is aboue Their affections be in heauen though they be on earth their treasure is in heauen and therefore their hearts are where their treasure is and death to them is a passage to life They feare not death hauing a good measure of faith to warm them at the heart they change not their countenance nor haue their colour any whit abated but aâ— it is recorded of Mistris Ioyce Lewis at the stake sundrie other Christians euen of the fearfullest by nature sexe looked as fresh cheerly at the houre of death as at their mariage But if men which are aged do not feare God they wish to die to be freed from paines but they passe from litle paine to great from easelesse to endlesse from corporall to eternall Hell is Deaths Page Follower attending him where euer hee goes among the wicked sort It is miserable to see how boldly blindly such men venture on death Theramines wrote books in praise of Death as the end of all calamities Augustus dies iesting calling for a Plaudite Tiberius in dissimulation Diogenes hearing Antisthenes cry out in his pains who shall ease mee offers him a knife to dispatch himselfe withall Caninus called to execution bids this fellow remember hee had the best of the game The Earle of Kildare seeing his Writ of death brought in when hee was at shouel-boord throwes his cast with this in his mouth whatsoeuer that is this is for a huddle If such men idid know the follower of Death they would neuer iest so and vse such idle mirth Vse Hath old age many miseries which accompanie it so that there is no pleasure in it but euerie day is a day of wrath an euill day subiect to some iudgment or other this should make the children of God lift vp their hands and hearts desiring to enioy that life wherein neuer a day shal passe away in wrath but all in loue fauour and glorie and wherein the dayes of our life shall not be a returning to death but a going on from life to life and ioy to ioy when we shall liue to liue and the longer we shall liue the longer we shall haue to liue and that in happinesse and glorie which daies and times shal neuer waste If we had hearts to consider of things as they are there is neuer a day goes ouer our head but yeeldeth matter of sighing and groaning vnder some act of Gods wrath doe we the best we can If we had the greatest causes of comfort both for this world the world to come that the world can affoord or that euer any man had yet when he shall summe his accounts he shall find the daies he liues here are but daies of euill and he shall see more cause of sorrow mourning then of ioy Let the bitter of Gods wrath here make vs the more seeke after the daies of eternitie where there shall not be the least crosse nor affliction Mans life in this life is nothing else but a returning back againe vnto death Euery man whiles he is here walkes to the house of his graue and though he be a little longer in going backe vnto the earth then he was comming from it yet he doth nothing while he is here but goe back to it A tale is quickly told a word is soone spoken a thought is soone conceiued so the yeers and daies of man are quickly spent It may teach vs euerie day to meditate and thinke seriously of our death and the graue It is the place we are continually trauiling vnto Which way so euer our faces are we mooue thitherward Euery day we are going to the place of execution A Malefactor that is going to suffer death thinks no other thing but death were going to the place of execution wee should still mind death and euerie day prepare to die As Dauid said of Aphimaaz let him come and welcome c. 2. Sam. 18.27 so the faithful Christian wil say of death he is the messenger of Christ he is welcome he bringeth to me the ioyful newes of eternal life They are blessed which die in the Lord Reu. 14.13 And one day of a blessed death wil make an amends for all the sorrowes of a bitter life FINIS
for this time and when I haue conuenient time I will call for thee Act. 24.26 But Foelix was remooued Festus put in his roome and Paul continues bound still So young men say to goodnesse to grace and to God goe your wayes for a time and when wee are old and sickly then we will send for you but God will turne away Sathan will come in place and yong men wil be left in their sinnes First how knowest thou thou shalt liue till thou be old doe not many die in their youth And why not thou If thou dost what will become of thy soule Secondly if thou liue till thou be old how knowest thou whether then thou shalt remember God or no Is it in thy power Noe because men forget God being yong he forgets them and makes them forget him being olde Thirdly if thou doest remember him what great matter doest thou offer it to thy Prince will he accept it That which is vnfit for the World is it good enough for God Wilt thou offer him thy old age thy dote-age a bagge of drie bones Will not hee haue the first fruites of thy Corne and the fat of thy flocke and wilt thou giue the cleane corne of youth to the Deuill and the huskes and chaffe of old age to God wilt thou sacrifice the fat of thy Flock to the Deuils and the leane to God wilt thou forgiue thy enemies when thou canst hurt them no longer wilt thou giue thy goods to the poore when thou canst keepe it no longer wilt thou leaue sinne when sinne leaues thee and wilt thou serue God when it pleaseth thee is God at thy command is he bound to thee not thou to him It is a reproofe of those that are the Proctors and Vse 2 Patrons of sinnes of youth They say what shall youth doe shall they be mortified so young shall not youth be merrie and iouiall shall they bee sober aâ—d graue so young then you will haue no life in them belike Others say a young Saint an old Deuill A young Deuill may become an old Saint but a young Saint can neuer become an old Deuill Others say youth is youth and youth must haue a swinge Others of a ragged colt comes a good horse a knauish boy becomes a good man Either Solomon was not wise or they are starke fooles in so saying he saith Remember God in thy youth Let young men learne by Elies children how they were cut off ere age came To put off such things to old age is as if a carrier hauing many horses should put all his carriage on the weakest and poorest hauing