8.44 By saying to our First Parents Ye shall not die he brought in Death to the World 4. It is a Cursed Sin If there be a Curse for him that smites his Neighbour secretly Deut. 27.4 then he is double cursed that kills him The first Man that was born was a Murderer Gen. 4.11 And now art thou cursed from the Earth He was an excommunicate Person banish'd from the place of God's Publick Worship God set a Mark upon bloody Cain Gen. 24 15. Some think it was Horror of Mind which above all Sins doth accompany the Sin of Blood Others think this Mark was a continual Shaking and trembling in his Flesh which was a Mark of Infamy God set upon him He carried a Curse along with him 5. It is a Wrath-procuring Sin 2 Kings 24.4 1. It procures Temporal Judgments Phocas to get the Empire put to Death all the Sons of Mauritius the Emperor and then slew him But this Phocas was pursued by his Son-in-law Priscus who cut off his Ears and Feet and then kill'd him Charles the 9 th who caused the Massacre of so many Christians at Paris Blood issued out at several parts of his Body of which he died Albonia kill'd a Man and then made a Cup of his Skull to drink in afterwards his own Wife caused him to be murdered in his Bed Vengeance as a Blood-hound pursues the Murderer Bloody Men shall not live out half their Days Psal. 55.23 2. It brings Eternal Judgments It binds Men over to Hell The Papists make nothing of Massacres theirs is a Bloody Religion They dispense with Men for Murder so it be to propagate the Catholick Cause If a Cardinal put his Red Hat upon the Head of a Murderer going to Execution he is saved from Death But let all impenitent Murderers read their Doom Rev. 21.8 Murderers shall have their part in the Lake which burns with Fire and Brimstone This is the Second Death We read of Fire mingled with Blood Rev. 8.7 Such as have their Hands full of Blood must undergo the Wrath of God Here is Fire mingled with Blood and this Fire is inextinguishable Mark 9.44 Time will not finish it Tears will not quench it EXOD. XX. 12 Thou shalt not Kill 3. We must not injure anothers Soul This is the greatest Murder of all because there is more of God's Image in the Soul than in the Body Ths Soul tho it cannot be annihilated is said to be murdered because it misseth of Happiness and is for ever in Torment Now how many are Soul-murderers 1. Such as corrupt others by bad Example Vivitur Exemplis The World is led by Example especially the Examples of Great ones are very pernicious Magnates Magnetes We are apt to do as we see others before us especially above us Such as are placed in High Power are like the Pillar of Cloud when that went Israel went When Great Ones move in their Sphere others will follow them tho it be to Hell Evil Magistrates like the Tail of the Dragon draw the third part of the Stars after them 2. Such as entice others to Sin The Harlot by curling her Hair rolling her Eyes laying open her Breasts doth what in her lies to be both a Tempter and a Murderer Such an one was Messalina Wife to Claudius the Emperor Prov. 7.7 10. I discerned a young Man and there met him a Woman with the Attire of an Harlot so she caught him and kissed him Better are the Reproofs of a Friend than the Kisses of an Harlot 3. Ministers are Murderers who either starve or poyson or infect Souls 1. That starve Souls 1 Pet. 5.2 Feed the Flock of God which is among you These Feed themselves and starve the Flock Either through Non-residing they do not Preach or through Insufficiency they cannot There are many in the Ministry a shame to speak it so ignorant that they had need to be taught the First Principles of the Oracles of God Heb. 5.12 Was not he fit to be a Preacher in Israel think ye who being asked something concerning the Decalogue answered He never saw any such Book 2. That Poyson Souls Such are Heterodox Ministers who poyson People with Error The Basilisk poysons Herbs and Flowers by breathing on them The Breath of Heretical Ministers like the Basilisks Breath poysons Souls The Socinian that would rob Christ of his Godhead the Arminian that by advancing the Power of the Will would take off the Crown from the Head of Free-Grace the Antinomian who denies the Use of the Moral Law to a Believer as if it were antiquated and out of date these Poyson Mens Souls Error is as damnable as Vice 1 Pet. 2.1 There shall he false Teachers among you who privily shall bring in damnable Hereresies denying the Lord that bought them 3. That Infect Souls viz. By their Scandalous Lives Exod. 19.22 Let the Priests which come near to the Lord sanctifie themselves Ministers who by their Places are nearer to God should be holier than others The Elements the higher