we will labour to afflict our soules for our sinnes and sorrow for it we shall quickly be rid of it Vse 1 Sith it is so that they that haue truely repented will not onely haue good purposes and motions but also good endeauours and good actions It serues first for reproofe of such persons as would haue Gods children to thinke that they haue repented because they purpose to leaue their sinnes they will say they haue a purpose to forsake their couetousnesse to leaue their swearing Sabboth breaking their drunkennesse and such like sinnes and will proceede no further but aske them wherefore you would haue vs conceaue so well of you that you haue repented because we purpose well It is true good motions are to bee respected but if they doe not bring forth good actions they are no better then quaulmes and passions that may be in verie wicked men and hypocrites for if there be good desires in the heart there will follow certainely good endeauours and actions in the whole man Saul in a passion would confesse to Dauid O my sonne Dauid thou art more righteous then I and why did he presently fall to persecute Dauid againe was it not because the spirit of God neuer conuinced his conscience of the sinne and he neuer came to godly sorrow for the same and therefore these were but passions which died before they brought forth good actions Iudas also could come to this I haue sinned in betraying innocent blood so farre he went well but hee could not come to repentance to craue pardon for had he repented hee might haue beene pardoned and if he could haue beleeued he should haue beene saued but doing neither he was damned Such passions and quaulmes had they which in all the hast would goe and build vpon Christ they did not consider beforehand what charges it would amount vnto and whether they were able to vndertake so great a building Luk. 14.28.29 and therefore hauing begunne they could not proceede but left off and were not able to finish it So manie haue sudden flashings and passions come into their mindes to doe good things but not considering the danger nor charges that one must be at if they purpose to build vpon Christ they let their sute fall and their purposes are quickly extinct and quenched before they come foorth to action But these passions the Prophet Hosea compares to the morning dewe Hos 6.9 O Ephraim what shall I doe vnto thee O Iudah how shall I intreate thee for your goodnesse is like the morning cloude and as the Morning dewe it goeth away that is as soone as the sunne ariseth and shewes forth his beames of light it lickes vp the dewe vpon the grasse so soone passeth your goodnesse and it is of no continuance Of such a nature are all these passions and sudden quaulmes that many may haue and yet be verie sinnefull and wicked manie haue these flashings when they come to the Sacrament and will haue these purposes to leaue their couetousnesse their swearing Sabboth breaking and all their knowne and notorious sinnes and they will also purpose to pray more frequent the exercises of religion more and they will amend many disorders which are amisse if it might be all remedied with thoughts and purposes but after the Sacrament they are as prophane and sinnefull as euer they were before and are neuer a whit the better in practise and conuersation Oh before they goe to the Sacrament they will purpose to make satisfaction to such whom they haue wronged and to liue as friends with them which in times past they haue much grieued but let the Sacrament be past there is no more hearing of satisfaction nor acknowledgement of iniuries and wrongs offered yet we shall haue these vnconstant men perswade themselues they haue repented would haue others so to thinke and reckon of them but such must know that they haue not yet repented till these motions and purposes conceiued bring forth good actions in life to be practised Secondly it serues for instruction that seeing true repentance stands in resoluing and doing therefore if euer we will haue anie sound comfort to our soules and consciences whensoeuer the spirit of God hath put into our hearts good motions and good affections let vs follow them hard to bring them to perfection and then wee shall be blessed in the worke as the Apostle Iames speaketh let vs labour to doe that which Barnabas exhorts the faithfull brethren at Antiochia That with purpose of heart they should continue in the Lord. So let vs with all purpose of heart resolue to leaue our sinnes and to practise holy and good dueties let vs be like vnto this prodigall childe which did purpose and practise and so we shall haue a good testimonie to our hearts that wee haue repented Oh but I can no sooner haue a good motion come into my heart but Satan is readie to steale it out and mine owne corruption to extinguish it before I can bring it forth to action but labour to put in practize these rules which by Gods grace may helpe thee to cherish good motions further them that they come out to practise in thy life and conuersation First if wee would haue our good desires to come to good deedes wee must labour to come to sound and thorough sorrow of heart for sinnes past and let vs pluck the roots of sinne vp by the weeding hooke of godly sorrow and then wee shall bring forth good actions and therefore the Apostle Iames in the place before alleadged exhorts his hearers to purge their hearts by godly