for himself He hath set an hedge about it Remember to keep holy the Sabbath Day But how is this enclosure made common This blessed day which is made purposely for communion with God is become a day of perambulation People frequent the Fields or Taverns more than the holy assemblies O that our head were waters and our eyes a fountain of tears That we might weep To see men pollute what God himself hath consecrated If they are to take Physick it must be on the Lords Day if they are to make Feasts or Visits it must be on this day And so in a prophane sense they call the Sabbath a delight Sabbath-breaking is Sacriledge 't is a robbing God of his due People take that time which should be dedicated wholly to the Lord and spend it in the service of the Devil and their lusts and hath not this sin brought us low God threatens Jer. 17.27 If ye will not hearken to me to hallow the Sabbath Day then will I kindle a fire I observe the devouring Fire which brake out in London began on the Sabbath Day as if God would tell us from Heaven he was now punishing us for our prophaning his day 3. The third sin which hath brought us low is neglect of Family-worship Religion in mens families is brought low No reading of Scripture they look oftner upon a pair of Cards than a Bible No praying 't is made the note of a reprobate He calls not upon God Psalm 14.4 The Atheist will be sure his prayer shall not be turned into sin for he never prayes at all The Graecians asked counsel of their feigned Gods by their Oracles the Persians by their Magi the Galls by their Druides the Romans by their Augures Shall Ethnicks pray and not Christians Creatures by the instinct of nature cry to God Psal. 147.9 The young Ravens which cry Prayer hath no enemies unless infernal spirits and such as are near of Kin to them Keyes that are often used are bright but if they be laid aside and never used they grow rusty so it is with mens hearts if they are not used to family-prayer they will be rusted over with sin For this God hath brought us low Why did he pull down many houses in this City but because they were unhallowed houses there was no prayer in them How do we think to have a blessing from God if we never ask it Then God should do more for us than he did for his own Son Heb. 5.7 In the dayes of his flesh he offered up prayers with strong cryes and tears 4. Another sin which hath brought us low is Covenant-violation Psal. 78.10 They kept not the Covenant of God Ver. 50. He made a way to his anger he spared not their souls from death The Carthaginians were noted for Covenant-breaking O that this sin had dyed with them Doth not this poisonful Weed grow in our soil Did not we make a vow in Baptism to fight under Christs banner against world flesh and Devil Did not we solemnly covenant to be the Lords people to shine in sanctity going each one before another in an exemplary Reformation Deut. 5.28 29. They have well said in all that they have spoken O that there were such an heart in them that they would fear me and keep my commandments We have much conforming but where is reforming Is not Jesus Christ opposed in his Kingly Office This is the great Controversie who shall reign Sin or Christ for this God hath been as a Moth to us and we may fear lest he make good that commination Levit. 26.25 I will bring a Sword that shall avenge the quarrel of my Covenant 5. Another sin which hath brought us low is the abuse of the Gospel We are sick of Israels disease they despised Manna Num. 21.5 Our soul loatheth this light bread We did nauseate the bread of life The Gospel is the visible token of Gods presence it is the sacred Conduit-pipe that empties the golden Oyle of mercy into us it is the Glass in which we see the face of Christ it is the Celestial banquet wherewith God doth chear and refocillate the souls of his people But was there not a Gospel surfeit in England People had itching ears and knew not who to hear and hath not our curiosity brought us to scarcity God had no better way to raise the price of the Gospel than by abating the plenty God surely did bring us low when darkness did overspread our Horison and the Lord suffered so many hundred Lights to be at one time put under a bushel The Aegyptian Priests of old told the people when any Eclipse happened that the Gods were angry and great miseries would follow What sad catastrophies have ensued this spiritual Eclipse is not unknown 6. Another sin which hath brought us low is Covetousness When mens Spirits are low and with the Serpent they lick the dust then God layes them in the dust Isa. 57.17 For the iniquity of his Covetousness I was wroth and smote him Covetousness is the Dropsie of the soul men are set upon the world when God is plucking it from them Covetousness is a Key