Laurels as for you beloved ye may be fed with (7) Revel 2.7 the Tree of Life Make Religion your (8) As Mr. Herbert Palmer in structeth businesse exercise your busie Soules in a lively faith and that knowing the season Brethren It is now your seed-time lose not such fair-weather in due season ye shall reap if ye sow unto the Spirit Ye are now in the flower of your age your month is the month of May if ye have not overcome many a (9) 1 John 2.14 spiritual wickednesse it is your sloth and no pity ye deserve if in you the Word of God (10) ibid. abideth not it is your indiscretion and ye may thank your selves He among you that is fullest of complaint were he well aware of it hath the (11) 2 Pet. 1.9 10 remedy from within himself If with (12) 2 Tim. 3.15 Timothy with (13) 1 Sam. 2.18 Samuel with (14) 2 Kings 22.19 Josiah c. ye have not been tender-hearted from your Child-hood yet at least with (15) 1 Kings 18.3 12 Obadiah fear the Lord with (16) Psal 71.5 David trust in the Lord from thy youth up Yea let God remember thy (17) Jer. 2.2 early Kindnesses Whom the Gentiles fancied to be (18) Apollo their God of wisdom Him they resembled unto a young man a truth it is wisdom in a young man seemeth somewhat divine Unto this reputed God of wisdom these Gentiles consecrated as the Emblemes of their manhood and prudence their first shaved beards the moral is good Sacrifice unto the Lord thy God Sacrifice the (19) Nihil videbant suum quoniam Dei totum Salvian de Dei guber lib. 8. first and the best of thine abilities While thou art now in the beginnings of thy strength follow him (20) Semper in amore cautela est Nemo enim melius diligit quam qui maxime veretur offendere Salvian Epist fully Serve him with all thy might Prepare thy Soul and thy Spirit as an (21) Rom. 12.1 offering in a clean Vessel and so (22) Esay 66.20 bring them into the house of the Lord In all thy wayes (23) Psalm 37.4 5. acknowledge him A young mans glory is his (24) Pro. 20.29 strength I have therefore written unto you young men because ye are strong strong I hope in [25] 1 John 2.14 Eph. 6.10 2 Tim. 2.1 Jer. 9.24 the Lord. To middle-aged men A Child is (1) Pro 22.6 ready to learn all things a young person is (2) 2 Sam. 18.22 ready to prove all things but neither of them is so apt to hold fast his profession as are ye ye who measure the midst of your age for ye have (3) He who is about the middle of his age may Janus-like at once look both behind him and before him climbed unto the height of the Hill of the Hill of Zion I hope Ye do or may perceive whither your travails bend He that is not setled in his estate not setled in his judgement not setled in his resolution at forty when will he be setled A wise man will provide rather for Children then for Orphanes and late Marriages are seldom proserous Therefore I presume thou art by this time constant unto thy self If a single life be thy choice and that choice thou canst (4) Matth 19.12 well bear I trust thou art (5) 1 Cor. 7.32 wedded unto thy Devotion I trust thou joynest thy self (6) 1 Cor. 6.17 unto that Lord who will give thee a Name (7) Esay 56.4 5 better then of Sons and of Daughters Neverthelesse in as much as God is the God of the married as well as of the unmarried If in a single life you find no joy If in a single life you find no joy Marriage (1) Sir Thomas Overbury his Wife your lust as 't were with fewel fire Will with a Medicine of (2) 1 Cor. 7 9 At contra hunc ignem Veneris si non Venus ipsa nu'la est quae possit vis alia opprin ere Val. Aedituus the same allay And not forbid but rectifie desire Where brash flames threaten Chimneys lay on wood That spends the flame and keeps the fabrique good Nor doth my marriage order lust alone A second self may (3) Gen 2.18 Eccles 4 9 Sir Thomas Overbury ubi supra help me ev'ry way And ' gainst my failings make me two for one My self 4 I cannot chuse my Wife I may And in the choice of her it much doth lie To 'mend my self in my Posterity Venus was Saturn is The heat of thy blood cooleth but thy love of this world waxeth feverish youthfull (1) 2 Tim. 2.22 lusts are pretty well spent but (2) 1 John 2.16 pride of life cometh on apace alas the lusts of thy flesh are (3) ibid. crept into thine eyes Thy disease removeth from thy (4) Psal 16.7 reines into thy (5) James 4.4 head from thy (6) Pro. 7.23 liver into thy (7) 1 Tim. 6.9 heart The Enemy who hitherto battered thy soul with (8) 1 Pet. 2.11 thine own flâ—sh doth now cast up Bulwarks against thee upon (9) Psalm 62.10 thine own ground That unclean Spirit which (10) 2 Tim. 2.22 haunted thee in thy youth doth now transform himself into a (11) 2 Cor. 4.4 God of this world The trouble of thy heart was (12) Rom 8.6 a carnall mind once the trouble of thy heart is (13) Phil. 3.19 an earthly mind now Wherefore the Holy Ghost proceedeth from adulteries and fornications (14) Mat. 15.19 unto theft and false witnesse from fornication and uncleannesse (15) Gal. 5.19.20 unto hatred variance emulations yea (16) Eph. 5.3 unto down-right covetousnesse For which cause having warned us that Whoremongers and Adulterers God will judge He (17) Heb. 13.4 5 presently addeth Let your conversation be without covetousnesse and be content with what ye have Thus having endeared our Souls and bodies (1) Rom. 12.1 as a reasonable sacrifice unto our God the Apostle immediately forewarneth us against another of Satans stratagems Be not saith he (2) Rom. 12.2 be not conformed unto this world Beloved whether our life past hath been or hath not been consumed in a state of unbelief this Exhortation of St. Pauls remaineth very pertinent and seasonable First If from the womb (1) Esay 48.8 unto our infancy if from the dayes of our (2) Esay 65.20 infancy unto the yeares of our youth if from our youth up unto present maturity we have drank in iniquity as if it [3] Job 15.16 were wholsome water now that we are of a ripe understanding it doth so much the more (4) Jer. 13.27 concern us to provide for the health of our Souls after so long so many provocations we are I say the more neerly concerned now at length (5) 1 Pet. 4 2 3 to believe in God and
Labourers some will wax idle The Temple at Jerusalem could never be so exactly repaired but that some part of it or other would ever be amiss Nor is Holiness inherent to the Levite One (2) Num. 25.11 Phinehas is seldom so good but (3) Sam. 4.4.2.17 22. another is as bad At this very time wherein Jesus now spake as he had v. 22. his Judas Thaddeus so he had c 13.26 his Judas (4) John 6.70 Iscariot too 2. A second Stone is removed by the manner whereafter the order wherein Obser from the the manner order and matter of the words the matter whereof the Wisdom of the Father doth here speak 1. As I told you what is here uttered is delivered feelingly and pathetically What proceedeth from Him proceedeth as well from the flowings of his love as from the openings of his lips 2. The Order of the words maketh things temporal an occasion unto things spiritual leadeth from Nature to Grace from reason in the heart to Faith in Christ from troubles in the world to Mansions in Heaven bringeth us from outward troubles to inward duties from inward duties to the recompence of the reward guideth us through a world of troubles into a kingdom of Grace from a kingdom of Grace unto a Crown of Glory 3. The Matter here spoken of is not some barren needless Punctilium but matter worthy him that preacheth viz. the great concernments of the soul the property and efficacy of faith the means and certainty of Salvation Which three circumstances twisted into one example fully separate between the profitable and unprofitable Teacher For while on the left hand they explode that sleight of Oratory which rejecteth Christs but admireth (1) Stultissimum credo ad imitandum non optima quae que proponere Piin. lib. 1. Epist 5. mans wisdom on the right they approve that wholesome