the grace of Christ and in Christ is seasonable when the soul is under temptation and under Affliction Is not that a lofty and a lovely expression For peace I had great bitterness Isa 38.17 but thou in love to my soul hast delivered it from the pit of corruption for thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back 10. Grace in Christ is surpassing grace Sin is an evil thing Sin is an evil the evil of evils Ther 's evil and nothing but evil in sin Sin is evil but grace is good sin is worse but grace is best Sin is a large Field a large Territory but grace is a larger Sin is the largest Territory in the World but grace Mans Ephah is full of sin but Gods Ephah is fuller of grace Mans cup is full but Gods cup is over full and that for an Eternity For as sin has reigned unto Death Rom 5. 〈◊〉 so hath grace reigned through righteousness unto eternall life by Jesus Christ our Lord. Here is sin reigning unto death but here 's grace reigning unto Eternal life The wages of sin is death but the gift of God is Eternal life Rom. 6. 〈◊〉 through Jesus Christ our Lord. Ther 's sin enough in man to damn man ther 's grace enough in Christ to save man Ther 's sin enough in man to damn man and that for an Eternity ther 's grace enough in Christ to save man and that for an Eternity 3. How this grace is in Christ that is sufficient for a Christian under temptation Grace is in Christ two wayes Formally and causally 1. Formally Grace is in Christ Formally as in the subject of it Christ is the God of grace In the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God But what then The word was made flesh and dwelt amongst us and we beheld his glory Jo. 1.1 14 the glory as of the onely begotten of the Father full of grace and truth 2. Causally Grace is in Christ Causally as in the fountain of it As Christ is the God of it so he is the giver of it for he is thee head of the Church Col. 1.13 And he is thee head of the body the Church Now thus Christ is in a manifold respect 1. Because Christ is above the Church and ruleth it as the Head guideth the body Christ is soveraign as well as Saviour and Surety He is therefore called King of Saints Rev. 15.3 2. Because Christ conveyeth Life into the Church as the Head to the Members Christ giveth life to the Church Maintaineth life in the Church yea Christ in the Churches life Col. 3.4 When he who is our life shall appear 3. Because Christ provideth for the Church as the Head doth for the Members Christ gives the Church Manna yea Christ doth not onely feed the Church but is the Churches Food and he is at once Meat and Medicine I am the bread of life Jo. 9.48 4. Because Christ Participates with the Church in the same nature with it as the Head doth with the Members For we have not an high Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities Heb. 4.15 but was in all points tempted like as we are yet without sin 4. Why there is in Christ for a Christian a sufficiency of Grace under temptation In a three-fold respect God Christ and the Christian. 1. In respect of God God 2 Tim. 2.16 because his foundation standeth sure The foundation of God standeth sure having this Seal the Lord knoweth them that are his God knoweth those all those that he hath given unto Christ and he hath laid up in Christ a sufficiency of grace for these that they may not miscarry for an Eternity 2. In respect of Christ because he is to lose none that are given unto him Christ While Christ was in the World he kept his and upon his going out of the World he ingaged the Father to keep them As God knows all that are given unto Christ so Christ is to keep all that are given unto him Jo. 17.11 While I was with them in the world I kept them in thy Name those that thou hast given me have I kept and none of them is lost but the Son of perdition that the Scripture may be fulfilled Jo. 17.12 But where did the Scripture speak this of Judas Let his dayes be few and let another take his Office Psa 109.8 3. In respect of the Christian As there is a sufficiency of grace in Christ upon Gods account and upon his own Christian so upon the Christians 1. In order to the strengthening of the Christian Ther 's a fulness of grace in Christ for Christians that Gods power may be made known yea 2 Cor. 12.9 10. made perfect in mans weakness This appears by the words after the Text for speaking of his grace as sufficient in the Text he gives this reason For my power is made perfect in weakness and when