the Eies of them that sit in darknesse and in the shadow of Death Then shal I bee able with blessed Stephen Actes 7 55. euen in the heat and fury of the skirmish to behold through al the heauens the glory of the Lorde for which I doe contend and my Redeemer Iesus standing at his right hand ready to succour me if need require and then with an vndaunted courage will I abide the fight and die vpon the place ere I giue ground in any fainting manner to the raging of his might Christ is my second who I know wil witnesse my valour and reuenge my quarrell Why should I feare the powers and principalities of Hel When God is with vs who shal stand against vs XXXV BEhold saith the Prophet the day commeth rhat shall flame like an Ouen Mal. 4.1 and they that sweare by the sinne of Samaria and say Amos 8.14 Thy God O Dan liueth and the manner of Beer-Sheba liueth yea the proud with all such as doe wickedly shall bee Stubble the day that commeth shall cleane consume them it shal leaue them neither root nor branch The Lorde will hast him from Teman Hab. 3.3 and the holy one from Mount Paran His Maiesty shall couer the Heauens and the Earth shall be full of his glorie Consuming fire shall march before him and burning coales shall coÌ„passe him about Hee will summon all the Nations of the Earth to make their appearaunce before his Tribunall seat and giue to euery one according to what he hath don 1. Pet. 4.17 whether it be good or euill To put the wicked out of al comfort he will begin his iudgments in his owne house and call euen the righteous according to that of Iob vnto a strict account of euery idle word Thou writest bitter thinges saith he against me Iob. 13 26. and makest mee possesse the iniquity of my youth Thou puttest my feete into the Stockes and lookest narrowly vnto my pathes The printes thereof are in the heeles of my feet Now if the Caedar of Lebanon be shakeÌ„ thus Luke 23.31 what shal becom of the bramble in the Wildernesse If this bee doone to the greene Spring what is remaining for the dry Stumpe If the iust man be so hardly saued wher is the hope of the vngodly I will high me therefore to the lord my God with al the speede I can I will not deferre my going to him by repentance till the seting of the Sun Ibid. 24.25 O fooles and slow of heart saith he to such and will not stay with them but with great constraint Nor will I put it of vntill the euening Ibid. 24 37. least hauing found him I should bee doubtfull and think I see a Spirit when I looke on him No no I will rise betimes with Mary Magdalen Math. 28.1 and with the Mother of Iames will I seek for Iesus of Nazareth before the dawning of the day Prou. 8 17. Hee loueth those that loue him and they that seeke him early shal sind him XXXVI GOD is no respecter of persons Ephe. 6 9. Iohn 4.47 The Ruler entreated him to come vnto his Sonne he would not Luke 7.2 The Centurion did but sende vnto him for his Seruant and immediatly hee went It is not the beauty of outward obiectes that attractes his Eye nor the quality of ambitious Titles that stirres vp his respect When he past thorough Iericho Ibid. 17 5. there were many that came foorth to see him moâ—â— specious to the viewe of weaker sence of higâ—er place and ranke in the Cittie then Zacheus was yet he alone was grace by him aboue the reâ—â— Ibid. 7.25 The Baptist was not clâ—thed in soft rayment Math. 3.4 noâ— fed with delicates Hâ—â— meat was Locustes with wilde Hony and his gaâ—ment of Camels Hayre yet did hee make him greater then a Prophet Peter was not arrayed it Purple Ibid. 16.18 nor did hee liue deliciously in Courtes of Kinges and yet he made him Prince of his Apostles So the body bee sound hee cares not for the bark If the liuing be good let the outside bee as ragged as it will I wil not therefore greatly eie my present condition Though I bee rich I will not presume vppon my wealth though I be poore I wil not despaire for my want He that called vnto the Fisher-men that were in their Ship Mat. 4.21 mending their Nets not minding him and sayde vnto them Come followe me will out of question giue kind and courteous entertainment vnto him who out of loue and of his owne accord doâ— humbly sue vnto him fâ—â— his Liuery Againe I know that Diues was 〈◊〉 torments Luke 16 23 when Lazâ—râ— was in Abrahams boson XXXVII Esay 21.28 IVstice is a worke when with the Lord is scare acquainted It is a straâ—ger and an alien to him he knowes not how no which way to begin iâ— In Sodom there was noâ— righteous but only â—a or he would neuer haue wasted it with fire none in the whole world saue onely Noah or he would neuer haue destroyed it with the floud Till the Tree bee past hope hee applyeth not his Axe No nor then but with much vnwillingnesse and great commiseration He looketh at Hierusalem Luke 19.41 weepes to thinke on the