good through his blessing becoming means to draw his Elect nearer to the chiefest good yea let God's Judgments go as high as they can in this World in Plaguing of the wicked Etsi novum videtur quod dicere volo saith Origen dicam tamen Though it be-strange that I will say I will say it Etiam bonitas Dei est qui dicitur furor ejus that which we call the anger of God the wrath of God the Fury of God is the goodnesse of God Luther goes yet higher Hell it self is full of God and the chief good no lesse then Heaven for the Justice of God which shines forth in the damnation of the wicked is God himself and God is the chiefest good And thus much of the Objections made against the Doctrine delivered Let me now shew you the Grounds of it Reas 1 First God is the first and supream cause of all and all second causes are subordinate unto him and but inferiour means to work his Will and in their subordinate operations they are but in the nature of Instruments to the first cause And however there is in Nature a concatenation and linking of Causes together whereby inferiour Causes are subordinate one to another yet so as that all hold their subordination unto God who is the first and principal Cause Hos 2.21 22. I will hear the Heavens saith God and the Heavens shall hear the Earth Hos 2.21 22. and the Earth shall hear the Corn and the Wine and the Oyle and they shall hear Jezreel Man standeth in need of food food is not provided without the help of the Earth the Earth is not fruitful without the Dew of Heaven the Heavens cannot send their rain without God's appoyntment So that he is the principal Cause and first Mover who sets all inferiour means on Work one Creature stands in need of another and depends upon one anothers help none of them can help or work without the next cause to which it is subordinate but all depends upon God he hears them all and by that vertue which they receive from him the first and chief Cause they have all their vertue and efficacy without which they could do nothing In regard whereof all the Effects and Actions of secundary causes are not so properly the effects of them as of that cause which is fiâ—st and principal As the Scribe is more properly sayd to write than the pen which he writeth with and the Workman to do the work rather then the tools which he useth as his Instruments in doing of the Work So the Lord Who is the chief Agent and first Mover in all Actions may more fitly and properly be sayd to effect and bring things to passe then any inferiour or subordinate Cause they being but his Instruments that he works by Who ever then may have a hand in afflicting and punishing of us they are but Instruments as the Rod or Axe in his hand to effect his good will and pleasure he it is that works by them Reas 2 Secondly To revenge is God's Prerogative Three things he reserves to himself The glory of Works and Actions the Judgment of Secrets and the Revenge of Injuries saith one And he saith no more then what the Scripture saith in so saying For it is written Vengeance is mine and I will repay saith the Lord Rom. 12.19 Where we see Rom. 12.19 1st God's Challenge Vengeance is mine 2ly His Execution of it I will Repay 3ly His Subscription of his great name thereunto saith the Lord. And that this is the Lords true Act and Deed and a Faithful Copy out of the Original St. Paul the Register of God's Holy Spirit gives witnesse with Scriptum est It is written And so we find it Deut. 32.35 Deut. 32.35 God sometimes may send us our payment by the hand of the Ministers of the Word Who have Vengeance in a readinesse against all disobedience 2 Cor. 10.6 which Vengeance is spiritual saith the Apostle 2 Cor. 10.6 and mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds verse 6. And is to be understood especially of the threatnings and denunciations of God's Judgments against offenders but the Execution is left to God for that we know He will repay and in his own time fullfil And sometimes that Vengeance is Corporal reaching but the Body which is partly inflicted by his substitutes the Magistrate or other Messengers of his wrath Rom. 13.4 Rom. 13.4 And partly referred to the Lords own hand immediately to inflict Particularly in this Life and Generally at the last great Day of Vengeance 2 Thes 1.8 Whether Vengeance taken 2 Thes 1.8 be mediate or immediate upon Body or Soul or both We know him that hath sayd Vengeance is mine Heb. 10.13 and I will recompence saith the Lord Heb. 10.13 Reas 3 Lastly Every good thing is of God so teacheth St. James 1.17 Jam. 1.17 Now if every punishment be a good thing though not simply in it self and in its own nature but as it is a just work and having a good end as before hath bin shewed we must needs conclude that it hath God for the Authour whoever be the Instrument But this is a Poynt that needs not so much evident Demonstration as serious Consideration and right and seasonable Application which now we fall upon Use 1 From this that hath bin delivered of God's being the principal Author and Efficient of those evils which do befall us They of the Church of Rome would make the World believe that we of the Reformed Church make God to be the Author of sin and that the Adultery of David Treason of Judas c. by our Doctrine were the proper work of God which is a Devilish slander that they cast upon us This we say that in a sinful Action there are two things Actio and Actionis irrectitudo there is an Entity Being or Action and there is of that Entity Being or Action a crookednesse obliquity or naughtinesse which is Actionis Malitia as they call it unlawfulnesse transgression pravity that in every such action is contained Prim. Secun Quest 71. Art 6. Conclus Quest 79. Art 2. Conclus Act. 17.28 And so Aquinas himself doth teach us to distinguish and illustrates the same in a lame legg wherein are two qualities ability to go but inability to go upright the going and stirring that it hath is from the virtue that moveth it from God Almighty in whom we live move and have our beeing But the lamenesse and debility of the legg belongeth to another Cause Distortion Crookedness or some other Impotency in the legg it self So the action or motion it self in every evil action is from a good Author but the evil in the action from a bad Author even from the impure fountain of man's corrupt heart whose imaginations are evil and onely evil continually But our Church hath bin justified by her Children sufficiently in this poynt I passe it Use 2 There are
are they you know that by spreading themselves this way and that way gather strength and nourishment to the Tree and every branch thereof whereby it becomes fruitful Holy affections Love Joy desire Fear Grief c. These are the feeders of the Soul and should draw nourishment unto it from every one of Gods Ordinances from the Word Read or Preached Sacraments administred and from all Providential Administrations whether of Mercy or Judgment David was aboundant this way as appears in the whole Book of the Psalms especially in Psal 119. where we may find in every verse almost he catcheth hold on Mercies Judgments Psal 119. Promises Threatnings as the Ivye catcheth hold with its claw on every twigg to climb up to its stature Fourthly Preserve the Bark let not that be peeled off from the Tree It is threatned as a soare Judgment against Israel that the Figg-Tree should be barked with the teeth of noysome Creatures that God would send into their Land to punish them insomuch that the boughes thereof should be left white Joel 1.7 Joel 1.7 To be left white without bark was an indication of a speedy withering That bough that lies open without bark saith Gregory on that place looks white but perisheth Thy conscience is like the Bark of the Figg Tree presumptuous sins are like those Creatures that peel off the bark beware of them for by them the conscience is wasted and consumed as iron is by rust We sin too much through ignorance and infirmity but when we sin wilfully and presumptuously against knowledge and the light of conscience our boughes will soon wax white How frequent is it to see men that lose a good conscience with it to lose their gifts 1 Tim. 1.19 If the Ship of conscience wrack 〈…〉 the Merchandise of Faith will soon suffer wrack Our outward actions as well as affections may have a colour of good as white is of Innocency but our bark being pilled it is no good whitenesse but an indication of a perishing condition without a good conscience all our actions yea our best performances are so far from goodnesse and acceptance that they are abominable and distasteful unto God our Affections and outward Actions may have a colour of good but all is defiled before God Tit. 1.15 Tit. 1.15 the conscience being defiled it defiles all it meddles with Hence David prayed so earnestly to be kept from this barking of his boughes by any such sins Psal 19.13 The like care had Paul Psal 19.13 Acts 23.1 Acts 23.1 That for the time past and for the time present and future he did exercise himself to have a conscience void of offence towards God and towards Men Acts 24.16 Act. 24.16 And in so doing we shall grow in the fruit of Righteousnesse and have cause to rejoyce in our fruitfulnesse 2 Cor. 1.12 2 Cor. 1.12 Heb. 13.8 Prov. 21.8 Phil. 1.10 Conscience is our Paradise there cut Trees will thrive we shall live honestly Heb. 13.8 Work Righteousnesse Prov. 21.8 and walk without giving offence Phil. 1. 