Mentz Strang and vnnaturall persecution Vnnaturall and not heard of before persecution against the poore saints plagued with strange and vnwonted diseases as in Iohn de Roma a Iacobine the Lord of Reuest and the Lord of Opede Blasphemous derogating from the crowne and dignitie of Christ Iesus Blasphemies the washing away of sinnes in all men and arrogating the same to the Pope and his pardons plagued with sudden and present death as in the parson of Crondall aforesaid Last of all let vs by some few proofes out of the word confirme this which hath been illustrated both out of the examples of the Scriptures and the Acts and Monuments of our owne Church In the 29. Deut. 29.22 chapter of Deuteromie vers 22. Moses sheweth that the generation of the Israelites which was then for to come and the strangers that should come from a farre land shall say when they see the plagues and diseases of this land wherewith the Lord shall smite it Vers 24. Vers 25. Wherefore hath the Lord done thus vnto this land And they shall answer Because they haue forsaken the couenant of the Lord God of their fathers which he made with them And chapter 31.17 Cap. 31.17 They shall be consumed and many aduersities and tribulations shall come vpon them Then they shall say Are not these troubles come vpon vs because God is not with vs Of all other places in the Scriptures let the 28. of Deuteronomie Deut. 28. Leuit. 26. and the 26. of Leuit. be as glasses for all men to behold themselues in where you shal find for disobedience and breach of Gods commandements the Lord will inflict vpon them most extreame diseases and sores of the body as the pestilence Vers 21.22 Vers 27. a consumption the feuer the burning ague the botch of Egypt the Emerodes the scab and the itch He threatned to smite them in the knees Vers 35. in the thighs with a sore botch that they could not bee healed euen from the sole of their foote to the top of their head For other griefes of body and horrible tormēts of the mind that there is threatned against the obstinate offenders I wish the godly to peruse them thereby to be as bridles and stayes vnto them whensoeuer Satan by his suggestions laboureth to driue them therevnto Take the sower with the sweete And I wish that the wicked would in their boldnes to drinke vp sinne like water once giue a glance backe to these fearefull threats of the Lord and view what shall be the wofull ende of their grosse and abominable wickednesses I wish also that both these and all the aforenamed proofes together with the manifold examples out of the Scriptures and sundry histories of the Church before alleadged Let them be for a Christian Chronicle be in stead of a little Chronicle for all sick and sore men either in body or minde for all those that are strangely visited or grieuously afflicted to be exercised in wherein they may finde the Lords iudgements frō time to time executed vpon the wicked and abominable liuers without abatement controlement or dispensation fearing no power The wicked neuer able to stay Gods iudgements preuented by no policie stayed by no bribes nor abated by any medicine till such time as hee hath layed the honors houses habitations and whole posterities of the wicked euen with the ground The end of the wicked As may be seene of Ieroboam Baasha Ahab and Ioab that I say men visited with sicknes vpon a sound sauerie of the premisses may without delay enter into a serious speech and due consideration of their owne estate in regarde of sinne Search soundly without soothing your selues and if they finde that such sinnes as you haue heard here before to bee plagued of the Lord to rule and raigne in them or any sinne and transgression of Gods commandements then let them impute the cause of their visitation to their owne sinnes and wicked conuersation resoluing further that he will not withdraw it who hath sent it hee will not heale them who hath wounded them they shall not recouer of their sicknesse nor come downe from the bed whereon they lie till such time as the Lord see them broken hearted with Dauid and vowing to his maiestie the continuall sacrifice of a better life or at least if they passe that disease or fit vnlesse they from the heart repent let them looke ere it be long One being gone another will come vnlesse thou repent to come vnder the extremitie of some other that shall be as a beasome in his wrath to take all away Last of all I wish euen from my very heart roote in Iesus Christ that all of you my Countriemen for whose comfort especially I was moued to pen this little vnworthie treatise may search and throughly ransacke your hearts to the bottome for these sinnes vz. Murther contempt of Gods word persecution of Gods children couetousnes oppression killing pride despairing of Gods power Idolatrie lying against ones owne conscience despairing of Gods mercies which sinnes flourishing in the reprobates haue been fearefully plagued as you haue heard before Search till we finde them for they are amongst vs. Search further for wicked and vnlawfull mariages for whoredome murmuring against Gods faithfull magistrates or ministers And so the monstrous profanation of the supper of the Lord sinnes for committing whereof the Lord hath grieuouslie punished his owne people as plainely hath been proued yea and for many moe then all these would I haue you with your selues to make a particular and strict examination Pray you so likewise Ephes 1.17.18 and I beseech God euen the father of our Lord Iesus Christ that the eyes of your vnderstanding may be enlightened that you may discerne and clearely see how farre you haue entred a couenant and bound your selues in league with most of these sinnes and many other most abhominable sinnes Ouer all generally In many places as your horrible Atheisme affected ignorance grosse Poperie and in most places mocking and contemning the Lords ordinarie meanes of your saluation in seeing of them acknowledge your long and continued afflictions to be sweete corrections The Lord hath dealt easilie with you as yet in regarde of that fearefull and dreadfull condemnation they haue long since before this cried for as a stipend of desert due vnto them yea in vtter loathing of them and heartie griefe for offending God by them let vs all crie with the prodigall childe that for our sinnes we are not worthy to haue the heauens to couer vs the earth to beare vs Luk. 15.21 Iehouah to protect vs or Iesus Christ euer to be a Sauiour vnto vs yet here not to stay but in hope as our anker through faith as our hand by the promise of the reueiled word for our certainty to prease and post forward and with the Eagle to soare vp to the true phisition of
