our soules for healing our sicknesses the good Samaritane to bind vp our wounds the euerlasting high Priest for bearing our infirmities euen Iesus Christ the righteous that thereby our sinnes the originall of our sicknesses may be blotted out and cleane clensed and from Christ we may heare this comfortable voyce Arise and walke c. Be whole for thy sins are forgiuen thee My beloued in the Lord No sounde course but this to saue vs from perishing except this through course be taken neuer looke for sauing sound and continuing health but euen with Gehezi to die a leprous man Now as I haue spoken of particular men for particular sinnes diuersly diseased so may I speake of whole countries kingdomes and places who for sin and iniquitie haue been plagued Some with sudden destructiō Genes 19. as Sodom Gomor Some with captiuitie as the Israelites vnder the Babylonians 2. Chro. 36. Some with hauing the godly wise and aged Counsellors taken from thē as Esay threatneth the Iewes Esay 8.1.2.3.4 1. King 20. 2. King 6.19 2. King 17.29 Some with death and famine as was Samaria and Ierusalem and as this our nation of late and some with the disease of the pestilence burning ague and bloody issues as this our owne land first not long since in the South parts We haue felt the same and now these two yeres last past in our Northerne parts And seeing it hath been proued that these corrections and punishments flow from our owne disobedience and wilfull rebellion From whence these punishments flowe therefore if euer the effect wee desire to haue remoued let vs first take away the cause which is our sinnes Sublata causa tollitur effectus and assure our selues the effect will cease which is Gods fearefull punishments Doctrine These proofes examples and vses being thus laid downe this doctrine following shall bee the conclusion of it vz. what euill soeuer wee suffer either in body or minde we may impute it to our sinnes Psal 38.5 as the originall and first occasion thereof whereupon may bee gathered a second doctrine Caluin in Ioh. cap. 5. vers 14. Non sunt fortunae hominum calamitates sed totidem sunt castigatoriae ferulae Our sicknesses diseases or griefes bee they inward or outward proceed not from fortune or by chance Amos. 3.6 but by the foredecreed counsell of the highest that they may bee as so many checkes vnto the pride of our sinnes the truth hereof being granted there ensueth an exceeding comfort to the conscience A comfort carefull of Gods seruice vz. that our heauenly father taketh no delight nor pleasure in punishing vs and therefore doth hee neuer seuerely scourge vs Calu. ibid. but whē he is highly offended by our transgressions and perforce vrged to change mercie into iudgement The Lord is haled on to iudgement by our sinnes his louing countenance into seuere corrections And thus much generally haue I set downe and proued the cause and originall of sicknesse sorrowes troubles and death itself in all men liuing vpon the face of the earth as they are Adams branches and posteritie Now least the godly man for conscience sake persecuted or for his further triall of the Lord afflicted should be too much dismaied and thinke his persecutions were but iust plagues for sinne and his crosses no comforts contrary to the sweete promises of the Gospel in that behalfe How and for what end afflictions are laid vpon the godly therefore let vs search how and in what sort they are laid vpon the godly The nature and condition of all troubles both of body and minde in respect of their first originall are qualified to the children of God and true Christians not by any dignitie or desert at all of their owne but as Elisha healed the bitter and venemous waters by casting salt into them Note well so the bitter and intolerable sting of death the bitter and vnsauorie sicknesses and diseases both of our bodies and our soules are healed the nature of them changed the poyson remoued by the sauourie salt of Christ his blood yea all sicke halt lame and withered men haue their griefes eased by the troubled persecuted scorned scoffed and crucified body of our Lord Iesus Christ as this sick man was healed in his body by troubling the cleere water Christ his blood shedding being in iudgement of wicked men as vnlikely to worke vs any good as salt to make fruitfull or muddy water to make a lame man whole In this Christ Iesus our debt for sinne is discharged and vpon his crosse is the obligation of ordinances that was against vs fastned Reuel 3.18 and he is the very purgation that cleanseth the sauing eye-salue that giueth light Matth. 3.17 Collos 1.13 2. Pet. 1.17 and the wel-beloued sonne of God by whom our cries are conueied to his father in whom he receiueth and heareth our plaints and for vvhose sake wee enioy all the blessednes and good things that euer we haue Christ wholy altered the nature of afflictions to his owne Church Now therefore in this Christ our alone Sauiour sicknesse to his faithfull members is as comfortable as health affliction as sweete as peace aduersitie as acceptable as prosperitie death as welcome as life the graue as a most sweete perfumed chamber for the bodies of the Saints to lie in for they can with S. Paul say Rom. 8.1 There is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Iesus It makes them not feare death but rather in Gods appointed time desire it in seeing the miseries of this present life and by a liuely faith soaring vp into the vnspeakable ioyes of the life to come And therefore they say with Paul We know that if this earthly tabernacle of ours be dissolued 2. Cor. 5.1 we haue a building giuen of God not made with hands but eternall in the heauens And Christ Iesus whether wee liue or die is vnto vs both in life and death aduantage yea we seeing that while we liue 1. Thess 5.10 Phil. 1.21 we are naked in this world we sigh desiring to be clothed with our house which is from heauē And seeing while we are here iournying vpon the earth wee are absent from our head and husband therefore we desire to be dissolued Philip. 1.23 and to be with our husband Sauiour which is best of all And finally seeing there is nothing in this world but corruption Eccles 1.1.2 alteration and vanitie we waite we looke and long for the day of our refreshing when we may foreuer lift vp our heads meete our elder brother in the clowdes and receiue the incorruptible crowne of glorie laid vp in store for all the Lords elect ere euer the foundations of the world were laid Thus Gods children may reioyce when the wicked shall howle and weepe they shall bee satisfied as it were with marrow and fatnesse yea euen when they seeme to be
his owne sonne Absalon to rebell against him take away his fathers concubines and to lye with them Againe when Dauid in pride of hart numbred his people cōtrary to the Lords minde the Lord for a reward of his sinne infected the whole land of Israel with the disease of the pestilence 1. Chro. 21.14 in so much that there dyed of the sicknes 70. thousand men O my countrimen in the Lord Iesus I beseech you throughly and soundly let vs search to the bottome the originall and chiefe occasion of our so great and long a visitation and I am afraid we shall finde that not Dauids adulterie murther and proud heart alone haue procured these afflictions to fall vpon vs but a huge masse of many infinit sins more A masse of sins amongst vs crying for vengeance which this 40. yeeres by-past we haue till now hoorded and treasured vp against our selues till they made such a crye in the Lords eares for vengeance that though his mercie be great yet they haue enforced him at length to powre out vpon vs the violl of his wrath and by these afflictions to manifest vnto vs his indignation kindled against vs. The Lord giue vs eyes to see this hearts to be sorie and a care and continuall conscience euer hereafter to walke more carefully as in the Lords presence To returne againe to Dauid as you haue heard the Lord to haue dealt sharply with him in outward troubles for his sinnes so how he dealt vvith him by inwarde troubles griefes and sicknes of the minde Psal 6. and 38. and 55. and 77. his often complaining in these Psalmes quoted in the margent sufficiently doth witnesse Which Psalmes I wish the gentle reader to peruse and ruminate vpon them assuring him if he be distressed in soule for sinne thereby hee may receiue and finde comfort The Israelites offending God Num. 21.4 5 6. in murmuring against Moses and Aaron the Lords messengers were stung with fierie Serpents and destroyed with the meate in their mouthes Yea that excellent woman Myriam Aarons sister but once murmuring against Moses Exod. 12.1.2 for marying a woman of Aethiopia and because the Lord talked more familiarly with her then hee did with Aaron and her selfe Vers 10. the Lord for this sinne smote her with the disease of the leprosie that she was all ouer as white as snow Vers 14. till that Moses made earnest suite intercession to the Lord for her health Hezekiah was grieuously sicke both in bodie and soule 2. King 20. Esay 38.1 2. Chro. 32.14 Hosea chap. 8. and chap. 9. till in mercie God restored both to health