point let no conceit in the world nor perswasion whatsoeuer hinder vs from a present conuersion vnto God but out of hand while it is called To day let vs turne vnto him Thus much for the Exhortation The Reasons follow For hee hath spoyled and hee will heale vs he hath wounded vs and hee will bind vs vp WE haue heard already the godly perswasion of the beleeuing Iewes one to another Reasons to inforce the former exhortation to turn to the Lord from whom they had departed by their sins Now followes the reasons of their exhortation and they are twofold The first is drawn from the iustice of God in these words He hath spoyled vs hee hath wounded vs. q. d. We haue beene plagued and smitten Well it is the Lord that hath layd these heauy iudgements vpon vs it is the correcting hand of God that hath brought these grieuous afflictions vpon vs therfore let vs now Returne vnto him The second is drawn from the mercy of God in these words Hee will heale vs hee will binde vs vp q. d. Though the Lord hath smitten vs yet hee will helpe vs and heale vs if we will seeke to him for succour And surely these two reasons ought to be of force to moue euery one of vs to turne vnto God if his iudgements cannot compel vs yet his louing mercies ought to draw vs and allure vs to turne vnto him Doct. 1 Whereas the people of God in this place do not onely perswade one another simply to Returne vnto God Mans nature so corrupt that it stands in need of many reasons to perswade to holy duties but vse reason vpon reason to induce and to perswade them thereunto Hence wee may obserue the frowatdnesse and the vntowardnesse and great backwardnesse that is in all men by natuae to perform any holy duty That wee thus stand in need of so many arguments and so many reasons to perswadr vs thereunto In the whole Scriptures it is the vsuall manner of the Prophets and Apostles and holy men of God when they exhort to any vertue or dehort from any vice to adde sundry reasons that by the force thereof they might draw men to obedience This is practised of the Prophet Dauid when hee perswaded his sonne Salomon to haue a care to learne and practise the will of God 1. Chro. 28.8 And thou Salomon my sonne know thou the God of thy Fathers and serue him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind And hee addes reasons to perswade him thereunto For the Lord searcheth all hearts and vnderstandeth all the imaginations of thoughts if thou seeke him hee will bee found of thee but if thou forsake him hee will cast thee off for euer Again when Moses doth exhort the people of Israel to obserue to keepe the commandements of the Lord how many forcible arguments and reasons doth hee alledge to moue the people and to perswade them thereunto some taken from the mercies of God If thou shalt obey the voyce of the Lord thy God Deut. 28.1.2.3 v. 15.16 c. Leuit. 26.14 Mal. 2.2 and obserue all his commandements which I command thee this day all these blessings shall come on thee and ouertake thee Blessed shalt thou bee in the City and blessed in the field c. Others taken from the iustice of God But if thou wilt not obey the voyce of the Lord thy God to keepe and to doe all his commandements and ordinances which I command thee this day Deu. 6.5 cursed shalt thou bee in the towne and cursed in the field c. And in all Pauls Epistles it is his vsuall manner Rom. 12.1 where he exhorts to any vertue or dehorts from any vice to adde sundry reasons that by the force thereof he might the better preuaile 2. Cor. 9.7 I beseech you brethren by the mercies of God that yee giue vp your bodies a liuing sacrifice holy and acceptable vnto God And againe As euery man wisheth in his heart so let him giue not grudgingly or of necessity for God loueth a cheerefull giuer And in the Ephesians Eph. 5.22.23 exhorting diuers estates and degrees of men as husbands and wiues Parents and children masters and seruants to the performance of the duties of their seuerall callings he doth still second the same exhortations with diuers arguments and reasons Eph. 6.5 Col. 3.22 1. Pet. 2.11 Wiues submit your selues to your husbands as to the Lord and he ads a forcible reason thereto For the husband is the wiues head as Christ is the head of his Church and so likewise of husbands seruants c. This course is likewise practised of the Apostle Peter when he sayth I beseech you as Strangers and Pilgrimes abstaine from fleshly lusts which fight against the Soule These and the like examples whereof the Scriptures are plentifull serue to manifest vnto vs the corruption that is in our nature that are so backward in the performance of any holy duety that we stand thus in need of reasons to perswade vs to the same Now this comes to passe by reason that the Theoricke part of man his will Reason vnderstanding and knowledge since the fall of man is so blinded and corrupted that it vnderstands not the things that are of God but the will and vnderstanding are so depraued of grace that now they are direct opposite to Gods will And this is the cursed nature of all men vnregenerate as the Apostle sayth The wisdome of the flesh is enmitie against God Rom. 8.7 for it is not subiect to the law of God neither can be Where the Apostle shewes plainely that the wil of a natural man 2. Cor. 3.5 that liues in sinne vnregenerate Phil. 2.13 Gen. 6. Rom. 3.7 is flat contrary nay Enmity it selfe against God and neyther will nor can be subiect to Gods will So that whatsoeuer God wils man wils not Wee are not able of our selues to thinke a good thought It is God alone that must touch our hearts and worke in vs power either to will well or worke well Nay the Lord sayth more Pro. 14.12 That the whole frame of mans heart is altogether euill continually The whole frame of mans heart the mind will vnderstanding conscience reason affection yea the whole frame of mans heart is euill onely and that continually so that it is cleare our wils are contrary to Gods will by nature and wee can no more set our selues to the performance of any good duty then a dead man can of himselfe rise out of his graue and performe any action but our wils are so infected and poysoned with sinne that we now onely seeke and desire that which is euill and against the will of God and the good of our owne soules Vse 1 Oh how should this humble vr when we shall consider what wee are by nature Euen vnto euery good worke Reprobate that we are not able not so much as to moue one finger to
the fore-runner of some fearefull iudgement vnto the soule of that man I haue cut them downe by my Prophets I haue slaine them by the words of my mouth IN that the Lord doth threaten this iudgement of al Doct. 4 other as the greatest that hee could bring vpon them namely to Cut them downe and to slay them The Word of God is able to pearce the hardest heart and that not by an ordinary meanes or slaughter but by his Prophets and Word that is that he would make good his Word in their mouthes and bring to passe all those terrible and fearefull iudgements that they had denounced against them from the Lord. Hence we see the great power of the Word of God it is able to pearce the hardest heart that is The word of God makes mention of two sorts of swords The sword of the mouth and the materiall sword as that place in the Hebrewes The Word of God is liuely and mighty in operation and sharper then a two edged sword Heb. 4.12 entereth thorough euen vnto the diuiding asunder of the Soule and the Spirit and of the Ioynts and the Marrow and is a decerner of the thoughts and the intents of the heart The people of the Iewes before that Peter spake vnto them were full of hardnesse of heart yea their hearts before were as hard as steele nothing could pricke or pearce them Act. 2.37 they had committed monstrous murder they shed innocent bloud euen the bloud of the sonne of God and yet they were neuer touched in their hearts for that sinne But when Peter came with his weapon namely the Word of God and told them that they were those that had crucified the Lord of life this wounded them to the quicke as that they