stoode vpon the shore it was no time for Peter to play the Fisher-man But when Christ had left speaking and commaunded him to lanch into the deepe then it was time for Peter to let downe the net There is a time wherein we ought to labour in our vocation and a time wherein we ought to heare the word and as we may not vtterly neglect our lawfull callinges to follow Sermons so must we not bestowe the Sabboth which is consecrated to the seruice of God in following the workes of our vocation All thinges haue their appointed time saith the wise man Eccle. 3. and euerie thing is seemely in his conuenient season but when thinges are done preposterously and out of order there followeth confusion Although Martha did not heare Christ yet did she labour for Christ many in our daies will neither labour for Christ nor heare of Christ but as the Israelites were wearie of their iourney in the wildernes and lothed that heauenly Manna so these men are wearie of euerie godly exercise and are soone cloyed with the word of God The fiue foolish Virgins wasted their oyle to no purpose and while they went to buy were excluded the marriage and these foolish men spende this time of grace vaynely and wantonly as though after this life there were no time of iustice and vengeance to be feared The daye serueth for their pride or profite the night is spent in sporte and pleasure and no time is left to heare the worde When wee are praying they are playing when we are preaching they are eating and drinking like the olde worlde that ate and dranke that married wiues and gaue in marriage while Noah was preparing the Arke for the sauing of his householde And as Baals priestes wounded themselues to serue their idol so these men take dangerous courses and strangely trouble themselues to serue the diuell Now Martha findeth her selfe agrieued and begins to enuie her sisters exercise as Iosephs brethren enuied him for his dreames and the sonnes of Ishai that disdayned their brother Dauid for his forwardnesse in the combate with Goliah These two sisters that in other thinges agreed so well together in this doe differ so much that Christ must haue the hearing of the matter and decide the controuersie Martha playeth the plaintife and accuseth her sister Mary the defendant answereth by her aduocate and Christ himselfe that tooke vpon him the office of an Aduocate is become the Iudge and giueth sentence on Maries side Martha complaineth of her sisters slouthfulnesse and seemeth after a sort to blame our Sauiour for winking at it requiring him to see the matter redressed speedilie But Christ first reprooueth Marthaes curiositie and then excuseth yea and commendeth Maries care In Martha it appeareth how willing wee are to please our selues in our owne conceites and how readie to conceiue amisse of others doings yea sometimes to preferre our owne defects before the perfections of other men If Dauid chasten his soule with fasting it shall bee turned to his reproofe If he put on sackcloth to testifie his contrition they iest at him and the drunkardes make songes of him If Iohn Baptist be temperate in his apparrell and diet they will say he hath a diuell If Paule answere discretlie for himselfe he shall be charged to be madde with ouermuch learning yea if our Sauiour Christ himself frequent the cōpanie of sinners to reclaime them from sinne they will not sticke to call him a friend and companion of Publicans and sinners Amongst vs if there be any that bee more forward in religion than the rest and more diligent to heare the word as Marie was there shall not want some or other to censure them at their pleasure yea to find fault to condemne thē for so doing yet are not the godly to be discouraged herewith or to desist from their godlie exercises for as the Lorde answered for Marie when she helde her peace so the Lorde will defend their cause and take their parte against their aduersaries The Lord cannot abide to heare his seruants ill spoken of but is alwayes ready to maintayne their right and to answere for them He will not suffer Lab an to speake an ill word to his seruant Iacob And if Aaron Miriam murmure against Moses the Lord will punish it with leprosie What a comfortable thing is this to the gadly that y e king of kinges will take their partes and will not suffer them to sustaine any wrong He is a most sure and trustie friend that wil not abide his friends to be backbited or ill spoken of but either he vvil answere in their defence or he vvill finde some meanes to stop their mouthes and restraine the slanderous tongues of their enemies as somtime he stopt Balaams passage when he went to curse his people caused the dumbe beast to speake and to reproue the madnes of the Prophet rather then he vvould haue his people to be cursed The repetition of Marthaes name argueth the vehemencie and earnestnesse of this admonition The Lord is faine to be very earnest and importunate vvith vs before hee can reclaime vs. So when God spake vnto Abraham hee called him twise by name Christ called Peter thrice by name Iohn 21. to cause him make his three-folde confession to make amendes for his three-folde deniall And when the Lord spake vnto Samuell he called him 4. seuerall times by name before hee answered for such is the great mercie of God that he is content to admonish vs often of our duty such is the dulnes peruersenes of our crooked nature that we cannot be gained by the first admonition but the Lord must cal vs oftē earnestly before we wil hearkē vnto him There are two thinges in this speach of Christ to be obserued The first is his modest reprehension of Marthaes immoderate care the other is his friendly defence of Maries choise Though Martha was verie careful to entertain Christ in the best manner yet if hee perceiue any thing in her worthie of reprehension hee will not sticke to tell her of it hee will not soothe her in her saying nor smooth her in her owne conceit for al the trouble and cost that shee bestowes vppon him If we be often inuited to some mans table and kindlie entertained it would be vnkindly taken if wee should finde fault with any disorder but for as much as all Christ his actions are the instructions of Christians therefore euery Christian but especially preachers whom it more specially concerneth must learne by this example how to behaue themselues when they are inuited to great feastes namelie to speak their conscience freely when they see a fault The best requitall that wee can make for our good cheare is to giue good counsell and wholesome admonition to them that inuite vs. When Christ dined with the Pharisie Luke 11. and was misliked for not washing before dinner he tooke
