God in humilitie and sinceritie and in full assurance of faith continually who without end is to be sought because without ende hee is to be beloued The third thing contained in our dutie is what effect this seeking and praying ought to worke in vs comprehended in these words If thou bee pure and vpright if the cloudes be full they will powre forth raine vpon the earth and vnpossible it is that a man that seeketh after God and prayeth vnto the Almightie should not bring foorth the fruites of a good life for if the tree bee good the fruites cannot bee bad and if the head of the water be pure it will send foorth pure waters into the cesternes Wherefore as good motions are stirred vp by prayer so must they bee fostered by practise of life according to that of the Apostle Quench not the Spirite nor greiue the holy one of God by whome yee are sealed to the day of redemption 1. Thes 5 He quencheth dearely beloued the spirit which being once lightned with the sparkles of faith and felt Gods Ephes 4. motions in his heart doth neglect to increase the one to a flame and the other to good workes in his life but with the dogge turneth to his vomits and with the Sowe that was washed to her wallowing againe in the mire Therefore beloued loue and seeke the Lord pray to the Almightie be pure and vpright in conuersation flie from sinne as from a Serpent for if thou come neere it will bite thee The teeth thereof are as the teeth of a Lyon to slay the soules of men and all iniquitie is as a two edged sword the wounds that it giues cannot bee healed I dare not stand as I would vpon these points fearing tediousnesse wherefore let this suffice for the former general part concerning the dutie we owe vnto God Now Gods promises for the performance hereof yeeld vnto vs most plentifull matter of doctrine and consolation First of his iustice that as hee will suffer no sinne vnpunished so he will suffer no good worke vnrewarded but giueth to euery seuerall action his seuerall hire and iust recompence of reward Shall the houre come in which all that are in their graues shall heare a voyce and come forth they that haue done well to the resurrection of life they that haue done euill to the resurrection of condemnation Shall the Lord search Ierusalem with Lanthornes Shall all full corners bee sweept and all pleites and wrinkles bee vnfolded Shall the Sea graue death and hell giue vp all that is in them And shall all the dead both great and small stand before God when the books are opened And shall euery man haue praise of God according vnto his deseruing Shall wee then discerne betweene the vessels of honour and of wrath between sheep and Goates the iust and vniust Finally shall there be an infallible generall and incorrupt iudgement wherein the booke of all our offences shall bee laid wide open Now God bee mercifull vnto vs bee fauourable O Lord be fauourable But to proceede it is thy nature O Lord to gather 1. Thes 5. vp the wheate and burne the tares to cut downe all fruitlesse trees and cast them into the fire yea into a fierie Ephe. 4. furnace that neuer shall bee quenched into an vtter darknesse where is weeping wailing gnashing of teeth then be fauourable O Lord be fauourable Doth not the Lord spare Dauid a king and a Prophet for murther Doth hee not spare the Sichemites for adulterie Nor Absalom for treason Nor Saule for tyrannie Nor Eli for negligence nor A chab Ieroboam nor Iezabel for cruelty nor Herod Nabuchadnezzar and Lucifer for pride nor Pharaoh for incredulity Then beefauorable O Lord be fauourable to vs in whom almost euerie one of these sinnes doe dwell and remaine Did the Lord for corruption ouer flow the world with water Did hee burne Sodome for her villanie Did hee cast Adam and Eue out of Paradise for eating of the forbidden fruite Did hee stone a poore wretch to death for gathering chips on the Sabboth day Then bee fauourable O Lord bee fauourable vnto vs. But doth not the Lord spare the Cedar tree for his height nor the Oke for his strength Nor the Poplar for his smoothnesse Nor the Lawrel for his greennesse No verily from the Cedar that is in Lybanon euen to the Hysop that groweth out of the wall yea euery one that bringeth not forth good fruite is hewne downe and cast into the fire it is a righteous thing with God to render vengance to those that disobey him and to destroy such as haue forsaken the law by euerlasting perdition Behold the Lord shall come in the great and latter day of iudgement when none shall escape his iudgement seate with clouds shall hee come and euery eye shall see him euen they which pierced him thorow shall also waile before him being summoned all to appeare most fearefully before his imperiall throne of maiestie then bee