cryed out in the bitternesse of their loules O men and brethren what shall wee doe to bee saued Oh tell vs tell vs whether there be not some course yet to be taken that wee that haue beene such desperate sinners might yet againe obtaine Gods fauour and bee saued This was a blessed battel that was fought with them behold then in them the wonderfull power of the Word of God It cuts the throat of sinne and makes men become dead vnto sinne that they might become a liue vnto God Ier. 23.29 Is not the Word of Iehouah like vnto fire It is able to melt and mollifie a heart of steele it is like a hammer that breakes the hardest stone euen so this Word of God is able to bruise a stony heart which is as hard as flint Rom. 15.16 I am not ashamed sayth the Apostle of the Gospell of God because I know that it is the power of God to saluation to all them that beleeue 1. Cor. 1.21 Yea it is compared to a sacrificing knife Ephes 2.1.2 which will kill and cut the throat of sinne and make the most rebellious heart to breake It will put spirit and life in the dead hearts of dead secure sinners euen such as lay dead rotting in sin If it enter not into thee to the rooting out of sinne and the cutting downe of thy vncleannesse for then it pearceth for thy good to life eternall It wil bee sure to wound and to pearce thy dead and benummed soule to the hardning of thee in thy sinnes to death eternall Esay 55. for it neuer returnes in vaine but is eyther the sauor of life vnto life or the sauor of death vnto death The Lord sent his word vnto Pharaoh againe and againe by Moses and Aaron but hee would not bee humbled by it Exod. 9. â—7 1. Reg. 22.8 therefore hee became the more hardned in sinne And Ahab was then the deadliest enemy to his owne soule Mich. 2.7 when hee hated Michai for not speaking to his fantasie but warned him faithfully of the iudgement which afterward came vpon him Zach. 7.11 The Word of God is an aduersary to none but to such as are aduersaries to themselues Note this well neyther doth it condemne any but such as without repentance assuredly shall one day bee condemned of the Lord. And therefore let the wicked wretches of the world stoppe their eares neuer so much from the hearing of the threatnings of the Word yet they shall neuer stoppe that iudgement which the Word hath threatned There is a cry that will come at Midnight and will waken the dead But Oh blessed are they who in time are wakened out of the sleepe of their sinnes before that dreadfull iudgement come This serues to commend vnto vs the excellencie Vse 1 and power of the Word of God which is able both to kill sinners and to make them aliue again and puts a manifest difference hetweene the Word of man the Word of God All the wisdom learning eloquence and wit of men is not able to wound the hard heart of a wicked obstinate and rebellious sinner onely the Word of God can doe it euen the plaine and simple preaching of the Word can doe it 1. Cor. 1.21 Psal 19. The Law of the Lord is perfect to conuert the soule There is more power in the plaine rude and simple preaching of the Word of God to conuert a sinner then in the most learned and excellentest eloquence in men nay Rom. 10.14.15 it is impossible for all the eloquence in the World to saue a Soule it is peculiar onely to the simple preaching of the Gospell nor all the Writings of men cannot turne the heart vnto God vnlesse the Lord doe blesse the preaching of the Word to doe it and though nothing bee so contrary to our Nature as the Word of God yet nothing is so powerfull to conuert as is this word by Gods blessing vpon it being his owne ordinance appointed to that end Secondly seeing the Word of God is of this power Vse 2 that it will enter and pearce into stony hearts and seeing if it cut not downe sinne and corruption it will wound to death eternall all rebellious and hard hearted sinners Oh then let vs submit our hearts vnto it let vs suffer the Word to pearce and wound our hearts for sinne to cut downe all sinne and corruption in vs here or else it will bee the Lords Sword of the Spirit to kill vs and to wound vs to death eternall Ephes 6.1 Hee will smite the earth with the rodde of his mouth and slay the wicked and rebellious with the breath of his lippes that is the Lord will make good all those feareful iudgements which his seruants haue denounced against them in his name Esay 11.4 And as the raine that fals makes the earth more fruitfull or else more barren so it fareth with the Word it eyther cuts downe sinne to our amendment or else leaues most deadly wounds in our soules euen to death eternall Now then seeing the Word of God is so powerfull Oh how should this stirre vp euery man and woman to the hearing of
Doct. 1. HVmiliation for sinne must goe before the sanctified knowledge of God Fol. 109 Doct. 2. The true knowledge of God in Christ is giuen onely to the Elect after their conuersion Fol. 114 Doct. 3. It is God himselfe that is the obiect of a sanctified knowledge Fol. 122 Doct. 4. Ignorance of God and his Word in matters of Religion is dangerous Fol. 128 Doct. 5. Labour and paines required in all that will get sauing knowledge Fol. 739 Doct. 6. Perseuerance and constancy is required in seeking for sauing knowledge Fol. 141 Doct. 7. A godly man seekes after knowledge willingly and chearefully Fol. 144 Doct. 8. Gods children labour for an encrease of knowledge dayly in them Fol. 146 Doct. 9. Howsoeuer God doth humble his children for a time hee forsaketh them not for euer Fol. 150 VER 4. Doct. 1. GOd doth not proceed in iudgement before hee hath offered all meanes of mercy Fol. 160 Doct. 2. Wicked men continue still in sinne notwithstanding all meanes to the contrary Fol. 167 Doct. 3. The Lord takes it hardly that the meanes of our good should bee contemned Fol. 170 Doct. 4. No outward priuiledge will free a man from punishment when reformation of heart and life is wanting Fol. 174 Doct. 5. Though God doth offer the meanes of saluation vnto all yet few receiue them Fol. 180 Doct. 6. It is the property of hypocrites to minde more the outward part of Gods worshippe then the inward Fol. 184 Doct. 7. The wicked haue sometimes good motions in them but not lasting Fol. 187 Doct. 8. Sincerity of heart and perseuerance in godlinesse a true note of the child of God Fol. 194 VER 5. Doct. 1. TO contemne the meanes of saluation is a grieuous sinne and neuer goes vnpunished Fol. 199 Doct. 2. The Lord is the author of all punishments for sinne Fol. 204 Doct. 3. Hard heart the greatest iudgement that can bee layd vpon man Fol. 208 Doct. 4. The Word of God is able to pearce the hardest heart Fol. 215 Doct. 5. The Word of God in the mouthes of his Ministers shall be accomplished Fol. 219 Doct. 6. God neuer strikes with his iudgements before he giue warning Fol. 227 VER 6. Doct. 1. GOd esteemes not of our outward seruice when it it is not performed in faith and obedience Fol. 233 Doct. 2. Lawfull things must bee done lawfully Fol. 238 Doct. 3. Property of an hypocrite to content himselfe with the outward parts of Gods worshippe Fol. 247 Doct. 4. Wicked men make Religion a cloake for sinne Fol. 253 Doct. 5. God doth preferre the duties of loue and mercy to men before his owne worship Fol. 256 VER 7. Doct. 1. THe breaking of our couenant with God the cause of all iudgements Fol. 258 Doct. 2. Man by nature vnconstant in any holy dutie Fol. 271 Doct. 3. That which is most excellent in the sight of an hypocrite is most abhominable in the sight of God Fol. 272 VER 8. Doct. 1. THose that haue the greatest meanes of knowledge should abound most in holy duties Fol. 278 Doct. 2. Those places that haue had most meanes shall be most seuerely punished for the neglect thereof Fol. 280 Doct. 3. For no worldly respect must men be drawn to peruert iustice Fol. 285 VER 9 Doct. 1. MInisters that teach not at all or else teach erronious doctrine no better then theeues and murderers Fol. 289 Doct. 2. Nature of the wicked to deuise all the mischiefe they can against the godly Fol. 292 Doct. 3. Councels may erre and Magistrates and