Commandements Psal 119.176 not that wee doe not sometimes goe astray and that wee aime and endeauour after perfection Phâ—l 3.12 13. not that we haue already attained thereto For this cause the Church in the entrance of this Song doth as well confesse her selfe blacke Cant. 1.4 as auouch her selfe comely and in these words no lesse complaineth of the drowsinesse of her flesh then reioyceth in the wakefulnesse of her spirit I sleepe but mine heart waketh For being to set before vs a sorrowfull type of her owne vnkind and sinful sluggishnesse denying entertainement to her louing Sauiour and of the chastisement inflicted on her for her amendement shee first telleth vs in what state shee was when her Lord made tender of loue vnto her to wit partly sleeping and partly waking A state mixed or compounded and that of contraries but with distinction as may seeme of the subiects wherein they are I sleepe that is my naturall or vnregenerate part but mine heart waketh that is the spirituall or regenerate part in mee Not that some one created part is in a Christian either regenerate or corrupt some other not but because the whole man and euery part is partly sanctified and partly sinfull partly spirit and partly flesh Herevpon it is truely said I sleepe that is mine whole nature is subiect to infirmitie through sinne or as Rom. 7.18 in me that is in my flesh dwelleth no good thing and as truely mine heart waketh that is there is in me an hidden seede of God 1. Ioh. 3. a principle of Grace an inner man that suffereth me not to consent to sin but rowseth me vp and armeth me against it Rom. 7.22 so that it is no more I that doe it but sin that dwelleth in me Rom. 7.20 In a word the whole nature of man is as the ayre to wit a receptacle first by creatioÌ„ of light alone without darknes that is of grace without sinne since the fall of darkenesse alone without light sinne without grace after conuersion of a twylight light and darknesse grace and sin entermingled throughout and iustling at one another Gâ—l 5.17 Prou. 4.18 2. Sam. 3.1 but grace as the morning light or as the house of Dauid waxing stronger and corruption weaker Finally in Heauen as in Paradise shall bee no night no sinne at all but a perpetuall Sun-shine of grace without so much as any mist or cloud of corruption The summe then is that in this world the state of the Church and of euery member of it is a sleepie watchfulnesse or a waking sleepinesse that is a mixture of sleepe and waking sinne and grace flesh and spirit Which that wee may duely consider of let vs seuer them and begin with the former I sleepe THe Church confessing that shee sleepeth teacheth vs First that we all as many as are members of this body are apt to sleepe that is to be surprised with the infirmitie of the flesh notwithstanding the readinesse of the spirit Matth. 26.41 The spirit indeede is ready saith our Sauior of his drooping and drowsie Disciples but the flesh is weake For the opening of this point consider 1. What the spirituall sleepe is 2. In whom it is found What the spirituall sleepe is we shall see by comparing it with the naturall The naturall sleepe is a ligation or binding vp of the instruments of sense and motion caused principally by vapours ascending from the stomacke into the braine Secondarily by wearinesse extreme cold or heate frication Musik finally whatsoeuer doth either consume or benum the spirits the end of sleep is that the spirits and naturall heate retiring inward may attend to the refection and nourishment of the body Agreeably in the spirituall sleepe of sinne may be noted 1. The ligation of the spirituall senses whereby it commeth to passe that men haue eyes and see not Esa 6 9.10 eares and heare not 1. Cor. 2.14 hearts and vnderstand not the things of God neither can they perceiue them wanting the vse of spirituall sense because they are onely spiritually discerned 2. The surcease of spirituall motion the naturall man neither doing the workes Roâ— â— 12 17. nor walking the wayes of God 3 The causes are alike to wit Either principall the vapours of worldly and fleshly lusts 1. Pet. 2.11 Eph. 4. Luk. 21.34 fighting against the soule darkening the cogitations oppressing the heart and so shutting out all heauenly thoughts and affections or secondary as wearinesse in holy exercises such as surprised the three excellent disciples Mar. 14.37.40 whom our Lord chose to assist him in his agonie extream colde of feare Math 26.70 such as benummed S. Peter vnto the deniall of his Master and no lesse extreame heat of vnaduised zeale such as incensed the two sonnes of thunder to demand fire from heauen vpon the Samaritans by a falsely-supposed spirit of Elias Luk. 9.54 frication whereby the itching eare is scratched with fables or flatteries in stead of truth musicke 2. Tim. 4.3.4 whereby the diuell in his syrens the world and the flesh singeth lullaby spare thy selfe Reioyce O young man Math. 16.22 Eccles 11.9 1. Cor. 15.32.33 in thy youth Let vs eat and drinke for tomorrow we shall dye c. 4 The end of spirituall sleepe is that our care and endeuour being diuerted from heauenly things we may fully take thought for the flesh to satisfie the lusts thereof Rom. 13.14 Thus as the naturall sleepe leaueth little 1. Sam. 19.13 or no difference betweene Dauid and Michols Puppet so this spirituall sleepe of sinne maketh an Idoll of a man Looke what a thing an Idoll is saith the Psalmist that hath a mouth and speaketh not Psal 115.5.8 eyes and seeth not c. such is the Idolater such is euery sinner Euery sinner setteth vp an Idoll of sinne in his heart Ezek. worshipping the creature happily his owne creature and forsaking the Creator Rom. 1.25 and that Idoll of sinne taketh away the hart from God so filling it with the loue of the world Hos 4 11. 1. Ioh. 2.15 that the loue of the Father can finde no lodging nor entertainment Finally as the naturall sleepe is an image of death so is the spirituall Yea sleepe and death in this case as twinnes are ioyned yea confounded Lighten mine eies saith Dauid that I sleepe not in death Psalm 13.3 and the voice of the Gospell waking the spirituall sluggard as dead in trespasses and sinnes is Eph. 2. Awake thou that sleepest Eph. 5.14 and stand vp from the dead c. Such is the sleepe of sinne now let vs see who be the sleepers Wee shall find them to bee of three sorts 1 Sinners vncalled sleepers not yet wakened such all men are or were being borne sluggards none vnderstandeth none seeketh after God Rom. 3.10.11.12 none doth good c. Naturalists make it questionable whether man beginneth to liue
