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
Israels Misery They were brought low Some Expositors translate it They waxed lean The Hebrew and Septuagint render it They were humbled 2. The procuring cause of it for their iniquity Doct. The Proposition resulting from the Text is That sin brings a Person low Psal. 197.6 The wicked he casteth down to the ground Sin is a Planet of a bad Aspect as Ieptha said to his daughter when she met them with Timbrel and Dances Judg. 11.35 Alas my daughter thou hast brought me very low So a man may say to his sin alas my sin thou hast brought me very low Sin is the great Leveller it brings a Family low it cuts off the Arm and dissolves the Pillars thereof 1 Sam. 2.29 Wherefore kick ye at my Sacrifice Ver. 31. Behold the dayes come that I will cut off thy arm and the arm of thy Fathers house that there shall not be an old man in thy house Which threatning God made good when he cut off Elies two Sons and put by the other Sons from the Priesthood Sin brings a Kingdom low 1 Sam. 15.19 Wherefore didst not thou obey the voice of the Lord but didst evil in his sight Ver. 28. The Lord hath rent the Kingdom of Israel from thee this day Sin breaks the Axletree of Church and State Hos. 13.1 When Ephraim spake trembling he exalted himself but when he offended in Baal he dyed The Tribe of Ephraim did carry a Majesty with it and was superiour to the ten Tribes When Ephraim spake he struck an awe and terrour into others But when he offended in Baal he dyed When he once fell from God by Idolatry he did inter cuneos residere degrade himself of his honour his strength and glory came to nothing Now every puny adversary would insult over him as the Hare will tread upon a dead Lion Among the many threatnings against sin this was one Deut. 28.43 Thou shalt come down very low and in the Text this threatning is exemplified and made good They were brought low for their iniquity That I may amplifie and illustrate the Proposition I shall shew 1. How many wayes sin brings a man low 2. Why sin must needs bring a man low 1. How many wayes sin brings a man low 1. Sin brings a man low in Gods esteem The sinner sets an high price upon himself Prov. 26.16 but God hath low thoughts of him and looks upon him with a despicable eye Dan. 11.21 And in his estate shall stand up a vile person Who was this spoken of It was Antiochus Epiphanes he was a King and his Name signifies Illustrious and by some he was worshipped yet in Gods account he was a vile person The Psalmist speaking of the wicked saith they are become filthy in the Hebrew it is they are become stinking That you may see how low a sinner is fallen in Gods account the Lord compares him to dross Psal. 119.119 to chaffe Psal. 1.4 to a Pot boiling with scumm Ezek. 24.6 to a Dog 2 Pet. 2.22 which under the Law was unclean to a Serpent Matth. 23.33 which is a cursed creature nay he is worse than a Serpent for the poyson of a Serpent is what God hath put into it but a wicked man hath that which the Devil hath put into him Acts 5.3 Why hath Satan filled thy heart Caelius Rhodiginus reports of an antient Woman who had alwayes used flattering Glasses by chance seeing her face in a true Glass fell mad a sinner is well conceited of himself while he doth dress himself by the flattering Glass of presumption but if he knew how loathsome and disfigured he were in Gods eye he would abhor himself in the dust 2. Sin brings a man low in his intellectuals It hath eclipsed the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Rational Part darkness is upon the face of this deep Since the Fall the Lamp of Reason burns dim 1 Cor. 13.9 We know but in part There are many arcana naturae knots in Nature that are not easie to untye Why Nilus should overflow in Summer when by the course of nature Waters are lowest Why the Loadstone should rather draw Iron than Gold a more Noble Mettal What way the light is parted Job 38.24 How the bones grow in the womb Many of these are Paradoxes that we understand not The Key of Knowledge is lost in the Tree of Knowledge Especially in matters Sacred we are inveloped with ignorance The Sword is upon our right eye Zach. 11.16 What a little of the Sea will a Nut-shell hold How little of God will our intellect contain Job 11.7 Canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection Who can fully unriddle the Trinity or fadom the mysterie of the Hypostatical Union And alas as to salvifical heart-transforming knowledge how are we to seek till Gods Spirit light our Lamp 1 Cor. 2.14 3. Sin brings a man low in affliction that is the meaning of the Text They were brought low for their iniquity Adams sin brought him low it banished him out of Paradise 2 Chron. 