through his pouertie might bee rich Shall the onely deare innocent Sonne of the All-powerfull and euer-blessed Lord and King of heauen and earth dis inrich as it were and disrobe his heauenly Highnesse of that Royaltie and Maiestie aboue and become so poore that whereas the Foxes haue holes and the birds of the ayre haue nests yet Hee not where to lay his head that through his pouerty and powring out his hearts blood hee might crowne vs with the inestimable riches of heauenly glory with ioyes and pleasures more then the starres of the firmament euen for euer and euer and shall not we Wormes and wretches most vnworthy the least bit of bread we put into our mouthes part with our superfluities sometimes both in respect of the necessity of nature and exigencie of estate as the Schoolemen speake to relieue the fainting soule of him for whom Christ died and which he would take as done vnto himselfe Matth. 25. 40. were it but a cup of cold water onely Mar. 9. 41. Monstrous vnthankfull cruelty mercilesnesse meriting without Gods singular mercy and turning mercifull our selues the fiercest flame in the dungeon of fire and brimstone 4. The last and euerlasting doome at that great and dreadfull Day must passe vpon vs according to our carriage in this kinde Then shall there be a seuere and sincere search and enquirie made after workes as the signes euidences and outward demonstrations of faith and the roote of grace in the heart or of vnbeliefe and rottennesse at the heart-roote and consequently as arguments of a righteous doome passed vpon the Sheepe and Goates That glorious sentence of absolution Come yee blessed of my Father inherit the kingdome prepared for you from the foundation of the world which sounds out nothing but pleasures ioyes delights glories beauties felicities crownes kingdomes Angelicall entertainments beatificall-visions spirituall rauishments highest perfections vnutterable exultations of spirit sweetest varieties eternities shall be pronounced vpon the godly according to the effects and fruits of their faith to teach vs in the meane time what faith to trust vnto and rest vpon for iustification euen that which works by loue and at that day to let all the world see Angels men and deuils that the kingdome of Heauen is giuen onely to true-hearted Nathaneels honest Professours working beleeuers Now in the text for this purpose there is singled out with special choice an eminent Synechdochicall instance in one of the worthiest effects of faith and noblest fruit of grace euen the point I now presse and labour to perswade an open-hearted reall fruitfull bounty and loue to Gods people and distressed members of Christ Iesus for Christs and their goodnesse sake But that other doome of damnation Depart from me you cursed into euerlasting fire prepared for the deuill and his angels which breathes out nothing but fire and brimstone stings and horrours woe and alasse flames of wrath and the Worme that neuer dyeth trembling and gnashing of teeth seas of vengeance torments without end and past imagination shall passe vpon the reprobates for omission and neglect of this noble dutie For mercilesnesse to the poore members of Christ vnkindnesse to Christians hard-heartednesse towards the houshold of faith is one of the ranckest bitterest weeds which growes out of a gracelesse heart a cleare pregnant euidence that all was naught and a notable remembrancer as it were to that high and euerlasting Iudge that his blessed Spirit neuer dwelt there How deeply then doth it concerne euery Christian to practise and ply vpon all opportunities that most gainefull art of almes-giuing which shall be so highly honoured at that great Day before that glorious vniuersall presence when euery mercilesse man shall cry to that Rocke this mountaine to fall vpon him and hide him from the wrath of that iust God which will flame vnquenchably and euerlastingly against all those who in this life haue shut vp their bowels of pitty against His poore and been dogged towards the dearely beloued of his Soule I know Bellarmine labours to empoyson this last passage with his false glosse and Popish sophistry The causall coniunction For Matth. 25. 35. as hee there cauils intimates and implyes workes meritoriousnesse I say no. For is there a Note of consequence and order not of the cause or any meritorious causality The causall coniunction in Grammar doth indeed serue to shew the reason of a former sentence but it doth not necessarily shew a reason from the cause of a thing but many times also from the effect and other kind of arguments And Logick also reacheth that there be diuers kinds of causes principall and lesse principall c. Bellarmine replyes Doth not Christ there speake in the same manner of the rewards of the godly and of the punishments of the wicked But no man can say that in these words Goe ye cursed c. that the cause is not rendred but onely the order and consequence implyed For the wages of sinne is death Rom. 6. 23. I answer By the like fallacy also doe the Popish Impostors pleade for Iustification by Workes Euill workes damne therefore good workes saue Most falsely as appeares by that rule in the Topicks The consequence is of no validitie where there is not a perfect contrarietie Now betweene good and euill workes there is no perfect contrarietie for euill workes are perfectly euill against the Law of God but good workes are not perfectly good according to the Law of God By the same reason neither doth it follow Eternall death is the wages of sinne therefore eternall life is the wages of good workes 5. If thou lay out to the poore cheerefully seasonably liberally and yet but according to thy abilitie thou shalt become which besides the onely course of growing comfortably rich is also a Crowne of infinite honour Creditor euen to thy Creator Hee that hath pitie vpon the poore lendeth vnto the Lord and that which he hath giuen will he pay him againe Prou. 19. 17. And in the meane time for repayment in due time thou hast securitie infinitely aboue all exception a Bill vnder his owne hand euen his owne blessed Booke wherein to faile were to forfeit his Deity if I may so speake which is prodigious blasphemie to imagine Now what a keene spurre and inflaming motiue is this to bee mercifull that wee shall make God himselfe our Debter the euer springing Fountaine of Blisse and Lord of all goodnesse who doth all things like himselfe omnipotently bountifully aboue all expectation as becomes the mighty Soueraigne of Heauen and Earth If he worke he makes a world If he be angry he drownes the whole face of the Earth If he loue the hearts-blood of his dearest Sonne is not too deare If he stand vpon his peoples fide he makes the Sunne to stand still and the Starres to fight If he repay hee giues his owne All-sufficient Selfe with the ouerflowing torrents
death is to him the day-breake of eternall brightnesse Vpon his last Bed his blessed soule shall finde that fresh-bleeding Fountaine for sinne and for vncleannesse set wide open vnto it by the hand of Faith ready now at its departure to raze out the last sinfull staine It may confidently in the Name of Christ cast it selfe into the open armes enlarged bowels and dearest embracements of the Father of all mercies It may feele the glorious presence of the sweetest Comforter presenting vnto it a foretaste of Heauenly ioyes It shall haue the last sweetnesse and triumphant truth of all the promises of life able to confront and confound the vtmost rage and very Powder-plot of all the powers of darknesse made good vnto it A mighty guard of blessed Angels shal attend vpon it waiting with longing and ioy to beare it triumphantly into the bosome of Abraham His bodie shall goe into the graue as into a chamber of rest and bed of Downe sweetly perfumed vnto it by the sacred body of the Sonne of God lying in the Graue locked there full fast with the barres of the earth and fenced with the omnipotent Arme of God as a rich Iewell in a Casket of gold vntill the Resurrection of the iust And then after their ioyfullest meeting and glorious re-vnion they shall both bee for euer filled with all those vnmixed pleasures blessed immortalities crowned ioyes which the dwelling place of God the glory of Heauen and the inexhausted fountaine of all blisse Iehouah himselfe blessed for euer can affoord Now let the scornefullest opposite to the power of godlinesse tell me in cold blood whether that honorable wretch or this honest man bee more truely noble and happy For the second So naturall saith Hooker is the vnion of Religion with iustice that we may boldly deeme there is neither where both are not For how should they be vnfainedly iust whom Religion doth not cause to be such or they religious which are not found such by the proofe of their iust actions If they which imploy their labour and trauaile about the publike administration of Iustice follow it onely as a Trade with vnquench able and vnconscionable thirst of gaine being 〈◊〉 in heart perswaded that Iustice is Gods owne Worke and themselues his Agents in the businesse the sentence of right Gods owne verdict and themselues his Priests to deliuer it for malities of iustice do but serue to smother right and that which was necessarily ordained for the common good is through shamefull abuse made the cause of common misery Full well did this learned man perceiue and rightly apprehend that the purity and power of Religion alone doth truely honour all Honours dignifie all dignities actuate with acceptation and life all morall vertues and endowments of art sweeten all gouernment strengthen all States settle fast all Imperiall Crownes vpon Princes heads That it is no humorous conceite but a matter of sound consequence that all either personall duties or imployments of State are by so much the better performed by how much the men are more religious from whose abilities the same proceed That when Heauen is made too much to stoope to Earth Piety to Policy Publike good to priuate ends there authoritie is embittered inferiours plagued and too often Law and Iustice turned into Wormewood and rapine He truly intimates what a deale of hurt is done what a world of mischiefe is many times wrought insensibly and vnobseruedly when a wicked wit and wide conscience weld the sword of authoritie For it is easie and ordinary for a man so mounted by legall sleights putting foule businesses into faire language and by a dissembled pretence of deeper reach to compasse his owne ends either for promotion of iniquity or oppression of innocency especially sith he knowes himselfe backt with that Principle in Policy It is not safe to question or reuerse transactions of State though tainted perhaps with some impressions of miscarriage error And that it is holden a Solaecisme in State-wisdome and vnseemely for