sowne Esa 42 2â— But let it bee a poore and contrite heart trembling at the word of the Lord for that will neuer sleepe when God speaketh Esa 66.2 Luc. 8.15 and let it bee an honest and good heaâ—t for that will both keepe the word and bring forth fruite with patience To conclude as often as we receiue any portion of the light of grace it behooueth vs to be prepared for some new assault of the enemie of grace Hebr. 10.32 After light commeth a fight saith the blessed Apostle Wee are in this life continually militant 1. King 20.11 Let not him therefore that putteth on the armour boast or promise himselfe rest as hee that putteth it off Iam 4.7 Sat in being resisted flieth but so flyeth as intending to fight againe so when all his tentations preuailed not with our Sauiour he departed from him but it was but for a season Luk. 4.13 Hee returned shortly in another shape Iohn 6.70 Math. 16.23 in Iudas Iscariot yea in Simon Peter himselfe Now he can no more pursue that mâ—nchild Reuel 12.5 beeing taken vp vnto God and to his throne he wageth spitefull and perpetuall warre with the Woman that is the Church Vers 13.17 and with the remnant of her seed which keepe the commaundements of God and haue the testimony of Iesus Christ The Panther is said so to hate man that he wreaketh his rage vpon the very image such is the hatred of Satan against the Lord. Wherfore the more thou are transformed into the image of Christ 2. Cor. 3.18 the lesse it behooueth thee to sleepe for feare of him who if he may will either bereaue thee of it or persecute thee for it And thus much we learne from the consideration of the drowsie estate of the spouse of Christ but whereas this is not only affirmed of her but confessed by her we are further to note that the true children of God and members of the Church doe not sleepe soundly or of purpose He that sleepeth soundly cannot tell that he sleepeth and hee that sleepeth purposely doth not complaine that hee sleepeth But as the man that faith I fall shewes his danger not his determination and Peter saying I sink shewed his feare not his purpose so the spouse of Christ saying I sleepe bewrayes her infirmitie not her resolution and taking her selfe in the manner confesses her weakenes and implores the mercy and aide of Christ to couer and to cure it As if she had said I sleep and should not I sleep and would not which Paul more expresly acknowledgeth Rom. 7.19 The euill that I would not that do I. Thus whosoeuer is borne of God sinneth not 1. Iohn 3.9 sleepeth not to wit not of purpose or with full consent not as sencelesse of the disease or carelesse of recouery Dauid though hee had fallen into a fearefull syncope and had lyen in the sowne of sinne vnder some generall and ouerly repentance for the space almost of a yeare yet pleads for himselfe and prooues himselfe to bee fitted for pardon and grace For saith hee I know mine iniquities and my sinne is euer before me Psal 51.3 Eccles 7.22 Surely saith the Preacher there is no man iust in the earth that doth good and sinneth not None so stedfast but many times falleth Psalm 143 6. Psal 73.23 yet in falling he reacheth God his hand and the Lord holdeth him by the right hand none so faithfull but many times strayeth Psal 119.176 Rom. 7.24 yet euen straying desireth to bee sought out and reduced none so quickned but beareth a body of death about him from which hee wrestleth and sigheth to bee deliuered From hence ariseth a remarkable difference between the godly and the wicked the regenerate and the naturall man Euery man sleepeth but euery man is not a sluggard Euery man sinneth but euery man is not properly a sinner To giue names betokeneth rule sinne cannot denominate but where it is predominant The regenerate therfore saith I sleepe and would not the naturall man saith I sleep and will sleepe The one sleepeth of infirmity sinnes of infirmity are proper to the regenerate the other of purpose the one complaining the other boasting and reioycing for the foole maketh a mocke and a pastime of sinne Psal 52.1 Pro. 14.9 10.23 Psalm 13.3 Pro. 6.10 The one sayes with Dauid Lighten mine eies that I sleepe not in death the other sayes with the sluggard yet a little sleepe a little slumber a litle folding of the hands to sleep The one so sleepes that hee desires to be awakened the other verifies that of the Prophet touching the blind watch men of Iudah Esay 56.10 They lye and sleepe and delight in sleeping And as he that wold sleepe withdrawes himselfe from company and noise layes himselfe downe puts out the light or shuts his eyes against it so the naturall man addresses himselfe vnto the sleepe of sin auoiding the company of such as would disswade him stopping his eares with the deafe adder against the voice of the wise charmer Psalm 58.4.5 sowing a pillow of ease vnder his elbow Iohn 3.20 Math. 13.15 shunning the light of the word of grace or shutting his eies against it quenching the spirit despising prophecie yea turning the light that is in him into darkenesse Math. 6.23 so that it may bee said of him his course is euill Ier. 23.10 and his force is not right hee is not surprised of sin but hunteth after it or maketh it his plowing and tillage Hos 10.13 Contrariwise the regenerate man is so far from composing himselfe vnto this sleepe that in sleeping hee may rather be compared to the Hare which sleepeth with open eyes the Hare had need seeing the Lion doth so so had the Christian 1. Pet. 5.8 hauing a watchfull Lion for his aduersary or to the nightingale which is said to sleepe with her brest vpon a thorne for feare of the serpent for euen so the Christian hauing the old serpent for his mortal and watchfull enemy setteth to his heart the comming of Christ 2. Cor. 5.11 and the terrors of the Lord that if he once begin to nodde the pricke of conscience may waken and admonish him Of such an one when he doth sleepe well may it be said sleepe hath caught him not he it In this then are the children of God knowne and the children of the Deuill 1. Ioh. 3.8.9.10 He that committeth sinne is of the Deuill but whosoeuer is born of God sinneth not that is liueth not in a trade Psal 139.23.24 Psalm 1.1 or way of sinne God himselfe being Iudge steppeth perhaps but walketh not in the counsell of the wicked strayeth but standeth not in the way of sinners stumbleth but sitteth not vpon the chaire of the scorners This word of trueth therefore duly diuided 2. Tim. 2.15 Pro. 28.13 on the one side denieth fauour to him