many better Young men haue many better dayes and yeeres to repent in Delaying of repentance is dangerous deadly and damnable If a wound bee not cured before it rot it becomes oftentimes incurable If the fire be not quenched in time it becomes vnquenchable and if flesh be not salted before it stinck it becomes so vnsauorie that it cannot bee mended If a mote fall into the eye or a thorne sticke into the foot we take them out without delay but in things pertaining to the health of the soule delay is much more dangerous Satan seekes but a delay God craues present repentance It was offered by Moses to Pharaoh when shall I pray for thee and he answered to morrow Exod. 9.10 It is offered by the Lord to man when wilt thou that I haue mercie on thee many answere when wee are old Miserable was Pharaoh who delayed Moses but one day but more miserable are many men who delay the Lord for many yeeres Some will first burie their Fathers as the Disciple would Math. 8.21 Some will first go and kisse their Fathers that is delight yet a space in the pleasures of this life God will haue men now to turne God will haue the present time Bee wise now Psal 2.10 Now therefore feare the Lord and serue him Iosh 24.14 Therefore also now saith the Lord Ioel 1.12 Consider this now yee that forget God Psal 50.22 When Abraham was bid to circumcise his Familie he did not deferre it but circumcised them the same day Gen. 17.23 As soone as Cornelius was willed to send for Peter hee sent immediatly Act. 10.33 That thou wilt doe doe quickly in thy youth for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth Pro. 27.1 Hee that is not now willing may hereafter bee more vnwilling I know no difference betweene the wise two Virgins and the foolish but that the one did it in time which the other would faine haue done out of time and could not The most prophane men of the world are forced in death to make their refuge to the Lord. Then the eye and the hand are lifted vp vnto him Then they crie for mercie and desire all others to pray for them If men were wise they would doe that in time which many would do and do at length when God sent laborers into his vineyard he that was bad goe in the morning did not deferre till noone hee that was called at noone did not deferre his comming till night Art thou called to day deferre not till too morrow to day if thou wilt heare his voice harden not thy heart Heb. 3.15 To day is Gods voice to morrow is the deuils giue God to day that is thy youth It is one of Satans pollicies to perswade men to repent when they are old till all the time bee past wherein Men should repent This brings many to damnation that where in their young yeares they will not repent in their olde age they cannot the affections through long custome of sinnes waxing strong euen then when the bodie is weake Marke Satans deceit and put not off thy remembring of God to thy old age for thy yeeres may bee shortned thy faith weakened Satan aduantaged thy heart hardned and it may be God in iustice and the deuill in malice will not suffer thee to remember thy Creator How fearefull a thing is it to fall into the hands of God who is a consuming fire Heb. 12.29 As fire consumeth stubble so the most seuere God will consume and destroy the wicked contemners of his Word Thinke of it whiles there is hope you young men that forget your Creator heauen and hell least you misse the one and come into the other where there is no redemption no hope of ease or end which is that that makes hell hell indeed If all the paines of hell might haue an end were it after million and millions of yeeres as many as there bee Sands on the Sea-shoare it might nourish some miserable comfort of a release in the long ruine But this night hath no day this Ague no intermission this death no death to end it withall Text. Before the euill dayes come The dayes voide of all delight will come all ioy will faile and sorrow vpon sorrow befall There are good dayes that is a blessed and happie life wherein many good things befall vs. If any Man loue
there is nothing vnder the Cope of Heauen except the Soule of man which is not subiect to change and corruption Man cannot alwaies continue in one state but man groweth old It is dangerous to waxe old in sinne for the sinner that is an hundred yeeres old shall be accursed Esa 65.20 It shall not be well to the wicked Eccl. 8.13 Old age hath sufficient deformities of it selfe therefore they should not adde such as proceed from Vice As the labours of old men diminish so the exercises of the soule should increase Seeing no man knoweth what shall bee let men Vse 2 vse wel the present time whether it be youth or age If thou bee religious in thy youth old age will bee welcome to thee and the daies will not be euill the troubles weaknesses will seeme as nothing which accompanie old age Thou wilt be willing to die for Death will not carry thee to prison but to the Saincts feast Reuel 19.9 To the participation and fellowship with Christ in his heauenly ioyes and blisse when the Church his Spouse shall be fully blessed Death wil come to carry old religious men to Paradise a place full of pleasures As a man riding takes vp one behind him and carries him to this or that banquet so Death takes vp the religious old man behind him vpon the pale Horse and carries him to heauen Reuel 6.8 Worke therefore while it is day the night commeth when no man can worke Ioh. 9 4. All that thy hand shall find to doe doe it with all thy power for there is neither work nor inuention nor knowledge nor wisedome in the graue whither thou goest Eccl. 9.10 Paul saith Whiles we haue time we must doe good to all specially to those which are of the house-hold of Faith Gal. 6.10 Wee may not assigne the Lord in what place state condition or in what companie we would liue but as Strangers waite on him euen as the hand-maid on her Mistris for whatsoeuer he will allow vs we are readie most commonly to bee called away by death before we be fit or haue learned how to liue Looke what care conscience zeale loue and reuerent estimation of good things thou haddest when first thou embracedst the Gospel the same at last retaine and be sure thou keepest still afterwards The more knowledge that thou hast take heed thou be not more secure Wee shall not enioy the grace which we had at the first except we be as carefull now to keep it as we were then to come by it All our life ought to bee a prouiding for a good death and a keeping away of woe which cōmeth by sinne We cannot promise to our selues one day for Time is Gods and Times and Seasons he hath put in his owne power Act. 1.7 therefore euery day wee ought to prepare our hearts to seeke the Lord and keepe them fit and willing thereto Take heed Brethren lest at any time there be any of you an euill heart and vnfaithfull to depart away from the liuing God Heb. 3.12 Oh! that there were in them an heart to feare me and to keepe all my Commandements alway Deut. 5.29 Our Sauiour saith Thou shalt loue the Lord thy God with all thy heart Matth. 