Edward the 6. painefully to prosecute the same and now our gratious Deborah to finish and build vp that which the other two in their owne did not whose glorious and gratious gouernment God long prosper with encrease of knowledge zeale and power for the glorie of his great name the propagation of the crowne and kingdom of Christ Iesus and the vtter defacing and racing out of the traces of Antichrist Amen Amen And to conclude by the example of this poore man he had been diseased 38. yeeres old and so the lesse hope withered and dried vp so as to the iudgement of all he was like to die so as long he had liued Yet when Christ saw his appoynted and due time he came and made him a sound man as euer he was Hence as I said before let vs learne patience in our greatest miseries and though our burthens which the Lord hath laid vpon vs bee such as oft they make vs groane yet still let vs sigh and groane vnder hope The burthens of the faithfull vpholden by the Lord. with full assurance grounded vpon Gods promise that when he seeth it most meete hee will worke our deliuerance Let the due consideration hereof take away from vs all murmurings grudgings or male-contented hearts in all our troubles whether they bee troubles of the body or anguishes of the minde still grounding our patience vpon Gods reuealed promise in his word as thus All things shall fall out for the best Rom. 8.28 Vers 38. 1. Cor. 10.13 to theÌ„ that loue God Nothing shall separate vs from the loue of God in Christ And God is faithfull who hath promised he will lay no more vpon his children then he will make them able to beare but in the middest of the temptation he will giue them a happie issue and ioyfull deliuerance And when thou art wearie therewith haue recourse vnto Christ Matth. 11.28 and he will take thy burthen vpon his backe and relieue thee Now if any demaund of me the reason why the Lord doth so sore and for so long a space afflict his children before hee worke their deliuerance my answere is this The Lord doth it for diuers ends some whereof I haue here for the comfort of his afflicted ones set down as followeth First the Lord doth sore afflict his people 1 Reasons alleadged why God doth so long largely afflict his own people and long delay before he worke their deliuerance to teach them humilitie least they shuld out of measure be puffed vp For this cause did he sore afflict and buffet the Apostle Paul Secondly to teach them obedience least they should be too stiffe-necked thus did he tame the Israelites Thirdly to make them more carefully learne his law and continually studie therein Thus dealt the Lord with Dauid in afflicting him so long til Dauid could say from his very hart It is good for me that I haue been afflicted that I might learne thy law Fourthly he afflicteth them least they erre and goe astray in the dark desert of this world for this end also did Dauid make of his affliction saying Before I was afflicted I went wrong Fiftly to make vs become obedient spouses vnto our husband Christ Iesus that in matters for Gods glorie and our saluation wee admit of none else neither in part or whole for the foundation and cornerstone of our saluation Thus afflicted hee Iudah and Ierusalem who were wont to play the harlots vnder euerie greene tree Lastly hee continueth his afflictions vpon vs to teach vs that our sinnes are the cause of all our sorrow and therefore to sinne no more least a worse thing come vnto vs. Thus afflicted hee for a long time this poore man whom he now had healed The Lord grant for his infinit mercies sake The application that the long and late afflictions laid vpon vs and our countrie may worke these aforesayd effects in vs euen to pull downe our proude hearts to mollifie our hard hearts to instruct and teach our ignorant hearts to direct aright our vnstable and wandring hearts to make chast and pure our vnchast and whorish harts and to redresse and amend our wicked and transgressing hearts that so our pride being turned into humilitie stiffeneckednes into circumcision instabilitie into certaintie dishonestie against our husbaÌ„d Christ into loyaltie of a coÌ„science vnspotted and to conclude our daily sinning into a continual godly sorowing for the same we may then say with Dauid as many I meane as haue these aforesaid effects wrought in them by their afflictions glad are wee and good hath it been for vs that long largely and yet most louingly the Lord hath afflicted vs seeing they haue taught vs the miserie of our daies the danger of our sinnes the loathing of this wretched world and a loue of the life to come Doctrine In this course of continued afflictions vpon the Church of God note euery profitable and necessary doctrine vz. It is the vsuall manner of dealing with the Lord to defer his helping hand and full deliuerance till all meanes of helpe inuented by man bee frustrate and the case in the iudgement of many seemeth desperate God helpeth when all other meanes are helples The end of the Lord so long deferring thus did he with this poore man and in all the aforenamed proofes And he doth it for this especiall end that in victories conquests or deliuerances God might haue his owne which is euen the whole glorie If wee had no warrant out of Gods word for the coÌ„firmation of this poynt yet our owne experience these two yeeres by-past Our countries late visitation approue it in the most places of our countrie is of sufficiencie to testifie and witnes how true a doctrine his is seeing that no watching no gouernmeÌ„t great multitudes or carefull keeping could preuent his punishments but they came vpon vs no phisick could stint it but it encreased and continued yea when all mans remedies were administred yet were the poore afflicted ones still remedilesse so that great townes many congregations and infinit families espying all these hopes now hopelesse and though by some called comforts yet comfortles now haue in vtter despayre of them all let goe the anchor pulled downe the sayle and committed the whole custodie of their poore tossed ship to him who first raised vp the tempest against it and he euen that mightie God Iehouah who iustly for our countries rebellion against his almightie maiestie did wound the hairie scalpe of his enemies and the transgressions of his rebellious Israel did in the end O admire his mercies heale that which before he had wounded saued vs that in the sight and iudgement of many seemed as forlorne and in stead of many blacke and gloomy dayes tokens of his anger hath at last spoken peaceably vnto vs againe and granted vs more then we expected or our harts could desire O my countrimen deare then leâ—â—â—â—â—…rge the patheticall exhortation that 〈◊〉 â—oth in his
FOVRE SERMONS PREACHED AND PVBLIKELY TAVGHT BY RICHARD LEAKE Preacher of the word of God at Killington within the Baronrie of Kendall and Countie of Westmerland immediatly after the great visitation of the pestilence in the foresayd Countie Ezechiel 24. vers 13. Thou remainest in thy filthines and wickednesse because I would haue purged thee and thou wast not purged thou shalt not bee purged from thy filthines till I haue caused my wrath to fall vpon thee AT LONDON Imprinted by FELIX KINGSTON for Thomas Man 1599. TO THE WORSHIPFVLL M. THOMAS STIKELAND AND M. IAMES BELLINGHAM Esquires and two of her Maiesties Iustices of the peace within the Baronrie of Kendall and countie of Westmerland RICHARD LEAKE wisheth all graces needefull for this life and the continuall encrease of all graces pertaining to eternall life to the ende of their dayes IT is not vnknowne vnto your worships and to vs all round about what great and manifold dangers haue ouerspread all our countrie by the space of these two last yeares and more as well by dearth as also by strange fearefull diseases and sicknesses It is no lesse knowne vnto vs also how little good and small reliefe all outward meanes of remedie and comfort brought vnto the distressed ones in their extremities and who knoweth not how lamentable and wofull was the state of the afflicted one especially in such places as were infected with the pestilence and what feare came vpon vs all thorough that their