owne houshold people and after to the strange-children He will first nurture with correction his owne sonnes and seruants and then smite with destruction and plagues all that are forth of his house being not sonnes nor seruants but enimies Secondly it more iustifieth the Lord when he will not spare sinne at home so neare him and cannot but more silence the enimie when God shall visit for his sinne For he hath lesse to say against him when his owne haue not escaped Thirdly God will not haue his children condemned with the world therefore he will chasten them when hee spares the world that is sinners in the world 1. Cor. 11.32 He will pull them in betimes and because he louâ—s them deale sharply with them Hebr. 12.6 when the wicked shall goe free as a father seeing two boyes fighting whereof the one is his owne will correct the child that is his and let the other passe Then Vse 1 though we be Gods children and houshold seruants yet are we not exempt from the rod of his people there is a iudgement that befalles both good and bad and this beginnes at Gods owne house and though none haue more securitie then the godly in common calamities yet this promise to them being but of temporall blessings is to be vnderstood with the exception of the crosse Psal 89.32.33 Joh. 16.33 For as the mother that waines her child layeth wormwood or some other bitter thing vpon her breast to make the child to leaue it so because we are too much affected naturally to the world that is to the lusts of those profits and pleasures which are therein except we be wained from it by some miseries and crosses here therefore hath God layd vpon it the wormewood of calamitie and troubles to the end that we his children might not too long hang vpon the breasts of it for weake and vaine matters or that which is but the simple food of worldlings What if God had for any long time spared the vse of his rod and staffe toward Dauid his owne King Psal 23.4 He himselfe or another in like case if not he telles vs before I was afflicted I went astray Psal 119 67. The Lord laid this rod away but for a little space by giuing him some rest from warre and troubles abroad and so soone as he awaked from his afternoones sleepe he beheld a sight such as Adam after his sinne sawe who sawe himselfe naked and ranne from God Gen. 3.7.8 2. Sam. 11.2.3.4 Againe till God brought him to his Sanctuary to schoole how foolish and ignorant wâ—s he and how like a beast before him Psal 73.17.22 Are we better then Dauid or could not Dauid be ruled without strokes and can we Therefore necessary it is that iudgement which beginneth at Gods house should if we be of this house beginne also at vs. A terrour therefore Vse 2 to those who feele no worke of sorrow in their minde or outward members For except they can make sure that they haue no sinne it is fearefull to be at such ease And if iudgement be ginne at Gods house either they are not of that building or his iudgments must beate vpon them Besides continuall quietnes and peace in a sinners state proues that the strong man hath possession Luk. 11.21 But where a Christian is once made there is no end of stirres in the body or warre in our mortall bodies the flesh lusting against the Spirit Galat. 5.17 till one side yeeld which is neuer seene in the children of regeneration till corruption that goeth not out but with the going out of the last enimie be done away Further we are senslesse of sinne except God make it bite as if he gaue it teeth by his corrections and if our hearts doe not smite vs as Dauids him 2. Sam. 24 how merrily doe we goe away with sinne carrying it as easily as Sampson did the gates of Azzah Iudg. 16.3 Now is it terrible to liue in sinne with so small remorse of minde and conscience as they doe whose eares God hath not opened by his discipline Then it must needs be a terrible thing for men consisting of flesh to feele no crosses But must iudgement begin at Gods house Vse 3 Then for the correction of God beginning at the righteous what doe they but testifie for them that they are of that house that God specially loueth Amos. 3.2 The branch that beareth fruit he purgeth to wit with his corrections that it may bring forth more fruit Ioh. 15.2 That is the Lord of his owne vineyard comes with crosses as with a pruning knife in his hand to pare vs and to dresse vs that be branches that being yet but weakely fruitfull we may be made fit to bring forth fruit plentifully in duties of pietie to God and of loue to men And for these outward things of ease credit and a wealthy life what are they but medicines for the disease of sinne Therefore he that dieteth his children will giue them these things rather as medicines to heale them then as meates to fill them For no good Phisicion will prescribe that vse of medicines that he doth of ordinary meate Hee that comes to a mans house as a stranger for a