Sinne and iniquitie was the cause of famine and sword threatned to the rebellious Iewes Often we finde in the Gospell that our Sauiour Christ giuing sight to the blinde or health to the sick vseth this speech Go thy way Mar. 2.5 thy sinnes are forgiuen thee as if hee should say sinne hath been the cause of thy long sicknes but now thy sins being pardoned which before as fetters chained thy feete thou maiest rise vp and walke as a sound man And of all other most excellent and memorable is that of the Apostle Paul to the Corinthians 1 Cor. 11.30.31 where he telleth them that for the abuse and prophanation of the Lords Supper amongst them Prophaning of the Lords Supper caused death many of them are weake many sicke and many fallen asleepe that is dead Truly I am perswaded that one of the greatest and capitall crimes that hath puld these plagues vpon our countrie This holy Sacramēt greatly prophaned in our North parts of this land First by the pastor how and hath made vs a talke in the mouthes of the people of other countries is the grieuous and monsterous prophanation of this holy Sacrament the Supper of the Lorde being for so long a time so horribly prophaned both of pastor and people The pastor or at least hee that occupieth the roome of a pastor without all due care and consideration ministreth it to all alike without exception examination or making any separation of the vnholy from the holy the prophane from the sound professor the dogs and the swine from the sincere and sanctified people of the Lord who ought to vse the power of the keyes belonging to their calling if any such vncleane and vnsanctified people doe offer themselues to communicate themn by the power aforesaid to barre such men from the Supper vntill there appeare in them testimonies of repentance and change of manners This being the true and onely remedie prescribed by Christ himselfe both against such men and to take away all offences of the Church and finally to escape the iust vengeance of God that euer frō time to time haue fallen vpon the contemners of the Gospell and Sacraments But alas thee careles guides and vnsauourie salt The lets that stay them frō doing their dutie in this behalfe either because they are men-pleasers dare not or because they may bee attainted of some notorious fault themselues wil not or else because they are sillie simple ignorant sots and know not how to doe it doe still continue in their careles course to the vtter destruction of thēselues and many a poore soule vnder their charge The poore soules in great danger hereby vnlesse God in his great mercie take pitie vpon them These euill workers nay rather betrayers of the sillie sheepe of Christ either know not or at least care not for so many inuectiues as the godly fathers in the former ages of the Church haue giuen out most boldly both by word and writing against the pastors who suffer such monsterous prophanation of the holy Supper of the Lord as also the great care that Christian Churches haue still had to keepe themselues cleane from that pollution Amongst the multitude of the godly writers I cannot passe ouer but set downe that most excellent saying of Iohn Chrysostome in his Homilies vpon Matthew concerning this point whose words are these Chrysost in hom 38. in Mat. c. 27 No small punishment hangeth ouer your heads if knowing any man to bee taken in wickednesse you suffer him to be partaker hereof for his blood shall be required at your hands Therefore if any Captaine if the Consul himselfe if he that weareth the crowne come vnworthily barre him keepe him backe Against the vnlawfull fearing of any thou hast greater authoritie then he Therefore if a most cleere spring of water were committed vnto thee to keepe it onely to serue the flocke when thou diddest see beasts vse to strike and gore and most filthie swne come towards it thou wouldest not suffer them to goe downe into the water nor to trouble the spring And now when as the most hallowed spring not of water but of blood and the holy Ghost is committed vnto thee if thou shalt see men notoriously defiled with sinne come vnto it wilt thou not be angrie nor
ease him one minute of an houre neither was there any man could tarrie neere about him nor yet would any of his friends come neere him so great was the stinch that came from him For which cause he was carried from the Iacobines to an hospitall there to bee kept But the stinch and infection there so increased that no man there durst come neere him neither was he himselfe able to abide the horrible stinch that issued from his owne bodie full of vlcers and sores and swarming with vermine and so rotten that the flesh fell from the bone by peece meale Whilest he was in these tormēts and anguish he cried out often in great rage Oh who will kill me Act. Mon. pag. 945. who will rid and deliuer me out of these intolerable paines which I know I suffer for the euils and oppressions that I haue done to the poore men In these horrible torments and fearefull despayre this blasphemer and cruell homicide ended his vnhappie daies and cursed life as a spectacle to all persecutors receiuing a iust reward of his crueltie by the iust iudgement of God Being dead none would come neere to burie him but a Frier of his owne order with a hooke caught bold of his stinking carkasse and drew him into a hole of the earth The like fearfull iudgement was vpon the Lord of Reuest being chiefe president of the parliament of Aix putting many a good christian to death afterward was himselfe striken with such an horrible sicknesse that for the furie thereof his wise or any that were about him Pag. eadem durst not come neere him and so dyed in this furie and rage The like fearefull sudden death had Barthol Cassaneus who succeeded the other both in place and persecution I can not but set downe likewise a note of another bloodie persecutor of the poore Merindolians Iohn Miniers Lorde of Opede whose iudgement from the Lord for shedding so much innocent blood was a strange kinde of bleeding in his nether parts Like for like like to a bloodie issue or flux and not being able to voyde any vrine Pag. 953. till by little and little his guts at length within him rotted and his intrals began to be eaten vp of wormes In which extremitie The wicked in their extremities howle and cry most desperatly raging and casting out blasphemous words and feeling a fire burne within him from the nauill vpward with extreame stinch of his lower parts at length finished his wretched life The like may be said of one of the accusers of Narcissus the good old Bishop of Ierusalem who wished if his vntrue accusation were not true that he might shortly fall into some great and grieuous sicknes which wish most fearfully afterward was executed vpon him Euseb lib. 6. cap. 9. and that shortly after being striken with a sore sicknesse from top to toe and so dyed And to conclude this point the like may be said concerning the sudden death of one Nightingale parson of Crondall in Kent who was made by the Cardinals authoritie chiefe Penitentiary of that Deanry He comming into the pulpit vpon a Shroue Sunday read publikely the Popes bull of pardon that was sent into England most blasphemously vttering these words That he fully beleeued that by the vertue of that Bull he was as cleane from sinne Intolerable blasphemie as that night he was borne immediatly vpon the same fell suddenly dovvne out of the pulpit and neuer stirred more hand or foote These are sufficient to proue vnto you this point how the Lord for sinne inflicteth vpon the wicked sicknesses diseases and troubles of the body And how he dealeth most fearefully in tormenting their consciences I referre you ouer to Cain who supposed euery man would kill him that met him Both body soule plagued in the wicked by the Lord for their sins To Saul who wished himselfe slaine To Achitophel and Iudas who hanged themselues and the too many experienced testimonies in our owne times both of men and women that hauing been plunged to desperation at the view of their horrible iniquities haue been the instruments of their owne death themselues A Catalog of them all Let vs now as in a little Catalogue set down all these seuerall sinnes aforenamed so seuerely punished by the Lorde in seuerall wicked men that so the diligent reader may more easily beare them away to make him euer hereafter learne by other mens harmes to beware and my propounded proposition bee by so many clowdes of witnesses ratified and confirmed so to continue herafter without controlement Murther and shedding of innocent blood Murther punished in the offender and his posteritie with the state of a runnagate as in Cain with running issues lamenes blood for blood pouertie as in Ioab and his posteritie Hardues of heart and contempt of Gods word punished with losse of goods Hardnes of heart as corne and cattell yea losse of children as in Pharaoh Stretching the hand to make our authority hurt Gods messengers Abusing of authoritie to persecution punished with withering and drying vp the hand as in Ieroboam and punished with the blindnes in the king of Syria his seruants Couetousnesse oppression and killing Couetousnes oppression and killing to come by their purpose vnlawfully and Idolatrie ioyned there withal punished in the offenders and their posteritie neuer to haue the honor of a comely buriall but dying in the citie to bee eaten vp of dogs or dying in the field to be deuoured with the foules of the ayre as in Ahab Iezebell and their posteritie Pride and exalting of our selues against God punished Pride and exalting against God by making the offender like a brute beast as in Nabuchadnezaar And with a fearfull sudden death as in Herod Despaire of Gods helpe in extremities Despayring of Gods helpe in our sicknesse and seeking the helpe of false gods punished with neuer recouerie of health but dying of it as in Ahaziah Extreme couetousnes A couetous heart that cannot bee content to forgoe any profit if they may haue it whether it stand with a good conscience or no and often ioyned with lying punished by the Lord with leprosie for euer as in Gehezi Elisha his seruant 1. King 16. Idolatrie in our selues and drawing others vnto it To commit Idolatry our selues and by our perswasion or power to draw others to doe the like punished in Batasha and his posteritie Vnnaturall murthering of our kindred ioyned with grosse Idolatrie Vnnaturall murther 2. Chron. 