those tenne daies he gaue them to the end they should profit themselus by his clemēcy before they should make proofe of his power But as far as light excelleth darkenes truth error heaven earth so farre in pitty mercy and compassion doth the Creator of all excell the best of all his creatures Never was there any so pittifull as he the God of pitty Never any so merciful as he the God of mercy Never any so compassionate as he the God of al compassion O how often doth he perswade by promises how often doth he allure hy rewards how often doth he intreate by favours how often doth he assay al faire meanes to convert a sinful soule before he drawe out his sword of vengance against him O when did hee spoile any country once before he had spared it often Whē did he overthrow any natiō in one day which he had not most louingly wooed before many a day When did yet any place feele the iudgmēts of his fury that had not long before tasted the sweetnesse of his mercy For this was the rule of Gods owne law this was the decree of his heavenly will that no citie should be destroyed before peace were offered vnto the same as we read Deut. 20.10 And in the Gospel it was our Saviours cōmandemēt to his disciples that into what house soever they did enter they should begin the exordiū of their message with a pax vobis saying peace be vnto this house Luk. 10.5 and it is wel worth our observing that vertues and miracles were first wrought in Corazin and Beth saida before their woe was pronounced against them Matth. 11.20 Yea the fig tree in the Gospell although the Lord when he came and sought it found no fruit therō shall not be presently cut downe but shall hane a yeare a yeare a yeare to that shal be digged dunged before it be destroyed Luk. 13.7.8 This also did the Lord of mercy do in the time of olde He sent Noah to the men of the olde world a preacher of righteousnes 2. Pet. 2.5 We sent Lot to those wicked Sodomites in the spirit of meekenes to beseech them not to do so wickedly Gen. 19.7 He sent Moses Aarō to the Aegyptian Exod. 5.1 He sent Prophets from time to time to the childrē of Jsrael He sent Iohn Baptist and our blessed Saviour the holy Apostles besides signes in the host of heavē tokens in the elemēts to the people of Ierusalem before they were destroied And although that citty were growen to a full measure of iniquity to the very height of al manner of impiety so that both the servants sonne of God were slaine by thē the Sabaoth of the Lord polluted the sanctuary of the Lord prophaned the lawe of the Lorde despised the testimony of the Lord neglected yet see the infinite mercy patience of a louing Lord behold for a warning ful forty yeares were allotted vnto her before God sent vp Vespasian Titus to sack-it As Eusebius in the 3. lib. 8 cap. of his Ecclesiastical history reporteth Before which time how did the Saviour of the world call on her to repent how did he weepe for her how did he wooe her as the brid grome his spouse to turne vnto him to forsake her evil waies how did he manifest his loue affection towards her O Ierusalem Ierusalem thou that killest the Prophets and stonest them that are sent vnto thee how often would I haue gathered thee togither as the hengathereth her chikens vnder her winges thou wouldest not Mat. 23.37 J will not trouble you with many testimonies and examples out of the word of God to confirme the truth of this doctrine being a point so manifest Looke but into the 9. chap. of the booke of Nehemiah and the most obstinate shall be constrained wil he nil he to confesse that God is a God of much patience and long suffering The whole chapter is spent in this argument setting downe in order the great benefits and blessings which the Lord in his mercy had bestowed vpō the children of Israel in times past their vnthankfulnes vnto the Lord for the same and yet the exceeding patience mercy of the Almighty extended towards them For first as we there may reade Vid Nehem 9. reade the whole chapter he considered their aflictions in Aegypt and hard their crie by the red sea he saved thē in the deepe and drowned their enemies in the mighty waters He ledde thē in the day with the pillar of a cloud and in the night with a pillar of fire to giue them light He came downe vpon mount Sinai spake vnto them from heaven gaue them right iudgments true lawes good commaundements He gaue them bread from heaven for their hunger and water out of the rock for their thirst he fed them forty yeares in the wildernesse they lacked nothing their clothes waxed not olde and their feete swelled not He gaue them kingdomes and people hee multiplied their children as the starres of heauen and brought them into a good land where they possessed houses ful of goods and did eare and were filled became fat and lived in pleasure through the Lords goodnes But behold this people whom the Lord had thus extraordinarily blessed aboue al the nation in the world became rebellious behaued themselues prowdly and hardned their neckes so that they harkened not to his commandements nor remēbred the marvelous workes which he had done for them yet for al this the Lorde forsooke them not They made them a molten calfe said this is thy God that brought thee out of the land of Aegypt and cōmitted great blasphemies yet for al this the Lord