to the glory of God which is the end of our life and ought to be the end of all our actions Abominable idolatries This is a sin aginst the first Table forbid in the first and second Commandments though most in the second It s either inward or outward and its either the worshiping of false gods or the true God in a false maner both which are most detestable and abominable before God and therefore to be hated of us in a deadly maner as that which is the flat breach of the marriage Covenant between God and his people It s a turning our heart from God a forgetting yea a forsaking of God a setting up another in his stead who will have no partners Hereunto we are naturally prone as may be seen throughout all ages even those that know the true God in some sort set up something before him to worship him in and by Hereof the Israelites were wonderfully guilty though they had many strict charges against it yet they were wofully carried away with the Idolatries of the Heathen sometimes they did worship the very gods of the Heathens as Baalim and Ashtaroth c. and at the best they used to worship God in Images as in the golden Calf that Aaron made and in the two Calves at Dan and Bethel for those the Prophets did vehemently reprove them and threaten Gods judgements against them which accordingly were inflicted on them as appears this day and if when they lived in their own Land they were so tainted with idolatry what were they now having so long conversed with those prophane Heathens This therefore the Apostle warns them now to leave and abandon as having already continued too long therein and having repented thereof he would not have them go back thereto any more I shall speak a little here of the Idolatry of the Heathens of the Idolatry of the Papists and of the Idolatry of our own people all which are either in worshiping a false god or the true God in a false maner For the worshiping of false gods so did the Heathens who worshiped the Sun Moon and the hoast of Heaven yea any thing what soever and according to their countries were their gods nay they had their city and countrey gods and houshold gods There was no end of their abominations having this in their heart that there was a God and not knowing him they worshipped any thing which the Lord doth deride and whereat he is angry for he will not give his glory to another nor his praise to graven Images O what cause have we to bless the name of God that have the light of the Word whereas most throughout all ages have been ignorant thereof and so worshipped they know not what and worshipped not onely in vain without any profit but to the dishonor of the true God and their own condemnation Neither is this the sin of Heathens alone to worship false gods but even of the Papists who have the Word for their Rule whose sin therefore is greater then the Heathens they worship the breaden god they bow down to it and call it their Maker what difference is then between them as those fell a Tree and with some part make a fire with some bake and of some make a god and worship it so these sow Corn reap it and grinde it and of some part thereof make bread for themselves and theirs and of another they make a god which they worship they also worship the Cross and Reliques of Saints they also worship the Virgin Mary calling on her oftner then on God so they worship Saints and Angels their Pictures also be common whereunto they give Divine worship they dedicate Altars Offerings Temples Priests and Days to them which are proper to God onely yea they make the Pope that Man of Sin a god not onely calling him so but ascribing that to him which is proper to God as To make Laws to binde the Conscience to open and shut Heaven Hell and Purgatory as they say to forgive sins to adde and take from the Scriptures c. O horrible What King will endure his Royalty to be given to another If Angels and Saints were to appear to us as they were wont formerly we ought not otherwise to worship them but with civil worship the excellency of the Creature doth not change the kinde of worship but onely the measure but now seeing they appear not to us we owe them no worship at all but onely to reverence them and thank God for them and imitate them in what we can The Angel would not suffer John to worship him and the Apostles Peter Paul and Barnabas refused also that to â—ob God of his due For worshipping the true God in a false maner it is either inward or outward Inward as when we conceive in our minde otherwise of God then he is and hath revealed himself as to conceive of God without consideration of the three Persons Father Son and Holy Ghost as do the Turks and Jews and they amongst our selves which conceive that God is onely merciful and not just so to conceive of Christ as God onely or man onely and not as God and man in one person The Papists though in word they profess