for thy drunkenness thy swearing and thy lying but thou regarded not my word thou despised in thine heart both my Prophets and my people like to those Ezek. 33.30 31 32. ver Also thou Son of mâ—n the children of thy people still are talking against thee by the walls and in the doors of the houses and speak one to another every one to his brother saying come I pray you and hear what is the word that cometh forth from the Lord. And they come unto thee as the people cometh and they sit before me as my people sitteth and they hear my words but do not do them for with their mouths they shew much love but their hearts goeth after covetousness c. Beloved this is the condition of most of our worldly carnal persons they wâ—…l go to the Church and hear the Word and it may be condemn others by it but they will not look to their own hearts they will not condemn their own wickedness by it they will not see their own sin to be that that the Word condemns and this is that that makes Gods people to wonder at them so much because they live as if they never intended to dye they are as men both out of the way and out of their wits Psal 14.1 And thus the folly and madnesse of wicked men doth appear and yet in their wickednesse they wonder greatly at one another wicked men are become wonders to themselves they wonder greatly at one another the covetous man he wonders at the drunkards careless life and he labours to make a prey of him the drunkard he wonders at the covetous person that he hath no good fellowship with him the proud man he wonders at the drunkard that he cloaths his back no better but that he is so bare in apparel and he wonders at the covetous Usurer that he doth not lay out some of his corrupted monies on his back that he goes in cloaths of old fashion and plain cloaths and the Usurer he wonders both at the drunkard and the proud person and wicked men are not onely the wonders of others but also wonders to one another Now I have one word more and it is to those that are really godly you that are First Both a wonder to the world and a wonder to wicked men here is your comfort you may know by this what centry you are of If you were of the world the world world love you you are not of the world Iohn 17.16 As Christ is not of the world so are you not of the world you are such as Christ himself prays for ver 9. I pray not for the world but for such as thou hast given me here is your comfort a most noble overcoming Saints of the most high God even the same glory that the Father hath given to Christ even with the same glory shall you be glorified ver 22. Secondly Godly men will own thee and wicked men cannot but subscribe that all things thou doest are right in the sight of God Thirdly The work that thou doest is the very work of God that Saints have done and do to the end of the world thy work is the work of Angels thou art heir of Heaven and if there be any happiness to be had it is to be had in Heaven Fourthly Though the world wonder at thée yet the Lord wonders not at thee the Lord loves thée the Lord himself regards thee and the Lord will own thee in the day that he makes up his jewels Mal. 3.17 The Lord is thy Shepherd thou shalt have no want Psal 23.1 O most noble overcoming the Lord is your counsellour Psal 33.11 12. The counsel of the Lord standeth for ever the thoughts of his heart to all generations blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance Now here is thy comfort thou art chosen for his own inheritance therefore the Lord loveth thee O therefore most noble overcoming Saints and Servants of the most high God be exhorted to praise the name of the Lord your God for ever and declare the wonderful works he doth for the children of men consider your God is a God that doth wonderful things for you he is a wonderful Counsellor O then let us in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ labour and strive to be of that number that are accounted the worlds wonder and let us praise the name of the Lord with the Psalmist Psal 77.11 12 13 14 15. I will remember the works of the Lord surely I will remember thy wonders of old I will meditate also of thy works and talk of thy doings thy way O God is in thy Sanctuary who is so great a God as our God thou art the God that doth wonders thou hast declared thy strength among thy people thou hast with thy Arm redeemed thy people the seed of Jacob and Ioseph Now the great God of Heaven and Earth give us understanding in all things and keep us now and evermore in knowledge of thy truth that we may walk before him in fear all the days of our appointed eime Amen FINIS Books Printed for and sold by Thomas Pessinger at the Three Bibles on the middle of London-Bridge THe Christians Combate or his true spiritual Warfare by C. Love late Preacher of the Word in the City of London The Wise Merchant or the pearl of price by T. Calvert Mintster in York The Book of Graces with Prayers for Morning and Evening These are but three pence a piece The Sinners warning piece or Heavens Messengers by T. Robins B. of D. Englands golden legacy or a brief description of the manifold mercies the Lord hath bestowed upon this sinful Nation Gods Message from Heaven to sinners on earth By T. P. B of L. The Vertuous Wife is the glory of her Husband being a new Book shewing the rare qualities of the Vertuous Wife Christ upon the Cross suffering for sinners by S. S. The School of Learning or a guide for Children being Prayers for every day in the week with grace before and after Meat Gods Call to unconverted sinners by T. P. Now or never work out your salvatioon with fear and trembling by B. R. These Eleven last are sold for two pence a piece and all very useful for these times FINIS