forsooke them not They were disobedient and rebelled against him and cast his law behind their backes slue his Prophets sent to convert them and yet for al this the Lord forsooke them not They did evil before him sinned against his iudgments and pulled away their shoulders and were stiffnecked would not heare and yet for al this the Lord forsooke thē not yet for all this did he not consume thē but forbare thē many yeares togither O what a God of pittie O what a Lord of mercy is this abundant in goodnes gracious full of cōpassion of long suffering slow to anger and of great kindnes Ioel. 2.13 Reserving mercy for thousands forgiuing iniquity transgression and sin Exod. 34.7 How truly might he say of this people All the day long haue I stretched forth my hīd to a rebellious people to a disobediēt gaine saying vnbeleening people Rom 10.21 How truly might he say that they had a long time grieued him yet he had waited that he might haue mercy on thē Es 30.18 How truly might be professe of himselfe I desire not the death of a sinner but that the vvicked turne from his way and liue turne you turne you frō your evill waies
Niniveh shall be destroied 2. The Ninivites repentāce in the next wordes So the people of Niniveh beleeued God and proclaimed a fast c. The 1. setteth downe a message from the Lord to a great Citie The 2. declareth the conversion of a great city vnto the Lord. In the 1. mercy iudgment are preached by one and that is Ionas Jn the 2. faith good works are practised by many they are Ninivites Behold in the one the duty of all true Prophets to declare vvith boldnesse the Lordes wil vnto his people Behold in the other the duty of al faithful people to obey with alacritie the voice of the Lordes Prophets The 1. general part containeth in it these 2. particular braunches 1. The parience and long suffering of the Lord in that hee did not presently destioy these Ninivites The subdivision of the 1. into 2. mebers but gaue thē a good space to repent Yet 40. daies 2. The iudgement and iustice of the Lord denoūcing destruction against thē if in the time allotted they would not amēdt And Niniveh shall be destroied So that I may wel compare this sermon of Ionahs to Davids song Psal 101.1 My song saith David shall bee of mercy and iudgement For lo while he sayeth Yet 40. daies there is a song of mercie And Niniueh shal be destroted there is a song of iudgement Or to that f Himera river in Sicily that parteth it selfe into two channels the one yeelding fresh vvater the other salt for behold while he saith Yet 40. daies there is a streame of sweet water issuing frō the fountaine of Gods exceeding favour And Niniveh shall be destroyed there is an Ocean of bitter water running from the spring of Gods heauie displeasure The 1. is a word of comfort to al dispaiting soules Yet 40. daies The 2. is a rod of correction to al presuming sinners and Niniveh shall be destroyed The one declareth vnto vs that God is a God of compassion if wee wil repent Yet 40. daies The other that he is a God of iustice and severitie if we stil provoke him and Niniveh shall bee destroied Yet 40. daies Niniveh shal be destroied The 2. general part declareth the effecte The subdivisiō of the 2. into 4. circūstances vvhich this Sermon wrought in the Ninivits or their repētance which is described by 4. circumstances by 4. circumstāces 1. By their faith which was not fruitlesse So the people of Niniveh beleeved God 2. By their fasting vvhich was not private and proclaimed a fast 3. By their attire which was not costlie and put on sackcloath 4. By their number which were not few from the greatest vnto the least 1. They beleeved God There is faith the true cause of good works described 2. They proclamed a fast There is a good worke the effecte of a liuelie faith deciphered 3. They put on sackcloath There is the garment of humility expressed 4. From the greatest to the least There is a mutual cōversion of al declared 1. They beleeved God Behold their heathenish infidelity is turned into religious pietie 2. They proclaimed a fast Behold their luxurious feasting is changed into moderate fasting 3. They put on sackcloath Behold their royal robes are cast avvay for simple rags 4. From the greatest of them vnto the least Behold the consideration of the sinnes of all hath wrought repentance in all So the people of Niniveh beleeved God and proclaimed a fast and put on sackcloth from the greatest of them to the least of them Thus you see most deare Christiā brethren the summe substance of that wherof at this time by the assistāce of the Almighty and your accustomed patience I purpose to intreate evē the tenour of Ionas sermō to the Ninivits and of the Ninivites repentance at Ionas sermon God grant J may speake of thē with the same spirit as Ionas did that all this great Honorable assēblie may heare and receiue them with the like fruite as did these Ninivits And so J come to the particular handling of the words themselves Yet 40. daies Partis 1 As Noahs doue came from the waters of the floud with an oliue braunch in her mouth Gen. 8.11 Obser 1 Even so this he avenly doue for so the name of Ionah in the Hebrew importeth St. Ierome on the 1 of this prophecy else-where so interpreteth it cōmeth vnto these Ninivets from the waters of the sea wherin a