priuate innocency to contest too busily with passages of publike Tribunals These things I thus discourse and declare vnto your Lordship to represent vnto you the vanity of that honour which is not directly and sincerely subordinate to the Honour of God at the best it is but a breath and yet not able to blow so much as one cold blast vpon vngodly great Ones when being suddenly carried from their stately and sumptuous dwellings they shall bee cast into vnquenchable flames To let you see the excellencie and worth of those happy wayes to which it hath pleased the Lord of Heauen out of his speciall mercy to bend the eye of your Noble minde and that you may know what it is alone hath had power and the prerogatiue and shall for euer in whomsoeuer takes Gods part to make you both more truely Honourable in your Selfe and more faithfully seruiceable to our King and State both to cast a Diuiner lustre vpon your personal vertues and to make your managing of publike businesses many times most vnworthily swayed awry by that foule fiend Faction partialitie and priuate ends worthy conscionable and iust For which euery honest eye in our countrey that lookes vpon you blesseth you and shall mourne most bitterly for your absence from amongst vs when you shall be gloriously gathered to your Fathers So let all that truely loue the Lord Iesus His blessed Gospell and Seruants bee as the Sunne when he goeth foorth in his might and at last full sweetly set in the boundlesse Ocean of immortall blisse In these wayes of life my Noble Lord which in the sence and censure of Truth it selfe are wayes of pleasure and paths of sweetest peace it is the infinite desire of my heart and drift of this Treatise I now offer into your Honours hands that you would still aduance forward and doe more nobly still That you would improoue to the vtmost the height of your excellent Vnderstanding to a further and more full comprehension of the Mysterie of Christ which though it bee a Sealed Booke to the sharpest sight of the most piercing humane wisedome yet reueales to euery truely humble spirituall eye the rich and Royall treasures of all true sweetnesse contentment and peace That you would hold it your greatest honour and happinesse as it is indeed to grow still in fruitfulnesse in euery good Worke in feruency in spirit in puritie in Heauenly-mindednesse in precise walking c. with singular watchfulnesse and the more punctuall and frequent search and perusall of your spirituall state both because the depths and delusions of Satan are most intricate and infinite and because Not many noble c. 1. Cor. 1. 25. That you would hold on in that valiantnesse for the Truth and all good causes which ordinarily gathers vigour and puissance proportionably to the swelling fury of all aduersarie either mortall or infernall powers Euer patiently passing by with generous magnanimitie and braue
of a compleate Christian 1. Honestie 2. Vprightnesse 3. Pietie And they receiue much excellency and lustre from a circumstance of time In his generations which were many and mainly corrupt Without any further vnfolding my Texts coherence and dependance vpon either precedent or following parts for Historicall passages are plainer and doe not euer exact the length and labour of such an exact resolution as other Scriptures doe I collect from the first point wherein I finde Gods free grace to bee the prime and principall cause of Noahs preseruation this Note Doct. The free grace and fauour of God is the first moouer and fountaine of all our good Consider for this purpose such places as these Ier. 31. 3. Hos. 14. 4. Deut. 7. 7 8. Rom. 9. 11 12 13. Ioh. 3. 16. Ios. 24. 2 3. Ephes. 1. 5. And it must needs bee so For it is vtterly impossible that any finite cause created power or any thing out of Himselfe should primarily mooue and incline the eternall immutable increated omnipotent will of God The true originall and prime motiue of all gracious bountifull expressions and effusions of loue vpon His Elect is His 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 His merum beneplacitum The good pleasure of His will And therefore to hold that election to life is made vpon foresight of faith good workes the right vse of free-will or any created motiue is not only false and wicked but also an ignorant and absurd Tenent To say no more at this time it robs God of his All-sufficiencie making Him goe out of Himselfe looking to this or that in the creature vpon which His will may bee determined to elect The Schoole-men tho otherwise a rotten generation of Diuines yet are right in this 1. That distinction which I learne from my Master in his heauenly Sermons published since his death doth leade vnto aright and truely inlighten this Head-spring of all our good 1. Some actions of Gods loue vnto vs saith he are so in Christ that they are wholly suspended on Him and His merits are the onely procuring cause of them For example Forgiuenesse of sinnes is an action of Gods loue vnto vs and yet this wholly depends vpon Christ and his merits so that His precious Blood must either procure this mercy for vs from God else they will neuer bee forgiuen and this and the like loue of God is both in Christ and for Christ. 2. There are some other actions of Gods loue which arise meerely and onely out of the absolute will of God without any concurrence of Christs merits As the eternall purpose of God whereby Hee hath determined to chuse some men to saluation this is an action of Gods loue meerely rising out of His absolute will without Christs merits For Christ is a Mediatour and all his merits are the effects of his loue not the cause of it And yet this loue though it be not for Christ yet is it in Christ Ephes. 3. 11. According to the eternall purpose which hee wrought in Christ Iesus our Lord that is in regard of the execution of it for euen this eternall purpose and all the actions of Gods loue which arise from his absolute Will are effected and brought to passe in and through Christ. 3. Wee may take an estimate of the absolute and infinite frankenesse of this vnconceiueable loue of God to his which reacheth from euerlasting to euerlasting by looking vpon that goodly faire sweete amiable creature described Ezechiel 16. In the beginning of the Chapter shee lies most filthy and foule tumbling in her owne blood pittied by no eye abhorred of all which loathsomnesse should rather haue begot loathing then loue auersion and hate then affection and liking yet God Himselfe doth there professe out of a melting pang and ouer-flowing abundance of His free grace that that time was vnto Him the time of loue Hee spred his skirt ouer her and couered her nakednesse In a word after she was dressed and adorned with Gods most skilfull mercifull hand she became a most louely thing First washed with water cleansed from blood anointed with oyle then cloathed with broidered worke shod with Badgers skinne girded about with fine linnen couered with silke decked with ornaments of siluer and gold with bracelets vpon her hands a chaine on her necke a iewell on her forehead earerings in her eares and a beautifull Crowne vpon her head fedde with fine flower honie and oyle so that she became exceeding beautifull and renowned through the whole World for her perfect comelinesse euen mine owne comelinesse which I put vpon her saith the Lord God Uses 1. All praise then is due vnto Iehoua the Author of all our good the Fountaine of all our blisse the Well-spring of immortalitie and life whereby we liue and moue and haue our being our naturall being the beeing of our outward state our gracious being the euerlastingnesse of our glorious state Were the holiest heart vpon earth enlarged to the vast comprehension of this great Worlds widenesse nay made capable of all the glorious and magnificent Hallelu-iahs and hearty praises offered to Iehoua both by all the militant and Triumphant Church yet would it come infinitely short of sufficiently magnifying admiring and adoring the inexplicable mysterie and bottomles depth of this free independant mercy and loue of God the Fountaine and first Moouer of all our good We may and are bound to blesse God for all the meanes instruments and second causes whereby it pleaseth God to conferre and conuey good things vnto vs but we must rest principally with lowliest thoughts of most humble and heartiest praisefulnesse at the Well-head of all our welfare Iehoua blessed for euer Wee receiue a great deale of comfort and refreshment from the Moone and Starres but wee must chiefly thanke the Sunne from the greater Riuers also but the maine Sea is the Fountaine Angels Ministers and Men may pleasure vs but Iehoua is the principall Let vs then imitate those Lights of Heauen and Riuers of the Earth do all the good wee can with those good things God hath giuen vs by his instruments and then reflect backe towards and returne all the glory and praise vnto the Sunne of righteousnesse and Sea of our saluation The beames of the Moone and Starres returne as farre-backe to glorifie the face of the Sunne which gaue them their beauty as they can possibly vntill they be reflected or determine by necessarie expiration the Sunnes eiaculatorie power being finite Let vs semblably euer send backe to Gods owne glorious Selfe the honour of all His gifts by a fruitfull improouement of them in setting forth His glory and by continuall feruent eiaculations of praise to the vtmost possibilitie of our gracious hearts And here I cannot hold but must needs most iustly complaine of the hatefull intolerable vnthankefulnesse of vs in this Kingdome the happiest people vnder the Cope of Heauen had we hearts enlarged to conceiue aright of Gods extraordinary loue and such miraculous mercies