Ministers in matters of Faith and Manners Fol. 294 VER 10. Doct. 1. AS the Minister is so is the people Fol. 299 Doct. 2 Ignorance will excuse none if they liue in sinne Fol. 304 Doct. 3. It is a heauie iudgement of God vpon a people when the chiefe gouernors bee Idolaters Fol. 308 VER 11. Doct. 1. MEn by nature are apt to sucke in Popery and superstition Fol. 312 Doct. 2. Sinne is very fruitfull Fol. 316 The End of the Table The Contents COme let vs returne to the Lord for hee hath spoyled and he will heale vs he hath wounded vs and he will bind vs vp 2 After two dayes he will reuiue vs and the third day he will rayfe vs vp and we shall liue in his sight 3 Then shall wee haue knowledge and endeauour our selues to know the Lord his going forth is prepared as the morning and he shall come vnto vs as the raine and as the latter raine vnto the earth 4 O Ephraim what shall I doe vnto thee O Iuda how shall I intreat thee for your goodnes is as the morning cloud and as the Morning Dew it goeth away 5 Therefore haue I cut down by the Prophets I haue slain them by the words of my mouth and thy iudgements were as the light that goeth forth 6 For I desire mercy and not sacrifice and the knowledge of God more then burnt offerings 7 But they like men haue transgressed the Couenant there haue they trespassed against mee 8 Gilead is a City of them that worke iniquitie and is polluted with bloud 9 And as theeues wayte for a man so the company of Priests murder in the way by consent for they worke mischiefe 10 I haue seene villany in the house of Israel there is the whoredome of Ephraim Israel is defiled 11 Yea Iudah hath set a plant for thee whiles I would returne the Captiuity of my people AN EXPOSITION vpon the sixt Chapter of the Prophesie of HOSEA HOSEA 6. VER 1. 1. Come let vs returne to the Lord for hee hath spoyled and he will heale vs he hath wounded vs and he will binde vs vp THe Lord our God Exod. 34.6 Ier. 31.20 as he is gracious and mercifull flow to anger and aboundant in goodnesse and truth and therefore not easily drawne to punish and to take vengeance vpon hard hearted and impenitent sinners So when hee punisheth and afflicteth any man or woman as a most gracious God and louing Father he aimes at their good and seekes the saluation of their soules that being tamed and truely humbled for their sinnes they might turne vnto him by true and vnfained repentance that so he might haue mercy vpon them in pardoning their sinnes and sauing their soules And as this is manifest in the whole booke of God so it is very apparent out of this place when as the Lord had threatned the people of the Iewes with present destruction by and by he beginnes to exhort them to true repentance shewing this to be the onely way both to auoid the anger of God and to saue their owne soules This 6. Chapter contains two generall and principall parts Parts of the Chapter In the first is set downe the godly practises of true repentance and the fruits thereof in the person of the beleeuing Iewes from the first verse to the end of the third the which we must carefully imbrace and follow In the second is set down the
thou haddest faith it would apply Iesus Christ vnto thy owne soule in particular though not at all times with the like assurance this Paul begged for the Colossians That they might bee filled with all wisedome and spirituall vnderstanding that they might bee able to comprehend what is the breadth and length and depth and height Col. 1.9 Eph. 5.18 and to know the loue of Christ So that wee see that the true knowledge of God and of Christ it is such a iewell that God will not trust all men with but onely the Elect. Now let vs see what vses this Doctrine may affoord vs for our further instruction Vse 1 This may serue in the first place to reproue those that rest vpon a confused and superstitious knowledge of God such knowledge as may bee had by the light of nature or such as may bee gathered by the sight of creatures but will some say are there any such amongst Christians vndoubtedly there be who hauing liued in the bosome of the Church and in the cleare light of the Gospell ten twenty yea thirty or more yeares together and yet to their shame be it spoken haue no more true sauing knowledge of God then the very heathen that neuer heard of Christ so that Heb. 5.12 whereas in regard of their continuance in the Church and the meanes that haue beene offered vnto them They might haue beene teachers of others yet haue they need to bee taught the beginning of faith and are such as haue need of milke and not of strong meat who can consider without griefe of heart in what state the greatest number of our people stand at this day how many haue wee amongst vs I will not say as God said of the Infants of Nineueh that know not their right hand from their left but men growne and of riper yeares which in regard of their time might haue beene teachers of other yet themselues are ignorant in the maine principles of Religion these are like to the Potters clay ready to take any form What false religion and idolatrous worship if it were authorized would they not subscribe vnto a lamentable case that wee should be still as babes and children ready to bee drawne away with euery blast of vaine Doctrine not being able to decerne the darkenesse of error from the light of truth seeing as our Apostle saith 2. Cor. 4.3.4 2. Thes 2.11.12 If our Gospell bee hid it is hid to them which perish in whom the God of this world hath blinded their minds Thus doth God send them strong delusions that they should beleeue lyes That all they might bee damned which beleeue not the truth but had pleasure in vnrighteousnes Io. 5.39 Let vs then seeke for knowledge as for treasures and let vs Search the Scriptures that in them wee may haue eternall life Let vs haue the word of God dwell plentifully in vs which is able to make vs wise to saluation Let vs vse all good meanes to beget knowledge in vs euen this sanctified knowledge which will bring a man to eternall life Let vs often call our own wayes to an account and labour to bee humbled for our sins beg hard for mercy and pardon of them at Gods hands then vse all good meanes as hearing the Word reading praying c. For if by these things we make not way to our knowledge whereupon it may be built as vpon a sure foundation Alas our knowledge it will be but vaine idle swimming in the braine and farre from leading a man to the Kingdome of grace or of glory Oh then thinke of this betimes whilest the day of grace lasteth Oh man thou art laboured with from Sabbath to Sabbath that thy heart may be seasoned with the knowledge of saluation and that now thou mayest bee prepared for Christ if now therefore thou reiect this kindnesse of his it shall at last bee iust with God to turne this thy great ingratitude as dung into thy face and because thou hast hated knowledge Mat. 1.23 Pro. 7.22 therefore the Lord may iustly say Depart from mee yee cursed I know you not And that wee may bee able to try our selues whether we haue this knowledge in our hearts which puts vs into the reall possession of eternall life it hath certaine notes and properties whereby it may bee decerned The properties of this sauing knowledge 1. Io. 3.3 Act. 15.9 The first effect and property of this sauing knowledge is this that being put into the heart of a Christian it will purge a mans soule mind will and affection Euery one that hath this hope speaking of this knowledge of God hee will purge himselfe as hee is pure And againe Faith purifieth the heart so then hereby thou mayest trie and proue thy knowledge whether it bee this sauing knowledge of God 1 It purgeth the heart or not if thou finde that it purifies thy heart purgeth thy mind will and affection from sinne this is an infallible marke and token that it is this blessed and sanctified knowledge that is begunne in thee whereas on the contrary part carnall knowledge puffes vp the mind but this knowledge expels pride and casts a man downe for his sins and therefore if thou finde thy heart filthy and thy will rebellious thy