this City are trampled upon with durty feet vilified pointed at loaden with infamous nick-names as Baals Priests Popiâ—h teachers Limbes of Antichrist wofull to relate and I wonder how any man that beareâ— but the name of a Ch istian dares vent such unsavoury invective speeches against their Teachers and that it may be for dissenting from them only in the use of a harmelesse significant Ceremony You know what happened to â—eroboam for stretching out his hand against the Prophet though he were a King 1. Reg. 13.4 And you remember the severity of Gods Anger against the young children for mocking the Prophet Elishah goe up thou bald head goe up thou bald-head 't is recorded that 42 of them were presently torn inâ—â—â—icâ—s 2. Reg. 2.24 Doth God punish foolish wanton children for such a fault think not that those of riper yeares shall escape this was the Bane of Hierusaleâ— once before 2 Chron. 36.16 They mocked the Messengers of the Lord and misused his Prophets untill the wrath of the Lord arâ— se against his people till there was no remedy ther fore he brought upon them the King of the Câ—â—dees who slew their young men with the Sword here 't was their bane again 't was one of those sins that armed the Romans against them and I pray God it doe not help to bane this City Lord lay not this sin to our charge Another of Hierusalems latter sins was their irreverent prophanations of Gods Temple they put no difference between that sâ—cred place set apart for the worship and service of God My House shall be called the House of Prayer and other ordinary places they carried burdens therough it they bought and sold in the outward Court of it till Christ forbad them Take these things hence 〈◊〉 make not my Fathers House a House of merchandize Beloved I must be plain with you we are too much guilty of this sin also there is a vile irreverent esteem of Gods House in the hearts of too many amongst us and out of the aboundance of the heart the mouth speaketh words which I am almost ashamed and afrayed to repeate that the Church is no better then an Ale-House or a Tavern nay then a Bawdyhouse I heard it spoken prophane wretches the Iewes came not neaâ—e these and yet Christ switched them out with a whip of small cords Huic aliud mercediâ— erit I feare these will be beaten with many stripes heavy strokes there is a golden meane if we could light on it between idolizing of a Temple and vilifying of it between doing reverence to it and irreverent prophaning of it We have warnings enow to look to our feet when we come to the House of the Lord you know what a breach was made upon Vzzah for a small miscarriage as is may be conceived about the Arke and how many thousands of the Bethshemites were cut off for prying irreverently into the Arke I am sure Christ never exprest more anger then in that passage about his Fathers House and I doe believe 't was one of the sins that brought this judgment upon Hierusalem for you shall read in the verse after mâ— Text. Ver. 45. That as soon as he had uttered this complaint If thou hadst I known even thou in this thy day c. He presently went into the Temple and cast out them that sold therein and them that bought saying it is written my House shall be called the house of Prayer but ye have made it a den of thieves and Lord lay not this sin to our charge A third sin of Hierusalem in her declining are was the Sects and divisions that were among them we read of Pharisees and Sadduces and some other Sects that they were rent and divided into what a tumult and an outcry there was between the Pharises and the Sadduces Acts 23. The Captaine was affraid least Paul should have been â—orne 2. peices by them they were so violent And beloved are not we conscious to our selves of this sin also fractions and divisions it is a question not easily answered whether there be more Sects or wards in London and what tumults have been occasioned by these Sects and sidings not only in the sâ—â—eeâ—s but even in the House of God what shoutings and clamours to the dishonour of God and the disturbance of the Congregation Lord lay not this sin to our charge Oh that we would take out that golden Lesson of the Apostle To keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace that we would give credit to that undeniable sailing of our Savious A Kingdom or a City or a House divided against it selfe cannot stand there was a time when Hierusalem was at unity within it selfe Psal 122.9 And then she was not ashamed to speak with her Enemies in the gate but now being at cryâ—â—l jarres and dissensions among themselves they become a prey to the Romans neither could their private differences be composed till the Enemy took away both their lives and their livings and made Hierusalem â—â—celdanaâ— a field of blood Enquo discoâ—dia cives pâ—rduxit â—nisâ—â—os And God grant this sin of Hierusalem doe not bring Hierusalems punishment upon us that our private dissensions doe not incourage and give opportunity to the common Enemy to cast a trench about us you see Hierusalems sins are come over into England and therefore it 's too too probable that her punishment may follow For the dayes shall come that thy Enemies shall cast a trench about thee and lay thee even with the ground c. But that my Sun may not sit in a cloud I shall ad one word more that though it be possible nay though it be probable the premisses considered that the Sword may come yet it is not necessary there is mercy with the Lord that he may be feared Noâ—â—â—â—e amâ—â—vâ—â—â— sed â—â—iteatiam God is infinitely more delighted in the conversion then in the confusion of a sinner why will ye dye O house off Israel turn ye turne ye from your evill way break off your sins by repentance and live he that confesseth and forsaketh his sins shall have mercy Proverbs 28.13 Confession and conversion or humiliation seconded with reformation hath sometimes reversed the sentence that hath gone out against a Nation as in the case of Niniveh yet forty dayes and Niniveh shall be destroyed Niniveh in the meane time repents of the evill she hath committed and God repents also of the evill he hath intended had Hierusalem done so too had Hierusalem known the things that belonged to her peace Ilia nunc staront Priamique urbs alta manâ—ret for ought we know it might have stood until this day Niniveh had but forty dayes Hierusalem had forty yeares respit to repent in and to make her peace So I say now if we shall even we in this our day labour to make our peace and attonement with God whom we have offended by discerning and lamenting all our former transgressions by resolving and indeavouring to walke
