Terror Hypocrisie Hypocrisie in Reformation is dangerous Page 581 Honor Places of honor are great snares Page 670 How we should honor God Page 695 Howling see Prayer I Idolaters Idolaters seldom come in and return Page 125 What poor waies of worship Idolaters have Page 136 If parents be Idolaters their children are usually so too Page 161 It is dangerous living near Idolaters and why Page 172 Idolaters are proud men Page 391 Idolaters despise Gods worship Page 391 Idolatry The Idolatry of the Papists Page 133 The neerer Idolatry comes to the Worship of God the more dangerous it is Page 174 Court idolatry is most dangerous Page 633 See Contempt Idols Idols are bewitching things Page 199 Ignorance The cause of ignorance Page 35 Ignorance is the deformity of the soul Page 90 Ignorance is dangerous and how Page 91 Ignorance and pride are companions Page 390 Incest Incest an hainous sin Page 61 Influence There is a great influence between the Priests and the People Page 100 Impetuousness Impetuousness of spirit is to be suspected Page 136 Institutions Institutions are to be minded in point of worship Page 128 Inclinations Strong inclinations bind the mind Page 388 Justice Justice must be executed impartially Page 50 Justice must not struck dumb with the appearance of angels Page 222 Judgment It is a great judgment for men to be unserviceable in times of service Page 565 How judgment convinceth Page 597 See Leave and Ministry Irreligion Irreligion and slavery are companions Page 654 K Kings Kings were accounted of as the Popes dogs Page 177 Godly Kings observed not their birth-daies Page 661 See Respect Knowledge Want of knowledg of God makes men cruel Page 32 Keep How to keep God with us Page 510 Know see Saints Knowledge see Opportunity Kingdom see Officers L Lady The folly of a Lady in Paris Page 151 Land How a Land may be said to mourn Page 62 Living-God Living-God what it implies Page 189 Lying Lying and swearing go together Page 44 Leave It is a sad judgment for God to leave men Page 509 God never leaves his Page 510 Live see Resurrection M Magistrates see Bribery Man slaughter Man-slaughter is but a vain distinction from murder Page 48 Men see Merciless Merciless A merciful God sets him against merciless men Page 29 Ministers Ministers must plead for God Page 3 How faithful Ministers shall be dealt withal Page 77 Striving against faithful Ministers is a great hastning of judgment Page 81 Ill Ministers are besotted Page 88 Ministers must rebuke sin Page 361 The duty of Ministers Page 438 It is a comfort to Ministers to die preaching Page 590 Ministers are hewers Page 593 Ministers work is difficult Page 594 See Truths Superstition Whoremongers Duty Mind see Inclinations Mixture How the mixture of wicked and godly men is hurtful Page 372 How the mixture of wicked and godly men is to be distinguished Page 373 Murder Murder is not to be pardoned Page 48 Man-slaughter see England Men see Causes Means Means to persevere Page 585 Mercies How to use mercies well Page 545 Mercies are forfeited by unbeleef before they be received ibid One mercy makes way for another Page 558 Gods mercies are seasonable Page 564 In what cases God will have mercy and not sacrifice Page 601 Means All means must be used before correction Page 569 Ministry The sharper the Ministry is the sharper shall the judgment be if it be neglected Page 598 Morning Gods discovery is in the morning Page 560 See Presence Murder see England N Nation A defiled Nation is neer ruin Page 374 While a Nation is purging there is hope Page 375 How it may be known what shall become of a Nation Page 428 Natural What a Natural man may do towards conversion Page 377 What natural duties are Page 601 Nature The more excellent the Nature is the more communicative it is Page 573 Neighbors Ill neighbors are an ill thing Page 445 Night Night times are times of danger Page 560 Note A note of a good heart Page 565 O Oath What an Oath implies Page 189 Obedience Willing Obedience to sin brings guilt upon a Nation Page 473 Obedience see Command Officers The Officers of the Kingdom seek their own interest Page 639 Opportunity No Opportunity to get knowledg must be neglected Page 609 P Passion Passion makes a man a beast Page 48 Papists The doctrine of the Papists is opposite to the Scripture Page 81 Papists see Idolatry Patience The patience of God described Page 368 We must be patient in prayer Page 541 People The people of God suffer with others if they sin with others Page 401 People must return to God Page 530 When any people may apply the promise Page 537 Persons How particular persons are defiled by the wicked Page 373 See Mixture Plague A strange plague in London Page 67 Pleading The more imediate Gods pleading with men is the more dreadful it is Page 4 Preaching Preaching is the way to remove superstition Page 146 Priest It is the work of the Priest to strive against the people for sin Page 75 When priests strive against the people they must lock to be striven with Page 76 Priests see Covetousness Ambition Influence Prelates see Experience Presence The consideration of Gods presence humbles the heart Page 368 Gods presence makes morning to the Saints Page 562 Pride Pride discovers much sin within Page 394 Pride goes from God and against God Page 397 The pride of mens spirits Page 514 See Ignorance Conscience Private see Hope Princes Princes have been preachers Page 146 How Princes and Priests delude the people about Gods worship Page 348 Princes see Subjects Prophet see Affliction Prosperity Prosperity abused shall be punished Page 100 See Wicked Profession see Formal Proud God will cast proud men down Page 397 Proud men fall low ibid Publick see Hope Punish When men will not punish sin God will Page 61 Punishment They that are alike in sin shall be alike in punishment Page 116 Pains We must not think much to lose our pains Page 569 Parents see Christ Prayers When prayers are howlings Page 688 Penitent Penitent hearts retain good thoughts of God in affliction Page 532 Penitent hearts are not discouraged in afflictions Page 534 Perversness Perversness of spirit in those that are nigh to God is very grievous to God Page 572 Persevere see Means Place Where Gods place is Page 511 Preaching It is an ill sign when men are the worse for preaching Page 644 Presumption What presumption is Page 536 Propriety The propriety of Beleevers Page 547 Prop see Faith Prophets see False R Rebukes The rebukes of a brother are loving rebukes Page 73 Gods rebukes are furious ibid See God Real Gods threatnings are real Page 452 Religion see Staff Reprobation What Reprobation is Page 210 Repentance What true Repentance is Page 385 Faith and Repentance mutually act on another Page 549 The trial of Repentance Page 696 Respect Due respect is to be given to Kings
