at what To stumble is to take an argument of offence at something to make them fall still into the wayes of wickednesse As when the Iewes took these arguments against Christ to conclude against faith in him He is a man gluttonous a wine bibber a friend of Publicans and sinners Wee say well that thou art a Samaritan and hast a Divell And when the Iewes took these arguments against Stephen We have heard him speake blasphemous words against Moses against God against this holy place and the Law And when the Corinthians raised this foundation against Saint Paul This fellow perswadeth men to worship GOD contrary to the Law and Tertullus in a slanting speech before Foelix wee have found this man a very pestilence a mover of sedition among all the Iewes in all the World These are arguments of offence to make them that doe receive them still to fall into sin new sins old sins all sins But whereat ordinarily doe wicked men stumble Ordinarily at sixe sorts of things when they would flatter themselves in their wayes of darkenesse Either Ignorance or presumption or despaire or the World or scandall or the peaceable end of sinners and the contrary of those that have lived more strictly They stumble at ignorance on both hands Sometimes they stumble at the ignorance of sin and so they fall to sin and care not feare not When Iosiah knew not sin his sweet nature stumbled with the times but when he heard the Law of God read he rent his clothes and melted to the very heart When Saul lived a Pharisee the death of Stephen was nothing it could be swallowed up upon a full stomack but when the Law came and shewed him what sinne was when hee saw sinne revive to pricks wound and kill then he mourned under his captivity Sometimes they stumble at the ignorance of Repentance They are like Nicodemus who cannot heare of a new life but hee dreames of entring his mothers wombe againe and like Peters hearers who when they sinned knew not what they did and when they were pricked at the heart for sin knew not what to doe Men and brethren what shall we doe to be saved They stumble at presumption that God will any time accept of them upon any termes Therfore at what time soever saith one GOD desireth not the death of a sinner saith another Christ saith Come unto me saith a third God will that all men should bee saved saith a fourth Every presumptuous wretch layeth some sure foundation which might be sound and sweet to a true penitent which yet will not serve his turne when he is to try the strength of it no more than Sampsons greene Cords could binde him or a rope of sand can pull down an impregnable Castle They stumble at despaire and at that on both sides too Sometimes they despaire of their owne strength Alas all the waies of vertue grace and glory are too hard for me I must lie downe in shame confusion sinne and sorrow but not move a foot to Heaven When Christ preached that no man could come to him except it were given him of his Father many of his Disciples went backe and walked no more with him in so much as CHRIST complained to the twelve Will yee also forsake mee If Christ bee such a manner of person that accesse to him is so hard so much above our power that we must be beholding to a Father whom wee are not acquainted with then farewell Christ welcome world who are more familiar Sometimes againe they despaire of GODS strength and mercy for them Christ cannot save them GOD will not save them Let strength and mercy bee what it will on high it is too high for them What is that to me I am the worst of unworthy sinners This cast out Cain hanged Judas damned both and any other that delight in such a downefall They stumble at the world of honour pleasure profit The stony hearers stumbled at the care-cloth the thornes of cares for worldly pelfe The unworthy Guests stumbled at the new bought purchases of Farmes and Oxen and so much as at the new married Wife I cannot come The rich worldling at the new Barnes and store for many dayes His soule did so alwayes live in them that hee thought hee should alwayes live with them Thus they stumbled and fell The huge blocke of the World was too great for them to leape over into heaven and therefore downe they fall and breake their neckes into the wayes of sinne They stumble at scandall and at that they trip dangerously on both hands Sometimes they are loth to offend their wicked companions what shall I forsake them scandalize them goe without them though in a better way make them that are my friends my foes to