combination against them and us a very hard matter I confesse it is to moderate erroneous opinions some have dared into the world that should have been Anonyma not once named as becometh Saints and for the rest I thought sometimes and pardon me if I thinke so still if their Tenents were commanded from them in expresse termes they would appeare either not to be tanti that for them publique tranquillitie should be endangered or else coming forth naked into the world barefaced and in their colours they would be a shame to their abbettors Eightly Papifts The Papists indeed that be Iesuited in respect of their guilt and Irelands bloud expect not your Moderation and surely such should be showne them as may preserve your selves and the Kingdomes from their frauds and cruelties against which you will be now more vigilant then ever because they have revealed now more then ever their evill intentions and can swallow those oathes without chewing which former times of peaceablenesse could not get downe by any art or perswasion and though their very Religion p. 503. like Draco's Lawes be written in bloud as King Iames observed and in the Nether-lands they made a shew of Moderation and called their Edict so yet even that in truth was was felt and was then called Murderation also as Meterane writes p. 46 they had then their Consilium sanguinis they walke by the same Principles and worse Practises yet none of them ever suffered death among us meerely for Religion I had other particulars to have mentioned but I saw the time would not permit me to speak them out of the Pulpit I forbeare them therefore now also Secunda par 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and I come to handle the reason of the Text but Doctrinally and very briefly The Lord is at hand and I shall not insist upon the Lords being at hand by his providentiall approximation to support us in or deliver us from trouble as Psal 22. 11. Be not farre from me O Lord for trouble is neere nor how he is at hand to observe all our actions so keeping us in awe and obedience because All things are naked and opened to the eyes of him with whom we have to doe Heb. 4. 13. But in this Doctrinall part of the propinquitie of our Lords coming to judgement I shall shew first the parallel Scriptures and secondly the probable reasons thence and then the Application will be in such practicall uses as you shall see Gods Word hold forth visibly in those places where the Text or the sense of it is mentioned First Scripture It is very considerable that the Apostles all so speake as if Christ the Lord would in their dayes come to judgement so many hundred years agoe Thus 1 Cor. 10. 11. We are they upon whom the ends of the world are come So Heb. 10. 37. Yet a little while 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 yet a very very little while and he that shall come will come and will not tarry And Saint Iames 3. Behold the Iudge standeth before the doore 5. 9. And Saint Peter The end of all things is at hand And thus Saint Iohn It is the last time 1 Ioh. 2. 18. And so Saint Iude 18. And if so then a thousand years agoe it is the miracle of miracles that yet the Lord is not come to judgement the succeeding Ages after the Apostles were of the same mind and they watched on Easter Even by ancient tradition as if their Master Christ would in one of those Vigils come to judge the world in similitudinem Aegyptii temporis saith Tertullian As Pharaoh the King rose up in the night p. 107. K. Lactan. 7. 19. Hieron in Matth. 25. August de T. 154. 251. De Vn. Eccl. p. 301. and all his servants and there was a great cry in Egypt c. Exod. 12. 30. And in Cyprians time all things were accomplished as he thought that were forerunning tokens of the worlds end It were easie to heape up the conjectures of severall Centuries but we must all acquiesce in the determination of our Master who shall be the Iudge Matt. 24. 36. Of that day and houre knoweth no man no not the Angels of heaven but the Father onely But that I may prepare my selfe and you to the serious and practicall consideration of the fore-mentioned Vses observe these Scripture arguments First Reasons There shall be signes in the Sunne and the Moone c. Luk. 21. 25. And if Mathematicians may be credited the celestiall Orbes are not as they were Aret. Probl. p. 1016. the Sunne not so distant from us as at the first but nearer by many Germane miles to say nothing of the prodigious sights and noises seene and heard in our dayes Secondly Mens hearts faile them for feare c. Luk. 21. 26 As lightning is first seene then thunder heard smoke precedes fire and the sea swels before a storme so the soule of man that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Epist as Synesius cals it droops before danger trembles before it is hurt and by its inward timorousnesse foretels evils to come and that appeares by the severall presagings of men that discover their feares by their conjectures That famous Grebner found out the yeare of the worlds end by the word Iudicium JVDICIVM numerum ruituri continet orbis Problem p. 1057. Ecce Spons ven every letter thereof being numerall but we have already outlived that fancie above thirty years Aretius by some Chronogrammaticall expressions of Scripture proposed this next to be the last yeare of the world Doctor Alabasters conceit out of those two Greeke words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 may savour of fancy and feare Thirdly Religion and Holinesse the two pillars of Heaven and Earth are so much decayed and discountenanced as we need no other demonstration that those last and perillous times are come that Saint Paul spake of 2 Tim. 3. 