either yet in deed they deny both and so make an idol and no true Christ of him Outward as when men worship God in Images Stocks Sones Pictures of gold silver stone graved or painted or howsoever This is flatly forbid in the 2d Commandment as also in divers other places To make a Picture of God like an Oldman or of Christ like a Man hanging on a Cross what lyes be they Be these like God not so like as a Flie is or as a Flie is to a King Ob. But God so appeared in Daniel A. What then it followeth not we may so picture him especially seeing he hath forbid it Is the picture of a man like Christ His Godhead is the chiefest part of him how picture they that O they do it in a good meaning but our intention is not the rule of Gods Worship but his own will As for their shift that they worship not the Image but God in the Image it s indeed a meer shift that will not serve their turn so said some of the Heathens so said the Israelites assuredly God is displeased with both Let us therefore detest Popery as being abominable before God let us never be drawn to their Religion for it s to renounce God and quite break the Covenant Joyn not at any time with Papists in their Idol-service bow not the knee to Baal come out from among them and touch no unclean thing let neither Fear Covetousness or wanton curiosity to see new fangles draw you aside for ye cannot be partakers of the table of the Lord and of Devils Have no Society with them for marriage Joram and Ahaziah were bad for that they married into Ahabs stock
what colour soever it comes with the appearance thereof and occasions leading thereunto 441 26. Means whereby to eschew evil 442 27. Whoso avoids not evil cannot do good 443 28. Christians must be doers of good 444 29. We must do all the good we can ibid. 30. We must do all the good we can at all times in all places in all companies to all persons in our general and particular calling though it be hard and difficult and in a good maner 445 31. Christians must seek after peace 447 32. Covetousness pride frowardness tale-bearers the enemies of peace to be avoided 450 Verse 12. 1. THe prevention of an Objection 451 2. Why eyes ears c. are attributed to God ibid. 3. Whom we are to understand by righteous and why so called and whom by them that do ill 452 4. The Lord careth for the righteous ibid. 5. God hears the prayers of his Saints readily 453 6. What prayers prevail with God 454 7. How the same may appear ibid. 8. Why the Lord at some times hears not grants not the prayers of his children 455 9. Gods wrath and the fruits thereof always bent against the wicked 457 10. Why the wicked are not always plagued here ibid. Verse 13. PAtience and innocency of life are the way to escape harms from men 458 Verse 14. 1. SOme are so bad that they wrong the innocent 460 2. Some hate the godly meerly for their goodness ibid. 3. Such as suffer wrongfully or for Religion and conscience sake are happy 461 4. We must tarry till God call us to suffer ibid. 5. Whether we may flee from persecution ibid. 6. A godly man is happy in what condition soever 463 7. Fear is an Enemy to constant suffering ibid. Verse 15. 1. VVHat it is to Sanctifie the Lord God 464 2. Faith the mother of constancy in sufferings 464 3. As we must believe Gods truth with our hearts so must we profess it with our tongues 465 4. We must believe with our hearts before we can confess with our mouthes 467 5. Our speeches must be accompanyed with meekness and fear ibid. Verse 16. 1 VVHat conscience is 468 2. The offices of conscience to bear witness 470 3. To give judgement before our actions 472 4. To give judgement after our actions 473 5. An erroneous conscience what it is and a doubtful 475 6. Whether a man sinneth that doth according to his conscience ibid. 7. Whether a man may do any thing against his conscience being erroneous ibid. 8. Whether it be lawful to do a thing with a doubtful conscience 476 9. The several kindes of conscience ibid. 10. The kindes of a still quiet conscience drowsie secure seared 476 477 11. Means whereby the conscience may be awakened 478 12. The stirring ill conscience excusing accusing 479 13. A good quiet conscience wherein it differs from a bad quiet conscience 481 14. What a good troubled conscience is ibid. 15. Signs declaring the goodness thereof 482 16. The great benefits of a good conscience 483 17. How it is kept ibid. 18. A godly conversation is to accompany the zealous profession of our faith 484 19. A godly man will stand by the truth 486 20. The wicked are apt to speak ill of Gods servants ibid. 21. A godly conversation stoppeth the ungodlies mouthes 487 Verse 17. 1. VVHy we ought willingly to suffer for righteousness 488 2. It is better to suffer for well then evil doing ibid. 3. No afflictions comes to us but by Gods will 489 4. How far God hath an hand therein ibid. Verse 18. 