remember not the peace of this our Sion let our tongue cleaue to the roofe of our mouth yea if wee preferre not Ierusalem to all our mirth Yours intirely in Christ Iesus G. W. The Mourners Lamentation PSAL. 119.126 It is time for thee O Lord to work for they haue destroyed thy law TRue it is Lord that we are not to appoint thee thy times and limits for thou art the Ancient of daies Daniel 7.9 Gen. 1.15 Times Creator and destinator Neither doe wee presume to presse in at the portall of thy priuie chamber to know the times and seasons which thou our Father hast reserued in thine owne power yet Lord Act. 1.17 thou hast taught vs as to discerne the face of the skie Matth. 16.3 so to descrie the signes of times and from the cause to expect the effect which necessarily doth ensue Psal 103.8 Thou art a God full of compassion and mercie slow to anger and of great kindnes and thou doest sustaine many wrongs of the sonnes of men being crushed with their sinnes as a cart is laden with sheaues but if still they continue to load thee thou wilt ease thy selfe of that burthen and cast it on the ground of confusion Thou art slow to anger Nahum 1.3 but great in power and wilt not surely cleere the wicked Thou doest for a long space hold thy peace at mens sins and art still Isai 42.14 Psal 7.12 and doest restraine thy self but if men will not turne thou wilt whet thy sword and bend thy bow and make it readie Patient thou art and for a long time doest forbeare thine hand but when the forehead of sin beginneth to lose the blush of shame when the beadrole of transgressions do grow in skore from East to West when the crie of them pierceth aboue the clouds when the height of wickednes is come vnto the top Gen. 15.16 and the fruits thereof are ripe and full then it is time for thee Lord to take notice of it to awake like a giant Gen. 18.21 Psalme and to put to thine alreuenging hand But our sins are alreadie ripe yea rotten ripe the measure of our iniquities is full vp to the brimme Doubtlesse our land is sunken deepe in iniquitie Isai 3.8 Our tongues and works haue bin against the Lord to prouoke the eyes of his glorie Isai 3.9 the triall of our countenance doth testifie against vs yea wee declare our sinnes as Sodome Gen. 18.20 we hide them not the crie of our sinne is exceeding grieuous Iam. 5.4 the clamors of them pierce the skies and with a loud voice rore saying How long Lord holy and true Reuel 6.10 Ierem. 9.9 how long ere thou come to auenge thy selfe on such a nation as this is If there were but one vniust man amongst vs Sinne in all sorts of people iniquitie for this one mans sinne were lamentable Iosh 7.1 much more now when whole families nay whole streetes yea whole towns and cities are such the case is to bee lamented and the estate to be feared when like a Gangrene sinne hath eaten thorow euery ranke of people and in a bodie politique from the sole of the foote vnto the head there is nothing whole therein Isai 1.6 but wounds and swellings and sores full of corruption In Children Psal 22.31 when our yong children which should be a sanctified seed to serue the Lord sucke blasphemie from the dugge and not learne to speak before they learne to sweare filling each house and streete and high way with their othes In yong men Eccles 12.1 whē our yong men which should remember the Lord in the daies of their youth haue their heads full of drunkennes their eyes full of adulterie their tungs full of ribaldrie their eares full of flatterie their hands ful of blood their feete full of vanitie destruction only and calamitie being in their waies Psal 14.3 and no feare of God before their eyes When our old men which should be sober In old men are giuen to drunkennesse which should be chast Tit. 2.2 are giuen to wantonnes which should be discreet are full of foolishnesse which should be sound in the faith are as ignorant as horse and mule which should be in charitie are full of enuie which should take their farewell of the earth are thē most greedie of the earth when themselues are more then halfe earth In women 1. Tim. 2.9 When our women which should adorne themselues with shamefastnes and modestie striue who can most disguise themselues in cloathes of vanitie Isai 3.16 and in stead of hauing the hiddē man of their heart vncorrupt 1. Pet. 3.4 looke onely to their outside to paint that vnto the world In the Commons When our common and ordinarie sort of people are murmurers complainers Iude 16.17 walkers after their owne lusts makers of sects fleshly minded and ful of prophanenes When the children shall presume against the ancient Isai 3.5 and the vile against the honorable When young and old shall thus openly without blush of shame expose their sins to the sunshine of the world when euery one hunteth his brother with a net Mich. 7.8 Psal 12.2 and in one body there is a double heart Ierem. 9.9 Shalt not thou be auenged for these things O Lord shall not thy soule be auenged on such a nation as this But bee it that generally the common sort of men were so ill inclined In Ministers yet so long as the watchmen of the Lords vineyard were vnpolluted with blood Groenham in his common place of sinne cap. 62. there were some hope the rest might bee recouered But when they which should be eyes to others themselues are blinde as beetles Matth. 6.23 whē they which should be lamps to others Matth. 5.14 haue no oyle within their lamps when they which should bee Pastors to feede the flock of Christ Matth. 25.8 Ezech. 34.2.3 clothe themselues with the fleece and eate of the fat but feed not the sheep Malach. 1.7 when they at whose mouth the people should seeke the knowledge of the law speake good of euill Isai 5.20 and euill of good put darknes for light and light for darknesse bitter for sweete and sweete for sower when they that should be faithfull stewards Luke 12.42 giuing to Gods household their portion of meate in due season 2. Cor. 2.17 make merchandise of the word of God selling the cause of the Lord for handfuls of barley and pieces of bread Ezeth 13.19 when they which should shew the people their transgressions Isai 58.1 and the house of Iacob their sinnes heale the hurt of the people with sweete words saying Beace peace when there is no peace Ierem. 6.13 when they that liue of the Altar 1. Cor. 9.13 liue from the Altar and working euill in the eyes of the people cause men through
they all deceiued and therefore deceiued because they neuer tasted it For did they make a taste hereof they would then quickly proue it not a bondage but a freedome not bitter but pleasant not sowre but sweete Psalm 19.10 yea sweeter then the honie and the honie combe Did they once but take a perfect view hereof with the wisest Salomon they would subscribe and say that neither the gold of Ophir Prouerb 8.12 nor the mines of India nor al the pleasures in the world were in any sort to bee compared to it Yea they would say with him that heere commendeth this taste vnto them Psalm 84.4 5. Blessed are they which dwell in Gods house for they will euer praise him Blessed is the man whose strength is the Lord One day in Gods house is better then a thousand elsewhere 10. It is better to be a doore-keeper in the house of our God then to dwell in the tabernacles of wickednesse 11. for the Lord God is the Sunne and shield vnto them he will giue grace and glorie and no good thing will hee withhold from them that haue tasted of him His mercies to them are endlesse his fauors numberlesse his comforts infinite he is glasse to their eies musicke to their eares Honie to their mouth Balme to their smel contentation to their will continuation to their happinesse When a man hath once taken a full taste of him No comfort in the world to the comfort of Gods children Philip. 3.7 Eccles 1.1 Eccles 2.2 Philip. 3.8 all worldlie dainties will seeme but vanities all worldly gaines will seeme but losses all worldly pleasures will seeme but toyes all worldly delights will seeme but madnes all worldly treasures will seeme but dungie trash 1. Sam. 18.27 The very taste of this is like vnto Ionathans tasting of the honie combe whereof when he had put but a drop into his mouth his dimme eyes were clarified to a quicker sight The taste hereof is like vnto the Poets riuer Lethe Virgil. Aeneid lib. 6. whereof whosoeuer had a taste did soone forget all other delights and pleasures The taste hereof made Peter to confesse that Bonum est esse hîc Matth. 17.4 It is good abiding here 2. Cor. 12.3 It made Paul in an ecstasie to forget whether he were in the bodie or no The very taste heereof is enough to rauish the soule and to cause it to say with Iacob I haue enough Gen. 45 26. I haue tasted of this all other pleasures seeme sowre to rellish bitter to be out of taste O that I had now but Ananias his gift Act. 9.17 that to giue a glimse of the eye-dazeling lustre of this so glorious light I could but touch the moleblind Sauls the earth-worme scoffers of this our age and make the scales fall from their eyes how cleerely should they see D. Eedes Sermon of heauenly connersation Philip. 