of God And hence is the reason of that phrase that we have That Wine doth cheer the heart of God and man it cheer'd Gods heart to have offerings offered in a holy manner to him the greatest joy that God hath in the world is in the offerings of the Saints which should be the greatest encouragement to them men by their Wine and good Cheer may make themselves merry may make their friends merry but by their holy offerings they do cheer the heart of God they are as sweet-meats to God all the Wine and delightful things in the world they are as sweet I say to God as all the Wine and delightful things in the world are for men Thou hast a cup of Wine for thy friend to cheer him but hast thou a cup of Wine for God to cheer his heart that is a gracious holy offering unto God Surely that which is most sweet to the Soul of God should be most sweet to our souls You would wonder to hear a man say that he takes as much delight and he can recreate himself as much in reading in praying in hearing Sermons in holy conference as you can do in all your good cheer in playing and drinking of Wine in bowls you think that men are mad to say that they have as much pleasure in those things as playing at Cards and merriment and musick and good cheer you call upon them to play at Cards with you or be merry you say to them why should you be dumpish and never be merry they tell you again That they can be as merry and as cheerful in hearing the Word and praying and reading as you in all your playing and all that that you account delightful You say to them That they have no recreation They tell you That those things that are your burdens are their recreation you think it strange Why should you wonder Surely that that sweetens and joyes the heart of God that must needs be the rejoycing of the hearts of those that have the Spirit of God in them you have joy and mirth in such and such things these are sweet to you yea but do these things rejoyce God are they sweet to God But now this is the threatning here They shall not be sweet now to him nothing that is tendered to God from them shall be pleasing to him no saith God now I will have other waies to glorifie my self in upon you not by your offerings I 'le rather glorifie my self in your miseries and they shall be sweet and delightful to me If an Hypocriâ—e hath never so great enlargements in duties these would not be pleasing to God Gods palate is more delicate than to tast such sowre and sapless things than those are that comes from them Saith Tertullian The Spirit of God is a most delicate thing it hath a delicate palat and such swill that hath such mixtures of filth as your services have how can they be sweet to the delicate palat of the Spirit of God you are Hypocrites your lives are naught and filthy and unclean therefore none of your offerings can be sweet they are but swill unto that palat of mine It follows Their sacrifices shall be unto them as the bread of mourners The Hebrew may be taken substantively or adjectively as thus For the bread of mourning or the bread of mourners either of both two may be taken according to the original Now by the bread of mourners is here meant unclean bread for so it is interpreted afterwards It shall be unclean But why the bread of mourners unclean This Text hath reference to what you reade in Numb 19. 11. and 14. verses you may reade there that the dead body of a man it did defile whatsoever touch'd it yea whatsoever came neer it and all those that were at Funerals that did mourn for the dead that came to the place where the dead body was to mourn with the friends for the dead they became unclean by the dead body And that 's observable that the dead body of a beast did not make men so unclean by legal uncleanness as the dead body of a man did The dead body of a beast made one unclean but only till the evening in Numb 11. 31. but the dead body of a man made a man unclean seven daies So you shall find in the former chap. of Numbers that they must be seven daies before they could be clensed and this was to note That there were more remarkable expressions of the anger of God upon the sin of man in the dead body of a man than in the dead body of a beast one made unclean but till evening and the other seven daies But the reason why there was this uncleanness from the dead body was First To note the uncleanness that there is in sin in dead works that those that did meddle with them they were polluted yea the uncleanness that there is in coming near unto sinners the coming but near to them all that was in the tent was polluted Secondly It was to shew how little pleasing to God Funeral mournings are for they were made unclean by them they were made unclean by their Funeral mournings for this bread of mourners is the bread that they eat in their Funerals The Gentils did mourn for their dead in an inordinate manner exceedingly and God would have a difference between his peoples mourning for the dead and their mourning because that he would keep up his peoplâ— faith and the hope of resurection from the dead whereas had they had liberty to mourn so excessively as the Heathens did by this means the very faith and hope of resurrection from the dead might in time even almost have been extinguished therefore God would have them take heed of that and therefore he did so ordain in the Ceremonial Law that al the mourners for the dead they should be unclean for so long a time As for any that doth give liberty in their natural affections and doth not hold the reins of them in their mourning for the dead I would apply to them that Scripture in Jer. 31. 15 16. Thus saith the Lord A voice was heard in Ramah Lamentation and bitter weeping RACHEL weeping for her CHILDREN refused to be comforted for her children because they were not But now Thus saith the Lord Refrain thy voice from weeping and thine eyes from tears thy work shall be rewarded and thy children shall come back again So it followed afterwards Do not weep as others let us not mourn as others that have no hope remember that the mourners for the dead in the Law they were to be unclean for seven daies Thirdly it was to note this That God would have cheerfulness in his service and therefore the bread of mourners is accounted polluted Levit. 10. 19. we reade of Aaron when there was such an occasion of mourning as ever was almost for a man for the death
of his children that were so eminent in office and were destroyed so with such a visible hand of God fire from Heaven when Moses was angry that the Priests had not eat of the sin offering saith Aaron If I had eaten of the sin offering to day should it have been accepted It would have been but as the bread of mourners I that have bin struck this day and am in such a dreadful condition Would God have regarded the sin offering God required joy in his services in Deut. 1â— 7. 18. verses and hence that profession was required in Deut. 26. 13 14. verses Then thou shalt say before the Lord thy God I have brought away the hallowed things out of mine house and also have given them unto the Levite and unto the Stranger to the Fatherless and to the Widdow according to all the Commandements which thou hast commanded me I have not transgressed thy Commandements neither have I forgotten them And then in the 14. vers I have not eaten thereof in my mourning c. They were to profess this to God That they had not eaten thereof in their mourning this was to shew that sacrifices offered with a sinking heart in sorrow is not pleasing to God God loves a cheerful giver We must not pine away in our iniquities sullenness and dumpishness even in sorrow for sin it sowres our spirits and services and makes them unacceptable to God I say a sullen dumpishness of spirit though it be in sorrow for sin it sowres our spirits and makes our services unacceptable to God There is a groaning and a sighing one to another or rather against one another that is condemn'd in Scripture in Jam. 5. 