to ouerturne all Religion and Pietie * Tantum abest quin decorum ordo nisi ista politia moderatione obseruari possit vt praesentissima impendeat Ecclesiae perturbatio ruina si dissoluatur j. In briefe The neglect of the Sabbath day is the ruine of the Church Caluin Instit lib. 2. cap. 8. sect 32. A notable politie of that wilie serpent And a marueilous eyther blindnes or presumption in them who are so bewitched by him For what God hath hallowed how should man once dare to prophane or to accoūt common vnhallowed But those vvhom God who is the light of our eyes hath caused the light of his sauing grace to shine more clearly vnto are otherwise minded otherwise affected They acknowledge it not only a iust equal thing that the Lord should haue one day of many dedicated wholy deuoted to his seruice a shame it were that any should deale sparingly with him herin who hath bin so prodigal to them but also they accoūt it a great argument and euidence of Gods speciall care ouer them and singular goodnesse towards them vvho in this estate of their frailetie and weakenesse hath in mercy appointed so excellent a helpe and so necessary a meanes for them to gather spirituall strength and increase of grace vvhereby to stand out against Sathan their deadly foe and to walke on cheerefully comfortably and constantly through the wildernesse of this troublesome vvorld to that promised rest that heauenly Canaan yea they reioyce greatly in it g Isai 58.13 finde much sweetnesse and delight in it long for it before it comes and when it is come solace themselues in it exceedingly And no marueile for they see and finde that it is the market-day of their soules vvherein according to Gods appointment they gather that heauenly Manna that bread of life vvhereby they are nourished and strengthened all the vveeke after and increase daily in that spirituall life of grace and godlinesse till they come vnto that measure vvhich GOD hath allotted vnto them They see how hereby they recouer themselues from sinnes past arme themselues against sinne to come grow in knowledge increase in faith hope patience and all other Christian vertues haue the inward man repaired and in a word vvhereas on other daies their mindes are troubled and distracted vvith worldly businesse this day they haue libertie to recall themselues as it were to draw neere vnto the Lord and sweetly to repose themselues in him who is their peace rest and happinesse and therefore they ioy reioyce herein Againe their sabbath-Sabbath-day heere on earth as it doth expresse * Ambros in Psa 119. calleth aeternam vitam magnū Sabbathum August lib. 22. de ciuit Dei ca. 30. Sabbathum maximum where he saith it prefigureth the rest of the bodie and soule so it doth put them in minde of that eternal Sabbath which they shall celebrate for euer in the heauens that peace that ioy and that perfect rest and happinesse vvhich they shall shortly bee made partakers of for euer in those glorious mansions those celestiall habitations It is as it were a mappe or an Embleme to them of that Angelicall life which their soules longeth after and the very remembrance vvhereof doth vvonderfully refresh their grieued minds and languishing spirits vvhiles they vvander in this wearisome vvildernesse where they haue so many enemies continually assayling them so many difficulties with vvhich they are continually incumbred The sanctifying of this day doth bring them as it were from Aegypt to Canaan and from Babell vnto Sion i Heb. 11.10.16 It cals them home to their owne countrey giues them a view of it though a farre off and affords them a tast of that spirituall and heauenly life vvhich afterwards they shall liue for euer in glorious manner How therefore can it bee but that they should reioyce in it and in no vvise thinke it burdensome vnto them as carnall and worldly men doe O my God forgiue me that I haue had no more care of this dutie heretofore and teach me to be more mindfull of it hereafter As thou hast appointed this day to be wholly bestowed vpon thee and thy seruice so I humbly pray thee to guide me therein vvith thy grace and spirit that it may be my delight to consecrate it as * Isa 58.13 glorious vnto thee O let me not by any meanes pollute it by doing mine owne waies nor seeking mine owne will no not so much as speaking a vaine word but let me giue my selfe therein wholly to the duties k Act. 