10. Fifthly Be frequent and aboundant in the exercises of mortification Bare the Tree about the Root cast away all loose earth withdraw thy soul from all worldly stayes and comforts when the world hath left us naked and destitute of her vain succours we shall then take faster hold on Christ our Saviour in whom the Fatherlesse find mercy Hos 14 3. lopp off all superfluous twiggs and excremental branches which steal away the nourishment that should maintain the Tree Jam. 1.21 Jam. 1.21 get a humble and a tender heart the hard and stony heart suffers not the seed to take Root Mat. 13.4 Math. 13.4 For this end make good use of all Crosses and Afflictions let them cause thee to acknowledge thy sins and break thy heart in the sight of God beseech him that thou being exercised under them maist at length bring forth the quiet fruit of Righteousnesse Heb. 12.11 Heb. 12.11 Weed often and do it on thy knees as weeders do this is the way to be fruitful Sixthly and Lastly To all this the Influence of Heaven must be added else no Fruit can be expected as before hath been shewed The Heavens must hear the Earth Hos 2.21 The beames of the Sun of Righteousnesse shining in his Church Hos 2.21 must warm and cherish us Mal. 4.2 The former and latter raine must moysten us Joel 2.23 Mal. 4.2 Joel 2.23 Cant. 4.16 Psal 65.10 The winds of Gods spirit must blow on us to quicken us Cant. 4.14 This is the way to have fattnesse drop down upon us Psal 65.10 As for those who delight to live in the shade and shelter their souls from the influence of Heaven that withdraw their hearts from the directions and comforts of an effectual and painful Ministery let not such ever look to become fruitful And so much of the second Particular that I propounded to you Now to the third and last which is the Motives to stiâ—r us up to the using of these meanes that we may bring forth fruit so qualified as hath bin declared and they are many Some respect God some his Gospel some Man others the Creature In regard of God we ought to be fruitful First for that he hath deserved it Secondly he seeks for it Thirdly and when he finds it he counts himself honoured and glorified by it First He hath deserved Fruit from us in that he hath bought us at a dear rate from our vain conversation 1 Pet. 1.18 Luke 1.75 Tit. 2.14 Joh. 15.16 to serve Him all our dayes in Holinesse and Righteousnesse He hath chosen us to be a Peculiar People unto himself zealous of good Works and made choyce of us before others that we should be Fruitful and that our Fruit should abide and abound Eph. 2.10 He hath made us his own work nauship by the effectual calling of grace and created us to good works to walk in them He hath planted us Isa 5. hedged us about manured us watered us with the sweet dews of his Word and Gospel from Heaven trimmed us with his pruning book of Judgments and Corrections And what could he do more for us that he hath not done And what can he expect lesse from us towards all his paines and travails with us then Fruit He that sowes sowes in hope saith the Apostle 1 Cor. 9.7 God hath set in hope planted in hope watered in hope of some answerable return and shall it be denyed or canst thou imagine that God hath took all this paines with thee and bestowed all this cost upon thee that thou shouldst bear green boughes or gay blossome somes onely Indeed leaves come of the seed and chaff from the kernel but doth any man plant for leaves and sow for chaff you know it is fruit that they look for Had it not bin for that thou hadst bin no Tree Fruit was that for which thou wert set and
thereof In this life he will reward with glory and honour Cant. 7.17 A fruitful Christian carryes a Heaven in his heart Joy and Comfort Cant. 7.17 a happy and blessed communion there is betwixt Christ and him and hereafter there is a Blessing abides him for ever Heb. 7.8 Heb. 7.8 And thus you have heard what reason we have to be fruitful both in respect of others and of our selves as well as others Lastly If we cast our eyes upon the whole Creation and every creature therein that God hath made we may be stirred up and provoked to fruitfulnesse The Heaven the Earth the Sea and all therein are fruitful in their kind and shall man be barren and fruitlesse for whom all these are fruitful Doth not the Sun come forth as a Bride groom out of his Chamber daily Psal 19. rejoycing as a Gyant to run his course to enlighten the earth wiâ—h his beams and nouâ—ish and cherish all things with the heat thereof The Moon and the Stars quicken this lower World by their operative Influence The big-bellied Clouds which tly up and down on the wings of the wind deliver their moist burthens on the earth and showre down their seasonable dews to cool and moisten it that it may bear fruit Doth not the Earth make a thankful return and yield her fatness and riches to innumerable creatures that live on it and depend upon her as their common Mother for maintenance and what creature is there that lives on it but yields some fruit Beasts Trees Plants all bring forth after their kind for the good of man that man may bring forth fruit to God for whose Glory he was created Let these considerations prevail with us that we may in some sort answer the Lord's expectations from us he looks for fruit let him find it in us Oh that it could be said of us as it was of the Land of Canaan Deut. 8.7 8 9. Deut. 8.7 8 9. It is a good Land a land of Brooks of Water of Fountains that spring out of the Valleys and Hills A Land of Wheat and Barley and Vines and Figg-Trees and Pomegranates A Land of Oyl Olive and Hony A Land whose stones are Iron and out of whose Hills thou mayst dig Brasse We have Springs of means to inform our minds and Brooks of knowledge to direct our course Our good works should stand like those fields of Wheat and Barley Vines Figg-Trees and Pomegranates let be our fruitful Meditations Oyl and Hony the Grace of our lips our Understanding full of good things our whole life Wells and Vineyards to comfort both our selves and others our very rocks should be Iron and our hills yield brasse our most barren works should be profitable to others our very Falls others warnings to prevent high-mindednesse And so Use 3 We may gather much comfort from our fruitfulnesse which sweetly seals up our Calling to glory and virtue as the budding and bringing forth of ripe Almonds did Aaron's Calling to the Priest-hood It may assure us that we are regenerated set into Christ quickned by his Spirit and that we live in him out of whom we could not be fruitful in good works Good Fruit is an undeniable Argument of a good Tree for that a corrupt Tree cannot bring forth good fruit as our Saviour tells us Mat. 7.18 I know the most fruitful Christian comes far short of that fruitfulnesse that should be in him and his defectivenesse in holy duties both to God and man may sometimes cause him to question his estate Mat. 4.28 but that should not too much deject the spirits of any of us for the fruit of the Spirit like the fruits of the Earth ripens by degrees and much of it is nipped in the bud and blossome and comes to nothing but a little fruit if it be of the right kind proves that Tree to be good and the promise is that if there be any fruit at all God will purge that branch and help it against corruption so that it shall bring forth more fruit Joh. 15.1.2 But when there is no good Fruit to be found under our leaves that is a miserable sterility indeed Joh. 15.1 2. And yet such was the sterility of the Figg-Tree mentioned in my Text. He came and sought fruit thereon and found none Text And found none Shews of fruit it made but brought forth nothing lesse It was like the deceitful ground that mocked the Husbandman Expectata seges vanis elusit avenis Virg. Had there been here a Figg and there a Figg like the shaking of an Olive Tree two or three in the top of the uppermost boughes or outward branches the Husbandman had not been altogether deceived in his expectation albe it that had not answered his cost and pains bestowed on it but there was none no not one Figg that could be found growing upon it Thus you see Where God hath well deserved Doct. there many times he is ill requited The Gentiles who lived without the Pale of the Church are charged with this sin of Ingratitude Rom. 1.21 Rom. 1.21 God had bountifully declared himself unto them even by the light of Nature and the Book of the Creatures so as they knew there was a God and that he was most wise good just punishing the bad and doing good to the good and that this God ought to be worshipped according to his Will but they worshipped him not as God not conceiving of him as God ought to be conceived of nor giving him that Glory which was suitable to his Infinitenesse and divine perfections and so were unthankful to God for hose blâ—ssings which they had received which caused God to punish th t ingratitude of theirs by delivering them up to all manner of uncleâ—nnesse and brutish lusts Ver. 25.26 ver 25.26 A fearful punishment indeed none greater can be inflicted out of the place of torment But what speak we of the Gentiles Ingratitude is not all without the Pale In God's own Vineyard it may be found Hear what Moses speaks at large unto the poynt Deut. 37.7 19. Explained Deut. 37.7 19. God had done much for his people Israel never more no not so much for any Nation under Heaven His mercies are mentioned and declared first more Generally ver 8 9. When the most High divided to all Nations their Inheritances that is to those seventy Nations reckoned Gen. 10. He â—spied out the Land of Canaan which was the Glory of all lands Ezek. 20.6 for those seventy souls of Israel Eze. 20.6 mentioned Gen. 46.27 Deut. 10.22 these were to him as his portion and peculiar Inheritance Exod. 19.15 Isa 19.25 1 Pet. 2.9 Deut. 7.78 Exod. 19.15 Isa 19.25 1 Pet. 2.9 them he made choice of above all people of the World for his yet not for any desert of theirs but out of his own meer love Deut. 7.78 Then more particularly he reckons up the blessings and mercies bestowed on them ver