I am weak then am I strong When I am weak in flesh I am strong in Spirit when I am weak in my self I am strong in my Saviour Christ can say Paul thou art weak but I am strong yea I am strength The strength of Israel that cannot lye Now there is a Sufficiency of grace in Christ that a Christian may be strengthned under all his troubles and trials under all his Temptations and Tribulations 2. In order to the smiling of the Christian We use to say a Christian life is like a Courtiers life for upon the favour or disfavour of the Prince depends the Comfort or discomfort of the Courtier Thus upon the smiles or frowns of Christ depend the comfort or discomfort of the Christian A Christian is like the Marigold concerning which they say that it opens with the shining and shuts with the setting of the Sun If the Sun of Righteousness set in a Cloud 't is as Death to the Christian but if this Sun of Righteousness break thorough a Cloud 't is as life to the Christian Christ will not alwayes frown lest the Spirit should fail before him and the soul which he have made If ever a drooping desponding despairing soul be comforted Christ must be the Text and the Preacher too I even I am he that comforteth thee Now there is a sufficiency of grace in Christ in order to a Christians comfort Jo. 6.63 The words that he speak they are Spirit and they are Life 3. In order to the feeding of a Christian Ther 's a sufficiency of grace in Christ that the Christian may feed upon the promiss that when he hath nothing in his purse he may find enough in the promiss and when he hath nothing in his private hand he may find enough in his publique head Feeding upon the promise is believing in the promiss for the promiss is a ground for Faith as the precept is a Rule for Obedience
confirming of it the applying of it 1. The Explaining of it Now here I shall enquire after three things 1. What this Sin is that Fools make a mock at 2. What this Mocking is that Fools make at Sin 3. What these Fools are that make a mock at Sin 1. What this Sin is that Fools make a mock at Description Sin in the Nature and Notion of it is a transgression of the Law Sin supposeth a law in being for where there is no law there is no transgression But where there is sin Ro. 4 15. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 there is a law a transgression of that Law Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth the Law for sin is a transgression of the Law Or according to the Greek text And Sin is Lawlesness Yea Sin is not only the transgression of a Law but of a good Law Ro. 7.12 For the Law is holy and the Commandment holy just and good Yea the transgression Ps 89.30 31. not only of a good Law but also of Gods Law If his children forsake my Laws and walk not in my judgements If they break my Statutes and keep not my Commandments So that Sin is the transgression of a Law of a good Law of Gods Law Now the Law forbids not onely the doing of evil whether in thought word or deed but also commands the doing of good So that to omit the good commanded as well as commit the evil forbidden is Sin As it is true against the Fruits of the spirit there is no Law no Law of Condemnation It is as true Gal. 5.23 Gal. 5.19 20 21. against the works of the flesh there is Law for they are all against the Law Whatever then doth transgress the Law of God in whole or in part for Whosoever shall keep the whole Law and yet offend in one point Jam. 2.10 he is guilty of all Is therefore a sin and therein a sin whether it brake an Affirmative or a negative precept that is whether it be the Omission of Good or Commission of Evil. 2. What this mocking is that Fools make at sin To this Negatively and Positively 1. To mock Negativly is to beguile Thou hast mocked me these three times said Delilah to Sampson Judg. 16.15 But thus you are not to unstand it here 2. To mock is to deride Now this Derision is either inward or outward 1. Inward Then persons are said to mock when from their hearts they deride God in his Goodness VVord and Ordinances with hypocritical mockers in feasts Psa 35.16 2. Outward Now this is by Gesture and by Actions 1. By Gesture All that see me laugh me to scorn Psa 22.7 they open the lip they shake the head But thus you are not to understand it here 2. By Actions Others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings yea Heb. 11 3â— moreover of bonds and imprisonments But thus you are not to understand it here 2. Positivelâ— 