their hearts Oh little do such know what they do for now they grieue the Spirit of grace which doth moue them to turne vnto the Lord and do refuse to accept of his gracious offer of mercy and fauour and therefore it may be the Lord in his iustice wil deny them the like for euer also and suffer them to perish in their iniquities without any sense or feeling thereof at all Thirdly here is an instruction for vs that we should striue for this holy sorrow which will melt our heartes and refine our soules neither let vs content our selues with euery slender measure thereof but 〈…〉 our to bewaile our sinnes with a 〈◊〉 lamentation Such as is mentioned in this text viz. that we mourne as one would doe for the death of his first borne and as the Iewes did for Iosiah when he was slaine in the valley of Megiddo Obiect But will some say if this be required of all true Christians who can say that he is such an one for few or none haue attained to such deepe and piercing griefe Ans Indeed it is true for the most part yet not generally for some haue bene as throughly wounded with sorrow for their hainous transgressions as any man hath bene for his childs death or as they were for Iosiahs death and as for others that haue not bene altogether so deeply plunged in griefe and anguish they take vp that in continuance which they wanted in present passion Naturall mourning is ordinarily more violent as we may obserue in Dauids mourning for Absolon who cryed out in the bitternesse of his heart so that the people might heare him but godly lamentation is more lasting and durable So that the one may be well compared to a land-floud which maketh a great shew and noise for the time but come a weeke after and there will be little appearance thereof and the other to wit godly sorrow may be likened to a still and constant raine which entreth more deepely into the ground and remaineth longer and doth more good a great deale then a sudden violent and tempestuous shower and herein let these be iudg 〈…〉 who are endued with the Spirit of God and are acquainted with the waies of God and let them speake who haue had the greatest crosses and haue bene euen drunken with wormewood as the Prophet speaketh let them I say speake and testify for the clearing of this point whether many of their great troubles be not in a sort forgotten in regard of any present griefe that they conceiue for them and whether the sinnes of their youth doe not more constantly vexe and torment them then all the afflictions of their youth do And if it be so then may it well be concluded that their sorrow for sin is greatest though it bee not alwaies so boisterous and bitter for the present and therefore seeing it it is a thing that may be attained vnto let vs vse all good meanes and helpes wherby we may be furthered therein See the meanes in that Sermon on Isa 1. Vers 12. And the land shall bewaile euery family apart the family of the house of Dauid apart and their wiues apart From which words this doctrine may be gathered that Doct. 6 It is not sufficient for vs to be religious our Religion required in euery one in the family selues but our families also must be religious Not onely the heads and gouernours but the whole houshold must be addicted vnto Gods seruice And whosoeuer is religiously disposed in Gods house he will certainly take care for the planting of religion in his owne house This testimony the Lord giueth of Abraham I know saith he that Abraham will command his Gen. 18. 19. sonnes and his houshold that they keepe the way of the Lord to doe righteousnesse and iudgement And Ioshua protesteth and voweth that he and Ioshua 24 15. Psa 101. 5. 6. 7. his house should serue the Lord. And Dauid also that hee would not endure a wicked person neare him but if he knew any to be a vassall of the Diuell to be a slanderer a proud person a lyer or the like hee should not long remaine in his sight but he would soone thrust him out of his house and banish him from his presence And it standeth with reason that good men should deale thus for Reasons 1 First he that is a friend vnto God and truly loueth his honour himselfe will bee desirous that euery body else should bee affected in the like sort especially such as are neare vnto him Hee that carieth a loyall and louing heart towards his soueraigne will bee very vnwilling that traitours and professed enemies to his life and dignitie should haue entertainment vnder his roofe Secondly godly men doe well consider that those that are most faithfull vnto God will also shew themselues most faithfull vnto them they will not infect their children nor corrupt one another nor bee prodigall and wastfull nor blemish them and their families by raising vp slanders and spreading abroad false reports and tales tending to their reproach and disgrace They will also bee trusty and painfull in their places and callings euen when their gouernours are absent as well as when they are present as knowing that though they bee not by yet God is alwayes by who will call them to an account for all their workes Thirdly religious persons in a family will pray for their gouernours as also for themselues that they may haue good successe in their businesse and affaires and that is it which brings the blessing of God vpon a family euen as we see Potiphars house was blessed for Iosephs sake and Labans estate much bettered and his wealth exceedingly encreased for Iacobs sake Vse 1 Would wee then haue a testimony vnto our soules that we are led by Gods Spirit then let vs as many of vs as are gouernors of families take the way to haue piety grounded in their hearts that are about vs that so our houses may bee little Churches as diuers Christian families were in the Apostles time that God may bee serued and feared his word read heard and embraced his name priuately and publickly ininuocated and called vpon and all other seruices performed among vs which do appertaine vnto Christians If we be to plant an Orchard we will not take euery tree that growes by the high waies side but rather send farre and be at some charges to procure good trees than fill vp our grounds with crabbe-trees or the like how much more carefull should we bee of our house which is nearer of better vse then our orchard that it may be planted with such as truely feare the Lord that so the deaw of his blessing may continually descend vpon vs. Vse 2 Furthermore here is an instruction for seruants that they should learne to know their duty and be ready to ioyne with their gouernours in all godly and Christian exercises assuring themselues that none are in truth good seruants vnto men
