to ouerturne all Religion and Pietie * Tantum abest quin decorum ordo nisi ista politia moderatione obseruari possit vt praesentissima impendeat Ecclesiae perturbatio ruina si dissoluatur j. In briefe The neglect of the Sabbath day is the ruine of the Church Caluin Instit lib. 2. cap. 8. sect 32. A notable politie of that wilie serpent And a marueilous eyther blindnes or presumption in them who are so bewitched by him For what God hath hallowed how should man once dare to prophane or to accoūt common vnhallowed But those vvhom God who is the light of our eyes hath caused the light of his sauing grace to shine more clearly vnto are otherwise minded otherwise affected They acknowledge it not only a iust equal thing that the Lord should haue one day of many dedicated wholy deuoted to his seruice a shame it were that any should deale sparingly with him herin who hath bin so prodigal to them but also they accoūt it a great argument and euidence of Gods speciall care ouer them and singular goodnesse towards them vvho in this estate of their frailetie and weakenesse hath in mercy appointed so excellent a helpe and so necessary a meanes for them to gather spirituall strength and increase of grace vvhereby to stand out against Sathan their deadly foe and to walke on cheerefully comfortably and constantly through the wildernesse of this troublesome vvorld to that promised rest that heauenly Canaan yea they reioyce greatly in it g Isai 58.13 finde much sweetnesse and delight in it long for it before it comes and when it is come solace themselues in it exceedingly And no marueile for they see and finde that it is the market-day of their soules vvherein according to Gods appointment they gather that heauenly Manna that bread of life vvhereby they are nourished and strengthened all the vveeke after and increase daily in that spirituall life of grace and godlinesse till they come vnto that measure vvhich GOD hath allotted vnto them They see how hereby they recouer themselues from sinnes past arme themselues against sinne to come grow in knowledge increase in faith hope patience and all other Christian vertues haue the inward man repaired and in a word vvhereas on other daies their mindes are troubled and distracted vvith worldly businesse this day they haue libertie to recall themselues as it were to draw neere vnto the Lord and sweetly to repose themselues in him who is their peace rest and happinesse and therefore they ioy reioyce herein Againe their Sabbath-day heere on earth as it doth expresse * Ambros in Psa 119. calleth aeternam vitam magnū Sabbathum August lib. 22. de ciuit Dei ca. 30. Sabbathum maximum where he saith it prefigureth the rest of the bodie and soule so it doth put them in minde of that eternal Sabbath which they shall celebrate for euer in the heauens that peace that ioy and that perfect rest and happinesse vvhich they shall shortly bee made partakers of for euer in those glorious mansions those celestiall habitations It is as it were a mappe or an Embleme to them of that Angelicall life which their soules longeth after and the very remembrance vvhereof doth vvonderfully refresh their grieued minds and languishing spirits vvhiles they vvander in this wearisome vvildernesse where they haue so many enemies continually assayling them so many difficulties with vvhich they are continually incumbred The sanctifying of this day doth bring them as it were from Aegypt to Canaan and from Babell vnto Sion i Heb. 11.10.16 It cals them home to their owne countrey giues them a view of it though a farre off and affords them a tast of that spirituall and heauenly life vvhich afterwards they shall liue for euer in glorious manner How therefore can it bee but that they should reioyce in it and in no vvise thinke it burdensome vnto them as carnall and worldly men doe O my God forgiue me that I haue had no more care of this dutie heretofore and teach me to be more mindfull of it hereafter As thou hast appointed this day to be wholly bestowed vpon thee and thy seruice so I humbly pray thee to guide me therein vvith thy grace and spirit that it may be my delight to consecrate it as * Isa 58.13 glorious vnto thee O let me not by any meanes pollute it by doing mine owne waies nor seeking mine owne will no not so much as speaking a vaine word but let me giue my selfe therein wholly to the duties k Act. 16.13 Psal 122. Nehe. 8.8 Act. 17.11 Psal 92.1 145.5 Mal. 3.16 1 Cor. 16.1.2 vvhich thou requirest of me both publique and priuate as hearing thy word preached with all reuerence and carefull attention reading the same prayer meditation and godly conference whatsoeuer else whereby I may be furthered or a means to further or helpe forward others in the wayes of grace and godlinesse that thus being obedient vnto thy commandement vnto which I am tied by so many bonds thy blessing may be vpon me thy spirit may dwell with me I may daily more and more be built vp in sauing knowledge and true