that opens the door to further wickedness opes irritamenta malorum 1 Tim. 6.10 The love of money is the root of all evil A covetous man wil stick at no sin This made Absolom attempt to dethrone his Father this made Ahab stone Naboth And what is one the better for all his wealth at death 1 Tim. 6.10 We brought nothing into the world and it is certain we can carry nothing out When the rich Miser dies what scrambling is there his friends are scrambling for his goods the worms are scrambling for his body and the Devils are scrambling for his soul. This sin is most uncomely in those that profess better They pretend to live by faith and yet are as worldly and griping as others These are spots in the face of Religion Jer. 45.5 Seekest thou great things for thy self For this sin God hath brought us low he hath made our Fig-tree to wither and suffered the Palmer-worm to eat our Vine 7. Another sin which hath brought us low is Barrenness under the Means of Grace Hos. 10.1 Israel is an empty Vine his juice runs out only into leaves We have had much pruning and dressing the silver drops of Heaven have fallen upon us but we have not brought forth the fruits of humility and repentance we can discourse of Religion but this is only to bring forth leaves not fruit non-proficiency hath laid us low and we may fear will lay us waste God may pull up the hedge and let in a forraign Wild-Boar Ursin tells us that those who fled out of England in Queen Maries dayes acknowledged that that calamity befell them for their great unprofitableness under the Means of Grace in King Edwards dayes What man will sow seed in barren ground
Nebuchadnezzar had the heart of a beast given him Dan. 4.16 If all who have the hearts of beasts should have the faces of beasts men would grow very scarce And if sin be so high well may it bring us low While the body is in an Hectick Feavor it cannot thrive The Body Politick being in this Paroxysme or burning Feavor of sin must needs waste Hath not sin brought us low What Wars Pestilences Fires have broken forth among us The Splendour and Magnificence of the City was brought low and laid in the ashes Sin hath brought us low in our Repute Prov. 14.34 Sin is a reproach to any people Time was when God made the sheaves of other Nations do obeysance to our sheaf But our pristine fame and renown is eclipsed Mal. 2.2 I have made you base and contemptible Trading is brought low many mens estates are boiled to nothing their gourd is withered their cruse of Oyle fails Ruth 1.21 I went out full but the Lord hath brought me home empty Sin hath brought other Nations low and do we think to scape better than they Salvian observes that in Affrica when the Church of God had degenerated from its purity the Land abounded in Vice and was sick of a Pleurisie of sin then the Vandals entered Affrica and the enemies Sword let them blood Num. 32.23 Be sure your sin will find you out as a Blood-hound it will pursue you It may be enquired what are those sins that have brought this City and Nation so low 1. The first sin that hath brought us low is Pride Prov. 29.23 A mans pride shall bring him low Pride is ex Traduce it runs in a blood Our first Parents aspired after a Deity they did not content themselves to know God but they would be knowing as God St. Austin calls pride the mother of all sin The Persian Kings would have their Image worshipped of all that came into Babylon Sapor writes himself Brother to the Sun and Moon and Partner with the Stars Caligula the Emperour commanded himself to be adored as a God he caused a Temple to be erected for him he used to have the most costly Fowls sacrificed to him Sometimes he would sit with a golden Beard and a Thunderbolt in his hand like Iupiter and sometimes with a Trident like Neptune Some persons would be more deserving if as Solon saith we could pluck the Worm of Pride out of their head Pride discolours our Vertues envenomes our mercies The higher we lift up our selves in pride the lower God casts us down Prov. 15.25 The Lord will destroy the house of the proud There is 1. A Spiritual Pride which is threefold 1. Some take a pride in their parts The Lord enricheth them with Wit and Parts suitable to the places he calls them too and Pride fumes from their heart into their head and makes them giddy Herod was proud of the Oration he made and assumed that glory to himself which he should have given to God and his pride brought him low he was eaten of worms Acts 12.23 2. Some take a pride in their duties This Worm breeds in sweet fruit They have said so many prayers heard so many Sermons Luke 18.12 I fast twice a week and now they think they have made God amends he is beholding to them and they shall be accepted for their Religious performances What is this but