great unthankfulnes and disobedience in the midst of so many binding mercies and you may justly wonder that Hierusalem was not long before this time made a heap of stones read over the Prophets and you shall find complaints in this kind without number doe ye thus requite the Lord Oh foolish people and unwise The faithfull City is become a harlot she was full of judgment righteousnesse lodged in her but now murderers Heare O Heavens and give eare O Earth I have nourished and brought up children but they have rebelled against me when I fed them to the fall then they assembled themselves by troupes in the harlots houses how shall I pardon thee for this As I live saith the Lord Sodom and her daughters have not done as thou hast done thou and thy daughters thou wast corrupted more then they in all thy wayes Ezech. 16.47 And when Christ came among them in person how did they entertaine him St. Iohn will tell you he came to his own but his own received him not Ioh. 1.11 Nolumus hunc regnare we will not have this man to raigne over us we have no King but Caesar nay not this man but Barabbas they preferre a publique notorious malefactour before him himself also will tell you Mat. 13.37 O Hierusalem Ierusalem howoften would I have gathered thy children together as a Hen doth her chickens under her wings but ye would not thus all the day long he stretched out his hand but it was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to a gainesaying people veluj noluistis how often would I but ye would not And yet how unwilling was God to unsheath his sword to powre out the full Vials of his fierce anger upon this rebellious Nation though their sins were so provoking that he knew not well how to pardon them How shall I pardon thee for this thy children have forsaken me and sworn by them that are no gods and shall I allow this shall I give my glory to another how shall I pardon thee for this yet so infinite on the other side was his mercy that he was unwilling to punish them Why will ye dye Oye house of Israel As I live saith the Lord I have no pleasure in the death of a sinner run thorough the streets of Hierusalem and seek for a man that executeth judgment that I may pardon iâ— and most pathetically in the 11. of Hos ver 8. How shall I give thee up Ephraim how shall I deliver thee Israel how shall I make thee as Admah and set thee as Zeboim my heart is turned within me my repentings are kindled together see what a conflict there seemes to be in God between his mercy and his justice how shall I pardon thee for this and yet how shall I give thee up how shall I make thee as Admah c. faine would I spare thee but thy sins cry to Heaven for vengeance thou art incorrigible in thy wayes and therefore thy sin is unpardonable I am forced to give sentence against thee though it be with teares in my eyes when he came neare be beheld the City and wept over it c. Christ might have insulted over Herusalem when he foresaw the cup of trembling that she was to drink of as wisdom threatens her contemners Pro. 1.24 Because I have called and ye refused I have stretched out my hand and no man regarded therfore I will laugh at your calamity and mock when your feare commeth when your feare commeth as desolation and your destruction as a whirle-wind when distresse ang ish commeth upoÌ„ you so seeing Herusalem would not take warning by all former invitations admonitions judgments mercies Christ might justly have laughed at her calamity when he saw her feare comming as desolation and her destruction as a whirl-wind but our blessed Saviour came not to destroy mens lives but to save them and therefore when he came neare he beheld the City and wept over it In the words we have Christ melting into teares for hardhearted Hierusalem Nihil miserius misero non misâ—rante seipsum there is not a more sad lamentable spectacle in the world then to see a man or a City or a Nation like Simon Magus in the gall of bitternesse in the depth of misery in regard of a wilfull persisting in heynous and crying sins yet themselves insensible of their own misery sleeping securely in their sins with Balaam driving o still in their wonted course of sinning and never take notice of the Sword that is drawen against them hugging and embracing sporting and delighting themselves with those Delilahs those lusts and corruptions which will prove their bane and destruction Quis talta fando temperâ—t a â—lachrymis who can behold all this with dry-Eyes The Poet hath a conceit that Heaven it selfe weeps for such Creatures Dic rogo cur toties descendit ab aethere nimbus Grandoque de coeso sic fine fine ruit What may be the reason why there fals such store of Rayne one shower after another Mortales quoniam nolum sua crimina flere Calum pro nobis solvitur in lachrymas Because hard hearted sinners will not bewayle their own faults H aven it selfe is dissolved into teares for them it is so in my Text Heaven it selfe or the heire of Heaven sals a weeping for Hierusalem and is not here a strange alteration when Hierusalem sometime the joy of the whole Earth Ps 48.2 shall not only make the Earth sad but even darken the Heavens cause him that was anoynted with the oyle of gladnes above his Fellowes to melt into teares And when he came neate he beheld the City and wept over it c. The parts are two the mourner and the causes of his mourning the Mourner is Christ and that in the middest of his jollity too as I may so speake as he was riding in state in triumph towards Hierusalem To shew that even in laughter the heart is sorrowfull that there is no worldly happinesse without a mixture of discontent when he came neare he beheld the City and wept over it The causes of his mourning are two two heavy spectacles for eaâ—h Eye one and either of them able to command a fountain of teares as the Propher speakes the one seen namely malum culpe the evill of sin If thou hadst knowen even thou in this thy day the things that belong to thy peace but now they are hid from thine Eyes thou knewest not the time of thy visitation the other foreseen namely malum poenae the evill of punishment For the dayes shal come that thy Enemies shall cast a trench abour thee and keep thee in on every side and shall lay thee even with the ground and thy children within thee c. Or if you please we have heer Hierusalems funerall where we have first the chiefe Mourner Christ he beâ—eld the City and wept over it saying if thou hadst knowen even thou in this thy day a broken speech a passionate expression the right Dialect of
