GODS GOODNES AND MERCY LAYD OPEN IN A SERMON PREACHED AT PAVLS-CROSSE ON THE LAST OF IVNE 1622. BY Mr ROBERT HARRIS Pastour of the Church of GOD at HANVVELL in Oxfordshire GAL. 6.10 As we haue therefore opportunitie let vs doe good to all men especially to them that are of the houshold of Faith LONDON Printed by IOHN DAVVSON for IOHN BARTLET and are to be sold at the Guilt Cup in the Gold-smiths Row in Cheap-side 1622. TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFVLL Sir BAPTIST HICKS Iustice of Peace in Middlesex Grace and Peace RIGHT WORSHIPFVLL I Should much forget my selfe if whilst I presse others to Goodnesse Mercy I should forget yours to my natiue Country Campden in Glouc. shyre there you haue done good to the house of God not onely in outward buildings and ornaments M. Lilly but in setling a Preacher where before was none and such a one as cannot easily be equalled in eminency of gifts There also you haue exercised Mercy in building such an Almes-house as that I know not what may be added thereto vnlesse hereafter you shall see cause to set over the blind and lame and deafe who are lesse able to repaire to and profit by the publique Ministery a more private Teacher and Catechist Sir I thanke God I could never yet the Art of flattery neither will your Wisedome if I know you brooke the trade It sufficeth that I haue in a line or two recommended to others practise your example and conveyed to Posteritie my thankfulnesse with your bountie If God make me able I shall haply doe it hereafter in a better manner In the meane I beseech you to accept my present thankes wrapt vp in a dead Letter and sicke Epistle and still continue to loue his Country who still rests Hanwell in Oxon shire Iuly 9. 1622. Your WORSHIPS in all thankefulnes and dutie ROBERT HARRIS In this Psalme we haue 1. A dutie Thankfulnes described from its common nature Confession 2. Arguments from the object of our prayses God considered 1. In himselfe 1. In his simple being Iehovah vers 1. 2. In his second being viz. his properties reduced to 1. Graciousnes 1. Simply good 2. Respectiuely mercifull 2. Greatnesse 1. Power is his vers 2. 2. Dominion is his v. 3. 2. In his works delivered 1. In generall they are all wonderfull vers 4. 2. In speciall 1. Such as concerne the whole world Creation in the parts thereof vers 5 6. 7. Preservation government vers 8.9 2. Such as concerne the Church 1. In her first Plantation vers 10-23 2. In her setled estate her blessings Privatiue v. 23.24 Positiue Earthly vers 25. Spirituall vers 26. ⧠To the Christian Reader GENTLE READER Vnderstand that I was then Summoned to the Crosse when I was not in case either to Studie or to speake the former straight when I could not be excused forced me to a familiar and easie Text the later to a briefe and short kind of speech which carried with it an appearance of that which I ever shund Affectation and Obscuritie It may bee thine Eye will conceiue mee better then thine Eare and therefore I yeelde to importunity and present my selfe to thy view entreating 2. things of thee 1. Charity 2. Conscience Charity towards the Printer in case some faults in my absence escape him towards me in case so frequent quotations offend thee my now practise agrees with my ancient Iudgement at home my people neither vnderstand nor desire tongues and humane Authorities and therefore I am sparing on the other side when I fall vpon an Auditorie that conceiues and receiues both I vse both as I see my advantage All is thine if thou canst be content and wilt add conscience the second thing to charity It grieues my soule to see the guise of many hearers they desire novelties when they haue heard théy iudge the man and his method and then sit downe seldome practising what is preached Reader be not such an hearer lest thou cosen thy selfe Iames 1.22 thou here seest that if thou be of God and Gods goodnesse and special mercy shall be thine thou must be good and do good be mercifull and shew mercie the times require this the Lord expects this our vnthankfulnes and vnfruitfulnes hath welmost vndone vs if wee who haue more peace in the State more preaching in the Church then any other knowne Nation vnder Heauen be not more fruitful and aboundant in goodnes then other people our light wil be turnd into darknes our Sunne into blood what shall I say or to whom shall I turne my selfe we cal til we are hoarse we speake till we spit forth our lungs yet will not the Sonnes of Men heare vs they wil not heare I say with teares they will not heare we can doe no good O Lord perswade Iaphet for we can not and be mercifull to this barren Countrey Reader I leaue thee adding to the Martyrs Fox his Martyrol c. pray pray pray worke worke worke Thine in the Lord RO. HARRIS GODS GOODNES AND MERCIE LAID OPEN IN A Sermon at Pauls Crosse on the last of Iune 1622. Psalme 136. verse 1. Prayse ye the Lord because he is good for his mercie endureth for ever c. THis Psalme cleeres it selfe and therefore a Title needed not it answers all occasions and therefore the Arguments are generall it was sung by course and therefore the burthen is stil the same In it we haue a Dutie pressed and Arguments pressing the Dutie is thankefulnesse delivered from its common nature