affliction what mourning amongst them and daily deuises amongst our selues how to auoide escape dangers I wish from my heart that the originall breeding and first occasion of these lamentable times were as well knowne or herafter may be knowne of vs all viz. how that it was not infection of the ayre distemperature in their bodies much lesse the malitious and diuelish practises of witches or yet blinde fortune or any other such like imagined causes which were breeders of these euils But the masse and multitude of our sins in rebelling against the holie one of Jsrael these I say haue been the prouokers of the Almightie to make vs drinke of the cup of afflictions these haue pulled vpon vs al these plagues and brought vpon vs all these fearefull and afflicted times wherein we haue lately been which poynt that it might appeare plaine to the sight view of all my neighbours whose hearts haue awaked at the beholding of the said calamities I haue laboured in this little treatise following to make knowne what hath caused all these woes and who hath wrought and brought vnto vs better dayes as also what dutie we owe to the Lord for our gracious and long desired deliuerance Which I am bold to dedicate vnto your Worships and that for two respects first for that I perswade my selfe that you are both fauourable and also forward to entertaine and bid welcome all that bring the glad tidings of saluation whereby I am resolued that you will not only your selues accept and take in good part these my poore labours but also patronize countenāce and defend thē against al those who shall deride and scoffe at them as they doe at all good things in my self or others and secondly for that you be Magistrates and Iustices within those limits and precincts most parts whereof haue bin infected most pitifully and I am perswaded most iustly for those great and capitall sinnes which rule and raigne amongst vs as grosse Poperie and blinde superstition in very many places in so much that I am afraide that that abhominable Idoll of indignation the Masse is vsed in diuerse places about vs and that very boldly adde hereunto filthy drunkennesse abhominable whoredomes open profanation of the Sabbath vnlawfull pastimes with infinite many moe which the further they bee ripped into the more filthy stinch ariseth out of them These and such like sinnes I say being so pregnant and rise amongst vs I doubt not but as you espied them and heard them cryed against by worde and writing you with the rest of your associats ioyning with you will holde on in zeale of Gods glory the peace of Gods children and the discharge of your owne dueties that these sinnes may haue those lawes executed vpon them which most christianly is prouided in this land for restraining them which no doubt shall so greatly tend to the glorie of God the furthering of the couse of the Gospell and the flourishing estate of our christian common-wealth that in short space the excellent effects of this zealous gouernement shall proue the trueth and vprightnes thereof And thus briefely I cease committing this little worke and the issue thereof for acceptance at your Worships hands and all other that shall reade it to the wisedome of him who hath the disposing of the hearts euen of Kings and rulers euen one God and three persons the Father the Sonne and the holy Spirit to whome be glorie maiestie dominion and praise for euermore Your VVorships bounden Richard Leake To the Christian Reader THe occasion good reader of my offering this poore mite into the Lords treasurie and of sending abroade this fruit which the increase of my small talent bringeth forth vnto the Lords familie was this I pleased God by the space of two yeares together to giue our country in the North parts of this land a taste of his power in iudgement being prouoked thereunto by our manifold enormious sinnes he visited vs with many and grieuous sicknesses as first with the hot feuer after with the bloodie issue and lastly most fearefully with the extreame disease of the pestilence inflicted vpon many and shaken at all in our whole countrie And albeit neither I nor any of the people vnder my charge were infected therewith yet had we all of vs the cause thereof within our sinfull hearts as well as any others it had inuironed vs almost round about we had scarcely any way to turne vs but mourning might be heard so that we expected no better than neighbours fare Furthermore in this time and before as it is well knowne the Lord our God did chasten and punish this whole land with dearth and famine of bread and scarcitie of other victuals in diuers places since which time of tribulation it hath pleased him who is God blessed for euer amen to make knowne his power in mercie as he had before manifested the same in iudgement For be gaue plentie and cheapnes of bread and all kinde of victuals in stead of scarcitie and dearth hee extinguished the heate of sickenesses in those places where it was most feruent with-held it from those places vnto which it was most fearefully threatned so that then might be heard amongst vs mirth in stead of mourning songs in stead of doleful sighings gladsome salutations in meetings in stead of diligent shunning each of others presence for feare of infection The boistrous stormes of afflictions now driuen away and calme showers of comfort descending the cloudes of his heauie displeasure now
and your distressed causes vpon his backe and rest contented that he careth for all his owne And thus much for the fourth circumstance to bee considered in healing the man which was the meanes or partie by whom he was healed THE SECOND SERMON OF THE DVTIE OF OVR DELIVERANCE The second Sermon THe second branch of the exhortation vz. what was the cause of his sicknesse drawne out of these words sinne no more It appeareth here that sinne was the cause of his sicknesse and sinne is the cause of our troubles griefes losses hurts dangers or damages whatsoeuer yea of sicknesse be it of body or of minde That this may better appeare let vs search out the originall of sicknes sorrow and griefe and we shall finde that before sinne entred there was neither sicknesse sorrow nor griefe but as soone as euer sinne entred the other were inflicted as a iust reward for sinne When where and how sinne entred you may finde plainly in Genes 3. When. It entred euen then when our first parents were created in their happie estate of innocencie like to the image of their Creator perfectly righteous in the soule and all the parts thereof throughly sound in the body and the constitution thereof yea both in body and soule free from any griefe vexation or sorrowe Sinne entred in Paradise Where our parents being placed there The meanes The meanes whereby he entred was by the subtill perswasion of the Serpent the diuels instrument and by our parents voluntarie hearkening and yeelding thereunto to disobey and breake the commandement of their Creator which so soone as euer they had done the curse of God for the same fell vpon our parents for sin If we will set downe what it is it is nothing else but the transgression of the law of God 1. Ioh. 3.4 Presently after the transgression of the law of God entred the reward or punishmēt of this their transgression which was mortalitie in stead of immortalitie Mans miserable case after his fall weaknes in stead of strength sicknes in stead of health toyle and trauell in stead of