21.13.14.15.16 most fearefully plagued with the disease of the bowels incurable and in the end the guts to fall out as in Iehoram Desperation Desperation of Gods mercies punished with killing and hanging themselues as in Saul and Iudas Corruption in iudgement and condemning the innocent without a cause plagued with fearful and sudden death as hath been shewed by the example of the Cardinals iudges of the good Archbishop of
make him returne from the water with Naaman and come to offer the rich and precious gift of his whole heart to the Lord as an acceptable sacrifice wherewith hee in mercie is euer well pleased The like course if euery one of vs would take after our great and marueilous deliuerances euen with the Ruler Ioh. 4.52.53 whose sonne Christ had healed being at the point to dye to enter into a serious and through search This particular course is meete for all of vs the more to moue vs to thankfulnes of the very particular circumstances of the daunger wherein we were and the deliuerāce thereout in Gods mercie it could not but vrge the efficacie of this point wonderfull much Sinne no more And first I will by some examples and proofes out of the Scriptures shew how from time to time the godly being deliuered out of any dangers either spirituall or corporal the Lord hath required and they willingly haue acknowledged some speciall dutie therefore Moses with the Israelites hauing enioyed the great and memorable mercies of the Lord in ouerthrowing Pharaoh and deliuering them from him letting them goe through the red sea as on drie land doe present y ioyne all together with hart and voyce to praise the Lord Moses beginning and they all following in the heauenly melodie of thanksgiuing thus I will sing vnto the Lord Exod. 15.1 for he hath triumphed gloriously the horse and him that rode vpon him hath he ouerthrowne in the Sea Vers 4. The deliuerance Pharaohs charets and his hoste hath he cast into the Sea his chosen captains also were drowned in the red Sea Therfore as his dutie he acknowledgeth saith Ver. 2. The duetie The Lord is my strength and my praise and he is become my saluation He is my God and I will prepare him a tabernacle He is my fathers God and I will exalt him Iudg. 5. Ver. 27. The Lord hauing giuen Deborah and Barak a triumphant victorie ouer their cruel enemie Sisera Deborah thereupon reasoneth of the miracle in her song and resolueth of performing a most excellent dutie as thus They that remaine The deliuerance haue dominion ouer the mightie the Lorde hath giuen me dominion ouer the strong Ver. 13. He meaning Sisera bowed downe at her feete he fell downe and lay still at her feete he bowed him downe and fell and when he had sunke downe he lay there dead Therefore as our dutie Vers 2.3 The duetie Praise ye the Lord for auenging of Israel for the people that offered themselues willingly Vers 12. J will sing vnto the Lord I will sing praises vnto the Lord our God Vp Deborah vp arise and sing a song arise Darak and loade thy captiuitie captiue thou sonne of Abinoam Psal 107. The deliuerance Dauid rehearsing in the 107. Psalme many and great deliuerances as first of dispersed strangers and their miserie vers 3.4.5.6.7 deliuerance out of captiuitie and prison vers 10.11.12.13.14 and lastly the deliuerance of poore tossed shipmen from the dangers of the seas vers 25.26.27.28.29.30 addeth the dutie of all such as are deliuered therefrom thus Ver. 8.15.21.31 The duetie O that men would therefore praise the Lord for his goodnesse and declare the wonders that he doth for the sonnes of men In the 105. Psalme Dauid from the beginning thereof vnto the latter end thereof Psal 105. The deliuerance is wholly occupied in expressing Gods miraculous and merciful power in protecting Israel from Abrahams time when they were but a few in number and strangers in the land till such time as by a mightie hande and out-stretched arme he brought them into the pleasant land of Canaan And in the last verse he noteth what vse they must make of so many mercies and what dutie diligently they must walke in for Gods fauourable dealing with them thus That they might keepe his statutes and obserue his lawes Praise ye the Lord. Ver. 45. The duetie Many moe proofes I might alleadge out of the word of God for corporall deliuerances bestowed vpō the Church from time to time and what must be the duty of such deliuerances but these may suffice for the plaine proofe of outwarde deliuerances and their duties Of spirituall deliuerances The deliuerance Luke 1.74 Vers 77. Vers 79. Now of spirituall deliuerances and their duties Being deliuered out of the hands of our enemies knowledge of saluation giuen vnto vs by remission of our sins in Iesus Christ light giuen to vs that sit in darknes and in the shadow of death and guiding our feete into the way of peace must of necessitie in the partakers of this deliuerance bring forth this duty euen to serue the Lord without feare Vers 74.75 The dutie in holines and righteousnes all the daies of our life The Apostle Paul in his Epistle to the Romanes Rom. 13.12 The deliuerance noteth a great deliuerance in a fewe words The night is past and being so neuer forget the dutie which followeth therefore let vs cast away the workes of darknes Vers 13.14 The dutie and put vpon vs the armour of light hereafter to walke honestly as in the day time not in gluttonie and drunkennes chambering and wantonnes strife and enuying but put yee on the Lorde Iesus Christ 1. Cor. 6.20 The deliuerance The dutie Vers 20. Paul telleth the Corinthians of a great deliuerance thus Ye are bought with a price and therefore your dutie is to glorifie God both in your soules bodies for they are the Lords And againe Seeing ye are so dearely bought and purchased with such a pretious pearle therfore be not the seruants of men 1. Cor. 7.23 1. Pet. 2.18.19 The deliuerance Peter speaketh of a most comfortable deliuerance Yee know that yee were not redeemed with corruptible things as siluer and gold from your vaine conuersation but with the pretious blood of Iesus Christ as of a lambe vndefiled and without spot And therefore seeing the purchasing of our saluation was a matter of such difficultie for siluer and gold could not doe it a matter of such necessitie for the diuell ruled ouer vs as a cruell tyrant a purchase at such a high rate and the matter of it of such a pretious valuation for it was the blood of Christ being most pretious and the lambe of God vndefiled and without spot 1. Pet. 1.17 The dutie all Christians duties therefore it is that are partakers hereof euen hereafter to passe their time and spend the daies of their dwelling here on earth in Gods most holy feare Now out of all these testimonies and examples which haue hetherto beene alleadged concerning Christians duties for deliuerances either spirituall or corporall may further very fitly bee gathered what is the end of the grace and fauour of God towards vs in The end of Gods mercies towards vs. by and through his sonne Christ Iesus euen thus Vt Deo reconciliatus
