to him hee instructeth them first what they should not doe and after what they should doe yea before hee came to them with instructions he reproveth them boldly in the face as Paul withstood Peter declaring plainely vnto them that they walked not vprightly because they sought after GOD more for their belly then for himselfe The vse let vs learne of Christ heerehow we should proceed with carnall men wee whom the Lord hath appointed to bee teachers in his Church * First of all we must proceede against them with reprofes proofes malo nodo malus cuneus for a hard knot wee must prepare a harde wedge * The law with its threatnings must goe before the Gospell like a needle making way to the threede It is great wisedome for teachers first to thunder downe the high corruptions of nature in those that are not cast downe for their sinnes Every mountaine hill shall bee brought low Prophane hearts must not at the first bee dawbed with faire words but rather dashed with reproofes Woe to them that stroake knaues heads for that is to spill them and to bring the guilt of their blood vpon the teachers head when the fester is begunne the Surgeon must cut * The Lord himselfe teached his Prophet Elijah how to teach his stif-necked people and that by the forme of his comming vnto him at Horeb for to giue warning to the Prophet of his comming hee sent before him three grimme and austere messengers The first was a great and strong wind which rent the mountaines and brake in pieces the rockes before the Lord After the wind came an earthquake The third was a fire After those three the spirit of God came into a still small voice It is so that Pastours must procede with a stubburne people the tempests of wrath must blow first with a galewind and after with fearefull threatnings the rebellious hearts must bee shaken as with an Earthquake Jf all that moue not the preacher must open vp Hell and let wicked soules see those vnquenchable brimstone flammes of fire smoking with fearefull vengeance * It is so that we must come to the tryall of our selues this day in our Christian examination let first the wind of Gods word threatning our sinnes rent the rockes of our hearts After that wee must feele an Earthquake viz a heartquake After that our hearts haue beene shaken as with a mighty wind and after that they haue quaked for feare if all that worke not wee must consider the fearefull flammes wherewith the wicked shall be scorcthed the cause of everlasting weeping gnashing of teeth * Such a soule as is shaken with winds and quaketh for feare and trembleth at the fire of God his ' wrath is most meete to meete with God into the calme * Wee must doe with our selues this day as Joseph did with his brethren at their first meeting it is said that that hee spake roughly vnto them Wee must speake roughly this day against our selues if we would haue God to speake meekly to vs to morrow * Wee must deest our ill thoughts words deeds with many a fy fy fy wee must strike with the Publican vpon our breast where all the mischeefe was bredde and must strike with Ephraim vpon our thigh which caried vs to the effectuating of our wicked projects * yea must hold an assise and justice Court within our conscience where wee must first judge and thereafter condemne our selues if wee would haue God to absolue vs. Christ first spake roughly to the Cananitish woman calling her a dogge but after hee had made her content to creepe for a crum like a dogge vnder his table hee comforted her with wonderfull comforts wondring himselfe at her faith * The order of GOD his proceding wâ—th his owne children is first to sing of mercy and after of judgment if the song of mercy moue not But because of our stubburnesse often the Lord must turne his tune and first of all sing of judgment That done so soone as by reproofes rough speaches hee hath affraighted vs and humbled our hearts he being touched with their dolours is so moved that hee can no more refraine from discovering himselfe vnto vs he cryeth out to our soules I am Ioseph J am Iesus your brother come neere to mee I pray you * Before this bee done all our ill devises lyke the Aegyptians must remoue and pack themselues to the doore * As Ioseph would not reveale himselfe vnto his brethren so long as the Aegyptians were into the chamber of the house neither will Christ reveale himselfe in mercy to the soule so long as the black Aegyptians of reigning sinnes remaine within the house of our hearts * Againe let vs consider heere those men did only follow Christ for loaues They sought nothing but bread and yet behold heere they get better than bread viz. instructions from CHRIST first what they should not labour for Secondly what they should labour for The doctrine is this what ever consideration moveth a man to follow Christ it is good ever to follow Christ. Those