which is a horrible and feareful curse euen esteeme them foolishnes The third reason shall be taken from the example of Nicodemus Iohn 3. Nicodemus I am perswaded was an honest and an ingenuous man I am sure he was a great man and a teacher of Israel yet when he comes out of his ciuill honestie and naturall wisdome to reason and confer with Christ about the saluation of his soule and eternall happinesse hee is strangely childish and a meere infant For when Christ tels him Except a man be borne againe he cannot see the kingdome of God he replies How can a man be borne which is old can he enter into his mothers wombe againe and be borne A replie which may breed an astonishment in all that shall euer reade this story vnderstandingly vnto the worlds end nay it seemes to seeme strange to Christ himselfe by his interrogatiue admiration afterward Art thou a teacher of Israel and knowest not these things And no maruell for who would think that one of the best of the Pharises a ruler of the Iews a profest Doctor in the Law and the Prophets and one carefull to saue his soule should be so grossely and palpably ignorant in a most materiall and necessarie point of saluation especially hauing many times no doubt read it in Moses and the Prophts Amongst many places he might see Ezech. 36.26.27 most cleerely laid downe the great and glorious worke of our new birth A new heart also will I giue you and a new spirit will I put within you and I will take the stony hart out of your body and I will giue you a heart of flesh c. But when he comes from teaching and reading of this and the like places to be examined in the practise and experimentall feeling of these graces of regeneration vpon his owne soule why hee talkes of a man that is old entring againe into his mothers wombe from whence he should certainely returne with a doubled pollution and corruption of nature and once more the child of Satan then he was before But so it is where the hart is not seasoned with sauing grace let the vnderstanding be neuer so great with swelling knowledge the practicall powers of the soule neuer so pregnant with wisdome and policie and perfected with morall vertues yet there is nothing to be expected from that man in matters and mysteries of saluation but darkenes and blindnesse childishnesse and stupiditie Fourthly the young man in the Gospell may be a fit instance for our present purpose He was vnreprooueable in the externall iustice and outward obseruances of the second table wherein ciuill honesty doth principally consist but how farre hee was from inward sanctification the state of grace and happinesse of Gods children appeares in the story For when the sacred and powerfull words of our blessed Sauior had insinuated into the secrets of his soule and strucke at his sweet sinne of couetousnesse the young man is presently cast into a fit of melancholie Christ is too precise a preacher for him he cannot digest such a strict and seuere course he will not abandon his pleasures of worldlinesse his palaces his possessions to follow Christ the Lord of heauen and earth in this life though he assure him of the rich treasures of eternall blessednes in the life to come When the young man heard that saying he went away sorrowfull for he had great possessions Whereby we may see that a man may be ciuilly honest and vncensurable in outward workes of iustice and yet harbour and nourish some close corruptions and sweet sinne in his heart from which rather then he will part he will lose his part in Christ the bottomlesse fountaine of endlesse ioies and comforts and his portion of vnualuable glory in the new Ierusalem This point being thus manifest for conclusion I will lay downe certaine differences betwixt the righteousnesse of faith and sanctification and the righteousnesse of ciuil honestie that a man may haue some directions to examine his soule and conscience in this respect First the fountaine and originall of righteousnesse of faith is the sanctifying Spirit of God I call it the sanctifying spirit because the spirit of God may by a generall influence concur to the illumination of the vnderstanding with knowledge and a ciuill reformation of the wil euen in the vnregenerate but the sanctifying spirit by the miraculous operatiue of sauing grace doth purge and mortifie the inmost affections plant iustifying faith in the heart renew al the powers of the soule and reinuest them in some good measure with the blessed image of holinesse and integritie which they lost in Adam But the cause and fountaine of righteousnesse of ciuill honesty may bee goodnesse of constitution and ingenuousnesse whereby a man may not be so apt and inclinable to notorious sinnes or want of trials and prouocations or feare of lawes and temporall punishments or desire of reputation and rising or a vaine hope to stay Gods iudgements for inward corruptions by ciuill outwardnesse or at best the restraining Spirit of God by which hee doth onely represse the furies and outrages of the wicked and reduce them to some moderation and honestie for the quiet of his Elect and conseruation of Kingdomes For if God did not put his hooke into the nostrils of prophane