nor in him that runneth but in God that sheweth mercy He both prepares the good will of man August Enchir cap. 3 1. Repent Peter fol. 117. that it may be fit to be holpen by grace and also aydeth it being prepared Hee preventeth him that is unwilling that hee may bee willing and followeth him that is willing that hee may not will in vaine Blasphemous then is it to hold that the will of man should worke with Gods Grace in any thing that is good Indeede as they are workes and actions so they proceede from the will of man but as they are good works they are only the workes of grace as our Savior Christ told his Disciples John 15.5 Without me yee can doe nothing Yet in the very act of conversion the will of man is not idle nor without all motion and sense as a dead image but it followeth the Spirit of God that draweth it not by any violent necessitie but by sweetning and softning our hearts by his holy Spirit For in one and the same moment God moveth and boweth the will Non violenta necessi◅ate sed infandendo suavitatem ◅er spiritum sanctum bid and causeth us to bee willing indeed but yet so as all the efficacy of the worke is from the Spirit of God who of unwilling maketh obedient and of slow and dull maketh us runne Let this then teach thee himiliation for if there be no goodnesse nor any aptnesse to that which is good in us why should we be lift up with any conceipt of our selves rather glorifie God with acknowledgment of thy poverty and by earnest Prayer crave the assistance of Gods grace to quicken thee and effect the worke of thy conversion that so thou mayst performe those duties which God requireth of thee Thus doth the Church of God in divers places Convert thou me Jer. 31.18 and I shal be converted And againe Turne thou us unto thee O Lord Lam. 5.21 and wee shall be turned Yea Da Domine quod jubes jube quod vis Soliloq cap. 18. St. Augustine had that sweete Prayer oft in his Mouth Lord give grace to doe what thou commaundest and then commaund what thou wilt Otherwise there can be no good looked for in any of us And therefore Moyses maketh this the cause why the people were no more moved to repentance by all the gracious proceedings and administrations of God toward them in the wildernesse namely That the Lord had not given them an heart to perceive Deut. 29.4 nor eyes to see nor eares to heare unto this day QVENCH not the spirit 1 Thes 5.19 2 THE graces of the holy Spirit in this life are like sparkes of fier which may soone be quenced with a litle water as oft as wee sinne we cast water upon the Spirit of God and as much as in us lies wee put out the same Therefore let it bee thy speciall care to avoyde and make conscience of every thing wherein thou mayst offend and grieve the holy Spirit of God He is a Spirit most pure and will have an undefiled Temple to dwell in keepe therefore thy Vessell cleane thy body pure which is his Temple doe nothing that may disquiet or molest him least by abusing thy selfe by sinne thou cause the Holy Ghost with griefe to depart from thee QVEENE Esther also being in danger of death resorted unto the Lord Esther 14.1 3 THERE bee two things that fill the heart full of endlesse griefe outward calamities and a wounded conscience which as Salomon speakes none can beare Pro. 18 14 and the only comfort in distresse is to have recourse to GOD by earnest Prayer and although hee seeme not to heare presently Job 13.15 yet to trust in him with Iob even unto the death Rowle thy selfe therefore upon the Lord and cast all thy care upon him who careth for thee and though GOD or wicked men afflict and vex thee yet let it not drive thee from this Rocke of comfort to vaine and sorry shifts The Lord hath comforts for his children that will quiet and support them in any feares and dangers his consolation will make a man sleepe without a Bed live almost without a Soul they will make a man bold in danger quiet in trouble and live in the jawes of death Rejoyce therefore in all thy troubles but let it be in the Lord and hee will give thee strength to withstand thē for the joy of the Lord is our Strength R. PROVERBS 11. Vers 4. RICHES availe not in the day of wrath but righteousnesse delivereth from death 1. RICHES of themselves are not simplie evill but as they are corrupted by abuse it is possible though hard for a Man to bee rich and yet to bee a good Man neyther doth the Prophet advise us to have no riches Psal 62 10. but that wee should not set our hearts upon them But alas so easilie doth a prosperous estate make a corrupted minde that povertie were much better for many There is a fonde imagination