due tribute to the Deepe Thirdly consider that if some Infinite Beeing bee not the repose and centre of our mindes wee are all like toyling Leanders in the boyling Hellespont easelesse restlesse wretchlesse a very burthen to our selues neuer satisfied with any terrene or transient or triuiall contentment Wee are all sicke of a direfull dropsie like selfe-soothing Narcissus of whom the Poet Ouid. Dumque sitim sedare cupit sitis altera creuit In vaine Narcissus seekes to quench his thirst Sith it was lesse insatiate at the first If with Alexander wee could neuer so successefully subdue the Vniuerse yet with Alexander mounted on the Stage of encroaching arrogance wee would burst-forth into bitter teares grieuously lamenting that there remaines not yet another world for vs to conquer Fourthly looke vpon those horrors of Conscience which ceaze vpon the mighty men of the earth though in regard of their supereminent place their eminent power their puissance their prowesse their prosperous euents they need not once shrinke at feare ' mid chiefest brunts of battle Is not this then some superiour Iudge who thus makes them vaile the glory of their vanting plumes Is not this some superiour Power who shewing them their hainous guilt thus dolefully dismayes their dauntlesse mindes And to conclude is not this some superiour Potentate who declaring his dreadfull vengeance thus heralds vnto them Deaths pale and trembling triumphs Dan. 52. Witnesse Belchazzar King of Babylon behold him well and whuishtly view his feature he cannot keepe his countenance but is like vnto the Image of Diana in the Iland Chios which on the one side being looked vpon seem'd to smile but on the other to frowne So hath he two faces the one sweld like Aeolus and puft vp with drinking Wine the other ashy-pale and meager with looking at the hand-writing on the wall Pale trembling Coward Dan. 5.5 what need'st thou feare why is thy countenance changed thy thoughts troubled Dan. 5.6 the ioynts of thy loynes loosed why doe thy knees smite one against another what blurring and crying to see the Palme of a hand Dan. 5.7 Remember man the former power of thy martiall arme Remember that thou art guarded with a thousand of thy Princes See here is plenty of the Red liquor of the grape Dan. 5.1 which is like lapis Alchymicus the Philosophers stone conuerting a leaden passion into a golden sweet contenting contemplation But of all these hee might truely say as Iob once spake of his Friends Iob. 16.2 Miserable comforters are yee all For indeede Iob. 6.4 the arrowes of the Almighty are in him and the terrours of God Iob. 10.17 yea changes and armies of sorrowes doe fight against him Now be it spoken vnto thee O King that there is a King of Kings that the Lord is a man of warre his name is Iehouah Exod. 5.3 Hee esteemeth thy darts as straw Iob. 41.20 Iob. 12.18 Iob. 12.21 and laugheth at the shaking of the speare he looseth the collar of Kings and guirdeth their loynes with a girdle Hee powreth contempt vpon Princes and maketh the strength of the mighty weake What should I speake of that common contemner of God Caligula Qui Deos tantopere contemneret ad minima tonitrua fulgura conniuere caput ohuoluere ad vero maiora proripere se à strato sub lectūque condere solebat Sueton. in Caligul cap. 51. who notwithstanding would winke at the least lightning and couer his head I will not now disease this timerous Tyrant who creepes vnder the bed and runnes into a benchhole hoping so to escape from heauens reuenge-full thunder Shall I summe vp all in a word then thus There must needs be some ouer-ruling Deitie establishing all rule and regencie There must needs be some thought-sounding and superior Iudge punishing the mighty Nimrods the Gods of the earth There must needs be some Infinite Beeing satisfying the vast minds of vs mortals There must needs be some supreme power prospering all high and heroicall euents There must needs be some excellent cause of the Angelicall nature surpassing in excellencie the excellencie of them who excell in excellencie all lesse excellent creatures This ouer-ruling Deity this superior Iudge this infinite Beeing this supreme power this first and excellent cause is no other can be no other then a God than this God to whom Manasses prayed Hee prayed to the Lord his God Solus Deus ipse quoad se seip sum nouit God onely knoweth himselfe as inhabiting 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a light vnapproachable vnaccessible a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1. Tim. 6.16 Tim. 1.6 b Cicero de nat Deorum Tully tels vs that Simonides after three daies study how to describe God was in the latter end more remote from any resolution then when he first began See here is Simonides with the c Gen. 19.11 Sodomites strucken blind so that he is wearie with seeking the doore of this knowledge And might not that so much to be admired Aristotle with d Act. 13.11 Elymas goe about to seeke a man to leade him by the hand For to say as the truth is the best Philosopher is in this regard 