Adulteress who can paint her black enough The Scripture calls her a deep Ditch Prov. 23.27 She is a Common-shore Whereas a Believer his Body is a Living Temple and his Soul a little Heaven bespangled with the Graces as so many little Stars The Body of an Harlot is a walking Dunghil and her Soul a lesser Hell Fourthly Adultery is destructive to the Body Prov. 5.11 And thou mourn at last when thy Flesh and thy Body is consumed It brings into a Consumption Uncleanness turns the Body into an Hospital it wastes the Radical Moisture rots the Skull eats the Beauty of the Face As the Flame wastes the Candle so the Fire of Lust consumes the Bones The Adulterer hastens his own Death Prov. 7.23 Till a Dart strike through his Liver The Romans had their Funerals at the Gate of Venus Temple to signify that Lust brings Death Venus is Lust. Fifthly Adultery is a Purgatory to the Purse as it wastes the Body so the Estate Prov. 6.26 By the means of a Whorish Woman a Man is brought to a piece of Bread Whores are the Devil's Horseleeches Spunges that will soon suck in all ones Money The Prodigal had soon spent his Portion when once he fell among Harlots Luke 15.30 King Edward the Third's Concubine when he lay a dying got all she could from him and pluck'd the Rings off his Fingers and so left him He that lives in Luxury dies in Beggery Sixthly Adultery blots and eclipseth the Name Prov. 6.33 Whoso committeth Adultery with a Woman a wound and dishonour shall he get and his Reproach shall not be wiped away Some while they get Wounds get Honour The Soldiers Wounds are full of Honour The Martyrs Wounds for Christ are full of Honour These get Honour while they get Wounds But the Adulterer gets Wounds in his Name but no Honour His Reproach shall not be wiped away The Wounds of the Name no Physician can heal The Adulterer when he is dead his Shame lives When his Body rots under ground his Name rots above ground His base-born Children will be the Living Monuments of his Shame Seventhly This Sin doth much eclipse the Light of Reason it steals away the Understanding it stupifies the Heart Hos. 4.11 Whoredom takes away the Heart It eats out all Heart for good Solomon besotted himself with Women and they enticed him to Idolatry Eighthly This Sin of Adultery ushers in Temporal Iudgments The Mosaical Law made Adultery Death Lev. 20.10 The Adulterer and the Adulteress shall surely be put to Death And the usual Death was Stoning Deut. 22.24 The Saxons commanded the Persons taken in this Sin to be burnt The Romans caused their Heads to be stricken off This Sin like a Scorpion carries a Sting in the Tail of it The Adultery of Paris and Helena a beautiful Strumpet ended in the Ruin of Troy and was the Death both of Paris and Helena Iealousie is the rage of a Man and the Adulterer is oft killed in the Act of his Sin Adultery cost Otho the Emperor and Pope Sixtus the Fourth their Lives Laeta venire Venus tristis abire solet I have read of two Citizens in London 1583. who defiling themselves with Adultery on the Lord's Day were immediately struck dead with a Fire from Heaven If all that were now guilty of this Sin should be punished in this manner it would rain Fire again as on Sodom Ninthly Adultery without Repentance damns the Soul 1 Cor. 6.9 Neither Fornicators nor Adulterers nor Effeminate shall enter into the Kingdom of God The Fire of Lust brings to the Fire of Hell Heb. 13.4 Whoremongers and Adulterers God will judge Tho Men may neglect to judge them yet God will judge them But will not God judge all other Sinners Yes Why then doth the Apostle say Whoremongers and Adulterers God will judge The meaning is 1. He will judge them assuredly they shall not escape the Hand of Justice 2. He will punish them severely 2 Pet. 2.10 The Lord knoweth how to reserve the Vnjust to the Day of Iudgment to be punish'd but chiefly them that walk in the Lust of Vncleanness The Harlot's Breast keeps from Abraham's Bosom Momentaneum est quod delectat Aeternum q. d. Cruciat Who would for a Cup of Pleasure drink a Sea of Wrath Prov. 9.18 Her Guests are in the depths of Hell A wise Traveller when he comes to his Inn tho many pleasant Dishes are set before him yet he forbears to taste because of the Reckoning which will be brought in We are here all Travellers to Ierusalem above and tho many Baits of Temptation are set before us yet we should forbear and think of the reckoning which will be brought in at Death With what Stomach could Dionisius eat his Dainties when he imagined there was a naked Sword hung over his Head as he sat at Meat While the Adulterer feeds on strange Flesh the Sword of God's Justice hangs over his Head Causinus speaks of a Tree that grows in Spain that is of a sweet Smell and pleasant to the Taste but the Juyice of it is poysonous The Emblem of an Harlot she is perfum'd with Powders and fair to