little before hee had beene almost drowned with an oliue braunch in his mouth preaching mercy and peace vnto them if they would repent and turne from their wicked wayes A singular argument of Gods exceeding loue favour vnto this city Niniveh For hee might presently haue sent his Angel frō heaven to haue destroyed it as hee did the host of Senacharib 2. Reg. 19.35 He might haue consumed it with fire and brimstone as he did Sodome and Gomer Gen. 19.24 He might haue spoiled it with the edge of the sword as he did Iericho Ios 6.21 Hee might haue laid it in the dust in the twinkling of an eie as he hath done many and as he is able to doe al the cities in the world But behold the Lord is a pittifull God Psal 86.15 He taketh a milder course with Niniveh He sendeth his Prophet to her and giueth her a day and a day yea even forty daies togither before he will powre downe the violl of his wrath before he will execute his iudgments on her And as a noble and worthy Emperour laying his sieg and levying his army against some famous renowned city beholding in it the goodly buildings the statly walls the high ascending towers the multitude of people the numberlesse nūber of babes and sucklings of infants innocent persons from a noble and heroïcal dispositiō is moved with the bowels of compassion towards it therfore in regard hereof doth not presently batter it downe overthrow it but first sends his herauld at armes to proclame a parly for certaine daies and to offer peace vnto the same right so doth the Lord of heavē earth deale with Niniveh that famous and renowned citty He saw the statelines of her buildings her thousand fiue hundred towers Munster Cosmograph l. 5. cap. 61. Ion. 4. vers vlt. her high spatious walls her multitude of citizens her sixscore thousand infants and innocent persons her head of cattell almost innumerable all which did make the bowels of compassion to yerne within him before he would overthrow it to send his Prophet as an herauld at armes to proclame a parly of forty daies and to offer her peace if shee would receiue it Famous is that of Scipio Africanus that al things in warres ought to be assayed before the sword be drawen And as famous that of the good Emperour Theodosius who vntil tenne daies were past after he had besieged any citty never offered violence to the inhabitants saying and proclaiming every day that
for why will yee die ô yee house of Israell Ezech. 33 1◠What should I say more beloved in Christ Jesus God is the same God vnto vs al as he was vnto them there is not one to be found in this great Congregation from the most auncient father to the youngest child but in some measure hath had experiēce of these things Every one hath felt in himself God to be a God of much mercy expectation For whē his Angell had offended he stayed not at all for him but threw him downe to hel Whē Adam had transgressed he deferred not his punishment but draue him straight way out of Paradise But if we examine our selues we shal finde that he waiteth for every one of vs indeede and forbeareth vs some ten yeares some twenty some to 30. some to 40. some to olde age some to dotage Yea hee spareth vs al because he is the lover of soules as the Wisemā cals him He is patiēt towards vs and would haue none to perish but al of vs to come to repentance 2. Pet. 3.9 Hee maketh as though hee saw not our sinnes because we should amend VVisd 11.20 He prolōgeth our daies although we doevil against him an hūdred times Eccles 8.12 Let vs then be ware beloved in the Lord that we abuse not the patiēce and long suffering of so good a God lest after so many sweet shewers of mercie pleasant calmes of cōfort hee powre downe vpon vs the bitter stormes and hote thunderbolts of his iudgement indignation And as the Prophet telleth Niniveh in this place Yet forty daies Niniveh shal be destroied So yet a little while if we will not repent and turne vnto him behold a final destruction and overthrow shal over take vs. And so frō my first observatiō the patience long suffering of God in that he did not presently destroit Niniveh but gaue it a good space to repēt Yet 40. daies I now come to the second note of my first general parte which was the iustice and iudgment of the lord denouncing destructiō against it if in the time allotted it did not amend and Nintveh shall be destroyed And Niniveh shal be destroied Our Prophet doth not come onely with a song of Gods mercy to Niniveh but also with a song of iudgment intimating that if they will not imbrace the one they shal vndoubtedly feele the other For albeit being a strāger to that place a man of another country kindred Niniveh large and spatious and full no doubt of many barbarous cruel people he might in some sort because hee was flesh and bloud be discouraged to deale so roundly plainely with them as to denounce so heavy a iudgment on thē for feare least they should haue killed him yet behold the courage audacity of a faithful Prophet He preferreth the discharge of his duty before the safety of his life and hauing receiued this message from the Lord he is not afraid although he were but one that a stranger to pronounce it in the midst of Niniveh yea peradventure before the king and nobles of Niniveh for so it is probable although it declare nolesse then Ninivehs over-throw