3.20 2. Cor. 1.12 Galat. 6.15 1. Tim. 6.6 1. Cor. 1.9 Reuel 7. Psalm 34.8 and seeing taste and tasting testifie that there is no estate like to a Christian conuersation no ioy to the solace of a religious heart no peace to the peace of consciēce no glorie to the crosse of Christ no riches to godlinesse no wisedome to that of the spirit no pleasures to the soule delights no sweetnes to the sweetnes of the Lord. My soule Greater sweetnesse in the Lord then at the first before the feeling of it can be imagined thou must needes confesse hadst thou been put to thy choice before thou didst feele a taste heereof thou couldest not haue asked or desired the tenth part thereof the Lord hath giuen more then I could aske or thinke more then had I all the tongues of men and Angels I were able to expresse yea more then any heart but that which feeleth it can beleeue So that thou my soule and what doe I speake of mine euery beleeuing soule can say no lesse as Shebaes Queene said of Salomons wisedome 1. King 6.6 7 8 9. so maist thou say of this sweet taste of heauē It was a true word which I heard related to me of the most sweet dainties of Gods children when I was in mine owne corruptions fedde with draffe with fancies and dreames and deceitfull pleasures howbeit I beleeued not this report till I came and saw it with mine eyes and had a feeling and a taste thereof but loe now I see the one halfe was not told me for the sweetnes I feele in the taste hereof doth farre surpasse al that euer mine eares did heare reported of it or mine heart could possibly imagine to be in it And whereas in other delicates satietie may breed lothsomnesse The longer it is enioied the sweeter it is proued and the continuall vse of one sort of meate may glut the stomacke in this taste of the sweetnes of the Lord the longer I enioy it the better I know it the sweeter I feele it the more delight I perceiue in it and receiue from it The longer I taste it the more I am enamoured on it still more and more comfortable I proue it like to Ezechiels riuer which hee saw issuing from vnder the threshold of the temple Ezech. 47.1 2 3 4 5 6. which at the first arose but to the ancles then to the knees afterwards to the loines and at the last became a riuer which did ouerflow Here in this life we can haue but a taste And yet my soule here in this life whiles thou art soiourning in this vale of teares thou canst haue but a taste 1. Cor. 13.9.12 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 here thou canst only know in part and feele in part and taste in part and see it but darkly as through a glasse The full fruition thou shalt enioy when thou shalt come to sing Haleluiahs in heauen with the quire of heauen vnto the King of heauen Reuel 19.4 at whose right hand are fulnes of ioy for euermore Psal O sweete Lord if the taste of thee bee so excellent how superexcellent shall that sweetnes be Psal 36.5 Augustine when I shall be satisfied with the fatnes of thine house and drink out of the riuers of thy pleasures If the glimmering light of our happinesse bee so glorious how full of glorie shall the full prospect be If there bee so great solaces for thy children in these daies of teares what shal there be in their day of mariage If our iaile containe such ioyes what shall our countrie and kingdome doe O my Lord and God thou art a good God The infinite sweetnes of the Lord. How great is thy goodnesse which thou hast laid vp for them that feare thee and done to them that put their trust in thee Psal 31.9 euen before the sonnes of men Psal 40.5 O Lord my God thy comforts are so many that none can count them I would declare and speake of them but they are
plentifull rewarder of them that seeke him they finde his yoke not cumbersome but easie Matth. 12.29 and his burthen not heauie but light 2. Pet. 1.8 so that they are neither idle nor vnfruitfull in the knowledge of the Lord 1. Tim. 5.10 but ready and prepared to euery good worke when they haue tasted once of the good word of God Heb. 6.5 and of the powers of the world to come Iohn 4.34 O then it is meate and drinke to them to do their fathers will Psalm 119.110 the precepts of the Lord are the very ioy of their heart Deut. 12.18 so that they cannot chuse but reioice before the Lord in all that they set their hands vnto And albeit by reason of that remainder of sinne and rebellion of nature The godly though much troubled vvith rebellion yet vvith comfort proceed in the course of godlinesse which still sticketh to the ribs euen of Gods dearest children the flesh in them is oftentimes rebellious against the spirit so that the good things which they would doe oft times they leaue vndone Rom. 7.18.19 and doe the euill things which they would not do so that for grief hereof they break foorth into this complaint O wretched men that we are Vers 24. who shall deliuer vs from this bodie of death yet they shall haue this word of comfort frō their God 2. Cor. 12.9 my grace is sufficient for you though they sinne yet they haue an aduocate with the Father 1. Ioh. 2.2 Iesus Christ the righteous Ierem. 8.4 who is the propitiatiō for their sinnes though they fall yet they shall rise againe Luke 22.31.32 though that Satan desire to sift them like wheate yet they shall not faile though all the infernall power seeke their ouerthrow Matth. 16.18 yet the gates of hell shall not preuaile against them Sweet helpes for the godly to grow in faith and godlinesse What should I here speake of the sweetnesse of those gratious helps which God doth giue vnto his children to make them grow in faith and godlinesse his holie word to instruct them his diuine inspirations to illighten them his sweete Sacraments to nourish them his often checks of conscience to recall them his fatherly chastisements to reclaime them which though they be gall and wormewood to the wicked yet are sweete and gainfull to those that feare our Lord. What a benefit is it by prayer to come vnto our God for whatsoeuer we haue need that is good for vs and may obtaine it How comfortable is it to reade and to reuolue the booke of comfort Psal 1 2.3 Psal 1.9 How heauenly a thing is it to be rapt vp as it were into heauen with heauenly meditations to vse Christian cōference Psal 119. part 2 with our lips alwaies to be declaring the iudgements of the Lord and to bee speaking of the testimonies of our God when we sit in our house or walk in our way when wee lie downe Deut. 11.19 and when we rise vp O what a pleasure passing pleasure is this to haue the word of God dwell in vs plenteously in all wisdome Coloss 3.16 teaching and admonishing our selues mutually in Psalmes hymnes and spirituall songs singing and making melodie to the Lord in our hearts and to enioy the blessed communion of Saints which none but Saints do vnderstād what it meaneth none but the elect cā enioy Glorious things are spoken of thee The priuiledges of the faithfull Psalm 87.3 thou citie of God O how goodly are thy tents O Iacob and thine habitations O Israel As the vallies are they stretched forth as gardens by the riuers side as the Aloe trees which the Lord hath planted Numb 24.5.6 and as the cedars besides the waters Why The secret of the Lord is reuealed to them that feare him Gods secrets reuealed to his children Psalm 25.14 and his couenant to giue them vnderstanding Seemeth it a small thing vnto you They are Gods seruants O ye seruants of the euerliuing God to be admitted to the priuy chamber of the King of heauen and to be of his counsell To be the Chancellor Treasurer or Secretary to an earthly prince wee see it a matter of great state and much respected honour but what is that to this honor which the very poorest and meanest of Gods seruants are aduanced vnto to bee the seruants vnto the King of Kings Lord of Lords thē which title the Angels themselues haue no greater Heb. 1.14 and which the greatest part of the mightiest Kings and Emperours could neuer attaine vnto But what doe I speake of seruants They are Christs friends Christ himselfe setteth foorth your estate to be yet more glorious when hee saith I haue not called you seruāts Ioh. 15.15 but friends to whom I haue communicated my secrets and minde vnto which a seruant is not commonly admitted Rom. 8.17 And if this bee not yet enough behold your God hath adopted you to be his sonnes and heires yea fellowe heires with Christ himselfe then which what greater priuiledge what greater prerogatiue can there be Heare I pray you O ye citizens of heauen may it possibly seeme a small thing to be a people separated vnto God himselfe from the multitude of men Exod. 19.5 to be the most pretious of all the earth to him though all the earth be his Is it a small thing to be a chosen generation 1. Pet. 2.9 a royall Priesthood an holy nation a peculiar people See and with thankfull harts acknowledge this your priuiledge That you are come to the mount Sion the citie of the liuing God the celestiall Ierusalem and to the companie of innumerable Angels Heb. 12.22 23 24. and to the congregation of the first borne which are writtē in heauen and to God the iudge of all and to the spirits of iust and perfect mē and to Iesus the mediatour of the new Testament Heb. 12.24 and to the blood of sprinkling that speaketh better things then the blood of Abel Cheere vp then your drooping spirits and take heart at this your happinesse howsoeuer the children of Belial speake euill of you and yee are esteemed as the filth of the world 1. Cor. 4.13 and as the offcouring of all things vnto this day For howsoeuer Ismael scoffe at Isaac Gen. 21.9 and the children of the bond-woman persecute the children of the free woman Galat. 