22.37 Euery day our thanks must be continued for benefits receiued they are renewed euery morning Lam. 3.23 Euery day we ought to watch and pray for stedfastnesse and constancie Euery day we must hold and keepe our peace with God and lie downe therein Psal 4.8 Text. And the yeeres approach of which thou wilt say I haue no pleasure in them Solomon meaneth before thou waxe old Old age of it selfe is a disease if no other disease beside happen What pleasure can old men take when strength faileth them when they are not able to helpe themselues Their life in this life is nothing else but a returning backe againe vnto death for whiles they are here they walke to the house of their graue Their dayes passe away in such a manner as if a man being a child should suddenly be made a man and after that should presently goe backe againe and bee a child The more men grow in strength and yeeres the neerer they draw to the place from whence they came Moses saith The strength of old men is labour and sorrow Psal 90.10 Their dayes are dayes of sorrow and their strength brings nothing vnto them but matter of labour and paine Doct. That the many discommodities and miseries of old age plainly testifie that there is no pleasure in it Such as are full of dayes as Iob was Iob 42.17 are full of miseries Man that is borne of woman is full of miserie or full of vexation Iob 14.1 The description of the last age is admirable and hath need of a good Anatomist to helpe the true vnderstanding of the same Then the Sunne is darke and the Light and the Moone and the Starres And the Clowdes returne after the Raine Eccl. 12.2 The Keepers of the house tremble the Strong men bow themselues the Grinders cease because they are few and they waxe darke that looke out by the windowes Eccl. 12.3 And the doores shall bee shut by the street with the base sound of the grinding and a Man shall stand vp at the voyce of the Bird and all the Daughters of Musick shall be brought low Eccl. 12.4 And men will dread euery high place and feare will be in the way and the Almond tree will flourish and the Grasse-hopper will bee a burthen to it selfe and all lust will be dissolued and a man goeth to his long home and Mourners goe about in the street Eccl. 12.5 The siluer Cord is loosed and the golden Ewer broken and the Pitcher burst at the Well and the Wheele broken at the Cisterne Eccl. 12.6 And dust returne to the Earth as it was and the Spirit returne to God that gaue it Eccl. 12.7 By the Sunne and Starres darkned is meant the dayes losing their light so that all things seeme darke vnto them euen the Sun it selfe And the Clowdes returne after the Raine that is after they haue wept a long time there passe before their eyes as it were clowdes being nothing else but grosse vapours which grow thicke and foggie The keepers of the House tremble that is the ribs and breast which keepe the inward parts and compasseth them about The strong men shall bow that is the knees and legges shall lose their strength which are the Pillars vpon the which the whole building is set The grinders shall cease they are few that is the Teeth the mouth being as a Mill old mens teeth are few in number and those that are weake and so the grinding ceaseth And they waxe darke that looke out by the Windowes that is the eye in the head like Windowes in a House like two louers which giue light in order And the doores shut without by the base sound of the grinding that is the Lips shall be shut because the
A CHRISTIAN CAVEAT FOR AL ESTATES OR A Sermon preached by that Religious seruant of GOD Master GEORGE HOCKIN Bachelor of Diuinitie Fellow of Excester Colledge and Preacher to the Towne of Totnes in Deuon PSAL. 105.5 Remember yee his maruellous workes that he hath done his wonders and the iudgements of his mouth LONDON Printed by William Stansby 1622. TO The vertuous and truely religious Mistris P. I. encrease of all spirituall grace and true comfort here with assurance of eternall glorie and happinesse hereafter THese holy and heauenly Meditations were by the Author of them at first conceiued vpon the occasion of the decease of a religious Gentleman with whom hee was much conuersant Good Wine needeth no Garland it will praise it selfe so I perswade my selfe will this ensuing Sermon which a learned holy and faithfull Seruant of God formerly Viua voce in publique sounded in your eares and in the eares of many others which it furnisht with the best and rarest things which Canaan Greece and Rome doth yeeld There is scarce in the Booke of God a Mine that is more rich and abundant in exhorting men to remember their Creator then the Text handled in this Sermon This Treatise will affoord good helpe to those that will deigne diligently to peruse the same For herein the learned shall meete with some things not common perhaps not to encrease yet to renew his secret knowledge and whet his iudgement and also the godly Christian shall not want wherewith to feed his deuoutest Meditations and enkindle his best affections toward God But lest I doe seeme like some deceitfull Broker Laudat venales qui vult extrudere merces Horat. to set worth on worthlesse Wares by goodly words I will leaue the proofe hereof to the judicious and not fastidious Readers I lighting vpon this Sermon of that both learned and godly Diuine Master George Hockin of whose gracious abilitie in preaching Gods Word and of whose