knowledge then is but fleshly and carnall and it is not this sauing knowledge that is within thee Secondly this knowledge is not a dead knowledge but it is a liuing knowledge 2 It will quicken those that haue it it is a quickning knowledge and therefore called Eternall life because it is liuing and will quicken those that haue it in their breasts it will not suffer a man to lye dead in sin and rotting in sin but it will rayse him vp and quicken him in all holy duties to doe the Will of God The third property of this Knowludge is 3 It is euer working to destroy sinne it is not an idle knowledge onely swimming in the braine but it is an operatiue and working knowledge it will worke in them that haue it the mortification of sinne and it will abolish naturall corruption by little and little it will be powerful to worke many graces in them which haue it as Faith Repentance Mortification and newnesse of life loue of God zeale of his glory sincere obedience to his Will in all things The fourth property of this sauing knowledge is this 4 It is permanent it lasts for euer that being put into the mind of any Christian man or woman it is durable and permanent and therefore our Sauiour cals it Eternall Life because this Knowledge lasteth not for a day or two or for a yeare or two but being begunne in this life it lasteth for euer Wee know in part onely in this life but our knowledge shall bee perfect in the life to come Now seeing what this Knowledge is and what properties Vse 2 and effects it hath namely that this Knowledge is such a blessed gift
the Word preached and taught read receiue or what duty else wee are to perform in Gods seruice chearefulnesse is required And indeed this is that which puts the difference betwixt the godly and the wicked in all Christian dueties whatsoeuer The wicked man with Cain comes with his Sacrifice as well as Abel And so for hearing reading prayer receyuing and the like the Hipocrite comes so maskt vnto these duties that the child of God at all times is not able to decerne betwixt them both the godly and the wicked yet if they would sit as Iudge ouer their owne hearts they might euen by the rule of this Doctrine Note perceiue a great difference for the one doth performe these duties for fashion sake for feare of the Law shame punishment or the like whereas the child of God doth performe them willingly and chearefully notwithstanding no temporall Law did require the same but onely in obedience vnto Gods most righteous lawes and holie commandements And surely there can be no greater ioy to any Christian soule then to know how God the Father is affected vnto him and loues him as his child to know that Iesus Christ hath been content to shed his owne heart bloud to saue his soule and to know the power of Gods Spirit weakning our corruption and making vs to cry Abba Father this knowledge passeth all knowledge in the world Rom. 8.15 this wil bring peace of conscience and ioy in the Holy Ghost Seeing that wee must seeke after Knowledge so willingly and so chearefully Vse as the Huntsman after his game And so that all duties in Gods worshippe and seruice are to be performed of vs willingly and chearefully we learn how God doth esteeme of our actions and that not according to the worke it selfe but according to the affection of the doer This is cleare by the Lords own words when he sayth This people come neare mee with their mouth Esa 29.13 and honour mee with their lips but their hearts are farre from mee Alas what the better to draw neare to the Lord with our lippes when our hearts are from the Lord It is the seruice of the heart that tht Lord looks after and this was Ezechias comfort and cheare when he was to goe the way of all flesh that hee could say in truth of heart Esa 28.3 Remember Lord that I haue walked before thee in truth and with an vpright heart And what is the cause why carnall men and women neuer seeke for this knowledge but come alwayes to the Ministery of the Word for custome and for fashion sake Alas they could neuer find the excellency of this Knowledge they neuer felt the power of this Knowledge they neuer yet tasted of the sweetnesse of this Knowledge then no maruell they prize it not nor heare it with any chearefulnesse at all Oh then let vs all labour to feele our spirituall want of it that so wee may hunger and thirst after it as the spirituall foode of our Soules Then shall wee endeuour our selues to know the Lord. One thing more may be noted from these words that seeing the child of God vpon his Repentance true conuersion vnto God Doct. hath not onely true sanctified Knowledge Gods children labour for an encrease of knowledge dayly in thē Then shall wee haue Knowledge but more then that Wee shall endeuour our selues to know the Lord that is not rest content with a small measure of the Knowledge of Gods will but to attaine euerie day to a greater measure of the same Hence wee are taught this point of Doctrine that the children of God are not content with a little knowledge but they still desire for more and labour to grow and to encrease in Knowledge The couetous man the more hee hath the more hee couets Euen so the Christian man and woman is right couetous of heauenly matters hee couets dayly for more knowledge in the Word to haue a greater part in this blessed Knowledge of God and of our saluation by Iesus Christ and in this regard the child of God is like vnto a man in a dropsie the more he drinks the more he is a thirst Euen so the more knowledge the child of God hath the more he hungers and thirsts after this Knowledge that he may grow in the same And this is a speciall point to bee noted that there is no standing at a stay in Religion for eyther wee must goe forward or backward eyther wee must grow dayly in Knowledge 1. Thes 4.4 or else we must needs decay in Knowledge And for this cause Saint Paul doth often pray for those Churches to whom hee writes that they may grow in Knowledge and spirituall vnderstanding and Saint Peter hee exhorts vs 1. Pet. 2.2 As new borne Babes to desire the sincere milke of the Word that wee may grow thereby Where hee layes down three most excellent points First that here wee be but as babes in Knowledge and children in vnderstanding of the Word Wee know heere but in part Secondly hee shewes the means whereby we must encrease in knowledge namely the sincere Milke of the Word of God the Preaching of the Gospell of Christ it is the foode of our soules whereby wee must bee nourished to eternall Life And thirdly the end of the preaching the Gospell namely that wee may grow in knowledge grow in faith grow in obedienc so that though men heare the Word yet if they grow not and are not bettered by it they are no good hearers the Word hath no good fruit in them This duty of growing and increasing in Knowledge and all spirituall graces is often vrged in the Scripture 1. Cor. 13.9 1. Thes 4.4 2. Pet. 3.18 Heb. 6.1 Pro. 4.18 We beseech you brethren exhort you in the Lord Iesus that yee encrease more and more grow in grace And againe Let vs bee ledde forward to perfection And the Prophet compares the graces of God in the Elect to the waters flowing from the Sanctuary Ezec. 47.3 which were at the first to the Ancles then to the Knees next to the Loynes and last to a Riuer that could not bee passed ouer So are the graces of God in the Elect though their beginning be but small yet they encrease dayly till they come to that full measure the which the Lord hath allotted to euery Christian The Doctrine being thus cleared wee will now come to the vses of the same Vse This Doctrine doth concerne vs all very neerely wee professe our selues Schollers in the Schoole of Christ now then let vs not proue Trewants after long teaching and preaching to proue ignorant of the Principles of Religion as the a.b.c. If our children goe to Schoole and learne nothing it must needs be that they play the Truants or else they haue a bad Master Euen so we being long taught in the word what shame is it that wee should still proue ignorant of the Word of God We are trees
