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A61456
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Ad magistratum three sermons preached before the justices of assize, at Bury-St.-Edmunds in the countie of Suffolk : with sacred hymns upon the Gospels for the hyemal quarter / by Tho. Stephens.
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Stephens, Thomas, fl. 1648-1677.
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1661
(1661)
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Wing S5456; ESTC R26257
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67,843
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154
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〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the shew they have drest up themselves like actours There 's 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they are in sheeps clothing But there wants the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they bear no fruit The barren fig-tree had life and sap in it and flourished with leaves luxuriantly or else Christ would not have expected figs upon it yet because it was barren it was cursed cut it down why cumbreth it the ground It is not the pleasing verdure of leaves nor the promising candour of blossoms will serve the turn If there be no fruit nay if there be no good fruit no fruit of righteousness there wants the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 we are barren and if barren we are no better then dead in Gods esteem Cut it up why cumbreth it the ground As Pythagoras when any of his Scholars had forsaken his School the School of vertue had a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an empty hearse carried about the streets and in a solemn pageantry they mourned for him Dost thou see vice triumphant marching top and top gallant set out with all its trickments and gayetyes and inticing any of the sons of wisdome O! think thou seest an hearse carried before thee such an one is dead he is departed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 weep for him as for the dead whatever 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 whatever shew he makes he wants the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 there is no principle of life within him And thus am I fallen upon my second part before I am well aware of it that in the School of Christ there are many followers which are no Disciples many pretenders to which are no practisers of Christianity Many which have a form of Godliness which deny the power thereof For indeed holiness is so beautifull that whosoever looks upon it must fall in love with it and the Commandments are so just and good that we should fall from the reason of men if we did not approve of them which makes the worst of men put on 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a shew of goodness if not to please themselves yet thereby to make themselves the more welcome and gracious to others For this reason Satan transforms himself into an Angel of light that he may the more successfully practise his deeds of darkness And the first-born of Satan Simon Magus stiled himself 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Act. 8. 10. the great power of God when he spake of that power by which he practised sorcery and inchantments And I doubt not but Iannes and Iambres which follow here in this chap. pretended to as divine a vertue although they withstood Moses and resisted the truth or else they could never so effectually have hardned Pharaohs heart As for those that dare sin with a witness and stare heaven in the face whilst they boast of their impieties they do more then the works of their father the Devil for that Prince of the air casts a cloud before his black actions his very thunder hath some lightning but these hasten upon themselves the day of judgement and they themselves bring to light their own hidden things of darkness Yet though vertue be so admirable and attractive she is seated on so craggy a rock that it is hard to climb to it 'T is a very narrow gate opens to her palace and we must strip our selves of all our incumbrances how gay or brave soever they are if we would croud in there The Camel must take away the bunch of his back if he would enter the needles eye The young man in the Gospel with many possessions must sell all that he hath and give to the poor if he would follow Lazarus into Abrahams bosome Nay further yet the most indeared affection the most darling lusts must be rooted out the right eye must be pluck'd out and the right hand must be cut off or we shall finde no entertainment there And this makes us unwilling to be at the charges to purchase real goodness if we can but wear her cloth or be of her livery 't is sufficient Let poor distressed and despised creatures the filth and of scouring of all things 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 such as have lived to be weary of all things and all things weary of them let such begin the work of mortification and crucifie the world unto themselves with the flesh and the affections and lusts Let us injoy the earth and the fulness thereof which God hath given to the sons of men and shall we neglect these gifts of God shall we endanger our selves by a perrillous wading over Iordan in hopes of an inheritance in Canaan when the fruitfull plains of Gilead are before us poteris tutiùs esse Domi. 'T is better to injoy the creature and keep a good house which may beget the repute of hospitality and set the poor on work although thou pay him small wages besides the bread of affliction and keep a Chaplain like Bias's fatted mule whose looks have religion enough for all the family and build Hospitals that men may see thy good works and so perhaps be incited to glorifie thy father which is in heaven This is much a cheaper way to keep our gain and yet make a fair shew too without contending so eagerly and desperately for the power of Godliness Add to all this that this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 cannot be obtained without encountring with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 powers that will over power us without the Almighty power of God to support and back us Even Principalities and powers and rulers of darkness in this world and spiritual wickednesses in high places And this potent enemy hath scaled our battlements this strong man armed hath got possession of the house he hath seized upon the cinque-ports of our sences and there gives the word of command and orders all our actions Nay he executes and performs them himself he does 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the spirit works in the children of disobedience Ephes. 2. 2. He sees in our wanton eyes he hears with our itching years he tastes with our curious palates And turpiùs ejicitur he knows its more disgrace to be dispossest and thrown out then never to have gotten possession Therefore when a stronger then he comes even the power of God to set up this power of Godliness he fortifies himself with all his might and loses by inches what he hath gotten Sometimes perhaps he sets up Gods colours on the wall a from of Godliness but it is but to betray others and to make them believe the city is not taken when indeed it hath no 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 no power at all Besides all this consider how agreeable sin is to our corrupt nature there is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 says the Apostle Heb. 12. and the 1. sins which do easily beset us which finde many plausible pretences to ingratiate themselves with us Nay some which are drest up so like unto vertue that we our selves cannot