from the Lord of Hosts that dwelleth in mount Zion It is the lot of Gods people to be for signes and wonders God in his secret wisdom hath so appointed it therefore be contented with it all you that fear God it was to old in time and it is so in our time we may sée it by experience God people are wondred at Secondly worldly wise men that are blind in their judgements they are as men blind-folded they do not sée nor discern the wayes of God and his people 1 Cor. 2.14 there is a natural blindness in natural men that makes the things of God dubious unto them they cannot understand them and so they become foolishness unto them and they esteem them not Beloved consider it this is the condition of natural men and worldly minded men Heaven is lest in their thoughts and they look very little after Heaven but let a man discourse with them and this for the most part they will reply that they hope they shall be saved as well as the best that make much ado and they know God is mercifull and they rest themselves upon the Lords mercy but the whole course of their desires is after the world and worldly profit all their affections are upon things below but the word and the message of God by his spirit in the mouths of his Ministers they count parables Ezek. 20. ver 49. Mark 12. ver 24. wicked men as naturall bruit beasts speaking evil of the things they understand not 2 Pet. 2. v. 12. Beloved the men of the world they never understand nor séek after God O consider this all you that forget God Psal 50.22 Consider this all you that speak proud words against the Lord Mal. 3.13 You whose words have been stour against the Lord Consider this all you that are naturally blinded in your sins if you did but know the danger you were in you would not do as you do Thirdly There is a principal of Irreligion in wicked men rather then they will condemn themselves they will condemn all the wayes of Gods people nay rather then they will condemn their own sins they condemne the ways of holiness nay rather then they would forsake their sins and become new creatures they will rather seek to perswade others to sin with them there is so few in the world that are really godly that they may well become a wonder though many profess Christ yet there are but a few that truely rest and acquiess themselves in Christ Beloved there are many men in the world that are Religious but there are but few in the world that are truely and really religious Many are called but few are chosen the whole world lyeth in wickedness 1 John 5.19 Whole Nations lie in wickednesse whole Countries Cities and Towns lie in wickednesse Beloved wickedness is the fashion of the world and he that is most wicked is most in fashion a man that hath his cloaths out of fashion is a man that is sore looked at and wondred at Beloved he that is a true Saint of God is like a man out of fashion with his cloaths he is a man sore looked at and wondred at godly men they are but few and as we may say they are thin sowed they are but here one and there another one in a City and two in Tribe it may be a man can scarsly find one in a City in some places in the world the Lord was ever so merciful that if there had bin but ten righteous persons found in Sodome the Lord would have spared Sodome for their sakes but there was not ten to be found in the whole City that were righteous persons we do not read of any but Lor and his family Gen. 18. ver 32. And that very moment that Sodome was destroyed Lot entred into Zoar and that City was saved for Lots sake Gen. 19.21 22 23. Beloved if it be so that godly persons are so few to be found as indeed it hath been so formerly and I pray God for his mercies sake it be not so amongst us at this present day Ier. 5. ver â— Run ye too and fro throughout the streets of Ierusalem and know and seek in the broad places of the City and see if you can find a man if there be any that executeth judgement and that seeketh the truth and I will pardon it And thus ou may see they that are really the people of God they are but few in number godly men are vâ—ry few and they have many Enemies affronting them wicked men they are a great numbers and stand stiffly in opposition against them and when they have nothing else to say they can affront the people of God with their holy carriage towards God what they say do you think that none must go to Heaven but you we make not such a do and yet we hope to be saved as well as you what say they shall no one be saved but such as you shall no one never come to Heaven but such as make so much a do of praying and preaching as you do as if we were ready to die every moment soul whoever thou art that thus reasons against God and his people thou if ever the Lord opens thy eyes will repent of the folly and at the hour of death when thou knowest that thou must die and can live no longer thou wouldst give all the treasure in the world if it were in thy power to be in such a condition as the poorest soul is in the world that hath feared God truly yea thou wouldest wish then that thou hadst lived as such a one hath done when thou formerly hath despised mocked and jeered thou could be willing new to change condition with him Fourthly Goods People are become the worlds wonder because there are many great men that are wicked men many great men are wonderers there are many great men and but few great men that are good men great men are either proud or presumptuous for the most part Jer. 5.5 I will go unto the great men and speak unto them for they have known the way of the Lord and the judgements of their God but these have altogether broken the Yoak and burst the bands Great men are great enemies to God and his people But beloved consider if it be so as you chance to see a great man to become a good man that indeed is a mighty forceing argument to encourage people in the ways of God and a mighty help to Religion and thus you see godly persons are men woudred at for these ends First God hath ordered it Secondly Worldly wise men are blinded in their judgements Thirdly There is a principal of irreligion in most men and Fourthly Few great men are good men And now Beloved to apply this truth to our selves consider that he that the world most wonders at and esteems the least and counts the most unhappiest it s most certain that that man is the most happiest of all other Soul