for the Gospell sake they would fal away and â—ee like this people heere whose goodnesse all they did professe was but as a droppe of dew before the Sunne Oh then let vs labour for soundnesse and sincerity in Gods seruice Let vs labour to find our eyes opened our minds illuminated our hearts softned and our affections touched that so wee may haue ioy and comfort heere and euerlasting peace and comfort in the end Thirdly seeing wee are taught heere that many Vse 3 may seeme forward for a time zealous and godly and yet the same proue in the end but as The morning cloud quickly scattered and as The Morning Dew which is quickly gone when the face of the Sun doth shew it selfe vpon it Wee are taught hence not to be offended when wee see some of those that for the time past haue seemed to be forward in Religion to fall away that the life of Gods spirit doth decay in them for there haue been euer such counterfeit Christians euen from the beginning in the houshold of Adam Gen. 4.56 there was a wicked Cain and in the family of Abraham there was a scoffing Ismael yea there is no society eyther in Church or common wealth but the Scriptures afford vs some example or other Mat. 27. that there haue been some wicked amongst them But what of all this must this discourage vs No no What if all the world will be disobedient as in the dayes of Noah What if there be but one Elias in all Israel Oh let vs ioyne with him Note and let vs euen hereby bee wise and learne to take heed by other mens harmes to take a faster hold vpon Religion and lay to build vpon a sure foundation for at one time or other God will lay some tryall or other vpon vs that wee shall appeare to bee eyther chaffe or Wheat the faithfull seruants of the Lord or the cursed limbs of Sathan and if we haue hitherto felt and enioyed peaceable times that the Lord hath not yet sifted and winnowed vs as Sathan desired to sift Peter What shall wee bee secure therefore God fotbid rather let vs in the dayes of peace prepare for the time of tryall euer looking out when God will shake his sword against vs. Your goodnes is as the morning cloud c. IN that the Lord doth compare the repentance or goodnesse of this people to the Morning cloud and to the Morning Dew because it was neyther true nor sincere nor durable not lasting but quickly gone and therefore are branded with this blacke cole of hypocrites and such as the Lord threatens to Cut downe to slay euen vtterly to roote out as in the verse following Doct. 8 Wee are taught by their example that if wee would bee religious indeed and approued for sound Christians before God Sincerity of heart and perseuerance in godlines a true note of the child of God that wee labour for that which was wanting in them and which shall approue vs for Christians before God namely sincerity of heart as also that we perseuere in the duties of piety and godlines euen vnto the end It was the commendations of Enoch and of Noah that notwithstanding they liued in sinfull times being ouerrunne with all manner of impieties yet they walked with God Gen. 5.22 Gen. 6.9 they kept themselues vnspotted of the world they made not the practise of other men an example for them but walked so as euer in Gods presence This was Ezechias his comfort when hee was summoned to die Esay 38.3 Remember Lord that I haue walked before thee in truth and with an vpright heart Iob. 16.19 And when Iob was censured for an hypocrite according as the maner of the world is at this day to despise and disgrace euery one that is more carefull to please God then themselues What was his comfort but this that hee could say My witnesse is in heauen and my Record is on hie q. d. My comfort is that though you speake your pleasure of mee now yet you shall not bee my Iudges but God that is aboue whom I haue ever serued in spirit and truth will iustifie me one day against you And this was the care of godly Paul Act. 24.16 2. Cor. 4.2 To endeuour aboue all things to keepe a cleare conscience before God and man for this is that which will approue vs to be Christians indeed when as the vizard of hypocrisie shall be taken from vs and if this be wanting in vs alas all our shewes bee they neuer so goodly and glorious shal no way stand vs in stead but the Lord will rather cast them as dung into our faces And yet good Lord men thinke they haue profited highly in Religion if they can but make a glorious shew therof before men Oh I would that men could be brought once to this passe that we might cast out this Deuil from them but of this before Seeing that sincerity of heart is such an infallible note of the child of God Vse when as all shewes and shadowes will stand in no stead this may vtterly condemn the art of Seeming which euery man almost hath learned in our time The hypocrite can come with his Lord Lord. Mat. 7.21 Iob. 31.24 Pro. 30.20 The couetous man that hath made gold his hope hee feares not The vncharitable man Whose torgue is like a Razar is not abashed The whorish woman Wipeth her mouth and sayth I haue not committed Iniquity blusheth not Thus euery one commeth into Gods house heareth Gods word receyueth his blessed Sacrament and comes vnto these dueties so maskt that they passe heere for currant coyne we are not able to see into their hearts it is the Lord alone who is The searcher of the heart that sees them And thus men if they may passe with our approbation they care for no more Ah poore soule Ah poore soule what of al this If the Lord doe not approue of thee it is not all thy shewes and shadowes be they neuer so goodly nor so glorious that wil stand thee in stead in the day of Gods searching account but hauing acted the part of an hppocrite here vpon the Stage of this World it shall at the last day be a iust and righteous thing with the righteous God to giue thee the portion of hypocrites euen euerlasting fire Depart from mee yee Hypocrites into euerlasting fire prepared for the Deuill and his Angels Oh that this might perswade vs to affect sincerity of heart What a thing were this that we should liue in these dayes and times wherein wee liue wherein knowledge and grace is euen thrust vpon vs and yet for all that wee should proue such Iudasses vnto our owne poore Soules thus to betray them into the hands of sathan I cannot but taxe many of you of this parrish of Roxwell with this sin the Lord lay it not one day to your charge At my first coÌ„ming amongst you I obserued some
Gods Word Hard heart the greatest iudgement that can bee layde vpon man nor profite by the meanes of saluation Oh it is the heauiest iudgement that God can lay vpon man in this life and it is a sure and certain fore-runner of eternall condemnation in the end for when the Word of God doth light vpon a hard heart oh it wounds it and kils it and giues many a mortall and deadly wound though the wretched soule of the sinner see it not or feele it not The Scriptures affoord vs diuers examples and all to confirme the truth of this point vnto vs. Gen. 4.5.6 This is clearely to be seene in the example of Cain how did the Lord deale with Cain both before hee had murdered his brother and afterward and all to haue kept him if it had been possible from that most horrible sinne of his Before how did God deale with him Cain why is the countenance of thy face changed If thou doest well shalt thou not be rewarded If thou doest euill sin lyeth at thy dore Had not this beene inough if Cain had had but the least sparke of grace to haue kept him and stayed him from committing that horrible sinne but when this preuailed not but Cain would needs shed the innocent bloud of righteous Abel How did the Lord deale with Cain afterwards Cain where is thy brother Abel but what now did Cains heart relent did hee confesse his sinne with Dauid and say I haue sinned Did hee resolue into teares of repentance with Peter No no but rather despised God to his face saying Am I my Brothers Keeper Oh fearefull and horrible speech What was his conscience so seared that neyther the shame of the world the innocent bloud of his slaine brother nor the glorious presence