must bee with euery true penitent True it is in the time of our impenitency like wilde and mad horses we gallop in the way of sinne yet in the day of our repentance the spirit of God as with a bit or bridle giueth vs a checke and turnes vs backe and setteth vs as fast a going the other way insomuch that our olde companions stand wondering at the matter admiring that wee so suddenly breake off company 1. Pet. 4.4 and runne not with them to the same excesse of ryot so great is the change that not onely our selues but others also see it admire it Now then thou that talkest of repentance and of thy obedience to the commandements is this change in thee assure thy selfe if thou hast repented it is and all the world may see it Canst thou with a good conscience say of thy selfe as Paul did of the Corinthians 1. Cor. 6.10.11 I was once a thiefe a drunkard an adulterer a reuiler an extortioner a couetous person and the like but now I am washed now I am sanctified yea iustified in the name of the Lord Iesus and by the spirit of my God canst thou thus say of thy selfe and that in truth why then to thy comfort be it spoken this is a notable euidence of the truth of thy repentance but if it be otherwise thou mayest deceiue thy selfe for if no reformation followes these are not signes of true repentance for this is true repentance Augustine saith Augustine so to bewayle sinnes past as that we commit them no more which wee haue bewayled It is to no purpose then for vs to bewayle our former courses vnlesse there follow amendment let not then this deceiue thee For where the Lord giues repētance there he giues the grace of reuocation whereby they becom new creatures for thou doest but mocke and not indeed repent when thou still doest that whereof thou hast repented this is true repentance so to repent that thou hast sinned as that thou doest so no more till therfore thou doest cease from sinne and reforme thy wayes vntill thou doest find this change in thy selfe so that thou canst truely say I was thus and thus but now the case is altered thou canst haue no comfort in thy repentance nor in the commandements for asure thy selfe that repentance and continuance in the old wicked courses can neuer stand together Lastly this may serue for the comfort of all such as doe finde this change in themselues who can say with that blinde man who had his sight restored one thing know that whereas I was blinde now I see Ioh. 9.25 whereas I was filthy and vncleane I am now washed and cleansed Oh happy is the condition of such a one thrise blessed is the estate of that man onely manifest this change vnto the world that others may also say How is this man cbanged from what he was that as others haue beene witnesses of thy sinne so they may bee also witnesses of thy repentance This may serue for reproofe Loose professors reprooued as being farre from keeping the commandements against our loose and leud hypocrites masked vnder the name of pure professors promising to thēselues though liuing and lying in their sins far frō keeping the cōmants the reward of glory no as thou sowest thou must reape as thou bruest thou must drinke if thou sowe tares neuer looke to reape wheate if thou Brue with crabs neuer looke to drinke milde Beere Can men gather figges of thorns or grapes of thistles so I comparing our workes to trees their rewards to the fruits say the like thinke you euer of the thorns and thistles of couetousnes pride vncleannes blasphemy swearing profanation of the Sabaoths euer to gather the sweet figges or pleasant grapes of glory and happines will this gall and wormewood euer make pleasant drinke◠will these wilde and sower grapes euer yeeld sweete wine Oh that wee could seriously lay this to heart that wee must all appeare before the iudgement seat of Christ 2. Cor. 5.10 11. to receiue according to that which we here haue done whether good or euill that hee that soweth of the flesh shall of the flesh reape corruption Gal. 6.8 and hee that soweth of the spirit shall of the spirit reape life euerlasting then would we presently begin to reason with our selues Alas how poore how how barren am I in good workes how fruitfull in ill it is true indeed that according to the quality of our works we shall be iudged alas what other works can I present the Lord withal besides the works of death and darknes if these had the promise of reward then were my case good let vs examine our hearts herein and thinke euer with our selues thus long haue I liued but what good haue I done eyther to my selfe or others where are my prayers fastings humiliations meditations well spent Sabaoths well gouerned children and seruants where are the workes of mercie to my brethren either to their soules in holy admonition reprehension exhortation or bodies in ministring reliefe to their necessities how can I look for the penny that hath stood idle in