AN EXPOSITION WITH Practical Observations CONTINUED Upon the Fourth Fifth Sixth and Seventh Chapters of the PROPHESY OF HOSEA Being first delivered in several LECTURES at Michaels Cornhil London By Jeremiah Burroughs Being the Fifth BOOK published by Thomas Goodwyn William Greenhil Sydrach Simson William Bridge John Yates William Adderly LONDON Printed for Peter Cole at the sign of the Printing-Press in Cornhil near the Royal Exchange 1650. To the READER Reader WEE here present thee with a continuation of Expositions and Observations upon other Four Chapters of the Prophet Hosea delivered by that Worthy Man now with God Himself in his life-time published the Three first Chapters These now made publick were compiled out of the Manuscripts which Himself under His own Hand left which being short have been filled up and enlarged out of the best Copies of Sermon Notes taken from His own mouth We must not undertake for all imperfections or mistakes that haply may be found though a diligent and a skilful hand had the collâ—cting of them We only give Letters of Credence to them that they are genuinely the Authors and that they are singularly worthy of all acceptation especially by such Readers as have their thoughts exercised in observing the waies of Gods proceedings in and towards the Nations of the world where His Name is called One great piece of His Dispensations under the Old Testament was that towards the Ten Tribes who remain in captivity to this day 2 Cor. 10 and who were set up as their Predecessors in the wilderness as Types â—f Gods dealing in like cases with us under the New Testament as we may see in the instance of the Eastern and Gracian Churches that have groaned under the Mahumetan Tyrannies and Oppressions Rev. 7. of whom the Ten Tribes may seem to be the livelyest pattern as the condition of the Saints in the Western European Churches under the Pope was exemplified in the captivity of Babylon which befel the other two Tribes Yet so as both in sins and punishment the one and the other are general examples unto us upon whom the ends of the world are come in which God acts over with a quick and swift motion as being the last act what was done more slowly under the Old The worthy Author was one of the most accurate spectators in his time that with a curious and searching eye beheld what God was a doing in the World He was as one of those Wise men that knew the times as 't is said of Ahasuerus his sevâ—n Counsellors Esth 1.13 and skilled therein not as they in an humane or political way but as the transactions in the world do relate unto Gad who governs this world by the rules and presidents in His Word He was one of those who as the Psalmist speaks Psa 111. had pleasure to seek out the great works of the Lord and to paralel those in these times with those of old under the Old Testament and unto that end in the entrance to these alterations in our times he pitcht upon the explycation of this Prophesie which the studious Reader will with much delight reade over when he shall observe how He made application all along to the Dispensations of that time in which He preached them The Lord bless them to them of this Nation for which they were principally intended Thomas Goodwin Sydrach Simpson William Greenhil William Bridge John Yates William Adderly The Titles of those five Books of Mr. Jeremiah Burroughs lately published VIZ. An Exposition of the 4 5 6 7. Chapters of HOSEA A Treatise of EARTHLY MINDEDNES c. GOSPEL-CONVERSATION GOSPEL-WORSHIP c. The rare Jewel of Christian CONTENTMENT All Printed for Peter Cole 1650. THE CONTENTS HOSEA CHAP. IV. VERS I. Observation 1. THE consideration that it is the word of the Lord is a special means to prepare the heart to receive it Page 1 Obs 2. The nearness of a people to God exempts them not from Gods contending with them Page 2 Obs 3. The neerer the relation is the more grievous is the controversie Ibid Obs 4. Sin causeth a deadly controversie between God and the soul Page 4 1. God is above the sinner ibid 2. The controversie is just Page 5 3. We first began it ibid 4. It is an old controversie ibid. 5. It stirreth up all the wrath of God ibid. 6. It is a deadly controversie ibid 7. A controversie with God ibid 8. Only Jesus Christ is able to make it up Page 6 9. It is against infinit advantage ibid 10. It is likely to prove everlasting ibid Obs 5. Men should be willing the cause between them and their inferiors should be pleaded Page 19 Obs 6. Gods mercies are fruits of his faithfulness Page 20 Obs 7 God contendeth not with a people without cause Page 21 Obs 8. God contendeth not against a people for little things Page 22 Obs 9. It is vain for any man to talk of Religion and make no conscience of the second table Page 23 Obs 10. Gods controversie with Covenant-breakers is very dreadfull Page 26 Obs 11. The merciful God sets Himself against merciless men Page 29 Obs 12. Vnteaching Priests and Mans Inventions keep out the knowledge of God from a people Page 38 VERS II. Opened Page 40 Obs 1. The abuse of an Oath is a dreadful sin ibid Obs 2. There is no man that makes not conscience of an Oath that can make any of a Lye Page 44 Obs 3. When sin is not mortified though it be restrained for a while it will break out Page 59 Obs 4. Breaking out is a great aggravation of sin Page 60 VERS III. Explained Page 62 Obs 1. All the glory and pomp of the men of the world is but as a flower Page 64 Obs 2 Times of affliction take away the jollity of mens spirits ibid Obs 3 When the beasts of the field and the fowls of the air are destroyed mans comforts are soon gone Page 65 Obs 4. The good or evil of the creature depends on man Page 67 Obs 5 When God is in a way of wrath he causeth it to reach to those things which seem most remote from him Page 68 Obs 6 No creature can help man in time of Gods wrath ibid VERS IV. Obs 1. Sin cannot be gotten from men without striving Page 69 Obs 2 Private men so long as they have hope should strive with their brethren by way of admonition ib. Obs 3 It is a great aggravation of sin and forerunner of destruction to despise the admonitions of others ib. Obs 4. Sin doth encrease in places where it is let alone Page 71 Obs 5. There is a time when men may and should leave their reproving of others ib. Opened Page 72 Obs 6. It is the duty of the Priest to contend against men for their sins Page 75 Obs 7. When Ministers do contend against the people they must look to be striven withal by the people Page 76 Obs 8. To strive against those that