28.18 In those dayes God cut Israel short Sin makes God cut a people short in their Spiritual and Civil liberties Sin is the Womb of sorrow and the Grave of comfort Sin turns the body into an Hospital it causeeth Feavers Ulcers Catarrhes macies nova febrium terris incubuit cohors Sin buries the Name melts the Estate pulls away near Relations as limbs from our body Sin is the Trojan Horse out of which a whole Troop of afflictions comes Sin drowned the old World burnt Sodom Sin made Sibon sit in Babylon Lam. 1.8 Ierusalem hath grievously sinned therefore she is removed Sin did shut up Gods bowels Lam. 2.21 Thou hast killed and not pitied Israel did sin and not repent and God did kill and not pity Sin is the great Humbler Did not Davids sin bring him low Psalm 38.3 There is no rest in my bones because of my sin Did not Manassehs sin bring him low It changed his Crown-Royal into Fetters 2 Chron. 33.11 God for sin turned King Nebuchadnezzar to grass Dan. 4.33 Sin is like the Aegyptian Reed too feeble to support us but sharp enough to wound us Jer. 2.16 The Children of Noph and Tahapanes have broke the Crown of thy head The Aegyptians were not a warlike but a womanish people imbecil and weak yet these were too hard for Israel and made a spoil of her Ver. 17. Hast thou not procured this to thy self Is it not thy sin hath brought thee low Nay Sin doth not only bring us low in affliction but it imbitters affliction Sin puts teeth into the Cross. Guilt makes affliction heavy A little water is heavy in a Leaden Vessel and a little affliction is heavy in a guilty conscience 4. Sin brings one low in Melancholy this is atra bilis a black humour seated chiefly in the brain Some have strange and dismal conceits fancying their bodies to be
THE MISCHIEF OF SINNE It brings a Person Low Published by Thomas Watson Minister of the Gospel Isa. 64.7 Thou hast consumed us because of our iniquities LONDON Printed for Tho. Parkhurst and are to be sold at his Shop at the Bible and three Crowns in Cheapside near Mercers Chappel and at the Bible on London Bridge 1671. THE EPISTLE TO THE READER Christian Reader THE excess of impiety which hath broken down the Banks of common Civility Modesty did at first lead my thoughts to these subjects ensuing The Spirits of men are leavened with Atheism and their lives stained with debauchery I know not what to call them but Baptitized Heathens Not long since there was a complaint that the Springs grew low Sure I am the floods of sin are risen even to a Deluge There is a Generation among us of whom I may say as Oecumenius they militate against Religion they are so prodigiously prophane that they esteem the Bible a Fable and would jeer all Holiness out of the world The Prince of the Air now worketh in the children of disobedience Ephes. 2.2 in our Saviours time many mens Bodies were possessed with the Devil but now their souls are possessed One is possessed with a blasphemous Devil another with a spightful Devil another with a drunken Devil This is one great sign of the approach of the last day iniquity shall abound Mat. 24.12 Mens lusts grow fierce and insatiable and like Imps lye sucking them But O how direful and tremendous will the effects of sin be My Text saith they were brought low for their iniquity Sin is such a Trade that whosoever follows is sure to break What got Achan by his wedge of Gold It was a wedge to cleave asunder his soul from God What got Judas by his Treason He purchased an Halter What got King Ahaz by worshipping the Gods of Damascus they were the Ruine of him and of all Israel 2 Chron. 28.23 Sin is first Comical and then Tragical I may fitly apply those words of Solomon to sin Prov. 7.26 She hath cast down many wounded O what an Harvest of souls is the Devil like to have Isaiah 5.14 Hell hath enlarged it self It is fain to make room for its guests 'T is matter of grief to think that the Dragon should have so many followers and the Lamb so few Cyprian brings in the Devil insulting over Christ thus As for my followers I never dyed for them as Christ hath done for his I never promised them so great a Reward as Christ hath done to his yet I have greater numbers than he and my followers venture more for me than his do for him Some sin out of ignorance yet even the blind can find the way to Hell But most sin out of choice they know the Dish forbidden but they lust after it though in the day they eat thereof they shall surely die My design in this small Tract is to give check to Sinners and sound a Religious Retreat in their ears to make them return from the hot pursuit of their impieties If notwithstanding all admonitions they will run counter to the Word and prostitute themselves to their sordid lusts they are felo de se and their blood will be upon their own head What remains but that God should say in anger as Zach. 11.9 That that dieth let it dye and that that is to be cut off let it be cut off I have at the request of some friends made this Discourse imparted formerly to my own family publick I acknowledge it is not rhetorico flatu cothurnatus embellished with flowers of Eloquence St. Pauls preaching was not with enticing words of mans wisdom but in the demonstration of the Spirit and Power 1 Cor. 2.4 Plainness is ever best in beating down sin When a wound festers it is fitter to launce it than to embroyder it with Silk or lay Vermilion upon it Reader that God will bless these few Meditations to thee and make them operative upon thy Heart shall be the Prayer of him who is Thy Friend studious of thy eternal