night is better vsed for the time then he is that shall be heire For oftentimes the one sits downe at table and the other waites yet who is greater the stranger or he that shall be heire of all So for these strangers that haue some fewe nights lodging in Gods Church howsoeuer here they may be more made of for outward things and for some short time then the children of the house or then the eldest sonne yet the father hath no such care of them nor meaning to them as he hath to his owne to whom he will leaue the inheritance and they shall depart as strangers when these shall abide in the house with him for euer And as Abraham gaue certaine gifts to the sonnes of his concubines sent them away from Isaac Gen. 25.6 so to these not children by adoption but sonnes by creation onely the Lord will giue these small things for their childs part and at their death send them away from the true Isaac Iesus Christ neuer to haue any part in his saluation neuer to dwell any longer with him to whom the Father saith Sonne all that I haue is thine Luk. 15.31 We see it here in this rich man and Lazarus For though Lazarus waited for a while not at the table but gate of this churlish rich man who sate at table in his great hall and had great abundance of these earthly things yet when Lazarus receiued the inheritance prepared for him he was sent away as it were to his owne place and as a stranger to God and Gods family departed from him and it for euer For the first newes we heare of him after his death is that he was in hell in torments that was his place and thither he went Hitherto of the first
not be but all this auayled him nothing since they onely are Abrahams children who doe the workes of Abraham Where wee learne Doct. 2. that it displeaseth God and will not profite vs to glory in the bare name of a Christian except we be Christians indeed They that came to Ichus Baptisme sayde as much but because they sayde and did not Math. 23.3 he called them a generation of vipers Math. 3.7 Hee might haue called them a generation of toades more truly then true Abrahamites And what sayd Christ to those who prophesied to others but not to themselues and did great workes in his name but would do nothing for his name Depart sayth hee or hence farre from mee yee that worke iniquity Math. 7.22.23 That is ye that call your selues Christians and doe not like Christians to hell with yee So he that would be a Christian and had not on the wedding garment of a true Christian receyued this sentence Binde him hand and foote and cast him into vtter darkenesse Math. 22.13 As if Christ had sayde Deale with him as with a prisoner whose hands must bee bound that hee may not resist and feet shackled that hee may not runne away And because he loued darkenesse the darkenesse of a subtle heart let him passe from that darkenesse of his to the darkenesse of hell from one darknesse to another The like we reade of those who pretending to bee of the houshold of faith with right beleeuers knocked at the doore to wit by glorying vainely in that which they had not after the good man of the house had shut the doore of hope against all such vaine and vaine glorious talkers but what was the answere I know not whence yee are Luk. 13.25 That is yee are meere strangers to my Fathers house and to me or yee came to mee for a night but yee continued not with mee as mine doe but they replyed Wee haue eaten and drunke in thy presence and thou hast taught in our streetes v. 26. their meaning is we haue beene at thy table there wee â—ate and drâ—nke in the Sacrament with thy houshold people and wee haue heard in many Sermons of thee by thy teachers in Church and Chappâ—ll To this Christ reioines in the next verse I tell you I know you not whence ye are v. 27. As if he had said I said it be ore and I say it againe that ye are none of mine Ye did indeed dip with me in the Sacrament there yee did eate and drinke the blessed bread and wine but doing so with no good affection nor simple heart yee are and dranke your greater condemnation Yee were baptised with the baptisme of water but not of the spirit and yee wore my linery but in it yee did seruice to my enimie Also yee heard or seemed to heare many Sermons but yee alwaies left them where yee found them and therefore the more yee heard because yee so heard them that is formally and not in obedience the more yee haue to answere for I tell you therefore I know yee not whence yee are That is yee are as strange to me as they that neuer heard of me in the Gospel nor sawe my face in the Sacrament The reasons They who be Christians in face and not in heart and deede Christians are but hypocrites and being hypocrites they are hated of God his soule abhorreth such Esa 1.14.15 Secondly they are but bastards in Israel or sonnes of the bond-woman that may not be heires with the sonne of the free-woman Gal. 4.30 Some