Man is faâ—len into an evil estate of heart which all creatures are not able to help and he put to his shifts to keep it off as long as he can For the fear of Hell and Death is a little bell These three evils pursue men fiâ—st 1. Guilt and Fear of Hell lâ—ke a worm gnaws daily and but for these man would live merrily in the world Thus he makes a covenant with either by forgetting or by flattering the Law and stablishing a Righteousnesse of his own or presuming of mercy a far off 2. The evil of Death presseth upon us and threatens to make an end of all Joy Pleasure Riches leaves no Hope to man thus we put off many dayes think we shal yet live long when men of our age are gone forgotten but it hasteth upon us daily 3. The evil of Adversity pincheth daily now this Crosse that Losse this Sicknesse that Want and Trouble this we hope to prevent and recover bow down in fear and basenesse and husband all so well hereafter that we shal enjoy better dayes when it is impossible to order all things according to mans mind So that all these are but vain shifts and falshood But the only way is with Christ to take the evil day â—nd crosse upon us 1. For guilt to see it and bear the indignation of the Lord and with the Prodigal cry out dayly We have sinned c. And wait on Him that hath overcome Hell and Darknesse and now saith O Death where is thy sting Hell where is thy victory 2. And for Death no Covenant to be made with it but seeing the vanity of the World to meet it joyfully and say Thou canst do me no hurt but take the World and the Life which I esteem not and open a door to that life which I shal enjoy 3. And for the Crosse no way to escape it But Patience and subjection to the Fathers will who knows what is best to tame our proud hearts and to crosse us in that wherein we dote And herein appears his love that he will suffer us to enjoy nothing that will hurt us but even this shall turn to our good Thus we all strive to put evil far off to shufle over the fearful dayes We now think lightly of them and play with wasters but when we come to graple with death we shal find it no play game Look for it for an evil day is coming and happy he that is prepared for that dâ—y Take heed lest at any time our hearts be oppressed with cares of this life or luke warmenesse Thus saith the Lord Behold I lay in Sion Here He first layes the fouâ—dation of rest in the Church that though it fare ill with his enemies yet is his Church built upon the foundation of free mercy in Christ and his truth revealed by him shall stand against all storms So that God hath laid in his Church conveyed to his People a foundation of rest in Jesus Christ which shall preserve them against all crosse of Death and Hell and nâ— storm shall be able to overthrow it Psal 125. They thâ— trust in the Lord shall be as Mount Sion Mat 7. They that build upon the Rock shall abide the Tempest David calls him a Rock of Stone and Peter the Corner-stone For this is prophesied of him Isa 9. His Name shall 〈◊〉 called Wonderful Counsellor The mighty God the Prinâ— of Peace c. Other Foundation can no man lay 1. Thence it is said Heb. 11. That faith is the grouâ— of things hoped for because Christ whom faith otâ—â—ests on is unchangeable to his 2. And the promise in him is Yea Amen Though in us oftentimes it is Nay 3. This is that whereby Adam was restored and first laid in him whereby Abraham was preserved and Paul delivered in greatest extremity This foundation is Jesus Christ the Son of God Lord of the Covenant the ingraved form of his Image given of the Father for the Restauration of man to whom he hath given all power in Heaven and in Earth and hath hid in him the treasures of Wisdom and Knowledge and the heart of man built on this foundation by saith thereon cannot fail But the Church of Rome hath translated this foundation from Christ to the Church from head to members from that Mat. 18. Super hanc Petram and so they have the determination of all truth it to be received and believed because of their testimony And so that Christ is to be believed because of the Church and not contra And thus they pervert one Article of the Creed to bring all mens heads under their girdle and that they may sit in the Consciences of men and do what they list without controle They say We are not only to believe the Church to be but to give credit to it To understand the difference note Austins distinction of Faith in regard of the object 1. Credere in aliquid to believe and put confidence in one 2. Credere alicui to believe or give credit to one 3. Credere aliquem to believe that one is or after this manner To believe in one hath reference to God only because the object thereof must be both verum bonum To believe or give credit to one hath relation to his object as to objectuÌ„ formale a principle for whose sake To believe one to be hath relation as ad objectum materiale The first we agree in And as for the second we say The testimony of to Church is of all humane the greatest and can never err in the whole nor fundamentally They say Crede Ecclesiae as to the formal cause for whose sake we are to believe all Truth and some of them that was inserted tanquam meum cum omnia alia credendi And so they make it a foundation of faith upon whose credit they wholly depend And this is the difference and this we deny 1. Because the Grammatical Constructions will not bear it Credere being taken to give credit is put with a Dative Case and an Accusative Case as in the Creed 2. Because there is no such certainty in their Church for man to depend on but that which must be the foundation of Faith must be a thing certainly known and determined what it is not the word but the thing For saith is not verbal but real But according to their own assertions the Church is a thing to them not certainly known or determined what it is Their Doctors divide the Church into the Church Essential The Convocation of all that believe in Christ Representative The Bi hops in a General Council Or Council of Cardinals Vertual the Pope only And of these we agree not which is the Church on which we must depend Some will have the Essential as Tride Catech Gloss upon Gratians Decrees which are Popes own law 2 Chap. 24 4.1 Some others seeing this could not be because it could not be known conclude it to
of natural wit to know the good will pleasure of God or the Mistery of Christ so as man shall find life theteby or certainty therein but as the Father makes himself known in Christ by his Word power of his Spirit unto the faith of man believing his truth 1. Cor. 2. The natural man understandeth not the things of God Christ saith I am the light that enlightens all that comes after me Joh. 1 He is the light of the world Joh. 1.4 There is anoynting that teacheth all things 1. Joh. 5. None can say that Jesus is the Christ but by the Holy Ghost Though we think that That Jesus we read of was the Christ and Saviour yet the flesh thinks but of him after the flesh but his mightie Power his wonderful Truth unspeakable Love to Man the bitternesse of his Sufferings the Joy in the Fathers will the Victory over Hell and Death the joy at the Fathers right hand none knowes it but he that believes it out of blinnnesse and misery 1. For the Father hath hid the treasures of wisdom in him hidden them from the world found not by curious searching but by humble crying believing found not in man but in Christ there to be enjoyed for he is made our Wisdom Righteousnesse Sanctification and Redemption 2. Adam had thought to have known God in the Creatures and himself and the evil also without God but knew no good till God revealed Christ in the promise So until we be brought by the truth of Christ to know no good in any thing but in God nor no evil in any thing but in our selves we know nothing at all but we seek to see a good in every thing and in our selves especially and would see no evil and so are lifted up and know nothing as we ought 3. And this Christ prayes that his Elect may know that thou art in me and I in thee and that thou hast sent me And I speak not of any self but they are the words of my Father that sent me for of my self I can do nothing 4. And note that this great Mystery was revealed after Christs death for then he sent the Comforter to lead into all truth and not till then Before this the Disciples had a thousand imaginations of Christ but now they knew that he was the Son of the Father Head of the Church So we have a world of fancies toâ—câ—ing God and Christ but never know him until the Crosse reveal him for till then we only tâ—ink him to be such and such and another thought crosseth that But this makes the weaknesse and vanity to appear his power preserves for every mans work shall be