9. the words in your books are thus Grudge nor one against another but in the Original Sigh not or groan not one against another you shall have many that in company with others have a pensive dumpish spirit sighing and groaning and making their society to be burdensom to others Saith the holy Ghost do not sigh and groan one unto another there is a sullen dumpish sighing of spirit and dejection of soul that is as unpleasing to God as it is unto men it polutes the heart and pollutes duty But you will say Is all mourning forbidden that here the holy Ghost should say Their offerings should be as the bread of Mourners Christ saith blessed are the Mourners and the Sacrifice of God is a contrite heart It 's true an evangelical sorrow is accepted but that hath sweetness in it it is not bitter that 's not a dejected spirit it 's not a mourning that causes dejection or sullenness or straightness of spirit but that mourning doth enlarge the heart and makes it active for God hence in Ezra 9. 5. although we reade before that Ezra was astonished at the sin of the people yet saith he at the 5. verse I arose from my heaviness at the evening sacrifice when the time came that I should sacrifice unto God my heaviness did not hinder me in holy duties But how many are there that sink down in their heaviness and when God calls upon them for any duty they cannot arise they are so over-burdened with heavy spirits There they sink down in a sullen way and shall God accept of such a service as this is You may please your selves in it and think it is humiliation but there may be much pride in dejection there is none so proud a spirit as the Devil is and yet no spirit so dejected as the Devil is Lead we know it melts soonest but it consumes in the melting and many times there may be such a spirit that may be ready to sorrow upon any occasion and to melt but it 's such a melting as consumes the strength of it that it is unfit for any service that God calls for now such services as you in such a mourning way tender up to God are not accepted of him Remember this text Their offering shall be as the bread of mourning Gualter hath a Note from this God would not accept of the offering of Mourners they were unclean yet saith he there are many that seek to get their greatest gain from Funeral mournings and fall of enveighing against them that get gain that way as their Priests and Officers that use to tend upon Funerals for gain he calls them Vulturâ— and Crows that do flock to dead bodies and Sepulchers Dogs those are his words that seek to get advantage by Funerals And we know heretofore what abundance of advantage there was gotten by Funerals scarce could you bury a child under three or four pounds such kind of fees there were and made them even rejoyce when others did mourn and getting a great part of of their livelihood from the bread of Mourners And Theophylact hath another Note from this place The bread of Mourners That is those things offered to God gotten by oppression as thus suppose a man or woman gets an estate and gets it in an oppressing way it may be they are at home and merry but it may be the poor children or widdow is mourning for those morsels that thou art rejoycing in but it is the first Note that is the most according to the mind of the holy Ghost the mourning that hath respect to the funerals and so especially at the dejection of spirit in holy duties It follows The bread for their soul shall not come into the House of the Lord. The bread for their soul That is When they are seeking God even for their very lives By Bread is to be understood their oblations more generally not only Bread but their Oblations As Malac. 1. 7. Ye offer polluted bread upon mine Altar it 's taken generally for all kind of offerings upon Gods Altar So The bread for their souls that is those offerings that they did offer for their very lives Now from thence the Note is this That it 's a sad thing when a creature would seek to God for his very life yet then God rejects him and his offering too Before these people they did reject the voice of the Lord at the Temple and they kept others from going to the House of the Lord they thought sacrifices elsewhere would serve the turn as well but now they shall be far enough from bringing any sactifices to the House of the Lord though they should desire to do it for their very souls Thus many who in the time of their prosperity do neglect the Worship of God and slight it and think there is no great matter in it but afterwards when they see their very lives their souls lie at the mercy of God then they would fain seek God for their lives they see they are undone if God be not merciful to them yet then God rejects them their offerings then for their souls shall not come into the House of the Lord that is will not be accepted
Malefactor that hath committed a fact a long time since and he thinks it is forgotten if he should presume to come into the Kings or Judges eye this brings into remembrance what such a man is So wicked men when they come into Gods eyes are bold to draw nigh to God in an impudent way although their consciences tels them that they have not sought to do away their sins by faith and repentance this puts God into remembrance to speak of God after the manner of Men. Secondly Because their Holy duties are aggravations of their sin therfore God wil remember them then rather than at any other time as thus for the Jews in the text here to come to sacrifice for their sins certainly the language of which was this Lord I acknowledg I do deserve death my self for the sins which I have committed and I can only have peace with thee through the sacrifice of thy Son that I beleeve is to come now for them to come and say so and yet continue in their sin still this ads impudence unto their sin it was a sin of infirmity before it is a sin of presumption now So when men shall presume to come before God in prayer they have lived wickedly heretofore and now they come before God to testifie their respect that they profess they ow to God and yet their consciences tells them that they do wickedly depart from God in their lives when they come in prayer certainly they come to confess and name their sins before God and to tell God what sinners they are and yet still their hearts do close with their sins yea what an aggravation is this yea they came to judg themselves for their sins and yet still to continue in them Oh my brethren if you did but think of the aggravation that such prayer causes of our sins it would make our hearts quake and tremble But I speak only to those that are Hypocrites and live in their sins stil their Holy duties do but aggravate their sins and therefore no mervail though then God remember their sins in a more special manner We have cause to wonder that God doth not come upon some of us in his wrath while we are in the midst of our Holy duties as Pilat came upon the Galileans and mingled their blood with their sacrifices and so while we compare the lives of men with their prayers I say it is a mervail that God doth not mingle their blood with their sacrifice Oh take heed any of you that are conscious to your selves or your hearts closing with any known sin take heed the next time you go into Gods presence in prayer and confess your sins and judg your selves take heed that God doth not then remember your sins Now will I remember them even in the time of their holy duties you think that 's the time of our greatest pleasing of God but it may prove to be the time of Gods remembring your iniquities against you And visit their sins God visits either in Mercies or Judgments and in the godly visiting it is to be understood concerning those things that seem'd before to be neglected as in the 21. of Genesis God visited Sarah when God seem'd to have neglected her and so in Exod. 4. he visited the children of Israel that is when he seem'd wholly to have neglected them and so I will visit their sins though they may think I have neglected them yet I will visit their sins Whence observe God visits mens sins when they think they are most neglected by God God hath his time to make diligent enquiry for all their sins in Exod. 32. 