mortifie the deeds of the body by the Spirit thy case is the case of saluation 4. A good conscience stands not with a purpose of sinning no not with an irresolution against sinne 5. The rich and precious boxe of a good conscience is polluted and made impure if but one dead Flie be suffered in it He meanes any one knowne sinne lyen and delighted in impenitently 6. Where there is but any one sinne nourished and fostered all other our graces are not onely blemished but abolished they are no graces 7. Most true is that saying of Aquinas That all sinnes are coupled together though not in regard of conuersion to temporall good for some looke to the good of gaine some of glory some of pleasure c. yet in regard of auersion from eternall Good that is God So that he that lookes but toward one sinne is as much auerted and turned backe from God as if he looked to all In which respect Saint Iames sayes He that offendeth in one is guiltie of all 8. Euery Christian should carry in his heart a constant and resolute purpose not to sinne in anything for faith and the purpose of sinning can neuer stand together Thou seest then if Satan keep possession but by one reigning sinne it will be thine euerlasting ruine Thou shalt then bee so farre from euer enioying any humble holy acquaintance with our God that thou art gone body and soule for euer One breach in the walles of a Citie exposeth it to the surprize of the enemy one leake in a ship neglected will sinke it at length into the bottome of the Sea the stab of a penknife to the heart will as well speed a man as all the daggers that kild Caesar in the Senate-house If thou hedge thy Close as high as the middle Region of the Aire in all other places and leaue but one gap all thy grasse will bee gone If the Fowler catch the bird either by the head or the foote or the wing she is sure his owne It is so in the present case If thou liue and lye with allowance and delight in any one knowne sinne without particular remorse or resolution to part with it thou as yet carriest the Diuels brand he hath thereby markt thee out for his owne As obedience is vniuersall and Catholike if sincere so repentance if true is also generall It sâ—…rips vs starke naked as a worthy Diuine saies well of all the garments of the old Adam and leaues not so much as the shirt behind in this rotten building it leaues not a stone vpon a stone As the flood drowned Noahs owne friends and seruants so must the flood of repenting teares drowne our sweetest and most profitable sinnes The premonition therefore I tender in the first place is this Thou canst neuer possibly be fitly qualified either for the right vnderstanding or sauing practise of this sacred and sweetest Art of walking with God except thou resolue to stand for euer sincerely at the swords point against all sinne Euen thy bosome sinne must be abandoned if thou look for any blessing in this kinde Thou must put off the shirt from thy sinfull soule for as the shirt is to the body so is the beloued sinne to the soule it sticks closest and neerest and is done off with most adoe And because this darling-pleasure minion-delight Peccatum in delicijs as the Fathers call it is Satans strongest Hold his Tower of greatest confidence and securitie when he is driuen out elsewhere and so by consequent most powerfull and peremptorie to keepe a mans heart estranged with largest distance and incompatible auersion from all holy acquaintance with God I will in short labour to illighten and dis-intangle any one who vnfainedly desires an vtter diuorce from this bosome-deuill by telling him first what it is secondly what his is thirdly how he may be deceiued about it 1. As in euery man there is one element one humour and ordinarily one passion predominant so also one worke of darknesse and way of death And it is that which his corrupt and originall crookednesse vpon the first electiue suruay and prospect ouer the fooles Paradise of worldly pleasures fleshly lusts and vanities of this life by a secret sensuall inclination and bewitching infusion of Satan singles out and makes speciall choice of to follow and feede vpon with greatest delight and predominant sweetnesse afterward by custome and continuance growes so powerfull and attractiue that it extraordinarily endeares and drawes vnto it the heate of all his desires and strongest workings of his heart with much affectionate impatiencie and headlongnesse and at the height by an vnresistable tyranny it makes all occasions and occurrences friends and followers the deepest reach of policie and vtmost proiects of wit Religion conscience credit with the world the vniuersall possibilitie of body soule outward state seruiceable and contributarie vnto it as the Captaine and commanding sin as to the Deuils vice-roy domineering in the wasted conscience In some it is worldlinesse wantonnesse ambition opposicion to godlinesse vsurie pride reuenge or the like In others it may bee drunkennesse the swaggering vanitie of good fellowship gluttony pleasures of Play-house hanting gaming scurrill iesting c. obstinate insatiablenesse in allowed recreations idlenesse or such like 2. Thou mayest discouer it by such markes as these 1. It is that which thy truest friends thine owne conscience and the finger of God in the Ministerie many times finds out meetes with and chiefely checks thee for 2. It is that which if it breake out into act and be visible to the eye of the world thine enemies most eagerly obserue and obiect as matter of their most insultation and thy greatest disgrace 3. That which thou art lothest to leaue art oftenest tempted vnto hast least power to resist and which most hinders the resignation and submission of soule and body of all thy courses and carriage heartily and vnreseruedly to the Word and will of God 4. It is that which God oftnest corrects in thee euen in the interpretation and guiltie acknowledgement of thy selfe-accusing heart It may be at seuerall times thou hast bin afflicted with some heauy crosse in thine outward state losse of a child some fits and pangs of bodily paine terrours and troubles of mind or some such proportionable visitations now in all these and like afflictions vpon the first smarting apprehension thy conscience if any whit awaked on its owne accord seized vpon that sinne we now seeke for as the principall Achan and author of all thy misery 5. If euer thou wast so sicke as out of extremitie to receiue sentence of death against thy selfe and despaire of recouerie if thy conscience was stirring this sinne afrighted thee most and gaue the deadliest blow to driue thee to finall despaire And if thou shouldest die in it without repentance which God forbid it would infuse most hellish vigor and venome into the neuer-dying worme which would thereby more mightily gnaw vpon thy
conscience thorow all eternitie If euer the sword of the Spirit shall cleaue it from thy bosome which is infinitely to bee desired and strike thorow thy sensuall heart with true remorse it will cost thee the bitterest teares most sighes and deepest groanes 6. It is that which thou art lothest and wouldst least be acknowne of If it were possible thou couldest be well content that no Iohn Baptist should euer heare of thy Herodias And therefore thou bearest thy braines and improouest thy wit to deuise if it be capable of dawbing distinctions euasions excuses extenuations whole cart-loades of fig-leaues to colour and cloke this soule Fiend though fauourite to thy bewitched soule 7. That which thou art in a bodily feare the Minister will meddle and meete with when thou art going towards a conscionable and searching Sermon For thou thinkest with thy selfe If this day he disclose my bosome I shall both be disgraced amongst my neighbours that know it and cast also into dumps and melancholy by his denouncing of terrour against it 8. Thoughts plots and proiects about it a thousand to one ordinarily seize vpon thine heart with first and most acceptable entertainement at thy very first waking if they haue not broken off thy sleepe and troubled thee in thy dreames 9. The cares pleasures and appurtenances of it are woont to thrust and throng vpon thee on the Lords Day with extraordinary eagernesse importunitie and vnresistablenesse For the Deuill that desires to haue thy mind most distracted vpon that Day makes choyse of the fittest and pleasingest baites to draw away and detaine thy heart and the most alluring obiects for diuersion 10. In the darkenesse and discomforts of the night if thou beest suddēly awakened with some dreadfull thunder lightning or terrible tempest the guilt and accusations of thy beloued sinne is wont to come into thy minde in the first place and with greatest terrour Thirdly a man may be deceiued in conceiuing that hee is vtterly diuorced and quite deliuered from his bosome sinne and yet it bee but a meere exchange or some other mistake This grosse affected selfe-imposture may be seene in such cases as these 1. He may change onely the outward and visible forme of it For instance Whereas the same sinne of couetousnesse doth vtter and expresse it selfe by vsury simony sacriledge bribery grinding poore mens faces crushing and vnmercifully keeping vnder the poorer of the same trade stealing ouer-reaching by tricks of wit all manner of wrong-doing all kinds of oppression detaining ill-gotten goods without restitution c. he may insensibly glide out of one gulph of griping crueltie into another he may fall from one of these being a more notorious cursed trade of hoarding to some other of them lesse obserued and odious in the world yet still abide in the chambers of death and vnder the tyranny of a reigning sinne The soule sinne of vncleannesse doth actuate it selfe by fornication adultery selfe-pollution brutish and immoderate abuse of marriage and such other abborred impurities Now hee may passe from one of these pollutions more crying and abominable to some other of them not affrighting the conscience with such grislinesse horror and yet still lye in the impenitent and damnable shares of lust 2. He may surcease and refraine from the outward grosse acts of such hatefull villanies and yet his inward parts bee still defiled with insatiable sensual hankerings after them delightfull reuoluing them in his mind contemplatiue commission of them For instance He may hold his hand both from the crying violence of oppressions and wrong and the closer conueiances of cunning and fraud and yet couetousnesse may still reigne in him by the earthly exercise of the heart He may forbeare the externall acts of vncleannesse and ye◅ lie and languish abominably in speculatiue wantonnesse and adulteries of the thought the visible executions of reuenge and yet nourish in his distempered affections the hellish Vipers of heart-burning hatred and spite all indirect ambitious climing into high roomes and yet be passingly proud and ouer greedie of precedencie 3. Nay he may change the kinde of his bosome sinne in respect of matter forme obiect euery way and yet vpon the matter it is but the exchange of one foule fiend for another For instance wantonnesse may bee his sweete sinne in youth and worldlinesse in old age reuelling in his yonger yeeres downe-right drunkennesse in his declining time prodigalitie may sway in some part of his life pinching in some other Hypocrisie may raigne at one time Apostacie at another furious zeale for one while prophane irreligiousnesse for another 4. When the blasting frosts and feeblenesse of old age haue with a sott◅sh deadnesse and listlesnesse emasculated and wasted the ambitious vigour of his minde and the boisterous heate of his affections haue dried and drunke vp the milke in his brests and marrow in his bones his darling sin may then at length bid him adieu without any penitent discharge and he may say vnto it I haue no more pleasure in thee Whereupon hee may falsly conclude a mortification