IERVSALEMS FALL Englands warning LVK. 15.41.42.43.44 Verse 41. And when he was come neere he beheld the Citie and wept for it 42. Saying O if thou hadst euen knowne at the least in this thy day those thing which belong vnto thy peace but now are they hid from thine eyes 43. I 〈◊〉 the dayes shall come vpon thee that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee and compasse thee round and keepe thee in or euery side 44. And shall make thee euen with the ground and thy Childe which are in thee and they shall not leaue in thee a 〈◊〉 vpon a stone because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation THis Chapter consisteth of foure parts the first containeth the calling of Zacheus the second includeth the Parable of the Noble man deliuering his monie to his Seruants to occupy till his returne the third comprehendeth the manner of Christs riding to Ierusalem Math. 21. accompanied with his Disciples and much people who laid their garments on the Asse Ioh. 12. on which our Lord Iesus did ride with great ioy and loud acclamations The fourth and last is the purging and clensing of the Temple of corruptions crept in and allowed by the Pharisies The third part I haue chosen to intreat of wherein the Euangelist Luke declareth the great ioy triumph and reioycing of the Disciples and people with their loud acclamations as they approached neere to Ierusalem in which action they were directed by the holy Ghost that the Prophesie of Zachariah might be fulfilled which was this Reioyce greatly O daughter Zion shout for ioy O Daughter Ierusalem behold thy King commeth vnto thee he is iust and saued himselfe poore and riding vpon an Asse and vpon a colt the soule of an Asse Zacha. 9.9 Yet our Lord Iesus approching neere vnto Ierusalem and beholding it and withall reuoluing in his minde the great mercies of God offered by the Prophets and now by him and considering how the hearts of the Iewes were obdurate and hardned and their eyes blinded that they could neither see the grace offered nor beleeue the promises made vnto them he burst forth into weeping wishing that they had knowne the things that concerned their pence but because they did not hee did Prophesie the vtter destruction of the Citie and of their policie which came to passe about some fortie yeeres after and remaineth vnto this day which is an admonition to vs and to all succeeding ages to beware and take heede that we doe not despise the grace of God lest we tast of his iudgements But I come to the words themselues which offer to our consideration two things 1. An Admonition to Ierusalem 2. A Prophesie of the destruction of Ierusalem The first part of my text containeth an Admonition to Ierusalem wherein our Lord Iesus warned her of her present estate to draw her to a diligent consideration of the great mercy of God shewed vnto her First in sending his Prophets Secondly in sending his Son to allure her vnto repentance that she might haue auoided the iudgements and plagues which were imminent and hung ouer her head and afterwards fell vpon her Wherein we may obserue the great mercie of God admonishing her of the danger that she should fall into if she did not preuent it by true and vnfained repentance God giues a Cauent before his Capias and doth warne before he doth wound And thus the Lord hath done from the beginning admonishing men either immediately or mediately before of the danger that auoiding it they might escape the punishment He admonished Adam before his fall immediately by himselfe shewing him the danger and punishment if he did eate of the Tree of knowledge of good and euill Gen. 2.17 in the middest of the Garden Thou shalt die the death He likewise warned Cain before he murdered Abell his Brother immediately by himselfe If thou doe well Gen. 4.7 shalt thou not be accepted if thou doest not well sinne lieth at the doore Likewise he forewarned Noah of the drowning of the world immediately by himselfe Gen. 6.8 who beleeued and escaped the mercilesse waters He admonished immediately Gen. 7.1 by meaneâ— the old world by Noah the eight Preacher of righteousnesse He admonished the Sodomiâ—ai by Lot 2 Pet. 2.5 the Aegyptians by Moses the Niniuites by Ionah Gen. 19. the Israelites by the Prophets often before they were led into captiuitie Ierusalem by the Prophets Math 23. and by our Lord Iesus as here Saint Paul saith Rom. 15.4 Whatsoeuer things are written before time are written for our learning Therefore all the admonitions comminations and examples of punishments is in the Scriptures are therefore recorded that in all times and ages they should be propounded and preached vnto men as testimonies of the iudgements of God against all impenitent sinners who stop their eares at the voice of God wincke with their eyes that they may not see the mercies of God and harden their hearts not beleeuing his threatnings Therefore our Lord Iesus denounceth a heauie woe against Chorazin Math. 11. Bethsaida and Capernaum telling them that it should