Word Psal 119.67 Whether thy knowledge of God be a matter onely of imagination and discourse or whether it frame thee to obedience and care to please him Whether thy conscience doe therefore onely not disquiet thee because either thou hast not afforded it due information out of the Law of God or else hast silenced and muzled it that it may neyther bite nor barke or whether hauing by faith and repentance taken vp the quarrell and ended the account betweene God and thee it make thee a sound and continuall feast of peace and ioy in the Holy Ghost Whether thy profession in worde and practise be onely mimicall and affected grounded on occasion confined by limitation or whether out of the aboundance of the heart thy mouth speake good things Math. 12.34.35 Gal. 5.25 and because thou liuest in the spirit thou canst not but walke also in the spirit Yea euen in the sleepe of sinne we may see apparent difference betweene the regenerate and the vnsanctified man For as the naturall sleepe cutteth not off all the operations euidences of life and heat in the bodie or of reason in the soule no more doth sinne bereaue the regenerate man of all the effects of grace but that there remaineth sufficient proofe of his standing therein For first though naturall sleepe bee the image and fore-runner of death yet doth it leaue sufficient tokens of life as the drawing of breath the mouing of the pulses so that of the sleeping man it may be said If he sleepe hee shall be safe Iohn 11.12 In like manner sinne of it owne nature importeth a body of death and deserueth the hire and wages of eternall death Rom. 6.23 but yet it leaueth not the child of God without breath pulse that is a principle of grace and good conscience maintaining the league betweene God and his weak seruant and fetching vitall influence from Christ Col. 3.4 who is our life This coniunction with Christ this Couenant and Commerce with God sheweth that the heart is both aliue and awake in the true Christian euen when he sleepeth moouing and fitting him to goe to Christ and expostulate with him Esa 63.17 saying with the Church O Lord why hast thou made vs to erre from thy waies and hardened our heart from thy feare But the carnall mans sleepe is a very death for he sinneth without care of reconciliation with God without sighing after the grace of repentance and aide of the spirite of Christ against the power of sinne Secondly when the body is asleep the naturall heat sleepeth not but is busie in digesting the nourishment that the vapours ceasing man may awake out of sleepe more fresh and actiue then before Right so in a Christian falling through infirmity into sinne the grace of God is not idle but bendeth it selfe with all it might to dissolue the tentation and worke in him more watchfulnesse for the time to come thus his sleeping endeth in waking But the carnall mans waking aymeth at sleeping for euen in doing good hee intendeth some pleasure or profit of sinne and his sleeping proues Lethargicall making him still more and more sleepy for euery sinne maketh way vnto a greater or at least to a further degree of the same sinne If his beginning bee foolishnesse Eccles 10.13 his latter end proues wicked madnesse Lastly though sense be asleepe yet reason in a wise man is awake The foole dreames waking and the wise man contemplates sleeping In like manner the carnall man bewrayeth the folly of his heart both in dooing some good things yet with our loue of goodnes and forbearing some sins yet without hatred of euill but the regenerate man sheweth the power of grace both in disallowing the euil which he doth and in delighting in the good Rom. 7.15.22 which hee eyther omitteth or weakely performeth Oh how much more blessed and likely to dye the death of the righteous is he that saith with Paul Num. 23.10 Rom. 7.19 I do the euill that I would not then he that faith with Balaam I fain would doe it Num. 22.18 c. but alas I dare not And thus haue I set vp a stone of partition betweene Iacob and Laban Gen. 31.45 c. the regenerate and the carnall man shewing how the one euen in sleeping waketh through the ouer-ruling power of grace the other euen in seeming to wake sleepeth through the vncontrolled power of corruption What remaineth but to allot to each of these their due portion That is to the one comfort to the other terror and to either of them wholesome admonition To beginne with the Israel of God whose heart is awake and ready though the flesh in them bee at times weake and drowzie When Eutichus ouercome with sleepe Acts 20.9 c. fell downe from the third loft and was taken vp dead it was no small comfort to the disciples at Troas to heare Paul say Trouble not your selues for his life is in him so when a childe of God falleth through the steepe of sinne into the desert and danger of death eternall Matth. 26.41 what greater comfort then to heare Christ say yet the spirit is ready and the spouse of Christ speaking by the spirit of Christ mine heart waketh I know thy pouerty saith our mercifull Sauiour but thou art rich Reuel 2.9 Know thy selfe therefore but as Christ knoweth thee Cant. 1.4 Looke not onely on thy blacknesse to humble thee but also on thy comelinesse to encourage and comfort thee Say not onely I sleepe to accuse and condemne thy selfe in the flesh 1. Pet. 4.6 but also mine heart waketh to approoue that thou liuest according to God in the Spirit Prou. To iustifie the wicked and to condemne the righteous is alike odious and iniurious to the Lord. The wicked man iustifying himselfe sinneth against Gods iustice the regenerate denying the worke of grace in himselfe sinneth against his mercy They are farre the fewer that sinne on this side much safer because they are out of loue with themselues But yet when the vicer is in the skinne God forbid thou shouldest thrust the launcer into thine hart or when thou fallest out with thy flesh shouldest pursue the quarrel vpon the spirit of God in thee It were iniustice so to punish the faulty mother as to destroy the guiltlesse babe in her wombe and no lesse so to proceed in hatred of thy corrupt nature as to do violence to the new creature Gal. 4.19 the image of Christ which beginneth to be formed in thee It is our care Psalm 119.133 and prayer in this life that none iniquity may haue dominion ouer vs it were our pride to thinke it strange wee should haue any abiding in vs. Wee are not yet in the land of promise but in the wildernesse of passage We are not come to those new heauens and new earth wherein dwelleth onely righteousnesse no sinne no companion of sinne