34. In the day when I visit I will visit their sins upon them then all their sins shall come up together and that 's the reason that God is content to bear with wicked men and wink at their sins for the present why because God hath a day for to visit them this sin which they commit now they shall not hear of it till a great while hence but I have a day to visit and then this and the other sins shall come Daies of visitation heretofore were wont to be cal'd daies of vexation but the day of Gods visitation will be a day of vexation indeed to ungodly men Micah 7. 4. The best of them is a bryar the most upright is sharper than a thorn the day of the Watchmen and thy Visitation cometh now shall be their perplexity In Isa 10. 3. And what will you do in the day of Visitation and the Dissolution which shall come from far To whom will you flee for help and where will you leave your glory So I may say to many guilconsciences Oh thou poor wretched sinful creature what wilt thou do in the day of Visitation thou canst tell now thou canst go home and be merry and do what thou list but what wilt thou do in the day of visitation It follows They shall return or as some translate they will return to Egypt And so it notes their sin for which God will visit them and the course that they would take when God was about to visit them They will return to Egypt Whither will ye flee in the day of visitation We will fly into Egypt say they if the Assyrians power grow too great we will go into Egypt for help and this may seem to have reference to that story in the 2. of Kings 17. 4. The King of Assyria found conspiracy in Hoshea for he had sent messengers to So King of Egypt The Note from hence is this Carnal hearts when God is visiting them for their sins they have plots in their heads to shift this way and that way for themselves Vain deluded soul thy thoughts should be how should I make up my peace with God how should I seek the face of God thou art thinking of this and the other shift whereas thou shouldest only be thinking of making up thy peace with God And thus it is with Kingdoms when God is visiting Kingdoms you shall have many that sit at the Stern that all their thoughts are about carnal helps whereas their great thoughts should be how they might fall down before God seek to make peace w th God the Kingdom thus it was here I will visit them and they think to return to Egypt And if you take it as a Judgment it is threatned that they should return to Egypt in Deut. 28. at the latter end there it is put in the close of all the former Judgments That they should return to Egypt The Note is That it is one of the most dreadful Judgments upon a Nation after God hath delivered them from a bondage to deliver them to the same bondage again And as it was grievous to be delivered into the bondage of Egypt so more to deliver us into a spiritual Egypt If we should again come under the power of those that have persecuted us
God and we observe the Law of Moses No saith the Lord You have gone a whoring from Me. I but still Why may not we rejoyce as other people to be sure we are not worse Idolaters than they therefore though we may not rejoyce more than others yet why not as others they make Idols to be their gods there is nothing so vile among us as among the Nations about us From whence therefore the Observation is this that God charges them more than others First That a people may be free from the gross evils that there are in other people and may have many good things that other people have not and yet may be in a worse condition than other people You will say How can this be Thus There may be some sins that they have among them that may have greater aggravations than any sins that other people have that may make their condition all things considered worse We here in this Land have much rejoyced heretofore in this that we have had the Doctrine of Religion so pure among us as no people more and certainly except it hath been through some few that of late daies have sought to corrupt it certainly that must be said that the Doctrine hath been kept very pure as the main things of Religion and in some things we have gone beyond other reformed Churches as in the point of the Sabbath a great deal beyond them and so there hath been here in England for Family Duties never had God more honor from any people in the world than he hath had from us in many respects but yet for all this it seems by Gods dealings with us at this day that God is more provoked with us than with other people and the truth is take these one or two things and I think that no people upon the face of the earth can paralel our guilt not only no people that are now but never any people since the world began as that bitterness of spirit in the hatred of the power of godliness and the opposing of it and persecuting of it never was any people so guilty as we have been in other reformed Churches men may be as forward and zealous as they will and they are not persecuted as they are here though they kept the Sabbath more loosly yet they never persecuted men that kept it strictly there was never heard that stopping of the mouth of the faithful Ministry so generally as here in England if there were but any stirring Ministry in any place presently fly upon them and so it may well be said to us at this day Rejoyce not as other people God hath spit in our faces to tell us that our condition is worse than the condition of other people Yea but still If we be Idolaters would the ten Tribes say they are so too Here was one particular aggravation upon Israel that was not among other people and that was this There was no other people would forsake their gods as Israel had forsaken theirs Jer. 2. 10. there was never such a thing as for a Land to change their god the worst people for Kedar was the worst sort of people they were a vile people and yet go to Kedar and see and search diligently whether any Nation hath ever forsaken their Gods But you have forsaken Me. And from thence there may be this Note That to be constant to ill principles is not so great an evil as to be false against good principles I say God accounts it not to be so great an evil for men to be constant to their prinâ—les though they be evil principles as for men to forsake good principles as now if a man hath been brought up all his daies in superstition and thinks verily this is the right certainly this man is not so guilty before God as another that hath been educated in the true worship of God and hath made profession of the contrary and yet afterward doth apostatize and backslide God had rather that men should keep to their principles though they be evil than entertain good principles and forsake them There are none so vile in Gods eyes as Apostates there is not so much sordidness and baseness of spirit in those men that will keep constant to their principles though they be evil as in such as will betray their principles that are good And then the Principal Observation is this That the sins of Gods People are the greatest sins of all the sins of the Saints are the greatest sins of all and they are to mourn more than any In Amos 3. 