Salomon the builder of the temple in these words And the Lord said vnto him 1. King 9.3 I haue heard thy prayer and thy supplication that thou hast made before me I haue hallowed this house which thou hast built to put my name there for euer and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually Christ therefore in this temple perswading vnto newnes of life had the promise of his fathers presence to make his perswasion powerful as also to print in the hart of the hearer a more reuerend regarde and estimation thereof being deliuered Dauid a type of the militant Church Reade Psal 84. Psa 122.1.2 1. Chon 29.9 Dauid being a true type and figure of the Militant Church here on earth neuer came into the temple but his heart leapt for ioy his ioy was increased and his zeale kindled yea that which being out of the temple he could neuer attaine vnto was in the temple made partaker of Salomons temple a type of the spiritual temple Though that temple was a type and figure of the spirituall temple neuer made with hands and there is not the same vse of it now as there was then yet haue wee at this day two things Two things now resembling Salomōs temple Ioh. 4.24 that may fitly resemble that temple and where God wil as well heare the praiers and receiue the sacrifices of his Church being done in spirit and trueth as he would then The first is the godly societies and assemblies of the righteous Godly societies meete together for exhorting one another Matth. 18.20 wheresoeuer and whensoeuer they meete together according to the rule and warrant of Gods worde to such Christ hath promised his presence saying Where two or three are gathered together in my name there am I in the middest of them The second is our ordinary assemblies and meetings together at the house of prayer Publike assemblies of the faithfull at the house of prayer to powre forth prayers to the Lord be partakers of the word preached and administration of the Sacraments Where such assemblies are employed to these aforesaid vses they are not as the Prophet calleth the temple in his time the den of theeues Esay 56.7 Ierem. 7.11 Mar. 11.17 but they are euen the blessed throne kingdome of Christ Iesus to whose faith and constancie Christ hath promised such power that euen the gates of hell shall neuer bee able to preuaile against them In these two temples as I may call them when we meete with our brethren it is not our duties to prate and chat of worldly matters but rather euery one of vs Heb. 3.13 to exhort one another while it is called to day least we be hardened through the deceitfulnes of sinne Yea to keepe the profession of our hope without wauering and to prouoke one another vnto loue and to good workes Heb. 10.23 24 25. not forsaking the godly fellowship that ought to bee amongst Gods children And to be carefull alwaies to cherish and embolden the weake putting them in mind of their miraculous deliuerance out of the kingdome of darknes into the kingdome and cleere light of the Gospell And thus much of the second part Of the third part which is the words of exhortation themselues wherein wee haue to consider these three branches following First a rehearsall of the benefit done to the man behold thou art made whole The principall cause of his long sicknesse from which Christ had now deliuered him was his sinnes and iniquities which I gather out of these words Sinne no more As if hee should say sinne hath bin the cause of thy former sicknesse if therefore hereafter thou wilt remaine a sound man sinne no more Thirdly what must be the effect of this miracle by Christ or the dutie of his deliuerance which is the subiect of this treatise euen true repentance set downe here by the former part of true repentance which is to sinne no more or to cease from sin Rom. 2.4 The bountifulnes of God ought to leade vs to repentance Of the first branch Behold thou art made whole Where first we are to consider that our Sauiour vseth a word of attention or to make the matter hee hath in hand take more effect saith Ecce Behold Psal 32. v. 5.7 The Prophet Dauid speaking of any extraordinary matter alwaies vseth an hebrew verbe importing the like which is Selah so likewise the seruant of God Moses vsing any vehemēt exhortation commonly hath this word behold or remēber as thus Behold Deut. 30.19 Exod. 20. I set before thee this day life and death blessing and cursing The Prophets of the Lord speaking either of the manifestation of Christ in his humane nature or of his second comming againe to iudgement or of any such great matter vseth this word behold As Esay Tell the daughter Sion Esay 62.11 Zach. 9.9 Matth. 21.5 Mal. 4.1 Behold thy King commeth meekely riding on an asse c. And Malachie Behold the day cōmeth that shall burne like an ouen and all the proud yea and all that doe wickedly shall bee stubble Apoc. 1.7 Behold be commeth with clowdes and euery eye shall see him c. and 22.7 Behold I come shortly Euen so here as a preface to the declaration of the benefit done to him Christ saith Behold giue eare consider well what I haue done for thee passe not lightly ouer that miracle I haue shewed vpon thee in giuing thee health Where we are to note Receiue his word miracles and mercies with attentiō that GOD would haue vs receiue his word his exhortations threatnings blessings and miracles with attention heede taking and waying well who it is that doth such things for vs and what is done as we ourselues O my countrimen and deare brethren in Christ Iesus for whose sake the Lorde hath moued me to penne this little treatise haue iust occasion to giue eare what the Lords Eccho soundeth in our eares daily Aboue many others the North parts after our great and late receiued deliuerances euen thus Behold thou art made whole c. VVhereunto let euery one of vs fill our families our meetings and conferences with this heauenly harmonie and sweete sounding melodie answering the former behold saying then sith it is so indeede My soule praise thou the Lord Psal 13.1.2 Psal 57.7.8 and all that is within me praise his holy name Awake thou my glorie awake lute and harpe I my selfe will awake right early And let vs one prouoke an other to praise the Lord of might for his miraculous mercies as Deborah stirred vp her owne soule and Barake to sing praise to God for their triumphant victories Vp Deborah Iudg. 5.12 c. vp arise sing a song arise Barak c. Euen so vp O Westmerland Comberland and Northumberland vp ye seuerall townes congregations and families euery particular soule whose safetie the liuing Lord by the shadowing wings of his
grieued with his sicknes Of the third circumstance vz. what meanes the poore man vsed for his recouerie himselfe and yet all in vaine Here wee must consider that there was in Ierusalem a poole or pond at the South side of the citie Tremelius and Iunius in Ioh. 5. Hebr. Syr. neere vnto the Sheep-market the name whereof was Bethesda or in the Syrian lāguage Bethchesda which signifieth the house of bountifulnesse for because in that place God most mercifully shewed his power in healing many of their infirmities Hierom greatly erreth in calling it Betheder Gregis domus which signifieth the house for beasts cattel for mentiō is made here of a pōd which was neere vnto the Sheep-market Caluine affirmeth those to want all reason Cal. in Ioh. c. 5. ver 2. who call it Bethseda as though it were a place of fishing adiudging thē to determine of the word more probably who doe expound it locus effusionis the place of powring out water The Hebrew worde signifieth a falling downward for I thinke the water was drawne from it by conduites that the priests might draw thēce water The vertue of the poole was this that alwaies at a certaine season an Angell descended into it and troubled the water and whosoeuer then first after the mouing of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoeuer disease he had Here by the way wee may not thinke that the vertue of healing consisted in the water for saith Caluine Cal. ibid. Sic externum symbolum cōmendat vt symboli aspectu ad ipsum vnicum gratiae authorem aegrotire spicere cogantur For this cause doth hee commend the outwarde signe that by the sight thereof all sicke men may bee enforced to haue respect by recourse vnto God the sole author of all grace Yea herein we must acknowledge Gods power to bee such as that he is able at his pleasure to vse the very clemēts to be instrumēts of health God can vse the very clements to stand for the good of his owne or any other blessing in his own appointed time vnto such as are his own in Christ Iesus as on the contrary he is able to make them all serue for the manifesting of his power in wrath against all such as rebell against him Euery creature against the wicked or his Church as may be seene in Pharaoh and the congregation of Choree Dathan and Abyram where the water drowned the one and the earth opened her mouth to swallow vp the other And to conclude this being but spoken by way of digression in that he made the muddie and troubled water to heale Digression yet necessarie we note that the Lord oftentimes doth execute his will and manifest his power in mercie by contrary and vnlikely means in our iudgement The Lord often healeth by contrary and vnlikly means So Helisha healed the waters by casting salt into them whereas naturally salt mixed with water bringeth barrennesse Here by the muddy water in this pond was many a man healed whereas naturally a cleere and christalline water is more apt for mans health The like course the Lord vseth in spirituall things he worketh life by death ioy by sorrow exaltation by humiliation comforts by the crosse peace by vvarre He sendeth to hell before he bring to heauen The end of his so doing yea those that hee bringeth to heauen he first maketh them saile by hell And the Lorde doth thus for this especiall ende that Gods Church may be