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Juliam in Caesaribus as Iulian spoke of Traianus vaunting of his Parthian tropheis before the gods He is but as sounding brasse or a tinkling Cymball 1. Cor. 13.1 The most renowned Orator attempting this Verborum minutiis rerum frangit pondera as one speakes of Seneca He should sooner want a world a Sea of words then a drop of worthy matter Exod. 33.23 Iob. 4.16 Yet hath the Lord in mercy manifested vnto vs postica eius his Backeparts Exod. 33. So that as that Tyrian * Caeteris in Orientem spectantibus solus Occidentis regionem intuebatur Iustin Histor lib. 8. Strato proued in the end the wisest who concluding with his consorts in the Euening that hee who first could see the Sunne in the next ensuing morning should be King looked not toward the East where first he ariseth but toward the West where his radiant rayes did first display themselues So we not being able to looke God in the face at the resplendent brightnesse of whose glory the very Seraphims couered themselues * Esa 6.2 Esa 6. must behold him as he himselfe hath beene pleased to display himselfe vnto vs * Exod. 33.20 Ioh. 1.18 1. Ioh. 4.12 Deut. 29.29 and 4.1 and 5.33 and 30.19 Further we may not see liue neither need we see further that we may liue This Name of God Iehouah est nomen essentiae Essentia est qua per se ex se absoluté Deus est existit Trelcat Jnstitut lib. 1. sayth Iunius a title typing out the essence of God vnto vs nothing hath a Beeing but hee nothing in comparison of him Excellently the Prophet Esay All nations before him are as nothing and they are counted to him
sonantia verba sed non sanantia making a meere sound but neuer ministring any sound comfort and consolation I cannot but detest Saint Paules friuolous though fraudulent hucksters 2 Cor. 2.17 Cauponantes Erasmus Beza Adulterantes Caluin 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sophisticating adulterating the Word of God For what other thing doe these chanting and inchanting Iuglers these impotent and false Imposters then 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 steale away the erring eyes of the ignorant which frye are like Labans flocke led by the eye and violently posted away to admiration The siluer Trumpet of that Watch-man of Israel carefully keeping Ward and scentinell in the house of his God Mr Ward of Ipswich should euer sound shrilly in the eares of his brethren the sonnes of Leui who tels vs that this hyperbolicall kinde of teaching turneth sound preaching into a sound of preaching tickling mens eares like a tinckling Cymball feeding them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 spoyling the Plaine-Song with Descant and Diuision Thus hauing stayed you a little in Atrio Templi speedily let mee leade you in Sanctum Sanctorum In this present Chapter Mat. 13.52 Ezra Gods sacred Secretary 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that Scribe taught vnto the Kingdom of heauen summarily compriseth comprehendeth the Life and Death the Acts and Monuments of those two Kings of Iudah Manasses and Amon. First hee blazeth Manassehs armes Manassehs harmes he points at him with an Ecce hominem Behold the man behold him falling and sinning behold him entangled in the snares of Satan who is not vnfitly resembled by the ancient Fathers to that mighty Hunter that apostaticall and rebellious Nimrod Gen. 10.9 For hee hath not onely his hounds Phil. 3.2 Phil. 3. but also nets snares toyles 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so Saint Paul hath stiled them 1 Tim. 3.7 2 Tim. 2.26 Mat. 22.15 Marke 12.13 1 Tim. 3. with both these as once he laid for the Messias so here he layes for Manasses with his hounds 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that they might take him with his nets 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that they might entangle him with both of them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that ruthlesly they might murther his immortall soule Psal 137.1 The sweet Singers of Israel may now sit by the bankes of Babel and poure out the cataracts of their compassion empty the flood-gates of their affection vpon this King of the Iewes the subiect of my Text. For cecidit cecidit Manasses Manasses hath caught a fall Satan hath giuen him the foyle both haue exceedingly bruis'd him Iob. 10.17 changes and armies of sorrowes are against him the worme of conscience hath stung him 2 Cor 12.7 the messenger of Satan hath buffeted him Sinne Gen. 4.7 that euer arring and barking Bloud-hound whose teeth are as speares and whose iawes as arrowes hath ceaz'd vpon him In a word hee hath trauelled from Ierusalem to Iericho Luke 10.30 from mount Zion to port Esquiline from the citie of God to the suburbs of hell hee hath fallen among theeues and is sore wounded cecidit ah cecidit Manasses Manasses is downe but shall he rise againe Yes doubtlesse this downefall is not vnto death Iohn 11.4 for as hee fell by sinne so did hee rise by Repentance as hee fell low into misery so did hee soare aloft to the seate of mercy His fall was his rise hee fell to rise hee fell into prison that hee might flye into Paradise His fall was his rise hee fell to rise hee was a prisoner in Babylon that hee might be a free Denizon in Ierusalem happy thrice-happy soules Queis datur Elysium sic habitare nemus who are thus enfranchized in the freedome of heauen Suppose we then Manasses to be like bi-fronted Ianus Supposed to be Iapheth Noahs eldest sonne who saw the ending of the old world and the entrance of the new Can 5 2 and 6 8. 