Confession our praises are but acknowledgments of Gods excellencies The Arguments are drawne from the Obiect of our prayses God considered first in himselfe Secondly in his workes in himselfe considered he is apprehended by a first and second Act of our vnderstanding First in his most simple being confesse to Iehovah Secondly in his second being to speake as wee conceiue things in his properties These mentioned are first Gratiousnesse Secondly Greatnesse for the first he is first simply Good and then in a respect Mercifull for the second his is Power he is Gods of Gods Gods in the plurall because al powers are his God of Gods in an hebrew superlatiue because he is far aboue all Gods whether so reputed or deputed that great that strong God as Moses expounds the phrase Deut. 10.7 next Kingdome is his Hee is Lords of Lords in the same sence that is the Monarch and Emperour of Princes and States nowe if power be his and Kingdome his Glory is his also therefore 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 confesse it sayth the Psalmist this is the first Argument from Gods blessed selfe the second from his workes we leaue for hast c. Of the Action Confesse the Obiect Iehovah some thing at home Goodnesse Mercie offer themselues next and first Goodnesse as the more generall Doct. God is good This point is plaine a principle not needing proofe there be sayth nature in the Philosopher some confessed goods 〈◊〉
is pitifull good to our bodies soules estates names friends townes Church State Court Kingdome Oh let these Mercies soke into our hearts till they draw forth teares as they did from Bradford Let the house of Levi say his Mercie endures for ever Let the house of Iudah say his Mercie endures for ever Let the fields say it is his mercy that we be not all spoyled led Let our Cities say it is his mercy that we be not all burnt Let our Churches say it is his mercie that we be not all rasde yea let this Land of all Lands say it is his mercie that sword and fire and pestilence and other miseries doe not prey vpon mee as vpon my Sister-Kingdomes O Lord who is a God like to thee thus to beare thus to blesse had not thy Mercies exceeded all limits our sinnes ere this had sunke vs all Is God ever mercifull Then the Argument is ever good Ioel 2. Iona 3. c. Rom. 2. Turne to the Lord say the Prophets repent saies the Apostle this the vse that Mercy must be put to the better God hath bin to vs the more wee must bleede vnder his reproofes O my people saies God Mich. 6.3 6. c. hee spake it once to Iudah now to England O my people what is the matter that I cannot winne you Wherein haue I wronged your Names that you teare mine When did I grieue you that you grieue mee when was I hard to you that you so hardly affoord me one day in seven What ayles you what ayles you that you will not be ruled by me I would haue you leaue your sinnes you will not I would haue you holy happy you will not I would haue a Covenant of Salt betwixt vs that I might never leaue you you will not no words no stroakes no fights abroad no loue no kindnesse no patience at home can melt you O that yet yet yet we of this land would meete the Lord and make our peace with him whilest peace is in our gates Now what the whole Land in generall that this Chamber in perticular must doe I will suppose your Government your selues present to bee good but what shall wee say of many in the Citty I must turne to Ezek. 22. and speake that to our Ierusalem which the Prophet there doth to his London In thee are they that make Idols v. 3.4 7 c. in thee they shed blood in thee they set light by Father and Mother in thee they oppresse in thee they despise my Holinesse and prophane my Sabbothes in thee they carry tales they cate vppon the Mountaines in thee they commit Whoredome and abhominable filthinesse in thee they take bribes and vsury in thee thy Rulers take dishonest gaine thy Priests hide their Eyes from my Sabbothes thy Prophets daube with vntempered Morter thy people generally vexe oppresse rob and wrong one another thus the Prophet then now I report my selfe to you whether a Prophet may not still take vp his words against this place if so then heare what the Lord further adds I sought for a man among them that should stand in the gap for the Land O vnspeakeable Patience and Mercie when they sought not God God sought them when the most were desperate hee sought for some fewe to stand in the breach and a few should haue ransomed multitudes Now then Much honoured and beloved are there any men amidst you any that can weepe for the Abhominations of the place that can pray and wrestle with heaven Let these stand in the gap Let these stand betweene the living and the dead with their Censers Let them lie betwizt the Porch and the Altar and say O thou God of Mercies spare our Cittie our houses our Churches our streetes and bee Mercifull to our sinnes for they are great And what I say to all I speake to every one now present turne Ho thou that hast beene an Idolater a Swearer an Adulterer a Wanton a Murtherer c Make this vse of Gods patience and kindenes to thee to wit Repent O but my sinnes are many yea but his mercies are more O but they are great his mercies are greater O but I am exceeding bad how bad as