possesseth the heart of most men that wealth brings some happinesse and that if they have abundance they are then in safety and in an happy case This is evident by a common speech that such or such a man cannot doe amisse for he is wealthy and hath the World at will as if they should say hee is free from danger no hurt can come unto him But wealth is a very weake defendant against the LORDS assaults it shall not stand them in any stead neyther deliver them in the day of the wrath of the Lord. Ezeck 7.19 Trust not therefore to thy riches Ecclus 5.1 and say not I have enough for my life for thou knowest not how soone they may be taken from thee or thou thy selfe pluckt from them Ecclus 1 1◅ 19. the time draweth neere that thou must leave all such things unto others and then whose shall those things be that thou hast provided RIGHTEOVS lips are the delight of Kings and the King loveth him that speaketh right things Pro. 16. ver 13. Ecclus 10.17 2 BLESSED is the Land when the King is the sonne of Nobles vertuouslie trained up and delighting in the grave advice of his Sage counsellors then doth he like the Sunne in the Firmament shine gloriouslie and as it so hee comforteth and rejoyceth the hearts of all that are under his rule But when his eares are stopt to honest and wholesome Counsaile and tyed onely to the tongues of flatterers and Thrasonicall Sycophāts a woe it is to the land Pro. 11.14 for the people must needes fall 2 Chron. 12.1 When foolish Rehoboam the Sonne of wise Salomon forsooke the Law of the Lord all Israel went with him Looke what manner of Man the ruler of the City is such Ecclus 10.2 are all they that dwell therein his very example is a secret kinde of Law and whatsoever hee doth himselfe he seems to command it to
others Which may bee a warning not onely to Princes themselves but to all that be in authority to have a care that they become not publique and notorious offenders Let me counsaile you in particular as S. Barnard did Eugenius the Pope It makes much to thy perfection to avoide both evill and the shew of evill in the one thou shalt provide for thy conscience in the other for thy credite REMEMBER thy Creator in the dayes of thy youth whiles the evill dayes come not nor the yeares approach wherein thou shalt say I have no pleasure in them Ecclus 12. ver 1. 3 THERE are many enemies to grace but none more to bee feared then those that fight within us against us and though all Ages bee fruitfull in evill yet none more then Youth which besides all other enemies hath it selfe the greatest enemie to it selfe being destitute of its owne and scorning the good advise of others That which Salomon spake in jest and derision the Young man takes in good earnest Eccles 11.9 Rejoyce O young man in thy youth and let thine heart cheare thee in the dayes of thy youth and walke in the wayes of thine heart and in the light of thine eyes c. And therefore takes his swinge in pleasures presuming that old age is the onely fit time to turne to God So that many times by continuance and longer custome in sinne hee makes his sinnes of a double die even Crimson sinnes yea his sins Esay 1.18 become like a Disease in the bones whereof if one recover many doe rot away Oh therefore harden not thy heart but to day heare Gods voyce calling thee to repentance remember the evill dayes will come Ecclus 12.1 wherein if thou presume to doe great matters to frequent the Church to heare the Word c. thou mayst peradventure bee deceived It is reported of Alexander that great Conquerour that when his Master Aristotle perswaded him to forbeare the Warres till hee were growne to a full and perfect age that hee answered I feare that if I tarry till I come to that age I shall loose much of the heate and vigour of my youth So doe thou answere all temptations whatsoever which shall perswade thee to put off thy repentance till thou beest old Old Age hath enough to doe with its owne griefes there are so many Aches in thy bones so many Crampes in thy joynts and so many paynes in all parts of thy body that thou shalt have litle leasure to think on any thing that is good Would not all Men condemne him for a foole or a mad-man that should lay the heaviest burthen upon the weakest beast who hath enough to doe to beare up it selfe and should let a stronger goe empty by So remember that it is no lesse folly to exempt thy youth which is strong and lusty from the taske of repentance and to impose the same upon thy decrepit old age already sinking under it's owne burthen And that it is the greatest injury unto the Lord that can bee for a man to consecrate