inough vppon the Mountaines of Israel for Sacrifices when there was none able to treade the Wynepresse nor any able man to bind the strong man when there was none able to breake downe the wall of separation betwéene God and man nor to rent asunder the vaile of the Temple when there was not so much as one sufficient for zeale to stand vp in the gappe that was open Ezech. 33. to turne away the Lords displeasure from man then caused he his owne arme to helpe his Church and euery member of the same he sent his owne Sonne Iesus into the world who to the comfort of his children sayth Lo Psal 16. heere am I to do thy will ô Father as in the beginning of the booke it is written of me And this is the same which euen vnto me may euery Christian man say is become Righteousnes against Sinne wisedome against folly holynes against corruption and fréedome against bondage my righteousnes by his resurrection my wisedome by his word my holynes by his spirit my redemption by his death Oh that men would therefore prayse the Lord for his goodnes and remember the wonderfull works wrought by him for the children of men Oh that they would take vp the cup of Saluation with Dauid and call vpon the name of the Lord for all his benefites towards them Psal 116. Isai 46. Exod. 20. Oh that they would remember to sanctifie his Saboth Remember the lawe of Moses his seruant and their sinnes in breaking that Lawe and thereof be ashamed and remember that Iesus Christ of the séede of Dauid is raised againe from the death 2. Tim. 2. verse 8. Such and so great and maruailous is the Lord in his mercies vnto his children after the purport of his promises made to Abraham and Dauid his seruants Remember Gods iudgemēts on his enemies But as for his enemies which anger him with stubborne rebellion which fight vnder the banner of Satan against him and his children they be subdued to his iudgements which on them he hath declared by rayning downe stormes and tempests plagues and destructions according to the effect of that communication threatning which Moses in Deutr. 28. doth denounce against them full of bitternes and woe which also with the causes thereof the Lord reiterateth in the 31. of the same saying Deut. 31.16.17 This people will rise vp and go a whoring after strange Gods of the land whether they go and will forsake me and breake the appointment which I made with them and then my wrath shall waxe hoate against them in that day and I will forsake them and will hide my face from them and they shall be consumed and much aduersitie tribulation shall come vpon them so that they will say Are not these troubles come vpon me because God is not with me How these Iudgements haue béene executed on the Israelites it is mentioned in the bookes of the Iudges Kings and Chronicles of Israel as in many other bookes of the holie Scripture and how the remainder of these things méeteth with the future Apostates S. Iohn descrieth in the ouerthrowe of Babylon with the great Whoare Reuel 18. Oh therefore that men considering this would stand in awe and sinne not Kisse the Sonne before he be angrie and learne of Dauid truely to protest in this sort Psal 116. Psal 77. vers 8. c. 119.52 55. I haue set the Lord euer before my face I remembred the yeares of the right hand of the Lord I remembred the works of the Lord certainly I remembred O Lord thy wonders of old and I did meditate in all thy works and did deuise of thine Actes I remembred thy iudgements of old euen the examples wherby thou declarest thy selfe to be Iudge of the world and I haue bin comforted And I haue remembred thy Name ô Lord in the night in the night when other sleepe and haue kept thy lawe Dauid did obserue this Dauid teacheth the same to vs and this must we also do Remember God and his works Fiue things which moue vs to remember God There be among other fiue things which may moue vs or perswade vs the rather to this dutie The first whereof is the due cōsideration of the frame of the World which a certaine Philosopher said was his onely Library for in beholding the same he sawe the magnificence of Gods power knew him therein and kept him in memorie Rom. 1. The verie Gentiles were occasioned héereby both to knowe and remember God though they worshiped him not as they should Psal 19. as Paul reasoneth Rom. 1. And as the Heauens declare the glorie of God and the Firmament his handie worke so the excellent harmonie of all the creatures consenting therevnto moueth the mind of man to kéepe the register thereof The second thing is the person of man called by the Gréekes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a little World wherein is the view as it were of all these things The auntient Philosopher Trismegistus draweth men to the knowledge and mindfulnes of God In lib. de poten Sap. dei Dialog 5. by the consideration of mans bodie Age fili saith he circumspice humani corporis opificium cuius admonitione perdisce quis tam pulchrae imaginis conditor c. Go to my Sonne looke about the workemanship of mans bodie by the admonition wherof learne perfitly who is he which hath made so beawtifull an image And perusing euery part and member of the body he concludeth thus Behold how many works of diuine Arte are in this one matter demonstrated euery of which is most sightly and handsomly proportioned and so that euery of them yet differeth from other in his proper office But who hath framed these things what father what mother Is it not that onely inuisible God which of his owne will hath done them all And another Philosopher saith that a man hauing in his bodie so many ioynts members as there be dayes in the whole yeare is thereby put in mind of Gods goodnes and moued to remember him continually Héerewith if we consider the hidden treasures of the Soule and so include the whole man we shall be euen deuoured with zeale and forced to sing ioyfully with Dauid O Lord Psal 134.14 I will feare thee for I am fearefully and wonderfully made marueilous are thy workes and that my soule knoweth right well Thirdly the word of God written and preached vnto vs The word of God teacheth vs plainely not onely what God is what his will is what he hath done but also in what sort he is to be serued and how to be remembred Without this Remembrancer he saw all our memorie to be forgetfulnes all our knowledge ignorance all our wisedome foolishnes all our policies péeuishnes all our sight blindnes had not the Lord giuen vs his word written not onely in the heart but euen in Tables of stone brasse iron c. to remaine a
abide that for there is nothing more contrary to the crosse of Christ than Pride Except ye humble your selues and become as children ye cannot enter into the kingdome of heauen sayth Christ Pride bringeth men with speede to Babel yeeldeth confusion shame and fall I would to God there were not found too many possessed with this deuil among vs who albeit they bee called Christians whose méekenesse they should followe do yet in the pride of their hearts disdaine simple Iesus and his word and that were it not for the loue of worldly estimation and wealth would euen openly contemne the profession of humble Iesus The Lord stop the great inconuenience of this sinne to the casting downe of proud Lucifer and his members that the glorie of Iesus Christ might be the better embraced euen in humilitie Another fault we note in this vngracious woman that is wanton and worldly pleasure 4 Worldly pleasure which was of force to withstand her proceeding Sodom was a pleasant Countrie as the garden of Eden so well watred and the Apples and fruites therein most beautifull to the eye Video meliora proboque c And hereon Appetite tooke occasion to contend with reason and in her preuayled that with Medaea she could now dispute and thus resolue yet wil I follow my pleasures be they neuer so noysome and eate these apples be they neuer so venimous though I see that which is wholsomer and cannot but commend it These snares doth Satan cast before the hungrie foules to take them merily singeth when he deceiueth The Syrenes sing sweetly the Lamaei shine beautifully the Serpent suggesteth subtiltie and the deuill promiseth al the glorie of the world to them that worship him But they reason for themselues and will coyne excuses although he that had maried a wife had none excuse at all Shall I abandon worldly pleasures I am yet but a yong man Shal I not haue a wanton eye I am but a girle Shal I loose the assurance of my delights here and trust to an vncerteyntie Take heede O yong man Eccle. 