revealed by Fire How wonderful are the blind conceits that man hath of God and Christ as 1. When we will needs comprehend God vvithout Christ in his Essence Properties Attributes Eternity Omnipotencie c. What a foolishnesse is this to think to compasse in our thoughts Omnipotence c. 2. Others that frame a knowledge of Christ in comprehending the Story of his Life and Death Works c Thus vve know him by Relation as we do other Countries where we never were but never vvalk on foot with him in his death and miserie None knowes him whose miserable heart is not delivered from Death by him who believes his truth above all then this truth makes him free 3. We see then that all Knowledge comes by Faitht as suppose a man a Stranger promise to ransome me a captive I believe he will but I know not that he will but only vvait in faith nor hovv he vvil do it nor vvhy he vvill but when he makes good his word then I know his love vvhich he revealed to me and I not able to conceive in my self So with Christ he promiseth that he vvill redeem me but I know not that he vvill onlie I believe and wait in miserie yet by that Faith I am preserved through the Word though I feel nothing but death and bâ—ndage Wouldst thou know the Love of God that passeth Knovvledge vvait on Christ by Faith believing his Word and he will reveal the Love of the Father For though vve know not the mind of Gâ—d yet vve have the mind of Christ So that thou must knovv nothing but in him abide in him â—nd his Word abide in thee and he will reveal all things unto thee So that our curious and busie Wit so hun ing to knovv and straining out the Wit to understand leads to many fancies But knovv that his wayes are insearchable but vvait and attend and he vvill reveal Christ and the Father if thâ—u fit under the burden of thine ovvn ignorance and content for the time to knovv nothing but thy ovvn vilenesse Here we see that Christ is both God and Man A Mâ—n in vvhom the fulnesse of the God head dvvells to vvhom all is given that knovvs the mind of the Father and reveals iâ— to us This is the only God on Earth that mans mind maâ— be fixed here not gade abroad neither ascend into Heaven nor descend down into Hell c. Where then is the free vvill and power of Man vvithout Christ living in him and leading into all Truth dravving the vvill of Man to vvait on God in subjection All else is but trusting to the Wit of Nature vvhich is alvvayes blind It follovveth in the 28. verse SERMON III. Matth 11.28 Come unto me all that are weary and heavy laden and I will ease you Take my yoke upon you learn of me for I am meek lowly in heart HEre is his Invitation upon the former relation of his fulnesse viz. You see where all help is 〈◊〉 then you want help in any strait that lyes on you as a burden Come to me viz. to my Word Promise for there he dwells I will ease you So that There is no certain way or means to a burdened heart to free his guilt ease his burden or rid in him ouâ— of the Snare of Satan but the simple fleeing of the mind from all to Christ in his Word of Truth and there to stick and abide in life and death He was of old ordained to break the Serpents head and prophesied of to bind up the broken hearted He was the refuge of Job in all his afflictions I know that my Redeemer liveth He was sealed and appointed thereto by the purpose of the Father This himself witnesseth by word and work By word I am come to save the World I am the Resurrection and the Life he that believeth in me though he were dead yet shall he live By works How many poor lame blind did he help which he was after to do spiritually to heal the blind c. The afflicted he comforted as the Publicane Mary c. And this Paul found in himself and taught unto others That there is none other Name under Heaven c. 1. For nothing can free the spirit of man but he
be representative as Bellarmine Herson c. 3. But the Jesuits of late fearing this would prejudice the Popes Supremacy too much concludes it is the Church Vertual the Pope only or alone And so while they boast of the Church their Mother they mean nothing else but the Pope their Father What foundation can there be here for man to rest on But we have a sure word of the Prophets and a sure foundation Jesus Christ than which none other caâ— be laid 1. The ground then of all uncertainty in all thingâ— is because we build without this foundation One man layes a foundation in the World another in Wisdom another in righteousnesse and uncertain in all 2. Take heed of stumbling at this stone 1. Either at his sufferings as Peter the Disciples at his death 2. Or at his poverty and low estate as the Wordling Matthew 19. and 21. 3. Or at his mercy and love as the Pharisees that judged him 4. Or at his Holiness crossing our lusts 3. See the certainty of believers 1. They have a sure foundation a tryed stone that abides the storm a precious stone full of treasure a corner-stone that joyns altogether in love He that believes makes not haste or shal not be confounded For he seeks no vain shifts but sits in death darknesse by faith waiting and sticking to this foundation till the light shine out of darknesse So that The only rest to man in all straits is the sticking to Christ by faith and waiting on the promise which shall be fulfilled in time Abraham waited four hundred and thirty years Israel seventy in Babylon Isa 30. Your strength is to sit still 1. For God hath set a time appointed for every work like a nurse which hides her self from the child till it thinks it hath lost her yet still hears its cryes and comes in time 2. God knowes it is best for a man to keep him under as yet till his will be subued and lust abated 1. But the blind World will needs run before their guide and will now have it and so forsake God and his Promise 2. Weaklings who would have rest assoon as they feel any disquietnesse 3. Others that will see things before they fall and stumble for the present 4. Wait thou weary heart make no haste Fly not off to any other shifts nor fix on none other foundation This will be able to keep thee from drowning he that hath kept thee hitherto is able to keep thee still and he that cometh will come and will not tarry SERMON XI Isai 39.5 Then said Isaiah to Hezekiah Hear the Word of the Lord of Hosts Behold the dayes come that all that is in thine house and all that thy Fathers have laid up in store until this day shall be carried into Babylon c. VVHen Hezekiah had overcome the great Hoste of the King of Assyria he fell sick received a message from the Lord that he must die Whereupon he fell into great heavinesse and prayed unto the Lord and wept sore So that The sentence of Death is fearful unto man if the great and mighty hand of the love of God do not mightily uphold him so to Christ 1. For this is the last enemy to be destroyed this takes away all staâ—s helps in the flesh at once We all play with it as with a dead snake and make a covenant therewith but when it comes on us with open mouth it shakes the heart of the best if God do not mightily preserve him 2. But if the wrath of God the guiltinesse of our hearts the end of our dayes come all at once O whither then shall man flee O that man but saw and believed his own mortality How would it pull down the pride of man and make the World little in his eyes and that man would but see himself on his Death-bed How fearful is that destroying Angel and Messenger of Death or the Plague when it comes to any place to them that are round about it After this the Lord hard his cry and saw his tears and gave him assurance of his life for fifteen years with a sign of the Suns standing still for more assurance which goodnesse of God he acknowledgeth in his Writing from chapter 38. 