FOVRE SERMONS PREACHED AND PVBLIKELY TAVGHT BY RICHARD LEAKE Preacher of the word of God at Killington within the Baronrie of Kendall and Countie of Westmerland immediatly after the great visitation of the pestilence in the foresayd Countie Ezechiel 24. vers 13. Thou remainest in thy filthines and wickednesse because I would haue purged thee and thou wast not purged thou shalt not bee purged from thy filthines till I haue caused my wrath to fall vpon thee AT LONDON Imprinted by FELIX KINGSTON for Thomas Man 1599. TO THE WORSHIPFVLL M. THOMAS STIKELAND AND M. IAMES BELLINGHAM Esquires and two of her Maiesties Iustices of the peace within the Baronrie of Kendall and countie of Westmerland RICHARD LEAKE wisheth all graces needefull for this life and the continuall encrease of all graces pertaining to eternall life to the ende of their dayes IT is not vnknowne vnto your worships and to vs all round about what great and manifold dangers haue ouerspread all our countrie by the space of these two last yeares and more as well by dearth as also by strange fearefull diseases and sicknesses It is no lesse knowne vnto vs also how little good and small reliefe all outward meanes of remedie and comfort brought vnto the distressed ones in their extremities and who knoweth not how lamentable and wofull was the state of the afflicted one especially in such places as were infected with the pestilence and what feare came vpon vs all thorough that their affliction what mourning amongst them and daily deuises amongst our selues how to auoide escape dangers I wish from my heart that the originall breeding and first occasion of these lamentable times were as well knowne or herafter may be knowne of vs all viz. how that it was not infection of the ayre distemperature in their bodies much lesse the malitious and diuelish practises of witches or yet blinde fortune or any other such like imagined causes which were breeders of these euils But the masse and multitude of our sins in rebelling against the holie one of Jsrael these I say haue been the prouokers of the Almightie to make vs drinke of the cup of afflictions these haue pulled vpon vs al these plagues and brought vpon vs all these fearefull and afflicted times wherein we haue lately been which poynt that it might appeare plaine to the sight view of all my neighbours whose hearts haue awaked at the beholding of the said calamities I haue laboured in this little treatise following to make knowne what hath caused all these woes and who hath wrought and brought vnto vs better dayes as also what dutie we owe to the Lord for our gracious and long desired deliuerance Which I am bold to dedicate vnto your Worships and that for two respects first for that I perswade my selfe that you are both fauourable and also forward to entertaine and bid welcome all that bring the glad tidings of saluation whereby I am resolued that you will not only your selues accept and take in good part these my poore labours but also patronize countenāce and defend thē against al those who shall deride and scoffe at them as they doe at all good things in my self or others and secondly for that you be Magistrates and Iustices within those limits and precincts most parts whereof haue bin infected most pitifully and I am perswaded most iustly for those great and capitall sinnes which rule and raigne amongst vs as grosse Poperie and blinde superstition in very many places in so much that I am afraide that that abhominable Idoll of indignation the Masse is vsed in diuerse places about vs and that very boldly adde hereunto filthy drunkennesse abhominable whoredomes open profanation of the Sabbath vnlawfull pastimes with infinite many moe which the further they bee ripped into the more filthy stinch ariseth out of them These and such like sinnes I say being so pregnant and rise amongst vs I doubt not but as you espied them and heard them cryed against by worde and writing you with the rest of your associats ioyning with you will holde on in zeale of Gods glory the peace of Gods children and the discharge of your owne dueties that these sinnes may haue those lawes executed vpon them which most christianly is prouided in this land for restraining them which no doubt shall so greatly tend to the glorie of God the furthering of the couse of the Gospell and the flourishing estate of our christian common-wealth that in short space the excellent effects of this zealous gouernement shall proue the trueth and vprightnes thereof And thus briefely I cease committing this little worke and the issue thereof for acceptance at your Worships hands and all other that shall reade it to the