and amiable in the sight of God and of his holy Angels which was before time a most vgly and deformed creature This must needes be a maruailous great benefite for if the defacing of Gods Image be the cause of all our woe then the repairing thereof must of necessity be the cause of all our happinesse A fift reason why their state is so happy that are endued with Gods spirit is because that is it which comforteth and strengtheneth them in all their temptations and troubles Those that are destitute of this holy comforter when aduersity lighteth vpon them do either fret or faint either fall to murmuring or to desperation but those that haue their hearts replenished with the holy Ghost doe then most strongly reioyce when tribulations and miseries lye most heauily vpon them as the Apostles when they were most grieuously persecuted are said then to be filled with the holy Ghost And Acts. 4. 31. what of that Then they reioyced that they were counted Acts 5. 41. worthy to suffer rebuke for Christ his name And as Pauls sufferings did abound so did his consolations 2 Cor. â— 5. in Christ abound also So that when comfort is comfort indeed and when life it selfe would go vnlesse comfort came then doth the holy Ghost most plenteously refresh the heart with inward ioy and contentment according to that saying of the Apostle Peter Now for a season yee are in heauinesse 1. Pet. 16. 8. and yet reioyce with ioy vnspeakeable and glorious Hitherto the reasons alledged haue tended chiefely to this euen to shew what good the Spirit of grace bringeth vnto our selues Now further there is a sixt reason for the confirmation of this poynt which is that it doth also make vs exceeding profitable vnto others which is a very great addition vnto our blessednesse All the wit learning and art in the world cannot make a man to bee a constant and conscionable doer of good but Gods spirit alone must doe that and therefore goodnesse is set downe as a fruit thereof Gal 5. 22. And in the sixth chapter of that Epistle ver 1. the Apostle saith If any man be ouertaken by any offence ye that are spiritual restore such a one not ye that are wittie or learned c. For no man can be a good Physitian vnto others but he that hath first wrought a cure vpon his owne soule in which 2 Cor. 1. 4. regard the Apostle Paul saith Wee are able to comfort others with the consolations wherwith we our selues haue bene comforted Looke then who is most spirituall and we shall finde that he doth alwayes most good Therefore was it that when the Apostles were to conuert the whole world and to batter downe hell gates vpon Sathans head they had the Spirit plentifully powred down vpon them which filled them so full of heauenly wisdome and courage Acts. 2. and zeale that they did that which all the Kings and Monarches of the earth could neuer haue effected by all their power and policy So also when Christ was to do the greatest good that euer any creature did the Lord saith that his Spirit shall rest vpon him and thereby was he fitted to go through with the great worke of our redemption Isa 11. 1. For as it is in that place the Spirit of the Lord is a Spirit of wisdome and vnderstanding making those that haue it to be of a sound iudgement and able to search into the hidden things of God a Spirit of counsel to guide and direct them and of power to strengthen and confirme them though they were neuer so feeble and weake a Spirit of knowledge and of the feare of the Lord to make such as are indued therewith prudent in his feare as there the Prophet speaketh Now seeing it is cleare by these reasons that the hauing of this holy Spirit is the way to al happines Vse 1 First of all this may serue for the iust reproofe of those that would faine liue happily and comfortably and yet neuer had any feruent longing nor made any earnest request for Gods Spirit and the graces thereof they plainly manifest themselues to be ignorant and carnall persons that do not yet know what true happinesse meanes Secondly here are those much more sharply to be rebuked who thinke it best not to be led by the Spirit but rather by the lusts of the flesh and the lusts of the eyes imagining in their folly and madnesse that if they can heape together a great deale of wealth aduance themselues theirs to great places in the world then they shal be happy men leade a merry cheerefull life albeit they neuer take any care nor vse any endeuour to get the spirit of grace into their hearts but rather think them to be out of their wits that labour to be spirituall Wil these men know what their estate is the Apostle telleth them If any man haue not the Spirit of Rom. 8. 9. Christ the same is not his and if he be not his he is for the present a bond-slaue of Sathan and in the state of a reprobate and if such can be happy men 2 Cor. 13. then are they happy otherwise not If it were possible that for their outward condition of life they could be equall vnto Adam in paradise yet must they needs be very miserable as he was when the spirit of God was taken from him it was not the garden of Eden that could then yeeld him contentment but he was in farre greater misery and perplexity in that place then many theeues are in the dungeon or vpon the gallowes when they are ready to be turned ouer He that hath the spirit of God as Paul had shall finde a heauen in prison in sickenesse in death it selfe whereas he that hath it not shall finde a hell though he liued in as good a place as the very paradise of God was Thirdly here is an vse of instruction viz. that we should search and try whether we haue the Spirit or not for it is not a matter of small consequence but such as neerely concerneth vs. If then we would be resolued of this point let How wee may discerne whether we haue the spirit or not Gal. 5. 17. vs first examine whether there be in vs that continuall warre and conflict mentioned Gal. 5. 17. betweene the flesh and the Spirit which all godly men doe finde and feele in themselues more or lesse for as the Apostle there speaketh The flesh lusteth against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh Now this combat is generall throughout all the powers and faculties of the soule as to giue instance in the chiefe of them First in the vnderstanding part there is a conflict betweene carnall reason the iudgment rightly informed by Gods word as in this particular A good man is railed vpon and vnderseruedly traduced and vilified in this case reason will thus play its part Why should you