it most vsually exercise and most sharply afflict the weake Christian 1. Iohn 3.20 For if our heart condemne vs how much more God who is greater then our heart and knoweth all things Notwithstanding as Dauid examineth the iudgment of men Psalme 58.1 so may wee that of conscience and say is it true O conscience speakest thou iustly iudgest thou vprightly Conscience accusing iudgeth alwaies for God not alwaies with God and as God For sometimes as Iobs friends it maketh a lye for God Iob 13.9 to wit not purposely but as misenformed or not sufficiently instructed Thus many times it passeth an vniust sentence vpon the weake Christian hauing an eye onely vnto the nature and quality of the sinfull action not vnto the disposition of the heart in sinning If I regard wickednesse in mine heart saith Dauid Psalme 66.18 the Lord will not heare me Not to fall into some grieuous sinne contrary to thy purpose and course but to set thy heart vpon it argueth a child of wrath Dauid committed adulterie as did Absalom and murder as did Ioab but Dauid was of them that fall by occasion Gal. 6.1 they vpon deliberation hee with remorse and they with reioycing What difference betweene the sinne of Iudas and of Peter Iudas for gaine sold his Lord Peter for feare denied and abiured him But Iudas euer a thiefe and an hypocrite though now hee proceeded to a further degree was still in the same way of sinne wherein he had bin from the beginning Peter had alwaies an honest heart and purpose to stand by his Lord vnto the death though now by a sodaine passion of feare he was for the present driuen from his resolution In a word to shut vp this point the state of a poore Christian mourning for and striuing with the greatest sins yea and sometimes in this minoritie of the new Creature taking the foyle yet sighting againe is more comfortable and blessed then of him that sleepeth and snorteth without resistance or remorse in the embracements of the smallest reputed sinne And thus I passe from the acknowledged drowzinesse of the Spouse of Christ vnto the other part of her mixed estate to wit her watchfulnesse But mine heart waketh THe Spouse of Christ professing that while her flesh was a sleepe her heart or inner man was still awake teacheth vs that Euerie true member of the bodie of Christ euen in sleeping that is in sinning hath a wakefull spirit that sleepeth not For the better vnderstanding wherof consider as in the point of sleeping 1. What it is to wake 2. Who they be that are awake The spirituall waking will also best appeare by comparison with the naturall which is the act or exercise of the faculties of sense and motion The proper cause whereof is the returne of the naturall heate and animall spirits into the members the vapours which hindered their passage being now by meanes of digestion consumed Other accessory causes there are also as noise shaking of the bodie day-light in a word whatsoeuer restoreth or calleth forth the spirits Finally the end of waking is Psal 104.23 that man may goe about his worke and day-labour Semblably in this spirituall waking we shall obserue 1 The act or exercise of the spirituall senses and motions of grace The Church here is not so a sleepe but that she both heareth the voice of Christ Cant. 5.2 and discerneth it to bee the voice of her beloued Verse 4 and findeth her heart to be affectioned toward him Matt. 13.16 And Blessed sayth our Sauiour to his Disciples are your eyes for they see and your eares for they heare whereas others neyther see with their eies nor heare with their eares Verse 15 c. 2. The proper cause of this waking which is the returne of that once naturall in the state of Creation now supernaturall heate of grace and of those spirituall abilities and inclinations vnto good Which by the dead sleep of sinne were extinguished in our nature Gal. 5.24 the vapours of fleshly lusts which hindered this returne now in great part dissolued by grace 3. The secondary and helping causes which are 1. The noyse of Gods Word crying Ephes 5.14 Awake thou that sleepest and stand vp from the dead c. 2 The shaking of Afflictions for thus the Lord openeth the eares of men euen by their corrections Iob. 33.16 which he hath sealed 3. The day-light of the Gospell which sheweth that it is now time we should arise from sleepe Rom. 13.11.12 to cast awaie the workes of darknesse and put on the armor of light c. 4. The end of our spirituall waking which is that wee may worke now it is daâ—e and walke honestly as in the day Ioh. 9.4 Rom. 13.13 Awake righteously or vnto righteousnesse sayth the Apostle and sinne not 1. Cor. 15.34 Reuel 3.2 Be awake sayth our Sauiour to the Angell and Church at Sardi and strengthen the things that remaine which are readie to die Thus wee see what is meant by waking now if it bee demaunded who bee awake it must bee answered that the regenerate onely doe wake and euen they so farre forth onely as they are regenerate They onely are children of light and of the day 1. Thess 5 Verse 5 the rest are of the night and of darknesse Therefore Verse 6 let not vs sleepe sayth the Apostle as doe other but let vs watch c. Other therefore yea all other doe alwayes onely sleepe The regenerate indeede do now and then take part with them in some measure in sleeping because there are in the best some remainders of flesh lusting against the spirit Gal. 5.17 but they neuer in any measure take part with the regenerat in waking because they are wholy flesh Ioh. 3.6 no portion of the sanctifying grace of the spirit in them to lust against the slesh But because men in these matters are not onely apt to be deceiued but also willing to deceiue themselues thinking they haue need of no grace Reuel 3.17 when they are destitute of all I holde it necessarie for the clearing of this point to remoue the false semblances of grace which may make wicked men beleeue they are well awake whiles they are fast a sleepe yea dead in sinne Such appearances are taken partly from the forenamed accessorie causes partly from some seeming effects of waking For first the vnregenerate man may sometimes heare the noise of Gods Word and that eyther with feare as Foelix or with joye as Herod and yet neuer the more awake But as the sluggard heareth the voyce of him that calleth him Prou. 6.9.10 and being loath to rise prayeth him to hold his peace so the spirituall sluggard heareth and starteth but craueth silence Thus Foelix heard Paul preaching of righteousnesse temperance Act. 24.25.26 and the iudgement to come and trembled at the hearing but immediately put him out of his matter till