fauourable O Lord bee fauourable Alas with what eies shal wee miserable sinners behold him so gloriously sitting in his royall kingdome with all his mightie and holy Angels and whole number of Saints sounding with the voice of the Archangell and trumpet of God causing the heauens to passe away with a noyse and the elements to melt like waxe and the earth to burne with the workes thereof Yea with what eyes shall wee behold him when wee see the Sunne darkened the Moone eclipsed and the stars fall downe from heauen But alas when hee taketh the furbished blade into his hand when hee is readie to throw the fierie thunderboults of his wrath when he summoneth before him the worme that neuer dieth the fire that neuer shall bee quenched to reuenge vpon the wicked into what a plight are they then driuen Then leaue they off Bee fauourable O Lord bee fauourable and say to the hils O ye mountaines come and couer vs. O yee waters come and ouerwhelme vs woe woe woe how great is this darknesse The godly on the other side are bathed in such streames of blisse and aduanced to such happinesse as neither tongue can vtter nor heart conceiue The second thing wee haue to note in his promises is his mercy which exceedeth all his works For God though hee haue giuen a curse of the law against sinners yet seeing Christ for the penitent hath borne the curse whereby his iustice is not impared he is content to accept our weaknes as our strength to recompence our imperfection with reward of greatest perfection and that which wee can performe but in small part hee is content to accept as whole nor for any desert of ours but in satisfaction of his sonne who payd with the seale of his owne bloud the ransome for our sinnes hee hath cancelled the hand-writing that was against vs. Wherefore wee are to pray vnto God that whensoeuer our sinnes shall come in question before him that hee would looke vpon
7 And cast the wares that were in the ship into the sea Here is the second meanes which they vsed to helpe themselues Now the Mariners are content to cast their wares into the Sea in hope of some furtherance to saue their liues thereby for though many will venture their liues for riches yet they rather part withall their riches then with their liues But they cast them out to appease the tempest or lighten their ship but it was sin that procured danger and being cast away would haue saued all which being retained the tempest abating not the shippe is not the safer though it bee the lighter If I regard wickednesse Psal 66. 18. 1. Co. 13. 3. Cast away sin or thou castest away all in my heart saith Dauid the Lord will not heare mee And Paul saith Though I cast my life into the fire if I haue no charitie if I retaine malice in my heart it profiteth mee nothing if I cast not away sinne I cast away all Some will giue to the poore and yet vse extortion and vsurie to get money by but God saith to such that if they regard wickednesse in their heartes it profiteth nothing though they part with all that they haue and bestowe it vpon neuer so good actions they doe but as the Mariners did cast all away their desire nothing satisfied for though they thinke themselues beneficiall to the poore thereby and hope for reward therefore yet God will accept of them but as hypocrites hee will noâ—â— of their oblations hee abhorreth their very prayers Pro. 15. 8 vntill they haue humbled themselues and reformed their owne heartes before him from such vncleannesse They cast out the wares into the sea They would faine haue laid the tempest that thus readily loose the wares and cast out their very tackling into the sea but the sea will not be satisfied the waters must wash Ionah 1. 11. 15. the sinner or there is no safetie nay the danger is greater the sea continually more and more troublesome vexing them But Ionah was no sooner cast into the Sea but all was quiet the winds are calme and the sea ceaseth from her raging O that iustice were executed and hee that troubleth the ship were in the sea He that troubleth not hee that against all reason is thought to trouble then should all bee safe yea peraduenture Ionah too And they cast the wares that were in the ship into the sea Obserue here that oftentimes many are punished for one mans sinne as all the host of Israell were punished for the sinne of Achan and here all the Mariners and owners of Ios 7. 5. 