destruction Out of whose bold and faithfull course of proceeding let mee by your Honorable Christian patience most deare blessed brethrē giue this one note to my brethren and fellow-laborers in the ministry that when they are to deliver their message from the Lord vnto his people out of these and the like places they be careful * A note for Ministers from Ionas his bouldnes by our Prophets example to lift vp their voices like trumpets bouldly to reproue sinne sinners to tell the house of Iacob his iniquities Israell his transgressions Let them not be terrified to declare Gods iudgmēts against the greatest let them not be a fraid of the faces of men for the Lord is vvith them Ier. 1.8 They must with Amos preach the death of Ieroboam and captiuity of Israel evē at Bethel in the kings chappel and in the kings court although with Amos they be banished for it Amos 7.12 They must with Michaiah prophecy the truth to Ahab although with him they be hated for it 1. Reg. 22.8 They must vvith Zachary tell the people of Israel that because they haue for saken the Lord the Lord also hath for saken them although by the commādement of the king with Zachary they be stoned for it 2. Chron. 24.21 They must with Iohn Baptist tell Herode that it is not lavvfull for him to have his brother Philips wife though with him they be beheaded for it Mat. 14.10 They must with Nathan tel David thou art the man 2. Sam. 12.7 They must with Eliah tel Ahab it is thou and thy fathers house that trouble Israell 1. Reg. 18.18 They must with Iehu tel Iehoshaphat that for his wickednes the wrath of the Lord is vpon him 2. Chron. 19.2 They must with the Prophet tel Amasiah the king of Iuda that for his sin God hath determined to destroye him 2. Chron. 25.16 They must with Azariah the priest tel Vzziah the king that for his trāsgression he shall haue none honour of the Lord. 2. Chron. 26.18 They must with Nehemiah rebuke the Princes and Rulers of Israel for laying such heavy burthens vpon their brethren Nehem. 5.7 Finally they must with Ionas in my text tel Niniveh yea glorious goodly Niniveh yea stout and stately Niniveh yea proud and populous Niniveh that for her sinnes it shall be quite defaced and overthrowen Thus must the Minister of God be bould to reproue sinne in the mightiest ones in the world with the spirit of courage and audacity beate downe whatsoever lifteth vp it selfe against God Ispeake not this beloued in Christ Iesus to condemne al kind of milde and gentle persuasiō and to vphold the botte and indiscreete reproovers of our time Indiscreete reproovers not allowed who are so fervent forward in denoūcing iudgment against the least offenders that with Iames and Iohn nothing wil contēt them but only fire frō heauē to consume them Luk. 9.54 They are the of spring of cursed Cham delighting in nothing so much as to vncover the nakednes of their fathers They are as Saint Bernard speaketh of such in his 78. Epistle nō correpteres sed corrosores not reproovers but gnawers Not vnlike the Cynicke Philosopher who for his impudent taunts against all was commonly called of all Convitiorum canis the dog of reproches For as those Indians headed like dogs in lieu of speech vse to barke as Pliny in his 7. lib. and 2. chap. writeth of thē so these in steed of speaking to their brethren after the manner of men vse to barke at them after the fashiō of dogs My speech doth not apologize or countenance any such either dogged and in discreete raylers or rude intemperate reproovers J rather aime at those in another extreame who are so farre
on stil in her vvickednes doubtlesse Niniveh for her wickednesse shal be destroyed Having thus cleared this doubt and made manifest the meaning of our Prophet let vs now come to the next observatiō which in the beginning was proposed out of these words and Niniveh shal be destroied Observat 2 Jt is reported of Tamberlaine that mighty conqueror of his time that whē he laid siege to any city he displaied the first day his white flag before the same as a tokē of his clemencie if they would yeeld vnto him VVhich if they then refused the next day he set vp his red flag as threatning the shedding of their bloud if they remained obstinat wherat if they were not moved the third day he advanced his blacke flag to signifie that the dore of all pittie compassion was now shut vp and that nothing was to be expected but vtter ruine and desolation The like course in some proportion doeth the Lorde of heaven and earth take with his citty Niniveh he first displaieth his white flag of mercie not for a day with Tamberlaine but evē for 40 daies togither whereat if they wil not yeeld they shall beholde the red flag of his severity nay the blacke flag of his irrevocable iudgement denouncing their vtter overthrowe and destruction For the saying is most true Laesa patientia fit furor the patience of the Lord too sarre provoked is turned into fury Seravenit sed certa venit vindicta it is long ere hee revenge himselfe on sinners but hee paies thē with a witnes at the last And howsoever the punishment of malefactors come ate yet in never misseth in the end As the * Plin. lib. 2. c. 7. heathen man by the light of nature could tell vs. Lento graduad vindictam divina procedit ira Tarditatemque iudicij gravitate pēsat saith * Valerius Maximns