from being to forward in reproving of sinne that they dare not take in their mouths but that cold rehrehension of olde Ely vnto his sonns Do so no more my sons do no more so 1. Sam. 2.24 But as deceiptfull Embassadours either for feare of punishmēt or for hope of gaine they forbeare to deliver the Lords Embassage vnto his people Soothing them in their sins and flattering them in their sollies and furthering thē in their iniquities Those are our temporizing preachers our time seruing Prophets our trēcher Chaplaines who either to satisfy the lust of their humorous Lord or to delight the itching eares of their vaine auditors speake nothing but placētia court phrases sweet and pleasing words that sow pillowes vnder mens elbowes and build vp their sinnes as a wall and daub vp their filthy corruptions with the vntempered morter of palpable adulatiō Whom I may iustly brand with the same name as Crates the Thebane did those parasites of his time whō hee called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because sitting at great mēs tables they were ready with that cunning dissēbler in the comody to say Ais aio negas nego Whatsoever they affirmed they would affirme the same and whatsoever they denyed they would bee as ready to deny though never so vntruly right so beloved I am afraid our church hath to many such fawning and flattering Ministers who sitting at noble mēs tables if happely they be thervnto admitted for feare of displeasing will say as they say although their owne conscience I doubt not many times tels them they haue said amisse Speaking good of evill and evil of good putting darkenesse for light and light for darkenesse bitter for sweet and sweet for sower to vse the words of the Prophet Esa 5.20 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Making marchandise of the vvord of God as the Apostle speaketh 2. Cor. 2. vlt. and selling the cause of the Lord for a meales meat or as the Prophet tels vs for handfulls of barly and peeces of bread Ezech. 13.19 J cānot more fitly resemble such false Prophets to any then to that flattering and dissembling Priest of Iuppiter who whē Alexander the great as Plutarch in his life testifieth came to the oracle saluted him by the name of Iuppiters sonne all to get some great present large-reward frō him so they to procure the sooner vnto themselues some promotion Ecclesiastical wil make the Alexanders of the world beleeue that they are Demy Gods or at the lestwise a degree aboue the natural conditiō of the sonnes of men They are fit chaplaines for such radies as the mother of Cyrus was who as Plutarch reporteth cōmanded that whosoever spake to the king he should vse soft silken words for surely in their preaching and reaching before such great ons of the world they vse noe other but such soft phrases silken speeches as shal befit their humours And as the natural bistorian in his 2. lib. 41. ca. of his history reporteth of the hearb called Heliotropium that it regardeth looketh towards the sunne ever as hee goeth turning with him at all howers yea even also when he is shadowed vnder a cloude so doe they in the whole course of their ministery regard consider their Lords and Ladies humours and thervnto do they apply themselves at all times yea evē then also whē they are covered with the cloudes of many grosse and crying sinnes So that I may truly say of such as the Philosopher did of the like who as Nicephorus reporteth in the 10. lib. 42. cap. of his Ecclesiastical historie comming into an Emperours court there seeing many sooth vp great men in their sins said of them purpurā ipsos magis quam Deum colere that they did more reverence purple robes then God himselfe and J am perswaded beloved in Christ Jesus that they who thus sooth vp the mighty potentants of the world in their transgressions quod purpuram ipsimagis quam deum colant that they more respecte the coūtenance of man then the favour of the everliving God For otherwise they would never as many times they doe conceale the councel wil of God to gaine a little commodity preferment at the hands of a mortal man And if it happen beloued that these men come abroad at any time to preach amonge the vulgar sorte in meaner places they haue so vsed themselves to a smooth pleasing vaine that even then J may say of them as Diogenes the Cynicke said of orators as it is in the 9. lib. and 19. cap. Elian. de varia histor that they are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the very slaues vassals of the common people For to win their least favours they wil be favourable to their greatest sins And as Pliny in his 5. lib. 15. chap. saith that the river Iordan is a pleasant river winding turning in out seeking as it were for loue favour and applying it selfe to please the neighbour coūtries So do these time-serving preachers turne winde themselves in their sermons to the multitude seeking rather to win their favours by flatering them in their sinnes then to discharge their owne duties to God by revealing his wil vnto thē But let these men consider howe much the Lorde is offended with such deceitful hādling of his word Let them cōsider the grievous cōplaint of the Lord against such false Prophets who healed the hurt of the daughter of his people with sweete wordes saying peace where there was no peace Jer. 6.13 Let them cōsider how much he was moued with them that taught vanities spake the vision of their owne hearts not out of the mouth of the Lord. Saying to every one that vvalked after the stubbornes of his owne hart no evil shal come vpon you prophecying false dreames causing the people of the Lord to erre by their lies and by their flatteries Ier. 23. Finally let thē cōsider the severe iudgmēt of the Lord pronoūced against such faithlesse messēgers in the same Prophet Behold they that flatter the people in their sinnes sar that the sword famine shal not bee in the land by sword famine shal these Prophets be consumed Jer. 14.15 Wherfore to conclude this point let vs beloved I speake this to al my brethren and fellow-labourers in this holie busines let vs I say as trustie Embasadours boldly deliuer our Lordes Embassage not fearing him that can kill the body only but him that can cast both body and soule into hell fire Matt. 10.28 And yet let vs not seeke to gal greeue the woūded conscience of our weake auditors by to rash indiscreete doubling redoubling woes vpon them alvvaies killing thē vvith the killing letter of the law Let vs take heede least if we thus alwaies preach to others iudgmēt without mercy wee our selues bee iudged of the Lord without mercy Let vs rather by our Prophets example keeping the golden meane temper them both togither Let vs
