vomit and instead of bringing forth Vuas grapes wee haue brought Esay 5. 4. forth Labrucas wild grapes our grapes are grapes of gall our clusters be bitter our wine is poyson of dragons and the cruell Deut. 32. 32 33. gall of Aspes My beloued will God thinke we suffer himselfe to be thus deluded from time to time Are we sure he will alwayes looke vpon vs with a fauourable aspect and neuer shut vp his louing kindnesse in displeasure O let vs beware of carnall securitie it is as dangerous and fearfull an euill as the soule imbarqued in the body can meet with whilst sayling in the Sea of this world Certainly if his so many gentle and mercifull visitations will not reclaime vs from our dissolute courses but wee will stil frequent our old sinfull haunts drawing iniquitie with cartropes and sinne with â—he cords of vanity he will lay aside all lenitie deale with vs more roughly â—â—sa patientia 〈…〉 or and seuerely It is not a pruning-knife some fauourable affliction some fatherly correction shall serue the turne for behold hee hath put an axe into the hand of the destroying Angel not like Abimelech to cut downe some boughes Iudg. 43. from the trees no he hath giuen him a straight charge a strict commission if he find any tree any man that bringeth not forth good fruit to hew him down euen at the very root that is by death to root him out of the land of the liuing which is the first particular penaltie the Excision Euery tree not bringing forth The first penalty an Excision good fruit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is hewen downe Doe but consider I beseech you the fearefulnesse of this penaltie True Aequa lege necessitas Hâ—â— Carm. lib. 3 Ode 1. Sortitur insigneis imos Omne capax mouet vrna nomen What man liueth and shall not see death Psal 89. 47. Hebr. 9. 27. There is a Statute for it Statutum est omnibus semel mori It is appointed vnto all men once to die Death is Gods Sergeant â—uiâ—â—sâ—i contiâ—it 〈◊〉 â—estat Sâ—â— Ep. 1â—0 vnto whose arrest the whole suruiuing race of Adam is subiect as well the godly as the vngodly and therfore it is not here said that he which bringeth not forth good fruit shall dye but shall be hewen downe to signifie the fearefulnesse of that death which shall befall him The godly man hee that bringeth forth good fruit shal die but he is happy in his end for that he departeth this life in the sweet peace of conscience which he hath obtained through faith in Christs blood wherby he is reconciled vnto God sealed vp vnto the day of redemption so that the misery of death is vnto him the death of all misery and his last end the beginning Dies isle quem tanquam extremum reformidas aeterninatalis est Sen. Ep. 1â—2 the birth day of eternity And therefore laetus lethuÌ„ excipit come Death when it wil come it is truly heartily welcome finds him ready willing with much vnfained ioy to entertaine the stroke which shal separat his soule body that so being freed from the prison of his body he may enter into his masters ioy be Matth. 2â— 21. crownd with glory happinesse in the highest heauens In regard wherof wheÌ„ Jusius dum per mâ—ntem evita tollitur non exciditur sed ia vberius solum transfertur Fran. Luc. Brâ—giens in locum by Death he is taken out of this life he cannot be said to be hewen down but rather transplanted into a more fruitful soile On the other side the vngodly man that bringeth not forth good fruit but is barren in all goodnesse and only fruitfull in the daÌ„nable works of darknes he shal die but a death far different froÌ„ that of the righteous for being besotted with the pleasures of sinne and hauing his affections fast glewed to the things of this world when Death arresteth his Body his Soule wil depart out of it like sawdust grated out of the belly of an hard Oke with much labour and striuing so vnwilling and loth it will be to breake vp house and bid farewell vnto the world Yea for as much as he neuer endeuoured to keep a good Conscience toward God and man therefore his guiltie Conscience like the euill Spirit which vexed Saul shall most 1 Sam. 16. 14. fearefully wracke and torture him and a wounded spirit who can beare saith the Prou. 18. 14. Prouerbialist and thus in the anguish and bitternesse of his Soule he shal be broken Iob 24. 