streight tree must streighten it when it is tender If thou wouldst bee fit to serue God when thou art old invre thy selfe to his seruice whiles thou art young If thou desirest to bee a farre and straight tree in thy crooked daies turne from thy crookednesse betimes and streighten thy selfe in thy youth The Lord required a sacrifice in which was offered eares of corne dried by the fire and wheate beaten out of the greene eares Abel brought for an offring vnto God of the first fruites and fat of his sheepe so wee must giue God the greene eares of our yeares the prim-rose of our age the first fruits of our life and the fat of our daies He that would haue God kinde vnto him when he is old let him turne vnto him whiles he is yong It is vnseemely for a man to giue his youth vnto Sathan and to keepe his olde rotten bones and feebled spirits for God The Lord disliketh that men should bring him lame torne and sicke thinges for offrings yea hee saith Cursed be the deceiuer which hath in his flocke a male and voweth and sacrificeth vnto the Lord a corrupt thing Sixtly all men haue soules as well as bodies therefore all men must be carefull for them as well as for these yea rather more carefull because the soule is the more excellent and more diuine and noble part of man Aguâ— shewed himselfe regardfull of both in his praier when he saith Two things haue I required of thee denie me them not before I die Remoue farre from mee vanitie and lies here appeareth the care of his soule Feede me with foode conuenient for me here he sheweth the honest care hee had of both soule and body Foode makes for the good of the bodie conuenient foode makes for the good oâ— both He that carketh for his bodie and careth not for his soule maketh a God of his belly and resembleth the Pharisies who were diligent in tithing of mint and annise but omitted the weightier things of the Law as faith and mercy Now wherein can our care for the wealth and weale of our soules more easily appeare then in our true repentance and vnfeined conuersion Hee that saith he hath care of the health of his soule and will not turne to God dooth as if a man beeing ready to perish in the water should professe that hee would gladly liue and yet wil vse no meanes or take no paines to come out All men doe wish the welfare of their friendes And art thou not thine owne friend It thou be so then art thou bound to conuert Nature teacheth euery man to seeke the good of his own country so grace will teach a man if hee haue but one droppe thereof in his heart to seeke the prosperitie of that common-wealth country which is within himselfe Now the prosperitie of any country consisteth in freedome from euills and the fruition of good things And whosoeuer turneth truly shall bee deliuered from the greatest euills and shall inioy the greatest good euen God who is goodnesse it selfe who with the strength of his arme and by the power of his grace will fetch them out of Aegipt the land of spirituall seruitude and deliuer them from thraldome vnder Pharoah and the Aegiptians from bondage vnder Satan and sinne and will conduct them safely through the wilde wildernesse of this wretched worlde into celestiall Canaan whither our elder brother Christ Iesus is gone before vs to prepare mansions for vs. Seuenthly euerie man complaines that the worlde is naught therefore euery man to stay this complaint must amend conuert If euerie complainer woulde turne from his sinnes vnto GOD the world would bee good The world is not naught but the people in the worlde as a goodly Citie may haue godlesse Citizens a faire house may haue a foule inhabitant and a good Landlorde may haue bad tenants There is no reason for a man to complaine of the world till hee haue forsaken the sinnes committed in the world Hee that exclames against the world before hee doth renounce the fashions of worldlings discouers the skirtes of his mother and defileth his owne nest If euery one will needes accuse the world as naught let them first reuoult from the world and shake hands with the worlde let them come out of the world as the Israelites came out of Aegipt and as all true Israelites are commaunded to come out of Westerne Babylon and then let them not spare to censure and condemne the worlde First turne from thine owne naughtinesse and then say the worlde is naught and that the wisedome of the world is enmity to God Moreouer euery man was in Adam created according to the image of God and euery man by Adam was depriued of this image neither is it repaired in any man nor any man restored to it till he doe conuert and repent and then the Holy Ghost beginnes to graue and draw it vppon the tables of hearts and faces of our soules But almost euery man will say that he doth desire the reparation of this revnited image within him and without doubt if a man could with these fleshly eies behold this image as Peter beheld Moses