and finall conquest ouer it a secure deliuerance from the guilt and curse of it 5. He may vnsoundly please himselfe with an vnuoluntary and enforced cessation from it when there is no want of good will as they say but onely of matter meanes opportunitie entisement company prouocation or something for the full and free acting and enioyment of it So want of money may restraine a man but full sore against his will from strange apparell gaming Ale-house haunting buying of Benefices Offices high roomes c. 6. Hee may for a time pull his necke out of this strongest yoke of Satan onely out of melancholicke pang of slauish terrour serious fore-thought of death and lying euerlastingly in Hell true apprehension of the impossibilitie of being saued without abandoning it vpon some desperate horrour of bringing againe his beloued sinne in his bosome to the Communion after so many causefull prouocations of Diuine Iustice obseruation of some remarkeable vengeance seized vpon his fellow-delinquents or sensible smart of some terrible blow from Gods visiting hand in one kinde or other I say vpon some such occasion he may for a time forbeare his bloudy oathes vsury drunkennesse gaming Play-house haunting selfe-polluting walking in the blacke and darke night after the strange Woman or what other sinne soeuer doth reigne in him and retaine him strongliest in the deuils slauerie But because it is not the worke of the Word humbling him soundly vnder Gods mighty hand planting faith and infusing mortifying power he is not able to hold out long but the vncleane spirit returnes and rules in him againe farre more imperiously and sensually out of indignation of its discontinuance and proportionally to the parties new-collected strength and eagernesse to recommit it after his extraordinary and impatient forbearance I know it is not impossible but that a man after his conuersion by the sudden surprizall of some violent temptation
and rare felicitie in pitching iust vpon the golden meane as they conceiue betweene prophanenesse and precisenesse infamous notoriousnesse and persecuted strictnesse But that Prouerbe in the meane time falls pat vpon their pates There is a generation that are pure in their owne eyes and yet is not washed from their filthinesse And at length most certainely the iust execution of that terrible commination Reuel 3. 16. will crush their hearts with euerlasting horrour confusion and woe But I should be endlesse in the discouery of this hidden and hellish gulph of hypocrisie wherein thousands are swallowed vp euen in this glorious Mid-day of the Gospell For a man may assoone find out the way of an Eagle in the Ayre the way of a Serpent vpon a Rocke the way of a Ship in the midst of the Sea and the way of a man with a maid as to tracke the cunning and crooked footsteps of this foule fiend in the false hearts of Satans followers Only take notice that thou canst neuer possibly delight in God or euer comfortably come neere him if thou giue any entertainment vnto it in what forme soeuer it represent it selfe or whatsoeuer vizor it offers vnto thee though neuer so fairely varnished and guilded ouer with the Deuils angelicall glory III. Build and erect all thy resolutions and conclusions for Heauen and Gods seruice vpon that strong and purest pillar that maine and most precious Principle of Christianitie Selfe-deniall No walking with God no sweete communion and sound peace at his Mercy-Seate except for his sake and keeping a good conscience thou be content to denie thy selfe thy worldly wisdome naturall wit carnall reason acceptation with the world excellencie of learning fauour of great Ones credit and applause with the most thy passions profit pleasures preferment neerest friends ease libertie life euery thing any thing And feare no losse for all things else are nothing to the least comfortable glimpse of Gods pleased face From this Principle sprung all those noble resolutions and replies of Gods worthiest Saints and Souldiers That of Hester for the preseruation of the people of God Well saith she I wil goe in vnto the King which is not according to the law and if I perish I perish That of Micaiah sollicited strongly by the messenger to temporize in managing his Ministery with sutablenesse and conformity to the Kings pleasure and plausiblenesse of the false prophets As the Lord liueth what the Lord saith vnto mee that will I speake That of Nehemiah Should such a man as I flee As if he should haue said Tell not mee of fleeing my resolution was pitcht long agoe if need require to lay downe my life and lose my blood in the Lords battels That of Paul when his friends were weeping and wailing about him What meane you to weepe said hee and to breake mine heart For I am ready not to be bound onely but also to die at Hierusalem for the name of the Lord Iesus That of Ierome If my father stood weeping on his knees before mee and my mother hanging on my necke behind me and all my brethren sisters children kinsfolke howling on euery side to retaine me in sinfull life with them I would fling my mother to the ground despise all my kinred run ouer my father and tread him vnder my feet thereby to run to Christ when hee calleth me That of Luther dealt with earnestly and eagerly not to venture himselfe amongst a number of perfidious and blood-thirstie Papists As touching me saith he since I am sent for I am resolued and certainely determined to enter Wormes in the Name of our Lord Iesus Christ yea although I knew there were so many Deuils to resist me as there are tiles to couer the houses in Wormes That of a most renowned Italian Marquesse Galeacius Carracciolus tempted by a Iesuite with a great sum of money to returne from Gods Blessing at Geneua to the warme Sunne in Italy Let their money perish with them who esteeme all the Gold in the world worth one dayes societie with Iesus Christ and his holy Spirit That of George Carpenter Martyr My wife and my children are so dearely beloued vnto me that they cannot bee bought from mee for all the riches and possessions of the Duke of Bauaria but for the loue of my Lord God I will willingly forsake them That of Kilian a Dutch Schoole-master to such as asked him if he loued not his wife and children Yes said he If the world were Gold and were mine to dispose of I would giue it to liue with them though it were but in prison yet my soule and Christ are dearer to me then all IV. Exercise thy selfe continually and bee excellent in that onely Heauen vpon Earth and sweetest Sanctuarie to an hunted soule the Life of faith Which to liue in some good measure is the duty and property of euery liuing member of Christ Iesus Loue therefore and labour to liue by the power of faith the life of saluation sanctification preseruation 1. Of saluation thus Let thy truely-humbled soule grieued and groaning vnder the burden of sinne throw it self into the meritorious and merciful armes of Iesus Christ wounded broken and bleeding vpon the Crosse and there let it hold and hide it selfe for euer in full assurance of eternall life by vertue of that promise Ioh. 3. 36. Hee that beleeueth on the Son hath euerlasting life For hauing thus laid hold vpon him He by his Spirit doth communicate first himselfe vnto thee then both the merit of his death for remission of thy sinnes and of his actiue obedience for thy right to saluation and happinesse and withall the power of his Spirit to quicken thee to the life of grace in this World and to raise vp thy body to the life of glory at the last day 2. Of sanctification If thou keepe thy faith the fountaine roote and heart as it were from which all thine other graces spring in life and vigour thou shalt pray more comfortably bee more couragiously patient heare the Word more fruitfully receiue the Sacraments more ioyfully passe the Sabbaths more delightfully conferre more cheerefully meditate more heauenly walke in all the wayes of new obedience with more strength and conquest ouer corruptions For ordinarily euery Christian shall finde the exercise of other graces to bee comfortable or cold according to the liuelinesse or languishing of his faith 3. Of preseruation both temporall and spirituall In crosses afflictions and all Gods outward angry visitations by the power of such promises as those Psal. 89. 33. and 50. 15. Heb. 12. 7 8 11. 1. Thes. 3. 3. Act. 14. 22. Luke 9. 23. Isai. 63. 9. In the course and carriage of thy particular Calling the duties and workes whereof if thou discharge with conscience diligence and prayer thou mayest goe on with comfort contentment and freedome from that torturing and racking thoughtfulnesse from those restlesse and cursed carkings of carnal worldlings
heare and digest with patience and silence the oathes and rotten speeches of their seruants and perhaps their sonnes without any contradiction or correction In their owne families some perhaps sweare others talke filthily some raile against the Ministry others iest vpon the sinceritie of the Saints c. and yet the wicked Gouernor ◅ayes neuer a word But in this point my purpose is principally to counsel Christians I meddle not at this time with such Synagogues of Satan and dennes of Atheists 2. Some others it may be but they are not neere so many may runne into the other extreme and out of a spirituall foole-hardinesse as it were and furious zeale with an imperious and vnwarrantable boysterousnes flie in the face of some desperate Swaggerer with an vndigested and vnseasonable reproofe whereby they both incurre the guilt of giuing an holy thing vnto a Dog and vnnecessary danger from the gracelesse fury of the partie Or else for want of spirituall wisedome and an holy discretion of circumstances they may tender an admonition to some such contemptuous swinish wretch which will passe ouer and put by the precious seuerity of the Word of Truth with a scurrill iest or with a dull and scornefull sottishnesse trample vnderfoote that sacred Pearle Though it be no constant character of Dogs and Swine yet commonly those desperate wretches to whō by Christ s commandement we must giue no holy things are fellowes of dogged sowre and contracted countenances especially towards true Christians and haue a kinde of desperate furiousnesse impressed vpon their foreheads which is then most visible when they are crost in their villanies and heare of any contradiction or condemnation of their gracelesse courses and contemptuous carriages And those Swinish Gadarens before whom we must cast no Pearles are fellowes of a ◅leering gibing and scornefull carriage especially towards good men and godly exercises they are so drowned in sensualitie and glued to the earth that they doe not onely despise but also deride the precious things of Heauen As I take it sensualitie and earthly mindednesse mingled with a great deale of Atheisme begetteth in men this sottish swinishnesse and brutish contempt of the blessings of Grace and directions to euerlasting blisse These premonitions and cautions premised and obserued euery Christian ought to addresse himselfe with resolution and conscience to discharge this Christian duty of reproouing when a iust occasion and a calling thereunto doe require and exact it at his hands For these reasons First in respect of the party offending 1. A seasonable reproofe mingled and sanctified with the spirit of inuocation and compassion may by the blessing of God be an occasion of conuersion to the offender And let him know that he which conuerteth the sinner from the errour of his way shall sa◅e a soule from death and shall hide a multitude of sinnes And it is the most glorious worke in the World and the noblest imployment vnder the Sunne to haue an hand in the holy businesse of sauing a soule Let hope then of doing spirituall good to thy brothers soule be the speciall aime and a principall motiue of performing this dutie There is a Law Exod. 23. 