causeth God to sweepe away the inhabitants of a land with the besome of destruction as he threatens by the Prophet witnesse those three great judgements the famine the pestilence and the sword when they come they spare none Secondly there is a punishment hangs over them from the wicked for who knowes not that the wicked are professed enemies to the children of God this serpentine brood beares a mortall enmity to the seed of the woman Christ and his members though they cannot breake their head they will if it be possible bruise their heele prove like the Canaanites to the Israelites scourges in their sides and thornes in their eyes alwayes deriding traducing opposing oppressing them making their lives bitter unto them sheepe can looke for no better entertainment among Wolves and therefore Gods children living among the wicked may justly take up the complaint of the Psalmist our Soule is among Lions where t' is as great a miracle that they should not be worried as that Daniel was not torne in peeces in the Lions denne You see there is cause enough to weepe over Hierusalem to mourne for the sins of other men and yet this mourning may be much increased both from the condition of him tha mourneth as also from the condition of him for whose sins we mourne First from the condition of him that mourneth from that relation which the mourner hath unto him for whose sins he mourneth and heere I may instance in two sorts of mourners naturall parents mourning for their children spirituall parents ministers mourning for their flocks To begin with naturall parents thinke with your selves and perhaps I speake to some that know and feele it what a greefe it must needs bee to parents Godly religious parents to see their children take lewd courses to walke in the counsell of the ungodly and sit in the seat of the scornefull to set at nought their wholesome instructions and fatherly admonitions a wise Sonne maketh a glad Father saith Solomon but a foolish Son is a heavinesse to his Mother Pro. 10.1 such a heavinesse was Esau to his mother Rebeccah in matching into that cursed stock of the Hittites as you may read Gen. 27.46 I am weary of my life because of the daughters of Heth if Iacob take a wife of the daughters of Heth such as are the daughters of the land what good will my life doe me and Saint Augustine reports of his mother Monica that as often as her children did sin against God so often she did as it were â—â—vell in birth of them again euery evill report she heard did as it were cause a new throw nay I thinke the paines of child-birth are not so tedious to the mother as those after-paines that are caused by the lewd conversation of their ungracious Children for those paines though they be sharp they are soone over and there is some comfort in the midst of them that a childe is comming into the world but when good Eunice shall doe her best indeavour to traine up her children in the way wherein they should walke acquainting them with the holy Scripture which are able to make them wise unto salvation and yet at last shall find all her labour lost her hopes frustrated her children carryed away with lewd and vicious company into all manner of loose conversation as rioting and drunkennesse chambering and wantonnesse this must needs bring her gray haires with sorrow to the grave From naturall parents mourning for their children passe wee to spirituall parents mourning for their flocks thinke with your selves what a greife it is to faithfull Pastâ—rs to see no better successe of all their labours so much planting and so much watering and yet little or no increase but they are forced to complaine with the Prophet Domini quis credidit Lord who hath beleeved our report Es 53.1 but especially when wee consider how heary all our preaching and all our exhortations will one day lye upon you for want of your obedience thâ—t our word which was intonded to be a savour of life unto life will prove to some of you the bitter savour of death unto death that it will bee more tolerable for Sadom and Gomurha at the day of judgement then for many among you because ye have despised our doctrine that wee shall bee forced to stand out and accuse you at that day as Christ told the Jewes 10.5.45 Thinke not that I will accuse you to my Father there is one that accuseth you even Moses in whom you trust that Moses in whom you trust who indeed was wont to stand in the gap to mediate and intercede for you at that day hee shall be your chiefest enemy Moses shall aceâ—se you because you would not beleeve nâ—â— obey his writings vers 47. now thinke with your selves what a greefe this must needs bee to the Ministers of God to consider with themselves that they who have desired nothing more then the salvation of those that are committed to their charge must at the last day be forced to appeare and rise against many of them for their condemnation to throw the first stone at them Secondly this mourning may be increased also from the condition of him for whose sins wee mourne some men doe a great deale more hurt by their sins then others and therefore their sins are the more to be lamented and here likewise I may instance in two sorts of people First those that are eminent in place aloft in the eye of the world advanced to places of eminency and dignity in Church or Common-wealth actiones superiorum sunt libri inferiorum the actions of superiors are many times the bookes that inferiours learne by and therefore when they are evill they are twice evill evill in themselves and evill for example as they are bad patternes and presidents for inferiours to imitate if King Iereboam turne away his eare from hearing the law you shall you shall soone find a miserable Kingdome for his example will make all Israel to sin and therefore his sins are much to be lamented It is therefore a mournfull spectacle to see a Magistrate that is sent for the terrour of evill doere to beare the Sword in vaine either to live in notorious sins himselfe or to allow and winke at the sins of others this was Gods complaint against Israel Es 1.23 Thy Princes are rebellious and companions of theeves they that should reforme sin in others they are rebellious themselves they that should judge the Fatherlesse and plead for the widow they are companions of theeves so they may have a bribe for conniving they never regard to deliver the oppressed out of the hand of the spoyler It is also a mournfull spectacle to see a minister upon whose garments under the Law was engraven in letters of gold Holinesse unto the Lord to defile this garment by living in those sins which in his owne mouth condemnes out of the word of God to see those that sit in Moses seat doe