continual rest and peace sorrow and sadnes in stead of ioy and comfort the earth to yeeld nothing but brambles briers and bushes though it bee tilled in stead of plentie of good fruite to trauaile vp and downe as pilgrimes vpon the face of the earth in stead of perpetual possession of Paradise and though they thus prolong their toyling daies for a time yet at lēgth enforced to yeeld to natures course and to dye in stead of liuing for euer the life of the Angels All this is apparant in the third of Genesis You haue heard now the first man that euer sinned euen Adam the first man that as a merit for his sinne euer was sicke or troubled euen Adam You haue heard what happy case he was in before he sinned and what wofull estate hee was in after his fall a creature full of sorrow toyle trouble feare griefe vexation digging and deluing planting and sowing and yet but to reape little increase and though hee was before a most pleasant plant of the Lord seated in a most fertile soyle yet now through sin is he euen become a filthie puddle and standing poole of all iniquitie a seruant to Satan and a poore prisoner to the diuell Hence let all Gods children learne to affect holinesse of life The vse and lothe the life of the wicked yea euen all the motions obiects and occasions of wickednesse so farre as the very garment stained with sinne shal be vnto them odious and lothsome You haue heard now the roote to bee infected and the bole poysoned and withall you haue heard the cause of this infection The roote and bole are our first parents they sinned and presently vpon their sinne came shame for a fault and all kinde of troubles and diseases as their due desart Let vs now examine a little whether this poyson hath not infected all the branches I meane Adams posteritie which posteritie we our selues are Herein let vs consider that Adam and Euah were not priuate persons Caluin in Psal 51. ver 7. but such as had in them the state of the whole world what good Adā had he had it for his whole posteritie All men in Adam haue sinned what euill soeuer hee brought vpon him through sinne it was to bee propagated vpon his whole posteritie Therefore it is that Dauid crieth and saith Psal 51.6 Contra Pelag. qui dicunt peccatum non esse haereditarium sed sola imitatione ex Adamo profectum Genes 6.5 Behold in sinne my mother conceiued me Wee bring sinne with vs from our mothers wombe and therefore sicknesse and sorrow the stipend of sinne And the Lord saith that the imaginations of mans heart are euill continually Hereupon it plainly followeth that euen al of vs may impute our sicknes our sorrow weaknes and wants troubles and torments dangers and finally death it selfe to our sinnes as the originall and first cause of them That sicknesse and death did take hold vpon all Adams race euen euery one of vs for sinne Paul maketh very plaine thus By one man sinne entred into the world and death by sin Rom. 5.12 and so death went ouer all men for as much as all men haue sinned Vers 18. And by the offence of one man the fault came ouer all vnto condemnation Vers 19. And by one mans disobedience many were made sinners Now let vs come to proue by example out of the word how in Adam his posteritie for sinne God hath inflicted sometime sicknesse sometime sores sometime troubles of bodie sometime griefe of minde Vpon his owne children as louing corrections to make them more diligent schollers in Christs schoole Vpon the wicked either to draw them to repentance if they belong vnto Gods kingdome or if they hardned their harts as Pharaoh then to make them euen beginnings of the flashings of hell fire And first let vs see out of the word how for sinne the Lord hath afflicted his owne Church with sicknesse trouble danger c. In Genes 6. appeareth that because the sonnes of God contrary to his commaundement ioyned in mariage with the daughters of men I meane the wicked seede and for other great sinnes amongst them committed when after a long time of repentance giuen them by the Lord they would not amend the Lord destroyed them and the whole world Noe and his familie excepted with water When Dauid had grieuously offended the Lord with Berthshebah the wife 2. Sam. 11.4.17 murther vpō Vriah the husband and after all this by labouring to cloake his sinne the Lord therefore inflicted vpon him these troubles 1. His owne sonne Ammon to defile his sister Tamar 2. Sam. 13.14 Vers 29.30 31 32. 2. Sam. 16.22 and commit incest with her 2. One of his sonnes to kill another 3. And in the end as a iust recompence for his adulterie the Lord suffered
his owne sonne Absalon to rebell against him take away his fathers concubines and to lye with them Againe when Dauid in pride of hart numbred his people cōtrary to the Lords minde the Lord for a reward of his sinne infected the whole land of Israel with the disease of the pestilence 1. Chro. 21.14 in so much that there dyed of the sicknes 70. thousand men O my countrimen in the Lord Iesus I beseech you throughly and soundly let vs search to the bottome the originall and chiefe occasion of our so great and long a visitation and I am afraid we shall finde that not Dauids adulterie murther and proud heart alone haue procured these afflictions to fall vpon vs but a huge masse of many infinit sins more A masse of sins amongst vs crying for vengeance which this 40. yeeres by-past we haue till now hoorded and treasured vp against our selues till they made such a crye in the Lords eares for vengeance that though his mercie be great yet they haue enforced him at length to powre out vpon vs the violl of his wrath and by these afflictions to manifest vnto vs his indignation kindled against vs. The Lord giue vs eyes to see this hearts to be sorie and a care and continuall conscience euer hereafter to walke more carefully as in the Lords presence To returne againe to Dauid as you haue heard the Lord to haue dealt sharply with him in outward troubles for his sinnes so how he dealt vvith him by inwarde troubles griefes and sicknes of the minde Psal 6. and 38. and 55. and 77. his often complaining in these Psalmes quoted in the margent sufficiently doth witnesse Which Psalmes I wish the gentle reader to peruse and ruminate vpon them assuring him if he be distressed in soule for sinne thereby hee may receiue and finde comfort The Israelites offending God Num. 21.4 5 6. in murmuring against Moses and Aaron the Lords messengers were stung with fierie Serpents and destroyed with the meate in their mouthes Yea that excellent woman Myriam Aarons sister but once murmuring against Moses Exod. 12.1.2 for marying a woman of Aethiopia and because the Lord talked more familiarly with her then hee did with Aaron and her selfe Vers 10. the Lord for this sinne smote her with the disease of the leprosie that she was all ouer as white as snow Vers 14. till that Moses made earnest suite intercession to the Lord for her health Hezekiah was grieuously sicke both in bodie and soule 2. King 20. Esay 38.1 2. Chro. 32.14 Hosea chap. 8. and chap. 9. till in mercie God restored both to health Sinne and iniquitie was the cause of famine and sword threatned to the rebellious Iewes Often we finde in the Gospell that our Sauiour Christ giuing sight to the blinde or health to the sick vseth this speech Go thy way Mar. 2.5 thy sinnes are forgiuen thee as if hee should say sinne hath been the cause of thy long sicknes but now thy sins being