vs as it was tolde the Angell of the Church of Ephesus that our candle sticke shal be removed Revel 2.5 Least the Arke of God bee taken from vs as it was from the Israelits 1. Sam. 4.12 Least as Paule and Barnabas saide to the Iewes to you is the worde of this salvation sent but seeing yee put it from you loe wee turne vnto the Gentiles Act. 13.46 So the Lord say vnto England to thee ô England haue J given my worde but because thou hast cast it away from thee iudgest thy selfe vnworthy of everlasting life loe J will take it away and giue it to a barbarous nation that shal bring forth the frūits therof Math. 21.43 Yet the Lord offereth his grace vnto vs O then let vs according to St. Augustines Councel in tract 33. in Iohan. Vse it now if we wil vse it at all Least the gate of mercy which to day is open to morrow be shut and never opened againe vnto vs Yet the messengers Ministers of God doe beseech vs for Christ his sake to be reconciled to him O then let vs now become newe men in the Lord least a heavier iudgement light vpon vs Yet the daies of plēty are amongst vs O then let vs nowe with Ioseph lay vp in store least wee die in the famine Yet the season is calme the weather faire O then let vs nowe with Noah build vp an arke least with the rest we perish in the flowde Gen. 7.21 Yet the Angell tarieth at the gates of Sodome O then let vs now with Lot departe thence and hast away with the Angell least with that wicked people wee be destroyed Gen. 19.24 Yet the bridgroome taryeth and waiteth for vs O then let vs make hast to enter in with him to mariages solēnity least with the foolish Virgins we be repelled with a non novi vos I know you not Mat. 25.12 Yet wisdome crieth in our streeres vsque quo O how long wil yea love vanity O then let vs nowe seeke vnto her least seeking hereafter we seek in vain and shee laugh at our destruction Prou. 1.26 Yet the Lord setteth open his store-house of mercy O then let vs now run to him for a blessing least comming too late with Esau we finde none though we seeke it with teares Heb. 12.17 Yet the Lord knocketh at the dore of our harts O then let vs now open vnto him least hee saie to vs as he did to Ierusalem O that thou hadst knowne at the lest in this thy day the things that belonge vnto thy peace but now they are hid frō thee Luk. 19 42 Yet the Lord cryeth vnto vs to a mend O then let vs in this acceptable time of grace harken vnto him least he say of vs as he did of a hard harted people as I haue cryed to you and you woulde not heare me so a time shal come when ye shal cry vnto me and I wil not he are you Zach. 7.13 Yet the Lord calleth vs vnto him O then let vs nowe come least if we come hereafter it be too late as Ioab came to Absolon whē his barly fields were burnt 2. Sam. 14.31 Yet the Lord waiteth for our returne from Babylon O thē let vs now returne vnto him while wee haue time least hereafter he say to vs as the Angel sware there shal be no more time Revel 10.6 Yet the Lord wooeth England London as he did Ephraim and Iuda O England what shal I do vnto thee O London how shal I intreate thee O then let vs imbrace the riches of his bountifullnesse his exceeding patience least wee heape vnto our selues wrath against the day of wrath of the declaration of the iust iudgment of God Rom. 2.5 Finally yet the Lord by Ionas cryeth in the streets of Niniveh many hundred Ionasses in the Citties and townes of England yet 40. daies and if yee wil not repent not only Niniveh but the rest of the land also shal be quite defaced O then let vs al with Niniveh in my text repent vs of our sinnes beleeue in God proclaime a fast and put on sackcloth least this heavy iudgment denounced by our Prophet against Niniveh iustly fal on vs for our transgressions And so much concerning my first general part which was Ionas Sermon to the Ninivits with the application therof vnto our selues Now followeth the consideration of the second parte in the next words to wit the Ninivites repentaunce wherof a word or two and so I will commit you to God So the people of Niniveh beleeued God proclaimed 〈◊〉 fast c Heere is the fruite and effect which this Sermon wrought in the Ninivites described as I toulde you before in these 4. circumstances 1. By their faith which was not fruitlesse soe the people of Niniveh beleeued God 2. By their fasting which was not private and proclaimed a fast 3 By their attire which was not costly and put on sackcloth 4. By their number which were not few from the greatest to the least The least of which 4 circumstāces if I might dwel vpon thē would require a longer time then is allotted mee for the handling of them all And J must confesse that my meditations haue beene so farre inlarged in this second point that the time beeing almost past and the weather so sodainely vnseasonable I shall not now deliver without offēding your patience the on quarter of that which I had purposed How be it because I perceiue no mā desirous to depart but everie one willing to stay and so settle himself vnto attentiō J wil be bold to point at those foure observatiōs which are included in this second part breifly running them al over tanquam Canis in Nilo lambēs picking here and there a litle as may most befit this auditory and these times leaving the consideration of the rest to every mans private meditation Obser 1. So the people of Niniveh beleeued God That is they did beleeue Ionas sermon to be as true and the iudgment therein denounced to be as certaine if they did not repent as if God himselfe had spoken it vnto them Thus faith commeth by hearing hearing by the word of God Rom. 10.17 A notable ground-worke sure foundation of their repentaunce quo sublato omne quod super struitur destruitur adificium VVhich being taken away and remoued in vaine and to no purpose do we build vp our selus in sanctity of life and sinceritie of conversation For as the blessed Apostle speaketh Hee that cōmeth to God must first beleeue that God is Heb 11.6 VVithout this faith it is vnpossible to please God what soever is not of this faith is sin Rom. 14.23 By how much the more it augmenteth the commendation of these Ninivites whose faith was the first stone in their spiritual building their first step in their Christiā race their first link in their goldē chaine of Christianity the first signe of their new conversion the first degree