method which imitateth not man Invention but Christs pattern viz. On the right hand this commendeth that great part of our English Clergy which are indeed Stewards of the Mysteries of God Stewards as faithful as able Lights as well burning as shining meek lowly gentle patient of a dove-like innocency and of a willing compliance yet valiant for the Truth zealous of good works bold to preach the Gospel (1) 1 Thes 2.2 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and very zealous for their Lord of Hosts In these the Word dwelleth richly and in all wisdom too especially in that (2) Prov. 11.30 choice Wisdom which winneth souls These (3) Prov. 15.2 use their knowledge aright exceeding learned they are and are because they are exceeding learned mighty in the Scriptures When these speak they so speak as the Oracles of their God when these minister they so minister as of the ability which God giveth Beloved by the Word thus preached what people upon earth is exalted so near heaven as our Island is What Nation under heaven can muster up so many Watchmen which cry aloud and spare not so many Chariots and Horsemen of Israel which fight the Lords battles as England can Blessed yea blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ for (4) O si videam in vita mea ecclesiam talibus nixam columnis O si Domini sponsam cernerem tantae commissam fiâ—â—â— tantae câ—e litam puritatiâ— quid me beatius quid ve securius Bernard lib. 1. ad Eugenium his unspeakable Mercy herein unto this whole Kingdom yea and accursed be he that shall once attempt to roll away these tried stones A (5) Josh 8 32. Copy of the Law is written upon these stones These we erect as a (6) Josh 4.7 Memorial before the Lord for ever Behold These shall (7) Josh 24.27 witness unto us lest we deny the Lord. On the other hand For Zions sake I will not hold my peace Alas I cannot chuse but stumble at too many even of our English Divines who make it their utmost endeavour to preach learnedly indeed but not unto Edification Should (1) Job 15 2 3. a wise man utter vain knowledge Should he reason with unprofitable Talk or with speech that can do no good Away then with that manner of preaching which contriveth more to repeat Authours or to boast languages then to edifie souls The Son of God abhorred Affectation of Literature yet spake (2) Mat. 7.29 John 7.15 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He could have spoken with tongues more then us all yet never did he make himself a (3) 1 Cor. 14.11 19. Barbarian He sought not to amuse but to awaken Away also with that sort of preaching which (4) Id habent curae non quomodo Scripturarum medullas ebibant sed quomodo aures populi Declamatorum flosculis mulceant S. Hieron aimeth more to imitate an Oration of Tully then a Narration of Christs Away away with these quaint modish Discourses they have in them neither (5) John 6.63 spirit nor life Sermons yield but (6) 1 Cor. 13.1 harsh Musique to the ear if they afford neither method for the memorie nor matter for the thirsty soul nor do they ever make less impression upon the heart then when they are delivered (7) 1 Cor. 2 1. Conciones sacrae esse debent nec delicatae nec cincinnatae Zanch. Orat. most in print your starched pieces never yet sat close upon the Hearer Alas what is if this be not Verba dare (8) Hos 8 â— 12.1 to feed Ephraim with wind I verily presume that a meer Puny shall do more good by speaking one word (9) Isa 50.4 in due season then shall the tongue of the learned when at any time it disdaineth the Things which become sound doctrine All Scripture is (10) 2 Tim. 3.16 profitable for Doctrine for Reproof for Correction c. but there is a new found Rhetorique now adaies which stoopeth not so low as these It is now the great Industry of many excellent Schollars to wave the Demonstration of the Spirit and to place their whole stress upon mans wisdom I speak this to (11) Imperitissimâ— est scientia scire quid sensâ—rint Philosophi nescire quid docuit Chrisius August Epist 56. their shame But tell me whosoever ye are hath God bestowed upon you your rich Talents for no higher (1) See Deut. 10.20 21.12.32.27 9 10.28.47 58. 1 Sam. 2.30 1 King 18.36 Psal 40.10 Mal. 2.5 6. services Or is this Prudence to exalt Rhetorick your hand-maid above (2) 1 Cor. 2.5 Divinity her Mistress yea Is it good manners in you to prefer your Mother-wit before the sacred wisdom of God Do ye thus shew your breeding Ye never learned this from either of our famous Vniversities Nay Luke 6.46 Is it common (3) 1 Sam. 2.29 John 6.38 7.18.12 43. 1 Cor. 2.4 Gal. 1.10 1 Tim. 1.11 Honesty in you to conceal your Gods praises and to bespeak your own Unto you who (1) Joh. 5.42 had rather be reputed learned
God Dub. This do and live Solut. Unfeignedly humble thy self confess thy Trespasses confess thy debts (1) Psal 51 per totum Jer. 31.19 Ezr. 9. Zech. 12.10 Nehem 9 Jam. 4.9 Dan. 9 Ezek. 16.63 Psal 130. Phil. 2.12 1 Pet. 1.17 2 Pet. 3 11 14 suffer thy Conscience to accuse thee and to accuse thee to the uttermost from time to time spare not to aggravate thy guilt be as well thou mayest vile in thine own eyes let thy sins be always before thee that thy heart may always condemn thee bear thine iniquities viz. the guilt of them and the shame of them the remaining days of thy mis-spent life mean while have an eye [2] Heb. 9.14 10.22 Rom 15.13 9 Ephe. 1.7 Col. 1.10 of faith unto that satisfactory blood which the Person speaking in my Text shed upon the Cross believe it if thou canst for joy believe it with that blood which thou Judas-like hast trampled under foot with that blood of Jesus and only [3] Heb. 1.3 Isa 53.5 63.3 with that blood is written thy free pardon thine absolute acquittance thy general release [4] Tit. 2.14 Rev. 5.9 from all guilt debts and trespasses whatsoever by thee committed or upon thee charged from the beginning of the world unto the great and last day that terrible day of the Lord. Sinner [5] John 20.27 29 be not faithless but believe Oh that the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ [6] Mat. 11.27 would seal this Truth upon thine unbelieving heart He that [7] Rom. 8.32 spared not his own Son but gave him up for thy ransome how shall he not with him also freely bestow upon thee the gift of faith Tell me hath God so [8] John 3.16 2 Cor. 5.18 loved thee and canst thou have hard thoughts of God This is life [9] John 17.3 eternal to know the only true God and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent for us [10] Hos 6.7 Gal. 1.4 men and for our salvation Is the [11] Joh. 3.14 brazen serpent lifted up and wilt thou not look toward it Canst thou desire a more [12] Ephes 1.7 Acts 20.28 1 Tim. 1.14 sufficient discharge then an acquittance written with the blood of God Look unto the [13] Heb. 12.2 authour and finisher of thy faith this man [14] Mic. 5.5 shall be the peace The person here speaking in my Text is [15] Isa 63.5 mighty to save mighty to save [16] Mat. 1.21 from sin mighty to save from [17] 1 Thes 1.10 wrath to come he is able to save [18] Heb. 7.25 to the uttermost Ah thou wert a cursed wretch had not the innocent Jesus been made a [19] Gal. 3.13 curse for thee thy sins had been more then thou couldest ever have been able to bear had [20] 2 Cor. 5.21 not Christ been made sin for thee but now that Christ hath taken our sins upon [21] Isa 53.5.63.5 himself now that his [22] Mat. 27.46 angry father hath seized on him as on thy Surety He is (23) 1 Joh. 1.9 faithful and just to forgive thee thy sins Well is it with thee that Christ hath the (24) Rev. 1.18 1 Cor. 5.5 1 Tim. 1.20 keys of hell and of death for now that cursed Jaylor the Devil can have no claim to thee since he is wholly at the command of thy friend the Judge Thou hast not thou canst not obey one jot or one little of the [25] Hos 8.12 Cal. 2.16.3.11 Act. 3.19 Rom. 3.20.4.15 25. 