come in Gods Name to reprove is a great aggravation of sin and hastning of judgment Page 81 Obs 9. If publick means prevail not there is little hope of private Page 84. VERS V. Obs 1. Those in office must go on though they be striven against Page 85 Obs 2. When a threatning comes to particulars then it works ib. Obs 3 The falls of the Prophets are falls in the night Page 87 Obs 4. It is a sad judgment for people in affliction to have no Prophet amongst them ibid VERS VI. Obs 1. Ignorance is both father and mother of distruction Page 90 1. The rational creature is working in the midst of snares ib. 2. The way to eternity is in the midst of a hundred cross waies Page 91 3. Man must not go with his own light ib. 4. Our work is a most curious work ib. 5. Ignorance makes men objects of Gods hatred ib. Use 1. How vile a thing it is to deny the means of knowledg to men to satisfie the humors of others Page 92 Use 2. Hopes for England because the knowledge of God begins to shine in it ib. Obs 2. Suffering truths will hardly go down with many Ministers Page 94 Obs 3. There is a peculiar way of Gods rejecting wicked Ministers Page 95 Obs 4. Vnfaithfulness in service provokes God to cast men out of service Page 96 Obs 5. It is a great judgment to be rejected from the Priests office ibid Obs 6. It is a blessing for godly children of godly Ministers to succeed them in their office Page 97 Obs 7. The families of wicked Ministers are many times forgotten ibid VERS VII Obs 1. It is a usual thing where there is encrease of number to be encrease in sin Page 98 Obs 2. It is mens vile disposition to encrease in sin as they encrease in mercies Page 99 Obs 3. God doth love to stain the pride and haughtiness of man Page 100 Obs 4. It is usual with wicked Priests if they be countenanced by authority to glory Page 102 VERS VIII Opened Page 104 VERS IX Obs 1. Evil Ministers in a country are the causes of miseries in the country Page 112 Obs 2. If Priest and People be alike in sin God will make them alike in punishment ibid Obs 3. Look how Ministers are so usually the people are Page 114 Obs 4. God hath his daies of visitation wherein he will narrowly enquire into the waies of men Page 119 Obs 6. God will call men to an accompt for their thoughts Page 120 Obs 7. Wickedness in thought is the worst wickedness ibid Obs 8. Sin passeth away in the act with much sweetness but God will make it return in the guilt with much bitterness Page 120 Obs 9. The good works of the Saints shall return again with much comfort and peace Page 121 VERS X. Obs 1. Whatsoever a man undertakes unlawfully he can never expect to prosper Page 124 Use It is the best way to keep us to Gods Ordinances Obs 2. Idolaters seldom come in and return Page 125 Obs 3. Take heed of your not taking heed Page 126 Obs 4. The way to keep the heart and life in order and obedience is to take heed to the Lord. ibid Obs 5. All things in Gods worship should be according to Gods rule Page 127 Use Take heed of Idolatry ibid VERS XI Opened Page 128 Obs 1 It is just with God that those that will not seek to satisfie themselves in him should be given over to the sinful lusts of the flesh Page 129 Obs 2. Sensuallity is a besotting sin ibid Obs 3. Ministers when once they grow negligent usually grow sensual Page 132 VERS XII Obs 1. Bodily and spiritual whoredom usually go together Page 133 Use We are not to marvail that such as seem to be men of understanding are given to Idolatry ibid Obs 2. What poor waies Idolaters had to know the minds of their gods Page 135 Use Let us bless God that we have his word ibid Obs 3. There is an eagerness of spirit in men to things that are evil ibid Use 1. Look to your spirits when you find an eagerness in them to a thing Page 136 Use 2. Labor to be acted by the Spirit of God Page 137 Use 3. Pray to God that he would satisfie us not only in body and in soul but in spirit ibid Obs 4. All false worship doth put a man from the protection of God Page 138 Obs 5. So far as we are from being under Gods command so far we are from being under his protection Page 129 VERS XIII Obs 1. General accusations without particular specification will not prevail with stubborn hearts Page 140 Use Godly Ministers must not leave things in general if they would convince ibid Obs 2. What seems most specious in our eyes if it be not according to the rule may be most abominable in the eyes of God Page 141 Obs 3. Ministers ought to present to the people the foulness of those things that they think have least evil in them ib. Obs 4. When God chuseth a place he puts a stamp of holiness upon the place Page 143 Obs 5. Idolatry is brazen faced and loves to be publick Page 148 Use Labor to make the worship of God as publick ibid Obs 6. When the Ordinances of the Gospel come to be publick then it is time for Babylon to fall ibid Obs 7. Idolaters seek to rise to the height of their way in false worship ibid Use Let us labor to do so in Gods worship ibid Why they sacrificed under trees 1. Because the Heathens dedicated the trees to their gods Page 149 2. In imitation of the Patriarchs ibid 3. The shadiness of the place struck some reverence in the hearts of men ibid 4. They thought the spirits of their Worthies were there Page 150 5. They were fit places for the committing of filthiness ibid 6. They conceited God was the more honored by it ibid Obs 8. Superstition thinks it hath a great deal of reason for what it doth Page 151 Obs 9. It is the pride of mens spirits to think Gods Ordinances are too plain ibid Obs 10. God sometimes punisheth sin with sin Page 152 Obs 11. It is a great reproach for any family to have uncleanness committed in it Page 154 Use Let Governors have a care of their families ibid Obs 12. Our unfaithfulness with God is made more sensible when those that dwell neer us are unfaithful to us ibid Instances 1. When our children are stubborn Page 155 2. Ill wives ibid 3. Friends unfaithful Page 156 VERS XIV Opened Page 157 Obs 1. It is one of the most fearful judgments in all the world for the Lord not to restrain men from sinning Page 158 Obs 2. When parents are filthy and unclean what can be expected but their children should be so too Page 161 Use Take heed how you sin before your children ibid Obs 3. Those that are filthy and unclean will sometimes make shew of Religion Page 162