men followed him only for their belly and behold how hee feedeth their soules by the preaching of the word instructing them for what they should not labour and for what they should labour * J am assured that Christ never preached but some soule gat good Hee who made poore fisher men fishors of men could best fish men himselfe The Apostles might cast their nets and catch nothing but Christ never toiled without any taking Though at the beginning while CHRIST preached vpon my text his auditors cared for nothing but their belly J am assured that before his Sermon was ended some of them cast their bellyes behind their backs for to seeke the food of their * There is not a preaching preached but some gracious pickle falleth vpon some heart lyke well prepared ground * The preaching of the word is like sowing when the sower hath put his sheete about his necke he casteth the seed from him not thinking that every pickle that commeth ' out of his hand shall take root No not Some fall vpon stones some vpon the way some among thornes scarsly doth the fourth pickle of that which was sowen come to the sheafe for the hope of the fourth pickle the sower will bee content to losse three the fourth by its incresse being able to cause him sing when he shall bring his sheaues with him * As the sower singeth for joy while he reapeth the incresse but of the fourth so must the Teacher be glad if every fourth word of his sermon doe good if the fourth person be touched yea which is more as GOD for the loue of one would haue spared lerusalem so the Teacher for the loue of one though in all his flock he should haue but one good man yet for the loue of
Sole are full of boiles and sores which draw to a head which is the predominant sinne * Some haue the boile vpon the brow which scripture calleth a whoores fore-head * Others haue the botch in the neck which maketh them stretch out their necks with loftie lookes * This was the sore of the daughters of Zion they walked with outstreched necks for this cause the LORD plagued them with scabbed crownes Others haue sore eyes whose eyes are full of adulterie * Others haue scabbed eares which Scripture calleth itching eares Others haue the water-canker in their mouth which quencheth not but rather kindleth on the tongue the fire of Hell * In nothing fire and water can agree but in the hellish mouth wherein is a scolding tongue sparkling out the spittle of despight Some haue a boile in the throate whose throat is an open sepulchre blasting out the most vile belchs of blasphemie * Others haue vnder the arme hole the boile or brooke of ill thoughts * Some haue the boile on the back which is costly clothing * Others like the men of our text haue the boile on the belly which is gluttonie Passe from the crowne to the Sole from the Catarres of the fingers vnto the gout of the feete Thus as yee see in man there is nothing sound from crowne to sole but in some the corruption within breaketh out more in one part than in another * Some persons predominant sinne is the whores fore-head launce that the day and let out the putrefaction before thou presume to come to morrow to this holy table * Some haue eyes full of Adulterie cast out that vncleannesse before thou looke vpon the LORDS bread * Thou whose mouth is cankred with scolding hold out thy tongue to thy GOD and request him to launce by his spirit and his word that thy tongue now thy shame may become thy glory * Thou whose throat hath beene full of botches hold vp the gorge-pipe to the LORD intreating him to cleanse it from its sepulchrall corruptions * Thou who hast vnder thy arme hole a bag of putrified thoughts away with them cast the care of backe and belly vpon the LORD * Thy care may canker thy sores but the Lords care shall cure themâ— Thus as yee see by nature we are but vile and abhominable bodies Let vs consider our selues to day Let vs view our predominant sinnes with all their Dominions even the lesser sinnes let vs behold our selues to day in the glasse of God his law let vs seeke out our sores from the crowne to the sole and wee shall see whether or not wee bee pleasant guests for to sit downe at the King of HEAVEN his table Another doctrine I obserue heere concerning those men who followed CHRIST for loaues This is it * Seeing such a number ranne after CHRIST an abject man in the world and that but for loaues what would they haue done to another for dainties and delicate cheere * See how a loafe will make a belly-god to follow after a man like a dogge If the giver haue but a naturall benefite of the worth of a loafe hee needeth no more to a naturall man but a hisse Seeing such men will thus follow for loanes what would they doe for Kingdomes * Satan thought that CHRIST had beene a man come to seeke himselfe in the world and therefore for to allure him to come to his service