pride Is not this to make a Christ of our duties The Devil destroys some by making them neglect duty and others by making them idolize duty Better is that infirmity which humbles me than that duty which makes me proud 3. Some take a pride in their Graces This seems strange that seeing Grace is given to humble any should be proud of his Grace But Pride is not from the Grace in us but the corruption not from the strength of holiness but the weakness Christians may be said to be proud of their Grace 1. When they lay too much stress upon their Grace Thus Peter Mat. 26.33 Though all men shall be offended because of thee yet will not I. Here was a double pride First That he thought he had more Grace than the rest of the Apostles Secondly In that he did lay such weight upon his Grace making it like the Tower of David on which did hang the shield of his hope He leaned more upon his Grace than upon Christ. 2. Men are proud of their Grace when they slight others which they think are inferiour to them in Grace Instead of the strong bearing the infirmities of the weak Rom. 15.1 They are ready to despise the weak Our Saviour saw this pride breeding in his own Disciples therefore cautions them against it Mat. 18.10 Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones 2. There is a carnal pride I call it carnal because it is conversant about carnal objects As 1. Some are proud of their bodies Pride is seen in long and tedious dressings people spend that time between the Comb and the Glass which should be spent in prayer and holy meditation Pride is seen in painting of their faces overlaying Gods work with the Devils colours Gratior est pulchro veniens è corpore virtus Pride is seen in spotting themselves Pimples in the face shew that the blood is corrupt spots in the face shew that the heart is corrupt Cyprian saith they who paint and spot their faces may justly fear that at the resurrection their Creator will not know them And how terrible is that word I know you not Pride is seen in the strange antick fashions wherewith some people do dress or rather disguise themselves They cloath their flesh like the Rain-bow with divers colours Adam was ashamed of his nakedness these may be ashamed of their cloathing They are so plumed and gawdily attired that they tempt the Devil to fall in love with them 2. Some are proud of their estates Riches are fuel for pride Ezek. 28.5 Thy heart is lifted up because of thy riches Mens hearts rise with their estates as the Boats on the Thames rise higher with the Tyde Now all this pride will bring a person low For this sin God strikes many with Phrensie and so levels the Mountain of pride God hath stained the pride of Englands glory Isa. 23.9 He hath stript us of our Jewels Prov. 16.8 Pride goes before destruction Where pride leads the Van destruction brings up the Rear Tolluntur in altum ut lapsu graviore ruant 2. Another sin which hath brought us low is Sabbath-prophanation The Sabbath is given as a distinctive Sign between the people of God and the prophane Exod. 31.17 And among the Primitive Saints when the question was asked Hast thou kept the Lords Day the answer was I am a Christian and dare not omit the celebration of this day The Lord hath commanded the observation of the Sabbath under a sub poenâ He hath enclosed this day
made all of Glass and that if any one touch them they shall break Melancholy cloaths the mind in Sable it puts a Christian out of tune that he is not fit for prayer nor praise Lute-strings when wet will not sound nor can one under the power of Melancholy Make melody in his heart to the Lord Ephes. 5.19 when the mind is troubled it is unfit to go about work Melancholy doth disturb Reason and weaken Faith Satan works much on this temper it is balneum diaboli he bathes himself with delight in such a person Through the black Spectacles of Melancholy every thing appears black When a Christian looks upon sin saith he this Leviathan will devour me when he looks upon Ordinances these will serve to increase my guilt when he looks upon affliction this gulf will swallow me up Melancholy creates fears in the mind it excites jealousies and misprisions I may allude to that Psal. 53.5 There were they in great fear where no fear was 5. Sin brings a man low in spiritual Plagues It brings many an one to a seared conscience to final induration Isa. 29.10 The Lord hath poured out upon you the spirit of a deep sleep and hath closed your eyes Men are brought low indeed when the sound of Aarons Bell will not awaken them no Sermon will stir them They are like the Smiths Dog that can lye and sleep near the Anvil when all the sparkles fly about Conscience is in a Lethargy When once a mans speech is gone and his feeling lost he draws on apace to death So