conscionable care in performing his Ministeriall office many can witnesse as a poore Orphan Babe of a deceased Friend for the memorie of its Author haue aduentured to shew my selfe so farre on this Theater as to set it forth to publique view and to make it common for the benefit of others I presume good men will both accept my good meaning and conne me thanks who haue set vp for them such a faire and cleere light to light them on-ward in the way that will leade them to eternall blisse The Lord grant that it may haue that successe in such as are religiously affected which he that gaue first life vnto it in studying and brought it forth by preaching intended and I in consenting and causing to haue it Printed desire so shall young and old the feeble weake and doubting Christian be taken by the hand and we all shall be of the number of them which follow Faith to the conseruation of our soules which the Lord for Iesus Christ his sake grant Amen Yours in his best desires I. C. A CHRISTIAN CAVEAT FOR ALL ESTATES ECCLESIASTES 12.1 And remember thy Creator in the dayes of thy youth before the euill dayes come and the yeeres approch of which thou wilt say I haue no pleasure in them SOLOMON was Sonne vnto the worthiest King that euer swayed Scepter vpon Earth he was the Sonne of a King a King himselfe and the Father of a King and Predecessor in the royall Line vnto the Sonne of GOD and for Nobilitie matchlesse He was King of Ierusalem which was the Citie of GOD the Lady of the World the holy Citie the perfection of Beautie and the ioy of the whole Earth In speculatiue knowledge he excelled the wisedome of all the Children of the East and all the wisedome of Egypt He was able to discourse from the Cedar tree that is in Lebanon euen vnto the Hyssope that springeth out of the wall He was the most fit and absolute man that euer liued both for abilitie and vnderstanding abundance of riches and sufficiency of all Creatures This King exhorteth young men to remember GOD in their youth The flower of youth will vanish away therefore Remember thy Creator in youth it is the best way and the onely way to turne away anger and euill alwaies to remember the power goodnes and iustice of GOD the Creator The dependance these words haue on the former is in this sort Solomon hauing exhorted Youth in their youth and prime-time to remember their Maker He said before take away griefe out of thy heart that is all those things which prouoke the anger of GOD cause euill to depart from thy flesh that is all punishment which comes from GODS anger And remember thy Creator This Text contayneth two things First An exhortation to godlinesse in youth And remember thy Creator in the dayes of thy youth Secondly A reason taken from the manifold infirmities of old age Whiles the euill dayes come not nor the yeeres approch wherein thou shalt say I haue no pleasure in them The summe and sense is this Solomon a man experienced willed young men to remember GOD that made them and that in their youth not that they should forget him in their old age but they should begin betime to know GOD and so continue whiles they continue on earth there is good cause so to doe for he made them brought them into the world and bought them too and they should remember him here that hee might remember them hereafter before old age weake age and dote-age come before weaknes sicknes sorrowfulnes and other infirmities happen which accompanie old age Or Solomon puts the dissolute young man in minde of iudgement there hee shewes him how to escape it by auoiding the anger of GOD namely to remember Iehouah Thus you haue seene Solomons meaning now to speake of some such profitable instructions as these words shall afford And remember Text. The true and serious remembrance of GOD is an especiall remedie against sinne and the forgetting of GOD a cause of sinne GOD himselfe commandeth it in the Scripture saying Remember Iehouah thy God for it is he which giueth the power to get substance Deut. 8.18 Dauid from GOD willed the people not to forget GODS Works but to keepe his Commandements Psalm 78.7 Here wee may see plainly that the remembrance of GOD keepeth vs from sinning as the wicked doe GOD commandeth Ioshuah to remember him continually that hee might liue well and prosper saying The booke of the Law shall not depart out of thy mouth but thou shalt meditate therein day and night that so thou maiest obserue to doe all things therein and then thou shalt make thy wayes prosperous and haue good successe Iosh 1.8 Remember that those are commonly the best opportunities of mercy and pardon which are most early offered and these are hardly recouered when through wilfull contempt or slight negligence carnall and foolish ease they haue beene long contemned Let all remember their Creator in their youth Doct. That the onely
meanes to escape Gods wrath is to remember him God gaue Israel a Law to bee continued to their posteritie namely to remember God and keepe his Commandements that so they might not bee a faithlesse and stubborne Generation who set not aright their hearts and whose spirit cleaueth not stedfastly vnto God like their fore-fathers and the children of Ephraim who kept not Gods Couenant forgetting God and his wondrous works Psal 78.5 to 12. Here wee may see plainly that the remembrance of God is a meanes to escape his wrath When the Lord had giuen the Israelites abundance and plentie of all things lest they should fall into pride vnthankfulnesse and other sinnes he giueth them this caueat saying When thou hast eaten and art full and hast built goodly houses and dwell therein and when thy Heards and thy Flocke and all thou is multiplied beware and take thou heed thou forgettest not the Lord thy God and lest thy heart be lifted vp and thou forget the Lord thy God but remember the Lord thy God Deut. 8.10 to 18. The Apostle Iude writing against the wicked Seducers that liued in his time prescribeth this as a remedie to escape Gods wrath Remember the words of the Apostles of Iesus Christ Iude 17. Dauid shewing what a combat hee had with Diffidence and Distrust acknowledgeth this to be his remedie whereby he got the victorie the remembrance of God and so after confession of the combat