sorrow for it will breake the cords of sinne and kill it by degrees And to the intent that wee may sorrow for sinne let vs bee frequent in meditating of what sinne would haue done to vs namely haue killed vs for the wages of sinne is death and exposed vs to the euerlasting wrath of God Also consider that our sins killed Iesus Christ the Lord of life they were the murtherers and betrayers of this iust one And whatsoeuer woe or miserie hath or can befall vs in this present life is the effect of these our sinnes Thus seriously pondering of these things it will procure godly sorrow for sinne which godly sorrow will produce good actions from good motions Secondly wee must bring good reasons and arguments against our corruptions and Satans temptations for if wee fall out with the diuell and wee haue not better arguments to stand for good duties then hee hath against them wee shall not bee able to hould out For if Saul could haue had good arguments and reasons when he pursued and fought against Dauid if hee could haue considered suerly in fighting against Dauid I fight against my best friend and my faithfullest subiect yea in so doing I shall fight against God and mine owne saluation c. then hee would neuer haue followed him with such a deadly malice Iob that faithfull seruant of God hee had
of Dauid and the inhabitants of Ierusalem the spirit of grace and prayers and they shall looke vpon mee Zach. 12.12 whom they haue pierced and they shall lament for him as one mourneth for his onely sonne whom c. This will make one turne to Christ when they see their sins so odious as to bee the speciall instruments to wound and kill the Lord of life and also when they doe consider that Christ gaue himselfe for them this infinite loue and mercie will mooue them to true repentance and godly sorrow It is not misery as can conuert one to God and turne one from ones sinne for then the diuels might haue bin conuerted before this time for they are in anguish and perpetuall misery and Iudas might haue repented for hee was sensible of horrour enough in his conscience but that rather did driue him from God because he could not apprehend the mercie and kindnesse of God The reasons to proue this doctrine are First because till such time one haue this perswasion one shall neuer come to Reason 1 true confession which is one part of sound repentance and one will neuer confesse ones sinnes without hope of mercie Secondly because it is vnpossible that one should pray aright without one haue this perswasion of mercie and therefore Christ sets downe this as the foundation of all true prayer Our father which art in Heauen For wee can neuer haue any comfort that our sinnes are pardoned till wee can boldly goe to him in assurance of mercie And though wee haue failed of our duties towards him yet hee will not faile of mercie to vs because hee is our Father Sith this is so that the perswasion of mercie is a speciall meanes to stirre vs vp to true and sound repentance it serues for a double reproofe of two sorts of people Vse 1 First of those impious beasts and monsters of the world that if one reproue them for their blasphemy swearing Sabboth-breaking drunkennesse filthines and such like sinnes they presently haue an answere for to cloake it and extenuate it oh but the Lord is mercifull but to whom to such as continue in this impiety no but doest thou abuse the mercie and long suffering of God that should leade thee to repentance and so thereby doest harden thy heart in impenitency and doest heape vp as a treasure vnto thy selfe wrath against the day of wrath that thus on earth adde drunkēnes to theft these abuse the name of God and it is more fearefull to abuse the Gospell then the lawe It were a sinne to breake the positiue lawe of a Prince but more if hee stampe vnder his feete the priuy seale of the Prince wherein his pardon is written thus disgracing mocking it and yet hope for mercie of him Wee would count it the part of a mad-man Such are the dealings of all such presumptuous wretches they breake the positiue lawes of the King of Heauen and earth and continue in the breach of the first and second table of the commaundements and not only so but abuse the priuie signet of God and hope for mercie notwithstanding their vngodlines but such must know that the Lord will not bee mercifull to such but contrariwise the wrath and seuerity of God For if a Father should vse all the duties of kindnes to his child and yet hee would bee very rebellious to his Father still and all because his Father is louing and kinde vnto him such a childe would be quickly censured to bee a very vngracious and wicked child how much more are such impious and in a high degree vngodly which dayly displease God blaspheme his name prophane his Sabbaths c. and all because God is mercifull and gracious But these make a contrary vse of the loue of God then the Prophet Zachary exhorts the faithfull vnto in the place before alleadged that they should looke vpon him whom they had pierced and lament but the wicked wretches looke vpon him and gnash their teeth at him and blaspheme his name and so are made impenitent Secondly it serues for reproofe of such whom God hath afflicted with many crosses and they see in themselues many sinnes and much corruption and then vpon this they sit themselues downe whyning and crying and neuer set forward one foote to goe to