the prime day of his youth to the service of the Devill in the pursuite of sinfull pleasures and to serve God with the rotten bones of his doating old age herein men deale with God like the Israelites who if they had ever a Lame a Scabhed Mat. 1.8 or a sick beast that they would bring to the Altar as if any thing had bin good enough for the LORD but all the fat and well-liking they kept to them selves and as to the Israelites so wil God say to such men as these I have no pleasure in you neither will I accept your offerings at your hands Mal 1.10 O therfore let it be thy care to turne unto the Lord betimes And to seeke him while he may be found Esay 55.6 Eccles 12.3 before the keepers of the house doe tremble and the strong men bow themselves and the grinders cease because they are few and they waxe darke that looke out by the windowes So shalt thou be an happy old man in thy Youth as too too many by deferring the worke of their Repentance are unhappily yong in their Age. S. JOB 2. vers 4. SKINNE for skinne and all that everâ—d man hath will hee give for his life 1. VVEe are easilie glewed to the things of this life and doe quicklie fasten our minds upon each smale contentment we finde heere and hence it is that wee are so hardly drawne from them being is loath to part from them as from our dearest lives and onely in this case wee sing loath to depart yea with an eye in Sodome and an hoofe in Egypt with much auckwardnesse and backwardnesse wee forsake the one to save the other how dearelie soever wee prise these wordlie commodities yet wee set life at an higher rate and gladly fell all that wee have to purchase this Iewell Doe not thou then staine the glorious Splendor of this pretious jem by vitious living much more take heede thou prove not a Rebell against GOD by a willfull destroying of his workeman-ship doe not thou eyther for the avoyding of evill or procuring of good lay violent hands upon thy selfe least seeking to shunne a temporall calamitie thou fall into an eternall misery like the fish that leapeth out of the broyling Pan into the burning flame The Crocadiles of Nilus pursue such only as flie from them but flie such as stand to them so doth the Devill if hee bee resisted hee turneth his backe and onely preasseth upon such as give him ground Give not place therefore to the Devill Ephel 4.27 nor to such horrible motions as he will bee ready to suggest â—ohn 5.39 but have recourse to the Scriptures search them for the sweete and gracious comforts which they afford arme thy selfe with a constant faith in them Ephes 6.16 and so shalt thou bee able to quench all the fiery Darts of Satan doe thou stoutlie and valiantly resist him Iam. 4.7 and hee will flie from thee but if thou yeeld unto him thou must needs fal into his fearefull Snares and offer violence to that which should be most charily preserved and wilfully perish by thine owne hand SHALL wee receive good at the hand of God and not receive evill Iob 11. ver 10. 2 GOD alone knowes best When to wound and when to heale Deu 32.39 when to kill and when to make alive when to afflict with sorrow when to send comfort thus doth hee many times deale with his deare Children putting into all their Cups of comfort and contentment the bitter drams of sorrow and greife And all this to teach us not to expect any perpetuity of felicity heere wee are all subject to vicissitude change and alteration and what wee are to day wee cannot say with warrant and make it good that wee shall bee the same to morrow Doe thou therefore from hence learne how to entertaine comforts when GOD sends them to use them
like the World as though thou usest thē not so to resolve of them to day as if to morrow thou wert to take thy leave of them And as for Crosses and afflictions when thou findest thy selfe eased from them yet thinke that they have left thee as the devill did Christ only for a litle season and therefore so take thy leave of them to day as to morrow to expect their returne SVCH are the wayes of everyone that is greedy of gaine hee would take away the life of the owners thereof Pro. 1 ver 19. 