A SERMON PREACHED IN OXFORD-SHIRE BY NICHOLAS CANTREL Master in Arts. Published at the request of Sir RICHARD BLVNT LONDON Printed by H. L. for MATTHEVV LOWNES 1624. IOSH. 24.15 But as for me and my house we will serve the Lord. THE best cognizance that saving grace hath is Perseverance and a continuall increase in grace according unto that of David Such as be planted in the house of God shall flourish in the Courts of the house of the Lord they also shall bring forth more fruit in their age Psal 92.12 Manie men indeed begin well but in continuance of time they are wearie of well-doing and their end is not answerable they begin in the spirit but they end in the flesh Oh it passeth in their yonger yeers how zealous they are for Gods cause how deare his testimonies are unto them but as if the heat of their devotion depended upon their youth it abates by degrees and the older they growe the colder they are to Godwards like the foolish Virgins in the Gospel towards the time that the Bridegrome is comming they are sleeping without oile in their lampes and so doe lose their reward We find by experience that that parable which our Saviour tells us of the Sower is too true and there be temporarie beleevers who at first receive the seed of the word with gladnesse but the cares of this world the deceitfulnes of riches choake the word and in the harvest-time of their life they are made unfruitfull Manie that like David have bin as starres in Israel to lead the people into the house of God have growne dimme at last and lost their glorie Now as if with Saul the good Spirit had forsaken them and the evill Spirit had taken possession of them they are not the same they were they are changed from their first love and by transgressing the commandements of God do lose that hold which they had of grace Their neglect of good duties their conversation with the wicked of this world their reposing themselves upon worldly vanities are signes whereby it is to be feared lest God doe glorifie himselfe upon them by his iudgements since they doe leave off to glorifie God by their godly life and example Therefore it is not enough for a man to begin well but he must proceed more and more in goodnesse and in grace and everie day take-out a new lesson in pietie and set forth unto the world a fairer copie of his life The unprofitable servant was not condemned for not keeping but for not encreasing his talent Even reprobates have gon very farre in grace and by their fearfull falling away have left us examples to take heed how wee stand secure of the judgements of God Hee was never truely good who had not alwaies a desire to proove better for if wee look into the examples of the Saints and servants of God this propertie wee may generallie observe in them and we shall find them ever to have bin best at the last To the end that I may shew that to bee true in part which I have spoken in generall I have brought before your eyes the example of zealous Ioshuah that renowned servant of God in whose mouth the praises of his God like a Swan-like song are now sweetest towards his latter end The flourishing yeares of his life he had spent in the service of Moses behaving himselfe valiantly in fighting against the enemies of the Lord and now that Moses was dead he was chosen by God to succeed in the same place and charge namely to be the Leader of the Israelites It is well worth your noting to behold how faithfully and carefully this good servant of God behaved himselfe in so weightie an office For when the Lord by his hand had brought his people into the land which he sware unto their fathers that hee would give them and had given rest unto Israel from all their enemies round about so that now they had a settled policie government both in Church and Common-wealth Ioshuah did not thus thinke with himselfe I have done enough for my time from henceforth I will disburthen my selfe of all cares and troubles the rest of my life I will spend with as much delight as I can and betake my selfe wholly unto my ease Such imaginations as these were farre from Ioshuah hee knew so high a Calling as his did require othergesse resolutions and therefore his thoughts were wholly taken up in well-mannaging the affaires of the Common-wealth in providing that the Commandements of his God might be put in execution that true Religion might everie where be established idolatrie banished and that God might be glorified all in all as you may perceive by the 22.23 and 24. chapters of this booke As for his own private house familie the well ordering guiding of it must needs challenge the highest praise and admiration of godlie and vertuous minds No loosenesse was suffered to raigne here no impietie to infect here no busie Sycophants were sufferd to nest themselves here being the onelie instruments which the unhappie world in these last and dangerous times cherisheth to its owne confusion None must live with Ioshuah but such as would live after Ioshuahs patterne and prescription None must serve