their owne wickednes saith the sixt verse they shall fall in their owne wickednes saith the fift their frowardnes shall destroy them saith this Whereby it appeareth that their miserie commeth not from others as an accidentall occasion but groweth from themselues as the proper cause neither is it an ordinarie euill that is recurable but a desperate ruine that is remedilesse neither yet is it the subuersion of their state or killing of their bodie which is but temporarie but the perdition both of bodie and soule which is euerlasting To this agreeth that which is spoken to the same purpose in the fift chapter His owne iniquitie shall take the wicked himselfe and hee Pro. 5. 22. 23. shall be holden with the cords of his owne sinne He shall die for fault of instruction and for going astray through his owne follie Here is a description of euery obstinate and contemptuous sinner their wickednes doth worke destruction by degrees It first apprehendeth them as an officer it keepeth them afterwards in stockes and bolts as a Iayler And lastlie it putteth them to death as an executioner Reasons 1 First they despise the patience and long sufferance the kindnes and goodnes of God which waiteth for their repentance and therefore through the hardnes of their hearts heape to themselues wrath against the day of vengeance Rom. 2. 4. 5. Secondly they greeue and vexe the spirit of God which offereth grace vnto them and therefore he turneth to be their enemie They Isai 63. 10. with their peruersenes doe resist him and hee with his power wil cast downe them And so the Prophet testifieth in the Psalme With the pure thou wilt shew thy selfe pure but with the froward thou settest thy selfe to wrestle Thirdly they scorne and despise the word and wisedome of God and as much as in them is cause others also to reiect it and therefore it is iust with the Lord to make them eate the fruit of their owne waies and to fill them with their owne deuices that is to bring them to a fearefull destruction Prou. 1. 30. 31. Vse Terror of them that practise sinne of purpose to offend them which dislike of their lewde waies They will breake the Sabbath in despite of them that would haue them better exercised they will sweare they say and stare too to anger such as admonish them of their vnlawfull othes Sillie creatures and miserable wretches will they cut their owne throats to grieue others with the sight of their bloud will they strangle themselues that others might weepe for their cursed end Their boisterous stubbernesse may bring a short sorow to others that hate their sinnes and loue their soules but a perpetuall shame to themselues which ioyne with their sinnes against their soules Verse 4. Riches auaile not in the day of wrath but righteousnes deliuereth from death THese wordes seeme to containe an anticipation or preuenting of an obiection which might bee moued against the latter point of the former verse What speake you of destruction to come vpon wicked men I trust you will not extend it to all for many of them are substantiall wealthy men of great state and abilitie Who can destroy them What shall their power and riches doe the while To this it is here answered that riches auaile not in the day of wrath their wealth can neither withstand the strokes of God nor lessen them nor make them any whit the more able to beare them when his anger doth execute iudgements and when his iudgements declare his anger But righteousnesse is that which deliuereth from death and all other miseries that the sting thereof shall neuer make any man miserable See the more full handling and prosecution of these words in the second verse of the tenth chapter Verse 5. The righteousnesse of the vpright shall direct his way or make his way straight or euen but the wicked shall fall in his owne wickednesse HEre he addeth to that which he had begun in the third verse and sheweth that sincetitie righteousnes do not only lead men to a good way and tell them what is their dutie and fit to be performed but maketh the way passable for them and them constant and prosperous in it To the which againe is opposed the way of the wicked euen their owne sinfull course of life being crooked and cragged and rough and rugged and full of manifolde perils wherein at the last they fall and perish Doct. Godly men haue not onely a commaundement but abilitie giuen vnto them to walke in the Law of God Their faithfulnesse doth leuell their way and paue it before them wherein they find not onely equitie but ease also with delight and safetie And so much the Prophet doth intimate when he saith The waies of the Lord are righteous and the iust shall walke in them but the wicked Hos 14. 10. shall fall therein Reasons First the affections sanctified do al ioyne hands in forwarding a man to a constant proceeding in godlines The loue of God and the hope of reward doe ouercome and subdue all difficulties and dangers and beare downe all the impediments that may stoppe him by discouragements and the feare of God and dread of his displeasure doth suppresse the force of worldly lusts and beate downe the conceits that may draw him to presumption Secondly the experience of Gods presence fauour and blessing is very effectuall to continue their obedience For hauing tasted how good the Lord is to them that feare him they cannot liue without his companie and that is no where to bee inioyed but in the way of righteousnesse The Lord himselfe both by grace and prouidence doth helpe them in this worke He giueth vertue and power to the ministry of his word to prepare a way betweene himselfe and the hearts of his people that there may bee an intercourse for one to come mutually to the other as S. Luke testifieth Euerie vallie shall bee filled and euery mountaine and hill shall bee brought low and crooked things shall be made straight and the rough waies shal be made smooth Luk. 3. 