God for mercie and pardon of their sinnes and a remouing of the Crosse Thus they thinke there is lesse mercie in God then is in mā for if a godly parent though his childe haue played the vnthrift and rebellious childe yet if hee would come home with sorrow and humilitie and acknowledge his faults he will presently receiue him and shew him mercie and yet we cannot perswade our selues of the like successe with God Thus wee make Gods of our selues and make the mercifull God more cruell then man which is most fearefull once to thinke Can wee forgiue the faults and wrongs committed one to an other that haue but a drop of mercie in cōparison of that Ocean Sea of mercie and pitty in God and shall wee not bee fully assured wee shall haue pardon and forgiuenes of sinnes if wee come to him by repentance Let vs not dishonour God so highly to make God lesse mercifull then mortall man for man hath made no promise to remit the wrongs and iniuries offered to him but God hath bound himselfe by couenant yea by oath to pardon the sinnes and offences committed against him Againe man cannot forgiue all wrongs perfectly but hee would haue some stirrings and motions in his minde against the party but if wee had all the sinnes of Cain Saul and Iudas yet if wee could come to God with faith in his mercie and godly sorrow and repentance for our sinnes hee would receiue vs to mercie and giue vs a generall pardon of all our sinnes and seale it with the blood of the euerlasting couenant Wherefore let vs no longer looke vpon the greatnes of our sinnes but vpon the mercie of God which exceeds our sinnes nor on the greatnesse of our crosses but vpon the infinitenesse of gods compassion and kindnesse and let vs resort to him in hope of mercie The second vse serues for instruction vnto euery one that whatsoeuer our crosses bee or how many soeuer our sins bee or how great soeuer our offences be yet let vs haue a resolution to goe to God and wee shall finde mercie for wee are in this case fit subiects for his mercy to worke vpon for mercy pleaseth him he is greatly pleased to shew mercy to such Let vs conclude before hand that if we resolue to bee true vpright christians thē we may boldly call God Father if wee can perswade our selues wee are his children wee may beleeue wee shall finde mercie at his hands Wherefore let vs confesse our sins and leaue our sins and wee shall finde mercie For if a Iudge of an Assize should say to a felon or some malefactor in the Gaole If you will confesse your theft
or trespasse and resolue to become an honest man I will pardon your fault and not onely so but you shall bee made a Iustice of peace or some great man hee would vpon this promise bee moued quickly to confesse his felony and forgoe his theft now the Iudge of all the world offers vs this large promise of mercie that if a sinner will truely and from his heart confesse his sinnes and resolue to leaue them hee shall haue pardon and not onely so but hee shall bee made a King and priest vnto God the Father and this preferment wee shall come vnto if wee come vnto God in a right manner Oh but how might I doe to come to bee perswaded of mercy if I come to God First pray vnto God that hee would giue vs his holy spirit which feales vnto our hearts this perswasion of mercy as the Apostle saith Gal. 4.6 Because wee are sonnes God hath sent forth the spirit of his Sonne into our hearts which cryeth Abba Father The spirit of Christ doth worke this assurance that God is our Father and vppon this assurance wee shall bee forced to cry Abba Father and going to our best Father wee may bee sure to finde mercie Secondly wee must offer vp our soules and bodies desire in all things to serue him to keepe all his commandements then we shall receiue mercy from God as that holy man Nehemiah saith O Lord I beseech thee let thine eare hearken to the praiers of thy seruant and to the prayers of thy seruants that desire to feare thy name So that if wee can but truely desire to repent and desire to keepe all Gods commaundements and desire to bewaile all our sinnes and to striue against all corruptions and it is certaine wee shall obtaine mercy at the hand of God For if a christian parent commaund his childe to doe a thing and if hee doe it willingly and cherefully and though hee doe it not so perfectly as the parent himselfe yet hee will take it in good parte because his child endeuoured to performe it as well as hee could how much more will God our heauenly Father accept of the poore desires and endeauours of his children when hee sees in them a willing desire to doe well But if our desires bee good and true then there is a vsing of all good meanes and ordinances to accomplish the thing desired or else it is but a slouthfull desire and it may not bee called truely a desire else but a lust but if wee desire to repent and to beleeue and also vse all good meanes to repent and beleeue and be humbled because we cannot repent and beleeue as wee should the Lord will haue mercy vpon such holy desires and accept the will for the deede And so much for the second doctrine And when he was yet a great way off his father saw him and had compassion and ran c. In all these words is set downe the affection and loue of the father vpon the resolution of his sonne the sonne was but comming but the father is running hee comes slowly for mercie but the father is ready and