorteth 1. Pet. 4.15 Let none of you suffer as a murtherer or as a thiefe or as an euill doer or as a busie body in other mens matters yet if any man suffer as a Christian let him not be ashamed Many a man is smitten with the tongue and lieth vnder shamefull reproach some for their pride some for their crueltie couetousnesse vncleannesse c and albeit their owne consciences cannot but pleade guilty to these enormities yet they thinke they haue said enough for themselues when they say that good men haue beene abused and reproached yea Christ himselfe say they This I grant to bee most true in Christ and good men they did indeed suffer disgrace and reproach in the world But did they deserue it Surely no. Had they deserued it they could haue had little comfort in their sufferings And know that thou being guilty of those sinnes the which the world doth iustly brand thee withall it is iust with God thou shouldest beare the shame thereof with men either to bring thee to the sight thereof and repentance for the same or else to thy further obduration and hardening in sinne against the day of vengeance It is then but a foolish speech that is so common in the world that when men suffer any indignitie from the hands of others vndeseruedly to say If I had deserued such things it would neuer haue grieued me Surely haddest thou deserued them thou hadst much cause to grieue But Christians must take vp the contrary note I reioyce in this that I deserued it not Vse 3 And last of all this may iustly reproue those who respecting the present sufferings and afflictions of others say Surely he hath his punishment nay his Purgatory here in this life when as alas they suffering for sinne these present miseries are but an earnest and foretaste of the eternall iudgement which is reserued for
be prepare flesh for his people Howsoeuer this people were guiltie of many sinnes yet this this sinne of Infidelitie was that sinne that in so speciall a manner prouoked the Lord to wrath against them for so saith the Text Psa 78.21 Therefore the Lord heard and was angry and the fire was kindled in Iacob and also wrath came vpon Israel But what might be the reason thereof Because they beleeued not in God Vers 22. and trusted not in his helpe And albeit the Lord sware vnto their Fathers that he would giue vnto them the Land of Canaan Deut. 1.8 yet of all those that came out of the land of Egypt and had seene his miracles vpon Pharaoh and his people there did not one of them aboue the age of twenty yeares come into that good Land What might be the cause Surely they stood guiltie before the Lord of many sinnes such as were their idolatry whoredome c. but aboue all other that which the Lord was most of all displeased at was their Infidelity for so saith the holy Ghost Heb. 3.19 They could not enter in because of vnbeleefe This appeares likewise in the example of that Prince in Samaria that would not beleeue the Prophet touching the great plentie which he prophesied should be in Samaria 2. Kin. 7.1 that a measure of fine floore should be sold for a shekel in the gate of Samaria His infidelitie did not onely depriue him of the fruition of the plenty but was punished with the losse of his life For the people trode him in the the gate and he dyed 2. King 7.20 Another memorable example hereof we haue recorded by the Euangelist Mark 6.5 That when our Sauiour came to the City of Nazareth there to preach and to shew his power the Text saith Hee could do no great works there Vers 6. and what might be the reason Mat. 13.58 Because of their vnbeleefe The Infidelity and vnbeleefe that was amongst them did after a sort binde the hands of our blessed Sauiour that he could not do the good he desired amongst them This doctrine might bee further insisted vpon by the examples of Gods iudgements vpon his owne children as the Israelites who for this sinne were broken off Of Zachary that doubting of the Lords promise by his Angell Rom. 11.20 that Elizabeth his wife should beare him a Sonne Luk. 1.20 was for this sinne of his smitten dumbe By all which testimonies and examples it is most cleare how hainous this sinne of Infidelity is And it must needs be so Reas 1 First because after a sort it puts the lye vpon God his word and promises and so likewise vpon all those excellent attributes of his such as are his power wisedome truth goodnesse and mercy an heart fraught with infidelity credits none of these 1. Ioh. 5.10 He that beleeueth not God hath made him a liar Then the which what greater disgrace can be put vpon any then to giue him the lye Secondly the sinne of Infidelity Reas 2 is a mother sinne and is the cause of many other euils and enormities in the hearts and liues of men And hence is it that the Apostle ioynes these two together an euill heart Heb. 3.12 and an heart of vnbeleefe as the cause and the effect for as Faith is a mother grace and produceth feare loue obedience c. So where infidelitie beares sway there must needs all manner of impietie raigne and abound This serues first of all to let vs Vse 1 see in what a cursed and miserable estate and condition all wicked and vngodly men are in that are void of faith and full of infidelity Such men can neuer please God in any thing they take in hand For Rom. 14.23 Heb. 11.6 Whatsoeuer is not of faith is sinne And without