1. CHrists sufferings an encouragement for Christians to suffer 491 2. How Christ was just and how we ibid. 3. Christ suffered for our good ibid. 4. The godly sow in tears but shall reap in joy ibid. 5. Several particulars laid down about Christs sufferings 492 6. Profit arising from the meditation thereof ibid. 7. All Christs sufferings make up one perfect suffering 493 8. The quality of the person that suffered and for whom he suffered ibid. 9. Why our Savior suffered and to what end 494 10. That Christ must have dyed and so did 495 11. The benefits ensuing by Christs death ibid. 12. Christ rose again from the dead 496 13. Why he rose again the maner of his resurrection the place the time 497 14. Why the Jews Sabbath was changed ibid. 15. The benefits hereof and duties to be performed 498 Verse 19 20. 1. A Further comfort to them that suffer for righteousness sake 498 2. Reasons against the Papists exposition of these words 499 3. That there are no such places as Limbus patrum and puerorum 500 4. Reasons against Purgatory ibid. 5. Why purgatory was devised 501 6. That Christ went not down to hel to preach to the reprobates 502 7. Gods Spirit preacheth in faithful Ministers ibid. 8. God will finde a time to right things when they are disordered 503 9. The woful condition of the wicked ibid. 10. Disobedience the cause of Gods judgement on the old world 504 11. Whether all those which were drowned were damned 504 12. Two necessary considerations 505 13. Disobedience the fore-runner of destruction 506 14. The sins of our times like those of the old world ibid. 15. Gods patience towards the disobedient aggravates their sin ibid. 16. The names of the godly mentioned to their honor 507 17. The old world then most disobedient when they should have been furthest from disobedience 508 18. Christians must use the means whereby to be freed from hell and destruction ibid. 19. Faith and Repentance an ark for the soul ibid. 20. How useful examples and ocular sermons are 509 21. Wicked men fear not Gods judgements 510 22. Weak means are sufficient through Gods blessing for our preservation 511 23. Righteousness shall not want its reward ibid. 24. It s good to be near the godly ibid. 25. No man can be saved by the goodness of another ibid. 26. The wicked though they escape bodily danger shall meet with everlasting judgements ibid. 27. There are but a few which shall be saved ibid. 28. The speech of an Arian at his death 512 29. Men and women be more excellent then other creatures ibid. 30. Noah and the old world a right picture of the good and bad in our age 513 Verse 21. 1. THe godly throughout all ages are saved by the same means 514 2. The uses of Baptism 515 3. Who is to baptize and who to be baptized ibid. Verse 22. 1. VVHat our Saviors ascension was that he did ascend why before whom and when 516 2. They that have charge over others must be careful to leave them in good plight ibid. 3. The place from which our Savior ascended with the benefits of his ascension 517 4. Three general Observations ibid. 5. The good Angels are subject to Christ who watch and guard us ibid. 6. The bad Angels are also subject to Christ 518 CHAP. IV. THe Contents thereof 519 Verse 1 2. 1. THe parts and meaning of
they are so toiled by the world that they sleep thereat or if they do hearken they do but mock at least go not away much the better their mindes being all the while ranging and they hearing onely as one in a dream Hereby also they neglect prayer and are either kept from the Sacrament or come prophanely hereby also do they infinitely break the Sabbath as in buying selling riding talking of worldly matters c. Thus also many Parents through niggardliness spoil their children for want of education Migistrates take bribes to prevent Justice Ministers ingross livings people pull away their Ministers maintenance servants deceive their Masters Princes pole their Subjects and Subjects withdraw their taxes and dues from them Through this many lose their lives as Naboth There 's much contention both within doors and without for trifles so many women prostitute themselves and their husbands wink thereat because of advantage and many to avoid charge which as they think would come by marriage live in uncleanness From hence also what cousenages and deceivings do arise in buying selling letting hiring borrowing lending partnership c. what simony sacriledge bribery usury c how also are lyes multiplyed hereby and how many Tale-carriers are there meerly for this respect yea there 's no villany in this world so odious to God and man which through covetousness men will not commit and therefore it was no wonder that David prayed that his heart might not be enclined hereto O what a folly and madness is it for men to seek so greedily after these things which yet oftentimes are the further from them but admit thou obtainest them are