welfare Thomas Watson THE MISCHIEF OF SIN It brings a Person Low PSALM 106.43 And were brought low for their Iniquity IF the Scripture be a Spiritual Rosary or Garden as St. Chrysostom saith the Book of Psalms is a Knot in this Garden set with fragrant Flowers Luther calls the Psalms parva Biblia a little Bible The Psalms make sweeter Musick than ever Davids Harp did they are calculated for every Christians condition and may serve either for illumination or consolation In this Psalm David sets down the people of Israels sins First In General Ver. 6. We have sinned with our Fathers The examples of Fathers are not alwayes to be urged Shall we be wiser than our Fathers Fathers may err a Son had sometimes better take his Land from his Father than his Religion Secondly David makes a particular enumeration of their sins 1. Their forgetfulness of God Ver. 13. They soon forgat his works or as it is in the Original they made haste to forget his works The Lord wrought a famous Miracle for them Ver. 11. he drowned Israels enemies and Israel drowned his mercies Our sins and Gods kindnesses are apt quickly to slip out of our memory We deal with Gods mercies as with Flowers when they are fresh we smell to them and put them in our bosom but within a while we throw them away and never mind them They made haste to forget his works 2. Their inordinate lusting V. 14. They lusted exceedingly in the Wilderness They were weary of the Provision which God sent them miraculously from Heaven they grew dainty they wept for Quailes they were not content that God should supply their Wants but they would have him satisfie their lusts too God lets them have their request Quailes they had but in anger He sent leanness into their souls i. e. he sent a Plague whereby they pined and consumed away 3. Their Idolatry Ver. 19. They made a Calf in Horeb. They framed to themselves a god of Gold and worshipped it The Scripture calls Idolls Bosheth a shame Hos. 9.10 For this God disclaimed them from being his people Exod. 32.2 Thy people have corrupted themselves Formerly God called them His people but now he doth not say to Moses My people but Thy people 4. Their Infidelity Ver. 24. They believed not his word but murmured They did not think that God would subdue their enemies and bring them into that pleasant Land flowing with Milk and Hony and this unbelief did break forth into murmuring They wished they had made their Graves in Aegypt when men begin to distrust the Promise then they quarrel at Providence When faith grows low passions grow high For these things God did stretch out his hand against them as it is in the Text And they were brought low for their iniquity The words branch themselves into two Parts 1.
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
things unto thee this is thy wickedness As we use to say to Children when they are sick this is your green fruit ye have eat or your going in the Snow So saith God This is thy wickedness Jer. 30.15 Why cryest thou for thy affliction because thy sins were encreased I have done these things unto thee The Sword that wounds thee is of thy own whetting the cords that pinch thee are of thy own twisting thank thy sin for all 1 Cor. 11.30 For this cause many are sick and weak and many fall asleep The Church of Corinth was punished with corporal death because of coming unworthily to the Lords Table and prophaning the body and blood of the Lord. The abuse of holy things incenseth God Nadab and Abihu found the flames of wrath hot about the Altar So that still there is a propter hoc a cause why God brings any person low There is no reason why God should love us but there is a great deal of reason why God should punish us They were brought low for their iniquity 2. See from hence what a mischievous thing sin is it brings a person and a Nation low Hos. 14.1 Thou hast fallen by thy iniquity Sin laies men low in the Grave and in Hell too without repentance Sin is the Achan that troubles It is the Gall in our Cup and the Gravell in our Bread Sin and punishment are linked together with Adamantine Chains Sin is the Phaeton that sets the world on fire It is a Coal that not only blacks but burns Sin runs men into the briars Job 30.7 Among the bushes they brayed Sin conjures up all the winds all the crosses which befall us all the storms in conscience sin raiseth them Never let any one think to rise by sin for the Text saith it brings him low Sin first tempts and then damns 'T is first a Fox and then a Lyon Sin doth to a man as Iael to Sisera she gave him Milk but then she brought him low Judg. 5.26 27. She put her hand to the Nail and with the Hammer she smote Sisera she smote off his head when she had pierced and stricken through his Temples at her feet he bowed c. Sin first brings its pleasures with delight and charms the senses and then comes with its Nail and Hammer Sin doth to the sinner as Absalom to Amnon when his heart was merry with wine then he killed him 2 Sam. 13.28 Sins last act is alwayes Tragical How evil a thing is sin that not only brings a people low but it makes God delight in bringing them low Ezek. 5.13 I will cause