1 Cor. 1.30 Phil. 3.9 Titus 3.5 Ephes 5.27 Col. 1.28 Jude 24 Heb. 8.12 Isa 44.22 43.25 great things of Gods Law but the person speaking in this Text he hath kept the whole Law in thy stead because he never brake the Law thy transgressions shall never be called in question unless on purpose that thou mayest be cleared at the general Aszises And because thou hast not wit to speak for thy self see the person speaking in my Text he [26] 1 Joh. 2.1 Heb. 8.6.9.15.12.24 goeth in thy stead before the great Tribunal he becometh thine Advocate he putteth in thy Plea not [27] Isa 53.11 Rom. 3.24 1 Cor. 6.11 2 Cor. 6.2 Ephes 1.6 Rev. 3.5 guilty he justifieth thee before men and Angels yea before the holy Angels and the terrible God and of this rest satisfied never never did any Cause fail that this Advocate undertook he rules the Court for he himself is both a [28] Heb. 2.11 14 party a [29] John 17.25 witnesse an [30] 1 Joh 2.1 Advocate and the [31] Rom. 8.34 2 Cor. 10.18 Judge too Christian for I am loth to term thee an unbeliever now darest thou [32] Heb. 4.16 10.22 put thy life into Jesus Christs hands if so I will warrant thee a [33] Luk. 24.47 remission of all thy sins through his alone [34] Heb. 10 14 mediation thou shalt have thy Clergy the benefit of this Clergy man the Judge shall tender thee the [35] Rev. 3.5 book of life and the person speaking in my Text shall be thine Ordinary he shall testifie for thee that thou canst therein read thy [36] Rev. 2.17 new name canst thou chuse but break forth I [37] Rom. 7.25 thank my God through Jesus Christ our Lord And now if so be thou hast heard the [1] Ephes 4.21 person speaking in my Text and hast been taught by him as the truth is in Jesus if thou [2] Col. 2.6 receivest the person speaking in my Text as [3] John 14.6 the way unto that Father of Mercies who can abundantly pardon as the truth of that God who declareth himself satisfied and as the life which is given thee for a prey if thou seest thy soul a brand scarcely yet [4] Zech. 3.2 snatched out from amidst everlasting burnings I adjure thee by the living God as ever thou wilt not [5] Jam. 1.22 deceive thine own soul as ever thou wilt not like another Judas make [6] Act. 1.25 hell thy home be plodding [7] Psal 32.5 be much in plodding upon thy former heedlesness ignorances and provocations Let not business let not company [8] Psal 132.4 5 compared with 2 Cor. 6.16 let not any affairs under the Sun interrupt thy godly [9] Psal 7.10 11 sorrow Think what a Judas thou hast been Take much time for thy privacies [10] Psal 13.5 and re-examinations see the exceeding [11] Rom. 7.13 sinfulnesse of thy whole man and of thy whole life too bring thy thoughts [12] 2 Cor. 10.5 into captivity hale thy conscience to stake bring conscience and God face to face I say Get alone and [13] Pro. 13.5 compared with Ezek. 6.9 loath and abhorre thy self in the presence of thy God let confusion [14] Jer. 31.19 22.22 cover that face of thine call thy sins by as bad [15] Jer. 3.2 names as they deserve search [16] Psal
hundred and first Psalm Would some of our Ladies once a week read over the third Chapter of Esay it would be both their benefit and their wisdom I professe for my share I smell no harm in your perfumes and other your sweetnesses if they be not too luxurious Rather then put any Countesse to the blush I will not once mention forraign paints or home-made [2] Licitis perimus onns Wherefore let me advise you not to be too presumptuous upon the lawfulness of these but consider expedience that so all may be done that God may be glorified and your selves more and more edified in Christ if you look not to this that which is lawfull in it self will be found unlawfull in you Golden Topaz p. 133. Patches I will make the best construction I can of naked breasts provided the Soul be not naked too But I fear lest as Trajan was indulgent unto all his people saving only unto such of his Subjects as were Christians so some Ladies are tender of every part about them excepting their Souls Ladies were you once so wise as to maintain but not exceed your Quality no Christians under Heaven would have lesse cause to trouble their heart then you your selves would have True A woman and a glasse are ever in danger but a woman and a Bible are ever in safety It is said of that holy Martyr Polycarpus that while his body was burning his scorched flesh sent forth a smell fragrant as Frankinsence it self just so the exemplarinesse of that Lady who is crucified unto the world hath a sweet winning influence upon all about Her while the comlinesse of her body [3] Gratiorest pulch-oveniens de corpore virtus adorneth the lovelinesse of her duties Moreover what the Christian Lady reserveth from excesse that she improveth unto spiritual advantages Shee upon [4] Reade if my Pen be more copious in this then in other places Know I am so ready a writer here because here I fall upon a Description of a Lady now with God viz. the Lady Anne Overbury of a Lady now with us the Lady Hester Overbury of Mrs. Mary Whitlock of Mrs. Hester Cressewick and of others among us unto every of whom quod dedisti Viventi decus atque sentienti Rarae post cineres habent beatae Yet as they themselves seek the praise which is not of men but of God So neither seek I to slatter but to admonish My scope is to have Their sight so shine among men that they seeing their good works and imitating their good examples may together with them glorifie Him from whom alone cometh every good and perfect gift and to whom alone belongeth the glory and the praise all opportunities maketh friends of unrighteous Mammon Shee disperseth to the poor visiteth the sick countenanceth the Gospel and furnisheth her Closet rather with religious Books then with fancy-full Toyes Her very Sex maketh her tender-hearted Hence it is that shee is more zealous in love of the truth in love toward Christians and in love toward God then holy persons of a masculine judgement are Now as she buyeth the truth so she redeemeth the time shee weareth her watch on purpose because she would not confer more hours upon that body which must be covered with wormes then upon that Soul which is a companion for Angels Chambering she loveth but it is for meditation-sake Her Chamber is her Chappel and herein she getteth the start of Students themselves for as she delighteth to improve her spare-hours so she hath more hours to spart then any of any other profession whatsoever she is so meek so obliging so courteous so commanding over all her affections that if she were no Lady you would call her one It is not by chance that while we super-scribe Lords Honourable and Knights Right-Worshipfull we write their Ladies Vertuous That person which walketh worthy the Lord leadeth a life like a Lady so naturally do a Ladies Vertues adorn the Gospel of Jesus Christ If afflictions be the trials of a sanctified Lady her sorrows exercise a godlinesse if prosperity be her trial she remaineth as good as prosperous Such is her moderation in worldly affairs that you will not find she aboundeth with Coin otherwise then from her works of charity of liberality of hospitality of bounty of piety and of munificence So full of leasure she is that you find her ever busied but it is in encreasing a spiritual knowledge in conversing with Believers in instructing Heir Families and to speak at once in rejoycing in Heir God Multitudes of Believers was St. Jerome throughly acquainted with but among all his Acquaintance he found no Christians so nearly resemble the Saints in heaven as Elect Ladies did In the holy Gospels more Women then Men are noted for ministring of their substance unto the Lord And if the wisest of Kings King Lemuel do at the last undertake to recommend a vertuous woman he runneth on in her praises unto the end of the Chapter I had almost said unto the end of the Book I conclude then that wise Ladies like the wise Virgins therefore keep