1 Tim 3.15 with two faces the one looking toward Beth-auen that sink of sin the house of vanitie the other beholding beautifull Bethel that house of God the Church of the liuing God Columba vnitatis Can. 5. Columna veritatis 1 Tim. 3. Christs Loue his Doue his vndefiled the pillar ground of truth For first wee see Manasses sinning and his sinne wee see is aggrauated from the second verse vnto the 11. But as Manasses sinn'd so Manasses sorrowed for sinne and hauing gone awhoring after other gods prostituting his soule to sacrilegious Idols so he now acts the returne takes the Rod into his owne hand enioynes himselfe a kind of Penance he returnes to God by true repentance The which his repentance is here expressed by the three parts or members of it 1. By his Confession of mouth 2. By his Contrition of heart 3. By his Conuersion of the whole man His confession is implied in that word prayed His contrition is implicitely enfolded in those words He humbled himselfe His conuersion is brancht out into two seuerals 1. In terminum à quo What he turned from 2. In terminum ad quem what he turned vnto Thus you see the neere Neighbourhood the coniunction that these words haue with the other Now were it vsuall to giue names to Texts this might not vnfitly be stiled The Mirrour of Gods mercy in Manassehs miraculous Metamorphosis if you will The Royall Exchange of the Merchant Royall Mat 13 46. who hauing found a pearle of precious price went and sold all that he had and bought it Hee hath sold his Idolatrie to buy Piety He hath sold his Auarice to buy Liberality He hath sold his Pride to buy Humilitie He hath sold his Luxurie to buy Frugality he hath sold his Crueltie to buy Amity In one word he hath sold all Iniquity to buy a state of Perpetuity and being plunged in aduersity he sends vp his perfume of Prayer to the God of Mercy for so sayes my Text He prayed to the Lord his God Gen 2.10 Which like that Riuer of Eden Gen. 2. may seeme to diuide it selfe into foure heads 1. is an Agent 2. is an Action 3. is the Obiect of that Action 4. is the Application of that Obiect 1. Is an Agent He. 2. Is an Action Prayed 3. Is the Obiect of that Action The Lord. 4. Is the Application of that Obiect His God He an Agent Prayed an Action The Lord the Obiect of this Abiects prayer His God The Application of the Obiect in the Supplication of this Abiect who prayed to the Lord his God And now Welbeloued in the Best-beloued Christ Iesus lend me your listning and attentiue eares while of all these I speake seuerally though of some of them summarily and first of the first part namely the Agent He. We need not now with the Eunuch aske any Philip 1 Agent Acts 8 34. Of whom speaketh the Prophet this of himselfe or of some other man this Capitall Sinners name is writ in such Capitall Letters that hee that runnes may read it
Rusticum Monachum Abailardus Omnes Patres sic at ego non sic the tyde of opinion seemes to glide that way but wee affect to striue against the streame and extreamely to crosse the current of Antiquitie As these are thus troubled with a swelling spleene so our Enemies at Rome are much molested with an ouerflowing gall These Catilines thinke our case desperate that there is no Roome for vs no mansions in our Fathers house Hence is it that their great Cham the Pope worshipt might hee be vpon the Euening before Good-friday in great solemnitie curseth vs all to hell whereas * In one of the praiers appointed in our Liturgy for Good-friday Ier. 8.22 we for recompence the next day pray for the conuersion and saluation of him and his as being Heretikes But is there no Balme at Gilead to recouer the health of the daughter of England What Scythian cruelty is this to deny that to Christians which they grant to meere Pagans Doth not their Leaden-Legend report fides sit penes Authorem beleeue it who list that the soules of a This former fable is to bee seen in the Reuelations of S. Bridgit A book allowed by the Pope And Alphonsus Ciaâ—onus a Spanish Frier hath defended this opinion Traianus and b Damascen relates both these LegeÌ„ds Damasc orat de defunct but hee concludes At nos definimus nihil tantum fraternitatis studio ratiocinamur Falconella were both of them rescued from hell transported into Abrahams bosome the one at the praiers of c Did God euer the like Pope Gregory the other of Tecla And may not much more flagitious sinners suppose wee were such become religious Conuerts But surely the Romish malignancy would extenuate our sicknesse would wee exenterate our Mother and change the ayre but alas the infection is there too grosse nor could it be