Rom. 8. 15. wherby we cry Abba father So that none can confidently call God father but by the helpe of his blessed Spirit If vnregenerate men will pray to their father Christ telleth them who he is when speaking to such kinde of persons he saith You are Ioh. 8. 44. of your father the Diuell And how proueth he that The lusts of your father yee will do As those that are willing to do the workes of God are assuredly the children of God euen so they that are ready to doe the workes of Satan are without doubt the children of Satan and if they wil pray vnto their father they must pray vnto the Diuell Againe in that very place it is sayd that the Spirit helpeth our infirmities for wee know not what to Rom. 8. 26 pray as we ought but the Spirit it selfe maketh requests for vs with sighes that cannot be expressed where it is euident that the best of Gods seruants without the helpe and assistance of the holy Ghost are ignorant both of the matter and manner of prayer but the Spirit doth informe their mindes what to aske and frame their affections how to aske in an holy and acceptable sort so that albeit sometimes they want words to expresse their meaning yet they are full of inward sighes and heauenly desires But what are they the better for them will some say if they cannot powre them forth before the Lord in an outward forme of prayer They are much the better because as it is in the 27. verse He that searcheth the hearts knoweth the meaning of the spirit and he so knoweth it that he approueth of it and delighteth in it If there be neuer so many good words and those vttered by the very Saints of God themselues yet if they proceede not from the Spirit but from the flesh as sometimes they may they are not pleasing vnto the Lord but abhorred of him And on the other side albeit there be no words at all as many times it fals out when the heart is oppressed through extremity of griefe yet if there bee a multitude of holy desires in the soule stirred vp through the powerfull working of the holy Spirit they are accepted of him and shall bee rewarded by him for as it is added in the place aboue named The Spirit euen at such times maketh requests for the Saints according to the will of God And therefore their suits according with his will he cannot but yeeld vnto the same Againe it is the proper worke of the Spirit to conuince the iudgement of sinne and to humble Iohn 16. 8. the heart therefore without which there can no faithfull prayer be made vnto the Lord. Bring neuer so strong reasons to adulterers or gamesters or Saboth-breakers or any that liue in the continuall practise of such dangerous and damnable sinnes and presse them neuer so forcibly to cause them to forsake their lewd and wretched courses and yet can they not see why they should leaue them but rather imagine that they may lawfully follow the same still And no maruell for till the God of heauen do set downe their carnall reason it can neuer be set downe and till he stop their mouthes they will neuer be silenced but still haue somewhat to say for their wretched and vile behauiour Reasons collected from the former places Seeing then it is euident that Gods Spirit alone can perswade vs of the loue and fauour of our heauenly Father towards vs that so we may be in case to pray vnto him and withall must furnish vs with the matter and helpe vs in the manner of our praiers and humble vs in the sight of our owne miserable wants that so we may bee more earnest and feruent in the requests that we make the point now in hand may hence be strongly concluded to wit that none can make a faithfull prayer without the speciall ayde and direction of the holy Ghost which serueth Vse 1 First for the confutation of those sencelesse people that will be talking and bragging how they pray day and night They that know what it is to lift vp a feruent prayer vnto the heauens doe easily discerne that they are but meere braggers and boasters and that indeede they neuer made one faithful prayer since they were borne because they are and still haue bene sensuall and carnall and vtterly void of any sanctifying grace of Gods spirit and therefore so farre are they from hauing any cause of reioycing in regard of their good prayers as they call them that they haue great cause to be humbled for them as being workes of the flesh and not of the Spirit such as doe rather prouoke the Lords displeasure against them then pacifie his anger or any way procure his fauour towards them Such are the prayers of all blind and ignorant Papists who pray in an vnknowne tong to whom it may be said as it was by our Sauiour vnto the sonnes of Zebedeus Ye know not what yee aske They may speake what they list of their often praying and how readily they can goe through with their stint and taske but they that vnderstand what it is to bring God and their owne soules together in earnest requests and feruent supplications cannot but iudge them to bee bragging Pharises who thinke that the Lord is beholding vnto them and indebted vnto them for such prayers whereas in truth he may iustly condemneth em vnto hell for the same and will do so if they be not humbled for them as well as for the rest of their iniquities And therefore they that haue indeed the Spirit of prayer are of another mind for when they haue vsed the best preparation that possibly they can they finde so many defects in their prayers that they are driuen to make a new prayer for the pardoning of those their wants and are stirred vp heartily to praise the Lord when they can in any poore measure powre out their soules before him as knowing that it is not from any strength that they haue in themselues but from the helpe and furtherance of his good Spirit Secondly let this be an instruction vnto vs that if we would pray aright and speede accordingly we labour as Iude exhorteth to pray in the Iude V. 20. holy Ghost For those be the petitions that pierce the heauens and bring peace comfort vnto the conscience But how shall we know whether our prayers proceed from Gods Spirit or not for our sinfull hearts are apt to deceiue vs on both sides viz. either to make vs thinke through Satans suggestion that we doe not pray in the holy Ghost because we haue so many frailties when in truth we doe or that we pray as we ought to doe because we haue matter and words at will when indeed there is no such thing but onely a naturall gift of vttering that which is in our mindes and memories in apt and fit tearms and in a fluent manner of speech Therefore if wee