assured that the Lord is able to execute his will and performe his promise although the meanes or instruments of executing the same seeme vnto them neuer so base or vnlike yea though there appeare to mans iudgement no meanes at all yet euen then can the Lord our God performe and execute that which he in his eternall wisedome hath already decreed Now to returne againe into the way from whence we haue digressed this lame man hearing of so many to bee healed in this pond came by helpe thither but being there he was neuer a whit the better for lying there a long time still he was preuented of the benefit of the water because other went downe before him Here wee see he vsed the likely meanes and the lawfull meanes Outward likely and lawfull means alwaies preuaile not and yet had no redresse thereby because it was the purpose of God to heale him after a more miraculous manner for the more speedie conuersion of the partie healed and further manifestation of his owne glorie Let vs a little further consider this matter This sicke man vsed the lawfull and likely meane to bee healed of his infirmitie so is it lawfull for those that are sicke to vse the aduice of the Phisition and receiue the hearbes for medicine The sicke may receiue the hearbes for medicine in the Lord not otherwise so farre forth as they are the Lords instruments but no further and if health come thereby to giue God the whole honour as his owne due Againe in that hee vsed the likely and lawfull meane to bee healed and yet could not because God had delaied his recouerie for another end let euery one of vs make this vse of it and thinke that when we are sicke or otherwise troubled and doe vse the lawfull and outward meanes appoynted by God for our deliuerance and yet finde no recouerie thereby not to murmure A necessary consideration grudge or thinke with the Atheist God hath forgotten vs but by the example of this man to rest contented resoluing with our owne soules that God doth deferre our recouerie for some better end knowne and alreadie decreed vpon with the Lord though hidden and vnknowne to our blind eyes euen either more miraculously to restore vs to health againe for our greater repentance and more manifestation of his owne power or else fully and finally to worke our deliuerance by making a dissolution of our fraile tabernacle and conueying our soule into the bosome of Abraham I meane the eternall and vnspeakable ioyes of Gods kingdome Furthermore in that this man vsed the likely and lawfull outward meane for his health and found none wee may note a most profitable doctrine Man may purpose but God disposeth vz. that Paul may plant and Apollo may water but it is God that must giue the increase The fishermen may take great paines in fishing all night and catch iust nothing till Christ come and command them to launch into the deepe and make a draught which done though before they had tried that place yet at Christs command shal they catch an innumerable multitude of fishes Luk. 5.6 Psal 127.1.2 Psal eodem Vnlesse the Lord keepe the house the vvatchmen wake but in vaine It is but lost labour to rise early and goe late to bed vnlesse God blesse our labour And therefore all our duties in phisicke for health What course we ought to take in all our dealings in matters for
wealth and in going about such occasions as are beseeming our calling in this euill world to commend the beginning middle and issue thereof by prayer to almightie God that hee would so direct vs in them as may stand with his glorie redound to the comfort of our owne consciences Further Note well all the prophane and gracelesse Atheists note another excellent poynt which is that if men walke in their lawfull trades and callings vsing lawfull and ordinary meanes of deliuerances out of any danger doe notwithstanding preuaile or profit nothing at all till God of his mercie giue the blessing what shal wee thinke of them that in sicknesse counsell with witches and sorcerers The practises 〈◊〉 such very dangerous in troubles raise vp spirits for things lost vse enchauntment for to haue their sutes goe forward vse briberie for their benefices vse symonie for preferment vse flatterie with the Herodians Yea to conclude what shall we think of all such as make gaine wrongfully gotten their god and wicked and vngodly practises the whole course of their life but that euen the heauie iudgement of God hangeth ouer their heads and as their beginnings and proceedings are in sin so let them assure themselues without speedie repentance their endings shal be in same euen sudden confusion both of body soule with all the reprobates and castawaies mentioned in the Scriptures A caueat Let all bold hardy men therfore take heede who enterprise many actions without either prayer to the Lord or warrant of his word Lastly it might in regard of the flesh haue been a matter of great griefe vnto this poore soule to see all others that came to this poole to be helped yet he lie still expecting remedie and found none Yet hence let vs learne this for our owne vse that though we be sicke and our neighbours likewise we in trouble they so likewise they are made whole and deliuered yet we still tossed to and fro not likely any deliuerance and it may bee this befalleth vs when we are more carefull to serue our God then they were not to be hereat dismaied seeing the Lord as I haue said before hath secret ends in his eternall purpose of our continued afflictions or sicknes yea euen such if wee abide with patience as shall bee to our greater comfort both inwardly and outwardly And thus much for the third circumstances to bee noted in his healing vz. what meanes the man vsed himself for his recouerie and found none Of the fourth circumstance vz by what meanes at length hee was made whole The author of his health The Israelites as it is recorded Numb 21. for their rebellion against the Lord were stung and venomed with firie Serpents a paine most intolerable which neither plaister or medicine could abate til at the length vpon the earnest crie of the people and Moses the Lord commanded Moses to make a brasen Serpent Numb 21.6 and set it vp vpon a pole with this promise that as for sinne they were stung with a Serpent so whosoeuer looked vp vpō that Serpent which Moses so vp should presently be healed and no other way Genes 3. Our first parent Adam transgressed God commandement for a punishment whereof God inflicted vpon him sicknes both in his soule and bodie and which should continue from generation to generation in his whole posteritie which sicknesses and diseases as they came vpon vs for the disobedience of one so can they neuer truly bee healed and taken away but by the obedience of one man The first man sinning and so bringing condemnation vpon all was Adam The second man fulfilling the law and thereby bringing saluation to all that by faith and true repentance accept it was the man Iesus Christ a man in all poynts as the first Adam was sinne only excepted Donec coelestū medicus opem nobis fert nos non tantum intùs fouemus multos morbos sed etiam morter Caluin in Psal 103. ver 3. 1. Ioh. 1.7 1. Pet. 1.19 Rom. 5.4 Ioh. 14.6 He was that immaculate lambe of God that taketh away the sins of the world and who was the author and sole worker of this poore mans health He it is who is the true Phisition for euery diseased soule body the plaister and very purgation it selfe which must cleanse and cleere vs from all our sinnes whatsoeuer And who alone is all sufficient and able to present vs holy and pure to God his father by whom also we haue accesse vnto the throne of God in our praiers It is this Christ Iesus who is the way the trueth and the life vnto whom is giuen a name in whom must bee saued all that are registred and written in the booke of life Here then doe wee see whether all sicke men all sore men al troubled and distressed men yea to conclude all prodigall and sinfull men must resort to bee healed of their sicknesse eased of their griefes and receiue forgiuenes of their sinnes euen to Christ Iesus the top and roote beginning and ending the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Apocal. 1. and the corner stone of our saluation and with the halt and lame in the Gospell to crie out vnto him Luk. 17.15 O Iesu thou sonne of Dauid haue mercie on me Let the Pope promise health by his pardons the Iusticiaries by their workes All meanes of health by man meere mockerie without Christ Iesus the Votaries by their vowes the Heathen by their blind mentions yet when it comes to the hammering and the day that euery mans workes shall be tryed by fire they shall then finde that all these inuented meanes of health are euen a potion of ranck poyson prepared by the diuell and that it is onely the blood of Christ Iesus that must purge out the poison of the Dragon cleanse vs from all our leprosie whatsoeuer This point being most pregnant I might bee very plentifull in proofes out of the word of God for confirmation in gathering profitable doctrines for instruction and in laying downe many duties for edification but seeing it is so plaine a point Christ our saluation a plain point that proposuisse is confirmasse so manifestly in the word described that he that runneth may reade it so sensible a matter that they are past feeling who are not touched with it and finally to all the elect ones of the Lord a matter of such certaintie that whosoeuer doubteth of it A most certain point for truth he is puft vp in the raging bellowes of his own imaginations and without speedie repentance it shall be a stone to fall vpon them al of such weight that it shall grinde them all to powder Therefore I will here end it Matth. 18. 1. Pet. 2.8 Matth. 11.28 29. with Christ his large offer to all that lacke helpe Come vnto Christ all ye that labour and are heauy laden he will refresh you Cast your cares