sonne a long season Gen. 37.34 Witnes Mordechai who whē the King had yeelded to the bloody request of Haman for murdering all the Iewes put on sackcloth ashes cryed a great cry and a bitter in the midst of the citty Hest 4.1 Witnes David who in sign of his sorrow for Abner commaunded the people to rent their clothes to put on sackcloth 2. Sam. 3.31 Witnes in steed 〈…〉 wherof J speake whose king rose vp from his throne and laid his robe from him covered himselfe with sackcloth sat in dust ashes whose nobles followed him wose Commons imitated thē frō the highest to the lowest from the eldest to the youngest frō the richest to the poorest all were clade in sackcloth base aray as it followeth in the text frō the greatest to the least Obser 4 The last circumstance for I cannot stand to amplifie any wherin these Ninivets repentance is discribed is taken from their nūber which were not fewe from the greatest vnto the least For it is not one of a house or some few of a family or some of the better sorte of the people that thus were ready to humble themselves before the Lord but all in general every on in particular from the eldest father to the youngest suckling from the greatest potentate to the meanest peysant of what sex estate or conditiō soever they be al are ready to further this holy duty I might here iustly take occasion to speake of the duty of superiour magistrats vvho may be here vnderstood by the greatest as also of inferiour subiectes who are specified by the least how they should as at al times so especially in the times of common calamities with a mutual consent cast down themselues in a generall humiliation before the highest But I can but point at this doctrine Let it be sufficiēt for our instructiō that seeing these Ninivits did so vniversally performe this that without doubt they shall rise vp in iudgmēt against vs at the last day if we be defectiue heere in having the like occasiō For in their holy exercises behold a pleasant harmony agreement maior aetas incipit vsque ad minorem pervenit saith a good father The elder fort begin and the younger they followe after the superiours say to the inferiours looke on mee and doe yee likewise Iud. 7.17 And the inferiors answere the superiors as the people did Ioshua al that yee commaund vs vvee will doe Ios 1.16 In a worde as according to Philosophie in the natural bodie the heart alone is not warme but the heat thereof is a propagating heate diffusing it selfe in an orderly sort to the rest of the members even the hands and feet the most remote parts of the vvhole so in the common-wealth of Niniveh vvhich was abodie politicke the Magistrates and governers themselues were not only throughly warmed with the heate of devotion but the common people also and vulgar sorte did participate of that quality and as the precious ointment vpon Arons head ran downe by his bearde to the skirts of his cloathing Psal 133.2 So these notable effectes of beleeving God and fasting and putting on sackcloath were deriued from the king to his councell and nobilitie and from them to the meanest subiect And as we read of the multitude of beleevers that they were of one heart and of one soule Act. 4.32 So here was a general consent amonge a greater number of new converts there was but one heart and one soule one minde and one meaning one faith and one fast one desire and on attire among them al from the greatest to the least O what a goodly sight was this O howe was it possible but that such a general cry and consent as this soe vniversal a humiliation should be acceptable vnto the Lord For if he hath promised that were two or three are gathered togither in his name he wil be in the midst of them Math. 18.20 How much more the when so many thousands of al estats conditions assemble themselves in sasting sackcloth and praier before their God in the great Congregation Thus you see Right Honorable Right worshipfull most deare and blessed brethren what a plentiful harvest cōmeth af a little seed sowen what goodly rivers ishue from a little fountaine what rare singular effects are wrought in these Ninivits by a few words spoken by the Prophet Ionas Shall I here commende the Prophets eloquēce who like a good oratour did so rule and raigne in their minds that as it was said of Hercules Celticus the eares of his auditors were tied with a chaine to the tip of his tongue Or shall I attribute it to the soft gentle disposition of these Ninivites vvho so easily yeelded at the soūd of the Prophets voice I his one general doctrine ishueth from al the 4. particulars of this part Or rather shal I not here admire at the powerfull operatiō of the word of God that beeing delivered by the voice of on man and that a straunger it should make so great a king soe stately nobles so rich citizens so many thousand of barbarous heathen people to vaile bonnet and to descende frō the throne of their pride and to cast downe themselues in fasting and sackcloth before the Lord Surely this is that word which like the snow rayn never returneth voide but prospereth in the thing wher vnto it is sent Es 55.11 This is that word which is the power of God vnto salvation Rom. 1.16 This is that word that is like a fire a hammer that breaketh the stone Ier. 23 29. This is that word which is liuely and mighty in operation sharper then any two edged sword and entring thorough even to the dividing a sunder of the soule the spirite and of the ioints and of the marrow and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the hart Heb. 4.12 This is that worde that is mightly through God to cast downe houldes and to overthrow everie high thing that is exalted against the knowledg of God and to bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ 2. Cor 10.5 Finally this is that worde which made the disciples harts to burne within them while they talked with Christ Luk. 24.32 Which made Felix tremble Act. 24.26 Which made the Iewes to be pricked in their hartes Act. 2.37 Which made David confesse he had sinned against the Lord 2. Sam 12.13 Which made the people publicans and souldiers aske Iohn Baptist what they should doe Luk. 3.14 Which made Ionas denounce destructiō to Niniveh and Niniveh to repent for feare of the destructiō denounced so the message of their overthrow overthrew the message the prophecy fell and the citty fel not be cause her fal was prophecied O newe and admirable thinge saith St. Chrysostome in his 5. Hom. ad populum Antiochenum the denūciation of death hath brought forth life the sentence of the destruction hath made a nullity in the
IONAHS SERMON AND Ninivehs repentance A SERMON PREACHED AT Pauls Crosse Jun. 20. 1602. and now thought fit to be published for our meditations in these times By RO. WAKEMAN Master of Arts. and fellow of Balioll Colledge in Oxford The second Impression Matth. 