destruction that shoulde come vpon it He houles for Moab he cries out for it his heart doth mourn for them of Kirhareseth Iere. 40.31 He weepeth for the vine of Sibmah as he wept for Iazer he watereth Hesâ—bon with his teares Esay 16.9 are Elaleh is drunke with thâ— showers of his coÌ„plain because of the destroye which is to fall vppoâ— their Summer fruites vpon their Vintage Hâ—â— wrath and indignatioâ— hath many Motiues tâ— incite it Iob. 64 6. but his mercy none For all our righteousnesse is as a filthy Cloute wee fade like a leafe and our iniquities like the windes doe carry vs away yet notwithstanding he lookes down vpon vs from the throne of his heauenly grace with the eye of Pitty compassion he remembers that wee are the workemanshippe of his handes and in the ende out of the zeale of his affection towardes vs he crieth out Ose 13.9 Thy iniquities O Israell haue destroyed thee but thy help is in me He doth not onely tolerate our imperfections but oftentims he dissembleth the knowledge hee hath of them he turneth away his face and will not see the sinne because he would not punish the Sinner There is no daie wherein to fauour the transgressour hee doth not breake the Tables of the Law Our GOD is a iealous God Exod. 20 5. he visiteth the sinnes of the Father vpon the Children vnto the third and fourth generation of them that hate him but sheweth mercy vnto thousands of them that loue him and keepe his Commaundements The Kingly Prophet therefore speaking of them both saieth of the one Thy mercy ó Lorde
Mustard-seede Mat. 17 20. we should no sooner say vnto a Mountaine Remooue but it should presently be remooued and nothing at all should be impossible vnto vs. I wil not therefore with the Scribes and Pharises require a signe for the reforming of my incredulity Mat. 12.38 but without putting my fingers with Didymus into the printes of his Nailes Ioh. 20.25 or my handes into his wounded side I will beleeue without inductions or demonstrations the sacred mysteries of the Incarnation Passion Resurrection Ascention of my most holy and blessed Sauior humbly beseeching him Luke 17.5 with his Apostles that hee would vouchsafe to strengthen and encrease my Fayth Col. 1.23 that I may continue grounded and established therein and not bee mooued away from the hope of that glorious Gospell which hath beene preached by his chosen Ministers to euery creature that is vnder heauen IX MANS intention without Gods assistance auaileth nothing Peter was but a while forsaken Mat. 26.27 and howsoeuer he did abound with loue and zeale yet was hee notwithstanding supplāted by the Enemy his faith was ouerwhelmed with feare hee forsooke him for whom he swore to dye Gods assistaunce without mans intention profits as litle For what action circumstaunce or exhortation could be thought requisite for the reclayming of Iudas which Christ omitted but al was to no purpose hee was a Deuill and so he dyed And heereupon the Lord himselfe complaineth in the 23. of Mathew Hierusalem Hierusalem Mat. 23.37 which killest the Prophets and stonest them that are sent vnto thee how often would I haue gathered thy Children together as the Hen gathereth her Chickens vnder her Winges and ye would not GOD pointes vs to the springs of heauēly grace but vnlesse we stoope to the Well we cannot be refreshed with the water We lie wallowing heere in the mire of earthly cogitations and in vaine shall he assay to raise vs if wee be not willing to rise If hee lende vs his hand wee must giue him our heart or rot and putrify in our own infirmities In al humility therefore singlenesse of spirit I will desire the Authour of my saluation that he would vouchsafe to second my holy Resolutions and so quicken mee according to his louing kindnes that whensoeuer it shall please him to call vnto me I may be instantly ready to runne vnto him applying my selfe without delay to keepe his Statutes and commaundements X. 1. Sam. 18 22. OBedience is more acceptable to the Lord then sacrifice to hearken then the fat of Rams To what purpose saith he bringest thou incense vnto me from Sheba Iere. 6.20 and sweet Calamus from a far Countrey He desireth not the bloud of Bullocks neyther is he delighted with the multitude of burnt offeringes 2. Cor. 12.14 so hee may haue vs he careth not for what is ours When I sacrifice to my Creator therefore I will not offer vp the Calues of my lippes without the treasures of my heart I wil not giue part to him keep the choisest for my selfe All the Fat is the Lordes Leuit. 