on the almighty nor call vpon God at all times For that is a speciall gift of God and peculiar vnto the Saints and as any one maketh more such holy prayers so may he be confidently perswaded that he hath the Spirit of grace in a greater measure And they shall looke vpon me whom they haue pierced that is vpon Christ and that by the eye of faith setting their heart and hope on him and through him expect to be heard and relieued whence obserue this doctrine that the Spirit of prayer doth alwaies leade men vnto Christ Iesus Doct. 3 It causeth them wholly to go out of themselues The Spirit of prayer doth alwaies direct men vnto Christ Iesus and to offer vp their supplications in and through their Sauiour and redeemer This was figured in the sacrifices that were offered vnder the Leuiticall law at which time if any one were polluted by any occasion or otherwise clogged with sinnes that hee had committed he was to bring his offering vnto the Priest and was to be sprinckled with the bloud thereof which did signifie the bloud of Christ by which all Gods elect were to be cleansed and a reconciliation betwixt God and them was to be procured For this cause Daniel though hee were a man much beloued of God and endued with the Spirit of prayer in an wonderfull measure yet he desireth the Lord to heare him not Dan. 9. 17. for his sake or for his peoples sake but for the Lord Christ Iesus his sake Therefore doth our Sauiour tell his disciples that whatsoeuer they should Ioh. 16. 23. aske the Father in his name hee would giue it vnto them Reason Now the reason why the Spirit of grace doth alwaies direct vs vnto Christ in our prayers is because it maketh vs see our owne vilenesse and wretchednesse and so consequently that we stand in need of the mediation of Christ Iesus Therefore in the couenant of grace after Gods people haue receiued the holy Ghost it is said Then shall Eze. 36. 31. ye remember your owne wicked waies and your deeds that were not good and shall iudge your selues worthy to haue bene destroyed for your iniquities and for your abhominations This is the first worke of the Spirit euen to set them downe that they should haue nothing to say for thēselues but plainly acknowledge that shame and confusion that destruction and eternall condemnation is due vnto them if the Lord should enter into iudgement with them Now when they are thus abased and humbled in themselues then will they seeke to haue a part in Christ his merites that so both they and their seruices may be accepted of the Lord through his righteousnesse and through his intercession which he doth continually make for them which serueth Vse 1 First for the confutation of the Papists and to shew that they are not led by the Spirit because in their prayers they rest not vpon the mediation and intercession of Iesus Christ but ioyne thereunto their owne merits and the merits of the Saints thinking by that meanes to preuaile in their suites and to obtaine their hearts desire Secondly it maketh also for the confutation of a number of ignorant men and women among vs that wil bragge of their daily stint of prayers which they runne ouer and how they make no doubt but the Lord will accept of their requests will grant the same and why because they liue honestly among their neighbours do no body any harme and they hope withall that their good words prayers do deserue somewhat at Gods hands Alas poore simple people they little consider what it is to make a good praier for if they did they would go quite out of themselues vnto Christ Iesus and labour for acceptance onely for his sake And as for these prayers which they so much stand vpon if euer it please the Lord to open their eyes and to waken their drowsie consciences they will be so farre from thinking that they merite any thing thereby as that they will see great cause to be humbled therefore for that they haue dealt so hypocritically and carnally drawing neere vnto God with their lips when their hearts haue bene remoued farre from him Thirdly here is another vse of consolation and of instruction both that if we will haue this testimony vnto our soules that we pray in the Spirit then when we haue the most feeling affections and purest desires let vs offer them vp in Christ Iesus let vs not play the Priests our selues as king Vzziah did lest wee be smitten with a worse leprocie in our soules than he was in his bodie but let vs make Christ our high Priest to present our offerings before the Lord. So also when our prayers and thanksgiuings are most imperfect and weake let vs present them through him that so they may finde acceptance with God being perfumed by the righteousnesse of his deare sonne Obiect Oh but I cannot striue nor wrestle with God in prayer as others do and as I my selfe haue sometimes done Answer What of that did not Christ Iesus offer vp Heb. 5. strong cryes vnto his Father And for whom shall those be effectuall but for such poore Christians as cannot so feruently call vpon God for themselues It is said Hebrewes 12. That the bloud of Christ speaketh Heb. 12. 14. better things then the bloud of Abel Now we can easily beleeue that Caine was in a dangerous case when the bloud of Abel did call for vengeance against him and why should we not as throughly beleeue that they are in an happy case who haue the bloud of the son of God to cal for redemption and saluation acceptation of all holy seruices in their behalfe as all true hearted Christians haue The want of this perswasion is the cause why we omit many excellent praiers thanksgiuings which would be very pleasing vnto the Lord being offered vp as sweet incense by our high Priest Christ Iesus and therefore let vs labour for an encrease of faith in this poynt that so God may not be depriued of seruice nor our selues of those comforts and blessings which are promised to all that call vpon him in truth And they shall looke vpon me whom they haue pierced and they shall lament for him c. In that this great lamentation is set downe as an effect of their beholding of Christ whom by their sinnes they had crucified this doctrine may hence be gathered Doct. 4 The due consideration of the death of Christ is The consideration of Christ his sufferings is a forcible meanes to godly sorrow a most forcible means to breake the hearts of Christians with godly sorrow There is no such motiue to make men weepe bitterly for their offences as to weigh with themselues in a serious manner that they by their sinnes haue slaine the Lord of life that his bitterest aduersaries were not the causes of that his shamefull and painfull death which he endured