Obs 4. Idolaters are no understanding people Page 165 Applyed to our times Page 167 Obs 5. It is a fearful judgement of God to leave men to perplexed councels Page 170 Obs 6. When wicked men are fallen they shal be so perplexed that they shall not know what to do Page 170 VERS XV. Obs 1. Ministers should especially look to those whom they are bound unto by office yet so as to labor to do good to others Page 171 Obs 2. When we see our labor lost to some we should try to do good to others ibid Obs 3. To be neer Idolaters is very dangerous Page 172 Obs 4. The neerer a false worship comes to a true one the more dangerous it is Page 174 Obs 5. Those that enjoy Gods Ordinances in a true way should take heed of doing as other people do Page 175 Obs 6. We must not do as others do in point of Gods worship Page 177 Obs 7 It goes neerer the heart of God when his People offend than when others do Page 178 Reas 1. There is more unkindness in their sins Page 179 2 There is more unfaithfulness in them ibid 3 Gods Name is more polluted by them ibid 4. The excellency of their graces makes their sins worse ibid 5. They go neerer the heart of the Saints than the sins of others Page 180 Application to our times ibid Obs 8. We must not come neer places that are dangerous to draw us to sin Page 186 Obs 9. Places corrupted lose their honor Page 188 VERS XVI Opened Page 192 Obs 1. Liberty may prove to be ones misery Page 195 VERS XVII Opened Page 196 Obs 1. Wicked children are great dishonors to their parents Page 197 Obs 2. Governors are usually the causes of the evils of the people Page 198 Obs 3. Idolaters hearts are strangely glued to the waies of Idolatry Page 200 Use Joyn your selves to Jesus Christ Page 201 Obs 4 We must take heed of communicating with Idolaters in their false waies Page 202 Obs 5. It is a heavy judgment upon a people when the Saints withdraw from them ibid Obs 6 God hath a time to give men over to themselves Page 205 1 Because he hath no need of them Page 206 2 He hath another way to fetch glory from them ibid Obs 7 It is the most woful judgment upon a people or person when God lets them alone in sin ibid 1 It is a testimony of disrespect in God Page 207 2 These are going apace into misery ibid 3 They are in the midst of abundance of dangers Page 208 4 God intends to make way for some fearful wrath to come upon them ibid 5 He will not vouchsafe to hear them speak to him ibid 6 It is a dreadful sign of Reprobation Page 209 7 It is greater than all earthly judgments Page 210 8 It is worse than to be given up to the Devil Page 211 9 It is worse than to be sent to Hell presently Page 212 10 Though he be without grace he must answer for it as though he had it Page 212 11 All means of grace are made improfitable to him Page 213 Use 1 See what poor creatures men are ibid Use 2 Let us fear and tremble at this judgment ibid Object I fear God hath laid this judgment upon me Answer 1 It is a good sign that thou art troubled with such a fear Page 214 Answer 2 It is a good means to keep thee from being let alone ibid Answer 3 If thou hast not a heart to let God alone God hath not a heart to let thee alone ibid Use 3 Blesse God that he hath not inflicted this judgment upon thee Page 215 2 Blesse God that he hath not inflicted it upon the Kingdom ib. VERS XVIII Opened Page 217 Obs 1 Rulers should be shields to the people where they live Page 219 Application to our times Page 220 VERS XIX Obs 1 Such as are superstitious look upon Gods Ordinances as vile and their own inventions as glorious Page 325 Obs 2 The judgments of God upon wicked men who have been spared a long time come violently ibid Causes of shame 1 Disrespect from those we desire honor from Page 326 2 When a man takes a great deal of pains and it comes to nothing Page 327 3 Disappointment of hope ibid 4 When God discovers that to be vile which a man glorieth in ib. Use Admonition to the superstitious to take shame to themselves Page 328 Obs 3 God hath a time to make all Idolaters ashamed of their sacrifices Page 332 Obs 4 Duties performed with a carnal heart are mixed with base ends ibid Obs 5 Our sacrifices are defiled by the foulnesse of our hearts ibid Question What are those sacrifices we should render to God and not be ashamed of Answer 1 Be sure they be his own Page 333 Answer 2 Let them come from faith Page 334 Answer 3 Let your ends be high ibid Answer 4 Let your whol strength be taken up in them ibid Answer 5 Offer up your selves a sacrifice to God ibid Answer 6 Be humbled after all your best services Page 335 Answer 7 Tender up all in Christ Page 336 CHAP. V. VERS I. Opened Page 337 Obs 1 When God comes in judgment he expects we should seriously mind what he is doing Page 338 Obs 2 Generallity in sins is no way to escape judgment ibid Obs 3. The Priests have usually been the causes of wickednesse in and judgments on a nation Page 339 Obs 4 The people will go the way the King and Priests go ibid Obs 5 Kings and Princes must have sin charged upon them as well as others Page 342 Obs 6 Though they are to be reproved for sin some due respect ought to be given them Page 344 Obs 7 When God pleadeth against us let not neglect ibid VERS II. Obs 1 It is a dangerous thing to venture upon the beginnings of false worship Page 354 Obs 2 It is a dangerous thing to be deeply rooted in superstitious waies Page 355 Use This should teach us to deny our selves Page 357 Obs 3 The hearts of Apostates are most deeply rooted in wickednesse ibid Application to our times Page 358 Obs 4 Idolaters are profound and deep ibid Obs 5 Idolaters are deep in pollicy ibid Use Let us labor to be wise in the worship of God ibid Obs 6 The Ministers of God must rebuke sin Page 361 Obs 7 When Ministers rebuke in the way of God then God doth rebuke Page 362 Obs 8 Idolaters hearts are stubborn ibid Use Let not us be troubled at the stoutnesse of Idolaters Page 363 Obs 9 It is a greater evil to stand out against Gods displeasure than against his commands ibid Use Let us charge this sin upon our spirits Page 364 Obs 10 Prophets rebukes must be impartial rebukes Page 365 Obs 11 It is a hard thing for a few men to stand out against a State in matters of Religion ibid VERS III. Opened Page 366 Obs 1 Gods eye is upon the