he saith And I said this is mine infirmitie but I will remember the yeeres of the right hand of the most High I will remember the works of the Lord surely I will remember thy wonders of old I will meditate also of all thy works Psal 77.10 We must remember to serue and walke with God by dayes not by weekes and moneths onely Psal 90.12 As the chiefest meanes to escape Gods wrath is to remember the Lord so the speediest meanes to draw downe his iudgements is to forget the Lord. Now consider this yee that forget God that is him and his iudgements against sinne lest I teare you there is the greatnesse of their iudgement and there be no Rescuer that is no hope of deliuerance Psal 50.22 The wicked shall turne into hell and all the Heathens that forget God Psael 9.18 When the people forgate the Lord their God he sold them into the hand of Sisera Captaine of the Host of Hazor and into the hand of the Philistims and into the hand of the King of Moab and they fought against them 1. Sam. 12.9 Seeing thou hast forgotten the Law of thy God I will also forget thy children Hos 4.6 If men forget God hee will forget them forget to shew mercy but he will remember to execute iustice and wrath Thou hast forgotten the mightie God that begate and hast forgotten God that formed thee what then the Lord saw it and was angrie Deut. 32.18 19. If Gods words can worke vs to his will he will spare his blowes Hee hath as little delight in smiting as wee in suffering Hee reioyceth in his owne goodnesse grieueth at our wretchednesse God amplifieth this sinne of forgetfulnesse Can a Maid forget her ornaments or a Bride her attire yet my people haue forgotten mee dayes without number Iere. 2.32 as if he had said their Ornaments Iewels and Rings are but toyes and trifles Is there any Ornament like me Is there any Iewell amongst them all that can be compared with me Men remember their friends often and call them to minde An old man will remember his bagge yet hee will forget God shall such things take vp mens memories and shall God bee thrust out Reas 1 First Wee must remember God our Creator hee made vs happy but mutable but Satan by deceit did cast vs from that happy condition whereby besides the losse of that felicitie we were plunged into extreme miserie which consisteth in two things First in sinne Secondly the curse following vpon it Through sinne the Vnderstanding is filled with blindnesse the conscience wounded seared and defiled the Memorie forgetting good things or not remembring any thing aright the Will captiue of no strength to good but onely to euill the Affections altogether disordered the Cogitations about heauenly matters are errors falsehood and lies the Wishes and Desires of the Heart are earthly and fleshly The Curse maketh vs subiect to Deathes and Famines in Body to sicknesse and other paines Wee should remember God because he promised the Messiah Gen. 3.15 because he hath bought vs with a price 1. Cor. 7.23 because hee hath preserued vs and in the end will glorifie vs. If a man be sanctified with the diuine Nature in which glorie is begun he is iustified if iustified then called according to purpose if called then predestinate if predestinate to meanes then foreknowne as one chosen to the end euen to glorie Of God we receiue euery good thing Iam. 1.17 therefore we should remember him Euery ache and paine is a memento to put vs in minde of God How great is our sinne if we forget him Wee should remember God because of his all-seeing Reas 2 Wisedome for hee seeth all things wee doe though neuer so secretly hee heareth euery word we speake though neuer so tacitely He that planted the eare shall he not heare or he that formed the eye shall hee not see Psal 94.9 Hee knoweth vaine man and seeth iniquitie Iob 11.11 Thou knowest my sitting and my rising thou vnderstandest my thoughts afarre off Thou compassest my pathes and my lying downe and art accustomed to all my waies For There is not a word in my tongue but loe thou knowest it wholly O Lord Psal 139.2 3 4. We should remember his Iustice he is righteous and must needs punish he is a mightie God and is able to punish There is nothing wanting in him which is fit to bee in one on whom wee are to place our trust He is able to helpe vs because he hath power what a power is that which keepes vs to saluation who haue so little strength and lesse wisedome whereby we might stand nay he is Omnipotent Gen. 17.1 He is willing because he loues vs so dearly Ioh. 3.16 Nay to the death Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his Saints Psal 116.15 He is skilfull because all the treasures of knowledge and wisedome are hid in him Coloss 2.3 He is mindfull because his eyes are alwaies open vpon vs he doth neither slumber nor sleepe Psal 121.4 He is carefull because he is Lord and King ouer all he is the King of Kings 1. Tim. 6.15 And he biddeth vs cast all our care vpon him 1. Pet. 5.7 Wee cannot search these things to the full for to see things vnuisible and search things vnsearchable are alike vnpossible Reas 3 We should remember God for he hath giuen vs many helpes of memory First hee hath giuen vs the Scriptures his Word an Epistle sent vs from Heauen that by reading and hearing it wee might remember him
For hee that forgetteth the Word of God will soone forget God and he that remembreth the Word will remember God the author of the Word Secondly wee haue the Sacraments which are tokens of Gods loue which should cause vs to remember God Thirdly the creatures should put vs in minde of God euery one representing either the power goodnesse or mercy of God euery tree and euery leafe euery flower and euery grasse euery stone nay euery sand doth set forth his goodnesse The greater is our sinne if we forget him hauing so many meanes to remember him Should a Sonne forget is Father who hath left him many tokens to remember him by If a Husband departing from home should leaue many Memorials with his Wife on euery Doore Wall and Poste a remembrance that shee can goe no where but shee must needes remember him yea if shee haue his Signet on her finger that so as often as shee lookes on her finger she may remember him how great were her fault to forget him or how were it possible not