2. You only have I known of all the families of the earth therefore will I visit you for your iniquities your sins are greater And that in Rom. 2. 9. Tribulation and anguish upon every soul of man that doth evil of the Jew first and also the Gentile And we have these two excellent texts in Jer. 18. 13. Ask ye now among the Heathen who hath heard such things the Virgin of Israel hath done a very horrible thing that 's the aggravation that it is the Virgin of Israel that hath done such a horrible thing But especially that text in Jer. 32. 30. For the children of Israel and the children of Judah have only done evil from their youth Now Hierom hath such a Note upon this What the children of Israel saith he and Judah only done evil from their youth What hath none done evil but they he gives this answer He that hath the knowledg of God and goes from it he alone sins in the eyes of God as for unbeleevers they sin too but it is as if God saw it not and as if God minded it not as he saith in the Acts that he winks at the daies of their ignorance but they only sin that have had the knowledg of God We reade of this Philistims that they ventured to carry the Ark upon Carts God did not manifest himself provoked against them that carried the Ark so but when the Levites would presume to carry it upon carts the Lord makes a breach upon them and strikes Vzzah with death he did bear with it in the Philistins which was a little before and it may be they presumed and thought the Philistins carried the Ark upon a cart why may not we That which God will beare from others he will not bear from his own their sins are against Covenant and that 's a special thing there hath not been that solemn Covenant between me and other people as between you and me This is a mighty aggravation against the sins of Gods people more than against any people in the world that they are against Covenant Oh! remember this you that do often covenant with God when you are in Prayer Oh! how do you renew your Covenant with God What promises do you make with God in Prayer and yet you grow again loose and false and vile afterwards
the word comes out against him Again especially it should teach us not to trust as in no outward prosperity so not in any fortifications nor strength Tyrus was an invinceable place it seems to be so yet God could pul it down nor to trust in the multitude of Soldiers This example is as famous as any to teach men not to trust in any outwards whatsoever Calvin he carries it in somewhat a different way and truly not without some probability neither I saw Ephraim that thou wert planted in a pleasant place as in Tyrus so he carries it thus that is Thou art a plant like to the plants that were in Tyrus And the word translated pleasant place it 's a word that signifies building because they use to build the most delightful places it signifies also a secure place of habitation now saith he Tyrus it was upon a Rock and therefore they had little ground for Orchards or Gardens or Plants but only such as were made by art and with a great deal of cost and charges and saith he As men when they are striving with Nature if they mean to do any thing at all they will do it to purpose and fetch out the most curious plants and bestow a great deal of cost to cover them from the coldness of the winter as we see in places that are neer the Sea that meerly by art they fetch out a place for a Garden or Orchard they are mighty chargable So Ephraim was compared to such a plant that is God was at a great deal of charge for it and very careful he was to preserve them As you heard the last day God compar'd his love to his people to a longing woman that longed for the first ripe fruits so Gods love was towards his people and here God compares his respect to his people as a man or woman would do to a tender plant that is in a Garden or Orchard that is made with abundance of cost and charge look how careful they would be to preserve some tender plant in covering of it and keeping of it from being mixt with the frost saith he such was my care towards Ephraim howsoever they have served me Thus to aggravate their sins God doth shew his care of them thus Calvin But saith the text for all this though my care hath been thus over them yet they shall bring forth their children to the murderers God never shews so much respect to any man or woman but upon their forsaking of him wrath doth follow Yet after all this they shall bring forth their children to the murderers as if so be their children had been born for no other end but to satisfie the mouth of the sword to be objects of the fury of the murderers and those children that they shall bring forth in their war they shall send them forth just as if a man did send a company of beasts to the slaughter-house They shall bring them forth to the murderers Sometimes indeed in war men are led forth even by the treachery or the spight at least of Commanders in the war only that they might be a prey to the murderers if any wicked Officers in an Army have a spight against a man or any particular company of men ordinarily their spight is most against godly men in their Army a wicked swearing deboist Officer that hath a spight against godly men in an Army he will set them upon the most desperat service there enjoyn them upon pain of death to do service and not to stir on purpose that they might be cut off or at least hoping that they will fall into the hand of the murderer Just in this case like to David for his own ends in another way that would set Vriah in the forefront and would have others withdraw from him on purpose that he might fall by the enemy They shall bring forth children to the murderers Many children have been brought forth to the murderers even in this way But for the Observations from the words First The Curse of God stayes not upon the Parents but goes forwards to the children It 's for the sin of the parents that the children are to be brought forth to the murderers and especially it staies not upon Idolaters but goes to their children There are two branches in this Note 1. The Curse of God staies not upon the parents but goes towards the children in Deut. 28. 18. Cursed shall be the fruit of thy body and especially to the children of Idolaters In Psal 137. 8. O daughter of Babylon who art to be destroyed happy shall he be that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us happy shall he be that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones And in Isa 13. 