and Elias with Christ vppon the mount it would exceedingly moue him as that sight did Peter it is so faire and louely to behold so as that if his heart were not made of marble it would so fill it with delight and so rauish his soule with the loue thereof that as Peter said vpon that glorious sight Master it is good for vs to be here so he would wish from his heart to be partaker of it and thinke no price too costly for it For it is as a mirrour wherin a man may in part beholde the fâ—â—e of the inuisible God and a glasle wherein wee may see the countenance and colour of our first estate If any therfore lust as he doth professe to bee partaker of this glorious Image consisting in holinesse and righteousnesse of heart and hand let him turne his feete from the wayes of sinne into the wayes of God and he shall not faile of that which he saith he doth long after To conclude this point all men couet peace therfore let them all conuert Wouldest thou haue true peace of conscience thou fayest thou wouldest Then I say vnto thee turne For There is no peace saith God vnto the wicked who doe not turne Wouldest thou be at peace with thine enemies then turne for When the waies of man please the Lord hee will make also his enemies at peace with him And without doubt there is no peace comparable to that peace and amitie which is among the faithfull so that if all that seeme to desire peace would repent turne the Lion would become a Lambe and the Wolfe a sheepe all cruell conditions would be cast away and the whole world would bee at perfect peace within it selfe both for outward agreement and
greatly care whither hee trauells or how hee trauells whether right or wrong whether in dirt or drie waies by light or night so that he do trauell Yea many are so farre from searching their waies themselues as that they wâ—l not willingly suffer others like the foolish and vnpatienâ— Paâ—â—ent which will not lette the Sâ—rgeon searche his woundes or to the man that hath stolen goods about him who cannot abide to heare of searching If the Minister shal set opeÌ„ their gates of craft and cunning carriage and shall cut downe or breake open these thiâ—k and â—igh hedges of their deepe hypocrisie whereby they hide their waies as much as may be from the eyes of men and shall by that meanes or any other discouer their waies and make them see the filthines of their steps then they stamp they storm they strike priuily with their teeth like Bores and they bite like serpents and if their counsell serued and the times permitted they would openly shewe their maâ—ice and vnchaine their hatred All which conuinceth them of griâ—uâ—us impenâ—tencie and carnall securitie Is it not strange that men should search censure other men and forget themselues Is it not strange that all men naturally shuld affect delight in searching some for riches some for renowne one for profites an other for pleasures a third sort for promotion and yet few or almost none in comparison should search after their waies that if right they might mend their pace and haste an ende if wrong they might in time retire fetch a straiter compasse vnto newe Ierusalem where there is renowne without enuie promotioÌ„ without pride wealth and no woe pleasures but no paines yea all the good that either thought can thinke or will can wish Moreouer is it not strange that men should bee blowne euery way with the blast of an earthly Prince as to turne Turke at his command or to buckle and bende the kneee to his pleasure in any thing like the bird called Cepphos which is carried euery way with the winde and yet to stand like stockes at Gods command to mooue nothing at all or at the least not to remoue Is it not strange that many which dare no more withstand the word of a king then the shippe that Paul was in could antophthalmein outlooke or withstand the stormie winde Euroclydon yet are nothing afraid with browes of brasse to outface and resist yea to rush against the Spirit of GOD in the ministery of his Prophets as Saint Steuen said the rebellious Iewes did A King saith to his subiect search or thou diest for it he searcheth The King of Kings saith to all his subiects search or yee die yea the death of soule and body verie few regard what he saith as if either he iested with them or as thogh the mouth of his mercie were so wide that it both could and would swallow vp his iustice for a little of their lip-labour in a fit of sicknesse or when they are to shake handes with the worlde which argueth a fearefull distemper in their soules euen a spirituall Apoplexy which hath depriued them of all true sense and motion as if they were possessed with the spirits of those whom Isaiah saith had made a couenant with Death and an agreement with hell or at the least cast in the same mould with many desolute and vngracious youths who hauing exceeding kinde and affectionate parents or friendes doe