1. For as the old age of man the lesser world is full of corporall infirmities so the greater world in its declining estate abounds with manifold abominations read at leasure the two next verses and see how unhappily these dayes comment upon them if you thinke on any one of those sinnes the same thought will tell you where to find them Fourthly The unnaturall divisions that are up in the world are undenyable presages that the Lord is at hand for when the Disciples privately demanded of their Master what should be the signes of his coming to judgement among others this is recorded by the three Evangelists The brother shall betray the brother to death and the father the sonne c. Mar. 13. 12. Matth. 24. 10. Luk. 21. 16. And we need not enquire among Iewes Turkes and other Nations for the accomplishment hereof but as Christ in another case Luk. 4. 21. I may say This day is this Scripture fulfilled in your cares O England never since thou wert a Nation didst thou see thy selfe so miserably
men have so much dishonoured to his face we should be in a most desperate condition Goe hence therefore and examine and bewaile and consider Gods providence hath made this day this very day the head of all that jocundity a day of Humiliation doe not miscall it let it be so to every one of us for our owne the Nationall transgressions it hath beene formerly guilty of in those dayes and if the Lord who is at hand had called any of us out of the world when we were busie in those foolish vaine and unchristian usages we may now tremble to thinke how unfit we had beene to meet the Lord Iesus coming in the clouds Secondly Heavenly-mindednesse Let us wisely weane our selves from the world and this we learne from the very next words after the Text The Lord is at hand In nothing be carefull Yea our Lord himselfe gives us the same counsell in the very same words Luk. 21. 34. Take heed that your hearts be not at any time overcome with the cares of this life and that day come upon you unawares There may be a season for other things but none for Christians to be sollicitous for earthly things Our Father is in heaven so we say so we pray heaven is our Countrey so we professe Heb. 11. 16. Why doe we then digge so deepe in the earth and desire to load our selves with thick clay The Apostle in the Chapter before my Text hath expressions that may loath any man thereof whose end is destruction and their glory is in their shame who mind earthly things Phil. 3. 19. Damnation is their end and why should not Hell be their portion who care not for Heaven But they are the brave men of the world in the meane time No such matter their glory is in their shame they wallow in the myre with swine that might have conversed with Saints But who are those damnable and inglorious men 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 men that are wise for the world that mind earthly things What shall I say more what can I adde better then that of the Apostle 1 Cor. 7. 29 30 31. This I say brethren the time is short it remaineth that both they who have wives be as though they had none and they that weepe as though they wept not and they that reioyce as though they reioyced not and they that buy as though they possessed not and they that use this world as though they used it not for the fashion of this world passeth away The dehortation is very full and emphaticall but that which I especially observe in it is that it is compassed in and about at the beginning and in the end with the argument of my Text lest our hearts that hanker so much world-ward should any way get out after it Thirdly Perseverance The Lord is at hand therefore constantly persevere in his holy truths and this Vse is held out to us by Iohn the Divine Blessed is he that readeth and they that keep the words of this Prophesie for the time is at hand Revel 1. 3. Yea and S. Paul assoon as he had mentioned this doctrine 1. Cor. 10. 11 makes this very use and application Wherfore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he full ver 12. He that is strong must not be secure because he stands in slippery places nay he standeth not onely he thinketh that he standeth therfore let him take heed lest he fall and caution for perseverance is not onely sutable to my text but the times these suffering times wherein men are most apt to recidivate and fall away as the parable of the seed and sowers make evident Matth. 13. 21. Peter and the other Apostles promised fairly to themselves and their Master in the Calme Though wee should die with thee yet will we not deny thee so said all the Disciples Mat. 26. 35. Yet in the storm nay before the storme came at them they runne away for feare they haste to shelter indeed from shelter because from Christ They all forsooke him and sted vers 56. Thus Demas entangled with the love of earthly things deserts Christ and his Apostle embraceth the present world and departs to Thessalonica 2. Tim. 4. 10. where he is made a keeper of the Pagan Idoles as some of the Ancient have recorded Doroth. Synop. but as for us let that of our Master Christ be ever in our ears alwayes in our hearts Luk. 12. 9. He that denieth me before men shall be denyed before the Angels of God and if Christ turne his face from thee in that day tremble at thy doome who will who can who dare speake for thee if thine owne Advocate be silent and indeed it is most just they be so dealt with that Apostatize from the truths of Christ it is just I say Lege talionis even by the Law of retaliation for that 's the sentence of the holy Ghost If we deny him he will also deny us 2. Tim. 2. 