their hearts from needlesse troubles that they may take oyl in their Lamps They resort so often to their Fathers house that they are perfect Courtiers for they have their conversation in Heaven they do with so much perseverance believe in God that they are ever cloathed if I may so speak with inherent Humility and imputed Righteousnesse Lastly while they study muâ—â— to please most THE man Christ Jesus Saints they seem and Saints they are 6. To have respect of persons is not good To men of low degree much lesse to have the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ in respect of persons Wherefore redeeming my time from persons of high degree in duty [1] Rom. 12.16 I apply my self unto men of low estate Beloved Once contrive ye to [1] Josh 9.5 dwell in the promised Land I shall then yield There is no craft unto the clouted shoes Let Dives [2] 1 Cor. 1.26 thrive in his [3] 1 Tim. 6.9 10. own grease As for you you know It is grace [4] 2 Cor. 1.12 not money that warmeth the man The Bustard cannot flee farre by reason of his [5] 1 John 2.15 great Wings but the wings of a [6] Rom. 8.6 Dove flee away and be at rest The lesse ye are laden with the [7] 2 Tim. 2.4 lumber of this World the [8] 1 Tim. 6.9 10. more easie is your pilgrimage toward Canaan Many a Merchant had [9] Luke 8.14 21 34. saved his life had he flung his goods Eccl. 11.1 into the Sea Beloved ye have no such [10] Jam. 1.9 temptation to ship wrack your faith as great Personages have Again should ye sow among [11] Jer. 4.3 thornes ye were but [12] Mat. 13.22 ill Husbands if ye plow not up the [13] Gal. 6.7 fallow ground of your hearts the thistles which grow up in
young men and Maidens Therefore my next Counsell instructeth you young men That your heart be not overmuch troubled Know your selves I mean know your selves to be heady and therefore [1] Young men should serve at the Oare before they come to sit at the Stern as Sylla said of Marius Turn not away your ear from hearing reproof Moreover know your selves to be well conceited of your own abilities if therefore any one among [2] 1 Cor. 10.12 you thinketh that he standeth let him take heed lest he fall Childhood is [3] Eccl. 11.10 vanity Youth much more more addicted to disports then unto a walking with God and yet a charge is layed upon thee by the dayes of thy youth to [4] Eccl. 12.1 Remember thy Creatour Since jesting is not [5] Eph. 5.4 convenient say of laughter [6] Eccl. 2.2 it is madnesse and of mirth What dost thou Since evil words [7] 1 Cor. 15.33 corrupt good manners keep thee from the evil [8] Prov. 2.12 man from him the talk of whose tongue tendeth [9] Prov. 14.23 only unto poverty turn away thy self even from him in whom thou [10) Prov. 2.7 findest not the lips of understanding since thy flesh [11] 1 Pet. 2.11 warreth against thy soul defile [12] 1 Cor. 3.17 While the Duke of Burboa was accused of high Treason the Emperour Charls the fifth required one of Madrid to lodge him in his house The Spaniard told the Emperour Obey thee I will but so soon as the Duke is once out of it I will fire my house for that house of mine my Predecessors never built to harbour Traitors not that body which the Holy Ghost makes his Temple Know how to possesse thy Vessel [13] 1 Thes 4.4 in sanctification Though thy reins [14] Psalm 16.7 chasten thee in the night-season yet hate thou the [15] Jude 23. garment that is spotted with sin Flee I say [16] 2 Tim. 2.22 youthfull lusts and sanctifie [17] 1 Pet. 3.5 the Lord thy God in thy heart Sow not [18] Gal. 6.2 unto corruption but rather possesse [19] Job 13.26 the iniquities of thy youth let them ever humble thee [20] Psalm 51.3 Esay 66 2. in the presence of the pure God Thy Fathers house hath no [21] Ephes 5.8 mansions for an unclean wretch Therefore keep thine [22] Job 31.1 Prov. 4.25 eyes straight before thee avoid pass [23] Job 4.15 by come not near the house of her who flattereth with her lips She is but a [24] Job 22.14 Prov. 23.27 deep Ditch and will mire thee shamefully Whose heart is snares and nets [25] Eccles 7.26 and whose hands are bands her [26] Pro. 7 27 Chambers are the Chambers of Death Though thou wert as wise as Solomon I would counsell thee Remember Delilah [27] 1 Kings 11 1 4 Jude 6. Lust hath no mean but not to be at all for it is a dangerous fire which beginneth in the bed-cloathes He never thinketh that he fleeth fast enough who fleeth from a mischief The more shou eschewest evil the more leisure thou wilt have to do good and to ensue it When a [1] Quo semel imbutarecens Child thou wast trained up in the way wherein thou shouldest go therefore go on Let not the Christian in [2] As was spoken of one who habited in Orange-tawny tilted ill one day and habited in Green on the morrow tilted worse Herberts Apothegms green behave himself worse then the Christian in the Orange-tawny First that which was natural saith the [3] 1 Cor. 15.46 Text then that which is spiritual When thou wast nurtured in the Lord thou didst begin in the Spirit be not [4] Gal. 3.3 made perfect in the flesh Say unto Pleasure [5] Psal 5.4 Prov. 21.17 James 5.5 Tit. 3.3 Heb. 11.25 2 Tim. 3.4 Gentle Eve I will have none of your Apple Look not on pleasures as they come but goe fool not if thou art a beast [6] Jude 10. 2 Pet. 2.12 be [7] Jude 19. sensual if a man [8] Rom. 8.6 spiritual If thou likest [11] Dan. 4.33 9. Nebuchadnezzar better then thou likest Daniel take thy choice Whether is more desirable to be endued with the Spirit of a holy God or to be postessed [12] Eph. 5.3 2 Pet. 2.10 with an unclean Spirit A Wanton creature is [13] 2 Tim. 2.26 Mummy for the Devil Let him that loveth the flames [14] Hos 7.7 James 3.6 of Hell burn in lust as Sodom did Youth with what body wouldest thou arise with a [15] Phil. 3.21 body vile or glorious It was the idlenesse the foolishnesse the brutishnesse of youthfull lusts which made the [16] Aedituus Catullus Tibul. Hor. Javen Persius c. Roman Poets so salt Take away the abuse which lust putteth upon us and many an Epigram in Martial sim may like the Tragedies of Theognis be as cold [17] 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as snow for any wit they have Were they as hot as are idle brains yet that person who is so impudent so ill-behaved that he can be acquainted can be familiar can be [18] 1 Cor. 6.16 all one with a [19] Pro. 5.21 22.14.26.16 strange woman may justly expect trouble of heart The French-pox is [20] Num 5.21 no new Disease Be it thou escapest [21] Hos 4.12 rottennesse in thy bones sure I am there is rottennesse in thy heart Let Pythagoras [22] 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 commend Souls unto [23] Jude 10 bruits as for thine Let thy soul [24] 1 John 3.3 expect Mansions in thy Fathers House The body is not for fornication but for the [1] 1 Cor. 6.13 Lord it is his [2] 1 Cor. 3.17 Temple the strength the abilities the gifts wherewith it is endowed are [3] Mat. 22.37 holy unto the Lord the more will be the trouble of thy heart if thou commit sacriledge Church-revenues like the Gold of Tholouse in Narbon consume such as do [4] Among all the Souldiers of Scipio not one of those which plundered the Temple at Tholouse escaped an unfortunate end Guebara alienate them Do not do not therefore impropriate unto the use of an [5] 1 Cor. 6.15 harlot those Endowments which of right belong unto the services of thy God Give not thy strength unto [6] Pro. 31.3 women much lesse unto an [7] 2 Pet 2.10 unnatural licentiousnesse Look upon their prodigious practices and thou wilt the lesse marvail at the degenerate faces of Apes Monkies and of Baboones Wo unto him who is alone if he [8] Eccl. 4 10 render himself like one of these Had Jacob allowed himself in [9] I am a shamed to read what I find in Tho. Shepherd upon the ten Virgins viz. on Mat. 25.5 p. 18. of the second part self pollutions he could never have called his [10] Gen 49.3