3 COVETOVSNESSE is called by the Apostle S. Paul The roote of all evill 1 Tim. 6.10 and not without cause for a covetous man may easilie bee drawne to commit any sinne be it never so hainous nothing is too hot nor too heavy for him whosoever standeth in his way betweene him and his Profits he sayth of him as the husband-men in the Gospel concerning the heire Come let us kill him Mat. 21.38 that the inheritance may be ours If Naboths vine-yard lie commodiously for Ahab 1 King 21.2.13 he must have it though it cost the poore man his life Yea Covetousnesse many times maketh men so unnaturall that they doe not spare the lives of their owne Parents or if they proceede not so farre yet they are as sicke of the Father as may be and wish him fairely layed in his Grave that they may enjoy his living Hate thou this corrupt tree which bringeth forth such evill and accursed Fruite Mat 7.17 Luke 12.15 Take heede and beware of covetousnesse and because it is an hereditary evill bred in the bones and will hardly out of the flesh therefore as much as in you lyeth let your conversation be free from it Col. 3.5 which will bee when thy heart shall be continually fenced about with this Prayer of David Incline mine heart unto thy Testimonies Psa 119.36 and not unto covetousnesse T. JOB 4. vers 8. THEY that Plow iniquity and Sow wickednesse Reape the same 1. EVILL words and deeds are like Arrowes shot on high which lighting on the Shooters head doe wound his Looke what measure men meete to others Mat 7.2 the same shall bee measured to them againe Hee that doth evill must needs receive evill Gal. 6.7 for what a man soweth that hee shall reape Mat. 18.24 28 30 34 That mercilesse Servant who was forgiven the debt of 10000. Talents and would not beare with his fellow in an hundred Pence had the like cruelty shewed to him being cast into Prison till hee should pay the whole Debt which he was never able to doe If a mans heart bee set upon mischeife mischeife shall light upon his owne pate selfe doe selfe have Breach for breach Leuit. 24 10. eye for eye tooth for tooth Such a blemish as he hath made in any such shall bee repayd to him If Adonibezek cut off the Thumes of the Hands and Feete of other kings Iudg. 1.6 his owne though a King shall be cut off Mat 7.12 Doe that therefore to others which thou wouldst have done to thy selfe Remember how Iesabel that fed on bloud 2 Kin. 9.35 fed Dogs with her bloud therefore doe no evill though thou mightest and when thou art tempted to doe an evill worke thinke that Satan is where his busines is and therefore say thus to thy selfe What shall I answer Christ at the Day of Audit if contrary to my knowledge and conscience I shall doe this wickednesse TEACH a child in the trade of his way and when hee is old hee shall not depart from it Pro. 22. ver 6. 2 NATVRE truly is very powerfull and can hardly bee changed onely education can alter natures property and mould a man a new Themistocles seeing men wondering at a young man whose lewde behaviour was changed into good sayd A ragged Coalt may make a good Horse if hee bee well ordered and skilfullie broaken The young mans minde is like Wax heated apt to receive any forme and what is therein imprinted it retaines when it is cold The Pot must bee fashioned while the Clay is soft the Vessell seasoned with good liquor while it is new the Tree straightned while it is a Twigge otherways if they bee suffered to continue they may soon 〈◊〉 bee broaken and spoiled then bettered and mended The same must bee done in the institution of youth and what we hope to have him in age we must fashion him to in his tender bud Let it be thy cheifest care therefore in this businesse to banish from his eyes and eares all obsceane and filthy talke and actions for these litle pitchers have eares and doe derive there liberty of sinning from what they heare and see done by others Let the cheifest of his time be taken up in the repetion of godly and wholesome instructions and he shall continue in the same and so shalt thou deliver his soule from Hell i e. from destruction Pro. 23.24 THOVGH Hand joyne in Hand the wicked shall not bee unpunished Pro. 11. ver 21. 3 PHYSITIONS when they meete with a body hard to worke upon they double their dosses and use more violent meanes and so deales God with sinners when he finds them obstinate if his lesser punishments cannot prevaile to bring them home then hee will lay his loynes upon them They must not thinke to runne away with their sins without check because God in the love of a Father with a great deale of patience expects their returne No though God be slow yet is he sure and however he paces with leaden feete yet will hee fall upon them with iron hands In vaine then doe the wicked bandy against GOD and fortifie themselves against him though he deferre his punishments for a time and doe not presently execute his judgements upon them yet at length hee will bend his bow Psal 7. and destroy with his prepared Arrowes he will draw his whetted Sword and smite his enemies upon the cheeke bone and will not give over till his Sword have