forward to shew mercy which shews the wonderfull readinesse of God to shew mercy to a penitent sinner that comes to God for mercy From hence wee learne this doctrine Doct. 3 That God is very ready to shew mercy vnto euery penitent sinner that comes to him with a broken and humble heart That a penitent sinner can noe sooner looke for mercy from God but hee is ready to shew mercy to them That God is more ready to shew mercy then penitent sinners can bee to seeke for mercy This wee see in a naturall father to his penitent childe here now a naturall parent hath made no such promise to shew mercy to his childe but our heauenly Father hath made a promise to euery penitent sinner to shew him mercy againe a naturall parent cannot shew mercy and kindnesse to his childe without great costs and labour but our heauenly Father hee can shew mercy without any trouble or charges for it is his name to bee mercifull Now if this bee in a naturall parent that he will shew mercy though hee haue not promised yea though it bee to his great cost and paines how much more will our heauenly Father shew mercy to his children sith hee hath promised and is both able and willing with ease to doe it If this bee in man which hath but a droppe of mercy in comparison of God what may a penitent soule expect at the hands of God who is infinite in mercy and pitty to his This doctrine may very fitly bee proued by the example of Gods dealing with Dauid that when he had committed two greeuous sinnes of adultery and murder and had almost slept a twelue moneth in them in so much that the Lord is faine to send a Herald of armes to him to awaken him out of his spirituall sleepe and to helpe him out of his sinnes and to bring him to repentance but the Prophet could no sooner remember his sinnes to him but hee doth imediatly confesse his sinne and hee no sooner acknowledge and confesse his sinnes 2. Sa. 12.13 but the Prophet Nathan by the mouth of the Lord doth pronounce his pardon yea before hee did aske it the Prophet tels him the Lord hath put away thy sinne thou shalt not die This also we may see proued in that Psalme which is intituled Dauids learning wherin the Prophet confesseth when I held my tongue my bones consumed and when I roared all the day That is as long as I did dissemble and seemed to cloake and hide my faults I was plagued and tormented so that roared like an vnreasonable beast through paine then I acknowledged my sinne vnto thee neither hid I mine iniquities for I thought I will confesse against my selfe Psal 32.45 my wickednesse vnto the Lord and thou forgaue the punishment of my sinne Thus wee see hee could no sooner confesse but hee had pardon both from the guilt and punishment of his sinne and hee could no sooner seeke for mercy but hee obtained mercy at Gods hands Also the Prophet Isay shewes the mcreie of God vnto true repentant sinners where hee saith Isay 64.5 Thou diddest meete him that reioyced in thee and did iustly they remembred thee in thy waies behold thou art angry for wee haue sinned yet in them is continuance and wee shall be saued where the Prophet speakes of the Lord after the manner of men that he is ready to meete them halfe way as it were that set themselues in truth and vprightnesse to confesse their sinnes and meete him by repentance hee will meete them swiftly though they come but softly and though they come heauily yet they shall depart ioyfully And the same Prophet saith in the next chapter of the Lord before they call I will answere Isay 65.24 and whiles they speake I will heare This wee may see in
them If this were practised wee should not so much fall out into distempers passions froward speeches and vniust actions against one another Secondly if when wee haue wronged men we would acknowledge the wrong to the party offended it would bee the best way to pacifie their hearts and to make them thinke well of vs and to affect vs notwithstanding the wrong done vnto them and if wee would greiue our selues because we haue greeued them and offended them it would bee a speciall meanes to make the party wronged to send vp many a hearty praier vnto God for the offendour that hee would vouchsafe to forgiue him as well as him selfe And this benefit will confession of wrongs doe to the party it will make our foe to become our faithfull and louing friend Thirdly if wee did vse to confesse the wrong as soone as wee haue done a wrong it would make vs beware and take heede of committing of wrongs againe For if the wife hauing wronged her husband would seriously consider what I haue wronged my husband and if I purpose to haue forgiuenes I must not only confesse the iniury to God but also to my husband This would make the wife ashamed and so by that meanes breake the necke of sinne and it worke humility in ones soule so that one should haue little lust to fall out and to wrong one againe Now fith it is not enough to confesse and acknowledge the wrongs done to men vnto God but wee must confesse it to the parties offended It serues first for reproofe of such persons that come to this point that if they haue wronged any one they will confesse it to God and so thinke they haue done enough but they must as well performe it to man as well as to God for the plaister ought to goe as far as the sore Oh but what neede there bee any confession to men when wee haue confessed it to God for none can forgiue sinnes