his sinne and his wrong vnto the Innocent cast downe the Money but finding no comfort went and hanged himselfe But to his Children God sendeth a comfort in due season when it is truely and faithfully sought which is to them the welcomest and gladsommest thing in the world Therefore the Law was profitably giuen vt sit Pedagogus ad Christum Gal. 3.24 to be our Schoolmaster vnto CHRIST non vt sanet sed vt aegrotum te esse doceat not to heale thee but to shew thee thy sicknes and make thee seeke to the Physition for that makes vs finde what neede we haue of Christ A man neuer knowes the worth of Christ till hee see his owne vnworthinesse and danger neuer seekes for ease and comfort till hee feele the loade and burthen of his sinnes and is grieued at the loathsomnes of his corruptions and foresees the misery they bring vpon him But when his eyes are once opened to see this doubtlesse hee will seeke to be deliuered and the wiser hee is the sooner Vse 1 And therefore me thinks I may make this vse of this Doctrine To stirre vp men to seeke remedie for their sinne that hee that seekes not for deliuerie from this body of death eyther he feeles it not or is exceedingly besotted in loue with his owne sicknes eyther he is blinde and sees not his estate or seeing it is madde that seekes not to relieue it Choose all you impenitent sinners in whether of these ranks you wil be placed amongst blinde men or mad men that will not see or seeing will not seeke Deliuerance from this bodie of death For it is not possible that a man fallen into a pit should not desire to be helped out that a man dangerously sicke should not desire to recouer that a man grieuously wounded should not desire to be cured that a man in Prison and durance should not desire libertie at least if hee feele his euill and the danger of it eyther blindnesse or madnesse possesseth him But indeede no man can be so madde except he be first blinde blinded with the custome of sinne that makes vs vnsensible or with the prince of darkenesse that luls men a sleepe with the pleasures of sinne 2. Cor. 4 4. to forget their estate or blinded with some Pharisaicall opinion of their owne righteousnes like the Laodiceans that sayd they were rich and had need of nothing and knew not they were wretched and miserable Rev. 3.17 and poore and blind and naked for if they had the true eye-salue and that their eies were opened to see their wofull estate by sinne this should be the first thing they would goe about the greatest businesse they would intend to seeke some deliuery and to com to some comfortable assurance of Gods fauour Vse 2 Luk. 10.42 Matth 13.46 Phil. 3.8 This should be the vnum necessarium the pretious pearle that the Marchant would sell all that euer he had to purchase and they would with Saint Paul count all other things all honour wealth pleasure worldly contentments but losse and dung in respect of it Highly to esteeme of this Remedie So sweete and ioyfull would it bee vnto theyr soules Saint Paul seemes to insinuate so much by the very marshalling of his wordes and phrases in deliuering this doctrine When he looked vpon his sinnes though they were as small as possibly could bee in any man they seemed so foule in his eyes so grieuous to his conscience so contrary to his cleane desires that he counted himselfe wretched for them and passionately seeketh for deliuerance but finding no meanes in himselfe but a plaine impossibility by reason of his deplored imperfections hee goeth out of himselfe and asketh Who shall deliuer me and vpon asking the question presently giues the solution not in plaine termes for the fulnesse of his heart and the greatnes of his ioy would not let him but in a dutifull protestation of thankefulnesse I thanke God through Iesus Christ our Lord as if he should say It is the mercy of God that hath sent his sonne Iesus Christ to redeem vs by whome wee are deliuered from this body of death by him wee are iustified from our sinnes and sanctified by his Grace to represse sinne and though sinne still dwell in vs Yet there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Iesus Rom. 8.1 that walke not after the flesh but after the Spirit that haue not the flesh but the Spirite for their guid and though they walke weakely and faintingly after it yet still they follow it as their desired guid as wel as the weakenesse of their nature will suffer This seemed so worthy a benefite in Saint Paules eyes vpon the thought of his sinnefull vncomfortable estate on the one side and that most gladdsome deliuerie on the other side that hee cannot without an eiaculation of thankefulnesse expresse it I thanke God through Iesus Christ our Lord. Which wordes I cannot stand vpon onely I note Saint Pauls Phraze teacheth vs that this worthy benefite of our deliuery of our Redemption and Saluation is neuer to be spoken of without thanksgiuing neuer to be thought of without a gratefull lifting vp of our hearts vnto God neuer to be named without great admiration and reuerence Conclusion with a recapitulation of the first Doctrine and vses And therefore wee thanke thee O Lord for this amongst all other benefites for this aboue all other benefites and we beseech thee to giue vs grace to looke into our selues light to see our sinnes and life to feele them that we may be humbled by them and seeke to mortifie them The second that we may know see feele what vnperfect state