saluation And for this cause haue I made choise of this part of Scripture as of a light to shine vnto vs in darkenesse a direction to our steps and a lanthorne to our paths while we wander through the boistrous waues of this wicked world The text is playne and obiect to euerie mans capacitie naturally budding vnto blossomes The first contayning our duetie which we are to performe towards God The second Gods promises if we performe this duty Our duetie towards God is implied in these three conditions First If thou wilt early seeke vnto God Secondly If thou wilt pray vnto the Almighty Thirdly If thou bee pure and vpright so that the whole consisteth on these three poynts First what it is that God requireth namely a diligent and speedy search in these wordes If thou wilt seeke early Secondly how thy search is to be made in prayer in these wordes If thou wilt pray to the Almighty Thirdlie what effect these thinges ought to worke in vs a puritie and sinceritie of life in these words If thou be pure and vpright As our duety towards God consisteth in three points so Gods blessinge towards vs is also three-fold answerable to the same First for seeking he promiseth he will awake vnto thee Secondly for praying vnto him he will make the habitations of thy righteousnesse prosperous Thirdly for being pure and vpright he wil make thy latter end increase exceedingly yea though thy beginning be but small First therefore concerning the search it is a worke both in desire and labour to be ioyned to God In the Psalme this standeth for the burthen of the song They called vpon the Lord in the time of their trouble and hee deliuered them It is but Aske and haue seeke and find knocke and it shall bee opened vnto you Sauing that here these thinges are to bee regarded to wit how by whom and when we must seeke the Lord. How First faithfully for if yee haue but as much as a graine of mustard-seede and say vnto this mountaine Remoue it shall remoue and nothing shall be vnpossible vnto you Then next humbly for it is the humble petition that pearceth the skies that shewed the Publican to depart home to his house more iustified then the boasting Pharisie and they alone that be humble and meeke finde rest for their soules And last of all continually for wee must not faint in well doing because the reward is not promised to him that doth but to him that contiuneth to doe But wee may long seeke and neuer finde except wee seeke the Father by the Sonne For no man knoweth the Father but the sonne and hee to whom the Sonne shall disclose him he is the way the trueth and the life and no man commeth to the Father but by him There is one God and one mediatour betwixt God and man the man Christ Iesus So that if we sinne wee haue an aduocate Iesus Christ the just and hee is the propitiation for our sinnes onely let vs seeke the Lord while he may be found And to this ende the worde Seeking is vsed in this place that we may learne that as the heauens and the planets and the whole frame of nature were ordayned to finish their course by motions and operation so man as hee was ordained to a most blessed and happie ende should attaine thereunto not by sloth and idlenesse but by an earnest seeking of the same The kingdome of heauen is like a treasure which cannot bee found without seeking and digging It is like the precious pearle for which the wise Merchant was content not onely to seeke but to sell all that he had to buy it God hath placed vs here in this world as husbandmen to plough vp the fallowe of our hearts as labourers to worke in his vineyarde as trauellers to seeke a countrey as souldiers to fight the battell of the Lorde against the flesh the world and the diuell And for this purpose hath hee proposed vnto vs an vntilled lande a vineyarde a triple enemie to fight against that wee might remember that wee must till the ground if wee will reape the fruite that wee must prune the vine if wee will drinke of the grape that wee must fight if we will ouercome He that tilleth the land sayth the wise man shall bee satisfied with breade but hee that followeth idlenesse shall be filled with pouerty Idlenesse is a moath or canker of the mind and the fruits thereof are wicked cogitations euill affections and worse actions corrupt trees without fruit twise dead and plucked vp by the rootes engendering in the mind a loathing of God and godlines Eschue therefore idlenesse I beseech ye and by the want ye finde in others learne instructions for your selues Bee not forgetfull howe busie your enemy is if he finde ye idle first hee putteth yee in minde of some vanitie then offereth opportunitie to practise then hee craueth consent and if yee grant him that hee triumpheth by adding practise hee leaueth no meanes vnattempted whereby hee may subuert and bring ye to perdition To one as to Eua hee promiseth the knowledge of good and euil Another he seduceth with lying speeches as he did Pharao the king whom hee deceiued by false Prophets To the Iewes he pretended the temple of the Lord. To the heathen hee shewed vniuersalities and antiquities And to omit particulars hee leaueth no men vnattempted whereby he may entangle the soules of the simple and wrap them in the snares of death Flie idlenesle therefore and seeke vertue and the way thereof seeke learning as for a iwell make diligent search and inquisition after her seeke earlie and seeke late in the morning sow thy seed and in the euening let not thy hande rest seeke him in the day of trouble and he wil deliuer thee and thou shalt glorifie him Seeke him there is the commaundement hee will deliuer thee there is the promise and thou shalt glorifie him there is the condition To disobey the commaundement is rebellion to distrust the promise is infidelitie to refuse the condition is vile ingratitude Wherefore let vs seeke and seeke earnestly with a feruent spirit and humblenesse of heart and let vs perswade ourselues that there is no seeking without finding no opening without knocking The second circumstance to bee considered in this point is to whom wee must seeke for these thinges Our direction is made vnto God For euery good and perfect gift is from aboue descending from the father of lights And as for many causes we are to seeke God and to God alone so especiallie for these foure First because we haue nothing of our selues nor of anie other creature but whatsoeuer we haue wee haue it of God for what hast thou that thou hast not receiued in him wee liue wee moue and haue our being Art thou wise in thine owne conceit O remember that the wisedome of the world is foolishnesse with God O consider