look on but poysonous and damnable to the Soul Prov. 7.26 She hath cast down many wounded yea many strong Men have been slain by her Tenthly The Adulterer doth not only wrong his own Soul but doth what in him lies to destroy the Soul of another and so kill two at once And thus the Adulterer is worse than the Thief For suppose a Thief Rob a Man yea take away his Life yet that Man's Soul may be happy he may go to Heaven as well as if he had died in his Bed But he who commits Adultery endangers the Soul of another and deprives her of Salvation so far as in him lies Now what a fearful thing is it to be an Instrument to draw another to Hell Eleventhly The Adulterer is abhorr'd of God Prov. 22.14 The mouth of a strange Woman is a deep Pit he who is abhorred of the Lord shall fall therein What can be worse than to be abhorr'd of God God may be angry with his own Children but for God to Abhor a Man it is the highest Degree of Hatred Quest. But how doth the Lord show his abhorring of the Adulterer Answ. In giving him up to a Reprobate Mind and a Seared Conscience Rom. 1.26 And now he is in such a condition that he cannot repent This is to be abhorred of God Such a Person stands upon the Threshold of Hell and when Death gives him a Jog he tumbles in All which may sound a Retreat in our Ears and call us off from the pursuit of so damnable a Sin as Uncleanness I will conclude with two Scriptures Prov. 5.8 Come not nigh the Door of her House Prov. 7.27 Her House is the way to Hell Twelfthly Adultery is a Sower of Discord It destroyes Peace and Love the two best Flowers which grow in a Family Adultery sets Husband
expos'd to the Waves and Rocks 3. Watch your Temptations Satan continually lies in ambush and watcheth to draw us to sin Stat in procinctu diabolus he is fishing for our Souls he is either laying of snares or shooting of darts therefore we had need watch the Tempter that we be not decoyed into sin Most sin is committed for want of watchfulness 7. If you would be kept from the evil of sin consult with the Oracles of God be well versed in Scripture Psal. 119.11 Thy word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against thee The word is Anceps gladius a two-edged Sword to cut asunder mens lusts When the Fogs and Vapours of sin begin to arise let but the Light of Scripture shine into the Soul and it dispels those Fogs Let the word of Christ dwell richly in you Col. 3.16 Alphonsus King of Arragon read over the Bible Fourteen times The word shews the damnable evil of sin it furnisheth us with Precepts which are so many Receipts and Antidotes against sin When Christ had a Temptation to sin he beat back the Tempter and wounded him Three times with this Sword of the Spirit It is written Why do men live in sin but because they either do not Read the Word or do not believe it 8. If you would be preserv'd from gross presumptuous sin get your hearts fired with love to God Love hath a great force in it it is strong as death it breaks the league between the heart and sin Two things in God cause Love First His Orient Beauty Moses desired to see some glimpse of it Lord shew me thy glory 2. His Amazing Love What a Prodigy of Love was it to give his Son out of his Bosom and lay such a Jewel to pawn for our Redemption These two the Orient of God's Beauty and the Magnitude of his Love may like two Loadstones draw our Love to God and if we love him we will not sin against him He that loves his Friend will not by any means displease him I have read of four men meeting together who asked one another What it was that kept them from sinning One said The Fear of Hell Another said The Joys of Heaven The Third said The Odiousness of Sin The Fourth said That which keeps me from sin is Love to God Shall I sin against so good a God Shall I abuse Love Love to God is the best Curben-bit to keep from sin 9. If you would be kept from the evil of sin be diligent in a Calling Dū laboribus omnia vendunt Adam in Paradise must till the Ground Such as live idly expose themselves to sin if we have no work to do Satan will find us work He sows most of his seed in Fallow ground A Woman being much tempted to sin came to Reverend Mr. Greenham for Advice What she should do to resist the Temptation He gave her this Answer Be always well employed that so when Satan comes he may find thee busied in thy Calling and thou maist not be at leisure to listen to his Temptations 10. If you would be kept from sin fix the eye of your Mind upon the Beauty of Holiness Holiness consists in our Conformity to God Holiness is the sparkling of the Divine Nature a beam of God shining in the Soul How lovely is Christ's Bride when decked and bespangled with the Jewels of Holiness What makes the Seraphims Angels of Light but their Holiness Do but think with your selves what a splendid glorious thing Holiness is and it will