holinesse I may grow strong in thy feare finding the powers of sinne and Sathan euery day more and more weakened in me and after that I haue at thy appointed times indeuoured to keepe a holy and religious Sabbath heere on earth I may hereafter keepe an eternall Sabbath with thee in the heauens praysing and magnifying thee vncessantly and enioying that perfect rest and happinesse which thou hast promised and I daily expect and hope for that only through the merits of thy deare Son my blessed Sauiour to whom with thee thy spirit be all praise now for euer Prophanenesse how fearefull the end of it will be THe Fig-tree a Math. 21 19 was accursed because it had leaues onely but brought forth no fruit how much more they then that haue cast away the leaues also hauing not so much as the shew and outward profession of religion and godlinesse It 's a heauie and dreadfull sentence which is to be pronounced against the vnprofitable seruant that hath not improued the Lords talent which he gaue vnto him and made the best vse of it for his masters aduantage so as might be most for his glory and the good and benefit of others amongst whom he liued b Math. 25 30 Cast that vnprofitable seruant into vtter darkenesse there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth O then what shall become of those that are not onely fruitelesse and vnprofitable in their course but prophane and openly euill so as the world doth point at them and cri◠shame vpon them though they are so hardened many of them that they neuer blush for it c Ier. 5.3 6.15 nor will be ashamed but d Hose 7.10 glory in it that doe not onely omit that which is good setting themselues
life by ranging the whole world into certaine sections and seuerall rankes and orders All that euer were or now are in the world may be generally deuided into two sorts called or vncalled Now compare these together and we shall find that the number of the vncalled the Apostles times only excepted hath alwaies exceeded the number of the called those I meane that were called by an outward calling through the ministery and preaching of the word To begin from the beginning and so to proceed and descend lower From the beginning of the world to the departuâ—e into Aegypt which was aboue two thousand yeeres the Church was shut vp in the families eyther of the holy fathers before the flood or of the Patriarchs onely they of their housholds called vpon the name of the Lord only they made profession of religion in the true worship of the true God the rest were Idolatrous and profane people that cast off the Lords yoke Afterwards the Church beganne to be inlarged and the bounds thereof extended the whole people of Israel were called and accounted the people of God according vnto the promise made vnto Abraham and all the rest of the world Gen. 17.7.8 Rom. 9.4 Isay 55.5 Hosea 1.10 Ephes 2.12 Luk. 1.79 a people that were no people vnto whom God did not so much as afford the outward ordinarie meanes of saluation but suffered them to sit in darknesse and in the shadow of death though we denie not but that some few might be extraordinarily called euen as many as ioyned themselues vnto him Now what was Israel to the multitude and ouerflowing of the Gentiles which were scattered ouer the face of the earth euen as a plant among many people Exod. 19.5 Deut. 7.6.7 14.2 a pearle amongst many pebles one grape of a cluster or as the gleaning after the haruest Well to goe on to succeeding ages after many generations the Lord vpon iust cause Acts 13.46 Rom. 11.20 1 Thes 2.16 forsaking the Iewes for a long time as wee see and casting them off from being his people as they were in former times the Gentiles of whom wee are according to the promise succeeded them Rom. 11.17 and were planted in in their roome And yet how small is the number euen of them that are called in comparison of those that remaine vncalled to this present day This will be easily perceiued if it bee dulie considered how many thousands yea thousand thousands of Infidels Pagans barbarous Turkes and mis-beleeuing Iewes there be which sit in darkenesse and in the valley of death without God vvithout Christ so without the meanes of Saluation not hauing so much as the knowledge and outward profession of true Christianitie and godlinesse For one Christian euen in outward profession there are many who eyther neuer heard of the name of a Christian or else hate it and are profest enemies vnto it Turcisme Iudaisme Paganisme hauing ouerspread most nations like a winter floud these things then being rightly obserued wee see clearly that the greatest part of the world in times past hath beene and yet now is vncalled and therefore out of the way of saluation To passeouer therefore those numberlâ—sse multitudes of such as neuer had any calling and to leaue them to tâ—e s cret counsell of the Lord for as farre aâ— God hath made knowne vnto vs in his reuealed VVill there is no meanes of saluation for them or any of them