eaten their flesh and his Arrowes are drunk in their bloud Hast thou then sinned doe so no more but confessing thy sinne get thee to the Lord right humbly abuse not his patience and long sufferance by making them no better then bawds to thy sin least he come upon thee suddainly spoile thee of thine arrmour wherein thou trustedst and so give thee a shamefull overthrow V. ECCLVS 1. vers 2. VANITY of vanitys sayeth the Preacher vanity of vanities all is vaine 1. TERRENE things are like to Bridlime and the delight Man takes in them doth so clog the wings of his minde that whereas he thinks to take God for his comfort by soaring a loft unto him he flags in his flight falling short of Heavenlie things and lights upon honours pleasures profits or the like which he then begins to doate upon and adore as his only healpe and succour But alas how
doth he disquiet himselfe in vaine and how weaklie doth he fortifie himselfe against Gods assaults who in the turning of an Hand makes all his dayes sorrowes Eccles 2.23 and his travaile greife 1 Joh. 2.15 Therefore love not the World nor the things of the World for they will bring thee nothing but vexation of spirit But delight thy selfe in the Lord Psal 37.4 and hee shall give thee the desires of thy heart Others may make a goodly shew and promise thee all the Kingdomes of the World and the glory thereof but trust them not Mundus deficit for though the World promise ease comfort and contentment yet her Motto is Deficiam I will faile you though the flesh promise as faire as the World Caro inficâ—t yet his Word is Inficiam Daemod inteâ—ficit I will infect you though the devill come not short of eyther in his promises yet his word is Interficiam I will destroy you so that vaine is all comfort that can bee expected from them Deus reficit But what God promiseth thou maist build upon his Motto is Reficiam Mat. 11.28 I will refresh you Say therefore unto him as Peter did to Christ Master unto whom shall we goe c. I have no other comfort but thee I delight in none but thee for all other delights shall faile but With thee there is pleasure for evermore Psal 16.11 VPON the Land of my people shall growe Thornes and Bryars yea upon all the houses of joy in the City of rejoycing Esay 30. ver 13. Psal 107.34 2 GOD maketh a fruitfull Land barren for the wickednesse of them that dwell therein the Bryars and Brambles which it bringeth forth Gen. 3.18 doe still catch at the heels of us the wofull inhabitants and by their silent rhetorique seeme to bidde us to behold the fruits of our Rebellion Yea Esay 32.14 the City of Gods delight shall bee made an heape of desolation the delight of wild Asses yea his holy Temple shall be destroyed and defiled by prophane wretches rather then wickednesse shall goe unpunished though in his owne people Let this stir up in thee an hearty hatred against sinne which bringeth forth such fearefull effects let it Spurre thee forwards to holinesse of life though wicked worldlings mocke thee for the same yet thou shalt finde that thou art highly in Gods esteeme for the Heaven over thee shall not be Iron Levit. 26 19. nor the Earth under thee as Brasse the Lord will not turne our Land into a standing Poole nor cause Thornes and Bryars to grow upon the same Psal 67.6 but the Earth shall bring forth her encrease and God even our God shall blesse us AS VINEGAR is to the teeth and as smoake to the eyes so is the sloathfull to them that send him Pro. 10. ver 26. Pro. 15.19 3. THE way of the sloathfull man is as an hedge of Thornes When he should goe about his imployments hee forecasteth a thousand feares a Lion is without he shall be slayne in the streete Pro. 22.13 a Beare will meete him Amos 5.19 or a Serpent out of the wall wil bite him onething or other is a continuall rub in his way so that he is but a trouble and a greife to him that imployeth him about any businesse Have no fellowship therefore with the sloathful man that maketh poore but deliver thy selfe from him Pro. 10 4. as a Doe from the hand of the Hunter and as a Bird Pro 6.5 from the hand of the Fowler so shalt thou finde comfort abundance of precious Treasures W. PRO. 2. Vers 10.11 WHEN wisdome entereth into thine heart knowledge delighteth thy soule then shall counsaile preserve thee and understanging shall keepe thee 1. 2 Chron. 1.7 SALOMON being bidden of God to aske what hee would desired not silver nor any such earthly trash but give mee wisdome sayth he to goe in 2 Chron. 