among vs shall dwell with deuouring fire VVho among vs shall dwell with euerlasting burnings For so they conceiue of God that he is a consuming fire as indeed he is vnto such as they are and that he will not onely torment them presently but euerlastingly We may reade of Saul in what wofull perplexity he was when he must part with his kingdome and his life at once In the time of his prosperity he was a man of great courage and too too boysterous against Dauid yet when newes came vnto him that he must dye the very report of it caused him straight way to fall all along vpon the earth like a beast so that all that were present had much adoe to make him arise and take a little food to refresh him He was strong in body and mighty in Note battle but sinfull in heart and therefore cowardly in heart the like might be shewed concerning Belshazzar king of Baâ—el Daniel 5. and the souldiers that kept the sepulcher where Christ was laid Mat. 28. 4. when the Angell appeared in glory But let vs consider of the reasons hereof Reasons 1 One is because all misery commeth vpon them vsually at vnawares For they sooth vp themselues in their naughtinesse and perswade themselues that all shall be peace though they walke on according Deut. 29. to the stubbornnesse of their owne hearts therefore crosses being vnexpected doe finde The suddennesse of their misery them vnprepared and so cast them into greater perplexity and anguish It is said Psal 53. 5. concerning vngodly men There they were afraid for feare where no feare was Not but there was perill and so cause of feare but they had no expectation thereof they mistrusted nothing but went on as boldly in sinning as a man would doe in the workes of his calling therefore were their hearts so distracted with feares when troubles did light vpon them A second reason why presumptuous offenders Their iudgmentâ— are very grieuous are so tormented with horrour is because many times the iudgements that God layeth vpon them are very grieuous as they haue pressed downe others with heauy burdens so the Lord pursueth them with heauy plagues Those that offend onely through infirmity shall haue more milde and gentle corrections but as for them that transgresse with an high hand the Lord will visite them with sharper scourges and as they haue bene more bitter against their neighbours so the Lord will haue them to drink more deeply of that cup which they prepared for others Thirdly God in his iustice will haue his hand to Gods terrible iustice is apparant in their afflictions be seene against those that make warre against him and against his people he will appeare in his anger against such and that must needes be terrible vnto them There is no blessing so small but if it come with Gods fauour it is made very great neither is there any crosse so small but if it come with Note Gods displeasure it is made exceeding grieuous and that made them so afraid Isa 33. 14. of whom mention was made before A fourth cause of their great terrour is the The guiltinesse of their consciences guiltinesse of their consciences They haue imposed vpon them grieuous burdens which when the world went well with them they scarse euer felt but in time of distresse they are made sensible thereof and then they haue as it were a hell within them and are continually vpon the racke But that we may not mistake the meaning of this point we must vnderstand that this faint-heartednesse and cowardlinesse doth not alwaies come vpon presumptuous sinners when they behold imminent dangers for though none of them haue true courage fortitude yet many of them haue Note a kind of desperate stoutnesse and resolution when they doe as it were see death present before their faces which proceedeth from a kind of deadnesse that is vpon their hearts and a brawninesse that hath ouergrowne their consciences to their greater condemnation But when it pleaseth he Lord to waken them out of the dead slumber and to set the worme of conscience aworke within them then this doctrine holdeth true without any exception that the boldest sinners proue at length the basest cowards they that haue bene most audacious in aduenturing vpon the most mischieuous euils do become of all others most timorous when Gods reuenging hand seazeth vpon them for the same Vse 1 First therefore let vs hence learne not to embolden our selues to sinne in confidence of any outward helps for there is nothing in the world that can procure vs safety if we by our inquities do set the Lord against vs. Obiect 1 Yet many are so foolish that they will trust in lying vanities for their safegard and protection Some will say Tush none of their threatnings shall fright me for if the worst come to the worst I can haue twenty deuices to helpe my selfe Ans But was not Achitophel as deepe a polititian as the best of vs yet when Gods terrible stroake was vpon his heart all his cunning could not keepe him from hanging himselfe Obiect 2 Others there are that rest vpon the multitude and thinke themselues sufficiently sheltred from Gods plagues if they haue a great many to ioyne with them Why should should we not sport and game and take our full pleasure vpon the Sabboth say they doth not all the country so If it be so dangerous many others shal feele the smart of it as well as we Ans They shall so indeed for in the beginning of this Psalme it is said They are all corrupt all gone out of the way there is none that doth good no not one so that there was as it were an vniuersall conspiracy in euill yet is it said of them all There were they taken with feare And at the last day at the beholding of the terrible signes that shall appeare and at the hearing of the roaring of the sea all nations shall quake and tremble so that the multitude of offenders doth no whit better their case nay that rather maketh it worse for sometimes euen where there is no perill the very hearing of many sending foorth bitter cryes and lamentable complaints is a sufficient terrour how much more then would it be if we were plunged in misery with them It is a cold comfort vnto vs to be told You may safely goe to such a towne for there all the houses are generally infected with the pestilence and as small an incouragement is it for men to rush vpon the committing of any sinne because almost all the world is addicted thereunto and corrupted therewith For as the more are infected with the pestilence the more are likely to die and those that go vnto them are sure of more discomfort among them and in danger to perish with them so by how much the number of them is greater that are tainted with grosse sinnes the more are likely to