cause a disgust and hatred of sin which is so contrary to it The beholding of Beauty makes one out of love with Deformity 11. If you would keep from the evil of sin meditate frequently of Death First The unavoidableness of it Heb. 9.27 Statutum est It is appointed for all once to die We are not so sure to lie down this night in our Bed as we are to lie down in our Grave Secondly The uncertainty of the Time We are but Tenants at will we hold our Life at the Will of our Landlord And how soon may God turn us out of this house of clay Death oft comes when we least look for it The Floud as some Learned Writers observe came in the Month Zif or April in the Spring when the Trees were Blossoming and the Birds Singing then came the Floud when they least looked for it So oft in the Spring of Youth when the Body is most healthy and the Spirits most sprightly and vigorous and Death is least thought on then it comes Could we think often and seriously of Death it would give a Death's-wound to sin Nihil sic revocato peocata quà m crebra mortis contemplatio Aug. No stronger Antidote against sin than this Am I now Singing and to morrow may be Dying What if Death should take me doing the Devil's work Would it not send me to him to receive my Wages Would but the Adulterer think I am now in the Act of Sin but how soon may Death come and then I who have burned in lust must burn in Hell This sure would strike a damp into him and make him afraid of going after strange Flesh. 12. If you would be kept from Gross Scandalous Sins beware of a Covetous Heart Covetousness is a dry Drunkenness He who thirsts insatiably after the World will stick at no sin he will betray Christ and a Good Cause for Money Cui nihil satis eidem nihil turpe Tacitus 1 Tim. 6.10 The love of Money is the root of all evil From this Root comes First Theft Achan's covetous humour made him steal the VVedge of Gold Josh. 7.21 Covetousness makes the Jayls so full Secondly From this root comes Murder VVhy did Ahab Stone Naboth to death but to possess his Vineyard 1 King 21.13 Covetousness hath made many swim to the Crown in blood Thirdly From this bitter Root of Covetousness proceeds Cousenage It is the Covetous hand holds false weights Fourthly From this Root of covetousness comes Uncleanness You read of the hire of a Whore Deut. 23.18 For Money she would let both her Conscience and Chastity be set to sale O if you would be kept from the evil of sin beware of Covetousness which is the In-let to so many sins 13. Let us be much in Prayer to God to keep us from Ingulphing our selves in sin Psal. 19.11 Keep back thy servant from presumptuous sins We have no power inherent to keep our selves from evil Arnoldus saith That Man in his corrupt estate hath Aliqua◠reliquias vitae Spiritualis Some Reliques of Spiritual Life left And Arminius saith Man hath a sufficiency of Grace in himself whereby he may Abstinere à malo abstain from evil Free-will is a sufficient curb to check and pull him back from sin But then what needed Christ to have Taught us this Prayer Libera nos à malo Deliver us from evil If we have power of our selves to keep from sin What need we pray to
decuit ideo ascendit quo altius non potuit Christ in his Humiliation descended so low that it was not fit to go lower and in his Exaltation he ascended so high that it is not possible to go higher In his Resurrection he was exalted above the Grave in his Ascension he was exalted above the Aery and Starry Heaven in his sitting at God's right Hand he is exalted above the highest Heavens far Eph. 4.10 Far above all heavens 5. God hath exalted Christ in constituting him Judge of the whole World Ioh. 5.22 The Father hath committed all judgment to the Son At that day of Judgment shall Christ be exalted super-eminently He shall come in the glory of his Father Mark 8.38 He shall wear the same embroydered Robes of Majesty as the Father And he shall come with all his holy Angels Matth. 25.31 He who was led to the Bar with a Band of Souldiers shall be attended to the Bench with a Guard of Angels Christ shall judge his Judges he shall judge Pilate that condemned him Kings must leave their Throne and come to his Bar. And this is the highest Court of Judicature from whence is no Appeal 1. Use of Information Branch 1. See Christ's different State on Earth and now in Heaven O how is the Scene alter'd When he was on Earth he lay in the Manger now he sits in the Throne then he was hated and scorn'd of Men now he is adored of Angels then his Name was reproached now God hath given him a Name above every name Phil. 2.9 Then he came in the Form of a Servant and as a Servant stood with his Bason and Towel and washed his Disciples Feet Ioh. 13.4 5. now he is clad in his Prince's Robes and the Kings of the Earth cast their Crowns before him on Earth he was a Man of Sorrow now he is anointed