sleeping or waking by reason of the stupidity that is in him more then in other liuing creatures but in Diuinity it is without doubt that since first our nature fell asleepe in Adam euery man taketh his beginning of beeing in this sleepe of sinne Behold saith Dauid I was borne in iniquity Psalm 51.5 and in sinne hath my mother conceiued me and Zophar deriding the fond conceit men haue of their owne wisedome Iob 11.12 vaine man saith hee would bee wise though man borne that is Iohn 3. till he be borne againe be a wild Asse colt 2 Called but not chosen wakened but fallen asleep againe and that more dangerously then before 2. Pet. 2. whose latter end is worse then their beginning These besides the hereditary habite of sluggishnes haue by relapse doubled the disease and are giuen ouer to the spirit of slumber Esa 29.10 Heb. 6. from henceforth neuer or very hardly to be awakened 3 Effectually called and conuerted in whom the originall sluggishnesse of nature is in part corrected and the relapse into the spirt of slumber by grace preuented yet euen in them the remainders of naturall corruption haue place and power vntill by that almighty voice of the sonne of God Ioh. 5 28. Psalm 17.15 they shall bee wakened the second time vnto immortality and perfection In this third ranke is the spouse of Christ in this place and all Gods children in the time of this life to wit sleeping but not wholy waking but not throughly Rom. 7.19 neither willing the euill that they doe nor doing the good that they would The vapours of worldly lusts not yet so dispelled but that feeling in their heart what Rebecca felt in her wombe Gal. 5.17 an intestine warre they are manie times brought on their knees to pray with Dauid Psal 119.36.37 Incline mine heart vnto thy testimonies and not vnto couetousnesse Turne away mine eies from behoulding vanity and quicken me in thy Law and many times to crie with Paule Rom. 7.24 O wretched man that I am who shall deliuer mee from the body of this death Adde heereto much wearinesse and vnwieldinesse in holy exercises much couldnesse in maintaining Gods cause and partie much partiality in zeale maintaining a priuate spirit of enmity vnder colour of the cause of religion much preiudice in hearing the word readie to count him an enemy that telleth an vntoothsome truth Galath 4. much lingering and listening after the voice of the charmer flatterie neuer wants welcome while selfe-loue is at home who hauing more of the serpent to beguile then we to beware will at times get within vs and lull vs asleepe in security and sensualitie In a word to this trueth the confessions of all the Saints touching both their generall inclination to sinne and particular falls many of them extant vnder their owne hands doe prooue plentifull testimonie shewing that as all men dwelling in houses of clay betweene whiles will they nill they sleepe by reason of bodily infirmitie and though by an vnwelcome heauinesse nod toward the earth as it were pointing to their naturall Element so euen the best of Gods children compassed with flesh and bloud cannot but at times bewray their folly and vnstedfastnesse Quandoque bonus dormitat Homerus The best Artist hath not alwaies his wits awake and the most circumspect Christian doth not alwaies stand vpon his gard of faith and a good conscience In prosperitie we are apt to be secure presuming that We shall neuer be moued Out of this sleepe the Lord seeth it needfull to waken vs by afflictions Securitie and safetie meete not together He that said Psal. 30.6.7 I shall neuer be moued immediately confesseth Thou didst hide thy face and I was troubled But hee that said my foot slideth found cause to acknowledge Psal 94.18 Thy mercie O Lord staied me vp In time of triall and trouble least cause indeede but manie times most minde to slumber at least most temptation The three Disciples neuer more heauie-headed then when Satan was now readie to sift them and good men wee see neuer more in danger to be in loue with life loath to die or vnmindefull of death then when the arrest is now granted forth The storme it selfe is not sufficient Sathan must if it be possible cast Palinurus into a sleepe that when the Pilot I meane Christian watchfulnesse is ouer-board he may be in hope to bring the Barke vnder water In times of holy exercises when the eye should bee most broad awake to behold the beautie of the Lord Psal 27.4 in visiting his Temple the eare as it were a fresh boared to heare what the Lord God will say Psal 40 Psal 85. and heart and lips enlarged to shew forth his praise euen then manie times doth Satan and our owne flesh watch vs a shrewd turne and labour to take vs napping What affinitie hath an Oratorie with a Dormitorie Ierem. 7 Ezek. 33.31 Yet euen the house of prayer is many times a priuie witnesse of our noddings or of the wandering of our hearts after couetuousnesse Pro. 5.14 and wee are in danger to be brought into all euill in the midst of the Congregation and Assembly Finally which requireth speciall consideration if euer a Christian bee like him that sleepeth in the toppe of the mast Prou. 23.34 compassed with danger voide of care it is after some spirituall feast of grace or victorie ouer sinne Wee vse to say When the belly is full the bones would be at rest In such like manner it fared here with the spouse of Christ Shee had feasted her welbeloued and was feasted by him in the verse immediately foregoing instantly shee betakes herselfe to her vndermeale or afternoones nap 2. Sam. 11.2 like Dauid with like perilous consequent Hee slipt into occasion of euill and shee letteth slip an opportunitie of grace It was a feast vnto Peter to heare that voice of Christ Matt. 16.17 Blessed art thou Simon the sonne of Iona c. but it was sower sauce that followed shortly after when vnmindfull of his confession and tendering his master but after the flesh 2. Cor. 5.16 without respect to his office hee gat a curse instead of a blessing Mat. 16 Get thee behind mee Sathan thou art an offence vnto mee c. Blessed Paul extraordinarily admitted to a tast of heauenly glorie in the Paradise of God 2. Cor. 12.2 Vers 4 how hee fared he is not able to expresse but how through infirmitie hee was in danger to haue beene transported another way that he willingly acknowledgeth and how by Gods appointment Vers 7 the messenger of Sathan was sent to buffet him and to pricke him that he might be kept awake from the danger of ouer-weening Our flesh counterpoized with the spirit maketh vs like the ballance of which if one scale be lifted vp the other will assay to goe as high as
