sacred Scripture these two words marke and behold are euer vsed vpon extraordinarie occasions Now this serues to put vs in minde of our owne dulnesse and backwardnesse to good duties Vse that wee thus stand in neede of such prouocations to put vs in minde of the same precept vpon precept and line vpon line and all too little to prouoke vs to good duties If our hearts be duly possest with diuine contemplation a man can neuer cast his eyes amisse whether wee looke to the heauens aboue or to the earth belowe or vpon what creature soeuer still wee haue Gods Phylosophy Lecture read vnto vs in the Creature to teach man his dutie towards his Creator 2. The person But amongst all other creatures whatsoeuer the Lord sends vs to beholde man to this ende that wee should marke and consider what is Gods manner of dealing towardes the sonnes of men both in his punishing of the wicked and rewarding the godly Marke the vpright man Doct. 1 The Doctrine is that euery ChristiaÌ„ maÌ„ is bouÌ„d in a special maner to obserue what is Gods dealing with men Gods dealing with men must be obserued both with the godly and with the wicked as well those that are recorded in Gods Booke as those that we haue knowne in our owne experience and that to this ende that wee might bee incouraged in the wayes of godlinesse by the examples of the godly the Lord highly honouring them with a blessed memory vpon earth and crowne of glory in heauen As also discouraged in committing of sinne when we shall consider Gods feareful Iudgements inflicted vpon sinners how the name of the wicked doth rot and how the Lord doth pay and repay Iudgement wrath and indignation vpon sinners We must not be sencelesse of Gods dealings in the world but duely to record his workes and dealings with men not onely to see and behold the seuerity of God towards others but for spectacles and examples to vs that we should take heede of such sins which procure such iudgements And to this ende wee see in the Scriptures the Lord hath hung vp in chaines as it were diuers wicked men not for others to gase vpon them but to be warned by them For murtherers Caine is hung vp Gen. 4. For all prophane persons Esau is made an example For traytors Iudas For all Apostates Lots wife And so the Apostle Iude telleth vs that Sodom and Gomorrah and the Cities about them which the Lord destroyed for following strange flesh were and are set foorth for a warning and example to all filthie and beastly minded men The like may be sayd of Ismael Gehezi Absalom Saul Achan and the like And as we are to obserue the wicked so especially to marke and beholde the godly their godly life their sober conuersation and their care and conscience to walke with God in obedience to his commandements their admirable faith wonderfull patience meekenesse temperance c. These things must be obseru'd by vs that so we may by their examples be incoraged in the waies of well doing in them may see that our labour shal not be in vaine in the Lord and to this end the holy Scriptures sets out vnto vs a Catalogue of very memorable examples of deedes of Gods worthy seruants you haue heard of the patience of Iob saith Iames Iam. 5. Heb. 11 and in the Epistle to the Hebrewes there are diuerse remembred vnto vs that were famouzed in their times for their faith still remaine in a blessed memory in Gods Church and so shall remaine for euer And so likewise to take notice of the graces of God in his seruants that remain with vs beholde their liues and behold their ends as an incouragement vnto vs in walking in their pathes Howsoeuer the godly are afflicted heere for a time the latter end of that man shall be peace I come to the reasons of the Doctrine Reas 1 First concerning the obseruation of the wicked especially of the godly This may be one principall reason why wee must marke them well for the manner of their life and for the manner of their deathes because God is not mutable and changeable but euer the same without any shadow of change As the Lord heretofore and daily doth bring shame and confusion vpon the heades of wicked men and so makes them examples vnto others so will the Lord deale with vs if wee treade in their pathes the same iudgements of God that ouer-tooke other sinners shall in the ende ouertake thee if thou walk in thâ—er waies Seest thou a man that hath been a gracelesse wretch a horrible swearer an vncleane person a prophane person or the like hath the Lord followed such with his Iudgements as their life hath beene without grace so their deathes haue been without comfort behold in them thy owne condition remember that God is iust the same iudgements waite vpon the same sinners So especially as my Text saith concerning the godly Marke well the righteous and behold the iust Beholde their life and beholde their death if their liues haue beene religious though accompanied with many outward afflictions their deathes haue neuer