neglect and scoffe at mee This made Nicodemus come to Christ by night This made many of the chiefe Rulers believe in him but they confessed him not lest they should bee put out of the Synagogue for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God Sometimes againe they take offence at the lives of those that seeme to bee more godly than themselves and are so at least by profession Indeed these should bee very carefull to adorne the doctrine of our Lord Jesus Christ and therefore many excellent exhortations are spent upon them in the most sure Word of GOD. Sometimes they are called upon to behave themselves wisely to them that are without Sometimes to walke honestly towards them that are without sometimes to give no offence neither to Jew Câ—â—iaâ— nor Church of GOD yet are they not so carefull in the workes of holinesse righteousnesse and sobriety as they ought This is soone espied by wicked men and so made an argument to stumble at You will say They are in darknesse how then can they spie such a hole in the coat of him that is better than themselves I le tell you when men see a thing that may further them in the way to Heaven they do receive it inward by the meanes of the spirit and the sweet beames of grace which shine about them For every good giving comes from the Father of lights but when they see any thing that helpes them onward to Hell they have a power of seeing from within As a Cat sees in a darke night by fyring the aire to her selfe and for her owne uses so wicked men being set on fire of Hell can in their darkest state easily kindle a light for their owne uses to find fodder for their soules in their way to Hell-ward They stumble Lastly at the peaceable end of sinners Truly they dyed like Lambes There are no hands in their death just like the good thiefe upon the Crosse which with quiet and sweet reaches after grace and glory breathed out his soule to GOD notwithstanding all the wickednesse of
It is not bad enough to have these horrors and perplexities for sinnes and punishments He was no swearer no whoremonger no thiefe no scoffer at Religion no perjured wretch no wilfull lyar no proud and sâ—rley resister of good counsell and reproofe like too many other young-men now a dayes yet when conscience is awaked and sits as a Iudge on him Onely for drunkennesse neglect of mens bodyes and neglect of Prayer Word and Sacrament he passeth this heavie doome upon himselfe I must bee burned in the furnace of Hell millions of millions of ages and at the last in idlenesse of thoughts and talke he ends his miserable life This is your example which he intreated me to lay before you that ye may be warned by it to keepe you from Hell The living God present it as a powerfull example to your Consciences that it may work that good which this miserable young man wished And that it may the more prevaile ye shall have a rule now as well as an example shewing the misery and horrour of a wicked life from this proverbe The way of the wicked is as darkenesse they know not at what they stumble Salomon had pressed in many words because all words were not enough all Young-men in his sonne to avoide the needlesse and vaine society of wicked men Enter not into the path of the wicked and goe not into the way of evill men Art thou allured Avoide it Is the way delightfull Passe not by it Doth thy way lye that way Turne from it Art thou call'd in whithersoever thou goest Passe away This exhortation being thus pressed with words is further urged by reasons First from the persons and states of wicked men They sleepe not except they have done mischiefe themselves or made others to doe it for how can they when they eate the iron bread of wickednesse and the Sodome Wine of violence This breeds no sweete flegme to binde up the senses Secondly hee urgeth it from the course of wicked men which he sets downe comparatively with the godly The path of the just is as the shining light that shineth more and more to the perfect day The descent of grace is from heaven as the light shineth the degrees of grace are not all attained unto at the first but more and more but the prosperitie of grace where it is nourished by a godly life is not to goe out to the perfect day Therefore it is excellent to be in society with the godly But for the course of wicked men 1. It is as darkenesse there is the danger of it 2. They know not at what they stumble there is the signe of it In this course of wicked men there are two propositions which I shall labour to