if thou be never so weak nor never so low nor never so base in the worlds account if thou have but grace truely seasoned with holiness thy condition is happy true piety will bring thee from thy low condition to enjoy happiness with poor Lazarus in Heaven whereas Pride and Presumption may bring thee torment in Hell with rich Dives Ah saith one I am but a poor man but if I were as rich as such a man I would desire no more in the world but to be in as good an estate as such a man this is almost the reply of most men of the world but soul consider dost thou want nothing else I am sure if thou be but a carnal man thou wantest the chiefest mercy and thou never desires it that is to have thy soul enriched with grace and true holiness many a man will desire and wish he were as well to live as such a neighbor but few desire to be in such an estate as a poor soul that really fears God many desire if they could to be in a good estate here many could well be content to be in Dives estate for outward preferment here but few desire to be in Lazarus poverty many could desire to have Dives riches in the world and Lazarus Heaven but the will not be obtained men have not the world in such acceptation in their hearts that they never look after Heaven nor the things that do belong to their peace and welfare but beloved God sées you not as men sees you God sées your hearts and he values it though men cry out after the world yet God calls for the heart Prov. 3.1 My son forget not my Law but let thy heart keep my commandements Beloved if ever you intend to be saved let not the world nor worldly substance be your choice fust seek the kingdome of cleaven and the righteousness thereof and come to God in the name of Jesus Christ and get a full assurance in Jesus Christ that through his merits and blood-shed you may come to Heaven And now consider beloved I beseech you if Gods people be the worlds wonder who are they that wonder at them and let me now speak a word to those that wonder at the people of God to speak to every common sinner according to his sin is too large for this small volume but in general to the contentious person the proud person the carnal-minded man the Swearer the Lyer and the Kaylor the Sabbath-breaker the Fornicator and Adulterer whatsoever thy sin is they that fear God wonder at thee as well as thou wonders at them they wonder at you to see your carriage and behaviour They wondor at you that are wicked men how you dare sin against God that made you that you have so little care and grace in you as to commit sin against the great God of Heaven and Earth that made you and gave you his word as a rule to walk by they wonder at you how you dare covet so much after the things of the world and regard your souls no more and you that are Drunkards how dare you give more honour to the creature then you do to the Creator that made you and you that are Swearers and Lyers and Sabbath-breakers and Raylors and Adulterers what do you think will become of you in the end what would you do if God should with-hold his mercy from you and should not give you the fruits of the Earth nor rain from Heaven if God should with-hold from you the labour of your hands and you should not enjoy food for your bodies refreshment nor raiment to cover you with It is God that giveth both but you offend by your wicked walking Psal 145.15 16. verses The eyes of all things wait upon thee and thou givest them meat in due season thou openest thy hand and satisfieth the desire of every living creature God giveth you all his mercies and you little consider it but what would you do if God should say unto you go to your lusts that you have served as gods before me and let them feed you and cloath you O souls consider the Lord sees you and knows your goings out and your returnings in The eyes of the Lord are over all the Lord preserveth all that call upon him but the wicked will he destroy Psal 145.19 Consider this all you that wonder at the saints of Gods holy walking before God they wonder at you how you dare murmure against the way of God and against holiness being the Scripture saith without holiness no eye shall see the Lord what do you think will become of you that never repented in all your Life time of your sins and yet are common great sinners whereas the Scripture faith 1 Cor. 6.9.10 verses Know you not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdome of God be not deceived neither Fornicators nor Idolaters nor Effeminate nor abusers of themselves with mankind nor Thieves nor Covetous nor Drunkards nor Revilers nor Extortioners shall inherit the Kingdome of God And Rev. 21. ver 8. But the fearful and unbelieving and abominable and Murderers and Whoremongers and Sorcerers and Idolaters and all Lyars shall have their portion in the Lake that burneth with fire and brimstone which is the second death Now consider all you that wonder at Gods people what ever sin you you lie under without repentance you are excluded out of Heaven and must perish there is no way to escape Hell and recover Heaven but by repentance I may say unto you in this cause as Christ said unto the Samaritans that escaped Luk. 13. ver 13. I tell you nay but except you repent you shall all likewise perish God may sometimes in his judgements meet with sinners in their sins that others may see and take warning by their fall as some that have been common drunkards have in their drink taken surfeits and so have had their bodies weakned by diseases and their days shortned some in their drink have been drowned in the water and some have been murdered in their drink as being unsensible and not of their own men 2 Sam. 13. Chap. A mon being drunk was slain by Absaloms servant and some covetous persons through their covetousness have been their own murderers 1 Sam. 25. Chap. Nabal through covetousness and drunkenness his very heart dyed within him Acts 5. Chap. Ananias and Saphirah his Wife were both smitten down dead at the Apostles feet Ahab would not believe the Lords message by Micah and was slain at Ramoth Gilead And now consider a little further all you that wonder at Gods people what do you think men go hear the Word of God so often for do you think it is sufficient for you if you hear the Word preached to be saved can you hear the Word and receive it and practise wickedness what answer will you make God at the last day when he shall say unto you at such a Congregation thou wast and I there reproved thee