Ioshuah but such as would serve Ioshuahs God in uprightnesse and sinceritie Such was his godlie resolution such his care such his zeale Nor was this affection in him by fitts bred of a sudden and vanishing humour but it was firme and fixed in his heart even to the last minute of his life yea and did then appeare in its greatest excellencie unto the world when as he himselfe was ready to leave the world For now his dying day drawing neere apace this good servant of God as if his soule had no other care to possesse it but the wellfare of the Church and the continuance of true Religion for this end and purpose assembles the Israelites to Sichem their Elders their Heads their Iudges and Officers who accordingly presented themselves before God Here Ioshuah begins with a Commemoration of the benefits which God had done for the people and puts them in mind of the manifold deliverances which hee wrought for them namely by delivering them from the furie of so manie fierce dreadfull nations that fought against them and by casting them out before them then by giving them a land wherein they did not labour and cities which they built not and vineyards and olive-trees which they planted not For such and so great benefits of Almightie God hee onelie requires that they for their parts would expresse their thankfulnesse by serving the Lord in sinceritie and uprightnesse and by having nothing to doe with those false gods which their fathers served beyond the floud and in Aegypt Oh how inflamed is that zeale how indefatigable is that diligence which neither the coldnesse of age can extinguish nor the feeblenesse of decayed nature can diminish Ioshuah like a good Steward being to
of their enemies but will be readie to assist them and to comfort them at all assaies Yea let them not be discouraged nor dismaied with the manifold offences which they finde in this world God will shorten these wretched times for his Elects sake when it shall be unto everie man according to his faith Onely in the meane time let them possesse their soules in patience and resolve with Ioshuah to be constant in the service of God how-ever the world varies for if they continue to the end undoubtedly they shall obtaine that promised crowne of glorie Thus much for the connexion of my text the words themselves doe now crave your attention in which being as they are a Protestation you have these two circumstances First the partie protesting whose qualitie and condition you are to consider Secondly the extent of his Protestation Hee that protesteth here is Ioshuah the Governor of the Israelites famous amongst them for his Conquests in the warres and no lesse renowned for his Counsailes in the times of peace in a word the chief man among them both in power dignitie and authortie from which ariseth this point of instruction God requires of the greatest men the greatest zeale for his glorie A point which you may see notably proved 2. Sam. 12.7 where Nathan the Prophet being sent to reproove David for those heinous sinnes of murther and adulterie which hee had committed enforceth the arguments of his reproofe from the promotion and dignitie which God had raised David unto and from the benefits which were conferred upon him Thou art the man saith Nathan having made David to pronounce the sentence of death upon himselfe by a parable which he told him thus saith the Lord God of Israel I anointed thee king over Israel and delivered thee out of the hand of Saul and gave thee thy Lords house and thy Lords wives into thy bosome and gave thee the house of Israel and of Iudah and would moreover if that had bin too little have given thee such and such things wherefore hast thou despised the commandement of the Lord to do evill in his sight And indeed there is good reason why the Lord should require the sincerest and greatest service of them whom he hath exalted unto the highest places and upon whom he hath bestowed his benefits more abundantly than upon others For first of all by a like reason Doth not the husbandman expect the goodliest croppe from that ground upon which hee hath bestowed the greatest cost and labour Doe not parents also expect the greatest duetie and affection from that childe towards whom they have bin most indulgent and carefull in his education So likewise it is with the Master towards his servant If his bountie have bin extraordinary towards him hee may justly looke for extraordinarie respect and service at his hands And shall not Almightie God require of them the sincerest service and greatest zeale for his glorie whom hee hath raised unto the greatest dignitie Againe secondly if wee looke about in the verie course of nature that will teach us another sufficient reason of this point The highest Spheares are not they the swiftest in motion and doe they not carrie about with them the inferiour orbes by their celeritie The biggest starres in the firmament are they not evermore the brightest and doe they not give lustre unto the lesser starres Now tell mee