men and his bridle into their lippes euery one of them sith euery man hath in his corrupt nature the seedes of all sinnes that euer haue are or may be committed I say euery one of them might become a cruell Senacherib a railing Shemei a traiterous Iudas a bloodie Bonner an hellish Fawkes fierce Woolues and Lions against the sillie and innocent Lambes of Christs fold Secondly righteousnesse of ciuill honestie in outward actions may make a colourable pretence of pietie and vprightnes but indeed hath many secret relations to pleasures to friends to profit to preferments to reuengement to passions partialities and euents and such like by-respects not easilie discernable but by him whose eies are tenne thousand times brighter then the Sunne But righteousnesse of faith hath in all actions for the maine scope and principall end the glory and honour of God and if infirmitie doe sometimes distaine them with some mixture and adherence of respects for who can say my heart is cleane euen the purest actions are mixt with some spice of corruptions it workes in the faithfull soule much griefe sorrow striuing against repentance and humiliation Thirdly righteousnesse of faith doth labour watchfully religiously and conscionably in that particular calling wherein Gods prouidence hath placed a man and in all the parts and speciall duties of godlinesse and obedience But ciuill honesty wanders in the generalities of religion and many times in impertinent vnsetled and vnlimited courses Fourthly righteousnesse of faith doth striue with greatest earnestnesse and contention of spirit for spirituall comfort and a good conscience before God But ciuill honestie is fully and finally satisfied with credit and plausiblenesse amongst men Fifthly
our first loue Would to God that we would keepe fresh in our minds but this one consideration That the same God which against the expectation both of heauen and earth of Rome and hell of diuels and Papists turned our feares and amazements at the death of that glorious Saint the late Queene into safetie and a sure foundation by the most happie succession of our gracious Soueraigne and his roiall seed can out of his iust iudgements for our vnthankefulnesse and securitie in the very turning of an hand and closing of an eie dash all our hopes and shut vp the whole Body of this flourishing kingdom in the pit of irrecouerable destruction It had bin done had Fauks fired the powder and who knowes what those busie and bloody heads are euen now hammering in the same kind Besides these two now mentioned there is another capitall cause of Gods heauie displeasure which though iâ— make no great noise nor be much taken notice of vpon earth yet â—t is much lothed of God almighty and cries loud in heauen for vengeance vpon vs It is a Lukewarmenesse and vnzealousnesse a cold and carelesse mediocritie in spirituall matters and as it were a neutralitie betwixt notorious sinfulnes and sauing sinceritie When men perhaps with diligence willingnesse and forwardnesse submit themselues to the hearing of the word but subordinate the power and practise thereof to their â—ase honours and worldly contentments When they wil needs hold an outward correspondence with the world and yet inwardly maintaine and nourish hope of saluation in themselues When they straine their wits and striue to partake both of the comfortable fauour of God and corrupt fashions of the times both of the pleasures of their sweet sinne and the sweetnesse of the true peace of conscience which are as inconcurrent as two parallel lines and as incompatible as light and darkenesse These men though in the worlds opinion they be of ciuill honest cariage of moderate spirits and of a stated temper in religion and in their owne conceits rich and enriched and want nothing yet indeed they are meere staruelings and starke beggers in respect of the true riches and lasting treasures of sauing grace and in the very case of those except in the meane time they buy of him gold garments and oile which shall neuer see Christ Iesus in his Kingdome to their comfort for Amen the faithfull and true witnesse hath vowed it that he will spue such out of his mouth and wishes much rather that they were key-cold then such formall Christians His speech imports thus much I had rather you were Pagans and Infidels then professors without zeale Now my chiefe and speciall aime is with all humble submission to beâ—ter iudgements and the censure of the Prophets to lay open the state of thâ—se men because besides their fearefull deceiuing their owne soules and particular certaine damnation if they so continue they mightily inceâ—se the Lords wrath against this laâ—d with an insensible and vnacknowledgde prouocation and mainly hazard the continuance of his glorious Gospell amongst vs. It is commonly conceiued indeed both of themselues and of the world that if they bee morally honest and outwardly conformable to the ministery of the word so that they bee hurtlesse and innocent in respect of humane iustice that they are also I know not how harmelesse and guiltlesse before the Tribunall of God But the Euangelist telles vs That that which is highlie esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God And God himselfe by Isaiah That his thoughts are not our thoughts neither are his waies our waies For certainely the state of Lukewarmnesse and formalitiâ— in religion howsoeuer it may be full of worldly applause and happinesse and beare away the bell vpon earth yet it is as burdensome and hatefull vnto God as luke-warme water or the most lothsome potion to the nicest stomacke And doth with a more naturall importunitie then other sinnes knock at the gates of diuine iustice for the remooueall of our candlesticke and the glory of his Gospell from amongst vs. All kinds of sinnes according to their nature measure and ripenesse haue proportionally a part and hand in drawing downe all manner of plagues vpon the sonnes of men but this hath a peculiar and predominant power in hastening that particular and greatest of all iudgements the famine of the word For God cannot endure without speciall indignation that his word which is his power vnto saluation should recâ—iue such limitation and prescription from mens wisdome that it should worke no further vpon them nor beget more change and holinesse then may consist with the enioyment of their worldly contentments reputation and the pleasures of their beloued sinne He cannot abide that men discontented with the straâ—tnesse of the gate of grace and impatient of a strict course of godlinesse should labor to find out and follow another way to heauen then that which is sanctified by his word and which hath and must be troden by all those that will euer see the Lord. Knowledge and profession of Gods truth without sanctification and zeale are but meanes in the meane time to put out the glory of Israel and will hereafter but encrease the number of stripes and adde waight vnto endlesse torment In the name of God therefore let all luke-warme and formall Christians be contented to take notice of their state and before the Sun goe downâ— ouer the Prophets suffer their hearts to be thorowly heated with true zeale and besides their outward reformation and generall lightnings of the Spirit to entertaine that speciall sauing and sanctifying grace which onely can saue their soules and prepare them for the glory that is to be reuealed Lest now at length for he hath borne with vs miraculously our iust God cause our Sunne to goe downe at noone and darkenesse to surprize vs in the cleare day Lâ—st he roote vs out of this good land as a fruitlesse and faithles nation turne vs out of our houses of peace as the vnworthiest and vnthankefullest people vnder heauen and let out his vineyard to other husbandmen which will deliuer him the fruites in their seasons And the more secure and fearelesse wee bee as wee were neuer more the more sudden and ineuitable is like to bee our surprizall and destruction For as Gods mercies are then most magnified when they relieue the extremest miserie and shine into the depth of discomfort and darkenesse when all other helpe is vtterly despaired of so his iudgements are most glorious when they strike at the height and top of pride and impenitencie while they thinke themselues most sure and with greatest confidence repose vpon the arme of flesh and policie of man The third reason and motiue why I insist so long in the point of formal hypocrisie was taken from the condition of mine auditors who being of deepest vnderstanding are naturally aptest and stroÌ„gliest tempted to mistake vnderualue the mystery of godlines and to deceiue their owne
in his affections that it will be stil afterward with baites and allurements soliciting euen the renewed heart if not to the iteration of the grosse act yet at least to enioy it in thought it doth very much behooue the child of God to be warie and watchful in this point If he remit but a little of his heate of zeale against sinne and seruencie of his first loue or grow regardles of his thoughts it will presently gather power and opportunitie for reentrie Here then is the toile and triall of Christian wisdome and watchfulnesse ouer the thoughts If when the soule pleasures of former sinnes be represented vnto the mind hee hath either learned to smother them at their first stealing into the heart by opposing against them a consideration of the many wounds and much waste they haue formerly made in his soule Or else by his growth strength in grace be able to looke backe vpon them without delight to retaine them onely for renewing repentance and to dismisse them with loathing and detestation Full sweet is the comfort and great the happinesse of that Christian who hath his corruptions so farre mortified and the remission of his sinnes so surely sealed vnto him that the thoughts of his former pleasing sinnes can neither tickle him with delight and new desire nor affright him with horrour For the one Oh saith blessed Austin in his Confessions what shal I returne vnto my gracious God that I can now looke my sinnes in the face and not be afraid But here the wisest Christian may be easily plunged ouer head and eares into one of Satans most deceitfull depths except he be very warie For in the solitarie musings vpon his former sinnes to this good end that he may