with the Oyl of Gladness on Earth was his Crucifixion now his Coronation then his Father frowned upon him in Desertion now he hath set him at his right Hand before he seemed to have no Form or Beauty in him Isa. 53.2 now he is the Brightness of his Father's Glory Heb. 1.3 O what a change is here Him hath GOD highly exalted Branch 2. Was Christ first Humble and then Exalted hence learn the way to true Honour is Humility Luke 14.11 He that humbleth himself shall be exalted The World looks upon Humility as that which will make one contemptible but it is the ready way to Honour The way to rise is to fall the way to ascend is to descend Humility exalts us in the Esteem of Men and it exalts us to an higher Throne in Heaven Matth. 18.4 Whosoever shall humble himself as this little child the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven Viz. He shall have a greater degree of Glory in Heaven Branch 3. Christ first suffered and then was exalted see hence that Sufferings must go before Glory Many desire to be glorified with Christ but they are not content to suffer for Christ 2 Tim. 2.12 If we suffer with him we shall reign with him The Wicked first reign and then suffer the Godly first suffer and then reign There 's no way to Constantinople but through the Straits no way to Heaven but through Sufferings No way to the Crown but by the way of the Cross. Hierusalem above is a pleasant City Streets of Gold Gates of Pearl but we must travel through a dirty Road to this City through many Reproaches and Sufferings Acts 14.22 We must enter into Glory as Christ did first he suffered Shame and Death and now is exalted to sit at God's right Hand 2. Use of Comfort Branch 1. Christ being so highly exalted hath Ennobled our Nature he hath crowned it with Glory and lifted it up above Angels and Archangels Though Christ as he was Man was made a little lower than the Angels Heb. 2.9 yet as the Humane Nature is united to the Divine and is at God's right Hand so the Humane Nature is above the Angels And if God hath so Dignified our Humane Nature what a shame is it that we should debase it God hath exalted the Humane Nature above the Angels and the Drunkard abaseth the Humane Nature below the Beasts Branch 2. Christ being exalted at God's right hand the Key of Government is laid upon his shoulders he governs all the Affairs of the World for his own Glory Do you think when Christ is so highly advanced and hath all Power in Heaven and Earth in his hand he will not take care of his Elect and turn the most astonishing Providences to the good of his Church In a Clock the Wheels move cross one to another but all make the Clock strike so Christ being at his Father's right hand he will make the most cross Providences tend to the Salvation of his Church Branch 3. Christ being at God's right hand we may be assured he hath now finished the Work of Man's Redemption Heb. 10.12 This man after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever sate down on the right hand of God If Christ had not fully expiated Sin and satisfied God's Law he had not sate down at God's right hand but had still lain in the Grave but now he is exalted to Glory This is an evident Token he hath done and suffered all that was required of him for the working out our Redemption Branch 4. Though Jesus Christ is so highly exalted in Glory yet he is not forgetful of us on Earth some when they are raised to Places of Honour forget their Friends when the Chief Butler was restored to his Place at Court then he forgot poor Ioseph in Prison But it is not so with Christ though he be exalted to such Glory in Heaven yet he is not unmindful of his Saints on Earth Our High-Priest hath all the Names and Wants of his People written upon his Breast-plate Art thou tempted though Christ be in Glory he knows how to pity and succour thee Heb. 4.15 We have not a high-priest that cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmity Dost thou mourn for sin Christ though in a glorified State he hears thy Sighs bottles thy Tears Branch 5. Christ being exalted at God's right hand this is for the Comfort of Believers that they shall one day be exalted to that Place of Glory where he is Christ's Exaltation is our Exaltation Christ hath prayed for this Joh. 17.24 Father I will that all those whom thou hast given me be with me where I am And he is said to go before to prepare a place for Believers Ioh. 14.2 Christ is called the Head and the Church is called his Body Eph. 1.22 23. The Head being exalted to Honor the Body Mystical shall be exalted too as sure as Christ is exalted far above all Heavens so sure will he instate Believers in all that Glory which his Humane Nature is adorn'd with Ioh. 17.22 As here he puts his Grace upon the Saints so shortly he