secrets of mens hearts Page 367 Use 1 Then all Hypocrites must needs be Atheists ibid Use 2 Admire at the patience of God Page 368 Use 3 Pray to God to make known your own hearts to your selves ib. Obs 2 Gods eye upon our hearts and waies is a special means to humble us Page 369 Obs 3 God will deal with men according to their present waies Page 370 Use Here 's hope for repenting sinners Obs 4. Defiled worship exceedingly defiles the souls of people Page 372 Objection Doth the mixture of the wicked defile the worship of God Answer 1 The best Church in the world may have wicked men in it Page 272 Answer 2 The Sacrament is not defiled to the receivers for the presence of wicked men ibid Question How shall we distinguish mixture of Communion Answer 1 The Congregation is defiled if they do not use the power Christ hath given them Page 373 Answer 2 Particular persons are defiled when they neglect the duty belongs to them Page 374 Obs 5. A defiled Nation is neer unto ruin ibid VERS IV. Opened Page 376 Applyed to England Page 379 Obs 1. Apostates have seldom any inclination to turn to God Page 384 Obs 2. True repentance is not only to leave evil and do good but to turn unto God as our God Page 385 Obs 3. It is Gods just judgment to leave men to the Devil to be blinded when they forsake him and his truth Page 386 Obs 4. Impetuousness of spirit blinds the mind Page 388 Use When we come to examin truths let us look to our spirits Page 389 VERS V. Obs 1. Ignorance and pride usually goes together Page 390 Obs 2. Idolaters are proud men Page 391 1 They look upon Gods worship as a mean thing ibid 2 They put more upon the creature than God hath Page 392 3 They prescribe to God which way he shall be worshiped ibid 4 They honor their own waies because they are their own ibid Obs 3. The spirit of sin is casting down Page 397 Obs 4. Pride goes before a fall ibid 1 A proud man goes from God ibid 2 He goes against God ibid 3 He goes beyond God Page 398 4 He goes above God ibid Obs 5. It is a great aggravation for any one to think what misery he brings others into Page 399 Obs 6. It is no plea for any to say they follow the example of others Page 400 Obs 7. If Gods people comply with wicked men they must expect to fall with them in outward judgments ibid Use Why so many fall in these times Obs 8. The falling of the Saints with wickedmen is of special consideration Page 401 1 God would have us take notice how holy he is ibid 2 He would have none presume on former services Page 402 3 God is not engaged to any if they transgress ibid Use 1 God can be without men Page 403 Use 2 Admonition to wicked men ibid VERS VI. Obs 1. Those that depend upon duties are in a destraction when their duties prevail not Page 403 Obs 2. God contemneth the services of Hypocrites superstitious and Idolatrous persons Page 404 Obs 3. It is a sad thing when God will not own as his what we tender up to him ibid Obs 4. Idolatrous and superstitious people are abundant in their services Page 406 Obs 5. Idolatrus and superstitious people will spare no cost in their own waies Page 407 Obs 6. There is a time when vile and wicked men shall see a need of God ibid Obs 7. The vilest Idolaters that can be pretend to seek God as well as any Page 408 Use Take heed of such pretenders Page 409 Obs 8. Superstitious and Idolatrous men are most aboundant in their services in the time of affliction Page 409 Obs 9. Carnal professors think to make God amends for former failings by outward performances Page 410 Obs 10. If God be to be found any where he is to be found in his Ordinances ib. Obs 11. The end of all holy duties should be to find God in them Page 411 Obs 12. God will not alwaies be found when he is sought ib. 1. When men seek him in a superstitious way ibid 2. When we seek our selves rather than God ib. 3. When we do not seek God as a God ibid 4. When we seek him too late Page 412 Obs 13 God delights not in superstitious and formal professors ib. Obs 14. It is a sad thing when God withdraws from the creature when he seeks him in distress Page 413 1. God puts a dishonor upon him ibid 2. No creature can help us Page 414 3. Some great judgment must be expected ib. 4. No protection can be expected ib. 5. Conscience flies in ones face ib. 6. It is a fore-runner of his eternal withdrawing ib. Question Doth not God withdraw Himself from his Saints Answer 1. They retain good thoughts of him in his absence Page 415 Answer 2. He draweth their hearts after him to cry more earnestly ib. Answer 3. He leaveth some light behind him that they may see which way he is gone Page 416 Answer 4. His bowels yern towards them ibid Answer 5. Nothing will satisfie them till God come again ibid Answer 6. He doth not utterly forsake them ibid VERS VII Opened Page 417 Obs 1. When wicked men come to seek God God looks upon the wickedness of their hearts Page 419 Obs 2 The sins of such as are in covenant with God are sins of treachery Page 420 Applyed to our times ib. Obs 3 Parents have the charge of their children committed to them by God Page 424 Obs 4. Children are usually as their parents are and education is Page 426 Use 1 To such as are well educated ibid 2 To such as are ill educated ibid Obs 5. It is a dangerous thing for children to follow the example of their parents in wickedness Page 427 Use Children ought to examin their parents waies ibid Obs 6 When the succeeding generation is wicked there is little hope of such a people Page 428 Obs 7 God takes it exceeding ill at mens hands when they corrupt their young ones Page 429 Obs 8 God hath a set time to reckon with sinners Page 433 Obs 9. This set time is the time of their destruction ibid Obs 10. The more special the providence of God is in mercy the more severe are his judgments if provoked Page 434 Obs 11 A carnal man hath his portion in this world only ibid VERS VIII Obs 1. When a people is in danger of Gods wrath it is high time for them to awake Page 436 Obs 2. When danger is apprehended as present and real it takes the heart wast Page 438 Obs 3. Ministers of God must make the things they preach as real before the peoples eyes Page 439 Obs 4. Ministers if their ambassage of peace be slighted must denounce war Page 441 Obs 5. Gods displeasure of sin is the cause of war in a land ibid Obs 6. Superstitious places are in greatest distress