9 to the end Wherein he shews both the misery he was in Gods deliverance as ver 15. c. What shall I say he hath spoken unto me himself hath done it I shall walk humbly in sense of my own weaknesse as knowing my life is in his hand Then he acknowledgeth Gods truth and Power O Lord by these viz. thy Word and Power men live my spirit hath life in these and that all this was of meer mercy for in peace I had great heavinesse but in love to my soul thou hast delivered me from the pit cast all my sins behind thy back Yet after all these experiences his recovery see how he falls to the World to be lifted up in his fleshly portion in shewing all his store to the servants of the King of Babylon such a vile creature is man So that That after so many experiences of his love power wrath yet by a little ease and peace in the flesh shakes hands again with the World and becomes lifted up thereby to the forgetting of his God So with Israel evermore when they had ease So with David in the matter of Uriah 1. For the world blinds the eyes of man hides the glory of the Gospel by the glory of the world that he is lifted up feels nothing of mercy power in another 1. We see this in experience How soon doth man forget his misery and bitternesse of his soul the goodnesse â—nd power of God the weaknesse of himself dotteth in a fools Paradise yea and quite runs away from that Word he once believed and sound life in fixeth upon that store he hath gotten when as alace all his store yea and life too was in the hand of God even newly delivered How soon is that faithful confidence forgotten those Purposes resolutions of miserable men quite at an end We cryed O that God would deâ—iver us and he sâ—ould be our God for ever and preâ—ently we chuse another 1. So that no keeping of Faith Comfort in God but â—y preserving of humility sense of death in our selâ—es for as we die to the World so we live to God but if â—e live to the World we die to God 3. See the danger of prosperity viz. of raising up of a mans heart without God in carnal confidence and turning the heart from God to his great gifts This World eats the Word out of Mans heart that now he lives as though there were no God and his Word a matter of no moment And now he comes with another message from the Lord to the King that because he had rejoyced in his store God would take it away and his children
mercie For if he be not before one of these two he is secure may this we see too common in all men 1. For though they must be brought at one time or other to be judged in themselves and confesse that it is â—he way of Faith Repentance and Love it is the way of Life yet how soon become hardned and cast it off cares not for it but gets a life else-where that they cannot say that their joy and pleasure and life is in Christ but in another in his knowledge and righteousnesse and none abides but with this Nebuchadnezzar falls off But know that this Word shall judge thee one day 2. Hence we see what a Fountain of Lust and Rebellion is in all men believers and others how often hath God expounded our Dreams restored our freedom given Life in Death and how soon are we returned either to the Worlds shifts in straits or forget the Lord that brought us out of Egypt and feed our selves with pleasure Nebuchadnezzar made an Image of Gold fifthy cubits high He had forgotten the God of Daniel soon and now makes an Idol for his own glorie preservation even thus doth all So that When mans heart turns away from God Christ that he is not known believed and loved every maâ— set up the idol of his own Imagination in his heart forsakes the God of Heaven that is to say a God a Christ and a Righteousnesse and Wisdom in Imâ—gination Thus every Nation had their Gods all reasons are 〈◊〉 God framed or comprehended in the witt of man 〈◊〉 Therefore God gave this great Law Thou shalt havâ— no other Gods but me 1. Thus Satan is called the God of this World whâ— sets up his Law in mans heart For there is in every man the sins of all men in the root so that as the Heathen that know not God indeed yet had many Imaginary Gods So all men that know not God or forsake Christ make many Christs though not all of oâ—â— fashion yet such as mans Imagination leads him to 2. For mans heart must have something to upholâ— it either real or conceited therefore in want of thâ— God of life he must have some God and somethiâ— to trust to or sometimes for which he must trust Gâ—â— the better in all which though it be nothing but the Idol of his Imagination yet Christ must bear the Name He confesseth the God of Daniel but hath an other Idol whom he worships For doubt not but all the Heathen had a general confused conceit of God unto whom they then framed God a kind of relation in their conceit For reason could tell them that a creature could not save them neither could Nebuchadnezzar believe that any creature could yet save or deliver him when he counted himself the most patient creature in the world but had a conceit of God unto whom he owed Worship Some acknowledge the true Christ but he is not the Saviour by whom they live but something else So that Thus the World and the Church is full of Idolatrie every man setting up the Idol of his own heart One sets up a Golden Image as the King did here and makes the World his great God This he serves and trusts worships yea in all his laws threats he fears the loss of his labour For if this God smile he laughs if he frown he grieves if he threaten he fears if he promise he believes and this is the greatest God most worshipped in the World The rich adores it the poor prayes unto it all bow unto it But the great Idol in the Church is mans knowledge and righteousnesse This is that the false Apostles set up This he decketh with Devotion Zeâ—l and Charitie but yet not much of that he worships God before this Idol he acknowledgeth Christ yet with circumcision joyned this we make only God we bow down as unto it Nay the Idols of mans imaginations are endlesse For the greatest contemplators saith Luther Are the greatest Idolaters for they make an Idol of their own imaginations or their speculations Christ and Paul was none of these they lay in misery they believed God they practised love and went about doing good 1. For by how much any goes about to comprehend Christ and his Word not believing in him from a broken and repenting heart but from strength of imagination he is the great Idolater but know these arâ— cursed and the makers of them they have mouths but speak not eyes but see not the way of life noses but savour not the things of God feet but walk not in the wayes and love of Christ and they shall not all help in time of need Thy Knowledge shall vanish thâ— Righteousnesse be judged faultie thy gold perish and thy pleasures be turned into sorrow and shall this God deliver thee And all these are framed by man that he may have ease and freedom elsewhere in the flesh and have something to see and feel that so he may live iâ— peace but the true God is found in trouble not at the sound of Musick but in woe and sighing then is God present with these men as Daniel Shedrach Mechacâ— and Abednego were accused by the Officers This added to their Captivity for that herein is doublâ— bondage though they were advanced as Rulers in Babylon yet brings them into bondage that they mighâ— not fit in Babylon but upon their God and his Word So that When God intends good unto man he keeps him under the Rod of miserie without and weaknessâ— within that Faith may be kept pure and the flesh aâ—â— man may have no stay but in him Thus with Job David Psal 107.39 He brings dowâ— their heart with sorrow thus with Christ 1. For till man be throughly whipt he flies to soâ—â— new shift and God in love chaseth him from all holdâ— that he may not setle in carnality 2. For Abraham had no Child then Isaac was boâ—â— and then hope of him seemed to be taken away Thiâ— was ever Gods dealing with his Church they had somâ— breathing time yet he renewes his rod when they greâ— wanton and turn from him Man would lay hold iâ— any thing rather than drown but thus God plungeâ— him into the deep and then he prayes 1. Thus we all seek rest in the flesh and find it arâ— say We shall not be moved the Pipe and the Tabrâ— is in our Feasts but sorrow and repentance is hid froâ— us But if God intend thee good he will keep thee from fleshly ease Thou thinks it an heavy bondage to lose wife husband world and all but when guilt shall appear within and God is departed and death at hand who shall comfort thee 2. But we are altogether for ease and peace Our Church is fleshly The Church in Canticles sought and enquired after him in the night but no such need with us we feel not the grief and captivity of others They are now full anon taken away Now in health
