cruelty yet Gods wayes are full of mercy Hee would haue all the world to know that he is not delighted in the death of a sinner but had rather hee Ezek 13. 23. should turne from his wickednesse bring forth fruit worthy of repentance and so liue for euer and therefore as Jonathan shot three arrowes to forewarne Dauid of Sauls displeasure that hee 1. Sam. 20. might the better prouide for his saftie so almightie God first in mercy proclaimeth his wrath indignation before in Iustice he proceed to Execution First he is pleased to foretell vs that for our transgressions for our not bringing forth good fruit he intendeth a seuere penaltie against vs before such time as he suffer it to be inflicted vpon vs that Praemoniti Praemuniti so we being forewarned of that feareful euill which from God is like to befall vs for our falling away from God we might in time make our peace with him so preuent the execution of his wrath For the more effectuall performance whereof that wee may the more carefully and speedily addresse our selues proceed we according to our propounded method to take some punctuall notice of the fearefulnesse of his fury displaied in the particulars of the penalty Now is the Axe laid vnto the root of the trees Euery tree therefore not bringing forth good fruit is hewen downe and cast into the fire Each word as you haue heard beareth a part and euery part doth most euidently demonstrate the Greatnesse of Gods wrath and indignation against vs and is of power to imprint Characters of terror in our hearts were they as hard as rockes of Adamant To take vp the words as they lye in their order First behold the Lord of Hosts is already vp in armes and his wrath like Iehu the Sonne of Nimshi after Iehoram marcheth most furiously after vs yea 2 King 9. 10. to our greater terror it hath already wrought it selfe within distance for Now euen Now is the axe laid vnto the root of the trees Secondly consider we the instrument apprehended for the execution of his wrath it is not Culter Sarmentarius a pruning knife but Securis Musculus in locum excisionis a ruining Axe Thirdly this ruining Axe is not vibrata brandished Gorthan in locum or shaken ouer the trees but posita it is put laid close to the trees Fourthly this ruining Axe is not laid ad truncum aut ramos to the bodie or boughes of Bullinger the trees but ad radicem to the fountaine of life the root which once hurt or cut de tota arbore actum est the whole tree doth perish and is past all hope of shooting forth againe Such is the penaltie here intended and is pronounced as inflicted Euery tree not bringing forth good fruit is hewen downe and to make it more fearefull is cast into the fire There was a custome among the ancient Romans that their Consuls had as Ensignes of their authoritie bundles of rods and an Axe carried before them 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 of Iustice to cut them off in case they proued incorrigible and would not bee reformed with any fauourable correction In like manner Almighty God hath his Pruning knife and his Axe Hauing planted his Ground with Trees and not finding them fruitfull according to his expectation like an expert and carefull Gardiner with his pruning knife hee shreddeth and pareth off the luxuriant branches and vseth all such meanes for their fructification as in his heauenly wisdome he apprehendeth most prevalent and effectuall Thus for many a yeare with Quamdiu Ipes est remedii stercoratione aut putatione subuenitur arborum vitiis caeterum vltimae desperatio 〈◊〉 indicium est quoties Secuâ—is adnâ—ouetur radi i. Bull. much patieÌ„ce expecting their improuement at length the season of fructifying being come wherein hee resolued to put a period to his patient expectation he walketh towards his Plantation with an Axe in his hand resolued if after his so great care and cost he finde any Trees that doe not bring forth good fruit to cut them vp by the roots and cast them by for the Fire In a word or two to adde a little more light vnto the darkenesse of the letter This Axe laid vnto the root of the Trees doth signifie nothing else but the vengeance of God which hangeth ouer our heads ready to fall suddenly Nesp vero nâ—â—uÌ„ est securim gladâ—â—m in Scripturis sonâ— pro grauâ— dei vindicta Idem ibid. vpon vs to our fearefull confusion My beloued doth not the cloudy and heauy countenance of these Times promise and presage as much Certainly take we a true Inuentory of our generall Apostacie from all godlines and pietie we cannot looke for lesse I but the Lord is mercifull and Gracious slow to anger and abundant in Goodnesse and Exod. 34. 