4 5. that if a man meete his enemies Oxe or Asse going astray he must bring him againe If he see his enemies Asse lying vnder his burden hee must helpe him vp againe How much more deare and precious in our eies should the immortall soule of our Brother be then the Asse of our enemie If we must turne backe the straying Oxe of our enemie and lift vp his Asse when he is crusht vnder his burden with what eagernesse and zeale ought wee to labour to stop the furious course of a reasonable creature towards the pit of Hell and to put our helping hand to raise vp that silly foule which by reason of the heauy weight of its finne is full sorely bruised and bleeding ready euen to breathe out it last and sinke into the misery of endlesse horrour Speake then boldly in the cause of God when thou hearest thy brother blaspheme his Name iest with his Word talke filthily raile against holines slander good men pleade for prophane pastimes c. for they are so many mortall stabs into his owne poore soule besides the naturall infectiousnesse of rotten speeches which may doe much mischiefe to the standers by Though thy reproofe preuaile not at the present yet thou knowest not what impression and working it may haue afterward vpon his hard heart whereby perhaps he may happily thinke vpon a new course and of conuersion to God and so thou be a blessed instrument of sauing a soule 2. But if it haue not so happy a successe vpon his soule yet it may be thou mayest thereby tame and take downe his insolency so cut his combe by a seasonable contradiction that he doe not carry it away brauely so coole and confound his swaggering humour that he doe not glory in his villany that hee doe not pride himselfe in his blasphemies and bloody oathes in his contempt of Grace and other outragious carriages Answer a foole saith Salomon according to his foolishnesse lest he be wise in his owne conceit lest hee bee too proud If a desperate and prophane wretch will needs sweare and swagger and raile against the seruants and seruices of God yet let him know that all the while hee fights against God damnes his owne soule and pleases none but Deuils Drunkards and deuilish men If he will needs labour to be famous by a surious opposition to the Ministery and wayes of God let him know that his name shall rot after him as vilely as his carkeise in the graue and himselfe burne in Hell euerlastingly if hee hold on in that humour without timely repentance and reformation 3. Thirdly at the least thou shouldst thereby increase and aggrauate his inexcuseablenesse and so glorifie the Tribunall of Gods Iustice when it shall there appeare that besides many other meanes afforded and offered vnto him by Gods mercies thou also diddest lend him thine hand to haue puld him out of the fire gauest him one call to haue stayed him in the furious and wilfull pursuit of his owne damnation But because he still hated to be reformed because varietie of meanes for his amendment made him more malicious and obstinate in his owne wayes and that contradiction and counsell to the contrary inflamed and set on fire the lustfull viciousnesse of his corrupt nature to hunt more greedily after forbidden pleasures therefore I say hee will bee more and more fearefully ashamed and confounded at that great and fearefull Day and the moe occasions he hath had of his conuersion the iuster cause then will he see of his deserued confusion and by consequent more glory will accrew vnto the glorious Tribunall of Gods Iustice. Secondly in such cases the Christian must speake in respect of himselfe 1. When the aire is impoysoned with any infectious vapour men vse to fill their
carried along with addition of the fresh comforts from the Word and Sacraments thorow a fruitfull current and course of a Christian life is at last entertained into the boundlesse and bottomlesse Ocean of the endlesse ioyes of heauen 4. Of vnconquerablenesse against all created 〈◊〉 and assaults of earthly discomforts An oâ—…ce of sorrow 〈◊〉 a whole sea of worldly mirth The boisterousnesse and brauery of all carnall ioy vanisheth quite away and expires euen as a flowre when the heate riseth that is sent vpon it vpon the very first approach or presence of any either outward trouble or inward terror A prick of a needle much more a pang of the Stone or fit of the Gout is able to depriue a man of the pleasure of the worlds Monarchy One serious thought of death or the sight of one finne armed with Gods anger will put the proudest Niâ—…rod the greediest engrosser of all earthly delights into Belshazzars shiuering But now let the Christian whose heart is sweetly reposed vpon the Rocke of eternity be vtterly stript of all outward comforts let heauy accidents fall vpon him as thicke as one waue in the necke of another which befell blessed Iob yet he is still where hee was he hath made God his portion his onely Iewell and Ioy which he hath in Heauen or on Earth his heart is fixed trusting in the Lord and therefore when all earthly stayes and staues of reede shrinke in the wetting and are shattered to nothing he cleaues with an vnshaken and triumphant tranquillitie of minde to his Sunne and shield Psal. 84. 11. To his light and life Ioh. 8. 12. To his strong Tower of defence and exceeding great reward Gen. 15. 1. heare his sweete and noble resolution in this case Hab. 3. 17 18. Although the figtree shall not blossome neither shall fruit be in the Vines the labour of the Oliue shall faile and the fields shall yeeld no meate the flocke shall be cut off from the fold and there shall bee no herd in the stalles yet I will reioyce in the Lord I will ioy in the God of my saluation While Iehoua is in Heauen his heart is in the Hauen though neuer so many stormes or tempests of the troublesome sea of this World beate vpon his house of clay Rob him of all earthly refreshments and lightsomnesse of this life and let but the light of Gods countenance shine vpon him which no darknesse nor dungeon nor Deuill in Hell can intercept and he is incomparably more merry then the Worlds choisest Minion Pleasures dearest fauourite or the brauest Belshazzar vpon earth in the very top and ruffe of his most iouiall reuellings and swaggering sensuality But it is not so with the earthly-minded man For howsoeuer he may digest with reasonable patience and carry well enough away all crosses and contradictions to his other worldly comforts while he doth yet wallow without interruption and disquiet in the sinfull pleasures of that selected way of death vpon which the more headstrong current of his corrupt nature hath cast him and the naturall bent of his carnall affections hath singled ouâ—… and made speciall choise of to follow and feede vpon with greatest delight which the Fathers call peccatum in delicijâ—… a mans bosome sinne yet cut him once short of the free and full enioyment of this his sensuall idoll and earthly god and you kill his heart quite and plunge him presently into desperate distractions For instance The couetous man while his heart may nessle securely vpon his golden heape will passe by without any great wound or passion the curses of the poore the grumblings of his conscience the comminations of the Ministry the cry of the whole Country against his oppressions vsury sacrilege and sinfull wayes of hoarding When hee comes home and finds his bags and bonds safe he blesseth himselfe in his heart against all threatned iudgements horrors curses confusions Thogh Iesus Christ himselfe should preach and presse them vpon him Luke 16. 14. with his golden wedge hee easily cuts asunder all scruples doubts exceptions reasons arguments obiections which any wayes oppose his couetous and cruell courses Hee pleases and applaudes himselfe against all censures and contradictions whatsoeuer to the contrary But let Gods angry hand in his iust iùdgement by fire robbery or some secret consumption snatch away his wealth and he is likely enough to goe out of his wits and in great hazard of hanging himselfe While the ambitious man is proudly mounted fits fast vpon the Seate of honour and is Idolized as it were and adored aboue others hee can easily enough ouerlooke with an imperious disdaine the indignation of good men emulation of great Ones the reproaches of the multitude and all other petty and priuate crosses but throw him downe from his high place turne him out of his offices and honours and how weary is he of the World how irâ—…esome to himselfe how prodigall of his life how impatient of the company of men While the wanton wallowes in the brutish pleasures of his abominable filth hee beares well enough away the weakening of his bodie the wasting of his goods the shame of his sinne losse of friends staine of reputation but beate him backe and bâ—…rie him from the house of the strange woman and you breake his heart banish him from his Minion and hee is ready to make away himselfe Woe sorrow contentions wounds without cause rednesse of eyes vndoing of wife and children houting at in the streets will well enough downe with the dâ—…unkard while hee may domineere vpon the Ale-bench but cut off the new wine and strong drinke from his mouth crosse him in his swaggering course confine him from his good-fellow meetings and you take away the very life of his life Thus euery vnregenerate man secures himselfe in some one sensuall Hold or other wherein the crowne of his carnall ioy consists of which bereaue him and you shall leaue him ioylesse heartlesse hopelesse and helpelesse But take from the true Christian if it were possible both Heauen and Earth and all the creatures and comforts of both yet you cannot take away his ioy God is the strength of his heart and his portion for euer Surely he shall neuer bee mooued his heart is fixed and beleeueth in the Lord. Which sith it is so that spirituall ioy is such an vnualuable Iewell and carnall so cursed a vanity let euery Christian bee exceedingly carefull not to suffer the froth and filth of this to staine or lessen the glory and sweetnesse of the other But if he once perceiue any company or kind of recreation begin to steale away his heart from communion and comfort in his God let him abandon it as a canker and cut-throate of his spirituall happinesse and euer prize and preferre the ioy of the soule delights of Grace refreshings of the holy Ghost infinitely before all worldly pleasures carnall contentments ease or any earthly thing Thus much of recreations II. Let me adde a word or