2. To mock is to speak lightly and sparingly of sin A person then mocks at sin when he speaks of it as Lot of Zoar Is it not a little one Thus the wicked Papists Gen. 19.20 wickedly distinguish between sins Venial and Mortal a distinction not legible in the holy Scriptures of truth Paul who was of the highest stature in grace though not in Nature speak expresly The wages of sin is Death Not only the wages of this sin Ro. 6.23 and that sin but of any sin is death the second death Eternal death When persons speak of sin as many do of Ceremonies are not these little ones to wear this that to read and bow c. are not these little ones so to speak this and do that are not these little things To speak thus is to make a mock at sin and thus you are to understand it in the Text Fools make a mock at sin that is they speak lightly and sparingly of it 3. Who these Fools are 1. Negatively that make a mock at sin To this Negatively and positively But to this Generally and then particularly 1. Generally A Fool liberally is an Ideot one destitute of wit a Person of little or no Capacity or Discretion Thus the wise and the foolish are opposed Eccl. 2.1 Who knoweth whether he shall be a wise man or a fool 1. By Fools sometimes understand those that acknowledge themselves to be so 2 Particuâ—â—â—ly 1. Cor. 3.18 Let not a man deceive himself if any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world let him become a fool that he may be wise That is saith Musculus let him be a Believer Christians formerly were called Credentes believing ones as if their Faith had been their Folly when 't is the greatest Folly to be without Faith But thus you are not to understand it here 2. By Fools sometimes understanding those that are accounted by others so â— Cor. 4. â—0 We are fools for Christs sake Accounted so by the World thus not to be understood here 3. By Fools sometimes understand those that have onely Oyle in their Lamps Five of them were wise Mat. 25.2 and five were foolish The wise were those that had Oyle in their Vessels as well as in their Lamps the foolish were those that had Oyle in their Lamps but not in their Vessels but thus you are not to understand it here Fools make a mock at sin 4. By Fools sometimes understand those that though they have knowledge and faith yet they have much Ignorance and unbeleif remaining in them Luke 24. â—5 Oh fools and slow of heart to believe all that the Prophets have spoken But thus you are not to understand it in the Text Fools make a mock at sin 5. By fools sometimes understand worldly men Thou fool Lu. 12.20 this night shall thy soul be required of thee But thus you are not to understand it in the Text. 2. Positivly 2. By fools sometimes understand wicked men The fool hath said in his heart there is no God Thus you are to understand it in the Text. Fools make a mock at sin Psa 14.1 Wicked men that do not only work wickedness but make wickedness their work are the fools that make a mock at sin They that play with sin as the Fish with the bait and sport with the Devil they are the fools that make a mock at Sin Fools make a mock at Sin But if we look no farther then the Text and Context 't is legible for fools are opposed to the righteous Fools make a mock at sin but with the righteous there is favour These righteous ones are those that are spiritually and actually so that are concerned in an imputed and imparted righteousness 2. The confirming of it Now here I shall enquire after two things Whether fools make a mock at sin and why fools make a mock at sin 1. Whether fools make a mock at sin If to make a mock at sin
â—zek 18. â—0 so iniquity shall not be your ruine Now Soul is sin thus and wilt thou make a mock at it 5. Ther 's but one thing in all the world contrary to the Image of God and that 's sin Grace and Holiness stampt upon the soul is the Image of God upon the soul God made Man in his own likeness that is in righteousness and holiness for so the Apostle wordeth it And put on the new man which after God is created in righteousness â—ph 4.24 and holiness of truth Now Sin is as contrary to holiness as deformity to beauty as darkness to light as death to life as Hell to Heaven Sin is the Devils Image Grace is Gods Image Sinners are like Satan â— Jo. 3.8 He that committeth sin is of the Devil He is not only a servant but a child of the devil â—ohn 8 44 Ye are of your Father the devil said a sinless Jesus to the sinful Jews Never was a child