they are the purer The Air is purer than the Water the Fire is purer than the Air. The higher Men are by Office the holier they should be Iohn Baptist was a shining Lamp But there are many who infect their People with their Bad Life They preach one thing and live another Qui curios simulant Bacchanalia vivunt They like Eli's Sons are in White Linen but they have Scarlet Sins Some say that Prester Iohn the Lord of Africa causeth to be carried before him a Golden Cup full of Dirt A fit Emblem of such Ministers as have a Golden Office but are dirty and polluted in their Lives They are Murderers and the Blood of Souls will cry against them at the last Day 4. Such as destroy others by getting them into bad Company and so making them Proselytes to the Devil Vitia in proximum quemque transiliunt Sen. A Man cannot live in the Aethiopian Climate but he will be discoloured with the Sun nor he cannot be in bad Company but he will partake of their Evil. One Drunkard makes another as the Prophet speaks in another Sence Ier. 35.5 I set before them pots full of Wine and Cups and said unto them Drink ye Wine So the Wicked set Pots of Wine before others and make them drink till Reason be stupified and Lust enflamed These are guilty of the Breach of this Commandment they are Murderers of Souls How sad will it be with these who have not only their own Sins but the Blood of others to answer for So much for the First thing forbidden in the Commandment the Injuring of others II. The Second thing forbidden in it is the injuring ones self Thou shalt not kill Thou shalt do no hurt to thy self 1. Thou shalt not hurt thy own Body One may be guilty of Self-murder either 1. Indirectly and Occasionally 2. Directly and Absolutely 1. Indirectly and Occasionally As First When a Man thrusts himself into Danger which he might prevent
of their Misery But the Worm the Fire the Prison are all Eternal Rev. 14.11 The smoak of their Torment ascendeth up for ever and ever Poenae Gehennales puniunt non finiunt Prosper Eternity is a Sea without Bottom and Banks After Millions of years there 's not one Minute in eternity wasted and the Damned must be ever burning but never consuming always dying but never dead Rev. 9.6 They shall seek death but shall not find it The Fire of Hell is such as multitude of Tears will not quench it Length of Time will not finish it the Vial of God's Wrath will be always dropping upon a sinner As long as God is Eternal he lives for Ever to be avenged upon the wicked O Eternity Eternity who can Fathom it Mariners have their Plummets to measure the Depth of the Sea but what Line or Plummets shall we use to Fathom the Depth of Eternity The Breath of the Lord kindles the Infernal Lake Isa. 30.33 and where shall we have Engines or Buckets to quench that Fire O Eternity If all the Body of the Earth and Sea were turned to Sand and all the Air up to the starry Heaven were nothing but Sand and a little Bird should come every 1000th year and fetch away in her Bill but the Tenth part of a grain of all that heap of Sand what a numberless number of years would be spent before that vast heap of Sand would be fetch'd away yet if at the end of all that time the sinner might come out of Hell though long yet there would be some hope But this word ever breaks the heart The smoke of their Torment ascendeth up for ever and ever What a Terror is this to the wicked enough to put them into a cold Sweat to think as long as God is Eternal he lives for ever to be avenged upon sinners Quest. Here a Question may be moved Why sin that is committed in a short time should be punished eternally Resp. We must hold with St. Augustine that God's Judgment on the wicked Occulta esse possunt injusta esse non possunt may be secret but never unjust The reason why sin committed in a short time is eternally punished is because every sin is committed against an Infinite Essence and no less than Eternity of Punishment can satisfie Why is Treason punished with Confiscation and Death but because it is against the King's Person which is Sacred much more that Offence which is against God's Crown and Dignity is of an heinous and infinite Nature and cannot be satisfied with less than Eternal Punishment Use 2. Of Comfort to the Godly God is Eternal therefore lives for ever to Reward the Godly Rom. 2.7 To them who seek for glory and honour eternal life The People of God here are in a suffering Condition Acts 20.23 Bonds and Afflictions abide me The Head being crowned with Thorns the Feet must not tread upon Roses The Wicked are clad in Purple and fare deliciously while the Godly suffer Goats climb upon the high Mountains while Christ's Sheep are in the Valley of Slaughter But here is the Comfort God is Eternal and he hath appointed Eternal Recompences for the Saints In Heaven are fresh Delights Sweetness without Surfeit And that which is the Crown and Zenith of Heavens happiness is it is Eternal 1 Iohn 2.25 Were there but the least suspicion that this Glory must cease it would much eclipse yea imbitter it but it is Eternal What Angel can span Eternity 2 Cor. 4.17 An eternal weight of glory The Saints shall bathe themselves in the Rivers of Divine Pleasure and these Rivers can never be dried up Psal. 16.11 At thy right hand are pleasures for evermore This is the Elah the highest strain in the Apostles Rhetorick 1 Thess. 