pardoned which before as fetters chained thy feete thou maiest rise vp and walke as a sound man And of all other most excellent and memorable is that of the Apostle Paul to the Corinthians 1 Cor. 11.30.31 where he telleth them that for the abuse and prophanation of the Lords Supper amongst them Prophaning of the Lords Supper caused death many of them are weake many sicke and many fallen asleepe that is dead Truly I am perswaded that one of the greatest and capitall crimes that hath puld these plagues vpon our countrie This holy Sacramēt greatly prophaned in our North parts of this land First by the pastor how and hath made vs a talke in the mouthes of the people of other countries is the grieuous and monsterous prophanation of this holy Sacrament the Supper of the Lorde being for so long a time so horribly prophaned both of pastor and people The pastor or at least hee that occupieth the roome of a pastor without all due care and consideration ministreth it to all alike without exception examination or making any separation of the vnholy from the holy the prophane from the sound professor the dogs and the swine from the sincere and sanctified people of the Lord who ought to vse the power of the keyes belonging to their calling if any such vncleane and vnsanctified people doe offer themselues to communicate themn by the power aforesaid to barre such men from the Supper vntill there appeare in them testimonies of repentance and change of manners This being the true and onely remedie prescribed by Christ himselfe both against such men and to take away all offences of the Church and finally to escape the iust vengeance of God that euer frō time to time haue fallen vpon the contemners of the Gospell and Sacraments But alas thee careles guides and vnsauourie salt The lets that stay them frō doing their dutie in this behalfe either because they are men-pleasers dare not or because they may bee attainted of some notorious fault themselues wil not or else because they are sillie simple ignorant sots and know not how to doe it doe still continue in their careles course to the vtter destruction of thēselues and many a poore soule vnder their charge The poore soules in great danger hereby vnlesse God in his great mercie take pitie vpon them These euill workers nay rather betrayers of the sillie sheepe of Christ either know not or at least care not for so many inuectiues as the godly fathers in the former ages of the Church haue giuen out most boldly both by word and writing against the pastors who suffer such monsterous prophanation of the holy Supper of the Lord as also the great care that Christian Churches haue still had to keepe themselues cleane from that pollution Amongst the multitude of the godly writers I cannot passe ouer but set downe that most excellent saying of Iohn Chrysostome in his Homilies vpon Matthew concerning this point whose words are these Chrysost in hom 38. in Mat. c. 27 No small punishment hangeth ouer your heads if knowing any man to bee taken in wickednesse you suffer him to be partaker hereof for his blood shall be required at your hands Therefore if any Captaine if the Consul himselfe if he that weareth the crowne come vnworthily barre him keepe him backe Against the vnlawfull fearing of any thou hast greater authoritie then he Therefore if a most cleere spring of water were committed vnto thee to keepe it onely to serue the flocke when thou diddest see beasts vse to strike and gore and most filthie swne come towards it thou wouldest not suffer them to goe downe into the water nor to trouble the spring And now when as the most hallowed spring not of water but of blood and the holy Ghost is committed vnto thee if thou shalt see men notoriously defiled with sinne come vnto it wilt thou not be angrie nor
forbid them And a little after he saith If you will feare men he will laugh at you if God you shall be reuerenced of men Surely I will rather yeeld my bodie to death and suffer my blood to be shed then to be partaker of this pollution For the example of the practise of Christian Churches one example likewise shall suffice which shall bee the example of the Greeke Church in former times The example of the Greeke Church 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A congregation of the faithfull who had such a reuerent estimation of this holy banket that the very name wherewith they called it argueth the same First Vocarunt eam 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is to to say a congregation of the faithfull which was so religiously obserued Quod quamuis tolerabantur in concion publicis prophani verùm vbi inchoanda erat ipsa Dominicae caenae communicatio iubebantur illi discedere accedere c. Although the wicked and open prophane were permitted to bee present at their publike preachings sermons yet whensoeuer the Supper of the Lord was to bee administred then they vsed these words Depart ye wicked and prophane and draw neere ye that truly and sincerely professe Christ and his Gospell Againe Vocarunt eam 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A holy table they called it a holy table both in regard of the holy and heauenly foode of the soule there offered as also in regard of those holy people who alone are admitted to the eating thereof So that these being well considered I will conclude this point concerning the pastors abuse in the aforesaid prophanation with this earnest wish that all who are called to this waightie calling of the worke of the ministerie with care and conscience so to behaue themselues therein as they that shall giue account in the great day of the Lord for euery soule that hath perished within their charge through their negligence For the peoples prophaning this holy Sacrament Secondly it is prophaned by the people and how I my selfe haue bin oft an eye witnesse God is my record to my griefe when I haue seene great multitudes of people in the house of the Lord My self an eye witnesse with striuing thronging pressing forwarde contend who should first receiue the outwarde elements at the hands of their minister making no better then a common banket of it or as though they were in extreame haste Againe the Parsons proctor to be reckoning for his fees in the very time of administring the Supper Great prophanation and worthie punishment and that within the Lords house not farre from the minister as great a noise of brauling about him as of singing Psalmes amongst the Communicants yea farre greater for the one is often vsed the other very seldome or neuer I might bee large in laying downe such manifold abuses as these Many moe besides these which I haue seene with mine eyes as euery one after they haue gotten their rightings for so our sillie ignorant people call it to hasten out of the congregation neuer reuerently abiding till all be partakes that they might all depart with a ioynt thanksgiuing But these are sufficient to the reader to testifie how iustly I am perswaded Ex vnguibus leonem astima that for these and such like abuses the Lorde hath rightly plagued our countrie After the receiuing of this holy Sacrament and seale of the true Christians saluation they hold on à malo in peius they then goe for good fellowship to the tauerne or alehouse altogether The Magistrates coldnes in correcting a great cause of these abuses and thence they come not till they are inflamed and made drunke with strong drinke and