that hideth and fauoureth his sinnes on the other side to him that confesseth and forsaketh them assureth mercy Nothing is more easie or familiar then for a wicked man to deceiue himselfe speaking peace vnto his owne soule whiles the Lord denounceth warre and hostility against him 2. Pet. 2.19 and promising himselfe liberty whiles hee is the seruant and bondslaue of corruption apt to thinke that the infirmities of the Saints confessed and complained of should beare him out resting and reioycing in the same or the like sinnes loath to bee perswaded that any one sinne vnrepented of should proue and pronounce him to be in the gal of bitternesse Acts 8.23 and in the bond of iniquity ready to plead for his sinne as Lot for Zoar It is but one Gen. 19.20 it is but a little one and to account it little lesse then meritorious that he obserueth the publique exercises of piety is restrained from grosse and odious crimes by good nature as they terme it that is a calme temperature of body good nurture ciuility policy feare of shame and punishment desire of honour and reward or some such like snaffle whereby God keepeth vnsanctified men in peace and outward order But alas There is no peace Esa 48.22 Psalm 85.8 saith the Lord vnto the wicked He speaketh peace indeed but it is onely vnto his people and to his Saints and that with condition that they turne not againe to folly To none therefore but such as count their sinne their folly and reproach Ier. 31.19 and so turne from it that they intend neuer to returne thereto againe Peace shall bee vpon Israel saith the Psalmist Psalm 125.5 but such as turne aside by their crooked waies them shall the Lord lead with the workers of iniquity Whither but to fearefull destruction Psalm 68.21 For surely God will wound the head of his enemies and the hairy scalpe of him that walketh in his sinnes What a folly for him to dream of liberty who is taken by his owne iniquities and holden with the cordes of his owne sinne Prou. 5.22 or to rank himselfe with the penitent saints who goeth farâ—e beyond them in sinning neuer assayeth to follow them in repenting Iam. 2.10 or to count that one sinne which implieth by iust consequence the breach of the whole law and that a little sinne that is not mortified by any measure of sanctifying grace not other mens sinnes from which the Pharisee thinketh hee can cleere himselfe but thine owne wickednesse must correct thee Luke 18.11 â—er 2.19 and thine owne turnings backe reprooue thee Mar. 6.17 c. Yea amongst and aboue the rest thy speciall sinne thine Herodias best beloued of thee most preuailing with thee shall affoord a speciall triall with or against thee Against this as against the Arch-rebell euery vpright souldier of Christ chiefly warreth I was vpright also with him Psalm 18.23 saith Dauid haue kept me from my wickednes Iob. 20.12.13 This thou fauourest and wilt not forsake it but keepest it close in thy mouth and hidest it vnder thy tongue desiring secretly to suck the sweetnesse of that morsell loath by any meanes to spit it out Yea so well dost thou loue it that if at anie time thy stomacke made queazie by the threats of Gods Law or tokens of his wrath doe vomite it vp 2. Pet. 2.22 it is not long ere with the dog thou returne and licke it vp againe 1. Iam. 15.13 c. Let such a man say while hee will with Saul I haue fulfilled the commandement of the Lord I haue slaine the Amalekites c the lowing of this fat Oxe the bleating of this choice sheepe this Agag yet liuing and not fearing death will conuince him of rebellion of casting away the Word of the Lord. But as for those that possessed with the spirit of the spouse doe feelingly acknowledge and bewaile their infirmities and sins they may assure themselues to find the same fauor from the heauenly Bridegroome who in this case is faithfull and iust to forgiue our sins 1. Iohn 1.9 and to cleanse vs from all vnrighteousnes This is that voice of which hee saith Let mee heare thy voice Cant. 2.14 for thy voice is sweet So sweet that it instantly procureth both audience answer from the Lord. No sooner doth the spouse say I sleepe but immediately shee is both heard of her beloued and heareth the voice of her beloued hasting to awaken her When Ephraim lamented Ier. 31.18 v. 20. the Lord hearkned and heard him and so heard that his bowels were troubled for him Psal 32.5 And Dauid resoluing with himselfe to confesse his sinne against himselfe found present pardon both of the guilt and punishment of his sinne And if the Lord iustifie who shal condemne If a mourning sinner shall stand before the great Iudge of all the world what need he feare the iudgment of any consistory either opposite to that high court or inferiour Satan is ready for his malice vnto Christs kingdom and subiects to shew himselfe the accuser of the brethren Reu. 12. vers 10. traducing those whom hee cannot seduce as he desireth Thus he dealt with Iob with Iehoshua charging them both with sinne though vpon contrary presumptions Iob. 1.9.10 the one with temporizing in religion because of his prosperity the other with vnworthinesse to doe God seruice by reason of the badge of afflictioÌ„ and smoake of the fiery triall Zach. 3.1.2 which was vpon him But loe the Lord vndertaketh for his weake seruants Euen the Lord that hath chosen Ierusalem reprooueth Sathan and disprooueth his accusations causing the iniquities of his elect to depart from them and cloathing them with change of raiment And not Satan only but euen men also transported with malice or with preiudice are apt seeing the infirmities of Gods children to charge their whole profession with hypocrisie and to say Is not this thy feare thy faith Iob. 4.6 thy patience and the vprightnes of thy waies It is hard not to be an hypocrite in his eyes that maketh no profession of godlinesse But that man of all others hath set his face farthest from God goodnesse that doe what he will feareth not the imputation of hypocrisie such mens censure as it is most ruthles and reasonlesse so it is least of all to be regarded For what can be more contrary to the iudgement of God and of truth The Lord seeing thy repentance turneth away his eies from beholding thy sinne but these men are so glad to see thy sinne that they are loath to take knowledge of thy repentance Against such therefore thy iust defence is to appeale to him that iudgeth righteously 1. Pet. 2.23 Iob. 16.19 saying with Iob my witnesse is in the heauens and my record is on high But of all accusations and censures that of conscience as it is neerest and most inward so doth