more like a father then a sinner is like Satan Now wilt thou make any longer a mock at sin 6. Ther 's but one thing in all the world that 's opposite to the people of God and that 's Sin 'T is Sin and Sin onely that wars against the seed of God and of Grace in them 〈◊〉 5.17 The flesh lusteth against the Spirit 'T is true Sin and Satan cannot hate thee so much as God loves thee nor do thee so much hurt as God can do thee good but Sin and Satan too will do their worst Dearly beloved 2 Pet. 2.1 I beseech you as Pilgrims and Strangers abstain from fleshly lusts Why which war against the soul Now wilt thou any longer make a mock at sin 7. There 's but one thing in all the world that 's contrary to the Nature of God and that 's Sin God is holy his Name is holy his Nature is Holiness As his Name is so is He Holy all holy yea he is so and cannot but be so God is without compare for holiness Who is like unto thee Jehovah among the Gods Ex. 15.11 who is like unto thee glorious in holiness fearful in Praises doing wonders Now as God is holy all holy altogether holy alway holy so sin is sinful all sinful altogether sinful alway sinful In me that is Ro. 7.18 in my flesh in my corrupt nature dwelleth no good thing As in God there is no evil so in sin there is no good As God is the chiefest of Goods so sin is the chiefest of evils As no good can be compared with God for goodness so no evil can be compared with sin for evil Now wilt thou any longer make a mock at sin 8. Ther 's but one thing in all the world that 's an enemy to the Trinity and that 's sin As God is the greatest enemy to sin so sin is the greatest enemy to God Sin is against the very essence and existence of God Sin is an enemy to the Father Son Spirit 1. Sin that 's an enemy to the Father They are Sinners that say Depart from us for we desire not the knowlâ—dge of thy wayes Iob 21.14 2. Sin that 's an enemy to the Son They were Sinners that said Crucifie him crucifie him Io. 19.6 3. Sin that 's an enemy to the Spirit They are Sinners that resist the holy Spirit As your Fathers did Acts 7.51 so do ye Thus Sin is an enemy to Father Sin Spirit Though Sin be against all good yet not so much against any good as against God and that because he is the chiefest good Now wilt thou any longer make a mock at Sin But as I did begin so I must end Oh soul hug no longer this Monster this Monster of Monsters Play no longer with this bait Oh do not any longer play with Hell and sport with the Devil Oh flee from Sin as from a most Pestilential plague Oh let this Text and Truth ring in thine eares whensoever and whithersoever thou goest Fools make a mock at Sin Fools make a mock at Sin but with the Righteous there is favour 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rom. 6.23 FINIS Books Printed and are to be sold by John Hancock at the Sign of the Three Bibles in Popes-Head-Alley in Cornhil TWelve Books lately published by Mr. Thomas Brooks late Preacher of the Gospel at Margarets New Fish-street 1. Precious Remedies against Satans Devices Or Salve for Believers and unbelievers sores being a Companion for those that are in Christ or out of Christ that slight or neglect Ordinances under a pretence of living above them that are growing in spirituals or decaying that are tempted or deserted afflicted or opposed that have assurance or want it on 2 Cor. 2.11 2. Heaven on Earth Or A serious discourse touching a well-gâ—ounded Assurance of Mans everlasting happiness and blessedness discovering the nature of Assurance the possibility of attaining it the causes Springs and Degrees of it with the resolution of several weighty Questions on Rom. ch 8. v. 32 33 34. 3. The Vnsearchable Riches of Christ Or Meat for strong men and milk for babes held forth in two and twenty Sermons from Eph. 3.8 Preached on his Lecture-nights at Fish-street-hill 4. His Apples of Gold for Young Men and Women And A Crown of glory for Old Men and Women Or the happiness of being good betimes and the Honour of being an Old Disciple clearly and fully discovered and closely and faithfully applied With the young mans objections answerd and the old mans Doubts resolved 5. A String of Pearls Or The best things reserved till last delivered in a Sermon preached in London June 8. 