one is to be in ill Company To converse with the World leaves filth and soyle upon us as when we are amongst Collier but to converse with God which our Calling requires leaves a sweet smell of Heaven behind and a dye and colour of another World which cannot be rubbed off To hear a Minister discourse of the Earth and things Earthly to talk loosely and carnally gives great cause of suspition that such a one is very seldom in converse with God at least hath not bin lately with him Here is a Vaile indeed before the face that should shine but whether the face of such or vail of such is most hated of God is questionable Use 2 You that are our Hearers should be instructed and advised from hence to resort unto God's Ministers and take counsel of them and be directed by them in the things of God We are all sick of an Athenian humour and doate on nothing more then secrets and are very inquisitive after the knowledge of Sâ—ate affaires Resort unto your faithful Pastors and Dressers advise with them they can and will acquaint you with such secrets as no wit of man is able to find out no affoardment of Nature no Mystery of Art no Secretary of State can reveale and make known unto you Christ that had it from his Father hath revealed it unto them that they might discover it unto you We speak the wisdom of God in a Mystery saith the Apostle even the hidden wisdom 1 Cor. 2.7 8. which none of the Princes of the World knew this is that which God is pleased to make known by our Ministery In all our doubts about soul affaires resort to them for Resolution Without controversie 1 Tim. 3.16 great is the mystery of godliness saith the Apostle 1 Tim. 3.16 the mystery of godlinesse should be without controversie yet a World of controversies have risen about it many of which every Christian is not bound to trouble himself withall for without all controversie there are many in Heaven that never studyed controversies notwithstanding there is none that hath a care to know God's will but shall have occasion to question much about what they read and hear as did the disciples often And it is very necessary to seek for Resolution in such cases Mar. 4.10 7 17 10 10. Luk 3.10 14. Act. 8.34 1 Cor. 2.16 Isa 21.11 12. Now to whom shall we go but unto such as God hath revealed himself unto Who hath known the mind of the Lord that he might instruct him But we have the mind of Christ In matters of Danger as well as Doubt advise with these and take warning from them Watchman what of the Night Watchman what of the Night they can tell you the morning cometh and also the night and they will rightly advise you If you will enquire indeed enquire you Return and come Isa 21.11 12. These stand upon the Watch-Tower and questionless if they be not asleep see more then those that stand below in the Valley 1 King 18.44 Had any other then Elijah seen from Carmel a Cloud arising about an hands breadth they could not have warned of a storm coming but the finest tempers are most sensible of change of weather But Ministers have not such certain knowledge of the mind of God as formerly the Prophets and Apostles had Object to whom God did infallibly make known his mind nor that Familiar access unto him It is true that in these dayes we have not that open access to God which the Prophets had Resp to receive immediate instructions from his own mouth But we have saith St. Peter a more sure word namely the holy Scriptures given by inspiration of God 1 Per. 1 19. 2 Tim. 3.16 And these shew what sins do most offend God and soonest pull down Vengance from God And in particular what sins they are that cause God to punish with Sword Famine and Pestilence On which ground many of God's Ministers observing the sins of this Nation foretold that which we have felt to our cost albeit they were but little regarded which had they bin we should not have sustained or gained this loss as St. Paul said to the Centurion Acts 27.21 And yet they tell us Acts 27.21 that unless we Repent of our evil wayes heavier things will befall us then yet have done One wo is past Rev. 9.12 but two woes more there are to come for God will not be out-mastered Make not a mock at their warnings as the old World did at Noahs and Lot's Friends at his A friend knows by the very looks and gesture of his Friend Numb 16.46 Veritas loquendi grande praesagit malum Lactan Instir l. 4. c. 26. Vives de caus Artic. corrupt lib. 1. Exod. 10.7 Jer. 11.7 19 21. what a stranger or an enemy knows but by his actions So it was with Moses Numb 16.46 And so it is with God's faithful Ministers out of the acquaintance that they have with their Masters proceedings they know that evil is intended against us I know what Lactantius spake of his times our times have verified Truth doth presage great evil to the speaker And that of Vives is most true Men dare not speak what you are bound to know It is dangerous to teach what is honest to learn if they speak truth to this wicked Generation they must look to be questioned for their Liberties it may be lives as other of Gods Prophets have bin before them If they foreâ—ell Judgments they shall be accused as the Authors of them Exod. 10.7 As if the bathing of the Ducks in a Pond were the cause of that fowl weather which follows after And hence it is that some timerous Watchmen become Consonants their people are as the Vowels whose sound they follow But this may not be When the people would needs go up Moses would not stirr a foot Numb 14.42 for that the Cloud stirred not nor may we consent where the word warrants not Should we approve your wicked wayes and sinful undertakings or not reprove them Judgment would be never the further off from us nor you but come on more swiftly Hear a Story There was a City which stood in some fâ—ar of a Neighbouring Enemy It was often given out to the terror oâ— the Citizens that the Enemy was at hand but it proved not so whereupon Command was given upon pain of death that none should dare to speak any more in that kind and raise up such rumours as the approach of an enemy Not long after the Enemy came indeed besieged assaulted and sacked the Town And this Epitaph was made upon the Ruins of it Here stood a Town that was destroyed with silence When people say to their Prophets Prophesie not unto us Mic. 2.6 they are near to ruine It is dangerous when a City is in hazzard to tye up the Alarum Bell to be regardless of the watchmans warnings and take no notice of the firing
Lord is Eternal and of his Dominion there is no end Dan. 4.34 Psal 102.27 Dan. 4.34 Psal 102.27 Psal 90.2 From everlasting to everlasting thou art God Psal 90.2 Let not any one then how great soever Tyrannize over their Subjects and Inferiors that Caveat St. Paul gives to Masters would be of good use to all others that have Dominion Ephes 6.9 Ephes 6.9 Abuse it not but remember you also have a Lord and Master in Heaven to whom you are to be accountable And from hence let us be stirred up Use 2 to give absolute obedience to whatsoever God commands It is layd as a ground of our obedience to God's commandements Exod. 20.1 Exod. 20.1 I am the Lord thy God and because I am so see that thou obey me As for Inferior and Subordinate Authorities of men under Him we must for His sake submit our selves unto them but not absolutely onely in the Lord and no further 1 Pet. 2.13 1 Pet. 2.23 This is so cleara Case as that the Apostles made their very enemies Judges therein Acts 4.19 5.29 To deny obedience in that Case is not to resist Authority Act. 4.19 5.29 but to resist the corrupt Wills and Lusts of those that abuse and exceed their Authority Power they may have over the Body and outward Estate but no power have they over the Conscience That is not absolutely subject unto any but to God and to other Superiors for His sake It is not mentioned in their Lordship but in God's alone Nor are we our own men we are not at liberty to live as we list Liberinon sumus Dominum habemus saith Chrysostome We have a Lord and Master who is over us and whom we must serve both in Life and Death in Living to Him and Dying to Him Rom. 14.8 9. And they are blessed that do both Rom. 14.8 9. Revel 14. Revel 14. Lastly It may refresh the hearts of the godly that their God is the Lord of all The Majesty and Soveraignity of the Father Vse 3 is for the honour and advantage of the Child Let him be my King said a Heathen who himself hath no King So let Him be my Lord who himself hath no Lord. Hear what David saith to his poynt Psal 144.15 Happy is that People that is in such a Case Psal 144.15 yea happy is that People whose God is the Lord. It is a great happinesse to be blessed with temporal blessings such as the Prophet had before mentioned happy are they that are in such a Case but the chiefest happynesse of all the perfect the consummatory blessednesse is in this and onely in this that our God is the Lord. Upon this our Soveraign Lord we may rely Him we may trust He hath all Power in His hand all is at His dispose fear not Psal 46.8 The Lord of Hoasts is with us the God of Jacob is our refuge Selah Psal 46.11 And so much of the Style that is given to the Owner of this Figg-Tree Now in that the Dresser seeks unto Him and to no other it may teach us that The Lord alone is to be sought unto in our prayers and by our prayers Doct. Psal 65.2 To Thee shall all flesh come This course is warranted both by Precept and Example By Precept Psal 50.15 Psal 50.15 Call upon me in time of trouble saith God Come unto me saith Christ and no otherwise to me than as to God Math. 11.28 who am both able and willing to ease you Math. 11.28 And to this he directs us by a form Math. 6.9 And every one that is godly must do thus Psal 32.6 Math. 6.9 Psal 32.6 Psal 34.6 Psal 116.2 3 4. 