royall heart by imbruing his hands in his brothers blood and with vnnaturall trayterous violence and villany snatching at the Imperiall Crowne vpon Dauids head Another famous instance to this purpose we find in the story of the Greeke Emperours The old Emperour Andronicus doted with such extreme impotency of partiall affection vpon his Nephew young Andronicus that in comparison of him he did not onely disregard the rest of his Nephewes but also his owne children and as the Storie tels vs was not willing to spare him out of sight either day or night But what were the consequents of this cockering When he was stept further into yeeres besides a world of miseries and molestations created to his Grandfather in the meane time at length pressing without resistance vpon his Palace with purpose to surprize his person though the old Emperour intreated him with much affectionate Royall eloquence which might haue pierced an heart of steele or Adamant That he would reuerence those hands which had oftentimes most louingly embraced him yet crying in his swathing clothes that he would reuerence those lips which had oftentimes most louingly kissed him and called him his other Soule that he would spare to spill that blood from which himselfe had taken the fountaine of life c. For all this after some kind words and courteous embracement at first indeed premised and in hot blood in conclusion being polled and shauen was made a Monke and the Anuile of much dunghill scorne and vilest indignities vntill the workemanship of death had finished the sorrowfull businesse of a wretched life A third and very remarkeable to fright all Parents from foolish doting heare out of Austin By reason of a terrible dreadfull accident he called his people together as it seemes to a Sermon the third time the same day thinking no doubt out of his watchful spiritual wisdom to work more succesfully and to leaue more strong and lasting impressions in their hearts while the bloody vnnaturall villany was yet fresh in their eyes and eares And when they were met together he relates the dolefull storie Our noble Citizen saith he here of Hippo Cyrillus a man mightie amongst vs both in worke and word and much beloued had as you know one onely sonne and because he had but onely one he loued him immeasurably and aboue God And so being drunke with immoderate doting hee neglected to correct him and gaue him liberty to doe whatsoeuer he list Now this very day this same fellow thus long suffered in his dissolute and riotous courses hath in his drunken humour wickedly offered violence to his mother great with child would haue violated his sister hath killed his father and wounded two of his sisters to death O mightie domination of the Deuill c. But I need not prosecute this point by further illustration out of strange Stories Daily experience presents vnto our eyes and eares the many wofull discomforts vnkind requitales and vnnaturall vsages which Parents receiue at the hands of those children which in their younger yeeres they made wanton with their loue and vndiscreetly doted vpon 2. Or in some other kind for example If thine heart be set vpon riches God may iustly and mercifully too exercise and afflict thee with his heauy hand vpon thy body with sicknesse vpon thy conscience with terror vpon thy reputation with disgrace or the like thereby to vnglue thy noble spirit from the dust and rent it from grouelingnesse vpon the earth If thou be ambitiously enamoured vpon honours and high roomes after wasting thy wealth wounding thy conscience wearying thy selfe with bribery basenesse and irkesome waiting thou mayest bee taken away vntimely in the very pursuite or presently after the attainement of them c. Thus it is not strange or extraordinary with God to preuent or take off our hearts from taking selfe-conceited pleasure or pride in any thing we enioy by crossing and correcting vs in other kindes Euen Paul that blessed Saint and seruant of the Lord lest his heart should be too much pleased and puft vp with abundance of reuelations he was vext and crost with his owne concupiscence there was giuen to him a thorne in the flesh the messenger of Satan to buffet him 2. Cor. 12. 7. that is as I conceiue hee felt his originall corruption sharpened and eneagered against him and let loose in some sort vpon him which is a terrible cut to a tender conscience 3. For the third howsoeuer it fare with thee otherwise if thou settle thine heart vpon any earthly thing with inordinate desire and delight thou shalt be sure to be haunted with a double curse 1. The rage of vnsatiablenesse vnsatisfiablenesse 2. That greatest plague hardnesse of heart 1. The Father of Spirits hath inspired into our immortall soules a large capacity and such an infinite appetite that no finite excellency created comfort or earthly thing can possibly fill Gold siluer riches honours crownes kingdomes are no fit matter or adequate obiect for such an immateriall and heauenly borne spirit to repose and feed vpon with finall rest and full contentment Nay not this whole materiall world were it beautified and set out with all the amiablenesse splendour and allurements which the deuill by his iugling Alchymy put vpon it when he presented it to the eye of Christ Iesus Math. 4. 8. with addition of the starry and Empyrean heauen shining with all their admirable beauty and glorious inhabitants could by any meanes confine satisfie and content the irke some wandrings vnlimited desire and vast comprehensiuenesse of the soule but it would still bee transported with the passionate disquietnesse of selfe vexation and tortured vpon the racke of restlesse discontent vntill it fasten and fixe vpon an obiect infinite both in excellency and endlesnesse wherin is contained the whole latitude of Entity and goodnesse the euer-blessed and onlyadored Trinity Where and when alone it softly and sweetly with the hight and fulnesse of all desireable contentment rests in the armes of God and bosome of eternall blisse which all blessed soules attaine thus and by these meanes When it pleased God by the mercifull violence of his Almighty hand to turne the sensuall bent and powerfull current of the seduced soule from the creature to the Creator from the painted brauery of this vaine world to the heauenly beautie of his blessed Word from carking encumbrance about many things to pursue and ply that One needfull thing by a sound and vniuersall change of the whole man and translation of him from the darkenesse of naturall ignorance death in sinne and power of the deuill to the light of sauing knowledge the life of sanctifying grace and the liuing God I say then the restlesse wandrings of the vnsatisfied soule begins first to settle with some sweet contentment vpon the flowers of Paradise glimpses of heauenly glory infallible earnests of euerlasting blisse sauing graces and its infinite appetite is well stayed in the meane time with that
good conscience and take liberty vnto himselfe to place his good turnes there where there is best possibilitie of being most spoke of and greatest hope of the richest returne of applause and admiration So that such an one ordinarily in his open-heartednesse and charitable distributions hath a speciall eye and inclination to those that flatter him to his face and are like to prooue the loudest trumpets of his bountifulnesse abroad where they come And hee is so farre from a right and seasonable apprehension of due circumstances difference of parties and those spirituall discretions obseruable and necessary in such Christian exercises of loue and from the practise of the Apostles precept Galat. 6. 10. Doe good vnto all men but especially to them which are of the houshold of faith that hee would rather afford his helping hand for the reliefe raising vp of a decayed goodfellow then of a distressed Christian. 4. Fourthly though carnall men bee so couetous and hold-fast of earthly contentments that they would rather loose their precious soules euerlastingly then leaue them yet if it might bee if they were possibly compatible they would giue any thing in the world both to serue and satisfie themselues in the wayes of vanitie and after to saue their soules in the day of wrath both to partake of the pleasures of the present and to be secured from the vengeance that is to come What would not the great Ones of the world giue to purchase two Heauens one here and another in the other world What would not sensuall worldlings part with to redeeme their sinnes if they might haue a dispensation to continue in sinne to liue the life of vanity and lust and after to die the death of the Righteous and to receiue their crowne In such cases in their sober considerations so that their present temporall happinesse sustaine no hazard or diminution nor the delights of their sweete sinne any disturbance they would not stand vpon any worldly good though it were a thousand Rammes or ten thousand Riuers of Oyle Nay they would giue their first-borne for their transgressions euen the fruit of their bodies for the sinne of their soules Many there are which may bee easily perswaded and can well finde in their hearts to giue any thing towards the seruice of God and saluation of their soules saue themselues I meane their hearts and affections which the world and their darling-pleasures haue principally possest Hence now it is that many rich Ones and men of the world being otherwise very guilty and obnoxious in many respects are very willing and well content many times to contribute bountifully to good vses and to make good shew of liberalitie towards the poore that thereby lesse notice may bee taken of their other notoriousnesse and with some kinde of hope so to couer and conceale many grosse corruptions from the wrath of God and the worlds censure For I know not how there is an inbred opinion and conceit seated in the hearts of naturall men and Papists that almes-deeds and such workes of charitie make amends for other miscariages though foule and scandalous and be pleasing to Almightie God though the parties frō whence they proceed be polluted with secret impurities and