faith it is impossible to please God Their hearing of the Word receiuing of the Sacraments prayer and the like holy duties are all abhomination to the Lord when they are not done by a beleeuer To an vnbeleeuing heart neither the power of Christs merits nor the infinitenesse of Gods mercy Word Sacraments can neuer profit but all tend to the destruction and the increase of the condemnation of an vnbeleeuer Vse 2 Secondly seeing that this sinne of Infidelitie aboue all other sins is such a stumbling blocke in our way strikes at God and all his attributes and seemes to put the lye vpon them all makes the Word Sacraments prayer and all other the ordinances of God vnprofitable vnto a man O how should this prouoke euery man euen as he tendereth the saluation of his owne soule to take heed of this sinne O vnhappie If was this vnto this poore man that shut vp heauen gates against him Take we heed of that thought at any time that shall seeme to question the truth of Gods word But rather let vs labour daily more and more to haue our hearts confirmed against all diffidence and distrust of God Saue thy selfe and vs. Text. These words were spoken in an ironicall and taunting manner 2 Scoffingly desiring deliuerāce after the manner of the chiefe Priests and people who mocked our Sauiour likewise at this time saying Mat. 15.29 If thou be the King of Israel come downe from the Crosse And againe He saued others Mat. 27.39 himselfe he cannot saue This impenitent thiefe trades in their steps and followes their example and mocketh Christ likewise Whence we may note Doct. 1 Euill examples dangerous First how powerfull examples are with men either to the imitation of that which is good or euil As men meete together vsually they traffique together by their interchange of words and manners whether they be godly or wicked But especially of great men and men in authoritie their examples being euill hurt many As the Chiefe Priests and Elders here they giuing such an euill example in mocking Christ no maruell though the common people do the same likewise We may see this in Herod in this Chapter when he began to offer indignity to our Sauiour the Men of warre yea all his traine were ready to do the same 1. Kin. 22.24 Let Ahab but declare himselfe no friend to Micha the Lords Prophet and Zidkijah the Kings Chaplaine will dare to smite him on the face So true is that of Solomon Pro. 29.12 If a Prince hearken to lyes all his seruants are wicked We may see this by daily experience that they that associate themselues with those that are vile and sinfull sauour of their manners and are made worse by them Pro. 13.20 He that walketh with the wise shall be the wiser But he that vseth the company of fools shall be the worse Yea Gods people themselues when they haue liued in sinfull places and haue had to do with wicked persons they haue receiued some blurs and blots of their filthinesse and haue not escaped free from their sinne but haue made good
in the sense of our owne spirituall pouerty and misery that we are by nature so poore and blinde and naked No one thing can bee more effectuall to abate our pride and to pricke that windie bladder of our selfe-love and selfe-conceitednesse wherewith too many in the world are growne bigge withall puffed vp with a vaine conceit of their own worth and merits then the which what higher degree of sacriledge can there be then to ascribe the least particular in this worke of conuersion to our deserts No no let vs come vnto God and say O Lord righteousnesse belongeth vnto thee but vnto vs shame Let Popery stand aloft and presume to diuide with God in regard of their owne Free-will works Merits and disposition that is in their owne hearts to receiue grace Far be it from vs so to doe who are not able of our selues to thinke a good thought Secondly this consideration Vse 2 that God is all in all in the matter of grace and saluation and that there is no difference by nature in any vntill God make a difference by grace This teacheth vs what to thinke and how to carry our selues towards those that are yet vncalled and are yet in their sins Surely we ought to waite with patience Prouing if at any time God will giue such repentance vnto life 2. Tim. 2.25 For seeing that our calling and conuersion yea euery good gift is from God what are wee that haue receiued grace our selues truly to repent and to beleeue that we should iudge our Brethren As they are such are we God hath shewed vs mercy why may not he that is rich in mercy shew the like mercy vnto them Let vs not then despaire of any but pitie them in their spirituall miseries And if they bee fallen downe let vs put vnder our hands and helpe to raise them vp againe The Lord would haue this mercy shewed vnto the very Oxe and Asse in the time of the Law being fallen vnder it burthen how much more to our Brother And we must pray for the conuersion of such a one Prouing if at any time God will giue them repentance vnto life Vse 3 Thirdly seeing that God is all in all in the matter of grace and saluation It shall be our wisedome to attend vpon the meanes whereby grace comes to bee wrought such as is the preaching of the Word especially by the which ordinarily the Lord worketh repentance for sinne faith in Gods promises and all other graces And last of all that wee giue vnto