2 Chron. 20.12 By Practise Thus you shall find the godly have done Psal 34.6 The poor man cryed and the Lord to whom he cryed heard him Jehosophat's eyes and with him the chief of Judah their eyes were up to God only 2 Chron. 20.12 Throughout the whole Book of the Psalms we might shew you from David's practise the truth of it So Ezra Nehmiah Daniel all have done so no Instance can be brought to the contrary But we read of one in the Gospel that cryed out to Father Abraham Object Luke 16.24 Luke 16.24 But what a One he was and Whither he was gone you likewise there may read Resp. vers 23. Shall I need to render you any reason of this If so then thus Invocation is the highest branch of Divine Worship Reas In the dayes of Enosh men began to call on the name of the Lord Gen. 4.26 that is they began to be Religious and Worship God by calling on His Name that being put for the whole worship of God And Christ in one of His answers to the Tempter tells him that God only is to be worshipped with divine worship Math. 4.10 Math. 4.10 Again the Object of our Faith must be the Object of our Prayers Rom. 10.14 that is to him onely we must pray in whom onely we believe but this is no other then God we must believe in I believe in God Rom. 10.14 Lastly None can help as God can Who is present in all Places to hear ready at all hours to help and is privy to the secrets of all hearts which he must be that we pray unto Nor can any help where he will not as we have shewed you on that Parable Luke 11. vers 7. No Child is up when He is a-bed If the Creator helps not no Creature in Heaven nor Earth is able to succour us So then None may be prayed unto but such as can both hear and grant the thing we crave but none but God can do that therefore He only is to be called upon This confuteth Pagans Who cry to their Baal from Morning to Evening Use 1 And Papists who direct us to this He-Saint or She Saint in the time of trouble and danger 1 King 18.26 and solicite them upon every special occasion As in a common Plague when Sword Famine Pestilence is upon us In perills by Sea in perils by Land in perils of Child-birth in time of sicknesse in time of all danger for safety of our Beasts and Castle c. as appears by Popish Liturgies and forms of prayers prescribed in their Manuels and Service-Books But if we should ask them where we should find many of these He-Saints and She-Saints that they commend us unto in the time of our need See Parah Fast Friend p. 119. would it not pose them How many imaginary Saints have they in their Calender which are so far from hearing us in Heaven that they are not there and so far from being there as that they were never here So far from being Saints as they they were never Men but are either Fabulous Illusions or at least but Symbolical and Allegorical Allusions And put case they had a beeing on Earth and have now a beeing in Heaven Is it not best
That a man cannot write in Water is not for want of skill in a Pen-man but in the Unfitnesse and Indisposition of that Element Lay the fault then where it should be layd Thy heart is rotten like a fear block and will not endure the Engraver's or Carver's Tool The Spirit of God may say and God's Ministers may say 2 Cor. 6.12 with the Apostle 2 Cor. 6.12 Thou hast not been straintned in me but thou hast been straitned in thy own bowels I have not been wanting unto thee thou hast been wanting to thine own Soul It is possible for a man to have a goood Game dealt him yet he may lose it by his own bad play as many of you too well know But hath not God promised good successe to the Labours of his Servants to give a blessing to his own Ordinance Object Jer. 23.22 55.9 11. Jer. 23.22 Had they stood in my Counsell they should have turned the People from their evill way So 55.9 11. Besides Christ hath promised his presence and the Spirit 's Assistance to work with us in the faithful discharge of our Ministry Mat. 28.20 Math. 28.20 All this is true and yet the Poynt delivered stands firm Resp For first the Word preached shall never return in vain but do that for which it was sent but it is not alwaies sent to convert but sometimes to harden Isa 6.9 Mat. 13.14 2 Cor. 2.16 Heb. 4.12 Isa 6.9 Math. 13.14 The Gospel hath a double Savour with it a Savour of Life and a Savour of Death A double Edge with it it cuts both waies it kills Corruption or slayes the Soul There is both Thunder and Lightning in it it will break or blast Like the beams of the Sun it ripens that which hangs but it withers that which falls Wax it melts Clay it hardens and it is one and the same power that melts one and hardens the other Secondly Albeit the labour and pains of faithfull Ministers may be unprofitable to some yet not to all onely to such as are lost as the Apostle speaks 2 Cor. 4.4 2 Cor. 4.4 Act. 13.48 To them that are elected it is profitable as Acts 13.48 and that one way or other Isay his Ministry wrought nothing in the Multitude but blindnesse and obstinacy yet Isa 6.13 Rom. 10.16 Act. 17.4 13.48 1 Cor. 3.6 10. there was a Tenth that should return Isa 6.13 And the like upon the Apostles Preaching All believe not Rom. 10.16 yet some did Act. 17.4 13.48 And thus Christ makes good his Promise He will be with his to the end of the World to blesse their labours to some or other and one way or other either for Conversion or Confirmation 1 Cor. 3.6 10. And whose Ministry is not in one kind or other effectual may question their sending or fidelity in dispensing Use 3 Let both Ministers and People be hence exhorted and perswaded in using of the means to seek to God for a Blessing upon the means I will hear the Heavens saith God Hos 2.21 and the Heavens shall hear the Earth and the Earth Jezreel The Earth is the means to bring forth fruit to us the Heavens to make the Earth fruitful by their Influences but yet they must be Petitioners to God before they can exercise that vertue God hath given them for the helping of the Earth 1 Cor. 3.6 So is it in this Case Paul may plant and Apollo may water but it is onely God that must give the encrease for which he will be sought unto both by Heaven and Earth People and Pastor It was not for nothing that Christ being to send forth his Disciples spent a whole Night in Prayer Luk. 6.12 Luk. 6.12 It was for God's Blessing to go along with their Ministry without which it could not be effectual to Conversion As in sayling the hand must be to the Stern and the eye to the Starr so in Preaching and in Hearing use the means but withall look up to God for a Blessing on the means Whatsoever step we set forward upon Jacob's Ladder which conducteth our Souls to blisse Gen. 28.12 13. Aug. Serm. de Temp. Pro. 2.3 5. still Dominus super scalam as St. Austin speaks remember The Lord is above the Ladder above all means whatever let Him be sought unto If thou cryest after Knowledge saith Solomon and liftest up thy Voyce that is prayest earnestly and heartily for Vnderstanding then thou shalt understand the fear of the Lord and find the Knowledge of God Prov. 2.3.5 Use 4 And for us that are Ministers If in case we see little Fruit of all our pains and labours taken with a People we should not be too much discouraged Melancthon when he was a young man and being himself newly converted thought it impossible for his Hearers to withstand the evidence of the Gospel but after he had been a Preacher awhile 't is said of him that he complayned Old Adam was too hard for Young Melancthon It is true 1 Cor. 9 10. Every one that sowes sowes in hope and he that plants plants in hope gladly would they eat of the labour of their hands but if in case they do not yet they may not faint nor give over their Calling Let every faithfull Minister do his endeavour and leave the success to God Not forgetting First That although we have Virtutem vocis yet God reserves unâ—o himself Vocem virtutis we may speak unto the Ear but it is God that speaks unto the heart Teach we may Give we cannot If Rachel be barren Jacob is not God to give her Children Gen. 30.2 Where God hath shut up the Womb and made barren it is not in Man to make fruitfull Secondly There is Cura Officii and Cura Eventús the former belongs to us and not so much the latter as that Parable shews Mark 4.26 27. Mark 4.26 27. August Isa 49.4 2 Cor. 2.15 Whether our People profit by us or not we shall have our Fee As the Barber hath who washeth a Black more Though Israel be not gathered yet we shall be glorious Isa 49.4 and be a sweet Savour unto God in them that perish though our pains be not savoury unto them as well as unto them that are saved 2 Cor. 2.15 Thirdly Let what hath been delivered a little stay our hearts It is not our case alone but the case of God's best Servants which of God's Prophets have not deplored the barrennesse of their Ministry It is some comfort to have fellows in this misery Use 5 And lastly A word of Comfort to those that do profit by the means and get some good by our Ministry These have great cause to fall down and worship with that Convert 1 Cor. 14.25 for you have heard that it is not every ones portion 1 Cor. 24.25 Mat. 11.27 Lord I thank thee saith our Saviour that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent of the