6. truth reseruing mercy for thousands True my beloued and haue we found him lesse Doe not all those gentle and more fauourable courses he hath taken for reclaiming vs from our sinnefull courses speake as much May not the Lord iustly expostulate and reason the case with vs as he did with his beloued Vineyard Esai 5. He hath Planted vs in a most pleasant fruitfull soyle he hath encircled hedged vs round about with his louing mercies what could he haue added more vnto that which he hath already done How oft how long hath he labored for our conuersion by the preaching of his Word Sermon vpoÌ„ Sermon with extraordinary earnestnes and importunity knocking at the doores of our harts that hearing him we might open vnto him and he enter in vnto vs He I say who onely is able to Psalm 51. 10. create in vs cleane hearts and make vs fruitfull in all holinesse And to make his Word the more powerfull for our conuersion how often hath he actuated it by many temporall afflictions which hee hath inflicted vpon vs as inundations of waters dearth of corne losse of our fortunes losse of our faithfull friends and such as had deepest interest in our affections sometimes scourging vs with the refractarinesse and disobedience of those which through naturall or ciuill reference are neerest and dearest vnto vs sometimes making these houses of clay our mortall bodies Hospitals for pestilentiall and painful diseases sometimes suffâ—ring the high-priz'd treasure of our reputation to be rifled by wretched Shimeyes But alas what hath all this pruning preuailed What good work haue these and the like afflictions wrought vpon vs Happily for the present they haue a little humbled vs and wrung out of vs a repentant teare with a protestation of new obedience of bringing forth better fruit for the time to come then formerly we had done but this repentance of ours hath been as the Prophet speaketh but as a Morning cloud Hos 6. 4. and as the morning dew it hath gone away like Dogges we haue quickely returned to 2 Pet 2. 22. our owne
wry neckt It is no mans Greatnes that can shelter him from the smoking showre of Gods wrath Euen that Mitred man of Sinne which treadeth Scepters vnder his feet and exalteth himselfe aboue all that is called God though hee plead both a canonizing and a confounding power yet He also shall one day be brought before the Barre of Gods Iustice to be arraigned for all his Abominations wherewith he hath infatuated and besotted both himselfe and Gods Inheritance and shall drinke of the dregges of Gods wrath cup the promerited reward of his workes And let no hood-winkt Catholike deride this peremptory assertion as proceeding from a distempered braine for I know what I say If his Holinesse cannot procure his owne immunitie from the paines of Purgatory as for example Pope Innocentius the third De Gemitu Columbae li. 2. c. 9. who as Bellarmine writeth is to continue there till Doomes day much lesse shall he be able by his pretended power to deliuer himselfe from hell fire Now if these lofty Cedars of Lebanon and sturdy Oakes of Basan cannot auoid the stroke of the Axe but shall be hewen downe and cast into the fire what shal become of the lesser trees the lower shrubs Certainly God will be impartiall in his judiciary proceedings his eye will spare none Tribulation anguish vpon Euery Rom. â—9 11 12. 〈◊〉 soule of man that doth euill of the Jew first and also of the Gentile With him there is no respect of persons for as many as haue sinned without the Law shall also perish without the Law and as many as haue sinned in the Law shall bee iudged by the Law God will wound the hairy scalpe Psal◠〈…〉 1 of Euery one that goeth on in his wickednes saith the Prophet Dauid The soule Ezâ—kiel 18. 4 that sinneth shall dye Indeed the Gibeonites could gull Captaine Ioshua with Ioshua 〈…〉 5. their old shooes their mouldy crustes and thred bare garments and so saue themselues from his sword But God hath oculum in Sceptro as he is omnipotent so hee is omniscient he is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Psalm 13â— 3. Hearts searcher he knoweth vs all and all our wayes too well to be deceiued by vs. It is not the wearing of a Gyges Cic. Osâ—ic li. 3. Ring can keepe vs out of Gods sight for there is nothing that hath a being in nature which is not the obiect of his eye If I say Surely the darkenesse shall Psal 1 39. 11. 12 couer me euen the night shall bee a light about me yea the darknesse hideth not from thee but the night shineth as the day the darkenesse and the light are both alike to thee In a word when the Lord shall call the sonnes of men to a particular account for their trâ—nsgressions then vaâ—a salus hominum as saith the Psalmist Mans helpe is all but in vaine Though hand ioyne in hand saith Salomon the wicked Prou. 11. 