occasion to reproue their hypocrisie their outward shew of holines which was the sin of the Pharisies and at another time he noteth them for pressing to the chief places at banquets sheweth what modesty is to be obserued in sitting down to meate and what guests should be biddē to our table So should Preachers behaue themselues towards those that inuite them to great feastes vvhen they see perhaps some fault or disorder either in the master of the house or in some other of the guests to say vnto them thus or otherwise as the case requireth I will warne you of one thing that will doe you good that you would leaue your vsury and extortion your couetousnes oppression that you would leaue your swearing and blaspheming the name of God that you woulde forbeare to prophane the Lordes Sabboth that you woulde leaue your pride and excesse in your diet and apparell that you would forbeare to speake ill of any behind their backes or to beare any malice or hatred to any of your neighbours These are the faultes which are easie to bee espied almost in euery place and these are the faultes which the faithfull minister of Christ Iesus should not leaue vnreproued wheresoeuer he commeth But as Elias told Ahab of his Idolatry though hee were his king and Iohn Baptist told Herode of his adulterie though he did many thinges for him and heard him gladly so shoulde the Preachers reprooue the people for their notorious offences notwithstanding some fauours and curtesies receiued from them If Christ had cause to finde fault with Martha for her too much diligence in his entertainement it seemes he was not curious of his diet but would haue beene content with simple cates he was no delicate or daintie guest hee did not affect or delight in sumptuous banquets or costhe fare hee rather requireth a religious heart a constant faith a willing mind to heare the word with an earnest care to liue thereafter These are the thinges wherein the Lorde delighteth these are the iuncates which he desireth and which he preferreth before all earthly cheare Thus is Martha reprehended for her curiositie nowe let vs see how Marie is excused and commended for her godlie care One thing is necessarie saith Christ and what is that one thing Euen to heare the worde preached which is the power of God to saluation to euerie one that beleeueth A man may better want all thinges than that one needefull thing and yet we desire al other things and neglect that one thing which is so needfull This one thing hath Marie chosen and therefore hath chosen the better part Marthaes part is good because it prouideth for this present life but Maries part is better because it leadeth to eternall life It is good to bee occupied about our calling to get our liuing but it is better to bee occupied in hearing the worde which is able to saue our soules As the head and the foote are both needefull in the bodie so Mary and Martha are both needful in a Common-wealth man hath two vocations the one earthly by his labour the other heauenly by his praier There is he actiue life which consisteth in practising the affaires of this life wherein man sheweth himselfe to be like himself and there is the contemplatiue life which consisteth in the meditation of diuine and heauenlie thinges wherein man sheweth himselfe to be like the Angels for they which labour in their temporall vocations doe liue like men but they which labour in spirituall matters liue like Angels When they heare the word God speaketh vnto them when they pray they speake vnto God so that there is a continuall conference betweene God and them because they are continuallie exercised in hearing and praying Christ loued Martha for her hospitalitie as Isaac loued Esau for his venison So did hee loue Marie for her diligence in hearing his word as Rebecca loued Iacob for hearkning to her voice A nurse which hath her breast full of milke doth loue the child that sucks it from her and Christ which hath his breast full of heauenly milke is glad when hee hath children to sucke the same Let vs therefore as the Apostle willeth vs. 1. Pet. 2. 12. laying aside all maliciousnes and all guile and disimulation and enuie and all euill speaking as new borne babes desire the sincere milke of the worde that we may growe thereby to bee perfect men in Christ Iesus let vs breath after the fountaine of the liuing water which springeth vp vnto eternall life as the faintie Hart desireth the water brooke to quench his thirst and for as much as many things are so troublesome and one thing is so needeful let vs seeke that one needful thing the end of all thinges euen to feare God and keepe his commandementes which we learne by hearing the word of God wherby faith without the which it is impossible to please God is begotten and nourished in the hearts of men This is that good parte which Mary hath chosen by so much better than her sisters choise because it concerneth a better life and hath the fruition of this present life Marie hath a double portion she heard the worde and ate of the meate which her sister dressed for godlinesse hath the promise of this life and of the life to come As for all other things whether they be honors promotions pleasures and what not They serue only for the maintenance of this present life which is so short and subiect to mutabilitie but the word of God is the foode of the soule the breade of life that immortall seede which bringeth forth fruite vnto eternall life Let the worde of God therefore bee pretious vnto vs because it is so permanent for heauen and earth must passe but the word of God endureth for euer If wee make choise of any thing beside it must be taken from vs or wee shall bee taken from it but if wee make choise of this one thing it shall neuer be taken from vs neither in this worlde nor in the world to come The Lord graunt that wee be not only hearers but doers of the word that it may be trulie said of vs as Christ said of his Disciples that heard his preaching Behold my brother my sister and mother or as he answered the woman that commended his carnall kindred Blessed are they that heare the word of God and keepe the same FINIS THE FIRST SERMON of Noahs drunkennesse Gen. 9. 20. 21. Noah also began to be a husbandman and planted a vineyard And he dranke of the wine and was drunken and was vncouered in the middest of his tent FIrst we are to speake of Noah then of Cham his wicked sonne and after of Shem and Iapheth his good sonnes In Noah first of that which hee did well and then of his sinne In Cham first of his sinne and then of his curse In his brethren first of their reuerence and then
