richest gifts of God For seeing the ministerie of the word is one of the greatest and richest gifts that God bestoweth vpon men the treasurie of grace the power of eternall life the chariot of Gods spirit the pipe or channell whereby this spirite runneth into our harts the bellowes whereby this fire is blowen vp and kindled in vs the fewell and matter whereupon it feedeth the very aire whereby we take the breath of spirituall and heauenly life we cannot thinke that the going and course thereof is casuall and vncertaine but that it is directed by the speciall prouidence of Almightie God that his hand disposeth the rising and shining of this starre that he appointeth and ordereth the droppes of this heauenly dew to fall there and then where and when it seemeth good vnto himselfe that it is he which a Mat. 9.38 sendeth or thrusteth foorth labourers to labour in this haruest And therefore in the preaching of the word we are so alwaies to looke vpon men and to consider their comming and their gifts as that withall we behold the Lord sending foorth or holding out in them the Scepter of his power that we may acknowledge his mercie whereby he vouchsafeth to giue vs so vndoubted token of his fauour and good will toward vs and when we heare the word may duely reuerence and regard the same as knowing that therein is contained a message directed vnto vs from the Lord. And if at any time we be depriued and faile of the vse and comfort of this benefite we must begge of him to supply our defect in this behalfe and to giue vnto our hunger-bitten soules this bread of life least it fall out that for want thereof we famish and pine away The errour of men not feeling the want of the word of life 9 Wherein we may behold the maruellous blindnes wherwith Satan the prince of this world hath couered the harts of worldlings and vnbeleeuing men who are so farre from finding any want in the extreame penurie and want of this heauenly foode as that they either hold it a burden and trouble to haue it and therefore are so farre from crauing it of the Lord as that they desire and seeke meanes to be disburdened and eased of it louing like beetles and owles to sit in obscuritie and darkenesse that their euill deeds may not be crossed or reprooued by the light We may worthely lament the errour and fearefull estate of these men and beseech God to open their eies that they may see their owne nakednesse and shame in that they thus put life away from them and wickedly reioice in those thinges that are their owne confusion But the number of these despisers is so great amongst vs that iustly we may feare least God for our vnthankfulnes take away from vs this iewell and pearle which like swine we trample vnder ourfeete delighting more in our draffe and and graines and in the sinfull courses of the delights pleasures of this life then we doe in the delicious and sweet taste of the worde of life wherewith our soules should be nourished and strengthend to liue for euer The Gospell begun to be preached in Sion and Ierusalem 10 The Prophet further sheweth whence this scepter of Christ shoulde be sent foorth that is out of Sion Whereunto agreeth that which is written by the prophet Esay a Esa 2.3 The law shall goe out of Sion and the worde of the Lorde from Ierusalem And there the Apostles receiued the holie Ghost and those heauenly gifts whereby they were prepared and fitted for that great worke of the conuersion of the Gentiles there they first blew vp the trumpet the sound whereof went afterwards throughout the whole world Thus to doe they were forewarned by Christ himselfe telling them that repentance and remission of sinnes shoulde bee preached in his name among all nations b Luc. 24.47 beginning at Ierusalem Now vnder Sion and Ierusalem we are respectiuely to vnderstand the whole nation of the Iewes to whom the Apostles were willed first of all to preach the Gospell of saluation To which purpose the Apostle Paul saith to the vnbeleeuing Iewes of Antioche in Pisidia c Act. 13.46 It was necessarie that the worde of God should be first spoken to you but because yee put it from you c. beholde wee turne to the Gentiles 11 Thus God ordeined that the seede of Abraham to whom the promises were first made The vnbeliefe of the Iewes the occasion of transferring the Gospell to the Gentiles should first haue the offer of them that the elect remnant of them might be saued and the obstinacie of the rest might bee an occasion to transferre the Gospell to the Gentiles that out of them might be gathered vnto Abraham a seede to obteine the blessing that was promised in his seede vnto all the nations of the earth And so it hath come to passe that d Rom. 11.30 by their vnbeliefe we euen all the Gentiles haue receiued mercy their e 11. fall hath beene our rising the casting off of them a Rom. 11.15 reconciling of vs their b 17. cutting off the implanting and engraffing of vs