while they do any eminent Service for God seek themselves and so their very serving of him is a dshonouring him 4. We show Honour to our Heavenly Father by Celebrating his Praise Psal. 71.8 Let my mouth be filled with thy praise and with thy honour all the Day Rev. 5.13 Blessing Honour Glory and Power be unto him that sits upon the Throne Blessing God is honouring of God It lifts him up in the Eyes of others it spreads his Fame and Renown in the World In this manner the Angels the Quiristers of Heaven are now honouring God they Trumpet forth his Praise In Prayer we act like Saints in Praise like Angels 5. We show Honour to our Heavenly Father by suffering Dishonour yea Death for his sake St. Paul did bear in his Body the Marks of the Lord Iesus Gal. 6.17 As they were Marks of Honour to him so Trophies of Honour to the Gospel The Honour which comes to God is not by bringing that Outward Pomp and Glory to him as we do to Kings but it comes in another way by the Sufferings of his People They let the World see what a good God they serve and how they love him and will fight under his Banner to the Death Thus you see how you are to Honour your Heavenly Father God is worthy of Honour Psal. 104.1 Thou art Cloathed with Honour and Majesty What are all his Attributes but Glorious Beams shining from this Sun He deserves more Honour than Men or Angels can give him 2 Sam. 22. I will call upon the Lord who is worthy to be praised God is worthy of Honour Often times we confer Honour upon them that do not deserve it Many Noble Persons we give Titles of Honour to who are sordid and vicious they do no deserve Honour but God is worthy of Honour Neh. 9.5 Blessed be thy Glorious Name which is exalted above all Blessings and Praise He is above all the Acclamations and Triumphs of the Arch-angels O then let every true Child of God honour his Heavenly Father Tho the wicked dishonour him by their Flagitious Lives yet let not his own Children dishonour him Sins in you are worse than in others A Fault in a Stranger is not so much taken notice of as a Fault in a Child A Spot in a black Cloth is not so much observed but a Spot in Scarlet every ones Eye is upon it A Sin in the Wicked is not so much wondred at it is a Spot in black But a Sin in a Child of God here is a Spot in Scarlet this is more visible and brings an Odium and Dishonour upon the Gospel The Sins of God's own Children go nearer to his Heart Deut. 32.19 When the Lord saâ— it hâ— abhorred them because of the provoking of his Sons and Daughters O forbear doing any thing may reflect Dishonour upon God Will you disgrace your Heavenly Father Let not God complain of the Provocations of his Sons and Daughters let him not cry out as Isa. 1.2 I have brought up Children and they have rebelled against me So much for the First If our Earthly Father be to be honoured then much more our Heavenly Vse II. Exhort First Branch Doth God Command Honour thy Father and thy Mother Then let it exhort Children to put this great Duty in Practice be living Commentaries upon this Commandment Honour and Reverence your Parents not only obey their Commands but submit to their Rebukes You cannot honour your Father in Heaven unless you honour your Earthly Parents To deny Obedience to Parents entails God's Judgments upon Children Prov. 30.17 The Eye that mocketh at his Father and despiseth to obey his Mother the Ravens of the Valley shall pick it out and the young Eagle shall eat it Eli's Two Disobedient Sons were slain 1 Sam. 4.11 God made a Law that the Rebellious Son should be stoned the same Death the Blasphemer had Lev. 24.14 Deut. 21.18 If a Man have a stubborn and rebellious Son which will not obey the voice of his Father or the voice of his Mother then shall his Father and his Mother lay hold on him and bring him out unto the Elders of the City and all the Men of his City shall stone him with Stones that he die A Father once complaining Never had Father a worse Son than I have Yes saith the Son my Grandfather had A Prodigy of Impudence that can hardly be parallel'd Manlius when he was grown old and poor and had a Son very rich the old Father desired some Food of him but the Son denied him Relief yea disclaimed him from being his Father and sent him away with reproachful Language The poor old Father let Tears fall as Witnesses of his Grief But God to revenge this Disobedience struck this unnatural Son with Madness of which he could never be cured Disobedient Children stand in the place where all God's Arrows fly Second Branch Let Parents so carry it as they may gain Honour from their Children Quest. How may Parents so carry it towards their Children that their Children may willingly pay the Debt of Honour and Reverence to their Parents Resp. 1. If you would have your Children honour you 1. Be careful to bring them up in the Fear and Nurture of the Lord Ephes. 