3.16 he that eateth it shall bee cut off from his people XI THE Couetous man is like a Christmasse Boxe whatsoeuer is put into it nothing can bee taken out of it till it bee broken Hee soaketh vp the waters like a Spung and till death doe come and squeeze him with his Iron Graspe he will not yeeld one drop his hand is sound and nimble to receiue but when hee shold vse it to relieue the wantes of his distressed Brother it lyeth withered in his bosome can by no meanes possible be stretched out Hee weareth out himselfe in labouring for that whereof hee hath no vse Hee knoweth no God of Sabaoth but his Gold his restlesse purchase of it is his rest and with religious admiration doe his thoughtes adore it hee thinkes it Sacriledge to diminish the least heape but the time will come when he shall goe as naked out of the world as euer he came into it and then those Aungels in which hee gloried heere shall bee so many Deuils to torment him there Whereas he that dealeth his Bread vnto the hungry Mat. 25.34 and bringeth the poore vnto his House his light shal break forth as the morning and his health shall growe with speede his righteousnes shall go before him and the glory of the Lorde shall embrace him Esay 58.7 He shall bee like a Garden that is watered and like a Spring that can neuer faile his very bones shal fatten and his Soule bee satisfied in the midst of drought I will continually therfore cast my Bread vpon the waters and according to that portion which the Lord hath lent mee bee alwaies ready to releeue the needy XII I Will not mortify my selfe in part nor in cōflicting with those spiritual Amalekites that seek the ruine of my Soule will I make Saul my precedent but according to the mandate of my God Demoliar vniuersa 1 Sam. 15.3 I will bring downe all I will not spare Man woman nor Childe For here are those three sins to which we are all subiect First the sin of frailty behold the Woman Secondly the sinne of Malice behold the Man Last of al the sinne of Ignorance behold the Childe Nay I will labour as much as in mee lyeth to destroy the very heardes with euery other thing not leaue so much as the least circumstance that may either aggrauate or extenuate my offences So shall I fight the good fight and in the ende receiue that inestimable price which is laid vp for mee in the Kingdome of glory XIII GOD is not an Italienated Courtier nor doth hee euer entertaine vs with Lippe-courtesie When he inuiteth vs Hos 11. we must in no wise say him nay Hee will pull vs to him with the Cordes of a Man and drawe vs on eeuen with the bands of loue And when he seeeth that this is not sufficient hee will sende his Chasticementes and his Corrections for vs who like faithful Messengers will not be satisfied with any vain excuses Luke 14.23 but wil compell vs by violence to come vnto him It is not the purchase of a Farme the buying of an Oxe nor the marrying of a wife that will serue our turne The Mayster of the Feast hath sent for vs and we must goe His Dinner is prepared hee hath killed his Fatlinges Mat. 22.4 and all thinges nowe are in a readinesse If hee see that his Table bee not thorowly furnished with Guests he will instantlie grow exceeding wroth and woe be to vs if once hee send his Warriours forth Esay 41.2 For then shall we bee giuen as Dust vnto their Swordes and as scattered Stubble vnto their Bowes I will not therefore slightly regard his inuitatiōs He shal no sooner call but I wil free my selfe from all encumbrances and come Luk. 14 15 Blessed I know is he
profanesse and impiety 1. Tim. 4.7 I will altogether exercise my selfe to godlines which hath annexed vnto it the promise of the life present and of that that is to come Psal 71 14. The Lorde is my helper and deliuerer in the time of trouble he is my Rocke and my defence I will continually waite vpon him and wil praise him more more My mouth shall rehearse his righteousnesse and my tongue shall speak of his saluation XXX IT is not good for a maÌ„ to bee confident in his owne strength It is a broken staffe and wil deceiue his trust Hee that is in heart a Christian must worke out his saluation with feare and trembling Mat. 26.35 Who before hand so bold in vaunts protestations to followe Christ as Peter and yet alasse Iohn 11.16 who at the point more timorous Who so ready to dye with him as Thomas yet in the end who more incredulous Vnlesse hee might see in his handes the printes of the Nailes Ioh. 20 25. he would not beleeue his resurrection Let him that standeth therefore looke well vnto his footing that he do not fall Let him not think vpoÌ„ Security while hee is heere It is not a Creature of this world The Angels are not sure of it in Heauen There Lucifer did fall euen in the presence of the Godhead Poore Adam found by woefull experience that it was not amongst the Trees of Eden for there fell hee from that estate of blessednesse in which hee was created Much lesse ought we to hope for it in this Vale of misery 1. Pet. 5.8 where our aduersary like a roaring Lion walketh about and seeketh whom hee may deuoure I will alwaies therefore stand vpon my guard Mat. 