1657. at the Funeral of that triumphant Saint Mrs. Mary Blake late Wife to his worthy friend Mr. Nicholas Blake Merchant 6. The Mute Christian with sovereign Antidotes against the most miserable Exigents Or A Christian with an Olive-leaf in his mouth when he is under the greatest afflictions the sharpest and forest trials and troubles the saddest and darkest Providences and changes with Answers to divers Questions and Objections that are of great importance all tending to win and work souls to be still quiet calm and silent under all changes that have or that may pass upon them in this world c. lately printed and dedicated to all afflicted distressed dissatisfied disquieted and discomposed Christians throughout the World 7. An Ark for all Gods Noahs in a stormy day Wherein is shewed the transcendent Excellency of a Believers Portion on Lam. 3.24 8. The Crown and Glory of Christianity Or Holiness the only way to Happiness discovered in 48 Sermons on Heb. 12 14. 9. The Privy Key of Heaven Or A Discourse of Closet-Prayer Twenty Arguments for it with the Resolutions of several considerable Questions c. 10. A Heavenly Cordial for all that have had or escaped the Plague c. 11. A Cabinet of Precious Jewels or a Box of Precious Oyntments 12. Londons Lamentations Mr. Calamy's Godly Mans Ark. Christ Communion with his Church Militant by Nicholas Loâ—kver Sin the Plague of Plagues by Ralph Venning The Accurate Accomptant or London Merchanâ— â—eing Instructions for keeping Merchant Accounts by â—homas Brown Accountant Short-writing the most Easie Exact Lineal and â—peedy Method that hath ever yet been obtained by Thomas Metcalf Also a Book called a School-master to it explaining the Rules thereof A Copy Book of the newest and most useful Hands Bridges Remains being Eight Choice Sermon 's by â—hat Reverend Divine Mr. William Bridges heretofore Minister at Yarmouth A Discourse of Christs coming by Theophilus Gale King James his Counterblast to Tobacco A Brief Deâ—cription of New York The Shepherds Legacy or forty years Experience of the Weather Venninâ—'s Remains or Christ School consisting of four Classis of Christians viz. Babes Children Young-men and Fathers being the substance of many Sermons by Ralph Venning Prepared for the Press by him self before his Death A Disswasive from Conformity to the World as also Gods severity against Impenitent Sinners with a Farewel Sermon by Henry Stubs Minister of the Gospel Baxters poor mans Family-Book Luthers 84 special and Choice Sermons Comae Berenices or the Hairy Comet The Young mans Conflict with and Victory oveâ— Devil by Faith or a True and Perfect Relation of thâ— Experiences of Thom. Powel begun in the fifteenth anâ— Continned till the seventeenth Year of his Age Gospel-Love heart-prurity atd the Flouishing oâ— Righteous being the Last Sermons of the Late Reverend Mr Joseph Caryl All sold by John Hancock as aforesaid FINIS
And Peter went out and wept bitterly Who would that is in his wits and have not given to his reason a bill of divorce disoblige a Friend and provoke a Foe As God therefore is the best Friend and should not be disobliged so he is the worst Foe and should not be provoked Stand in awe and sin not Psal Oh 't is better to suffer then to sin better to suffer a thousand times then to sin once and better to suffer a thousand Deaths if a man could suffer so many then to sin and suffer for sin the second death Oh soul get into a Closet while fools make a mock at sin and there cry Oh Lord let me be sick rather then sinning Oh Lord let me be sighing rather then any thing Oh let me rather dye to sin then live and sin Oh let me rather dye that I might not sin then live and sin 1. Dost make a mock at sin Tremble foul for God is not mocked 2. To the foolish Thou mayest deceive thy self and deceive others but thou canst not deceive God It is impossible to impose deceit upon God Be not deceived God is not mocked for whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap He that soweth to the flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption but he that soweth to the Spirit Gal. 6.7 8. shall of the Spirit reap life Everlasting Thou mayst make a mock at sin and make a mock at the grace of others as Ishmael did at the grace of Isaac but God cannot be mocked And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian which she did bear unto Abraham mocking 2. Dost make a mock at sin Tremble soul for as thou art mocking in a time of prosperity so God will be mocking in a time of adversity Because I have called â—v 1 2â—â— 26 27. and ye refused I have stretched ouâ— my hands and no man regarded but ye have set at