but God but you must not only repent to God in Heauen but also aske forgiuenesse of men on earth or else the Lord will not forgiue it for hipocrites may doe the one as Iudas Saul c. But those which are truly vpright will performe them both but such as neglect this duty to man as well as performe it to God argues they are in loue with their sinne and loth to haue their nature healed and their sinnes pardoned Secondly it serues for instruction that therefore wee should take heede that we doe not wrong any one for this will follow confession and acknowledgment of the fault not only to God but the party offended for vntill wee confesse the wrong to the party and get reconciliation with him wee must not looke God in the face nor cannot haue entertainement to any of Gods ordinances as the word Sacrament prayer for the Sacrament is a loue feast for the sheepe of Christ and not for wrauling doggs Now if the husband haue giuen any angry and churlish speeches to his wife whereby shee hath taken them to heart and troubled her minde let him confesse the fault to her before hee approch nere vnto God in any of his seruices So if the wife haue wronged the husband the childe the parent the seruant the master or any one one another let them humble themselues who soeuer is guilty and acknowledge the fault to the party offended and so get reconciliation or else wee cannot lift vp pure hands without wrath as the Apostle speakes Ob. Oh but hee whom I haue wronged is not in the country how should I get reconciliation with him shall I not come to the Sacrament and other seruices till I haue confessed my fault to him that I know not where hee is Sol. Yes thou maist come to the word Sacrament prayer and the rest if thou canst finde in thy selfe a willing heart to aske forgiuenes if hee were in the Country as also if thou doest resolue within thine owne soule that if euer the party offended returnes againe into the Countrey thou wilt performe this duty Yf this bee in thee thou mayest frequent Gods ordinances Ob. But what if the party offended will bee so stubborne that he refuse to be reconciled and will not pardon mee though I acknowledge the fault and offer satisfaction for the hurt wrong committed But doe thou the worke of the Lord Sol. and let it not bee thy default and then thou shalt finde mercy of God for hee will not deale with vs according to the successe with the party but according to the vprightnes of our heart and in performing our duties let vs doe the worke and then the Lord will reward vs. And so much for this point I am not worthy to bee called thy sonne c. Here is the last duty of this repentant sinner his humility hee is well perswaded of his father but ill perswaded of himselfe This doctrine wee learne from hence That true repentance makes one see his own vnworthines the better repentance Doct. 6 the more humility they will esteeme of God to bee great but themselues to bee base as wee see this prodigall childe before there was no place in the family good enough and now there is no place in the house that is bad enough hee is not worthy in his owne eies to bee sonne to such a godly father This wee may see prooued out of the examples of all holy men when they came to repentance as Iacob I am lesse then the lest of thy mercies Nehemiah Ezra Daniel they were ashamed and confounded in their faces and that shame and confusion of face belongs to them Iob 39.37 And this wee may see in holy Iob when the Lord had shewed him his power and wisedome hee answeres the Lord Behold I am vile what shall I answere thee I will lay my hand vpon my mouth c. And in an other place Iob speakes when hee came to repentance for all his passionate and distempered words in his afflictions Iob 42.6 I abhor my selfe and repent in dust and ashes And beholding Gods purity hee saw more euidently his owne impurity and cause enough to humble and abhorre himselfe for his filthines and no longer to stand out with God in his owne innocency And Paul that worthy Apostle and seruant of God when hee came to repentance hee confessed that hee was not worthy to bee called an Apostle because he persecuted the Church of God In all which examples we see these holy men when they came to repentance they were base and vile in their owne eies and saw their owne vnworthines The reason to proue this doctrine is Because repentance opens our eies to see more perfectly Gods glorious purity Reason 1 and ones owne vilenes and impiety which will so reflect vpon vs that it will make one low and base in ones own eies as may bee seene in the Prophet Isai 6.5 when hee cryed out Woe is mee I am vndone because I am a man