4.17 Ever with the Lord. There is Peace without Trouble Ease without Pain Glory without End ever with the Lord. Let this comfort the Saints in all their Troubles their Sufferings are but short but their Reward is eternal Eternity makes Heaven to be Heaven 't is the Diamond in the Ring O blessed Day that shall have no Night The Sun-light of Glory shall rise upon the Soul and never set O blessed Spring that shall have no Autumn or Fall of the Leaf The Roman Emperours have three Crowns set upon their Heads the first of Iron the second of Silver the third of Gold So the Lord sets three Crowns on his Children Grace Comfort and Glory and this Crown is Eternal 1 Pet. 5.4 Ye shall receive a Crown of Glory that fadeth not away The Wicked have a never-dying Worm and the Godly a never-fading Crown O how should this be a Spur to Vertue how willing should we be to work for God though we had nothing here God hath time enough to reward his People the Crown of Eternity shall be set upon their Head Use 3. Of Exhortation 1. In General study Eternity Our Thoughts should chiefly run upon Eternity We are all for the present something that may delight the Sences If we could have lived as Augustine A cunabulis Mundi from the Infancy of the World to the Worlds old Age what were this What is Time measured with Eternity As the Earth is but a small Point to the Heaven so Time is but nay scarce a Minute to Eternity and then what is this poor Life which crumbles away so fast O think of Eternity Annos aeternos in mente habe Brethren we are every day travelling to Eternity and whether we wake or sleep we are going our Journey some of us are upon the Borders of Eternity O study the shortness of Life and the length of Eternity 2. More Particularly Think of God's Eternity and the Soul's Eternity 1. Think of God's Eternity He is the Ancient of Days who was before all Time 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Thales There is a figurative Description of God Dan. 7.9 The Ancient of Days did sit whose Garment was white as snow and the hair of his Head like the pure Wooll His white Garment wherewith he was cloathed signified his Majesty his Hair like the pure Wool his Holiness and the Ancient of Days his Eternity The thoughts of God's Eternity would make us have high adoring thoughts of God We are apt to have mean irreverent thoughts of him Psal. 50.21 Thou thoughtest I was such a one as thy self weak and mortal But if we would think of God's Eternity when all Power ceaseth he is King Eternal his Crown flourisheth for ever who can make us happy or miserable for ever this would make us have adoring thoughts of God Rev. 4.10 The four and twenty Elders fell down before him that sate on the Throne and worship him that liveth for ever and ever and cast their Crowns before the Throne The Saints fall down to signifie by that humble posture that they are not worthy to sit in God's Presence They fall down and they worship him that lives for ever they do as it were kiss his feet And
manner Thirdly When are the Seasons Fourthly Why God delivers Fifthly How the deliverances of the Godly and Wicked out of Trouble differ First 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That God doth deliver his Children out of Troubles Psal. 22.4 Our Fathers trusted in thee they trusted and thou didst deliver them 2 Tim. 4.17 And I was delivered out of the Mouth of the Lion viz. from Nero. Psal. 66.11 12. Thou laidst Affliction upon our Loins but thou broughtest us out into a Wealthy Place Psal. 30.5 Heaviness may endure for a Night but Ioy cometh in the Morning God brought Daniel out of the Lions Den Sihon out of Babylon God in his due time gives an issue out of trouble Psal. 68.20 The Tree which in Winter seems dead in the Spring revives Post nubila Phaebus Affliction may leap on us as the Viper did on Paul but at last this Viper shall be shaked off 'T is called a Cup of Affliction Isa. 51.17 The Wicked drink a Sea of Wrath the Godly drink only a Cup of Affliction and God will say shortly Let this Cup pass away God will give his People a Goal Delivery Secondly Quest. In what manner doth God deliver his People out of Trouble Resp. He doth it like a God in Wisdom 1. He doth it sometimes suddenly as the Angel was caused to fly swiftly Dan. 9.21 So God sometimes makes a Deliverance fly swiftly upon the Wing and on a Suddain he turns the shadow of Death into the Light of the Morning As God gives us Mercies above what we can think Ephes. 