mournfully confessing her sinne and her transgression which so inkindled compassion in this blessed Saviour that presently he pronounceth to her a comfortable absolution Thy sinnes are forgiven thee If therefore we will be the sheepe of Christ wee must heare his voyce humbly truely and mournfully confessing our impieties for to brave out sinne or to lay some colour upon it is to aggravate sinne and make it greater for as Chrysostome speakes malum est peccare Chrysost sed gravius negare aut indulgere it is evill to sinne but it is a greater evill to denie it or indulge it by any colour whatsoever No evill so great but a wicked man may lay some kind of colour upon it For what sinne is so vile that a wicked man may not lay some kinde of colour upon it The base drunkard may say it was companie that induced him to that foule pollution the savage murtherer may inforce it was furie and choler that moved him to that horrid act the damnable swearer may say it was rash inflamed passion that moved him to blaspheme the name of God The Adulterer may alledge it was lust and concupiscence that was the cause of his base wickednesse the greedie insatiable worldling that prosecutes oppression and with the teeth of fraud deceit and crueltie feeds upon living men how easily may he inforce that he doth it to maintaine his reputation to sustaine his charge to leave large revennues to his posteritie But alas these are foolish excuses the fruits of old Adam they doe not minuere but augere crimen they doe not diminish but increase the fault and therefore are never able to stand the tryall of Gods piercing iudgement Oh then as the true sheep of Christ heare his voyce humbly entirely confessing thy transgression Aug. Non crubuisti peccare erubescis confiteri for as Austine speakes wast thou not ashamed to sinne and art thou ashamed to confesse thy sinne oh let this be farre from a Christian heart Fourthly as a fourth speciall instance the true sheepe of Christ doe heare the voyce of Christ delightfully Oh t is a ioy a pleasure to their soules no voyce so welcome to them they long after it they hunger and thirst after it Psal 42. as David doth witnesse of himselfe who being in banishment and not able to come to the house of God to heare his voice he mournfully proclaimes that as the Hart desired the water brookes so his soule longed after God yea saith he my soule is a thirst for the living God oh when shal I come to appeare before his presence Bern. in Cant. Suavia ad gratiam foecunda ad sensus profunda ad mysteria Psal 19. Psal 1.19 And no marvell for as Bernard speakes his words are sweet unto grace pleasant unto the senses profound unto mysteries yea saith the Psalmist they are sweeter than honey and the honey combe and therefore concludes they were dearer to him than thousands of gold and silver And this for speciall reason Ioh. 11.43 44. Luke 7.14 15. Mat. 9.33 Mat. 8.32 Luke 9.42 for t is a precious treasure of admirable force and power for by this mightie voyce the voyce of Iesus Christ the dead were raised the dumb did speak the deafe did heare and divels did depart yea by this most powerfull voyce the hardned hearts of men that raged against this blessed Christ were so farre pierst Acts 2.37 that it did make them to cry out Men and brethren what shall we doe yea by this the darkned world eclipsed with the clouds of sinne Gentiles in the flesh Ephes 5.8 strangers from the covenant of promise Ephes 2.12 without God in the world by this powerfull voyce are made to be no more strangers nor forreiners Ephes 2.19 but citizens with the Saints and of the houshold of God Ephes 5.8 no more darkenesse but light in the Lord even professors of the Gospell of Iesus Christ Well therefore might the Apostle call this blessed voyce the power of God to salvation Rom. 1.16 well might he conclude that this is a lively voyce mightie in operation sharper than any two-edged sword entering thorow Heb. 4.12 even to the dividing asunder of the soule and the spirit In a word well may the sheepe of Christ delight in this voyce for it doth enrich their soules with incomparable happinesse true repentance with mournfull teares to condole their sinnes and their transgressions Now saith Chrysostome teares are the sponges of sinne Chrys Lachrimae sunt spongia peccatorū to wash them and purge them cleane away It doth enrich them with true faith to apprehend Christ Iesus by which they are made one with him Rom. 10.17 Ioh. 17.22 1. Cor. 12.27 Ephes 1.22.23 Ephes 4.15 16. Ephes 5.23 Rom. 8.17 the mystical bodie of that mysticall head and therefore heyres and co-heyres of his eternall kingdome Hence it is that the worthy Prophet doth conclude them to be blessed that live in the house of the Lord to be partakers of this heavenly voyce Blessed saith he are they that dwell in thy house Psal 84.4 they will ever praise thee Yea hence was it that it was such a speciall ioy to his soule to heare any speake of recoursing to those holy places as himselfe doth plainly witnesse I reioyced when they said unto me Psal 122.1 2. we will goe unto the house of the Lord our feet shall stand in thy Courts O Ierusalem O worthy affection prudently directed for as Augustine speakes Aug. in soliq Divina dulcedo quae omnem praesentem mundi amaritudinem toll it in this voyce there is a divine sweetnesse