wisedome of him who hath the disposing of the hearts euen of Kings and rulers euen one God and three persons the Father the Sonne and the holy Spirit to whome be glorie maiestie dominion and praise for euermore Your VVorships bounden Richard Leake To the Christian Reader THe occasion good reader of my offering this poore mite into the Lords treasurie and of sending abroade this fruit which the increase of my small talent bringeth forth vnto the Lords familie was this I pleased God by the space of two yeares together to giue our country in the North parts of this land a taste of his power in iudgement being prouoked thereunto by our manifold enormious sinnes he visited vs with many and grieuous sicknesses as first with the hot feuer after with the bloodie issue and lastly most fearefully with the extreame disease of the pestilence inflicted vpon many and shaken at all in our whole countrie And albeit neither I nor any of the people vnder my charge were infected therewith yet had we all of vs the cause thereof within our sinfull hearts as well as any others it had inuironed vs almost round about we had scarcely any way to turne vs but mourning might be heard so that we expected no better than neighbours fare Furthermore in this time and before as it is well knowne the Lord our God did chasten and punish this whole land with dearth and famine of bread and scarcitie of other victuals in diuers places since which time of tribulation it hath pleased him who is God blessed for euer amen to make knowne his power in mercie as he had before manifested the same in iudgement For be gaue plentie and cheapnes of bread and all kinde of victuals in stead of scarcitie and dearth hee extinguished the heate of sickenesses in those places where it was most feruent with-held it from those places vnto which it was most fearefully threatned so that then might be heard amongst vs mirth in stead of mourning songs in stead of doleful sighings gladsome salutations in meetings in stead of diligent shunning each of others presence for feare of infection The boistrous stormes of afflictions now driuen away and calme showers of comfort descending the cloudes of his heauie displeasure now
being dispersed and the brightnes of his fauourable countenance shining vpon vs sicknesse now ceased and health restored famine taken away and plentie ministred I thought it high time not onely to preach vnto the people of my owne charge these sermons following which teach plainely what vse we are to make of these and such like workes of God and what dutie they binde vs vnto but also to publish them for the benefite of all such as the doctrine doth pertaine vnto This occasion and opportunitie offered being well considered of all them who shall reade these Sermons may serue sufficiently to excuse me of all such wants as shall be espyed in me for the prouerbe is not more olde than true a little betime is worth much too late How good is a word in due season saith Salomon Pro. 15.25 as if he had said Oh who is able to declare how good a word is which commeth in due season He himselfe afterward sheweth whereunto it may bee compared A worde saith hee spoken in his place is like apples of golde with pictures of siluer Chapter 25. verse 11. Now sure am I that there is no wise bodie can denie but these Sermons were spoken in season and also published in season except some shall say that they had better haue come sooner which I could not remedie and yet I feare not their comming too late for the dangers are lately passed the deliuerance newly obteyned the prints or markes of his correcting rods are yet to be seene in many great townes whose habitations are as yet scarcely replenished the noyse of their mournings and gronings which were sore chastened are as yet sounding in some of our eares his gracious blessings are as yet euen in our mouthes so that neither his punishments vpon the wicked his chastisements vpon his children nor his seuerall blessings vpon them both now againe multiplied can possiblie be out of memorie If any say that they such as they are be published ouer hastely because peraduenture they may seeme to preuent the publishing of some more learned mans worke taken in hand vpon the like occasion I answer that euen for this purpose I stayed these my Sermons a whole season gladly desiring and earnestly expecting the publishing of some of their labours vpon the same occasion and to the same end that I haue published these yea so long I stayed till I feared that if I should haue lingered any longer the fitnes of the time would haue stolen away and yet could I heare of none which went about or intended any