we liue in here in this flesh wherein thy dearest children feele these prickes in the flesh these Cananites and Iebusites as prickes and goades in theyr sides and thornes in theyr eyes these messengers of Sathan to buffet them that therby With the Vses we may bee out of conceyte with our own righteousnesse and all humane merites as not able to satisfie thy iustice and cleaue the more stedfastly to thy mercy and to the merites of thy sonne our Sauiour and yet be not cleane deiected as men vtterly secluded from thy fauour by means of our vnperfect sanctification since such thou wilt haue the state of thy children here vpon earth but that wee may labour to ouercome all temptations and be examples of all holy vertues to others walke before thee in feare and trembling euermore hungring and thirsting after that heauenly life wherein all those imperfections shall be done away Lord make vs sensible of all our wants corruptions that there be no sinne in vs which wee doe not see and feele by thy light and grace and labour to mortifie it and to hate it as the greatest euil in the world that it may bee as vnpleasant vnto vs as it is vnto thee and that we may heartily seeke a remedy and with all thankefulnesse embrace it and growe dayly in grace and all holy vertues till we become perfect men in Iesus Christ to the glory of thy great name the assurante of our adoption the adorning of our profession the good and comfort of others and the eternall comfort of our owne soules FINIS
downe one another and be able to carry it away as if they would purposely oppose themselues against God and his laws and stand at defiance with him and not content with old sins known to former ages will needs be the inventers of new sinnes new arts of drinking whoring cheating and other villanies their wits tongues health wealth and strength giuen them for Gods seruice they turne all to serue sin strongly fight against God with his owne weapons and horribly rush against his commandements and curses with sport and pastime So when Christ sayth Sweare not at all for whatsoeuer is more then yea and nay proceedeth of euil they holde it a point of valour and stoutnesse Mat. 5.34 to rap out oathes couragiously and fill vp theyr vnperfect speeches with damnable swearing Colos 4.6 When the Lorde commaundeth that all our talke be sauoury and tend to edification they delight in vnsauoury idle 8. Cor. 15.33 filthy talke and such words as are fittest to corrupt good manners and make themselues sport with sin And yet wretched men what profit is there in these sins what great pleasure what benefite to draw them The Prophet speaketh in the Lords name as wondring that men will rush into sinne and endaunger their soules for small matters for a handfull of barley and a peece of bread Ezech. 13.19 but our people sweare blaspheme vse all beastly talke and filthy behauiour for no profite at all for no credite but only for a custome in sinning a deuelish desire to doe that they are forbidden or in the folly of their conceites and the currish rage of their pride or to shew courage that they care neyther for God nor man But in those sinnes that are ioyned with profite if you looke vpon worldlings what villany doe they sticke at to rake to themselues to oppresse the poor Specially where Mammon raigneth to betray the innocent to defraude theyr next kindred to cosen their dearest neerest friends to racke poore Tenants to teare it out of their maws to grind their faces nay worse to turne them out of doores to pull down towns and houses and like Canibals to deuoure one another The greater sort as tyrants preying vpon the inferiors without pitty or loue at all but treading vpon them to stand the higher the inferiour as slaues againe without any loue or reuerence to the higher but grudging at them as at an vnsupportable lode which if they had strength they would shake off The height commonnesse of Sinne. Generally what is the skill and cunning of a man but to entrappe one another without being intrapped their wisedome but a fine cleane conueyance of villany their profession but a cloake of hypocrisie all theyr outward vertue but a false colour to hide theyr inward vices and how are the finest wits bestowed but in smoothing ouer foule actions with fayre glosses and varnishing ouer their crackes and flawes that they bee not spyed and in contriuing wicked practises cunningly to bring them to passe effectually with theyr best aduantage and least clamour of the world or penalty of Lawes all without any regard of God his commandements or any sense of Religion as if thou O God wast not the Iudge of the world but som dead Idol which had no care of what we do here below or heard not or saw not those things that ate done in the world Alasse Wretched men that we are who shall deliuer vs from this body of death Reuerend men and Brethren I would be sory that these wordes should bee without all exception verefied of all God forbid I speake of many A revocation and preparation to the last Doctrine not of all of the general course of the world out of which God hath reserued some that abhorre such wickednesse yea blessed be his name there are some and that a good some euen in this place that shine as lightes in the midst of this crooked and wicked generation Phil. 2.15 Acts 24.16 that labour with Saint Paul to keepe a cleare conscience towards God and men to be a holy Nation 1. Pet. 2.9 