discern There is another more ordinary way whereby he restrains the Godly from this duty in the behalf of others and that is by suffering them to be asleep as Jonas was under Hatches when the Ship is in greatest danger or else by with-drawing the Spirit of Prayer and Supplication and denying assistance to pray for such Their hearts are marvellously taken off from them so as they scarce remember them in their devotions and when they do Isa 64.7 it is but very coldly and faintly they stirr not up themselvs to lay hold upon the Lord on their behalf And when it falls out thus it is a wofull sign that God makes way for Judgment To apply this briefly If fâ—equent and faithful Prayer be so prevalent with the God of Heaven Use let it be had in high esteem with us and of great account as the chiefest means ordained of God to stay his wrath and in time of trouble to obtain deliverance for us If Prayer prevail not nothing will For such is the wonderfull working efficacy of fervent Prayer that nothing is impossible to it And that we may think more highly of it than we have done call to mind some of those mighty things that have been effected by it and recorded in History both divine and humane Do we not read in Scripture how Moses divided the red Sea and caused it to run back Exod. 14.15 so that God's Israel walked upon firm ground in the midst of it This was done by the power of his Prayer Exod. 14.15 Do we not read of the Sun 's standing still in the midst of Heaven Josh 10.13 14. not hasting to go down a whole day together so that there was no day like that before or after it This was done upon Joshuah's Prayer 2 King 20.11 And have you not read at another time of the Sun 's going back in the Firmament ten Degrees according to the shadoâ— on Ahaz his Dyall This was also done upon the Prayer of Isaiah Have we not heard of the stopping of the mouths of greedy Lyons and closing of their gnashing chapps being almost famished for want of prey Dan. 6. 3. And of quenching the violence of raging fire so that it could not sindge a haire of the Head nor leave the smell of it on the Garments Why These things have been effected by the Prayers of Daniel and the three Children Have we not read of Fire that was brought from Heaven three times together 1 King 18.38 Jam. 5.17 and how the Heavens were shut up three years so that they gave no rain and then opened again so that the clouds powred down in abundance These things were brought to passe by the Prayers of Elijah Have we not read or heard of the Earth's opening her mouth and swallowing up of Korah Mumb. 16. Dathan and Abiram with all their Goods and Families and closing again upon them This was done upon the Complaint and Prayer of Moses unto God against them for their Rebellion It were infinite to recount all the noble Acts of Prayer recorded in the Scripture as of the raising of the dead 1 King 17.21 Act. 12.5 Mat. 17.21 Oratio fidelis omnipotens Luth. Est quaedaÌ„ Omnipotentia Precum Alsted Syst Theol. lib. 4. c. 2. See my Friend at Midnight p. 432. Psal 34.15 Exod. 3.7 9. 2 Sam. 24. Exod. 8,13 opening of Prison doors and loosing the Prisoners bands healing diseases that have seemed incurable to flesh and blood casting out of Divels It is a kind of Omnipotent thing it can command Heaven Earth and Hell as I have shewed you upon another Parable Nothing under God Omnipotent but it Luther was wont to call it the great Ordnance and indeed with that we make our battery at the walls of Heaven In a moment it pierceth the Clouds and procures a Victory sometimes before the Report be heard on Earth or We imagine that it is gone out of our lips It bowes God's Ear and causeth Him to hear Psal 34.15 It opens his Eyes and causeth Him to see Exod. 3.7 9. It plckâ—s out his Sword and causeth Him to smite and on the other side it causeth Him to put it up again and smite no more 2 Sam. 24. It over-rules God in any thing that may be for the Church's good The Lord did according to the word of Moses saith the Text Exod. 8.13 That Moses did according to the Word of the Lord is evident enough and no wonder at that but that God should do according to the Word of Moses and obey the voyce of man that is strange indeed yet So it is In humane History we have many very memorable Examples of the prevailing power of Prayer with God By Prayer the good Constantius was said to strengthen his Family but Constantine his Son did hereby fortify all his Empire Euseb de Vit. Const 2.4 4.15 When his Enemy Licinius began his Warr with Exorcisms and Charms he undertook all with Prayer and holy Meditations and therefore the Lord of Heaven made him to be Lord of the Field Such comfort did he find in Prayer that he stamped upon the Coyn the Image or Effigies of himself kneeling unto his God as ascribing all his Victories to Prayer especially rather than to the Sword When Marcus Aurelius Verus the Emperour was in Germany and in the Field against 970000 Enemies Eâ—seb Eccl. Hist l. 5. c. 5. Germans and Sarmatians and in great distresse for want of Water the Legion called Melitina afterward Julineae being Christians fell down on their knees in the open field Tertul. in Apolog. Xiphilinus de Marc. Anton. Cum ipsa affuit oratione Deus Just Mart. Apol. z. Ambros de obit Theod Ruffinus Socrat. Socr. Scol Euseb l. 7. c. 22. Aug. de Civit. Dei l. 5. c. 23. and relieved him for so soon as they had prayed God was with them and sent Thunderbolts on the heads of their Enemies and a cooling showr to refresh their own wants so that the Prayers of the Church were received as a garrison into the Empire Afterwards In the time of that good Emperour Theodosius in a fought field against Eugenius when he had almost lost the day he alighted from his Horse and stepping before his Army in the face of his Enemy he kneeled down and cryed to God Ubi est Deus Theodosii Where is Theodosius his God And God gave him the day he won the field And upon another occasion at another time upon earnest Prayer to Christ made by the whole City being assembled together A grievous Tempest was suddenly turned into calmness and their former dearth and scarcity into abundance of plenty When Rhadogesius King of the Goths with a puissant Army recovered Rome and by reason of the small preparations in the City no hope could be expected from man then they cryed to the Lord and he fought for them in that their extremity and so discomfited the Enemies that in one day an
Gods own making and appointing Psal 2.6 such a King as hath the Law of all truth and goodnesse in his own breast Psal 2.6 the onely Law-maker whose Laws are of such power as that they bind conscinece which no humane Law of it self can do He had the Office of a Priest as well as of a King Psal 110.4 He was the High-Priest of our Profession Psal 110.4 and it was one of the principal works of the Priest under the Law as the Type to teach men knowledge from his mouth they were to seek it Mal. 2.7 Mal. 2.7 But this is the Dignity of Christ alone under the Gospel as the truth to that Type He is the Messenger of the Lord of Hosts which he hath sent Luk. 4.18 Luke 4.18 And he was the Prophet of the Church whom God raised up unto us of our Brethren Acts 3.22 Acts 3.22 like unto Moses in that he was Man but unlike to Moses in being God-man Glorious Mysteries and hidden truths were by him revealed unto us from the Father And thus in respect of Office he above all is worthy to be heard Lastly He is worthy to be heard in regard of the Message that he brings unto us which is the onely worthy Message to be received with all acceptation 1 Tim. 1.15 1 Tim. 1.15 His errand was to save us and that not from a temporal but from eternal death and damnation Luke 4.18 Luke 4.18 Yet more Particularly if we take notice both of the matter and manner of His Preaching we cannot but confesse he is worthy the hearing For the Matter He speaks Sublimia high and heavenly Mysteries Psal 49.1 5. Math. 13.11 appertaining to the Kingdom of Heaven Psal 49.1 5. Math. 13.12 Now strange and unheard of things usually we lend an ear unto He speaks Suaviae that which is sweet and comfortable to us all he speaks words in season to those that are weary Isa 50.4 Isa 50.4 and milk's out to his people consolations and abundance of glory Isa 66.11 14. Math 11.28 Isa 66.11 14. Come unto me all you that are weary and heavy laden saith Christ Math. 11.28 and I will ease you Oh comfortable and sweet Sweeter to the taste than the honey or honey comb He speaks Vtilia of what is profitable for us as well as pleasant unto us He tells us of a treasure hid in a field Math. 13.44 which field and treasure being found and purchased will make us eternally happy And of an Orient pearle Vers 45 which may be had at an easie rare and is wotth the buying and withall directs us what to do that we may purchase these Math. 25. yea Vers 54 he acquaints us with a Kingdome that is prepared for us Now matter of profit commands the ear He speaks Vera nothing but the Truth all that He speaks is true Prov. 8.7 8. Prov. 8.7 8. John 14.6 The two Testaments are the two lips of Christ and the opening of those lips are right things Wickednesse is an abomination unto them Not a word in them but is the word of Truth I am the Truth saith Christ Now for the manner of Preaching and delivering of his Message it may very well command Attention for He speaks Familiariter familiarly unto us as a Mother doth teach and instruct her Child at home Cant. 8.2 and as one Friend speaks unto another Cant. 8.2 John 15.15 John 15.15 He speaks Amantér Lovingly and compassionately with singular tendernesse fitting himself to every naâ—ure and ability Isa 40.11 Isa 40.11 He feeds his flock like a Shepherd He gathers his lambs with his arme and carries them in his bosome and guides them with young c. And as the Eagle bears her young ones upon her wings and teacheth them to fly So he traineth us up bearing with our infirmities Deut. 32.11 Deut. 32.11 He speaks unto us Gloriose