3.20 so sometimes before we can think of them Psal. 126.1 When the Lord turned the Captivity of Sion we were like them that Dreamed we were in a Dream we never thought of it Ioseph could not have thought of such a sudden Alteration to be the same Day freed out of Prison and made the chief Ruler in the Kingdom Mercy sometimes doth not stick long in the Birth but it is brought forth on a sudden 2. God sometimes delivers his People strangely That the Whale which swallow'd up Ionah should be a means to bring him safe to Land God sometimes delivers his People in that very way they think he will destroy In Bringing Israel out of Egypt God stirred up the Hearts of the Egyptians to hate them Psal. 105.22 And that was the means of their Deliverance He brought Paul to Shoar by a contrary Wind and upon the broken Pieces of the Ship Acts 27.44 Thirdly Quest. When are the times and Seasons that God usually delivers his People out of the Bondage of Affliction Resp. 1. When they are in the greatest Extremity When Ionah was in the Belly of Hell then Chap. 2.5 Thou hast brought up my Life from Corruption When there is but an Hairs breadth between the Godly and Death then God ushers in Deliverance When the Ship in the Gospel was almost covered with Waves then Christ awoke and rebuked the Wind. When Isaac was upon the Altar and the Knife going to be put to his Throat then comes the Angel Lay not thy Hand upon the Child When Peter began to sink then Christ took him by the Hand Cum duplicantur lateres venit Moses When the Tale of Brick was doubled then comes Moses the Temporal Saviour When the People of God are in the greatest danger then appears the Morning Star of Deliverance When the Patient is ready to faint now the Cordial is given 2. The Second Season is when Affliction hath done its Work upon them When it hath effected that God hath sent it for As First When it hath humbled them Lam. 3.19 Remembring my Affliction the Wormwood and Gall my Soul is humbled in me When Gods Corrosive hath eat out the Proud Flesh. Secondly When it hath tamed their Impatience Before they were proud and impatient like froward Children that would struggle with their Parents but when their curst Hearts are tamed and they say as Micah 7.9 I will bear the Indignation of the Lord because I have sin'd against him and as Eli It is the Lord let him do what seems him good Let him hedge me with Thorns if he will plant me with Grace 3 When they are more Partakers of God's Holiness Heb. 12.10 they are more full of Heavenly-Mindedness When the sharp Frost of Affliction hath brought forth the Spring Flowers of Grace now the Cross is sanctified and God will bring them out of the House of Bondage Luctus in laetitiam vertetur cineres in Corollas When the Metal is refined then it is taken out of the Furnace When Affliction hath heal'd us now God takes off the smarting Plaister Fourthly Quest. Why doth God bring his People out of the House of Bondage Resp. Hereby he makes way for his own Glory Gods Glory is dearer to him than any thing besides it is a Crown-Jewel God by raising his People raiseth the Trophies of his own Honour He glorifies his Attributes His Power Goodness Truth do all Ride in Triumph 1. His Power If God did not sometimes bring his People into Trouble how would his Power be seen in bringing them out He brought Israel out of the House of Bondage with Miracle upon Miracle he saved them with an outstretched-Arm Psal. 114.5 What ailed thee O thou Sea that thou fleddest c. It is spoken of Israel's March out of Egypt when the Sea fled and the Waters were parted each from other Here was the power of God set forth Ier. 32.27 Is any thing too hard for me God loves to help when things seem past hope he creates Deliverance Psal. 124.8 He brought Isaac out of a Dead Womb and the Messiah out of a Virgins Womb. O how doth his Power shine forth when he overcomes seeming Impossibilities and works a Cure when things look desperate 2. His Truth God hath made Promises to his People when they are under great pressures to deliver them and his Truth is engaged in his Promise Psal. 50.15 Call-upon me in the Day of Trouble I will deliver thee Job 5.19 He shall deliver thee in Six Troubles and in Seven How is the