he renews his threatnings against Judea that He will pull and pluck up that which He hath planted â—he shews wherein is the cause of his sorrow because he sought great things for himself 3. A promise of safety when evil shall fall upon all flesh yet life shall be given him for a prey Woe is me now What is the grief of Israel had Baruch the book and cast the Word of the Lord away and hardened himself in his clear sight revealed so that judgement must come So that No sure sign of judgement than of hardness of heart under the clear sight of the Gospel of Christ Luke 13. O Jerusalem Jerusalem that killest the Prophets and stonest them that are sent unto thee How often would I have gathered you together as the hen gathereth her brood under her wings and ye would not Mat. 22. The unthankful guests were bidden but hardened against it Tâ—is is the abâ—sing of his long-suffering through hardnesse of heart that cannot repent and yet judging others as the unthankful servant that eateth and drinketh with drunkards In such securitie was Israel fallen now for which Baruch mourned that they cast off the words of Jeremiah saying It is false and God would not cast off his And so follow the Idols and Imaginations of thelt wicked hearts This is the turning of Grace into Wantonnesse like those in Judea for which judgement was prepared they fed their bellies filled their purses by the Gospel but not souls with Faith Love And it is a sign of death when Physick workes not but that the disease grows strong against it so of the soul when the Word of Life prevails not This is a casting off God whose goodnesse we have felt so that now we live of our selves to worke our own peace procure life prevent danger for that is not now called to for counsel nor is help called for as of old and this is the hardnesse wherein to we are all sâ—llen as woeful experience shews And this is the condemnation That light is come into the world and men love darkness rather than light Iohn 3. and this appears when sin and rebellion is the same or the greater and yet lesse burdensome and evil than before When knowledge of the Gospel hath shut up repentance from the heart and pride hath drowned humility and love in himself when God of his Judgements are not feared nor selt but we put the evil day far off when iniquity is grown great and impudent and become as ordinarie as our trades and callings are with us Now the time was when the disciples of Christ and Apostles flocked in abundance and left all as Alexander and Demas but after a while they hardened fell to the World and ease thereof The Galatians would have plucked out their eyes but after turned enemies in legal righteousnesse but we to dead securitie even thus with us Time was when the Word was precious and prevailed to rule in us but now we can abide it through wit and fore-knowledge and sleep quietly 1. But well worth tender hearts who eat and live by the Word whether it speak life or death it prevailes above all and hence see the greatest provocation that ever was raised against God whereby his own people had tasted of his love and grown wanton in the flesh and more fearful judgement fell upon them So now the silly ignorant wretch when he hears but of any judgement he trembles and blesseth himself after his own poor sighing fashion but the wise and great devote ones they mock him and say Tush this is nothing we shall escape it and call his word a lye so that we may justly fear the sequell of these fearful signs these more certain signs than in Sun and Moon For where is the mourning weeping and repenting heart Where is the lowly believing mind that joyes in tribulation Where is the open loving single heart without respect Well nay we cry Woe is me now for Israel hath cast off the Lord and we fight against his Word our long peace hath made us secure The Word Works of God are become a dallying to us and we sing peâ—â—â— peace and yet forsake the way and despise the Kingdom of peace God hath added grief to my sorrow New grief to my old sorrow one grief after another that I find no rest though I faint in my sighing see Gods dealing So that God usually tryes his to the bottom and adds one affliction to another to all which he loves and suffers them not to find any ease and rest in the flesh As with Job Psal 78. He brought down their hearts with sorrows Psal 77. He wept all night Thus Paul had fightings and terrors thus Christ and the Martyrs even persecuted unto strange Cities thus Abraham nothing left Psal 4. One deep calls another thus the wayes of Christ and our conformitie to his death For untill man be throughly whipt and beat under he runs to some new shift 1. And so God in love chaseth him from all holes as Abraham though he was brought from his Countrey yet he had no Children then was Isaac given then he had hope in the flesh but he took that away 2. Thus was Gods dealing with the Church though they had some breathings given yet when the flesh bâ—gan to grow wanton and rejoyce and so they forget and turn from the God of their Life thâ—n he sent his Rod to waken them that they might not setle on their fleshly ease 3 Thus will God worke good out of evil He lets Satan loose to whip torment his for the destruction o the flesh 4. Man will lay hold upon any thing before he drown yea even a Lease or Reed but God plungeth him into the deep and then he cryes and is heard 5. Light afflictions makes man more wise and wilily to escape in the flesh but sound and deep grief added to sorrow brings down the heart and makes hâ—m pray Thus we see all seeks rest in the flesh and we have gotten the World to seed us and Religion to â—â—ver us in prosperitie and peace and say Soul take thine ease and â—â—t as a Queen and say We shall not be moved We add joy to mirth the Pipe and Tabret is in out Feasts we drink and care and laugh in the midst of our finning but Sorrow and Repentance is hid from us We have not resisted unto blood nor affliction hath taken us but such as with a little time of Wisdom could remove or at least forget 1. But know if God intend thee good he will add grief to thy sorrow Thou thinks it a heavie thing to lose Father Husband or Wife but it will be a heavier thing to feel the burden of thy Spirit when God hath turned his Face away and taken all from thee that thou feâ—lest nothing but guilt within and death approaching and yet God absent Then will grief be added to sorrow Who then shall comfort thee 2. Thus the
in another viz. in Christ who is made our Righteousnesse through Grace For take Him away and there rests nothing but Death â—or the Law doth not make man righteous but sinners â—nd lost men Now Righteousnesse is two-fold Politia divina Morale divinum The first is that the Philosophers treat of which is a Righteousnesse of just and equal disposition of mind and carriage of our actions towards others doing right to all That is called in Scripture the Righteousnesse of the Law which is the righteous work of it in man but that is nothing before God for it is not wrought by God nor for him but man attributes it to himself and thinks God should be pleased therewith also Now this is good sweet amongst men but if man bring this before God it is abominable But the righteousnesse of Faith is another thing viz. the righteousnesse of Christ made ours standing in free remission of sins and the free grace of God Therefore it is that Christ is our Righteousnesse as a thing out of mans self in another 1. How far off from life are they then which well unrighteously in all things both towards God and man 2. Also those that hold the Truth in unrighteousnesse which acknowledge the Truth of the Gospel but submits not to the righteousnesse thereof but run out after their own unrighteousnesse and will never regard Goâ— nor his word of promise 3. And such as makes themselves righteous anâ— stablish a righteousnesse of their own and thence seek a ground of believing 4. Others fall off from the Faith with the Galatians and when God through His love hath made theâ— sometimes obedient in love 1. Fix their eyes upon that and imagine themselveâ— something that now they being made subject aâ— obedient do look for a blessing theâ—â—upon when alaâ—â— it is not one good thought of twenty 2. But know that all our Righteousnesse is in another that man see no good thing in himself but Sin 〈◊〉 Rebellion and Death c. but all good in Christ Whâ— is made our Righteousnesse For if man turn from Hiâ— he fails if he abide in Him he lives Therefore aâ— Paul saith I live not but Christ lives in me 3. But most lives by conceit of Christ not Christ living in them so that our power over sin death hell is not in our selves but in Christ who dayly crucifies the world not any qualitie or disposition that we are brought to but living in the sense of our own unrighteousnesse and flying from our selves and so becomes Righteous in Christ 4. Hence we see that Faith and all good is preserved to man in dayly and deep humilitie when he dayly lives in the life of Repentance and is weak and unrighteous and unthankful but daily waits for mercy But when man becomes righteous in his own eyes either because of that qualitie of Faith or of Love or Righteousnesse then he is lifted up and it becomes his own righteousnesse and therefore filthie nothing 5. Walk in Righteousnesse but take heed of looking at it let it extend to man that thou mayest justifie thy self before them else all the world shall condemn that and the Gospel be slandered but in respect of God who is of pure eyes bring nothing but Christ and his mercy and then shall we see the Righteousnesse of God upon us And we all do fade as a leaf All our Righteousnesse being but hypocritical and so we with it doth fall to nothing So that Where the Grace and Love of God by Faith is not continued to man there Faith and all Religion fades where Religion fades there all joy and peace and happinesse is lost and comes to nothing as Heb. 6 They tasted of the good Word of God but yet fell away in the end and Hymeneus Phletus and those in Jude Ephesus Laodicea Revel 2.3 1. For it is God only that both by his grace both guides preserves faith in man As the tree planted by the Rivers of water Psal 1. 