forbid them And a little after he saith If you will feare men he will laugh at you if God you shall be reuerenced of men Surely I will rather yeeld my bodie to death and suffer my blood to be shed then to be partaker of this pollution For the example of the practise of Christian Churches one example likewise shall suffice which shall bee the example of the Greeke Church in former times The example of the Greeke Church 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A congregation of the faithfull who had such a reuerent estimation of this holy banket that the very name wherewith they called it argueth the same First Vocarunt eam 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is to to say a congregation of the faithfull which was so religiously obserued Quod quamuis tolerabantur in concion publicis prophani verùm vbi inchoanda erat ipsa Dominicae caenae communicatio iubebantur illi discedere accedere c. Although the wicked and open prophane were permitted to bee present at their publike preachings sermons yet whensoeuer the Supper of the Lord was to bee administred then they vsed these words Depart ye wicked and prophane and draw neere ye that truly and sincerely professe Christ and his Gospell Againe Vocarunt eam 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A holy table they called it a holy table both in regard of the holy and heauenly foode of the soule there offered as also in regard of those holy people who alone are admitted to the eating thereof So that these being well considered I will conclude this point concerning the pastors abuse in the aforesaid prophanation with this earnest wish that all who are called to this waightie calling of the worke of the ministerie with care and conscience so to behaue themselues therein as they that shall giue account in the great day of the Lord for euery soule that hath perished within their charge through their negligence For the peoples prophaning this holy Sacrament Secondly it is prophaned by the people and how I my selfe haue bin oft an eye witnesse God is my record to my griefe when I haue seene great multitudes of people in the house of the Lord My self an eye witnesse with striuing thronging pressing forwarde contend who should first receiue the outwarde elements at the hands of their minister making no better then a common banket of it or as though they were in extreame haste Againe the Parsons proctor to be reckoning for his fees in the very time of administring the Supper Great prophanation and worthie punishment and that within the Lords house not farre from the minister as great a noise of brauling about him as of singing Psalmes amongst the Communicants yea farre greater for the one is often vsed the other very seldome or neuer I might bee large in laying downe such manifold abuses as these Many moe besides these which I haue seene with mine eyes as euery one after they haue gotten their rightings for so our sillie ignorant people call it to hasten out of the congregation neuer reuerently abiding till all be partakes that they might all depart with a ioynt thanksgiuing But these are sufficient to the reader to testifie how iustly I am perswaded Ex vnguibus leonem astima that for these and such like abuses the Lorde hath rightly plagued our countrie After the receiuing of this holy Sacrament and seale of the true Christians saluation they hold on à malo in peius they then goe for good fellowship to the tauerne or alehouse altogether The Magistrates coldnes in correcting a great cause of these abuses and thence they come not till they are inflamed and made drunke with strong drinke and then out they must but otherwise then they came in for now they run out to purge themselues and their heauie stomackes by belchings and beastly vomiting others to brawle and fight so as it would wound a Christians hart to see how the senselesse soules worse then brute beasts This cryeth for vengeāce without speedy repentance doe in receiuing the bread and wine at the Supper of the Lord eate and drinke their owne condemnation Others there be more nise in outward shew As euill as the other it may be will walke solitary that day abstaine in outwarde appearance from their wonted course of sinne but if they do this for one day two were too many and therefore the morow after the Supper is as the day before euen to drinke sinne like water and draw iniquitie as it were with cartropes A third sort of vnworthie receiuers there be in our countrie whom I may very well call carnall gospellers and lip-professors Too many of such amongst vs. who doe receiue this holy Supper together with Gods deare children and thereby doe make their solemne profession of newnes of life but after a season it proueth rather worse with them then with the former for they are such that though they crie Lord Lord voce yet they deny to doe the will of their heauenly father What dangerous effect follow such wicked dealing vita and so are an occasion to the wicked and professed enemies of Gods trueth of blaspheming that glorious Gospel of Christ Iesus whereof they make profession though vnsoundly and after an vncleane manner These men to speake plainly they are very neere vnto if not the same men whereof Christ testifieth Matth. 12. that they expulse out the vncleane spirit but after a season the same spirit returneth againe he bringeth seuen other spirits with him worse then himselfe and finding all cleane swept and garnished they reenter and take possession in the man and make their dwelling there whose latter end horrendum dictu is worse then the beginning And such as Peter painteth out 2. Pet. 2. ver 20 who after they haue in shew throwne and shaken off sinne and bidden the world adiew doe notwithstanding after all this enter couenant to bee Satans seruant againe in whom the prouerbe is too true Vers 22. The dogge is returned to his vomit and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mare The Lord for his mercies sake Amen Amen work reformation hereof both in pastor and people which reformation if presently it appeare not I feare me a worse day I feare the sequell then hitherto hath been seene will insue whereof more at large hereafter And let this suffice also for proofes out of the word how the Lord for sinne sendeth troubles and sicknesses both of body and minde vpon his owne people Let vs now in a word shew how he doth it vpon the wicked wherein I may fitly vse the speech of the Apostle that if for sinne iudgement begin at the house of God what shall be the end of the wicked A fearfull end without all doubt And if hee deale thus with the greene tree what may wee thinke will be the end of the drie and withered tree but to be
cast into the fire and burnt vp for euer And first most famous and worthie of all memorie is the example of Gods iudgement vpon Ioab and al his posteritie 2. Sam. 3.29 for murthering so cruelly and deceitfully two valiant Captaines Abner and Amasa as appeareth in their stories at large where Dauid thus threatneth the iudgement of the Lord against him and his whole posteritie saying Let the blood of Abner fall on the head of Ioab and on all his fathers house that the house or issue of Ioab be neuer without some that haue running issues or a leper or that leaneth on a staffe or that falleth on the sword or that lacketh bread Loe here how many wayes for this bloodie fact God will plague punish him First with running issues a sore disease With leprosie a sorer if it can be With lamenes meant by leaning on a staffe Blood for blood according to the Lord his threatning He that sheddeth mans blood by man shall his blood be shed againe Pouertie meant by lacking of bread and Cain for shedding the innocent blood of his brother Abel Genes 4. vvas both he and his posteritie made runnagates ouer the face of the whole earth In the 7. and 8. of Exodus you shall finde how oft the Lorde plagued Pharaoh and the whole land for cruelly oppressing his people euen with ten principall plagues there withall their great and capitall offences 1. King 13. So he dryed the hand of king Ieroboam when he stretched it out against the Prophet of the Lord to take him Take heede of this the couetous men that haue long noses to smell your profit a farre off Ahab and Iezebel because vniustly they tooke away Naboth his vineyard and lead a great number a whoring after strange gods the Lord caused Iezebels