such matter Wherefore thus long I stayed looking for some mans labours to doe more good and no longer would I deferre least there should be no mans labours set forth vpon the same occasion which might doe any good Now then the premises considered I pray thee Christian reader to take in good part this my labour and then it shall be as an earnest penie of some riper fruits out of my poore garden when God shall minister a fit season to gather them and to send them abroode I ayme at nothing herein but the glorie of God the benefiting of others and the discharge of my owne dutie if by any meanes I might attaine thereunto though but in some small measure and though I misse thereof with men yet not with God who regardeth and accepteth the will and desire As for the malitious and enuious carpers and scorners who haue Eagles eyes to see motes in godly mens labours but blinde as Moales to see beames of wickednes in their own liues readie to censure others of all wants but sooth themselues in their owne wayes if they enuie me it is but their propertie if rashlie they censure and iudge amisse of me it is their ignorance if they with open mouth barke at me I haue therein many to take part with me whose bookes I scantly am worthie to beare after them none whereof could euer write so learnedly deliuer the trueth so zealously or doe any worke so profitably but either Atheist Papist sectarie one wicked person or other was readie at hand eyther priuily or openly to labour by power and policie perswasion or threatning to hinder the good successe of those their labours I therefore account all their malitious carping and scornefull censuring the fruit which their profane lips do daily bring forth But vnto such as feare God and haue need to be increased by the mutual helpe of their brethren I say reade these sermons diligently meditate vpon thē that ye may see the works of god and the vse yee ought to make of them when God hath chastened you by sicknesses or any other way humble your selues before God repent and turne neerer vnto him and againe when he hath mercie vpon you and granteth vnto you ease comfort then beware sinne no more least a worse thing come vnto you which that it may be fruitfull God for Christ his sake grant through the mightie working of his holy spirit vnto which one God Father Sonne and holy Ghost be glory and praie for euer Amen Thine in the Lord Richard Leake THE FIRST SERMON OF THE DVTIE OF OVR deliuerance drawne out of this portion of the word of God following viz. Ioh. 5. vers 14. And after that Iesus found him in the temple and said vnto him Behold thou art made whole sinne no more least a worse thing come vnto thee THese words are a speech or kind of exhortation The summe of the whole verse made by our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ vnto the poore man whom a little before he had healed describing vnto him the dutie of his late receiued deliuerance as also by a louing friendly caueat forewarning him of the feare and danger of a relapse into sinne againe and former follies Wherein The parts of it for the better explanation of the particulars we haue to consider these parts or speciall circumstances First the time when Christ vttered these words The time whē vz. a little after he had been healed of his great and grieuous paine to the end hee might the better remember it and immediatly he had talked with the Pharisies Christ his enemies least by perswasion they should haue corrupted or by threatning feared him not to giue God his due drawne out of these words of the text And after that Secondly the place where these wordes were vttered by our Sauiour Christ The place where vz. the temple he found him in the temple a fit place that such heauenly and diuine words might take more effect Dauid comming into the temple alwaies his zeale and earnest desire to praise God was kindled And if there bee any sparke of grace vsually it will burst out comming into the temple the ordinarie place where God is worshipped Thirdly the wordes of exhortation themselues in these words The words of exhortation themselues and said vnto him Behold thou art made whole sinne no more a friendly and louing caueat The louing caueat