18. Their Bowes also shall dash the young men to pieces and they shall have no pity on the fruit of the womb their eye shall not spare children So in the second Commandement the Lord there threatens to visit the sins of the fathers upon the children to them that hate him to the third and fourth generation You wil say Why should children suffer for their parents sins You will kill yong Vipers and Snakes though they never have stung So God sees guilt enough in the children of wicked men and of Idolaters so that in Justice he may destroy them but he doth rather take advantage to destroy them because they be the children of wicked men and of Idolaters As if a man commit TREASON he deserves death then for his own fault but if the King hear that his Father and Grandfather were Traitors he shall die the rather because of them So it 's true the children of godly people have sin and guilt in them as well as the children of wicked men Yea but the children of wicked men having guilt and so liable to Gods Justice God will take the advantage the rather to do them Justice because their parents was wicked and ungodly and this is righteous enough with God And the children of Idolaters above all shall not be spared and especially those that live to many years because there is no sin that is so much strengthened from their Ancestors and the example of their Forefathers as Superstition and Idolatry is Why should we be wiser than our Forefathers What 's the argument of our superstitious vanities but our Forefathers did thus And therefore that 's observable That there 's no Commandement in the Ten threatens Gods judgments upon the children but the second Commandement Because that there 's no Commandement broken from the example and plea of forefathers as the second Commandement and therefore let the children of Idolaters and false Worshipers look to it that they repent from the sins of their forefathers Instead of pleading for the sins of your forefathers you should fall down and humble your souls for the sins of your forefathers or
292 Use Do not slight it 293 Obs 4 When men are violent in wickedness God will be violent in his judgments ib. Use Take heed of being violent in the wais of sin 294 Obs 5. In matters of Gods Worship we must hearken to God ib. Obs 6 It is a judgment to have an unsetled spirit 296 Obs 7 Prize the Communion of Saints 298 CHAP. X. VERS I. Obs 1 The Church is compared to a Vine 300 Reasons 1 It hath an unpromising outside ib. 2 It is the most fruitful plant that grows ib. 3 No plant requires so great care ib. 4 It is the most depending creature 301 5 If not fruitful it is most unprofitable ib. 6 It is the emblem of peace 302 Obs 2 Emptiness of professors is a very great evil 303 Reasons 1 'T is unnatural 304 2 'T is a dishonor to their root ib. 3 It frustrates the Lord of all his care ib. 4 There is no blessing upon thy soul ib. 5 If there be Grace it cannot but bear fruit ib. 6 Common gifts shal be taken away 305 7 An empty spirit is fit for the Devil to possess 306 8 God doth not let us sit empty of blessings ib. 9 The Lord hath justly made our Vine bleed for its emptiness ib. 10 The evil of emptiness is great according to the greatness of opportunities ib. Use 1 If it be evil to be empty what an evil is it to bring forth ill Grapes ib. Use 2 Let us prize fruitfulness 307 Obs 3 It is all one to be an empty Christian and to bring forth fruit to ones self 315 Obs 4 When God is spoiling a Nation it is vain for people to think to provide for themselves 317 Obs 5 To encrease our wickedness by Gods blessings is an abominable thing 319 Reasons 1 It is against the ingenuity of a Christian 320 2 Christian Principles are above estate ib. 3 It is against our prayers ib. Obs 6 The love Idolaters have to their Idols is according to that ability they have to shew their love 320 VERSE II Obs 1 Though men strive never so much to maintain what is evil God will break it 326 Obs 2 Though men be convinced of an evil yet if the temptation abide they will fall to it again 327 Obs 3 Superstitious Images and Altars are to be taken away ib. Obs 4 If we give that respect that is due to God to another thing the Lord will destroy it ib. Obs 5. If God break down what is evil let not us set it up ib. Obs 6 We must not break down Images to make up our own broken estates 328 Obs 7 Mens divisions break the neck of what they contend for ib. VERS III. Obs 1 It is a great evil for a people not to have the protection of a right Government 331 Obs 2 It is a great evil not to fear the Lord 332 Obs 3. When men have the countenance of great ones there is little fear of God amongst them ib. Obs 4. The taking away of Kingly power is a punishment for the want of the fear of God 333 Obs 5. The times of Gods wrath forceth acknowledgment from their hearts that fear not God 334 Obs 6 When the heart is humbled it will not put off the cause of evils to other men 335 Obs 7 When God forsakes a people there is nothing can do them good 337 Obs 8 It is just with God to make those things unuseful which sinful people dote upon ib. Obs 9. God can soon change the hearts of people in reference to their King 339 Obs 10 The difference between Gods people and wicked men ib. Obs 11 The stouter creature confidence is the more do they sink when they are crost in their hopes 340 Obs 12 When a carnal heart is knockt off from creature confidence then he despairs ib. VERSE IV. Expounded 361 Obs 1 Carnal hearts in their straits take shifting courses because they have no God to go to 364 Obs 2 It is an evil thing for professors to combine with wicked men 365 Obs 3 There is no trust to wicked mens Oaths and Covenants 365 Obs 4. Breaking Covenant though with wicked men is a great wickedâ—ness ib. Obs 5 Injustice and Oppression is a forerunner of Ruin 372 VERSE V. Obs 1 Those that fear God least are most afraid of any thing else 379 Obs 2 In times of danger we should be most solicitous about the Worship of God 384 Obs 3 Cities that are safe should be sensible of the miseries of others 385 Obs 4 Idolaters that dedicate themselves to Idols are the people of that Idol 387 Obs 5. Idolaters account their Idol worship glorious 391 VERSE VI. Obs 1 Our depending upon men for help is dearly bought 392 Obs 2. It is the fashion of Idolaters to rejoyce much when they get one anothers gods ib. Applied to England ib. Obs 3 Mens own counsels in matters of Religion bring them to shame 396 1 Because it is much regarded ib. 2 God leaves them to folly ib. 3 They provoke God by them 398 Use 1. What to avoid in Counsels 1 False principles ib. 2 Wicked men ib. 3 Self ends ib. 4 Pride and conceitedness ib. 5 Flesh and blood ib. 6 Passion and frowardness ib. Use 2 What we should attend in our counsels 1 Look up to Jesus Christ 399 2 Pray much ib. 3 Let the fear of God be strong 400 4 Keep to the Word of God ib. 5 Be not put off with shews of Reason 401 6 Be humble ib. 7 Consult with an indifferent judgment ib. 8 Do as you would be done by ib. 9 Whether it may not cost too dear though good ib. VERSE VII Obs 1 Vngodly men in their greatest rage are but as foam if God come against them 403 Scripture Expressions touching the vanity of great persons 404 VERS VIII Obs 1 God destroies the glorious Names of Idolatry 406 Obs 2 The nearer a thing comes to the nature of sin the viler it is ib. Obs 3 False worship is the great sinne 407 Obs 4 We may so abuse the creatures that we may turn them into sin it self ib. Obs 5 When any Ordinances of God are abused they are to be but purged but inventions of men are to be destroyed ib. Obs 6 Mans sin brings destruction upon the creatures 408 Obs 7 If it be sad that false worship is neglected how sad is it that true worship is 409 Obs 8 The ruin of Idolatrous places is more pleasing to God than their pomp 410 Obs 9 What men account highly of in matter of worship when the enemy coms in he contemns them ib. Obs 10 God can make an alteration in Cities and Kingdoms 413 Obs 11 It is a great misery to fall into the hands of ones enemies 414 Obs 12 The wrath of God is very dreadful ib. Obs 13 To live in misery is worse than present death 415 Obs 14 The misery of wicked men in affliction is wonderful 416 Obs 15 Desperation is a dreadful thing ib.