committed the next remedy is to Repentance for offences committed stand in awe of Gods iudgements due vnto the same and so to be led on to true repentance The best way to escape desperate feare is to fright our soules with an holy feare For if we iudge our selues we shall not be iudged of the Lord. Excellent for this purpose is that answere of Huldah the Prophetesse vnto good Iosiah Because thine heart 2. Kings 22. 19. 20. did melt saith she and thou hast humbled thy selfe before the Lord when thou heardest what I spake against this place and against the inhabitants of the same to wit that it should be destroyed and accursed and hast rent thy clothes and wept before me I haue also heard thee saith the Lord. Behold therefore I will gather thee to thy fathers and thou shalt be put in thy graue in peace and thine eyes shal not see all the euill that I will bring vpon this place And agreeable to this is the speech of Habakkuk VVhen I heard Hab. 3. 16. my belly trembled my lips shooke at thy voice rottennesse entred into my bones and I trembled in my selfe But what benefite had he by that That I might haue rest in the day of trouble So that we see the best way to be quiet and peaceable in our selues in troublesome times is to be disquiet in our hearts for sinne before troubles do approach A third remedy is to feare Gods iudgements Feare of Gods iudgements when we behold them vpon others and if we haue bene sinfull before yet then to seeke a reconciliaon with God before his displeasure arise against vs. It was the wisedome of the Gibeonites when they Ioshua 9. saw Ierico and Ai vanquished and destroyed not to stand it out with Ioshua but to make a league with him if they could deale so prouidently with him for their bodies much more should we with the Lord for our soules When the wise captaine came vnto Elijah with his fifty men considering how the two former captaines had bene consumed with fire from heauen he humbleth himselfe and saith O man of God I pray thee let 2 King 1. 23. my life be precious in thy sight In like manner when we heare that the people of the land are taken away by hundreds and thousands seeing we are guilty of the same sinnes that they were we should cast downe our soules before the Lord and beseech him that our liues may be precious in his sight but especially that our soules may be spared that though our bodies should perish yet our transgressions being pardoned our better part may be preserued and euerlastingly saued This is See the second Sermon on Lament 3. v. 57. Feare not the best receipt that any can take against the venome of the pestilence that he may be sure it shall neuer hurt him And thus much of the remedies against hurtfull feares Because God is in the generation of the iust This is one reason why it must needs go hardly with wicked men that are deuourers and spoilers of Gods people because the Lord himselfe is among them to take notice of all the iniuries and indignities which they sustaine and to reuenge their quarrell vpon their enimies that are stronger than Doct. 2 Good men neuer want good company they whence ariseth this point of doctrine that the Lord is euer present with all righteous men A good man neuer wanteth good company for wheresoeuer a Christian is there God himselfe is with him and in him and round about him so that none are so neare vnto one another as the Lord is vnto his people Now that he is alwaies thus present with his Reuel 1. 13 children appeareth in the Reuelation Where Christ is said to walke in the middes of the seuen golden Candlesticks that is of the seuen Churches so that it is his ordinary walke to go in and out amongst his seruants Neither hath he a generall care of the whole Church onely but he hath an eye also vnto euery particular member as will appeare in seuerall examples When Iacob was all alone trauelling towards Padan Aram there being no towne neare and the night drawing on he was faine to take vp his lodging in the open field but that night the Lord shewed himselfe present with Iacob and he saw that he had acquaintance euen in that solitarie place for God tooke notice of him and renewed with him his couenant made vnto Abraham and Isaac and made him a promise Gen. 28. 15 to be with him whither soeuer he went c. So that that night was one of the comfortablest nights that euer Iocob had The like we reade of Elijah that when he fled from Iezabell there was one knew him in the wildernesse and brought him his dinner euen an Angell sent from God and afterward when he 1 King 18. was vpon mount Horeb the Lord tooke knowledge of him and called him by his name VVhat dost thou here Elijah Yea Ionah found fauour from God where no body else could come vnto him euen in the bottome of the sea Whence it is euident that the Lord is euery where with his people And How God is present with his that First by his wisedome to giue them good direction To direct them in which regard Christ that is called a counsellour Isa 9. is said to be in the middes of the seuen golden Candlestickes clothed with a garment downe to the feete as was the manner of counsellours in those times Reuel 1. 13. So that he is euermore ready to resolue vs in our doubts to aduise vs in our actions and in our speeches and to direct vs what and how to do and speake according as occasion shall be offered Secondly he is present by his power as a gracious To defend them Isa 43. 1. 2. protector of his children according to that of the Prophet Isaiah VVhen thou passest through the waters I will be with thee and through the flouds that they doe not ouerflowe thee VVhen thou walkest through the very fire thou shalt not be burnt neither shall the flame kindle vpon thee Where we may see that the Lord promiseth to be with his Church in a wonderfull manner and to be a defence and safegard vnto thē in the most perillous times euen when they should passe through fire and water Thirdly he is present with his children by his To comfort them Spirit as a comforter to refresh their hearts in all extremities Christ fortelleth his disciples that in the world they should meete with many sorrowes which should cause them to mourne when others did reioyce but withall he promiseth to send them the comforter euen the blessed Spirit of grace which Ioh 14. 6. should minister vnto them aboundance of consolation euen in the middes of the persecutions and sufferings which they endured for Christ his sake And that which was promised vnto them all the members of Christ shall