12. Fourthly Holinesse Zealous endeavours after holinesse and thus S. Paul having spoken of the Iudgement to come 2 Cor. 5. 10. he adds presently vers 11. Knowing therefore the terrour of the Lord we perswade men to what but the righteous actions of godlinesse and Christianity and upon this very foundation S. Peter builds a strong argument to holinesse for having spoken at large doctrinally of the day of the Lord as also concerning the formidable manner of his coming 2 Pet. 3. 11. Seeing then that all these things must be dissolved what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godlinesse he interrogates but answers not not because the holy Ghost was at a Non plus and could not expresse it but because he would have us enquire examine and increase in every good word and worke in our own persons and as farre as ever our relations doe and can reach private men in their interests publique persons in their engagements according to that of the holy Prophet which concerns every one of us Let iudgement run downe as waters and righteousnesse as a mighty stream Amos 5. 12. It must be done speedily delayed no longer let it run downe and it must be performed impartially run down as waters which favour none drench all that be neer them yea and powerfully also as a mightie stream that will suffer no obstructions but beares all oppositions before it and that of the author to the Hebrews is pertinent to this purpose also Let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works not forsaking the assembling of our selves together as the manner of some is but exhorting one another and so much the more because ye see the day approaching Heb. 10. 24. 25. a Scripture otherwise remarkable in these times wherein men consider one another and provoke not to love but to schisme and siding not to good works but their owne fancies to separation and forsaking the assemblies but there the
by you that in his due season every mountaine of opposition may be a plaine Zach. 4. 7. and these troublous times may determine in the readvancement Dan. 9. 25. and firme establishing of Righteousnesse and Peace through your hands which is and shall be in the dayly devotion of Your constant Oratour at the Throne of Grace THOMAS THOROVVGOOD A Sermon preached before the Honourable House of COMMONS at the Monethly Fast December 25. 1644. Phil. 4. vers 5. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Let your moderation be known unto all men the Lord is at hand IT is Gods word that I have read let no mans zeale be hot against it or me and how meet it is for this time this very time judge not till you have heard my thoughts were not fastened here without some difficultie I considered again and again and as often prayed that I might speake a word in season it must be affirmed there is all the reason in the world you be even now also incited to zeale wisdome magnanimitie and present resolution but inclusivè there is no Christian grace I know Eph. 4. 15. but you would be acquainted with it 2 Thess 2. â—7 and grow up into Christ in all things and be established in every good word and worke But that I may in time take off all prejudice I shall not speake of Moderation in the sense of Politians and the world but as it is a Christian grace and not inconsistent with holy zeal they were both in our Master Christ 2 Cor. 10. 1. we read it Joh. 2. 17. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 gentlenesse of Christ and my Philippians had to doe with dogs evill workers dangerous men of the concision Chap. 3. vers 2. yea vers 18 19. With wicked walkers of whom he could not speake without weeping enemies of the crosse of Christ belly gods muck-wormes minding earthly things lively characters of a great part of your opposites and if Saint Paul then surely I may say now Let your moderation be known unto all men the Lord is at hand If yet to any apprehension the first clause seeme a cooler the second will shew it seemes so onely and my Moderation doth not make a medley of Religion nor complyes with any transgression but it is a blessed and a watchfull vertue living alwayes in Gods sight and in expectation of judgement to come it quencheth no mans zeale onely it makes it burne faire and shine more cleare it is enjoyned in the first clause of the Text and the reason thereof is in the latter the Lord is at hand In the former we have these foure things 1. The grace required Moderation 2. The seat or subject of it your of you 3. It s declaration and discovery let it be known 4. The ampliation and extent to all men The second clause shall be touched upon as a reason but my purpose is God willing to handle both in that method which our dayes have found so happy by Doctrine and Vse yet in the explication and application I shall passe thorough each particular Let this then be the first Doctrine Doctrin 1. Moderation is a catholique grace of universall practise by all men to all men and the Application will fall into five particulars words of Complaint Limitation Consutation Instruction and Exhortation The second Doctrine of the Lords being at hand 2. will from the Scriptures hold forth unto us these seven seasonable considerations fitted for our present practise 1. Speedy Repentance from dead works 2. Wise weaning our selves from the world 3. Constant perseverance in true Religion 4. Zealous endeavour after holinesse 5. Christian patience in tribulation 6. Holy faith in the Lord Iesus Christ 7. Sober watchfulnesse unto prayer Moderation is a catholique grace of universall practise by all men to all men Doctrin 1. In the Originall it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Adjectively which is sometimes emphaticall in the proprietie of the language but that criticisme and curiositie shall be omitted yet it is fit to mention the different interpretation First Theophylact. Haimo Lyra c. Modesty so it is read by some which is a vertue keeping such mediocritie in externall things that no mans eye or conscience is offended it moderates the outward converse in speech Aquin. 