of the Lord could any whit astonish him Behold here an example indeed of a heart that is hardned and let the remembrance of the same euer possesse our soules to make vs watchfull ouer our owne hearts how we euer contemn the means of grace when the same is offered vnto vs. This is to be clearely seen in Pharaoh vnto whom the Lord sent seuerall plagues and iudgements vpon him his people one vpon the necke of another Exod. 9. ten in number yet all would not humble Pharaoh Exod. 7.23 but answered stoutly saying I know not the Lord neyther will I let the people of Israel goe This is taught by Iob Iob. 18.5 Zeph. 1.17 when hee sayth The light of the vngodly shall bee darkned and the wicked shall become blind because they haue sinned against the Lord. And againe Their hearts being fat their eyes heauy and their eares shut they shall heare indeed but shall not vnderstand they shall see and not perceyue And the Prophet Ieremie doth mow liuely set out vnto vs the wofull estate and condition of such a soule that is thus forsaken of the Lord and giuen ouer to sinne saying Ier. 7.16 11.14 Because you haue done these things and I spake vnto you you would not heare therefore thou shalt not pray for this people nor lift vp cry nor entreat mee for I will not heare Though Noah and Iob should intreat mee though Moses Samuel should pray vnto mee yet will I not heare neyther bee intreated This is a lamentable estate this is a fearfull iudgement for a man to bee thus left vnto himselfe giuen vp to Sathan and forsaken of God for euer Oh wofull is the estate of such a one let that exhortation of the Apostle bee precious with vs Heb. 3.12.13 Take heed brethren lest at any time there bee in any of you an euil heart and vnfaithfull to depart away from the liuing God And of the Gentiles it is sayd Ephes 4.17 that they liued in the Vanity of their minds hauing their cogitations darkned strangers from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them because of the hardnesse of their hearts So that you see that a hard heart it is the most fearefullest iudgement of God that can befall a man in this life for it is capable of no good eyther by the Word preached promises or threatnings mercies or iudgments The Word of God it is mighty in operation Ier. 23. â—9 it Diuideth the soule and spirit asunder This Word of God is called the Hammer of the Lord for by it the Lord doth breake in sunder the hard stony and flinty hearts of man This Hammer of the Lord is not able to breake the heart of a wicked man but as the bright beams of the Sunne doe harden clay and soften waxe so this most heauenly and eternall Word of God shall neuer returne in vaine but by reason of the different disposition in the Subiect it illuminateth it melteth the righteous it obdurates it hardens the wicked Now where the Word doth not preuaile with vs to humble vs there can bee no true repentance as the Apostle teacheth Rom. 2.5 when he sayth But thou after thy hardnes and heart that cannot repent heapest vnto thy selfe wrath against the day of wrath Now where there is no repentance there can bee no saluation Luk. 13.5 for so sayth our Sauiour Except yee repent yee shall all perish This is a lamentable estate indeed this is a iudgement with a witnesse for a man to bee left thus vnto himselfe to be giuen vp to Sathan and to be forsaken of God for euer Oh this this is the estate and condition of euery hard hearted sinner Oh happy then is that man or woman that sinneth least next he that returneth home by repentance soonest but most wofull is the estate of him that with Ieroboam hath solde himselfe to commit sinne for this man Rom. 1.28 1. Tim 4.2 Zach. 1.12 though hee would weepe with Esau and shed euen a fountaine of teates yet all will not helpe woe alas there is no recouery This may serue in the first place to reproue those Vse 1 that iustifie the wicked as in Malachy his time The wicked prosper and they that worke iniquity are set vp Mal. 3.13.14 They seeme to bee the onely men of the World they enioy their pleasures they seeme not to be troubled for any thing and who but they Alas alas what of all this If the heart bee frozen in the dregges of sinne they are of all men most miserable and of all men most to bee pittied For thou after thy hardnes and heart that cannot repent Rom. 2.4.5 heapest vp vnto thy selfe wrath against the day of wrath Their damnation sleepeth not all this while but still they runne in score in Gods booke and when their iniquity is once full the Lord will then come with his iudgements and they shall pay full deare for their sweet pleasures euen the losse of their owne soules for euer and euer No greater iudgement can God inflict vpon the sonnes of men in this life then such a stony heart of all Gods iudgements
Oh let my soule bee free from this for To whom will I haue respect vnto sayth the Lord but to him that is of a contrite heart and trembles at my Word Esa 66.2.5 This Word is to the godly heart that is humbled for sinne the sweet sauor of life vnto life but to the seared heart the woful sauor of death vnto death and in this respect the Word is like to the thunderbolt the thunderbolt is of that nature that if it light vpon any soft matter it hurteth it not wounds it not nor breaks it not But if it fall vpon any hard matter as vpon a tree a stone wall it breakes it in peeces and rents it in sunder it will breake the bones and hurt not a mans flesh Euen so the Word of God it is of that nature that if it fall vpon a soft heart and tender heart it will doe it good it will comfort it and instruct it it will burne vp the drosse and filth of sin in that soft heart But if this thunderbolt of the Word of God light vpon a hard and stony heart it will wound it rend it yea kill it euen to eternall death vnlesse they repent This is the state of a wicked mans heart and therefore of al men he is most miserable Vse 2 Secondly doth the Word of God wound and kill to death eternall such rebellious and stubborne sinners doth it hurt none but such stony hearts doth the Lords thunderbolt kill none but stony hearts Oh then let vs intreat the Lord to free vs from this great and heauy iudgement of hardnesse of heart which makes the Word of God and all other meanes vnprofitable vnto vs and let vs labour to haue soft hearts broken hearts and brused hearts Oh let the Word of the Lord enter giue it passage that it may cut down sinne in thee that thy sinnes cut not thee down at the last Note this well for this bee thou sure of O man whatsoeuer thou bee that if thou find not out thy sinnes now they will bee sure to find out thee hereafter When the Lord speaketh of a great mercy that he would shew vnto a people hee sayth thus I will take away their stony hearts Ezech. 36.26 and I wil giue them hearts of flesh Oh that the Lord would take away our stony hearts and giue vs fleshy and tender hearts that his Word might not kill vs and slay vs to death eternall But alas though this hard heart bee the most grieuous iudgement of God that can befall a man in this life yet who thinks so of it who feeles it who complaines of it No no men and women haue no feeling of it yea though this hard heart and heauy iudgement of God raigne in most places and most men bee possessed with hardnes of heart and carnall security and so dead a sleepe in sinne that the Lord may thunder from heauen and his iudgements rattle about our eares yet by reason of this deadnesse and hardnesse of heart men are like the Smithes dogge sleepe still snort still though the flame and sparckles flie about his eares and sindge his haire and though men can complaine and rore at the paine of the stone in the Kidney and seeke send farre and neare for ease and say they are neuer able to endure it yet of this fearefull and most heauy iudgement The stone of the heart men feele no paine neuer cry for helpe to be eased of it Wee know Oh wee know euery man in his owne bosome the sinnes the which wee most secretly foster and will not let goe But as Saint Paul exhorteth the Iewes euen so will I you To conclude this Doctrine Take heed Heb. 3.13 Ezech. 