priuiledges belong vnto them and for the true Churches sake they receiue man 〈◊〉 â—utward good things here but being bastards they cannot inherit by lawe And what shall it profit a man If he winne the whole world and destroy himselfe or â—ose himselfe Luk. 9.25 Thirdly they haue to doe with that God that will not be mocked Gal. 6.7 And then what good will it doe them to say they are children when they are not if they could deceiue God that looketh into the heart as they can man that seeth not as God doth they might haue some hope but seeing God himselfe is iudge how can they be hid A terrour to those who putting trust in lying vanities haue nothing of the Church or of true baptisme in them Vse 1 but the name in their mouths Ier. 7.4 Such though they say father Abraham with this damned person yet because they walke not by holinesse in the steppes of the faith of Abraham Rom. 4.12 they are the children of their father Ioh. 8.44 There is an Israel in the couenant and an Israel out or an Israel in Christ and an Israel that is none of Christs as there is a circumcision in the spirit and a circumcision in the letter or a circumcision of the heart and circumcision of flesh Rom. 2.29 Now they that haue no more in them then the Israel of an outward profession or the baptisme of water howsoeuer iudging as men we cannot denie them the name and account of Christians yet when hee commeth to see his ghests who is of pure eyes and iudgeth otherwaies then man doth hee will turne them out as intruders command them to be taken away to wit from all communion with him his blessed Angels and glorified Saints and send them to their owne place where is weeping with gnashing of teeth that is sorrow and griefe mingled with desperation Math. 22.13 This is the portion of their cup. This should stirre vs vp to walke with more conscience in our professions Vse 2 For we may as with some veile couer our sinnes in them from men but no profession nor figge-leafe of profession can hide vs from him whose eye is vpon all his ghests Math. 22.13 He that searcheth Ierusalem with lights Zeph. 1.12 but neither with torch-lights nor candle and can see without them can find vs out in our darkest hypocrisie to whose eyes of knowledge and prouidence all things are naked or as it were vnquartered Hebr. 4.13 His eyes are a flame of fire and with these lights he pierceth and looketh through euery mans heart conscience and conuersation nothing is hid or can be from them And therefore though we be admitted by the Minister and allowed by men to goe for Christians yet if we be not Christians in life and in the testimonie of our owne consciences so their testimonie will little uaile vs against Gods examination and the witnesse of our owne hearts If we condemne our selues and if God condemne vs what matter for the praise of men or their good word whose eyes we haue bleared with our seemings Let vs therefore approue our selues to God and our owne consciences by true repentance truly and indeede to be Christians If we haue not repented thus let vs now beginne and if we haue let vs doe it more Let vs breake off our sinnes euen in the purpose of our hearts and not thinke to say or thinke we haue done inough because we can say We haue
which is not to iustifie but more to condemn him for as he called him father in no obedience so now he cals him sonne with no comfort Hee called him father and would not doe as a sonne and now hee calleth him sonne and will not bee as a father to him Besides he bids him remember for a further scourge of his conscience in the late losse of all his delights past which hee could not but remember with horrible torment and griefe And here wee learne that the pleasures of sinne leaue a bitter and wofull losse of remembrance in the conscience for hereafter Doct. therefore Zophar in Iob speaking of the reioycing of the wicked how short it is and of all the ioy of hypocrites which is but for a moment sayth that sin which once was sweet in the mougth of the sinner and which hee hid vnder his tongue to wit as sweete sugar shall turne in his bowels as meate doth in the stomacke and hee shall haue a loathsome remembrance of it in the vomite of those deadly morsels which hee shall bring vp againe for God shall draw it out of his belly Iob 20.12.13.14.15 And here that which Abner sayde to Ioab concerning the sword which was drawne without mercy may truly bee applyed to sinne Shall it not bee bitternesse in the later end 2. Sam. 2.26 That is though it please for a time yet after a while what pleasure can it promise or giue when the best end of it is bitternesse The louely lookes of wine when the pleasant eye of it is in the cuppe and when as Salomon sayth it moueth therein aright that is leapeth or spirteth in it hath in those that take it immoderately a very bitter after taste the end of it biteth as a Serpent and stingeth as