first-born his might his strength the beginning of his strength Oh then provoke not the holy Spirit to give thee over unto thine [11] Rom. 1.24 Esay 66.3 own hearts lusts Be not be not subjected under the power of that itchy idlenesse which scarcely ever yet found a name no not among the Gentiles Thou mayest be exalted [12] Heb. 2.13 6.20.9.24 above the Angels be not worse then a beast that nature which the Lord of Glory hath already extolled above the [13] Eph. 2.6 Heavens do not thou [14] Esay 57.9 debase that Humane Nature even unto hell We shall in Heaven be as free from any occasion of blushes as are the [15] Mat. 23.30 In Deum S. Jerum Ep. 143. In Dei naturam Lactan. non cadit sexus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 S. Iraeneus l. 11. c. 10. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Phil. 3.20 Angels Have thou thy conversation in heaven Meddle not with that nakednesse which is at the best thy [16] Gen. 12 25 13.7 shame Place it as the Hebrew Language doth too low to be thought of even at [17] Gen. 49.10 Deut. 28.57 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 thy feet Sensuality is in an unreasonable creature the highest [18] Jude 10 in a reasonable creature the lowest of seeming delights so low that the person speaking in my Text would be conceived of the holy Ghost of man he would [19] Mat. 1.20 not be begotten True The bed undefiled is honourable [20] Heb. 13.4 but why Not for that it [21] Gal. 6.8 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Arist de gen corrupt l. 1. soweth unto corruption but because it prepareth a [22] Mal. 2.15 holy seed Thus our uncomely parts have the more [23] 1 Cor. 12 23 abundant honour not so much from our Apparel as from our God while he by them preserveth inhabitants upon the earth successively supplieth his militant Church and raiseth colonies to people his heavenly Kingdom Do thou therefore cloath that with a sanctified chastity which the wisdom of God hath formed after a manner [24] Job 10.10 Psalm 139.13 15 16 Job 31.15 Psalm 22.9 Gen. 2.7 Ezek. 16.6 Numb 16.22 Phil. 3.21 Ephes 2.6 1 Thes 4.17 fearfull and wonderfull I say herein our uncomely parts will have the more abundant honour if we keep our hearts circumcised from all impure thoughts Wherefore reserve thine [25] Sapientia prima est Luke 1.27 Stultitiâ caruisse affections for spiritual Blessings and not for unmortified flesh There are other matters to take up thy mind if thou review my Text There are vain imaginations lodging in thy heart which call for [26] Gal. 5. thy troubles 16. vers 18.24 25 Thy thoughts have mansions within thy Fathers house to dwell in Thy sences should be exercising a faith in God Thine affections should enamour themselves upon the person speaking in my Text I say upon Him whom thy soul loveth even upon Jesus Christ our Lord. The dayes of thy youth should be so far from [1] Eccl. 12.1 being dayes of vanity uncleannesse and provocations that they call upon thee to follow hard after holinesse Quest Why of all days the dayes of thy Youth Quest Answ 1. If ever thine affections be inordinate Answ 1. they are inordinate in [1] Psalm 119.9 thy youth therefore in the dayes of thy youth remember thy Creator viz. while thou art yet a youth be [2] Prov. 7.7 14.26.15.33 so wise as not only to fear but to imitate thy Creatour that is be ever in action for No [3] Otia si tollas idlenesse no lust Answ 2. Answ 2. The midst of our age is [1] He that entereth into the world entreth into a spiritual warre lanched out into an Ocean of Turmoils The dayes of our Childhood they were not yet grown up unto years of discretion therefore remember thou thy Creator in the dayes of thy youth Childbood [2] Et discas oportet quod didicisti agendo confirmes Qui facienda ac vitanda percipit nondum sapiens est nisi in ea quae didicit animus ejus transfiguratus est Seneca Ep. 94. maketh a shift to gain the Elements Youth layeth them orderly together Childhood learneth to read Youth learneth to understand what it readeth Childhood findeth Moods and Figures youth frameth Syllogisms Childhood getteth the principles of the Doctrines of Christ Youth goeth on toward perfection Answ 3. Answ 3. As Education fitteth us for our distinct callings so youth fitteth us for our Education Then is Custome [1] Fran. L. Verulam most prevalent when it beginneth in our minority for then we are apprehensive active vigorous if ever we will learn to [2] 2 Tim. 2.3 James 5.11 endure hardnesse if ever we will [3] Eccl. 12.1 Ephes 6.13 withstand in the evil day we must be seasoned in our youth if ever we will acquire vertuous habits it must be in our younger age if the youths [4] Esay 40.3 shall faint well may others Answ 4. Answ 4. While Saul was young he was choice [1] 1 Sam. 9.2 and goodly While Jeroboam was young he was [2] 1 Kings 11.28 industrious They are young men whom [3] Ruth 2.9 Boaz employeth in his Harvest-work whom David sendeth [4] 1 Sam 25.5 for provision from Carmel whom Joshua sent to [5] Josh 2.1 16.23 espy Jericho Or Moses to [6] Exod. 24.5 sacrifice burnt-offerings Abraham appointeth [7] Gen. 22.3 young men to attend him in his Obedience and Elisha dispatcheth a [8] 2 Kin. 9.4 young man then when expedition was requisite The holy Order of Nazarites who more fit for it then [9] Amos 2.11 young men and of all his Subjects the young men are them whom the King [10] 1 Sam. 8.16 will deem goodliest and [11] Ezek. 23.6 most desirable Priamus himself [12] Plutarch in Agesilao was not unhappy while young as Agesilaus readily replied The Lord shall have [13] Esay 9.17 no joy in your young men if not in your young men in whom As (1) Seneca one observeth Had not Ovid reduced the acutenesse of his wit mind and matter unto boyish fancies he had been of all the Roman Poets the most ingenuous so I Did not young men and maidens mis-place the ingenuity of their youthfull age they would prove of all believers the most fervent There is an hour (2) Jer 3 4 saith the (3) Jacula Prudentum by Mr. Herbert Proverb wherein viz. wherefrom a man might be happy all his life could he (4) Eccl. 2.17 8.5 6 find it Such as are young may find this hour would they set themselves with full purpose of heart to believe in God through their Lord Jesus Christ Beloved I beseech you let not want of troubles be the (5) Luke 10.41 42 trouble of your heart It was said of Hesiod (6) By Plutarch that he was fed with
to believe in Christ It is the trouble of our hearts that we have parted from the innocency (6) Matth. 18.3 4 of our Childhood It is the grief of our minds that we have not improved (7) Pro. 22.6 our education and can we fool away our interest in the world too When we were Children we did not (8) 1 Cor. 13.11 put away childishnesse while we were youthfull we [9] Psal 25.7 served divers lusts Now that carnal pleasures have been the trouble of our hearts shall earthly cares be our vexations too we ought to sacrifice our bodies unto the Father of [10] Rom. 2.1 Heaven and dare we sacrifice our hearts unto the God [11] 2 Cor. 4.4 of this world On the other side If through mercy our Childhood hath been [1] Eph. 6.4 nurtured in the fear of the Lord or if God gave us the grace to remember [2] Eccl. 12.1 our Creator in the dayes of our youth how is it that we forget him now What iniquity [3] Jer. 2.5 have we found in our God that we should cast him off now in the midst [4] Psalm 102.4 of our age in the very (5) Psalm 29.5 best of our estate In our Infancy we entred into a Covenant with our God we were baptismally engrafted into Christ in our youth we blossomed now that we are in our Autumn shall all the fruits of our Faith fall to the ground shall we like the [6] Mat. 19.20 cursed fig-tree fail our Makers expectation When [1] Agesilaus in Plutarch Agesilaus having gained one Victory would animate his Souldiers for another he caused the Prisoners whom he