If God doe prescribe such order to his dumbe creatures how much more will hee require that the same order should be kept in his reasonable creature in his more noble creature man Thus then wee may conclude by a like reason Men that beare authoritie that are eminent in power and dignitie that excell in riches and Command are placed in the highest Spheares of humane societie to this end that like sonnes of God they might shine brightly unto their inferiours by their godly life and example Such arguments as these it were fit that they should alwaies beare in their minds lest being great in this world they forget the hand that raised them that befall them which David complaines of Man being in honour saith he hath no understanding but is compared unto the beasts that perish For the divell is well seene in subtile sophistrie hee useth to frame a preposterous argument and to inferre à positione beneficij depositionem of ficij from the position of dignitie the deposition of duetie Let poore men saith hee and such as be of a lowly and humble spirit tremble at the word of God Let them be dejected and groane at the sight of their sinnes who want the good things of this world to comfort them Great resolutions become them that bee in great places Wilt thou goe with the multitude and bring them forth into the house of God This is the way to make thee lesse than thou art Doe not trouble thy selfe with frequenting religious exercises nor with mortifying contemplations which enter thorow even to the dividing asunder of the soule and the Spirit Learne to have the advantage of thy great fortune one houre in a Sabbath is enough to spend in devotion the rest thou maist bestow upon thy selfe Thus doth Satan goe about to delude man and make the blessings of God become snares in his way perswading him that by how much he is above others he hath by so much more liberty than others Where on the contrarie God is no accepter of persons nor regards heeanie man the more for that which he hath but in as much as he hath received all from him hee lookes for the greater feare and obedience at his hands The more talents a man hath received the greater account hath hee to make for them The use therefore of this point serves for instruction unto all them whom God hath advanced in this world upon whom he hath bestowed his outward favours and blessings to teach them to be alwaies mindfull what and of whom they have received them and to be carefull to walke worthie of their high calling These outward graces which make men to be esteemed and admired in the world riches honours power and preeminence they are not borne with men men are not borne unto them they have them not by nature But they are the gifts of God he bestowes them where he pleaseth and where he bestowes them there he expects that like good stewards men should faithfully dispose of them Act. 17.21 to his glory God saith the Apostle hath appointed a day in the which he will iudge the world with righteousnesse then shall all men rise to give an account of their doings Not the poorest man that lives but hath manie waies tasted of the benefits and bountie of God and therefore stands accountable for his service for his thankefulnesse He that hath bin unfaithfull in a little shall be beaten with the fewer stripes but the mightie saith the wise man shall he mightily tormented Wis 6.6 For why Great and publicke examples have this condition annexed unto them
1. Cor. 5.6 To conclude this point they can never truly and sincerely serve God who doe not cause them that live in their houses to serve him in like manner The use of this serves in the first place for information to shew us what manner of proficients we are in the schoole of grace how stedfastly we cleave unto the covenant of God how perfectly we walke in his waies how neere wee have attained to that heavenly communion of Saints For if our conversation be in heaven all our delight will bee upon the Saints on earth Wee know saith S. 1. Ioh. 3.14 Iohn that we have passed from death unto life because wee love the bretheren Wee know by this that wee love God and that wee are beloved of God if we love his servants and make much of them that feare the Lord. Psal 101.3 And then with David wee walk in our houses with a perfect heart when with one spirit with one soule both our selves and those that be under us do serve the Lord then wee shall be sure of a blessing When the Lord did so familiarly converse with Abraham and create him the father of the faithfull it was with this proviso for saith hee I know him that hee will command his sonnes and his household after him that they keepe the way of the Lord to doe righteousnesse and iudgement Genes 18. When David was chosen of God and pronounced a man after Gods owne heart it was with respect unto the faithfulnesse and truth of his in ruling them that were committed to his charge prudently with all his power Psal 78.72 Wouldst thou find that favour in the eyes of the Lord that Abraham did then thou must follow