VERSE IX Opened 418 Obs 1 To comit the same sins our ancestors did is greater than theirs was 419 Obs 2 God takes it ill when those whom he hath used to punish others for sin commit the same sins themselves ib Obs 3 Children of iniquity may escape once and again 423 VERSE X Expounded 425 Obs 1 When God hath a mind to bring about a thing he will gather a people 427 Obs 2 God will chuse his rod he will scourg us with ib. VERSE XI Obs 1 Such as are divided in prosperity shall be bound together in bondage 430 Obs 2 It is a sign of a carnal heart to avoid any work God cals to because it is difficult 431 Obs 3 Hypocrites are content with such services as bring present comfort ib. Obs 4 It is a sign of a carnal heart to seek present accommodation 432 Obs 5 God looks with indignation upon such as mind nothing but ease and delicacy 455 Obs 6 It is an honor for men to go thorough difficultiâ—s for God 439 Obs 7 Let no men boast they live more at ease than others ib. Use Comfort for the afflicted Obs 8. Those that for sake the true Worship of God 't is well if they come into the meanest condition among Gods People 441 VERSE XII Obs 1. Though the sins of people be great and judgments near we know not what an exhortation may do 441 Obs 2 The actions of men are seeds 445 Obs 3 They shal come up in the same kind ib. Obs 4 The seed lies in the ground rotting a while yet afterwards comes up ib. Obs 5 The seed sowen comes up through the blessing of God upon it ib. Obs 6. The better the seed is the longer it lies under ground 446 Obs 7 The Ministers of God are sowers ib. Obs 8 Large oportunities of doing service for God should be our riches ib. Obs 9 It is not every seed will serve the turn 447 Obs 10 As a man sows so shall he reap 450 Use Let the Saints set a price upon the actions of Righteousness 451 Obs 11 God will give abundantly above our good works 455 Obs 12 The hearts of men naturally are fallow grounds 456 Obs 13 It is high time to seek the LORD 474 Reasons 1 God hath been a long time patient ib. 2 Mercy is even going ib. 3 It is an acceptable time ib. Obs 14 It is time for England to seek God 478 Obs 15 God will come to sow Righteousnes in time 480 Obs 16 Sometimes God doth not presently rain Righteousness upon his people that sow it 481 Obs 17 Those that seek aright will continue seeking till God comes ib. Motives to continue seeking 1. Thou art doing thy duty 482 2. Thou canst not do better ib. 3. While you are waiting God is working good ib. 4. While thou art seeking thou art not without some dews 483 5. When he comes he will come more fully ib. Obs 18 To those that are content to seek God till he comes he will come with plentiful showers 484 Obs 19 The help of those that seek God is from Heaven 485 Obs 20 When God comes he makes his people fruitful ib. Obs 21 God comes in righteousness to them that seek him 486 Obs 22 Though the good we do be our own good yet God rewards us as though he got by it ib. VERSE XIII Obs 1 The fruits of false worship is the encrease of sin 490 Obs 2 A man is ready to trust in his own way 492 Use What a shame is it Saints should not trust in Gods way 495 Obs 3 When great men go along with Religion men think it must needs be right 497 Obs 4 Great Armies are the confidence of carnal hearts 498 Use Examine what your confidence is 499 VERSE XIV Obs 1 Tumults are a token of great wrath of God 500 Obs 2 Pollicy will not prevail if God be against us 507 Obs 3. Great is the rage of war if God let it out 508 Obs 4 The sins of parents many times comes upon little ones ib. Obs 5. The judgments of God when neer us should awaken us 509 VERS XV. Obs 1 Miserable judgments many times arise from causes we little think of 510 Obs 2 From places of Idolatry come the greatest evils to a Kingdom ib. Obs 3. False worship is the great sin God is provoked against a Nation for 511 Obs 4. God takes notice not only of mens sins but their aggravations ib. Obs 5. According to the greatness of sin is the greatness of wrath 512 Obs 6 When people have some enlightening then Gods displeasure breaks out upon them 514 Vse for England ib. Obs 7 God loves to draw forth great sinners to the light 516 Obs 8 God will make quick work with great sinners ib. The Names of several Books printed by Peter Cole at the sign of the Printing-Press in Cornhil by the Exchange in LONDON A PHYSICAL DIRECTORY or a Translation of the London DISPENSATORY Whereunto is added The Vertues of the Simples and Compounds And in the second Edition are 784. Additions the general heads whereof are these Viz. 1 The Dose or quantity to be taken at one time and Use both of Simples and Compounds 2 The Method of ordering the Body after sweating and purging Medicines 3 Cautions to all ignorant people upon all Simples and Compounds that are dangerous With many Additions in every Page marked with the letter A. Five Books of M r Jer. Burroughs lately published As also the Texts of Scripture upon which they are grounded VIZ. 1. The rare Jewel of Christian Contentment on Phil. 4. 11. Wherein is shewed 1 What Contentment is 2 It is an holy Art and Mysterie 3 The Excellencies of it 4 The Evil of the contrary sin of Murmuring and the Aggravations of it 2. Gospel-Worship on Levit. 10. 3. Wherein is shewed 1 The right maÌ„ner of the Worship of God in general and particularly in Hearing the Word Receiving the Lords Supper and Prayer 3. Gospel Conversation on Phil. 1. 27. Wherein is shewed 1 That the Conversations of Beleevers must be above what could be by the light of Nature 2 Beyond those that lived under the Law 3 And sutable to what Truths the Gospel holds forth To which is added The Misery of those men that have their Portion in tbis life on Psalm 17. 14. 4. A Treatise of Earthly-mindedness Wherein is shewed 1 What Earthly-mindedness is 2 The great Evil thereof on Phil. 3. part of the 19. vers Also to the same Book is joyned a Treatise of Heavenly mindedness and walking with God on Gen. 5. 24. and on Phil. 3. 20. 5. An Exposition with Practical Observations on the 4 th 5 th 6 th 7 th Chapters of the Prophesie of Hosea Twelve several Books of M r Will. Bridge collected into one Volumâ— VIZ. 1. The great Gospel-Mysterie of the Saints Comfort and Holiness opened and applied from Christs Priestly Office 2. Satans power to tempt and Christs love to and care of