the market place all the day long for the crown that refused to runne Rom. 2.7 for a good crop in haruest that would not sowe in seed time let vs no longer deceiue our selues no glory honor and immortality can be found of any but such as seeke it by continuance in well doing and in keeping the commandements and delighting therein Seeing then the greater our zeal paines and trauell hath beene in Gods cause the greater shall bee weight of our glory the twelue Apostles shall haue twelue special thrones at the day of iudgement and whereas otherwise men shall but shine with the brightnesse of the firmament Dan. 12 3. they that turne others from their euill wayes with brightnesse of the starres Phil. 4.17 hee that soweth liberally shall reape liberally and euery good worke added to the number of the former helpeth to further our reckoning in the day of the Lord. Mat. 12. And here for our comfort let vs remember that God rewards euery one according to his worke for he will reward the least good worke euen a cup of cold water an t 5.1 eating not onely of our honey but of our hony-combe yea at the last day notice will bee taken of inferiour sorts of workes as giuing a peece of bread or a peece of cloath God forbid then that any should say with those in Malachy It is in vaine to serue the Lord therefore let vs feare Gods saying Behold I come quickely and my reward is with me When Mordecay had performed a worthy seruice to Ahashuerosh in discouery of a dangerous treason Est 6.10 hee had not his reward presently but yet his seruice was registred and so afterward when the king looked vppon the records it was royally recompenced Malachy teacheth vs that there are books of
much more in the world to come If any then shall come vnto vs to entice vs vnto any wickednesse whatsoeuer as Potiphars wife came vnto Ioseph Gen. 39.8 and enticed him vnto vncleanenesse wee shall not consent vnto him therein no more then hee did vnto her who was kept therefrom by the feare of the Lord. This should teach euery one of vs dayly to thinke of and bee fully perswaded of the glorious and continuall presence of Almighty God The presence of God euer looking vpon vs should be a meanes to keepe vs from sinne That wheresoeuer we are and whatsoeuer we thinke speake or do God vnderstands it knowes it beholds it our thoughts our words Psal 139.4 There is not a word in my tongue but thou O Lord knowest it altogether our deeds in publike secret Prou. 15.3 the eye of the Lord is in euery place beholding both the euill and the good This consideration and perswasion wee ought all to labour for it being a notable meanes to worke true feare in our hearts therefore let vs esteeme of euery place as Iacob did of Bethel what hee then sayde vrge still vpon thy soule The Lord is present and I was not aware of it Let thy shop bee a Bethel thy chamber a Bethel thy closet a Bethel for God is there present Oh that this meditation did take place in our hearts how many sinnes would it keepe vs from how conscionably should wee walke how vpright would be The chiefe sountaine of all hypocrisie is either ignorance or not cōsidering of this diuine property of God and surely if any thing will banish hypocrisie this will do it A man cannot chuse but be good sayth Boetius who still remembers that he stands in the presence of the Lord. Let this meditation then be euer in our mind that God is before vs and behind vs within thee and without thee on thy right hand and on thy left hand alwaies neere and neuer farre off and so shalt thou walke vprightly Holy Iob we see tooke that course that the Lord would haue vs take for the repressing of all inordinate lust and affections I made sayth he Iob. 31.1 a couenant with my eyes why then should I thinke on a mayde A carnal man would haue thought this too much curiosity and nicenesse what not to looke on the beauty and comely visage of a woman at least not to take some liberty for thoughts tending that way it is too too much precisenesse who can take any notice of such things in vs Vers 2. Oh sayth Iob what portion should I haue of God from aboue and what inheritance from the almighty from on high I durst not giue any way vnto the flesh in any sort for that were the directest course to depriue my selfe of the comforts of the word and spirit here and of the crowne of happinesse which is reserued for the Saints in the world to come Albeit I should speede litle the worse with men yet I should bee sure to come short of many speciall fauours and blessings of the Lord and further he addeth Is not destruction to the wicked and strange punishments to the workers of iniquitie Suppose I should escape the censures of men yet hath not the Lord meanes that I cannot conceiue of for the punishment of rebellious sinners and though things may be smothered for a time cannot he bring secret sins to open shame grant that it be kept