the new year begin Epiphany Mat. 2. A Star points out the Sun and does display A much more glorious day Then ever yet did rise i th' East So bright a day that wise Astrologers Which gaze at other stars Fall down and worship at this feast Kings of Arabia and Saba bring Gold frankincense and myrrhe to a greater King And Persia as it did before The rising sun does still adore Great Babe what need hast thou of Gold Thy sacred bosome doth infold Rich Mines of Treasure From thy garments comes The smell of Aloes Cassia Eastern gumms Yet though thou needest none thou' rt pleas'd to take Those poor oblations which our duties make The Sea doth want no water yet receives That tribute which the little River gives These are the Gentiles first fruits who Were ne're so much Wise-men as now This light enlightens them who could divine That God took up that Inn where a Star's the Sign Coll. Lord let thy beams attract and guide our minde Then soul and body shall be offer'd thine And we vile clay which can no value hold Stamp'd with thy Image shall be currant Gold 1 Sunday after Epiphany Haste Joseph to the solemn feast Hierusalem wants such a guest Take Mary and the Holy Boy Teach him betimes to know the way To th' Temple where hereafter he Both Priest and Sacrifice must be As ye return tell him that he The shadows of himself did see But stay where is he 't is a day Since first we mist him on the way We have search'd all the Caravan Amongst his kinsfolks man by man Is he fall'n weary faint or lame Has Herods cup devour'd the Lamb Back to the Temple walk the round There Christ most likely will be found Among the Doctours him behold Advanc'd to th' chair at twelve years old The Temple-porch where's wit doth flow Was never Beautifull till now This little Disputant confounds The Scribes with all their learned grounds Their scarlet robes begin to blush To see the Doctours non-plust thus So little David hath orethrown The great Goliah with a stone Doctours to School again are brought Where by a childe they must be taught The gaping multitudes amaz'd To hear his wisdome flow so fast Nay his own Parents could not gather His meaning of another Father Coll. Lord thou the weakest things hast crown'd That they the mighty should confound Make bare thy arm and shew us how To foil the wise or make us so 2 Sunday after Epiphany John 2. HAng up your rosie garlands ore the doors Crown all the pots with flowers Let choicest wines invite The duller appetite Let the sweet timbrels sound And dances fill the round Soft Airs and choicest measures well become This wedding feast Where such a guest Is come Iesus and his Disciples with his Mother Sure heav'n and earth have married one another Welcome drink freely drink all up 'T is best behinde still Fill the cup And fear no want That table shall have more That entertains the author of our store He that at first made water can as well Change it to wine too by a miracle This is the hour To shew his power The Elements obey When he a charge does lay He that once turn'd the Seas to blood Can turn't to wine if he see good Nay by a greater miracle he can Turn wine to his own blood to nourish man Coll. Lord thou' rt a spring of goodness thou hast made Our cups to overflow hearts to be glad But whilst that others of new wine do boast Let us be filled with the Holy Ghost 3 Sunday after Epiphany THis day strange miracles do crowd together Leprous and palsick justle one another Diseases try Which first can die And strive to bury their own name So to advance the Doctours fame The Leper first who could not stand Falls down and riseth perfect man He whose infection once made others such Is cur'd himself by the Physitians touch Thus he is cleans'd and now Our Leper is as white as snow What needs the blood of lambs to dip The tip Of 's ear or thumb or toe Here is a lamb whose blood Is good To wash him clean all over too Yet though diseas'd he could to th' Doctour come The palsick man was kept benum'd at home Onely he found a spokesman for his cure Although he shook his Masters faith stood sure Happy Centurion who by a new-found Art Denying God To make abode Under his roof did lodge him in his heart Coll. Lord all these maladies in us are summ'd Our souls are leprous and our hearts benumm'd Stretch forth thy hand thy touch will make us well Or speak the word and 't will thy servants heal 4 Sunday after Epiphany Matth. 8. SLeep in a storm Sure 't is a calm within Sleep will not fan that soul that 's tost in sin Winde stole a play-day and the revel's kept Whilst their Lord and Master slept The waves do daunce and skip upon the boat Which now without a Pilot cou d not float But he awake And when he spoke The waves attentive sate to hear And the windes durst not breath for fear The glad Disciples now were past the shelves Whose faith had been nigh shipwrackt like themselves But being landed there they finde A worser tempest was behinde As winds imprisoned in the Earth break out With violence and tear the rocks about The Prince of Air shut up among the tombs With raging force and horrour comes Yet seeing's Judge he fears lest without bail He be remaunded to a worser goal Which to avoid he chose to enter in A herd of Swine No reason why the superstitious Jews The flesh of swine should now refuse For these were drown'd But still he does as much And entring in their hearts he makes them such Coll. Lord we are swine which wallow in our sin And need a sea to wash and bath us in Yet 't is no sea can cleanse us 't is no flood Can wash us white but thine own precious blood 5. Sunday after Epiphany Mat. 13. PLow up your fallow grounds prepare your hearts And all your nobler parts This is the season when the husbandman Good seed will sow To grow And flourish spritely in the heart of man But sleep not for the enemy prepares To scatter tares Which will choak up the seed Nothing grows sooner then an evil weed He knows Gods field If well manur'd a fruitfull crop will yield Therfore some envious man he does suborn To scatter cockles and root up the corn Thus Heresies spring up And many times pure doctrine do ore-top Adam in Paradise could not be free But found a serpent lurking in the Tree Nay heav'n is not secure ev'n there he try'd With a successfull hand to scatter pride Thus wheresoever God a Church does plant The Devil there his Chappel will not want Coll. Lord whilst we sleep Satan his tares doth sow Within our hearts where better corn should grow But do not weed us up Oh spare the