6.4 Bring them up in the Admonition of the Lord. You conveyed the Plague of Sin to them Ergo Endeavour to get them healed and sanctified Austin saith his Mother Monica travelled more for his Spiritual Birth than his Natural Timothy's Mother instructed him from a Child 2 Tim. 3.15 She did not only give him her Breast-milk but the sincere Milk of the Word Season your Children with good Principles betimes that they may with Obadiah fear the Lord from their Youth 1 King 18.12 When Parents instruct not their Children they seldom prove Blessings God oft punisheth the carelesness of Parents with Undutifulness in their Children It is not enough that in Baptism your Child is Dedicated to God but it must be Educated for God Children are young Plants which you must be continually watering with good Instruction Prov. 22.6 Train up a Child in the way he should go and he will not depart from it when he is old The more your Children fear God the more they will honour you 2. If you would have your Children honour you keep up your Parental Authority over your Children be kind but do not cocker them If you let them get too much Head they will Contemn you instead of Honouring you The Rod of Discipline must not be with-held Prov. 23.14 Thou shalt beat him with the Rod and deliver his Soul from Hell A Child indulg'd and humour'd in Wickedness will be a Thorn in the Parents Eye David cockered Adonijah 1 Kings 1.6 His Father had not displeased him at any time in saying Why hast thou done so And he afterward was a Grief of Heart to his Father and was false to the Crown ver 7 9. Keep up your Authority and you keep up
his Soul 1. We must not injure another in his Name A good Name is a precious Balsom it is a great Cruelty to murder a Man in his Name We injure others in their Name When we calumniate and slander them 'T was David's Complaint Psal. 35.11 They laid to my Charge things which I knew not The Primitive Christians were traduced for Incest and killing their Children as Tertul. Dicimur infanticidii incestus rei This is to behead others in their good Name this is an irreparable Injury No Physician can heal the Wounds of the Tongue 2. We must not injure another in his Body The Life is the most precious thing and God hath set this Commandment as a Fence about it to preserve it Thou shalt not kill God made a Statute which was never to this Day repealed Gen. 9.6 Who so sheddeth Man's Blood by Man shall his Blood be shed In the Old Law had a Man killed another unawares he might take Sanctuary but if he had killed him willingly tho he did fly to the Sanctuary the Holiness of the Place was not to defend him Exod. 21.14 If a Man come presumptuously upon his Neighbour to slay him with Guile thou shalt take him from my Altar that he may die Now in this Commandment Thou shalt do no Murder all those Sins are forbidden which lead to it and are the occasions of it As 1. Vnadvised Anger Anger boyls up the Blood in the Veins and oft produceth Murder Gen. 49.6 In their Anger they slew a Man 2. Envy Satan envy'd our first Parents the Robe of Innocence and the Glory of Paradise therefore never left till he had procured their Death Ioseph's Brethren envied him because his Father loved him and gave him a Coat of divers Colours therefore take Counsel to slay him Gen. 37.20 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Envy and Murder are near a-kin therefore the Apostle puts them together Gal. 5.21 Envyings Murders Envy is a Sin breaks both the Tables at once It begins in Discontent against God and ends in Injury against Man as we see in Cain Gen. 4.6 8. Envious Cain first discontented with God there he broke the First Table and then he fell out with his Brother and slew him there he broke the Second Table Anger is sometimes soon over like Fire kindled in Straw which is quickly out but Envy is a radicated thing and will not quench its Thirst without Blood Prov. 27.4 Who is able to stand before Envy 3. Hatred The Pharisees hated Christ because he excelled them in Gifts and had more Honour among the People than they therefore they never left till they had nailed him to the Cross and taken away his Life Hatred is a Vermin lives upon Blood Ezek. 35.5 Because thou hast had a perpetual Hatred and hast shed the Blood of the Children of Israel Haman hated Mordecai because he did not bow to him and he presently sought Revenge He got a Bloody Warrant sealed for the Destruction of the whole Race and Seed of the Jews Esther 3.9 Hatred is ever cruel All these Sins are forbidden in this Commandment which lead the Van and are oft the occasions of this Sin of Murder Quest. How many ways is Murder committed Resp. We may be said to Murder another Twelve ways 1. With the Hand As Ioab kill 〈◊〉 Abner and Amasa 2 Sam. 20.10 He smote him in the Fifth Rib and shed out his Bowels 2. Murder is committed with the Mind Malice is Mental Murder 1 Iohn 3.15 Whoso hateth his Brother is a Murderer