had taken captive to be stripped then calling unto him his Souldiers he telleth them [2] 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 these effeminate small-limbed inconsiderable wretches are the enemies ye fight against these Ornaments costly Apparrel and Treasures are the spoil ye fight for Beloved if the [3] insoelix paupertas homines ridiculos facit contempt that accompanieth a mean estate be the Enemy we fight against how [4] Rom. 8.35 1 Cor. 4.8 9 contemptible is this enemy◠especially unto him that [5] Psal 27.1 hath a God to sustain him a God to rely upon◠the mansions in our Fathers house the Son of our God the Father of mercies the God of all blessings these are the prize we fight for Let us therefore in understanding shew our selves [6] 1 Cor. 14.20 men Every day bringeth its [7] Luke 11.3 bread had we the wit to trust [8] 1 Pet. 4 19 an all-sufficient Creatour if it be better for us to be rich [9] Pro. 30.8 then poor to be honourable then mean let not our heart be troubled our God needeth [10] Phil. 4.6 none of our shifts none of our carkings nor indirect means of ours to make us wealthy great or honourable the way to [11] Prov. 10.22 1 Cor. 3.22 be wealthy great honourable is to take God along with us If any man love this world [12] 1 John 2.15 with his first love if he love it otherwise then for (13) He loveth God too little who loveth any thing beside God except for Gods sake R. B. Gods sake the love of the Father is not in him Dare we in the ripenesse of our experience and understandings [14] James 4.4 commit so high an affront against the great God Dare we preferre [15] Mat. 6.31 our vain shifts before his daily Providence our worldly [16] Gen. 17.1 wisdom before his spiritual instructions Dare we love the [17] 1 John 2.16 things of this world before the mansions in our Fathers House Nay would any of us if we might occasion the King of Sodom to say [18] Gen. 4.23 I have made Abraham rich or would we accept of plenty [19] Pro. 15.16 16.18 peace pleasure or honour from any hand but Gods Commendable [20] Jam. 4.4 was that Souldier in Oxford-Garrison who as needy as he was would not accept of Gold from Him who was no friend unto his most gracious Soveraigne O my God as low as I and my Family are if [21] Exod. 33 15 thy presence go not with us carry us not up hence Beloved mine Exhortation is that this [1] Gal. 1.4 present evil world may not perswade us out of our Christian names By these we in ordinary converse call our Children Why Answ Because they had need be often minded of their Christendome and of their vow in Baptism Striplings we likewise call by their Christian names so subject are they to an inconstancy But he that is of full age he that is stled and stayed we repute him so much a Christian that ordinarily we term him Good-man Master sim The more unhappy they that create unto themselves [2] Jer. 2 36 needlesse troubles of heart by trying the [3] Eccl. 7.25 wickednesse of folly with Solomon or by [4] Ames 3.15 Esay 5.8 1 King 21.1 laying house to house and coveting Naboths Vineyard with Ahab or by building [5] Luke 12.18 Gen. 4.17 Castles in the ayr with Gain or by [6] Psal 10.3 2 Kings 20.13 boasting themselves in their own Treasures with Hezekiah Every field is a Garden to him that acquainteth [7] quaelibet herba deum himself with his God A mans wisdome consisteth not in coveting what he cannot easily compasse [8] Luke 12.15 Beatus est noa qui habet quae cupit sed qui non cup t quae non habet Desius Ausonius but in improving what he already hath unto the benefit of his soul would we not over-task [9] Eccl. 2.24 3.22.5.18 Hoc tandem di dicit Henricus Wotton Animas quiescendo fieri fapientiores our selves with needlesse law-suits projects and designs we should find in the world food and rayment Sun-shine and Star-light Rivers and Fountains Flowers and Prospects enough and enough prepared to our hand for our Recreations and Delights Instead of minding their Books and other their Duties Children scatter away their [10] 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Pindar precious time upon idle toyes and yet their Fathers which mourn for them [11] like Hermogenes who was among boys an aged man among aged men a boy Magno conatu nugae cherish the very same folly The Child is pinning and unpinning baby clouts the mother doth the same in affected Apparrel the child buildeth Ovens with untempered morter in the streets the Father is as vain in Housings and Enclosures How our children mis-spend their time and abilities we are sensible but alas many of us [12] He that hath time and looketh for better time Time will come he shall repent of his lost time are insensible that of the two we are the more blame-worthy our best experiences our best understandings our best estate what is it employed upon upon things which [*] Vivere Gallio frater omnes beate volunt
thereof we (3) 2 Cor. 12.10 Est quaedam stere volupt as take pleasure in infirmities The Lord hath set adversitie over against prosperity (4) Symmachus Cajetanus in locum to the end that man should finde nothing worthy complaint 5 nothing therefore wearisome because alwayes the same That life is certainly the least burdensome which is checkered as well with the darknesse of affliction as with the light of gladnesse Yeares would slip from us like a dream did neither vanitie nor (5) Eccles 1.2 vexation keep us awake Winter is (6) Gen. 8.22 every whit as seasonable as is either Spring or Autumn and frosts not only purge but (7) Job 37.10 Matth. 5.4 please Then the morning is comfortable when weeping (8) Psal 30.5 endured a whole night and the likeliest course to reap in joy is to sowe (9) Psa 126.5 in teares A holy rest prepareth for (10) Exod. 20.9 six dayes labour and when by (11) 1 Cor. 7.20 24 2 Thess 3.10 walking in our Vocations we have gotten a (12) Mat. 5.6 Esay 58.13 spiritual appetite the first day of the week will be more the (13) John 20.1 19 Acts 20.7 1 Cor. 16.2 Revel 1.10 Lords day then our own without (14) There is such a thing as Mos populi Dei As every society so the Church besides her habemus legem hath her habemus consuetudinem Men have so great a good liking to duties which be afterward their customes that they are remembred without book neither need they be put in writing as Lawes and Statutes are Bishop Andrews Serm. 13. of the Resurrection The Civil Law speaking of Custom saith Imò magnae authoritatis hoc jus habetur quòd in tantum probatum est ut non fuerit scripter comprehendere necesse Pandect 1. Tit. 3. de legibus 35. Once call to mind what provision God made in the old Testament for his Ministery by Tithes and Offerings and for his publique worship not only on every seventh doy bùt in very many other yearly festivals and except you will either deny God your Rom. 12.1 reasonable service or else degrade the 2 Cor. 3.7 8 9 10 11. ministration of the Gospel below the ministration of death you must openly acknowledge that concerning either the maintenance of Gods Ministery or solemn dayes for Gods worship under the new Testament the holy and blessed Spirit need not 1 Thess 1.8.4.9.5.1 2. 1 John 2.27 Heb. 8.12 Esay 35.8 write unto us more then what is already written and received in the 1 John 2.7 old Testament Wherefore if any disclaim the observation of other our Holy dayes Psalm 81.3.42.4 Esther 9.26 27. John 10 22. much more if any disclaim the observation of the Lords day it is sufficient if we reply first with the first Nicene Counsel 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Deut. 4.12 Job 8.8 Jer. 6.16 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 next with the Apostle 1 Cor. 11.16 we have no such custom neither the Churches of God videas Cyril in Joan. l. 12. c. 58. As Christ substituted the Lords Supper instead of the Posseover so did he the Lords day in the Jewish Sabbaths room saith Athanasius further scruple I say In the Kindome of grace Look how many the troubles of the righteous are so many are their (1) Rom. 8.28 Psalm 34.19.50.15 83.18 opportunities of glorifying God as God First amidst equal paines variety affordeth some ease and the more (2) Rom. 101.1 amant alterna Camaenae vicissitudes we finde the lesse we nauseate our wearisome lives Next It is both (3) Jerem. 