my fury to rest upon them and I will be comforted God doth not use to take delight in punishing Judg. 10.16 His soul was grieved for the misery of Israel Like a Father that with tears chastiseth his Child but God was so provoked with the Iews that it seemed a delight to him to afflict I will cause my fury to rest upon them and I will be comforted O what a venemous accursed thing is sin that makes a merciful God take comfort in the destruction of his own creature 3. See then what little cause any have to wonder that they are brought low As the Apostle saith 1 Pet. 4.12 Think it not strange concerning the fiery tryal So think it not strange if you be as full of Eclipses and Changes as the Moon Wonder not if you are under the black rod. A sick man may as well wonder that he is in pain as a sinful man wonder that he is afflicted do not Vapours cause Thunder Is it a wonder after the hellish vapours of our sins have been sent up to hear Gods thundring voice Sin is a debt it is set out in Scripture by a debt of ten thousand talents Mat. 18.24 Is it a wonder for a man that is in debt to be arrested Never wonder God doth arrest thee with his judgements when thou art so deeply in arrears Sin is a walking Antipodes to God and if men walk contrary to God is it a wonder God walks contrary to them Levit. 26.17 If ye will walk contrary to me then I will also walk contrary to you and I even I will chastise you seven times more for your sins O sinner do not wonder it is so bad with thee but rather wonder it is no worse Art thou in the deep of affliction it is a wonder thou art not in the deep of Hell If Jesus Christ was brought low is it a wonder that thou art brought low Christ was brought low in poverty The Manger was his Cradle the Cobwebs were his Curtains He was brought low in temptation Mat. 4.1 He was led into the Wilderness to be tempted of the Devil No sooner was Christ out of the water of Baptism but he was in the fire of temptation Only his Godhead was too strong a bulwark for Satans fiery darts to enter He was brought low in his agonies he swet blood in the Garden he shed blood on the Cross. If Christ was brought low who knew no sin dost thou wonder thou art brought low who art so full of sin Lam. 3.39 Why doth a living man complain a man for the punishment of his sin What a sinner and wonder or murmur that thou art afflicted Sin doth as naturally draw punishment to it as the Loadstone draws the Iron 4. See the Text fulfilled this day in our eyes sin hath brought our Nation low We are Cadent if not Morient we do not want for sin there is a Spirit of wickedness in the Land Ours are mighty sins Amos 5.12 bloody sins Hos. 4.2 The sins of Denmark Spain France Italy are translated into English we have many Sodoms among us and may fear to have the line of confusion stretched over us By our impieties and blasphemies we have sounded a Trumpet of Rebellion against Heaven Were our sins engraven upon our fore-heads we should be ashamed to look up Men invent new sins Rom. 1.30 Inventers of evil things Some invent new errors others invent new snares this Age exceeds former Ages in sinning As it is with Trades there may be old Trades but there are some Tradesmen now who are grown more dexterous and cunning in their Trade than they were in former times So it is with sin sin is an old Trade but there are persons now alive who are more skil'd in the Trade and are grown more expert in sin than those who are dead and gone Sinners in former times were but bunglers at sin to what they are now They are cunning at self-damnation Jer. 4.22 Wise to do evil The Devils Mint is going every day and sin is minted faster than money People sin 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with greediness Ephes. 4.19 They drink iniquity like water Job 15.16 They are grown Rampant in wickedness having laid aside the vail of modesty Zeph. 3.5 The unjust knows no shame We read
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
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
be done to the dry If the godly lye among the pots Psal. 68.13 the wicked shall lye among the Devils If judgement begin at the house of God what shall the end be of them that obey not the Gospel 1 Pet. 4.17 If God mingles his peoples cup with wormwood he will mingle the sinners cup with fire and brimstone Psalm 11.6 If God thresh the Wheat he will burn the Chaff If the Lord afflicts them whom he loves how severe will he be against them whom he hates They shall feel the second death Rev. 21.8 Use 2. Exhortation 1. Branch 1. If sin brings a person low then let us fear to come near sin it will bring us either into affliction or worse It s foul face may offend but its breath kills Sin is the Apollyon the Man-devourer O that we were as wise for our souls as we are for our bodies How afraid are we of that meat which we know will bring the Gowt or Stone or will make our Ague return Sin is aguish meat which will put conscience into a shaking fit and shall we not be afraid to touch this forbidden fruit Gen. 39.9 How can I do this great wickedness and sin against God When the Empress Eudoxia threatned