To malign another and wish Evil against him in the Heart is a murdering him 3. Murder is committed with the Tongue By speaking to the Prejudice of another and causing him to be put to Death Thus the Jews kill'd the Lord of Life when they inveighed against him and accused him falsly to Pilate Iohn 18.30 4. Murder is committed with the Pen. So David killed Vriah in writing to Ioab to set Vriah in the Fore-front of the Battle 2 Sam. 11.15 Tho the Ammonites Sword cut off Vriah yet David's Pen was the Cause of his Death Therefore the Lord tells David by the Prophet Nathan 2 Sam. 12.9 Thou hast killed Vriah 5. Murder is committed by Plotting anothers Death Thus Iezabel tho she did not lay Hands her self upon Naboth yet because she contrived his Death and caused Two false Witnesses to swear against him and bring him within the Compass of Treason she was a Murderer 1 Kings 21.10 6. Murder is committed by instilling Poyson into Potions Thus the Wife of Commodus the Emperor killed her Husband by poysoning the Wine which he drank So many kill the Children they go with by taking such Medicines or strong Purges as prove the Death of the Child 7. By Witchcraft and Sorcery a thing forbidden under the Law Deut. 18.10 There shall not be found among you an Enchanter or a Witch or a Consulter with Familiar Spirits 8. By having an Intention to kill another as Herod would under a Pretence of Worshipping Christ have killed him Mat. 2..8 13. So Saul when he made David go as Captain against the Philistins designing thereby that the Philistins should have killed him 1 Sam. 18.17 Saul said Let not my Hand be upon him but let the Hand of the Philistins be upon him Here was intentional Murder and it was in God's Account as bad as actual 9. By consenting to anothers Death So Saul to the Death of Stephen Acts 22.20 I also was standing by and consenting to his Death He that gives Consent is accessary to the Murder 10. By not hindring the Death of another when in our Power Pilate knew Christ was innocent I find no Fault in him but he did not hinder his Death therefore he was guilty It was not washing his Hands in Water could wash away the Guilt of Christ's Blood 11. By Vnmercifulness 1. By taking away that which is necessary for the Sustentation of Life As to take away those Tools or Utensils whereby a Man gets his Living Deut. 24.6 No man shall take away the nether or the upper Milstone to pledge for he takes a mans Life 2. By not helping him when he is ready to perish You may be the Death of another as well by not relieving him as by offering him Violence Si non paveris occidisti Ambrose If thou dost not feed him that is starving thou killest him And then how many are guilty of the Breach of this Commandment 12. By not Executing the Law upon Capital Offenders A Felon having committed Six Murders the Judge may be said to be guilty of Five of them because he did not execute the Felon for his first Offence The next thing I shall speak to is to show the Aggravations of this Sin of Murder As 1. To shed the Blood of another Causless as to kill another in an Humour or Frolick A Bee will not sting unless provok'd But many when they are not provoked will take away the
not only to have the Light of the Word in our Heads but the Power of the Word in our Hearts Let us endeavour to have the Word copied out and written a Second time in our Hearts Psal. 37.31 The Law of God is in his Heart The Word saith Be cloath'd with Humility 1 Pet. 5.5 Let us be low and humble in our own Eyes The Word calls for Sanctity Let us labour to partake of the Divine Nature and to have something conceived in us which is of the Holy Ghost 2 Pet. 1.4 When the Word is thus copied out into our Hearts and we are changed into the Similitude of it now the VVord written is made effectual to us and becomes a Savour of Life 7. ult When we read the Holy Scriptutes let us look up to God for a Blessing Beg the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation that we may see the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the deep things of God Eph. 1.17 Pray to God that the same Spirit that wrote the Scripture would enable us to understand it Pray that God will give us that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2 Cor. 2.14 That Savour of Knowledge that we may relish a Sweetness in the Word we read David tasted it sweeter than the Honey-comb Psal. 19.10 Let us pray that God will not only give us his Word as a Rule of Holiness but his Grace as a Principle of Holiness 2 d. Branch of the 2 d. Question How may we so hear the Word that it may be effectual and saving to our Souls Resp. 1. Give great Attention to the Word preached let nothing pass without taking special Notice of it Luke 19.48 All the People were very attentive to hear him Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they hanged upon his