to be partakers of the roote and fatnesse of the oliue tree We see them that were c Math. 20.16 the first become now the last We see the d Iudg. 6.37 August cont Pelag. Celest lib. 2. ca. 25. fleece that was wette when all the earth was drie become dry now when all the earth is wette wee see the e Luc. 15.28 August quast Euangelic lib. 2. q. 33. elder brother sit murmuring without the doore and refusing to come in for anger that his yoonger vnthriftie brother though repenting and humbling himselfe to his father is receiued home Wee see f Math. 22.9 Luc. 14.21.24 the poore and the maimed and the halt and the blinde sitting at the table whence they that were the guests first of all and solemnly bidden are reiected as vnwoorthie God hath fast locked them vp in vnbeleefe and hardnesse of hart they haue eies and cannot see cares and cannot heare the spirite of slumber and darknes is vpon them and they see not the comfortable light of God that shineth vnto vs. The Iewes example our warning to be thankefull vnto God 12 This is the mercie of God towards vs and his iudgement vpon them that by their example we may learne wisedome thankefully to vse the mercie of God and the opportunitie of his grace least if we doe otherwise we bring vpon our selues that heauie iudgement that wee see hath lighted vpon them Their fall as it is our rising so it is our warning to walke woorthie of that honour whereunto God hath called vs and wheresoeuer we see them dispersed and scattered through the worlde wee may behold it as it were written in their foreheads with the beames of the sunne Behold in vs the iudgement of God feare to sinne against him let
common vse no vncleane thing might be suffered to touch them that so they might remaine pure and vndefiled to the vses of the Lord. Euen so we whom Christ a Ioh. 15.19 hath chosen and b Gal. 1.4 giuen himselfe to deliuer vs from this present euill world that he might make vs c 2. Tim. 2.21 vessells of honour sanctified and meete for the vses of the Lord should d Iam. 1.27 keepe our selues vnspotted of the world by e 2. Pet. 1.4 flying the corruption that raigneth therein by lust and abhorring those polluted and vncleane courses in the lothsome filthinesse whereof the world walloweth and tumbleth it selfe to the great offense and displeasure of almighty God And surely so long as the contagion and filth of the world cleaueth fast vnto vs and we frame our selues to the fashion and behauiour thereof there can be nothing so lothsome and hatefull vnto vs as we our selues are lothsome vnto God And therefore God himselfe in this sort aduiseth vs a 2. Cor. 6.17 Come out from among them and seperate your selues and touch no vncleane thing and I will receiue you and I will be a father vnto you and you shall be my sonnes and daughters saith the Lord. Whereupon the apostle thus exhorteth in the beginning of the next chapter b 2. Cor. 7.1 seeing then we haue these promises let vs clense our selues frō all fithines of the flesh of the spirit and grow vp to full holines in the feare of God In which words he expresseth both those parts of holines which I mentioned before calling the one the clensing of our selues from all filthinesse of the flesh and spirite the other the growing vp to full holinesse or the fulfilling and perfiting of our sanctification in the feare of God Which fulfilling of our sanctification standeth in clothing from day to day both inwardly our conscience and outwardly our conuersation with pietie and the feare of God thereby to c 1. Pet. 2.9 set foorth the vertues of him that hath called vs out of darkenes into his maruelous light And this the Apostle Saint Paule calleth d Rom. 13.14 Gal. 5.16 the putting on of the Lord Iesus Christ teaching vs thereby not onely to attire our selues by faith with his merites and righteousnes that thereby we may be iustified in the sight of God but also by holines to expresse in our life the example that he hath laied before vs that by our good workes and godly life it may appeere that we haue Christ dwelling and ruling in our harts Which the same Apostle elsewhere more particularly describeth saying e Col. 3.12 put on as the elect of God holy and beloued tender mercie kindenesse humblenesse of minde meekenes long suffring c. And againe f 1. Thess 5.8 Let vs which are of the daie be sober putting on the brestplate of faith and loue and the hope of saluation for an helmet 17 These and such like are the ornaments whereby the church of Christ is to him that loueth her g Cant. 5.9 Holines our attyre when we come to the place of the Lords assemblie goodly as the morning faire as the moone pure as the sunne and to her enimie terrible as an armie with displaied ensignes Thus attired and armed we shoulde come and present our selues in this place of the assemblie of the Lordes armie not in hautines and presumption not in vaine and wanton apparell not in the care