be easier for Tire and Sidon and for Sodome then for them in the day of iudgement Saint Paul shewing how God slew three and twentie thousand of the Israelites for committing fornication declareth 1 Cor. 10.11 that all those things came vnto them for examples and were written to admonish vs vpon whom the ends of the world are come Psal 102.18 This shall be written for the Generation to come This Admonition then vnto Ierusalem and all other Admonitions in the Scriptures are recorded in the Scriptures to be Preached vnto all men to all Nations to all estates and conditions of men especially to those to whom the Gospell hath beene declared that it might be an example of the iust iudgement of God and an Admonition to Repentance lest they likewise despising the riches of Gods goodnesse patience and long-suffering according to their hardnesse and heart that cannot repent they heape vp wrath against the day of wrath Rom. 2. and iust iudgement of God This Admonition then concerneth vs and warneth vs in time to repent and to lay hold on the day of grace before the day of iudgement come The Gospell hath beene preached vnto vs many yeeres God hath bestowed many fauours and benefits vpon vs he hath giuen vs a long peace hee hath defended vs against our enemies that are more in number and stronger then we he hath made vs his vineyard and bedged vs round about that the wilde Bore of the forrest could not roote vs vp he hath done as much yea much more for vs then for Ierusalem he hath called vs to repentance by his seruants the Ministers and Preachers of the Gospell All the examples of Gods iudgements in the Scriptures haue beene red and pressed vnto vs yet we generally liue in securitie neither suspecting any change nor fearing any punishment But let
vs take heede that our Halcion-dayes doe not deceiue vs neither let vs thinke that we are priuiledged aboue others Rom. 11.21 For if God spared not the naturall branches when they did not repent will he spare vs that were wilde Oliues The Iewes in the time of Ieremiah who dwelled in Ierusalem liued in great securitie as we doe neither regarding Gods mercies nor fearing his iudgements therefore the Lord sent Ieremiah with this message vnto them Behold I begin to plague the Citie where my name is called vpon Ier. 25.29 and should you goe free yee shall not goe quite for I will call for a sword vpon all the inhabitants of the earth Euen so this example of Ierusalem yea and all the examples before mentioned doe preach vnto vs to turne vnto God not flattering our selues that we are better then they nay I feare that our sinnes are growne so great that we haue iustified Ierusalem yea Sodome and Gomorrha in their sinnes and therefore I say from the mouth of Christ vnto you except ye repent ye shall likewise perish Luke 13. Now out of this generall let vs obserue these particulars First that it is Gods great mercy without mans desert to admonish and warne sinners of their future punishments if they refuse his grace offered he hath mercie on whom he will When God then doth warne a Nation a Countrie a People or Citie he declareth his great mercie That he would not the death of a Sinner but rather that he should turne and liue This mercie of God should leade vs to repentance it should breake our stonie hearts and soften the hardnesse of them when God spreadeth out his hands vnto vs and offereth to gather vs together as a Henne doth her Chickens that wee perish not with the wicked Secondly all the Admonitions in the Scriptures are written for vs to warne vs to preuent the wrath of God and to escape the punishments of the wicked Therefore when either we reade or heare how God destroyed a Nation a People a Country yea or some particular person â—o despising his grace and reiecting his admonition let vs presently apply it vnto our selues in this manner I reade or I heare how Ierusalem and other Cities were destroyed for refusing the grace of God offered vnto them I heare how such men were seuerely punished when they would not be warned If I doe not make vse of this the same punishment will fall vpon me therefore I will pray vnto God to grant me his grace that I may take these warnings and speedily turne to God that the fall of others may be my rising Thirdly these Admonitions will leaue vs without excuse For what can we plead for our selues when so many examples and admonitions haue beene remembred vnto vs He that is once warned is halfe armed therefore there remaineth no excuse for vs if we despise these admonitions but a fearefull expectation of the iust iudgement of God Lastly these Examples and Admonitions in the Scriptures will be so many witnesses against vs and will rise vp in iudgement to condemne vs It shall be easier for Ierusalem Tire and Sidon and for Sodome and Gamorha in the day of Iudgement then for vs. God Almightie giue vs grace to make a good vse of these things Now I come to the words in particuler as they lie in order And when he was come neere vnto the Citie OVr