Lip Acts 16.14 Lydia a Seller of Purple which worshipped God heard us whose Heart the Lord opened that she attended to the things which were spoken of Paul Give Attention to the Word as to a matter of Life and Death And to that purpose have a care 1. To banish vain impertinent Thoughts which will distract you and take you off from the Work in hand These Fowls will be coming to the Sacrifice Gen. 15.11 therefore we must drive them away An Archer may take a right Aim but if one stand at his Elbow and jog him when he is going to shoot he will not hit the Mark. Christians may have good Aims in hering but take heed of impertinent Thoughts which will jog and hinder you in God's Service 2. Banish Dulness The Devil gives many Hearers a sleepy Sop they cannot keep their Eyes open at a Sermon They eat so much on a Lord's Day that they are fitter for the Pillow and Couch than the Temple Frequent and customary sleeping at a Sermon shows high Contempt and Irreverence of the Ordinance it gives bad Example to others it makes your Sincerity to be called in question it is the Devil's Seed-time Matth. 13.25 While the Men slept the Enemy came and sowed Tares Oh shake off Drowsiness as Paul shook off the Viper Be serious and attentive in hearing the Word Deut. 32.47 For it is not a vain thing for you it is your Life When People do not mind what God speaks to them in his Word God doth as little mind what they say to him in Prayer 2. If you would have the Word Preached effectual come with an holy Appetite to the Word 1 Pet. 2.2 The Thirsting Soul is the Thriving Soul In Nature one may have an Appetite and no Digestion But it is not so in Religion where there is a great Appetite to the Word there is for the most part Digestion the Word doth concoct and nourish Come with Hungrings of Soul after the Word And therefore desire the Word that it may not only please you but profit you Look not more at the garnishing of the Dish than the Meat at Eloquence and Rhetorick more than solid matter It argues both a wanton Pallat and surfeited Stomach to feed on Sallets and Kickshaws rather than wholsom Food 3. If you would have the Preaching of the Word effectual come to it with a Tenderness upon your Heart 2 Chron. 34.19 Because thy Heart was tender If we preach to hard Hearts it is like shooting against a Brazen Wall the Word doth not enter it is like setting a Gold Seal upon Marble which takes no Impression Oh come to the Word preached with a melting Frame of Heart 'T is the melting VVax receives the Stamp of the Seal VVhen the Heart is in a melting Frame it will better receive the Stamp of the Word preached VVhen Paul's Heart was melted and broken for Sin then Lord what wilt thou have me do Acts 9.6 Come not hither with hard Hearts Who can expect a Crop when the Seed is sown upon stony Ground 4. If you would have the Word effectual receive it with Meekness Iam. 1.21 Receive with meekness the engrafted Word Meekness is a Submissive Frame of Heart to the Word a willingness to hear the Counsels and Reproofs of the Word Contrary to this Meekness is 1. Fierceness of Spirit whereby Men are ready to rise up in Rage against the Word Proud Men and Guilty cannot endure to hear of their Faults Proud Herod put Iohn in Prison Mark 12.12 The guilty Jews being told of their Crucifying Christ stoned Stephen Acts 7.59 To tell Men of Sin is to hold a Glass to one that is deformed who cannot endure to see his own Face 2. Contrary to Meekness is Stubbornness of Heart whereby Men are resolved to hold fast their Sins let the Word say what it will Ier. 44.16 We will burn Incense to the Queen of Heaven Oh take heed of this If you would have the Word preached work effectually lay aside Fierceness and Stubbornness receive the Word with Meekness By Meekness the Word preached comes to be engrafted As a good Cion that is grafted into a bad Stock doth change the Nature of the Fruit and make it taste sweet So when the Word comes to be engrafted into the Soul it sanctifies it and makes it bring forth the sweet Fruit of Righteousness 5. Mingle the Word preached with Faith Heb. 4.2 The Word preached profited not not being mixed with Faith If you leave out the chief ingredient in a Medicine it hinders the Operation Do not leave out this Ingredient of Faith Believe the Word and so believe it as to apply it When you hear Christ Preached apply him to your selves this is to put on the Lord Jesus Rom. 13.14 When you hear a Promise spoken of apply it This is to suck the Flower of the Promise and turn it to Honey 6. Be not only attentive in Hearing but retentive after Hearing Heb. 2.1 We ought to give the more diligent heed to the things we have heard lest at any time we let them slip 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Lest we let them run out as Water out of a Sieve If the Ground doth not retain the Seed thrown into