lib. 1. another God is said to haue leaden seete because hee commeth slowly to execute vengance but hands of iron because when he cōmeth he stricketh home And by how much the longer he expecteth our amēdmēt so much the more strictly hee will iudge vs if we do neglect Experience teacheth vs that the axe the higher it is lifted the heavier it falleth A stone the further it is cast vp into the aier falleth with greater force vpon the earth Awater course the more it is stopped when it breaketh forth runneth with greater violence even so the longer the Lorde heareth forbeareth to punish the sins of men the heavier wil his punishment be in the end And howsoever hee can bee content along season to haue patience with them yet at the last as hee speaketh by the Prophet he will overturne overturne overturne Ezech. 21.27 Where by thrice repeating of the word is vnderstood an absolute destruction and desolation indeed Pliny in his 8. lib. and 7. cap. and Aristotle in 9. lib. 46. cap. de natura animalium doe write of the elephant that by nature he is very milde and gentle and others say that he suffereth many wrōgs of inferior beasts but beeing still provoked by them to wrath his fury is not pacified vntil hee hath revenged himselfe to the ful That which is said to be true of the creature is in this sense most true of the creator of al things God himselfe His very nature and essence is to bee A God ful of compassion and mercy flow to anger and of great kindnes Psal 103.8 Hee susteineth many wrongs of the sons of men being crushed with their sins as a cart is laden with sheaues to vse the words of the Prophet wherwith if they stil continue to load him he wil ease himselfe of his burden and cast it on the ground of confusion And albeit as the Psalmist speaketh he be patient and is prouoked every day yet if a man will not turne hee will whet his sword he will bend his bow make it ready Psa 7.12 For it is most true which Gregory saith in his 33. book of morals and 15. chapter Vt pius ita iustus est conditor As our maker is merciful so is he likewise iust Gracious and righteous is the Lord Psal 25.8 gracious in the multitude of his mercies righteous in the severitie of his iudgements Gracious to them that turne vnto him righteous to them that cast him frō thē The Lord is slow to anger there is his patience to penitent sinners but he is great in power wil not surely cleere the wicked Nahum 1.3 there is his iudgement to impenitent reprobates I haue a longe time holden my peace at your sins I haue beene still restrained my selfe there is his long suffering declared but now will I cry like a traveiling woman I wil destroy devour at once Es 42.14 there is his heavy wrath described The Almighty is a patiēt rewarder there is mercy offered to him that wil receiue it but he will not leaue the wicked vnpunished Eccles 5.4 there is iustice pronounced to him that wil neglect it Thus you see most deare and Christian brethren that loue wrath pitty and revenge patience and iudgment as the 2. daughters of the great king goe hand in hand his mercy truth do meete togither his righteousnes and peace doe kisse each other Mercy going before with a pax vobis peace vnto thē that accept it iudgement following after with a vae vobis woe vnto them that refuse it the one comming with an open bosome to receiue the penitēt the other following with a drawn sword to devour the hard-harted Mercy is first offered to leaue the wicked inexcusable iudgmēt is last executed to destroy the wicked that are culpable For this is the vsual course which God taketh with the sons of men first to try them a good space by gentle forbearing which if it draw them not vnto repentāce then his arrowes of vengeance are readie prepared for destruction So did he deale with the old world hee spared it an hundred twentie yeares but when hee saw that the wickednes of man was great in the earth that al the imaginatiōs of the thoughts of his hart were onely evill continually Gen. 6.5 Hee did by a mightie flowd destroy everie thing that was on the earth from man to beast Gen. 7.23 So did hee deale with the fig. tree in the Gospel he spared it 3. whole years togither and suffered it to be digged dunged carefully but continuing it selfe barren making also the groūd barren round about it the Lorde wil no lōger beare with it it must be destroied it must be cut downe Luk. 13.7 So did he deale with those Aegyptians of old he sent Moses Aaron to instruct them who wrought diverse signes and miracles among them to win them to repentance whereof when none could moue them or pierce their hardned heartes they vvere quite over-whelmed in the midst of the sea Exod. 14.27 So did he deale with his owne cittie hee sent Prophets teachers early