12.41 The men of Niniveh shall rise in iudgment with this generation and condemne it Printed at Oxford by Ioseph Barnes and are to bee sold in Pauls Church-yard at the signe of the Crowne by Simon Waterson 1606. To the Christian Reader I am not ignorant beloued in Christ Iesus how fruitful this age of ours is in bringing forth to the viewe of the world many new bookes in somuch that wise men doe accompt it a fault of these times that so many simple pamphlets are suffered to bee committed to the presse VVherin if I be iustly blamed with the rest for publishing these my rude raw meditations accept of my iust excuse which is not as commonly others alleadge for themselves importunity of friendes for then I had printed my sermon assoone as I had preached it being ther vnto earnestly desiered by many that heard me as well strangers as of my familiar acquaintance But vnderstanding since that many copies as they were taken by note are scattered abroad in Londō else where wherof some haue come vnto my hands and finding them to be very vnperfect I am the more willing to publish the same as I delivered it not adding or detracting any one worde in the whole And wheras in the secōd generall part I largly amplyfied the severall circumstauntes whe I first penned the I do now only point at them in this printed copte partly to avoide tediousnes partly because I was constrated so to do when I preached this sermon beeing then cut off by the vnseasonablenes of the weather and shortnesse of the time But how simple vnperfect soever it bee yet for the arguments suke befitting these heave times which vvas an other cause of my printing it I am the rather bould to offer it to the consideration of every well-disposed Christian beseeching God who giueth a happy successe to alour labours so to blesse it that he who readeth the same may so meditate on the partence and long-suffering of God and of his iudgement and iustice that by the one be may be allured vnto repentance by the other deterred from sin That as the people of Niniveh bearing the wordes of Ionas Sermon did all turne from their evill waies so the people of England reading an exposition on Ionas sermon may all become newe converts vnto the Lord. That as the Lorde in mercy dealte vvith them in with-houlding his punishments so he may as mercifully deale with vs as this time in removing his heavy plagues and fearefull iudgments from vs and from our Land Thus recommending is to thy Christian meditation and my selfe all my studies to thy daily praiers I bad thee hartely fare well in the Lord. From Palioll Colledg in Oxford October 10. 1603. Thine in the Lord ROBERT VVAKE-MAN Ionah 3.4.5 The Analysis of the Text. In these two verses I obserue 2. generall parts 1. Ionas sermon to the Ninivites whereof there are 2 principall parts ver 4 1 The patience long suffering of the Lorde in that hee did not presently destroy these Ninivites but gaue them a good space to repent yet 40 daies 2 His iustice and iudgement denoūcing destruction against them if in the time allotted they would not repent and amend And Niniveh shall be destroied 2. The Ninivits repentance at Ionas sermon descriped in 4. circūstances ver 5. 1 By their faith which was not fruitelesse So the people of Niniveh beleeved God 2 By their fasting which was not privat And proclaimed a fast 3 By their attire which was not costlie And put on sackcloath 4 By their number which were not few From the greatest to the least There are some other observations by the way pointed at which are not specified in this table A SERMON PREACHED at Pauls Crosse Iun. 20. An. 1602 The Text. Ionah 3.4 5. Yet 40. daies and Niniveh shall be destroved So the people of Niniveh beleeved God and proclaimed a fast and put on sack-cloath from the greatest of them even to the least of them WHē Ionas the Prophet of the Lorde Right Honorable The occasion argument of this Prophecie Right worshipful wel-beloued in the best beloued Christ Iesus had a long time in vaine preached and prophecied in Jsraells hee had an expresse charge giuen him from the highest to goe and cry againg Niniveh the theife city of the Assiriās that provoking them the gentiles to repentance he might the rath r leane the obstinate Israelits inexcusable But such was either his wilful obstinacy that he would not or his fraile imbecility that he did not regard his Lordes designement thinking with him selfe that his labour shoulde take little effect among strangers to God and himselfe seeing it had done so small good on Jsraell his owne people And therfore in steed of going to Niniueh whither he was boūd he shippeth himselfe for Tarshish cōmitteth himselfe vnto the sea thinking thereby to fly from the presence of the Lord. But behold he that is the God as well of the sea as of the dry sand sendes out his heraulds after him a great wind a mighty tempest who raised the sea and rowled the waues and rocked the ship and so rowsed vp sleepy Ionas that he finds no rest in the ship the ship no safty in the waues the waues no quiet in the sea the sea no calme in it selfe vntill the marriners had throwne out Ionas to appease it And yet see the providēce of a good God to a disobediēnt Prophet though he is cast out yet the Lord doth not cast him of though the mariners by his owne appointment takes him vp throws him into the sea yet a great fish by the Lordes appointment swallowes him vp and castes him on the dry land Beeing thus delivered out of the deepe by the mighty hand of God he had the second time the same charge laid vpon him b Arise goe preach to Niniveh the great city Ion. 32. Which the Prophet had no sooner hard but behold his obediēce to the Lords call c He arose saith the text and went to Niniveh according to the word of the Lord. Yea to Niniveh as great and excellent city of 3. daies iourney as the Prophet cals it Yea he cryed against it and said as before J read vnto you Yet forty daies Niniveh shall be destroyed So the people of Niniveh beleeved God proclaimed a fast and put on sackcloth from the greatest of them vnto the least In which two verses for my easier proceeding and your better vnderstanding may it please you to obserue and consider with mee these tvvo general partes 2. The generall divisiō two parts generall partes 1. Ionas sermon to the Ninivites in these wordes Yet forty daies
sometimes with the sweete balme of the Gospel bind vp the brokē harted and yet sometimes also with the hard hāmer of the law bruze and breake downe the strength of impietie Let vs sometimes as good chirurgions applie pleasant lenitines to supple yet sometimes also sharpe corasines to exasperate the festered woūds of our sicke patients Let vs somtimes like skilful Physitions minister comfortable refections to cherish yet somtimes also sharpe and bitter potions to offend their distēpered stomacks Let vs somtimes with that good Samaritane Luk. 10 with the oile of mercy cheere vp the fainting cō science of a poenitent Christian yet sometimes also with the wine of reprehension rub vp the cōtagious maladies of hard harted worldlings Let vs sometimes with the sons of Iacob stand vpon the moūt Gerizzim to blesse yet sōtimes also vpon the moūt Eball to curse the Lords enemies Deut. 27.13 Let vs sometimes with St. Paul Come in the spirit of meekenes to comfort and yet sometims also with the same Apostle with the rod of correction to controule 1. Cor. 4. 