11. and knowe that an accompt shall bee called of thy youthfull yeeres and a payne will ensue these pleasures The Apples of Sodom bee fayre to behold but touch them and they fall to sinders and the stinging Hydra lyeth vnder the golden swarth Remember that Heuah lost the true pleasures of Paradise by following her pleasant appetite Esau for a messe of pottage and his worldly pleasure did lose both the birthright and blessing the man that had wedded himselfe to his delights could not enioy the benefite of the mariage feast and Lots wife for the wanton pleasures of Sodom lost the saftie of Zoar and turning from heauen was deuoured of hell Remember what our Lord sayd Whosoever loveth either father or mother wife or children or any thing in the world more than me is not worthie of me And remember what father Abraham sayd to the proude rich man in hell Sonne sayth he remember that thou in thy life time haddest thy pleasure but contrariwise Lazarus received paynes but now he is comforted and thou art punished Arguing a matter of Iustice to giue torments and paynes after death to them that haue giuen themselues to pastime and pleasure in this life which also S. Iames Iam. 5. in a manner confirmeth in his 5. Chapter Remember that Moses hauing hereof right consideration did not only put off his shooes from his feete the clogges that might haue hindred him from comming to the Lord and from doing his duetie Exod 3. but also he chose affliction with the people of God in the wildernesse Heb. 11. before the pleasures of sinne in Egypt for a season The Lord in his mercie perswade vs with Iaphet to departe from the societie and pleasures of Cham and 〈◊〉 dwell in the tabernacles of blessed Shem that we may not serue the deuill among the manie of this world in these vaine and fleshlie pleasures which confounded Sodom and with them Lots wife Further wee note in this woman a distrust of Gods prouidence mixt with worldly carefulnesse 5 Distrust of Gods prouideÌ„ce worldly carefulnes inconueniences which alway followe infidelitie O woman thou distrusting one thing takest care for many things Doest thou thinke that the great omnipotent God is not thereby ritch and liberall mightie and most willing to prouide for his children Could not he haue giuen thee enough without Sodom And wilt thou distrust him and care for thy selfe without him Wilt thou looke backe to the things left behinde thee in Sodome The Hebrew text hath it thus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is his wife looked back behind her Which the Greeke translation yeeldeth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is She looked backe or had respect to the things behind her or on that which she had left in Sodom She thought that God would not haue so well prouided for her elswhere as she was prouided for in Sodom therfore she had a carefull desire of the things left behinde her and a mind to prouide for her self Thus the Israelites in the Wildernesse distrusting God wished for the flesh and fare of Egypt agayne Oh that she had remembred the goodnesse of God to Abraham and her owne husband Lot She neuer sawe the righteous forsaken nor his seede to begge Behold he feedeth the yong Rauens that crye vnto him and will he not feed his own children Do bodily fathers offer vnto their childreÌ„ not stones but bread and not Scorpions but fishes and shall not our heauenly father giue good things to such as aske theÌ„ of him Shall the birdes feede their Chickens and the beastes their young and will not he feede his children O woman what meanest thou Would to God this maladie had not also infected vs then would we not by such indirect meanes as wee vse endeuour to prouide for our backe and our bellie then would wee not so murmur agaynst God as we do with mindes neuer content But some do decipher themselues hereby to be not true sonnes but bastards For if we assure our selues to bee his children and be our father then also do wee assure our selues of his prouision for vs that he â—eepeth vs as the apple of his eye and not suffer one hayre of our head to perish much lesse our life He fed Eliah by the ministerie of Rauens he sent meate to Daniel in the Lions denne he fed an hundred Prophets by the hand of Obadiah in Caues he gaue water to Sampson from the Iaw bone of an Asse and honie from the dead carcasse of a Lion the widowes had their oyle and flower encreased in the famine He gaue Manna from heauen water from the Rocke and Quayles from the ayre vnto the Israelites In Samaria there is plentie of flower on a sodayne and our Sauiour Christ feedeth sometime 4000. sometime 500. persons with fine loaues and two fishes and yet more is taken vp in fragments then was layd downe
in the whole Why then should we murmur Why should we excessiuely care for the morrowe and vexe our mindes Let vs rather applie our vocations according to the rule of his word with the ordinarie and lawfull meanes and affixe our mindes on him and trust in his mercie knowing that man liueth not by bread only but by euery word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God The Israelites cryed for flesh they haue it and dye thereof for their murmuring distrust And so Lots wife distrusting God she murmureth in mind she bendeth back as though her owne care had been better than Gods grace for her saftie but she hath a reward Remember her distrust and worldly carefulnes 6 Foolish pitie Another fault we find in this faithles woman as cords of vanitie do euer linck together to pull men from God and that is foolish pitie which is also too common among vs. She was moued for her friends and old acquaintance whose companie and conditions she loued which she should rather haue hated and she thought it a pitifull thing that sinners should be punished Psa 101.3 I hate theÌ„ saith Dauid to the Lord that hate thee and am grieved with them that rise vp against thee Psal 15.4 being persuaded that he only should dwell in the Lords tabernacle and rest vpon his holy hill in whose eyes a vile person is contemned Therefore he saith againe Psal 26.5 I have hated the companie of the evill a froward heart shall depart from me Psa 101.7 I will knowe none evill person for thus saith the Lord There shall no deceitfull person dwell in my house Let Magistrates take heed of foolish pitie Remember how King Saul for pitying Agag the Amalakite was reproued and plagued that Achab for letting go of Benhadad King of Siria was reprehended endangered On the other side Remember what Iehu did to Iezabel and the wicked house of Achab without compassion and that he was promised by the Lord for doing this thing his sonnes should surely sit on the throane after him to the third and fourth generation Remember also what a good report zealous Phinehas obtained wheÌ„ with his sword he flewe Zimri and Cozbi and ceassed the plague which was accounted vnto him for righteousnes throughout all generations And it is for euery man to be zealous in the Lords cause with Christ who was deuoured with the zeale of his fathers house not to giue ayme to sinne nor suffer the honor of the Lord God of Israel to be prophaned but to desire with heart the conuersion of sinners to withstand their open abhominations to reproue sinne and by lawfull meanes to séeke the execution of iustice against sinne euery maister in his house euery father in his family and euery true Christian in his place is to take heed that he withstand sinne in his seruants in his children in his brethren though with reprehension with due correction and the lawfull execution of the end of iustice as the case or cause shall require without foolish pitie But how negligently this is obserued the verie streetes of the Citie do testifie when as seruants children and those that should knowe how to measure their words with discretion be nothing fearefull to sweate and blaspheme the holy name of God in their common conferences neither do they shame to commit sinne openly as Sodom did and there is found no iust Lot to reproue them but there be found too many maisters fathers and others that