they able to purchase for thee a pardon of thy sins Can they pacifie Gods wrath Can they prolong thy days one hour Doth thy Salvation stand in these mayest thou not soon be deprived thereof Shalt thou tarry long with them Is there not vexation in them If thou shouldest long enjoy them yet having no grace in thy heart no assurance of Gods favor no hope of a better life wo unto thee and yet this is the state of thousands They only minde earthly things having no regard of Heavenly or Spiritual Grace and so living here basely for a while without enjoying the benefit of that they have they are at the length snatched away and then the world strives for their goods and the Devil for their souls As an Ass that caries Plate all day at night is turn'd into a foul stable or bare Pasture to nob on Thistles and that with a galled back so are they turn'd out with a galled and guilty conscience and a soul laden with innumerable sins and so sink down to Hell there to be for ever and ever Art thou guilty hereof Repent endeavor to see thy folly confess cry to God make restitution of that which thou hast taken unjustly seek for pardon for grace for sanctification O that it might be said to thee as to Zacheus This day is salvation come to thy house Art thou free of this poyson beware thou beest not tainted herewith of all evils its the most dangerous and damnable and most hardly rooted out Esteem of these things as they ought but chiefly labor for your part in those true riches which shall never be taken away It s the fault of Christians that they seek the world too eagerly and neglect many good duties for it run into unwarrantable courses are unquiet contentious c. whereby they make themselves and their Profession to be ill spoken of O how ill doth this beseem Christians which have God to be their Father and Heaven for their inheritance and portion Fye upon it Is this to behave our selves Pilgrim-like we should carry our selves so moderately in these things that we may make the world see and say we have riches that they know not of as our Savior said He had meat his Disciples knew not of we must labor to grow in grace and covet the best things For the second part of sobriety which is in the use of riches when we have them it hath relation either to our minde when we esteem of them or our practice when we employ them as God requires 1. We must esteem of them but as they are and not set our mindes overdeeply on them as if the having of them were our happiness the want of them our utter misery Neither must we think the more highly of our selves because of them for goodness is that onely which makes us of account with God and good men when we go down to the grave we be all fellows nor ought we to trust in them as though they could be a Castle and Tower against whatsoever may come upon us Plague War Famine c. This is the common sin of the world yea even Gods Servants may partly perceive that their hearts rise as their wealth encreaseth O its hard for a man to keep down his heart that it swell not Nor must we be excessively loath to part with them when God sees it good nor cast down when we have any loss as if we had lost happiness O how many are thus grieved which were never grieved for their sins nor wept for fear of Gods wrath and condemnation we should grieve indeed for our sins or if we do not feel Gods favor or observe any decay in our love to God and goodness but not as worldly losses especially enjoying Gods favor and having through Christ an assured hope of a better life 2. We must employ them as God requires and that both on our selves and others our selves and ours For he that provides not for himself and his family is worse then an infidel and Solomon saith It s a good and comely thing for a man to take part of that God hath given him Jacob after he had served Laban many years began at the length to think of his own house But what base misers are they that cannot afford themselves or theirs necessaries in food and raiment They are diseased with an evil sickness They are Thieves to their backs bellies families neither are those prodigal rioters in a better case which waste and consume all in sports company keeping and belly-cheer they rob their wives their children their friends the poor and usually dye in the Goal leaving their children to misery Others as upon the worship and service of God and maintainance of the Gospel and Ministers thereof for the good of our own souls So upon the King and Commonwealth under whom we enjoy Peace and the Gospel as also upon the Poor especially the Saints See Deut. 15. 10. Psal. 37. 25 26. Psal. 112. Prov. 11. 23. Matth. 5. Luke 14. Heb. 13. And this we must do not onely of our superfluity but in some cases even of our necessity of our very Lands we are not Lords of our goods but Stewards for which we must be countable to our master This rebuketh those