25. shall not escape vnpunished that is saith our English Glosse Though they make neuer so many friends or thinke themselues neuer so secure yet they shall not escape It is not the phantasticall treasure of the Saints Supererogatiue workes vnder his Holinesse locke and key can serue the sinâ—ers turne in that day for the Wise Virgins could not lend any Math. 25. 6. Oyle lest they should lacke for themselues It is not any mans Potency can be his Protection for the most powerfull Monarch is but as a Potters vessell easily broken into sheards and shiuers with the least touch of Gods yron rod. Reuel 2. 27. It is not the subtill pate of the deepest Politician can prâ—uaile for any man For the wisedome of the world is but foolishnesse 1 Cor. 1. 20. Esay 29. 14. with God I will destroy the wisdome of the wise and will cast away the vnderstanding of the prudent saith the Lord. No course can be taken to disappoynt God of his reuenging purposes for as the Prophet hath it The flight shall perish Amos 2. 14 15 6. from the swift and the strong shall not strengthen his force neither shal the mightie saue his life nor hee that handleth the bowe shall stand and hee that is swift of foot shall not escape neither shall hee that rideth the horse sane his life And he that is of a mightie courage among the strong men shall flee away naked in that day saith the Lord. So that without any Omnis sine â—â—rsonâ—rum exceptione sin excusationum algatione siâ—e aâ—i cuius cuasionâ— Gorth in loâ—â— personall exception without any excusiue allegation without any particular ones euasion Euery tree euery man not bringing foorth good fruit the fruits of holinâ—sse and sanctification shall be hewen downe and cast into the fire Euery tree not bringing forth Good fruit Many in their own account passe for current Christians and are perswaded they shall go for no lesse with God when they are called to giue vp their accounts vnto him if they do not bring forth bad fruit if like the proud Pharise Luke 18 11. they can but plead for themselues Not guiltie as other men Extortioners vnjust adulterers If they can say We are no Drunkards no Swearers no spendthrifts no grinders of the Poore and the like If like Saint Iohns Herbe which as Cookes report being put into the pot procureth nor good nor hurt to the pottage so if they doe no hurt though they neuer do any good if they be honest harmlesse men as they are commonly stiled such as neither meddle nor make with others but liue quietly it is no matter for religiously among their Neighbours all is well they hope in God to goe to Heauen as sure as the best Alas poore miserable wretches how palpably how grossely they deceiue themselues Ixion-like embracing a Cloud instead of Iuno like Camelions feeding vpon the ayerâ—e hope of that happinesse they shall neuer find Indeed Not to doe euill is commendable but not to doe good is culpable is condemnable Cast the vnprofitable seruant into vtter Math. 25. 30. darkenesse there shall bee weeping and gnashing of teeth And here in my text Euery tree not bringing forth good fruit shall bee hewen downe and cast into the fire Wee doe not reade that the Rich Luke 16. man in the Gospell dispoyled Lazarus of any thing whereof he was possessed yet because he did not open vnto him the bowells of compassion and cause to be tendered vnto him wherewith to sustaine him in his want therefore Hell mouth was opened to swallow him vp vnto euerlasting torments Now the reason is this wee read in 1. Iohn 3. 4. Iohn that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sinne is the transgression of the Law and the transgression of the Law is Sinne and the wages of Sinne is Death Now the Lords Mandates are as well Affirmatiue for the ensuing of Good as Negatiue for the eschewing of Euill and the Affirmatiue as well as the Negatiue
placed so Learned so Laborious so Religious a Clergy as ouer This. Consider how in it yee are blest of God that so yee may blesse God when yee consider of it Blesse God but how why blesse him in Sacrificing vnto him the Calues of your lippes Blesse Hosca 14. 2. him in consecrating vnto him the short remnant and remainder of your liues Blesse him in a reuerend estimation of his holy Ordinances In a word Blesse him in your singular loue vnto those that are ouer you in the 1 Thess 5. 