of decking our selues to the eies of the worlde the follie whereof in this generation nowe long agoe stinketh in the nostrels of the Lorde but in humblenesse and lowlinesse of minde in meekenesse and quietnesse of spirite in innocencie and simplicitie of hart in a sacred feare and reuerence of that high maiestie before which we present our selues If we come not thus prepared wee are but spots and blots in the Lords assemblie and we are to feare the same exception to be taken against vs as was taken against him that came to the wedding supper without a wedding garment a Math. 22.12 friend howe cōmest thou in hither not hauing on a wedding garment For what is the wedding garment but euen the beautie of holinesse which the prophet heere commendeth as the attire of the Lords armie That therefore our comming may be gratefull to the Lord and without danger to our selues let vs haue this sentence of the prophet in our mindes and remember alwaies to appeere before the Lorde in the beautie of holinesse in true deuotion humblenesse of minde obedience loue b 1. Tim. 1.5 out of a pure hart and a good conscience and faith vnfained so the Lorde seeing in vs the shadow and picture of his beautie shal take delight and pleasure in vs whereas otherwise by hypocrisie and sinne our being heere is but abhomination before him 18 Now followeth the latter part of this verse Thy youth shal be as the dew vnto thee from the wombe of the morning Where the words being very obscure in the Hebrew text are diuersly translated Vpon searching and comparing of diuers iudgements I haue set downe that which I take to be most fit And verie answerable heereunto is that which is written by the prophet Micah c Micah 5.7 The remnant of Iacob shall be among manie people as the dew from the Lorde and as the little mistling droppes vpon the grasse which doe not waite for man nor hope in the sonnes of Adam By which wordes the prophet foretelleth the mightie increase of the church amongst the Gentiles whose multitude shall be as the small dew and little drops that fall from heauen without number and that this shall come to passe not by any power or worke of man but by the gracious hand of almightie God euen as hee onely without the helpe of man causeth the shewers and dew to fall vpon the earth To which verie purpose I take it the wordes of our prophet here are likewise to bee vnderstoode The multitude of the armie of Christ and by what hand they are raised vp vnto him for hauing before declared how Iesus Christ shall haue his armie to ioyne with him in fight against his enimies he addeth heere in what multitude they shall come and by what hand they shal be raised vp vnto him They shall be innumerable as the dewe which by the onely hand of God is brought foorth from the wombe of the morning where the prophet by a metaphor nameth it the wombe of the morning where the morning dewe is secretly formed and from whence it commeth as children from the wombe Againe the name of youth by another figure importeth not meerely yoongnesse of age but the persons themselues that are yoong by the like phrase of speech as we are woont to say The youth were gathered togither the youth were sporting themselues c. Youth they that are newly newly borne againe to Christ 19 By youth then are meant the young frie
them to serue his turne as who hath it in his hand to destroy them at his owne will The maiestie of Christ shoulde more affect vs then the power of earthly princes And therefore the maiesty and power of Iesus Christ should much more affect and moue vs then all the power and greatnesse of earthly princes and the feare of him should be stronger to conteine and hold vs within the bounds of duety and faithfullnesse towards him then the feare of any secular power should be to remooue vs from the same a August in Psal 75. Terribiles sunt reges saith saint Austen sed super omnes terribilis qui terret reges Kings are greatly to be feared but he is fearefull aboue all that maketh kings themselues afraide If we feare kings because they can destroy vs how much more shall we feare him that is able to destroy kings Earthly kings can but destroy our bodies neither can they do that but when as the Lord will giue them leaue but this king hath power ouer bodie and soule and is able when he will to destroy both b Mat. 10.28 feare not them saith Christ that kill the bodie and are not able to kill the soule but feare him that is able to destroy both soule and bodie in hell fire 7 Againe it is to be obserued how the prophet setteth downe a certaine time determined by Iesus Christ for the execution of his wrath A day appointed for the execution of the wrath of Christ For this is imported in that that he saith In the day of his wrath Wherby he calleth vs to patieÌ„ce to a quiet contented expectation of the reuealing of the Lords hand that we take it not amisse if the Lord do not so soone manifest