then out they must but otherwise then they came in for now they run out to purge themselues and their heauie stomackes by belchings and beastly vomiting others to brawle and fight so as it would wound a Christians hart to see how the senselesse soules worse then brute beasts This cryeth for vengeāce without speedy repentance doe in receiuing the bread and wine at the Supper of the Lord eate and drinke their owne condemnation Others there be more nise in outward shew As euill as the other it may be will walke solitary that day abstaine in outwarde appearance from their wonted course of sinne but if they do this for one day two were too many and therefore the morow after the Supper is as the day before euen to drinke sinne like water and draw iniquitie as it were with cartropes A third sort of vnworthie receiuers there be in our countrie whom I may very well call carnall gospellers and lip-professors Too many of such amongst vs. who doe receiue this holy Supper together with Gods deare children and thereby doe make their solemne profession of newnes of life but after a season it proueth rather worse with them then with the former for they are such that though they crie Lord Lord voce yet they deny to doe the will of their heauenly father What dangerous effect follow such wicked dealing vita and so are an occasion to the wicked and professed enemies of Gods trueth of blaspheming that glorious Gospel of Christ Iesus whereof they make profession though vnsoundly and after an vncleane manner These men to speake plainly they are very neere vnto if not the same men whereof Christ testifieth Matth. 12. that they expulse out the vncleane spirit but after a season the same spirit returneth againe he bringeth seuen other spirits with him worse then himselfe and finding all cleane swept and garnished they reenter and take possession in the man and make their dwelling there whose latter end horrendum dictu is worse then the beginning And such as Peter painteth out 2. Pet. 2. ver 20 who after they haue in shew throwne and shaken off sinne and bidden the world adiew doe notwithstanding after all this enter couenant to bee Satans seruant againe in whom the prouerbe is too true Vers 22. The dogge is returned to his vomit and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mare The Lord for his mercies sake Amen Amen work reformation hereof both in pastor and people which reformation if presently it appeare not I feare me a worse day I feare the sequell then hitherto hath been seene will insue whereof more at large hereafter And let this suffice also for proofes out of the word how the Lord for sinne sendeth troubles and sicknesses both of body and minde vpon his owne people Let vs now in a word shew how he doth it vpon the wicked wherein I may fitly vse the speech of the Apostle that if for sinne iudgement begin at the house of God what shall be the end of the wicked A fearfull end without all doubt And if hee deale thus with the greene tree what may wee thinke will be the end of the drie and withered tree but to be
our soules for healing our sicknesses the good Samaritane to bind vp our wounds the euerlasting high Priest for bearing our infirmities euen Iesus Christ the righteous that thereby our sinnes the originall of our sicknesses may be blotted out and cleane clensed and from Christ we may heare this comfortable voyce Arise and walke c. Be whole for thy sins are forgiuen thee My beloued in the Lord No sounde course but this to saue vs from perishing except this through course be taken neuer looke for sauing sound and continuing health but euen with Gehezi to die a leprous man Now as I haue spoken of particular men for particular sinnes diuersly diseased so may I speake of whole countries kingdomes and places who for sin and iniquitie haue been plagued Some with sudden destructiō Genes 19. as Sodom Gomor Some with captiuitie as the Israelites vnder the Babylonians 2. Chro. 36. Some with hauing the godly wise and aged Counsellors taken from thē as Esay threatneth the Iewes Esay 8.1.2.3.4 1. King 20. 2. King 6.19 2. King 17.29 Some with death and famine as was Samaria and Ierusalem and as this our nation of late and some with the disease of the pestilence burning ague and bloody issues as this our owne land first not long since in the South parts We haue felt the same and now these two yeres last past in our Northerne parts And seeing it hath been proued that these corrections and punishments flow from our owne disobedience and wilfull rebellion From whence these punishments flowe therefore if euer the effect wee desire to haue remoued let vs first take away the cause which is our sinnes Sublata causa tollitur effectus and assure our selues the effect will cease which is Gods fearefull punishments Doctrine These proofes examples and vses being thus laid downe this doctrine following shall bee the conclusion of it vz. what euill soeuer wee suffer either in body or minde we may impute it to our sinnes Psal 38.5 as the originall and first occasion thereof whereupon may bee gathered a second doctrine Caluin in Ioh. cap. 5. vers 14. Non sunt fortunae hominum calamitates sed totidem sunt castigatoriae ferulae Our sicknesses diseases or griefes bee they inward or outward proceed not from fortune or by chance Amos. 3.6 but by the foredecreed counsell of the highest that they may bee as so many checkes vnto the pride of our sinnes the truth hereof being granted there ensueth an exceeding comfort to the conscience A comfort carefull of Gods seruice vz. that our heauenly father taketh no delight nor pleasure in punishing vs and therefore doth hee neuer seuerely scourge vs Calu. ibid. but whē he is highly offended by our transgressions and perforce vrged to change mercie into iudgement The Lord is haled on to iudgement by our sinnes his louing countenance into seuere corrections And thus much generally haue I set downe and proued the cause and originall of sicknesse sorrowes troubles and death itself in all men liuing vpon the face of the earth as they are Adams branches and posteritie Now least the godly man for conscience sake persecuted or for his further triall of the Lord afflicted should be too much dismaied and thinke his persecutions were but iust plagues for sinne and his crosses no comforts contrary to the sweete promises of the Gospel in that behalfe How and for what end afflictions are laid vpon the godly therefore let vs search how and in what sort they are laid vpon the godly The nature and condition of all troubles both of body and minde in respect of their first originall are qualified to the children of God and true Christians not by any dignitie or desert at all of their owne but as Elisha healed the bitter and venemous waters by casting salt into them Note well so the bitter and intolerable sting of death the bitter and vnsauorie sicknesses and diseases both of our bodies and our soules are healed the nature of them changed the poyson remoued by the sauourie salt of Christ his blood yea all sicke halt lame and withered men haue their griefes eased by the troubled persecuted scorned scoffed and crucified body of our Lord Iesus Christ as this sick man was healed in his body by troubling the cleere water Christ his blood shedding being in iudgement of wicked men as vnlikely to worke vs any good as salt to make fruitfull or muddy water to make a lame man whole In this Christ Iesus our debt for sinne is discharged and vpon his crosse is the obligation of ordinances that was against vs fastned Reuel 3.18 and he is the very purgation that cleanseth the sauing eye-salue that giueth light Matth. 