open and apply unto you First That the way of the wicked is darkenesse That ye may conceive this I shall open unto you thorow GODS helpe foure points 1. What is the way of the wicked 2. How is it darknesse 3. How it comes to be so and 4. Why it is darknesse 1. The way of the wicked is the whole course of a wicked man to death and Hell David saith The way of the wicked shall perish that is his thoughts words deeds wherin he pleaseth himselfe till at last he sees and feeles the empty vanity of them when the comfort of them leaves him and he fall into hell 2. This way of the wicked is darknesse by an absence of that first light which GOD gave to sinlesse and obedient man Before man had sinned hee had the light of knowledge the light of grace and the light of comfort He could fully and fairely see what was fit for a creature to keepe him in perpetuall communion and fellowship with GOD. He had the beames of GODS grace in him and about him keeping out the darkenesse of sin He had sweet comfort in the injoyment of GOD and himselfe and in the best possession and use of all the Creatures But when hee fell from the Principles of Life the Lord and his Law he quickly was overwhelmed with the darkenesse of ignorance the darkenesse of sin and the darknesse of misery Our blessed Saviour came to give light to them that sit in darkenesse and in the shadow of death and to guide our feet into the way of Peace the light of knowledge That they that see not might see the light of grace that they that follow him might not walke in darkenesse but have the light of life And the light of comfort that he might give beauty for ashes the oyle of joy for mourning and the garment of gladnesse for the spirit of heavinesse All wicked men that misse this that are in hunting with Esau while this blessing is given following the luxurious courses of the world in wickednesse while CHRIST brings life and immortality to light by the Gospell doe fall into darkenesse darknesse darknesse Because they loved darknesse rather than light therefore their cogitations are darkened through ignorance their foolish hearts are full of darknesse they looke to the earth and behold darkenesse and sorrow they fall to the darkenesse of horrour for there is no peace to the wicked saith my GOD they goe downe to the place of darkenesse and the horrible pit shuts her mouth upon them O woe unto them they have rewarded evill unto their soules 3. But how doth the wicked mans way become to bee darknesse As outward darknesse doth grow upon men three wayes so doth this First naturally by some defect in naturall generation So there being a naturall defect now in mans propagation through sin he brings forth blind Whelps Though more or lesse for naturall excellency man bee not borne blinde yet for morrall rectitude to improve his understanding to the best advantage for his happines in Gods way hee is darkenesse Secondly actually by too much gazing on the excelling sensibles of the world or by too much heate or cold which checke or chill the spirits So when wicked men doe too much gaze upon the deceitfull glories and pleasures of the World when they are cold in Religion or religious duties and doe hotly pursue the pleasing vanities of this life they become clouded in the thicke smoake of darkenesse This blinded that rich foole from securing his soule and Zaccheus before his conversion from going the right way to heaven For they that will bee rich fall into temptations and snares and into many foolish and hurtfull lusts which drowne men in perdition and destruction Thirdly penally when it is inflicted as a punishment as when Zedechias his eyes were pulled out as a just punishment upon his wicked life so when GOD sees the courses of men to be foule and detestable contrary to the light of the word and checke of Conscience which he hath given them then GOD justly shuts their eyes stoppes their eares and takes away the