play vpon them in hope of pardon abusing their leuitie to the satisfaction of their owne Iust presuming vpon their milde gentle disposition But we beloued being redeemed out of the world must not fashion our selues vnto the world Wouldst thou know thy selfe then search thy selfe Wouldst thou try thy waies then search thy waies The Iustice cannot examine a fellon till hee be found A man cannot weigh a thing in the ballance except he haue the thing Wouldst thou repent of thy sinnes and turne from them then labour to know them striue to finde them out Shall the Centurion in the Gospell being a man vnder the authoritie of an other and hauing souldiers vnder himselfe command one to goe and he goeth an other to come and he commeth an other to doe this or that and he doeth it And shal the Lord who is ouer all and vnder none commaund vs to doe this or that and shall we refuse Shall he bid vs search or shall hee say by his Embassadour Let vs search and shall wee not search Know ye not that he which doeth the wil of God is the brother the sister yea and the mother of Christ Iesus Christ himselfe did speake it But as the Apostle saith this is the will of God euen your sanstification so say I this is the wil of God euen the searching of your waies God doth will it then let not vs nill it God doth affect it therefore let vs effect it Shall the wicked hunt after the godlye as a Partrich vpon the mountaines Shall wicked Saul seeke for Dauid to kill kim so soone as he had intelligence wheâ—e he had hid himselfe notwithstanding the Lord had forbidden murther Shall cruel Herod bid the wise men search diligently for our Lorde with a secret intention to mâ—rther him and shâ—ll not wee seeke and search diligently for our sinnes that we might sacâ—ifice slaughter them as Iohn did the Priests of Baal They had no commaunâ—emenâ— we are â—ommaâ—nded Tâ—ey were forbidden I speake not oâ— Iehu wee are bidden and exhorted He which defireth to haue eiâ—her good Bees or good by his Bâ—es must search their Hiues for spiders waspes drones and mise So if we would haue the graces of God to florish and swarm within vs we must search the Hiue of our hearts for sinnes which are as waspes and spiders Brush down the spinner-webs of couetousnesse kill the drones of lazinesse driue away infidelitie inordinate cares which robbe God of his honour which should be performed in the temple of our spirits and troubleth the spirit of God which as a Bee worketh within vs building breeding refining If the king should not view and search his Ports neither by himselfe nor by his Ministers they might come to be as well harbours for Pyrates as hauens for honest Merchants so if we wil not search and suruey our hearts they wil be rather hog-sties for sinne Sathan then houses for the holy Ghost If the chanell of the hauen bee not sometimes searcht and if straight passages amoÌ„gst Syres and Sands be not sounded and well obserued there will bee many shipwrackes and losses which with wisdome and labour might haue bene preuented euen so if wee doe not search our hearts and sound them with the line of Gods lawe and the plummet of his word with a faithfull heart a painefull hand and a diligent care and if we doe not obserue and note our course and compasse all our rodes all our waies the shippe of
and vse no means to haue them cured he may thanke himselfe for his present paine and future perishing If a man did either see or foresee some ignominy ruine or calamity would befall him and yet would take no paines to remoue or preuent it hee should shew himselfe vnwise and carelesse of his good Beloued what man soeuer shal examin search his waies shal finde himselfe to be in a dungeon of iniquitie by his nature he shal perceiue himselfe to be inuironed with sinne on euery side he shall see his soule polluted with the leprosie of sinne and wounded with many deadly wounds and he shall if hee looke to the fruite and effect of them plainely see that nothing belongs vnto him by reason of the filthinesse of his waies but euerlasting shame and confusion Therfore iâ— hee will not seeke abroade for dâ—liuerance in time if the worst doe fall and surely no other can be with reason looked for of him hee may thanke himselfe and say that hee hath perished through his owne default He saw the snare and would not flie away he perceiued the daunger and would not seeke to preuent it hee doth wittingly cast himselfe into the fire of Gods wrath and runne vpon the pike of his owne destruction shewing also that he neither loued God nor hated sinne He is a very strange traueller who professeth that hee doth in earnest purpose to go the next and nearest way to London and yet perceiuing himselfe to bee out of his way and seeing the right way doth for all thaâ— keepe on in a cleane contrarie way Will not all men say that he is either phrantique or foolish So then if we would not be reputed