which takes away all the present bitternesse of the world all contempts and disdaines all distresses and afflictions fills the soule with such a secret inward consolation that it makes it conclude with the Apostle Rom. 8.18 that the afflictions of this life are not worthy of the ioyes that shall be revealed yea it so assures it that it makes it able to say Rom. 8.38 39. that neyther death nor life nor Angels nor Principalities nor powers nor things present nor things to come nor height nor depth nor any other creature shall be able to separate it from the love of God which is in Christ Iesus For this heavenly voice the pledge of Gods favour the anchor of the faithfull it is so fastned to their soules by the strength of Gods spirit Bern. that as Bernard speakes it is not broken off by any disease by decrepit age by the intercourse of things by the change of times briefly not by death it selfe but shall rest as a sure comfort and consolation upon the soule for ever Oh therefore Esa 52.7 as the Prophet Esay speakes how bewtifull are the feet of those that declare and publish this message unto the mountaines that is to the sheep of Christ whose affections are lifted up from the dirtie vallies and
〈◊〉 Psal 37.7 Therefore the holy Ghost commands Keepe silence to the Lord oh murmure not against those things which the Lord doth suffer to bee imposed but indure them with an equall minde Iob 1.21 This was Iobs wisedome therfore amidst his great afflictions he patiently and worthily concludes The Lord hath given it and the Lord hath taken it blessed bee the name of the Lord. Indeed many and even innumerable are the afflictions of the Saints of God in this life many inwardly many outwardly many spiritually many corporeally many by the fury of sinne many by the subtiltie of Satan many by the plots and practices of ungodly persons Psal 34.19 Rev. 21.4 but here is their comfort the Lord delivereth them out of all and will at length wipe away all teares from their eyes and bring them to that glorious place where they shall need no light of the Sunne but God himselfe shall be their light Rev. 22.5 and they shall raigne for evermore Thus the true sheep of Christ doe follow him patiently not murmuring not repining at the incident calamities of this life but doe with a patient and with a pious undaunted affection undergoe whatsoever is imposed Rom. 8.38 concluding that neither death nor life nor Angells nor principalities nor powers nor things present nor things to come nor height nor depth nor any other thing shall bee able to separate them from the love of God which is in Iesus Christ For those then who are so farre from the patient following of Christ that every little affliction withdrawes them that every scandalous tongue removes them and makes them shrink away from Christ for those who seeme to be ashamed in any forward manner to professe Christ Iesus for feare of the brand of ignominie how farre are these from the patient following of Christ how farre from the practice of the true sheep of Christ as examples doe plainely witnesse How excellent herein was that worthy servant of Christ Ignatius the martyr destroied by Lions Ignatius who was so fervent a follower of Christ and so patient in suffering afflictions for his sake that he concluded So I may finde Christ and imbrace him I would there should come unto mee fire gibbets beastes crashing of bones renting of all the body and all the torments of the Divell and when hee heard the roring of Lions which should devoure him he joyously said I am the wheat of Christ let me bee ground with the teeth of beastes that I may bee found to bee pure and fine manchet Yea Sozomenus speaking of the great patience of the Saints of God under the crosse of Christ that nothing could withdraw them from their Master Christ and from the hope of that glorious happinesse which he had provided for them saith Sozom. l. 1. c. 1. The Christians being spoiled of their goods and regarding nothing that they had being hanged on gibbets * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and suffering all manner of torments so without care or sense as if their bodies had not beene their owne neither allured with flatterie nor amazed with threats they gave all men hereby to understand * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that they suffered these things for some great reward This was so great a motive to Iustine the Martyr when he was a heathen Philosopher Iustine the martyr that seeing the great patience of Christians in suffering whatsoever was laid upon them at length himselfe became a Christian for thus Eusebius reports his wordes I my selfe taking pleasure in Plato's doctrine Euseb l. 4. c. 8. and hearing the Christians evill spoken of and seeing them to goe couragiously and boldly to their death and to suffer all such things as were thought most terrible I thought it a thing impossible that such men should live wickedly or in wantonnesse And many examples might bee giuen of farre neerer times as may be plainly seene in the booke of Acts and Monuments where wee may behold the great patience of the servants of God set downe to bee so great in the suffering for Christ that no death no cruell death could withdraw them from the sincere following of their Master Christ Oh then how cleere is it that they are