little wit For when hee could not come to the sight of Christ for the multitude hee had the wit to run before and to clime vp into a tree to obtaine his purpose And for the most part it falleth out that men of lowe stature are men of high conceite and the shortest bodies haue the sharpest wits God so prouiding that the defects of their bodies might be supplied with the giftes of their mind Now Zaccheus that before was loth to moue his foote from the custome-house for losing his profite beginnes to runne after Christ for feare of a greater losse like Elisa that left his plowing and ranne after Elias to follow his new vocation But Zaccheus dooth not onely runne but also climbe vp into a tree to see Christ A strange thing that Zaccheus a rich man and a cheere customer shoulde behaue himselfe so childishly in the sight of so great a multitude but the desire he had to see Christ made him forget himselfe and to commit such thinges as were not fitting for his state and credite So they that will followe Christ must make account to doe many things contrarie to the fashion of the worlde and their owne liking If Christ himselfe were content to leaue the glorie which he had with his father to come downe to vs shall not wee bee contente to leaue the reputation which we haue with men to goe vp to him But alas where is there any almost that preferreth not the fruitiō of this earthly prison before the possession of that heauenly mansion and had rather hazarde the hope which they haue of eternall glory then leese the present enioying of their fading pleasure The ambitious man hunteth after honor and wil not leese an inch of his estimation The couetous man seeks after profite and countes like Iudas all lost that comes not to his bagges And the voluptuous man bestowes his time in pleasure and thinketh that his chiefe felicitie Thus euery man makes his heauen of that wherein hee most delighteth and is content to take great paines to accomplish his fonde desires But here Zaccheus is as an other mind for being a Publique officer he climbes into a tree which stood not with his grauity and being a rich man hee runs to see Christ which was not for his worldlie profit yea he takes great paynes to see Christ not respecting his case or pleasure Thus must we be affected if we desire to come to Christ that neither honours nor preferments nor profite nor pleasure nor kindred nor friendes bee able to holde vs backe Wee must be readie not onely to runne but also to climbe if need require as Zaccheus did that is to take some paine and trauaile to haue a sight of Christ. The Queene of the South vndertooke a great and tedious iourney to heare the wisedome of Salomon but we are loth to take any paine to he are one that is greater then Salomon The people in Dauids time brought so much treasure so many gifts to the building of Gods Tēple that the priests were faine to bid them cease but a great part of the people in our time are so sparing of their paines and coste that they thinke that verie time mispent which is imploied in the seruice of God and that money ill bestowed which is giuen to the maintenance of his ministers When Zaccheus could not see Christ for the multitude he climbes into a tree that groweth in the way where hee was to passe that from a tree he might behold him which was to suffer on a tree for mans saluation So when wee cannot drawe neere to Christ by reason of our sinnes that presse vs down we wil climb vp by a liuelie faith which is the tree of life that groweth in the way to eternall life that so with the eyes of our faith wee may beholde him that died for our sinnes vpon a tree It was a wilde figge tree that Zaccheus climbed but not like that vnfruitfull one which our Sauiour cursed for this bare most pretious fruit euen such as Christ himselfe vouchsafed to plucke A happie tree that bare such pretious fruite as Zaccheus was but thrice happie Zaccheus that so happily climbed on that happy tree This tree grewe in the way that Christ was to passe for else Zaccheus might haue climbed to no purpose So if wee desire to finde Christ we must seeke him in the way where he hath promised to shew himselfe vnto vs that is in his holie Temple where his word is duely preached and his sacraments reuerently administred for where two or three are so gathered together hee hath promised to bee present amongst them The third circumstance When Christ came to the place he looked vp and saw Zaccheus As Zaccheus ranne before to see Christ so Christ followed after to see Zaccheus Sathan for his parte went about like a roaring Lyon seeking to deuoure him but Christ for his part goeth about like a good shepheard minding to saue him And although Sathan a strong armed man had taken some possession in the hart of Zaccheus yet Christ a stronger then hee commeth vnarmed and taketh from him his harnesse wherein he trusted and rescueth the spoile Christ comes to the place where Zaccheus was because otherwise it had beene vnpossible for Zaccheus to come to his presence for vnlesse the Lorde vouchsafe to come vnto vs wee cannot attaine to the presence of God As no man might haue any accesse to King Assuerus except hee stretched out his golden Scepter so no man may come to Christ vnlesse hee bee called by the golden Scepter of his sacred worde Christ looked vp and saw Zaccheus before Zaccheus could looke downe to behold him Thus doth the Lord preuent vs with his mercie whom he might cast off in his iustice and if he perceiue in vs a willing mind to come vnto him hee is content to come first vnto vs. And like that good Father Luke 15. to behold vs while we are yet a great way off and to haue compassion on vs. When Iobs three friendes that came to visite him in his great calamitie lift vp their eies a farre off they knewe not Iob because he was so sore afflicted But Christ who is the mirror of true friendship cannot so soone forget his friends howsoeuer they be disguised He knoweth his owne sheepe wheresoeuer he seeth them Ioh. 10. whether they be vnder the fig-tree as Nathaniel was or vpon the fig-tree as Zaccheus was he hath respect vnto them And if they haue a desire to seeke they shall be sure to find Math. 7. And if they labour and are heauy laden he will refresh them Matth. 11. Christ is now come to the place where Zaccheus is to be called and as Abraham Gene 22. lift vp his eies and sawe in the bush a Ramme that was to be sacrificed so Christ lifting vp his eyes saw in the tree Zaccheus the sinner that was to be conuerted And