Scripture bespangled with these Promises as the Firmament is with Stars either God will deliver them from Death or by Death 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he will make a way to escape 1 Cor. 10.13 When Promises are verified God's Truth is magnified 3. His Goodness God is full of Compassion to such as are in Misery The Hebrew Word Racham for Mercy signifies Bowels God hath Soundings of Bowels Isa. 63.15 And this Sympathy stirs up God to deliver Isa. 63.9 In his Love and in his Pity he Redeemed them This makes way for the Triumph of Gods Goodness First He is Tender-hearted he will not over-afflict he cuts asunder the Bars of Iron he breaks the Yoaks of the Oppressor Thus all his Attributes ride in Triumph in the saving his People out of Trouble Fifthly Quest. How the Deliverances of the Godly and Wicked out of Trouble differ Resp. 1. The deliverances of
him to pieces The German History relates of a Youth who was given to Swearing and did use to invent new Oaths the Lord sent a Canker into his Mouth which did eat out his Tongue whereupon he died 2. Blasphemy He who did Blaspheme God the Lord caused him to be stoned to death Lev. 24.11 23. The Israelitish womans Son blasphemed the name of the Lord and cursed And Moses spake to the People of Israel that they should bring forth him that had cursed and stone him with stones Olympias an Arian Bishop Reproached and Blasphemed the Sacred Trinity whereupon he was suddenly stricken with three Flashes of Lightning which burned him to Death Felix an Officer of Iulian seeing the Holy Vessels which were used in the Sacrament said in Scorn of Christ See what precious Vessels the Son of Mary is served withall Soon after he was taken with a Vomiting of Blood out of his Blasphemous Mouth whereof he died 2. Or if God should not execute Judgment on the Profaners of his Name in this Life yet their Doom is to come God will not remit their Guilt but deliver them to Satan the Goaler to torment them for ever If God justifie a Man who shall condemn him but if God condemn him who shall justifie him If God lay a Man in Prison where shall he get Bail or Main-prize God will take his full blow at the Sinner in Hell Heb. 10.31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God EXOD. XX. 8 Remember the Sabbath-Day to keep it Holy Six Days shalt thou labour and do all thy Work But the Seventh Day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God in it thou shalt not do any Work thou nor thy Son nor thy Daughter thy Man-Servant nor thy Maid-servant nor thy Cattel nor thy Stranger that is within thy Gates For in Six Days the Lord made Heaven and Earth the Sea and all that in them is and rested the Seventh Day Wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath-Day and hallowed it This Commandment was engraven in Stone by God's own Finger and it will be our Comfort to have it engraven in our Hearts The Sabbath-Day is set apart for God's Solemn Worship it is God's Enclosure and it must not be alienated to common Uses The Lord hath set a Preface before this Commandment he hath put a Memento to it Remember to keep the Sabbath-Day holy This Word Remember shows that we are apt to forget Sabbath-Holiness therefore we need a Memorandum to put us in mind of sanctifying this Day I shall explain the Words I. Here is a Solemn Command Remember the Sabbath-Day to keep it holy II. Many Cogent Arguments to induce us to observe the Command I. In the Command 1. The Matter of it viz. The sanctifying of the Sabbath which Sabbath-Sanctification consists in two things First In resting from our own Works Secondly In a Conscientious Discharge of our Religious Duties 2. The Persons to whom the Command of sanctifying the Sabbath is given 1. Either Superiours and they are 1 st More Private as Parents and Masters Or 2 ly More Publique as Magistrates Or 2. Inferiours First Natives as Children and Servants Thy Son and thy Daughter thy Man-Servant and thy Maid Servant Secondly Foreigners The Stranger that is within thy Gates II. The Cogent Arguments to obey this Command of keeping Holy the Sabbath 1. From the Rationality of it Six Days shalt thou labour and do all thy Work As if God had said I am not an hard Master I do not grutch thee time to look after thy Calling and to get an Estate I have given thee Six Days Six to do all thy Work in and have taken but one Day for my self I might have reserved Six Days for my self and allowed thee but one but I have given thee Six Days for the Works of thy Calling and have taken but One Day for my own Service therefore it is equal and rational that thou shouldst set this Day in a special manner apart for my Worship 2. The Second Argument