farre from the true following of Christ that seeme to repine and murmure at every affliction that are apt upon every small occasion to start aside from Christ like a broken bow and to be distasted with him like those rebellious Israelites who when they were in some distresse in the wildernesse then they murmured and cried out Oh that wee had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt Exod. 16.3 when we sat by the flesh pots when wee ate our bellies full Iob 2.9 or like to Iobs wife who when prosperitie failed and adversitie was imposed she laboured to have the Lord provoked that death might be imposed Greg. moral l. 3. Verba post vulnera in tulit ut cum vis doloris ingrauesceret facile persuasionis suggestio perversa praevaleâ—et and that most cunningly for as Gregorie speakes shee used her wordes when the woundes were fresh that when the force of paine and griefe did vex and trouble the perverse suggestion of perswasion might easily prevaile Oh that therefore we would give diligence as the true sheep of Christ with patience to follow Christ For how excellent a vertue is patience Tert. in lib. suo de patientia Fidem munit pacem gubernat humilitatem instruâ—t poenitentiam expectat exhomologesin assignat carnem regit spiritum servat linguam fraeuat manum continet tentationes inculcat id est conculcat scandala pellit martyria consummat pauperem consolatur divitoÌ„ temperat infirmum non extendit valentem non consumit fidelem delectat gentilem invitat servum Domino Dominum Deo commendat c. Cypr. in lib. de bono patientiae Late patet patienciae virtus ubertas ejus largitas de unius quidem nominis fonte proficiscitur sed exundaâ— tibus venis per multa gloriarum itinera diffunditur nec proficere aliquid in actibus nostris potest ad consummandam laudem nisi inde consummationis accipiat firmitatem Pationtia est quae nos Deo dommendat servat ipsa est quae â—raâ— temperat quae linguam fraenat mentem gubernat pacem custodit disciplinam regit libidinis impetum frangit c. oh saith Tertullian it armeth faith it guideth peace it instructeth humilitie it expecteth penitencie it assignes confession it rules the flesh it keepes the spirit it bridles the tongue it restraines the hand it beates downe temptations it drives away scandals it consummates martyrdomes it comforteth the poore it tempereth the rich it presseth not the weake it consumes not the strong it delights the faithfull it invites the gentle it commends the servant to the Master the Master to God it bewtifies the woman it approves the man it is loved in the childe it is praised in
committed with a full consent or plenall swinge of will but are eyther sinnes of ignorance or sinnes of infirmitie and frailtie they delight not in sinne but doe hate it they continue not in sin without repentance but doe weepe and mourn for it Rom. 7.15 c. But the Regenerate sinne not with full swinge of will for as Saint Iohn speakes whosoever is borne of God sinneth not that is ex animo or tota voluntate from his heart or with a full swinge of will for as Saint Paul speaketh the evill which they do they allow not but doe hate it and are delighted with the law of God according to the inner man onely in the flesh the part corrupt and unregenerate there dwelleth no good thing in respect thereof they are led captive that is against their wills unto the law of sinne Therefore it followeth that the Regenerate cannot totally fall away from God 10 If faith may be lost so a totall desertion made from God then all the fruits and effects of faith But these cannot all be wholly lost for the Regenerate are never brought to that extremitie As we may see in Cain and Iudas Gen. 4.13 Mat. 27.5 as to contemne God and utterly to despaire of God for this is proper to the Reprobates onely Therefore faith it selfe cannot wholly be lost and consequently the Regenerate never totally fall from God Hence it is to shew the constant perseverance of the faithfull that our Saviour concludes that those whom his Father hath given him none shal take them out of his hands Iohn 4.14 that they which shall drinke of the water which he shall give them shall never thurst againe but it shall be in them a well of water springing up unto everlasting life This happy persevering estate of the faithfull the Apostle Paul knew right well therefore hee was constantly perswaded that neyther death nor life nor Angels nor principalities Est in nobis per Dei gratiaÌ„ in bono recipiendo perseveranter tenendo non solum posse quod velinus vetum etiam velle quod possumus Aug. Tom. 7. de correp grat cap. 12. col 1342. Nunc vero sanctis in regnum Dei per gratiam Del praedestinatis non tantum tale adjutorium perseverantiae datur scilicet ut possint perseverare si velint sicut datum fuit Adâ— sed tale ut â—is porseverantia ipsa donctur August Tom. praed Colum. 1343. nor powers nor things present nor things to come nor height nor depth nor any other creature should be able to separate him from the love of God which is in Christ Iesus our Lord. To this purpose to witnesse the perseverance of the faithfull speakes S. Augustine There is saith hee in us by the grace of God in the receiving good and the holding it perseveringly not only an abilitie to doe that which we will but also to will that which wee can doe And againe Now saith he to the Saints predestinate to the kingdome of God by grace is given not only such a helpe of perseverance that is that they might persevere if they would as was given to Adam but such a helpe that perseverance it selfe is given unto them To this purpose speakes also Chrysostome Neither man saith hee nor time Chrys in cap. 5. Epist ad Rom. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rom. 8.26 Psal 31.5 nor the change of things nor the Divill himselfe nor approaching death can drive us away from those things that is from the graces of God but when we dye then we hold them more certainely and alwaies profiting wee injoy more Here therefore may wee cleerly behold the third speciall qualitie observed in this last generall prosecution of the true sheepe of Christ they follow him perseveringly So that in their latest gaspe in the peace of conscience and assurance of Gods love toward them the spirit of God witnessing togerher with their spirit that they are the sonnes of God they are able to say Into thy hands oh Lord doe we commend our spirit Blessed therefore they that be the true sheep of Christ for these we see by the strength of his holy spirit dwelling in them overcome all the strength of sinne all the furie of Satan all the seducing objects of the world all the inducing provocations of the wicked and so persevere Rev. 21.7 that at length they come to inherit all things all the ioyes of heaven Psal 84.10 all the comforts of Gods everlasting kingdome where one day is better than a thousand else where Psal 16.11 for in the presence of our God oh there is the fulnesse of joyes and at his right hand there are pleasures for evermore Blessed therefore these and truly prudent they that make this the subject of their affection and the speciall scope of their practice that they may be found to be of this blessed number even the true sheepe of Christ The which heavenly wisedome the eternall Father bee pleased to vouchsafe to impresse within us for the precious merits of his deare sonne Christ Iesus To which Father and Sonne with their most holy Spirit three persons and one indivisible essence bee all praise power glorie and dominion ascribed from this time forth for evermore FINIS ROM 1. ult Which knowing the justice of God that they which doe such things are worthy of death not onely doe them but favour those that doe them RIght Worshipfull and beloved in our Saviour Iesus Christ the worthie Apostle having first generally and afterward by particular enumeration set forth the horrid pollutions of the Gentiles wherewith they were infected at length he comes to an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the accusation shewing with what violence and wilfulnesse they committed these sinnes removing from them all pretext and colour of ignorance and infirmitie of ignorance for knowing the justice of God they committed these things of infirmitie for they did not onely doe them themselves but they favoured them that did them Where for method sake and better apprehension I consider the two-fold gradation of the pollutions of the Gentiles the first in respect of their own proper sins the second in respect of the sins of others the first in these words They committed things worthy of death the second in these words that they not onely did such things but they favoured those which did them And first for their pollutions in respect of their owne proper sinnes wherein I consider both the matter and the forme The matter set downe in generall They committed things worthy of death the forme that they committed these things wilfully and willingly against their knowledge and their conscience for they did commit them knowing the justice of God that they which did such things were worthy of death And first for the matter they committed things worthy of death Wherin I consider three things first the blindnesse of man in corrupted nature Secondly the patience of God in executing revenge upon the wicked Thirdly
marvell if these be no more fervent in the waies of the Lord Mat. 7.16 Can men gather grapes of thornes or figs of thistles alas what sweetnesse in Sepulchers what certaintie in Camelions what confidence in Syrens But let all those beloved in Christ Iesus that hope for a Crowne of immortall glory Oh let these runne fervently in this holy Race as zealous of Gods glory as loving to his Majesty as obedient to his truth so pure and constant in their affections that in the fervent resolution of their hearts they may say with the blessed Apostle That neither death nor life Rom. 8.38.39 nor Angells nor principalities nor powers nor things present nor things to come nor height nor depth nor any other creature shall be able to separate them from the love of God which is in Christ Iesus our Lord. And thus wee see Beloved that as the first subsequent thing necessary in the forme of this Race we must runne fervently with an earnest zeale and resolution Secondly as the second subsequent thing necessary in the forme of this Race Bernard we must runne festinanter speedily for as Bernard speakes vita brevis via longa◠our life is short but the way is long therfore we must use a speedy course as David worthily resolved Psal 119.32 Interius vacui Exterius exonerati I will runne saith he the way of thy precepts Now know wee that for this two things are specially necessary