16.13 Psal 122. Nehe. 8.8 Act. 17.11 Psal 92.1 145.5 Mal. 3.16 1 Cor. 16.1.2 vvhich thou requirest of me both publique and priuate as hearing thy word preached with all reuerence and carefull attention reading the same prayer meditation and godly conference whatsoeuer else whereby I may be furthered or a means to further or helpe forward others in the wayes of grace and godlinesse that thus being obedient vnto thy commandement vnto which I am tied by so many bonds thy blessing may be vpon me thy spirit may dwell with me I may daily more and more be built vp in sauing knowledge and true holinesse I may grow strong in thy feare finding the powers of sinne and Sathan euery day more and more weakened in me and after that I haue at thy appointed times indeuoured to keepe a holy and religious Sabbath heere on earth I may hereafter keepe an eternall Sabbath with thee in the heauens praysing and magnifying thee vncessantly and enioying that perfect rest and happinesse which thou hast promised and I daily expect and hope for that only through the merits of thy deare Son my blessed Sauiour to whom with thee thy spirit be all praise now for euer Prophanenesse how fearefull the end of it will be THe Fig-tree a Math. 21 19 was accursed because it had leaues onely but brought forth no fruit how much more they then that haue cast away the leaues also hauing not so much as the shew and outward profession of religion and godlinesse It 's a heauie and dreadfull sentence which is to be pronounced against the vnprofitable seruant that hath not improued the Lords talent which he gaue vnto him and made the best vse of it for his masters aduantage so as might be most for his glory and the good and benefit of others amongst whom he liued b Math. 25 30 Cast that vnprofitable seruant into vtter darkenesse there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth O then what shall become of those that are not onely fruitelesse and vnprofitable in their course but prophane and openly euill so as the world doth point at them and cri◠shame vpon them though they are so hardened many of them that they neuer blush for it c Ier. 5.3 6.15 nor will be ashamed but d Hose 7.10 glory in it that doe not onely omit that which is good setting themselues
pleasures profits riches and reuenues of the whole world Behold the base estate and condition which he tooke vpon him for thy sake Behold the shame and reproach which he sustained for thee and for thy sinnes Behold his face whom the Angels Heb. 1.6 those celestiall creatures doe reuerence and adore spitted vpon for thy cause Behold him who is the Authour of blessednesse become accursed for thee that he might free thee from that curse which was due vnto thee Behold him Isa 66.1 whose Throne is in the highest Heauens the Lord of Glory and Maiestie descended downe into the earth and abased to the lowest degree of humiliation becomming as one of no reputation Phil. 2.6.7 Psal 22.6 a worme not a man that so he might exalt thee and raise thee from shame to glory from Hell to Heauen from the depth of miserie and wretchednes to the height of endlesse and euerlasting blessednesse What should I say Behold the Lord of life dying vpon the Crosse that hee might bring thee from death to life and make thee of a childe of wrath and perdition an Heire of glory and Saluation See his Head crowned with thornes his body sweating drops of blood for the anguish that he was in for thy sinnes See the bloud streaming forth out of his side to vvash and cleanse thee from thy wickednesse See the fountaine of his loue his grace and mercie set vvide open vnto thee Zach. 13.1 All these cry loud vnto thee and are as a shrill voyce in thine eares to call thee from thy sinnes and to cause thee vtterly to abandon all thy former vvickednesse euen that vaine conuersation vvherein heeretofore thou delightedst And wilt thou yet continue therin God forbid O heart more harder then the Adamant or flintie Rocke if these things doe not moue thee and cause thee to relent if nothing else will neither remembrance of the vilenesse and loathsomnes of sinne the fearefull and wofull miserie and bondage vvhereunto it bringeth thee the stingings of conscience wherewith it vvoundeth the soule and maketh it to smart grieuously oftentimes vvhen none perceiueth it nor the many iudgements which it exposeth thee vnto both here in this life