5. He also measureth out a meete state for them and maketh such a mixture or composition of prosperitie and aduersitie of blessings and crosses of comforts and sorrowes as is most holesome for their soules and directeth all the occurrents that befall them to the furtherance of their saluation And hereof Isaiah speaketh saying The way of the righteous is euennes or equities thou wilt weigh out a iust path for the righteous He will ballance out euerie thing that concerneth them in gold weights that there shall not be the least defect or excesse that might turne to their hurt Vse Confutation of their pernicious illusions that thinke it impossible to walke in the waies of God therfore iudge it nothing dangerous to stray out of them at their pleasure The preachers say they doe teach that which none can obserue euery bodie doth contrary and we must do like others or
euerlasting mercie there hee will Psalm 2. 5. speake vnto them in anger and for want of repentance will punish them eternally with iustice Secondly the fearefull iudgement of God vpon their hearts that they should not see how they were illuded in their expectation vntill their death when the case is remedilesse If the vanitie of their hope were discouered to them before they might cast it off sooner and lay a new foundation of a better whereas resting still vpon the stabilitie of that it breaketh when it cannot be repaired and they fall when they can neuer rise againe If the fiue Matth. 25. foolish Virgins had found their want of oile before the bridegrome was comming they might in time haue prouided themselues and be readie to enter with him to the wedding before the dore was shut If they which presumed so much of Christ his acquaintance because they had eaten drunk in his company and Luk. 13. 26 27. heard him preach amongst them had knowne before hand what small account hee would haue made of them they might haue vsed better meanes whiles time serued to grow into his fauour Thirdly the prerogatiue and priuiledge of Gods people would be much infringed if wicked men should haue hope with them in the life to come for therein standeth the contrarietie between them The wicked saith the Scripture shall bee cast away for his lewdnes but the righteous hath hope at his death Prou. 14. 32. For the present it commeth to passe commonly that bad men are full and good men are hungrie the one sort doe laugh and the other waile and weepe as our Sauiour testifieth Luk. 6. 25. and therefore hereafter their conditions shall bee changed on both sides the pleasure of the one shall bee turned into paine and the sorrowes of the other into endlesse comforts As it is said by the Apostle concerning the godlie that if in this life onely they had hope they were of all most miserable so it may be spoken touching the godlesse that if in the life to come also they had hope they were of all men most happie Vse 1 Reproofe of their folly which liue in hope that the time of their death will beget them hope and not destroy it They know that now they are sinfull persons without all grace and goodnes but they trust that then they shall be conuerted and brought in a moment to repentance They know that now they stand in state of damnation and if they should presently come to iudgement they must needes perish but they trust at the last gaspe to call vpon God for mercie and thereby get pardon for all their sinnes and so their soules shall bee saued As though death and the pangs thereof were appointed for the preferment of Gods vngodly enemies They haue bestowed themselues in the seruice of sinne and spent their daies in rebellion against the Lord and doe they looke for reward thereof to bee crowned with glory Are theeues and robbers are cutpurses and other malefactours therefore bound ouer to the Assises that they may bee put in commission and called vp to the bench Instruction to confirme our hope by putting our soules out of all perill of perishing afore our death or sicknes or any other danger least our euidence be to seek when our cause is to be tried Let euery one of vs vpon apparance of election by faith and the fruits of sanctification be able to say as trulie though not with as much feeling of assurance as the Apostle did I am perswaded that neither death nor life nor Angels nor principalities nor powers nor things Rom. 8. 38. present nor things to come nor height nor depth nor any other creature shall separate vs from the loue of God which is in Christ Iesus This will make our life truely prosperous and profitable and our death blessed and comfortable and our state in the world to come immortall and glorious Consolation to such as feare God that death will deliuer them from the hopes and the liues of their sinfull enemies Away must their soules goe and downe must their carkasses and where then are their purposes and what becomes of their power Though they were as mightie as Leuiathan and as mischieuous as dragons yet when they bee dead as die they must what cause hath any man to be afraid of them Achab minded great matters against Micaiah at his returne in peace from Ramoth Gilead 1. King 22. but God minded to preserue Micaiah by defeating Achab of a peaceable returne from thence Let Hezechiah and all his people saith Zanecherib trust to it that I will speede them at my next comming to Ierusalem but God had appointed that hee should come no more that way but be drawne by the snowte like a fish Isai 36. 12. and 37. 