HIERUSALEM BEDEWED WITH TEARES A Sermon preached at St. MARY WOOLNOTH London upon the Fast-day Martii 30. 1642. By John PIGOTT Curate of S. Sepulchers Vae mihi si non Evangelizavero 1 COR. 9.16 Rejoyce not over mee O mine enemy when I fall I shall rise when I sit in darkenesse the Lord shall be a light unto me Micah 7.8 LONDON Printed by E. Griffin and are to be sold by Iohn Wright in the old Bailey 1642. To my beloved Friends and Neighbours the Parishioners of S. Sepulchers London DEarely beloved and longed for Phil. 4. 1. Rom. 9.1 my joy and crown of rejoycing I speake the truth in Christ and lye not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 my conscience also bearing me witnesse that my hearty desire for you all is that you may be saved Ch. 10. 1. Acts 20.20 and that to this end I have both publikely and from house to house testified both to small and great to all sorts of people repentance towards God and faith towards our Lord Iesus Christ How weighty a burden hath layen upon my Shoulders and how long and with what cheerefulnesse I have borne it is not unknown to you neither doe I yet shrinke from it or sinke under it I have often said with S. Paul you are in my heart to live and to dye with you 2 Cor. 7.3 Though as the same Apostle in the same Epistle complaineth 2 Cor. 12.15 The more aboundantly I love you the lesse I be loved of some among you but I intend not to accuse my owne Nation neither is it equall that J should charge the petulant miscarriages of a few prejudicate Spirits upon a whole parish wherein I have found so much true hearted affection so many reall and royall expressions of love and wherein there are many J speake it with comfort and thankefulnesse that if it were possible would even pluck out their owne eyes to doe me good as S. Paul magnifieth the love of his Galatians 4.15 And now to testify unto the world that I am not insensible of so great love I have adventured to publish to dedicate unto you these indigested meditations provided for you but elsewhere delivered which though rude and unpolished I desire you to accept as a pledge of my thankfulnesse and an earnest of farther indevours if I may be permitted I weigh not any mans censure but rest satisfied in the sincerity of my own intentions it is not applause that I aime at I am no selfe-flatterer no man can have a meaner esteem of me or of my labours then I my selfe have Apostolorum minimus as S. Paul said I am the least of the Apostles nay 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 lesse then the least Eph. 3.8 Yet am I not hereby discouraged from attempting to doe what good I can in that place and station which the great Shepheard and Bishop of our souls hath allotted to me and who knowes whether this Sermon read of many may not through the blessing of God rouze up some hard hearted sinner out of the sleepe of security cause him to bring a bucket of teares toward the quenching of Gods wrath and fiery indignation that is kindled against our Hierusalem this is my desire my hope wherein if I shal faile of my expectation I shall sit down and weep with my Saviour that after so much planting and so much watering with the dew of Gods heavenly word there followes so little watering with the teares of true repentance But I hope better things of you dearely beloved and things that accompany salvation the Lord in mercy open all our eyes that we may at length discern the miseries that hang over our heads by reason of our sins that we may weepe night and day for the manifold provocations wherewith we have provoked him to anger so prayeth Your faithfull servant in Christ zealous of your spirituall welfare JOHN PIGOTT LVC. 19.41 42 43 44. And when he was come neare he beheld the City and wept over it saying If thou hadst knowne even thou in this thy day the things that belong to thy peace but now they are hid from thine eyes For the dayes shall come upon thee that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee and comp sse thee round and keepe thee in on every side And shall lay thee even with the ground and thy children within thee and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation BEfore I come to the particular handling of these words I shall crave leave briefly to premise something by way of introduction of the many engagements of this people unto God for mercies received and something also of their great unthankfulnesse to him for the same There was never any Nation upon Earth more blessed with the influences of Heaven then this nation of the Jewes you onely have I knowne of all the families of the Earth Am. 3 2. What Nation is there that hath God so nigh unto them as the Lord our God is nigh unto us in all that we call upon him for Deut. 4.7 Did ever people heare the voyce of God speaking out of the midst of the fire as thou hast heard and live or hath God ever assad to take unto him a Nation out of the midst of another Nation by wonders and signes by a mighty hand and stretched out arme as he did for you in Egypt Deut. 4 33.34 God did as it were single out this people from all the Families of the Earth all the Nations under Heaven that he might make them the ob ects of his love that he might shew kindnesse to them as David dealt by Mephibosheth Thou Israel art my servant Iacob whom I have chosen Es 41.8 A chosen generation a peculiar people Et quid ampl us potuit and what could God doe more for his Vineyard that he did not doe wherein could he have made a fuller expression of his love then he did how did he bemoane them in their misery I have seen I have seen the affliction of my people and I have heard their groanings How did he wrastle with a stubburn hard hearted Tyrant for their enlargement one that slighted his messages contemned his judgements would not let his people goe till at length by maine â—trength he wrested them out of his hands when he overthrew both the Horse and his Rider in the midst of the Sea how did he provide a table for them in the Wildernesse and feast them with delicious fare Angels food Manna from Heaven how did he dampe the hearts and strike through the loynes of all their enemies how did he drive out and dispossesse seven great and mighty-Nations gave their land a land flowing with milke and hony to be an heritage to Israel his people goodly Cities that they builded not and Vineyards that they planted not and Houses full of all good things which they filled not Deut. 6.11 Will you see some more priviledges and favours