an Adder Prou. 23.31.32 they feele pleasure at the first but they shall finde sorrow and paine at the last with Remember drunken sonne thou hast had thy pleasures here Salomons young man is bidden to reioyce that is to take his fill of the delights of life if no perswasion can turâ—e him but what is the reckoning and what will all that dainty cheere cost him The wise King tels him as one that knew something by his owne deare bought experience That for al this God willbring him to iudgement Eccles 11.9 that is the reckoning will come and God williudge him to damnation for it He also shall bee remembred and therefore this Remember Sonne is an Item to him Esay speaking of such as placed all their delight in that which we at this day call good fellowship preparing for that troupe and furnishing the drinke offerings for that number sayth speaking in Gods person and name I will number you to the sword there goes the reckning that is as yee prepared for sinners so yee shall speede as those sinners and as you gaue them drinke so yee shall drinke of their cup Esa 65.11.12 to destruction for saith the Lord My seruants shall eate and yee shall bee hungry my seruants shall drinke and yee shall be thirsty my seruants shal reioyce and yee shall be ashamed and my seruants shall sing for ioy of heart and yee shall criefor sorrow of heart and howle for vexation of mind vers 13.14 The meaning is Heere my seruants fare ill and yee well hereafter all shall be contrary when that sting of remembrance that hath daggers-prickes beginning to pricke and you to feele it Ieremie also may come in as a witnesse who in this very case saiâ—th That the wayes and inuentions of the wicked in Iudah shall end in much bitternesse and as it were in the point of a weapon that shall pierce to the heart Ier. 4.18 Therefore say the despisers of God in the booke of Wisedome being pricked of their owne consciences Wee fooles thought his life speaking of the godly mans life madnesse and his end without honour but now he is counted among the children of God and his portion is among the Saints Wisd 5.4.5 When they heard this saying in the voice of their consciences Remember sonnes they changed their note and beganne to say What hath our pride profited vs and what good hath the pompe of riches brought vs All these things are past like a shadow and as a Poste that passeth by verse 8.9 Thus the pleasures of sinne end in a very bitter remembrance The reasons The pleasures of sinne are a sweet poyson that much vexeth those that cate it and for riches ill vsed Christ compareth them to thornes Math. 13.22 Now athorne in the foot causeth great paine but what prickings come from such thornes in the conscience Also the lusts of sinne are but baites that haue hookes in them and when the baite of sinne is gone the hooke abideth still in the sinner Secondly it is a part of the sinners punishment to feele continuall gnawings and pullings after sinne committed by that worme that dyeth not And if so here how much more in that lake that burneth with fire and brimstone where sinners shall receyue all their penny worths together Thirdly the pleasures of the wicked goe away in their death if they continue till they dye as they often doe not But to haue beene happy and to bee miserable what can it bring but horrible vexation and death before the time and how can it but torment the sinner to remember that he who once was full of pleasures is now filled with paine and hee who had so much liuing now dead hath nothing that is nothing but misery sorrow and his iust desert in the paines of hell and second death And admonition not to feede vpon the sweet meate of sinne Vse 1 though neuer so well sawced by him that bids vs to eate but to our destruction at least to a great distemper and generall disorder in our Christian healths or Christian state If any would entise vs by the colour of the wine let vs consider that the colour of it is deceitfull and as we heard hath a biting losse of remembrance in the end of it Prou. 23.32 When the strange woman that is the harlot flattereth with her words Prou. 2.16 let vs auoyde her as wee would some deepe ditch Prou. 22.14 a whore is a deepe ditch full of great danger hee that falleth into it shall hardly rise againe not weake men only but strong men haue beene deceyued by her as Sampson nor simple men onely but the wisest as Salomon Prou. 7.26.27 Perhaps thou mayest bee called out of the good way by such as say Come cast in thy lot with vs wee shall finde precious riches and fill our houses with spoyle Prou. 1.13.14 that is doe as wee doe and you shall bee rich as wee are but consent thou not for there will be a bitter remembrance of all these things one day What got Balaam by the sweet wages of sinne which hee loued was hee not cast away by them Iude 11. Such wages of sinne preuayle much at this day with too many and