29. or led with a bridle like a beast to the shambles and slaughter at Nineue The Egyptians were resolued to pursue Israel vntill they ouertooke them and to put them to the sword when they caught them and to take the spoile of their goods when they had slaine them but the waters were first to pursue themselues and death to ouertake them and the sea to haue the spoile of their bodies and hell to make a pray of their soules Verse 8. The iust escapeth out of trouble and the wicked shall come in his steed GOds fauour and goodnes doth not free his seruants from afflictions but deliuereth them out of afflictions Whereinto hee casteth the wicked though they be not alwaies of the same kind with those which the godly suffer but worse and more durable and such as are mixed with Gods wrath and poisoned with the sting of their owne euill conscience Doct. Though the afflictions of good men seeme sharpe and grieuous yet they are not perpetuall Before euer God bring his into troubles hee appointeth how they shal be preserued in them and passe thorough them and get out of them He doth as well foresee their arriuall as their launching forth and the end of the boysterous stormes which they must indure aswell as the beginning and entrance thereof Many Psalm 34. 19. or great are the troubles of the righteous but the Lord deliuereth him out of all Neither number nor grieuousnesse nor continuance of crosses nor power of persecutors nor any other impediment can hinder his hand from helping his distressed seruants Reasons First they will keepe no silence when they bee in tribulation they will cry vnto God and bemone their case vnto him that hee may take their cause into his hands Neither is it any waywardnesse in them but wisedome and their bounden duty so to doe for he calleth them vnto him and commaundeth them to make their complaint Call vpon me saith hee in the day of trouble so will I deliuer thee and thou shalt glorifie me Psal 50. 15. Secondly all Gods people are petitioners for euery one and euery one for all so that no member of Iesus Christ wanteth
Within a little space I am in all euill in the midst of the congregation and assemblie Reproofe of them that vndertake the defence of subtill sinne that offer themselues to be compurgatours for her if she say that she is honest and vpright they will sweare they thinke it true What euill is there of Idolatrie superstition swearing Sabbath-breaking crueltie wantonnes yea abominable whoredome pride and riot but it shall haue proctors to pleade for it and giue countenance to it And most commonly they are the men that of all others euery way for soule and bodie for substance and credit haue been most plagued by her Her craftines hath so inchanted them that by her vsage she hath gotten their harts for euer Their wits their tongues their pennes their practise of life and all shall be altogether for her against God and his word against all godly men against all ciuill men against their owne estimation and state comfort and saluation Doct. 2 God is a sure paimaster to all that labour faithfully in his seruice Though their strength bee not great nor their worke very much yet if their desires be sound and their endeuours vpright their recompence will also bee certaine The Prophet Azariah knew that he spake aswell to posteritie as to those of his owne age and as truly to Gods people as to King Asa and his people Be strong and let not your hands be faint for your worke shall haue a 2. Chro. 15. 17. reward Reasons 1 First the couenant is plaine and without all doubtfulnes there is no equiuocation in it there is no mentall reseruation to peruert the meaning of it Secondly the couenant maker is absolutely perfect and euery way all sufficient His wisedome foreseeth what things are fit to promise his truth doth binde him to doe all that is promised his mercie doth moue him to doe more than he promiseth and his power doth serue him to performe whatsoeuer his wisedome seeth meete his truth hath vndertaken or his mercie willeth vnto his seruants Vse 1 Instigation to shew all diligence in doing good and let no time slip away without some fruitfull exercise Of men some hire their workfolks by the yeere some by the half yeere some by the moneth some by the week and some by the day but God giueth vs wages for euery minutes worke for euery moments worke for euery gracious speech for euery holy thought for imployment in our beds for patience in our sicknes for good vsage of recreations there is no season no state nor place wherein a good man may not be well occupied for the increase of his wages The same reason doth S. Paul vse to incite the Corinthians and all other godly Christians to bee very laborious and painfull in all good seruices continually seeing there will be a resurrection and a retribution to euery man according to their waies Therefore my beloued brethren saith he be ye stedfast vnmoueable abundant alway 1. Cor. 15. 58. in the worke of the Lord forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vaine in the Lord. Incouragement to patience though we seeme not to haue present pay for our obedience Our wages is in a sure hand and will not faile to be yeelded vnto vs when our neede requireth it or any vse may bee made of it for our best aduantage Our wages is better than ordinarie the whole crop that we sow is giuen vs for our labour and therefore let vs not be too hastie to reape it before it bee readie Good Farmers indeede pay the ploughmen sooner than the corne is ripe but cheaper thā the corne is worth whereas God bestoweth freely vpon his labourers all that they haue sowen it is their owne and therefore let them tarrie till haruest and they shall finde their hire will farre surmount their trauels This is the ground of the Apostles perswasion to the Galathians Let vs not be wearie of well doing for in due season we shall reape if we faint not Gal. 6. 