and much more in the life to come in hel fire for euer If none of these will yet let this this I say euen the due and serious consideration of the great and vvonderfull things that Christ hath done for thee to redeeme thee from thy sinnes and to loose the bonds of thine iniquities 1 Ioh. 3.8 O let this draw thee from the same in a forcible maner yea let his infinite and boundlesse loue and mercie towards thee herein euen breake thy stonie and steely heart and cause it to melt into teares for thy sinnes past to grieue to sorrow to mourne and lament for the same and to purpose and resolue vvith thy selfe neuer willingly to offend him hereafter though thou mightst gaine thereby a thousand worlds Let thy heart be sooner plucked out of thy body then thou drawne from this godly purpose and Christian resolution vvhich vvell becommeth all that are Christs redeemed 2 Tim. 2.19 1 Ioh. 3.9 and vvill bee in thee if thou beest a true Christian indeed and not in vvord and shew onely O blessed Lord and Sauiour when I looke vp vnto thee and consider thy marueilous Loue and Bountie in that great and gracious vvorke of thine in redeeming mee from that miserable estate into vvhich I vvas plunged as vvell as others vnto that glorious condition of thy redeemed ones how thou abasedst thy selfe to become man for my sake to be accursed that thou mightest free me from the curse which I had brought vpon my selfe to dye that so shamefull a death and to be buryed in the earth that thou mightest raise me out of the graue of my sinnes and bring me from sinne death hell and damnation vnto grace life and euerlasting saluation in that blessed and glorious kingdome of thine vvhich thou reseruest for mee in the heauens when I looke vp vnto thee and call to minde how wonderfully thou hast dealt with me in these things and on the other side cast mine eyes vpon the vvhole course of my life past how vile how sinfull it hath beene and view my estate present how many and grieuous the sinnes are vvhereby I haue prouoked thee daily euen since thou calledst mee to the knowledge of that sauing grace of thine my heart faileth vvithin mee I am ashamed and confounded in my selfe that I should haue beene found so vnkinde vnto thee who hast beene so exceeding kinde and gracious vnto me O doe thou cause mee daily more and more to see and bevvaile the greatnesse of my sinne herein and heale my soule in whatsoeuer I haue offended thee O let thy loue thy goodnesse thy grace and bountie in redeeming mee so wretched so vnworthy a Creature by thine owne bloud from so fearefull and vvofull a condition into so blessed and glorious an estate O let it constraine mee to loue thee vnfainedly let it dissolue me into the teares of true and vnfained repentance for all my sinnes and transgressions vvhereby I haue displeased thee my God and Sauiour and let it vvorke in mee a perfect hatred and loathing of all kinde of vngodlines and a continuall desire and endeuour to please thee and to shew forth my thankfulnes vnto thee by walking carefully before thee in all the duties which thou commandest me that so I may be euery day more assured that I am one of that small flocke which thou hast redeemed with thy precious bloud for whom thou hast prouided that glorious Kingdome in the heauens Drawing others vnto any wickednesse a bloudy and fearefull sinne MVrther is abhorred of all men and that most iustly for it is a fearefull and a crying sinne committed Gen. 4.10 nor approued of any but such as haue lost in a manner the very nature of man and become as it were bruite and sauage creatures yea monsters such as are to be driuen out from the company and societie of men and to be depriued of this light which they doe enioy and are no wayes worthy of Deu. 19.13 But yet behold a strange thing and much to be vvondered at to murther the soules of men by drawing them to wickednesse by ill counsell Pro. 18.21 or by corrupt example of life or otherwise is slightly accounted of not had in that detestation among men that the other although as it is more common so it may well be sorted and rancked with it Is not the soule more pretious then the body Mat. 16.26 the life of the soule more vvorthy and farre more to be regarded then the life of the body Why then is not the murthering of this accounted as wicked as haynous as the other why is it not as much abhorred of all men vvhy are not such esteemed rather monsters then men and how is it that their owne consciences doe not accuse