God the praise of his owne grace since that whatsoeuer good thing wee haue it comes from him But the other rebuked him We haue here in this Penitent a patterne of a man that maketh the right vse of his afflictions and troubles they bring him nearer and nearer vnto God The Impenitent Thiefe as we heard before now falleth to the blaspheming of Christ hauing his heart hardened and his conscience seared within him hee becomes by his afflictions more and more desperately sinfull But in this Penitent behold we the happie fruite of sanctified afflictions they humble him bring him to see the errours of his life past set him on worke to confesse and bewaile his sinnes and to be an earnest suter vnto Christ for mercy Note hence Doct. 3 That afflictions when the Lord doth sanctifie the same vnto any Afflictions of excellēt vse to bring men to God they make them better and bring them nearer vnto God I grant that afflictions in their own nature are euill being the fruits of sinne neither do they of themselues produce such happie effects in any but then onely when the Lord worketh together with affliction by his Spirit Non paena sed remedi ū delinquentis Ambros altering and changing the nature thereof they become through Gods mercy not a punishment but a remedy against sinne This is confessed by Dauid Psal 119.67 Before I was afflicted I went astray But now haue I kept thy Word Meaning indeed that his afflictions had humbled him and made him walke more awfully towards God We may see this in Hezekiah Isa 38. it was his affliction that humbled him and caused him to recount with himselfe the errours of his life past Manasses in prison and captiuity is brought home that was like an vntamed heyfer in time of prosperitie walked stubbornly and rebelliously against God This truth is confessed by Ephraim Thou hast chastised me Ier. 31.18.19 and I was chastised as a Bullocke vnaccustomed to the yoke c. After I was afflicted I smote vpon my thigh I was ashamed and euen confounded because I did beare the reproach of my youth How often did the Lord cause the Israelites to be afflicted and in the time of their affliction still they sought vnto God Psal 107.10.13 and cried vnto him And this is it the Lord further threatened against his people I will be vnto Ephraim as a Lion Hos 5.15 and as a young Lion vnto the house of Iudah I euen I will teare and go away and none shall rescue I will go and returne to my place till they acknowledge their offences and seeke my face for in their afflictions they will seeke me early I might instance this truth by diuers the like examples as that of the Prodigal Luk. 15. who ranne riot a long time till his patrimony was nigh spent and then happie famine that caused him to looke home Act. 16.27 And that hard-hearted Iayler that neuer thought hee could shew cruelty enough against those innocent Lambs of Christ it was the earth-quake that caused his soule-quake and happy affliction that brought him home Neither is this a thing to bee wondred at that sanctified afflictions should produce such excellent effects in Gods people for First in times of affliction we Reas 1 see how hopelesse and helpelesse all earthly and transitory things are They doe not then profit in the euill day they then proue but as the Reeds of Egypt dangerous props to lean vpon then are we forced to goe out of our selues and to seeke vnto God for such is the vanity of our hearts in times of misery and distresse that wee seldome thinke on God or his helpe vntill all other humane helpe doe faile So Dauid Psal 142. ◠5 I looked on my right hand and behold there was none that would know me al refuge failed me and none cared for my soule then cried I vnto the Lord c. Reas 2 Secondly the Lord to this end and purpose doth send affliction vnto his children like a wise and skilfull Physitian knowing what will worke best and effect the soules cure these cause the peaceable fruits of righteousnesse to all them that are exercised thereby Vse 1 Seeing then that afflictions are of such excellent vse to bring men to the sight of their sins and so to repentance for the same what shall wee say then to those that haue beene afflicted but no
labour to get our hearts seasoned with the feare of God that we may truely say The Lord is our feare Esay 8.13 our dread This will fence vs from sinne and arme vs against euery euill way such are freed from those vile abhominations wherewith the liues of all wicked men for the most part are tainted withall Yea the feare of God is such an excellent thing that all the duties wee owe vnto God Eccl. 12.13 are comprehended therein Let vs heare the end of all saith Salomon feare God and keepe his Commandements for this is the whole duty of man The priuiledges that belong to them that truely fear God Yea to such belong all these excellent priuiledges and prerogatiues First they shall not want any temporall good thing O feare the Lord O yee his Saints Psal 34.9 Psal 112.3 for there is no want to them that feare him Secondly such hath the Lord promised to acquaint with his secrets The secrets of the Lord are with them that feare him Psal 25 â—4 Thirdly such onely are vnder the Angels protection Psal 34.7 The Angels of the Lord encampe round about them that feare him Fourthly God takes speciall notice of such Mal. 3.16 A booke