4.29 Ieremy Psal i.e. smiting them with their tongue and shooting out their arrowes against them euen bitter words yet wel I wot in the midst of their bitter agonies when the worme of conscience gnaweth on their soules in those daies shall tenne men take hold out of all languages of the nations Zach 8.23 euen take hold of the skirt of him that is a Christian and say Wee would goe with you for wee haue heard that God is with you Yea the Lord
is with vs indeed God is alwaies with his and hath a speciall care of them Psal 46.7 Psal 34.15 Vers 18. Vers 7. Psal 30.6.7 The God of Iacob is our refuge The eyes of the Lord are vpon the righteous and his eares are open to their crie the Lord is neere vnto them that are of a contrire heart The Angell of the Lord pitcheth his tents round about them that feare him and deliuereth thē He is their shelter from tempests and stormes of troubles he keepeth them safe vnder his protection as the henne doth the chickens vnder her wing Luke 13.34 Deut. 32.10 yea hee keepeth them as the apple of his eye Psal 34.10 The lions doe lacke and suffer hunger but they which seeke the Lord shall want nothing that is good Psal 23.1 Rom. 8.31 God is their shepheard what can they want Hee is on their side who can bee against them 1. Sam. 2.30 He honoreth them whose disgracing of them can hurt thē In euery estate he saueth and vpholdeth them by his prouidence 1. Pet. 5.7 what miserie can befal them God is their God for euer and euer Psal 48.14 euen their guide vnto the death Psal 149.9 This honour shall be to all his Saints And albeit heere it please the Lord for a while to trie thē with affliction Affliction taketh away nothing of Gods sweetnes and to chastize them with his correction to mingle their wine with Aloes and to send much bitternes into their cup Yet howsoeuer it be God is good to Israel Psal 73.1 Malach. 3.6 1. Cor. 4.9 euen to those that are pure in heart Ye sonnes of Iacob shall not be cōsumed though you are in distresse yet you shall not be forsaken Psal 30.5 Heauinesse may endure for a night but ioy will come in the morning Hosea 6.2 After two daies he will reuiue vs and the third day hee will raise vs vp againe Thy chastisements O Lord are like the pretious balme of Gilead Psalme which will not breake but supple our heads How many thousands of thy Saints may say It was good for vs Psal 119.71 yea exceeding good that wee were in troubles Thou O Lord Prouerb 3.11 doest loue those whō thou chastenest and albeit no chastising for the present seemeth to bee ioyous but grieuous yet afterward it bringeth the quiet fruite of righteousnes vnto them which are therby exercised Heb. 12.11 Rom. 8.18 For the afflictions of this world are not worthie of the ioyes that succeed them Rom. 8.28 Heb. 12.6 and All things euen afflictiōs themselues turne to the best to them that feare God and are signes that they are beloued of God Behold the patient childe of God whose afflictions are the greatest and marke and behold his end Psal 37.37 for the end of that man is peace And though God for a while doe seeme to hide away his face so that the godlie soule goeth heauie and mourning all the day long Psal 30.11 yet God will turne their mourning into ioy Psal 56.8 he will loose their sackcloth and gird them with gladnes Rom. 8.37 he will put their teares into his bottle and in all these things in the end they shall bee more then conquerors O Lord of hosts how amiable are thy tabernacles The boldnes of the faithfull in their prayers Psal 84.1 how ful of sweetnes Why Lord wee see here vpon earth how hard a matter it is to haue accesse to the great men of this world which differ from our selues not in stuffe but in vse and that for a while and to an earthly Prince but at sometime and for some one pleasure is few mens cases to obtain an entrance when as we may boldly presse in to the portall of thy priuie chamber and with confidence breake our mindes lay open our griefe Mark 11.24 preferre our suite and commune familiarly with thee as with a friend when wee will as often as we will thou neuer being wearie of vs neuer taking scorne nor reiecting vs yea thou doest inuite vs to come vnto thee and art more neere to heare then wee to aske and although in our prayers there are manifold infirmities and wee know not how to pray as wee ought and are soone wearie and cold in praying yet the spirit helpeth our infirmities yea the spirit it selfe maketh request for vs with sighes which cannot be expressed Rom. 8.26 O when was there any that could say he prayed in vaine if his prayer were it selfe not vaine who can repent or bethinke any minute of time herein spent This is the assurance which wee haue of him 1. Ioh. 5.14 that if wee aske any thing according to his will hee heareth vs. And albeit God doth not presently grant our requests and sometimes seemeth to defer the hearing of the prayers of his seruāts yet is his goodnesse heerein exceeding large to them that feare him All this turneth to the best for them their faith being exercised their hungring after grace more heereby strengthened and encreased thēselues stirred vp the better to esteeme of the graces of God whē they haue thē and to shew themselues more thankfull for them Whoso is wise will obserue these things Psal 107.43 that he may vnderstand the louing kindnes of the Lord for his mercie is great vnto the heauens Psal 108.4 and his trueth reacheth vnto the clouds Psal 145.9 15. The Lord is good to all and his mercies are ouer all his workes The eyes of all wait vpon him and he giueth them their foode Hee maketh the Sun to shine vpon the euill and the good Matth. 5.45 and sendeth raine on the iust and vniust Luke 6.35 He is kind euen to the vnkind Psal 87.2 yet the Lord loueth the gates of Sion aboue all the inhabitants of Iacob He hath liberally prouided for them aboue all other both here in this life and in the life to come he hath laid vp for them his sweetest sweetes A taste whereof though they haue here in this world and that so glorious as that it is ineffable yet the full fruition is reserued for them in a better world whē they shall bee replenished with the sweetnes of his presence and see him face to face at whose right hand are fulnesse of pleasures for euermore If in this life only we had hope in Christ 1. Cor. 15.19 we were of all men the most miserable and yet in this life also our sweetnes we feele in God is incomprehensible but there is reserued for vs a better life and in that life a richer sweetnes by many thousand degrees more then tongue can speake 2. Cor. 5.1 or heart can thinke Wee know this that when this earthly house of our tabernacle shall be destroyed wee haue a building not made with hands 2. Cor. 5.2 but eternall in the heauens therefore wee sigh desiring to be