3.17 Collos 1.13 2. Pet. 1.17 and the wel-beloued sonne of God by whom our cries are conueied to his father in whom he receiueth and heareth our plaints and for vvhose sake wee enioy all the blessednes and good things that euer we haue Christ wholy altered the nature of afflictions to his owne Church Now therefore in this Christ our alone Sauiour sicknesse to his faithfull members is as comfortable as health affliction as sweete as peace aduersitie as acceptable as prosperitie death as welcome as life the graue as a most sweete perfumed chamber for the bodies of the Saints to lie in for they can with S. Paul say Rom. 8.1 There is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Iesus It makes them not feare death but rather in Gods appointed time desire it in seeing the miseries of this present life and by a liuely faith soaring vp into the vnspeakable ioyes of the life to come And therefore they say with Paul We know that if this earthly tabernacle of ours be dissolued 2. Cor. 5.1 we haue a building giuen of God not made with hands but eternall in the heauens And Christ Iesus whether wee liue or die is vnto vs both in life and death aduantage yea we seeing that while we liue 1. Thess 5.10 Phil. 1.21 we are naked in this world we sigh desiring to be clothed with our house which is from heauē And seeing while we are here iournying vpon the earth wee are absent from our head and husband therefore we desire to be dissolued Philip. 1.23 and to be with our husband Sauiour which is best of all And finally seeing there is nothing in this world but corruption Eccles 1.1.2 alteration and vanitie we waite we looke and long for the day of our refreshing when we may foreuer lift vp our heads meete our elder brother in the clowdes and receiue the incorruptible crowne of glorie laid vp in store for all the Lords elect ere euer the foundations of the world were laid Thus Gods children may reioyce when the wicked shall howle and weepe they shall bee satisfied as it were with marrow and fatnesse yea euen when they seeme to be
full of faintnes when the fat buls of Basan and the deuouring lions shall be sent emptie away yea they shall clap their handes and lift vp their heads for ioy of that In terror and feare wherof the wicked shall gnash with their teeth grin like a dog and for auoyding of it though all in vaine they shall wish the rockes to open the hils to couer and the mountaines to be as a shelter vnto them from the glorious presence of him that sitteth vpon the throne Thus death against the godly hath no sting hell against the Christian hath no victorie Reade Heb. 12 11. Psal 30.8.9 34.18.19 119.71 affliction is not our confusion as husbandmen vse to bring dead trees and burne them in the fire but our affliction is for our firmer further consolation and edification like as a good husbandman purgeth his vine that it may bring forth more fruite Psal 30.5 Heauinesse with the godly may endure for a night but assuredly peace ioy commeth in the morning Seeing then that thus happily it goeth with vs all in our greatest afflictions if we belong vnto Christ I will conclude as Saint Paul concludeth his treatise of our immortall state in the life to come that seeing death once had dominion ouer vs but is now destroyed afflictions hurted vs but now they profit vs sicknesse affraied vs but now comforteth vs euen thankes and all thankes be giuen for euer to God the father 1. Cor. 15.57 who hath giue vs this happie victorie through our Lord Iesus Christ Now for the wicked their sicknesse sores As for the wicked it is not so with them griefes and vexations are still vnto them as stipends of sinne tokens of Gods wrath and vnlesse they speedily repent euen beginnings as I said before of the flashings of hell fire I denie not but the godly man may haue for the outward operation the same sicknesse sore For the outward operation of the sicknesse they may agree Cal. in Psal 37.19 A difference betweene the afflictions of the godly and vngodly Psal 1.4 griefe and trouble that the wicked and vngodly haue yet inwardly euer this difference shall be found Quòd Deus suis in necessitate manum porrigens impios deferit God in time of his childrens necessities bee they neuer so great still stretcheth out his hand for helping them and vpholding them least they fall but as for the wicked it is not so with them he vtterly reiecteth them forsaketh and giueth thē ouer vnto their owne hearts lust Propter peccatum Flagellantur iusti propter probationem iniusti ad perditionem The godly are afflicted for their greater triall but the wicked are afflicted for their cōfusion because of their great sinnes Esay 9.13.14 For the people saith Esay turneth not vnto him that smiteth them neither doe they seeke the Lord of hosts Therefore will the Lord cut off in one day from Israel head and tayle branch and rush Pijs afflictio est disciplina qua docetur iram Domini effugere voluntati eius obsequi Afflictiō to the godly is for discipline in themselues whereby they are taught to auoide the Lords wrath by reformation of their liues and willingly to yeeld obedience to his commandements Whereupon Paul saith When we are iudged 1. Cor. 11.32 wee re chastened of the Lord because we should not be condemned with the world Impijs verò afflictio est obduratio qua a malo in peius progrediuntur sicut Pharaoh But vnto the wicked In euerie affliction two things to be considered afflictiō is a meane of hardening their hearts whereby they proceede from worse to worse In euery affliction two things are to be considered first Gods iudgement secondly Gods mercie The wicked partaker of the former but neuer of the latter The wicked in their afflictions are partakers of the one which is Gods iudgement but neuer of the other The godly are partakers of both iudgement for their sinnes mercie for Iesus Christ his sake Hereupon saith Nahum Nah. 1.7 Good is our God and comfortable to his owne children in the day of trouble And Dauid Call vpon me in the day of trouble and I will deliuer thee Loe his mercie whereof the wicked are neuer partakers So that herein appeareth againe wherein the godly are commō partakers with the wicked in afflictions and where they differ Psal 85. The last thing that I will note out of this part and so end it is this That in the words sinne no more we may note that the Lord was priuie to al his former sinnes and offences that euer before he had committed and therefore it is as if he should say I haue seene noted and obserued all such sins as euer before this thou hast committed either publikely or priuately inwardly or outwardly by thought word and worke and for the same haue afflicted thee and also in the end deliuered thee take heede therefore thou sinne no more Hence note the Lord hath Eagles eyes to see the corners of our hearts and all our sinnes neuer so closely committed nothing so secret but it shall bee made manifest Mat. 10. Read Psal 138. and that which is committed in corners shal be published on the house top Then euer hereafter let euery man worke as in the day time walke as in Gods presence behaue themselues as hauing the Lorde an eye vvitnesse who if we doe well in his mercie vvill accept of vs but if wee