hee offered him all the kingdomes of the world But CHRIST who knew what hee had in Heaven chased Sathan away with all his earthly kingdomes * The vse of this Doctrine is that we follow the LORD for nothing so much as for himselfe Indeede all his benefits should allure vs to followe him but the maine cause of our followeing should bee himselfe * I am that I am should bee followed for that which hee is In their followeing Christ for loaues for which they were reproued I gather a Doctrine of greate reproofe for Scotland While wee heare of those men that followed Christ onely for loaues like Dogges followeing a man for bread yee thinke not well of them and indeede they are branded heere with a shamefull reproch that they followed the Lord more for bread than for himselfe But what if wee find more matter of shame in Scotland than was in Capernaum Those that came to Capernaum followed the Lord because he gaue to them aboundance of bread * Scotland hath runne a way from the Lord because hee hath giuen to them aboundance of bread diuerse called his blessings the plague of plentie the whole land gruged at the graces of God many not onely gaue not thankes to the Father of mercies but cried that hee would curse their mother the earth that henceforth she should become barren * Wee haue dishonoured God our Father we haue cursed our Mother in this Land and all this was because God had multiplied our loaues * In this wee are worse than those of Capernaum for aboundance of meat made them to follow after Christ but aboundance of meate hath made vs to runne away from Christ Except that particularly wee repent vs of this Sinne the Lord either by another Famine more fearefull then ever we did feele or by some forraine warre shall so depriue vs of our plentie and scourge vs with such a scarcitie which shall make all the eares of EVROPE to tingle Are there any Mothers in this land more tender hearted than were the mothers of Israel the daughters of Sarah Yet some of them in their hunger did eate their owne Children * The little ones came to their mother with a pitifull voice crying Where is breade and drinke and after swoned and than died That done the tender hearted mothers did eate the tender flesh of their yong Children which they nourished on their breasts * That which they before had fedde nine moueth into their bellys they put into their mouths and stomacks for the feeding of their bellyes * Yea the mother which for the distresse of Famine had parted with child tooke vp the child that was of a spanne long which she did eate in her great distresse * O what a scarcitie behoved this to bee which made the naturall mother so farre to passe the bounds of nature and all for a spanne long of flesh This moued leremie the man that sawe those afflictions to cry My eyes doe faile with teares my bowels are troubled my liver is powred vpon the earth Because wee haue not seene such afflictions wee thinke that such can not bee neither haue beene but that the lamentations of God his Booke are but fained Tragedies or painted Sorrowes invented for to make others to mourne at the reading and seeing thereof like Children that will weepe at the hearing of a pitifull tale The meate
our hearts and fruitlesse in our lyues Giue vs for thy good names sake circumcised and sanctified eares Giue vs also circumcised and sanctified soules that when thou speakes vnto vs by thy trueth preached wee may reverently attentiuely and obediently and when wee send vp to the our GOD the Sacrifice of our supplications it may proceede from that solide faith and sincere fâ—rvencie which be commeth thy elect with-hold not from vs O fountaine of grace With-hold not thâ— spirit of grace which thou hast promised to all these that in humility doe aske the same Remember not against vs our by-past manifold iniquities whereby from time to time wee doe offend thee and griâ—ue thy holy spirit O our GOD cast all our sinnes behind thy back and looke in the face of thine anointed our Aduocate at thine owne right hand the LORD IESVS Graunt for his sake that so many as be heere now present may feele forcibly that Heavenly fire of the inward Teacher to come downe and enter into their hearts to inlighten and purge them to change and renewe them more and more till last it shall please thee in mercie to compleete in them the worke of grace and crowne the same with endlesse glory Finally seeing it is thy holy wil and accustomed working to imploy the weake ministrie of mortall and sinnefull men in carrying the great and weighty message of thy holy word let it please thee to strengthen and assist mee that both in fidelitie and wisedome and sinceritie I may expresse and vtter the Heavenly oracles to these who in humilitie shall aske the same Waken vp also their hearts and Consciences that as good and well prepared ground