of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord. And last of all for the life to come no man is able to expresse the excellent priuiledges of such Psal 31.19 O how great is the goodnesse which God hath laid vp for them that feare him All which may be so many motiues to stir vs vp to get this feare of God which hath the promise of this life and the life to come and to whom alone so many excellent priuiledges belong and appertaine Text. Seeing thou art in the same condemnation 3 Argument In these words wee haue his third Argument to disswade his fellow from that his rayling on Christ and this is taken from his owne present misery A presenti miseria Thou art saith he in the same condemnation q. d. Fye vpon thee most desperate wretch Is this the behauiour meete for him that is now going to giue vp his last account before the great Tribunall and that Iudge of all the world before whom thou art shortly to appeare to giue account of all the actions of thy life past especially of this thy blasphemy against the Lord Iesus the innocent And herein as before this penitent Thiefe sheweth an excellent fruit of his owne repentance pressing his fellow with this Argument the consideration of his present misery and punishment that was now vpon him Thou art in the same condemnation Note we hence That punishments and afflictions Doct. Afflictions that summon to death should in a speciall manner cause men to looke home especially such as summon to death should in a speciall manner cause vs to looke home humble vs and cause vs to breake off our sinnes by repentance and when they produce not this effect especially when death approaches and we are to come to appeare before the Lords Tribunall it is a signe indeed that the heart is desperately wretched and sinfull It is the maine end wherefore the Lord doth send afflictions to bring men home by repentance thus confesseth the Church Lam. 3.39.40 Man suffereth for his sinne let vs search and try our wayes and turne vnto the Lord and againe Come let vs returne vnto the Lord Hos 6.1 for he hath wounded vs and he will heale vs he hath smitten vs and hee will binde vs vp The happy fruit thereof Dauid confesseth by that comfortable experience he had in himselfe Psal 119.71 saying It is good for me that I haue beene in trouble that I may learne thy commandements When we are iudged saith the Apostle wee are chastened of the Lord 1 Cor. 11.32 that wee should not be condemned with the world The Rod makes the childe to stand in awe of the Father and the Scholler of the Master and the Blewnesse of the wound Pro. 20.30 saith Salomon serueth to purge the euill When did Manasses repent 2 Chro. 33 12. wâ—s it not when he was in tribulation When came the Prodigall sonne to himselfe Luke 15. and got the happy resolution to returne againe to his Father was it not when he was pinched with the famine It was in the time of aduersitie that the Israelites remembred GOD to bee their strength who in times of prosperity rebelled against him Iudg. 6. Ephraim may thanke the Lord for his corrections that hee was reclaimed and brought to see his owne disobedience and rebellion against God who was as an vntamed Hayfer Ier. 31.18 â—0 Esa 38.14 The like we may see in Hezechiah in Iob and in all Gods people if there be any faith any hope any grace at all in the heart of man now is the time for the exercise thereof when afflictions especially such as summon to death and iudgement are vpon vs. It seemed vnto this godly Penitent a most hainous thing indeed in his fellow yea the height and top of all impietie that now the hand of God was vpon him and hee so shortly to depart this life and to make his last account before the Iudge of all the world that he should in this reprochfull manner blaspheme an innocent euen the Lord Iesus Christ himselfe before whom he was shortly to appeare and to giue account of all the things that he had done in the flesh But what shall I say There are some whom al the torments in the world cannot moue or make them better sicknesse pouertie shame in the world all the buffettings of Sathan or miseries that can bee thought vpon alas moue them not nor any whit affect them to worke remorse of conscience compunction or sorrow for sinne to make them any whit the better But what may be the reason can any affliction presse out of the creature that was neuer in it If a whole mountaine were laid vpon a dry or rotten sticke will it yeeld any sappe no no it will first be ground to powder The impenitent Thiefe for all his misery that he was in or thoughts of death or of iudgement that now were vpon him is not brought to the least remorse of conscience for sin but the Penitent Thiefe he being vnder the same affliction yeelds the sweet sap and liquor of faith and repentance he confesseth his sinnes pleads Christs cause and compassionates the misery of his fellow and shewes most admirable fruits of repentance Yea if there bee any grace at all in the heart of man now is the time for it to shew it selfe otherwise wee perish without hope Seeing then that afflictions Vse 1 should thus make vs to looke home and that then in a speciall manner the graces of the heart will manifestly appeare This shewes the misery of euery wicked man that as he hath been a stranger from the life of grace in life so must needs want the