bee readie to supplie our necessities whatsoeuer they be and to grant vs aboue that that we can aske or thinke And as for our owne priuate cases so for the publike state of the Church and Common-wealth if wee would haue the pestilence or famine or any other iudgement remoued the way to procure this is to repaire thither where wee shall meete with many of the faithfull that will be ready to ioyne with vs in praier and to wrestle with the Lord by feruent and earnest supplications for the remouing of his deserued strokes And this should much incourage vs and adde life vnto our prayers as often as wee haue occasion to aske any thing in publike that God will vouchsafe vnto vs his gratious presence and shew by good effect that hee is in the generation of the righteous Vers 6. Ye haue made a mock of the counsell of the poore In that the holy Prophet doth lay this vnto wicked mens charge as a hainous crime and as the cause of his strokes that were to bee inflicted vpon them this Doctrine offereth it selfe for our learning that Doct. 3 Iesting and scoffing at Gods children is a grieuous kinde of persecution and such as the Lord Mockers are grieuous persecutors Heb. 11. takes speciall notice of In which regard the Apostle Heb. 11. 36. speaking of the wonderfull great trials which sundrie of the Saints did by faith vndergoe reckoneth vp this as none of the least of them that they had been tried by mockings In like sort when the holy Ghost yeeldeth a reason of the vtter ouerthrow of the kingdome of Iudah and of their long and wofull captiuitie he setteth downe this to be one of the principall causes thereof viz. That they mocked 2. Chro. 36. 26. the messengers of God and despised his words and misused his Prophets vntill the wrath of the Lord arose against his people and till there was no remedie This kinde of persecution Ismael vsed against Gal. 4. 29. Isaac as the Apostle witnesseth for which hee Gen. 21. 9. was cast out of the Church of God And this was one of the meritorious sufferings of our Lord Iesus Christ that they spit vpon him and nodded Mat. 26. 27. Psal 22. their heads at him and vsed taunting and disgracefull speeches vnto him and put as it were a fooles coate vpon him to disguise him and called him in mockage the King of the Iewes c. This I say was not the least part of his bitter passion through which hee purchased eternall saluation for all his elect namely that hee endured much contempt and reproch both in the course of his life and at the time of his death Now the reason why Satan maketh choice of this weapon aboue others therewith to fight against Gods seruants is Reasons First because mans nature is subiect greatly to abhorre contempt and therefore cannot easily endure to bee vilified and disgraced by scoffing and reprochfull speeches and gestures Secondly the diuell knoweth that he can get many souldiers to be imployed this way Euery Note limme of his cannot imprison nor spoile Christians of their goods or of their liues but there are few or none but they can frame scoffes and iests against the members of Christ Iesus Euery boy can quickly grow skilfull at this as we see in Ismael and in the two and fortie children that 2. King 2. were torne in pieces of two beares for their mocking of the Prophet Elisha the very scumme of the people the vagabonds and rogues that run vp and downe the countrie can doe their master the diuell good seruice this way those that were the children of fooles and the children of villaines Iob 30. 8. 9. as Iob speaketh who were more vile then the earth it selfe could make Iob their song and their talke and in like sort did the drunkards and Psal 69. 12. Psal 35. pot-companions deale with Dauid and the thiefe vpon the crosse with our Sauiour euen at that time Matth. 27. 44. when the fierce wrath of God was manifested vpon his bodie hanging on the crosse for that he had been a notorious and hainous malefactor Vse 1 First this doctrine must teach vs to beware of deriding and taunting at good men for taking of good waies lest by so doing we become persecuters and bee proceeded against as enemies vnto God and his people It is not so safe for vs as many take it to be to exercise our selues in such kind of scoffing he is commonly held to be a sillie fellow that cannot gird at a Minister and at such as vsually resort vnto Sermons But let vs take heed of such nipping and biting speeches as tend to the defaming of any of Gods seruants or seruices lest we be cast out from hauing any communion and fellowship with God as scoffing Ismael was and be exposed to such plagues and punishments as the wicked Iewes were who mocked the messengers of God and reuiled our blessed Sauiour in such an opprobrious and disgracefull manner as the Scriptures doe record Vse 2 Secondly for as much as contemptuous and reprochfull scoffes and girds are such weapons as Satan putteth into the hands of his instruments let vs prepare for them and arme our selues against them Christs Disciples must not looke to be aboue their master if wicked sinners reuiled and derided him we must not imagine to escape their virulent and venemous tongues and therefore the Apostle exhorteth vs that seeing he hath Heb. 13. 12. 13. borne our reproch wee should beare his and for the ioy that is laid before vs endure the crosse Heb. 12. 2. and despise the shame and so at length wee shall receiue the crowne of glorie which is prepared for all those that in patience doe waite for his glorious appearing Now that wee may be better inabled to beare How we may be inabled to beare contēpt these taunts and reproches let vs take this direction following 1. First labour against that inbred pride that Labour against pride is naturally in euery one of our hearts which maketh vs vtterly vnable to vndergoe disgrace therefore was it that though many of the chiefe rulers of the Iewes beleeued in Christ yet they durst not confesse him because of the Pharisies who would haue excommunicated them and disgraced them to the vtmost and the reason is rendred in that place viz. That they loued the John 12. 43. praise of men more then the praise of God they stood vpon their carnall credite and reputation among their neighbours and countriemen more then vpon that true credite and estimation which they might haue had with the Lord and his children and therefore was it that they were so loath to expose themselues for Christ his sake vnto the shame of the world whereas if they had had humble and lowlie hearts they would haue denied themselues in their estimation among men and haue taken vp the reproch of Christ as an honorable