continuing in that estate Let vs come vnto that other sort those I meane that are outwardly called by the preaching of the Word which soundeth amongst them and make an outward profession of Christ and his Gospell within how narrow a roome are they confined vvithin the borders of Europe the skirts of Asia vnder Turkish bondage and tyranny and that remote and almost vnknowne part of Africa vnder that Aethiopian gouernour Prester-Iohn and not else-where except it bee a sprinkling here there of some fewe that are scattered in the Indies or in some other Countries They are euen shut vp as it were in this Angle and corner of the world as is apparent to those that are of knowledge and cast their eie vpon this larger frame And yet how few euen of them that haue receiued this outward calling are and shall bee saued Let that saying of our Sauiour himselfe testifie Mat. 20.16 Many are called by an outward calling and externall profession but few euen of those that are so called are chosen to vvhich also that holy Apostle of his Rom. 9.27 out of the kingly Prophet doth well accord Isa 10.22 Though the number of the children of Israel were as the sand of the Sea yet shall but a remnant be saued All are not Israel which are of Israel neither shall all that are of the Church militant be of the Church triumphant Euen of those that are called the fewest are saued And this will be better conceiued of vs if wee consider what a multitude there are First * Bellarm. pref in lib. de Pont. Nisi per Petrum non peruenitur ad Christum among the Papists that Antichristian Synagogue who make indeed a profession of Christ and Christian religion haue glorious shewes to the eyes of the world faire titles without truth boasting strangely that they and none but they are of the true Catholike Apostolike Church * Bellar. lib. 4. de Not. Eccl. cap. 4. Constat nostram solam esse veram EcclesiaÌ„ vid. cap. 5.6 that they haue the keyes of Heauen in their keeping onely and shall haue Heauen-gates hereafter set open vnto them all other being excluded and shut * Coster Enchir. Conclusio Absque dubio in aeternum peribunt Gal. 5.4 Iohn 16 2. Gal. 4.29 2 The. 2.11 out and yet indeed are cleane out of the way of saluation yea persecute them that walke in it thinking that therein they doe God good seruice and walke blinde-folded in those crooked pathes of their owne inuentions and idolatrous worship and superstitious obseruances which tend vnto euerlasting perdition and condemnation Reuel 14.9.10.11 18.4 2 Thes 2.12 Yea euen amongst vs where the name of Christ is truely called vpon For thousands there bee in the bosome of this our Church vvho are called indeed Christians being baptized into the name of Christ and wearing the outward badge and cognisance of a Christian vvho notwithstanding are as farre from saluation as hell is from heauen as their vvicked courses and vaine conuersations doe euidently vvitnesse to their faces Isa 3.9 and euen proclaime with loud voice to the vvhole world For some although they haue the name of Christians are in truth no better then plaine Atheists vvanting euen the outward profession of that vvhich they beare the name of making their pleasures their profits their honours and preferments yea their bellies their Gods Phil. 3.19 altogether deuoting themselues to their seruice neuer thinking of God nor regarding to walke
comfort my selfe in thee continually knowing assuredly that thou art present vvith me when thou seemest to be farthest absent from me that thy gracious hand sustaineth and vpholdeth me Psal 34.18 Gen. 42.7 45.1 and that thou louest me dearely when thou seemest to deale most roughly vvith me and that thou vvilt neuer leaue me till thou hast through many changes brought me through the vvildernesse of this world to the possession of that heauenly Canaan vvhere after I haue been exercised heere for a while for the triall and increase of thy graces in me I shall be satisfied vvith the pleasures of thy house Rom. 5.3.4 Iames 1.3.4 and drinke the vvaters of comfort out of the vvell of saluation yea vvhen I shall see thee face to face continually and reioyce vvith that ioy before thee which shall neuer haue any change nor can euer be taken away from me Sathans pollicie in making the faithfull to distrust God in his promises SAthan when he cannot otherwise preuaile with the children of God seeketh to cast many doubts into them of Gods mercy goodnesse and truth in the performance of those rich and gracious promises vvhich he hath made vnto them 2 Cor. 2.7 11. and to disquiet their consciences with restlesse feares that so seeing hee can by no meanes depriue them of that glory and happines which hereafter they shall enioy for euer in the heauens yet he may bereaue them of those inward spirituall comforts and heauenly refreshings wherwith their soules should bee cherished their hearts strengthened 2 Cor. 5.6.7 and their liues vpholden vvhiles they continue here as pilgrims strangers