Tit. 2.14 a royall Priesthood a peculiar people zealous of good works and shew forth the vertues of him that hath called them out of darkenesse into his maruellous light Blessed bee God for them and God encrease the number of them but the greater sort are carryed away with the streame of the world and go the broad way of destruction and euen the best while they are in this flesh are not without imperfections and this mouing of the body of sinne within them as Saint Paul was and had neede to crye out as S. Paul did O wretched men that wee are who shall deliuer vs from this body of Death As for the other that drinke downe sinne like water and denye nothing to their hearts lusts that they stand vnto what hope can they haue to be deliuered most wretched men that we are who shall deliuer vs from this bodie of death and the plagues thereto belonging Yes there is a meane yet to be deliuered if they would seeke it if they would consider Gods lawes and search their own consciences and so come to the feeling the acknowledging and sorrowing for their sins and thinke themselues wretched for them as S. Paul did here then should they goe forwards with him to that which I propoūded to speake of in the last place To seeke and finde a Remedie to deliuer them For he that seeketh findeth he that asketh receyueth and he that knocketh at the doore of Gods mercy shal haue it opened the last doctrine is Doct. 5 The true feeling of our sinnes will make vs earnestly seeke for a remedie As Saint Paul did heere finding himselfe wretched by sin cryeth Who shall deliuer me Reason For it is naturall for all men disquieted discontented and grieued to seeke for ease yea for all creatures the sillyest worme in the world doth naturally seeke all contentment decline and auoyde all things hurtfull and seeke remedyes for griefes and the wiser the creature is the more it doth it And therfore as the sight and feeling of our wounds makes vs seek to the Chyrurgion our sicknes to the Physitian our wrongs to the Magistrate and Lawyer so our sins for remedie from aboue But as sinne is of all euils the greatest the Regenerate of all other the most sensible thereof so they seeke for the remedy of this euill aboue all others yea sinne in all men doth so much offend the Conscience when it is awaked that beyond all naturall griefe it growes restles and beyond all measure vnsupportable trying all possible means of ease which if it finde not it growes desperate and ventureth vpon any violent death to be his own executioner to make an ende of the present torment for it is more vntollerable then death it selfe as wee see in Iudas who when his eyes were opened to see his sinne went to the high Priests confessed
SAINT PAVLES AGONIE A SERMON PREACHED at LEICESTER at the Ordinary Monthly Lecture Specially touching the Motions of Sinne remaining in the Regenerate BY A. CADE BACHELER in Diuinity and of Bilsdon in Leycester-shire GAL. 5.17 The Flesh lusteth against the Spirite and the Spirite against the Flesh and these are contrary the one to the other so that yee cannot doe the things that ye would LONDON Imprinted by Bernard Alsop and are to be solde at his house by Saint Annes Church neere Aldersgate 1618. TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE THE Lord Marquesse of Buckingham Right Honourable YOur goodnesse continually practised in your greatnesse to the benefit of many bindes all highly to honour you and account you as a Conduit ordayned of God to conueigh many benefites from his Royall Maiesty vpon inferiours Among which your Honourable kindnesse to me in prouiding for me without my sute or knowledge a right famous and noble place to rayse my fortunes and exercise my Ministery in the like whereof many haue sought with great sute cost and labor and haue not found deserueth all thankefulnesse that can bee imagined much more then can bee performed But feeling my selfe too weake for the greatnesse of that place not for my doctrine the soundnesse wholesomnesse whereof I am ready to testifie and iustifie if need require with my bloud but by the weaknesse of my voyce not able to reach the halfe of that spatious Church and numerous people I humbly pray your Honour to take without offence my Refusall and my harty desire that that great and worthy Congregation may be furnished with a man of a stronger voyce and better sides who may doe there much more good then my selfe who in my declining yeares must rather affect a more retired life and a charge more possible to be performed with better satisfaction to my selfe and to Gods people I shall euermore honour your goodnesse and your Greatnesse for this fauour which I publikely protest by the Dedication of this Sermon in Stile simple but in matter sound and substantiall which hauing lately preached I thought good to publish at the request of many my good friends of religious hearts the rather to oppose the spreading of those opinionate fansifull younglings who drawing bad iuyce from Arminius and Vorstius beginne to bud and blossome in our Academie whence nothing but good and wholesome food should be brought into the Country To shew how firmely our doctrine in these points is founded vpon the Scriptures and consenting with the Fathers of the Primitiue and all succeeding ages and what exceeding good vse and profite it yeeldeth and how farre these men swerue from it and from al true experience of Gods