with Lots wife will rather giue ayme vnto their vngodlines and be vnwilling in hart that any correction reprehension or punishment at all should be giuen them Remember Lots wife Another fault is found in this vnhappie woman slouth and negligence 7 Slouth and negligence in hir iourney foorth There is none excuse can be admitted against the Lords commandement neither the stammering toong of Moses that could not speake nor the tendernes of Ieremy being but a child nor the simplicitie of Dauid the least among his brethren nor the pouertie of Gedeon so meane nor the bashfulnes of Ionas so fearefull nor the former life of Saul a persecutor may iustly offer excuses of delayes in their lawfull vocation But séeme the thing neuer so hard strange obscure vneasie or impossible Note this if the Lord once bid vs to procéede we may not bée slacke nor negligent nor refuse to obeye And this is taught vs by many examples Peter in prison is commanded to rise vp quickly and so he did Acts. 12. Zacheus being called from the figge tree by our Sauiour he coÌ„meth downe quickly The children of Israel did eate the Passouer hastely as they were commanded and Paul doth the worke of the Lord without negligence as the Spirit moueth him We must strike whiles the iron is hoate and seeke the Lord whiles he may be found for the tyde carieth for no man We must knock in time Isa 55. Eccles. 3.1 and enter in before the gate be shut for there is a time of mercie and a time of wrath of mercie whiles Abraham praieth and Lot is yet in Sodom of wrath when Abraham ceasseth to pray and Lot is departed Do not then say when ye are called by the word of the Lord to come to him I am but young and too young to serue God yet I will serue him when I am old say not I will first go and burie my father I wil go bid theÌ„ farewell at home neither make delayes or excuses by buying Oxen fyning farmes marying wiues but to day if ye will heare the Lords voice harden not your hearts The Lord promiseth not to stay for you till to morrow though he promise that at what time soeuer ye repent he will forgiue you Therefore delay not he only winneth the goale that runneth swiftly he obtaineth the victorie that striueth valiantly he entreth into the gate that waiteth carefully and he is heard worthely that craueth timely Runne then make haste the day is at hand the time is vncertaine the enemie is strong Sodom is sinfull the Angels be come to destroy the vngodly the cale is taken the Lord is not intreated the nomber of the godly is small there is none to stop the Lords wrath not one to stand vp in the gap for the Citie that can be heard and the fire will not be â—uenched therefore it is more then time to flye hence Heereat Lot with his two daughters do runne hence with his speede but his wife hath many heauie clogs she is slouthfull negligent full of delayes and is ouertaken with destruction Lastly this vngodly Woman being by the deuill the world and the flesh 8 Apostacie so mightely hindered froÌ„ the good course now thereby in the end maketh shipwrack of all together for she doth apostate and turne backe from the Lord to Sodom There be two kinds of returnes 2. kinds of returne the one good commendable the other wicked and abhominable It is a
¶ Remember Lots wife Two godly and fruitfull Sermons verie conuenient for this our time lately preached on a Sunday in the Cathedral Church of S. Peters in Excester the one in the forenoone the other in the afternoone the same day By Iohn C. Math. 24. He that endureth to the end the same shall be saued AT LONDON Printed by Thomas Orwin and are to be solde by Edward White at the litle North-doore of S. Paules at the signe of the Gunne 1588. TO THE RIGHT VVorshipfull and vertuous Matrone Mistris Mary Woolton wife to the Right Reuerend Father in Christ Iohn Lord Bishop of Excester Grace faith and felicitie in the Lord. I Am not ignorant Right worshipful that worldly wittes doe desire to heare rather Eliphas Iob. 2. Bildad and Zophar the Themanite the Suhite and the Naamathite to paynt forth a bad matter eloquently than patient Iob to handle a very good cause with playnnesse and simplicitie To whose curious heads and itching eares mine harrish harmonie deuoyd of learned method vtterance grace may seeme altogether vnpleasant Howbeit I am not for all that all vnwilling vpon iust occasions now to publish that which before I neuer ment to make publicke otherwise then by worde only For I perswade my selfe of the goodnesse of my cause and aduenture to promise it both profitable and godly Besides that the candle once lightened is not for the Bushell but for the Table the talent taken in hand is not to be hidden but to be employed And the light that a Christian man hath in him must so shine on euery part as thereby the name of God may be glorified and the godly edified Neither ought a Christian to bee ashamed of Christ and of his word seeme it vnto worldlings neuer so contemptible Finally to commit that thing to perpetuitie which is for the benefite of the brethren any way is as commendable as it is profitable and oftentimes commaunded to bee done in the word of God as an especiall helpe for mans minde which being as water that sodainly loseth any impression without such memorandums doth very quickly forget things memorable and most necessary Therefore the Lord doth not only write his commandements in two tables of stone but also commaundeth Moses and after him the Prophets and lastly his seruaÌ„t Iohn to write the things which they had seene and heard being as Dauid sayth profitable for the posteritie and as Paule confirmeth for our learning that we which be the Lords may therby be the sooner furnished and prepared to euery vertue These things considered might sufficiently haue perswaded the penning of these two Sermons touching that notable memorandum which our Sauiour gaue to the Iewes Remember Lots wife yet calling to minde with what a diligent eare and attentiuenes your selfe listened to the matter vttered by your owne confession with the good liking and semblable commendations wherewith ye beautified the same at that time besides some desires of others thereunto esteeming the argument and matter right requisite for this time it prouokâ—d me to resume my pen with the more dexteritie readines to gather vp as it were into a store basket the fragmeÌ„ts of that spirituall banquet which were scattered abroad as iustly as I could to bee and remayne to and for the vse of them that had before tasted of the same hoping that they which liked it before will not loath it now nothing doubting by the grace of God but that it will be to his glorie and the benefite of his Church the only marke which I haue aymed vnto In respect whereof wee may not sticke if wee bee the Lords to hazard all the credit that wee haue yea and rather wish with Moses and Paule to be as Anathema among them of this world then that we should hold backe or thrust to obliuioÌ„ any thing that maie be to the aduauncement of the one or profite of the other Hauing therefore preserued by pen noted these words in a Booke I both commit and commend them to the Church of Christ and among the true members of the same especially to your Worship by whose often courtesies to me I am moued to thankfulnes and by whose happie choyce of good Mary her lot I am stirred vp to gladnesse the token signification whereof my good-will vttereth vnto you in this my present which though so simple in shewe is for the matter as pretious as pure gold tryed in the fire Therefore I pray you to accept it gladly to reade it at your conuenient leisure and repose the profite thereof in your breast that therby ye may both be comforted your self with Mary and also may the rather as otherwise ye are well able God be thanked perswade others not only women but also men to follow Christ in faithfull zeale godlinesse and vertue without wearines or fainting The Lord God graunt that the hearers and readers of this Booke may not only thereby the sooner tend to the right vse of memorie therein taught them but also learne to go foorth from Sodom to proceed and to hold on with iust Lot towards the goale of euerlasting life on the other side with wisdome to eschew the horrible sinnes and faults of Lots wife by the consideration of the fearefull iudgements of God on that vnhappie woman And euen thus I commend both my good Lord and your selfe to the Almightie Lord who blesse preserue and keepe you vnder the wings of his mightie protection From London the 28. day of Iune 1588. Your Worships to my power in Christ Iohn Carpenter O Lord open thou my lippes and my mouth shall shew foorth thy prayse Open the cares of thy people that they may heare and encline all our hearts to beleeue and followe those things that be taught vs in thy holie Word through Iesus Christ thy deere Sonne our Lord Amen Luke 17. Verse 32. Remember Lots Wife ALthough the Lord God be so holie and glorious Ezech. 