9. Verse 19. So righteousnesse leadeth to life and he that followeth euill seeketh his owne death THis verse is inferred vpon the former by way of explication to shew what he meant by the deceiueable worke of the wicked and the sure wages of the righteous And first he beginneth with the latter according to the manner of the Hebrewes declaring that life vnderstanding thereby immortalitie and all the blessednes annexed vnto it is that sure reward which all godly men may vndoubtedly expect and destruction both of soule and bodie eternally is the ende whereunto the deceitfull worke will bring wicked men which do so much deceiue themselues by a greedie desire of satisfying their sinfull lusts Doct. 1 The Lord hath not onely appointed a certaine reward but a precious for his seruants Nothing can be better then such a happie life and such a happie life as he deemeth nothing to good for them to enioy Hereof the Apostle speaketh to the Romans The wages of sinne is death but the gift of God is euerlasting life through Iesus Christ. Rom. 6. 23. Reasons 1 This is to set forth the bountie and superabundant munificence of God the father that the riches of his loue and goodnes may be magnified aboue all creatures Hee putteth into the hearts and power of sinfull men to giue gold and siluer to giue iewels and treasure to giue lands and liuings to giue titles and dignities to giue crownes and kingdoms but neither men nor Angels could euer giue life to any or keepe their owne by their owne power the liuing Lord and eternall God is he that maketh all his Saints as well in heauen as in earth to liue eternally Secondly the Lord Iesus our Sauiour hath by his dying killed death and bought life and by his resurrection triumphed ouer death and won life for euery one of his members yea he himselfe is the life of his people which beleeue in him who maketh them partakers by an euerlasting communion with him of his owne life He layd it downe for them and tooke it vp againe for them and imparts it vnto them it is as possible for him to perish as them and the whole Deitie as him Thirdly the seed of grace whereby the sonnes of God are regenerate is an immortall seede as S. Peter calleth it and of the nature of the father that begetteth them and therefore they must 1. Pet. 23. needes receiue life and retaine life and neuer after bee depriued of it Fourthly without this life the children of God were in no better case then other creatures For either they should bee subiect to eternall death which is the condition of the wicked reprobats or else be extinct and abolished with a finall dissolution which is the state of vnreasonable beasts Vse 1 Instruction to labour for righteousnesse and preciously to account of it since it procureth so precious a reward to vs and that from the fauour and kindnesse of our gracious God Hee that
striueth earnestly herein may truely be said to worke for life For life is proposed and life he seeketh and life he shall finde If great wages were vncertaine or certaine wages were but small it would be but a small incouragemēt to take great paines but seeing now it is so sure and so large and so good what is too much to be performed and what is too grieuous to bee indured for the same True it is that righteousnesse will call for trauell and raise vp trouble but it is as true that all the trauels and afflictions of this present life are not worthie of the glorie which shall be shewed vnto vs. Rom. 18. 2. Cor. 4. 17. For our light affliction which is but for a moment causeth vnto vs a farre most excellent and an eternall weight of glory If nothing but bare life were bestowed vpon vs euen meere deliuerance from the danger of death it were a benefit not lightly to be esteemed It was said of Lot that he was preserued from destruction of Sodome the Lord being mercifull vnto him and yet his goods money and cattell which hee had in great abundance Gen. 19. 16. were all destroyed And the diuell spake the truth though in craft and malice concerning Iob skinne for skinne and all that euer a man hath will he giue for his life But when life is full of liuely comforts when it is adorned with endles glory when it is inriched with infinit treasures what crosses what pouertie what temptations what reproaches what persecutions and sufferings should diminish our desire of it or make vs remisse in seeking for it Reproofe of them that care not whose seruice they come into nor what worke they doe so that they may haue nothing to doe with God and his seruices They thinke no prison more streight then the Church no drudgery more grieuous then prayer and hearing of sermons singing of Psalmes and sanctifying of the Sabbath no bondage so burdenous as restraint from sinfull delightes and fleshly pleasures no miserie so bitter as sound Christianitie They distaste with great detestation all persons and actions and gestures and words that sauour of godlinesse or haue any stampe and print of pietie in them and as themselues abhorre all his worship so they labour to discourage all others from doing him any seruice These are they which are continually censuring of professours and deriding their precisenes and insulting ouer their pouertie and meane estate As though the Lord were not able to maintaine them that serue him or else did grudge to bestow good things vpon them as though he were a niggardly hard maister vnwilling to allow his people sufficiencie of food and wages That were a great dissoyaltie so to traduce a liberall Lord and free harted Prince who is readie to promote his seruants to liuing though it bee but for a time but it is an execrable impietie so to blaspheme the most bountifull God who giueth to euery one of his both liuing and life and all blessednes for euermore But many of them say that they speake by experience themselues haue been professors and as forward as the best and they neuer got any good by it And such Malachy bringeth in quarrelling against God Your words saith he haue been stout against mee yet yee say what haue wee spoken against thee Yee haue said it is in vaine to serue God and what profit is it that wee haue kept his commandement and walked humblie before the Lord of hosts Mal. 3. 