a thousand miseries Gowts Consumption Fevers Stone Strangury death are the portions of this worlds wantons And when that goes from us or we from that it gives a bitter farewell to the lovers of it Though a man live many dayes â—â—t let him remember the dayes of darknesse which will come first or last and then farewell profit farewell pleasure farewell honour the white sticke must be broken worldly comforts must vanish and if yee have not built your nest in the Rocke Christ the wind will take you the world will spew you out and whither then Doe they stumble at the offence of their companions It is at they know not what stil Call for them all whom you are loth now to offend in pleasing GOD and what can they doe As the Winter brookes they passe away faith Iob. Are they touched for sinne They will bee glad to bee rid of them away from mee yee wicked I will keep the Commandements of my GOD. Doth the wrath of GOD come They can say alas my brother alas his glory but as the wrath of man cannot accomplish the righteousnesse of GOD so nor the power of man can stand with comfort against the wrath of GOD. Doth poverty come as an armed man A worldly friend will help once a godlie friend will helpe twice but daily to hang upon the pockets and purse-strings of others is like a curst wife a continuall dropping away with such a like fellow from off the earth the land is not able to beare such a loathsome guest Doth death come with this Iron Law You must goe and make your bed in darkenesse where they must say to corruption thou art my mother to the Worme thou art my brother and sister Where are their companions now One stands by and weepes but cannot helpe another would come but feares the flashes of reproofe for godlesse courses but let them all come can they deliver their bodies from the grave and their soules from the hand of Hell The Redemption of a soule cost more than so they must let that alone for ever What matters it then to offend such so they may please God Doe they now stumble at the lapses and falls of those that seeme better than themselves Is it not still at they know not what If a Christian sinne it is not because hee is a Christian but because hee is a Christian no more it is not the profession but the person that is in all the fault Hee that is a good Christian should answer like that blessed Martyr who when hee was asked what was his name hee answered Christian what was his Countrey answered Christian what were his hopes thoughts words and deeds Hee answered Christian He was a Christian all over and if it bee otherwise Christianity must not bee blamed but sinne in him and Sathan out of him that put on that faire hood to cover their deformitie Besides sinne shall condemn them not justifie the wicked stumbler They shall goe to hell for that without Repentance the wicked shall not goe to Heaven for being worsâ— because they are bad And what doe they stumble at now Is it at the peaceable end of sinners It is still at they know not what For it is not ever true that wicked men finde such a calme when death approacheth somtimes Hell fire flasheth upon them then sometimes they miserably cry out I am damned I am damned I must to Hell and when it is true GOD Satan and themselves have an hand in it God justly seales them up to hardnesse of heart and then like the Leviathan they laugh at the Speare Satan covers their sins and lockes in their thoughts to dreame of golden Mountaines Hee labours to make their life and death to be an heaven here that hee may the more cunningly bring them to hell hereafter Themselves have accustomed themselves to sinne and custome in sinne takes away the sense of sinning and so like Nabal their heart dies like a stone And put case that Gods good people be disquieted when death appeareth They draw neere to GOD and see themselves abominable as Esau They have a circumcised heart and so are tender at the least touch which Satan perceiving hee drives home with all his rage and skill to slander his godly course because his time is but short Thus now ye have the whole Proverbe which sets forth a rule to your miserable example to shew the miserable estate of those that are and walk and stand and sit in the darke wayes of sin and wickednesse What shall I say to you Young men O that I could speake to your hearts so powerfully that yee may be rowzed from lying under the dominion of sinne any longer Oh that my Doctrine might drop as the raine and my speech might distill as the dew as the small raine upon the tender herbe and as the showers upon the grasse Yee have heard the woe woe woe to wicked men Sometimes this keepes them off from vertue and grace and sometimes that Here they stumble and there they stumble before behind on this side and on that and at last tumble into despaire and Hell for evermore Francis Spyra stumbled thus when hee cried out I would faine be in Hell to try the worst that God can doe And that outlandish wretch thus who would have given all to his soul not to forsake him but when nothing would serve the turne but he must die he commended his soule to