1. that no man can behold him and the verie Angels be vnable to susteine the brightnes of his face And on the other side man is so vncleane and ignominious Ier. 17.19 Genes 6. so stiffe-necked and stubborne hearted so wicked and abhominable that he is forced with the Publican to hang downe his head in great confusion with Daniel Dani. 9.4 Psal 8.4 Hebr. 2.6 to graunt the due desert of open shame with Dauid to admire that euer God would vouchsafe either to regard or remember man and that all men from the highest of them to the lowest can not but confesse with blushing faces that all men be not onely conceiued and borne in sinne but also bred and brought vp in the same being méere lyers and lighter than vanitie Psal 116. verse 11. Dan 9.11 Ezech. 18. verse 21. Psal 51.9 Yet because that to the Lord belongeth mercie and forgiuenes he turneth away his face from mans sinnes being euer mindfull of mercies He foretelleth men of his iudgements prouoked and giueth them
timely warning to eschewe the plagues deserued with a sweete prouocation of sinnes to fruitfull repentance either by comfortable arguments of his bounties to his obedient children Sap. 10. or by strange and fearefull examples of his iudgements executed on the rebellious and vngodly sinners In like manner our Lord Iesus Christ that true 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and friend to mankinde imitating in this as in all other things his heauenly Father who of his loue to man according to the purport and effect of the auntient promise made to Adam and confirmed to Abraham Dauid and other godly Fathers in his mercy sent him into the world to bring all true beleeuers vnto life euerlasting doth not only by perfitting the worke of mans saluation which none could do but himselfe shewe great mercies vnto his beloued but also foresheweth both to them and all others a most miserable destruction imminent and ready to fall first on the Iewes and then on all others who after their stubbornes faithlesse ingratitude and Apostasie do despise the goodnes of God and he leaueth not vnwarned in the same all men to take heed of those future miseries that horrible sinners do purchase to themselues by producing this notable memorandum of the terrible iudgements of God euen on the wife of that righteous man Lot she going about to saue her life lost it and looking backe in her heart to sinfull Sodom from whence the Lord in mercy had drawne her with charge to proceede without retire God foresheweth his iudgements she perished from the right way betweene Sodom and Zoar in that great wrath kindled against her We reade in Genesis that when all flesh had corrupted his way on the earth Gen. 6.23 and the Lord sawe that the wickednes of man was great on the earth and all the imaginations and thoughts of his heart were only euill in so much that he repented him of mans creation and was grieued in his mind he would yet in mercie though in the middest of wrath both foreshew the destruction following vnto his righteous seruant Noah whome he fauoured and gaue him also commission to diuulgate and publish the same to the world whome notwithstanding this vnreasonable sorrow conceiued he would in mercie spare for the space of an hundred and twenty yeares And moreouer for a perpetuall instruction to the posterities the Lord after that Noah had obteined rest made his Bowe in the Clowdes to be a token of the couenant thereon compacted which also beareth manifest Arguments both of mercy and iudgement to the comfort of the godly for whose benefit the promise was giuen to the confusion of the wicked for whome destruction waiteth And there is the blew colour of water to note for euer wherewith the world was destroyed and the red colour of fire to shew wherewith it shall perish 2. Peter 3. according to the Prophesie of S. Peter Genes 18. Afterward when the sinnes and abhominations of the filthy Sodomites had ascended vp and the loathsome cries of these execrable Sinners had pearced the Lords eares he determined thereon a mightie Plague which yet he threw not vpon them till time he had both warned them thereof and deliuered from the same his Seruants Abraham and Lot In the Booke of the Iudges it is mentioned that the Israelites oftentimes sinned against the Lord and incurred the plague of their transgressions whereof likewise they were forewarned and admonished to beware by Moses Iosuah Deut 28. verse 31. Iosh 24. and other the Seruants of God And besides that such destructions and miseries as ensued intollerable ingratitude to their posterities were told of by the holie Prophets and the persons on whome the inconueniences fell had yet certaine signes and tokens left to be as continuall remembrances vnto them The Prophet Samuel sayd to King Saul whiles he was yet King ouer Israel 1. Sam. 11 verse 23. and without feare of disgrace The Lord hath cast thee off from being King ouer Israel And this thing sayd he was also signified by the renting of his garment And so the Prophet Ahia the Silonite told Ieroboam 1. Kin. 11. verse 31. that the Lord had rent the Kingdome of Israel into 12. parts and this did he prognosticate by renting a newe Mantell into twelue péeces The Prophet Ieremy foreshewing a destruction to come proclaimeth thus in the Lords name Iere. 35.5 Behold I haue set pots of Wyne before the household of the Rekabites but they would not drinke obeying therein their fathers commaundement but as for you ye haue not hearkened vnto me as they hearkened vnto their father therefore I will bring vpon Iuda and vpon euery inhabiter of Ierusalem all the trouble that I haue deuised against them And this was certainly performed in his due time when as the Israelites for their sinnes were caried away captiue into Babylon their Citie being destroyed their Temple polluted and all their glorie shadowed 1. Cor. 10. S. Paule hauing declared both the mercie and wrath of God mercie in bringing the auntient Israelites out of Egypt wrath in ouerthrowing the rebellious people in the wildernes and turning per apostrophen to the Corinthians to whome he committeth this example warneth them thus Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heede that he fall not And thus did S. Peter Iude Iames and Iohn admonish them to whome they wrote Aboue all our Sauiour Christ willing to stirre vp not onely the Iewes but all men which rest in carelesse securitie Christ foreshewed the destruction of the Iewes and begin to bend backward foreséeing their ruine and miserable thraldome doth not only languish and powre foorth teares for the same thereby mouing vs if possible to wéepe for our selues but also prophesieth destructions and many heauie lots to fall on men in the world And to the ende they may the better be admonished séeing the consideration of other mens hurts may moue them to take héede he bringeth foorth the examples of the Niniuites of Tyre and Sidon of those on whome the Towre in Silo fell and of them whome Pilate slewe in the time of their Sacrifices of them that were drowned in the generall Floud and of the Sodomites And therevnto he addeth semblable Parables as of the Rich man and poore Lazarus of the vniust Steward and the wicked Mammon of the fiue foolish Virgins of the disobedient child the wicked husbandmen the ingratefull guests and such like Héere he setteth foorth vnto them the fearefull iudgements of God on Lots Wife willing them by her example to take heede of destruction not to looke backe from the plough but to hold on for feare of a greeuous and horrible destruction Therefore sayth he Remember Lots Wife A sentence very briefe yet a lesson not for idle Scholers fewe words yet not for dull hearers but as enough for a Sermon so a meete memorandum for a man during his life The Oracles and graue sayings of the wise men of yore