22. 120. 2 3. apparell and life in their sense who referre it to the words immediately foregoing Vers 4. Rejoyce c. So Bernard We reioyce in that we hope because the Lord is at hand T. 1. p. 178. we reioyce in that we suffer that our Modesty might be known to all men this modesty is not the maidens blush onely but a colour well becoming men women all that be Christians nature puts a modest aspect upon those that shame to doe evill the blood making hast as it were to cover even the suspition of guilt Offic. l. 1. c. 18. Ambrose extends it to gestures gate and bodily motion telling his own experiment this way how he refused to admit one into Orders meerely for his immodest gesture he suffered not another Clergy-man to walke before him his going was so offensive and uncomely and I was deceived saith he in neither the one ran out of his function the other out of his Religion and turned Arrian so discernable is the inward man sometimes by the motion of the outward no marvell therefore if lightnesse of gesture be immodesty and a prohibited evill Prov. 6. 13. Esa 3. 16. Some better Expositers read it Secondly Genoven Fulk c. Patient minde and so our own Translators elsewhere English the word 1 Tim. 3. 3. and thus it is a dutie very seasonable for these suffering times when men can be as the Turtle Pier. Hierogl though in severall conditions have but one note keep the same tune when they be quiet in tribulation and murmure not when affliction comes but the last clause of the Text will invite us to patience by and by Thirdly I shall insist therefore upon our own reading Moderation which is allowed by all Reformed Divines that I have seene Clvin Beza Zanch. c. Illyr Clav. Scr. Modestia one onely excepted who in some other things also is himselfe excepted against And Moderation is a word of such latitude that it reacheth to publique employments in civill matters Zanch. c. in the judgement of those that well understood the force of it thence they call Moderation the Assessor of Iustice mollifying the rigour and severity of the law for Legistators intend strictnesse of rule but their providence not being infinite nor able to foresee all occurrences leave a necessitie for Moderation Aquin. 22. 120. 10. and Writers of both Religions doe thus instance Antonin S. 4. 5. 19. it is just depositum reddere Zanch. in Phil. It is honesty and faithfulnesse to restore the pledge or that we are trusted with yet sometimes say they it is not iniquitie but Moderation to doe otherwise for example
hell by the hands of flesh and beareth the image impresse and superscription of the world the flesh and the devill it is earthly sensuall and devillish Iam. 3. 15. You see then the low descent the base pedegree of this lofty valour but our Moderation is better borne even from above and hath learned of her Master Christ to be friendly to those that be hostile Matth. 5. 44. Love your enemies blesse them that curse you though they revile we must not doe good to them that hate you c. though by word and action they damnifie us we must study to winne them by our well-doing and this is the good turne saith father Latimer Part 2. p. 57. our Master Christ allowes us to doe to our enemies to Warme them at our fire and draw them from evill by our good It were easie to expatiate here and enlarge severall reasons as First Reasons Moderation is a gracious and an acceptable vertue it sweetens and endeares the owner thereof whereever he comes it offers a kind of violence upon mens affections bofore they be aware as the unbeleeving husband is wonne by the holy conversation of the wife 1 Pet. 3. 1. Secondly it is an healthfull vertue immoderation and wrath killeth Aug. de C. D. Hoâ—â—ot c. c. Iob 52. As Sylla is said in his anger to break a veine of which Rupture he died but qui suavis est vivit in moderationibus Pro. 12. 12. It is not indeed in the Hebrew but the Seventie and Latine so have it and Interpreters thereupon say That life is preserved and prolonged by Moderation but Thirdly take the reason of the Text in that sense of it the Lord is at hand seeing and hearing all our cogitations and speeches Psal 129. 