Gloriously with a marvellous shining light of knowledge that may ravish our hearts and much affect us 2 Cor. 3.18 2 Cor. 4.6 John 5.25 1 John 2.27 2 Cor. 3.18 and 2 Cor. 4.6 He speaks to us Efficaciter Effectually so as if our hearts were dead within us yet he will revive them John 5.25 To this end he hath given us the annointing even his spirit in our hearts to teach us all things 1 John 2.27 You see then what great reason we have to hear him speaking in all these respects See then that you hear him speaking and despise him not for if they escaped not who refused him that spake on Earth much more shall not we escape if we turn away from him that speaketh from Heaven saith the Apostle Heb. 12.25 Heb. 10.28 Numb 15.32 Numb 16.49 Heb. 12.25 they that despised Moses Ministery escaped not Heb. 10.28 The man that gathered sticks on the Sabbath day contrary to Moses Law was stoned to death Corah Dathan and Abiram that murmured against him were swallowed up by the Earth and they that took their parts were destroyed and can you think to escape if you despise the Ministery of the Son of God and turn a deaf ear to Him when he speaks to us 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 look to it therefore saith the Apostle for it is as much as your souls are worth This is a heinous crime indeed Object you 'l say but we are none such It is well if you be not Resp but let me tell you Many will be found despisers of Christ who yet have a good opinion of themselves It may be that thou art no open despiser of him none of those that send after him Luke 19.14 Luke 16.14 to tell him plainly that they will none of him to Reign over them nor of the number of those who hear but deride his sayings as did the covetous Pharisees but art thou not one of those that when he speaks and calls for attention putt'st him off with frivolous pretences and excuses as did those Recusant Guests who were invited to the wedding Feast I have bought a yoke of Oxen saith one hired a Farme Luke 14.18 saith another am new marryed saith the third and must be excused So I have this businesse in hand such a way to go I cannot to Church to day to hear Christ Or if thou dost hear dost thou not hear dully and drowsily negligently and carelesly entertaining his Doctrine like a tale that is told of no concernment If so then a beit you be not found in the former rank of Despisers amongst open and prophane ones yet you will be found in the other amongst secret and close despisers of him and it will be required at thy hands But Christ is now in Heaven he speaks not to us Object How then do we despise him He that heareth you heareth me Resp Luke 10.16 and he that despiseth you despiseth me saith Christ to his Disciples and in them to all the Faithful Ministeâ—s of the Gospel when any of
was the Figure saith one the other nine the Cypher thus you have heard the point largely proved now hear it applyed Our English Nation stands deeply guilty of this sin God hath done as much for us Use 1 as ever he did for Israel he hath chosen us out from all the Earth and severed us after a sort from all the World Toto dâ—visos â—â—be Britamos that we might be a pattern of his bounty He hath setled this our English Vineyard in a very fruitful Hill eminently Fat and Fertile richly provided of all fruitful Commodities Insomuch that as Pliny the younger writes of Aegypt Plin. in Faâ—â—gyr She was wont to bâ—ast that she owed nothing to any Forrain streames for her fertility being aboundantly watered by the sole inundation of her own River Nilus The same may this our little Iland say in some sort for she hath moysture enough in her own shell Other Nations stand in more need of us then we of them We have bin throughly fenced in as the mount was within the Râ—yles with the hedge of divine protection which hath bin as a brazen wall about us Never had Land more convincing proofs of Omnipotent tuition both against Forraign Powers and Home-bred Conspiracies than ours It is hard saith a Reverend Prelate of our Church who hath wrote a whole discourse of this Subject to find any Precedent even amongst the people of God B. B. Carleton his Thankful Rememb of God 's mercies Epist Ded. since the time wherein God shewed his miracles in protecting the people of Israel that for so many years together have bin continually preserved and delivered from so many so cruelly intended so dangerous assaults as we have bin He hath picked the Stones out of this his Vineyard Those Popish Laws and Statutes which did inhibit the worship of the true God together with those false Doctrines of Popery and Heretical pravity wherewith this our Land and Nation was formerly tainted and made us a true Orthodox Church eminent for puriâ—y of Doctrine and reverend administration of the Sacraments He hath planted this his Vineyard with his choysest plants Princes of the best for Learning and Piety Judges of the best for Prudence and Gravity Divines of the best for Soundnesse and Integrity c. All of the best and choysest insomuch that no people under Heaven were able to compare with us herein Nor hath any Watch-Tower in the Christian World bin better furnished with vigilant and careful watchmen than this which he hath in his English vineyard Other Nations excell us in Glorious Buildings Temples c. but for Pulpits England hath the praise Nor do we want a Winepresse therein godly and wholesome discipline in the execution whereof when man hath failed he hath turned the screw himself following us sometimes with Famine sometimes with Pestilence and lately with the Sword that what is in us might be made known and that he might fetchout such juyce as might beseem Repentance and new Obedience And now Israel what doth the Lord thy God require of thee as Moses sometimes said so may I say to thee O England Deut. 10.12 Something Questionlesse is expected that should be returned though not as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Recompence for these Favours yet as Testimonies and signes of Thanksfulnesse to so good and gracious a God who hath so well deserved of thee which cannot be lesse then fruit I looked for Grapes saith God of Israel such as in Nature Quality and Quantity Isa 5.4 may be something answerable to his Love Care and Pains bestowed The like looketh he from us without doubt but what findeth he what return have we made unto him Have we not with Israel despised the pleasant Land Psal 106.24 Psal 29.11 Psal 122.7 Psal 106.24 That blessing of Peace tâ—e Câ—ild of Heaven and Plenty the Child of Peace wherewith God hath promised to bless his People Psal 29 11. and for which David so earnestly praâ—ed Psal 122.7 It hath bin undervalued by us and vilified a noâ—gst us And the sword one of the deadlyest arrowes in God's quiâ—er preferred The fence which hath bin made about us we have plucked up with our hands and trampled upon with our feet God's Laws are openly transgressed and Mans's Laws cannot be heard for the noyse of Drumms and Cannons our discords and contentions have â—ayd open a wide gap both for the Bear of the Wood and for the Fox of the Field â—oenter Those Stones of Popish Doctrine and Heresie cast out and exploded by our Church long since are cast in again and whilst we seemingly drive our Innovation and Popery at the foredoor we let it in at the back and have proved our selves to be the best Friends to it that it hath found in England these many years Our Watch-Towers have bin empty through our own wickednesse and cruelty how many of Gods faithful Watchmen have we beaten and buffeted slaundered and pillaged cast out and Imprisoned killed and murdered for a constant discharge of their dâ—ties in telling Israel of their sins and Judah of her transgressions Our Winepresse is broken down in respect of humane Discipline and whereas we complained of a bad one now we justly may complain for want of One God indeed hath set up his Presse amongst us he hath scruzed us with many Judgments and Afflictions but if you would know what liquor comes from us take a taste from the mouth of a Prophet What he said of Israel is too too true of this our English Nation Hos 4.2 The Lord hath a Controversie with the Inhabitants of the Land for that there is no truth nor mercy nor knowledge of God in the Land Hos 4.2 3. What then Swearing Lying Killing Stealing Whoreing and so we break out into horrible outrages so that blood toucheth blood murtherers are so frequent that there seems to be no intermission of blood shed Is not all this spoken of our times think you Exod. 7.20 24. The waters of Aegypt being turned into blood were loathsome to the Aegyptians so that they could not drink thereof Exod. 7.20.24 and whose soul doth not loath to taâ—e of such liquor I spare to speak of the Pride Avarice Luxurie Contempt of Gods Ordinances Violation of his Sabbaths that is generally to be found amongst us These be the fruits wherewith we requite God for all his mercies in planâ—ing fencing weâ—ding watching over us O â—elt it not in Gath 2 Sam. 1.10 How happy had it bin for us if we had not given advantage to our enemies to censure our Profession for these our foul enormities This is a Lamentation and shall be for a Lamentation Ezek. 19.14 Ezek. 19.14 But what is generally said o fall is as good as not spoken at all I must weave my net a â—ttâ—e closer it I would fish successefully Who is there amongst you all that hear me that can wash his hands from the guilt and stain of this base