when the checks of Conscience cease and a man is sensible neither of sin nor wrath you may ring out the Bell he is past hope of recovery Thus some are brought low even to a reprobate sense This is limen inferni the threshold of damnation 6. Sin brings a man low in temptation Paul began to be proud and he had a messenger of Satan to buffet him 2 Cor. 12.7 Some think it was a visible apparition of Satan tempting him to sin others that the Devil was now assaulting Pauls faith making him believe he was an hypocrite Satan laid the train of temptation to blow up the fort of his Grace And this temptation was so sore that he called it a thorn in the flesh it did put him to much anguish Such temptations do the godly oft fall into They are tempted to question the truth of the Promises or the truth of their own Graces Sometimes they are tempted to blasphemy sometimes to self-murder thus they are brought low they are almost gone and ready to give consent The Devil nibbles at their heel but God wards off the blow from their head 7. Sin brings one low in desertion This is an abysse indeed Psal. 88.6 Thou hast laid me in the lowest pit Desertion is a short Hell Cant. 5.6 My beloved hath withdrawn himself and was gone Christ knocked but the Spouse was loth to rise off her bed of sloath and open to him presently Christ was gone When the Devil finds a person sleeping he enters but when Christ finds him sleeping he is gone And if this Sun of Righteousness withdraws his Golden beams from the soul darkness follows Desertion is the arrow of God shot into the soul. Job 6.4 The arrows of the Almighty are within me the poison whereof drinketh up my Spirit The Scythians in their Wars did use to dip their Arrows in the blood and gall of Asps that the venemous heat of them might the more torture the enemy So the Lord did shoot his poisoned arrow of desertion at Iob under the wounds whereof his Spirit lay bleeding God is called in Scripture a light and a fire The deserted soul feels the fire but doth not see the light So dreadful is this that the most tormenting pains Stone Collick Strangury are but a pleasure to it All the delights under the Sun will administer no comfort in this condition Worldly things can no more relieve a troubled mind than a silken Stocken can ease a broken Leg. Psal. 88.15 While I suffer thy terrors I am distracted Luther in desertion was like one giving up the ghost He had no blood seen in his face nor was heard to speak but his body seemed dead as one writes in an Epistle to Melancthon 8. Sin brings many low in despair this is a gulf that none but reprobates fall into Jer. 18.11 Thou saidst there is no hope Despair is devoratoria salutis it is a milstone tyed about the soul that sinks it in perdition Despair looks on God not as a Father but a Iudge It refuseth the remedy Other sins need Christ despair rejects him It closeth the Orifice of Christs wounds that no blood will come out to heal This is the voice of despair My sin is greater than the mercy of God can pardon It makes the wound broader than the plaister Despair is a God-affronting sin it is sacriledge it robs God of his Crown-jewels his Power Goodness Truth How doth Satan triumph to see the honour of Gods Attributes laid in the dust by despair Despair casts away the Anchor of hope and then the soul must needs sink What will a Ship do in a storm without an Anchor Despair locks men up in impenitency I have read of one Hubertus who dyed despairing he made his Will after this manner I yield my goods to the King my body to the grave my soul to the Devil Isa. 38.18 They that go down into the pit cannot hope for thy truth They who go down into this pit of despair cannot hope for the truth of Gods promise And this despair grows at last into horror and raving Eheu quis intus scorpio 9. Sin brings a man without repentance into the bottomless pit and then he is brought low indeed Sin draws Hell at the heels of it Psal. 9.7 The wicked shall be turned into Hell Not to speak of the punishment of loss which Divines think is the worst part of Hell i. e. the being separated from the beatifical sight of God in whose presence is fulness of joy The poena sensus the punishment of sense is bad enough Then wrath will come upon sinners 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to the uttermost 1 Thes. 2.16 If when Gods anger is kindled but a little and a spark of it flyes into a mans conscience in this life it is so terrible what will it be when he stirs up all his wrath Psal. 78.38 How sad was it with Spira when he did but sip of the Cup of wrath he was a very Anatomy his flesh consumed he became a terror to himself What is it then to lye steeping in Hell Some may ask where the place of Hell is but as Chrysostome saith let us not be inquisitive where it is but rather let our care be to escape it But to satisfie curiosity Hell is some infernal place it lies low Prov.