vpon earth absent from the Lord and in hope and expectation only of the fulnesse of that glory and blessednesse which hereafter they should haue the fruition and possession of for euer O mercifull and gracious Lord stablish my heart I beseech thee vvith thy grace Iohn 8.44 Let me neuer giue eare to Sathan that lying spirit who enuies at that blessed estate vvhereunto in the riches of thy vnspeakable mercies thou hast freely called me but let me beleeue thee who art the God of trueth and faithfulnesse and rest vpon thy word and promises which abide sure and stedfast for euermore 1. Pet. 1.25 when all other things faile and come to nothing Farre be it from me that I should receiue the witnesse of man vvho is subiect to error and deceit and not much more giue credit vnto that inward testimony which thou who neuer deceiuedst any that trusted in thee 1 Iohn 5.9 scalest vnto my soule and conscience by the effectuall working and operation of thy holy and blessed spirit yea hauing receiued so many pledges of thy loue so many and so cleare euidences of thy goodnesse thy trueth thy power and thy wonderful prouidence which worketh in all things so that they that are dimme-sighted may behold the but same a farre off let me shake off all infidelity vnfaithfulnes and rest euer assured of thy mercie that so my life may be comfortable my death ioyfull yea in life and death I may be satisfied vvith the sweetnesse of thy grace and so at length be filled with the riches of thy glory in that heauenly kingdome of thine which thou hast promised vnto me Dispaire or distrust of Gods promises a great sinne TO doubt of Gods promises to dispaire of his mercies is a grieuous sin and a most hainous offence in the eyes of God For therby men rob God of his glory Rom. 4.20 they doe him great iniurie making his infinite mercy lesse then their sinnes Psal 51.1 103.11.12 108.4 whereas the multitude of his mercies are as a bottomlesse depth able to swallow vp the greatest offences that are committed against him if they be truely repented of yea Act. 3.19 1 Ioh. 5.10 they call his truth and faithfulnesse into question Isai 57.15 16. Math. 11.28 and make him a lyar seeing he hath promised forgiuenesse to all those that being truely humbled sue vnto him for mercy Lo such is their faithlesnesse they vvill not beleeue him of his word who is the God of trueth nor giue credit to the trueth vvhich he who neuer failed any hath sealed Exod 34 6 Ierem. 10.10 Deut. 7.9 Iosh 21.45 whereas they will credit a man who may deceiue them No doubt ought once to bee made thereof of those vvho know vvhat God is Num. 23.19 2 Cor. 1.20 and how firme and stable all his promises are or if any doubt shall arise from the corruption of that euill and vnbeleeuing heart which is in man Heb. 3.12 Luk. 9.41 or the suggestion of Sathan who being a maine enemy as to all grace so especially that of faith which is as it were the life and the anchor of the soule seeketh continually to cast many doubts and vaine feares into the minde it is not to be yeelded vnto by any meanes Psal 42.11 Iames 4.7 Mat. 8.26 but to be checked presently resisted and driuen backe as it were vvith strong hand knowing that the testmony of the Lord is true more certainty in it then in the warrant of any mortall man yea then in all the writings Euidences Seales Indentures and witnesses which al the men in the world can afford vs. O Lord make me now and alwaies such as to whom thy promises belong and hauing wrought this gracious vvorke of thine in me strengthen my faith that I may haue full assurance and confidence in thee through thy Christ and apply vnto my selfe all those gracious promises vvhich thou hast made vnto me in thy word vvhich shall stand for euer O keepe mee from doubting of thy trueth and faithfulnesse at any time Ier. 17.13 Heb. 10.38.39 least it displease thee and cause thee to vvithdraw thy selfe from mee The small number of them that shall be saued THat there are but few that shal be saued many damned is a truth which the word of God hath sealed yea which Christ who is the trueth it selfe with his owne mouth hath ratified vnto vs Mat. 7.13 Luk. 13.24 calling the way to life a strait gate and narrow way which is found but of a few but the way to death and destruction a wide gate and broad way in vvhich most vvalke VVhat neede we other proofe How can vve once doubt of it How dare we euer call it into question or enter into dspute of it But because many through Sathans suggestion and the peruersnes of their owne wicked disposition are hard of beleefe euen of those things vvhich in Scripture are most cleare and euident vnto vs Loe therefore a plaine demonstration of it that so if thou beest so faithlesse that thou wilt not beleeue it with thy heart thou mayest see it in a sort with thine eyes and confesse it with thy mouth when thou art so manifestly conuinced of it To calculate therefore as it were the number of those that walke in this narrow way to