clothed with our house from heauen There we haue in store laid vp for vs an inheritance immortall and vndefiled that fadeth not away 1. Pet. 1.4 and 18.19 but is reserued in heauen for vs bought and purchased not with gold and siluer but with a farre more excellent price euen with the pretious blood of Christ Iesus Had I the tongue of men and Angels yet were I not able to expresse the least glimmering light or taste of this reserued sweetnes Paul himselfe rapt vp into the third heauen 2. Cor. 5. and hauing heard things that were not to bee vttered and seene sights not to bee specified passeth them ouer with this preterition The sweetnesse reserued for Gods children in heauen is such 1. Cor. 2.9 as no eye hath seene nor eare hath heard neither is the hart of man able to conceiue O happie and thrice happie they that shall one day feele and see and taste the same Mine heart reioyceth my soule leapeth my tongue and penne exult to think vpon the sweetnesse of it and to thinke vpon mine owne happinesse who am right well assured that one day I shall enioy the same O when shall I come to appeare before the Lord in heauen My soule longeth Psal 84.2 yea and fainteth for these courts of the Lord my heart and my flesh reioyceth in the liuing Lord for I am sure that my redeemer liueth and though after my skinne wormes destroy this carcase of mine yet shall I see God in my flesh Iob 19.25.26.27 whom I my self shall see and mine eyes shall behold and none other for me though my reines be consumed within mee O happie time it ioyes my very hart to thinke of it before it comes where this poore soule of mine bidding a farewell to my bodie for a while shall be carried with no meaner attendants on it then a guard of angels into Abrahams bosome there to take possession of a kingdome vpon the receit whereof it shall enter the fee simple of life which it shall neuer lose O what a glorious welcom and meeting shall it haue with al the companie of celestiall euer blessed spirits with Angels and Archangels Cherubims and Seraphims principalities powers thrones and dominations with Abraham Isaac Iacob and all the holy Patriarks with Isay Ieremie Hosea and all the famous Prophets with Peter Iames Iohn and all the rest of Christs Apostles yea with the whole companie of Martyrs Innocents Confessors and Saints of God with them together to enioy the highest degree of the communiō of Saints for euermore Why my soule there is wonderfull sweetnesse laid vp in heauen for thee the time is comming when thou shalt enter into thy glorie where is a citie and the gates of it are pearle and the streetes of it gold and the walles of it pretious stones and the Temple in it the Almighty God and the light of it the Lambe and the vessels to it the Kings of the earth where is a riuer the spring of it is the throne of God and the water of it Crystall and the bankes of it set about with the trees of life where there is a banquet and the cheere is ioy the exercise singing the dittie Halleluiahs Vers 4. the Quire Angels where all teares shall be wiped away from thine eyes and there shall be no more death nor sorrow nor crying nor paine where there is infinite ioy and mirth without sadnes health without sicknes light without darknes felicitic without abatement all goodnesse without any euill where youth florisheth that neuer waxeth old life lasteth that neuer endeth beautie that neuer fadeth loue that neuer cooleth health that neuer diminisheth ioy that neuer ceaseth where sorrow is neuer felt complaint is neuer heard matter of sadnes is neuer seene where in the same instant I shall be rauished with seeing satisfied with enioying secured for retaining O sweetest happinesse how doe I long for to be filled with thee how doe I hunger and thirst after thee But euen heere alreadie I haue more then either I could desire or deserue I will not leaue my solace in this world for the worldlings heauen a dramme of Christian comfort is better then a pound of earthly ioy I had rather enioy a taste of this then to liue at rack manger in any other happinesse FINIS True delight Or THE WORLDS Farewell and Christs Welcome TO THE WORSHIPFVL Mr. GEORGE BAINARD and Mistris BAINARD his Wife HAuing begunne to make these my priuate Meditations publique and sending them vnder the protection of many their best well-willers to see the world I should much forget my selfe Worshipfull and most especiall benefactors if I should forget your names in these my multiplied dedicatiōs There is no man liuing who may claime that interest in mee or challenge my very best endeuours in that measure as your selues who may iustly say to me as Paul did to Philemon Philem. 19. Thou owest vnto vs euen thine owne selfe For besides that your house hath been to me as the house of Onesiphorus was to Paul 2. Tim. 1.16 euen this also that I my selfe haue an house to dwell in and a pastoral charge to labour in I may impute it vnto your selues as principall meanes raised vp by God to procure it for me Iob 31.20 The loines of me and mine may blesse you because by your meanes wee are cloathed with a fleece I haue nothing to returne vnto you for your so great paines but these few homelie papers the poore present of an euer remaining debtor I would they were as worthie of any respect with you as in many respects they doe belong vnto you My soule perswadeth it selfe that you both are of the number of those Reuel 6.4 who haue receiued the seale of the lion of Iudah Galat. 6.16 that long since the world hath bin crucified vnto you and you vnto the world that you haue proposed Christ Iesus to your selues the onely gaine Philip 1.21 I therefore send not vnto you this farewell which I haue sung vnto the world to perswade you but rather to encourage you Phil. 1.6 He that hath begun a good worke in you will performe it and encrease it more and more Vers 9. And this I pray that your loue may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all iudgement Vers 10. that yee may discerne things that differ and may be pure and without offence vntil the day of Christ Amen Yours in the Lord Iesus G. W. True delight PHILIP 3.8 Yea doubtlesse I thinke al things but losse for the excellent knowledge sake of Christ Iesus my Lord for whom I haue counted all things losse and doe iudge them to bee dung that I might win Christ IN these desperate diseased times wherein men are so vniuersallie drunken with their owne conceits to see how fondly conceited the selfe pleasing humors of Adams children are I know not whether with Democritus I might laugh
swords to apprehend him like a theefe Iohn 18.12 when hee that made vs free was bound and haled and dragd and brought as a sheep to the slaughter Isai 53.7 as a lambe dumbe before his shearer so hee opened not his mouth Bitter be the remēbrance of that gloomie night Iob 39. and let the starres of the twilight be dimme through the darknes of it when he that gaue others often sight Mark 8.22 Mark 10.46 Isai 9.1 and came to lighten those that sate in darknesse himselfe was blindfolded to bee made a scorne of he that neuer offered wrong Matth. 4.15 and when himself was wronged opened not his mouth Luke 22.64 was buffeted and smitten on the cheeke that face Isai 53.7 that glorious face of his which on mount Thabor shined as the Sunne was made a loathsome Iewish spitting place Matth. 17.2 Mark 14.65 Psal 45.6 1. Cor. 4.9 Iob 3.6 and himselfe the head of men and angels made a gazing stock to men and angels Let that day be darknes and not bee ioyned to the daies of the yeere nor come into the accounts of the moneths wherein with sighes and sobs I call not to minde that dolefull day when hee which one day shall come in the clouds with glorie and great maiestie Matth. 24.30 was brought before the tribunall of an earth pettie Iudge Matth. 27.1 and stood at the barre with all disgrace and infamie Isai 53.7 when hee the innocent Lambe was arraigned though found not guiltie was condemned wrongfully Matth. 27.22 hee the prince of glory was placed as a grieuous malefactor between two thieues Ioh. 19.18 his sacred hands and feete being nailed to the crosse Iohn 19.2 his head scratched rent and torne with a thornie crowne and his sacred sides pierced thorow with a gastly souldiers speare Iohn 19.34 with which there gushed foorth both blood and water Behold see if there were any sorrow like vnto this sorrow which is done heere vnto my Sauiour Lament 1.12 wherewith the Lord afflicted him in the day of his fierce wrath witnes the griestly gastly grone giuen by himselfe whiles hee was hanging on the crosse when that hee bellowed foorth his Eli Eli Matth. 27.46 lamasabachthani My God my God why hast thou forsaken me Witnes the whole face of Nature chaunged at his suffering Vers 51. The Sunne being clothed in blacke Vers 52. the pillers of the earth rocking Vers 53. the vaile of the temple renting the rocks shieuering and the very graues themselues opening their more then brasen gates But why was al this To saue and what was the end of Christ his comming into the world and his suffering of so many things heere in the world Surely he came for vs not for himselfe he came to saue Therefore did the Lord anoint him therefore did hee send him that he might preach good tidings to the poore Isai 61.1 and binde vp the broken hearted and preach libertie to the captiues and to them that are bound the opening of the prison To preach the acceptable yeere of the Lord Vers 2. to comfort them that mourne to giue beautie for ashes the oile of ioy for mourning the garment of gladnes for the spirit of heauinesse that they might bee called trees of righteousnesse Vers 8. the planting of the Lord that hee might be glorified This was the good shepheard that came to seek vs lost and wandring sheepe Iohn 10. this is that mighty champion which came to deliuer vs from the iawes of the lion and the wolfe 1. Sam. 17.34 Numb 21.9 this is that brazen Serpent which cureth vs stung to the heart by that old fierie Serpent Satan Iohn 3.14 this is that good Chirurgion whose comming was to heale our sores Luke 10.33 The good Physitian who came to saue vs from death Matth. 