of many and walking of some men in their sleepe For euen so in matters concerning God and his Kingdome many speake but not from the heart of whom the Lord may say Deut. 5 28.29 as of the Israelites They haue well said all that they haue spoken Oh that there were such an heart in them to feare mee c. some others moue and walke in the practise of some duties but this argueth their heart to be a sleepe the while Psal 119.6 because they neither walke in all nor wherein they doe walke with respect to Gods Commandement but to their owne profit ease preferment c. Therefore not as the waking children of God in whose heart are the wayes of God Psal 84.5 and who with their heart enlarged by grace Psal 119.32 doe run the way of his Commandements Thus the naturall man though professing and in seeming sort practising as the children of God being Act. 8.21 with Simon Magus excluded from anie true part or fellowship in this grace because his heart is not awake that is vpright in the sight of God it remaineth that onely the faithfull soule the Spouse of Christ is able truly to professe and say my heart waketh as being by the powerful grace of God first mightily wakened and euer after carefully kept awake For first euerie Christian in his conuersion is rowzed out of the sleepe of sinne and of a sluggard made one of Gods Watchmen And this is so great a worke that it is called our second Creation Ephes 2.10 Reuel 20.6 or the first Resurrection with respect partly to the state of corruption Ephes 2.1 Ephes 1.19.20 2.5 whereby wee were dead in trespasses and sinnes and partly to the Almightie power whereby wee are raysed vp and reuiued being no other then that whereby Christ was raysed from the dead This power is deriued vnto vs from Christ who therefore is called the second Adam 1. Cor. 15.45 and a quickning spirit that is the fountaine of spirituall life and it is conuayed to vs by that word of his of which himselfe saith that it is spirit and life and againe The dead shall heare the voice of the Son of God Ioh. 6.63 Ioh. 5.25 and as many as heare it spell liue Secondly the heart of a Christian thus awakened is for euer kept awake by the neuer ceasing influence of that grace which first awakened him For the seed of God where it is once sowne remaineth 1. Ioh. 3.9 and keepeth continuall watch and ward in the heart of the true conuert neuer suffering him so to sleepe so 〈◊〉 sinne as before his conuersion True it is that this watchman is continually postered with the euill neighbour-hood of our sluggish and vnregenerate part whereby we are in danger to be deliuered vp sleeping into the power of the enemie but as when the Citie sleepes yet it is safe because the watchman wakes ready to obserue the approaches of the Enemie and to put the whole Garrison in Armes fo◠when a child of God sleepeth through 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 yet Sathan failes of his purpose and expectation because the watch of the Lord is kept or rather the Lord himselfe by his grace keepeth watch and ward within vs. Thus it fared with Peter Luc. 22.31 whom Sathan sisted and indeede rocked his flesh asleepe but saith our Sauiour Luc. 22.32 I haue prayed for thee that thy faith faile not as if hee should say that thy watchman sleepe not And indeed that centinell vnder God saued the Citie for receiuing the watch word from Christ verse 61 62 a beck was enough it put the whole Citie in armes and opened the flood-gate of repentant teares whereby the proud Enemie was driuen for euer from the walles Thus haue we seene both what it is to be awake viz. to haue our senses fit for Heauenly exercises and spirituall motions and who they bee that are awake to wit the regenerate onely and they so farreforth onely as regenerate in whom the heart the principall and vitall part which is the grace of sanctification neuer sleepeth neuer suffereth them so to sleep that their hold should bee deliuered ouer into the power of the enemie Now to make some benefit to our selues of this truth of God First let vs learne to trie and know our selues What are we Sathans sluggards or the Lords watchmen All indeed doe sleepe and many in shew are awake and none more apt to arrogate to themselues then they that can least auouch it Prou. 26.16 for the sluggard is wiser more wakefull in his owne conceit then seuen men that can render a reason Here then is wisdome to discerne betweene the regenerate the waking sleeper and the vnregenerate hypocrite the sleeping waker betweene him that may say with the Church I sleepe but mine heart waketh and him who if he know himselfe should say I wake but my heart sleepeth betweene the fiue wise Mat. 25.1.2 c and the fiue foolish Virgins All were Virgins in opinion all had Lampes to betoken their profession all waited for the Bridegroome signifying their ioint hope and expectation all slumbered and slept bewraying their common corruption What then is there no difference yes verie great The one sort are admitted to the wedding the other are shut out of doores But this difference the Bridegroome onely putteth and not till the last days In the meane time therefore if thou wilt know thy selfe and fore-know thy iudgement looke in thy Campe see whether there be with thy light of profession anie Oyle of sauing faith and sanctifying grace Our Sauiour for the vse of that Parable Verse 13 saith Watch therefore c. to wit as the fiue wife Virgins with Oyle in your Lampes intimating that they that sleep through infirmitie hauing the Oyle of grace in their hearts are accounted to watch but they that wait through presumption with onely an emptie Lamp of profession in their handes shall bee surprized and excluded as carelesse sluggards To this purpose looke backe vpon those apparances and shadowes of grace by which wee haue alreadie shewed that many carnall men deceiue themselues And see whether the word of God which thou hearest doe onely cause thee to start and stagger in an vnsetled purpose of obedience or whether it winne thee to obey from the heart vnto the forme of the Doctrine whereunto thou art deliuered Rom. 6.17 Whether the day-light of the Gospell which thou beholdest doe onely shew thee that it is meet thou shouldest arise out of sleepe or whether it make thee blesse God and embrace the opportunitie to cast off the workes of darknesse Rom. 13.12 and put on the armour of light glad that thou liuest to see such dayes and to enioye such meanes Whether the iudgements of God doe onely terrifie and trouble thee or whether they cause thee to learne righteousnesse Esa 26.9 and to keepe thy selfe more carefully vnto the rule of Gods