him that gives the offence yet there is a lamenting a condoling wo that belongs to them that take the offence and to these our Saviour intends the former part of his speech Wo to the World because of offences that is to the better part of the World who are apt to take offence and to be turned out of the way of holinesse by reason of such offence as is given Indeed it is a great stumbling block to many and the Devil takes great advantage by it to see God's Ministers to dissent and differ in Judgement in Affection c. And Wo to such as are the cause thereof But yet Wo to us if we are easily scandalized at this considering First That we are foretold of it by our Saviour It must needs be that offences come Needs in respect of man's frailty Sathans malice and God's providence who knoweth well how to make a wholesome treacle of the poysonful Viper permits it should be so And so St. Paul tells us that there must be differences in Opinions Errors Heresies that the approved may be known 1 Cor. 11.19 1 Cor. 11.19 The most wise God will keep his Children in breath and exercise their graces and try his own by these fires of contradiction yea and purifie his truth it may be thereby How many excellent truths have bin brought to light at least better cleared by oppositions Austin by occasion of the error of Pelagius examined more diligently so propounded more clearely the truth in the points of Predestinntion and Free will than others his Antients If Arrius had not held a Trinity of substances with a Trinity of Persons and Sabellius an Unity of Persons with an Unity of Essences that Mystery of the Trinity had not bin so clearly explained by those great Lights of the Church Wormewood is bitter to the taste yet it is good to clear the eyes We may say with the Hebrew sentence Nisi ipse elevâsset lapidem non fuisset inventa sub eo haec margarita If the stone had not bin lifted the pearl had not bin found under it the striking together of the flint and steel sends forth many lightsome sparks to enkind'e many a shining Taper Now he is willful that will stumble at a stone that he is before hand warned of Secondly The best of God's servants in this life do but see in part 1 Cor. 13.9 and know in part Whilst we live here it cannot be expected that God's Servants should agree in all points Perfect Unity is not to be found in the Church of God till the number of all the Elect be fulfilled and the Church be come to her Perfection Ephes 4.13 Eph. 4.13 The light whereby we see in this State of mortality is very feeble and very different in regard of the Spirit 's illumination the Capacities of men and their diligence in Study Prayer and other meanes of attaining knowledge Whence it is that Unity of opinion in the Church is very contingent now greater now lesse never absolute in all Particulars Barnabas was a good man Acts 15.38 39. and yet Sâ— Paul saw more then he and clearer then he He saw how unfit it was to take John and Mark with them who before had given great offence by departing from them as Pamphylia This Barnabas saw not Samuel was surprised with a little sleep in the Temple and did not answer God at the first and second call but ran to a dim-sighted Eli but at the third Call he made answer So some Ministers who are the dear Children of God may not perceive God speaking in his lawful Magistrates nor be able for a time to distinguish betwixt God's voyce and Man's in things of an indifferent nature which they may in God's time and then they will contend no more about them I am now going to a place said Grynaeus Ubi Lutherus Calvino benè convenit on his death bed where Calvi and Luther now agree well together In Heaven we shall agree though not on Earth Thildly The differences that are amongst God's Ministers concern not Fundamentals but Circumstantials not the Primitive Articles of Faith which are necessarily to be believed But concerning other Secundary points of Theological conclusions fit for discourse of a Divine Indeed there are hose in the Church that hold damnable tenets but they are not of this Church Faithful Ministers differ not in matters of Faith but in matters of opinion as about Ceremonies Administrations and the like Such is their difference as was betwixt Paul and Bernabas before mentioned not like that which was betwixt Simon Peter and Simon Magus And therefore let not any stumble and take offence at the Different Judgments that are amongst them seeing all agree in that which is necessarily required for thee to do if thou wouldst be saved Thirdly If there be difference amongst God's Ministers be not thou one of those that make the breach wider but endeavour what lyes in thee that they may accord Hearers are many times too factiously inclined as the Apostle shews 1 Cor. 1.11 12 3 3. 1 Cor. 1.11 12. 3.3 they made a choyce to themselves of this or that Preacher whom they would follow with contempt of the rest albeit God's faithful Servants So is it amongst us at this day as hath been shewed before Some affect those onely that are of the same Judgment with them it may be Episcoparian or Independent or Presbyterian for so now we use to distinguish them albeit all teach the same fundamental truâ—hs and the same Christ and those that are of another Judgment than they are of they utterly dislike and will not afford them the hearing Others affect those onely that are most eminent for gifts with a neglect yea a contempt of others As that Frenchman of whom Zanchy speaks who being advised sometimes to hear Mr. Viret as well as Mr. Calvin answered that if St. Paul himself should be upon the earth and preach at the same time when Mr. Calvin preached he would not leave him to hear Paul It is true Christians may acknowledge a difference of Gifts in Teachers and prefer one before another and esteem best of that Ministry by which he hath received most good and got most profit yet ought we to esteem all that are good hear all as occasion is offered reverence all and bless God for all This factious disposition in the Hearers of the Word hath been a great cause of dissention amongst Ministers for when People have ingaged their affections for their Pastors and have swelled one against another in their quarrel as the Apostle intimates by that speech of his they are apt to do 1 Cor. 4.6 Joh. 3.26 1 Cor. 4.6 then they come and endeavour to engage their Teachers for their Affections You have an Instance of this Joh. 3.26 John's Disciples fall a daring of Christ's Disciples about purifying and as it seemâ— receiving the foyl they come to John and would engage him in
have no Cloak for their sin Such cannot plead Joh 15.22 They knew not Had they known they would not have done it Have they not heard doth not Israel know saith the Apostle Rom. 10.18 19. Rom. 10.18 19. yes verily their sound went into all the Earth and their words unto the end of the World Noâ—e so deep in Hell as knowing-men Luke 12.48 Did not I warne you said Reuben to his Brethren Luke 12.48 Gen. 42.21 and you would not hear Gen. 42.21 So will God say to such as have haâ— the means and profit not Did not I tell you warn you advise you threaten you but you have despisâ—d all my wâ—rnings This presseth the oâ—scienâ—e with a hâ—avy weight of guiltiness Fourthly In respect of the proportion and correspondence that the account is to bear with the receipt the sin must be great By how much the â—reâ—teâ— the grace is Amos 3.2 by so much stricter the account must be Much gâ—â—ce receiâ—ed asketh for much duty anâ— gâ—eat duâ—y neglected must needs be great sin in the receiver and the greater sin the greater punishment Luke 12.48 â—o whom God gives much of him he requires much He requiâ—es a larger fruit or a larger punishment Let us now come to the Application of the Point Use 1 Hence we inferr thâ—t the sins of these Times are greater then the sins of the Ages that have bin before us And in these times some Places and in these Places some Persons must needs stand guilty before God of more sin then others in regard of the means which they have enjoyed above others The sins of the Jews were greater caeteris paribus then the sins of the Gentiles for in Jury was God known Psal 147.19 20. He hath not dealt so saith David with every other Nation neither have they known his Judgments And the sins of the Christian if other Circumstances be matches are greater then the sins of the Jews sins committed under the Law were not so great in God's account as those which are committed under the Gospel we have greater means and a clearer light Isa 25.7 2 Cor. 3.18 and a larger effusion of the spirit then ordinarily they in those dayes had they had but an aspersion of the Spirit a sprinkling of it but on us living under the Gospel there hath bin a powring of it forth in a very large and plentiful measure Acts 1.17 which greatly aggravates our sins and will inhance the reckoning Heb. 2.2 3 Heb. 2.2 3 4. 