senteÌ„ce such is the vertue of Gods word such is the authority of his everlasting truth And is this even so Jsthe word of the spirite so mightye in operation hath it wrought so strange effects and brought forth such wonderful fruites in ignoraÌ„t people to whom the Lord sent but one Prophet and that in so shorte a space How great then shal our iudgment be of this land to whome the Lord in mercy hath seÌ„t so many Prophets teachers these foure and forty yeares togither to instruct vs and to cal vs to repentance and yet we lie stil frozen in the dregges of our iniquities For if we doe but examine our selues by these Ninivits vve shall finde that our repentance coÌ„meth farre short of theirs Doe we in the first place imitate the Ninivits faith in beleeving of God I know that many doe God forbid there shoulde bee anye in a Christian commoÌ„-wealth either so wilfully ignorant as not to beleeue or so maliciously obstinate as not to confesse this truth and yet there are not vvanting amongst vs and they of great place also it is to bee feared that saie vvith the foole in the Psalme There is no God at all Thou damned Atheist whosoever thou art lifte vp thine eies vnto the heavens behold therein the sun the moone and the stars the wonderful works of God Cast down thine eies vpon the earth and behold therein trees plaÌ„ts hearbs flowers beasts cattel in them coÌ„fider not the power of nature as thou foolishlie callest it but of the God of nature which framed fashioned all Consider the ebbing flowing of the sea and the wonderfull workes of the highest in the deepe Looke into thy selfe a little worlde how art thou fashioned behinde and before within withe out hovv wonderfully art thou made vvith varietie of faculties distinction of members proportion of body to saie nothing of thy soule a heavenlie creature And if al this vvill not make thee confesse there is a God yet knovve this that the horrour of thy conscience for this thy so greate blasphemie shall make thee vvhether thou wilt or no acknowledge this truth Or if thy conscience bee seared with an hot yron in this world yet be thou well assured that the vvorme of conscience that never dyeth in the worlde to come shal torment thee in the lake that ever burneth and in the fire that neuer goeth out Do we in the secoÌ„d place with these Ninivites betake our selues to fasting for our sinnes What then is the cause that there are so many amongst vs who like those voluptuous Princes of Israell doe stretch themselues vpon their beds of ivory and cate the lambes of the flocke the calues out of the stal delighting them selues in the sound of the violl and other instruments of musicke that drinke wine in boles and annoint themselves vvith sweet ointments not remembring the afflictioÌ„ of poore Ioseph Amos 6.6 These are the Epicures of the world who wil rather feasT luxuriouslie with druÌ„keÌ„ Holofernes then fast religiously with these godly Ninivites These are they whose God is their bellie vvhose glory is their shame whose only felicitie consisteth in delicate fare being of his minde in the history * Philoxenus apud Aâ—â—â—ianum de vatia hist lib. 10. cap 9. who said of his meate that that was the sweetest which vvas the deerest But as the historian there very wel couÌ„celleth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 These examples must be remembred not that any should follow imitate them but that every one shoulde abhorre and detest them Thirdly do we imitate the Ninivites attire in clothing our selues in sackcloth and course garments Howe then commeth it to passe that the vgly and detestable monster pride hath so over-run our land that al estates and degrees amoÌ„gst vs are so tainted infected with this blemish Noble-men in the courte Gentlemen in the country serving men every where vpstart Swaggerers cutting Caveliers who when they haue no inward qualities to commend theÌ„ they must haue the ivy bush of long haire to hang over their shoulders not regarding St. Paules reproofe 1. Cor. 11.14 nor Absolons iudgement 2. Sam. 18.9 These are our inventors of newe fashioned garments our French our Turkish our Spanish our Italian English-men For a man may see a liuely resemblance of al these in their apparel as if the vanities of al nations vvere little enough to make vp the measure of an Englishmans pride Let them not thinke that want of other matter hath driven vs to tax these follies in theÌ„ It is rather want of grace in them that they will not amend For if we should not cry out against these their foul filthy sins they would on day cry out before the tribunal seate of God against them and vs. Good God that the sonns of Adam should so farre degenerate froÌ„ their father Adam He good man wos content with a garment of figg-tree leaues to hid bunakednes Gen. 3â— But we wil scarce be pleased with the ratest and richest workmanhip that art or nature can affoord to cover our sinful bodies Nay as Plinie in his 5. lib. first chapter noted the riott and excelle of his time so may we iustly do the like of outs Because forrests are sought out farre and neere for iuory and citron trees and all the rocks of Gerulia are searched for sheifishes that yeeld the purple crimson colour to make our apparell shew glorious But ô folly and vanity of advanities saith the same another euer to think oÌ„sidering our simple beginning that we were sent into the world to line in pride to adorne decke our carkesses in braverie that are nought but clay put refaction Finally do we with these Ninivites in the last circumstance generally turne vnto the Lord humble our selues before him froÌ„ the greatest vnto the least what theÌ„ is the cause that all of vs yong and old high and low haue so erred in our waies everyone turning into his own race as the horse rusheth into the battle to speake with the Prophet Ier. 8.6 What is the cause