now begins the conuersion of Zaccheus for now Christ begins to speake vnto him Zaccheus desired onely to see Christ but now Christ calleth him by name and offereth his own selfe vnto him This was more then Zaccheus expected and yet no more than Christ vouchsafeth namelie to giue more than is desired The sicke of the Palsey that asked health obtained also forgiuenesse of sinnes Salomon desired wisedome and the Lord gaue him wisdom abundance of wealth beside Iacob asked but meat clothing and God made him a great rich man And Zaccheus desired onely to haue a sight of Christ and was so happy as to entertaine him into his house Thus the Lorde that is rich in mercy to all that call vpon him vseth oftentimes to giue more then we aske and hee that is alwaies founde of them that seeke him with their whole heart is found also sometime of Gentiles that knewe not God Esay 65. 1. Let vs therefore that were sometime sinners of the Gentiles seek the lord as Zaccheus did while he may be found and call vpon him while he is nigh He will bee founde of them that seeke him hartily and is nigh to all them that call vpon him faithfully Psal. 145. 18. Zaccheus come downe at once Nowe Christ begins to call Zaccheus from the tree to bee conuerted as God called Adam from among the trees of the garden to be cursed Gen. 3. Before Zaccheus was too low and therefore was faine to climbe but now he is too high and therefore he must come downe And we for the most part are either too high or too low too hot or too cold too quicke or too slouthfull in the Lords busines Sometime wee flocke together to heare a Sermon like the people Luke 5. that pressed vpon Christ to heare the worde and anon wee runne to see some pleasant pastime like the Athenians whose eares alwaies itched to heare some newes Who make more shewe of conscience and religion then they that shewe themselues most irreligious and vnconscionable Who seemed more confident and vertuous in Christ his cause then Peter and not long after who more trayterous and faint harted Many can say with Peter that they will not sticke to die before they will deny Christ but when it comes to the trial they are ready to abiure Christ and his religion before they wil hazard either life or liuing He that will come to Christ must come at once without delay for delaies specially in the matter of our saluation are most dangerous and repentance may not bee deferred We must make no tarrying to turne vnto the Lord nor put off from day to day least the wrath of the Lord breakeforth suddainly and we bee destroied in our securitie and perish in the time of vengeance When the Lord is minded to do vs good he wil haue vs come quickly like Ioseph Gen. 45. 9. that in the time offamine woulde haue his father Iacob to come downe quickly vnto him to soiourne in Egypt where there was some plenty of food As the children of this worlde are very nimble to worke wickednesse so the children of light should bee as nimble to follow goodnesse Iudas was nimble to betray Christ Iohn 13. 27. and the bad debtors Luke 16. could sit down quickly to misreckon their creditor so let vs come quicklie to heare of Christ that Christ may accept of vs quicklie let vs be nimble to make our account before that we do not like the foolish builder come short of our reckoning But why must Zaccheus come downe so hastily euen to entertaine Christ into his house For to day saith Christ I must abide with thee This was ioyfull newes to little Zaccheus Not long before hee wanted meanes to see Christ but nowe hee hath opportunitie to entertaine him into his house There was more humanitie in Christ then in Zaccheus for if Christ had not bidden himselfe to dinner he had not been bidden for Zaccheus So if Christ doe not offer himselfe vnto vs in his afflicted members he may goe long enough before we will offer him any entertainement As often as the poore craueth any reliefe at our hands let vs imagine that Christ asketh something of vs but as Zaccheus must entertaine him presently without delay so let vs bee readie to helpe them presentlie because they stand in neede of present helpe And as hee must receiue Christ into his house so we must make account to receiue his needy members into our houses And as the vniust stewarde procureth himselfe friendes with his masters goods so let vs make the poore to be our friends by our beneficence and bounty towardes them that so receiuing them when they haue need into our earthly houses they may receiue vs when we stand in greatest neede into euerlasting habitations They that were inuited to the marriage Matth. 22. refused to come but Christ is cōtent to come to Zaccheus house before he was inuited Wherein also hee sheweth his great humilitie in comming before he was requested as they bewraied their great arrogancy in refusing to come beeing solemnely bidden It was a part of great humilitie that he that was most free from sinne would vouchsafe to come into a sinners house but it was a signe of great humilitie that he would bewray his great necessity and seeke for succour at a sinners hand Alas poore humble Sauiour who though thou be Lorde of heauen earth as thou art the sonne of God yet as thou art the sonne of man hast not whereon to lay thy heade Matth. 8. Howe iustly did thy Prophet Ieremie wonder at thy humble pouertie saying O thou hope of Israel the Sauiour therof in the time of trouble why art thou as a stranger in the land or as one that passeth by to tarrie for a night The sonne of God vouchsafeth to come and that vnrequested to a sinful mans house a speciall fauour but hee disdaineth not to make his necessitie knowne vnto him O strange humility Here therefore appeareth the singular humanity great humilitie of Christ to sinfull men he offereth himselfe to be their guest if hee finde them willing to entertaine him for their guest And Zaccheus no doubt was willing to entertaine him for although Christ heard not the voice yet hee heard the affection of Zaccheus inuiting him to dinner As therefore Zaccheus was willing to receiue Christ into his house so let vs be ready to receiue him into our hearts For as Christ said to Zacheus This day I must abide at thy house so he saith to euery one of vs This day I must abide in your heartes Wherefore as the Prophet Dauid saith Open your gates that the King of glory may come in so I saie vnto you Open your hearts that the word of God may enter in This day the word of God may abide in your hearts for this day the word is preached vnto you and who knoweth whether hee shall liue to heare