12. Many punished for ones sinne therefore suffer sinne in none ship or wares for Ionahs sin c. to the ende that men may learne thereby to admonish one an other when they see them doe amisse with loue and not to say with Caine Am I the keeper of my brother for hee that is not carefull to keepe his brother from sinne is not carefull to keepe himselfe either from sinne or from sorrow therefore let vs take heed that a wicked one be not found amongst vs vnadmonished I would there were not many worse then Ionah among vs. Wil you know what I thinke of you I thinke you are worse then Infidels Turks or Pagans that in this wonderfull yeare of woÌ„derful mercies are not thankful beleeue not in God trust not in him glorifie not his name but like Pharaohs sorcerers who seeing the great workes of God which Moses wrought passing their skill confessed saying Surely this is the finger of God for you confesse it is the great worke of God as must needs but where are the fruites it Exo. 8. 19 hath brought sorth in you The captaine saith I haue done nothing the souldier saith I stirred not but the Lord sent out a mighty tempest vpon them and after that they escaped our handes the Lord stretched out his mightie arme against them and Pharap is drowned in the sea so that he neuer attained the land of promise which he gaped for and made full account to possesse Further herein we may note Mans extremitie Gods opportunity that extremitie is Gods opportunite for when the wind had almost ouerturned all the waters had almost drowned all destruction had almost deuoured all then and notafore was Gods opportunitie to set forth his glorie First they vsed prayer vnto the diuine powers for assistance then they vsed such ordinary meanes as they knew best in such a time by casting out their wares to lighten the ship of them which order is necessary to be vsed of all Christians in their necessitie First to seeke for aide assistance at the hands of God then to vse all such good means to Innecessity first pray then vselawfull meanes helpe themselues as God shall enable them to trusting that of his goodnes he will blesse their endeuours or else may they goe ouer all the earth to seeke helpe haue none for there is no other way God indeed is the last refuge but he is also the first refuge which is to bee sought vnto for hee will haue vs to acknowledge that man liueth not by bread onely a horse is but a vaine thing to saue a man and except the Lord keepe the citie the watch-man waketh but in vaine no meanes can helpe without his blessing But then he will not haue vs carelesse negligent to vse lawful meanes for hee neuer or very seldome worketh without meanes wheÌ„ the meanes may be vsed by vs. Danger theÌ„ we haue seen made them to feare but feare astonished them not but gathered their wits together for they vsed means with wisedome to saue themselues But when the Lord sendeth calamitie vpon many of the vngodly they haue so guiltie a conscience that whilest they feele the great hand of God they are euen distraught of their wits and madeas it were sencelesse that they know not what they doe yea when troubles come it makes them like a headlesse Bee which buzzeth about she knowes not whither or like the Swallow which by coÌ„pulsion of the wind flieth backward and forward till it fall into the Sea or like Came whose head was fraught with feares so that he knew not whither Gene. 4. to goe doubting to be slaine of euery one whom hee saw But whatsoeuer befalleth the child of God hee hath euer matter of consolation and some moderation of minde to beare it withall expecting a ioyfull issue of all Therefore blessed is he that hath the Lord for his God But Ionah was gone downe into the sides of the ship and layd downe and was fast a sleepe They prayed vnto their gods and their gods were now deafe while they were tossed and Ionah is gone to sleepe when hee should haue beene better occupied We come hither to heare the word and here we fall asleepe but it were farre better we were away for wee sleepe when we should heare
themselues it was the reuenging power of some angrie God for the sinne of somenotorious wretch that was amongest them Seeing therefore neither they nor Ionah praying had appeased the tempest but it was rather increased and no man confessed hee was that sinner they take counsell and agree to find him out by lots Wherein let vs obserue first neuer a one of them is of Dauids spirit who when he saw the people plagued said Lord it is I Euery man excuseth himselfe for euery man would extenuate his owne sinne and diminish it and euery one thinketh his sinne salued when he hath excused himselfe Let Adam bee his owne iudge and hee will say The woman tempted him to sinne and let the woman be her owne iudge and she will say Yonder Serpent perswaded her to it Let euery one be his owne iudge and there will be such posting off of sinne that neuer a one will be found guiltie There is none that will bee so impudent as to say he hath no sinne at all yet fewe that will freely confesse they haue greiously sinned Therefore these here say euery man within