12 13. Lord that are dispensers of his sacred mysteries least yee bee hewen downe and cast into the fire And doe yee not so I would to God I could passe by you concerning these particulars especially the latter without apprehending any iust cause for your generall reprehension It is a Sore I no more but touched but named before intending in this place to handle it more at large and to apply vnto it a corroding Plaister if it were possible to draw away the malignant qualitie wherewith it is so much infested that it is euen swoâ—ne vp as high as Heauen to the pulling downe as is iustly to bee feared vpon this Land a sudden Babel of confusion without some speedy reformation I doubt not but there are some Galathians Gal. 4. 15. amongst vs that would plucke out euen their owne eyes to doe Paul good That there is some Zareptan that 1 Kings 17. would euen hazard the hastening her owne hunger-staruing to communicate vnto Elishaes necessities for whose sakes I am perswaded the Lord hath been many wayes gracious vnto this Land and suspended the infliction of his fearefull iudgements which for our sinnes wee haue long since iustly deserued But alas all these Some these Galathians these Zareptans are but a small Summe scarce to be called a number in respect of those that are contrarily affected For as it was the sin of Ieroboam with which he is branded vnto 1 Kings 12. 3. posteritie by the Spirit of God that he made Priests of the lowest and basest of the People so it is a sinne may bee seene and read in great characters vpon the foreheads of most in this Land that they make Priests the lowest and basest of People the lowest by depriuing them of their allotted Maintenance the basest by prosecuting them with all vnreuerence Not to speak of the former and therin of those violent maleuolent vnchristian-like courses wherein they are very frequent and fruitfull for the dispoyling and robbing vs of those reuenues God out of his holy wiscome hath set apart and consecrated for the maintenance of those that minister and serue at his Alâ—ar that so they might make the Leuites to stoope vnto them and hang vpon their sleeues like beggers for their Almes and voluntary contributions How vnreasonably do they load the Prophets of the Lord with all the iniuries indignities their deuilish malice can inuent The sacred title of our thrice honourable Function is but a terme of disgrace in the mouths of these scoffing Ismaels whose malignant spleene is such that they will not stick to strike at vs with the sword of their virulent tongues euen in the face of the world as we walke in the open streets Nay such is the height of their impudency that they will not forbâ—are to offer violence vnto the honour of our Calling euen before Gods own face euen in the Sanctuary it selfe which hath alwayes bin reputed a place of priuiledge as if they would out-beard out-braue almightie God himselfe Is it possible such a high-handed disrespect and contempt should raigne where the Gospell of Christ is so plentifully and so sincerely preached But I doe the lesse maruell at it when I call to mind the base vsage wherwith the Son of God that High Priest for euer Hebr. 6. 20. after the Order of Melchisedeck our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ was saluted in the dayes of the flesh He was in the world saith the beloued Euangelist Iohn 1. 10. 11 and the world was made by him and the world knew him not He came vnto his owne and his owne receiued him not Nay they did not onely not receiue him but did as ye may read at large in the History of his life prosecute and persecute him with a world of indignities euen vnto the death Now the Disciple is not Math. 10. 24 25 aboue his Master nor the seruant aboue his Lord. It is enough saith our Sauiour for the disciple to be as his master is and the seruant as his Lord. If they haue called the master of the house Beelzebub how much more them of his houshold Our Lord hath drunke vnto vs out of this bittercup and we must resolue to pledge him round O thrice happy we if wee could so apprehend it that he is pleased to accept vs into his sufferings For if we suffer with Christ we may bee assured 2. Tim. 2. 12. we shall also raigne with Christ But vnhappy all those whose delight to grieue our spirits by their disrespectiue cariage and vnconscionable courses shall make vs to be called Great in the kingdome of heauen yea thrice vnhappy and accursed if they breake not off this their sinfulnesse by a more sanctified and conscionable course of life We are indeed but weake Earthen vessels as the Apostle 2 Cor. 47. stileth vs. We are sinfull men men full of sinne and therin not vnlike your selues let him that is among you with out sinne cast the first stone at vs. Yet Iohn 8. 7. consider that we are your Spirituall fathers 1 Cor. 4. 15. Reuâ—l â— 1. that wee are the Angels of God and Ambassadours for Christ If we be 2 Cor. 5 20. your Fathers where is our honour What though Elisha be bald shall the children of Bethel cal him Baldpate vnpunished No two Beares come out of 2 Kin. 2. 