21. Let vs sometimes say with our maister pax vobis peace be vnto you Luk. 24.36 yet sometimes also vae vobis woe be vnto you Matt. 23.13 Let vs sometimes be like that soft voice wherin God came 1. Reg. 19.12 and yet sometimes also like Iohn Baptist the voices of criers or crying voices in the wildernes of this world Math. 3.3 Let vs sometimes bee like Barnabas sons of Consolatiō Act. 4.36 and yet sometimes also like Iames Iohn 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the sons of thunder Mark 3.17 Lastly let vs sometimes come with Ionas in my text with a sōge of mercy as in the first part of his sermō yet 40. daies and yet sometimes also with a songe of iudgment as it followeth in the second and Niniveh shal be destroied And Niniveh shal be destroyed And heerein a word before I proceede further Let me remoue a stumbling blocke of offēce which may arise to the weake out of these words For wheras our Prophet here setteth downe that after the space of 40. daies Niniveh shoulde bee destroied it is manifest in the last verse of this 3. chapter that God repented of this evil which he had purposed to do vnto it he did it not Quaestion Howe then is the councel of the Lord infallible howe is the verity of his word immutable howe are his decrees vnresistable how is his iudgment here denoūced by Ionas inevitable and Niniveh shal be destroyed Opinion 1 For answere where vnto we must observe that some of the auncient fathers in the primitiue church haue bin of this opinion that by Niniveh here is vnderstood the sin iniquity of the people of Niniveh As if the Prophet had said Yet forty daies Niniveh shal be destroied that is not the mē the wals the buildings of Niniveh but the sins transgressiōs of Niniveh the sinful city shal become an holy city the idolatrous people a sāctified people the height of their impietie shal be destroied by the teares of their penitēcy Thus shal sinful Niniveh be quite defaced thus shall vngodly Niniveh be overthrowne Of this opiniō was Sr. Austen in his 21 lib. 24. chapter de civitate dei Where he saith thus That God vseth to ouerthrow sinners two manner of waies Either when he punisheth the men for sins cōmitted as he did the Sodomites Gen. 19.25 or when he destroyeth the sins of mē through their vnfeined repentāce as in these Ninivits And in this sence saith Sr. Austen is the word of the Lord true that Niniveh in her people buildings stood stil but in her wicked waies and transgressions she was overthrowne But saving the iudgmēt of so learned a father whom notwithstanding of alother of the fathers generally for his interpretatiōs of the Scripture I hould to bee most worthy of reverence I rather fasten vppon another interpretation of these wordes 2. Opinion And that is that they are spoken by our Prophet with a conditiō implied in them as if hee had saide the Lord your God is a patient God he will not woūd you before he warne you Loe he giveth you yet 40 daies more to bethink your selues if in this space you wil not turne vnto him then assuredly you shal be destroyed And this I rather take to bee the Prophets meaning in this place not onely for that the whole current of our latter sounder interpreters doe agree here vnto but also because I know this manner of denouncing iudgment is verie vsual vvith the spirite of God in holy scripture Witnes that one place insteede of all in the prophecie of Ieremy I will speake saith the Lord suddenly against a natiō against a kingdom to plucke it vp and to roote it out and to destroy it But if this nation against whō I haue pronounced turne from their wickednes I vvill repent of the plague that I thought to bring vpon them Ier. 18.7.8 There you see the condition is set down in expresse words If they turne frō their wickednes I will repent But elsewhere it is necessarily implyed and vnderstood as for example When Abimelech the king of Gerar had tooke vnto him Sara the wife of Abrahā God said vnto him thou art but a dead mā because of the woman which thou haste taken Genes 20.3 Here the iudgement seemeth absolute But this condition must needes bee vnderstood that he was but a dead man if hee did not restore the woman without touching her bodie For vvhen he had purged himselfe with an vpright minde and innocent hand haue I done this the Lorde forbare to execute this sentence on him So likewise the Prophet Esaie biddeth Ezechiah from the Lorde to set his house in order for hee should die not liue Es 38.1 What speech can be more absolute thē this And yet we must needs confesse that this condition is therein contained thou shalt die if thou appease not the wrath of God by thy tears and vnfained repentance For when he had once so done the Lord removed away this iudgement and added vnto his daies fifteene yeares as it is in the same chapt Agreeable to this is that of David vvho when he had killed Vriah the Hittite and taken his wife vnto himself the Lord tolde him that for this the sword should neuer depart from his house 2. Sam. 12.10 A sentence without exception and yet when he confessed that in this he had sinned against the Lorde a condition no doubt in the former iudgment implyed it was tould him by Nathan that the Lord had put away his sin and he should not die vers 13. So in the words of my text here is destructiō denounced by Ionas against Niniveh yet 40 daies and Niniveh shall be destroyed And yet Niniveh repenting the Lord withholdeth his iudgements from it therefore we must needes vnderstand a condition in the words yet 40. daies and if Niniveh go
honorable in the earth Nô was full of people and lay in the rivers and had the waters rounde about it whose ditch was the sea her wall was from the sea yet for her sins was shee caried away and went into captivity her young childrē were dashed in peeces at the head of the streets and they cast lots for her noble men and al her mighty men were boūd in chaines Nahum 3.10 Yea Babylon called a great citty as wel as Niniveh that said in her hart I sit as Queene I am no widdow shall see no mourning by reasō of her iniquities hath her iudgment pronouned by the angel It is fallen it is fallen is become the habitation of Divels and the hole of all foule spirites and the cage of every vncleane and hateful bird Revel 18.2 Nay Ierusaleus though the perfection of beauty and ioye of the whole earth Lament 2.15 Though shee were as deare vnto the LORDE as the signet on his right hand and the onely spowse of the greate king of heaven yet because shee became wanton and played the harlot and would not be reclaimed shee was made a spectacle of vengance iudgment to all the coasts of the earth natiōs of the world That sanctified city that chosen citty of the Lord that citty built in vnity the Queene Empresse of the Provinces was so defaced and leveled with the ground that not one stone was left standing vpon an other neither in their houses wals bulwarkes turrets nor in the altars sanctuary or temple the old the young the matrones the virgins the infantes the princes the priests the Prophets the Nazerites were al slaine famished fettered scattered abroad vtterly consumed For further knowledge of all which J referre you to Iosephus de bello Iudaico where these things are largely set downe and he that readeth that story with dry eies I wil say that his hart is harder then the hardest adamant and himselfe lesse compassionate then the most barbarous Scythian in the world Si sit in viridi quid fiet in arido If this be done in the greene tree what