vtterly grow out of loue with them and further loath them Satan is euer readie for both his craft and malice are endlesse secretly to adde tinder to the fire of his affection so to inflame him with fresh loue and liking of that sinne which at that time he most labours and hath euer greatest reason to abhorre And the tide of affections being once on foot towards an old pleasing sinne it is a great measure of grace must stop the torrent of them In watching therefore ouer the thoughts the brightest eie of Spirituall wisdome hath need to intend this point to descrie this depth Thirdly another speciall care the child of God hath in guarding the heart is to banish and keepe out idlenesse vanitie of mind melancholie worldly sorrow inward fretting euill desires wandring lusts wishes without deliberation and such like He holds a waking and iealous eie ouer those many baites and lures which spring sprout eftsoones from the fountaine and rootes of originall corruption which the state of mortalitie neuer suffers to be vtterly plucked vp and dried away in this life He knowes full well if these young Cockatrices be not crushed while they are in hatching that is if wandring and wicked thoughts bee not stifled when they begin to stirre first in the mind they wil first enuenome the vnderstanding the vnderstanding the will the will the affections the affections once enraged hauing the raines like wild horses will carrie a man headlong into a world of wickednesse Aboue all hee makes sure euer to haue in readinesse and at hand preseruatiues and counter-poisons against the baites of those three grand empoisoners the lust of the flesh the lust of the eies and the pride of life There are these maine obiects about which especially actuall concupiscence is sinfully exercised riches pleasures honours if he once let his thoughts claspe about any of these with immoderate desire and delight he is gone For so riches will bring foorth couetousnesse and couetousnesse begets vsurie oppression enclosure buying and selling offices and dignities grinding the faces of the poore and a thousand moe mischiefes It deuours all naturall and honest affections and turnes them into earth it makes kindred friends acquaintance contentments seruiceable to it greedy humor Nay it makes a man to contemne himselfe body and soule for this transitorie trash Pleasures inflame lust and lust so emasculates all the powers of the soule that its noblest operations become brutish it begets a wanton eie a lasciuious eare obscene talke filthie iests delight in plaies and hateful pictures besides many other secret and fearefull abominations not to be conceiued without horrour much lesse to bee named Honours breed ambition and ambition bids the soule speake vnto a man in the language of Neroes mother Occidar modo imperes Bee some body in the world while thou staiest heere though I lie in the flames of hell euerlastingly hereafter Deepely then doth it concerne euery true Christian with iealousie and trembling narrowly to watch and obserue the first and secret motions of the heart lest he should vnawares be wofully caught and ensnared in that blacke and accursed chaine the first lincke of which growes out of naturall corruption and the last reacheth the height of sinne and depth of hell Wee may see foure links of it Iam. 1.14.15 about the breeding of sinne and other foure Heb. 3. about it growth and perfection First an idle sinfull thought begins to draw as it were the heart aside from the presence and consideration of God almightie to a sight and suruay of the pleasures of sinne Secondly it hauing as it were the heart by it selfe puts on a baite allures and entices holding a conference and parley with the will about the sweetnesse of pleasures riches honours glory and such like Thirdly the will accepts of the motion consents plots and forecasts for the accomplishment the affections adde heate and strength the heart trauels with iniquitie and so at length by the help of opportunitie sinne is brought forth If you looke vpon the Originall in S. Iames you will easily gather these foure degrees Now further by often iteration of the act of sinning with delight and custome the heart is hardned so that no terrour of iudgement nor promise of mercie will enter Secondly it becomes an euill heart and is wholly turned into sinne it drinkes vp iniquitie like water and feedes vpon it as the horsleech on corrupt blood Thirdly it growes an vnfaithfull heart and then a man begins to say within himselfe there is no God at least in respect of prouidence and care ouer the world and executions of iudgement vpon sinners he bids him depart from him and saies to him I desire not the knowledge of thy waies who is the Almighty that I should serue him Or what profit should I haue if I should pray vnto him Fourthly followes an vtter falling away from God grace and all goodnesse without all sense checke or remorse of sinne shame and his most accursed state and so immediately from this height of sinne into the fiercest flamea and lowest pit of hell For if the first degree deserue eternall death what confusion must befall this Babell You see in what danger he is that giues