this disease brings it low The soul is fallen from its pristine dignity it hath lost its noble and sublimated operations and lyes exposed without Grace to the second death 2. Sin must needs bring a man low because the sinner enters a contest with God invadunt Martem clypeis pugnamque lacessunt He tramples upon Gods Law crosseth his will if God be of one mind the sinner will be of another he doth all he can to spight God Jer. 44.16 As for the word which thou hast spoken to us in the name of the Lord we will not hearken to thee but we will do whatsoever thing proceedeth out of our own mouth to burn incense to the Queen of Heaven The same Hebrew word for sin signifies rebellion Now can the Lord endure to be thus sawcily confronted by proud dust God will never let his own creature rise up in arms against him he will pull down the sinners plumes and bring him low Psal. 18.26 With the froward thou wilt shew thy self froward In the Hebrew it is thou wilt wrestle and if God once wrestle with the sinner he will throw him to the ground When the Angel wrestled with Iacob he touched only the hollow of his thigh Gen. 32.25 But when God wrestles with a sinner he will rent the caul of his heart Hos. 13.8 The Apostle saith It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God Heb. 10.31 'T is good to fall into Gods hands when he is a friend but it is ill falling into his hands when he is an enemy 3. Sin must needs bring a man low because the sinner labours what he can to bring God low 'T is true God cannot lose any of his essential glory he is so high that no strength of Mortals can reach him but a wicked man doth what in him lies to bring God low He hath low thoughts of God he slights his soveraignty questions his truth looks upon all Gods Promises as a forged deed The sinner therefore is said to despise God Numb 11.20 Again the sinner lessens God and brings him low in the thoughts of others Ezek. 8.12 They say the Lord seeth us not the Lord hath forsaken the earth Do but secure your selves from mans eye and as for Gods taking notice of sin you need not trouble your selves the Lord seeth you not he hath forsaken the earth Zeph. 1.12 They say the Lord will not do good neither will he do evil If you serve him you must not look for reward and if you do not serve him you need not fear punishment Mal. 2.17 Ye say every one that doth evil is good in the sight of the Lord and he delighteth in them or where is the God of judgement Here they blemish Gods Sanctity God is not so holy but he bears as much favour to the wicked as to the good and Where is the God of judgement Here they tax his justice as if they had said God doth not order things right he doth not weigh matters impartially in an equal ballance Where is the God of judgement Thus a sinner eclipseth the glory of the Godhead and labours to bring God low in the thoughts of others And besides he doth what in him lies to extirpate a Deity he wisheth there were no God he saith Cause the holy One of Israel to cease Isa. 30.11 A wicked man would not only unthrone God but unbee God if he could help it God should be no longer God Now if a sinner be thus impious as to endeavour to bring God low no wonder if God brings him low Nahum 1.19 I will make thy grave for thou art vile I will bring thee O Sennacherib from the throne to the tomb I will kick thee into thy grave Obad. ver 4. Though thou set thy nest among the Stars thence will I bring thee down saith the Lord. 4. Sin must needs bring a person low because sin is the only thing God hath an antipathy against The Lord doth not hate a man because he is poor or despised you do not hate your friend because he is sick but that which draws forth the keenness of Gods hatred is sin Jer. 44.4 Do not this abominable thing that I hate Now for any one to espouse that which Gods soul hates it must needs undo him at last Is that subject like to thrive whom his Prince hates The cherishing countenancing of sin makes the fury come up in Gods face Ezek. 38.16 And if his wrath be once kindled it burns to the lowest Hell The Psalmist saith Who can stand before his cold Psal. 147.17 But rather who can stand before his heat Isa. 33.14 5. Sin must needs bring the sinner low because it exposeth him to Gods curse and Gods curse blasts where ever it comes Deut. 28.15 16. If thou wilt not harken to the voice of the Lord all these curses shall come upon thee Cursed shalt thou be in the City and cursed shalt thou be in the field cursed shall be thy basket and thy store The curse of God haunts the sinner where ever he goes if he be in the City it spoils his Trade if he be in the Countrey