10.24 judgement from God and mercy to us that we are corrected The (4) Rom. 6.23 wages of sin is death now because the deadly wound and killing stroke lighted upon Him who (5) Rom. 5.6 7 8 most willingly dyed for us meet it is that we our selves (6) 2 Sam. 12.13 14 10 should feel some smart That we may perceive how heavy a curse we had (7) Gal. 3.10 13 layen under had not the only Son of God been made a curse for us meet it is that (8) Gal. 6.5 every man should bear some part of his own burden and most kindly it is that we (9) Matth. 20.23 taste although we do but taste that bitter Cup the dregs whereof the mighty Redeemer drank in our stead In the third place more (10) Heb. 12.1 easily sin besetteth us the the more circumspectly we do at least the more circumspectly we should walk In (11) Mic. 7.8 Luke 12.35 dark nights we are careful to keep (12) Perdidistis utilitatem calamitatis S. August our Lamps burning If ought can draw us out of Gods blessing it is the (13) Deut. 6.12 Prov 1.32 Woe to the house where there is no chiding warm Sun as for stormes they compell us to have (14) Luke 12.32 Psalm 119.71 our loynes girt Fourthly where sorrow for sin aboundeth there thankfulnesse for free grace much more (15) Rom. 5.20 aboundeth when the letter killeth then (16) 2 Cor. 3.6 Christ cometh that we may have life and that we may have it (17) John 10.10 more abundantly Fifthly the more grievous godly sorrow is for the present (18) Heb. 12.11 afterward the more it bringeth forth the peaceable fruits of righteousnesse Sixthly If we were without chastisement whereof all are (19) Heb. 12.8 partakers we should then seem to our selves bastards and not Sons Whom thou Lord lovest them thou (20) Heb. 12.6 chastenest O shew me some (21) Psa 86.17 At tu si modò sum caelesti stirpe creatus Ede notam tanti generis meque assere coelo Ovid. Psalm 23.4 Revel 3.19 token for good A seventh particular I will be (22) Pse 31.7 glad and rejoyce in thy mercy for thou hast considered my trouble and hast known my soul in adversities Unto us in the Kingdom of grace Calamities are trials as woll of (23) Pse 20.6 41.11 Gods goodness as of (24) Deut. 8.2 16 Judges 2.22 3.1 our own It is matter worthy our thanksgiving unto God that the shoe waxeth not old upon the (25) Deu 29.5 Pilgrims foot or that his weather-beaten garment abideth new If the Prophets Widow be poor God will (26) 2 Ki. 4.1 7 pay her debts and that Widow in Zarephath shall not want for a (27) Ps 104.15 chearful countenance so long as her Cruse is (28) 1 Kings 17.16 filled with Oyle Elijah will (29) 1 Kings 17.6 want bread to chuse forasmuch as his God (30) Psa 147.9 feedeth the Ravens O my God the bones which thou (31) At Sir Thomas Overburies gate Monday Jan. 29th 1654. hast broken do (32) The Lord do good unto the house of the Overburies for then when I was mortally bruised they tenderly refreshed me 1 Tim. 1.16 rejoyce for during my weaknesse thou didst (33) A week together at Sir Thomas Overburies
of the holy One and the poor in spirit wax rich in grace MOTIVE VIII Thy natural averseness There is no such Trewant as the natural man Motive 8. Judas will rather hang himself then delight in his Masters pleasure but first meer shame will reduce thee from this ingratitude no love for thy father nor love for thy Redeemer nor love for thy preserver fie fie for shame the oxe (1) Isa 1 3 knoweth his owner and the dog at thy heels his master Secondly Let thy heart alone and thou (2) 1 Cor. 2.14 wilt love thy God less next day then thou wilt to morrow and less to morrow then to day thou dost Thirdly Thou must not follow but (3) Col. 3.1 lead thine affections we force our selves to delight in such diets such exercises such employments as most suit not with our pleasure but with our real good Fourthly What thanks is it if we place our affections upon that whereunto we are of our selves addicted but herein we know that we love our God if we deny (4) Mat. 16.24 our selves that we may love him Lastly remove thine ignorance and thy dis-affection is removed once see the beauty of holiness (5) Exod. 15.11 and be out of love with it if thou canst thou wilt therefore love God because God is glorious in holiness thy Lord most holy MOTIVE IX Motive 9. A ninth Motive which may stir up thy mind to follow God fully is thy desperate guilt The whole need not the Physitian but thou dost such a sinner as thou art may well cry God mercy all the days of his life He that hath wallowed in so much mire as thou hast done hath great reason to wish (1) Ezek. 36.25 for clean waters who should thirst after sanctification if thine Aethiopian skin should not the Leopards spots are white to thine if the blood of the Lamb can make thy crimson sins whiter then snow surely thou hast cause sufficient to bath in that warm blood thou hast sinned so prodigally against heaven and against God that it is the best of thy skill to make benefit of Christ merits Then then the holy Angels will (2) Luk. 15.7 rejoyce indeed when they see such a lost creature as thou hast been take the kingdom of heaven by violence and main force MOTIVE Motive 10. X. A tenth particular which helpeth thine unwearied soul to take the kingdom of heaven by violence is the present evil world viz. unless it were better then it is thou wilt no more (1) Jam. 1.27 dirty thy self with it the cares thereof may choak such as love them but thee they drive unto (2) 1 Pet. 4.19 thy faithful Creator to him that endured temptations in the wilderness Canaan is sweet pleasures upon earth may ensnare fools they only mind thee of thy masters joys thou translatest the whole book of nature into a book of grace well knowing that the things which are seen are transitory but the things which are not seen are eternal MOTIVE XI Motive 11. The next particular serving to awaken thee unto righteousness is the corruption of thine old man For first while [1] Gal 5.17 thy flesh is contrary to thy spirit his thou [2] Rom. 6.16 art unto whom thou yieldest obedience and if it was thy [3] Rom. 8.6 death to be carnally minded to be spiritually minded is a sign of life Again sometimes a (4] 2 Cor. 12.7 buffet or two doth Saint Paul a kindnâ—ss [5] 2 Cor. 12.9 while the flesh (6) 1 Pet. 2.11 warreth against thy soul thy soul is [7] Deut. 8.2 Judg. 2.21 22 3.2 kept upon her guard Rome is not secure so long as Carthage is standing nay opposition strengthneth the prevailing party as [8] 2 Sam. 3.1 Sauls rebellions established David in his Throne for infirmities of nature excite the power of grace Corruption is flesh and [9] Isa 31.3 not spirit MOTIVE XII Motive 12. The roaring lion at this instant seeking to devoure thee Among too too many Ministers who during our late detestable rebellions were most reproachfully tossed out of their livelyhoods one I knew who (1) Mr. Vade of Odington in Glocester-shire would full often with indignation enough boast himself a person more beholding unto Committee-men then unto all the kinred which be had his riddle was while he kept house in his Parsonage diseases cares and debts grew upon him but so soon as the Committee had once for ever sequestred from Him his Parsonage they from that time forward eased him of his debts by disposing his fifths for their payment they cured him of his disease while want of a horse made him walk away his Gout and withall they freed him from his cares for he had now no worldly thing to care for bear with me the condition is thine I may seriously affirme that next unto God himself this (2) Matt. 6.13 13.39 