wanted comfort The end of that man shall be peace And let the same incourage thee in well doing because God is not mutable Acts 10. hee changeth not In euery nation hee that feareth God and worketh righteousnes is accepted of him follow such in their life thou shalt not misse of their comfort in thy death grace in life and peace in death Reas 2 Secondly by these are the men that God delights in these feare him these honour his Name these haue learned first to seeke the kingdome of God and the righteousnesse thereof these do not disgrace the Gospell and holy profession of Christ and therefore marke well these men Thirdly it may be sayd of the Reas 3 godly as it was sayd of Dauid that they are men after Gods own heart these are they that haue learned to deny vngodlinesse and worldly lust and liue soberly and iustly in this present world In a worde these are the best statesmen these vpholde a kingdome bring a blessing to the towne countrey wherein they liue These God doth tender as the apple of his eye these are as neere to him as the signet of his right hand whom hee daily follows with his blessings and will neuer leaue them till they haue the ful fruition of him in glory and therefore marke these men I come to the vses of the Doctrine First it serues for matter of Vse 1 reproofe vnto those that in reading the stories of Gods iudgements vpon others in the Booke of God and obseruing the like daily in their owne experience make not this vse of them to make them beware many wonder at them that they had no better grace but alas they doe not heereby take occasion to feare Gods iudgements to apply them to themselues to say in their hearts this example is set out
NOAHS DOVE OR Tydings of Peace to the godly A comfortable Sermon preached at a Funerall By Samuel Smith Minister of Gods word at Prittlewel in Essex PSAL. 34.19 Many are the troubles of the righteous But the Lord deliuereth him out of them all LONDON Printed by Nicholas Okes and are to be sold by Thomas Archer 1619. To the Christian Reader CHristian Reader as it hath euer bin the practice of wicked men to make their prosperity an argument of Gods fauour reasoning after this manner Is it likely that I should inioy so many blessings from God if my conuersation were not pleasing in his sight c. Eccl. 9.2 Not considering that these common gifts are giuen alike both to the godly man and to the sinner And that Esau though he was a man hated of God yet enioyed the fatnesse of the earth as well as Iacob Rom. 9.2 So the children of God beholding the outward prosperity of the wicked and their owne miserable condition here in this life haue hereby beene much troubled and haue beene moued to call Gods Iudgements into question how it could stand with his Iustice that wicked men should so abound in wealth that Rebelliously transgresse Ier. 12 1. Psal 37. This prooued a sore temptation vnto Dauid insomuch that he confessed that his steps had wel-nigh slipt Psal 73.2 And the same thing perplexed the Prophet Ieremie that hee was bold euen to reason the case with God saying Ier. 12.1 Wherefore doth the way of the wicked prosper why are they in wealth that rebelliously transgresse Many of Gods seruants are not a little affected herewith not vnderstaÌ„ding the reason how the Lord will not suffer his children in this life to goe vnchastised for their sinnes but thereby brings them to a greater measure of humiliation As for the wicked the Prophet assigneth a reason of their prosperity namely this Ier. 12 3. That thou maiest pull them out like beasts for the slaughter and prepare them for the day of Destruction This truth is most cleerely set downe in the seauen and thirty Psalme a portion whereof I haue handled in the Sermon following my desire herein is to comfort Gods people that notwithstanding their present condition may seeme to bee miserable yet the Lord doth euer vpholde his in time of greatest danger and of this they shall be sure that their later end shal be peace I wish thee comfort by it and by all other holy helpes And so remayne Thine in euery Christian office Samuel Smith Prittlewel this 8. of April 1619. PSALM 37.37 Marke the vpright man and behold the iust the latter end of that man shall be peace THe Author of this Scripture as all other the Scriptures of God is the Spirit of God according to that of the Apostle All Scripture is giuen by inspiration of God 2. Tim. 3.16 and is profitable for Doctrine for reproofe for correction for Instruction in righteousnesse that the man of God may be perfect in all good workes The Instrument that the holy Ghost vseth for the penning of it It seemes to be the Prophet Dauid A princely Prophet of the Lord and that Sweet singer of Israel The argument of the Psalme is an Exhortation vnto all Gods people that are ready many times to be grieued at the prosperity of the wicked and at the afflictions of the godly For men are but men haue