preseruation from imminent dangers may bring foorth and breede in vs reformation of life and mortification of sinne raigning in vs. And thus much for the dutie of the man deliuered wherein hath bin shewed at large the dutie of vs all for Gods many and miraculous mercies whereof we haue of late most abundantly tasted and which whole point is the subiect of this vnworthie treatise THE FOVRTH SERMON OF THE DVTIE OF our deliuerance drawne out of the last words of the text Least a worse thing come vnto thee NOw followeth the fourth and last part of this treatise The summe of the words which is the louing and friendly caueat of our Sauiour Christ to the man healed forewarning him of the danger that would ensue if he did not presently put in practise the dutie of his deliuerance contained in these wordes of the text Least a worse thing come vnto thee In these words vttered by our Sauiour Christ to the man healed is described the danger this man was in if he sinned againe euen a worse thing to fall vpon him The Lord in his former sicknes had dealt with him like a sonne but if he continue obstinate and offend again he will plague him like a wayward seruant He had visited him with a long sicknesse to purge him that he might be a profitable plāt but if after this purging of the Lorde hee still became vnprofitable hee will the next time plucke him vp by the rootes and cast him into the fire In his former sicknesse God shewed his mercifull power and powerfull mercie in healing him when he had no hope to be healed but if he fall and offend againe the Lord will shew his iust power and powerfull iustice in condemning him The danger of a relapse into sinne againe after God hath deliuered vs out of dangers Heb. 6.6.7 The man stood therefore in a dangerous case better he had neuer been healed then sinne againe better neuer to haue receiued the sweete raine and dew of Gods blessings then after the receipt of them to bring forth nothing but bryers and brambles for so hee is nie to cursing Out of all which I gather this doctrine vz That when for sinne God hath inflicted sicknesse sores and griefe vpon any and afterward he in mercie hath healed the disease by remitting the sinne and the partie so healed doth fall afterward into his accustomed manner of sinning againe that same partie whosoeuer he or she be is in great daunger that God will inflict a greater plague vpon him then euer he had before For proofe hereof reade Leuit. 26. from the 14. Reade Leui. 26. from vers 14. to the end of the chap. and Deut. 28. verse to the end of the chapter where the seruant of God Moses setteth downe that for the peoples disobedience and contempt of his lawes God will bring a consumption and a burning ague but if they will not for these things repent he will punish them seuen times more if they will not then repent hee will plague them seuen times worse then that The Prophet Amos rebuketh Israell that though she was in captiuitie yet was she not humbled thereby to forsake her sinnes Amos. 5. vers 10.11.12 but rather worse and worse in contemning his Prophet in oppressing the poore in peruerting iudgement by taking bribes the Prophet prophesieth telleth them that a worse thing shall come then euer befell them hitherto for whereas they seemed to crye for the day of the Lord he telleth them the day of vengeance shall fall vpon them in stead of the other Yea one iudgement shall follow after another Vers 19. As if a man did flie from a Lion and a beare and did meet him or went into the house and leaned his hand on the wall and a serpent bit him Gods iudgementes shall be readie to seaze vpon him Pro. 1. vers 24. what way soeuer he turne him Wisedome telleth the wicked that because she hath stretched out her hand to correct diuerse of her rebellious sonnes and yet they continued wicked Vers 28.29.30 and would none of her correction loe the next time she will stretch forth her hand but not as before before she stretched and spread abroad both her armes of mercie clocking her disobediēt children vnto her As the hen gathereth her chickens vnder her wings Math. 23.37 But her second stretching shal be as an Eagle prepared for his pray to bring vpon them sodaine desolation and destruction like a whitewind Esay speaking in the person of the Lord to his rebellious Israell saith Esy 65.12 I shall number you to the sword and all you shall bow downe to the slaughter because I cried and you did not answere I spake and ye did not heare Ierem. 