13. 14. Who is so busie to complaine for want of wages as they which neuer performed any good worke let not the exceptions of murmuring apostataes preuaile in the eares or harts of any that haue vnderstanding They were neuer of the family of God though they crept into his house they neuer did one good chare in obedience and for what then should they haue their recompence They were alwaies proud hypocrites though they boast of humilitie and why should they be vsed as humble persons But be it that they pleade for others who haue faithfully kept the commandements of God and truely been humbled in his sight and yet labour in a low estate and meane condition Is there no profit in seruing of the Lord vnles there be present preferment and earthly promotion Our principall pay will bee in life whereof wee haue part in hand by grace in our soules in this world and the rest is behind vntill the pay day in the world to come So that a sinner cannot discerne of the happinesse of a Christian nor conceiue how God dealeth with him For the comfort of the heart is a thing vnknowne to him and the glorious life is hid with Christ in God and shall Col. 3. 3. 4. not fully be seene before we appeare with him in glory Doct. 2 But he that followeth The more violent wicked men are in their sinnes the more neere they draw to destruction When they course euill as the grayhound doth the Hare and hunt for it as the hungry lion or other wild beast doth after his pray for thence is the similitude taken then they will ouertake their death anon and come speedily to damnation As the miserie of the Aegyptians approached neere vnto them so their crueltie increased towards the Israelites And they were neuer more fiercely disposed to kill and to slay than when the waters were presently to doe execution vpon them Warre was concluded without any great consultation a mightie hoste was gathered without any busines of mustering they were all in a readines to fight without any further training So stood the case with the Sodomites they were all set on mischiefe and madnes immediatly before they were destroyed And so it fared with Ahab who tooke his farewell toward his voyage and death with contempt of the word of God and persecution of his Prophet And so we might note Belshazzer and Haman and many others for this purpose whom the Lord cut off in the very practise of some notable mischiefe Reasons 1 First this carnest pursuite of sinne with loue and liking of sin proceedeth from an heart hardened with custome of sinning being past remorse and feeling and this will bring men to worke all Ephes 4. 19. kinde of wickednesse euen with greedinesse And this is a forerunner of Gods iudgements Secondly this following of euill is also accompanied with impudencie and shamelesnesse as their hearts cannot feare before God so their faces cannot blush before men And what state these men stand in the Prophet Ieremy sheweth Were they Ierem. 8. 12. ashamed when they had committed abomination nay they were not ashamed neither could they haue any shame therefore shall they fall among the slaine when I shall visite them they shall be cast down saith the Lord. Thirdly this manner of sinning crieth in the eares of the Lord as it is said of the Sodomites and prouoketh him to anger and therefore will draw downe a speedie punishment vpon them Vse 1 Instruction
was giuen ouer to sinfulnes and rebellion he could as easily destroy it with raine and water as if it had been but one man Thirdly they cannot thereby increase their owne power to make themselues able to incounter with him and so to auoide his stroakes by resistance for strength and might consists not in the multitude of men but is limited by Gods hand who onely hath the bestowing of it because it is his owne and to whomsoeuer he giueth it from the same he can at his pleasure take it when it is abused by them Were it not so the diuell and all his hoste about him would trie what they could doe before they would be cast into that miserable and desperate torment at the last day There was neuer so great an armie as that will be of reprobate men and angels and if any thing would make them to striue it would be the damnable estate whereunto they shall bee adiudged then presently to enter but they shall sensibly see and feele it to be bootlesse and therefore they will neuer attempt any such matter Vse 1 Instruction to vse better meanes to be freed from punishment and that is to take heede before how we fall into sinne So did Iob prouide for his impunitie by preseruing his eyes his heart and Iob. 31. his hands from lust and lewdnes from violence and crueltie from Idolatrie and couetousnesse and all such misbehauiour as might prouoke Gods wrath against him And if that be past wee haue done such things alreadie runne not from God to friends for to saue vs let vs not seeke the helpe of their hands vnlesse it be to be lifted vp with ours in prayer but runne to God by faith and holy humiliation No other course wil secure vs from iudgements deserued neither the multitude of friends nor the meanes they can make nor their tender affection towards vs will preuaile to succour vs if we fall into the hands of the liuing God Haman in all mens iudgement was surely backt and so were Baals prophets and yet committing sinnes of death they receiued the sentence of death and felt the execution of death in the presence of those 1. King 18. 