1 10. and out to governe this people If he who was a governour of mens bodies only made this choice then how much more wary ought evry one to be in his election when body and soule are under his charge The Word of God is called a Lanthorne Psa 119.105 and a Light now as a man who hath a Lanthorne and a Candle carried before him keepes himselfe from falling in the darkest night so hee that suffers himselfe to be guided by Gods Word placing it alway before him and letting it shine to his heart he shall by the light thereof keepe himselfe from falling Psal 119.11 so that he shall not sinne against the Lord or if he doe fall through infirmity as who sinneth not yet hee shall not lie along impenitently for he hath the seede of Gods Word abiding in him 1 John 3 9 which will reduce and bring him into the way againe Pro. 6.21 Binde therefore the precepts of Gods Word upon thy heart and tie them alwayes about thy necke have them alwayes in remembrance and before thine eyes and then like a Lanthorne and a light they shall preserve thee from falling into sinfull wayes Psal 141.4 with men that worke iniquity WINE is a mocker and strong drinke is raging and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise Pro. 20. vers 1. 2 THE Vine bringeth forth three sorts of Grapes the first of plesantnesse the second of drunkennesse the third of shame when men are so taken with the colour or plesantnesse of the Wine in going downe that they tarry by it till night till the Wine enflame them Esay 9.21 Then besides other woes and sorrowes which attend thereupon Pro. 23.29 shame followes and leaves them not till shee hath made them ridiculous so when it hath stripped them as bare as Noah then it exposeth them like Noah to Cham and all that see them doe mocke them It is recorded of a Bird which hath the face of a Man but is so feirce of nature that sometimes for hunger shee will set upon a man and slay him afterwards comming for thirst unto the water and seeing a face in the water like the face of him whom shee had devoured for greife that she had killed one like her selfe takes such sorrow that she never eateth nor drinketh after but frets beates and pines her selfe to death What then shall they doe who have not slaine one like themselves but themselves their very selves with a Cup of Wine As Christ therefore sayd remember Lots wife Luke 17.32 so say I Remember Lot one nights drunkennesse did him more hurt then all his enemies in Sodome Gen. 19.33 Remember Noah one howers drunkennesse exposed him to shame and the contempt of his owne child by discovering the nakednesse of those things which he had concealed Gen. 19 21.22 and kept hid six hundred yeeres together Ephes 5.18 Be not then drunken with wine or strong drinke wherein is excesse
and all kinde of riot joyned with all kinde of filthinesse and shamefulnesse of living 1 Thes 5.8 But thou which art of the day be sober and trust perfectly on that grace that is brought unto you 1 Pet. 1.13 in the Revelation of Iesus Christ as an obedient child not fashioning your selfe unto the former lusts of your ignorance but as hee which hath called you is holy so be thou holy in all manner of conversation 1. Peter 1.13 14 15. WHO ever perished being an innocent or where were the upright destroyed Iob 4. ver 7. 3 MANS extremity is Gods oppertunity and many times hee suffers his children to sinke so low that all meanes of helpe seems to faile in so much that they many times become a by-word to wicked and prophane worldlings Loe these are the men that trusted in God these are they that tooke him for their comfort Psal 37.24 Yet then in mercy hee putteth under his hand not suffering them to perish or to bee cast off Doe thou then who hast an heart spiritually afflicted stay thy selfe heere Feare not any affliction whether immediately from God or from his instruments happening unto thee for God hath comforts for thee in all and will send comfort above all tribulation Though hee suffer thee to bee evill entreated of Tyrants and cruell oppressors yet despise not the chastening of the Lord neyther faint when thou art rebuked of him Heb. 12.5 10 knowing that he doth it for thy profit that thou mayst bee partaker of his holinesse Y. PROVERBS 27. vers 17. YRON sharpeneth yron so doth man sharpen the face of his friend 1. THERE is no speedier conjunction of Fier and Gunpowder Fire and Towe Tinder or of any other such combustable matter then there is of words for no sooner is an hasty word sent from the mouth of an angry man but it catches and kindles burning on till it have enflamed him who is of the like humor then as if it reached some concave it is repercussed and Echoed into the throate of the speaker Hence many times it comes to passe