36.26 Oh take heed lest in any of you there bee found a false and an euill heart to depart from the liuing God for of all the iudgements that Almighty God can lay vpon the sons of men this is the greatest from this estate the Lord of his endlesse mercy deliuer vs. Amen Amen Thirdly let vs marke heere how the Lord iudgeth Vse 3 of such as bee wounded and killed by his Word and cut downe by his iudgements published out of his Word the Lord accounts of this iudgement as that that is the most fearefull and terrible for the Lord heere inflicts it as the greatest punishment of all for their euill wayes their stubbornnesse and rebellion against the Lord and against all those gracious meanes that hee had vsed for their good for their hypocrisie and hardnesse of heart and the like horrible sinnes that were to bee found amongst them for the punishment of them all the Lord sayth I haue cut them downe and saine them but not with the sword not with the plague which are fearefull and terrible but with my Word q. d. I haue not onely taught and instructed you by my Word and shewed you what I would haue you to doe and what to leaue vndone but I haue by this plaine teaching of you and by my doctrine propounded vnto you euen pearced your very soules and consciences so as in spite of your teeth you must needs acknowledge though yee bee neuer so obstinate and rebellious that you haue been wounded and haue felt the force of my Word to kill you to conuince your consciences of your sinnes and rebellions and that my iudgements are most iustly brought vpon you Hence wee see what a fearefull iudgement of God it is for those which liue in sinne and delight in sinne when as they heare their sinnes condemned out of the Word of God they know that they doe euill they must needs confesse that the Word of the Lord hath conuicted their consciences of their sinnes and euill wayes so as they know it and haue felt their soules beaten and wounded and euen slaine by the power of the Word of God This is a grieuous sinne indeed to sinne against conscience to sinne against knowledge to sinne presumptuously with a high hand it is a high step to the sin against the Holy Ghost when men hearing and acknowledging the Word of God to bee true feele their consciences to checke them for their vile and wicked wayes and yet they will walke on still against knowledge and against conscience and so draw downe Gods iudgements vpon themselues Oh then if wee heare the Word of God and perceiue the Lord to touch our hard hearts so as we must needs acknowledge this Doctrine that the Lord smites thy hard and benummed heart as that thou canst say I am guilty of this sinne I heare God will punish it seuerely and cut me downe by his Word and slay mee I say Oh then especially take heed how thou liuest in thy sinne still against knowledge and against conscience It is the high way to the sinne against the Holy Ghost which cannot be pardoned but let vs rather leaue our sinnes and forsake them and take heed of going on in the same for certaine it is it is but
the Word of God continually to frequent Sermons to listen to the Doctrine of God to beleeue that they heare to yeeld vnto it and to lay their hearts open and naked that this Sword of Gods Spirit way wound them for sinne for though thou beest a notorious sinner a monstrous blasphemer a common drunkard a filthy whoremaster yet if thou shalt heare this Word and giue credite to it it is able to wound thy Soule and to pearce thy heart and experience teacheth that the Word of God hath done great things it hath conuerted most fearefull and monstrous sinners as Dauid 2. Sam. 12.1 Act. 9. Rom. 1.16 Saul Peter Mary Magdalen Zacheus c. And therefore wayte on the meanes attend on the Word heare Sermons and thou shalt find in the end that the Word of God shall bee the power of God to saue thy Soule if thou doe not harden thy heart against it And as for those the which do despise the Word and will not goe to the dore to heare it truly such men and women doe euen wilfully cast away their owne soules and suffer themselues to bee led euen blindfold to hell but if with care and conscience thou wilt attend vnto it as Lydea did and not cast it vp againe as those that haue queasie stomackes doe wholesome Physicke surely thou shalt find great power in the Word to saue thy soule By my Prophets and the words of my mouth HEre is layde downe now the meanes and the instruments which God vsed for the effecting of his iudgements namely his seruants the Prophets The Instrument I haue cut downe by my Prophets that is I haue brought vpon you those plagues and iudgements which were threatned against you by my faithfull seruants the Prophets euen those iudgements the which they haue denounced against you in my name I haue inflicted and brought them vpon you to slay and to destroy you for your sins Seeing the Lord did effect and bring to passe Doct. 5 those iudgements the which the Prophets pronounced against his people for their sins to slay them The Word of God in the mouthes of his Ministers shall bee accomplished and to destroy them Hence wee learne that the Word of the Lord in the mouthes of his Ministers it shall be accomplished Looke what iudgement they pronounce against sinne in the name of the Lord if men will not repent they shall certainely bee accomplished and come to passe howsoeuer men regard them not and will not beleeue them Indeed many times his iudgements are deferred and his punishments are prolonged because hee is a patient God would not the death of a sinner Mat. 14.35 yet hee is euer iealous of his Word that not one iot or tittle of his Word shal not passe but shall hee fulfilled This is clearely to be seene by the examples of Gods iudgements in all ages Gen. 2.17 3.7 Consider this truth in our first parents God threatned them that if they tasted the forbidden fruit they should die the death and did not God accomplish the same yea all their posterity do to this day feele the smart of the same curse When all the World were disobedient in the dayes of Noah that Preacher of righteousnesse 2. Pet 2.5 Gen. 6.3 God gaue them time space to repent in euen a hundred and twenty yeares and when they repented not the Lord did not fayle to bring his Iudgement vpon them A most cleare and liuely example of this wee haue in the booke of Iosuah Iosu 6.26 The man is cursed there before the Lord that should attempt the rebuilding of the City Iericho and this is the curse that should passe vpon that man namely this That hee should lay the foundation of it in his eldest sonne and in his youngest sonne shall hee set vp the gates of it This was the irreuocable curse that almighty God had threatned against the man that should attempt the building of that City Now afterwards when this threatning seemed to bee quite forgotten God is still mindfull of his Word and time is not able to weare that out 1. Reg. 16.34 for when Hiel the Bethelite did goe about to erect the same God doth bring his former iudgement to passe vpon him What shal wee say of Ahab and of Iezabel vnto whom many fearefull and terrible iudgements were denounced by Elias the Prophet of the Lord 2. Reg. 9.37 That the carkas of Iezabel shall bee as dung in the field of Israel This did God in his due time bring to passe vpon Iezabel and vpon the whole house of Ahab according to the Word of the Lord. So that we may safely conclude this point Num. 23.19 Sam. 3.19 and say with Moses that seruant of the Lord God is not as man that hee should lie or the Sonne of man that he should repent Gods iudgements threatned may seeme to vs as vnlikely as the plenty the Prophet spake of seemed to one of the Princes of Samariah Though the Lord would make Windowes in heauen could it come so to passe But what sayd the Prophet Behold 2. Reg. 7.2 19.20 thou shalt see it with thy eyes but thou shalt not eat thereof and so it came vnto him for the people trode him in the gate and hee died Thus did our Sauiour foretell the destruction of the City Ierusalem which came so to passe accordingly within the space