worse then mad when by the searching and triall of our waies we find our selues to erre let vs either turne into the right path or else let vs not professe that we intend to goe to Heauen Wherefore I pray you doth Dauid speake in this sort I thought I will take heede vnto my waies Why doth he take this hede euen that hee might Not sinne with his tongue Euen so wherefore must men or doe men search and consider their waies surely that they may turne from the euill of them vnto the Lorde Had Paul no rest in his spiâ—it when he was in Troaâ— because hee found not his brother Titus there but presently departed and went away and is it fit that any man should be rechlesse and at quiet with himselfe when after inquisition and examination of his waies hee findeth not his elder brother Christ Iesus in them but onely sinne and sinfulnesse and when hee cannot say as Paul saith of himselfe to the Romanes I see an other lawe in my members rebelling against the law of my minde but more truly it may bee as Peter saide to Simon Magus Thine heart is not right in the sight of God I see that thou art in the gall of bitternesse and in the bond of iniquitie Is there not therefore cause sufficient to make them mooue one foote further and to adde turning to their searching The end of the first Sermon THE SECONDE SERMON The Text Let vs turne againe I Am now come to speake of this last dutie whervnto we are exhorted by the Prophet And here I wil shew who must turn from what they must turne to whom they must turne in what and wherin they must turne when they must turne how they must turne and why they must turne Of these seuen points I meane to speake in order briefly and with perspicuitie For the first Let vs turne againe The Prophet speaks directly to the Israelites men women young old c. And his speech also belongs vnto vs. For whatsoeuer things are written aforetime are written for our learning From whence I conclude that Whosoeuer would not die but liue must turne and returne whether he be Iew or Gentile regenerate or vnregenerate Pastour or people noble or ignoble rich or poore old or young of what sexe condition or calling so euer he be For first There is no respect of persons with God but hee Will reward euery man accordind to his workes With him neither circumcision nor vncircumcision auaile any thing but a new creature Secondly God is an absolute Lord ouer all men whatsoeuer therefore all men are bound to keep his commandements among which this is one and not the meanest as may appeare by the practise of the Prophets who doe often and earnestly vrge this dutie The Apostle Paul saith that God dooth now command All men euery where to change their mindes and teacheth the Corinthians that circumcision is nothing and vncircumcision is nothing but the keeping of the commandements of God Thirdly all men without exception of any sauing Christ who knew no sinne are by natâ—râ— deed in sinnes the children of wrath without God and aliants from the common-wealth of Israel therefore if they meane to liue they had neede to turne Yea euen the most faithfull seruants of God are not onely subiect to goe astray but doe daily erre and offend and therefore they also must repent and turne Fourthly men of all sorts and sexes desire the comforts of this life and euerlasting happinesse in the lifâ— to come therefore all of them must looke to their waies and turne Otherwise they must looke for none and if any befall them they are rather banes vnto them then benâ—fites so long as they liue in their sinnes without true repentance Oh saith God that my people had harkened vnto mee and Israel had walked in my waies I would soone haue humbled their enemies and turned their hand against their aduersaries I would haue fed them with the fat of wheate Take away saith the Lord the euill of your works from before mine eye cease to doe euill learne to doe will If ye consent and obey yee shall eate the good things of the land but if ye refuse and be reâ—ellious yee shall be deuoured with the sword Blessed are they saith the Angell to Iohn that doe his commandements whereof this is one that their right may bee in the tree of life and may enter in through the gates into the Citie Fiftly not onely olde men but young men also must amend turne The prophet speaks to young men as well as to old Dauid saith Wherewith shal a young man redres his way Salomon saith Remember now thy Creator in the daies of thy youth whiles the euil daies come not nor the yeares approach wherein thou shalt say I haue no pleasure in them Quod noua testa capit inueterata sapit A vessell sauours longest of that liquor wherewith it is first seasoned Therfore the Spirit of Wisedome saith Teach a childe in the trade of his way and wâ—en hee is olde hee shall not depart from it Hee that will haue his horse seruiceable when hee is olde must breake him whilst he is young Hee that will haue a