and prayed for their good successe Héereby the godly persuaded themselues The man that forgetteth the iniurie of his brother may the better come to God that laying aside all displeasures and forgetting manifold iniuries though it were to seuenty times seauen as Christ teacheth they might with more safe hearts and quiet consciences approach vnto the throane of grace with these and such like petitions Remember not the sinnes of our youthfull dayes O Lord Psalm 25. Forget our iniquities and blot our transgressions out of thy mind Forgiue vs our trespasses as we forgiue them that trespas against vs. The Lord Iesus graunt vs the spirit of pietie and patience to forgiue and forget the offences of our bréethren against vs. Moreouer Dauid in his 45. Psalme teacheth the Church Psalm 45. and therein euery member of the same what should be forgotten that her heauenly wooer Christ Iesus might be pleased in her Another forgetfulnes commanded in Scripture more generall Iohn 3. Forget saith he thine owne people and thy fathers house Therevnto counselleth S. Paule in his Epistle to the Rom. cap. 12. verse 1.2 and in his 13. Chapter of the same verses 12.13.14 This is that new birth which Nichodemus with all his wisedome is not able to conceiue and so difficult and hard for the fleshly man which conceiueth not the things that be of God as nothing is harder And therefore as the valiant Captaine Vlysses being in Affrica and perceiuing that his fellowes did continually languish with the remembrance of their Countrie Wife and Children which they could not forget caused them to taste of the Trée Lotos whereof if a stranger eate it is sayd he forgetteth his owne Countrey so our most excellent Captaine Christ produceth vnto vs his holy Word the trée of life to be tasted eaten and disgested with this commaundement Hearken ô Daughter hearken ô Israel he that hath eares to heare let him heare and happy is he that heareth the Word of God and keepeth it for by eating thereof man liueth he forgetteth old Adam To forget old Adam and the fleshly affections of man he casteth off the shooe from his féete with Moses and draweth néere to the Lord he meditateth on the Lawe of God day and night and is satisfied with goodnes By this was Paul put apart from the world This quencheth out the lust of the flesh the pride of life and loue of the world This bringeth faith to iustifie man before God and vertues to approue him before men This harboureth men in the bosome of faithfull Abraham whome the ruinous habitation of Adam could not preserue This draweth men from earthly Hierico to heauenly Ierusalem and persuadeth Iaphet to dwell in the tabernacles of Shem. Peter tasting of this Genes 9. goeth foorth at the doore and wéepeth for his sinne Ruth Ruth 2. the Moabitisse is hereby taken from her owne countrie and brought into Israel and this pearle being so pretious causeth a man to forsake all that hee hath to sell all his wealth to buy purchace and obtayne it The Lord graunt vs grace to bee in this poynt so forgetfull that we neither remember to commit nor dare bée so bold as to attempt sinne that wee neither dwell in the loathsome tents of Kedar nor so much as sauour of the fleshly affections of impious and vngodly men Thus haue we seene what things we are chiefly to forget and shut out of memorie Now let vs beholde the true substance of memorie What to remember and so in the end descend vnto this particular example of Lots wife If wee would that GOD in goodnesse should remember vs and that our prayers may enter in before him Nehe. 13. verse 31. Ionae 2.7 as Nehemiah and Ionas sayd then must we not be forgetfull of that which he commaundeth to bée kept in minde And except the Lord in his mercie be mindfull of vs Gen. 8.1 Genes 19. verse 29. Psal 115. verse 12. as he hath bene of old time of his seruants Noah Lot Abraham Dauid Ionas Manasses and others to whome in extremitie hee sent comfort and helpe we may be compared to Sodoma and like vnto Gomorrha wee cannot stande in the congregation but bee confounded in iudgement wee shall want that which may helpe vs and finde whatsoeuer anoyeth vs and being banished from the benediction of Gods children shall incurre the heauie curse of his enemies And a most fearefull thing is it to be forgotten of the Lord. For there is nothing remayning but cursings in the towne and in the field going out and comming in in the basket and in the store in the bodie and in the land and in whatsoeuer is taken in hand a sick bodie and a faint heart maymed members and a doubtfull minde in the morning wishing for the euening Deut. 28. in the euening desiring the morning vengeance from heauen an hell vpon earth Of this portion drinketh the vngodly to whom there is no peace saith the Lord seeing they bee aduersaries to the Almightie and banished from his presence Isai 40. as cleane out of his mercifull remembrance The faithfull children remembring these things with considerate mindes haue resorted vnto the Lord praying him in goodnesse to remember them Thus prayed Salomon O Lord God 2. Chro. 6. verse 42. refuse not the face of thine annoynted Remember the mercies promised to Dauid thy seruant And so prayed that noble Captaine Nehemiah Nehe. 1.5.8 cap. 5.19 ca. 13.31 O Lord God of heauen the great and terrible GOD that keepeth couenant and mercie for them that loue him and obserue his commandements c. I beseech thee remēber the worde that thou commandest thy seruant Moses Againe Remember me sayth he in goodnesse That patient man Iob in his great afflictions cryed out vnto the Lord Remember that my life is but a wind And King Hezekiah turning his face to the wall 2. Kin. 20.3 prayed in this manner I beseech thee O Lord remember now how I haue walked before thee in trueth and with a perfect heart and haue done that which is good in thy sight Baruch in the behalfe of the captiue Israelites Remember not sayth he the wickednesse of our fathers but thinke vpon thy power and thy name at this time The Prophet Dauid being moued with an excellent spirit Psa 74.20 and 137. Psal 119. verse 49. singeth vnto the Lord Remember thy couenant and promise Remember Sion be mindful of thy mercies c. Finally the condemned théefe on the Crosse with our Sauiour sayth vnto him Lord remember me when thou comest into thy kingdome These godly desires vttered with a faithfull heart haue not bene put backe nor was the Lord vnmindfull of his loue but as he remembred Noah and euery beast and all the cattel that was with him in the Arke and as Christ remembred Peter Mary Paule the théefe on the Crosse Psal 115. verse 12. So sayth Dauid in the behalfe of
all the faithfull The Lord hath bin mindfull of vs and he shall blesse vs and he will blesse the house of Israel he will blesse the house of Aaron he will blesse them that feare the Lord both small and great Psal 105. verse 8.42 He hath been alwaies mindfull of his couenant and promise that he made to a thousand generations Therefore let not the vngodly any longer say vnto the Lord Depart from vs Iob. 21.14 Sap. 2. wee desire not the knowledge of thy waies Who is the Almightie that we should serue him And what profite should we haue if we should pray vnto him For the candle of the vngodly shall bee put out their destruction hasteneth on them their hope is as a drie thistle flower blowen of the winde they leade their liues wantonly and sodainly they go downe into hell And as for vs let vs put our trust in the Lord and consider deeply and duely to what ende the Almightie hath bestowed on vs that excellent treasure of Memorie Let vs endeuour rightlie to vse the same by printing therein enough these fiue worthie things following viz. 1 The Lord God and his actions both of mercie and iudgement 2 Our brethren and that duetie wee owe them 3 Our owne selues what wee are and wherevnto subiected 4 The finall and generall Iudgement for which wee must wayt and prepare our selues 5 Lastly this memorable example of Lots wife and this last do I referre to the second part of my generall dunsion as the onely matter or subiect for the action commanded in my present text A good memorie is here required Now if a