doe euill Gen. 4.7 then know sinne standeth at the doores who will neuer cease crying in the eares of the Lord for vengeance till such time as it bee powred downe vpon the wicked in fearfull manner and executed vpon the vnbeleeuers to their euerlasting destruction And thus much for the second part of the words of exhortation which is that sinne was the cause of his long sicknesse THE THIRD SERMON OF THE DVTIE OF OVR DELIVERANCE The third Sermon NOw followeth the third part vz. what must be the effect of his health recouerie or what must bee the dutie of his deliuerance drawne out of the same wordes that the other part was though not in the same sence Sinne no more This is the subiect of the whole treatise describing the dutie that this man healed must euer bee mindfull of to his louing and mercifull father for his great and large deliuerance and in him may fitly bee gathered the dutie of all Gods children to the Lord for so many liberall and louing mercies as continually he powreth vpon them Particulars shewing the mercies of God How greatly this poore man was bound to render thankes to the almightie for his deliuerance I haue before set down in some particulars as the dangerous disease ouer his whole body the long continuance of it euen most of his life the little good that any likely meanes of outward medicine did for him with some other moe the consideratiō whereof could not but
of dearth and pestilence and yet being now healed thereof presently forget our punishments and God that inflicted thē vpon vs Though we forget God in our dutie yet he will not forget our sins tremble and feare for certainly then God will not forget our sinnes but if they hale him on to come against vs yet againe take heede that with his third whip he scourge vs not till blood run down from top to toe when there shall be nothing heard but a fearfull noise and lamentation alas alas in which distresse which is most fearfull the wicked carelesse contemners of his mercies shall then seeke vnto him earely and late for helpe But I make a question whether they shall finde him or no the shall call vpon him but I am afraid hee will answere in thunder and the reason doth Wisedome tell Prou. 1.28.29 because they hated knowledge and did not chuse the feare of the Lord. The cause doth Ieremy tell like disobedient children Ierem. 2.30 they did not humble themselues vnder the Lord when they were corrected And surely if a worse thing What is the cause if our countrie be plagued againe a worse plague come vpon our North-parts of this land againe it is because as diuers to their griefe haue both seene and heard that many of you great townes great congregations priuate families and persons after your deliuerances healings and restoring to your former liberty haue not with Moses and with Deborah Exod. 15.2 Iudg. 5.2 assembled your selues together and lift vp your voyces in praise to the Lord and a faithfull promise to become euer after carefull in his seruice which thing you ought to haue done Much abuse in many places townes after their late fearfull visitation But rather your meetings haue bin and are to shake hands with your former sins and to bid them welcome againe amongst you hauing for a time been taken from you by reason of your affliction Your songs haue not been to praise God but rather as I haue heard in place therof prophane Enterludes Piping and dancing Lords of misrule and disorder with many moe vnlawfull sports Esay 49.13 and generally your protestations not one to crie to another and all ioyntly to sound together saying Reioyce O heauens be ioyfull O earth burst foorth into praise O mountaines for God hath comforted vs his sinfull people and hath had mercie on vs his late afflicted ones Neither I am afraid haue you been carefull to say with Moses The Lord is our strength and praise and he is become our saluation he is our God and wee will prepare him a tabernacle he is our fathers God and we will exalt him And to conclude whereas many of you my beloued countrimen haue been depriued of the enioying of one anothers fellowship Our meeting againe after a long separation I am afraid abused in the time of your affliction which now blessed be the name of God is restored to free libertie of fellowship and societie one with another I say I am afraid that your meetings together after a long and lamentable separation hath not bin to prouoke vnto loue and to good works and to exhort one another daily Heb. 10.23 3.13 while it is called to day but rather in stead of this the drunkard to associate himselfe with his drunken companions the whoremonger to seeke for his harlot the vainglorious man for his flatterers the carnall man for his confederates the vsurer for his creditors one wicked man with another and so to renew that wicked bond and league of their sinne at all which you ought to haue taken your last farewell neuer to haue communicated any more with such vnfruitfull works of darknes Ephes 5.11 Shall come vnto thee Out of this place we may gather this excellent point namely that as the godly bringing forth the pleasant fruits of righteousnes in their liues Note well the godly goe still forward till they come to heauen but the wicked stil backward till they go down to hell haue still more more the sweete mercies of God multiplied vpon them till they enioy them in their fulnes in the kingdom of glorie Euen so the wicked that after Gods graces powred downe vpon them doe still notwithstanding bring foorth nothing but the weedes and brambles of iniquitie haue Gods iudgements still more and more increased against them till at the length they presse them downe to hell Againe I gather hence this doctrine Thanke our vnthankfulnes if moe plagues come that if euill come vpō euill and punishment vpon punishment we may iustly impute it to our owne obstinacie and wilfull rebellion Last of all let this doctrine be the conclusion both of this point and this part of Scripture Si nil ferulis proficiat erga nos Deus quibus leniter nos tanquam teneros ac delicatos filios humanissimus pater castigat nouā quasi alienam personam induere cogitur If God by his whipping of vs profit vs nothing wherewithall like a most kinde father he correcteth our contumacie and disobedience hee is enforced to take vpon him another habit and to manifest himselfe in another manner If mercie will not moue iudgement will throw downe changeing mercie into iudgement And therefore let vs euer learne the end of Gods fatherly correction to bee our daily reformation and more increasing in the gifts and graces of the holie spirit euermore remembring the danger that will ensue if daily we doe it not and the sharp censure we shall vndergoe if we forget it euen this that the Almightie Iehouah will quasi atrocioribus malleis with the heauy and insupportable beetles of his iudgements presse downe vtterly bring to desolation all those quibus mediocris poena nil profuit that is whose hearts were not mollified and their liues reformed with the Lordes former sweete and comfortable affliction The conclusion Which my beloued that the former may euer take place in vs and so escape that the latter be neuer laid vpon vs the Lord for his infinit mercies sake grant vs euen for his sonne Christs sake who by his blood shedding hath so dearely ransomed his Church and vnto whom with the Father and the holy Spirit be all glorie maiestie praise and dominion for euermore Amen FINIS