40. whom they most depended vpon Admonition to beware how wee take vpon vs the defense of sinful men to keepe thē from such correction as is due vnto them for we lose our labour if wee seeke to stay them from all punishment many by escaping the parents rodde doe come vnder the Magistrates whip and many by escaping the whip doe come to the gallows and many by escaping the gallows doe fall into damnation for they are depriued of those medicines which might haue wrought a cure in their soules And what doe wee in this case but withstand the discipline of God himselfe How would the Magistrate take it if the offenders whom he is to punish should be pluckt away and rescued out of his hands do not they which make such attempts bring themselues into the compasse of the same faults which the malefactors were to suffer for whatsoeuer the others were condemned for these haue now made themselues accessarie vnto whether it be fellonie or treason or any other grieuous offence and yet it is a thing little feared of men they which haue neither mercie nor courage to deale in the cause of a poore oppressed innocent are readie and bold to protect and maintaine those which are impious and sinfull and walke in such lewde and wicked waies as are offensiue and abominable to God and man How many are kept from their condigne punishment by the countenance of great mens cloath and seruice How many doe words and letters preuaile for how many are cleered by corrupt Iurors who lay the guiltines of many soule and fearefull faults vpon their owne consciences Doct. 2 But the seede of the righteous c. The best way for any man to doe his children good is to bee godly himselfe Hee that setteth himself to serue God to seek euerlasting saluation is busily occupied in prouiding for his posteritie that which his soule shall find to bee most comfortable to him his seed shall find to be most profitable to them The same spirit of trueth which here doth affirme this doth in diuers other places confirme it as in the twentith Chapter of this booke He that walketh in his vprightnes is Prou. 20. 7. iust and blessed shall his children be after him He needed not to say that he himselfe is blessed though he knew it to bee so and so likewise meant it for true iustice is euer ioyned with true blessednes but to prooue the fulnes of his owne happie estate he sheweth that it shall flow ouer also to his children So is it said in the Psalmes both concerning himselfe and his Blessed is the man that Psal 112. 1. 2. feareth the Lord and delighteth greatly in his commaundements his seede shall be mightie vpon the earth the generation of the righteous shall be blessed Reasons 1 First he himselfe is become the sonne of God and so his are Gods sonnes children and then consider the abundant loue euen of earthly parents to the seede of their sonnes and daughters Manasse and Ephraim were as deere to Iacob as if he had been their immediate parent and so were Ephraims and Manasses children Gen. 48. to Ioseph though Naomi was but mother in law to Ruth yet how acceptable was Obed the sonne of Ruth vnto her though Moses was but the adopted sonne of Pharaohs daughter though of another nation though of such a nation whom they held as bondseruants though of a people that was an abomination to him and his people though such a people as he feared and sought to destroy yet Pharaoh loued him and preferred him and shewed all kindnes to him for his daughters sake when she had taken him to be hers Secondly a Christian parent is most fit and competent to deale with his children to bee seruiceable to God and to deale with God to be mercifull to his children great is the force of a fatherly admonition when a godly father admonisheth and marueilous is the efficacie of a parentlike blessing when a holy parent doth blesse the fruite of his bodie So much doth Iacob intimate to Ioseph for his exceeding great comfort The blessings of thy father Gen. 49. 26. shall be mightie with the blessings of my elders vnto the end of the hils of the world they shal be on the head of Ioseph That prophane Esau as wicked as hee was did assure himselfe that he should be the better for his father Isaacks blessing if he could obtaine it and therefore wept for sorrow when he went without it Thirdly the children of religious and faithfull parents are intituled to the promises and blessings of God both for soule and bodie as appeareth in the holy records by that argument S. Peter perswaded them to beleeue whose hearts were pricked at his doctrine To you is the promise
not scotfree they must in no sort be spared but feele more heauie and featefull punishments though not in the earth yet in the world to come Doct. The best must looke for stripes if they will take libertie to sin against God True it is that the Lord taketh not aduantage of infirmities he passeth by them he winketh at them he smiteth not his children for them but when they grow too bold he wil nurture and awe them with correction In this sense he may be said to be no respecter of persons that as he will not endure the sinfulnes of the wicked though they be neuer so great so hee will not allow of the sinnes of the godly though they bee neuer so good The vertues that men haue doe not warrant them to fall into any vice their religion and graces doe not priuiledge them to doe those things which are vnseemly for religious and gracious persons to practise Few points are more fully confirmed by manifest proofes than this The Scriptures propose many examples our eares haue heard many reports our eyes doe daily behold many presidents for this purpose and they that will not be perswaded by these shall finde it true by experience in themselues What dolefull complaints doth the Church make euery where in the Lamentations of Ieremy Behold O Lord how I am troubled my bowels swell mine heart is turned within me for I am Lam. 1. 18. 