2. When this fades man daparts from God as Israel in the Wildernesse and so never comes into the the land of rest 3. All things have a passage through man and he gets a taste of good in them but they fade in time only Gods love and mercy endures for ever 4. When man returns into himself or the World he soon grows weary as the leaf when the sap is descended into the root in the earth so we when the sap of God is descended 1. Hence it is that so much fair shining Religion comes to nought in the end being but the work of man it fades and dies in man but that of God abides for ever Thus have we seen much Religion dye What zeal and sorrow of heart What love affection to the truth it self and now all is drowned up with a fleshly speculation of these things but the life is gone 1. Love is forcible which if it rise but out of a strong stirring of natural affection it is soon lost but if from real miserie and distrust of himself it abides with God though clouded but the foundation abides in God 2. And even so will all our joy and peace freedom fade Where is that joy and sweet rest we have had that earnest hunger and desire after Christ Nay it is gone and we grown proud in knowledge and for the simplicity of believing turned it into an opinion of knowing edifying one enother in love into fleshlie honour seeking it one of another or censuring each other or love and liking of the Word of Truth into a judging and despising of the same our love to each other into self-love our love to Religion into the love of the World So that hence it is that our joy is departed from us because we are departed from Christ We joy in our fulnesse power or knowledge c. yet will all fade as a leafe and we also shall in the â—nd fade with it we see it Where is the glorie and pleasure fulnesse of our neighbours is it not faded away turned into want and sorrow and death it self the youth and suckling strong and aged mother and child are all fallen into the dust and it will be our portion if righteousnesse and religion lye in the streets despised as it is And our Iniquities like the wind hath taken us away When we thought under a colour of righteousnesse to go on in the wayes of vanitie and enjoy the World yet at last our Iniquities have prevailed and taken us away So that It is sin and rebellion against God which is the onlie way and cause of the destruction of man and nothing but sin undoes man Your Iniquities have separated betwixt God you Thus he complains against Israel in all the Prophets because they sinned against me and yet they sinned more and more they are a stiff necked generation for nothing makes God our enemie but our running from him 2. Losse and want
thy friends at all That can relieve or ransom thee from thrall I tell thee true as sure as I do live Thou shalt not dye for for thee I will give My only son and he shâ—ll pay the prize Of all thy debt I swear it to thee thrice For rather then that thou in this thy state Should dye and from my love stâ—nd separate I will perform that which before all time Was wiâ—h me then and in my love did shine My word is past to thee it shall appear Which shall thy nature once again up rear By assuming it to my self wherein I will a living life to thee begin For I to death in that same nature thine Will subject lye that then the God-head mine May there appear to be that mighty one The which shall trush like to a mighty stone Thine Enemies and captive lead them all And thee redeem out of thy sinful fall For I will that decayed natuâ—â— thine Assume unto my word the God-head mine Wherein I must perform my Fathers will And andergoe his mighty wrath untill It satisfied be for every one And thus thy debt I will discharge alone And when thy sin and death and hell and grave Hath got on me whatever they could crave Then I 'le triumph and captive lead them all And free thy Nature from thy former fall And in the same I will triumphant ride Unto my Father there I will abide At his right hand there I will reign so long Till sin and death and all that darknesse strong Stand subdued among my people all And then the Kingdom to my Fathers shall Be resigned that so for evermore He may be all in all as heretofore THE SOVLS ANSWER NOw Lord what lets that this thy love to me Doth not yet shine unto my heart so free To make me know and fully understand My happiness which yet is in thy hand Wilt thou not now at this same present time Declare thy Kingdom to this sense of mine I fain would know how thou thy love to me Would so confirm that I may cleave to thee THE LORDS REPLY O Stay a while that way I 'le from thee go And thou after thy flesh and sense also Shall not me know for I will far ascend Above those thoughts yet I an ear will lend Unto thy cry yet is it fit for thee Thou still attend in thy humility The time and season that the Father hath Kept to himself for so the Scripture saith I tell thee true this way thou looks for me I will not come but that way will leave thee Which when I go it shall thy sense so try That down shall fall that which thou lifted by And this is fit it should be done to thee Or else the Comforter thou shalt not see Let not thy heart at this be so agast As though it should for ever with thee last I 'le come again according to that life Of holy Ghost so that no evil strife Shall shut thee out from my dear love wherein I will a living life to thee begin Then let not sorrow fill thy heart so fore As though that thou should meet with me no more Wait but a while in that Jerusalem And thou shall see again that blessed Stem Jerusalem thy heart that now lyes desolate Which of my presence makes so high a rate As by the flesh a Tabernacle there Might builded be to keep thee out of fear It matters not though from thy sense I go I will not leave thee now and alwayes so For when thou thinks that I am gone for ay Wait thou that while for then 's the time I say That I 'le appear my sp'rit it shall descend Into thy heart and thee it shall defend From all thy foes which do encamp thy soul And bring thee where thou shalt without controulâ— Received be into that lasting peace Which shall abide and in thee never cease For then I will give thee my sp'rit which shall Seal thee to me in that true love withall My tokens true which shall not thee beguile Shall be within thy heart and mind and I 'le So charactere my love therein that none Of all thy foes shall hurt thee for that stone That I have cut out of my mountain great Shall fill thy heart and unto dust shall beat Thine enemies all and in thy heart I 'le write Again my Law that first I did indite And therein shall my spirit freely move Which shall be witness of my dearest love And in thy heart there shall my temple be There will I dwell so I assure it thee And thou in me shall be thy resting place From all thy sins in this my day of grace And live in me by my own life alone And thou in me and I in thee be one This is my word from me to thee it s gone And shall prevail as that chief corner stone That shall be lay'd within thy heart so low That death and hell shall never overthrow THE SOULS ANSWER NOw Lord what have I more to thee to say This breaks my heart I can it not deny That golden chain that 's ty'd about my neck That word of thine that gave my foes the check Hath wounded me and win my heart that so From thee and from thy Word I cannot goe Here will I dwell my heritage doth stand On thee alone and builded by thy hand And I will feed by that same water-side That floweth from thee and I will abide Within thy house thy praises forth to tell Thy house my heart there will I with thee dwell For there I shall behold thy wonders all Thy lovely works freeing my soul from thral That pierceing word that made my heart to bow And all my Forces for to overthrow That pure truth that made me naked lye And bair'd my heart before thy seeing eye As in that day in Edens garden I Did eat and drink of the forbidden Tree That living Word wherein thy footsteps shine In love to me in purest streams divine Of thy true light that now my heart so free Of thee shall boast of that same libertie Where I shall stand in that same truest vine And root of life whereout in me may shine Thine own life streams for ever to declare Thy loving wonders in me great and rare And that I may Lord grant me still mine aid Thy Spirits life as unto me thou said Whereby thou mayest within my heart indite Thy living Word That Lord I pray thee write In Table of this meek'ned heart of mine That there thy Image once again may shine In living power and lively streams again From thence may run in such a heavenly strain As I may live and in such union dwell With love divine as may again I 'le tell Reduce my soul from all duallitie And set me fast in perfect unity From whence as from a perfect fountain fair May spring in me these lively graces rare Whereby I may in those same lively streams Preserved be and by those