rightly they may receiue the immortall seede of thy trueth and heereafter bring foorth such good fruit as may glorifie thy thy blessed name adorne and beautifie their Christian profession edifie others by good example of life and certifie more and more their owne conscience that they are called effectually to bee heires of life through the Lord IESUS our blessed Saviour in whose name c. Our Father c. A Prayer fitted to the state of one that is neere the doores of death QVicken vs O LORD and we will call vpon thy name Let the words of our mouth and the meditations of our heart bee acceptable in thy sight O Lord our strength aâ—d our Redeemer O Father of mercyes which hast the keyes of death and of the graue at thy command thou rulest all that is aboue and belowe Thy mercy is euer aboue all thy workes O Lord mercy is with Thee that thou mayest bee feared Mercy also is with Thee that thou mayest bee loued yea and mercy is with Thee that Sinners may bee saued Thy word is pure and plaine that thou art plenteous in mercy to all that call vpon Thee Now for the sake of thy Sonne let it please Thee to pardon and pitie this poore tremâ—ling weake hearted sinner now drawing neere the jawes of death into which hee is euen now ready to fall Let it please Thee to seale fast vp in his heart the full remission of all his transgressions of thought word and worke Say vnto his Soule I am thy Salvation There is nothing that can pacifie thy wrath or allay the qualmes of his Conscience except onely the purging and purifing blood of thy Lamb the LORD IESVS who came into this world for to saue Sinners Let that blood of sprinkling by its diuine vertue make all his sinnes though double died in crimson colour to become white like Wooll and Snowe Thou who by the touching of thy garment suffred a HEAVENLY healing vertue to goe out for the curing of that bloodie fluxe bind not vp now the vertues and powers of thy mercy from this Soule sore yerning for thy â—auour In this last conflict of the last Battell of his Soule so sinewe him with thy grace and so support and vnderprop him by the strength of thy loue that in his greatest weakenesse he may find thy grace sufficient for him As his naturall strength shall decay let spirituall courage increase Thou desirest trueth in the inward parts put thou into his heart that which thou desires O thou whose most merciefull heart is ever turned within Thee and whose compassions are euer most cheerefully rolled together at the â—hing of the prisoner Take notice 〈◊〉 the sighs and grones of this thy Servant now in the extremitie of anguisâ— Sathan now is come to his tast onset the feare of death and the terrours of the graue are now in Battell array against him Now LORD confound Satan the ring leader of all his enemies Suffer him not to preuaile against him for whom thy Sonne hath suffered death Let his Soule know that thou hast disarmed death of its sting and that death is no more death but a sleepe to all the friends of CHRIST who hath plucked out the sting thereof Let neither the grips of death nor the greifes of the graue dismay him Let him know that by thy Resurection thou hast so ouercome the graue that thou hast made it a resting bed to each one walking in his vprightnesse How great or greeuous so ever the assaults of his enemies bee make him still hold him fast by Thee When flesh and heart and all shall faile him be thou then the strength of his heart and his portion for euer Behold hee hath none in Heaven buâ— Thee and there bee none on earth whome he desires besids Thee disappoint him not LORD Seeing hee trusts in The let his Soule rejoyce in thy Comforts as one that findeth a great spoile Make him now turne his backe vpon all worldly desires as Hezekiah did when hee turned his face to the wall Make the hope of Glory so strong within him that all that is heere belowe were it never so specious or precious may seeme to him Dirt and Dung in comparison thereof As the time of his departure shall approach so let his soule drawe neerer vnto thee that gaue it by breathing it into his nosthirls So long as it shall please thee that it remaine within him worke Heavenly motions in his heart that as the Hart panteth after the water brookes so may his Soule pant after that Riuer the streames whereof make glad the Citie of God We conclude all our confused sutes with the perfection of the paterne of all prayers â—â—ying as our LORD hath taught vs Our Father which art c. A prayer at the verie point of death NOW LORD it is tyme to help when breath begins to faile at â—he last dints of death All diseases are from thee and to thee belong the issues of death Now behold thy Servant heere in the very pangs and throes thereof The shadowe of death is now vpon his eye lids The appointed time of his changing is now come that thou wilt like a weauer cut off