daintie carkasse to be eaten vp of dogs by the wall of Izreel yea that his posteritie should neuer haue the honor of a comely buriall but if they dyed in the citie 1. King 21.25 2. King 9.10 1. King 24.10 16.3.4 the dogs should deuoure them and if in the field the foules of the ayre should eate thē vp Euen as the Lorde executed his fierce wrath vpon all Ieroboam his seede and vpon the whole house of Baasha for their Idolatrie Let all couetous cormorants and Idolatrous whoremongers repent for feare the like iudgement should fall vpon them 2. King 1. ver 1 2 3 4. Ahaziah hauing gotten a fall through a lattise window and hurt himselfe very sore despaired of helpe from the true God and therefore sent messengers to enquire of the god of Ekron concerning his recouerie which thing was so abominable to the Lord that he sent a messenger vnto him to tell him that he should not come downe from the bed whereon he lay but dye the death In our sicknes seeke vnto none but God 2. King 6. Beware in our sicknesse wee seeke not vnlawfull meanes for our recouerie The King of Syria his host comming to take the Prophet in Dothan the Lord for their boldnes smote them all with blindnesse A dangerous matter to attempt the persecuting of Gods children Gehezi for coueting that vnlawfully 2. King 5.27 which his master had refused of Naaman religiously when it was offered was smitten with a leprosie And of all other 2. Chro. 21.18.19 most fearfull is the sicknesse and death wherewith the Lord smote Jehoram for vnnaturall murthering his brethren and for abominable Idolatrie he smote him with an incurable disease euen the disease of his bowels so that day by day through the disease his bowels fell out so after the end of two yeeres continuing in this sore disease his guts fell out with the disease And lastly of Herod Act. 12.25 how horrible a thing to bee heard that for his pride and arrogating glorie to himself which was only due to God Pride wil haue a fall was most fearefully throwne downe from his throne of estate and deuoured of wormes To leaue the testimonies of the word and to come to the demonstration of Gods fearefull visitations by strange sicknesses Examples of Gods iudgements vpon wicked persecutors of the Church against wicked persecutors of Christs Church blasphemers of his name recorded and spoken of in ancient histories let this bee the first One Henry a famous Archbishop of Mentz a vertuous and wel disposed prelate being most cruelly dealt withall by the Bishop of Rome and his substitutes and being debarred of all lawfull proceeding and iudgement in law against him mildly answered the wicked Iudges thus Seeing that neither by appeale to the Apostolike sea nor by your vpright sentences of your selues I can haue my innocencie tried I appeale to the Lord Iesus Christ as to the most high and iust Iudge A righteous appeale and cite you before his iudgement there to answer me before the high Iudge for neither iustly nor vprightly but by corruption as it pleaseth you you haue iudged Whereunto they scoffingly answered Goe you first and we will follow Not long after the said Henry dyed whereof the two Cardinals that were the wicked Iudges hauing intelligence said one to the other iestingly Behold he is gone before and vvee must follow after according to our promise And verely they said truer then they were aware of A terrible example for corrupt Iudges to beware for within a while they dyed both in one day For the one sitting vpon a Iakes to ease himselfe voyded out all his guts into the draught and miserably ended his life The other gnawing off the fingers of his hands and spitting them out of his mouth all deformed in deuouring himselfe dyed And one Arnold who became a false Iudas to the good Archbishop in accusing of him when hee should haue excused him Anno Do. 1105. Ex Helmoldo Gotfrido Viterbiensi Act. Mon. Fox pag. 196. shortly after dyed likewise and for certaine daies lying stinking vpon the ground vnburied was open to the spoyle of euery rascall and harlot The like horrible and fearfull stroke of Gods hand was executed vpon a wicked papist and persecutor of the good Merindolians in France who was called Iohn de Roma this wicked wretch of meere malice against the trueth plagued the poore protestants of Merindoll with a strange and vnwonted kind of torment wherein hee most delighted and most commonly practised he filled bootes with boyling grease and put them vpon the legges of Christians tying them backward to a forme with their legges hanging downe ouer a small fire and in this torment he examined them of their faith belike thinking by this intolerable paine to make them reuolt from their faith This monster at length hauing almost finished the date of his wicked daies fell sicke of a most horrible disease strange and vnknowne to any Phisition so vnnaturall were the paynes wherewith he was continually vexed in all his bodie that no oyntment no fomentation nor any thing else could
peccator salutis suae authorem piè sancteque vtuendo colat That the sinner being reconciled to God must euer after glorifie the author of his saluation by leading a holy and vncorrupt life Yea Eodem verbo quo venia nobis offertur simul vocamur ad poenitentiam By that same powerfull word of the Lorde whereby health life libertie or forgiuenes of sinnes is offered vnto vs by the very same word is sounded out vnto vs Sinne no more Now it followeth more throughly to search into the naturall sense and meaning of these words The naturall sense meaning of the word Sinne no more and to set down chiefly what is meant hereby the which words vttered by our Sauiour Christ to the man healed I take it may bee thus resolued Whereas thou from the first time of thy cradle till now that I looked vpon thy distressed case hast been no better then a dead man in thy sinnes and trespasses Ephes 2.1 Esay 5.18 drinking sinne like water and drawing n sin as it were with cart ropes sin raigning in thee Rom. 6.12 and Satan triumphing ouer thee by captiuating and enthralling all the powers of thy soule to his owne bend and obedience making thee come when he called and runne when he bad thee this sicknesse in thy soule made sores in thy body and thy senselesse and secure conscience brought an vniuersal lamenes to thy carkasse so that as the parts of thy soule being bereaued of their powers were no better then withered and vnprofitable branches Iohn 15 5.6 euen so the whole constitution of thy diseased body lay withered and dead no part able throughly to minister comforts to another till such time as I viewing thy case had compassion on thy calamities and in my power healed that disease with a word which all outward medicines could neuer doe by continual practise Seeing it is so the wages I wish is a continuall watch against sinne my fee a feare to offend and all the reward I require is true heartie and vnfained repentance for all thy sinnes Psal 51. an acceptable sacrifice wherewith I am alwaies well pleased And as before through sinne thou wast sicke through sinne thou wast weake and by reason of thy sinnes thou couldest not stand vpright so now thy sinnes being pardoned thy sicknesse healed and thy former strength restored rise vp from sinne awake from sleepe and liue no more the life of the wicked Thus then I gather the scope and drift of our Sauiour Christ his exhortation to bee to draw the man healed to true repentance the acceptable price he must pay to his God for all his mercies And the phrase of wordes are euen the very same both in sound and sense that the first part of true repentance is described by vnto vs in the olde Testament As in Esay 1.16 Wash you make you cleane take away the euill of your workes from before mine eyes cease to doe euill And Psal 34.15 Eschue euill And againe Esay 55. vers 7. Let the wicked forsake his waies And in Iere. 14. O Ierusalem wash thy heart from wickednes And in Ezech. 