is taken from 2 ly The Iustice of it The Seventh Day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God As if God had said The Sabbath-Day is my Due I challenge a special Right in it and none hath any thing to do to lay claim to it He who robs me of THIS DAY and puts it to common Uses is a Sacrilegious Person he steals from the Crown of Heaven and I will in no wise hold him guiltless 3. The Third Argument for sanctifying the Sabbath is taken from God's own Pattern he rested the Seventh Day As if the Lord should say Will not you follow my Pattern Having finished all my Works of Creation I rested the Seventh Day So you having done all your Secular Work on the Six Days you should now cease from the Labour of your Calling and Dedicate the Seventh Day to the Lord as a Day of Holy Rest. 4. The Fourth Argument for Sabbath-Sanctification is taken ab Vtili from the Benefit which redounds from a Religious Observation of the Sabbath The Lord blessed the Seventh-Day and hallowed it It is not only a Day of God's Benediction God did not only appoint the Seventh-Day but he blessed the Seventh Day The Sabbath-Day is not only a Day of Honour to God but a Day of Blessing to us it is not only a Day wherein we give God Worship but a Day wherein he gives us Grace on this Day a Blessing drops down from Heaven This is a great Argument for the keeping the Sabbath-Day Holy God is not benefited by it we cannot add one Cubit to his Essential Glory but we our selves are advantaged The Sabbath-Day religiously observed entails a Blessing upon our Souls our Estate our Posterity As the not keeping this Day Holy brings a Curse Ier. 17.27 God curseth a Man's Blessings Mal. 2.2 The Bread which he eats is poysoned with a Curse So the Conscientious Observation of the Sabbath brings all manner of Blessings with it These are the Arguments to induce Sabbath-Sanctification And so I have divided the Commandment into its several Parts and explained the Sence of it The thing I would have you observe is That this Commandment about keeping the Sabbath was not abrogated with the Ceremonial Law but it is purely Moral and the Observation of the Sabbath is to be continued to the end of the World Where can we show that God hath given us a Discharge from keeping one Day in seven So that I say this fourth Commandment is Moral and obligeth Christians to the perpetual Commemoration and Sanctification of the Sabbath Quest. Why God hath appointed a Sabbath Ans. 1. In respect of Himself it is requisite that God should reserve one Day in Seven for his own immediate Service that hereby he might be acknowledged to be the great Plenipotentiary or Sovereign Lord who hath Power over us both to command Worship and appoint the Time when he will be worshipped 2. In respect of Vs. The Sabbath-day
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
shall be installed into their Honour and have the Crown-Royal set upon their Head They have in the Kingdom of Heaven the quintessence of all delights they have the Water of Life clear as Chrystal they have all Aromatick Perfumes they feed not on the Dew of Hermon but the Manna of Angels they lye in Christs bosom that bed of Spices There is such a pleasant variety in the happiness of Heaven that after millions of years it will be as fresh and desirable as at the first hours enjoying In the Kingdom of Heaven the Saints are Crowned with all those Perfections which the Humane Nature is capable of The desires of the Glorified Saints are infinitely satisfied there is nothing absent that they could wish might be enjoyed there is nothing present that they could wish might be removed They who are got to this kingdom would be loath to come back to the Earth again it would be much to their loss They would not leave the fatness and sweetness of the Olive to court the Bramble the things which tempt us they would scorn What are golden bags to the golden beams of the Sun of Righteousness In the kingdom of Heaven there is Glory in its highest elevation in that Kingdom is Knowledge without Ignorance Holiness without Sin Beauty without Blemish Strength without Weakness Light without Darkness Riches without Poverty Ease without Pain Liberty without Restraint Rest without Labour Joy without Sorrow Love without Hatred Plenty without Surfeit Honour without Disgrace Health without Sickness Peace without War Contentation without Cessation O the happiness of those that dye in the Lord they go into this blessed kingdom and if they are so happy when they dye then let me make two Inferences 1. Infer What little cause have the Saints to fear Death are any afraid of going to a Kingdom What is there in this World should make us desirous to