man could remember with Cyrus King of Persia who was able as Solinus reported to call euery one of his Souldiers by his proper name when as his hoast was exceeding great Or if a man had the mindfulnesse of that mayde which can hardly forget her attire as Ieremy said yet could we not reach herein to a sufficient perfection But as for our selues I feare me we be so farre of that we may rather be iustly compared to one Messala Coruinus who albeit he was sometime a graue Senatour in Rome and much commended by eloquent Cicero for many vertues did yet a two yeeres before his death become so forgetfull that he remembred not his owne name Which kinde of forgetfulnesse hath come vnto diuers other also either by infirmitie of nature or by extreame sicknesse or by dotage or by excessiue cares And would to God that our naturall infirmities our sinfull agonies our damnable dotings in blind affections and our worldly carefulnes had not maymed vs with this maladie then might we haue escaped that reproach of the Israelites The Oxe knoweth his owner Isay 1. vers 3. and the Asse the cribbe of his maister but my people haue not knowne me they haue forgotten me Although wee cannot denie but that we haue our earthen vessels with Agathocles thereby to remēber our originall and with Peter haue heard the Cock crowing thrise in our eares to put vs in minde of things memorable yet it is true that we haue forgotten oftentimes that we should minde hauing our cogitations blinded with Satans enchantments that sometimes we will not heare to obey the Word of God be it preached neuer so wiselie This point of folly noteth S. Iames in the man Iam. 1.23 that beholding his bodily face in a glasse but going his way forgetteth immediatly what manner of one he was Héeere is great forgetfulnes from the which the Lord kéepe vs. Let vs vse the talent lent vs knowing that as well for that one as for the tenne an accompt is required and a reckoning must be made and that good seruant shall be commended with a double reward when the vnprofitable wretch shall haue his talent taken from him and himselfe double punished Remember God and his Workes Eccles 12. verse 1. Let vs remember the Lord and his meruailous works The wise Salomon commandeth vs to remember God and therewith to obserue the time conuenient saying Remember thy Creator in the dayes of thy youth whiles the euill dayes come not nor the yeeres approach wherein thou shalt say I haue no pleasure in them To this duty did Moses often incite and stirre vp the forgetfull Israelites who neuerthelesse after innumerable benefites receiued of the Lord remembred him not Iudg. 8.34 but forgat the Almighty that begat them God that formed them Deut. 32. verse 18.19.20 c. which caused him in anger to correct them to whet vp his glittering sword for them and his hand to take hold of Iustice against them to execute vengeance on them and to reward them that hate him This Dauid hauing considered exhorteth thus Seeke the Lord and his strength Psal 105. ◠Seeke his face continually Remember the meruailous works he hath done his wonders and the iudgements of his mouth And thus let vs remember the goodnes of the Lord first generally on all mē next on his Church and holie congregation and then on euerie particular member thereof and considering the same let vs ascribe all prayse honor thanks and maiestie to him for euer He hath not only created man The mercie of God but in mercie preserued him and prouided louingly for him He maketh the Sunne to shine as well on the vniust as on the iust and giueth raine to them both mouing all men to remember them and without this dutie they be touched with intollerable ingratitude But as for his Spouse the Church Dauid singeth of his louing mercies and goodnes vnto thē in this manner Psal 115. He blesseth them aboundantly that feare the Lord both small and great he encreaseth his graces towards them euen towards them and their childrē for they be the chosen generation the royall Priesthood the holie Ierusalem and blessed of the Lord that made heauen and earth And therefore this especiall little flock hath the Lord wonderfully defended and kept vnto himselfe holy safe and vndefiled before him Although the holy Church is as a bush in fire burning yet is it not consumed though as a Ship tossed yet not ouerturned though as a woman trauailing yet neuer dead and though as a Vyne pruned yet neuer sterued And as for this particular branch of the Church wherein we liue the verie land sauoring of the swéetnes of Gods mercie we are forced to confesse that the Lord hath not dealt with euery Nation as he hath dealt with vs and do find by full experience that the Nation is blessed which hath the Lord for their God Lastly if euery particular man shall duely consider with himselfe and remember how many excellent blessings he hath receiued of the Lord to the beawtifying of his body and soule oh God how shall he be forced to prayse and blesse him in the same with endlesse comfort Aboue all when there was neither sufficiencie of wood for burnt offerings in Libanus The goodnesse of God in Christ nor Cattell
alleadge causes also for themselues whose imaginations the Wise man descrieth in his 2. Chapt. of the booke of Wisedome Sap. 2. where he telleth that the vngodly being not fully persuaded of a better life after this and therefore minding to take their fill of pleasure heere in despight of Gods threatnings in contempt of his promises without any cōtroulment or contradiction of the righteous which can not but speake against them they thus resolue and conclude against the righteous Let vs oppresse the poore man that is so righteous Will ye oppresse nay rather deale iustly Will ye hurt the poore nay rather helpe him Will ye do violence to the righteous man nay rather do him good But ye will not be restrained ye will oppresse him and why he is not for our profit he is contrary to our doings he checketh vs for offending he accounteth vs transgressors of discipline he bosteth himselfe of the knowledge of God he saith he is Gods sonne he is made to reproue our thoughts it greeueth vs to see him his life is not like other mens his wayes are of another sort he accounteth vs as bastards he abhorreth our wayes he commendeth only the latter end of the righteous therefore we will examin him with rebukes and torments we will condemne him to a shamefull death Alas ye miserable caitiffes be these your profound arguments Indéed these beseeme him that saith in the pride of his heart Sic volo siu iubeo stat pro ratione voluntas I will haue it so so I commaund it to be done my will is an argument forcible ynough This is the manner of dealing of the worldlings against the righteous So is Lot entertained Now séeing the case thus standeth The godly are to ioyne together in loue oh how ready should the godly be to ioyne together and liue in concord together a thing both godly and profitable as Dauid singeth Ecce quam bonum c. for the house is not desolate nor the kingdome confounded where loue and concord dwelleth and raigneth It is good for birds of one flight to flye together chickens of one hen to couch together shéepe of one fold to flock together strings of one instrument to sound in harmonie together members of one bodie to ioyne together and Christians of one calling to loue together as sonnes of one father brethren of one Christ and Saints of one God This is expressely commaunded by Christ this is the badge or recognizance whereby we be knowne and heereby we be assured of our translation frō death to life as S. Iohn saith And the Apostles speaking heereof lay oftentimes our Sauiour for a patterne before vs who commaunded his Disciples to loue together as he had loued them that was as one noteth Veraciter sine simulatione prudenter sine corruptione temperanter sub Dei dilectione generaliter sine exceptione That is without simulation truly without corruption wisely vnder the loue of God temperately without exception generally Heere is not taught the loue of Cayne to Abel of Saul to Dauid of Iudas to Christ but heere is the loue of Dauid to Ionathas of Ruth to Naomi of Paul to Barnabas of Christ to Iohn Againe heere is taught to loue not the errors but the vertues of our brethren to hate the sinne with loue of the person to loue not for