in the time of Gods judgments Page 443 Obs 7. In time of trouble superstitious people are in greatest perplexity ibid Obs 8 It is an ill thing to have ill neighbors Page 444 Obs 9. When the wrath of God is against our neighbors we had need look to it Page 445 Question What shall we do in such times Answer 1 Humble your selves before God Page 446 Answer 2 Rise up as one man and help your brethren Page 447 Answer 3 Meet your own danger before it cometh ibid VERS IX Obs 1. The day of Gods peoples affliction is the day of their rebuke Page 448 Obs 2. God hath his set times for rebuke Page 449 Obs 3. When wicked men stand out lesser judgments they have cause to fear greater ibid Obs 4 It is a dreadful time when God so rebukes a people that he destroies them ibid 1 All the wrath that was treasured up breaks out upon them Page 450 2 All their sins comes together into Gods remembrance ibid 3 The cries of justice prevail against such men ibid 4 Mercy leaves such a people ibid 5 The Lord intends hurt to them ibid 6 All the creatures dare not own them ibid 7 All their services are rejected Page 451 Obs 5. God smites not a people with judgment before he warns them Page 452 Obs 6 When God threatens he is real in his threatnings Page 453 Obs 7 The revealing of sin before judgment aggravates both sin and judgment Page 454 1 The goodness of God is not honored ibid 2 The truth of God is not honored ibid 3 It aggravates the sin ibid Obs 8. There is a time when there shall be no help to deliver from judgment Page 455 VERS X. Obs 1 We had need pray much for Princes Page 461 Obs 2. The bounds of Religion and Law keep in obedience and keep out judgments ibid Obs 3. God punisheth according to mens sins Page 462 VERS XI Obs 1. It is a great judgment for a people to be under oppression Page 466 Obs 2. Idolaters are great oppressors Page 467 Obs 3. God hath a righteous hand in delivering men into the hands of unrighteous oppressors Page 468 Obs 4 A special cause of oppression is peoples following of false worship Page 469 Obs 5. Our giving to much to men God oftentimes punisheth by making them the greatest instruments of our misery ibid Obs 6. It is Satans course to get false worship backed with authority ibid Obs 7. Mans authority is not a sufficient warrant for us 470 Obs 8. The more willing men are to sin the greater is the sin Page 472 Obs 9. Willing obedience in evil things brings guilt upon a people Page 473 Obs 10. Commands for false worship easily prevail ibid Obs 11 It is the duty of Christians willingly to obey God Page 474 Obs 12. Bad Princes give liberty to mens lusts ibid Obs 13. Idolatry is filthy stuff ibid VERS XII Opened Page 475 Obs 1. God may be in a way of wrath against a people and yet mean while be very patient Page 480 Obs 2. God many times letteth out his wrath against a people in little things Page 481 Obs 3. When God letteth out his wrath in smal things it is contemptible to carnal hearts ibid Obs 4. Though carnal men despise Gods wrath in smal things yet it shall eat them out at last Page 482 Obs 5. God is slow in punishing ibid Obs 6. God hath secret judgments to bring upon a people ibid Use Beware of secret sins Page 483 Obs 7 Our corruptions within us breed our trouble and undoing ibid Obs 8 Gods wrath though secret many times eateth out mens spirits Page 484 Obs 9 Though others go before them yet they shall follow not long after Page 485 Obs 10 What a poor creature man is ibid Obs 11 How long God condescendeth that he may express his meaning to men Page 486 VERS XIII Obs 1 The pride of mans heart will not easily acknowledg the hand of God Page 488 Obs 2 God will force men to be sensible of his hand against them Page 489 Obs 3 Men are more subject to see their wound than their sin ibid Obs 4 Carnal hearts seek to the creature in time of straits Page 491 Obs 5 There is much guilt contracted by resting on carnal helps Page 492 1 They will infect ibid 2 They cannot pray Page 493 Obs 6 Creature comforts avail little in the day of wrath Page 495 Obs 7 Of all things men rest on for help wicked men are like to prove most helpless Page 496 VERS XIV Opened Page 498 Obs 1 When Gods lesser afflictions work not God will be most terrible Page 499 Obs 2 Our seeking out shifting waies in times of extremities provokes God Page 501 Obs 3 When God in wrath causeth war in a Kingdom than God teareth Page 502 Obs 4 God hath a righteous hand in the worst actions of men Page 504 Obs 5 The hand of God is more immediate in some judgments than in others Page 505 1 Thereby the heart is humbled Page 506 2 It is a special means to quiet the heart with patience ibid 3 The soul is the more put upon enquiry Page 507 4 It causeth the soul to receive content in nothing but God ibid VERS XV. Obs It is a heavy judgment for God to tear and then to leave a people Page 509 Text opened Page 511 Obs 1 Sin desturbs Heaven and Earth ibid Obs 2 In times of publick judgment God leaves his Majestie in Heaven to set things in order on Earth Page 512 Obs 3 Gods administrations to his people sometimes may be such as if he regarded them not ibid Obs 4 When wicked men are in perplexity then God enjoyes himself in his perfection Page 513 Obs 5 Sometimes God turns his back upon sinners till they acknowledg their sins ibid Obs 6 God humbles himself to behold what is done upon earth ibid The words explained Page 514 Obs 7 So long as men prosper in their sins they will contest with God ibid Obs 8. Affliction sanctified brings men to see and acknowledg their sins Page 515 Obs 9. It 's a sign of a hard heart not to confess when Gods hand is upon us ibid Obs 10. God will have glory from us Page 516 The words opened ibid Obs 1 It is not enough to acknowledg our sin but we must seek Gods face Page 517 Obs 2 When God leaves his people he leaves something behind which causeth the heart to seek after him Page 518 Obs 3 True repentance is not so much to seek our own ease as Gods face ibid Obs 4 Gods Ordinances and Worship are his face Page 519 Obs 5 Repenting hearts solicitous about Gods Ordinances ibid Obs 6 The worship of God is his Name and Ordinances ibid Obs 7. What good God aims at in his administrations to his people he will have it Page 520 The words opened Page 521 Quaere 1 What time doth this seeking of God refer it self unto Answered 1 When