shal be done in the dry Luk. 23.31 If the Lord dealt so severelye with the Iewes that were the natural branches what will he doe vnto them that are but the wilde branches Rom. 11.21 And if he brought so heavy a destruction vpon his own city for sin then let not this famous citty of London flatter her selfe in her security but let her and all the citties of the world feare and tremble least committing the like sinnes the Lord bring vpō thē the like iudgmēts For as his mercy is comfortable so is his iudgment inevitable and they that wil not with Niniveh imbrace him in the on in accepting the time of 40 daies to their conversion shal vndoubtedly feele him in the other in receiuing a perpetual iudgment to their confusion And so much be spoken concerning this second circumstaunce of the first general parte which was Gods iudgment denouncing destruction against Niniveh if in the time allotted she would not amend And Niniveh shal be destroyed Now lett vs see what further vse applicatiō we may make of these things vnto our selves Jhad thought Right Honorable Application of the former doctrines right worshipfull dearly beloued in Christ Iesus when I first made choice of this text to haue applied this sermon of Ionas to this renowned city of London being the Metropolu of al England as Niniveh was of Assyria because in my simple iudgment this argument heere handled may very wel befit this place these times But considering with my selfe that many of this greate assembly are inhabitants of other places of this land I doe rather thinke it best to apply it to the people of England in general that what is spoken of them every man in particular may accompt as spokē vnto himselfe And here beloued to proceede according to our Prophets method If ever there were nation or kingdome vnder the cope of heauē to whō the Lord hath manifested himselfe to be a God of much patience long suffering surely ours is that nation ours is that kingdome How hath hee desired Englands salvation Gods mercies to England how hath he waited for her conversion how hath he sought to win and wooe her to contrition He hath sent her not one Ionas one time but many hundred Prophets and teachers daily and howrely to call her to repentance He hath giuen her not 40. daies as he did Niniveh but full forty yeares and more to bethinke her selfe vnder the peaceable governement of a most gracious soveraigne Neuer did any father so long indure the vntoward linesse of a wicked sonne neuer did anie Prince so long suffer the rebellions of a disloyall subiect neuer did any Lorde so long forbear the punishment of a negligent servant never did any husband so long sustaine the iniuries of a levvde-living wise as hee our gracious father hath done vs prodigal sonnes as he our heauenly king hath done vs vnnarural subiects as he our mightie Lorde hath done vs carelesse servants as he our loving husbande hath done vs faithlesse wines His mercie forbearance to the Israclits was nothing in respect of that he hath shewed to vs the people of England He hath delivered vs from the spiritual darknesse of Aegypt the palpable obscuritie of ignorance and superstitiō He hath appointed vs his laws and ordinances his statutes and his commandements He hath given vs Manna from heaues angels foode the bread of our souls the word of life wher with he hath fed vs these manie yeares But as the young hinds in Iob beeing once growne sat with corne goe from their dams and returne not to them againe Iob. 39.7 So wee being fatted and replenished vvith these and a thousand the like vnspeakeable benefites and blessings forget and forsake the Lord of heauen Witnes our vnthankefulnesse and disobedience our grudging and murmuring against our maker Witnes our cold zeale and luke-warmenes in our profession witnes our backsliding from the truth our neglect contempt of the word of God VVitnes the burden of innumerable sins vnder which our land groaneth enmity dissention fraud and dissimulation covetousnes and oppression pride ambition adusterie and fornication svvearing and forswearing lying and stealing the like al which had long since pulled downe the heavy wrath of God and his iust iudgements vpon vs had not his mercy and loving kindnesse hindred the same Let vs not my deare brethren to farre provoke this gracious and loving God vvhom wee haue already grieued more then 40. yeares by our iniquities You know that pride fulnes of bread aboundance of idlenes and no stretching forth of handes vnto the poore vvere the very capital and head sinnes which did even vvrest and wring from the Lorde his heavie and fearefull iudgment on Sodome and Gomor Ezech. 16.49 And yet who doeth not know that all these sinnes and infinite other doe
in as bad manner and no lesse measure reigne revel in England what other sequele thē is to be feared thē that the Lord should shower downe his plagues and iudgements vpon vs in as great measure as ever he did vpon thē For he is the same God now as he was then and his harted ro sin is stil the same We read of three greivous punishments which the Lord threatneth to bring vpon his people for their sinnes I wall consume them saith he by pestilence by famine and by the sword ser 14 12. Beloued in Christ Iesus Gods iudgments rustly to be expected on England if it doe not speedily repent let not England slatter her selfe any longer with the Lords patience for shee hath provoked him to long Beholdnow the axe of this anger is put to the root of the tree his fan is in his land to purge his flore his fire is kindled his bow is ready bent the arrows of his vengance are ready drawn to the head the ful viols of his displeasure hangs over our heades ready to power downe the like or greater iudgments vpon vs if wee speedely turn not vnto him by a true vnfained repērāce The great plague in England 1593. See Stowes Cronicle The yeares are not yet many nor the time long since the inscriptions on your dores without were as evident testimonies of the destroying Angel of the Lord within since the arrow that flieth by day the pestilence that vvalketh in the darknesse the plague that destroyeth at noone day devoured many thousands in this citty other places of this land And had not Gods mercy bin the greater in saying then to his Angel as in like case we read he did it is sufficient hould new thy hand 2. Sam. 24.16 A mā might haue wādred about our conntry as Diogenes sometimes did about Athens with a candle and lanterne in his hād at noone-day to seeke I do not say a good mā but any mā at al not haue foūd him The great dearth 1597 The yeares are not yet many nor the time longe since the husbandmā as the prophet spekaeth sowed much and brought in little since the heavens over vs stayed themselves frō dew the earth vnder vs brought not forth her fruites since the staffe of our bread vvas broken cleanes of teeth foūdin alour villages want of victuals in alour citties And had not Gods mercy bin the greater then vnto vs in sending a plentiful increase our skin had cleaved to our bones withered like a stock Lament The Spanish fleete 1588. 