no shame sorrow crying Reuel 21.4 c. We are as yet in the region of olde things wherin as our naturall life is sustained by contraries labour and rest hunger and satiety sleeping and waking c so our spirituall and heauenly life is clogged with vnwelcome companions affoording vs trouble with our peace emptinesse with our abundance drowsinesse with our watchfulnesse But as for those that are at case in Sion Amos. 6.1.3 Jam. 5.5 and put farre away the euill day that they may approach to the seat of iniquity that nourish their hearts as in a day of sacrifice Luk. 21.34 and by surfeting drunkennesse cares of this life carelesnesse of that that is to come doe what they can to make keepe their heart their watchman asleepe that had rather keepe conscience blinde that it may flatter them then enforme it that it may giue a iust verdict against them counting it lesse trouble to beleeue a fauourable false report then to examine whether it bee true Reuel 3.1 in a word that haue a name to liue but they are dead to be awake but their heart is fast a sleepe to such I haue a heauy message from the Lord euen the same that the vigilant Captain deliuered together with a deaths-woūd to his sleeping watchman Dead I found thee dead I leaue thee The watch-man must keepe his watch as his life else no watch no man his life is too little to satisfie for his vnwatchfulnes God hath planted the heart in euery man to be a waking centinall If thy watchman sleepe therefore how deep is that drowsinesse how desperate is the condition first of the watchman and after of whatsoeuer may miscarry through his watchfulnesse Mat. 24.48 c. If the euill seruant shall say in his heart my master deferreth his comming and begin to smite his fellowes and to eat and drink with the drunken that seruants Master will come in a day when he looketh not for him and in an houre that he is not aware of and will cut him off and giue him his portion with hypocrites there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth To conclude with admonition let my counsell or rather the counsell of our Lord Iesus be acceptable vnto vs all who willeth vs to watch and pray continually Luke 21.36 that wee may be counted worthy to escape all the euils that shall come vpon the secure world and that we may stand before the sonne of man And this admonition reacheth vnto both sorts before mentioned Mar. 13.37 All must watch therefore they that are asleepe must wake and they that wake must keepe themselues awake Eph. 5.14 Vnto the first the Lord saith Awake thou that sleepest and stand vp from the dead 1. Cor. 15.34 c. And againe Awake to liue righteously and sinne not What is that but to breake off thy sinnes by righteousnesse Dan. 4.24 Psal 95.10 that there may bee an healing of thine error And because the error of sinne breedeth and festreth in the hart therefore vpon the heart must the cure be performed Ezek. 18.31 make you a new heart and a new spirit saith the Lord for why will ye dye O house of Israell Euery one naturally hath a drowsie and heauy hart like that of Nabal not onely sleeping but dying within him an heart of stone making him like a very stone How shall this stone be made a child of Abraham 1. Sam. 25.37 vnlesse the stony heart bee changed into an heart of flesh Math 3.9 Ezek. 36.26 Indeed none but God is able to worke this change But it is our part to submitte our selues to his hand in the conscionable vse of the meanes Ier. 23.29 suffering his worde as an hammer to beate vpon our stony heart which so and not otherwise is to bee broken and his spirit to conuince and reprooue vs of sinne Iohn 16.8 and his rod to chasten vs for our profit Heb. 12.10 that we may bee partakers of his holinesse These 3. meanes the Lord vseth to awaken the carnall sluggard calling him by his word shaking him by his rod and by his spirit knocking at the dore of his heart Oh then quench not his spirit 1. Thes 5.19.20 resisting and controlling the holy motions thereof despise not his word of Prophecy stopping thine eares as the deafe Adder against the voice of the charmer kicke not against his rodde that hee should complaine of thee as of the stubborne Iewes Ier. 2.30 I haue smitten your children in vaine they receiued no correction In a word while it is called to day heare his voice and harden not thine heart as in the day of prouocation and temptation Loue not sleepe saith Salomon least thou come vnto pouerty Pro. 20.13 open thine eies and thou shalt be satisfied with bread The admonition fitteth well vnto the spirituall sluggard who wilfully remains in penurie because hee will not take paines to be rich in grace He is ready to say with the vniust Steward Luke 16.3 I cannot digge and to begge I am ashamed One while the trauell of repentance seemeth too tedious vnto his loose heart and he is afraid of the Lion in the way thinking it best pollicy not to waken the sleeping Lion of an euill conscience Pro. 26.13 nor to disturbe Satan who as a strong man armed keepes peaceable possession of him Luk. 11.21 But he considereth not that both Satan and his corrupt conscience doe sleepe and suffer him to sleepe but for a time and when there shall bee no more hope or means of recouery they will both awake against him and waken him vp vnto euerlasting anguish vnquietnesse Neither will hee vnderstand that the only way to pacifie conscience and to put Satan for euer to silence is to set the controuersie on foot betimes No meanes to make the Deuill flye but by resistance Iam. 4.7 No means to attaine the quiet of a good conscience but that whereto the Apostle Iames aduiseth Be afflicted Iam. 4.9 and sorrow ye and weepe let your laughter bee turned into mourning and your ioy into heauinesse Iam. 4.10 Cast downe your selues before the Lord and he will lift you vp Another while hee sticketh at the rebuke of Christ and the reproach of sincere profession Hee is loth to goe out of the Campe Heb. 13.13 bearing the badge of his despised Lord. But hee considereth not that this and no other way Christ entred into his glory and sanctified this onely way vnto all those that shal be partakers with him of the same glory But no one thing doth more nusle a sinfull soule in the spirituall sleep then a fond perswasion and pretence that hee is already awake For as the sluggard saith I am awake because hee would not bee troubled so you shall hardly find a secure sinner but beeing called vpon to repent to renew acquaintance and make peace with God hee will bee