2.30 but did euill in my sight Ieremie complaineth that although they were smitten and corrected yet all was in vaine And howe fearefull a thing it is after God hath giuen vs health or deliuerance out of dangers to offend him againe by our loose life appeareth by Pharaoh and his fearefull ende Exod. 13.28 Luke 17.17 and by that sharpe censure Christ gaue of the nine leapers by him cleansed and yet remained vnthankfull Heb. 6.4 And if it be so dangerous to sinne againe after the recouerie of the health of the bodie much and more dangerous it is for those to fall againe Heb. 10.26 Mat. 12.45 whom God hath enlightned with the sight of their sinnes and knowledge of the truth Heb. 6.6 for they entertaine other spirites worse than the former they crucifie againe the sonne of God and therefore better had it beene for such neuer to haue knowne the way of truth then after they haue knowne it to prophane it 2. Pet. 3.13 by their lewd and wicked practises least a worse thing come vnto thee This word least doth not here signifie any vncertainty as being a thing proceeding from man The right sense of the word least in this place whose promisses or threatings are vncertaine but it signifieth a thing most assuredly that will come to passe as being a iudgment proceeding from the father of light Iam. 1.18 Gods iudgements are not to be dallied withall with whom is no variablenes not shadow of turning We may not dally with the threatnings of the Lord here as Euah did with the cōmandement in Paradise who whē the Lord had absolutely threatned death to thē assoon as euer they should transgresse his commaundement Euah by the subtiltie of the serpent is brought to make a peraduenture of that which God absolutely set downe and saith Gen. 3.3 Of the fruite of the tree in the middest of the garden God hath said ye shall not eate least ye die It may be some now a daies may sooth vp Gods iudgements and threatnings The speech of a carelesse Atheist and sooth themselues in their sinnes and say tush to sin is not so great a daunger as it is taken to
be for we see them that most offended florish faire and stand as wel as the best and besides his iudgements are but threatned with a peraduenture or perhaps take heed ye catiffes and thrise blinded men of the world For this word least signifieth thus much That hee aduiseth them to beware for if he doe not A bone for such to gnawe vpon assuredly a worse thing will come vpon him And that Gods iudgements threatned against the wicked are without any peraduenture as coÌ„ming froÌ„ a God not vncertain what to do marke what Moses speaketh in the person of the Lord If I whet my glittering sword and my hand take hold on iudgement Deut. 32.41.42 I will execute vengeance on mine enemies and will reward them that hate me I will make my arrowes drunke with blood and my sword shall eat flesh And Dauid saith God shall wound the hairie scalpe of such an one as goeth on still in his wickednesse And the authour to the Hebrewes hauing perswaded to holinesse of life addeth the daunger Heb. 12.29 and saith For our God is euen a consuming fire Again the same author sheweth the danger all such are in as by their continuance in sinne after they haue receiued the knowledge of the truth do crucifie againe the sonne of God addeth as a coÌ„clusion these words It is a fearefull thing to fall into the hands of the liuing God Heb. 10.31 To conclude therfore this point Gods iudgements being threatned against the wicked for sinne they are ineuitable without alteration vnlesse they presently put in practise the holsome counsell of the Apostle Paul to the Corinthes What will alter Gods iudgments aduising them to enter into a serious and sound adiudging of themselues and so they should escape the great and fearefull iudgementes of the Lord 1. Cor. 11.31.32 which was partly begunne alreadie in execution amongest them and partly was readie to be inflicted vpon them It must be an eye to see Gods iudgement a heart to feele Gods iudgement a conscience to condemne and all concurring together to prostrate throwe downe and truly to humble the sinfull man vnder Gods mightie hand crying with the prodigal sonne O father I haue sinned against heauen and against thee and am not worthie to be called thy sonne I say it must be all these wrought most soundly by the worke of Gods spirit in the sinner that must be as a stoppe to Gods iudgements and a stay of his anger manifested Least a worse thing come vnto thee c. These words may be the speech of a master to his seruant thus I haue taken thee napping twise or thrise nay often and haue louingly admonished thee of it but if thou plaiest the like again thou shalt smart for all or of a schoolmaister to his scholler whose waggish trickes and great negligence he hath often pardoned but now threatneth the next time shall pay for all Euen so God from time to time seemed to winke at the sins of this man What the Lord long forbearing requireth yea euen at the sinnes of vs all and like a louing schoolemaster beares a while with our offences but either now cease from sinne learne to doe well and be a good scholler in Christes schoole or else looke thy lord and master the Lord Iehouah will take an account for all and in the ende pay thee home Least importeth necessitie