it destroyes his Crop Gods curse drops poison into every thing It is a Moth in the Wardrobe Murrain among the Cattel Rot among the Sheep If the flying Roul of curses enters into a mans house it consumes the timber and walls of it Zach. 5.4 When Christ cursed the fig-tree it presently withered Mat. 21.19 Mens curses are insignificant they shoot without bullets but Numb 22.6 He whom thou cursest is cursed Gods curse kills Psal. 37.22 They that are cursed of him shall be cut off If all Gods curses are levelled against the sinner then he must needs be brought low Use 1. Informat 1. Branch See then from hence that Gods punishing either a person or a Nation is not without a cause A Father may chastise his Son out of an humour when there is no cause but God doth never punish without a just cause He doth it not purely to shew his Soveraignty or because he takes pleasure to bring his creature low Lam. 3.33 He doth not willingly afflict or as it is in the Hebrew from the heart but there is some impellent cause They were brought low for their iniquity Cyprian writes thus concerning the Persecution of the Church under the Emperour Valerian We must confess that this sad calamity which hath in a great part wasted our Churches hath risen from our own intestine wickedness whilst we are full of avarice ambition emulation c. Jer. 4.17 As keepers of a field are they against her round about Like as Horses or Deer in a field are so enclosed with hedges and so narrowly watched that they cannot get out So Ierusalem was so besieged with enemies and watched that there was no escape for her without danger of life Verse 18. Thy way and thy doings have procured these
If the Lord layes out his cost and sees no good return the next word will be Cut down the tree why cumbreth it the ground 8. Another sin that hath brought us low is the sin of swearing Christ saith Swear not at all Mat. 5.34 And a godly man is said to fear an Oath Eccles. 9.2 Truly it is a matter of tears we can hardly go in the Streets but our ears are crucified with hearing of Oaths and Cursings Chrysostom spent most of his Sermons at Antioch against swearers we need many Chrysostoms now adayes to preach against this sin This may well be called the unfruitful work of darkness for it is a sin hath neither pleasure nor profit in it How do men shoot their Oaths as chain-bullets against Heaven I knew a great swearer saith Reverend Mr. Bolton whose heart Satan so filled that on his death-bed he swore as fast as he could and desired the standers by to help him with Oaths and to swear for him Will the Lord reckon with men for idle Words what will he do for sinful Oaths for every Oath a man swears God puts a drop of wrath in his Viall Nay usually Gods judgements overtake the swearer in this life I have read of a German Boy who was given to swearing and did use to invent new Oaths the Lord sent a Canker into his mouth which did eat out his tongue But saith one it is my custom to swear and I cannot leave it Is this a good plea As if a Thief should plead to a Judge not to condemn him because it is his custome to rob and steal therefore will the Judge say thou shalt the rather dye This sin hath brought us low Jer. 23.10 For because of swearing the Land mourneth 9. Another sin which hath brought us low and is like to bring us yet lower is uncleanness The adulterers heart is a Mount Aetna burning with lust Adultery is the shipwrack of chastity the murder of conscience It was said of Rome of old it was become a Stews Urbs est jam tota Lupanar I wish it might not be verified of many parts of this Land Adultery is a brutish sin Jer. 5.8 They neighed every one after his neighbours Wife It is a branded sin it doth not only stigmatize mens names Prov. 6.33 But God makes them carry the marks of this sin in their Bodies it is a costly sin it proves a Purgatory to the Purse Prov. 6.26 By means of a whorish woman a man is brought to a piece of bread There is no coming to an Harlot but as Iupiter did to Danae in a golden shower It is a confounding sin laeta venire Venus tristis abire solet The adulterer hastens his own death The Romans were wont to have their Funerals at the Gate of Venus Temple to signifie that lust ends in death The adulterer takes a short cut to Hell Prov. 26.23.27 Till a dart strike through his Liver Creatures void of reason will rise up in judgement against such The Turtle-Dove is an Hieroglyphick of chastity The Stork comes into no Nest but his own and if any Stork leaves his Mate and joyns with another all the rest fall upon him and pluck his feathers from him God will chiefly punish such as walk in the lust of uncleanness 2 Pet. 2.10 This sin hath brought us low The fire of lust hath kindled the fire of Gods anger 10. Another sin which