himselfe though he be a sinner yet hee is no great sinner None are accounted sinners vnlesse they bee openly detected of some notable and hainous crime If they bee Dicers swearers drunkards brawlers pickers flatterers pro phaners of the Saboath sleepers at Church and such like they be not thought sinners these actions are counted no sins but rather recreations For the multitude count none sinners vnlesse they be theeues traitors open and grosse Idolaters and taken with such like capitall crimes no nor these neither were it not for feare of the law as none among the Iewes but Publicans were counted sinners all the rest were good fellowes and iust men The Papists say Some thoughts affections words and outward actions not agreeing with the Law of God are easily washt away with a little holy-water c. they are not deadly they deserue not the wrath of God they are but veniall Did you euer read of these veniall sinnes in the Scripture But thinke you they haue nothing but Scripture Yes they haue Decrees they haue decretals the Ceremonies whereof obserued these veniall sinnes are soone pardoned and they haue a Pope that can forgiue any sinnes Thus they lesson sinnes thus they abate the price of sinnes and they can buy our sinnes with money or redeeme them with Masses and by a little shorte penance purchase a large and long pardon And as the Mariners euery man thought hee was no great sinner so Ionah thought with himselfe Though I bee a great sinner yet am I not so greious a sinner as these Idolatrous heathens or if hee throughly condemned himselfe yet vnwilling to be knowne such a rebell hee thought it may bee it is most likely they are many I but one peraduenture therefore the lot will not fall vpon mee like a theefe which notwithstanding in his owne heart hee acknowledge himselfe guiltie of that wherewithall hee is charged yet will not confesse vntill the matter bee throughly sifted and so clearely prooued to his owne face in such sort that he cannot for shame though with shame he confesse denie it Therefore if God had not sifted out this sinner the better Ionah would not haue beene knowne the man and the Mariners would still haue contended who was the lesser sinner therefore they consult to cast lots Let vs cast lots They did not vse to cast lots this was no custome among the Mariners but the tempest was so wonderfull that it made them seriously to thinke of God and willing to vse the meanes prescribed by god for the ending of doubt full matters acknowledging that hee ordereth all and the Pro. 18. 18 Pro. 26. 33. lot is the sentence of God by the falling of the lot he reuealeth the truth These like worldlings neuer confesse God but when he commeth in a tempest they will not see his mercie vntill his iustice appeare they will not acknowledge Gods gouernement before he bring on them some iudgement like Pharaos sorcerers who confessed not Gods Maiestie while they liued at ease but when the Lord plagued them then cried out This is the finger of God Exod. 52. Exo. 8. 19 Let vs cast lots that we may know for whose cause this euill is come vpon vs. Why what are they the better when they know him what would they doe with him on whome the lot should fall Surely they supposing or rather clearely seeing this tempest to bee sent from some wrathfull power and that for some one mans sinne amongst them they determined hauing found him to sacrifice him vnto the God that was so offended by him God turneth euill into good but the deuill turneth good vnto euill The Gentiles had a custom in the time of the common plague to sacrifice one for the rest This custome they tooke by imitation of the Iewes in offering beasts of Abraham in offering his son the deuill that father of lyes and schoolemaister of all mischiefe teaching them So the deuill tooke aduantage to doe euill by the seruice of God in mouing the Gentiles to worke abhomination by offering men imitating the Iewes commaunded sacrifices But if they had rightly known the true God they would haue taken their sinnes by the throat and haue sacrificed them Come let vs cast lots The mariners were not so wise to preuent the tempest before it came as they bee diligent to alay the tempest when it may not be layd wee ouertaken with Gods iust iudgements are very carefull alwaies to vse all meanes to bee rid of them But who keepeth a watch of his owne waies and diligently laboureth to keepe himselfe free from that which necessarily draweth on it selfe Gods iudgement who purgeth himselfe of his sinnes least he bee sicke who letteth or fetcheth out his corrupt bloud of pride lust couetousnesse least hee be sore who keepeth a good dyet and maketh his choyse of holy excercises godly companions religious conferences c. But knowe