20. full of heauinesse the Lords sword spoyleth abroad as death doth at home The Lord is righteous for I haue rebelled against his commandement How lamentably do the godly bemone themselues and the state of the Church in the prophecie of Esaiah Be not angrie O Lord aboue measure neither remember iniquitie for euer Isai 64. 9. 10. loe we beseech thee behold we are all thy people Thine holy cities lie waste Zion is a wildernes and Ierusalem a desert The house of our sanctuarie and of our glorie where our fathers praised thee is burnt vp with fire and all our pleasant things are wasted In what patheticall manner doth the Prophet expresse the burden of his afflictions in the booke of the Psalmes Thine arrowes haue light vpon Psal 38. 2. 3. me and thine hand lieth vpon me There is nothing sound in my flesh because of thine anger neither is there rest in my bones because of my sinne Reasons 1 First God herein respecteth his owne glorie who will haue his people to know that he doth looke for seruice at their hands If they performe it willingly they shall not faile to be rewarded for it but if they grow carelesse and negligent to obey him they shall be driuen vnto it by compulsion This was that which made both Moses and Ieremie bestirre them when God shewed his anger to the one and threatned to destroy the other for being so backward to vndertake their ministerie Exp. 4. 14. Ier. 1. 17. And the wicked shall see by this that hee is neither remisse toward all nor partiall to any when his commandement is not regarded This seemeth to be one cause why the Prophet that came to Bethel and failed to fulfill that which was giuen him in charge was so seuerely handled He told Ieroboam that God had straightlie forbidden him either to eate or to drinke in that citie and yet Ieroboam might heare that he had both eaten and drunken in the house of an other Prophet there for which cause the Lord sent a Lion to kil him that it might be knowne to Ieroboam and others 1. Reg. 13. how dangerous it was for any to disobey his word Secondly he respecteth their good though it might seeme to be better for them if they were wholy freed from all manner of troubles and crosses How wanton how froward how stubborne would children be Into what perils would they cast themselues if they should be altogether exempted from the rod They could neuer feele the comfort of their parents fauour vnlesse they sometimes found the smart of their displeasure And so are the stripes and chastisements of God as needfull euery way to all his sonnes and daughters They make vs the more carefull to beware of euill they helpe vs to repentance when wee haue fallen into euill they confirme the loue of our heauenly father towards vs they be occasions of his holinesse in vs They bring the quiet Heb. 12. 6. 10. 11. fruite of righteousnes vnto vs. Finally to knit vp all in few words we are therefore recompenced with afflictions in the earth that we should not be punished with destruction in hell but rewarded with euerlasting glorie in heauen And this the Apostle sheweth to be the cause why God scourgeth vs. When wee are iudged saith he we are chastned of the Lord that we should not be condemned with 1. Cor. 11. 32. the world Vse 1 Admonition to euery one that feareth God to looke well to his heart and wayes that he retaine the feare of God constantly and not be venturous to doe any thing that may offend him The Lord hateth sinne as well in the godly as in the wicked and will sooner smite the godly for his sinne then the wicked though not so grieuouslie An example hereof was alreadie shewne in the Prophet slaine as he was going from Bethel Ieroboams transgressions were begun long before the fault that hee committed and yet the strooke came vpon him for his fault long before the destruction of Ieroboam and his house And let no man say I am safe because I am sure to be saued he may fall into great miserie in this life though he be in state of happines for the life to come Freedome from perdition doth not free men from all manner of punishments What plague besides destruction can Christians say we shall certainly escape vnlesse they bee sure to escape such sinnes as may prouoke God to plague them The Magistrate hath many punishments for offenders besides death as the stocks the goale the whip the pillarie c. and God hath more iudgements besides damnation as euery man may heare by the threatnings and see by the execution and feele by the burden of them Dauid was as safe from being condemned as Satan is out of all hope to be redeemed and yet his calamities made him to groane and crie and roare as he saith His bloud was dried vp his moisture was like the drought of summer His torment was as great Psal 32. 4. and 51. 8. as if his bones had been broken And as no man should take incouragement by ought that is in himselfe to doe that which is displeasing to the Lord so is there a care to bee had that wee bee not led by the examples of other men to doe any thing which the word doth not allow Some hereby take libertie for breach of the Sabbath some for gaming some for one thing some for another Good men say they vse these things and why then may not wee also But it is no part