4.8 Finally the yeares are not yet many nor the time longe since the sword of a forraine foe hath bin shaken at our lād threatning an overthrowe of the same since tidings of warres rumors of manifold troubls haue bin sounded in our eares to say nothing of our wicked attempts divelish conspiracies of many of our vnnatural countri-men at home But ô Lord as thou hast given but abad successe to such evil interprizes so wee beseech thee stil to bring to nought the proiects purposes of al such either forraine adversaries that seeke our realmes destructiō or trecherous Absolons that lift vp their handes against their dread soveraigne thine anointed Let vs not thinke my deare brethren that these iudgmēts of pestilence of famine the sword haue come vnto vs by chaunce so gon away againe There is a God above that in some measure hath made vs tast of them for our sins whom if we stil provoke by heaping sin vpō sin assu redly he hath these greater plagues in store to power down vpō vs. For the arme of the Lorde is not shortened hee that hath striken vs once can wil for our sins strike the secōd time He that hath smot some few of our nation with the sword can wil for our disobedience if we repent not in time with the sword againe destroy many thousands and millions more Hee that with the plague of pestilēce hath takē away here there on can wil for our vnthākfulnes if wee repent not in time with the same or a greater disease take away * The lamentable experience of this wee feele in this yeare 2603. whole multituds togither nay devour whole citties and towns and leave our land as desolate as a wildernes He that hath punished our bodis in the time of dearth for want of bread can wil for our rebellion if we repent not in time suffer our soules to perish for wāt of spiritual comfort yea he will bring on our land as the Prophet speaketh not a famine of bread but of hearing the word of the Lord And wee shal wander from sea to sea and from the North evē vnto the East shal wee runne to fro to seeke the word of the Lord and shal not finde it Amos 8.11 12. A heavy iudgment of al other my deare brethren yet most vsual where Gods word is contemned set at naught Great was the glory glorious the light which the Church of God sometimes had in Asia the lesse at what time the blessed Evāgelist St. Iohn Policarpus many other schollers of the Apostles floorished there How famous for the word preached were those citties of Graecia florishing Churches of Corinth Galatia Ephesus Philippi Colosse and Thessalonica wherin St. Paule preached planted so many holesome doctrines of the Christian faith and to whō he wrote so many divine Epistles extant in our church to this day But for the sinnes iniquities of the inhabitāta of those places were not the bright shining lamps of religion quite extinguished among them was not the light of the Gospell quite taken from them and since removed into the West Nay the citty Rome was once the mirrour of nations the glory of the world the wōder of the West the sanctuary of religiō the very habitation of true piety when her faith was published throughout the whole worlde Rom. 1.8 But when religious Rome once proved beastly Babylon the holy cittie an harlot when idolatrie and superstition began once to rule raign in her beholde her candlesticke was removed into the northerne parts and among the rest to vs of this land where if wee giue it no better welcome entertainment thē they did how may we not iustly feare the like iudgement least the Lord deprive vs of so great a blessing giue it to Tartarians and Moores wilde and savage people that wil with greater alacrity receive it peradventure with greater fruit entertaine it then we haue done Wherefore my deare brethren yet the word of the Lord is amongst vs yet the Prophets are in Israel yet the pearle is in our field yet the sound of the Gospel is heard throughout our land O thē let vs make more reckoning account of it then heretofore we haue done lest this sunne be defaced lest this light bee put out least it be told
souÌ„d therof or hearing it bring not forth the fruits of repeÌ„taÌ„ce or repenting for a time returne at leÌ„ght with the dog to his vomit the swine vnto her filth Lastly what is the cause that our land is ful of adulterers and because of othes the land mourneth to vse the Prophets words Ier. 23.10 that vsurye hath corrupted the rich cormorant ambitioÌ„ the proud Prelate covetousnes the greedy lawyer disdaine the scornful courtier deceit the cunning artificer the like that all estates and degrees are knowen by their several sinnes as every gentleman by his several cognisance Is this our vniversall conversion vnto the Lord is this the fruite of the Gospel are these the badges of our repeÌ„tance Are these the effects I say not of one sermoÌ„ as Ionas his was to Niniveh but of so many thousand sermons delivered froÌ„ time to time vnto vs Never more preaching never lesse praâ—â—â—ing Beloved in Christ Iesus I am verely perswaded that the immortal seede of Gods word was never more plentiful sowen since the Apostles time then it hath bin amongest vs these many yeares togitherithe Lord make vs thankfull for so great a blessing And yet as Lictantius said there vvas never lesse wisdome in Greece then in the time of the 7. wise men so I seare me it may be to truly said there was never lesse piety in England then in this long eontinuance of so many godly and zelous Pastors Sodome Gomer Tire Sidon shal rise vp at the last day and coÌ„demn vs for if halse so many lecturs and sermons exhortations instructions had bin preached among them as haue bin amonst vs They had surely repeÌ„ted in sackcloth ashes The Queene of the South shall rise vp in iudgment against vs at the last day for she came froÌ„ the vttermost part of the earth to heare the wisdoÌ„e of SalomoÌ„ Mat. 12.42 But many of vs refuse to step out of our dores to heare the heaueÌ„ly wisdoÌ„e of the true SalomoÌ„ Christ Iesus revealed in his heaveÌ„ly word The Publicans and souldiers shal rise vp at the last day coÌ„demn vs for at the preaching of on Iohn Baptist they were moued in their minds Luk. 3.14 But let al the Ministers messengers of God cry out til they be hoarce against our sins yet our harts ar nothing pricked yet our affectioÌ„s are nothing stirred vp Those wicked Iewes that crucified the Lord of life shal rise vp at the last day coÌ„demn vs for they at on sermoÌ„ of St. Peter were coÌ„verted to the number of three thousand Act. 2.41 But how many fermous shal a maÌ„ make amongst vs before he convert on sinfull soule before hee bring home one stray sheep to the sheepfold of Christ Iesus The Ninivits as you haue hard at one little sermoÌ„ of a few words delivered by one Ionas repeÌ„ted in sackcloth ashes from the greatest to the least but wee haue hard not in this place only but