lament but the world shall rejoyce worldlings may let loose the reynes and seek for a Paradise a Heaven upon Earth in the pleasures of sin for a season t is their portion but Christs Disciples must expect Teares for meate and plenteousnes of Teares for drink Mine Eye mine Eye runs down with Rivers of water saith the Church Lam. 3.48 Mine Eye trickleth down and ceaseth not without any intermission David will tell you of watering his couch and making his bed to swimme with teares and that night after night Every night wash I my bed with the teares of my complaint Ps 6.6 You shall find St. Peter weeping bitterly and Mary Magdalen pumping out teares enough to wash her Saviours Feet beloved as Christ was so are we in this world 1 Joh. 4.17 that is pilgrims and strangers here we have no continuing City but we seek one to come I am a stranger with thee a so journer as all my Fathers were now the condition of a pilgrim is a weeping conditioÌ„ By the waters of Babylon we sat down and wept when we remembred thee O Sion Psal 137.1 Every Dog will be barking at strangers and you know how imperiously the Sodomites insulted over â—â—ot because he was a stranger This fellow say they came in to so journe amongst us and he will needs be a judge over us Now though Christ our head met with stronger oppositions and greater afflictions in his pilgrimage then we are like to meet with for God is faithfull who will not suffer us to be tempted above what we are able yet we must look to drink of the same cup that he drank of though not so deep as he drank and to fill up 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the after sufferings that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ Col. 1.24 Beside we have teares to shed that Christ was not capable of teares of repentance he was a Lamb without spot and without blemish there was no guile found in his mouth we are loaden with sins there is not a day passeth over our heads wherein we doe not contract unto our selves the guilt of many many sins What our Lord and Saviour speaks of the evill of punishment Mat. 6.34 is true also of the evill of sin su ficient for the day is the evill thereof every day brings sin enough with it to over cast it to make it a wet day a day of weeping for as the Father speaks seeing after we are baptized and washed from the guilt of originall sin we doe dayly fowle our selves a new by the commission of actuall sins we should also dayly re-baptize our selves in the bitter waters of Marah the teares of true Repentance what is wanting in innocency we should Prive to make up in penitency â—aâ—th quod possum p ango quod non possum as St. Bernard I doe what I am able and what cannot doe I am sorry for it but especially upon dayes of solemn humiliation dayes set apart for this very purpose for the bewailing both of our personall and of our nationall sins when God by his judgments threatned or inflicted cals to weeping and to mourning and to baldnes and to putting on of sack-cloth if then the voyce of the turtle be not heard in our Land if the Mourners doe not goe about the streets as the Preacher speaks if there be not a renting of the heart as well as a hanging down the head like a bulrush what shall I say surely we are in Hierusalems case neare to destruction we doe not know the day of our visitation we know not the things that belong to our peace So that Christ is seasonably brought in weeping to teach us what we must doe as at all times while we so journ here in this valley of teares so especially upon dayes of mourning and humiliation blessed are those that mourne saith Christ they shall be comforted Though they sow in teares they shall reape in joy heavines may endure for a night joy will come in the morning When the times of refreshing shall come all teares shall be wiped from their Eyes and they shall enter into the joy of their Master receive the oyle of gladnesse for the spirit of heavines lay aside their black mourning weeds and attend the Lambe in white robes with palmes in their hands Rev. 7.9 And so much briefly of the Mourner in the next place we are to take notice of the causes of his mourning he beheld the City and wept over it His teares are teares of compassion teares of love Behold how he loved him said the Iewes when he wept at Lazarus his grave lo. 11.36 Behold how he loved this unthankefull City in that he shed not teares only as here but his precious bloud also afterwards for it Vâ—dens civitatâ—nt he beheld the City and wept over it We have a proverbe Vbi amor ibi oculus where we love there will our Eye be gazing where Christs love was we may see by his Eye too Vidit civitatem he beheld the City but what cause he had to love it or to six his Eye upon it we see not for what doth he behold there but matter of griefe and discontent he looked for judgment but behold oppression for righteousnes but behold a cry Hierusalem like Babylon is become a cage of uncleane Birds Deviarunt omnes they are all gone out of the way fallen off from the purity sincerity and religious integrity of their forefathers there was a time indeed when God behold no iniquity in â—acob nor saw perversenes in Israel Num 23.21 But now he beholds nothing else but iniquity but perversenes A sinfull Nation a people laden with iniquity a seed of evill doers a rebellious house a stiff necked people of uncircumcised Heart and Eares which causeth him to behold it with watery Eyes he beheld the â—ity and wept over it c. There is a twofold cause of Christs mourning here as I told you Hierusalems n and Hierusalems misery by reason of sin as they two are never long asunder we are to begin with her sin as the cause of her misery and the chiefe cause of Christs mourning he beheld the City and wept over it saying â—f thou hadst known even thou in this thy day the things that belong to thy peace but now they are hid from thine Eyes because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation If thou â—adst known even thou c. It is no single sin but a willfull senselesse secure obstinate sleeping in sin they will not be convinced of much lesse averted from their erroneous courses God hath sent his Prophets rising early an calling to them O doe not this abominable sin that I hate he hath commanded them to cry alowd against their crying sins their idolatry oppression swearing lying killing stealing neighing after their Neighbours wives like fed Horses and what was their answer As for the word that thou hast spoken to us in the Name of the Lord we will not
such things as these people may not imitate Matth. 23.3 to build with one hand and pull downe with the other to lead by his good doctrine and mislead by his wicked conversation to have Christ in his mouth and Satan in his heart this is likewise a sad mournefull spectacle Lastly those that are eminent though not in place yet in the esteeme and opinion of the Church I meane professors of religion their sins are more scandalous and therefore more to be lamented then the sins of other men if David a pillar of the Church step awry the enemies of the Lord will soone have their mouths open to blaspheme upon that advantage 2. Sam. 12.14 To see therefore a professour not to live according to his profession not to walke worthy of that new name that Christ hath given him not to walke as becometh the Gospell to over-reach or circumvent his neighbour in bargaining or selling or to undermine his brothers good reputatâ—on by becomming the devills agent to scatter false and slanderous reports or to live in malice or adultery or to hugge any other delightfull darling lust in his bosome this is also a sad mournefull spectacle Well if Christ have taught us to mourne for the back-slidings of Hierusalem what shall we say to