9.12 Iohn 10.10 He came to saue so saith he himselfe I am come that they might haue life and haue it in abundance So saith the Angell of him which brought newes of his comming into the world Vnto you this day is borne a Sauiour Luke 2.11 which is Christ the Lord. O sweete Iesu Cantic 1.2 thy very name is as an ointment powred out to make the virgins loue thee Well maist thou be called Iesus for there is no other name vnder heauen whereby we may be saued Matth. 2.27 but by thine whose name agreeth with thy nature to saue the people from their sinnes The very sauour of which so flagrant ointment of his pretious name Sinners Cantic 1.2.3 as it well may draw the loue of all good hearts vnto him and make them runne after him so when I further consider with my selfe our qualitie and condition what we were when first he cast his loue vpon vs me thinkes it carrieth mee beyond admiration that so great a Sauiour should so much as respect such vile and miserable wretches for this so sweete a Sauiour came not to call the righteous Matth. 9.13 but sinners to repentance Were we righteous No there was none righteous Psal 14.2.3 no not one we were all gone out of the way there is was none of vs all that did deserue his fauour no not one Were wee his friends that hee did impart such kindnes vnto vs Nay wee were his deadly enemies we were sinners Rom. 5.8.9 Doubtlesse one would scarse die for a righteous man but God setteth out his loue towards vs seeing that whiles we were yet sinners Christ died for vs. The partie offended came to helpe the offenders the iust to die for the vniust the innocent for the guiltie the king of peace for his enemies Christ Iesus to saue sinners We were dead in sinnes and trespasses wherein wee walked according to the course of the world and after the prince that ruleth in the aire Ephes 2.2.3.4 but he rich in mercie through his great loue wherewith he loued vs was content to die for vs to quicken vs. We were alients from the common wealth of Israel strangers from the couenant Ephes 2.12.14.19 without hope without God in the world He is become our peace who by breaking downe the stop of the partition wall had made vs of strangers and forrenners citizens with the Saints and of the household of God Our habitation our kindred was of the land of Canaan Ezech. 16. Vers 3. our father was an Amorite and our mother an Hittite in our natiuitie when we were borne Vers 4. our nauell was not cut wee were not washed in water to soften vs Vers 5. nor salted with salt nor swadled in clouts Vers 6. None eye pitied vs to doe any of these things vnto vs or to haue compassion on vs then did he passe by vs saw vs polluted in our own blood he said vnto vs euen then when wee were in our blood Thou shalt liue
Vers 8. He spred his skirts ouer vs and couered our filthines and made a league and couenant with vs when we were sinners he came to saue vs Rom. 5.7 when we were his enemies hee came to seeke vs when we were yet of no strength he died for vs. Wherein as we cannot but acknowledge the riches of his vnspeakable loue who loued vs before wee were and followed vs with his loue when we were his enemies so may it well assure vs of his perpetuall loue and fauour towards vs. Rom. 5.8.9.10 For seeing that whiles wee were yet sinners Christ died for vs much more then being now iustified by his blood shall we be saued from wrath through him If when we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his sonne much more being reconciled wee shall be saued by him What then though the bedroule of our sins reach vp to the clouds and vice attracting vapors doe ouershadow my soule as innumerable as Atomes what though our rebellious nature will not be kept in as we desire and Satan pleade full sore to bring our hearts to desperation heere heere our endlesse comfort is Isai 1.18 be our sinnes as crimson they shall be made as white as snow though they bee of a skarlet engrained die they shall be made as white as wooll For this is the Anchor on which assuredly we may repose our trust This is a true saying and worthie by all meanes to be receiued that Christ Iesus came into the world to saue sinners But if in generall only this my comfort were Whereof I am chiefe that there was a Iesus Christ that hee came into the world and that his comming was to saue and yet not feele the assurance of my part and portion in it cold comfort God wot would this be to my soule small matter for me to reioyce Nay blessed be the author of my peace I can apply it to my self Ephes 3.12 for I haue boldnes and confidence by faith in him to put my finger into his side with Thomas Ioh. 20.28 and to say My God my Lord to call him my Iesus my Christ and to relie wholly by faith vpon this Son of God who hath loued me Galat. 2.20 and giuen himself for me yea euen for me G.W. the meanest poorest vilest vnworthiest of all Gods children the greatest and most miserable sinner in the world Rom. 7.18 For I know that in me in this my sinfull wretched flesh dwelleth no good thing from the sole of my foot vnto my head Isai 1.6 there is nothing whole but wounds and swellings and sores full of corruption In sinne was I conceiued Psal 51.4 in sin was I borne sin seased vpon my childhood and hath lackied my life vnto this my youthfull age and the longer I liue the surer foothold getteth foule sin in my bosome and setleth the contagion in my soule How huge a masse of sinne lieth in me hidden from mine eyes which take possession on me and I poore I neuer tooke notice of them These O these that I see before mine eyes by looking into the bottomlesse gulfe of my sins appeare as many as the stars in the skie or drops of water in the Ocean sea When I looke vpon my selfe I am ashamed of my selfe me thinkes the heauens ouer me cast a dire aspect vpon me and the albearing earth groneth vnder the sinfull burthen of me me thinkes the Sunne is ashamed of me and the palefaced Moone lookes wanne vpon me and the airie clouds doe mourne for me I cannot chuse but wonder how in so little a substance as my soule should be so great a sinke of sin Of this sure I am I know none so sinfull as my selfe neither haue I any reason to imagine how any can be a greater sinner then my selfe yet why should I despaire I know that my Redeemer liueth Iob 19.25 and hee liueth to bee my Redeemer Though my sins were more hee could pardon them though they were a thousand times greater then they be he hath satisfied for them Be they black vgly his blood hath washed them Be they great and many hee hath paid the ransome for them Be they heauie waightie he hath mercie in store for them Heere then will I cast my anchor and pull downe the sailes of feare to harbour in this safest hauen let the flesh say despaire and the world say relent and the Diuell seek to cut the cable of my hope yet my footing is sure I know on whom I fixe my hope euen on Christ Iesus yesterday and to day the same for euermore FINIS THE MOVRNERS Lamentation Or THE BEWAILING OF the miseries of our times with Gods fearefull iudgements to be expected for the same TO THE WORSHIPfull my Christian neighbour and most religious hearer Mistris Amie Long. WHen the Lord in a vision would shew to the Prophet Ezechiel the destruction of the Citie Ierusalem he is brought in by the same Prophet speaking thus vnto one of his Agents herein Goe through the midst of the Citie Ezech. 9.4 euen through the midst of Ierusalem and set a marke vpon the foreheads of them that mourne and crie for all the abominations that bee done in the middest thereof Doubtlesse many such mourners are there in our Ierusalem whose teares are put in Gods bottle and for whose sake the Lord yet spares this our Israel the Lord encrease the number of them For God knoweth we had need call one an other to mourning and take vp continuall lamentation for who seeth not how rotten ripe the sins of this land are Amos 5.16 and how deep all estates of the same are setled vpon the lees of their transgressions And who can chuse but feare that there is a day of wrath Zephan 1.15 of trouble and heauines of woe and horror neere approching For mine own part what deepe impression the meditatiō hereof maketh in mine heart he knoweth which knoweth the secrets of all mens hearts One of my priuat contemplations which I haue communed with my owne heart in silence Psal 4.4 I heere make publique by communicating them to you and others To you especially because I know you to be one of the mourners in Sion as hauing had experience of your zeale to Gods house loue to his word and hatred to the common corruptions euer since you came to be partaker of the vnworthie labours of my ministry The Lord encrease that good worke which long since he hath begun in you This little Enchiridion if you please you may binde vp in the volume of your daily meditatiōs Thus to mourne is neither hurtfull to our selues nor offensiue to our Church We may be merrie in the Lord and yet without lightnes sad and heauie in heart for our own sins and the corruptions of our times yet without dumpishnes If we forget Ierusalem let our right hand forget to play Psal 137.5.6 if we