that in this bright sunnshine of the Gospel such palpable darkenesse of errour ignorance such reliques of superstitioÌ„ idolatry should remaine amongst vs What is the cause that so many of vs are meere temporizing newters luke warme professors neither hote nor colde like them Revel 3.15 halting betweene two opinions coldlie professing the Religion established but in hart imbracing Papistical false-hood What is the cause that the IesuÌ„ites and Seminaries finde such secret favour amoÌ„gst vs who like subtil deceavers are at open warre on with another but yet tyed to gither by the tasse like Sampsons Foxes with fire brandes to destroy our Church What is the cause that after the Gospel so long preached holines of life is so little practised that many come not at all to heare the worde of God or coÌ„ming with the dease adder they stop their eares at the
souÌ„d therof or hearing it bring not forth the fruits of repeÌ„taÌ„ce or repenting for a time returne at leÌ„ght with the dog to his vomit the swine vnto her filth Lastly what is the cause that our land is ful of adulterers and because of othes the land mourneth to vse the Prophets words Ier. 23.10 that vsurye hath corrupted the rich cormorant ambitioÌ„ the proud Prelate covetousnes the greedy lawyer disdaine the scornful courtier deceit the cunning artificer the like that all estates and degrees are knowen by their several sinnes as every gentleman by his several cognisance Is this our vniversall conversion vnto the Lord is this the fruite of the Gospel are these the badges of our repeÌ„tance Are these the effects I say not of one sermoÌ„ as Ionas his was to Niniveh but of so many thousand sermons delivered froÌ„ time to time vnto vs Never more preaching never lesse praâ—â—â—ing Beloved in Christ Iesus I am verely perswaded that the immortal seede of Gods word was never more plentiful sowen since the Apostles time then it hath bin amongest vs these many yeares togitherithe Lord make vs thankfull for so great a blessing And yet as Lictantius said there vvas never lesse wisdome in Greece then in the time of the 7. wise men so I seare me it may be to truly said there was never lesse piety in England then in this long eontinuance of so many godly and zelous Pastors Sodome Gomer Tire Sidon shal rise vp at the last day and coÌ„demn vs for if halse so many lecturs and sermons exhortations instructions had bin preached among them as haue bin amonst vs They had surely repeÌ„ted in sackcloth ashes The Queene of the South shall rise vp in iudgment against vs at the last day for she came froÌ„ the vttermost part of the earth to heare the wisdoÌ„e of SalomoÌ„ Mat. 12.42 But many of vs refuse to step out of our dores to heare the heaueÌ„ly wisdoÌ„e of the true SalomoÌ„ Christ Iesus revealed in his heaveÌ„ly word The Publicans and souldiers shal rise vp at the last day coÌ„demn vs for at the preaching of on Iohn Baptist they were moued in their minds Luk. 3.14 But let al the Ministers messengers of God cry out til they be hoarce against our sins yet our harts ar nothing pricked yet our affectioÌ„s are nothing stirred vp Those wicked Iewes that crucified the Lord of life shal rise vp at the last day coÌ„demn vs for they at on sermoÌ„ of St. Peter were coÌ„verted to the number of three thousand Act. 2.41 But how many fermous shal a maÌ„ make amongst vs before he convert on sinfull soule before hee bring home one stray sheep to the sheepfold of Christ Iesus The Ninivits as you haue hard at one little sermoÌ„ of a few words delivered by one Ionas repeÌ„ted in sackcloth ashes from the greatest to the least but wee haue hard not in this place only but in al the corners quarters of our laÌ„d many huÌ„dred Ionasses yea many thousand pastors prophets preachers of the word yet for al this where is our faith in beleeving God wher are the fasts we haue proclaimed wher is the sackcloth we haue put on wher are the superiors to designe where ar the inferiors to put in practise these holy exercises Lastly al the creaturs of God shal rise vp at the last day condeÌ„ne vs for they in their several places do in their kind perform their duty to their creator are obedient to his word but we only as the most vnreasonable inseÌ„sible of al other coÌ„tinue obstinat rebellious stil The heaveÌ„s declare the glory of God the lights obey him with fear the stars shin in their watch the moone keeps her appointed seasoÌ„ the suÌ„ knows his going down the waters fly at hi rebuke the earth trembleth the mouÌ„tains shak The stork in the aier knoweth her appointed time the turtle and the crane and the swallowe obserue the time of their coÌ„ming the oxe knoweth his owner and the asse his maisters cribb but wee onely as the most vnreasonable and insensible of al creatures continue obstinate rebellious stil What should I saie more beloved in Christ lesus senselesse stones are more obedieÌ„t to Gods voice theÌ„ we are Beholde Moses with his rod stroke the rocke but twice and the vvaters gushed out abundantly Num. 20.11 but though the God of Moses strik our stony hatts twice twenty times with the haÌ„mer of his word yet where is that penitent Peter amongst vs J say not that vveopeth bitterly but that sheddeth one teare in remembrance of his transgressions Behold the stony wals of Iericho after God had