hath brought us low is our unbrotherly animosities Mat. 12.25 A Kingdom divided against it self cannot stand The Turks pray that the Christians may be kept at variance we have in a great measure fulfilled the Turks prayer rara est concordia fratrum What seeds of dissention are sown among us how are we crumbled into Parties one is for Paul and another for Apollo but I fear few for Christ. Our divisions have given much advantage to the Popish adversary When there is a breach made in the wall of a Castle there the enemy enters If the Popish enemy enter it will be at our breaches These divisions have cut the lock where our strength lay Cut off the top of the Beech-tree and the whole body of the tree withers Divisions have taken away unity and amity here is the top of the Beech-tree cut off and this hath made us to wither apace These are the sins which have brought us low and if the Lord prevent not are like to bring Englands gray hairs with sorrow to the grave 5. Hence I infer if sin brings a person low then what madness is it for any one to be in love with sin 2 Thess. 2.12 Who take pleasure in iniquity The Devil can so cook and dress sin that it pleaseth the sinners pallat But hear what Iob saith Job 20.12.14 Though wickedness be sweet in his mouth it is the gall of Asps within him Herodotus writeth of the River Hypanis that near to the fountain the water is sweet but a few leagues off it is exceeding bitter Sin will bring one low who would love such an enemy The forbidden fruit is sawced with bitter hearbs Sin is a Serpent by the way that biteth Gen. 49.17 When you are about to commit sin say to your soul as Boaz said to his Kinsman Ruth 4.4 What day thou buyest the Field thou must have Ruth with it So if thou wilt have the sweet of sin thou must have the curse with it it will bring thee low To love sin is to love a disease A sinner is perfectly distracted Solomon speaks of a generation of men Madness is in their heart while they live Eccles. 9.3 'T is true of those who love sin sin puts a worm into conscience a thorn into death yet that men should love sin Madness is in their heart There is no creature doth willingly destroy it self but man Sin is a Silken Halter yet he loves it O remember that saying of St. Austin the pleasure of sin is soon gone but the sting remains 6. See what little cause we have to envy sinners Prov. 3.31 Envy thou not the Oppressor Men are high in worldly Grandeur God hath given them large estates and they sin with their estates but though they build among the Stars God will bring them down Ezek. 28.18 I will bring thee to ashes Who would envy men their greatness their sins will bring them low Deut. 32.35 Their foot shall slide in due time There is a Story of a Roman who was by a Court-Marshal condemned to dye for breaking his rank to steal a bunch of Grapes and as he was going to execution some of the Souldiers envied him that he had Grapes and they had none saith he Do ye envy me my Grapes I must pay dear for them So the wicked must pay dear for what they have The prosperity of the wicked is a great temptation to the godly David stumbled at it and had like to have fallen Psal.
73.2 My steps had well nigh slip'd for I was envious at the foolish c. We are ready to murmur when we see our selves low and envy when we see the wicked high Sinners live in a serene Climate under a perpetual calm Psal. 73.5 They are not in trouble as other men their eyes stand out with fatness It is said of Polycrates King of Aegypt that he never met with any cross in his life And Alexander hearing that Parmenio his General had won the Victory and his young Son Alexander was born the same day prayed the Gods to spice his joy with some bitterness lest he should surfeit of too much joy But this prosperous state of the wicked is matter rather of pity than envy their sins will bring them low Isa. 14.12 How art thou fallen from Heaven O Lucifer Son of the Morning 'T is spoken of the Chaldean Monarch who though high had a sudden change befell him Isa. 97.1 Come down and sit in the dust Babylon was the Lady of Kingdoms but saith God Sit in the dust Go in Pistrinum into the Mill-house Ver. 2. Take the Mill-stones and grind So will God say to the wicked come down from all your pomp and glory sit in the dust nay sit among the damned and there grind at Mill. The Lord will proportion torment to all the pleasure the wicked have had Revel 18.7 How much she hath lived deliciously so much torment and sorrow give her 7. See the great difference between sin and Grace sin brings a man low but Grace lifts him high Sin tumbles him in the ditch but Grace sets him upon the Throne Psal. 91.14 I will set him on high because he hath known my name Grace raiseth a person four wayes 1. Grace raiseth his