20. like a tree the Axe of Death shall cleaue rent his soule and body asunder with all violence and terror he shall bee hewen downe saith my Text. But is this all shall this Tree thus fell'd there lie and rest and rot where it falleth I meane shall his soule and body thus parted so perish as that he shall cease euer to haue a being any more and consequently a feeling of any further misery Certainly though sinful man be likevnto the beasts that perish yet he doth not perish like the beasts whose bodies are turned into ashes and their spirits vanish as soft ayre and are no more No his soule is an immortall substance and his body though in the eye of a carnall Sadducee it seemeth so to perish as that it shall neuer haue a being any more yet it shall at the last day by the power of God be restored to its iust proportion for after Death there must come a Iudgment particular of the Soule when it departeth from the body generall of Soule and body at the generall resurrection So that this fearfull hewing downe is but as the Prologue to a more tragicall feareful Scene it is but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the beginning of sorrowes the forerunner of more fearefull torments For after the axe of Death hath with all violence cleft and rent his Soule and Body in sunder after that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hee is thus hewen downe it followeth in the next place 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hee is cast into the fire hee is throwen headlong into the flames of Hell And this second penaltie his exastion is The second pâ—naltie an Exustion indeed principally that which causeth his dissolution to be so comfortles full of terrour For when the hand of God lyeth heauy vpon him to hew him downe by death it is not the separation of his soule body that doth so much trouble him nor the leauing his beloued world that doth so much afflict him no nor the cruel gnawings of his guilty conscience that doe so wrack torture him otherwise then ioyned with the present apprehension of being cast into this fire which he then foreseeth will most certainly befal him after his dissolution And no maruell if the apprehension thereof strike such â— dread terror into his departing Ethic. 1 â—9 soule for what Aristotle
of gold in great and mightie mountaines of ground or like the gleaning Esay 7. of the eares of corne after the haruest is past or the gathering of grapes the vintage being ended they lie but scattering and very thinne one in a citie two Ierem. 3. 14. in a tribe wheras Romish Idolaters counterfet Professors and impudent transgressors such as are not ashamed to glory in vngodlinesse and prostitute their deeds of darknesse vnto publike notice are the greatest part yea very neere the whole number of such as are called Christians Not to speake of that Antichristian Spawne and Popish frie though not one of the least and lightest burdens vnder which as the labour of her wombe this our Land groaneth Proceed we vnto the second sort and who is there so blind or deafe that doth not behold or heare how plentifully this our Sion is furnished yea rather how lamentably be pestered with a numerous brood of Apish professors and Mocke-Christians as I may tearm them such as in outward appearance might seeme deseruedly to bâ—â—â—eâ—stred in the roll and ranked in the number of true Nathaneels but are Iohn 1. 47. indeed as ranke false and perfidious as Ioab or Judas They would seeme by the An outside singularly commendable if thâ—â—â—side 〈◊〉 anâ— vâ—â—table precisenesse of their habit and demurenesse of behauiour to be truly mortified to the world To giue them their due which our English Prouerbe will not deny the Deuil himselfe they will reproue sinne refraine from swearing celebrate the Saboth yea many houres of the weeke dayes in hearing of the Word labouring if they like the Preacher to digest it in their memories by penning and mutuall conference in a word oh the sanctitie of the Deuill they will pretend a great deale of faire and religious dealing seeme to bee Gods white children but oh the Deuillishnes of these Saints doth it not plainly appeare that they are little better then Deuils transformed into 2. Cor. 11. 14. Angels of light fell and cruell Wolues couered and clothed in Sheep skins making Religion to serue but for a Stalking horse wearing Christs Liuery for their owne conueniency that so they may the more safely and vnsuspectedly compasse their secret vnsacred endes hath not Time the mother of Truth reuealed this for a truth that there are none more vniust in their dealings none more couetous deceitfull full of pride enuy hatred malice and all vncharitablenesse then they though they take vpon them a more strict profession of Christ then ordinary In a word as the Trojans were neuer more damnified thâ—n when Aeneas did put on harnesse like vnto theirs breaking into the midst of their troops like a member of their army So the true Nathaneels of our Israel yea godlinesse it selfe neuer receiued more disgracefull affronts then haue bin and are continually most vnhappily occasioned by the counterfeit pietie of these so common hypocriticall professors As Iudas betrayed Matth. 26. 49. Christ into the hands of his enemies so these haue and doe continually betray the holy calling of Christianitie and the sincere Professors therof vnto the sharper tongues of lewd-liuing Libertines and vngodly Atheistes yea of many framed of a more sober honest and tractable temper to be scourged lashed with tearmes of disgrace for let a man out of a holy reuerence vnto the sacred Maiesty of God make conscience of an Oath let him out of a sincere heart bee carefull to sanctifie the Sabbath of the Lord in all holy and religious exercises let him vow himselfe to all sobrietie and temperance and be zealous for the Lord of Hosts in reproouing vngodlinesse In a word let him heartily desire and accordingly truely endeuour to keepe a good conscience in all things both toward Actes 24. 