any better then a furious phrensie to resort to that Romish Mountebancke hauing at home such approu'd Physitians And be it that they may boast of their Aër yet sure I am their fountaines are sealed vp The Nobles as d Ier. 14.3 Iuel Apolog. Ieremy complaines haue sent their seruants to the water who came to the welles but returned with their vessels empty which may more iustly constraine vs to remoue from Rome then the failing of the Conduits compelled the later Romanes to descend from the seauen hils and inhabite the Plaine Iohn 6.68 Our Church hath the words of eternall life whither then shall we goe It is the Arke of Noah the Vine of Salomon the Spouse of our Sauiour producing a fruitful progeny reducing many fruitlesse run-agates many renegates as here Manasses who being conuerted turnes vnto the Lord by prayer Hee prayed to the Lord his God And thus much of the Agent Hee Now followes the Action Prayed Hitherto you haue seene Manasses not with Lots wife 2. The Action Gen. 19.26 traÌ„sform'd into a pillar of Salt but with the Poets * Amphionâ— wife Niobe into a weeping and waimenting stone now shall you see him with an humble and lowly heart raising his ruined soule deprest with sinne deprostrate for sinne lifting vp his bleared eyes streaming with teares swelling for sorrow you shall see him roose vp the one and raise vp the other from the centre of the circled earth beyond the circumference of the heauens Behold therefore this penitent Publican on bended knees with a broken heart behold his hands beating and thumping his flinty and obdurate brest looke well vpon this huge Whale as one stiles that Whipster Dr. Worship Luk. 7. behold in him a modest boldnesse and bold modestie an acting passion and a passionate action looke into the grates of the Prison and you shall find him praying euen him who had tired himselfe in pursuing vanity and attired himselfe not with Tertullians Christian-like cloake Tert. lib. de pall Rom. 13.14 Reu. 6.11 Gen. 37.31 Saint Pauls wedding Garment or Saint Iohns White robes but with Iosephs Parti-coloured coate besmear'd with blood euen him shall ye find retiring to God by praire with cheeks impearl'd with teares with hands wringing for sorrow with an heart rieuing with sighs with a breast breaking with sobs for hee hee it is that prayed He tooke vnto him words as the Lord exhorted Israel by Hosea Hos 14.3 Isa 38.14 hee turned to his God with his father Hezekiah he chattered like a Crane he mourned like a Doue and fixing his eyes vpon Heauen that Starre-spangled Canopy hee poured out a torrent of melodious Harmony I list not here largely to dilate vpon the definition or description of praire whether it bee an eleuation of the mind to God as one whether it be a communication of man with God as Caluin whether it be either of these or both these Caluin Instit Nor need I macerate my selfe about the distribution of praire blessed Saint Paul hath exquisitely and excellently expressed the kinds thereof 1 Tim 2.1 Tim. 1.2 1 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 First there bee 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 deprecations against euils to bee auoided 2 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Secondly there be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 petitions for good things to be obtained 3 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Thirdly there bee 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Intercessions for others to whom we are obliged 4 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Fourthly there be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 thanksgiuings for the auoiding of euils the obtaining of benefits by our selues or others I dwell not in these but post on to this proposition extracted from the propounded patterne of this our Manasses namely That it is the constant practise of euery penitent conuert to poure out his prayers to prefer his Petitions to send vp his suites and supplications to his God Let Ananias seeke in the house of Iudas after Saul of Tarsus Acts 9.11 and behold hee shall finde him praying Act. 9. Heare you not the Pythagoricall harmony of reuerting Israel sounding so shrilly their De profundis Psal 130.1 Out of the depths haue I cried vnto thee O Lord Psal 130. And surely August in Psa 130. valdè in profundo sunt qui nec clamant de profundo as saith Saint Austin Those are stifeled in the depths who cry not out of the depths A Tennis-ball percussus surgit the harder you strike it the higher it rebounds The Lords obedient children the harshlier they be intreated the heartilier they intreat and sue for pardon Ier. 29.12 stiffe necked Israel being humbled by the yoke of Babel Shall goe and cry and pray vnto their God Ier. 29. Therefore shall euery one that is godly make his prayer vnto thee O God Psal 32.6 surely in the flouds of great waters then euen then shall they come neare thee Ier. 9.1 But oh that my head was full of water and mine eyes two fountaines of teares that I might weepe day and night for the neglect for the contempt of this duty