they did fall on the right hand or on the left before or behind so they did divine their good luck or their ill luck as they call'd it A third way was this they used to peel off the bark of some part of a stick and then cast it up and divined according to which part of the pith either black or white appeared first A fourth was which we find in the Roman antiquities that their Augures or South-sayers used to sit upon the top of a Tower or Castle and the air being very cleer and fair without any clouds having a crooked staff in their hand which the Latines câ—ll Liâ—uus there they quartered out the regions of Heaven so much as was for their purpose when they had quarter'd them out they did reach forth this staff having first offered sacrifices and prayers to their gods upon the head of a person or a thing they would divine for and so they came to have good or ill luck to be shewed according to what at that time they observed in the Heavens the birds flying c. when that staff was upon the head of the party This the Romans did and it is like they had it somewhat from the Jews they did ask counsel of their staff By all this we may see what poor waies Idolaters have had to know the mind of their gods Obs When men forsake the right way of knowledg of Gods mind what poor waies do they go to know the mind of God Use Oh by this how should our hearts be raised up to bless God that we have such a way to know his mind that we have his Word that we have his Son that come out of his bosom to declare the eternal counsel of his father unto us These are the poor waies that Idolaters have to know the mind of their gods Now follows the ground of all For the spirit of whoredomes hath caused them to eâ— and they have gone a whoring from under their God For the spirit of whoredoms Some would have it thus that look as there are particular sins so there are particular Devils to attend upon them As there is a devil especially to attend upon Idolatry another to attend upon whoredom another upon drunkenness another upon envy another upon pride another upon passion and the like and so the spirit of whordom that is say they that devil that especially attended upon this sin caused them to er But I think this not to be the scope but this rather the spirit of whoredoms hath caused them to er the spirit that is that impetus of spirit that was in them there is an impetus an ardency a vigour an activity of their spirits to such a kind of sinful way it is that which hath carried them on and caused them to er The Scripture oft speaks of several sorts of spirits as sometimes the spirit of perversness Esa 19.14 it is translated in your books a perverse spirit but the words are Spiritus perversitatum a spirit of perversness there is an impetus of spirit that hath caused Egypt to er in every work thereof So the spirit of uncleanness Zech. 13.2 it is translated in your books the unclean spirit but it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the spirit of defilements or uncleanness so the spirits of lying 1 King 22.22 the spirit of error 1 John 4.6 He that knoweth God heareth us he that is not of God heareth not us hereby know we the spirit of truth and the spirit of error that is there is an Impetus a strength of spirit that carries men on unto such an erronious way Use And the consideration of that will be of mervailous use unto us Let us look to our spirits my brethren strong inclinations of spirit and consider what spirit we are of especially when we are carried with an Impetus of spirit to a thing that is when we find an eagerness of spirit that way to such a thing we would fain have let us then take heed to our selves when you find I lay your spirits very eagerly and strongly set upon such a thing examine then what spirit you are of that it be not a spirit of lust of envy of malice as sometimes there is in mens hearts when they are carried with a more than ordinary strength after such a way There is many people when they find themselves carried on with such an impetus and ardency and fervency they cannot endure that any body should cross them in it no but they must have it As they in Samuel that would have a King when they heard all the reasons that could be to perswade them against it they would not answer one reason but held to their conclusion No but we will have a King say they So a man that hath a spirit of such an evil A spirit of envie a spirit of error a spirit of Antichrist in him a spirit of domineering in him a spirit of crueltie a spirit of bitterness in him first he will rush upon such a thing without examining of it and further if there come any thing against it any truth he slights it presently and casts it off and thinks there is nothing in it why because he hath a spirit that carries him that way and if the truth come more strongly that he is convinced by it yet he hath a spirit that carries him on and though he meet with many difficulties in the way he will break through them all Oh it is a dangerous thing when men have a spirit of errour or a spirit of bitterness You shall find some men that have much remaining of Antichristanisme in them do but speak to them of any thing that concerns an Ordinance of Christ of Christs institution of the will of Christ in the word assoon as it is but mentioned you shall not hear any answer to the argument but you may perceive a spirit of bitterness a spirit of envy a spirit of frowardness and passion presently to rise in them So in other things you shall find men and some that have good things in them that if you do but discourse with them of some things that you know are according unto the mind of Christ yet they have been brought up otherwise and have drunk in other principles and they have a spirit of bitterness and anger and vexation that presently will appear in them to cast off any truth that is suggested unto them But let us labour on the other side rather to be acted by the Use 2 Spirit of God the Children of God are led by the spirit And it is true the Saints of God have a Spirit of holiness in them as wicked men have a spirit of uncleanness in them so Gods children are carried on with a spirit of holiness the love of Christ hath taken hold of their hearts and perhaps they are weak and cannot reason out the case with some subtill Sophisters but they have the spirit of Christ an Impetus of