that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that rejoycing in evill which is in the world what shall we thinke of those active instruments of Satan that take such paines to propagate sin in others those inticers Pro. 1.11 Come let us lay waite for bloud cast in thy lot amongst us let us all have one purse wee shall fill our houses with spoyle and enrich our selves with precious substance c. thus the Prophet brings in a crew of Idolaters animating and incouraging one another in their designes Esay 41.6 They helped every one his neighbour and said one to another be of good courage so the Carpenter incouraged the Goldsmith he that smootheth with the Hammer him that smote the Anvile saying it is ready for the sodering and so Es 56 12. hee brings in a company of drunkards daring one another to sit close at it come say they I will fetch wine and we will fill our selves with strong drinke and to morrow shall be as to day and much more aboundant and what shall we thinke of Solomons fooles that make a sport of sinne never more merry then when they heare of the disorderly carriages the drunkennesse the swearing the wantonnesse of their brethren sure as the Apostle speakes Eph. 4.20 non sic didicistis Christum you have not so learned Christ he mournes for Hierusalem hee beheld the Citty and wept over it saying If thou c. And beleeve it there was never more cause of mourning in this kind then in our dayes a fountaine of teares would not suffice to bewaile all the abominations that are committed in the midst of our Hierusalem if our Lord and Saviour were now upon earth he would never goe with dry eyes for beside that Luke-warmnesse that is amongst us that a great many are neither hot nor cold what sinne was ever committed by any that is not committed by many in this land and in this City how hath pride jetted in one street drunkennesse reeled in another street oppression marched like Iehu in another street adultery with all her wanton positures minced in another street wee have justified Sodome in all her abominations Sodom which along while agoe was turned into ashes and made an ensample to all that should afterwards live ungodly hath not done as wee have done we have exceeded Sodom if not in the commission of greater sins yet in committing the same sins with greater impudency and greater obstinacy in regard of that glorious light which shines amongst us and did not shine among them and yet which is the misery there is scarce a Lot to be found whose righteous soule is greived for all these abominations though only such mourners bee marked in the forehead to be preserved in the destruction of Hierusalem Ezech. 9. though only such mourners be the followers and Disciples of Christ for hee beheld the City and wept over it saying If thou hadst knowne even thou in this thy day c. And so I come to the other cause of Christ his mourning Jerusalems misery for the dayes shall come that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee and keepe thee in on every side and lay thee even with the ground 't was likely we should heare of a storme Hierusalem was so secure so opprest with the spirit of drowsinesse she did not know the things that belonged to her peace they were hid from her eyes when men shall cry peace and safety then sudden destruction shall come upon them as travell upon a woman that is with childe 1. Thess 5.3 the men before the deluge were eating and drinking marrying and giving in marriage when the floud came and swept them all away the men of Laish were extreame carelesse and secure when the Danites came upon them and slew them with the edge of the Sword Elies Sons set their Fathers counsell at nought they would not see the vilenesse and danger of their sins when the Lord had a purpose to slay them and Lots admonitions sounded as idle tales in the eares of his Sons in Law when the next morning Sodom and Gomorrha were destroyed with fire and brimstone from heaven when the Prophets who are called Seers and watchmen shall discerne a cloud a tempest arising and shall according to their duty give the people warning to fly from the wrath to come to prevent and divert it by repentance and reformation if the people now shall slight the Prophets words as idle tales say with Saint Peters mockers Vbi promissio adventus where is the promise of his comming or with those Deut. 29.19 we shall have peace though we adde drunkennesse to thirst though we goe on in our sensuall courses though wee seek it yet againe as t is Pro. 23.35 surely that people must needs bee in as bad case as the ground that Saint Paul speakes of Heb. 6.8 that drinketh in the raine and bringeth forth nothing but briars and thornes nigh unto cursing whose end is to be burned and this was Hierusalems case here Hierusalem had many warnings both from the Prophets and from the Lord of the Prophets many gracious tenders of mercy were made to her many severe threatnings were discharged against her woe unto thee O Hierusalem wilt thou not bee made cleane when will it once be Ierem. 13.27 but she is either so blind or so obstinate or both that she doth not or will not know the things that belong to her peace here in my Text Christ himselfe woos her if thou hadst knowne even thou in this thy day c. and that with teares in his eyes he beheld the City and wept over it but all in vaine Christ did but cast an eye back upon Peter and that recalled him Luc. 22.61 the Lord turned
and looked upon Peter and Peter remembred the words of the Lord and he went out and wept bitterly here he looked a long time upon Hierusalem he beheld the City and wept over it but Hierusalem is so setled upon her Lees. Zeph. 1.12 so grounded in security and hardnesse of heart that she cannot that she will not repent and therefore no marvell if her goods become a booty and her houses a desolation as it followes there at the 13. verse or as t is in the Text the dayes shall come that thy enemies shall cast a trench about thee and keepe thee in on every side c. Here you see the kind of her misery Hierusalem is exposed to the fury of her mercilesse enemies to the Sword the sharpest of Gods 3. Airewes shee hath not liberty to take her choyce as David had 2. Sam. 24.13 Wilt thou have 7. yeares famine come upon the land or wilt thou flee 3. moneths before thy enemies while they pursue thee or wilt thou that there be 3. dayes pestilence in the land but she is peremptorily designed to the Sword to be compassed about with armies that should batter downe her lofty Turrets her princely palaces lay them all even with the ground For the dayes shall come that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee c. It was a heavy sight to see Hierusalem blocked up in this manner so streightly and strongly beseiged that they were neither able to beat off their enemies nor