heavenly beams I so may flourish in that living way Of life So that with Paul I then may say It is not I but that sweet loving store Of thy own grace prais'd be thy Name therefore THE LORDS REPLY HAth now my word prevaild with thee so far That from my self one jot thou wilt not dar To turn aside nay art thou in such love With me that like the bravest turtle dove Thou wilt love still though absent from thee I May seem to go and thou in darknessly And doth thy cries from hence to me arise From this same love is there none other prize That can prevail but here thou wilt abide And fit alone by this same water side And hast thou now none other fountain sweet And canst thou now none other lovers greet If love be love and thou a lover be And so thou lives and from me will not flee I tell thee true my love I 'le to thee give And will thee aid for with me thou shalt live But one thing I will let thee understand How I my love my truth my mercy and My graces all shall in thee be declar'd The way wherein I have my self prepar'd For that some way I will thy senses cross Thy fleshly understandings I will toss For that same way which in thy wisdom by Hath learned out my mercy for to spy Nay though it be in highest gifts of grace If by thy flesh thou there my paths would trace Thou'l be deceiv'd my graces in thy mind And all my gifts in their own proper kinde Shall then shine forth when thou in weakness stands And bears thy death under my great commands Behold the way that I before thee went It was the cross that way I ever ment Thee for to trace my steps and there sojourn In lowest death where flesh may alwayes mourn And down may come that high conceited thought That to thy soul thy ruine ever brought And there remain in that same grave with me Where flesh may lye but thou that time shall be Rais'd up again so shall my life appear Victor to be which then will shine so clear Within thy heart which strongly shall confirme My love to thee which is without all tearm In this thy death mine aid thou still shalt finde To bring thee through according to my mind Thy troubles all which unto thee appears In thy own sense which workes thee all thy fears Come therefore sweetly lye thee down with me Under my cross that fearful mighty tree Fear not my cup for I have drunk before A health to thee to cure thy wound and sore This is that way by which I will destroy The strongest lust which doth thy soul annoy For life divine is to thy flesh the crost To kill thy lust and on the same to toss And if thou drink and taste not heartily Of this my cup thou hast no part with me For more thou comes to taste of this cross And deeper that thou drinks of all thy loss So much the more my life shall thee defend And thou with me shall to that pitch ascend Of freedom so that all thine enemies now Shall be subdued I do to thee avow And then my love most noble and divine In midst of darkness in thy heart shall shine Which will cause thee to sing and leap and dance And me alone in all thy thoughts advance Who in this mount my glory so doth shine To free thy heart from misty clouds of thine In that clear light of spirits life which shall Dispell those clouds in sunder rent them all And out of death bring forth that life I say Which will lead captive that wherein thou lay Therefore lye down and drink hereof a maine This is that way the which will bring thee gaine For in thy death thy life thereout shall spring And that 's the way whereout I will thee bring Into that land of peace and rest wherein Thou shalt be fed with all contents and in That Paradice I will so with thee dwell That unto thee I will my wonders tell My Word my Name and that ingraved form Of my own life so that to thee no storm Shall once arise my love to overthrow Or for to draw thy mind from me to bow For why thy help I have in Me so laid And in my Son as heretofore I said Which shall remain as that chief corner-stone That shall abide when flesh is dead and gone At this the powers of Death and Darknesse all Thy guilty heart that thou got in thy fall That wisdom thine that lifted thee on high In this my day they shall all vanquisht lye And I will live triumphantly in thee As I am one so shalt thou be in me I was once dead but now alive I am To quicken thee in me the new Adam From whence shall rise a living child in thee Which shall attain the full Felicitie Nay I my self in all my graces rare Will there appear and in this union bare My bosome so in that anointing free The which shall raise thy heart in such degree Of raptures hy that now thou shalt despise Thy fleshly self with all base vanities Nay hence shall spring that living life again And in shall come that truth that substance main Wherein there 's life and thou as one free-born Shall be the heir though bond-men mock and scorn For though thy fleshly dead and in thee there No hope remains for none can there appear Though glorious shews in strength of nature did Shew forth their force yet now they lying hid Under that curse where desolate they stand And barren ly in wildernesses land Yet â—â—nce shall rise that righteous seed which shall Bring forth in thee in my free graces all My Law my Truth and I will it indite Within thy heart in love so will I write It all in lively living life Divine And freedom true which shall in thee so shine As that it shall instal thee once again In Son-ship true so that from thence amain May flow again as from a fountain clear Such free-born fruit as may in thee appear To be the fruit of that same living tree That 's my free grace that all the world may see That grace is grace and that by it alone My people live and by that Corner-stone Th're filled with my righteousnesse so clear That sin in them it shall no more appear For they in me before my Fathers face Shall cloathed be all decked with my grace Where shall no spot at all on them be found That 's cloathed here and setled on this ground And there abids as he abids in them Who is the root they branches he the stem This is that freedom whereunto I 'le bring My Sons again where they shall mount and sing With Simeon that sweet and pleasant song And shout it forth with all my Saints among THE SONG OF THE SOULS FREEDOM NOw let thy servant Lord depart in peace For I have seen from thee such great increase
Of grace and truth in that same little seed Which thou hast sown for me when I stood need When Sin Death when Hell Darknesse great When losse when crosse about my heart did beat When angrie thou as judge to me did shine And I stood judg'd within my conscience mine Such witnesse had that I could plead no more My sin did mount to such a mighty score When all my friends from me a loof did stand When lovers all ran far away yea and When I lay dead and hopes I then had none Of life but laying comfortless alone Then thou declar'd to me that time I say Thy saving health wherein O Lord for ay In peace I 'le rest as unto me thou said From all my fears for thou hast so displaid Thy freest love that makes my heart rejoyce And mount and sing with Simeon that voice Now let me Lord depart in peace anon For I have seen thy great salvation Thy words enough I thereon will depend In it there 's life and it will me defend And bring me forth into that light wherein I shall remain and with high Cherubin Shall shew forth what with thee I have seen In my return as it hath with me been I have none other Song but this to sing What thou hast done for me that I will bring Before thy Saints that they also with me May sing it forth in sweetest melodie As none else can but them whom thou alone Hath so redeem'd by that same corner-stone That lyeth lowest in the building so That simmoned they are for so to do Which freedom brings in such great mighty store That sing that song they will for evermore Then thou my Soul sit here in silent rest Under his wings in whom thou thus art blest And wander not nor let thy gadding mind Be turn'd about thy Spirit for to blind Into the flesh as though that heavenly thing Thou there would keep and to thy sense would bring Thy freedom now and think thereby to hold