to remember him The Almighty God hath thus dealt with vs in the world which is his House hee hath left euery where remembrances If a Woman remember her Husband seeing his Ring she should remember God seeing her finger which his Finger made and her hands the worke of his Hands When I beheld the Heauens euen the workes of thy Fingers the Moone and the Starres which thou hast ordained Psal 8.3 Great benefits should cause vs remember God Reas 4 What maketh vs so to sinne but the forgetting of God therefore it is often said of the Israelites they forgate God and serued Baalim as if he should say they neuer would haue committed Idolatry if they had not forgotten God They haue peruerted their way and forgotten the Lord their God Ier. 3.21 The latter is the cause of the former and so forgetters of God are put for wicked men Now as forgetfulnesse of God causeth sinne witnesse Adulterers Drunkards and such like which will confesse they forgate God so the remembrance of God is the cause of obedience for hee that remembreth God will feare to offend him and endeauour to please him The vse of this point is for our instruction that Vse 1 wee should bee the more carefull to remember the Lord. First God commandeth it and Gods Commandements must be obeyed If he consent and obey he shall eate the good things of the Land Esay 1.19 Whatsoeuer we aske we receiue of him because we keep his Commandements and doe those things which are pleasing in his sight 1. Iohn 3.22 If wee reade the Scriptures heare the Word blessed shall wee bee if we keepe it Blessed is hee that readeth and they that heare the words of the Prophecie and keepe those things which are written therein Reuel 1.3 Our Goods Cattell Corne and all things belonging to vs shall be blessed of God if we obey his voyce and doe as hee would haue vs yea our children shall bee blessed after vs Blessed is the vpright man and blessed shall his seede be after him Pro. 20.7 Yea as Dauid speaketh Blessed is the man that meditates in the Law of God day and night For he shall be like a Tree planted by the Riuers of Waters Psal 1 2 3. No good thing will the Lord withhold from them that liue vprightly Psal 84.11 On the contrary euen those things which in their owne nature are the good blessings of God shall be accursed of God And the Lord will in his wrath and in his hot anger curse our blessings This Commandement is for you If yee will heare and if yee will not lay it to heart to giue glory to my Name saith the Lord of Hostes. I will euen send a curse vpon you and I will curse your blessings yea I haue cursed them already because yee doe not consider it in heart Malach. 2.2 Secondly the promises which God hath made to such as remember him should be a meanes to stirre vs vp to remember him he hath promised to bee with his to the end of the world Matth. 28.20 Neuer to faile them nor forsake them Heb. 13.5 Hee promised to giue his Sonne the first begotten and the onely begotten Iohn 3.16 Luke 2.7 And in him what rare matter can we wish for which is not in him to be found Would wee haue Wisedome hee is the essentiall Wisedome of the Father the obiect of all true Wisedome which tendeth to saluation in him is our Wisedome not onely while wee walke by faith at home in this body but also when wee shall walke by sight with the Lord seeing him as he is All the treasure of Wisedome and Vnderstanding are hid in him Col. 2.3 Would we haue Righteousnesse he is essentially righteous as God in our name habitually and actually Righteous He is Iehouah our Righteousnesse Ier. 23.6 The Sunne of Righteousnesse that person which hath brought with him euerlasting Righteousnesse Would wee haue Redemption with him is great redemption Psal 130.7 Through him haue we redemption that is Forgiuenesse of our sinnes Col. 1.14 By him wee doe waite for the Redemption of our bodies Rom. 8.23 Christ was powerfull in the eternall prouidence of God before creation for our election powerfull in time appointed for our Vocation Iustification Sanctification powerfull for our perseuerance and finall consummation He is God what seeke wee Hee is God what desire wee This Sonne was promised and this Sonne is come God first promised protection from hurt in his seruice hee vndertakes to keepe damage from his while they are occupied in his seruice When all the Males should goe vp to Ierusalem thrice in the yeere and none but weake women and children left at home yet God doth vndertake that no enemie should haue the heart to breake in on them Exod. 34.24 Secondly God promiseth to bestow on vs euery thing that is good nay all good Thirdly God promiseth to his a cheerfull vse of all the good benefits vouchsafed them Did not Iosiah eate and drinke and prosper while hee executed iudgement and iustice Iere. 22.15 Godlinesse hath not onely the promises of this life but of the life to come 1. Tim. 4.8 He that giues the head giues haire also God giueth vs his Kingdome and Righteousnesse which are principall how should he not adde these inferiour things also which are but accessarie to the other God will not stand for small matters with them to whom he will giue heauen This God who is so gracious this God who is so glorious this God who is so mercifull and liberall must be remembred Thirdly the dangers which follow the forgetfulnesse of God should incite vs to remember God Such as forget God shall be punished Forgetfulnesse is a cause of first Spirituall punishment secondly of Corporall thirdly of Eternall It is a cause of spirituall punishment in the soule of corporall punishments in the body and of eternall both in body and soule at the day of Iudgement Vse 2 Secondly