could expect succour from their friends it had beene an uncomfortable fight to see some houses shut up in Hierusalem by the destroying Angell but to see Hierusalem it selfe shut up was both a strange and a sad spectacle where is the noble valour the heroick Spirit that was wont to be in this people time was when one of them could chase a thousand and two of them put ten thousand to slight when Israel lay downe like a Lion and couched like a great Lion and none durst rouze him up when other nations were glad to betake themselves to their fenced Cities because of them and there to fortifie their walles Barrocadoe their Gates against them as Hiericho and other Cities did or if they did venture to sally out against them one way they were forced to flee before them seven ways but what shall we say now when Israel turnes their backs before their enemies when they are forced to retreat into Hierusalem for shelter when the enemy pursues them to the very Gaâ—es intrench themselves round about the City and threaten to cut them all off eyther by the Sword or by the Famine which is sharper then a two edged Sword The dayes shall come that thine enemies c. It was strange that Hierusalem should be thus surrounded but more strange that it should bee taken that it should bee battered downe and laid even with the ground as it followes in the next words They shall lay thee even with the ground and thy children within thee this wâ—s strange indeed whether wee consider the scituation of the City or the protectour of the City for the scituation of it t' was feared uppon such high craggy inaccessible rocks or mountaines that it was even by nature made almost impregnable the Iebusites that held it till Davids time thought it so strong of it selfe that the blind and the lame were able to defend it against David and all his men of valour 2 Sam. 5.6 And to this strength of nature was added an artificiall strength of Forts and Bulwarks Psal 48.12 Walke about Sion and goe round about her and tell the Towers thereof marke well her Bulwarks consider her Palaces that you may tell them that come after now to see these strong Bulwarks these stately Palaces laid even with the ground was a sight no lesse wonderfull then lamentable The Kings of the earth and all the inhabitants of the world would not have beleeved that the enemy should have entred into the Gates of Hierusalem Lam. 4.12 Againe consider the Protector of the City it 's true except the Lord keepes the City the watchman waketh but in vaine but Hierusalem was the City of the great King God was well knowne in her Palaces as a sure refuge hee had his Temple there for thy Temples sake at Hierusalem nay and Hierusalem had experience of his protection formerly when it was beseiged by the Forces of Senacherib an Army supposed invincible yet the Lord being their Protectour raised the seige as you may read Esay 37.35 I will defend this City for my owne sake and for my servant Davids sake And that night the Angell of the Lord went out and slew in the Camp of the Assyrians 185000. But where is the God of Hierusalem now as Elishah spake when he came to the bank of Jordan where is the Lord God of Eliiah now 2. Reg. 2.14 surely the Glory is departed from Israel Israel hath rejected the Lord and gone a whoring after strange Gods they have walked extreame contrary to him in all their wayes and therefore the Lord hath at length justly with-drawne himselfe from them and left them as a prey to their enemies Climbe upon her walles and destroy downe with her battlements for they are not the Lords Ier. 5.10 And now our blossed Saviour as if he saw the wall not of Hiericho but of Hierusalem tumbling downe the Souldiers on every side entring the City beating all downe before them dashing the young infants against the stones torturing the aged and honourable deflouring the modest Virgins and chaste Matrons ransaking their houses with fire and Sword laying Hierusalem even with the ground and her children within her hee falls a weeping he beheld the City and weptover it As indeed it was a lamentable sight the Lord in mercy grant wee never see such a Spectacle in our Hierusalem no doubt Abraham was affected with sorrow when he saw the smoake of Sodome ascend like the smoke of a furnace though Sodom was a nest of infidels children of Belial whose sins câ—ied up to heaven for vengeance Gen. 13 13. young and old from every quartet were gathered together about Lots doore crouding and striving who should hee the foremost in that unnaturall and prodigious sin it cannot appeare that there was a Family or a Soule after Lot was gone which were not all most notorious sinners and yet it was a sad spectacle to see Sodom said even with the ground so in the 18. chap. of the revelation vers 9 10. and so forward t is prophecyed that the Kings of the earth and the Merchants and the Ship-masters shall weepe bitterly for the destruction of Babylon when they they shall see the smoak of her burning alas alas that great City Babylon that mighty City for in one houre is her judgement come in one houre is so great riches come to nothing alas alas that great City well then might our blessed Saviour weepe for Hierusalem where there was yet a Remnant according to the
more circumspectly for the time to come to walke worthy of those great mercies which we injoy to bring foorth fruits meet for repentance no doubt he will accept of us still and receive us into favour againe what else is the meaning of those Parables 〈◊〉 Luc. 15. Of the Woman rejoycing with her Neighbours when shee had found her lost Groate of the Shepheards hugging this stray Sheep and bringing it home with joy of the Father welcomming and embracing his prodigall Sonne upon his submission but to intimate unto us the will â—gnesse of Almighty GOD to be reconciled unto sinners upon their true Repentance the Father doth not question with his Sonne Vbi fuislâ—â— â—ubâ— suâ—t â—â—e tulistiâ— saith Chrysologus where haâ—e you been What is become of all that portion you carried hence how is it that you are returned thus poore thus naked but he cals for the best Robe and Shooes for his Feete and a Ring for his finger c. Quis iâ—lâ— Pâ—tâ—r saith Tertullian sweetly who is this Father that so lovingly entertaines his penitent Sonne who is this Father 〈◊〉 scilicet God is this Father we are these Prodigals let his enterteinment incourage us to returne to acknowledge our own vilenesse Father we have sinned against Heaven and in thy sight and are no more worthy to be called thy Children and he will receive us graciously a broken and a contrite heart he can not he will not despise â—iâ—riâ— noâ— potestâ—â—â— silivâ— istarum lâ—chrymarum â—percatâ— said Saint Ambrose to Monica bewayling her Sonne Austin be of good cheere Woman it cannot be that the Sonne for whom