of polluted lippes and I dwell in the midst of people of polluted lippes Where God appeares vnto the Prophet and his maiesty being so perfect that it reflects vpon him whereby hee perceiues the more his owne vilenesse and pollution yea euen in his best parte as his lippes which had deliuered the message of God very faithfully So in truth when wee come to see the multitude of our sinnes and the hainousenes thereof wee shall bee made quickly low enough and bee forced to cry out with the prodigall childe I am not worthy to bee called thy sonne Sith it is so that true repentance makes vs see our owne vnworthines Vse 1 It serues first for reproofe of such persons which stand vpon theire owne worthines and goodnes they will say they hope they are in as good a case as the best of them all that mourne and confesse and keepe such a doe about repentance they stand vpon it that they deserue to be reckoned both with God and man as well as the best of them that go to sermons and they liue as wel as the best of them all and such speeches they are full of But these speeches argue that they haue not repented but are as yet vnder the power of sinne and in the ready way to damnation for all these are but pharisaicall conceipts for hee cryed out hee was not like other men extortioners vniust adulterers or euen as this publican c. but I doe this and this and thus boasting himselfe of his owne goodnes he shewed himselfe a most cursed person but the poore publican stood not vpon his owne worthines but runnes vnto God for mercy and hee is so ashamed that he could not look vp his eies to Heauen but smote his breast saying O Lord bee mercifull vnto mee a sinner I tell you this man departed to his house iustified rather then the other Thus wee see the estate of these boasters that stand vpon theire owne goodnesse and worthinesse whereas a poore sinner that feeles his sinne doth wonder at the goodnesse of God that should saue such a vile wretch as himselfe so far is hee from boasting in himselfe that he glorieth in God alone Secondly it serues for consolation vnto such which in truth can finde their sins out and thereby can perceiue their owne vnworthines they consider what they were before their calling and what they are since they see what originall sin hath brought vpon them blindnes darknes deadnes hardnes of heart in briefe a little diuell incarnate which makes the pore sinners to cry out that they are not worthy of the least of Gods mercies they cry out shame and confusion belongs to them and with the Church it is the Lords mercy wee are not confounded c. These may comfort themselues for it is a good argument that they haue repented and that they haue put on a great part of their wedding garment for this is a great part of a christians worthines to see his owne vnworthines and it is certaine if wee can bee base in our owne eies wee shall bee precious in Gods eies and those which see how vile sinne hath made them shall bee made excellent in the righteousnes of Christ These guests are the welcome guests vnto the Sacrament of the Lords supper for these are inuited Come vnto mee all that are heauy laden and I will ease you And so much in breife for the handling of this doctrine Then the father said vnto his seruants bring forth the best c. Now the father is so glad of the returne of his wandering childe that hee presently receiues him to fauour and hauing his fauours hee hath all his wants supplied From hence wee learne this doctrine Doct. 7 That when wee haue the fauour of God wee shall haue euery thing wee stand in neede of Nothing shall be wanting when wee haue Gods fauour Loue is bountifull and liberall cheifly in God This Dauid knew to bee the fountaine of all good when hee heard them cry out Who will shew vs any good but hee cries Psal 4 6.7 Lord lift vp the light of thy countenance vpon vs. Thou hast giuen me more ioy of heart then they haue had when their wheate and wine did abound Hee had more good by Gods fauour and countenance then the worldlings could haue in their greatest plenty of outward things This made the Church in captiuity bee so earnest in this petition that she repeats it thrice noting thereby the excellency of it Restore vs againe O God of hoasts Psal 80 and cause thy face to shine vpon vs and wee shall bee saued So that if God would looke vpō them with a gracious countenāce they should quickly haue a riddance of their miseries And this the Lord himselfe prescribes as a notable meanes to bring prosperity to soule body state c. 2. Chron 7.14 If my people vpon whom my name is called vpon doe humble themselues pray and seeke my face and turne from their wicked waies then will I heare in Heauen and bee mercifull to their sinne and will heale their land When they performe these duties as among the rest to get and obtaine my fauour then will I shew these mercies I will heare as a mercifull and heauenly Father to deliuer them from their troubles and bring them such comforts as they stand in neede of Vse 1 Sith it is so that Gods fauour will make supply of all such things as wee neede it serues to teach vs if wee would bee furnished throughly with all good things for our soules and bodies for this life and a better then let vs labour to get peace with God and to seeke his fauour before all things for it giues true interest to all things and it will bring all needefull things If a man haue the fauour but of an earthly Prince what outward thing can hee want If pore hee can make him rich if base yet hee will make him honorable if in debt hee will discharge it If this bee in a mortall man to him that hee doth fauour what may wee expect from the fauour of the King of Kings In his fauour there must needs bee life and prosperity If the fauor but of an heathenish King could promote Mordecai to such an outward honour and dignity from so base and deiected estate that hee must haue a royall robe and apparrell to bee cloathed withall a gallant steede and horse to bee mounted vpon and a crowne of gold vpon his head and no base personage to bring all these presents to Mordecai but by the hand of one of the Kings most noble Princes what shall wee haue wee may conclude that God doth fauour when Mordecai shall haue so much when an earthly King doth meane to honour It is certaine the King of Heauen will bee far more liberall and bountifull to his fauourites then an earthly Prince can possible bee for hee will put vpon them the royall robe of Christs righteousnes which is