the word that checketh him for his sinne and in what measure any man dislikes the word in the same measure will hee take pleasure in all manner of iniquitie which is condemned by the word And thus much for the causes of this vnwillingnesse The ill effects follow which to mention but a few of a great many are three The two former in respect of men themselues the last in respect of God Concerning themselues first they are neuer able to meditate on the word For whatsoeuer a man comes vnwillingly to hearken vnto that will quickly slip out of his minde neither can hee possibly get it to take any deepe roote in his heart Hence is it that when couetous or malicious or vnchast persons repaire vnto Sermons to please their masters or to satisfie the law or for some such by-respect they neuer seriously think of that which they haue heard to make any application thereof vnto themselues they cannot bring their hearts vnto it for a sinfull conscience will not indure to be tied to the word of the Lord. The Prophet Dauid saith Lord how loue I thy law my meditation Psal 119. 97. is in it continually What will follow then if a man doe not loue Gods law Surely he will not at any time meditate thereon which hee that doth not must needs be a very sinfull creature Secondly as hee will neuer ponder vpon it so neither will he practise it He that is vnwilling to heare his dutie will be much more vnwilling to doe it If wee see a seruant that cannot endure to bee informed what is his masters will and pleasure we presently conclude that such an one will not prooue a faithfull and trustie seruant and so may we do without any breach of charitie when wee perceiue a man to be altogether carelesse or contemptuous in listening to the charge of his heauenly master hee that cannot abide to heare of the duties of the Sabbath nor of the exercises of religion that hee is to performe in his familie and the like we may boldly say except the Lord conuert this mans heart certainly hee will neuer make conscience of performing these duties Now for the effect which they shall find from the Lord it is this that he will deale with them as with wicked and vngodly ones both in this life and afterwards for because they receiue not the loue 2. Thess 2. 10. 11 12. of the truth that they might bee saued therefore God will send them strong delusion that they should beleeue lies That all they may be damned that beleeue not the truth but take pleasure in vnrighteousnes This doctrine maketh Vse 1 First for the terror of Papists and all such as are popishly affected as being liable to this iudgement and heauy stroake of God because they refuse to heare the word of the Lord and will rather hearken to erroneous and heretical doctrine then to the truth of God contained in the holie Scriptures and rather lie in prison amongst malefactors then bee in the Church amongst true Christians Obiect But though they doe not heare the word preached yet will some say they pray very much Answere What of that doe they imagine to haue any benefit by their prayers if they doe they will bee much deceiued for Salomon saith He that turneth Prou. 28. 9. away his eare from hearing the law euen his prayer shall be abominable Let them pretend what they will for their wilful absenting of themselues from our assemblies as namely that wee corrupt the word and misinterprete and misapplie the same yet they shall finde that they haue refused to embrace the loue of the trueth and haue beleeued lies and that therefore the Lord hath iustly giuen them vp to be deluded by Satan and so to be damned with him euerlastingly Secondly for the iust reproofe of many among vs who will come vnto the Church and sit before the Preacher as men and women desiring to obtaine the knowledge of Gods waies whereas in truth the Lord and their owne consciences can witnesse that they are altogether vnwilling to receiue any wholesome admonition and instruction and that no charge is or can bee more vnpleasant and distastfull vnto them then that of the God of heauen when hee straitly enioyneth them with all speed to get out of their sinnes and to turne their feete into the way of his testimonies And because they will bee very loath to acknowledge thus much but are readie to harbour too good an opinion of themselues as if none were more forward hearers then they are let their owne hearts bee iudges what preparation they make before hand for the fitting of themselues for such a great work what attention they vse when they are present and what meditation and conference they haue concerning it when they are departed Of which points if they would without partialitie examine themselues they should easily discerne a great deale of backwardnesse in their nature and in their practise If a man should protest that hee goes to the market with a great desire to buy food for himselfe and his family yet if hee alwaies plaied the vnthrift with his money and neuer brought home any prouision we would not giue credit to his words but account him a meere dissembler and the like censure may we passe on such as pretend they are willing to reape benefit by the word to the intent they may bee able to helpe both themselues and their families and yet neuer carrie away any thing to the purpose but if you aske them what points were handled they can say nothing but this surely wee heard a very good Sermon God be thanked but my memorie is very short or I cannot vtter all that I haue in my minde my heart I hope is as good as the best though I cannot talke of the Sermon as others doe what is this but to deceiue their owne soules with vaine words for certainly he that hath a heart willing to heare will haue a tongue readie to vtter in some tolerable sort that which hee hath heard though not all of it yet a good part of it as God hath giuen to euery one the measure of grace Another sort are here to be reproued who doe in a more palpable and grosse manner manifest their vnwillingnes to heare in that they will take euery slight occasion to absent themselues and that not onely on the weeke daies but on the Lords day also so that when the Lord commeth euen to their dores and offereth to powre down his graces abundantly vpon them they refuse his gratious offer and so iudge themselues vnworthie of Acts 13 46. eternall life Thirdly this is for our instruction if we would be freed from the accusation and condemnation of impious and prophane persons then let vs labour to bee willing and well affected hearers and to come with a better appetite to the food of our soules then wee doe to the foode of our bodies and bee more desirous to