a countenance neuer waite on him Many that eate his meate that neuer acknowledge the Giuer Many protected by him see it not Many afflicted yet seeke him not diligently Hos 5.15 Hee strikes them but they sorrow not hee consumes them but they refuse his correction Iere. 5.3 He giues to such as are vnthankfull clotheth such as are proud helpeth such as are vnworthy and prouideth for such as are wicked He that giueth all good things hath little or nought giuen him againe Where hee should bee loued hee is hated and of whom hee should bee honoured he is dishonoured Gods loue towards vs hath beene from all eternitie Some as wine doth receiue the greater praise by the age of it old wine is the best and ancient loue is the most approued How much doe wee esteeme of such a friend as hath borne vs good wil for some twentie or fortie yeeres together The more reckoning wee should make of Gods loue which hath beene eternall Before Christ wee were enemies to God there was nothing to be seene in vs but sinne and miserie nor any thing to draw Gods affection toward vs but his owne free and good pleasure now that loue wee haue deserued wee the lesse esteeme but such loue as is freely conferred on vs we doe make more store of Vse 2 The second Vse not onely the Creation bindeth Man to remember God but all other his benefits wherewith Man is compassed about Many are the works of mercy which God hath bestowed on Man besides the Creation all of them binding Man to remember God First Mans Redemption by Christ Of all the works of mercy this chiefly ought to be remembred for it is the chiefest worke the freedome of Sinners both from the guilt and power of sinne By whom wee haue Redemption through his Bloud euen the forgiuenesse of sinnes Ephes 1.7 To haue sinne forgiuen is to bee redeemed or set free from all euill That which Paul calleth in the former words Redemption is afterward called Remission of sinne What is forgiuenesse of sinne but an act of Grace acquitting vs from all the guilt and the whole punishment of all our sinne and as men speake of Redemption so they may speake of Remission Secondly the worke of Preseruation is another great benefit of God which is a keeping men free and safe from dangers and from hurt by enemies Preserue me O Lord for I trust in thee Psal 16.1 What shall I doe vnto thee O thou Keeper of men Iob 7.20 Hee preserueth both Man and Beast Psal 36.6 Thou preseruedst them all Nehe. 9.6 Thirdly the worke of Sustentation bindeth Man to remember God for God vp-holdeth his Children that they take not a fall by sinne and calamitie or that they take no hurt by such fals The Lord sustayned me Psal 3.5 Hee maketh mee to rest in greene pastures and leadeth me by the still waters Hee restoreth my soule and leadeth mee in the pathes of Righteousnes for his Names sake Ps 23.2 3. Many other benefits are men compassed withall to binde them to remember God In the dayes of thy youth It is good for children to learne to know God euen in youth Text. whiles they are young for so much Solomon teacheth here saying In the dayes of thy youth Doct. That because youth is most prone to forget God it is needfull they should be exhorted to remember God Youth is most prone to forget God for they are in the flower of their age in the roofe of pride and in the heate of lust hauing by nature corrupt hearts and carnall desires liuing in pleasures passing their time in mirth all which makes them forget God Though young men doe not alwaies breake out into notorious wickednesse yet they are subiect to youthfull wantonnesse and vnstaiednesse of affection which if it breake not out yet it makes them forgetfull of God and lesse carefull of good things This loosenesse is the way to lewdnesse this weaknesse is the high way to wickednes this Gods children being regenerate see which before they saw not Hence is it that Dauid prayeth Lord remember not the sinnes of my youth Psal 25.7 Of all mans life Youth cōmonly is most vaine The imaginations of mans heart is euill from his youth Ier. 8.21 We are all transgressors from the wombe Esa 48.8 In sinne hath my Mother conceiued me Psal 51.5 Euen from the Belly haue they erred Ps 58.3 For the sinnes of youth God often punisheth men in their age so making them to inherit the iniquities of their youth Iob 13.26 The Prophet saith We and our Father haue sinned from our youth Ier. 3.25 Shal we thinke they in their youth committed grosse sins as Adulterie Drunkennesse Murther and such like which were so holy men as Iob and Ieremie surely no but they confessed the sinnes of their youth their wantonnesse and forgetfulnesse of God their too much loue of pleasure their youthfulnesse Solomon saith Foolishnesse is bound in the heart of a child Pro. 22.15 therefore child-hood and youth are vanitie not in themselues but because they are often spent in vanitie Suruey those which are more then ordinarie young men which haue the best wits and are thought to bee of the best disposition and their youth will hardly be found without vanitie nay not onely those young men that are best in ciuill gifts but in spirituall graces as Timothy find child-hood and youth to be vanitie Eccl. 11.10 Timothy did tame his body and bring it into subiection so that Paul was faine to bid him to drinke wine 1. Tim. 5.23 yet he had this memento giuen him flie the lusts of youth 2. Tim. 2.22 Young men see not vanitie when they are yong but they may perceiue it when they are old for now their consciences are like water in a bason if the water be troubled the face cannot be seene but when it is setled it may so all is troubled in youth but when maturitie of yeeres come then it will stand still and they may see their faces Dauid being old praied against sinnes of youth Because it is so hard for a young man to remember God and to be holy Dauid breaketh off his meditation abruptly into this wherewithall shall a young man cleanse his waies Psal 119.9 And Dauid vsing the word cleansing compareth the young man to a glasse which though it be very cleane yet will gather filth in the Sunne beames As a ricke of Hay put vp wet set it selfe on fire so haue the hearts of young men enough in them to inflame them Young men should remember their Creator in Reas 1 their youth lest accustoming to forget God in youth they doe not remember him in old age Customes is another nature and can hardly be altered Can the Black-More change his skinne or the Leopard his spots then may yee also doe good that are accustomed to doe euill Ier. 13.23 This young men get by continuing in sinne they cannot leaue it many cannot leaue swearing lying stealing when they