Lord Iesus accompanied with his Disciples and much people reioycing with great triumph approacheth to Ierusalem And when he was come neere vnto the Citie he beheld it and wept for it He commeth to Ierusalem to an ingratefull and a rebellious Citie from which he had iust cause to depart for she neither would receiue his Doctrine nor beleeue his miracles His Doctrine she challenged not to be of God his miracles she ascribed to Sathan Math. 12. to Belzabub the chiefe of the Diuels his person she contemned is not this the Carpenters Sonne art thou not a Samaritan Math. 13. Yet our Lord Iesus passing by all these indignities commeth vnto her and leaueth nothing vnattempted to saue her as he himselfe by his owne words testified O Ierusalem Math. 23.37 Ierusalem which killest the Prophets and stonest them that are sent vnto thee how often would I haue gathered thee together as a Henne doth hir Chickens and thou wouldest not Behold here the loue of our Lord Iesus to an vnfaithfull and a rebellious people This example of Christ doth teach all his Ministers yea and all Christians to open their bowels of mercie euen towards the obstinate not rashly to forsake them and depart from them and to giue them ouer but rather to labour to winne them vnto Christ and to omit no time to spare no labour to effect it and to bring it to passe So did Noah labour with the old world Lot with the Sodomites Moses with Pharaoh and the Aegyptians Samuel with Saul the Prophets with the Israelites Paul with the Iewes But it may be obiected that it is in vaine and but labour lost to cast pearles before Swine Math. 6. and to giue that which is holy vnto Dogges I answer we ought not so to thinke by and by of such as are obstinate and ingratefull of such as are froward and stubborne for God can suddenly change them Paul was a Persecutor a Blasphemer 1 Tim. 1.13 and an oppressour but God tooke mercie vpon him Mathew and Zacheus were Publicans and Sinners when our Lord Iesus called them Therefore let vs doe our diligence and commit the successe vnto God If they continue in their disobedience they are without excuse and their condemnation is the more iust He that refuseth light is worthy to continue in darkenesse he that reiecteth grace deserueth to abide the sensure of Iustice If we with our admonitions and exhortations reclaime and winne them we saue so many soules from death Iames 5.19.20 and couer a multitude of sinnes and wee our selues shall in the day of the resurrection shine as the Starres in the firmament Dan. 12.3 He beheld the Citie AS our Sauiour Christ approached neere vnto Ierusalem so he beheld it he looked vpon it and reuoluing in his minde her blockishnesse and ingratitude neither seeing nor acknowledging Gods mercies nor yet fearing his iudgements he burst forth into weeping Now we may consider his kindnesse and loue towards Ierusalem that he looketh on her that he beheld her from whom he had iust cause to turne away his eyes yet he beholdeth her he doth not auert his face from her as men turne their eyes from their enemies Luk. 10.33 But he is that good Samaritan who seeing the wounded man is moued with great commiseration and compassion towards him pittying his distressed case and indeauouring to relieue it The vse This example is our instruction teaching vs to behold obstinate sinners to looke vpon them pittying their miserable estate which they themselues see not When therefore
present all other thing necessary for man doe accompany it and follow Our Lord and God therefore who is the onely giuer of wise and perfect counsell doth briefely and shortly knit all these things together in the Gospell and his holy word First Seeke the kingdome of God and the righteousnesse thereof and all other things shall be administred vnto you Mat. 6. Therefore our Lord Iesus said thus to his Disciples Luk. 10. Blessed are your eyes which see the things that you see for I say vnto you that many Kings and Prophets haue desired to see the things which you see and haue not seene them and to heare the things which you heare and haue not heard them Againe Luk. 11. Blessed are they that heare the word of God and keepe it And this one thing aboue all other things is most necessary Mary hath chosen the better part which shall not be taken from her I dare therefore confidently affirme out of the word of God that those Kings shall flourish and inioy a happy estate which doe wholy giue and submit themselues and their kingdomes vnto Iesus Christ the onely begotten Sonne of God who is King of Kings and Lord of Lords acknowledging him to be the most mighty Prince and greatest Monarch of all and themselues to be his seruants and subiects in all their affaires and businesses not following their owne minde and iudgements nor the traditions and lawes of men contrary to the statutes of God nor good intentions hauing no good warrant out of the word of God but in all things submitting themselues vnto Christ the king of the Church and endeuouring to subdue all