thou dayly sheddest so many Teares should perish so I dare say to every Soule that bedewes it selfe with the Teares of true Repentance Fieri non poiâ—st ut aâ—â— â—â—a istarum laâ—â—rymarum pereat it cannot be that the Soule for which so many Teares are shed should perish it is a groundlesse expostulation that is taken up by them Malac 3. â—4 What profit is it that we have walked mournfully before the Lord of Hostes I answer very great profit for these Teares il they proceede fâ—om a truly broken and contrite heart they will prove like Sauls Sword or lonathans Bow they will never returne empty not one of these Cristalline Pearles fal's to the ground God puts them all into his Bottell Psalme 56.8 See how it fared with good Hezechiah Esay 38.1 The Prophet is sort to acquaint him that the time of his dissolution is at hand Set thy House in order for thou shalt dye and believe it Death is a grimme Surjeant that will not easily be staved off however the good man betakes himselfe to his Prayers and mingles some â—eares with his Prayers and see what this produceth Verse 5. Thus saith the Lord I have heard thy Prayers I have seen thy Teares I will adde unto thy dayes fifteene yeares and I will deliver thee and this City out of the hand of the King of Assyria I need not tell you that are Parents how far the Teares of your children will plead and prevaile with you though you be much offended and what saith the Psalmist Psal 103.13 Like as a Father pittieth his own children so is the Lord mercifull to his children when his anger is kindled against them their Teares will soon quench it again look in the 31. of Ieremy Verse 18. There you shall finde a breach between God and Ephraim Ephraim is stubburn God is angry at it and begins to correct him Ephraim feeling it smart fals a weeping he repents and smites upon his thigh Verse 19. And God presently takes notice of it I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himselfe and what followes at the 20. Verse Is Ephraim my deare Sonne Is he a pleasant child for since I spake against him I doe earnestly remember him still therefore my bowels are troubled for him I will surely have mercy upon him saith the Lord I can be no longer angry with him saith God now I see him weep my bowels doe even yearne towards him I will surely have mercy upon him c. It puts me in mind of that story of Esau Genesis 27. He brings in his venison and comes very confidently to his Father for a blessing before his Death the dimme old man amazed and perceiving at last how he was deluded for Jacob had cunningly supplanted him you know the story he tells him that he was come too late Thy brother came with subtilty and hath taken away thy blessing Verse 35. With that he falles a begging and complayning and is very importunate Hast thou not reserved a blessing for me blesse me even me also O my Father Isaac tels him I have given all his brethren to him for servants I have given him Corn and Wine to sustayne him what can I doe for thee my Sonne Hast thou but one blessing my Father saith Esau blesse me even me also and Esau lift up his voyce and wept Verse 38. And those Teares fetched a blessing presently his Father answered Thy dwelling shall be the fatnesse of the Earth and the dew of Heaven from above and thou shalt serve thy Brother and it shall come to passe that in processe of time thou shalt breake his yoke from off thy necke c. Teares are lowde Oratours with an Earthly Father much more with our Heavenly Father because hee is infinitely more pittifull then any Earthly Father If you beeing evill know how to give good gifts to your children 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 how much more shall your Heavenly Father Matthew 7.11 If you that have but a Rivulet of mercy bee so moved with Teares 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 how much more will your Heavenly Father who hath a boundlesse bottomlesse Ocean of mercie Wee may bee the more confident that the Teares which we shed upon Earth are regarded in Heaven because as the Apostle speakes wee have a mercifull high Priest there Hebrewes 4.15 For wee have not a high Priest that cannot be touched with the feelings of our infirmities but was in all points tempted like unto us sinne onely excepted Christ tooke not on him our nature onely a reasonable Soule and humane flesh but also condescended to take on him the infirmities of our nature the infirmities of the body as to be hungry to be thirsty to sleepe to be weary and the infirmities of the minde as to be angry to be sad to weepe c. Christ hath beene experimentall in all these hee hath tasted of every one of these Cups and therefore knowes how to pitty and to succour those that labour under any of these infirmities are wee sorrowfull so hath CHRIST beene a man of sorrowes and acquainted with griefe doe wee weepe so did Christ hee beheld the City and wept over it and though hee doe not weepe for our Hierusalem yet hee is sensible of our weeping and makes intercession for us at the right Hand of his Father and therefore heere is a great deale of comfort to those that mourne in Sion and a great deale of incouragement to those that have not yet beene Mourners if they shall now at length see the errour of their wayes and beginne to weepe for the abominations of Hierusalem Let us therefore all of us awake betimes out of our sinnes before that vengeance awake and the judgement which yet sleepeth seeke the Lord while hee may bee found whilest with the Father of the Prodigall hee is ready to meete us and to embrace us let us turne to him with all our hearts with fasting and with weeping and with mourning there is â—oy in the presence of the Angels over one sinner what joy will there bee over a whole Nation that repenteth Luc. 15.10 while God holdes his peace these things hast thou â—oue and I held my peace Psalme 50.21 Let us speake â—nd sue unto him for mercy and say spare us good Lord â—pare thy people whom thou hast redeemed with thy most precious bloud and bee not angry with us for ever And let the Priests the Ministers of the Lord weepe betweene the Porch and the Altar and say be favourable O Lord and give not thine heritage to reproach Joel 2.17 Wherefore should they say among the Heathen where is now their God FINIS Errata PAge 1. lin 15. for assad reade assaied p. 3. l. 2. for estalish reade establish p. 8. l. 2. for of death read of her death p. 9. l. 2. for ale read able p. 9. l. 25. for finde read feede p. 12. l. 43. for Daysar read daystar p. 13. 12. for did not knew his people read did not know his people p. 14. 20. for it read them p. 20. l. 33. for Domini read Domine p. 21. l. 31. which in his own mouth deleatur in l. 33. for these read the p. 27. l. 9. for Irelan read Ireland p. 28. l. 26. for have read hath p. 34. for this read his