22 23. the Forrest and tare them in pieces What though Noah be drunken shall his sonne Ham mocke and deride him without a curse No Canaan is cursed Genes 9. 25. a seruant of seruants shall hee bee vnto his brethren If we be Angels of God and Ambassadours for Christ where is that homage and reuerence you owe vnto vs in the name of our Lord and Master Will an earthly Prince which is but a piece of clay take to heart as done to himselfe whatsoeuer indignitie is offered vnto his Ambassadours And will not Almightie God be sensible of that dishonour which is daily done vnto his Ambassadours I haue heard credibly related how superciliously and contemptuously the Palsgraues Countrey hath looked vpon their Clergie In what case that Countrey now standeth I suppose the remotest Christian Region is not ignorant I will not presume peremptorily to determine that this one sinne hath been the procuring cause of so fearefull a Iudgement Thus much I am sure of that the contempt of the Messengers of 2 Câ—â—on 36 1â— God cost
Ierusalem a desolation God is so tender ouer his Prophets that he will not haue them so much as toucht hee hath reprooued euen Kings for their sakes So sensibly he is affected with the wrongs they sustaine that hee taketh them as done to Himselfe Do ye rob them of their Tythes Ye haue robbed Malac 3. 8. me saith the Lord. Doe ye neglect and despise them Ye despise me saith Christ Luke 10. 16. and him that sent mee euen God the Father And wil not the Lord reuenge these wrongs Yea hath hee not already in some measure punished this land for them Haue not the Coales your Forefathers haue stolne from Gods altar set their neasts on fire brought a curse vpon their substance that it hath not thriued vnto a third generation yea whilst they and you haue denyed God his Tenth part hath not God taken away your Nine parts and giuen you onely a Tenth Againe hath not the Lord taken vnto himselfe many conscionable and painefull Ministers which according to the course of nature might haue liued long to haue bin worthy Instruments for your euerlasting good because ye haue so vndervalued them and set so low an estimate vpon them But alas my Beloued these are but flea bitings if compared to the remoouing of our Candlesticke from amongst Reuel 2. 5. vs and is it not iustly to bee feared that he hath euen at this present some such work in hand I pray God he hath not But say he doe continue the light of his Gospel amongst vs yet what benefit can accrue vnto vs by this light if we be taken from it and cast into vtter darknesse â—his God can doe and will doe if wee doe not bring forth better fruit for euery tree that bringeth not forth good fruit shall bee hewen downe and cast into the fire O consider of this all yee whose greatest glory is to bee the scourge of the Clergie lest that High Priest Christ Iesus take you in hand and ye be made to howle eternally in Hell for contemning his Substitutes his low Priestes here on earth Let the Word of the Lord and the Ministers therof be precious in your sight that you your posterity may be precious in the sight of the Lord. Haue those that are ouer you in the Lord labour amongst you in singular loue if not for their owne sakes yet for their Masters sake and for their workes sake considering how like Candles they consume and waste themselues away to light you in the way vnto perpetual happines Giue vnto them double honour and cut them not short of their due reuerence maintenance lest the Lord in his fury cut you off from the state of mercy lest ye be hewen downe and cast into the fire I haue I suppose not a little exceeded your expectation I am sure my first intention in giuing so much way vnto this last particulars extention but the time I haue borrowed of you in it I will God willing repay you to the full in the rest that follow Shal euery tree not bringing forth good fruit be hewen downe and cast into the fire My Honourable Lord I will giue you 3 The Lord Maior but a word take heed God doe not one day giue you a blow Hee hath ordained you a Magistrate vnder his Maiestie and hath put the Sword of Iustice into your hand I would desire you to take notice that he hath also an Axe in his hand therefore like a good tree bring forth good fruit in that place wherein he hath set you be the Orphans father and the Widowes husband be of a good courage and bee zealous for your great Lord and Master your Maker the Lord of hosts protect and countenance the good correct and cut down the bad lest the Lord hewe you downe and cast you into Hell fire Ye Reuerend Iudges of the Land and 4 Iudges and Lawyers all ye that trauell in the Study and Practise of the Law remember there is