the steppes of Abrahams faith Wouldst thou be as deare unto God as David was then with David thou must seeke to enlarge the glorie of God Thy eyes must look unto such as be faithfull in the land that they may dwell with thee hee and none but hee must be thy servant that leadeth a godly life In a word wouldst thou with Ioshuah enter into the promised Canaan then with Ioshuah thou must bee zealous for Gods cause Though all the world should stagger and revolt from God forsake his Covenant yet must thou maintain his worship thou must obey his Commandemēts thou must reverence his word bear this resolution I and my house will serve the Lord. The second use of this point serves to discover unto us the backward disposition of the Christians of this age in whom wee find no such zeale for Gods glory no such forwardnes in this service Alas alas where have wee one endewed with Abrahams faith to teach the commandements and ordinances of God unto his posteritie where is one inspired with this zeale of Ioshuah to protest sincerely I and my house will serve the Lord We may runne to and fro with Ieremie Ierem. 5.1 and search long enough before wee finde the man either amongst small or great Tell mee Is not the vigour and force of Christianitie strangely abated and decayed when most places in the world like Caiaphas hall are filled with a rabblement of Vice Hereticks Atheists Epicures pell-mell all of all sorts saving of good men We are falne upon those last and desperate times of the world which S. Paul foretold should come and hath lively set forth 2. Tim. 3.1 This know saith he that in the last dayes shall come perillous times for men shall be lovers of their owne selves covetous boasters proud blasphemers despisers of those that are good lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God having a forme of godlinesse but denying the power thereof The Divell hath gotten the start of the world and hath set up in the mindes of men his idols of worldly pompe and vanitie What is more neglected than the Commandements of God what is slighted so much as his service and who are so backward in it as they that should be most forward All the counsell that I can give in this case is that of David O consider this yee that forget God Psalm 50.22 lest he pluck you away and there be none to deliver you The third and last use of this point is for exhortation to stirre up those who have the charge and command of others unto the carefull and conscionable performance of this duety by all meanes to enlarge and advance the kingdome of Christ and where God hath established them that there they should establish godlinesse As this is the greatest and weightiest duetie that lyes upon men in this world so hath it the greatest arguments and the weightiest motives to enforce it First the benefit which the performance of our duety herein brings with it Secondly the danger that we runne into by the neglect hereof Godlinesse is the greatest gaine to a Christian that is it hath not onely the promises of this life but of the life to come for in serving the Lord saith David there is great reward Whereas on the contrarie an everlasting curse of miserie and contempt is laid upon those wretches that are negligent in his worke When the Lord sent his Prophet to reprove Eli and to threaten the taking away of the Priesthood from him and his posteritie because his sonnes ran into a slander and their father stayed them not this is the sentence that the Lord addes withall For them that honour mee saith God I will honour and they that despise me shal be despised 1. Sam. 2.30 Would you hear what gratious singular priviledges the true servants of God have listen then to that which David tells you The eyes of the Lord saith David are over the righteous and his eares are open unto their prayers Againe The righteous cry and the Lord heareth them and delivereth them out of all their troubles And once more hee addes this in the same Psalme The Lord delivereth the soules of his servants and all they that put their trust in him shall not be destitute Psal 34. Nay moreover whosoever hee is that is zealous for the Lord shall not only have the Lord for his protector and defender in all his afflictious but for his Counsellor and Director in all his affaires as the same Prophet doth notablly expresse it in another place What man is hee saith David that feareth the Lord him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose These benefits and testimonies of Gods fatherly affection and care towards them are ordinarie and dayly extended to them but what solace or delight is there that this world can afford to bee compared with the joy and comfort which the dying servant of God feeles when hee can truely say his conscience bearing him witnesse Lord I have brought up them in thy knowledge and feare whom thou gavest into my hands I have not hid thy commandements from my posteritie The talents which I received of thee loe here they are encreased I made it the scope of my life to set