hee vvant that vvhich cannot be vvanting in any true Christian hauing onely the title and outward badge of a Christian and not the inward indowments of those heauenly vertues and graces of Gods holy and sanctifying spirit a Galat. 5.24 nor the outward ornaments of a godly and religious life vvherewith all that are true Christians indeed are beautified and adorned miserable are such men of all others if they could see it Better were it for them to be Turkes Pagans and such as neuer heard of the name of a Christian and easier shall it bee for the most rude and barbarous nation in the world that know not God nor Christ yea for those vile and monsterous people the wicked Sodomites whom the Lord branded with a note of perpetuall infamie b 2 Pet. 2.6 and made spectacles of his vvrath and vengeance to all ensuing ages easier I say nay Christ himselfe hath spoken it with his owne mouth shall it be for that wicked and cursed generation in the day of iudgement then for them euen those false and counterfeit Christians vvhich are the very staine of the name and profession of Christianitie and godlinesse c Math. 11 24 causing by the vvickednesse of their liues the name of Christ to bee blasphemed d Rom. 2.24 among the heathen and by their vnseemely actions and shamelesse conuersations bringing this honourable calling into contempt and reproach among those that are strangers from God and his Christ and iudge of the truth of our Religion not by that vvhich is the true touchstone and cannot deceiue viz. the Scriptures and glorious vvord vvhich wee beleeue but by the liues and carriages of those that are the professors of it or beare the name of Christians or Professors concluding though falsely that that Religion cannot bee good nor to bee embraced of any vvhich they see to bring forth no better fruits in those that are the professors of it or haue the name of such as are professors of it for they make no difference yea Tit. 1.16 2 Pet. 2.2 Rom. 8.9 as or vvorse then they see in that blindnesse of Turcisme or Paganisme wherein they liue Fearefull is the estate of such titular and seeming Christians or indeede rather no Christians although they haue a place in the Church and liue among Christians as the Chaffe among the Wheate men of wicked and corrupt hearts and liues of which there be multitudes among vs the shame and reproach of the Christian vvorld yea of Christ himselfe fearefull and wretched is their estate and condition of all their condemnation shall be greatest for so the Truth it selfe hath threatned against them and will surely accomplish it in due time This is the e Ioh. 3.19 condemnation that is this is the cause of that great and fearefull condemnation that light is come into the world and men loue darknesse rather then the light Children of night and of darknesse f 1 Thes 5.5 yea of the curse and perdition how thinke you yee shall escape the vengeance that is to come except as you haue taken vpon you the name of Christians so you liue as it becommeth Christians except you change your liues g Mat. 3.8 Acts 3.19 and bring forth fruits worthy amendment of life not thinking it to be sufficient to say wee haue Christ to be our Sauiour and Redeemer except you shew your selues to be such as are redeemed from sinne and loosed from the bands of h Ioh. 3.8 Luke 1.75 Iohn 3.36 Psal 2.12 iniquitie the vvorke of the Diuell vvhich vvas the end of Christs comming and which all that are redeemed by him must finde to be wrought in them If you beleeue and obey not * Iohn 3.36 2 Thes 1.8 assuredly you shall perish the wrath of God abideth on you and shall be poured forth vpon you in the day of the vvrath and of the declaration of the iust iudgement of God Christ shall no wayes profit you hee shall not be a Sauiour to redeeme you but a Iudge to condemne you and to render vnto you according to your wayes i Isay 3.11 and workes that yee haue done Heare this you that haue the name and shew of Christians and are not heare it consider well of it and tremble at it and learne at length to be Christinns not in shew and profession onely for that vvill turne to your greater condemnaton but in deede and in truth which wil bring you much peace and ioy heere k Rom. 2.7 and infinite and vnspeakeable happines and glory hereafter