a dreadfull Judge aboue you euen the Lord of Heauen and Earth who will one day call all of you to a strict account for all your courses Therefore like good trees bring forth good fruite in your seuerall places as you will answer it at the Barre of his Tribunal Let neither the feare of greatnes nor vnrighteous Mammon let neither priuate spleene nor particular affection so preuaile with you as to interturbe and ouerturne the course of Iustice but walk vprightly and conscionably as hauing the feare of God before your eyes lest he hew you downe and cast you into hell fire All ye that exercise your selues in Ciuill 5 Tradesmen commerce come hither and consider what I shall say vnto you What will it aduantage you to bee Lords ouer the whole world to loose your owne soules Luke 9. 25. Therefore so Sell and Buy and Baâ—ter that ye make not shipwracke of a Good Conscience loose the kingdom of heauen into your Bargaines that is deale honestly and sincerely with al men as it becommeth the Seruants of Christ and doe not go about cunningly to intrap any with termes of Equiuocation and to cheat them with false Wares Measures and Weights for these things are an abomination vnto the Lord. But aboue all things take heed of that most frequent and most fearefull custome of swearing worth and credit into your Commodities lest while ye labour to make them marchantable and good penny-worths with man yee loose your credit and your penny that is your Crowne of Glory with God Thinke vpon it for beleeue it the time will come when the Lord shall weigh you in his Ballance Daâ— 9 25. as he did Belshazzar and shall if he find you too light seperate you from the Kingdome of Heauen as farre as the East is from the West and the North from the South for euery Tree that bringeth not forth good fruite shall bee hewen downe and cast into the Fre. In the next place taâ—e notice of this all ye whom the Lord hath linked together 6 Maried foâ—ke in Holy and Honourable Matrimony that so yee may bring forth fruit beseeming so holy and so honourable an estate Make conscience of performing those seuerall Offices and respects God in his Sacred Word requireth of you one towards another Bee Carefull Religiously and Constantly to obserue and pay those Solemne vowes yee made before God and Men at the Solemnization of your Nuptialls More particularly and principaâ—lâ— seeing Gen. 2. 24. God hath made you One of Two suffer not the Diuel to make you Two of One but liue peaceably discreetly and loyally together nourish mutuall affection and possesse your vessels that 1. Thess 4. 4. is your bodies in holinesse and honour and keepe your selues one to another Hâ—b 13. 4 as vndefiled members of Christs Body free from lusting after strange flesh least yee bee hewen downe and cast into the Fire Againe shall euery Tree not bringing forth good
fruit be hewen downe and cast into the fire Consider this all yee whom the Lord hath blessed with the fruite of the Wombe least this temporall blessing proue 7 Parents your eternall bane Thinke it not enough that yee bring forth children into the world and prouide for them an earthly inheritance vnlesse yee also bring them vp vnto the Lord and so fit them for the Kingdome of Heauen Alasse what is their first generation more then their Corruption for they are shaped in wickednesse Psal 51 5. and conceiued in sinne and so poore Infants Damnati antequam nati they are damned before their mothers are deliuered and being so what is your Temporall prouision vnto them though neuer so plentifull if after their ioy in this World if they know any they be so farre from knowing any in the next that on the contrary they lye howling in Hell flames for euer If therefore you truely loue your Children for their sakes vndertake a second labour and bring forth this good fruite of your Fatherly loue towards them once more trauell in paine of them but as Paul did of the Galathians till Gal. 4. 19. Christ be formed in them labour that they may be begotten a new in Christ by 1. Pet. 1. 23. the immortall seede of the Word and bee made heyres of the Kingdome of Heauen Let it be your care whatsoeuer it cost to haue them brought vp euen from their Child-hood in the feare of God That when they leaue this world they may attaine vnto the Land of euerlasting life there to raigne with Christ world without end And if you will not doe thus much for their sakes at least doe it for your owne sakes For know to bring forth this good fruit of true fatherly affection to bee carefull for the Spirituall well-fare of your Children and to promote and further it to the vtmost of your power is a dutie God strictly inioyneth And if through neglect hereof your Children Ephes 6. 