the best roabe they shal all be Conquerours ouer all their spirituall enemies and bee made Kings and priests And they shall haue all these spirituall graces and gifts deliuered to them by the King of Heauens Ambassadours the faithfull ministers of Christ by the word and Sacraments And this shall hee haue whom the King of Heauen will fauour indeede And so much for this doctrine Then the father said vnto his seruants In that the father when hee would giue any gift to his son doth it by the hand of his seruants wee learne this doctrine Doct. 8 That when God doth purpose to bestow vpon any of his children any sauing grace or speciall gift hee doth it not immediatly from his owne hands but by the hands of his seruants the Ministers The Ministers of God are the conduit pipe to conuay graces and gifts to the children of God I cannot haue time to prosecute this point because the time is past already and therefore I will leaue it and only touch a little of an other doctrine and so wee will make an end for this time And the father said bring forth the best robe and put it vpon him and put a ring on his finger and shooes c. In that comming to his father with repentance and humility the father giues him all things hee stood in neede of comming ragged hee hath the best robe put vppon him and a ring vpon his hand for ornament and shooes c. From hence wee learne this doctrine That whosoeuer comes to God with an humble heart and true repentance Doct. 9 shall receiue at Gods hands whatsoeuer hee stands in neede of That repentance will get any thing at Gods hand not only for necessity but also something for delight This may bee proued by the words which Christ speakes to the Church of Laodicea she boasted of her plenty when as shee was full of penury sheee thought shee had all things when shee wanted all good things yet Christ promiseth her if shee would come to him hee would furnish her with all good things and if shee would receiue his councell he would decke her with the richest iewels and therefore hee saith Reu. 3.17.18 I councell thee to buy of mee gold tryed by the fier that thou maist bee made rich and white raiment that thou maist bee cloathed and that thy filthy nakednes may not apeare anoint thine eies with eie salue that thou maist see c. Now in buying and selling there must bee somwhat giuen and receiued Now therefore shee must sell her sinnes by repentance and godly sorrow and she must esteeme of the fauour of God and graces of Christ in lieu thereof and this being done shee shall receiue in steed of her pouerty the riches and graces of Christ and his spirit and in stead of her filthinesse she shall haue the white rayment and righteousnes of Christ to couer her and all her wickednes and infirmities shall bee taken from her and whereas shee was blinde that shall bee remoued and her eies shall bee opened and her vnderstanding enlightened by the spirit of wisedome knowledge But what neede I goe from my text to proue this that when wee come to true repentance wee shall haue all good things bestowed vpon vs For here the father commaunds the seruants to fetch out the best robe now all the robes that are in Gods wardrobe are all best robes For the thiefe vpon the crosse that died with Christ and repented and beleeued in him had one of the best robes as well as Abraham Iacob or any of the Patriarkes and they are all long robes not scanting but couering and hiding all our filthines with the Kingly robes and shining garment of Christ And hee will not content himselfe to giue him a robe but hee will also put a ring vpon his hand for ornament so the Lord will decke and adorne euery true repentant sinner with the comely graces and vertues of his spirit And whereas hee comes bare-footed and surbated with trauell he puts shooes vpon his feet So the Lord when one comes to him by true repentance he will bestow vpon him the shooes of the preparation of the Gospell of peace that he may bee able to walke through all rough and hard waies yea the shadow of death and shall not bee hurt And whereas hee came home with a languishing soule for want of foode the father calls for the fat calfe and the best cheere hee had he bestowes vpon him So the Lord bestowes vpon the penitent sinner the best diet and banquet Many times earthly fathers haue it not ready wherewith they may entertaine their children but God hath it alwaies in a readines a feast of fat things euen a feast of fined wines and fat things full of marrow of wines fined and purified euen the body and bloud of Christ for God the Father makes the feast Iesus Christ is the matter of the feast and the Holy ghost the applier of it Now in the Sacrament the worthy receiuers receiue all these things all needfull things shal bee supplied vnto them thereby for if the eating of one fruit which was forbidden vs brought such an vniuersall misery vpon all the posterity of Adam how much more may we bee perswaded that the eating of the bread and the drinking of the wine in the Sacrament which is commaunded will bring a more