That in thy self which no man ever could And soar not up into thy thoughts so high But ly thee down in true humilitie And eat thy portion there with that content That faith doth bring and be thou patient A word 's enough he will supply thy want There 's all in him how can there then be scant Nor turn thou back unto thy pleasures vain Nor unto Mammons filthly sordid gain Such lovers all too base are for thy mind Who now stands free in such a heavenly kind Of noble birth nay what shall I say more An heir with Christ as was said heretofore Of that same Crown which links thee into one Where freedoms stands beside which there is none And that I may Lord take into thy hand My life for all 's at thine own great command If thou wilt speak thy word it will suffice Then speak it Lord let not my foes arise Me to prevent of this thy pearl great O then speak Lord and so they shall retreat And then full safely I shall walk along With thee though with my wicked foes among I sojourn still untill that precious time Of Jubill come that full deliverance mine That Jubill time O! when shall it appear To free me from my burdens that are here Me thinks I long my heart it would be gone Out of this clay unto that only One But I must stay and in this house abide Till gold from drosse be true and fully try'd And sin and death hath done their worst and then Shall life come in and that same last Amen Shall then make up both breach and ruins all That hath befall'n the Saints since Adams fall The which shall then full gloriously appear When God in man his Kingdom shall up reare When God is all and man brought home in one That 's the Kingdom or else I say there 's none For Kingdoms else before him they shall fall And come to end though they be ne're so tall Then hasten Lord this Kingdom that is thine That I in thee may in thy onenesse shine That thou in me and I in thee still may Remain in one eternally I say Where I may cast before thy face my crown Where thou abides in that same highest throne Of glory great where all things end in one And thither brought by the chief corner stone Where Saints and Angels in true unity One song shall sing in God eternally Amen Lord hasten this thy pointed day It 's in thy hand yet still for that I 'le pray That when thou hast brought all things into one We all thy Saints may live in thee alone And thou in us may be our heaven alway Which shall remain that mighty longest day That mighty longest day that Alpha one That last Omega who is God alone Amen Amen O Lord I do thee pray To bring my soul to this thy holy day For thou art First and thou will be the last Of all that is to come or hath been past That glory honour power and due praise May be of all return'd to thee alwayes The corner stone out from the Father came Was laid in blood for to declare his name His grace and love unto fall'n men alace And by an oath so interposed was To reconcile to God his creature man So as no Angel nor no creature can So that his glory did surmount the bound Of all darkness in this wide world round Yea it did shine through sin through death through hell And grave as doth the Scripture fairly tell And if his splendor shine through such darkness Then doth it shine within all men no less To be the life of them who do receive it And judgement unto them who do reject it Thus is he set the fall and rise again Of some and all as will appear full plain When he as judge such witness will produce That who rejects shall be without excuse Let all men then what talent God doth give Improve it so as he therein may live And give account what gain comes in thereby Unto his Lord lest not so doing dye Then see thy Talent be not laid within Thy carnal earth which no good gain can win But exchange that which of thee is carnal Into a state that is spiritual So shalt thou build upon the corner stone A good increase while carnal earth brings none In Jordans water Christ baptized were By John so plung'd over head and ear The Holy Ghost descending on him so That he our sorrows bare and rude our wo And was the man who did repentance bear For all mens sins that he might wash them clear And after that that he was so baptized His after life was all then sacrificed Up unto death and in death baptized And by the spirit he again was raised Into the heavenly beeing there to reign In power great untill he come again In watry tears and siry blood was he So plunged in our Saviour for to be Thus water fire and blood was mingled For him to
promises in him are Yea and Amen They all run upon him in Christ through Christ by Christ And this was the Word of the Father VVho was in the bosome of the Father The Light and Life of men He took flesh and dwelt among us and God hath laid help on one that was mighty and as many as believe this Word shall not perish but have life 1. For such is the distrustful and unbelieving heart of man that he hath given all things to draw him to believe His Son in the flesh and fleshlie Sacrifices and signes that man may see the accomplishment of the Word before his face 2. For the whole Word of God is nothing else but a declaration of Gods purpose touching his pleasure towards man and that Salvation which he determined in Christ only declared to man that he may believe And therefore hath given him the Word Christ Sacrifices and manie wonderful miracles and great works on Pharaoh and all enemies that they may wait on that Word and stick thereto 3. And thus Christ himself dealt with his Disciples saying You are all sory to hear that I must leave you And believe not that I shall rise from the dead your heartâ— will be shaken this night but I shall die and rise again and that I will be present with you by the Holy Ghost whom I will send and abide with you Take and eat this in rememberance of me that so you may not flie to any other help nor be discouraged with any temptation in the VVorld For I will be with you and not forsake you Therefore when ye meet together eat this Passeover and feast and make merrie in me For though I will judge the VVorld by my VVord yet I will passeover you that believe my word and in my Name 1. But woe to the World because of unbelief God hath promised and that Word shall be performed in Christ to all believers This he hath Sealed by manie signs and yet we believe any thing rather The VVorld promiseth and sheweth lying signes and we believe Satan promiseth and sheweth lying wonders and we believe But God hath given his Son and we believe not This is the condemnation that light is come into the VVorld c. He hath given signes and yet we believe not he hath passed over others and saved us from great dangers and still we believe any thing before him 2. Yea and of all things men are least led hither any thing but Christ VVe get knowledge by the VVord and depend thereon and proud thereof it lifts us up but brings us not down to seek hither Nay by this word we will needs comprehend God and his Power without Christ when all power was given to him Yea of all other the Righteous Religious man could not abide him nor walk in his ways as Scribes Pharisees So we become righteous and will live thereby VVe run into a thousand opinions and devices and inventions but Christ despised of all VVe provide Lambs and feed on them but not on Christ And yet we see Gods way was alwayes a low way He a silly Lamb and now ordinarie food of Bread VVine that hereby he might reveal the great Mystery They are poor and common that he may crosse Mans curious devices and that the flesh may see no beauty in them but in him onlie 1. There is outward Elements set before the common senses of man 2. The Word to inform the understanding 3. And Christ and his Spirit to feed the heart and spirit of man that he may believe 4. So that all the Word and Sacrifices are nothing without Faith as in Heb. 4. This leads past all figures Yea when nothing appears but Death this finds Life This gives a place in the heart of man for eating of the Lamb Bread and Wine a silly thing where the heart is not led further It is not knowing talking or doing the thing but believing that Word and resting thereon Now the use and manner of the Sacrifice lets us see the life thereof the sprinkling of tâ—e blood the death of Christ that iâ— his death is accomplished our Redemption The Lamb without spot him who was innocent doing good loving all hurting to none in whom dwelt all righteousnesse and yet he must dye that we may live In this death is the assurance that by suffering comâ—â— life when this Blood is sprinkled on the heart of Man that the eyes of man be still here in all wants straits to wait in Faith here to receive life As also by death and suffering the losse of all things in patience we arâ— through faith made Victors over