of their goodnes say wee and then why should you follow them therein at all Their practise leadeth you to the like facts but can it preserue you or themselues from the reward thereof The question is not therefore who they bee that do it but with what warrant and how well they are like to speede for their doing Consolation in afflictions that they disable vs not from being righteous though they be compensations of sinnes for which we are not yet sufficiently humbled We shall adde to our owne sorrowes and needleslie increase the weight of our burdens if wee condemne our state because the Lord correcteth vs for our faults if we relinquish our hope of happines in heauen because we are recompenced with iudgements on earth it is allotted by God to the best of his seruants so to be dealt with Doct. How much more c. Euery wicked mans state is worse then any godly mans can be Take the most prosperous of them all euen such as the Prophet speaketh of that haue not a knot to their death but the web of their life from the wombe to the graue hath runne with euen threed both in warpe and woofe without any breach and let him be compared with a Christian that neuer saw merrie day touching outward things and he shall be found to be a miserable forlorne caitiffe in respect of this poore seruant of God And indeede the tribulations and afflictions of good men do not bring them behind the wicked but shew that the plagues and punishments of the wicked are yet behind That reason our Sauiour vsed to the women that lamented him as an vnfortunate man and one forsaken of God Weepe not for me saith hee but weepe for your selues and your children For if these things be done to Luc. 23. 28. 31. a greene tree what shall be done to the drie This reason the Prophet Ieremie vsed to Gentiles bordering vpon Iudah which thought that plagues had only belonged to the Church Loe I begin to plague the citie where my name is called vpon and should you Ierem. 25. 29. goe free yee shall not goe quite for I will call for a sword vpon all the inhabitants of the earth saith the Lord of hostes And this reason S. Peter vseth against all impious and sinfull persons The time is that iudgement must begin at the house of God If it first begin at vs what shall the end bee of them that obey not the Gospell of God And if the righteous scarcely bee saued where shall Pet. 4. 17. the vngodly and the sinner appeare Reasons 1 First the fauour and goodnesse of the Lord doth correct the one part and that for their greatest good and happines and his wrath and vengeance doth pursue the other and that for their greatest hurt and miserie Secondly the death suffrings of Iesus Christ haue drunke vp the vengeance and curse of the afflictions of the one part so that now there is nothing in them but that which is medicinable and wholesome And Gods iudgements with their owne sinfulnes haue put a sting into the troubles of the other so that all that is in them is pestiferous and deadly Thirdly for the one part the Lord knoweth what their strength is and therefore will lay no more vpon them then they are well able to beare and for the other he knoweth what their waies be and will presse them with as much as they haue deserued Fourthly the one part vndergoe temporarie tribulations here in earth and all their sufferings will end with their life and the other shall suffer eternall paines in hell and all their torments shall begin at their death Vse Instruction not to be distempered or discouraged at their insultations ouer vs in our troubles They clap their hands and make a shout to see vs beaten at our fathers hands or in the schoole let them mocke on and take their course the officer is at their backe to apprehend them we shall see them sit in the stocks we shall see them geiued with bolts vpon their heeles we shall see them arraigned as malefactors we shall see them condemned and executed as traytors against the Maiestie of God And as there is no cause why we should be troubled at their insolencie so is there no reason why we should be moued at their prosperitie We should make our selues more miserable then we are if we should like our owne case the worse because they deride vs and we should iudge them more happie then they be if wee should thinke their state the better because they applaud themselues Let vs in compassion pitie the particulars and pray for them but neuer esteeme their condition so comfortable as to wish it for our selues or to grudge it to them And because our eyes are much dazeled with externall shewes of things present the holy Ghost doth giue vs a caueat to take heede of the same Fret not thy selfe because of the malitious neither bee enuious at the wicked For Pro. 23. 19. 20. there shall be none end of plagues to the euill man the light of the wicked shall be put out AN EXPOSITION OF THE TWELFTH CHAPTER OF THE PROVERBS CHAPTER XII Verse 1. He that loueth correction loueth knowledge but he that hateth correction is brutish HE that loueth instruction Which doth applie himselfe to seeke it by those meanes which are ordained of God for his people to be instructed by and accepteth and maketh vse of it when it is offered to him he loueth knowledge that is hath it in due estimation and truly desireth it and therefore shall also accordingly obtaine it But he that hateth correction which refuseth all instruction but especially will not indure to be reproued or corrected he is brutish a beast in a mans shape a foole in a high degree of follie both for an ignorant minde and rude behauiour and wretched condition Doct. 1 Euery mans desire of grace and saluation may be tried by his affection to the meanes thereof He that is diligent in seeking is willing to finde as he that setteth himselfe to make speede in his way hath a minde to his iournies end So the Lord speaketh of the godly in one place of Isaiah that they shall say Come let vs Isai 2. 3. goe vp to the mountaine of the house of the Lord that he may teach vs his waies and we may walke in his paths And so the godly speake to the Lord in another place of Isaiah The desire of our soule is to Isai 26. 8. 9. thy name and to the remembrance of thee With my soule haue I desired thee in the night and with my spirit within me will I seeke thee in the morning Reasons 1 First the same spirit that draweth men to liking of the one doth also worke a loue of the other for both are wrought by the Holy Ghost Secondly all the ordinances of God for mans saluation are contrarie to flesh and blood and therefore no man