16. God and man not partaking in the sinful courses of these wicked times but laboring so far forth as in him lyeth according to that measure of grace hee hath receiued to liue within the limits and compasse of an holy profession it is reputed but precisenesse he is ordinarily derided vnder the name of a Catharist or Puritan and of the most hated and detested as much if not more then a treacherous bloody Papist or damnable Atheist Thus the seeming-Saints of our age by their ouer-hasty running after Christ for sinister respects haue cast the true Nathaneels of our Israel behind hand in their iust credit and estimation Iohn 1. 47. the world measuring the feet of all professors by the Last of these false professors And not onely doth counterfeit pietie Hypocrisie thus flourish to the great contempt reproach of sincere professors but in the third place we may obserue that all vngodlinesse hath aduanced it selfe and taken heart Iniquity hath put on a brow of brasse and Impiety like a shamelesse strumpet attended by Impudency hath taken vp her standing in euery street and corner of Court City and Countrey Ambition base flattery perfidie drunkennesse couetousnesse prodigalitie pride lechery luxury injustice theft murther adultery feareful swearing and periury contempt of the Manna and Ministers of Gods holy Word and what seldom heard-of crimes in former ages are not the familiar minions and darlings of these Times It is a tedious taske and would prooue but an irkesome discourse to trouble your eares with a particular enumeration of all the sinnes that roost yea raigne in this Land for it may be truly said of it as the Poet in his Epigramme vnto Caesar concerning his Theater Quic quid fama canit donat arena tibi Martial There is almost no sinne so peculiar to any forraigne Countrey which is not presented to the life vpon the stage of this Land and there is almost no person of what place or fashion soeuer that doth not act his part in them more or lesse Thus vngodlinesse is become an Epidemicall disease like a Contagious leprosie it hath infected and runne ouer the whole Body of this Land and no part more then this Citie in so much that it may truely be said of vs as the Prophet of the Iewes We are a sinnefull Esa 1. 4. 5. 6. Nation a people laden with iniquitie The whole head is sicke the whole heart is heauy from the sole of the foote to the crowne of the head there is nothing whole therein but wounds and swellings and sores full of corruption And which doth consummate our iniquitie though wee are so desperately sicke of sinne that wee lye euen at the doore of death and there bee scarce so much as a thresh-hold betweene vs and eternall destruction yet who is there that with patience wil suffer the Preacher Gods Deputy-Physician for the good of his soule so much as to lay his finger vpon those his cankred sores of sin which suffered to run on their course will vncurably corrupt and irrecouerably cast away the whole man both body and soule Sinne especially that which ordinarily thrusteth it selfe into the seruice of any calling and like the siluer
wry neckt It is no mans Greatnes that can shelter him from the smoking showre of Gods wrath Euen that Mitred man of Sinne which treadeth Scepters vnder his feet and exalteth himselfe aboue all that is called God though hee plead both a canonizing and a confounding power yet He also shall one day be brought before the Barre of Gods Iustice to be arraigned for all his Abominations wherewith he hath infatuated and besotted both himselfe and Gods Inheritance and shall drinke of the dregges of Gods wrath cup the promerited reward of his workes And let no hood-winkt Catholike deride this peremptory assertion as proceeding from a distempered braine for I know what I say If his Holinesse cannot procure his owne immunitie from the paines of Purgatory as for example Pope Innocentius the third De Gemitu Columbae li. 2. c. 9. who as Bellarmine writeth is to continue there till Doomes day much lesse shall he be able by his pretended power to deliuer himselfe from hell fire Now if these lofty Cedars of Lebanon and sturdy Oakes of Basan cannot auoid the stroke of the Axe but shall be hewen downe and cast into the fire what shal become of the lesser trees the lower shrubs Certainly God will be impartiall in his judiciary proceedings his eye will spare none Tribulation anguish vpon Euery Rom. â—9 11 12. 〈◊〉 soule of man that doth euill of the Jew first and also of the Gentile With him there is no respect of persons for as many as haue sinned without the Law shall also perish without the Law and as many as haue sinned in the Law shall bee iudged by the Law God will wound the hairy scalpe Psal◠〈…〉 1 of Euery one that goeth on in his wickednes saith the Prophet Dauid The soule Ezâ—kiel 18. 