recouered for they will not be wrapped Ierem. 8.22 Isai 1.6 nor bound vp nor mollified with oile This people hath an vnfaithfull and rebellious heart they are departed and gone Ierem. 5.23.24.25 They say not in their heart Let vs now feare the Lord our God that giueth raine both early and late in due season and reserueth vnto vs the appointed weekes of the haruest yea our iniquities haue sometimes turned away many of these things and our sins haue hindred good things from vs Slight regard of Gods iudgements Isai 1.3 The oxe knoweth his owner and the asse his masters crib but our Israel will not know this people will not vnderstand Thou hast stricken them O Lord but they haue not sorrowed Thou hast consumed them Ierem. 5.3 Hardnes of hart but they haue refused to receiue correction they haue made their faces harder then a stone and haue refused to returne yea they haue made a couenant with death and with hell are at agreement saying Isai 28.15 Though a scourge run ouer and passe through it shall not come to vs for we haue made falsehood our refuge and vnder vanitie are we hid This thou seest O Lord and canst thou suffer it or shall not thy soule be auenged on such a nation as this Ierem. 5 9. When as for swearing blaspheming Swearing and blaspheming from the names of sins they are now shrouded vnder the habit of ingenuitie and valour Exod. 20.5 and he is counted a Precifian that maketh a conscience of an oath Iam. 2.6 when the very aire is polluted with blasphemous speeches and euery little child as if their tungs were set on fire of hell can rent and teare thy sacred body Christ and the whole land groane vnder othes Ierem. 23.10 canst thou see it Lord and suffer it that what thou condemnest for so capitall a crime men should count it for a glorious vertue Sabbath breaking When thy Sabbaths Lord whose sanctification thou enioynest so straitly Gen. 2.23 Exod. 20.11 Heb. 4.4 and giuest vs a memorandum so seriously to make it our delight and to consecrate it Isai 58.13 as glorious vnto thee are not onely now polluted with fearefull prophanation but also called into irreligious question when there is almost no wickednesse which is not especially committed vpon this day Bucer in Psal 92 it being peruerted from the seruice of the Lord to the pleasures of the flesh Muscul in praecept 4. and from the honour of the great and high God to the rites of Bacchus and Venus and so made the Diuels high holiday with many Wilt not thou for this kindle a fire in the gates of our Zion and shall it not deuoure the palaces of Ierusalem When whoredome and adulterie are esteemed as trickes of youth and vsurie consenage Adulterie and whoredome and oppression as things indifferent when the adulteries of men are written in their foreheads and the whoredome of women betweene their breasts Ierem. 8.12 when they are not ashamed that doe commit these things neither can bee brought to any shame but though thou feedest them to the full Ierem. 5.7.8.9 yet they commit adulterie and assemble themselues by companies in the harlots houses and rise vp in the morning like fed horses euery man neighing after his neighbours wife When whoredomes prodromus or pandar Pride doth so taint and infect all degrees Pride and the vanitie of all other natiōs is little enough to make vp the measure of an English follie When the daughters of Zion are haughtie Isai 3.19 and walke with stretched out neckes and wandring eyes Rom. 1.27 and men effeminate to fashion themselues according to the world onely Rom. 12.1 Rom. 13.4 making it their onely thought to fulfill the lusts of the flesh When the stone crieth out of the wall Couetousnes Hab. 2.11 and the beame out of the timber answereth it against the common practise of those that ioyne house to house and lay field to field Isai 5.8 till there be no place for the poore that they may bee placed by themselues in the midst of the earth when euery one hunteth his brother with a net Mich. 7.2 Hab. 1.16 and sacrifice to their yearne and to their net and as a cage is full of birds Ierem. 5.27 so are their houses full of deceit by which they are become great and waxen rich When the fat buls of Baashan gore the sheepe of the flocke Oppression Psal 22.12 and the rich men swallow vp the poore that they may make the needie of the land to faile and the sellers make the Ephah small Amos 8.4.5.6 and the Shekel great and falsifie the waights by deceit that they may buy the poore for siluer and the needie for shooes Is it not then time for thee O God to whom vengeance belongeth to shew thy self Psal 94.1.2 Arise thou indge of the world and reward the proud after their deseruing Psal 10.16 for the poore committeth himselfe vnto thee who art the helper of the fatherlesse and needie When Court and Countrie swarmes with desperat hacksters braules Crueltie and quarrelling with whom rapine enuie malice and murther are but veniall sinnes which yet like Abels blood from out of the earth doe crie vnto the Lord Gen. 4.10 When men rise vp early to follow drunkennes Drunkennes and continue till night vntil the wine doe inflame them Isai 5.11 and reckon it a point of valour to bee mightie to drink wine strong to powre in strong drinke Vers 22. And Sodoms trinitie of master sinnes pride Ezech. 16.40 Idlenes fulnes of bread and abundance of idlenes abound in vs there being so many millions that liue inordinately amongst vs 2. Thess 3.11 and so many walking the sluggards pace of whom the heauenly Apostle Paul hath told vs oftē Philip. 3.18.19 yea and told vs weeping that they are enemies to the crosse of Christ whose end is damnation whose god is their bellie whose glorie is their shame which minde earthly things Vnfaithfulnes When there is no trust to be reposed in a friend Mich. 7.5 nor cōfidence in a counseller and the doores of a mans mouth had neede bee locked vp from her that lieth in his bosome whē the whole land like a bowle is ouerswaied by the strong bias of iniquitie Nothing but sin and bends without opposition to black corruption when there is no care of truth Hosea 4.1.2 nor mercie nor knowledge of God in the land but by lying and swearing and killing and stealing and whoring men breake out and blood toucheth blood Can there be a God and he not see can he see and not punish these so vile abominations No no It agreeth with the equitie of Gods instice to punish these sins thou art a God of pure eyes and canst not endure the sight of euill Thou art
into this maruellous light Iohn 15.19 and hath chosen you out of the world that you should not perish with the world Doubtlesse the peace of conscience Philip. 4.7 that peace which the godly doe enioy is an inualuable treasure it passeth all vnderstanding This peace shall euer be vpon the Israel of God though there be no peace at al vnto the wicked As you therefore haue begun in the spirit so I cease not to pray for you Colos 1.9.10.5 that you may be fulfilled with the knowledge of the wil of God in all wisedom and vnderstanding that you may walk worthy of the Lord and please him in all things being fruitful in al good works and encreasing in the knowledge of God for the hopes sake which is laid vp for you in heauen whereof you haue heard before by the word of truth which by me and others hath bin preached vnto you And here I leaue with you these following meditations as a testimony of my thankfull remembrance of many kindnesses which you haue shewed vnto me and not to me alone but to all those which come in the name of a Prophet amongst you Matth. 