wee hee is not safe that is not sound neither he sound that is intemperate So they cast lots Whether it be lawfull to cast lots it is not euident by this example because they were Gentiles and therefore no president for vs but so farre may wee vse them as the word doth lead vs and no further There are two Goates brought to Aaron that hee might Leuit 16. cast lots to see which Goate should bee killed and which should not these Goates signifie Christ for as hee dyed hee liued againe and as hee was buryed he rose againe Againe Num 34. Iosua 7. the land of Canaan is parted by lots to see what part each Tribe should inhabite Againe that theefe Achan is found out by lots first by his Tribe then by his Family and lastly by his particular person Againe it is said that Saul was chosen king by lots and least any should haue said that it was his good lucke 1. Sam.
compassion both to punish vnlesse to far prouoked cōtēt to shake his rod ouer vs to make vs feare onely and keepe vs free from feeling his strokes if that may haue his due worke in vs that is recall reforme and confirme vs for as the windes could not ouerthrow Ionah nor the waters drowne him so neither could the whale consume poyson or annoy him or ought but feare him though it had swallowed him for Ionah remembring God God shewed hee forgot not Ionah Therefore when and where Ionah thought verily and speedily to haue perished then and there God caused him to bee three dayes and as many nights most safely preserued O power omnipotent O goodnesse all sufficient in all things at all times God then as well knoweth to deliuer his out of all distresse in due time as to reserue the wicked to the day of iudgement to bee punished And in what danger shall wee despaire In what extremities ought not wee to hope in our most mighty Sauiour remembring Ionah in the whales belly Ieremie in the mire of the deepe dungeon Daniel among the fierce Lions his three companions in the hot burning furnace nay 600000. men of warre and three times as many moe of men and women young and old in the wildernesse lacking now drinke then meat and all these deliuered out of all danger these last miraculously satisfied with drinke out of the roeke and with meat abundantly from heauen Secondly though Ionah bee cast into the troublous sea and swallowed of a huge whale yet hee must preach at Niniuie though Moses flye out of Egypt yet he must bee the leader of Gods people thence Ioseph is in prison but hee must bee Lord of Egypt preserue the Church aliue Who would haue thought that Saul should become Gen. 29. 20. 41. 40. 45. 78. Act. 9. 1. 2 1. Cor. 15 10. Mar 14 71. Act. 4. 11. 12. Iona 2. 10. Amos. 7. 14. Exo. 2. 3. Iona. 2. 10 Luke 2. 17. Paul or forswearing Peter a faithfull Preacher Suspend then thy iudgement and wonder at Gods workes whether of mercie or iustice and think not the worse of a man though hee were cast out of the sea as Ionah or basely brought vp as Amos for the deliuerer of Israel was brought out of the flagges and the conuerter of Niniuie out of a Whale and the saluation of the whole world out of a stall And the lot fell vpon Ionah The lot fell vpon Ionah that hee might bee cast out of the ship that as the ship was almost broken but not altogether so Ionah might bee almost drowned but not altogether almost consumed almost poisoned in the bellie of the whale but not altogether and that being in the double deepe duely humbled and as gold in a furnace fined and fit for Gods workes hee might thence in a miraculous manner come foorth like Lazarus in his winding sheete that hee might glorifie God once againe and couragiously cry against Niniuie And the lot fell vpon Ionah The lot fallen vpon Ionah the iustice of God both manifesting the truth incorruptly and chastising his disobedient seruant seuerely did appeare but with all singular mercie shined and the mariners mindes were mollified in that they sacrificed him not to Sathan but much more that hee by that meanes truely repented In so much that the old idolatrous mariners presently by him were conuerted and hee cast into the Sea was not drowned swallowed of the Whale and three daies continuing therein perished not but miraculously was preserued and most graciously cast on land safe and lastly crying against Niniuie that sinfull Citie had his preaching so mightily preuailing that hee wonderfully humbled them all This mercie was maruailous this goodnesse of God to Ionah most glorious For the Niniuites hearing Yet fortie daies and Iona. 3. 