16.61 Remember thy waies and be ashamed And Iere. 4.4 Breake vp your fallow ground circumcise the foreskin of your hearts and be no more stiffenecked And in the new Testament for the same purpose are these words vsed Crucifie the old Adam Colloss 3.5 Two partes of true repentance mortifie the earthly affections c. For whereas there are two parts of true repentance the first called a killing the second a quickening the first a dying the second a renewing the first a forsaking the second an embracing the first a casting off the second a putting on And to conclude the first a ceasing from sinne the second a continuance in care of a good conscience the man is here exhorted by our Sauiour Christ to true repentance by killing the olde Adam dying to his iniquities casting off the vnfruitfull workes of darknes and neuer sinning as he hath done before Ephes 5.11 which is the former part of true repentance For this is the first degree of repentance to saluation that the sinner forsake his former follies which before he hath frequented renounce his former life wherein before hee liued and frame his whole doing to the rule of righteousnesse which before were out of frame So that I may conclude where there is no forsaking no remouing nor better framing there is neuer brought forth any thing but fained hypocriticall and pharisaicall repentance Hence out of all this which hath been deliuered may it first be said to the man healed and in him to all in generall who haue tasted and inioyed in abundance the sweete mercies of God in the mediatour of the new Testament Christ Iesus and especially to you my countrimen who cannot deny but Gods mercies haue bin multiplied vpon you in most sweete manner Applie it to yourselues euen like vnto the dew of Hermon that fell vpoÌ„ the hil of Sion watered the dry earth that gaped for it that for the man he was like the tâ—â—e that was throughly dunged and manured about and of ourselues it may be said what could the Lord haue done more for vs his vineyard then already he hath done seating it in a fruitfull hill hedging it gathering out the stones of it and planting it with the best plants building a tower in the middest Looke to thy self wel seeing this is thy case and making a wine-presse therein That therefore to the man Christ said in effect this is my last yeere of my dunging and manuring either cease from thy folly and offend me no more or else looke for nothing but hewing downe with the axe of my iudgements and to bee burne vp for euer But happy man and thrice happy so healed by Christ in his body for it wrought in him euer after the sauing health of his soule And to you my beloued neighbours let me in the behalfe of our gracious God cry that the matter and case on his part going so with you as it doth either now or neuer bring foorth fruites worthie amendment of life you that haue hitherto been awake but not with wine Our wicked and damnable course enforce our effectuall calling dead when you seemed to liue Atheists aliants and strangers from the common-wealth of Israel stopping your eares at the voyce of the crier senselesse at the stroke of Gods hammer persecuting those that prayed for you contemning those that gaue you holesome counsell and finally you that all your liues long hitherto haue sported and solaced your selues with sinne as Sampson with Dalilah shake off your sinne awake from sleepe and stand vpright open your eares and circumcise your hearts and let the Lords voyce enter into your soules crying worke as in the day heare as from the Lord and walk as in his presence to whom let vs all make answer with a sweete resounding eccho thus Thy voyce thy call
c. may be puld out of mans minds that no string or roote of vices at all may be remaining in men through the exercise of vertue which is to take man out of man and for a man being in the body to be without the body Thus farre Ierome And the same man a little after in the same treatise saith very excellently thus He that alwaies forgetteth things past and longeth for things to come sheweth that he is not content with neither that there is any perfection in this present world The aduersaries being by the examples of the diuers falles of the faithfull in all ages their humble confessions concerning their imperfections and the manifolde testimonies of the word to this end so hampered 1. Obiection See Cal. lib. 2. instit cap. 7. that they are grauelled and can go no further haue no refuge but are constrained to flye to the almightie power of God leauing what man can do of himselfe reasoning what is Gods power in man Answer We answere and doe not denie but God can perfectly regenerate vs in this life if hee will but why hee doth it not he hath many causes among the rest note these First that wee may diligently consider the power of sin how great it is and what effect it hath in man which we see cannot bee destroyed in vs but by little and little that by the speciall grace of the spirit and therefore we are so much the more to be afraid of it Secondly that when to this life we finde no end or stay of the conflict betweene the flesh and the spirit we may so much the more long for that blessed life wherein wee shall appeare before God perfectly regenerate and holy whereas if God should out of hand renew and totally sanctifie vs the dignitie should not bee of so great accompt with vs but now by little and little bringing the same to passe in vs the perfection thereof is so much the more deare vnto vs. Lastly for this cause God doth not perfectly here regenerate vs to the end that his power may bee made perfect in our weaknesse and when wee are saued by meere grace and not of workes he that reioyceth may reioyce only in the Lord. Obiection 2 Philip. 3.15 The Scripture say they attributeth perfection to the godly saying As many of vs as are perfect let vs be thus minded Answer When Paul reckeneth himselfe amongst the perfect he speaketh not of such a perfectiō of faith in vs Cal. in Phil. 3.15 as the Perfectists do imagine but hee speaketh there of the perfection of knowledge in respect of the only foundation of our saluation Iesus Christ when casting away confidence in all things vvee reioyce in the onely righteousnesse of Christ Iesus and setting all other things aside to attaine to the fellowship of his sufferings which may bring vs to the blessed resurrection So that this proofe which they vse as a daunt to driue vs from the trueth may wee vse as a sword to pearce them thorow who withstand so plaine a trueth Secondly it is true by comparison vz. If you compare persons with persons that there is more vertue and knowledge to bee found in one man then in another so the Apostles well instructed in Christ were called perfect in respect of them who being too much set vpon ceremonies of the Law were pulled asunder from the body it selfe So Noah for his life is said to haue been a iust and perfect man in his generation Obiection 3 They alleadge further that so earnestly to maintaine this imperfection is to make Christians slothfull which otherwise by preaching perfection would be pricked forward to the attaining thereof Answer I answere that the knowledge of a mans owne imperfection in this life doth rather stirre the godly forward to endeuour to attaine to perfection and euery day to goe stedfastly forward in the course of their calling to striue with the Apostle Phil. 3.11 if by any meanes they may attaine to the resurrection of the dead Which obiection being thus answered appeareth manifestly how wicked and directly against this sound and holesome doctrine of the vnperfect obedience of the faithfull in this life is that Canon of the Tridentine Councell Can. 18. sess 6. enacting thus If any man say that the commaundements of God are impossible to be kept euen of a man iustified and vnder grace let him be accursed And here for the summary conclusion of this point I cannot omit the testimonies of two ancient learned fathers concerning the premisses August contra duas epist Pelag lib. 4. c. 10. Augustine saying thus With what presumption doe they openly gainsay the Lords prayer wherein all the members of Christ doe cry with a true heart and daily voyce forgiue vs our debts And a most excellent saying is that of Cyprian Cypr. epist de mortal who saith We haue a combat with couetousnes with wrath with ambition we haue a daily and troublesome wrastling with the corruption of the flesh and with the entisements of the world If couetousnes be vanquished lust riseth vp if lust be suppressed ambition commeth in place if ambition bee contemned wrath galleth pride puffeth vp drunkennes allureth wickednesse cutteth off friendship and yet it pleaseth a man to stay long amōg these snares of Satan whereas wee ought rather to wish to make haste vnto Christ where we may bee freed from them all The last point that I haue thought good to note out of these wordes Sinne no more is the priuate and particular vse and application that euery one partaker of any deliuerance either spirituall or corporall from the Lorde must make to his own soule concerning such dutie as the Lord requireth of him which is this That the wordes and power of them should euer sound vnto his owne soule as a summon to bid him awake stand vp and walke no more in the course and waies of his former wickednes as thus O thou man whosoeuer thou bee who hast tasted most abundantly the sweete mercies of thy God escaped many dreadfull dangers passed many perils the Lord still preseruing thee and shadowing thee vnder the wings of his mercie till they were all ouerpast looke now to thy selfe how thou walkest hereafter not so loosely negligently and disobediently as thou hast done before sinne no more in vnthankfulnes as thou hast done sinne no more in contemning Gods long louing and gratious visitation sinne no more in prophaning the Lords day sinne no more by thy drunkennes adulterie Atheisme contempt of Gods word and many moe sinnes wherein thou hast been found faultie let Gods iudgements shaken at thee as a sword for thy sinnes terrifie thee let the same now remoued allure thee euer hereafter to walke and worke as in the presence of the Almightie And thus may euery priuate soule now saued from daungers sound out the alarme of his continuall dutie in manner and forme aforesaid euer labouring and striuing that the Lords