Saints in the state of Grace and Regeneration I haue penned published this Sermon and wish all good men to put to their hands to represse all such hurtfull growing innouations disquieting distracting and disgracing the peace and beauty of our Church to the offence and hazarding of many Soules And so I cease to trouble your Honour but shall neuer cease praying for you and honouring you as fitteth Your Honours most humble and thankefull Chaplen Anthony Cade An admonition to the Reader CHristian Reader the Concourse of many learned Ministers at our Ordinary Monthly Lecture lately before intermitted whereunto now also resorted by occasion many learned Iuditious Gentlemen required matter of more then ordinary worth and learning To satisfie whom If I haue layd the grounds of my Sermon more Schoole-like then thou thinkest fitte for the Country beare with mee now thou knowest the occasion Know also that I haue more enlarged those pointes to ground men more strongly against Innouators for that I hope this little Booke may come and be read where greater will not The other points thence deducted are plaine enough for the simplest Hearers and applyed to theyr profite Paul may plant Apollo water The Lord giue a blessed encrease A. C SAINT PAVLES AGONIE ROM VII XXIIII O wretched man that I am who shall deliuer me from the body of this death THese wordes are the shutting vp of the discourse of that troublous Combat which Saint Paul describeth from the 13. Verse betwixt the Flesh and the Spirite that is betwixt our naturall corruption lusting one way and Gods holy Spirite mouing vs another way For as in this life our vnderstanding is enlightned but in part now wee see but as through a Glasse darkely a 1 Cor. 13.12 So our Wils and Affections are reformed but in part very weakely to follow that little which wee see Wee cannot doe the things that wee would b Gal. 5.17 Our corruptions though abated yet are not extinguished by Regeneration but our Mind and Will continue still partly flesh and partly spirite that is partly grace and partly corruption A reformation begunne but not finished like the Ayre in the dawning of the day Sanctificatio inchoata non consummata neyther wholy yet enlightned nor wholly remayning darke c Yet shineth more and more vntill the perfect day Pro. 4.1 8 or water blood-warme neyther perfectly hore nor perfectly cold but the light and darkenesse of the minde the heate and cold of the Will so mixed and intermedled together throughout that there is a continuall strise betwixt them which shall ouercome the other and ouerrunne the Soule This Combat the Apostle describeth most mouingly and feelingly in his owne person finding his own soule as it were distracted into two contrary factions and subiect to two contrary Rulers and guided by two contrary lawes as a shippe tossed by two contrary winds or tides The inner man or part Regenerate euer eying the law of God striuing for perfection but hindred by another Law in his Members the part vnregenerate rebelling against the Law of his mind and striuing both against his will Vers 15 and against his knowledge Verse 16. to carry him away to sinne Vers 17 so hindring the good which hee would doe verse 18. and drawing him to the euill which he would not doe ver 19. which again he repeateth in the verses following as a thing neuer enough obserued at the last as one amazed and much astonished to find in himselfe so much imperfection hee breaketh out into this passionate exclamation O wretched man that I am who shall deliuer mee from the body of this death In the words I obserue fiue things 1 The Matter that Saint Paul here complaines of Sinne which he cals the body of Death 2 The Subiect or party that he finds it in In himselfe Wretched man that I am Who shall deliuer me 3 That he is exceeding sensible of it feeles the mouing and stirring of it as appeares by the discourse and here it driues him into a passion 4 It is the onely thing that grieues him Hee accounts himselfe wretched by it O wretched man that I am 5 The sight and feeling of his sin makes him earnestly seeke for a remedy Who shall deliuer me Or to ascend from the
the City in perils in the wildernesse in perils in the Sea in perils amongst false brethren 27. In wearinesse and painefulnesse in watchings often in hunger and thirst in fastings often in cold and nakednesse 28. beside those things that are without that which commeth vpon me dayly the care of all Churches 29 Who is offended and I burne not 31. The God and Father of our Lord Iesus Christ which is blessed for euermore knoweth that I lie not What naturall man in the world would not these troubles deepely amaze and driue into a desperate sence and set him at his wits end to cry out of his wretchednesse and miserable mishappes that fall so thicke vpon him especially falling so vndeseruingly as they did vpon Saint Paul But what sayth S. Paul himselfe vnto them Behold the patterne of a true Regenerate man I count sayth he that the afflictions of this present time are not worthy of the glory which shall bee shewed vnto vs Rom. 8.18 and 2. Cor. 4 17. Our light affliction which is but for a moment causeth vnto vs a farre more excellent and an eternall waight of glory and therefore he sayth 2. Cor. 12.10 I take pleasure in infirmities in reproches in necessities in persecutions for Christs sake And Act. 21 13. He protesteth that hee is not onely ready