4. And amongst us that live under the Gospel the sins of some must needs be greater then the sins of others How did our forefathers say some who lâ—ved a hundered or two hundered years ago I must tell you That might be and questionlesse was accepted in them that will not be in us they lived but in the dawning of the day in Comparison of that light which we now injoy A man in the beginning of a clear night can count the S arrs that do appear but after a while they appear so fast that he is confounded So those Starrs I mean Godly and Faithful Preachers in the Dayes of our forefathers were very few and might easily be numbered Such a painful Minister five miles or ten miles off it might be not within twenty but who are able to reckon up the number of those shining Lamps that our Heavens are now bespangled withall And yet some Pâ—â—câ—s some Congregations have enjoyed more meanes â—nd thâ—t a longer time then others Faithfull preaching they have had for thirty forty sixty years amongst them successively and can we think that God expects no more from them then he doth from those who have enjoyed the labours of a faithful Pastor but for some few years onely to whom much is given of them much shall be required where he hath given 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 have acâ—epts not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And to come a little nearer and closer with the point Some Persons stand â—â—ore guilty before God of sin then others they have bin of a longer standing in the School of Christ read more and heard more and know more of God's will then others and therefore must look in case of disobedience to be beaten with more stripes then others Beloved Sweet Oyntment cauâ—eth rank and strong bodies to smell worse than they did before And the Sun shining upon the Dunghill and heating it with its beams causeth it to send forth the more loathsome â—avour So is it with a wicked heart it becomes more vile for the sweet favour of the Go pel and their sins more noysome in the Noâ—â—rils of Almighty God Hence is it that Sathan is well content that we shall attend unto the means and resort to God's House Hear Read and Pray c. p ovided that we sin against the meanes in not profiting thereby He knows full well that such sins do presse the conscience with more guiltinesse dishonour God discredit the Gospel most and as a Taper in the hand of a Ghost it causeth the sinner to seem more gastly Swearing Lying Killing Stealing Whoreing and such like are not so foul so loathsome so gastly in any Nation under Heaven as in the English Nation Nor shall they be so severely punished by God in any Nation as in Ours as anon I shall shew We have bin lifted up to Heaven a great deal higher in regard of the means then any other Nation hath bin and therefore must look to be thrown lower into Hell then any other Ideo deteriores estis quia metiores esse debetis because of our contempt The Devil saith one will stand in Hell on tiptoe upon and English man's back and if ever he hath a dainty bit he will pick it from off the carkasses of such as live under plenty of means and profit not thereby And when such shall plead for themselves at the last Day before Christ their Judge and say Lord We have often heard thee preach in our Synagogues we have eat and drank in thy presence we have bin frequent resorters to thy House both upon Sun-Dayes and Week-Dayes this shall but aggravate their wickednesse True will Christ say to such as being wicked yet thus plead Thou begannest the week with hearing two Sermons and yeâ— didst Couzen Defraud Oppresse and Lye Swear again and again that very week when thou heardest those two Sermons And that very day when thou wentest to such a Lecture didst hear a man of note and fame that very day thou wert drunk didst act such or such a wickednesse c. And canst thou think that thou shalt fare the better for that no surely but as Galba answered that rich Guardian who hoped to find the more favour for his wealth So will God answer thee in that respect Thou shalt have this favour to have the higher and the whiter Crosse the like favour did Ahasuerosh shew his Favorite Haman Esth 7.9 10. whom he hanged on the
have our share Isa 66.10 there is a private benefit Isa 66.10 that will redound unto you you shall be marked for mourners in Jerusalem and so saved in the day of destruction Ezek. 9.4 Ezek. 9.4 Zeph. 2.3 Zeph. 2.3 I shall conclude the point with that exhortation of the Prophet Ye that make mention of the Lord Ministers and others too Isa 62.6 7. keep not silence and give him no rest till He establish and make Jerusalem a praise in the Earth Isa 62.6 7. Every one help with your humble prayers and tears make no other answer to God's complaints but humble Confessions and Petitions as did this Dresser of the Vineyard who in answering made no other answer but this Lord let it alone c. And so we come to the words more particularly He answering said Text. The Person Interceding was the Dresser of the Vineyard the Person Interceded was the Lord of the Vineyard He answering said Lord let it alone c. Who this Dresser is hath bin before shewed The Head and Principal Dresser is Christ himself The Under-Dressers are the Ministers of the Gospel the Servants of Christ whose Office it is to digg about the roots of the Trees We shall speak somewhat of both In reference to Christ the Head-Dresser we may take notice of the Intercession which he makes unto his Father in the behalf of sinners such as the Jews represented by this Figg-Tree were When God is offended Doct. Christ steps in and mediates and pats a stop to the present proceedings of Justice Thus Zachary 1.12 we read that the Angel of the Lord even the great Angel of the Covenant Zach. 1.12 Christ Jesus the Mediator of his Church interceded for Jerusalem saying O Lord of Hoasts how long wilt thou not have mercy on Jerusalem and on the Cities of Judah against which thou hast had indignation these threescore and ten years Seventy years God had shewed his just inâ—ignation against that People for their sins and had afflicted them with a miserable Captivity under the Babylonians Christ intercedes for them that God would proceed no further in wrath against them God heard him Vers 13 and answered him with good and comfortable words verse 13. And thus Being upon the Earth He made Intercession for sinners So did the Evangelical Prophet foretell Isa 53.12 Isa 53.12 speaking as Positively as if he had stood by when Christ made that prayer upon the Crosse in the behalf of his enemies Luke 23.34 Guevar de Mont. Calv. c. 3.4.5.6 Pendebat tamen petebat Aug. Father forgive them they know not what they do Luke 23.24 O sacred word O blessed speech saith one uttered upon the Crosse by the Son of God the Saviour of the World and that in the very Act of his crucifying when the blood did trickle down from his hands and feet when his shoulders were rent and torn with whipping his face swell'd with buffeting and when the pains of Hell had caught hold upon him yet then he prayes and is careful of his enemies for those who were then like so many bloody hounds tearing of him yea breathing Devils tormenting of him crucifying of him and bathing their hands in his blood yet then for them he prayes and that not for any one in particular but for all even the whole Nation of them questionlesse he saw many amongst them who belonged not unto him August tract 31. in Johan but amongst that wretched and seduced multitude He saw many that were his and for their sakes he makes intercession and puts up this prayer unto his Father Forgive them Fain would they pull upon themselves the guilt of his blood he deprecates it They kill He sues for remission and life And now that the Elements are troubled the Lights of Heaven darkned the Earth trembling and all Creatures in a sort prepared to be revenged on so wicked a Nation He stops their course and deterrs them from their intended purpose by Interceding unto his Father for them Father forgive them And what he did on Earth He doth still in Heaven in the behalf of those who belong unto the Election of grace but yet uncalled I pray for them saith Christ I pray not for the World John 17.19 20. but for them which thou hast given me for they are thine Joh. 17.9 10 And for their sakes Christ now makes Intercession unto his Father that he would deferr his wrath and that the World may stand till that the number of his Elect be made up which otherwise had not stood to this day and no sooner shall that number be made up but the world shall be consumed with fire Of this Intercession which Christ makes in Heaven for us now that He sits at the right hand of his Father the Apostle speaks Rom. 8.34 Heb. 7.25 Rom. 8.34 Heb. 7.25 And it containes divers things in it First His appearing for us in the sight of God and presenting of his Person in our Nature and his own as a publique person Heb. 9.24 So Heb. 9.24 He is there said to appear now in the sight of God for us alluding to the manner of the High Priest under the Law who used to go into the Sanctum Sanctorum the Holy of Holyes with the names of the Children of Israel written in precious stones for a remembrance of them that he might be mindful of them all Exod. 30.7 in his prayers Exod. 30.7 So Christ being now ascended up into Heaven there presents unto his Father the names of all his Chosen doing the Office of a Priest continually remembring the Lord of that which he hath done in offering himself a sacrifice for us thereby as it were with strong and mighty voyce craving for us mercy and grace whose blood speaks louder and better then the blood of Abel Heb. 12.24 Heb. 12.24 Secondly His undertaking for us before God and passing his word that we being mindful of Reconciliation through him shall eschew sin by his Grace and not provoke him any more as formerly we have done Look as Judah was both a Mediator to request and a Surety to engage himself to bear the blame for ever with his Father Gen. 43.8 9. for his Brother Benjamin Gen. 43.8 9. And as Paul was for Onesimus a Mediator I beseech thee for my Son Onesimus and a Sponsor If he have wronged thee or owe thee ought put it upon my account I will repay it Philem. 9.10 18 19. So is Christ both our Mediatour and Surety Heb. 7.22 Thirdly His powring out of the Spirit of Intercession upon us which causeth us Rom. 8.26 Gal. 4.6 7. by an unutterable manner to make our moans and requests known unto God Rom. 8.26 Gal. 4.6 7. Fourthly His offering up the Prayers and Praises of the Saints to God Rev. 8.3 4. That Angel is Christ the Lord in Rev. 8.3 4 and through whom our Prayers are heard and accepted Fifthly The presenting of his