it the next Sabboth To day therefore if ye will heare his voice haraen not your hearts as did the Israelites least if you harden your heartes his voice be heard no more amongst you This day you may gather this heauenly Manna as the Israelites might gather their Manna sixe daies together but tomorrow perhaps and sixe daies after you may not gather it as on the seuenth day Manna might not be found The Lord graunt that you may gather sufficient food for the sustentatioÌ„ of your soules that as Elias the prophet iournied in the strength of the meate that the Angell brought him euen vnto Horeb the mount of God so you in the strength of this spiritual meate which heere I bring you may bee able to passe through the dangerous waies of this troublesome worlde vnto Gods holy Mountaine the hauen of all happines whither he bring vs that hath deerly bought vs with his pretious bloud euen Christ Iesus the righteous to whome with the Father and the holy Ghost three persons and one God be giuen all glory and maiestie world without end Amen FINIS THE SINNERS CONFESSION The Text. Luke chap. 19. verses 6. 7. 8. 9. 6 Then he came down hastily and receiued him ioyfully 7 And when all they saw it they murmured saying that he was gone into lodge with a sinful man 8 And Zaccheus stood forth and sayde vnto the Lorde Beholde Lord the halfe of my goods I giue to the poore and if I haue taken from any man by forged cauillation I restore him foure fold 9 Then Iesus sayd vnto him This day is saluation come vnto this house forasmuch as hee is also become the sonne of Abraham YOu heard the last Sabboth how Zacheus the Publican was called to be a christiaÌ„ now you shall heare the fruit of his conuersion No sooner had Christ called him from the tree but that he came downe hastilie and receiued him ioyfullie This was the fruit which it had in the heart of Zaccheus namely obedience to the voice of Christ a fruite more pretious and acceptable vnto God than the most pleasant fruits which Eden yeelded and a sacrifice more sweet and acceptable vnto him than all the sacrifices which the Law required This is the sacrifice wherewith the Lord is pleased euen when his voice is obeyed 1. Sam. 15. 22. The voice of the Lord is a glorious voice and mighty in operation diuiding the flames of fire and shaking the Cedar trees So the voyce of Christ is a glorious voyce his voyce is mightie in operation diuiding the soule and the spirit and shaking Zaccheus from the wilde figge tree whereinto hee had climed The same God to whose commaund the windes the sea the diuels and death it selfe obey here commaundeth Zaccheus to come downe at once and he commeth downe hastilie to receiue him into his house and he receiueth him ioifully As Zaccheus could not come at Christ till he was called so no man can come to Christ except the Father drawe him and as Zaccheus could not chuse but come when he was called by the voice of Christ so when any man is called effectually by the preaching of the Gospell hee cannot chuse but come to Christ for where there is an effectuall calling there is grace giuen also to obey the same Ro. 8. 30. The Lord is faine somtime to cal vs often because we know not the voyce of him that calleth vs as hee called Samuel three times before hee answered because at that time Samuel knew not the Lord 1. Sam. 3. 7. But as soone as he vnderstood that it was the Lord that spake vnto him he replied presently Speake on Lorde for thy seruant heareth So when the Lord calleth any man effectually by the preaching of his worde all the partes and powers of his bodie doe yeeld their obedience the eare listneth the tongue confesseth the heart beleeueth the head deuiseth the hand performeth the foote runneth the eye directeth and all concurre to do thy will O God Psal. 40. 7. Such and so effectuall is the voice of Christ in the heartes of his chosen that it maketh Saul of a bloudy persecutor to become Paul a painefull preacher it causeth Peter of a silly Fisher-man to become a catcher of men and Zaccheus here of a vile publican to become a zealous christian And such also is the nature of the word preached wheresoeuer it pleaseth the Lord to giue successe and increase thereto that it is able to transforme the mindes of men to beget faith in the hearts of Infidels and in a word to saue such as are ordained to eternall life Acts 13. This is the powre of the word of God euen to cause a consenting to the truth thereof and this is the propertie of the children of God to yeeld all obedience to the word of God Assoone as Christ calleth Zaccheus he comes down presentlie like the light in the creatition that was made as soone as God said Let there be light Here therefore of Zaccheus that obeied the voice of Christ let vs learne obedience to the voice of Christ for as Christ biddeth Zaccheus to come down because he was too high so he saith to euery one of vs come downe because wee are too high minded But with vs the voyce of Christ is not soe effectuall as it was with Zaccheus for hee was content to come downe at the first bidding but wee must be often bidden to beware of pride and ambition and yet wee will still bee climing There are fewe so high that are content with their calling but as Haman was alwaies aspiring till he came to the gallowes so many amongst vs are alwayes climing till they catch a fall Againe as Christ sayd to Zaccheus To day I must abide at thy house so Christ saith to vs. To daye my poore afflicted members should receiue some succour at your handes But as the Priest the Leuite Luke 10. passed by the wounded man leauing him halfe dead so we for the most part passe by our needy brethren leauing them vnreleeued Thus are we euery â—â—y disobedient to the voice of Christ. He teacheth vs to be humble as he himselfe is Matth. 11. 29. and wee waxe proude and insolent as Sathan is Hee willeth vs to bee mercifull as our heauenly father is Luke 6. 36. and wee are cruel and vnmercifull as the rich glutton was Luke 16. This is the cause why the earth deceiueth and rendreth not her fruit Esai 24. 5. This is the cause why the sword deuoureth abroad and the pestilence destroyeth at home Deut. 28. 15 Leuit 26. 24. 25. and in a word this is the cause of all the mischiefes and calamities that are threatned euen because we are obstinate and rebellious against the Lorde we are vndutifull and disobedient to the voyce of Christ that calleth vs so louingly to come vnto him Matth. 11. 28. Zaccheus was called but once and he commeth quickly but we are