his wrath against his enimies as we desire and looke for We see it oftentimes fall out that the enimies of Christ and his church infinitely storme and rage against his name and Gospell and yet in the meane time all thinges goe with them according to their owne desire They murther the righteous and innocent and wash their feete in the bloude of them that giue anie testimonie vnto the faith of Christ and the Lorde in the meane time maketh as if he saw it not and holdeth his hand as if he cared not what were done by them This sometimes wee woonder at and are amazed in our mindes to see that God suffereth those thinges to bee done to poore innocent soules for his sake and doth not straightwaies drawe his sworde and bring foorth his weapons for the reuenging of their cause But the prophet willeth vs alwaies to consider that the Lorde hath appointed a daie for the manifesting of his wrath against his enimies which as in wisedome and iudgement hee hath determined so in wisedome also hee will obserue and keepe the same In the meane time their courses are not vnknowen vnto him but he appointeth both which way and how far they shall goe and disposeth their goings to good ends and vses howsoeuer the same be not alwaies apparant to our eies But that which the Lord hath appointed they cannot passe they cannot goe beyond it where he hath set thenet they shal be taken where he hath digged the pitte they shall certeinly fall and shall not escape the plague that he hath prepared for them Howsoeuer therefore they reioyce in their present successe against the iust and comfort themselues in the assurance of their owne estate as if heauen and earth were sworne to serue their will yet as Dauid saith a Psal 37.13 the Lord laugheth them to scorne because he seeth that their day is comming the day that shall strip them of all their glory and turne their light into darkenesse and giue them the full reward of b Zepha 2.10 their pride whereby they haue reproached the iust and magnified themselues against the people of the Lord. Let vs therefore in this be halfe submit our selues vnto the wise dome of the Lord and not prescribe vnto him when or how he shall glorifie himselfe in the deliuerance of his people or in the destruction of his enemies And seeing the impieties and blasphemies of the wicked conteine far more wrong and offence vnto the maiestie of God then they can doe vnto vs and yet he is content in respect of himselfe to for beare and to defer his wrath let vs not maruell that he is so slow in the mainteining and instifying of our cause that vseth so great sufferance and patience in his owne The day of wrath sâ—â—ially to be vnder siood of the day of iudgement or the ast day 8 But this day of wrath as it hath relation vnto all those daies of particular iudgements wherein God in this world from time to time taketh open reuenge vpon wicked men and persecutours of his church so it must be extended also to that c Reuel 6.17 great day of wrath wherein shal be the consumation and full accomplishment of all iudgment Which saint Paul calleth also a Rom. 2.5 the day of wrath and of the declaration of the iust iudgement of God and saint Peter b 2. Pet. 3.7 the day of iudgment and of the destruction of vngodly men Which is therefore specially so called because God shall then in speciall manner make his iudgement to appeare vniuersally vpon all the wicked so that there shal be no deniall of his hand For now although the wrath of God doe oftentimes light vpon the wicked in such sort as that plainly men that haue eies may discerne vpon them the hand of the sonne of God whom they haue dispised yet the world wilfully blindeth it selfe and will not behold or acknowledge therein the work of God but rather impute all to mishap and fortune and ouersight and therefore through hardnesse of hart feare not to goe forward in the same waies wherein they haue seen others to fall before them Thus children tread in their fathers steps and successours follow the cruelties and vngodly courses of their predecessours without any doubt or feare at all of their vnexpected and fearefull end Although therefore that God doe thus set foorth his iudgement by many dreadfull examples euen in this life yet it is to the most as if he iudged not because men will not take it to be his iudgement Againe albeit many there be that are thus made spectacles of the wrath of God in this world yet many there are also that seeme to goe to their graues in peace as if God had taken no notice of them or vnderstood not what they had done against him Prosperitie and honour accompany them to their end and the world cannot discerne but that they are blessed and happie men But that day of iudgement shall reforme all this errour when as they that now refuse to see or to acknowledge the power and worke of God in those executions which hee performeth in this world shall haue their eies opened to