stay here Do we not see God dishonoured and how can we bear it Is not this World a valley of tears and do we weep to leave it Are not we in a Wilderness among fiery Serpents And are we afraid to go from these Serpents Our best Friend lives above God is ever displaying the Banner of his Love in Heaven and is there any Love like his Are there any sweeter smiles or softer embraces than his What newes so welcome as leaving the World and going to a Kingdom Christian thy dying day will be thy wedding day and dost thou fear it Is a Slave afraid to be redeemed Is a Virgin afraid to be match'd into the Crown Death may take away a few worldly Comforts but it gives that which is better it takes away a Flower and gives a Jewel it takes away a short lease and gives land of inheritance If the Saints possess a Kingdom when they dye they have no cause to fear Death A Prince would not be afraid to cross the Sea though tempestuous if he were sure to be Crowned assoon as he came at shore 2. Infer If the Godly are so happy when they dye they go to a Kingdom then what little cause have we to mourn immoderately for the death of Godly Friends shall we mourn for their preferment Why should we shed tears immoderately for them who have all tears wiped from their eyes Why should we be swallowed up of grief for them who are swallowed up of joy They are gone to their Kingdom they are not lost but gone a little before not perished but translated non amissi sed praemissi Cyprian They are removed for their advantage as if one should be removed out of a smoaky Cottage to a Pallace Elijah was removed in a fiery Chariot to Heaven shall Elisha weep inordinately because he enjoyes not the company of Elijah Shall Iacob weep when he knows his Son Ioseph is preferred and made chief Ruler in Egypt We should not be excessive in grief when we know our Godly Friends are advanced to a Kingdom I confess when any of our Relations dye in their impenitency there is just cause of Mourning but not when our Friends take their flight to Glory David lost two Sons Absalom a wicked Son he mourned for him bitterly he lost the Child he had by Bathsheba he mourned not when the Child was departed St. Ambrose gives the reason David had a good hope nay assurance that the Child was translated into Heaven but he doubted of Absalom he dyed in his Sins therefore David wept so for him O Absalom My Son my Son but though we are to weep to think any of our Flesh should burn in Hell yet let us not be cast down for them who are so highly preferred at Death as to a Kingdom Our Godly Friends who dye in the Lord are in that blessed estate and are crowned with such infinite delights that if we could hear them speak to us out of Heaven they would say Weep not for us but weep for your selves Luke 23.28 We are in our Kingdom weep not at our preferment but weep for your selves who are in a sinful sorrowful World you are tossing on the troublesome waves but we are got to the Haven you are fighting with Temptations while we are wearing a Victorious Crown Weep not for us but weep for your selves 8. Branch See the Wisdom of the Godly they have the Serpents eye in the Doves head wise virgins Matth. 25.2 their Wisdom appear in their choice they choose that which will bring them to a Kingdom they choose Grace and what is Grace but the seed of Glory They choose Christ with his Cross but this Cross leads to a Crown Moses chose rather to suffer affliction with the people of God Heb. 11.25 it was a wise rational choice he knew if he suffered he should reign At the day of Judgment those whom the World accounted foolish will appear to be wise they made a prudent choice they chose Holiness and what is Happiness but the quintessence of Holiness They chose affliction with the people of God but through this purgatory of affliction they pass to Paradise God will proclaim the Saints Wisdom before Men and Angels 9. Br. See the folly of those who for vain Pleasures and Profits will lose such a glorious Kingdom like that Cardinal of France who said He would lose his part in Paradise if he might keep his Cardinalship in Paris I may say as Eccles. 9.3 Madness is in their heart Lysimachus for a draught of Water lost his Empire so for a draught of sinful Pleasure these will lose Heaven We too much resemble our Grand-Father Adam who for an Apple lost Paradise many for trifles to get a Shilling more in the Shop or Bushel will venture the loss of Heaven This will be an aggravation of the Sinners torment to think how foolishly he was undone for a flash of impure Joy he lost an eternal weight of Glory Would it not vex one who is the Lord of a Mannor to think he should part with his stately Inheritance for a