2 3 4. Thou knowest my downsuting c. thou understandest my thoughts afar off c. there is not a word in my tongue but loe thou O Lord knowest it altogether It was good counsell of Seneca Sic fac omnia tanquam spectet aliquis and Moderation is not to learne that God himselfe alwaies observeth the motions and commotions of our spirits and every other distemper Fourthly The Lord is at hand to call us to account for every inward and outward exorbitance thinke speake well of all doe ill to none if we have beene immoderate in this or any other way let us repent amend and remember the Lord is at hand to reckon with us for every misdemeanour I might proceed in further confirmation and declare that this Moderation is of such vast and comprehensive extent that it checks all overflowings of heart tongue gesture apparell diet yea it hath influence upon all our doings and sufferings and then the First Vse will be matter of complaint in the universall want of this Moderation almost in all things and persons Application Vse 1. in this age and inundation of misery no Moderation or abatement of mirth though all the Land mourne how few doe lay it to heart as much excesse in diet almost as ever when so many be ready to sterve pride and those other abominable vanities now notorious also even women wont to be the devout Sex yet now how are some of them spots in your feasts Iude 14. with spots in their faces as if they would out-face our very dayes of Humiliation and men how greedy are they of the world plotting and projecting for riches and places as if here were their abiding citie and they had no thought of one to come and in Civill matters those Courts and contentions I heare not that men find either much more equitie or expedition Second Vse of limitation Vse 2. for it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it must be of you your moderation not of or in things belonging unto God it reacheth not to the principles or practise of Religion observe that once for all Men must be as zealous for truth and holinesse as they can Men all men have no power to be Moderatours of them themselves are bounded and confined by the Almighty as Solomon said to Shimei Build thee an house at Ierusalem goe not from thence any whither 1 King 2. 36 37. From Gods word nothing must be taken and nothing must be added to it Deut. 4. 2. 12. 32. Revel 22. 18. Our God is omniscient discerning at first all possible emergencies of things persons and occursions so his Statutes be perfect and absolute and must be obeyed without dispute or moderation it is a most dangerous adventure to examine or regulate Divine Truths by Humane wisdome such daring hath introduced many foule Errors into the Church and retained them our Master Christ said Drinke ye all of this Matth. 26. 27. All the Clergie say the men of Rome the bloud may hang on Lay-mens beards they may spill it on the ground our God commands all men to know his Word and will the Papists will needs be Moderators here and forbiddeth Scriptures in the Mother Tongue because the common people may profane and abuse them a seeming antinomy and opposition appears sometimes in the Word of God yet even there and then men ought not to moderate but one Text must be compared with another and so darke places will be enlightened In every doubtfull businesse they were wont to aske of the Lord Gen. 25. 22. 1 Sam. 23. and elsewhere or of his Priests Exod. 18. 15. Deut. 17. 9. alibique or at his word 1 Sam. 22. 5. 2 Chron. 18. 4. and in other places we must say with Saint Paul in all such matters What saith the Scripture Rom. 4. 3. And againe what saith the Scripture Galat. 4. 30. The Scripture is the sole rule judge and moderator The first Christians were exceedingly precise this way not to tell you how they would not part with a word not a syllable not a letter in divine truths they complied not with the Heathen in small matters Optat. l. 3. p. 71. Plin. Ep. 97. Tertul. de Cor. Mil. p. 153. Id. p. 283. Suidas in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Euseb Hist l. 4. c. 15. m p. 180. They would not burne incense nor weare a crowne nor stick their doores with Laurel nor lay grapes at Bacchus feet Polycarpe would rather dye then sweare by Caesars fortune and the Christians in Iustine Martyr would not tell a lie to save their lives the after connivence and complication brought in errors by heapes and huddles and Rhenanus a learned Papist confesseth the foundation thereof was laid in this presumed Moderation the first approaches of Gentiles to Christianity were invited and entertained with some pleasing changes of their rites whereas their totall resection would have thrust them quite off In Tertul. p. 103. M. but those tolerable alterations as they seemed introduced most intolerable superstition and profanenesse the smart whereof doth yet remaine and we are not purged from the shame and staine of it to this very day there ought to have beene no blinding no blending in Divine
torne and rent with such civill uncivill unnaturall and bloudy distractions If it had beene said to any of thy people foure or five yeares since that they should doe such things as are now done in the midst of thee they would have replied with the indignation of Hazael 2. King 8. 13. Are we dogges destitute of all humanity to doe this and yet wretched things are done by men Christian men Englishmen against Englishmen professing the same Religion protesting the same Cause and End of their quarrell O that thou couldst yet discerne those formidable clouds of bloud in their scattering but alasse they threaten worser evils even to make thee a full sea of bloud within as thou art without surrounded by water for the wofull divisions of England there be great thoughts of heart I will not say as Ieremie 2. 12. Be ye astonished O heavens at this Nor be ashamed ye Husbandmen Ioel 1. 11. But let all those be ashamed and astonished Prophets and people that have not helped to quench but kindle this fire This is indeed a lamentation and shall be for a lamentation Ezek. 19. 