4. rebell against God he will require their blood at your hands For as God doth visite the sinnes of the Fathers vpon the Children So he doth visite the sinns of the Children vpon the Fathers For an instance remember Old Eli when his 1. Sam. 2. Sonnes trespassed against God He did not sharpely reprooue and correct them but suffered theÌ„ to run on in their Sins this was his ruine In a word remeÌ„ber the IudgeÌ„t here threatned in my Text be moued thereby to bring forth the good fruite of true Fatherly affectioÌ„ instruct your Children in the feare of the Lord reproue correct theÌ„ wheÌ„ they offend the Lord least the Lord hew you downe and cast you into the fire In like manner yee Children remember the Rocke out of which yee 8 Children were hewen the Stocke whereof yee are stemmes your Parents from whom next vnder God yee haue receiued your naturall beeing Oh wound not their tender hearts with your vntoward carriage and rebellious courses the only course to accelerate and hasten their heads to the graue but like good Children bring forth the good fruit of filiall feare and affection that yee may exhilarate reioyce their Soules to the prolonging of their dayes Reuerence them inwardly in your hearts outwardly in your Behauiour yeeld vnto them all dutifull obedience in the Lord least ye pluck their Curse vpon your heads and the Lord hearing it hew you downe cast you into the fire 9 Masters of families Yee that haue the care of Seruants committed to your charge bring forth the Good fruite of Good Masters in your seuerall Families doe vnto your Seruants that which is iust and equall Col. 4. 1. knowing that yee also haue a Master in Heauen Command them not but in the Lord and that louingly Allow them a befitting competency be it in matter of indâ—ment for the Backe or aliment for the Belly and doe not with-hold their wages from them But aboue all instruct them in the knowledge and feare of God as well by your examples as precepts and allow not their profanation of the Lords Sabaths the least Conniuence Least the Lord hew you downe and cast you into the fire And yee that are Seruants serue your 10 Seruants Masters faithfully both in word and deede and obserue them with all respectiue reuerence and submit your selues vnto them to obey them in the Lord least the Lord hew downe you also and cast you into the fire In a word to drawe towards a conclusion giue me leaue to drawe out an Eare or two of the Corne we haue already inn'd for I feare growing too voluminous and large in particularizing farther Yee haue heard how gracious and bountifull a God the Lord hath vowed to shew himselfe vnto all those that submit themselues vnto his lawes and labour to serue him faithfully in bringing forth good fruite in leading a holy and religious course of life that he will reward and crowne their holy endeauours with an eternall weight of Glory in the kingdome of Heauen Yee haue likewise heard how seuere and terrible a Iudge hee will reueale himselfe vnto all such as runne disobedient and rebellious courses that hee will wound the hayrie Scalpe of euery one that goeth on in his wickednesse yea that hee will hew downe and cast into the fire euery Tree not bringing forth good fruite If therefore the sweete blessings of Gerizim the louing mercies of God cannot worke vpon our rebellious hearts to reclaime vs from our wicked wayes let the bitter cursings of Eball the dreadfull terrours of the Law make vs feare to offend least the Lord in his wrath deliuer vs vp vnto a reprobate minde and in that fearefull estate hew vs downe that is by a violent Death rent our Soules and Bodies a sunder cast vs both soule body into the fire to be intollerably eternally tormented in the flames of Hel. My beloued as God is Iealous of so he is Zealous for his glory if he be not glorified a nobis of vs by our conuersion he will be glorified de nobis vpon vs by our confusion if we do not turne vnto him he wil turne vs into Hell â—or it is a conclusion so ratified as neuer to bee repealed that Euery one whether Iew or Gentile bond or free high or low rich or poore Euery tree not bringing forth good fruit shall be hewen downe and cast into the fire O then let euery one of vs make a diligent search into his owne bosome iudge himselfe least he be iudged of the Lord. Let vs dissect rip vp that body of sinne which is within vs not only that Naturall corruption which we haue all alike succâ—ssiuely receiued from our first PareÌ„ts but also those personal transgressioÌ„s which euery man hath made himselfe guilty of more or lesse Then hauing faithfully laid open our sinfulnes let vs look on it with a loathing eye a lamenting heart vnfeinedly deploring the time