5 Niniuie shall bee ouerthrowne first as the mariners had before done beleeued the word of God though they neuer heard it before If wee heard the word of God preached as the mariners and Niniuits did with trembling harts in the sense of Gods Maiestie it would not bee but we should feele the power of it liuely and filled with all ioy in beleeuing speedily but vneffectuall and fruitlesse is preaching because there is nothing almost but vnreuerent and senselesse hearing And why should God teach the heedlesse to learne Why should hee giue pearles to dung-hil cockes nay to very swine But they beleeued the word assoone as they heard it though they neuer heard it before what doth that argue Surely it sheweth that the floolish and simple are more diligent and ready both to heare and receiue the word of God then those that are wise in their owne conceit or also in the view of the world What saith Christ The poore receiue the Gospell What saith Paul Not many rich not many wise For though we haue Mat 11. 5. 1. Cor. 1. 26. Mat. 23. 13. 14. 25. 26. 27. 28. Luke 12. 47. 48. Act 8. 20 knowledge if our knowledge bee like the Pharisies that is in shew of sinceritie onely in counterfeit holinesse and hollow-hearted friendship through hypocrisie it had bin better for vs that wee had bin ignorant for it will but leaue vs the more inexcusable it will bee found insufficient to saue vs but sufficient the more fearefully to condemne vs because we know our maisters will and doe it not There fore as Peter said to Simon Magus Thy money perish with thee so will the Lord say vnto such Thy knowledge perish with thee seeing it is fruitlesse But when Niniuie had beleeued God what did they secondly They speedily they notably repented they proclaimed a fast they put on sack-cloth they humbled themselues before the Lord they earnestly besought him to turne away his wrath from this wofull Citie Ionah Iona 3. 4. preaching at Niniuie crying against it seemeth to haue humbled them and that without a miracle without which scant any doctrine is of credit among Gentiles not onely within fortie but within foure dayes much within fortie dayes he conuerted Niniuie ruffling Niniuie old and idolatrous Niniuie long before fortie dayes be ended the seede is sowne growne increased mightily and full ripe in a soyle in reason most barren Sow therefore yee seedmen where you are set If yee sow cheerefully yee shall reape plenteously in due time Vaunt not say not I haue a stonie or a starued or a thornie ground Niniuie repents in sackcloth In which willing submission of theirs and speedy liuely repentance at the wordes of the Prophet after hee had beene three dayes and three nights in the Whales bellie the calling of the Gentiles by Christ after hee had beene three dayes and three nights in the bowels of the earth might well bee signified For they no lesse willingly then the Niniuits submitted themselues to the Gospel preached no lesse speedily and peraduenture more truely repented Iona. 3. 7 6. For though now they thus wonderfully humbled thēselues not the fearefull multitude
Christ Iesus the true looking-glasse in whom he shall finde vs most pure and innocent and to shine most clearely in the righteousnesse which hee had giuen vs by faith so that wee appeare not in our owne righteousnesse but in the righteousnesse of the Lambe who hauing taken away the sinnes of the worlde and hauing made vs as white as snowe though wee were as red as crimson sayth hee will be mercifull to our iniquities and will remember our sinnes no more Of him doe all the Prophets beare witnesse that through his name all that beleeue shall receiue remission of their sinnes Againe Drinke ye all of this for this is my bloud which is shed for the remission of sinnes Christ gaue himselfe for our sinnes that hee might deliuer vs from the curse of the Law euen according to the will of the Father Christ bare our sinnes in his owne body on the tree that we being deliuered from sin might liue in righteousnes by whose stripes wee are healed for we were as sheepe going astray but are now returned to the shepheard and bishop of our soules It is no more but beleeue and be saued beleeue and receiue remission beleeue and lay off thine owne righteousnesse and inuest thy selfe with the righteousnesse of the vnspotted Lambe Dauid was young and after was old yet in all his daies he neuer saw the righteous forsaken Sometimes he scourgeth his children but like a louing Father hee layeth no more vpon them then they are able to beare for hee afflicteth them for his owne iustice because they are sinners for his wisedome to exercise their faith for his mercie to cause them to repent but this is the end of all hee helpeth them in their distresses hee reuengeth himselfe vpon his enemies and giueth to his people rest and quietnesse O that we would therefore prayse the Lord and forget not all other his singular benefites O that wee woulde confesse that his mercy endureth