26.41 I will continually keepe Centinel ouer my heart and without ceasing wil I pray that I enter not into Tentation The GOD of Abraham the Shielde of Isaac and the strength of Iacob shal protect me The watchman of Israell that neyther sleepeth nor slumbereth shall stil preserue mee as the Apple of his Eye XXXI HEE that walketh in the Sunne shall bee tanned and he that medleth with Pitch shall bee defiled A Man can hardly conuerse with such as are infected and yet rest free from all contagion Ioseph was but a while in Aegypt Exod. 34 5 when he learned to sweare by the life of Pharaoh And hence it was that the Children of Israell were commaunded by the Lord to make no Couenant with the Inhabitantes of Canaan nor to take their Daughters eyther for theÌ„selues or for their Sonnes least when they went a whoring after their Goddes and did sacrifice vnto theÌ„ they likewise might bee induced by them to do the like Iudg. 16 18 But notwithstanding the strictnesse of this Mandate Sampson would haue his Dalilah and shee indeede did dally with him till shee had destroied him Dauid would entertain a league of amity with Hanun for the courtesies he had receiued from his Father Nahash 2 Sam. 10.4 but the euent of it was this His kindnesse was suspected his Messengers disgraced There were not women enow in Israell for King Salomon 1 King 11.1 but he must take vnto him the Daughter of Pharaoh and he must haue with him them of Moab Ammon Edom Zidon Heth. 1 Kings 11.11 But the lord grewe angry with him for it Hee rent his Kingdome from him gaue it to his Seruaunt For these had weaned him from God vnto Idolatry and had enticed him to builde high places vnto Chemosh Gen. 24 3. vnto Molech The holy Patriarks were more obedient Abraham would none of them for Isaac Ibid. 27.2 Isaac woulde none of them for Iacob nor Iacob for himselfe Hee went according to his Fathers wil to Padan-Aram to the House of Bethuel for a wife when wicked Esau of purpose as it were to spite both God his Parents did go to Ishmael and tooke vnto the wiues he had already of the same stocke Mahalath his Daughter but for this his disobedience the promise vvas confirmed vnto his Brother and he himselfe was made a Seruaunt vnto him Though I soiourne therefore here on earth my conuersation shall be in Heauen froÌ„ whence I looke for my Redeemer the Lorde Iesus Christ Phâ—l 3.20 who shall chaunge my vile body and fashion it in glory like vnto his owne according to the working whereby he is able euen to subdue all thinges vnto himselfe Let the Daughters of men bee neuer so faire Gen. 6.2 I will auoyd their company I knowe the World had net beene drowned if the Sonnes of GOD would haue forborne them Our heauenly leader is exceeding iealous If he see vs familiar with his Enemies hee misdoubtes our hearts and thinkes that eyther wee are already of the party or may in time bee easily made so The destructioâ— of Ahaziah the Son oâ— Iehoram King of Iudah came of God in that he went downe to see Iehoram the Sonne of Ahab who lay diseased at Izreel 2. Cron. 22. If mine eie do therefore cause me to offend I will pluck it out if my hand I will cut it off and cast it from me Math. 18 6. Better it is that I should want a member then my whole body should be cast into Hell There is not any one eyther in bloud or otherwise so neere vnto mee but if hee fall from God I will fal from him Our Sauior Christ hath taught me both by precept and example that I shold acknowledge nonâ— for my Brother my Sister or my Mother buâ— such as do the will of my Father Mat. 12 50. which is in Heauen XXXII MY Sonne saith Salomon Prou. 3 11. despise not the chastening of the Lorde nor faint with griefe at his rebuke Hee correcteth him whom hee loueth best euen as the parent doth the Childe in which he delighteth most Hee will see how patiently hee can endure his wrath with what constancy abide the smarting of his rod. For there are some that are onely followers of his Table and not of him let neuer so little euill come vpon them they will presently put in practise the counsell of that foolish Woman and like vnnaturall and disobedient children Iob. 2 9. Blaspheme the name of God and dye Let not the Shuhite then vpbraid the afflicted Iob Ibid. 3.8 nor alleage his punnishment as an argument of his vnrighteousnesse Those eighteen persons whoâ— the fall of the Towers Siloam slew were not assuredly greater Sinnes theÌ„ all the rest that dwel in Hierusalem Luke 13.2 Let noâ— him therefore that hatâ— not so much as tasted the bitternesse of his indignation say in his vants My holinesse hath preserued me For howsoeuer he coÌ„ceiteth of himselfe surely the Lord accounts him but a bastard and cares not it shoulâ— seem what doth becoâ— of him Heb. 12 8. Did he esteem him as a Sonne he sholâ— not want his portion Hee would looke