the devill to be carried into everlasting torments And that English wretch thus I give my goods to the King whom I have cozened my body to the earth and my soule to the Devill And that other wretch not worthy of a name thus My soule I bequeath to the devill who ownes it my Wife to the Devill who drew mee to my ungodly life and my Chaplaine to the Devill who flattered mee in it But deare young men doe not yee so Lay hold of eternall life and pull your selves by the mighty power of GOD into that way Vse no arguments to pull your selves into or keepe your selves in the way of sinne Quit your selves like men and the God of Heaven stand by you for your helpe and succour Now is the accepted time now is the houre of salvation God hath shot a warning peece from Heaven stand not out but vaile to him before he shoot the vollies of his vengeance against you irrecoverably Yee have many motives to make you look about you now for grace and glory First your age is a most unsettled age pestered with many lusts of youth which drop by drop may fall upon you till you are suddenly over head and eares That which hath been formerly fained of Hercules that he stood in two wayes ready to take either is true of you For as a strait tree which is loose at the root standeth trembling and being unsetled with a little
â—3 Matth 22. 5. Aâ— scandall Being loath to offend their wicked companions Ioh 3.1 Ioh. 12.42 43. And being offended at the lives of professors Tit. â— 1 Thes 4.12 1 Cor. 10.32 which they easily espy though they are in darknesse Iames 1. From a light not from without but from within Iames 3. 6. At the peaceable end of sinners Psal 73. And the troubled deaths of the Godly 3. They stumble because they know not at what 1. They know not who they are that sinne 2. Whom they sinne â—gainst Micah 6. 1 Ioh. 1. Rom. 3. 2 Cor. 5. 3. What sinne will worke 2. They know not 1. The necessity of repentance Luk. 13. 2. Nor the work of it 3. Nor the worth of it 3. They know not the power of GODS wrath Psal 91. In the workes of this justice 2 Pet. 2.4 Genesis 4. Gen. 6.5 Gen 8.21 Gen. 19 Ezek. 16. Hebr. 9 Rom. 8 3. 2 Cor. 5.21 Rom. 11. Deut. 22.41 42. 2 Pet. 3. Deut. 29.19 20. 4. They know not what they can do in good because they try not Esa 59.29 1 Cor. 11.24 25. Tit. 3.5 Eph. 6. Phil. 4.13 5. They know not what is the power of Gods mâ—â—â—y Si peccantibus multo magis poeniâ—atibus Esa 66. Matth. 11. To embrace penitents Esay 1. Mic. 7.18 Esa 7.20 Esa 28.21 Opus justitiae est opus alienum Acts 〈…〉 They know not how weake all the world is if it were on their side 1 Cor. 7. Eccl. 11. Esa 41.16 7. They know not how little their companions can do for them Psalm 119. Iames 1. Psalm 6. Prov. 6. Psal 49. 8. They know not that the falls of Christians is because they are not Christians enough 9. They know not that sinners end is not alwayes peaceable And when it is Durities hominis peccatum ob duratio judicii Dei it yeilds no comfort Consuetudo peccandi tollit sensum peccati 1 Sam. 25. And yet the unquiet end of the godly may Esay 6. Appli Therefore let this proverbe sinke into your harts Deut. 32.2 Many have thus stumbled But do not you young men stumble thus 2 Cor. 6. Consider your motives to look about you Your age is most unsetled 2. You will easily savour ever of your first liquor Eccl. 1.15 3. Yee are now subject to the horriblest sinnes 4. Your sins will cry loudest Psal 25.7 Iob 13.26 2 Tim. 2.22 Iob 21.17 Iob 20.11 5. Your age hath no priviledge to sinne Eccl. 11.6 Eccl. 11.5 Psal 119.5 Therefore stumble not at any of these blockes Think how soone yee may dye Iob 21.23.24 25. And then what danger will follow With fearfull complaints in vaine Mic. 6.7 Luk. 13.7 Mat. 7.25 and 25 12. I Sam. 2.25 Ier. 9.1 Vses of examples 1. To threaten Deut. 24 9. Iosh 22.20 1 Sam. 6.6 2. To reproach Iudg. 10.17 Mic. 6 5. 3. To comfort Deut. 3.21 Esa 54.9 4. To maintaine truth Iam. 2.21 Rom. 4.2 3. 5. To disswade from vice 1 Cor. 10.7 8 9 c. Exo. 32.6 Num. 25.9 Num. 21 6. Numb 14.37 6. To forewarne 2 Cor. 11.3 Why examples are of such use 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Iam. 1.2 3. A threefold benefit by examples 1. Observation 2. Illustration 3. Declaration of providence The world doth not make this benefit How men doe make use of examples of Iustice And how they should from the several waies of Gods shewing Iustice 1 Cor. 11.32 Psal 55.23 Deut. 29.29 The Application of the use of examples to this Warning-peece Psal 68 21. Dan. 4.27 Prov. 3.9