Least this word least vsually in the scriptures importeth great necessitie of the matter in hand to be put in speedie execution as in Ieremie Ierm 4.4 Breake vp your fallow ground sow no more among the thornes be circumcised to the Lord and be no more stifnecked least my wrath breake forth and burne like a fire c. Psal 2.12 And the Psalmist Kisse the sonne least he be angrie and so ye perish sodainely if his wrath be kindled yea but a little c. And that necessarie admonition of our Sauiour Christ to his Disciples Watch and pray least ye enter into temptation Luke 22.40.46 Math 26.36 Mar. 14.32 And last of all that earnest caueat of the author to the Hebr. to all the godly Iewes for perseuerance in the profession of the Gospell and practise of holy daies meete for the measure of the grace of God they had receiued saith thus Take heed brethren least at any time there be in any of you an euill heart and vnfaithfull to depart away from the liuing God Heb. 3.12 vers 13. Out of all these aforenamed phrases may be gathered the vrgent necessitie that was imposed vpon this man healed presently to put in vre the continuall dutie of his deliuerance The vrgent necessitie of performing dutie to the Lord. and insinuateth also vnto euery one of vs or rather as a continuall cry soundeth in our eares O ye negligent coole carelesse disobedient and scornefull people in the North parts of England who deseruing Gods wrath for your manifold sins are yet now in the multitude of his mercies An Alarme to the North parts of England freed deliuered from the effect of his wrath sinne no more least if you againe tempt and prouoke the liuing Lord to anger he call you to recken and giue an account for your selues Heb. 3.9 so ye shall neuer be able to answere one of a thousand Further in that our Sauiour Christ heere admonisheth the man healed of his daily danger if euer after hee doe not crucifie the olde Adam with the lustes thereof God euer warneth before he plagueth we note the louing care mercy of God not to bring destruction vpon any before he hath both largly louingly forewarned them of the danger yea he desireth not the death of a sinner but rather that he conuert and liue according to the rule of the Apostle Ezech. 18.23 the Lord is not slack as some men count slacknes but is patieÌ„t towards vs would haue no maÌ„ to perish 2. Pet. 3.9 but would haue all men come to repentance and all are inuited to the mariage of the Kings sonne To conclude therefore this point Matth. 22. No cause to censure the Lord of hard dealing in iudgement we learne heere that all excuse or censuring the Lord of hard dealing in iudgmeÌ„t is remoued froÌ„ the wicked seing all of theÌ„ before they vndergo the intollerable burtheÌ„ of his wrath are offred most abundaÌ„tly to drinke of his loue A worse thing For the consideration of the measure and greatnes in some sort of this punishment which heere is threatned the man if he offend againe View in particuler I wish thee diligent wise reader to gâ—ue a glaunce backe to the viewe of his former sicknesse and certainly that will giue thee some probable demoÌ„stration of the measure of his punishment againe Cal. in Ioh. Cap. 5. vers 14. It is very likely that his correctioÌ„ was laid vpon him in his youth and the verie time which by
of dearth and pestilence and yet being now healed thereof presently forget our punishments and God that inflicted thē vpon vs Though we forget God in our dutie yet he will not forget our sins tremble and feare for certainly then God will not forget our sinnes but if they hale him on to come against vs yet againe take heede that with his third whip he scourge vs not till blood run down from top to toe when there shall be nothing heard but a fearfull noise and lamentation alas alas in which distresse which is most fearfull the wicked carelesse contemners of his mercies shall then seeke vnto him earely and late for helpe But I make a question whether they shall finde him or no the shall call vpon him but I am afraid hee will answere in thunder and the reason doth Wisedome tell Prou. 1.28.29 because they hated knowledge and did not chuse the feare of the Lord. The cause doth Ieremy tell like disobedient children Ierem. 