happy estate to the worthy receiuers thē the other lost for this meat will not only nourish vs but cure vs also The elder brother which is to be vnderstood of the Iewes hee was angry and repined at the kind dealing of his father towards his yonger brother but now our elder brother Christ Iesus is well pleased with euery penitent sinner which comes to his Father and makes intercession for them And if an earthly parent will thus loue a yonger sonne which hath bin a lewd and riotous companion how much more will our heauenly Father entertaine euery penitent person that comes to the Sacrament of the body and blood of Christ with resolution to cleaue vnto God they shall bee sure to haue supply of whatsoeuer grace they stand in neede of So also the father reioyceth and they are merry that his wandring sonne is returned home againe and therefore the father makes a feast First God the Father maketh a feast for euery penitent sinner and hee reioyceth to see a sinner to returne to him Ier. 32 41. for hee delights to doe such good Also Christ himselfe reioyceth to see such as conuert vnto him for it is meate and drinke for him to doe his Fathers will And the Angels in Heauen doe both desire and reioyce at the conuersion of a sinner Luke 15.7 And not onely so but all the Saints Church of God that heare of the conuersion of a sinner and addition to the Church will magnifie God and reioyce vpon it Secondly there will bee a feast of ioy to the party conuerted when hee sees a
wretched creature to come to the feast of God that before was eating with swine hee now comes to feast with God the whole Trinity before to feede vpon swinish meate and now to eate no worse then the body and blood of Christ by faith in the Sacrament and to afford vs these benefits First thereby to bee purged from our sinnes through the blood of Iesus Christ And secondly to receiue strength and increase of graces as faith repentance loue and other sauing graces more And not only spirituall gifts but also temporall for body state name and euery thing that is needefull for vs in euery point according to the couenant which the Lord hath made in Ezechiel 36.25 c. And if wee can come to the Sacrament with true feeling and seeing the want of grace and also being pained with carrying such a loade of sinne wee may bee assured to bee disburdened of the one and our want supplied in the other and so wee shall bee made fit guests for the Lords supper Vse 1 Sith it is so that whoso euer doth come to God with true repentance and resolution to cleaue fast vnto him shall haue as much as hee stands in neede of it serues for encouragement to poore penitent sinners that haue committed many and great sinnes that they should come to God and make their mone vnto him that hee would vouchsafe to pardone all their sinnes and giue them such graces whereby they may be assured of his fauour for certainely if wee come with repentance and resolue to become new men and to sticke close vnto him wee may expect to receiue at his hands euery thing which wee stand in neede of Others must bee intreated before they wil doe any thing but God will giue before wee aske yea hee will meete a penitent sinner halfe way if they will but looke towards him hee will runne towards them with mercy Oh but I neuer looke to liue in credit againe and to haue a merry day my miseries are so many indeede if you purpose to keepe your sinnes you must bee sure to keepe your sorrowes but if you will come to true repentance and seeke vnto God he can and will supplie all your wants and whatsoeuer crosses and losses you haue sustained hee is able to make vp your broken estate heale your name and set you in as great prosperity againe as euer you inioied for he makes poore makes rich and prosperity comes from him and he giues to all and hits none in the teeth God hath in his wardrobe all kindes of apparrell ready made if wee seeke vnto him And there is no soule so thirsty after the graces of God but if wee come in humility to him he will giue thē the sweete graces of his spirit to quench them wherefore let vs put out all carnall doubts and worldly cares and set our selues to performe our duties and wee vndoubtedly be perswaded to finde his mercies For hee that bids vs forgiue our bretheren seauenty times seauen times if they seeke vnto vs much more will God forgiue vs all our sinnes whatsoeuer bee they neuer so many nor neuer so great if wee seeke vnto him by true repentance and acknowledgment of them with griefe and sorrow If hee would seeke Paul when hee was going to Damascus to persecute the members of Christ and shew him mercy how much more will hee shew compassion to such which now haue desisted from persecuting of the Sains and committing of other sinnes and labour to seeke God by true repentance and a full resolution to serue him in truth And to conclude if God would call for Adam when hee ranne from from him to hide himselfe and all to giue him the pardon of his sinne which hee vnhappily had committed how much more will hee giue all things vnto them both temporall and spirituall which with an honest heart seeke vnto him by true repentance and godly sorrow for their sinnes for if hee bee so ready to shew mercie to such which neuer seeeke for it hee will bee more ready to giue mercy to such as in truth performe this doctrine The time being past let vs here make an end for this time FINIS