over as you heard before as the King of Israel is compared to the foam so he is here compared to the morning Now my brethren to close this Chapter Oh! what alteration of things God is able to make in a morning They it may be the day before and over night were jolly and merry and blest themselves in their way they had confidence in their way and multitude of their mighty men but in a morning all is spoiled God can make mighty alterations in a Kingdom in a morning and in Cities and Families and particular Persons mighty alterations in a morning My Brethren Who knows what a day may bring forth who knows what a morning may bring forth Ezek. 7. 5 6 7. Thus saith the Lord God An evil an only evil behold is come An end is come the end is come it watches for thee behold it is come The Morning is come unto thee O thou that dwellest in the Land the time is come the day of trouble is near As if God should say Al this while that thou hast bin in the act of the pride of thy heart and vanity of thy spirit I did determin that such a morning such an evil should come and it 's come it is come it is come saith God Again again and again the morning is come O! think when you lie down at night think what thou hast done this day do not dare to lie down but first make thy peace with God thou knowest not what may be in the morning and when thou risest up in the morning look up to God and seek blessing and mercy from the Lord for though thine eyes be opened and thou come to see the morning light yet before the morning be quite gone thou knowest not what may befal thee and therefore seek to make thy peace with God both in the night and in the morning for great changes may come to thee both in the night and in the morning that thou never thoughtest of in all thy life And thus through Gods blessing we have finished the Tenth Chapter FINIS An Alphabetical TABLE of the Eighth Ninth and Tenth Chapters of the Prophesie of HOSEA Page A Acceptance NO acceptance but by Jesus Christ 74 Admonition Admonition to Saints 59 Admonition to England 66 Admonitions both to Popish and Godly Wives 219 Admonition to those that sin wilfully 425 Affliction In Affliction men see their need of God 9 Affliction teacheth men and what it teacheth them 189 In Affliction God is dreadful 335 Age Every age ads to Idolatry 81 Aggravate The sins of parents aggravate the sins of the children 209 Agreement All Government comes by Agreement 17 Altars Why there were no steps on Altars nor tools lifted up upon them 70 The Altar of Insence explained 71 Why there was but one Altar 74 The Altar typified out Christs sacrifice 74 Why it was sin to errect Altars 76 Altars and Images to be removed by Saints 327 See Christ Service-book Alphonsus The diligence of Alphonsus King of Aragon in searching the Scripture 101 Allegory A fit Allegory of a good Preacher 288 Alteration God can make a speedy alteration in Cities 413 Ambition We should have an holy ambition in Religion 82 Ancestors There is more expected of us then of our Ancestors and why 82 Antinomians Antinomians confuted 100 Antinomians reproved 114 Antiquity Antiquity is no rule for Religion 86 Apis What manner of Idol the Egyptian Apis was 29 Apes An Apes tooth worshiped in the Indies 388 Application Application to the Court 365 Argument There is no argument for the holiness of a Church 130 Arms see Religion Assyrian Why the Asâ—yrian Army was called an Eagle 4 Authority Compulsion of Authority is no excuse for sin 283 B Backsliding Backsliding is dangerous 13 Bare Necks The evil of Bare Necks 433 Bassil A custom at Bassil 34 Black Patches The evil of Black Patches 433 Brethren Brethren admonished 207 Beleevers The happy state of Beleevers shewed 159 Breeding see Men Burden see Kingdom C Calf The Calf of Samaria why it was so called 25 Caution see Kings Canaan Canaan was the Lords Land in an especial manner and why 157 Cause The Cause of God prospers at last alwaies 206 Children Children should beseech their parents to repent 260 See Parents and Mothers Christ Christ is our Altar in the time of the Gospel 72 Christ is little beholding to most Kings 337 Chemarims What the word Chemarim signifieth and its diverse acceptations 388 Christian Good Christians depend upon the Covenant they have made 7 It is a very dangerous thing for Christians to be without Ordinances 54 Christians should not endure wickednesse in their families 273 Why Christians complain of emptiness 317 A Christian Principle 320 Church God doth not cast off his Church though guilty of many sins 5 Church Officers are to be chosen with great care 18 It is dangerous for the Church to mix with the world 47 The Church is Gods pallace 128 The Church is compared to a Vine and why 300 See National and Vine Christmass Why Christmass was wont to be so zealously kept 118 Cleaness God regards not outward cleaness where there is inward uncleaness 161 Commandement The second Commandement expounded 78 The second Commandement illustrated 258 Comfort see Grace Commanders see Villany Compulsion see Authority Communion To neglect the communion of Saints is dangerous 298 Controversie The Controversie between us and the Papists 78 Confidence see Fear Consideration A dreadful consideration 416 Consideration for men of quality 440 Custom Custom is no rule for Gods worship 186 Continue We must continue seeking God and why 482 Covetous see Idolaters Covenant Breach of Covenant is punished by the sword 365 In what cases men may be false in a Covenant made 366 Counsels Mens own counsels oft deceive them 397 What ought to be avoided in our counsels 398 What ought to be attended in our counsels 399 Creature Better the Creature perish than be abused 412 Crown see Princes Crosness The crosness of mens spirits in England 279 Crucifying Why crucifying was so hateful to the Romans 〈◊〉 Curse A dreadful curse lies upon the Jews to this day 298 Cyprian Cyprian's Prayer at his Martyrdom 454 D Dead Dead bodies why they defiled 166 Death Some wicked men put a good face upon the matter even at death 177 Delight see God Deering Deerings speech in his Sermon before Queen ELIZABETH 278 Depart When God begins to depart we should cry mightily 253 Despairing The sad speech of a despairing woman 473 Destruction Destruction is the fruit of not hearing the Word 293 Devil A sinner is a creature the Devil empties his excrements into 49 Diffidence The vileness of diffidence in God 50 Distance see Time Displeasure see God Distress see Hypocrites Divine The speech of a German Divine at his death 189 Divinity Man cannot put Divinity upon a creature 31 Dove Why God accepts not the Eagle but the Dove 4 Duty Good Duties being