to banish Chrysostom Tell her saith he I fear nothing but sin It was a saying of Anselm if Hell were on one side and sin were on the other I would rather leap into Hell than willingly commit sin Love will be apt to grow wanton if it be not poised with holy fear No better Curb or Antidote against sin than fear Deut. 17.13 They shall fear and do no more presumptuously If we could see Hell fire in every sin it would make us fear to commit it The fiercest creatures dread fire When Moses his rod was turned into a Serpent he was afraid and fled from it Sin will prove a stinging Serpent O fly from it Most people are like the Leviathan made without fear Job 41.33 They play upon the hole of the Asp. Sinners never fear till they feel Nothing will convince them but fire and brimstone 2. If sin brings a person low then when we are brought low under Gods afflicting hand let us behave our selves wisely and as becomes Christians I shall shew 1. What we must not do when we are brought low When our condition is low let not our passions be high impatience is not the way to get out of trouble but rather to go lower into trouble What gets the Child by strugling but more blows Oh do not lispe out a murmuring word against God Murmuring is the skum which boils off from a discontented heart Psalm 39.9 I was dumb and opened not my mouth because thou Lord didst it Davids ear was open to hear the voice of the Rod but his mouth was not open in complaining Christian who shouldst thou complain of but thy self thy own sin hath brought thee low 2. What we must do when we are brought low 1. Let us search the sin which is the cause of our trouble Job 10.2 Shew me wherefore thou contendest with me Lord What is that sin which hath provoked thee to bring me low Lam. 3.40 Let us search and try our wayes As the people of Israel when they were worsted in battel searched the cause and at last found out the Achan that troubled them and stoned him to death Josh. 7.18 So let us search out that Achan which hath troubled us Perhaps our sin was censoriousness we have been ready to judge and slander others and now we our selves lye under an evil tongue and have false reports raised on us perhaps our sin was pride and God hath sent poverty as a thorn to humble us Perhaps our sin was remisness in holy duties we had forgot our first love and were ready to fall into slumbering fits and God hath sent a sharp cross to awaken us out of our security We may oftentimes read our sin in our punishment O let us search the Achan and say as Iob Chap. 34.32 If I have done iniquity I will do so no more 2. When we are brought low let us justifie God God is just not only when he punisheth the guilty but when he afflicts the righteous Let us take heed of entertaining hard thoughts of God as if he had dealt too severely with us and had put too much Wormwood in our Cup No let us vindicate God and say as the Emperour Mauritius when he saw five of his Sons slain before his eyes by Phocas Righteous art thou O Lord in all thy wayes Let us speak well of God If we have never so much affliction yet not one drop of injustice Psalm 97.2 Clouds and darkness are round about him righteousness and judgement are the habitation of his Throne 3. When we are brought low in affliction let us bring our selves low in humiliation 1 Pet. 5.6 Humble your selves under the mighty hand of God When we are in the Vally of Tears we must be in the Vally of Humility Lam. 3.19 Remembring the Wormwood and the Gall my soul hath them continually in remembrance and is humbled in me If our condition be low then is a time to have our hearts lye low 4. When we are brought low in affliction let us be low upon our knees in prayer Psalm 130.1 Ex Profundis Clamavi Out of the depths have I cryed unto thee O Lord. Psalm 79.8 Let thy tender mercies speedily prevent us for we are brought very low Iacob never prayed so fervently as when he was in fear of his life he oyled the Key of prayer with tears Hos. 12.4 He wept and made supplication One reason why God lets us be brought low is to highten a Spirit of prayer But what should we pray for in affliction Let us pray that all our Hell may be here As Pilate said concerning Christ Luke 23.22 I will chastise him and let him go So pray that God when he doth chastise us will let us go that he will free us from Hell and Damnation Let us pray rather for the sanctification of affliction than the removal pray that the Rod may be a Divine Pencil to draw Gods Image more lively upon our souls Heb. 12.10 That affliction may be a Fornace to refine not consume us Pray that if God do correct us it may not be in anger Psal. 6.1 That we may taste the honey of his love at the end of the rod. Let it be our prayer that God will lay no more upon us than he will enable us to bear That if the burden be heavier our shoulders may be stronger 5. When we are brought low let our faith be high Let us believe that God intends us no hurt That though he casts us into the deep he will not drown us Believe that still he is a Father he afflicts us in as much mercy as he gives Christ to us He doth by his rod of Discipline fit us for