10.41 Reade meditate and vse it to your comfort and the God of peace sanctifie you both in soule and bodie and keepe you with all yours blameles vntill the comming of our Lord. Yours euer in Iesus Christ G. W. THE SINNERS Doome ISAI 57.21 There is no peace saith my God vnto the wicked FRet not thy self saith Dauid because of the vngodlie Psal 37.1.2 neither bee thou enuious for the euill doers for they shall soone be cut downe like grasse and wither as the greene hearbe Me thinkes it should be an easie matter to disswade any man from enuying them who are rather to be pitied because they are set in slipperie places The seeming prosperitie of the wicked rather to be lamented because their estate is so dangerous fickle and full of woe For albeit these are they that seeme to prosper in the world and to encrease in riches Psal 73.12.5.7 which are lusty and strong and not in trouble like other men their eyes stand out for fatnes and they haue more then heart can wish Though they liue and waxe old Iob 21.7.8.9.10 and grow in wealth their seed is established in their sight with them and their generation before their eyes Their houses are peaceable and without feare and the rod of God is not vpon them Their bullock ingendreth and faileth not their cow calueth and casteth not her calfe Psal 49.11 Though they thinke their houses and their habitations shall continue for euer euen from generation to generation and call their lands by their names Though the people fall downe vnto them and they be deemed the only happie men in the world The vnmasking of the wicked Psal 73.17.18 yet let a man but goe into the Sanctuary of the Lord seek to vnderstand their end and he shall finde that their wealth is not in their own hand Iob 21.16.17.18 but they are set in slippery places and their change is fearefull O how oft shall the candle of the wicked be put out and their destruction come vpon them at vnawares he shall be as stubble before the winde and as chafe that the storme carieth away O how suddenly are they destroyed perished and horribly consumed Psal 73.19.20 as a dreame when one awaketh so shall the Lord make their image despised For why Iob 21.30 the wicked is kept but as a stalled oxe vnto the day of destruction he shal be brought foorth vnto the day of wrath In the hand of the Lord there is a cup the wine is red it is ful mixt Psal 75.8 and hee powreth out of the same surely the wicked of the earth shall wring out and drink the dregs therof This is Gods iust doome vpon them they shal be like the raging of the sea that cannot rest Isai 57.20.21 whose waters cast vp dirt and mire There is no peace saith my God to the wicked And surely how true this restlesse doome of wicked wretches is The restlesse and wretched estate of the wicked euen in this life who seeth not that hath but an eye to see and an heart to vnderstand whose mouthes though they bee set against heauen Psal 73.9.6 and their tongue walketh through the earth though pride be a chaine vnto thē and crueltie couereth them like a garment Iob 21.9 Though the houses of their hearts seeme peaceable and without feare yet God he knoweth their dolefull mindes are tossed vp and downe with many a blast of anguish and blowne about with many a gale of terror like surging waues which rage vpon the seas Pompon Mel. lib. 2. and like Euripus which euer boyleth and is in cōtinuall agitation The wicked man is continually as one that trauelleth with child Iob 15.20.21 oppressed with inward throbs and gripes of heart A sound of feare is euer in his eares terrors shall take him as waters Iob 27.20.21 and tempest shall carrie him away by night the cast winde shall take him away Prou. 28.1 and hee shall flie when none pursueth him And why The worme of conscience there is a worme that neuer dieth which is alwaies nibling at their hearts and like the Poets furies lashing their guiltie conscience with accusing horror Mark 9.44 In the middest of all their hearts delights pleasing mirth there appeares an hand writing before their eies which troubleth their thoughts within them and maketh the ioynts of their loines loose Dan. 5.6 and their knees to smite the one against the other Whiles they seeme to enioy their chiefest iollitie there hangeth ouer their head a waightie sword by a small twine of threed when they full faine would put God out of their mindes Amos 6.3 and put the euil day farre from their thoughts and would reioice in their youth and cheere vp their heart in their delights will they nill they an heauie hammer knocketh this memento into their hearts Eccles 11.9 Know that for all these things God wil bring thee vnto iudgement Yea his eye shall faile with fearfull looking for the dreadfull iudgement and violent fire which shall deuoure the aduersarie Heb. 10.27 But say some senselesse soule and cauterised conscience should be so fast asleepe as not to feele this smart Want of feeling this horror of conscience in the wicked most desperat as doubtlesse many sinners are yet shall wee thinke their case as void of feare No no a deadly lethargie possesseth such mens soules whose pangs may well be thought most grieuous then when least they are felt and whose estate is most terrible when they are most insensible 1. Tim. 4.2 whose consciences are seared with an hot iron O take heede of such for well wee know that such a one is peruerted Tit. 3.11 and sinneth being
damned of his owne selfe and being senselesse of his sinne is giuen ouer to a reprobate sense Rom. 1.24 and being past feeling Ephes 4.19 giue themselues ouer to worke all vncleannes euen with greedinesse being alreadie within the iawes of hell before they bee awares And well I wote that when such sleepie soules shall awake and wake they shal securely now although they sleepe that then their horror shall be the greater farre like wilde beasts which though so long as they lie asleepe seeme tame and gentle yet being roused vp are fierce and wrathfull In the meane Sinners Gods enemies albeit in outward shew they may seeme ioyfull yet let them know their case is fearfull for if the wrath of an earthlie King bee raging how dreadful then must needs be their estate who are professed enemies to the King of Heauen Isai 26.11 Surely he hateth all those that worke iniquity Psal 5.6 and both the wicked man and his wickednes are in hatred with him Psal 14. Prou. 15.9 The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord Isai 1. Psal 50. Hee cannot abide nor permit the sinner to praise him to pray vnto him or to take his couenant in his mouth no maruell then if at the last day hee shew such rigor vnto them who in this life are so extreamly hated and detested of him Gods threatnings against sinners What peace then can they haue that haue the Lord of hosts to be their enemie Psal 10. God shall raine snares of fire vpon sinners brimstone with tempestuous windes shall be the portion of their cuppe the Lord shall breake their teeth in their mouthes Psal 57.6.9.10 and shoote foorth his arrowes and destroy them Hee shall carrie them away as a whirle winde in his wrath and wash his feete in the blood of the vngodlie He will powre out his wrath vpon them and fulfill all his anger in them Ezech. 7.8.9.10 Hee will iudge them according to their waies and lay vpon them all their abominations neither shall his eye spare them neither will he haue pitie on them and they shall know that hee is the Lord that smiteth them Cursed be they in the towne and cursed in the field cursed in the fruite of their bodie Deut. 28.16.17.18 and cursed in the fruite of their land the increase of their kine and in the flocks of their sheepe cursed when they come in and cursed when they goe out cursed in their bodies and cursed in their soules Now then let them boast while they will of their prosperitie The beginning of hell here in this life to the wicked and let such as are like vnto them flatter them in their follie though they seeme with Capernaum to be lifted vp to heauen Matth. 11.23 yet behold alreadie they are in the confines of hell though they haue a name of mightinesse yet indeed they are in the lowest estate of abiectnes Though they may seeme the only men that liue yet they are but dead whiles heere they liue 1. Tim. 5.6 Though worldlings do admire them Rom. 6.16 yet are they but the Lords laughing stockes Sinnes slaues and Satans drudges Poore woodcocks are they ensnared in Satans springs 2. Tim. 2.26 Rom. 9.22 vessels of wrath ordained for the Diuels blacke kitchin alreadie treading the waies of darknesse Prou. 4.19 Exod. 3. the prince of darknesse taske mē in the works of wickednesse yea they dwell alreadie in the land of darknesse and in the shadow of death Psal 107.10 being fast bound in miserie and iron Psal 37.8 when Gods children are satisfied with the dainties of his house Luke 15.16 they feed on husks of sinne and draffe of beastly life when the soules of the Saints are temples of the holy Ghost 1. Cor. 6.15 Reuel 18.2 their soules be nests of Scorpions dungeons of Diuels Reuel 21.27 when Gods children haue their names registred in the booke of life their names are engrossed in the book of perdition being alreadie in the power of the Diuell and his angels 1. Tim. 5.6 subiect to sinne and all temptations dead in trespasses and sins whiles in their bodies they bee aliue and when they die hauing this death the earnest penie of the second death For certainly The dolefull estate of the wicked in the day of death The reioycing of the wicked