not able to hurt your better part seeke not to gaine the fauor of the world for the whole worlde is not able to saue a soule but feare to offende him that is able to destroy both body and soule in hell and seeke to please him that is able to saue them both in heauen for euer Now followeth another fruite of Zaccheus conuersion namely his good confession for as hee beleeued with the heart vnto righteousnesse so hee confessed with the mouth vnto saluation When Zaccheus was mocked of the Pharisies it seemeth that he should stoope downe for shame but when he was thus reprooued reuiled by them the Scripture saith that he stood vp in signe of gladnesse As the Apostles went away reioicing that they were coūted worthie to suffer rebuke for the name of Christ so Zaccheus the Publican went forth reioycing that hee was reproched for the cause of Christ. Before Zaccheus was a Publican and therefore stood in sinne very daungerously like the house that is builded vpon the sand ready to bee ouerturned with euerie tempest but now Zaccheus is become a true Christian and therefore stands in righteousnesse very safely like the house that is built vpon a rocke free from any danger of falling Behold Lorde the halfe of my goods c. There are two parts of this confession The first is his gift to the poore the second is the restitution of his vniust gotten goods Before Zaccheus was an oppressor of the poore now hee is a great benefactor to the poore before hee was an encrocher vpon other mens goods now he is a distributer of his own goods before hee was a receiuer and a taker nowe he is a restorer and a giuer neither doth he giue sparingly but he giueth liberally laying vp a good foundatiō against the time to come Now hath Zaccheus found that pretious pearle and for ioy thereof he is content not to sell but to giue all that hee hath to enioy the same When the rich Ruler in the former chapter was willed to sel all that he had to giue it to the poore he went away very sorrowful for he was very rich but Zaccheus perhaps as rich as he is content of his owne accorde vnbidden to bestow halfe his goods vpon the poore and that with a cheerefull mind If Zaccheus had giuen only the third part of his goods no doubt but Christ would haue accepted it for he accepteth the widowes farthing because it was giuen with a willing minde but if hee had giuen all his goods to feede the poore as the Pharisies gaue their almes to be seene of men yea or his bodie to be burned as some Romans haue done to get renowne it should haue been to no purpose because it was done to a wrong end Now as Zaccheus was rich in the goods of this life so was he rich in faith also neither was it an idle or dead faith that Zaccheus had but it was a fruitfull a liuely faith a faith that worketh and laboureth by loue such as is required at the handes of Christians Saint Iames saith Shew me thy faith by thy workes and here Zaccheus doth shew his faith by his workes Before he was exercised in vngodly works which are the fruites of infidelity but now he is exercised in the works of mercy which are the fruits of a liuely faith Zaccheus is very liberall in relieuing the poore but he is liberal of that which is his owne so there are many now a daies that are very liberall but it is of that which is none of theirs for as Nahab Abihu offered strange fire vnto the Lord so these men offer strange goods vnto the Lorde There are some amongst vs that thinke to make amends for their vniust dealing by giuing part of that to some good vses which they haue gotten by bad meanes if they haue gotten a pound by vsury oppression they are cōtent perhaps to giue a pennie to relieue the poore But as it was not lawful for the Israelites to bring the price or the hire of a harlot into the house of the Lord so it is not lawful for vs to apply the gain of our ill gottē goods to the seruice of God The halfe of my goods I giue c. Zaccheus saith not I haue giuen as an vpbraider of God or I wil giue as a delayer that means to giue away his goods after his death when he can keepe them no longer but hee saith I giue to signifie that his wil is his deed that he meaneth not to take any daies of paiment for the matter For as before he ranne apace to see Christ and came down hastily to entertain Christ in his owne person so doth he here giue quickly to relieue Christ in his needy members This is Zaccheus last wil testament that he maketh before his death and seeth the same proued and performed before his eies If therefore we desire to do any good to any of our poore bre thren let vs learn of Zaccheus to do it quickly while we are aliue for time will preuent vs and death will preuent vs. I know there would be many that would bee willing to giue some part of their goods to the poore before their death as Zaccheus did but that they knowe not what neede themselues may haue there of before they die and therfore for the most part they will hardly forsake or leaue their goods till their goods forsake and leaue them But herein they shewe themselues to doubt of Gods prouidence as it were to distrust of his paiment who hath promised to repay whatsoeuer is giuen vnto the poore as it were lent vnto himselfe and y t not secretly though they did their almes neuer so secretly but the Lord wil reward thē openly as our Sauior speaketh Ma. 6. the wise preacher Eccl. 11. willeth vs to cast our bread vpō the waters that is to be liberal to the poore whose watry eies bewray their great necessity or as others expound it to hazard and aduenture some of our goods vpon our nee dy brethren as Merchantes do aduenture their goods vpon the seas for although they may seeme to bee in great perill and danger of perishing in the waters yet commonly it falleth out that by y e blessing of God they returne with greater profit So albeit the reliefe that is bestowed vpon our distressed neighbors may seeme to be lost yet as the wise mā saith after a time we shal find it againe and as the precious oyle descended from Aarons beard to the skirts of his clothing so certainely the oile of mercie and charitie which wee powre into the woundes of our distressed brethren shall descende into our owne soules and as the widdowes oile was increased in the cruse because shee relieued the Lordes Prophet so shall this pretious oile bestowed vpon the poore be returned vpon our heads in great measure Thus is Zaccheus liberall