14. But to returne from this sad complaint upon our most miserable dissensions a dolefull presage that the Lord is at hand the props of the world decay prodigious sights portend as much and the fainting of mens hearts fore-bode the same I am not ignorant that some convinced by strong evidence of Christs reigning here upon earth before that time understand all these places of that coming of Christ and my purpose is not at all to pry into those hard and hidden moments of Gods owne concealing and sure I am those that wade this way meet with deepe difficulties as bow â—irst all the fore-named Scriptures should be so applied 1 Cor. 10. 11. The ends of the world are come and it is not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Romane world or Empire as Luk. 2. 1. And Saint Peter is yet more universally expresse The end of all things is at hand 1 Pet. 4. 7. Secondly the day of judgement is called A great and notable day Act. 2. 20. An appointed day 17. 31. Yet it is more then one one of the dayes of the Sonne of man Luk. 17. 22. 26. Thirdly Who can determine the finals of the Beasts power unlesse the Originals were manifest Rev. 13. 5 c. I might say much of Ancient and Moderne confidences this way but my purpose is to improve the remaining time allotted in the serious consideration of what God himselfe tels we ought all practically learne from the Lords being at hand and the judgements now in the land may and ought to hasten these truths home to our soules First Repentance Speedy Repentance from dead workes reade Act. 17. 30 31. Now he commandeth all men every where to repent because he hath appointed a day in which he will iudge the world c. Many things are here observable but the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Now is that I desire to fasten upon you and my selfe for if in Saint Pauls dayes it was an argument of and to Repentance it should much more accelerate us thereunto upon whom the Lord is nearer now by sixteene hundred yeeres Consider with thy selfe then O my soule and suppose thou wert here guilty of some capitall crime for which the Iudge were ready to reckon with thee and passe sentence of death or deliverance as he finds thee couldest thou sleepe or be secure or wouldest thou trifle away thy time would not all thy care be by some meanes or other to gaine favour from the Iudge Be thou assured O my soule That the ungodly shall not stand in the iudgement Psal 1. 5. Thy conscience knows what a load of sinne lies upon thee even a burden too heavie for thee to beare Psal 38. 4. Oh why dost thou not hasten to ease thy selfe of this weight by unfained repentance before the Iudge come and pronounce the irrevocable sentence Read and remember to doe as Act. 3. 19. Repent ye and be converted that your sinnes may be blotted out when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. Infinit is the matter of our Humiliation in respect of nature persons and nation of past and present times but this day and those next it have beene heretofore the onely merry season of the yeare and the Devill hath beene served better on those Twelve dayes then on all the twelve moneths beside and our Master Christ hath most unchristianly by many been dishonoured even in those dayes said to be devoted to his glory And I may borrow here the words of Nicholas de Clemangis M. p. 143. touching his Popish Festivities What heathen man if he had come into those feasts seene and heard our Christmas Gamboles would not have taken them rather to be the Floralia of Venus or the Orgia of Bacchus then Christian holy dayes and who can lay his hand upon his heart and say he is innocent as touching this in all respects Ordinance Great cause therefore had your Ordinance to command this day to be kept with more solemne humiliation because it may call to remembrance our sinnes and the sinnes of our fore-fathers who have turned this feast pretending the memory of Christ into an extreme for getfulnesse of him by giving libertie to carnall and sonsuall delights being contrary to the life which Christ himselfe led here upon earth Those dayes were professedly dedicated to extraordinary mirth and rejoycing we read no such thing of our Master Christ at any time but he wept often and offered up many prayers and supplications with strong crying and teares Heb. 5. 7. Our Master Christ was never idle but went about doing good Act. 10. 38. and elsewhere every where in the Gospel but among us it was accounted almost a crime for men or their servants to doe any labour on any of those dayes practises as your Ordinance said truly contrary to the spirituall life of Christ in our soules for the sanctifying and saving whereof Christ was pleased both to take an humane life and to lay it downe againe but the extreme forgetfulnesse of Christ in those dayes of Christ the extreme excesse of carnall and sensuall delights were most extremely distant from that spirituall life should be in Christians who worke out their salvation with feare and trembling Phil. 2. 12. not in secure heathenish and profane merriment They passe the time of their soiourning here in feare 1 Pet. 1. 17. Not onely because he that hath called us is holy and bids us to be so likewise vers 15. 16. but because of our redemption by the precious bloud of Christ c. vers 18 19. therefore we should passe our time in feare not in wanton wild and impious pastimes which doe put men into a posture altogether unmeet for the service of Christ or care of our soules had the Nation no other sinnes to answer for surely without the bloud of Christ whom