their infirmities a thing not to bee wondred at Iob. 4.18.19 For as Iob saith Beholde hee found no stedfastnesse in his seruants and layd folly vpon his Angels How much more in them that dwell in houses of clay And amongst many other infirmities that the godly are subiect vnto here in this life this is not the least that they grudge and repine at the prosperity of the wicked whom they finde to be free from troubles and as for outward prosperity to florish like a greene Bay tree which makes the godly to thinke that they haue cleansed their heart in vaine Now against these assaults and temptations Gods spirit doth â—ence vs streÌ„gthen vs in this Psalme giuing vs to vnderstand that howsoeuer the wicked haue here abundance of prosperity for a time it is but for a time For hee sheweth that all euill doers shall bee cut off and after a short time shall no where be found How prosperously soeuer the wicked may liue for a time hee affirmes that their felicity is but vaine transitory for being in their sinnes and not in Gods fauour in the ende are sure to bee destroyed with the rest of Gods enemies And on the contrary part how miserable soeuer the estate and condition of the godly seemes to bee in this world yet being in Gods fauour their end shall be peace The Psalme diuides it selfe into three parts Parts of the Psalm First an Exhortation to the weake that they bee not grieued nor disquiet themselues at the prosperity of the wicked and the affliction of the godly and this is layd downe from the first verse to the 7. verse Secondly hee sheweth that how prosperously soeuer the wicked doe liue for a time yet their present felicity is vaine transitory and suddenly shall come to an end From the seauenth verse to the eleuenth Thirdly he sheweth that how miserable soeuer the godly seem to liue in this world yet shall still be preserued and their end shall be peace To the end of the Psalme The verse wee haue in hand containes in it matter of exhortation that we diligently marke and behold the vpright man the man that is godly religious makes conscience of holy duties that in all things labours to keepe a cleere conscience before God and all men that howsoeuer this man be exercised with sore afflictioÌ„ vndergoes much hardship at the hands of others bee neglected or little regarded yet the later end of that man shall bee peace The verse hath in it two parts First the matter of obseruation who is it the Holy Ghost would haue vs to take such notice of not the Noble the Rich or the Mighty but the Vpright and Iust man Secondly the end wherefore we should so diligently obserue him namely that wee might be incouraged in wel-doing and not discouraged vnder our present afflictions since hee is sure to haue peace at last In the first of these which is the matter of obseruation I obserue two things First the note of attention marke and behold Secondly the person to bee obserued the vpright and iust man First the Holy Ghost seeketh to awaken our eyes which naturally are very drowsie to behold any thing that is good and to prepare our hearts which are first to be sought vp before wee can goe about Gods businesses Marke and beholde 1. The note of attention these words of attention make known vnto vs that there is some waightie matter within this Text which Almighty God would haue vs well to coÌ„sider of For so indeed in the
with Balaam die the death of the righteous but they will neuer yeelde consent to liue the life of the righteous they would faine act the parte of the godly in their death that by no meanes care for their spirit in life Oh how is these mens madnes to be mourned for and their ignorance and obstinacy to bee pittied poore soules they deceiue themselues This will neuer be men cannot liue like sinners and die like Saints They that sow to the flesh Gal. 6.6 shall of the flesh reape corruption Were it not madnesse in a man that after hee hath sowed cockle and darnell in his fielde at Haruest time to thinke hee shall reape good wheate euâ—â—y man would condemne this man of madnes exterme folly Oh my brethren let vs take heed we proue not such fooles one day Be not deceiued God is not mocked Whatsoeuer a man soweth that shall hee reape Doest thou goe on in thy sinnes in thy prophane course of vncleanenesse drunkennesse swearing Sabaoth-breaking c. and yet thinkest to die in peace this is altogether impossible I will say to thee as sometimes Iehu sayd to the messengers of Iehoram 2. Reg. 9.22 What hast thou to doe with peace so long as the whoredomes of thy mother Iezabel remaine So what peace can there bee at thy death so long as thy whoredomes remaine thy drunkennesse vsury oppression remaine it is grace in life that hath the promise of peace in death Vse 2 The second vse is for matter of instruction vnto the Godly that they bee not wearie of well doing for in due time they shall reap if they faint not Let not the godly bee