in al the corners quarters of our laÌ„d many huÌ„dred Ionasses yea many thousand pastors prophets preachers of the word yet for al this where is our faith in beleeving God wher are the fasts we haue proclaimed wher is the sackcloth we haue put on wher are the superiors to designe where ar the inferiors to put in practise these holy exercises Lastly al the creaturs of God shal rise vp at the last day condeÌ„ne vs for they in their several places do in their kind perform their duty to their creator are obedient to his word but we only as the most vnreasonable inseÌ„sible of al other coÌ„tinue obstinat rebellious stil The heaveÌ„s declare the glory of God the lights obey him with fear the stars shin in their watch the moone keeps her appointed seasoÌ„ the suÌ„ knows his going down the waters fly at hi rebuke the earth trembleth the mouÌ„tains shak The stork in the aier knoweth her appointed time the turtle and the crane and the swallowe obserue the time of their coÌ„ming the oxe knoweth his owner and the asse his maisters cribb but wee onely as the most vnreasonable and insensible of al creatures continue obstinate rebellious stil What should I saie more beloved in Christ lesus senselesse stones are more obedieÌ„t to Gods voice theÌ„ we are Beholde Moses with his rod stroke the rocke but twice and the vvaters gushed out abundantly Num. 20.11 but though the God of Moses strik our stony hatts twice twenty times with the haÌ„mer of his word yet where is that penitent Peter amongst vs J say not that vveopeth bitterly but that sheddeth one teare in remembrance of his transgressions Behold the stony wals of Iericho after God had summoned them by his Priests souÌ„ding their trumpets thrice at the third found fell flatte vpon the ground Ios 6.20 But we haue resisted not the third or the fourth or the sift onely but more the fiue hundred solemne summons several sounds none of them could ever moue vs none of them coulde once awake vs. Isidore in his 12. lib. and 2. cap. de brutis animalibus reporteth of the yong Lions that after 3. daies they are raised and rowsed by the roaring of the olde but the Lion of the tribe of Iudah Christ Iesus by preaching of his word hath roared not 3. daies alone but more theÌ„ 43. yeares togither amoÌ„gst vs yet for al this we are not roused and yet for al this we are not awaked what is not Christ the same Christ still is not his Gospel as fruitful is not his doctrine as effectual is not his word as powerful now as ever it was yes my deare brethren But the fault is in vs. Our marble flinty harts will not be softened with the sweete shewers of Gods heavenlie word coÌ„fortably falling down vpoÌ„ theÌ„ our stiffe yronsinewed necks wil not bow with any yoke either the sweete easie voke of the Gospel Mat. 11.30 or the heavy vnsupportable yoke of the law Act. 15.10 our faces are like whores forheads that wil not blush Ier. 3.3 our ears are so deafe our eies so dry our senses so dul our wils so obstinat our affectioÌ„s so barren our desires so cold that neither the infamy and shame of the world can moue vs nor al geÌ„tle admonitioÌ„s allure vs nor the terrible threatnings of Gods iudgments feare vs nor the continuall preaching of al the creatures of God vnder heaveÌ„ perswade vs vnto repentice Nay we are so soundly rocked and lulled a sleepe in the carelesse cradell of security that neither the goulden bells of Aaron nor the thundering trump of Esay nor the well tuned cymballs of Dauid nor the shril souÌ„d of Gods word coÌ„tinually ringing in our cares caÌ„ once awake vs. Being herein like to those beares of whoÌ„ Selinus writeth in his 39. chap. qui tam gravi semno premuÌ„tur vt ne vulneribus quidem excitariqucant who are so farre opprest with a heavy sleepe that though they bee wounded yet can they not be wakened Or like those fishes of whoÌ„ Aristotle in his 4. l. 10. c. de hist animaliuÌ„ writeth that they sleep so souÌ„dly that though they haue speares thrust into their sides yet they stir not at all so sense-lesse also are we in this our carnal security that though the Embassadours of the King of heaveÌ„ as so many sons of thunder with Ionas in my text denouÌ„ce iudgment against vs out of that word which is sharper theÌ„ any two edged sword yet for al this we do not with these Ninivits yeeld cast down our selves before the Lord but rather like to the druÌ„kard sleeping in the top of the mast Pro 23. wheÌ„ we are thus strikeÌ„ we feel it not wheÌ„ we are thus beaten we awake not when we are thus admonished we amend not Wherfore most deare blessed brethreÌ„ beloued in the bowels of Christ lesus to conclud al in a word 〈…〉 as he said to the Angel of the church that is at Sardis so giue me leave I beseech yov to say the same to every on of you that heareth me this day RemeÌ„ber how you haue receaved c. Rev. 33. RemeÌ„ber that this day you haue hard of a message froÌ„ the Lord to a great citty of the conversion of a great citty vnto the Lord. RemeÌ„ber in the one Gods patieÌ„ce to Niniveh in sparing it long Yet 40. daies And yet his severe iudgmeÌ„t of destructioÌ„ if she would not amend and Niniveh shal be destroyed RemeÌ„ber in the other the Nini vits turning vnto the Lord begun with faith coÌ„tinued with fasting declared in sackcloth performed of al froÌ„ the greatest vnto the least And remeÌ„ber that the Lord hath seÌ„t the same messag this day to England to LoÌ„don nay to vs all as he did to Niniveh giving vs yet time to repent if we wil accept him O then let vs loue him in his mercy threatning our o verthrow if we do neglect him ô theÌ„ let vs feare him in his iudgmeÌ„ts let vs now repeÌ„t while we haue time least hereafter we would repent wheÌ„ we shal haue no time Let vs now turn vnto the Lord in beleeving on him in pinching our bellies with fasting in clothing our backes with sackcloth and in a general humiliation of our selves before him that so he may turne away his wrath and heavie iudgmentes from vs from our lande Let vs now open our eares at the souÌ„d of his word preached That being opened we may heare it carefully carefully hearing it wee may conceiue it rightly and rightly conceiving it wee may beleeue it faithfully and faithfully beleeving it we may discerne it fruitfully and fruitfully discerning it we may practise it effectually bring forth the fruits therof accordingly therby growing from strength to strength from vertue to vertue vntill at the last we become perfect men in Christ Iesus That so being nowe accepted as sonnes into the kingdome of grace in this world wee may heerafter bee receaved as heires into the kingdome of glory in the world to come Which the Lord of his infinit mercy graunt vnto vs all for his Deare Sonns sake Iesus Christ to whom with the Father and the Holy Ghost three Persons one eternall everliving and onely wise God bee rendered and ascribed all Honour and Glorie Povver and Praise Might and Maiestie Dignitie and Dominion now and for evermore Amen FJNIS