2.30 they did not humble themselues vnder the Lord when they were corrected And surely if a worse thing What is the cause if our countrie be plagued againe a worse plague come vpon our North-parts of this land againe it is because as diuers to their griefe haue both seene and heard that many of you great townes great congregations priuate families and persons after your deliuerances healings and restoring to your former liberty haue not with Moses and with Deborah Exod. 15.2 Iudg. 5.2 assembled your selues together and lift vp your voyces in praise to the Lord and a faithfull promise to become euer after carefull in his seruice which thing you ought to haue done Much abuse in many places townes after their late fearfull visitation But rather your meetings haue bin and are to shake hands with your former sins and to bid them welcome againe amongst you hauing for a time been taken from you by reason of your affliction Your songs haue not been to praise God but rather as I haue heard in place therof prophane Enterludes Piping and dancing Lords of misrule and disorder with many moe vnlawfull sports Esay 49.13 and generally your protestations not one to crie to another and all ioyntly to sound together saying Reioyce O heauens be ioyfull O earth burst foorth into praise O mountaines for God hath comforted vs his sinfull people and hath had mercie on vs his late afflicted ones Neither I am afraid haue you been carefull to say with Moses The Lord is our strength and praise and he is become our saluation he is our God and wee will prepare him a tabernacle he is our fathers God and we will exalt him And to conclude whereas many of you my beloued countrimen haue been depriued of the enioying of one anothers fellowship Our meeting againe after a long separation I am afraid abused in the time of your affliction which now blessed be the name of God is restored to free libertie of fellowship and societie one with another I say I am afraid that your meetings together after a long and lamentable separation hath not bin to prouoke vnto loue and to good works and to exhort one another daily Heb. 10.23 3.13 while it is called to day but rather in stead of this the drunkard to associate himselfe with his drunken companions the whoremonger to seeke for his harlot the vainglorious man for his flatterers the carnall man for his confederates the vsurer for his creditors one wicked man with another and so to renew that wicked bond and league of their sinne at all which you ought to haue taken your last farewell neuer to haue communicated any more with such vnfruitfull works of darknes Ephes 5.11 Shall come vnto thee Out of this place we may gather this excellent point namely that as the godly bringing forth the pleasant fruits of righteousnes in their liues Note well the godly goe still forward till they come to heauen but the wicked stil backward till they go down to hell haue still more more the sweete mercies of God multiplied vpon them till they enioy them in their fulnes in the kingdom of glorie Euen so the wicked that after Gods graces powred downe vpon them doe still notwithstanding bring foorth nothing but the weedes and brambles of iniquitie haue Gods iudgements still more and more increased against them till at the length they presse them downe to hell Againe I gather hence this doctrine Thanke our vnthankfulnes if moe plagues come that if euill come vpō euill and punishment vpon punishment we may iustly impute it to our owne obstinacie and wilfull rebellion Last of all let this doctrine be the conclusion both of this point and this part of Scripture Si nil ferulis proficiat erga nos Deus quibus leniter nos tanquam teneros ac delicatos filios humanissimus pater castigat nouā quasi alienam personam induere cogitur If God by his whipping of vs profit vs nothing wherewithall like a most kinde father he correcteth our contumacie and disobedience hee is enforced to take vpon him another habit and to manifest himselfe in another manner If mercie will not moue iudgement will throw downe changeing mercie into iudgement And therefore let vs euer learne the end of Gods fatherly correction to bee our daily reformation and more increasing in the gifts and graces of the holie spirit euermore remembring the danger that will ensue if daily we doe it not and the sharp censure we shall vndergoe if we forget it euen this that the Almightie Iehouah will quasi atrocioribus malleis with the heauy and insupportable beetles of his iudgements presse downe vtterly bring to desolation all those quibus mediocris poena nil profuit that is whose hearts were not mollified and their liues reformed with the Lordes former sweete and comfortable affliction The conclusion Which my beloued that the former may euer take place in vs and so escape that the latter be neuer laid vpon vs the Lord for his infinit mercies sake grant vs euen for his sonne Christs sake who by his blood shedding hath so dearely ransomed his Church and vnto whom with the Father and the holy Spirit be all glorie maiestie praise and dominion for euermore Amen FINIS