nought all my counsel and would none of my reproof But what then I also will laugh at your calamity I will mock when your fear cometh when your fear cometh as desolation and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind To make a mock at sin is to sport with sin To this the Apostle speaks Sporting themselves with their own deceivings And to sport with sin 1.2.13 is to take pleasure and delight in sin As 't is the Spirit of Godliness to delight in God so 't is the spirit of sinfulness to delight in sin Sin is the element of a sinner That they all might be damned which believed not the truth â—hes 2. but had pleasure in unrighteousness The Fish is not more in its element when in the water then a sinner is in his element when he is sinning sinning with a high hand sining with both hands when he is adding Drunkenness to Thirst adding sin to sin To mock at sin is to sport with sin to sport with sin is to take pleasure in sin There are many and is it not pitty there should be any that do not onely take pleasure in their own sinning but also in the sinning of others but against these the Apostle thunders Who knowing the Judgment of God Rom. â— 32 that they which commit such things are worthy of Death not onely do the same but have pleasure in them that do them Now these are the Persons that are mockers at sin and these seem to me to be under a prodigious preparation and qualification for destruction and damnation 3. Dost make a mock at sin Go then and sin no more may not I say to thee as Christ did to the Adultress Go and sin no more May not I also say to thee as Christ did to the impotent man Sin no more least a worse thing come unto thee Io. 8 1â— Io. 5.14 Now that thou mayst not make any more a mock at sin take these following Considerations 1. Ther 's but one thing in all the World Considerations that 's opposite to the well-being of man and that 's sin Sin is against the well-being of man in this life 'T is true man was born to a great estate but by Sin which was and is Treason against God he forfeited all Paradise was Mans Inheritance but God for his sin dispossessed him of it Man was Emperour of Eden but God for his Sin banished him his native Countrey We brought nothing into this world 1 Tim. 6.7 and it is certain we can carry nothing out Man in this world is but a Tenant at will and seeing he deserves nothing he should be content with and thankful for any thing Now wilt thou make a woâ—k at sin 2. There 's but one thing in all the world that 's against the Being of man and that 's sin As sin would not suffer a man to be well in the world so not suffer a man to be long in the world Sin is not only against the well-being but also against the very being of man Sin would not only that man should not be well but also that he should not at all be Oh how many doth Sin strangle in the Womb Oh how many Abortives and Miscarriages doth Sin make Oh how many doth Sin send from the Cradle to the Grave that have run their race before they begin to go Man no sooner begins to live but he begins to die Sin hath reduced mans age to a very little pittance from almost a thousand years to a few years yea to a few days He that is born to day is not sure to live a day He that is born to day is old enough to die For what is our life it is even as a vapour which for a little time appeareth Jam. 4.1 and then vanisheth away Now wilt thou make a mock at sin 3. There 's but â—â—e thing in all the world that is a Reproach to Persons and that 's Sin Sin lays a person under infamy Sin is such a spot and stain as nothing but blood will wash out 'T is not properly a reproach for a person to be poor Poverty is not properly a reproach He that mocketh the poor Pro. 14.3 reproacheth his Makes The poor and the rich the Lord is the Maker of them all But now sin is a reproach to persons a Reproach to Nations Righteousness exalteth a Nation but sin is a reproach to any people or according to the Margent Nations Righteousness exalteth a Nation but sin is a reproach to Nations Now is sin thus and wilt thou make a mock at it 4. Ther 's but one thing in all the world that 's a ruine to persons and that â— Sin Ahaz would sacrifice to the gods of the King of Syriâ— that they might help him but they were the ruine of him and of all Israel Sin is not only the reproach of a person but the ruine of a person not only the reproach of a Nation but the ruine of a Nation Repent ye and turn from all your transgressions