cast off bring punishment 14 Fulness of Duty what it is 315 See Sin Enlargement E Eagle Why the Eagle was unclean under the Law 4 See Assyrian Dove Wicked men Effigies An Effigies of the last times 339 Eli Eli's example urged 384 Emptiness Emptines is unatural to a Vine and why 304 Encouragement Encouragements to fight 385 Encouragements for men in mean employments 450 Encouragements for poor souls in mean endeavors 465 Engagement We must take heed of Engagements in evil 28 England England another Canaan 159 England more unfit for mercie now than at the first and why 263 England smitten as Sodom 281 See Admonition and Crosness Enlargements How we should use our enlargements in duties 312 Estrangement The degrees of mans estrangement from God 111 Eternity see Life Exhortation Exhortation to young ones 214 Exhortation to the Godlie 56 Excellency see Soul Excrements see Devil Experience An Experience worth the tryal 316 See Heason F Faces see Painted Faithful Faithful men discouraged and how 280 False worship False worship must be cast off 13 It is just with God to let False worship alone till it come to the full 82 See Ruin Feast Why a day is called a Feast to God 172 Faith How to encrease Faith for pardon in holy duties 120 Fly When a man may fly 182 Forms see Hypocrits Forraign Forraign Leagues are dangerous 46 Followed Our own waies are not to be followed 64 Fear Gods fear drives out carnal confidence 333 Forefathers We are subject to imitate our Forefathers in evil 79 Fulness see Duty Funeral Funeral mournings are hateful to God 166 See Gain Fruitfulness see Vines Furious Furious men do the least service 329 G Gain Gain at Funerals makes some rejoyce whilst others mourn 169 German The speech of a German Divine at his death 454 God Gods power shewed 42 Gods justice over such as sow the wind 43 God takes it ill we should go to Nations for help 58 God should be our delight 211 Gods delight is in young ones 213 God is the Saints glory 223 Gods departing is the cause of wo and why 250 We should labor to do what we can for God though he seem to leave us 253 God manifests his displeasure in the places where men sin 272 God cannot endure wickedness in his house 300 See Church House Worship Mercy Preservation Depart Generation see Spirit Gentry Gentry admonished 208 Good works Good works are excellent and why 30 Gospel Gospel-Righteousness is a most excellent thing 451 Government The danger of setting up new Government 23 Goverment is a thing of great consequence 271 See Agreement Pains Governors Governors are subject to establish false worship 44 Grace Hypocrits seek Grace for Comfort but Saints seek Comfort for Grace 485 Gregory Gregories speech to Theodorus 89 H Happinss see Beleevers Heart We ought to search our hearts 292 Help Helps against Injustice 377 See God Hemlock Injustice compared to Hemlock 370 Hemlock stalks springing up in England 375 House It is good dwelling in Gods house 272 Humiliation The benefit of humiliation 308 How humiliation should be preached 308 Hypocrits When hypocrits are in distress they see their need of God 9 Hypocrites stand much upon formal waies 10 Hypocrites think to fare the better for their parents 11 I Idolaters Idolaters are prophane but covetous men are worse 24 Idolaters promise themselves safety in their Idols 26 Idolaters are laborious in their Idol worship 35 Idolaters sow in hope 36 Idolaters lay a ground for sucession 36 Idolaters observe their season ibid. Idolaters love outward prosperity 153 We ought to do as much for God as Idolaters do for their Images 324 Idolatry Idolatry drives men against principles of reason 31 Idolatry is an hereditary sin 30 Idolatry continues in succession 80 Idolatry depends much upon Ancestors 258 See Succession Jeroboam What Jeroboam's sinne was 19 Jews The Jews custom in time of danger 412 Ignorance The miseries attending Ignorance 18 Images see Altars Invention There ought to be no invention of Man in Gods Worship 77 Injustice Injustice is sometimes like to Justice 370 See Hemlock Help Justice see Reformation Joy Means how to regulate our joy 142 See Prosperity Josephus Josephus his lamentable story 414 Israel Israel's Prerogatives 48 See Nation K Keep Examin principles wel first and then keep to them 292 Keys Four keys in Gods hand only and what they be 263 Kings Caution in imitating the Jewes Kings 15 Kings were made by men 31 The burden Kings are under 65 See People Kingdom see States L Labor Every one bound to LABOR 434 Lady Work for Ladies 436 Land see Ruin Lapsed The evil of lapsed Ministers 48 Latimer The speech of Bishop Latimer before Queen ELIZABETH 278 Latimer's notable story 178 Law What the Law of God is 95 The Law of God is great and why 96 The Law of God moves to obedience 102 See Saints Leagues Leagues of peace may prove occasions of sorrow 138 Leagues must not be made with wicked men 161 Learned see Opinion Life Life is the seâ—d-time for eteruity 39 Liberty Liberty is exceeding dangerous in yong professors 309 London see Popery Love Love is not to be bought 55 Lord It is a great mercy to have time to seek the Lord 472 See Quick-sightedness Luther Luther called by the Papists the Trumpet of Rebellion and Sedition 2 Lumpish Sorrow for sin must not be lumpish 168 M Mass The abominableness of the Mass 33 Malignants Malignants may have great Victories 206 Meditation Meditations for such as are weak in the fields 156 Meditations for parents 260 288 Meditations for Rich men 322 Meditations at going to bed 336 Men Men of mean breeding shold take heed how they behave themselvs when they come into Authority 66 Mens writings how they help to understand the Scripture 88 Mercy All mercies must be improved for God 20 See Free Grace Misery see Ignorance Ministers Ministers must not be weary of their work 3 Ministers that count such things as are laid aside only inconvenient will take them up again 203 Ministers must gain the Peoples love 220 What Ministers should rejoyce in 394 Ministers are Plow men 471 See Lapsed Wind Rule Motives Motives to continue seeking God 482 Mothers Tender-hearted Mothers admonished 259 Mothers fond love sâ—ayes their children 288 N Nation No Nation but Israel forsook their Gods 〈◊〉 148 Our Nation to be helped not to be fled from 182 See God National No National Church now 75 Nobility Nobility admonished 208 O Officers see Church Opinion The Opinions of the Learned are no rule for Religion 86 Opression Our Opressions are not to be removed but renewed 282 Ordinances see Christian Oyl What the Oyl in sacrifices signified 162 P Pains Pains must be taken about Government 271 Some take more pains to perish than others do to be saved 488 Painted Faces The evil of Painted Faces 433 Particular Particular persons must suffer not resist 18 Pardon see Faith Parents Parents must not be a