all The sprinkling oâ— the Blood was a sign to Israel of safetie and of theiâ— deliverance to come So to us This Sacrifice is given to draw our eyes from all other things to Christ only SERMON X. Isa 28.14.15 c. Hear the Word of the Lord ye scornfâ—â— men that rule my people which are in Jerusalem because ye have said We have made a Covenant witâ— Death c. IN this Chapter is laid down the woes denounceâ— against Israel for their hardned securitie and contempt of the Promise of God in the Messiah where unto through fulnesse they were fallen For fulnesâ— begot Pride and that made them even drunk as with wine and so carelesse and secure 1. He pronounceth the woe and then shews their present estate 1. Under pretence of their priviledges they were lifted up in Pride 2. Besotted with VVorld and sensual pleasures as men drunk with wine and hardned in all Two things made them proud 1. Their priviledges of being Gods people 2. The fulnesse of the VVorld and long peace this defection was grown general 1. The People they were lifted up with a singular conceit 2. The Priests and Prophets were grown drunk and bâ—sotted 3. Their Princes were high minded and scorners And so at last in these VVords he proceeds to judgement against Israel shewing what shall befall them â—nd so Prophesies of the Captivity following In which â—e declares formally as in all Courts of justice for the defence of the King his Crown and Dignity For â—herein the cryme being notorious in the Countrey â—nd appearing so before the inferiour Officer they are â—eferred to the judge specially sent by the King before whom they are to receive their final tryal and judgement according to desert VVhere 1. They are called â—o the Bar then the Judgement preferred and sound witnesses produced so judgement and execution So â—oth God here He calls them to the Bar by their names scornful men that rule Israel He prefixes the â—nditement against them because they had cast off the VVord of the Lord by carnal confidence and securitie â—nd so were hardened against God VVhich confidence â—ppeared in three particulars wherein they promise saâ—ety though God had threatned the contrary 1. From Death 2. From guilt and Hell 3 From the Crosse toâ—ether with the ground thereof vanity and falshood
Three VVitnesses he needed not for they out of their hardnesse confesse He proceeds to judgement wherein he 1. He layes down the safe estate of Sion the Church in that he hath there laid the Foundation and Corner-stone Jesus Christ and the safety of all that build thereon He that believes c. 2. And then the judgement of the enemies as 1 That they shall have right judgement by him 2. That he will disannul all their hopes of safetie c. 1. Note their present condition and what had brought them to it viz. Their fulnesse and peace and conceit of their priviledges above others So that had made them now scorners of Christ his Word by the Prophets So that Long peace and plentie ease fulnesse in the World covered with a conceit of Redemption by Christ doth usually harden man against God and cover man from himself that Christ and his promise his wayes and Religion are despised and little set by Which for the most part brings a heavy day in the end Thus the old World mocked at Noah and Psal theâ— 10. Tush there is no knowledge in the most high let him do his Word that we may see it Thus the Phariseâ— being full despised the righteousnesse of God madâ— a mock of Christ See what end it brings Prov. 1. Because they despised my counsels c. Therefore shall thâ— eate the fruit of their own wayes As in Constantine time when the Church enjoyed rest from their enemies and that they had peace through the Christiaâ— World Men became wanton in knowledge and feâ— from the truth of Christ into foul errors to the veâ—â— denying of Christs Godhead and the Holy Ghost Sâ— in times of peace and fulnesse Religion is made but matter of discourse not of practise 1. For two things make all things esteemed Necessity Delight But when the heart is fatted up with thâ— World he feels no want of Christ And for delight hâ— hath none for he never felt the sweetnesse of his Lorâ— and Reconciliation 2. For the fulnesse of the World embraced eats oâ—â— the life of Religion As the thorny ground choked thâ— seed Davids high Mountain And Christ saith How hardly doth these enter into Heaven So that though the World laugh and seems pleasant for the present yet in the end it is a miserable comforter For though Israel was now full and despised the honny Comb of Christs death yet afterwards were carried captive they were forced to sit by the waters of Babel weeping and drink their own tears as those Psal 37. Who had what they desired yet were they set in slippery places and suddenly went down to hell 1. This is too plain in experience peace and plenty have been our portion many a day We feed of the fattest baist our selves before the fire we feel no smart as do others nor are we pinched with famine nor hear we the fearful noise of the drum nor are we affrighted with the terrors of an army We dwell safe under our Vines and are not driven from our habitation as other our neighbours who are glad to forsake house and harbour lands and riches to save their own lives We play with our Wives and Children and sport our selves with them for company when others hearts are broken with cries and lamentation of Wife and Infants and knowes not how to save them from that approaching destruction that is coming And yet what effect hath this wrought even like those in Zephaniah 1.12 which say Tush God will neither do good nor evil and tush we shal feel no evil 2. But look for it for where this goes before the other will follow after If Sodom mock at Lot through fulnesse of bread yet God will meet with them And if the Pharisees stumble at this stone and will not have this man to reign over them yet the falling on them shall crush them to pieces and destroy those his enemies But Israel would never believe warning till it fell upon them 3. To be crossed then in the World to suffer want reproach persecution is a safer way than prosperity For by the one man is driven to Gâ—d for want drove the Prodigal to his Father and hereby the flesh is weakned and crucified but by fulâ—esse made strong and no Judgement nor bondage so great as this Security Hardnesse and Slavery to our own Passions But woe and alace to the poor World who have not the World and yet despise Christ most of any For they are left to their own dissolute Wills and Lusts and want education in Gods Fear as much as meat And therefore it were to be wished that the course begun might be continued 4. But it is a fearful thing to make a mock of Christ and set lightly by his Word and to be so far in love with the World that we esteem not his Word it argues we find little good therein and little comfort by the Promise For what we find any good in we highly esteem of and what would pull us from our pleasant pleasures we cannot endure Therefore was the word of the Prophets so unwelcome to Israel so to us For first 1. The doctrine of Faith we count foolishness and uncertain 2. The doctrine of the Cross impossible 3. The doctrine of Obedience bondage needlesse 4. The doctrine of Death most unwelcome Yea what account do we make of the World what care contending about it and yet how lightly we passe over Christ and his Word But take heed for this grows from setting light to scorning and then to persecuting of it 5. Pray we then with David that we fall not into presumptuous sin For this is that Word that must save thee and that Christ that must redeem thee and thaâ— Promise that must comfort thee And thou little knows what thou scornes even that which at Death must be thy best friend but how caâ— we look for him to be a friend at Death whom we have despised and scorned all our life Because ye have said Here was their carnal confidence Presumption and Fools-Paradise wherein they blessed themselves under the shelter of Vanity aâ—â— Falshood they would not hear of Sin Guilt Death and the Cross but thought they had a device in wit the world to put off all these So that All men naturally labor by all wit and inventions to put off the evil day far from them and security and presumption to give rest to their restlesse hearts rather than to feel the evil in themselves that they may find rest through mercy in another Sâ— the rich fool much goods for many dayes so David blessed himself in his high mountain and Israel by the Ark. Thus the Pharisees covered all under pretence of Holinesse but all in vain Nay all cry Peace peace 1. For man is lothe to see any evil approaching to himself 2. And mans mind must have something to bear it up if not Christ he runns to vain shifts 3.