discouraged in their worke in Gods vineyard what though they beare the heate burthen of the day the euening commeth when they shall rest the Lords penny this peace at last will make amends for all and then wee shall see and confesse with the Apostle that these light and momentary afflictions here are not worthie of such a recompence of rewarde Looke still to the end of wel-doing Iam. 5.7 peace at last this shall be thy portion In the meane time doe as the husband man doth waite for the pretious fruite and haue long patience Thy labour shall not be in vaine in the Lord after all the boysterous stormes in this life wrestling against sinne Sathan and thy owne corruptions here is Gods promise gone out of his lips that can no more fayle then himselfe cease to be true Thou shalt haue peace at last Thirdly seeing the Lord hath Vse 3 promised peace vnto his seruants at last that a good life brings with it euer a good death Hence wee learne what to conceiue of the despairing wordes of Gods seruants in time of some sore assault and temptation when the waters enter into their soule that God hath forsaken them and that he hath forgotten to be gracious that hee hath shut his louing kindnesse in displeasure that God hath no mercy in store for them and the like Namely that these are but words of distemper not of reason of iudgement for will God cast away his people Rom. 11.1 God forbid Such may be the nature of the disease that fuming vp into the braine may cause such a distemper for the time present But mans changeable tongue can neuer alter Gods decree which is vnchangeable he hath sayd it Rom. 3.3 That the end of the vpright and iust man shall bee peace at last and who shall hinder it shall Sathan lay any thing to the charge of Gods chosen when God doth iustifie any no no wee are more then conquerours thorough him that loued vs therefore let vs learne to iudge aright of our brethren in their deathes and let not our iudgement bee weakened or charity faile when they are put to cry out as before but looke we vpon their liues if they appeare to haue beene godly and religious and that they haue made conscience of holy duties remember we euer the Lords promise The latter end of that man shall be peace The last thing wee are to take notice of from the authority of this Scripture is that if peace bee promised of the Lord vnto the vpright iust man The end of that man shall be peace Then on the contrary Wicked men can haue no peace in death there Doct. 5 is peace to the wicked whose liues haue beene gracelesse their deathes haue beene comfortlesse what though the wicked flourish in this world waxe olde and growe in wealth Iob. 21.8.9 what though their houses be peaceable and without feare and the rod of God is not vpon them what though they spend their dayes in pleasure they shall suddenly to hell saith Iob There is no peace to the wicked Esa 48 2â— saith my God The Doctrine then will bee cleare That wicked men in death can haue no peace Those that in the time of their life haue had no care or conscience to gette grace into their soules when sicknesse comes and death approacheth must needs be voyd of all true comfort Salomon hath excellent sayings to prooue this Doctrine Pro. 11.7 When a wicked man dieth saith hee his expectation perisheth the hope of his power shall perish And Iob hath a saying to the same purpose Iob. 27.8 What hope hath the hypocrite though he hath heaped vp riches when God taketh away his soule meaning thereby indeed that he hath no hope left him What ioy then can be there in a wicked mans prosperity what comfort can there bee in such a peace as hath ruine destruction attending vpon it Dan. â— What ioy had Belshatzar in his banquet when in the midst of his cups hee beheld the hand writing vpon the wall contayning in it the sentence of his finall downfall His thoughts were troubled saith the Text his ioynts were loosed and his knees smot one against another his coÌ„pany could not comfort him nor his dainty dishes refresh him when his conscience is vp in armes against him Luk. â—2 42 The rich man in the Gospell was very ioyfull and gloried in his plentie promised much peace to his soule but wee see how suddenly this glory of his is damped with this newes This night they will fetch thy soule from thee No heauier newes could come to him that had his portion in this life then to tell him of fetching away his soule I might lay here before your eyes a multitude of examples Had Saul peace had Ahab peace had Iesabel peace had Iudas peace There is no peace vnto the wicked Take all the pleasantest delicates that the earth may affoord and offer them to a condemned wretch going to execution will he glut himselfe with them and fall to them with an hungry appetite No no hee will answer thee I can take no delight in these things for I perceiue that present death waiteth for mee So euen so is it with a wicked man and so shall it be