Teeth and Iawes make a base small sound in grinding the meat grinding it badly and weakely And he shall rise vp at the voyce of the bird that is he shall not be able to sleep or sleepe very little and be awaked with euery little sound euen the singing of a Bird this followeth their cruditie and rawnesse being not able to digest their meates All the daughters of Musicke shall bee brought low that is their voyces will faile them And men will dread euery high place and feares will be in the way that is they are afraid to goe vp into high places they are afraid to walke because a plaine way seemes rough vnto them a hillocke a mountaine a hollownesse a great valley And the Almond tree will flourish that is the head grow white He nameth the Almond tree for that doth first flowre of any tree as if he should say old mens gray haires come on with haste sometimes before they looke for them As the flowers of trees are a signe of instant Summer so the whitenesse of the head is a signe of instant death And the Grasse-hopper shall be a burthen that is the least creature shall bee a burthen light things shall seeme heauie vnto them And all lust will be dissolued that is all the desire to eate or drinke or otherwise shall decay because all the faculties both vitall and naturall shall bee weakned For man goeth to his long home that is goeth to his old house from whence first hee came forth The Graue is the house where the dead must dwell it is the way as Ioshua saith of all the world Iosh 23.14 that is I shall die shortly after the custom of all other men Dauid said I goe the way of all the earth 1. King 2.2 The Graue is the common house and receptacle of all humane bodies Euery one shall sleepe in his owne house Esay 14.18 that is in the Graue I know saith Iob thou wilt bring me to death and to the house appointed for all the liuing Iob 30.23 and the mourners goe about in the streetes that is weeping for the dead for weeping is not to bee reproued if it be moderate our Sauiour wept for Lazarus his friend Ioh. 11.35 Abraham lamented Sarah Gen. 23.2 The Hebrewes Moses Deut. 34.8 Ioseph Iacob Gen. 50.1 The Israelites Ioseph the Apostles Stephen It is not without much reason that Solomon doth giue counsell to goe to the house of mourning for there is perform'd that blessing which Christ promiseth Heathenish mourning is reproued which is without hope 1. Thess 4.13 but Christian sorrow is commendable The siluer Cord is loosed that is the Marrow of the backe which because it is white is called by the name of Siluer this beginneth at the Braine and goeth all along the bone this in old age strength decaying is lengthned and drawne out The golden Ewer is broken that is the Braine whose skin which compasseth it is yellow as gold which being broken or hurt man must needs die Nor the Pitcher burst at the Well that is the great Veine called the hollow Veine which cānot draw bloud any more out of the Liuer which is the common Store-house and Fountaine which watereth all the body in such sort that it yeeldeth no more seruice then a broken Pitcher By the wheele broken at the Cisterne that is the Head for that is like a wheele And by the Cistern is meant the Heart which is the chiefe dwelling of Life When all this commeth to passe then the body which is made of the dust of the earth shal turn into it againe through the sin of our first parents In death all things are recalled to their first beginnings And the spirit to God that gaue it hence is it that God is called the Father of spirits Heb. 12.9 that is the maker and giuer of soules He formeth the spirit of man within him Zech. 12.1 the soule is the hoast in the sin of the bodie not produced from the seed of the parēts nor from the soule of the parents but giuen of God that it might viuificate the bodie There can be no pleasure where so many troubles Reas 1 sorrows are It is better to die then to liue What pleasure is there in old age when old persons cānot put on or put off their clothes cannot feed themselues cānot rellish their meat nor know what day of the weeke it is nor discerne good from euill When Dauid would haue Barzillai come to him into Ierusalem that he might feed him Barzillai said vnto the King how many daies are the yeers of my life that I should goe vp with the King to Ierusalem I am this day fourescore yeers old and can I discerne between good or euill hath thy seruant any taste in that I eate or in that I drinke can I heare any more the voyce of singing men women wherefore then should thy seruant be any more a burden vnto my lord the King Thy seruant wil go a little way ouer Iordan with the King why will the King recompence it me with such a reward I pray thee let thy seruant turne backe againe that I may die in mine own citie be buried in the graue of my father and of my mother 2. Sam. 19 34 35 36 37. Barzillai vsed foure reasons for his refusall to go with Dauid First his age be being fourscore was not fit for trauell Secondly the defect of his sences and therefore not fit for a Princes court he could not iudge between sauourie and vnsauourie between sweet and sowre he could not discerne by tasting good or euill in meate or drinke or in any other such pleasant things neither did he here with pleasure Thirdly he was loth to be a burthen to Dauid In Princes courts such as wil not behaue themselues as others doe are burdensome if they will not be merry cōpanions if not drinkers they are a burden Kings will haue such men with them which can discourse but I am vnable to doe it and therefore vnfit to be a Courtier Fourthly it was pleasant to him to returne to thinke rather of his graue then of a Princes Court and therefore let thy seruant turne back againe old men should think not how they may liue but how they may die godly they should prepare in life for death and then death to them will be a passage to life Reas 2 Many aged persons are weary of the world because the world is so full of troubles they so full of paines and griefs Especially if they feare God for then euery houre is a day euery day a week euery weeke a yeere they liue They desire to be dissolued to be with Christ which is best of all Phil. 1.23 They loue to remoue out of the body and to dwell with the Lord 2. Cor. 5.8 They be from home as long as they are on earth here strangers vsing this World as if they vsed it not setting their minds vpon that Countrey which