Manasses he had mercie for him as Magdalen he had mercie for her as Adam he had mercie for him ô but it is now too late al his mercie is spent no his mercie endureth for ever Beloved the Lord hath sent this day the cheife of Sinners to proclaime thus much in your eares that never yet any perished for want of mercie in God be it that thy sinnes be sinnes of darknesse sinnes of death of blood of hell yet if thou canst finde a heart to repent God will finde in his heart to pardon see thou thy sinnes confesse bewaile abhorre forsake them seeke thou the face of God lie at his foote Call Crie Lord be mercifull to me a sinner get his Sonne his Image and new Obedience and thy case is blessed nay if thou canst not thus repent yet thirst Math. 5. nay if thou canst not thirst yet mourne nay if thou canst not mourne yet bee poore in spirit and being so in truth the blessing is thine and the blood of Iesus Christ shall cleanse thee from all all I say againe all thy sinnes Is God ever merciful then be ye merciful as is your heavenly Father Math. 5. nay hee doth not onely practise mercie but also commaunds it nay commends it nay rewards it nay plagues the neglect of it even to vtter destruction your Elder brother Christ is also mercifull and interprets every kindnesse done to his done to himselfe besides Mercy graces Religion glads the Church fils her mouth with Gods prayses stops the mouth of all adversaries yea mercy preserues the afflicted and refresheth the bowels for Strangers it winns vpon them in point of Religion for thy selfe it comforts thy Soule as an evidence of thy truth easeth thy body being a lighter burden then what else wil oppresse fiercenes and cruelty crownes thy name being that grace that exempts from persecution Cypt. de op elecmos and is most attractiue improues thine estate sanctifieth thy present portion to thy selfe and settles the remainder vpon thy posteritie armes thee against sicknesse and death Psal 41. c. against oblivion in the graue Acts 9. v. 39. against iudgement at the resurrection Iames 2. v. 13. Mat. 25. so that if we eyther respect our Father God or our Saviour Christ or our Mother the Church or our brethren Christians or our observers Enemies or our owne selues and soules here or hereafter wee must be mercifull If you aske me how this mercie must be exercised I must in this hast referre Schollers to the Casuists and the rest of you to other Authors for a fuller answere the summe is this Mercie must haue first a good roote Faith in God Loue to God and man Secondly a good ende Gods glory in mans good and our thankes
not merit not satisfaction not impetration as they Thirdly a good rule the word must order vs both for persons and things for persons wee must begin with God and with the Macedonians giue our selues to him 2. Cor. 8. v. 5. that done wee must proceede to the Common State then to those next that touch vs nearest in the strongests ties and so passe on till like good stomacks wee haue dealt something to the most removed members For things respect must bee had to the Soule first then to the Name then to the bodie then to the estate Fourthly our Almes must be good for the matter of it first in it selfe being wholesome and our owne next for the receiver being suted to his needs for the purpose comfort if tempted Counsell if distracted succour if oppressed clothes if naked eyther worke or a whippe if Idle Would you knowe in the third place what mercy you must shew I answere such a mercie as God shewes first vniversall mercie to mens soules bodies estates and that which the worlds is little acquainted with specially towards Rulers mercie to mens Names Secondly Everlasting mercie the righteous saith David is ever giving lending c. Alasse Mercie breakes now as fast as trading faire houses be shut in mercy is runne the Countrie and is like to perish for it will hardly line without a house where a poore house is kept there is something for mercie to feede and worke vpon some raggs some scraps some fewell some thing but when Midas-like all wee touch is gold our bread gold our fewell gold all turned into the penny I meane so that we cannot giue till wee haue past through three or foure Lockes and scene and felt our almes then certainely wee shall part with it most vnwillingly The house-keeper if he want not an heart hath opportunities more then any for the exercising of mercy be not yee wearie of this well doing the World I know is importunate in Comparisons and impudent in pressures vpon the free hearted but doe you your duties and feare not Swine that are well neyther full nor fasting Now as House-keepers so others in their places must be ever mercifull all ever receiue mercy Let all ever shew all haue opportunities let all apprehend them the poore sayth our blessed Saviour are ever with you if ever now Mercy needes not ride abroad to seeke worke in these dayes step but into thy Neighbours house and thou shalt finde povertie in the Chimney in the Cupboard leanesse sitting on the Cheekes and cleaving to the ribbs of old and yong O but wee haue not for them Why where 's the want your houses be as trim as ever your Children as fine your Tables as full your wastfulnesse as much as ever and can you be ever near nay ever prodigall