when as Christ that blessed hope of ours shall appeare in glory l 2 Thes 1 10. and be made marueilous in all them that haue beleeued in him and beene obedient to him Gracious Lord who art the author and finisher of euery good gift and grace which is vvrought in any of thine perfect I beseech thee that vvorke of grace which of thy free mercy and goodnesse it hath pleased thee to beginne in mee O let mee neuer be of the number of them that haue a shew of godlinesse m 2 Tim. 3.5 but deny the power thereof professing themselues to be Christians and yet liue as those that are enimies to Christ bruitish and Heathenish people Farre be this from me for so I should heape the greatest measure of thy vvrath vpon mee bring my selfe to endlesse vvoe and miserie hauing my portion among them to whom Christ in the day of his appearance in flaming fire n 2 Thes 1.7.9 shall render vengeance because they were not obedient to thy blessed Gospell but graunt that as thou hast vouchsafed me the tytle and honour of a Christian so I may walk worthy of that holy and glorious profession endeuoring to keepe a good conscience alwayes both before thee and before men and to liue righteously iustly and vnblameably as it becommeth one of those whom thou hast separated from this vile and sinfull world this naughty and crooked generation and called vnto thy kingdome and glory by the preaching of the Gospell of thy Christ that so being made like vnto my Sauiour in righteousnesse and holinesse here and seeking to glorifie thee in all things I may hereafter obtaine the glory of our Lord Iesus Christ liuing with him in those heauenly mansions according to that promise of his vvho is faithfull and true in all his sayings and being made partaker with him of that felicitie and happinesse o 2 The. 2 14. Ioh. 17.24 vvhich is endlesse and vnspeakable and that only through thy mercies in Christ in whom it hath pleased thee to accept me and to vvhom with thee and thy good Spirit be all prayse now and for euer Amen Another to the same effect THE sinne of Christians is the greatest of all others and so their punishment likewise God being alwayes iust to render vengeance a Rom. 6.2 according to the qualitie of the offence First that their sinne is greatest vvill easily appeare to him
in no good way but also giue themselues wholly to the practise of wickednesse d Isai 3.8.9 Phil. 3.19 Hose 4.1.2 Psal 55.9.10.11 and vngodlinesse lying e swearing drunkennesse vncleanenesse contempt of the word and blessed ordinances of the Lord prophanation of the Sabbath and many execrable impieties making euen a trade of these Iewde and vvretched courses sporting f Pro. 10.23 themselues therein and hating g Psal 50 17. them that go about to reclaime them from them What shall become of them My heart trembleth to thinke of the fearefull doome vvhich shall passe against them in that great and terrible day of the LORD vvhen hee shall come in flaming fire h 2 Thes 1.8 to giue iudgement i Iud. 14.15 against them and to render vengeance vnto them as they haue deserued My heart trembleth to thinke how vvofull their estate and condition shall then be and me thinkes they should be amazed and astonished vvhen they heare of it or enter into consideration of it For if the vnprofitable seruant shall bee cast into vtter darknesse then doubtlesse they that haue not beene onely vnprofitable and barren of the vvorkes of pietie and charitie but also openly malicious full of vvickednesse i Rom. 1.29.30 enuie deceit backebiting raylers haters of GOD doers of wrong proud inuenters of euill things and practisers of all kinde of mischiefe in a prophane manner they shall bee cast into the outmost part of that vtter darkenesse into the verie depth thereof they shall haue the lowest part in hell the deepe dungeon of Gods wrath Their punishment shal be most fearefull and dreadfull and their end most wretched and miserable As it was said of Iudas k Mat. 26.24 so it may be likewise of them l Isai 3.9.11 5. It had beene good for such that they had neuer beene borne VVoe bee vnto their soules or they bring euill vpon themselues VVoe bee vnto them for they shall eate the fruit of their wayes and of their workes vvherin now they reioyce themselues Let them know assuredly that it shall bee gall and bitternesse to m Ier. 2.19 them in the end Their sinne is n Ier. 2.22 marked out before the LORD