raigning sinnes Sith therefore they perswade their hearts that charitable deuotions distributions haue some power as it were somewhat to appease diuine wrath and to satisfie for other sinful exorbitancies and aberrations and see plainely that it is the most compendious way to purchase a great deale of credit in these cold compassionlesse times and the onely obiect to diuert the eyes of the greater from the obseruation of their other faults I say therefore they open their hearts the more liberally and enlarge their bowels to greater bountifulnesse which otherwise their couetousnesse would keepe shut Thus many to diminish the horrour and markeablenesse of their vnmortified lusts and open lewdnesse exercise a good art without a good heart Occasions from the parties slandered are such as these 1. Christians of all men in the world are the speciall markes and ordinary obiects vpon which are discharged and exercised all kindes of malice and mischiefe not onely the empoisoned arrowes of spitefull tongues the sword of Tyrants the flames of crueltie but also many lesser and lessemarkt vexations as wrongs oppressions mercilesnesse and many vnconscionable vsages Prophane men being seated in high roomes or besotted with the worlds fauours and flatteries doe many times out of their pride and malice very contemptuously roule downe as from aloft indignities insolencies many hard and heauy inhumanities and iniustices vpon Gods Children as a number of neglected vnderlings So that as the Prophet speakes Hee that refraineth from euill maketh himselfe a prey Hee that by the mercies of God breakes out of the bonds of Satan into the blessings and blessed estate of grace shall for euer after not onely be furiously persecuted by the rage of hell and malice of prophanenes but also lie more open to the insultations wrongs and oppressions of his aduersaries and trecherous insinuations of false friends Sith therfore Christians by reason of their patience the worlds discountenance disaffection of great Ones their own resolute disallowance of all indirect courses of any base and vnconscionable aduantage are many times mightily hackt vpon and opprest by the greedy policies expilations and encroachments of boysterous worldlings and causelesse opposites and not onely so but sometimes also cunningly insensibly preyed vpon euen by profest friends For there are a kinde of men which putting on for the time the glory of an Angell mixe themselues with Gods people and presse into their company onely because they see and finde them to bee such as from whom by reason of the singlenesse and simplicitie of their heartts the vnsuspiciousnesse of their charitie the equity and conscionablenesse of their dealing in these coozening supplanting and vndermining dayes they may the most fairely and easily sucke out the greatest aduantage I say therefore sith Gods children are most subiect both to the wrongs of open enemies supplantation of seeming friends they are many times not so enabled in outward things or strong in their worldly state to make such a flourish in dispersing their superfluities as those men which get without conscience and disburse without spirituall discretion 2. A Christian dare not for his life so farre enlarge his conscience as to gaine by any vnwarrantable meanes or vnconscionable course as oppression corruption coozening violence lying vniust dealing c. and therefore in this griping and greedy age in the highest noonetide of iniquitie or rather darkest midnight of the workes of darknesse though outward want bee infinitely counteruailed with inward comfort hee doth not commonly come to that excesse and superfluitie of temporall things which many times worldlings with wider consciences easily and immeasurably ingrosse The largest consciences in these last worst dayes are the onely deuourers and swallowers downe of worldly wealth A religious
it habitually and resolutely against an illightned impenitent conscience and yet looke for Heauen thou art deceiued thou hast made a lye thy refuge and hid thy selfe vnder falsehood And why because Gods Word saith that the Fearefull and Vnbeleeuing and the Abominable and Murtherers and Whoremongers and Sâ—…rcerers and Idolaters and all Lyers shall haue their part in the Lake which burneth with fire and brimstone which is the second death Reuel 21. 8. Conceiue proportionably of lying in any other sinne damned in Gods Booke in the sence I haue said If thou abidest in the state of meere ciuill honestie and yet thinkest with thy selfe that thou art thereby furnished sufficiently for future happinesse it is but a false flash And why Because the Word saith Without holinesse no man shall see the Lord Heb. 12. 14. Which necessarily implyes That no meere ciuill man can possibly bee saued If thou bee a luke-warme Laodicean and yet conceiuest thou art rich enough spiritually and lookest to bee saued thou art deceiued And why Because the Word saith That Christ will spew such a one out of his mouth Reuelation 3. 16. Euen as a filthy bitter vomit is to the stomacke mouth and man that spewes it out such are all luke-warme formall professors to the Lord Iesus Christ as himselfe there professes A terrible and flaming sentence vttered from the Iudge his owne mouth in the meane time which mee thinks should horribly affright thousands in our daies who stand for a frozen formality heartlesse indifferency reserued neutrality and politicke moderation in profession and practise of religion Thus a true restimony and sound perswasion of a good estate to Godward euer holds correspondence to the Word and is infallibly grounded thereupon Obiect Say you so In spirituall cases and poynts of faith how is it possible that a man should bee infallibly certaine of that by the Word which is not contained in the Word either immediatly or by good consequence But Bellarmine affirmes that this particular proposition Such or such a man is truely iustified is not contained in the Word of God either immediately or by good consequence c. Answer To let passe at this time that which some worthy Diuines presse in this poynt that such places as these Psalm 103. 3. Esa. 43. 32. Rom. 10. 9. Gal. 2. 20. c. intimate and imply such a particular proposition immediately I answer that it is deduced by euident consequence out of the Word For from such generall promises and propositions as these He that beleeueth on the Sonne hath euerlasting life Ioh. 3. 36. Whosoeuer beleeueth in him shall receiue remission of sinnes Act. 10. 43. And by him all that beleeue are iustified from all things c. Act. 13. 39 c. follow by good consequence these particulars Paul Peter Luther Caluin Beza Bradford or any other particular man beleeuing in him receiues remission of sinnes is iustified hath eternall life Euen as it followeth directly and infallibly euery man is a reasonable creature therefore Iohn Thomas c. is endewed with reason Though no word saith expressely and immediately Thou Thomas beleeuing shalt be saued yet the same word which saith Euery one beleeuing hath eternall life saith also Thou Thomas beleeuing hast eternall life or shalt be saued As on the contrary this vniuersall He that beleeueth not the Sonne shall not see life but the wrath of God abideth on him includeth vertually consequently infallibly as though they were writ in it these particulars Iudas Bellarmine or Bonner c. not beleeuing shall not see life but the wrath of God abideth on him Otherwise if the generall did not thus sufficiently include and comprehend euery particular and an vniuersall proposition all subordinate singular propositions vnder it the Law Thou shalt not kill thou shalt not commit adultery Thou shalt not beare false witnesse against thy neighbour would not belong to Faux blowing vp the Parliament to this or that Priest polluting himselfe in hearing confession to Bellarmine lying voluminously because it s no where expressely writ Thou Bellarmine shalt not beare false witnesse against thy neighbour Thou shaueling beware of selfe pollution Thou Faux shalt not teare in pieces the Royall limbs of the Lords Anointed If Iohn or Thomas beleeuing be not bound to be assured of his saluation out of the generall promise except it were said somewhere in Scripture That Thomas or Iohn by name should be saued it would follow that these particular men were not bound to be honest men or to feare God because it is no where said in the Word that Thomas or Iohn ought to be honest men or are commanded to feare God but onely in the generall In a word let the Iesuite tell mee whether out of the Word he be infallibly certaine that his body shall rise againe at the last Day He dare not for his heart deny it And I pray you Bellarmine tell me where it is particularly and expressely said in Scripture That the body of Robert Bellarmine shall rise againe at the last Day All particular infallible assurance in this kinde springs out of the generall proposition and promise that All shall rise 1. Cor. 15 c. 2. That heart which doth sweetly enioy the Paradise of a true testimony and well grounded perswasion that it presently liues the life of grace and immortality is sincerely affected and inflamed with a reuerent loue and insatiable longing after the Word preached and read prayer singing of Psalmes meditation conference vowes daies of humiliation vse of good bookes godly company all Gods ordinances and good meanes appointed and sanctified for our spirituall good Because thorow them as so many golden conduits those gracious sauing operations of the holy Ghost are conueyed and continued vnto it which minister sound matter and true grounds of such comfortable assurance and in the conscionable vse and exercise of them also are woont sometimes to be secretly and sensibly breathed into it such heauenly reall refreshings themselues which the ioy of the whole worlds enioyment cannot possibly equall But now the affection this way of those who are Pharisaically puft vp with a groundlesse conceit and vaine confidence is faint and formall partiall and reserued not accompanied with that vniuersality and vniformity of reuerence and respect to all the blessed ordinances and meanes of grace It is euer the woont and wilynesse of such to qualifie their countenance and correspondence to these with that moderation and temper which may bee compatible and plausibly consist with the safety of their temporall happinesse and security of their bosome sinne And no maruell though their affection in this kinde be not so hearty and hold out for they draw no speciall vertue and sweetnesse from Christ through them And their conceit of being right is not fedde from the brests of the Bible and with the heauenly Manna of a conscionable Ministery but built vpon those insufficient grounds and rotten proppes I discouered and disabled before 3.