wealth nor fauour nor strength but for that he is thy brother a Christian Yet so as this loue must not exceede the loue of our God whome aboue all things we must loue that in regard of that we must euen forsake all other things which may hinder vs from the same For whosoeuer loueth either father or mother wife or children yea or his owne life more then me saith Christ is not worthy of me heerein then is temperance learned Let vs loue hartely but yet in the feare of God and vnder his loue yet so reuerently as we may honor God in our loue Lastly we are taught by this rule to loue generally I say not all men alike for although God in mercie maketh his sunne to shine aswell on the euill as on the good and so they féele as it were the beames of Gods loue whereof they be most vnworthy yet hath he euer had an especiall loue to his own children The houshold of faith must be preferred before the worldlings as Iacob before Esau Isaac before Ismael Abel before Cayne Dauid before Saule Salomon besore Absolon Iohn before Iudas but I speake heere only of the brethren This rule is enioined to the flock vnder one shepheard to loue and embrace of what nation kinred toong or sexe soeuer they be Thus let vs loue without exception so shall we yeeld and obey as good childrē to our heauenly father so shall we shew our selues his schollers so shall we assure election to our selues so shall we be strong in our selues so shall we withstand our enemies on euery side and shine as lights in the middest of a crooked generation and thus haue we seene the entertainement of Lot in Sodom Now are we to consider how that this good man 5 The deliuerie of Lot notwithstāding the hatred of his Citizens obteined the loue and mercy of the Lord through whom not only himself was wonderfully deliuered from destruction bu also his aduersaries for a time fared the better for his presence P. Mart. in Gen. 19. It may be that now the prayer of Abraham had his effect in this that God destroyeth not Lot with Sodom For it is said that God remembring Abraham and therein his prayer tooke Lot out of the middest of the ouerthrowe Heereof it was that God was mercifull vnto him and therefore sent his Angell to deliuer him yea and when he delayed the Angell did euen perforce constraine him to flie But so much the rather in that Lot was also a righteous man whereof Dauid argueth no doubt among the semblable examples I neuer sawe the righteous forsaken And why Gen. 18. Gen. 18. should not the Iudge of all the world do according vnto right and who is righteous euen Lot in that by his faith he obteined mercie and therefore he is saued though by nature sinfull yet by the mercie of the Lord made righteous But frō what other example might Dauid gather this assurance was not Noah saued from perishing by water with his family when all the world was ouerwhelmed was not Abraham and Sara preserued in a strange land was not Isaac wonderfully preserued by the Angell when his father held vp the knife to haue killed him was not Iacob 〈…〉 Lords prouidence heere is his fault fall such is mans wisedome and therevnto it tendeth a note of disgrace in so godly a mā But God is yet mercifull vnto Lot yea and spareth for a time Sodom through him And heere obserue that whereas the Lord stayed the wrath of his rod from his enemies till time that Lot was gone out of Sodom least happely the righteous had
perished among the wicked which God forbid as Abraham praied So do we see that commandement of the tares heere verified Let them yet alone least whiles ye weed out them yee pluck vp also the corne The Angels said plainely to Lot whē they willed him to hasten vnto Zoar We can do nothing vntill thou be come thither And this is a generall thing that whē God determineth to extirpate and roote out Nations When good men be taken hence plagues may be feared to follow Kingdomes and people he first taketh away the godly from among them and leauing only a confused heape of vngodlie persons a free passage is giuen to the execution of his iudgements When we see therefore that good men do slide from vs let vs feare of a iudgement ensuing with repentant hearts turne vnto the Lord and craue mercie in time conuenient The Prophet Ezechiel telleth that when the Lord could find no zealous man among them Ezech. 22.31 he powred out his wrath and consumed them Isaiah Isa 57.1 saith that the righteous men do dye and be taken away from the euill that commeth after them And Dauid witnesseth Psal 12. that the godly men be gone and the wrath of God recompenceth the remaynder Examples héereof we haue many Among which we remember that when Noah Noah was gone from the world and was enclosed in the Arke the water foorthwith fell downe vpon the world and drowned it Whē King Hezekiah Hezekiah was layde to his Fathers in peace the plague fell downe vpon Iuda which the Lord had by promise restrained all the time of his life The like in effect is mentioned of Iosias Iosias Christ his Apostles being departed from Ierusalem and not one left there but counterfeit Iewes Christ and the Apostles and notorious euill sinners all the plagues that tended to the vtter destruction of that City immediatly followed Matth. 22. Thy house is left desolate for yee shall not see me hencefoorth c. So heere Lot Lot the righteous man being gone out of Sodom the Lord rained vpon them fire and brimstone from heauen Aug. de ciu dei 21 Solinus Egesippus and consumed them all and their Countrie as many auncient Testimonies especially the holie Scripture reporte The consideration hereof might moue euen the vngodly to wish for and desire the peace of Ierusalem gladlie to enterteyne and reteyne the societie of righteous Lots among them And when they perceiue them departing to dread great iudgements imminent 1. Sam. 3. as the daughter of old Eli did who hearing that the Arke of God was taken away from Israel cried out in great feare Now is the glorie gone from Israel for the Arke of God is taken away And thus much for the person of Lot Now are wee come to the view of Lots wife Lots wife Wherein wee are to consider First what she was Secondly what sinnes are chiefly noted in her Thirdly what was her plague or punishment This woman by all likelihood was of the Cananites but farre vnlike the woman of Canaan that cryed after Christ for her daughter And it may easely bee gathered that Lot maried this woman either in or about Sodom whereas he pitched his tent partly for that wee do not finde in the historie that she came thether with him as Sarai did with Abraham partly for that she had such an earnest desire to stay and dwel there among them And it is true Canaanites bee mixt with the Israelites that notwithstanding the commaundement of God to the contrarie some Canaanites are not onely dwelling but also ioyning vnto them of Israel which cannot do them any good but euill as long as they liue As long as the godly man soweth corne in this world will the enuious man cast in his tares among While the net is in the Sea the bad fishes wil be taken together with the good whiles the Mustard seede groweth vp to a tree the birds of all sorts will rowst vnder the same The beastes of al kinde will be found in the Arke and Cham wil couch betwene Shem and Iaphet Gen. 10. and growe to a mightie nation to diuide their Tabernacles asunder that now the Lords flocke in respect of all the rest is called little As if the Lord had chosen of all birdes one Doue of all beastes one Sheepe of all trees one Cedar in Libanus of all pittes one Riuer Iordan of all hilles one Sion of all people one Israel of al Cities one Ierusalem out of all Sodom Lot but not Lots wife As all the world to Noah all Baals Priestes to Elias all the rebellious Israelites to Ioshua Ios 24 All Ierusalem to Christ and his Apostles So is Sodom to Lot yea and with them his owne wife This is not Sarah to Abraham nor Rebeccah to Isaak nor Hester to Ashuerus nor Susanna to Ioachim nor Elizabeth to Zacharias nor Mary to Ioseph but here is so heauie a yoke as good Lot could not well beare and such a burden as he was not able to bring forth from Sodom to Zoar. Here is a curst Xantippe to a learned and patient Socrates here is a murmuring Annah to an holie Tobiah yea more yet than that here is a disdaynfull and mocking Micholl to a zealous Dauid and