close from the eyes of the world yet doth not he behold my wayes and tels al my steps though the eyes of men take the view onely of the outward actions yet hee looketh vpon the inward disposition and affection of the heart These and the like reasons he vsed to keepe himselfe in order and fright his conscience from all manner of sinne and impietie as is more fully described vnto vs in that chapter Fifthly this may serue for terror to all such as liue in sinne what greater terror to a theefe then to haue the iudge an eye witnesse of his vilany Let all dissemblers take notice of this So what greater terror to the wicked then this to haue the Lord behold their doings Come then and learne thou dissembling hypocrite thou that coggest and dallyest with the Lord God hath spyed and doth espy thy rottennesse within for all thy painted outside Hee knoweth that though thou wearest Christs liuery on thy backe thou wearest the diuels fauour in thy bosome Thinke vpon this you lurking diuels close enemies of the Church whose sleepe departs from you till you haue caused some to fall the Lord seeth your plots and cunning deuises your close practises against his Church and people But hee that sitteth in Heauen shall laugh you to scorne Psal 2. the Lord shall haue you in derision Take notice of this all you adulterers and whoremongers who say in your hearts Who sees vs wee are compassed about with darkenesse we need not feare Behold the Lord himselfe seeth thy villany and looketh thee in the face in the act of doing Let vs all consider this and bee better aduised thinke not by denying excusing colouring or cloaking them to auoyde the shame for what if men do count you innocent yet God will bring in euidence to finde you guilty and therefore he himselfe will witnesse against thee Psal 50. and set thy sinnes order before thee Sixthly this may serue to stirre vs vp and encourage vs to well doing What lazie seruant will not put foorth his strength when his maisters eye is on him So who is it were he well perswaded that the Lord is a spectator and beholder of his doings would not put foorth his strength to the Lords worke Were this well considered how couragious should wee bee both in the duties of our generall and speciall callings Seeing the Lord is the beholder of all our actions and wil reward thē let this enflame vs to practise pietie cause vs to make euen holy thoughs precious how forward would we be to euery good work Be not then slothfull in Gods seruice stand not all day idle be euer doing of good Not the least good can be done but he doth know it be it done neuer so secretly yet he seeth it hee seeth thy prayers hee heareth thy grones hee bottles vp thy teares which are shed at midnight and will reward them Thou needst not looke for witnesse to take notice of thy actions God himselfe is witnesse and thy owne conscience also thy conscience is as a thousand witnesses and God as a thousand consciences how many witnesses wouldst thou haue canst thou desire more Let this enflame vs to pietie and cause vs to make euē holy thoghts pretious for as there is not the least euill in the heart which can escape Gods knowledge no more is there the least good motion and cogitation Oh that this were well weighed then would not there bee so many lazie Christians as now there bee
all so that it will make vs blessed happy in all our waies so that the feare of the Lord brings with it alwaies a plenty of al good things and comes laden with the blessings of God wheresoeuer it comes for all these causes now rehearsed should we feare the Lord and endeauor to please him The feare of the Lord giueth vnderstanding to the simple Fourthly hee that feareth the Lord hath the promise of spirituall graces as knowledge instruction wisedome and the like Art thou ignorant in Gods matters and wouldest faine know and vnderstand the wayes of God then feare the Lord. For what man is he that feareth the Lord him shall hee teach in the way that hee shall choose Psal 25.12 Verfe 14. yea the secret of the Lord is among them that feare him and he will shew them his Couenant the feare of the Lord is the beginning of wisedome A good vnderstanding haue all they that doe thereafter Psal 111.10 Wouldest thou haue the Lord to shew pitty and compassion vpon thee and to forgiue thee all thy sinnes O then feare the Lord Mal. 3.16.17 For the Lord wil spare them that feare him as a man that spareth his owne sonne that serueth him as a father pittieth his Children so the Lord pittieth them that feare him Yea the mercy of the Lord is from euerlasting to euerlasting vpon them that feare him and his righteousnesse vpon childrens children Againe Psal 103.13 the Lord heareth the Prayers of those that feare him and granteth their request Yea the Lord will giue grace and glory and no good thing will hee withhold frō them that walke vprightly Psal 84.11 Thus wee