to be bound but also to die for the name of the Lord Iesus His troubles though great and manifold seeme nothing in his eyes but when hee lookes vpon the least sinne that is possible to be in man euen the least motion of the flesh that stirreth against the Spirit it doth so grieue him and seeme so odious in his eyes that hee cryeth out in the agony of his soule O wretched man that I am who shall deliuer mee from this body of death Vse Excellent and diuine Apostle A comparison of our State with S. Paules In malis eulpae in malis paenae how farre doest thou out-goe vs on the one side in all holinesse and righteousnesse and on the other side in crosses and afflictions and yet passing ouer thy afflictions with ioy that are so great many onely cryest out of thy sins that are so few and small and we at euery light affliction are ready to murmur and rage with impaciency but for our sins whose magnitude and multitude cannot bee esteemed we grieue not at all but remayne insensible O well were we thinke the most men if wee could liue in wealth and ease and pleasure in this world without any crosse or affliction to disquiet our minds or hinder our delights how well could we fat our selues with pleasure and neuer think of our sinnes to moue vs to sorrow and melancholy But alasse deere brethren we should make this vse of Saint Paules example to omit other to search our owne harts and courses and come to the knowledge of our sins and of our wretchednesse by them and be hartily sorry for offending our God defiling our selues 1. Pet. 4.13 The ouerflowing of wickednesse in the world and drawing heauy plagues and punishments vppon vs knowing that if the Righteous scarcely bee saued where shall the wicked and vngodly appeare Alasse who can looke into the World but he shall finde in all Estates and in all degrees in all theyr courses that there is no whole party no found part but from head to foot all ouerrunne with this soule Leprosie of sinne Tit. 4. last They professe that they know GOD but by Workes they deny him are become abhominable and disobedient and to euery good Worke reprobate Iust like the Cretians Tit. 1.12 lyars to the Trueth Euill beastes slow bellyes slowe to doe good but to any euill quicke and forward Who can goe into the streetes but hee shall heare store of wicked blasphemous oathes vngodly raylinges filthy talking rotten speeches in euery corner theyr mouthes are as open Sepulchres breathing out corrupt and filthy stinkes from the rotten carrion of their hearts as if the sound of the Gospell had neuer rung in their eares neuer suncke into their hearts to season them What iust Lot would not continually vexe his righteous Soule by dwelling amongst them and seeing their wicked conuersation 2 Pet. 2 7.8 What good Dauids eyes would not gush out with tears to see Gods lawes so contemned Psal 119.53.158 Ierem. 9.1 Lament what good Ieremie would not melt away in Lamentations to see the wickednesse and to foresee the miseries of his people yea What good Christian can temper himselfe from crying out in theyr behalfe O Wretched men that wee are who shall deliuer vs from this body of death Alasse wretched men whether shall wee turne vs Little mortification whose liues are nothing but a continuall practise of sinne who very weakely and coldly resist these motions of sinne that stirre in our natures but suffer them to get the vpper hand ouer vs. What shall become of them that resist not at all Or none at all but rather fostering of sin full motions Iob. 20.12 but gladly and willingly entertaine them and like a man that hath gotten a sweet morsell in his mouth turneth it with his tongue and delights in the chewing it as Iob sayth that take pleasure and delight to thinke and muse and feed their corrupt fancies with ruminating and studying of their sin and wish time and oportunity to execute them and put them in practise so farre from resisting and mortifying that they are sorry for nothing so much as that they haue not strength enough by nature or liberty enough by law to glut their desires with the ful fruition of them the drunkard in his swinishnesse the Lecher in his gotishnesse the couetous in his rauenousnesse the malicious in his poysonousnesse and others in theyr seuerall wickednesse that labour not to bridle their lustes but more to kindle and enflame them to the vttermost of theyr power and if theyr owne weakenesse did not restraine them or the feare of humane Laws and punishments curbe them they would be yet more outragiously wicked and damnably sinfull Alasse wretched men who shall deliuer them from the body of this death whom could it not iustly astonish in this light of the Gospell Sinning contumaciously and â—â—th a hie band to see such a stupid carelesnesse of sinne possessing all men such a deadnesse and vnmoueablenesse to any goodnesse notwithstanding all that euer can bee sayd or done Nay to behold a verie carefulnesse a desire and a forwardnesse to offend God and oppose our selues against his precepts that men account it their onely glory and valour to liue irregularly with contempt of all good fashions order gouernment yea with contempt of God and Man as for example when the Lord pronounceth a woe to them that are mighty to drinke Wine and strong to poure in strong drinke Esay 5.22 some that are not ashamed still to call themselues Christians count it a gallant matter and a great glory to drinke