their people to the lawes of this king and so doing they their people and their kingdomes shall flourish For so the Lord himselfe hath spoken Deut. 17.18 When the King shall sit in the throne of his kingdome and shall set before him the example of this Law in this booke let it be with him and let him reade in it all the dayes of his life Vers 20. And let him not depart from this commandement either to the right hand or to the left that he may prolong his dayes in his kingdome he and his sonnes in the middest of Israel So likewise Deut. 28. from vers 1. vnto the sixt Againe Let not this booke of the Law depart out of thy mouth but meditate in it day and night that thou mayst carefully doe as it is written therein then shalt thou prosper in thy waies and all shall goe well with thee Iosu 1.8 Whereby it appeareth that the felicitie and prosperitie of Kings Princes People and kingdomes doe depend vpon the word of God and haue promises of blessings both in this life and in the life to come And now we will proue it by examples Saul the first King of Israel was so long happy and a conquerour of his enemies as he obeyed the word of God but when he yeelded to his good intentions contrary to Gods word and commandement Samuel said vnto him Thou hast plaid the foole thou hast forsaken the word of the Lord and the Lord hath forsaken thee that thou shouldest not be King of Israel 1 Sam. 15.26 Now how great the misery of Saul was afterward the storie doth euidently declare Dauid succeeded him next in the Kingdome who was most happy in his kingdome But how greatly he esteemed the word of God it may appeare in the booke of the Psalmes especially in the 119. Psalme for from his priuate euils from his euill actions committed against the word of God and from the vnnaturall insurrection of his Son Absolon against him he had learned how great a sinne and how pernicious an euill it was to decline from the word of God Salomon the Sonne of Dauid the most wise and most excellent King of all the world did so long inioy prosperitie and was commended of the Lord as he did reuerently obey the word of God but when he once began to reiect the word of God the Lord by and by said vnto him Because this was in thy heart that thou hast not kept my couenant and my statutes which I haue commanded thee I will rent thy Kingdome from thee and giue it to thy Seruant 1 King 11.11 And this presently came to passe after the death of Salomon The kingdome was rent into two parts ten Tribes followed Ieroboam the Seruant of Salomon and two Tribes onely cleaued to Roboam the Sonne of Salomon who for the contempt of Gods word and following strangers was ouerwhelmed with many euils 2 Chron. 12.5 Therefore Shemaiaeh the Prophet said vnto Roboam and to the Princes of Iudah Thus saith the Lord You haue forsaken me therefore I doe also forsake you leauing you to the hands of Shishacke Likewise Abia the Sonne of Roboam ouercame the armie of Israel though more in number and greater in strength because he trusted in the word of the Lord. 2 Chro. 13.15 So Asa prospered in peace and tranquility forty yeares because he suppressed Idolatry and superstition and restored the sincere religion of God 2 Chro. 14. So Iehosaphat 2 Chron. 17. This is also diligently noted in the liues of the rest of the Kings as in Ioram in Ochosia 4 King 9. In Ioas 2 Chro. 23.24 In Amasia 2 Chro. 25. In Osia 2 Chro. 26. In Iothan 2 Chro. 27. In Achaz ibidem In Ezechiah In Manasses and the rest vntill the carying away into captiuitie both of the house of Israel and of Iuda for so long did they flourish and prosper as they did cleaue to the word of the Lord but when they contemned and forsooke the word of the Lord they fell into great misery and ruine Therefore hence we may collect that the ground foundation and continuance of all happinesse peace and prosperitie of Kings and Kingdomes doth consist in the word of God and the obedience thereunto and on the other side the ruine and confusion of Kings and Kingdomes is in the contempt and forsaking of the word of God And why so because the Lord saith They that honour me I will honour but they that despise me I will despise 1 Sam. 2.30 But leauing these examples which doe abundantly confirme this truth Let vs consider of some moderne and late examples whereof we haue beene eye-witnesses How did God blesse our late noble Queene Elizabeth that againe he might seale the truth of this doctrine to all the world Blessed is that Prince whose God is the Lord. Psal 144.15 How plentifully did God blesse her and her people aboue all Kings and Nations with peace and plenty according to the Prayer in the Psalme for Ierusalem Psal 122. For she and we her people did inioy such peace and such plenty as our forefathers neuer knew nor Chronicles doe record to haue beene in the time of our auncestours in times past Our Land did yeelde abundance of all things which grew at home and forraigne Nations did minister plenty of other commodities growing abroad So that