that even betweene most loving friends for trifles and matters of no moment most bitter discords and unnaturall bloudsheads have arisen for sayth Salomon grieveous words stirr up anger Pro. 1 1. which ends not in the teeth or tongue nor dies till it come to blading or handing at the best Therefore let it be thy coÌ„mendation that thou canst put up an angry words and passe by an injury offered or done unto thee howsoever the World befoole thee for it yet art thou Gods wiseman Pro. 14 29 for he that is slow to wrath is of great wisdome whereas he that is an angry man never lacks woe and a man of much anger shall suffer punishment Pro 19.19 YEE are all the children of light and the children of the day 1 Thes 5. vers 5. 2 TRVTH however it may sometimes be blamed yet it can never be shamed but with a constant and settled countenance it dares behold the Sun whereas sinne though it be a bould audacious brood yet it seeks to shrowde it selfe in obscure places not daring to behold the light Pro. 7 9. The whoremaster seekes out whore-howses in the twilight in the evening when the night begins to bee blacke and darke Job 24 15 The eye of the Adulterer waiteth for the twilight and sayeth no eye shall see mee and disguiseth his face And they that be drunke are drunke in the night in which security whilst they are deepe buried singing sweete lullabies to their soules yea are ensnared in an evill hower and suddaine destruction comes upon them 1 Thess 5.3 that they cannot escape Whereas the child of God standing in awe of and yet joyfully expecting that day prevents the bitternesse thereof by walking soberlie as in the Day-time not fearing who seeth or scanneth his actions Thou therefore who art of the day be sober watch doe such things as doe belong and appertaine to the light not walking in the wayes nor doing the workes of vanity that when thy Master commeth and findeth thee doing such things as are pleasing in his eye-sight thou mayst partake of that comfortable invitation It is well done good servant Mat. 25.13 and faithfull enter into thy masters joy YES yee are our glory and joy 1. Thes 2.20 3 AS in all other professions so likewise in the Ministry perfection and a good effect is the thing principally intended and the salvation of soules cheifely aimed at a good successe is that which every one exspects upon his labours 1 Thes 2.19 and the Ministers Crowne of rejoycing is when the word of God which is by him sowen in the hearts of his people takes roote downewards Esay 55. â—1 and beares fruite upwards prospering in the things wherunto it is sent Let it therefore bee your care as it is his when you come to the hearing of the holy word of GOD to come with a desier to profit by it and to grow in grace through the powerfull operation of the same and to this end pray unto God to open your heart as hee did the heart of Lydia Acts 16 12. that you may diligently attend to that which shall bee taught that so GOD by his holy Spirit working with the Ministrie of his messenger they may in the great harvest of soules stand before the Lord with great comfort and bouldnes and joyfull say Behold heere are we Heb. 2.13 and the children which God hath given us which is their joy glory Z. PSAL. 69. vers 9. The ZEALE of thine house hath eaten me up 1. COVETOVSNESSE is a Leaprie which did not onely infect the common sort of people but appeared also in the Priests skinne yea it had spread to their harts and rather then any one should thinke to bee excused by reason of his long journey from his sacrifice at the Pasover the House of God shall be made an House of Marchandise for such necessaries as were then required Christ seeing this winkes not at it but was so enflamed that he whipt theÌ„ all forth fulfilling that Scripture The zeale of thine house hath eaten mee up And because every action of Christ ought to be a patterne for us to doe the like though not the same Therefore let it be thy care to bee eaten up with the zeale of Gods house i e to be zealously affected allwayes in good things Gal. 4.18 thinke it not enough to save one by caring onely for thine owne selfe but labour ro reduce others when thou seest them straying froÌ„ the good way Reprove sinne wheresoever and in whomsoever thou espiest it Remember that servant was condemned not for loosing but because he had not made advantage of his Talent Mat. 25.27 So will it bee with thee if as much as in thee lyeth thou seeke not to win souls unto Christ Be zealous therefore and amend repent and in all things be a means to bring others to Repentance FINIS Imprimatur Tho. Wykes March 27. 1637.