and their vengeance sleepeth not vvhen their wickednesse is come to the full growth and ripenesse as the Ammorites was o Gen. 15.16 then the Lord in his iustice will put to his sharpe sickle and cut them downe vvith a dreadfull iudgement and cast them into the VVine-presse of the fiercenesse of his vvrath yea into the very bottome of that bottomlesse pit of endlesse perdition and confusion vvhere they shall be tormented in fiery flames for euermore without all hope of recouery This shall be their lot and portion * Iob. 5.27 if they continue in that estate into vvhich they haue made so fearefull an entrance Heare it p Psal 50.22 Mat. 4.7 Heb. 3.8 all yee that forget GOD tremble at it and seeke in time to escape the vengeance to come q Mat. 24.50 1 Thes 5.3 Harden not your hearts neyther presume to goe on yet further lest it be too late for you to returne and to auoide this vvofull miserie vvhich vvill seize vpon you sooner then you are aware of O mercifull Lord keepe me and all thine from the wickednesse of the vvicked Let vs neuer delight to vvalke in the vvay that pleaseth them seeing the end and issue thereof is so fearefull r Pro. 14.12 how soeuer it seeme vnto them yea let vs bee afraid once to set one foote in it and alwayes most carefully auoyde the occasions vvhich might draw vs vnto it Let not there bee one prophane person s Heb. 12.16 amongest vs that haue taken the profession of thy glorious truth vpon vs But teach vs now and euer to abound in the fruits of righteousnesse and holinesse that so vve may not be found vnprofitable but increase daily more and more seeking to please thee that so vvhen that day of our accounts shall come vvhiles the wicked shall stand trembling at the Barre wee may lift vp our heades vvith confidence and heare that ioyfull sentence from thee t Mat. 25.23 It is well done good seruants and faithfull you haue beene faithfull in a little your glory shall be vnspeakeable Enter into your masters ioy inherite the kingdome prepared for you before the foundation of the world vnto vvhich bring vs in thy good time O mercifull LORD not for any merits or vvorthinesse of ours but onely for thy Sonnes sake our blessed Sauiour and Redeemer to whom with thee and thy Spirit be all praise and glory now and for euer The securitie of the wicked THou seest how it is with people that lye sleeping in a Boat whiles they are caried down the streame they make way apace and come to their appointed place before they are aware thereof So it is with the wicked and vngodly they lye sleeping in carnall securitie whiles Sathan wherries them downe amaine till hee brings them scarce thinking of any such matter to the bottomlesse gulfe of endlesse perdition and confusion Euery houre euery minute they are hastening forward to their destruction in an vnsensible manner and at length they fall sodainly into the depth of it without all recouery and being awakened out of that dead sleepe into which they were cast beginne to wonder at their former carelesnesse yea cry out and send forth many fearefull shrikings and grieuous a Luke 16.24 clamours being as men amazed and euen at their wits end to see the woe and miserie which they haue brought vpon themselues and from which they can neuer be freed neuer released though they had a thousand vvorlds to giue for a ransome Lord suffer me not to sleepe as others doe b 1 Thes 5.6 lest I perish with them A soft and tender heart A Soft and tender heart as it is the gift a Ezek. 11.19 36.26 of God so it is a singular blessing and such as the Lord bestoweth vpon those whom he loueth best and to whom he hath a speciall fauour and purpose to doe them most good both here and hereafter Oh it is his delight to b Isa 57.15 Psa 51.17 Isa 66.1.2 dwell with them and in them by the abundance of his graces and by the presence of his holy and blessed Spirit Hee will reuiue them and giue life vnto them and will neuer depart from them Their sighes and sobs and teares issuing from a heart contrite * Mat. 12.20 and broken for sinne are deare and precious vnto him they are as sweet waters which he keepeth as it vvere in his glasse * Psa 56.8 in his owne closet Happy c Mat. 5.4 is the man that findeth this in him He hath it vnder the Lords hand and seale that he will graciously respect him and cause his soule to liue before him But alas how rare a thing is this How fewe be there