bring it downe and into the dust for increase of humiliation and lowlinesse in thine owne eyes as thou holdest out in the one hand the cleare Cristall of Gods pure Law to discouer the crookednesse of thy vile naturall disposition the villanies and skarlet abominations of thine vnregenerate time the daily spots staines which light vpon thy soule c. hold out also in the other hand or rather lay hold vpon Christ Iesus by the hand of faith hanging bleeding and dying vpon the Crosse for those very same sins that thereby thou maist vtterly quench all Satans fiery darts preuent drawing towards despaire nay preserue thy spirit in sweetest peace and vnconquerable comfort against if it be possible the least distrustfull intrusion of any slauish terrour 4. Vpon the holiest men that euer breathed the life of grace vpon earth and the most renowned in the Church thorow all generations for all spirituall sufficiencies and excellencies and thou shalt find them euer most humble in their owne conceits vilest in their own eyes nothing in their owne account Me thinks holy Pauls heauy complaint O wretched man that I am who shall deliuer me from the body of this death Heauenly Dauids continuall cry I am a worme and no man There is no rest in my bones because of my sinne My sinne is euer before me c. Blessed Bradfords abasing himselfe who was one of the worthiest Martyrs and the Heauenliest minded man that euer breathed out his last in the flames and ascended to heauen in a fiery chariot as himselfe spake at the stake I am as dry as a stone saith hee as dumbe as a nayle as farre from praying as he that neuer knew any taste of it He sometime subscribed in this manner to those Letters which were full of spirituall life diuinest streines and demonstration of the Spirit The most miserable hard-hearted vnthankefull sinner Iohn Bradford A very painted Hypocrite I. B. c. I say Me thinkes the humble deportment of these and all truely holy Ones should rather make thee sinke yet lower in thine owne conceit then swell with the poyson of Pharisaicall selfe-conceitednesse 5. Keepe in a readinesse and in fresh remembrance such considerations and cooling cards as it were as these when thy heart begins to swell vaine-gloriously That thou haddest thine hand in that fire-worke which blew vp all mankind I meane in Adams transgression that brought forth such a bloody sea of sinne and sorrow into the World such a world of miseries and mischiefes vpon all the sonnes and daughters of Adam all tortures vpon earth and torments in Hell thorow all eternity That thou camest into this world a sinke a Sodom a very hell of all filth and impuritie of all corruption and crookednesse euen a little Deuill for darkenesse and damnation That thou wofully lost and mis-spentst many yeeres perhaps the best of thy time strength of youth flowre of thy age in Satans seruice and vpon thy owne abominable lusts That now vpon thy conuersion the meere worke of Gods free grace thou being honored with part in Christs Passion with the presence of the blessed Spirit dwelling in thee with the highest aduancement of being Gods Fauourite the dearely beloued of his soule yet the best Sabbath that thou passest ouer the holyest duty that thou performest is distained and distempered with so many imperfections distractions frailties and failings That while thou yet inhabitest a house of flesh thou hast inherent in thy bowels secret seeds and inbred inclinations to all sinne Blesse the sanctifying Spirit for thy priuiledge and preseruation euen to Atheisme selfe-murder Sodomy despairing of Gods mercy familiarity with wicked spirits sinne against the Holy Ghost c. That whereas thousands about thee goe on in their sinnes and perish euerlastingly thy selfe it may bee before thy change worse then most of them yet now beeing sanctified thou mayest bee assured thy name was writ in Heauen from all eternitie and therefore from euerlasting thou layest in the bosome of Gods loue and from the same euerlasting had the Lord Iesus set apart to shead his blood in the fulnesse of time for the saluation of thy soule and haue patience but a little and euerlasting refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord thou shalt shine as the brightnesse of the firmament for euer and euer And in all this who made thee to differ Thou wast framed of the same mould made as it were of the same cloth onely the sheeres going betweene with those that perish It was onely Gods free grace the good pleasure of his will These and the like considerations layde together should infinitely rather mooue thee with all humble reuerence to adore the bottomlesse depth of Gods free loue vnto thee then conceitedly to magnifie thy selfe aboue thy brethren or proudly insult ouer those that are without to praise thy God with a neuer satisfied admiration of his vnconceiueable bounty then to plague thy soule and as it were empoyson thy graces with an humour of pride 6. Thou must shortly bee strictly accountable at the iust Tribunall of God for the vse and imployment of all the good things hee hath giuen vnto thee of thy life and euery moment of it of thy goods and euery farthing of them of euery word thou euer spokest of euery thought that euer sprung out of thy heart of euery Sermon thou euer heardst of euery Sabbath thou hast solemnized of euery line thou hast writ of euery glance of thine eye of euery iourney thou hast made c. of thy wit memory learning of thy strength courage credit of thine honour power and high place In a word of euery benefit or any good thing in any kinde thou euer receiuedst from the bountifull and blessed hand of Almightie God And the moe and more excellent and extraordinary endowments and gracious indulgences haue beene vouchsafed thee from the euer-springing Fountaine of all good the more exactly must thou bee answerable and in proportion accountable for more Wherefore sith the graces of saluation incomparably excell and outshine all other humane abilities all excellencies of nature art policie learning or what else can bee named admirable in the eyes of men God lookes that wee should keepe those heauenly Iewels especially orient bright and shining communicate them most frankely and abundantly to our brethren and with all watchfulnesse and wisdome vpon all opportunities imploy them to our Masters greatest and most glorious aduantage Now there is nothing more hinders the fruitfull improouement of them then Pride Nothing makes them more passable and profitable then Humility A proud man puft vp with an opinion of his good parts doth ordinarily out of an itching ambitious humour single out such seasons for discouerie of himselfe and ostentation of his gifts when hee may winne most applause from men and shew himselfe vaine-gloriously and thereupon is more rare dainty and reserued in exercising his talent But a downeright humble Christian is in this kinde
graue Gods strict Tribunall the last Iudgement and endlesse miseries of the other world the sting poyson and terrors of which he shall neuer be able either to auoide or abide I say Shall such a fellow fleere in the face And shall not a true hearted Nathanael to whom Iesus Christ hath bequeathed a legacy of peace whom the Spirit of God bids reioyce euermore and who which way soeuer he lookes if he open his eye of faith shall see nothing but matter of sweetest contemplation infinite cause of truest ioy and spirituall rauishment If he looke backward vpon the time whilest he yet lay vnder the â—…yranny of the Diuell and dominion of the first death hee shall see the Catalogue of all his former sinnes should it be as blacke as hell as soule as Sodom as red as scarlet fairely and for euer washed away in that fountaine opened for sinne and for vncleannesse euen the precious blood of that immaculate Lambe Iesus Christ the Holy and the righteous If hee looke vpon his present state he shall finde himselfe preserued as a Iewell most safe in the precious Cabinet of Gods dearest prouidence enuironed with a glorious guard of mighty Angels kept by the power of God through faith vnto saluation ready to be reuealed in the last time If hee looke forward hee shall see death indeed but the stâ—…g taken out of it by the death of Christ the graue perfumed to his hand by his Sauiours blessed Buriall wherein hee may lye downe as in a bed of Downe fenced with the omnipotent arme of God for the glory of the Resurrection the Throne of grace in Heauen standing vpon pillars of mercy and loue where Iesus Christ sits as Iudge who shed his hearts bloud for him and is his Aduocate while he yet abides in this vale of teares the bosome of Abraham the armes of God Almighty wide open and stretched out to receiue him at the end of his Pilgrimage into his Masters ioy I say shall such a happy soule not haue an Heauen in his heart but be heauy-hearted Shall a vassall of the Diuell laugh and an hâ—…ire of Heauen looke heauy Monstrous absurditie 2. Euery Christian after his new creation hath euer incomparably more matter of mirth theÌ„ mourning infinitely greater cause to bee rauished with spirituall ioy then to bee deiected by griefe Though this may seeme a paradox to the clearest eye and best apprehension of worldly wisedome yet in truth it is a true principle in the mysterie of Christ. I doe thus manifest it and make it good to the saddest mourner in Sion if hee doe not giue more care to the lying malicious dictates of the Diuell and distrusts of his owne heart then to the well-grounded counsell of the Prophets and impregnable truth of Gods blessed Word In the right estimate and valuation all the afflictions and sufferings of this life whether of soule bodie outward state or any way are but dust in the ballance in respect of that exceeding excessiue eternall weight of glory purchased and prepared for him by the bloud of his dearest Lord. In the originall it is as a worthy Diuine sayes well a superlatiue transcendent phrase of speech which farre passeth the height of all humane Oratory and all the Râ—…toricke of the most eloquent Heathens because they neuer treated vpon such a Theame they were not inspired with such a spirit Whereupon saith the Apostle in another place Ireckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared to the glory which shall bee reuealed in vs. Whence it followeth that a very fore-imagination of that most vnconceiueable happinesse to bee had hereafter to wit the shining splendour and sun-like glory of our bodies the vnspeakeable perfections and excellencies of our soules the admirable beauty of the place the glorious comfort of our heauenly company the beatificall fruition of the most blessed Trinity c. and that which crownes our blisse with impossibility of further addition endlesnesse of all these I say a serious preconceit hereof illightened and strengthened by saith is able to hold vp the Christians heart with infinite strength and to refresh it with a secret vnutterable gladnesse euen amidst varietie and extremiâ—…ie of all worldly troubles and doth minister as farre more matter of reioycing then these of mourning as that forementioned exceeding excessiue euerlasting weight of glory is to bee preferred before a little momentany light affliction Hence it is that the holy Martyrs of Iesus were so merry and sweetly contented in the middest of all their outward miseries pressures persecutions and Martyrdome it selfe I was in prison saith one of them till I goe into prison I feele no more paine saith another in the fire then if I were in a bed of Downe it is as sweet to me as a bed of Roses I beleeue saith a third there is not a 〈◊〉 heart in the world at this instant then mine it To One obiecting to a fourth Christs agâ—…ny and sadnesse to his cheâ—…refulnesse Yea saith he Christ was sad that I might be merry He had my sinnes and I haue his merit and righteousnesse But specially let vs looke vpon Paul a blessed and precious patterne for vs to imitate in this point He was troubled on euery side Without were fightings within were feares He was in stripes aboue measure in prisons more frequent in deaths â—…t Of the Iewes fiue times receiued he forty stripes saue one Thrice was hee beaten with rods Once was hee stoned Thrice hee suffered Shipwracke A night and a day was hee in the deepe In iourneying often in perils of water in pâ—…ils of robbers in perill by his owne countrymâ—…n in perils by the heathen in perils in the Citie in perils in the Wildernessâ—… in perils in the Sea in perils amongst false brethren In wearinesse and painefulnesse in watchings often in hunger and thirst in fastings often in cold and nakednesse He was called a pestilent fellow He was accounted as thâ—… filth of thâ—… world and off scouring of all things And yet for all this he professeth of himselfe that hee tooke pleasure iâ—… infirmities in reproches in necessities in persecutions in distresses for Christs sake Nay which is more and more punctuall for my purpose hee saith in another place That he was filled with comfort and exceeding ioyfull in all his tribulation Now euery sincere-hearted Professor is bound to ouer-abound exceedingly in this ioy as well as Paul Not so saith the weake Christian for Paul had a stronger faith then I and more grace It is true but yet thy faith is as true as his And it is not so much the muchnesse as the truth of faith which giues right and interest to a Crowne of life comfort in all afflictions and euerlasting lightsomenesse Therefore well said a worthy witnesse to the truth Paul and Peter were more honorable members of Christ then I but I am a