4 that sinneth shall dye Indeed the Gibeonites could gull Captaine Ioshua with Ioshua 〈…〉 5. their old shooes their mouldy crustes and thred bare garments and so saue themselues from his sword But God hath oculum in Sceptro as he is omnipotent so hee is omniscient he is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Psalm 13â— 3. Hearts searcher he knoweth vs all and all our wayes too well to be deceiued by vs. It is not the wearing of a Gyges Cic. Osâ—ic li. 3. Ring can keepe vs out of Gods sight for there is nothing that hath a being in nature which is not the obiect of his eye If I say Surely the darkenesse shall Psal 1 39. 11. 12 couer me euen the night shall bee a light about me yea the darknesse hideth not from thee but the night shineth as the day the darkenesse and the light are both alike to thee In a word when the Lord shall call the sonnes of men to a particular account for their trâ—nsgressions then vaâ—a salus hominum as saith the Psalmist Mans helpe is all but in vaine Though hand ioyne in hand saith Salomon the wicked Prou. 11. 25. shall not escape vnpunished that is saith our English Glosse Though they make neuer so many friends or thinke themselues neuer so secure yet they shall not escape It is not the phantasticall treasure of the Saints Supererogatiue workes vnder his Holinesse locke and key can serue the sinâ—ers turne in that day for the Wise Virgins could not lend any Math. 25. 6. Oyle lest they should lacke for themselues It is not any mans Potency can be his Protection for the most powerfull Monarch is but as a Potters vessell easily broken into sheards and shiuers with the least touch of Gods yron rod. Reuel 2. 27. It is not the subtill pate of the deepest Politician can prâ—uaile for any man For the wisedome of the world is but foolishnesse 1 Cor. 1. 20. Esay 29. 14. with God I will destroy the wisdome of the wise and will cast away the vnderstanding of the prudent saith the Lord. No course can be taken to disappoynt God of his reuenging purposes for as the Prophet hath it The flight shall perish Amos 2. 14 15 6. from the swift and the strong shall not strengthen his force neither shal the mightie saue his life nor hee that handleth the bowe shall stand and hee that is swift of foot shall not escape neither shall hee that rideth the horse sane his life And he that is of a mightie courage among the strong men shall flee away naked in that day saith the Lord. So that without any Omnis sine â—â—rsonâ—rum exceptione sin excusationum algatione siâ—e aâ—i cuius cuasionâ— Gorth in loâ—â— personall exception without any excusiue allegation without any particular ones euasion Euery tree euery man not bringing foorth good fruit the fruits of holinâ—sse and sanctification shall be hewen downe and cast into the fire Euery tree not bringing forth Good fruit Many in their own account passe for current Christians and are perswaded they shall go for no lesse with God when they are called to giue vp their accounts vnto him if they do not bring forth bad fruit if like the proud Pharise Luke 18 11. they can but plead for themselues Not guiltie as other men Extortioners vnjust adulterers If they can say We are no Drunkards no Swearers no spendthrifts no grinders of the Poore and the like If like Saint Iohns Herbe which as Cookes report being put into the pot procureth nor good nor hurt to the pottage so if they doe no hurt though they neuer do any good if they be honest harmlesse men as they are commonly stiled such as neither meddle nor make with others but liue quietly it is no matter for religiously among their Neighbours all is well they hope in God to goe to Heauen as sure as the best Alas poore miserable wretches how palpably how grossely they deceiue themselues Ixion-like embracing a Cloud instead of Iuno like Camelions feeding vpon the ayerâ—e hope of that happinesse they shall neuer find Indeed Not to doe euill is commendable but not to doe good is culpable is condemnable Cast the vnprofitable seruant into vtter Math. 25. 30. darkenesse there shall bee weeping and gnashing of teeth And here in my text Euery tree not bringing forth good fruit shall bee hewen downe and cast into the fire Wee doe not reade that the Rich Luke 16. man in the Gospell dispoyled Lazarus of any thing whereof he was possessed yet because he did not open vnto him the bowells of compassion and cause to be tendered vnto him wherewith to sustaine him in his want therefore Hell mouth was opened to swallow him vp vnto euerlasting torments Now the reason is this wee read in 1. Iohn 3. 4. Iohn that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sinne is the transgression of the Law and the transgression of the Law is Sinne and the wages of Sinne is Death Now the Lords Mandates are as well Affirmatiue for the ensuing of Good as Negatiue for the eschewing of Euill and the Affirmatiue as well as the Negatiue