That we become inwardly emptied and outwardly disburdned First inwardly emptied of the heape and burthen of our sinnes and transgressions daily lessening them more and more Gen. 4.13 Mat. 27.5 for sinne is so heavie a weight it utterly overthrowes this spirituall Race Oh this made Cain despaire and Iudas to lay violent hands upon himselfe yea so heavie a burthen is sinne though the world understand it not that it made blessed David himselfe cry out Psal 38.4 Mine iniquities saith he are gone over my head and are as a grievous burthen made more heavie than I can beare Oh they greatly hindered him in this spirituall Race Iob 13.26 This was Iobs case which made him cry unto God Thou writest bitter things against me Rom. ◠24 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 thou makst me to possesse the iniquities of my youth yea this heavie weight so troubled the blessed Apostle Paul that it made him grievously complaine Oh man that I am wearied with continuall sightings who shall deliver mee from the body of this death Therefore that wee may runne speedily in this holy Race wee must endeavour to become inwardly emptied daily lessening the heavie weight and burthen of our sinnes else wee shall never so run as to obtaine Secondly to runne speedily wee must become outwardly disburthened that is Luke 16.13 Gregorie Nil laboriosius quà m terrenis desideriis aestuare Aug. in Psal 122. Qui majora cupit c. Ad hoc accesserunt divitiae ut egestas cresceret Aug. in Psal 137. Avaris ipsa foecunditas molesta est Aug. in Psal 29. Timoribus cruciantur tristitia contabescunt An insatiable worldling carrieth alwaies a kinde of hell about him in his conscience from the earnest prosecution of terrene things wee cannot serve God and Mammon we cannot prosecute the world and runne to obtaine a heavenly kingdome Therefore saith Gregorie There is nothing more laborious than to burne with earthly desires this is the most miserable poverty of all for fertility and plenty is a punishment unto these for they are tormented with feares and doe pine away with sorrow and anguish Alas the world is like to Iudas whom it kisses it cries out against him presently This is hee lay hold on him fill him with cares and distractions feares and horrours let him taste of hell before he come to hell Now these thus affected or rather infected whither tend all their passages what is their daily labour why to enlarge themselves to get the earth in possession to make their yongsters gallants of this age whom wee may often see to consume prodigally what their parents did get miserably But what a distressed condition is this when will these so runne as to obtaine a Crowne of immortall glory Alas this is impossible untill they become disburthened of these terrene prosecutions Wee may see in Matthewes Gospell Mat. 19.22 that that yongue man would faine have followed Christ but the world plucks him utterly away and makes him forsake that blessed Saviour Christ Iesus Act. 8.20 Wee may see in the Acts of the Apostles Simon Magus would faine have been a Religionist but the world so clogged him it wholly overthrew him Saint Paul doth tell us 2. Tim. 4.10 that Demas began this Race hee gave his name to Christ he was an associate of the Apostles hee followed him in his travells but this inchanting Paramour the world it pulled him cleane away 2. Pet. 2.22 to turne with the dogge to the vomit and with the sow to wallow in the myre Therfore well might the Apostle call this snare 1. Tim. 6.10 the very roote of all evill well might Chrysostome declame against it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Oh common plague oh deepe destruction of men for once insnared in this evill they hardly or never get out of it to obtaine a heavenly kingdome Oh! Mat. 19.24 so hardly that our Saviour himselfe concludes it easier for a cable to passe thorough the eye of a needle which we know can never bee but by great untwining Luke 19.7 We may see that Zacheus was sometime thus burthened and insnared but when did hee breake out from it oh never untill he came to this resolution Ver. 8. Behold Lord the halfe of my goods I give to the poore if I have taken from any man by false accusation Ver. 9.10 I restore him fourefold Lo then Christ concludes This day salvation is come unto this house then he proclaimes him to be the sonne of Abraham Esay 3.15 Ier. 5.26 Oh when will our greedy worldlings take this course that live by usurie and oppression by grinding the faces of the poore These are hardly removed from the outward act of these sinnes much lesse from the inward affection of them and therefore are far from the integrity of restitution by laying snares and making pits to catch men when will these make restitution nay when will they be perswaded so much as to desist from the Act and violent prosecution of these loathsome sinnes But let them know and all other dull-hearted Christians which have bookes in their hands and Christ in their mouthes but the world in their hearts that unlesse they runne this holy Race disburthened of terrene prosecutions they shall never runne so speedily as to obtaine that is a heavenly and a glorious Kingdome Thus we see that as the second subsequent thing necessary in this Race wee must runne festinanter speedily inwardly emptied of sinne outwardly disburthened of