Projects his designs are high He looks not at things which are seen 2 Cor. 4.18 His eye is above the Stars he aims at the enjoying of God A clownish Rustick when he goes to the Court is much taken with the gay Pictures and Hangings but a Privy Counsellor passeth by those things as scarce worthy of his notice his business is with the King So a carnal mind is much taken with the things of the world but a Saint passeth by these gay things with an holy contempt his business is with God 1 John 1.3 Our Communion is with the Father and his Son Iesus A Christian of the right breed doth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 aspire after the things within the Veyl his ambition is the favour of God he looks no lower than a Crown he is in the altitudes and trades among the Angels 2. Grace raiseth a mans Repute It embalms his name 1 Sam. 18.30 Davids name was much set by or as the Original carries it it was precious Heb. 11.2 By faith the Elders obtained a good report How renowned were the godly Patriarks for their sanctity Moses for his self-denyal Iob for his patience Phineas for his zeal What a fresh perfume do their names send forth to this day A good name is a Saints Heir it lives when he is dead 3. Grace raiseth a mans worth Prov. 12.26 The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour As the Flower of the Roses in Spring as the fat of the Peace-offering as the precious stones upon Aarons Breast-plate so is a Saint in Gods eye Besides the shining lustre of the Gold it hath an internal worth and is of great price and value So Grace doth not only make a mans name shine but it puts a real worth into him he is more excellent than his neighbour An Heart full of love to God is precious It is Gods Hephzibah or delight it is the apple of his eye it is his jewell it is his Garden of Spices it is his lesser Heaven where he dwells Isa. 57.17 I dwell with him that is of an humble spirit 4. Grace raiseth a mans priviledge it advanceth him into the heavenly kindred By it he is born of God 1 John 3.1 He is a Prince in all Lands Psal. 45.16 though in this world like a Prince in disguise He is higher than the Kings of the earth Psal. 89.27 Allyed to Angels In short Grace lifts a man up where Christ is far above all Heavens And Grace raiseth a Nation as well as a Person Prov. 14.34 Righteousness exalteth a Nation 8. If sin brings one low see what an imprudent choice they make who commit sin to avoid trouble Job 36.21 Take heed regard not iniquity for this hast thou chosen rather than affliction This was a false charge against Iob but many may be indighted of such folly they choose iniquity rather than affliction To avoid poverty they will lye and couzen to avoid a Prison they will comply against their conscience What imprudence is this when sin draws such dark shadows after it and entails misery upon all its heirs and successors By committing sin to avoid trouble we meet with greater trouble Origen to save himself from suffering sprinkled Incense before the Idol and being after to preach as he opened his Bible he did accidentally light on that Text Psal. 50.16 But to the wicked God saith what hast thou to do to declare my Statutes or that thou shouldst take my Covenant in thy mouth at the sight of which Scripture he fell into a passion of weeping and was so stricken with grief and consternation that he was not able to speak a word to the people but came down the Pulpit Spira sinned against his conscience to save his life and estate he chose iniquity rather than affliction but what an Hell did he feel in his conscience he professed he envyed Cain and Iudas as thinking their condition more eligible His sin did bring him low O what unparallel'd folly is it to choose sin rather than affliction Affliction is like a rent in the Coat sin is like a rent in the flesh He that to save himself from trouble commits sin is like one that to save his Mantle lets his flesh be torn Affliction hath a promise made to it 2 Sam. 22.28 but there is no promise made to sin Sure then they do ill consult for themselves who choose rather sin than suffering who to avoid a lesser evil choose a greater to avoid the stinging of a Gnat run into the Paw of a Lion 9. If God brings his own people low for sin Israel were brought low then how low will he bring the wicked David was in the deep waters and Ionah went down to the bottom of the Mountains Cap. 2.6 and Ieremy was in the deep dungeon then what a gulf of misery shall swallow up the reprobate part of the world Gods people do not allow themselves in sin Rom. 7.15 They tremble at it they hate it yet they suffer if they that blush at their failings are brought low what will become of them that boast of their scandals If this be done to the green tree what shall