Apostle layes the force and so would I in the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so much the more provoke one another to good works because ye see the day approaching Fifthly Patience Christian Patience in tribulation is the next thing to be learned from this doctrine of the Lords being at hand an hard lesson I confesse and they are out of the Forme and Schoole of nature that have learned it for it is an herbe of Grace and grows not in mans garden we are all by nature children of wrath Eph. 2. 3. not onely passively subject to suffer the wrath of God because of our sinnes but actively also we are hot fiery and impatient and upon every occasion doe discover our distemper Luther spake observably because his own heart God hath given us saith he many blessings health quietnesse wife children and which is above all the word of his Patience and yet one fit of the Stone beats out the memory of all these benefits 3. 59. 5. 81. Vno malo plus movemur quam mille bonis Though we have had twentie yeers of felicitie if one day of sorrow come all the former calmnesse is forgotten clouds of indignation gather and breake out into streames of impatience nay if one tooth doe but ake that Center or point of paine darkens all the Sphere and circumference of Gods mercies It were easie to abound in complaining but farre more comfortable to fasten upon a remedy and that is not farre of because the Lord is at hand and what sense soever is put upon the words they breath upon us abundant matter of patience First The Lord is so nigh that no suffering can befall us without his appointment and if we remember it is his hand we will not utter so much as one word of impatience as David professed He was dumbe and opened not his mouth because the Lord did it Psal 39. 9. Secondly The Lords example is neere should alwayes be at hand for our animation and encouragement It is enough for the disciple to be as his Master and the servant as his Lord Matth. 10. 25. an expression that may make us not onely patient but joyfull yea triumphant in misery Christians to be as their Master Christ it is enough and they that consider it well need no other consolation Thirdly The Scriptures of Christ are written for our comfort Rom. 15. 4. and in them the Lord is at hand For the word is neere thee even in thy mouth and in thy heart Rom. 10. 8. and for this in this thou mayest be patient I will reioyce in him because of his word in the Lord I will reioyce because of his word Psal 56. 10. Fourthly Yea the Lord is at hand to put a period to all our pressures Looke up and lift up your heads for the day of your redemption draweth nigh Luk. 21. 28. so Iam. 5. 7 8. Be patient therefore brethren unto the coming of the Lord Behold the Husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth and hath long patience for it till he receive the early and latter raine be ye also patient stablish your hearts for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh It is no great matter that the husbandman expects fruit of the earth yet he hath great patience we have much more in hope heavenly and eternall things and therefore we should be much more in patience and we may note also the reason of the Text begins and ends compasseth about this lesson of patience initio 7. vers fine 8. Yea in this and for this heare the Iudge himself who is at hand Luk. 21. 19. By your patience possesse your soules a direction for times like ours suffering times ye shall be hated of all men for my names sake Vers 17. and if they say Master in that deplorable condition where no man will appeare for us what shall we do Non villas vestras non laudes non luxurias August Faith his answer is be not solicitous for your houses or lands or reputation or body but for your soules possesse them by patience Sixthly Faith in the Lord Iesus Christ is also commended to us from this Doctrin of the Lords being at hand for when the Apostle had said Heb. 10. 37. Yet a very little while and he that shall come will come and will not tarry every one that heares this and believes it would presently make enquiry Is the Iudge coming so certainly so speedily so suddenly and is he indeed so nigh at hand Alas what shall we then doe what course shall we take where or how shall we appeare The answer is ready most excellent and comfortable in the very next words Vers 38. Now the iust shall live by faith Now at that very time in the instant of Christs judging the world faith shall support and uphold all that depend upon God A man indebted that hath not where with to satisfie his Creditor dares not looke him in the face but if his Suretie take out the Bond all is well and he is safe We are all runne into deep arreares with and against God by our sinnes and cannot answer him one thing of a thousand Iob 9. 3. not the least part of one of many thousands what shall we then doe Live by faith and our interest in the price of Christs blood pay all the debt of our ungodlinesse that great and superabundant expiation is made over to us by holy beleeving for he was not onely our Suretie Heb. 7. 22. but he hath blotted out the hand-writing that was against us and taken it out of the way c. Col. 2. 14. It is written of Pilate M. West ad A. 38. that being call'd to Rome before the Emperour to give account of some Mal-administration and misgovernment he put on the seamlesse Coat of Christ and all the time he ware that garment Caesars fury was abated to his own and others admiration That may be a Fable but sure I am if we have the Robes of Christs Righteousnesse upon us by a lively faith we shall then have no cause of feare in that we have not onely an Advocate with the Father 1 Ioh. 7. 