is but short and the ioy of hypocrites is but a moment though his excellencie mount vp to the heauen his head reach vnto the clouds Iob 20.5.6.7.8.9 yet shall hee perish for euer like his dung and they which haue seene him shall say Where is he He shall flee away as a dreame and shall passe away as a vision in the night Goe he shall there is no remedie Iob 10.22 into the land of darknesse and shadow of death into a land I say darke as darknesse it self and into the shadow of death where is none order but the light is there as darknesse Heb. 9. Eccles 3.19 And albeit this is the condition of the iust as well as the vniust and as the one dieth so must the other die and returne vnto the dust yet good Lord how great a difference is there betweene the righteous and the wicked at the day of death Mark the vpright man Psal 37.37 and behold the iust for the end of that mā is peace when ghastly death approcheth with her inexorable destinie then doe they lift vp their heads Luke 21.28 for that their redemptin̄ draweth nigh from the labours and toyles of this world Psal 40.1.3 Blessed then are they that feare the Lord the Lord wil strengthen them vpon their bed of sorrow and make their bed in their sicknes So that with holie Hilarion they then begin to cheere vp their soule Hieron in vita Hilarion Exito anima mea exito c. Goe out my soule goe out thou needest not feare thus long thou hast serued Christ why shoul dest thou now bee afraid to goe to him But for the wicked and vngodly man as there is no peace to him during the whole course of his life so shall hee finde least peace at the houre of death O Death how bitter is the remembrance Eccles 41. of thee to a man that liueth at rest in his possessions how irksome shall it bee to an vnrepentant sinner when hee shall see Death it selfe standing before his face to arrest him and approching vnto him with this incultable doome Thou soule Luke 12.19 this night I must take away thy soule from thee and then whose shall these thy pleasures and thy profits be A wofull anguish must thē needs possesse his heart when hee must part from all his earthly ioyes pleasures commodities which he hath trauelled for with the hazard of his soule and finde no profit in them but that hee hath trauelled for the winde Eccles 5.15
But what should I speake of the losse of these toyes and trifles they must part with life it selfe Iob 2.4 Skinne for skinne and all that a man hath will hee giue for his life But all the wealth and riches in the world cannot purchase one houres lease of longer life Death will claime his due an inexorable creditor which when it cannot chuse but breede an horror in the heart of him that lieth a dying so will it fill his soule with direfull griefe to call to minde the vaine attempts of his forepassed life whē they shall sigh for griefe of mind and say within themselues O senselesse we and more then frantick fooles We haue wearied our selues in the way of wickednesse Syracides 5.1.3.7.8.9 and wee haue gone through dangerous waies but we haue not knowne the way of the Lord. What hath our pride profited vs or what profit hath the pomp of our riches brought vnto vs all those things doe passe away like a shadow 2. Cor. 5. and as a post that passeth by At that day will God be knowne of them to be a terrible God and dreadfull Hee will then write bitter things against them Iob 13.26 and make them possesse the sinnes of their youth The conscience will come in then with her bill of accounts and shew many old reckonings and arrerages of sinnes and Satan will shoote foorth many millions of canons of desperation against the sicke besieged soule and lay before his eyes the large bedrole of their sinnes which when the guiltie conscience cannot denie O how it filleth the heart with horror and souseth the dreadfull soule with feare How bitter and lamentable is that parting farewell which they make to their departing soule Aelius Adrianus Animula vagula blandula quae nunc abibis in loca pallidula frigida nudula c. like that of Adrian the Romane Emperour when he was now a dying My darling soule poore soule poore fleeting wandring soule my bodies sometimes best beloued ghest and equall whither art thou now going pale wanne and naked into places vgly dismall full of horror and tribulation Yet happie yea thrice happie were it The wicked haue no peace after death if death were the Catastrophe of the sinners Tragedie and the end of their being might come with the end of their earthly liuing Their soules posting to hell happy were it for them if like to dogges and toads and beasts they might perish and bee no more but loe their chiefest woe is yet to come for when they lie in the graue like sheep Psal 49.14 Iob 19.26 death gnaweth vpon thē whiles wormes destroy their carkase hell fire seaseth vpon their soules and vexeth them with torments What shall I heere recount the sudden dreadfull passage of their soules from the bodie to their doome dragd downe by furious fiends of hell vnto their place of torment 2. Pet. 2.4 Iude 6. where they shall be in euerlasting chaines vnder darknes vnto damnation and to the finall iudgment of the great day At which day good Lord what horror amazement will affright them when the vngodly whose bodies are rotten in the dust of the earth The horror of the wicked at the day of resurrection Matth. 25. shall on a sudden be roused from their deadly sleepe by the Trumpet of an Angell and like guiltie malefactors they shall come foorth of the filthie dungeon of rottennes to appeare at the tribunall for their triall 2. Cor. 5. What a dreadfull day will that bee for those that haue passed their time securely here in this world how will they be amazed at the suddennes of this their rousing vp from the bed of death What a sea of miseries and terrors shall rush vpon them when on a sudden being raised vp Matth. 24.30.31.32.33.34.35.36.37 and apparelled with the same robes of their bodies so long laid vp in the wardrope of the dust they shall heare about their eares so hideous a noyse of Trumpets sound of waters motion of all the elements when they shall see the earth reeling and tottering the hils and dales skipping the Moone darkned 2. Pet. 3.12 the Starres falling downe from heauen the firmament shiuered in peeces and all the world in a flaming fire If Adam Gen. 3.8 after his eating of the forbidden fruite would faine haue hid himself from God walking in the garden at the coole of the day how shall the desperate forlorne sinner then abide the presence of the Iudge 2. Thess 1.7 not walking in the coole of mercie but comming in flaming fire and sitting in his throne of Maiestie Matth. 25.31 Reuel 20.12 when the books shall be opened when not onely they shall be called to account for their grosse and hainous sinnes Matth. 12.36 but shall be compelled to giue account for euery idle word Rom. 2.16 and their verie secret thoughts shall be brought to iudgement 1. Cor. 1. Alas what wil those wise people doe then that now liue in delights and count a christian conuersation foolishnesse What shift will they make in those extremities what will they answere for themselues doubtlesse they shall not be able to answere him one of a thousand Iob 9.3 whither will they then turne themselues Will they hope that the Bill of their Inditement may be lost Reuel 2.23 They haue small hope of that for he who is their Iudge searcheth the heart and reines yea all things are naked and open to his eyes Hope they that their greatnes shall countenance them out Behold he findeth no stedfastnes in the Angels Iob 4.18.19 how much lesse then in them that dwell in houses of clay and whose foundation is in the dust Doe they perswade themselues that they can bribe the Iudge Loe Prou. 11.4 Matth. 16.16 riches auaile not in the day of wrath and what shall a man giue for a recompence of his soule Doe they hope vpon a Psalme of mercie or a pardon There was a time indeed when that was offered vnto them if with repentant mindes they would haue accepted of the same but now there remaineth no more sacrifice for sin Heb. 10.26.27 but a fearfull looking for of iudgement which shall deuoure the aduersaries Good Lord then what will the wretched sinner doe at that most dolefull day what shift will he make He shall euen drie vp for very feare Matth. 24. Hee shall seeke death and death shall flie from him Reuel 6.15.16 He shall crie to the hils to fall vpon him and to the mountaines to couer him But all in vaine for there shall hee stand a desperate forlorne caitise wretch vntill he receiue that dreadfull and irreuocable sentence Matth. 25.41 Goe thou cursed wretch into euerlasting fire prepared for the Diuell and his angels Which finall sentence once pronounced The endlesse miserie of the wicked after the day of iudgement me thinks my heart doth quake to thinke