and not ever mercifull What 's become of Religion now Is all turned into words as once in Saint Iames his time Time was when Christians would sell their plate Chalices their Roabes and Iewels their Lands and possessions to relieve the Churches necessity and shall not we parte with superfluities tell mee you that reade Saint Iohn how you satisfie his question and your owne Consciences 1. Iohn 3.17 if any Man hath these worlds goods and sees his Brother ther want c. how dwels the loue of God in him Will you say wee haue not this Worldes goods Then dissemble not now yee stand in a crosse poynt to good Araunah hee spent like a Subject gaue like a King 2. Sam. 24.23 you build fayre goe like Princes and will you giue like Bankrupts Nay your Tavernes your Feastes and Playes will rise vp against you you haue meanes to feast the Rich and doe not you remember Christs Cavear Mercie before kindnesse You haue a pinte of wine for any Friend and not a penny for Christ you can finde a Tester for some game some shewe some stage Play and what nothing for Mercy Or will yon say wee see no neede Why what else can you see Men want stocke want bread want worke want money and when that is deare nothing is cheape and is not heere neede but there is no extremitie Woe is mee there be many at her stay I haue a little meale and oyle in a Cruyce 1. Reg. 17.12 I will bake eate die they are now sinking sinking if you come not quickly to their succour they are loft is not this an extremitie But where bee meanes finde you hearts I will yet finde meanes First the Backe may lend you something your golden fingers might cloath some and bee never the Colder your great Ruffes might feede others and be never the vnhandsomer the Groues and Grownds vpon your backes as Tertullian speakes might lodge others De habit mul li. de cult Faem and yet sitt never the worse vpon your owne and childrens backs Secondly the Belly might spare you something with advantage to your health and strength one meale saved in a weeke one dish at a meale one cup of wine one pipe of Tobacco in a day would come to something in the yeare I quake to thinke what Christians wee be some surfet some starue all at once rather then we will not pine the poore wee will cramme and choake our selues Thirdly our Houses might lend vs something for howsoever with them of old wee feede as if wee would die presently yet wee build as if we would liue for ever It is a world to see how curious wee be in suting every Roome whilest the members of Christ goe not like one Fathers children nay it is not necessary they should bee all in a Sute onely if Christ may be heard hee that hath two coates should giue one to the naked Fourthly borrow of our Enemie Sinne and here if you will not hold I know not what to say but that the Heathen sayth Senec. hee is a bad Phisitian that despayres of his cure wee haue money for braules for bribes for the feeding of pride revenge ambition lust and shall we feede foes starue friends let me speake it once for all had we as much zeale to mercy as to sinne to men as to birds and monkies to Christians and Preachers as to Claw-backs Iesters Fidlers Fooles we would finde meanes to relieue them meanes for the present but how shall our owne doe hereafter Why is not mercy as sure a graine as vanitie Is God like to breake sayth not he Hee that giues to the poore lends to the Lord and he will pay him I haue nothing to spare thou hast for thy friends for Gods Enemies Pride Vanity if none for Christ receiue thy doome Hee that stops has eare at the crie of the Poore c. Pro 21.13 Iames 2.13 Iudgment without mercie to him that shewed no mercy depart from mee yee cursed you had meate drinke cloath house-roome for sinfull men horses doggs carts none for mee But the poore bee as sine as my selfe I pray thee be sayd with reason if others be not sit to receiue thou art not tyed to giue If thou bee fit to giue and they to receiue dispute no longer rather heare the Apostle Put on the bowels of mercy Col. 3.12 verse 5. and to that ende take his directions first slay vnmortified lusts next steepe thy thoughts in the Mercies of God and they will dye thine Ephe. 318.19 as the dye-fart doth the cloath that done be rich in faith and good workes first in the Inwarce actes of mercy pittie the afflicted bleede with them mourne with them thirst their good cast their good Secondly In outward acts of mercy goe to them sitt with them pray for them lend them speake for them giue them forgiue them and if all thy abilitie amount but to one cupp of cold water it shall bee accepted rewarded Math. 10. Lastly God is ever mercifull let vs then leaue the labouring Church in his everlasting armes as Moses speakes Deut. 33.27 Le ts recommend our Israell to him whose mercy hath prevented and will preserve vs if wee constantly flie vnto him and let every one that is capable of mercy being Fatherlesse that hath obtained mercy Hos 14.3 being Penitent and Mercifull stay himselfe here The Mercy of God endureth for ever my strength may faile my estate may my friends may my outward comforts my inward feelings may but the Mercies of God never fayle all miseries haue an ende Gods Mercie which is my Mercie is endlesse is boundlesse It endures for ever ⸫ FINIS