2. but Christ the Iudge for our defence and deliverance It is a terrible question that of Iob but very profitable and oh my soule sleep not this night nor any other till thou hast put it home to thy selfe For the Lord is at hand the question is What shall I doe when God riseth up and when he visiteth what shall I answer him Iob 31. 14. To which no other answer no better answer can be given then that of Saint Paul Rom 13. 14. Put on the Lord Iesus Christ and make not provision for the flesh to fulfill the lusts thereof Seventhly Prayer The last Practicall consideration held sorth from this Doctrine of the Lords being nigh at hand is sober watchfulnesse unto prayer and this is the very Vse in termes Saint Peter wils us to make thereof who having
said The end of all things is at hand addeth this immediate inference Be you therefore sober and watch unto prayer 1 Pet. 4. 7. Yea our Lord himselfe who is aâ— hand speaks to each of these First Concerning Sobrietie Take heed lest at any time your hearts be overcome with surfetting and drunkennesse and that day come on you unawâ—res Luk. 21. 34. Secondly The Evangelists generally for the same reason exhort to watching Matth. 24. 42. Mark 13. 33. and they doe not meane so much abstinence from sleep but from sinne and watching not for worldlinesse but for prayer Thirdly So Luke 21. 36. Watch ye therefore and pray alwayes and in the next words he gives a Directory of Prayer two heads of petitions one That ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to passe the other that ye may stand before the Sonne of man and if you aske when and how often this must be remembred he tels us that also pray alwayes a dutie needfull ever but most of all now in respect of our own particulars and the Churches of Iesus Christ And for our selves let us pray for pardon of sin strength against lusts standing in judgement and as the Martyrs in prison and at the stake said to themselves and others Pray pray pray so remember the Lord is at hand therefore forget not to pray yea Watch and pray Matth. 26. 41. that ye enter not into tentations into the devouring part thereof Ne intremus in ventrâ—m tentationis quasi bestiae cujusdam Theophylact as the belly of a beast we know not what calamitous times may be reserved for us but whatsoever they are or may be we cannot be armed against them but by prayer so we must be prepared and this we see by our Apostle who to the Text The Lord is at hand instantly subjoynes Be carefull for nothing but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanks giving let your request be made known unto God Phil. 4. 6. Pray for me saith Father Latimer to Bishop Ridley again and again pray for me p. 14. for I am sometimes so fearefull that I could creepe into a Mousehole It is his own expression but God doth visit me again with his consolation and then the other answers him unlesse the Lord assists me with his gracious ayde in the time of his service I know I shall play but the part of a white-liver'd Knight p. 15. and yet what Champions what victorious Champions were they both and that by prayer For in the same little Treatise of their comfortable conference during the time of their imprisonment Ridley calles on Latimer as upon an Old beaten Souldier for instruction p. 16. and help to buckle on his harnesse as he phraseth it and Latimer tels him you shall prevaile more with praying then studying p. 36. though mixture be best but forget not to pray Let every one for our selves remember the Lord is at hand Besides the houses we dwell in are made of clay and the calamities of these times are daily battering these Tabernacles of dust that may very soone and suddenly fall about our eares therefore let every one of us alwayes be sober and watchfull unto prayer and pray earnestly to God that he will give us Repentance from dead works that he will weane us from these things below and teach us to persevere in all Divine truth and make us abound in every good word and worke that he will enable us to be patient in tribulation and fill us with the most holy faith in the Lord Iesus Christ And for the Churches of Christ Jer. 30. 7. remember it is their Day the very day of Jacobs trouble all the Israel of our God is in perplexitie pray for them all at home and abroad pray for the overthrow of Antichrist the fall of Babylon pray for the Peace of Hierusalem and the wellfare of Sion yea pray earnestly holily constantly Gen. 32. 26. and as Iacob wrastle with God and doe not let him goe till he give you a blessing And you that make mention of the Lord hold not your peace Esa 62. 6 7. day nor night keep not silence and give him no rest till he establish and till he make Hierusalem the Churches abroad and in these Kingdomes a praise in the earth And let us of this Nation pray pray that God would returne the Head to the Body the King to the Parliament that he will heale our breaches compose our differences and hasten the restauration of a safe and well grounded Peace that yet sticks in the Birth pray that he would lift up the light of his countenance upon England Scotland and Ireland Lord lift up the light of thy countenance upon them and they shall be safe And let all them that love God that love their Religion that love their Countrey that love their Souls say Amen Yea say thou Amen to these things Thou that Art the Amen the faithfull and true Witnesse Revel 3. 14. the beginning of the Creation of God Amen Amen FINIS