summoned them by his Priests souÌ„ding their trumpets thrice at the third found fell flatte vpon the ground Ios 6.20 But we haue resisted not the third or the fourth or the sift onely but more the fiue hundred solemne summons several sounds none of them could ever moue vs none of them coulde once awake vs. Isidore in his 12. lib. and 2. cap. de brutis animalibus reporteth of the yong Lions that after 3. daies they are raised and rowsed by the roaring of the olde but the Lion of the tribe of Iudah Christ Iesus by preaching of his word hath roared not 3. daies alone but more theÌ„ 43. yeares togither amoÌ„gst vs yet for al this we are not roused and yet for al this we are not awaked what is not Christ the same Christ still is not his Gospel as fruitful is not his doctrine as effectual is not his word as powerful now as ever it was yes my deare brethren But the fault is in vs. Our marble flinty harts will not be softened with the sweete shewers of Gods heavenlie word coÌ„fortably falling down vpoÌ„ theÌ„ our stiffe yronsinewed necks wil not bow with any yoke either the sweete easie voke of the Gospel Mat. 11.30 or the heavy vnsupportable yoke of the law Act. 15.10 our faces are like whores forheads that wil not blush Ier. 3.3 our ears are so deafe our eies so dry our senses so dul our wils so obstinat our affectioÌ„s so barren our desires so cold that neither the infamy and shame of the world can moue vs nor al geÌ„tle admonitioÌ„s allure vs nor the terrible threatnings of Gods iudgments feare vs nor the continuall preaching of al the creatures of God vnder heaveÌ„ perswade vs vnto repentice Nay we are so soundly rocked and lulled a sleepe in the carelesse cradell of security that neither the goulden bells of Aaron nor the thundering trump of Esay nor the well tuned cymballs of Dauid nor the shril souÌ„d of Gods word coÌ„tinually ringing in our cares caÌ„ once awake vs. Being herein like to those beares of whoÌ„ Selinus writeth in his 39. chap. qui tam gravi semno premuÌ„tur vt ne vulneribus quidem excitariqucant who are so farre opprest with a heavy sleepe that though they bee wounded yet can they not be wakened Or like those fishes of whoÌ„ Aristotle in his 4. l. 10. c. de hist animaliuÌ„ writeth that they sleep so souÌ„dly that though they haue speares thrust into their sides yet they stir not at all so sense-lesse also are we in this our carnal security that though the Embassadours of the King of heaveÌ„ as so many sons of thunder with Ionas in my text denouÌ„ce iudgment against vs out of that word which is sharper theÌ„ any two edged sword yet for al this we do not with these Ninivits yeeld cast down our selves before the Lord but rather like to the druÌ„kard sleeping in the top of the mast Pro 23. wheÌ„ we are thus strikeÌ„ we feel it not wheÌ„ we are thus beaten we awake not when we are thus admonished we amend not Wherfore most deare blessed brethreÌ„ beloued in the bowels of Christ lesus to conclud al in a word 〈…〉 as he said to the Angel of the church that is at Sardis so giue me leave I beseech yov to say the same to every on of you that heareth me this day RemeÌ„ber how you haue receaved c. Rev. 33. RemeÌ„ber that this day you haue hard of a message froÌ„ the Lord to a great citty of the conversion of a great citty vnto the Lord. RemeÌ„ber in the one Gods patieÌ„ce to Niniveh in sparing it long Yet 40. daies And yet his severe iudgmeÌ„t of destructioÌ„ if she would not amend and Niniveh shal be destroyed RemeÌ„ber in the other the Nini vits turning vnto the Lord begun with faith coÌ„tinued with fasting declared in sackcloth performed of al froÌ„ the greatest vnto the least And remeÌ„ber that the Lord hath seÌ„t the same messag this day to England to LoÌ„don nay to vs all as he did to Niniveh giving vs yet time to repent if we wil accept him O then let vs loue him in his mercy threatning our o verthrow if we do neglect him ô theÌ„ let vs feare him in his iudgmeÌ„ts let vs now repeÌ„t while we haue time least hereafter we would repent wheÌ„ we shal haue no time Let vs now turn vnto the Lord in beleeving on him in pinching our bellies with fasting in clothing our backes with sackcloth and in a general humiliation of our selves before him that so he may turne away his wrath and heavie iudgmentes from vs from our lande Let vs now open our eares at the souÌ„d of his word preached That being opened we may heare it carefully carefully hearing it wee may conceiue it rightly and rightly conceiving it wee may beleeue it faithfully and faithfully beleeving it we may discerne it fruitfully and fruitfully discerning it we may practise it effectually bring forth the fruits therof accordingly therby growing from strength to strength from vertue to vertue vntill at the last we become perfect men in Christ Iesus That so being nowe accepted as sonnes into the kingdome of grace in this world wee may heerafter bee receaved as heires into the kingdome of glory in the world to come Which the Lord of his infinit mercy graunt vnto vs all for his Deare Sonns sake Iesus Christ to whom with the Father and the Holy Ghost three Persons one eternall everliving and onely wise God bee rendered and ascribed all Honour and Glorie Povver and Praise Might and Maiestie Dignitie and Dominion now and for evermore Amen FJNIS