evil one is although full (3) Esa 10.7 sore against his will the very best friend whom thou hast in the world if thou hast but eyes of understanding in thy head this I will clear unto thee in three particulars The Devil (4) Eph. 6.12 1 Pet. 5.8 befriendeth thee first By deterring from sin Ah Sir this Bug-bear at the gate will make thee (5) 1 Tim. 3.6 7. keep within dores the saucer eyes of this spright will make thee look unto thy self espie once his cloven foot and adventure (6) Act. 24.16 abroad if thou darest Secondly By Temptations thou wilt not trust a reconciled enemy The Devil is so [7] Eph. 6.11 2 Cor. 2.11 well known that none of his chaff can catch old birds if he begin to tempt he will make thee glad to cling unto thy father Thy fear of this Pursevants Arrest [8] Heb. 4.16 will make thee take Sanctuary the more stratagems this subtle creature useth to (9) 2 Tim. 2.26 entice thee toward hell the more thy holy jealousies will draw thee toward heaven and all the while this Avenger lasheth thee [10] 1 Kin. 12.11 with Scorpions he [11] Gal. 3.24 schooleth thee unto Christ Thirdly [12] Ephes 6.11 by wrestlings carnal [13] 1 Pet. 2.11 lusts war against the soul but we wrestle not against flesh and blood alone these are no equal match for him that [14] Psal 23.4 27.12 undertaketh to be strong in the Lord that is a [15] Heb. 22.4 Sine periculo seiget ludus dull skirmish which hazardeth no blood Surely thou shalt see what thy servant can do saith the (16) 1 Sam. 28.2 Warriour As the Martyr Juliano kissed the step whereon he stood to suffer death so thou when valiant wilt kiss the turf whereon thou standest to fight thy Lords battel Glad is David if he may be but allowed to deal with (17) 1 Sam. 17.32 a Goliah if Jether (18) Judg. 8.20 fear Zebah and Zalmunna it is
because he is yet a youth a Gideon will make make them his (19) Judg. 8.21 ornament MOTIVE XIII To omit many others Motive 13. the last Motive which now presseth why thou shouldest return why if thou return thou shouldest return unto the Lord and why if thou return unto the Lord thou shouldest return unto him with thy whole heart is The (1) compare Ex. 7.13 with Job 23.16 Gen. 19 11. with 21.19 Numb 22. v. 25 with â— 31. 2 King 6.20 â— 18 17. Luk. 24.16 31 John 20.14 with Dan. 3.25 Deut. 29.4 with 2 Tim. 2.21 Deut. 5.29 with Isa 59.1 2 sim 6.9 power of God Whence was it that heretofore what evil thou wert loth to commit in the sight of man that thou couldest boldly perpetrate before the face of the (2) Gen. 16.13.39.9 ever-present God Whence was it that the very same affections of thine which have been (3) Phil. 3.19 so mindless of spiritual blessings have been so inordinate unto vile lusts or that the same understanding of thine which is so wise (4) Rom. 3.11 18. in the things of this world is so far to seek in the things of a better world If thou knowest not whence this is I will resolve thee the thing is of God viz. from the power of his justice Now the same God which can in justice leave thee to thy foolishness so far as to make thee fear (5) Rom. 3.18 man more then the face of the most holy The same God can in mercy bring unto thee thy right senses and make thee fear to do evil if for mans sake for Gods (6) John 5.9 Jer. 5.22 sake much more The same God which could suffer thine affections to go awhoring after their shame (7) Psal 25.12 can place them upon the things above and the same God which suffered thy brains to weary themselves in studying how to ensnare thy self in the world the same God can when he shall so please make thee (8) Psal 51.6 wise unto salvation True (9) 2 Cor. 3.5 were there not a power in God able to give unto thee what he expecteth from thee there were then some cloak for thy back-slidings but the same God which (10) Ezek. 18.32 biddeth thee turn is able (11) Jer. 31.18 Lam. 5 21 to turn thee and therefore he (12) Prov. 1.23 reproveth thee to this end that through his strength thon mayest turn unto him The same God which calleth thee unto (13) 2 Pet. 3.9 repentance can (14) Act. 5.31 give repentance and therefore he (15) Hag. 1.5 Rev. 2.5 instructeth thee to consider thy ways that thou mayest by his help gain repentance The same God which requireth (16) Deut. 28.58 thy fear can (17) Jer. 32.40 put his fear into thine inward parts and therefore he (18) Deut. 4.10.17.19 Prov. 3.2 Psal 19.7 directeth thee to the Scriptures that thou by them mayest learn to (19) Hos 3.5 fear the Lord and his goodness The same God which commandeth (20) 1 Joh. 3.23 thee to believe can (21) Phil. 1.29 give thee a power to believe and therefore (22) Rom. 10.14 instructeth thee that faith cometh by hearing The same God which (23) Eph. 5.18 willeth thee to be filled with the Spirit is able to (24) Joel 2.28 pour out spirit upon all flesh and therefore adviseth thee how (25) Luk. 11.13 Prov. 1.23 Gal. 3.5 thou shouldest obtain it In a word God who (26) Rev. 22.17 would have thee come unto Christ is able (27) Joh. 6.44 to draw thee unto him which that he may do he (28) Mat. 17.5 Heb â—2 25 calleth unto thee from heaven and a (29) John 1.37 9.38 smaller invitation then that by far hath served to make others deny themselves and follow Jesus Wouldest thou (30) Num. 23.10 have heaven drop into thy mouth open thy mouth wide and it (31) Psal 81.10 will so not (32) Mat. 7.21 Qui sicit te sine te non servabit te sine te else Wherefore O thou who hast so (1) Rom. 9.32 33 dangerously stumbled at the rock of offence that I have hitherto (2) Gal. 4.11 stumbled at thy fall thou gone so far (3) Joh. 13.30 from the person speaking in my Text that I have left my Text it self to follow thee thou whom I found with Judas but would bring back to Jesus with tears I ask thee What shall I do at the great and terrible day of the Lord Shall I call God to witness that thy (4) Hos 13.9 2 Pet. 3.9 1 Thes 1.10 5.9 perdition is of thy self Shall I call Judas to witness that thy damnation is (5) Joh. 3.19 just or may I with (6) Luk. 15.7 holy Angels joy at thy conversion Thy life may end before to morrow yet as short as thy life is before it doth end know One drop of the Lambs blood is able to dissolve even thine (7) 1 Pet. 1.2 adamant The Word of thy God is a (8) Jer. 23.29 hammer sufficient to deal with thy (9) Psal 19.7 nether-milstone it can make it a hewen stone it can carve it into several (10) Mal. 3.17 Jewels into Jewels engraven after the similitude of thy (11) 2 Cor. 3.18 Redeemer Destroy not thou that (12) Rom. 14.15 soul for which Christ died For my part what (1) 1 Kin. 19.20 have I done unto thee if a greater then Elijah hath cast his mantle of righteousness upon thee What (2) Joh. 13.17 Eccles 9.10 thou dost do quickly sacrifie (3) 1 Kin. 19.21 Rom. 12.1 thy self unto him minister unto him of thy (4) Luk 8.3 Mat. 3.8 substance bring for him thy (5) Luk 23.56 Mat. 25.4 best ointments See the (6) Luk. 23.55 Joh. 5.39 place where he is laid look (7) Mat. 28.1 Gal. 6.14 toward his sepulchre and while thou (8) Mark 16.4 Psal 32.5 lookest thou shalt find the stone rolled amay yea as undoubtedly as (9) Mat. 11.28 29 30. John 6.37 thou seekest Jesus who was crucified so undoubtedly the good Angel in my Text the person here speaking Jesus whom thou seekest shall number thee among his beloved Disciples and as he comforteth them so with the same affections and in the very same words he shall encourage thee Let not thy heart be troubled believe in God believe also in me in my Fathers house are many Mansions THrough a neglect of seeking the Lord while (1) Isa 55 6 Psal 95.7 2 Cor. 6.2 compared with Dan. 3.9.3 Mat. 7.7.22.29 John 5.39 he may be found To be believers the unbeliever conceiveth [2] Mat. 25.24 hard thoughts of his God conceiving so hard thoughts of his God he [3] Luk. 19.20 24 unthankfully wrappeth his talent in a napkin at last forfeiting [4] Luk. 19.26 that single talent for want of use he useth his