see no grace needefull to saluation shall be wanting to vs if we feare the Lord Lastly it hath the maine promise of eternall life in the world to come His endlesse mercy is on them that feare him from generation to generation The maine reason to enforce vs to labour for this holy feare is that it hath the promises of eternall life in the world to come Luke 150. Psal 85.9 Mal. 2.5 Psal 25.12 This is a main reason to enforce vs to labour for this holy feare and howsoeuer the wicked beleeue it not but account it altogether in vaine to feare God and serue him yet let no man doubt of it who belongs to God for as Dauid speaketh Surely Gods saluation is nigh all them that feare him And the couenant of life and peace was with Leui because he feared God and the soule of him that feareth God shall dwell at ease Deut 5.20 yea If we feare the Lord alwayes it shall be well with vs and with our children for euer The consideration of all which should moue euery one of vs to breake out with the Prophet saying Who would not feare thee Ier. 10.7 Reuel 15.7 Psa 115.13 O King of Nations and with Gods seruāts Who wil not feare thee O Lord and glorifie thy Name for thou onely art holy Loe These gracious promises should moue vs to feare the Lord. 2. Cor. 7.1 Phil. 2.12 Esay 8.13 thus will the Lord blesse them that feare him both small and great Therefore seeing we haue such promises let vs cleanse our selues from all filthinesse of the flesh and spirit perfecting holinesse in the feare of God Worke out your saluation with feare and trembling sanctifie the Lord of Hosts himselfe and let him be your dread Now let the feare of the Lord be vpon you take heede and doe it And whatsoeuer yee doe doe it in the feare of the Lord faithfully and with a perfect heart Let vs with good King Iehosaphat feare the Lord 2. Chr. 19.79 and set our hearts earnestly to seeke him For as the Heauen is high aboue the Earth 2. Chr 20.3 Psal 103.11 so great is Gods mercy towards them that feare him as farre as the East is from the West so farre hath God set our transgressions from vs. Psal 33.8 O let all the earth feare the Lord let all the Inhabitants of the World stand in awe of him Psal 2.11 Serue the Lord with feare and reioyce before him with reuerence The Lord of his mercy giue vs this grace and good Lord vnite our hearts to thee that wee may feare thy Name For thou onely Psal 86.11 Psal 76.7 O Lord euen thou art to be feared and who may stand in thy sight when thou art angry Wherefore let vs performe these things with care and conscience and no doubt but wee shall haue the true feare of the Lord within vs which will bee a comfort vnto vs for euermore Our chiefest ioy and delight should be in the Commandements of God Now follwes the practise of this blessed man and that is in actions of piety and delights greatly in his Commandements that is the whole Doctrine diuinely inspired is the very ioy of his heart and delight of his soule It is sweeter vnto him then the Honny and the Honny-combe It is more precious vnto him then gold yea then much fine gold It is more worth vnto him then the whole World and where the heart is once enkindled with loue there the imagination imbraceth with dearest apprehension the thoughts are impatient of any other obiect all the powers of the Soule are vnited in a strong endeauour for the attainement the whole minde must needes bee possest with Meditation and Prayer If hee delight in the Law of the LORD his GOD hee must needes meditate therein And this feruency of the heart cannot possibly be inclosed within the compasse of the brest it will spred it selfe in speech and actions as is plaine by Dauids speech Psal 37.30 The mouth of the righteous will speake of wisedome and his tongue will talke of iudgement for the Law of God is in his heart Psa 119.167 and Dauid saith My soule hath kept thy testimonies for I loue them exceedingly And this loue delight meditation and exercise in the Commandements of God of this blessed man is not a morning cloud and as the morning dew before the Sunne but like the light of the Sunne that shineth more and more vnto perfect day it is not for a start for feare vpon restraint for rereputation for aduantage or to couer the terrors of conscience for a while but it is out of a free resolution and with vndaunted constancy as hee speakes else where day and night So that Gods Law and Word cannot simply profit vs Gods word cannot bee profitable except first it be comfortable vnto vs. except we take ioy and comfort in the same We must first taste and proue the sweetenesse thereof wee must before hand finde out and feele the vertue thereof When wisedome entreth into thy heart Pro. 2.10.11 Psal 1.2 and knowledge delighteth thy soule then and not before shall counsell preserue thee and vnderstanding shall keepe thee and deliuer thee from the euill way and from the man that speaketh