for euer The third thing to note in his promises is his bountifull kindnesse in requiring so small a thing with so great and liberall blessings and bindeth himselfe by obligation as it were that as sure as we performe the one so hee will notfaile to accomplish the other The fourth is his patience and long suffering which is not slacknesse as some men account slacknesse but is patience because willingly hee would haue no man perish but gladly woulde haue all men to come to repentance Hee is content to stay our leasure till wee seeke and pray vnto him and neuer smiteth till there bee no hope of redresse The fift is his loue in that hee is content to stirre vs vp to holy exercises and puritie of life and to allure vs with faire promises of ayde and prosperous increase of all his blessings in this world The particular examination of these blessings would require a larger discourse then fearing tediousnesse I dare presume to trouble you withall wherefore a word of each and so I end Touching the first where it is said God will awake vp vnto thee it is a greater benefit then the words import for it signifieth not onely that he will heare thee but that hee will also doe what thou desirest and satisfie thy request As long as the sinner sleepeth the Lord is sayd to be asleepe but as soone as the sinner awaketh from sinne Psal 78. God will arise saith Dauid and his enemies shall be scattered and they that hate him shall flye before him as the smoake vanisheth before the wind and as the waxe melteth before the fire euen so shall the wicked perish at the presence of God Wherefore as Paul exhorted the Ephesians so I exhort you Awake thou that sleepest stand Ephes 5. vp from the dead and Christ shall giue thee light awake vnto God and God will awake vnto thee and Christ euen the sonne of God the bright morning starre shall giue thee the light of life In the second hee promiseth aboundance of worldly blessings in recompence of prayer for it is sayd Hee will make the habitation of thy righteousnesse prosperous that is Reue. 22. 2. Ps 1. 12. Prou. 28 the Lord will make peace within thy wals and prosperitie within thy places hee will commaund his blessings to be with thee in thy storehouse and in all thou settest thy hand vnto hee will open vnto thee his good treasures euen the heauens to giue raine on thy land in due season Thou shalt lay vp gold as the dust and the gold of Ophir as the flint of the ryuer thou shalt wash thy pathes with butter and thy rockes shall powre out riuers of oyle thou Iob. 22. Ps 1. 28. shalt call saluation thy wall and prayse shall be in thy gates Loe thus shall the man be blessed that feareth God Lastly for being pure and vpright hee will make thy latter end greatly increase and that thou mayest the lesse mistrust his promise he will doe it though thy beginning be but small Heere brethren yee see what a sea of matter is offered me whereunto if I would commit my selfe I might discourse vnto you what strange euents by Gods prouidēce haue hapned in the worlde what great Kings and potentates haue been plucked downe from their thrones and what contemptible persons in the eye of the world haue Hest 8. Gen. 30. Dan. 6. beene aduanced to their roomes How Mardocheus a stranger was exalted into Hamans place how Ioseph and Daniel the one a bond-man in Egypt the other a captiue in Babylon were made Princes in those kingdomes But because I will not ouermuch transgresse the bondes of modestie or hold you longer then in this place I haue beene accustomed onely remember what the Prophet sayth He raiseth the needie out of the dust and lifteth the poore out of the mire that be might set him with the princes euen with the princes of Psal 113 the world Remember the example of Dauid whom the Lorde Psal 78. chose and tooke from the Ewes great with yong that hee might feede his people in Iacob and his inheritance in Israel Remember the example of Iob how the Lord turned the Iob. 42 captiuitie of Iob as the riuers of the south how hee blessed the last dayes of Iob more then the first how hee gaue him sheepe and camels and oxen and shee asses in more abundance then he had before how hee increased him with sons and daughters euen to the fourth generation so that hee died being olde and full of dayes Remember euen our Psal 126 owne estate for whome the Lord hath done great things alreadie as created vs and redeemed vs and sanctified vs and not long since deliuered vs from the gaping iawes of those that sought to sucke our bloud Vpon some he hath Psal 41. bestowed humilitie whereby their mindes are adorned with vertue honor vpon others whereby their persons are inuested with maiestie vpon others comelines wherby the other two are graced vpon others Orchards