of forty yeares after our Sauiour his Ascention Mat. 24. And is not the Word of God as true now in the mouthes of his Ministers yea whatsoeuer iudgement they shall proclaime in the name of the Lord and by vertue of the Word of God it shall certainly come to passe As they haue a long time threatned famine pestilence and the like iudgements and hath not the Lord brought these iudgements and the like most iustly vpon vs for our sins doe not wee feele the truth of it yea this Winter and Summer last when the Lord seemed to stoppe his eares at the prayers of his seruants and would not a long time be intreated And therefore let all wicked and vngodly wretches lay this Doctrine to heart that are ready to say Where is the promise of his comming and where bee those iudgements our Preachers haue so long spoke of Oh they shall know euen to their eternall shame and confusion at the last that the Lord will make good his Word bring to passe all those iudgements that haue been denounced against them And as it is true of Gods iudgements against rebellious sinners so is it true of the gracious promises of the Gospell to all them that doe truely repent Iesus Christ was a Minister of the Circumcision for the truth of God Rom 15.8 Ps 89.33 And againe I will not falsifie my Truth my Couenant will I not breake nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lippes This was that worthy resolution of the Prophet long before Christ was
the Apostle confesseth in his prayer Why did the Gentiles rage and the people imagine vaine things Ps 2 1. Act. 4.25.26.27 Mat. 26.66 The Kings of the earth assembled and the Rulers came together against the Lord and against his Christ For doubtlesse against thy holy Sonne Iesus whom thou hast annointed both Herod and Pontius Pilate with the Gentiles and people of Israel gathered themselues together In the daies of Ahab did not all the men of Israel euen the Elders and Gouernours thereof the Nobles and others assembled themselues together and pronounced death against innocent Nabaoth for his Vineyard sake the which hee had before denied vnto Ahab surely the Scriptures are full of examples to confirme the truth of this point vnto vs. Reason Now this thing so comes to passe in the wicked because as our Sauiour sayth No man can gather grapes of thornes or figges of thistles they themselues being euill can they performe that is good Surely as Saint Iames sayth Out of one fountaine cannot come sweet water and bitter Besides this our knowledge is but in part now ignorance is the mother of error Vse 1 The Doctrine being thus cleared as a certaine truth that Councels may erre in matters of Faith and Manners this may serue in the first place to conuince the Doctrine of the Papists which teach and maintaine that their Church cannot erre nor a Councell being the representatiue Church as though the Spirit of God were at their commandement and were tyed to places and persons or being present did lead them into all truth as it did the Apostles but what did not foure hundred false Prophets aduise Ahab to that which was contrary to the Will of God I but sayth the Iesuite they were not assembled by the High Priest but onely by the King But what say yee then to that Councell that was assembled by the High Priest and haue erred most fouly In Iohn we haue mention made there of a Councell that met together Io. 9.22 Mar. 14.64 and decreed to excommunicate all that professed Christ Iesus Tell mee did not they erre And therefore it is but a vaine thing of the Papists to say and affirme that the Spirit of God is tyed to the Church of Rome and that shee cannot erre but there was neuer so famous a Church since the Apostles time but haue erred in some thing or other in Doctrine of Faith or Manners and therefore Rome hath no such a priuiledge as shee pretends to haue but hath and doth erre most fouly yea as blinde guides leading poore blind soules shall at last without Repentance fall into the pitte of destruction together Vse 2 Seeing that the wicked plot and combine themselues against the Church Wee are taught here our duety namely to bee solicitors and remembrancers vnto God in the behalfe of his Church that it would please him to bee mercifull to his Church and to bee vnto them a Tower of defence And surely now is the time that wee are to ply the Lord with prayers because wee see his enemies to increase dayly the malicious and bloudy Papists whose Religion as it is a Religion of bloud so is their practice the practise of bloud Yee shall know them by their fruites a Religion to be abhorred of euery true Christian being the Nurserie of Treasons Gun-powder Treason and the Mother of all abhominations yet wee see how the number of them increase dayly and wee cannot but for euer remember their horrible Treasons pretended against the Lord and against his Church and Gods mercy to vs in our Deliuerance Well it cannot bee that they will bee quiet long their good Maister the Deuill or his deare Child the Pope will haue some imployment for them They cannot but go whom the Deuill driues Oh let it bee our wisedome to intreat the Lord to stand still by his Church and to giue vnto all Christian Princes the Spirit of zeale and of courage to rise vp against Antichrist and his followers that so they may the better assure themselues of their owne peace both with God and themselues for sure it is the more strict a Papist the more grounded Traytor Thirdly and lastly wee may hence obserue Vse 3 the difference betweene the Elect and the Reprobate The wicked doe not onely thinke euill and deuise mischiefe but they doe most eagerly practise the same Now come to the Child of God hee hath in him indeed wicked thoughts and sinnefull desires yet so as they doe bridle them curbbe them and restraine them and not suffer them to come into action they sinne not with greedinesse as the wicked doe who are neuer well till they are eyther deuising mischiefe or working iniquity Oh then let vs take heed that wee commit not sinne with delight and greedinesse for sure it is this is a note of a gracelesse heart and no better indeed then a brand of a Reprobate VERSE 10. I haue seene villany in the house of Israel there is the whoredome of Ephraim Israel is defiled THe Prophet now comes to the common people and doth accuse them of villany and vile Idolatry against God I haue seene villany in the house of Israel there is the whoredome of Ephraim Israel is defiled First for the coherence of this verse with the former When as the Lord had accused the Priests before to bee wicked and exceeding bad men And now comes to the common people and layes open their sinnes to bee like vnto the Priests ful of abhominable and vile Idolatry Wee learne hence that if the Priests be naught Doct. 1 if they bee vile and filthy persons Children of Belial it is not possible the people should be as they ought to bee for Like Priest like people As the Minister is so is the people This is clearely to bee seene in this place the Priests were like to theeues and murderers and the people were monstrous blinde and abhominable Idolaters So hath it beene in all ages Pro. 29.18 The words of Salomon are most true Where vision failes there the people decay It is the Decree of God touching Priest and people Mal. 2.7 The Priests lippes shall preserue knowledge and the people shall heare the Law at his mouth Now then when this Priest is ignorant blind and vaine Alas in what wofull estate must this people needs bee in the Prophet Micha doth declare Mich. 3.11.12 saying The Priests teach for hire And the Prophets prophesie for money yet will they leane vpon the Lord and say Is not the Lord amongst vs no euill can come vpon vs. This was the behauiour of the Priests in those dayes their hearts were so set vpon Couetousnesse that they spake pleasant things vnto the people and layde to please them more then God But what followed they by this drew the iudgements of God not onely vpon their owne heads but also vpon the heads of the people Therefore shall Sion for your sakes bee plowed as a Field and Ierusalem