a cursed woman to a blessed Iob. But wee may note in her some particular sinnes and eschew them the better by the consideration of her euill successe for the same First we note in her infidelitie 1 Infidelitie For she beleeued not the words of the Angels which sayd We be come hither to destroy this place And herein she ioyned hands with all her kinne in that citie who esteemed the report of Lot touching the wordes of the Angels as fables vainely inuented or shee thought that God would haue spared so beautifull a thing notwithstanding the Angels words So Thomas was incredulous and would not beleeue the words of them which sayd they had seene Christe after his death But yet blessed are they which haue not seene and yet haue beleeued Sarah Heb. 11. that woman is commended for her fayth by the Apostle The wife of Manoah also is commended in that shee beleeued the Angels words to her Iudg. 13. Anna also the mother of Samuel Rahab Ruth Mary Martha Elizabeth Damaris and other like women are for their faith praysed but Lots wife is diffamed by her vnbeleefe This is the subtiltie of Satan Satans craft to take away a mans faith first to pull out faith from mans heart which being once gone he knoweth that man is neither able to resist him nor to quench his fierie dartes He doth therein as the Rauen which first picketh out the sheepes eye and afterward deuoureth his bodie And faith is in a man the eye of the soule Satan knoweth that faith is the pillar whereon our building standeth Therefore he shaketh it to cast downe our building He knoweth that
faith is as a Tower which giueth vs two aduantages agaynst him namely to defende our selues thereby from him and to cast out from thence the strokes of thundring Ordinances to annoy him Therefore he first aymeth to our faith Heb. 11. Ephe. 6. 1. Pet. 1. Rom. 9. 1. Cor. 10. Rom. 11. The Apostle shewing the commodities of faith by the examples of Abraham Isaak Iacob Sarah and other Saincts doth thereto oppose the infidelitie of such as haue thereby purchased iust paynes for recompence Adam by his vnbeleefe with Eua were cast out of Paradise the Iewes wanting faith could not come into the land of promise but perished in the wildernesse he that beleeued not the Prophet was trodden on in the gate of the Citie Zacharie was dumbe because he did not beleeue the worde of the Angell the Apostles were checked for their vnbeléef and Lots wife is plagued The world is reprooued for sinne by the holie Ghost Io. 16. because they beleeue not as if vnder this one sinne al other sinnes were comprehended and well worthie for without faith it is impossible to please God seeing whatsoeuer is done is sinne The Iewes by their vnbeleefe were not onely vnworthie that Christ should work any myracle among them in his owne countrie ◠but also they alienated the fauour of God from them and their children This is if grieuous sinne Let vs take heed of vnbeleefe and eschew the payne therof by a perfect faith in Christ Let vs beleeue the voyce of the Angell let vs hearken vnto our greate Archangell Christ and his word preached by his Ministers that wee may beleeue for faith commeth by hearing and faith hath more commodities than I am able to expresse at this time When Satan desired to sift vs as wheate Christ prayed that our faith might not fayle The Lord therefore helpe our vnbeleefe and encrease our faith in vs euermore that thereby we may hasten from Sodom with righteous Lot and not stay or turne thether agayne to perish with his vnrighteous wife Secondly in her is noted the sinne of disobedience 2 Disobedience Lot obeyed the voyce of the Angels and departed from Sodom without retyre or looking backe but she disobeyed that voyce in looking backe And no maruaile for she beleeued not For obedience is not expected from infidelitie no more than the standing of an house without a foundation or sweete fruite to growe on the tree that hath a bitter roote She would not come forth to Zoar to saue her felfe there She looked back to Sodom Though obedience be better than Sacrifice as Samuel sayd to Saule to hearken is better than the blood of Goates and disobedience is as the sinne of witchcraft yet she obeyeth not she hearkeneth not but rebelleth Although it was commaunded by the Lord enioyned by the Angell Gen. 19. Deut. 28. and obedience hath a promise of the best thing in the lande and disobedience a commination of plagues which surely bee performed and that not the hearers of the lawe be iustified but the doers yet is she disobedient Would to God the most part in these dayes did not followe her therein Take heede of the iudgements thereunto belonging Saule for disobedience is reiected and his kingdome taken from him The man of God was slayne of a Lion 1. Sam. 15 1. Kin. 13. because he did eate bread in the old Prophets house contrary to Gods expresse commandement The good King Iosiah in that he obeyed not the Lord speaking out of the mouth of Neco King of Egypt yet a wicked King was striken that he dyed The fathers in the wildernesse perished through disobedience yea and many that did things with a good intent yet disobediently were surely reproued and punished Vssah touched the Arke as it was falling with entent to stay it vp it apperteyned not to him therefore is he striken Nadab and Abihu the sonnes of Aaron tooke straunge fire in their Censors thinking they did well but being contrarie to the commaundement they haue therfore a grieuous punishment In these yea euen in these persons was this sinne punished But what of that Shall we then thinke to escape vnpunished for the like yea and greater breaches of Gods holie commaundement Heb. 10.20 29. Deut. 19.15 If he that despiseth Moses law dyeth without mercie vnder two or three witnesses of how much greater punishment suppose ye shall he bee worthie of which hath troden vnder foote the Sonne of God and hath counted the bloud of the Couenant wherein he was sanctified an vnholy thing and hath done despight vnto the Spirite of grace 1. Pet. 4.17 The time is come that iudgement beginneth at the household of God and if it begin there what shall be the end of them that beleeue not the Gospell I begin sayth the Lord to plague the Citie whereon my name is called Ier. 25.29 and thinke you I will suffer you to escape No ye shall not go quite Take heede then of this sinne of Lots wife Wee do reade of other women which haue gotten both fauour and commendation by obedience to GOD and their owne husbands but Lots wife looseth all good reporte yea her life and health too through disobedience The third fault we note in her is Pride 3 Pride this thing did the deuil ioyne to infidelitie disobedience of Euah who would willingly be as God So this woman aspiring aboue degree therby contemneth the simple estate of her owne husband and the worde of the Lord. Oh how much better had Christian humilitie beseemed her It is the best ornament of a faithfull person Abraham was beautified therewith when comming before the Lord he accompted himselfe vile dust and ashes vnworthie to speake vnto his Maiestie This Dauid also had when he daunced bare before the Arke though Micholl his owne wife disdained him thereat This vertue did Christ himselfe embrace who oftentimes fell on his face to the earth when he prayed yea and yeelded himself to the great contempt of the Crosse Humilitie lifteth that vp into heauen which pride assayeth to cast downe in hell The humble and lowe degree of Mary the Lords handmayd is esteemed and she accompted blessed the poore Publican is 〈◊〉 Dauid obteyneth mercie but the proude Phariste Antiochus Senacherib Herod and other proude persons haue been cast downe Lots wife in her pride disdayned the vocation of her husband she contemned the Countrie whereinto he was going from Sodom she thought scorne to make such a chaunge and to endure in steede of pleasure affliction for delicate fare hunger and colde for ease trauayle for fine apparell Camels hayre for seeled houses Caues of earth for Iuorie beddes the harde stones or grasse in the fieldes in steede of companie solitarinesse for mirth mourning and sorrowes for solace She disliked now after so many wealthie pleasures in Sodom to become as a Pellican in Wildernesse as a doue alone mourning as the sparrowe on the house top sorrowing She could not