grieuous not a fewe but infinite not past but present not secret but presumptuous against thy expresse word will against our owne conscience knowledge and liking if any had done them but our selues O Lord if thou shouldest require but the least of them at our hands Satan would challenge vs for his we should neuer see thy face againe nor the Heauens nor the earth nor all the goodnesse which thou hast prepared for man What shal we doe then but appeale vnto thy mercy and humbly desire thy fatherly goodnesse to extend that compassion towards vs which thy beloued sonne our louing Sauiour hath purchased so mightily so gratiously and so deerely for vs wee beleeue and knowe that one drop of his bloud is sufficient to heale our infirmities pardon our iniquities and supply our necessities but without thy grace our light our strength our guide we are able to doe nothing but sinne as wofull experience hath taught vs too long and the example of them that are voyde thereof whose life is nothing els but the seruice of the world the flesh and the Deuill Therefore good father as rhou in speciall fauour hast appointed vs to serue thee like as thou hast ordained all other creatures to serue vs so may it please thee to send downe thy heauenly spirite into this earthlie mansion to illuminate our mindes mollifie our heartes change our affections subdue our reason regenerate our willes and purifie our nature to this duetie so shall not thy benefites nor thy chastisementes nor thy worde returne voide but accomplish that for which they were sent vntill wee be renued to the image of thy sonne Good Lord wee beseech thee looke downe in the multitude of thy compassions vpon thy militant Church this sinfull realme thy gratious handmaide our dreade Soueraine her Honourable Counsell the ciuill Magistrates the painefull Ministers the two Vniuersities the people that sit in darkenesse and al that beare thy Crosse. Gather vs into one communion of thy truth and giue vnto euery man a spirit to his calling that wee being mindfull of the account and that wee are called Christians may firmely resolue speedily begin and continually perseuer in doing and suffering thy holy will Good Lorde blesse and sanctifie our meeting that no temptation hinder me in speaking nor them in hearing but that thy word may be heard and spoken as the word of God which is able to saue our soules in that day howsoeuer it pleaseth thee by weake and foolish things to magnifie thy self There is no cause O God most iust why thou shouldest heare sinners which art displeased with sinne but for his sake which suffered for sinne and sinned not in whose name we are bolde to lift vp our hearts hands and voyces vnto thee praying as he hath taught vs. Our father which art in heauen c. FINIS Diuision Cōcerning the search Psal 107 Matth 6 Mat 17. 20 Eccle 35 Gal. 6 1. Thes. 6 1. Tim. 2 Matt. 13. 14 Prouer. 28 Iudge 1 Prou. 24. Gen. 3 Exod. 7. 22 1. Kings 13 1 Cor. 2. 1 2. Iames. 1. 27 1. Cor. 2 Rom. 1 2. Pet. 2 Reue. 2 Luke 11. Ephe 6. Reu. 12. Iohn 1 Psal. 144. 2 3 4 Esay 65. Math. 25 Iob. 28. Pro. 9. Psal. 32 Eccle. 5 Amos. 8 1. Pet. 3 Eccle 12 Eccle. 32 47. 50. Mat. 2. Iames 5. 15 Iohn 16 Act. 15 10 Iosh 6 2. King 20 Dan. 6. Exod. 14 Dan. 3 1 King 8 Iudg. 4 Luke 6 Luke 6 Luke 6 Iohn 11 Math 26 Iohn 18 Luke 22 Luke 23 Math 19 Psal 40 Rom 8 2. Tim 4. Psal 83 Esay 9 Prou 2. Psal 105 Psal 18 Iere. 7. 7 1. King 16 Psal. 18 Reue. 19 Rom 1 Deut. 27 1. Thes. 6 Ephes. 4 1. The. 5 Ephes. 4 Reue. 1. 7 2. Cor. 5 Psal. 78 Ephe. 5. Reu. 22. 2 Psal. 1. 12 Pro. 28 Iob. 22 Psal. 128. Hest. 8. Gen. 30. Dan. 6 Psal. 113. Psal. 78 Iob. 42 Psal. 126. Psal. 41 Psalm 99. Psalm 96 Iohn 11 Gen. 27 Matth. 6. 35 Iob. 2. Gen. 47 Genes 45 Luke 8 Matth. 8. 19. Gen. 18 Gen. 19 1. Tim 3. 2 Num. 35 Luke 15 Math 5. 13 Math. 5 Luke 4 Iohn 8 Math. 5. 13. Luke 8. 14 Exod. 3 Mark 10 Gen. 18 Acts. 2 Acts. 8 Actes 22 Gen. 8 Exod. 8. 32 2. Sam. 15. Luke 8 Math. 13. 40. 2. Tim. 4. 2 Math. 6 1. King 17 2. King 4 Iohn 11 Math. 25 Luke 5 Num. 21 Mat. 25 Gen. 6 Heb. 11 1. King 18 Gen. 37 1. Sam. 17 Psal. 69 Luke 7. 33 Actes 26 Luke 7. 34 Gen. 3. 24 Num. 12 Num. 22. 2. Pet. 2. 1◠Gen. 2◠1. Sam. 3 Luke 14 1. King 18 Math. 14 Marke 6. 20 Gen. 25. 28 Psalm 42. 1 Eccle. 12. 13 Heb. 11. 6 Rom. 10. 17. 1. Tim. 4. 8 1. Pet. 1. 13 Luke 21. 33 1. Pet. 1. 25 Iames. 1. 22 Math. 12. 50 Luke 11. 28 Ephe. 5. 23 Iosu. 6. 1 Reg. 16. 34 Iohn 7. 52 Math. 19. 28 Rom. 2. 28 Deut. 15 Leuit. 35. 36. 37 Marke 14. 7 Psalm 37. Luke 12. 21. Luke 10 Gen. 45 Rom 10 1. Reg. 10 Iohn 20. 32 Exod 19 Iohn 6. 26 Two impediments 2. Sam. 16. 7 3. Sā 16. 12 Iohn 3. 2 2. King 5 Esa. 59 〈…〉 1. Reg. 1◠Rom. 12 Iohn 12. 6 Matth. 3. 22 Luke 14. 29 1. King 10. 1. Chr. 29. 9 Math. 21. 19 Mat. 18. 20 1. Pet. 58 Iohn 10 Luke 11. 21 Hester 4 Iob. 2. 12 Iohn 1 Luke 5 1. King 3 12. 13 Gen. 28. 30 Rom. 10. 12 Ephe. 2. 4 Ierem. 29 Rom. 10. 20 Esay 55 Actes 17 Math. 26 Eccle. 5. 7. Luke 14. 28 Math. 35. 40 Luke 16 Ierem. 14 Psalm 24 psalm 95 Exod. 16 1. Reg. 19 Psalm 29 Heb. 4. 12 Math. ◠Iohn 6. 44 Acts. 9 Math. 4 1. Cor. 3. 7 Rom. 1 Hest. 7. Gen. 18 Abraham Gen. 18 3 Lot Gen. 19. 3 Mat. 25 Gen. 4. 10. Math. 9. 13 Mat. 9. 13 Luke 18 Math. 23 Acts. 23. 6 1. Tim. 1. 15 Math. 15. 7 Luke 11. 44 Luke 11. 1 Actes 2 6 5 Math 23. 25. 27 Mat. 5. 20 Math. 10 Rom 10. 10. Acts. 5 Luke 6. 45. 1. Tim. 6. Math. 13. Luke 18 Luke 21. 1. Cor. 13 Gal. 5. 6 Leuit. 10 Deut. 23 Pro. 19. 17 Psalm 133 Luke 10 1. King 17. Luke 16. Matth. 12. 2. King ◠Exod. 22. 1 2. Sam. 12. Matth. 19. Mat. 7 Luke 13 Math. ◠Luke 16 Iohn 8. 39 Rom. 4. 12 Gen. 32. 1 Acts. 7. 3 Iohn 8 56 Psalm 18