this honor from you saith God you shall not swear any more the Lord liveth Applica Many superstitious people they will make much use of the titles of God in their mouths and have many expressions about God that carry much devotion with them they will cry out our blessed Saviour our Lord and Saviour and the blessed God and honouring the Lord and the like they will I say have many titles of God in their mouths and expressions that carry much devotion with them but God cares for none of these all the while they worship him according to the traditions of men after their own inventions God careâ— not for all their seeming honouring him for all their devotion let them appear to men to be never so devout God rejects those devotions when they reject his pure and sincere worship God loves not to have his worship mixed Zeph. 1.5 there God chargeth them for swearing by the Lord and by Malcham that they would put both together what is the meaning of that Malcham there signifies a King for so the Hebrew word doth and it seems that this people though it is true they would sometimes call their Idols by the name of King Honoris gratia to give respect unto them yet there is some probability that in this place more is intended namely that they would worship God yea but they would worship their King too they would swear by God and by Malcham Zeph. 1.5 Opened they made their honor of their King come too neer the honor of God that is one thing I say that seems to be specially intended here they would not reject the true God but they would set the honor of their King too too neer the honor of the true God It is true both are to be honored but one is to be honored more than the other and the true distance between both in giving honor is duly to be observed and not to jumble them both together to swear by God and to swear by Malcham not observe the true distance between them both Much less to prefer the will of their Malcham their King before the will of their God Note God cares not for any honor that is given unto him if we make any Competitor with him It is true indeed God rejects not the worship of his Saints because of some mixtures of evil Caution for there are none that do worship him so but they do mix some sin with it But now such as chuse to themselves some way of sin that set up in their hearts and lives some way of sin and then think it sufficient to give God some outward service and to put off God so while at other times they follow their own â—usts such worship God rejecteth therefore saith the Lord here to these Idolaters You shall not swear the Lord liveth It follows Verse 16. For Israel slideth back as a back-sliding heiser Here first Israel the ten Tribes is compared to a heifer and to a back-sliding heifer A heifer Heifer that â—â—red the wantonness of Israel And here is one argument why Judah must not offend aâ— Israel doth let not Judah offend as Israel doth for Israel as 〈◊〉 back slâ—ding hâ—ifer Israel through his sin hath 〈…〉 to be a vile a wanton heifer but the emblem of Judah is to be a Lyon Gen. 49.9 Judah is a Lyons whelp he stooped down he couched as a Lyon and as an old Lyon who shall rouse him up It is true that Judah should not refuse the yoke thorough wantonness and perversness but through a magnanimous spirit he should not be willing to be brought under the yoke of bondage Israel is as a heifer that through wantonness doth refuse to be brought under the yoke but let not Judah do thus for Judah is as a Lyon and although Judah be a Lyon yet he should come under Gods command to be subject unto him but when it comes to be in bondage unto men and that in matters of Religion Judah should have a magnanimous spirit a Lyon like spirit and should cast off the yoke of men in that regard Let not Judah be like Israel Judah is as a Lyon Israel as a heifer And the word that is translated back-sliding commeth of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It signifies perversness as well as backsliding It is translated in Scripture stubborness rebellion as in that place of Duteronomy about the stubborn and rebellious child Exposit there is the same word that is here and many other Scriptures might be shewen how this word is taken otherwise than here for back-sliding Israel is a stubborn a rebellious a perverse people therefore let not Judah be so And I find the Seventy translate it thus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Israel the ten Tribes they were like a stung Bullock Juvenca oestro percita as if so be they had by a kind of witchery or by the byting of some venemous thing been put into a fury or madness that is the force of the word according to the translation of the Seventy they translate it I say by such a word whereby they would signifie that Israel was not now like a Heifer only wanton but like a Heifer that was bit with some venemous thing and ran up and down like a mad thing There is a great deal of difference between the wantoness of a beast and a beast that runs up and down in a fury and madness as being bit with a mad-dog Thus this people was Ephraim goeth on madly As many wicked men go on in waies aparantly against light and conscience and against the Word though they know it will prove to be their eternal ruin and destruction Conscience tels them so yet they go on in a madness violently in a rage even down to the pit This was Ephraims condition here And that which made Ephraim do so it was his prosperity Reas Ephraim was grown prosperous and had plenty of food was fed full and large and that made them go on in such a fury and rage in the waies of wickedness and sin That was now fulfilled of Ephraim that was prophesied of him Deut. 32.15 Thou art waxed fat thou art grown thick thou art covered with fatness then he forsâ—ok God which made him and lightly esteemed the Roâ—k of his salvation Note Oh when a people is waxen fat and grown prosperous then they kick and spurn and forsake God that made them and lightly esteem the Rock of their salvation God and his Truth and his Saints and his Ordinances they are nothing with them they lightly esteem them why because they are waxen fat they are in their prosperity Applic. You shall have many men upon their sick beds highly esteem of the Ministers of God and of the waies of God and of his word and worship and then Oh send for such and such to come to us but when they are in prosperity they lightly esteem God and all that
now and you that have prayed before quicken up your diligence and double your care How much better it it to seek God than men to cry to God for mercy than to cursed men God might have made your condition to have bin the condition of your brethren How many are this day running for their lives and begging of their lives at the hands of barbarous merciless blood-sucking monsters and you are yet in peace seeking your God for your selves and them But it may be asked Why should we seek God Quest Can we do any thing to move God Will God be ever the sooner intreated by us I answer No that is not the meaning of the words Answ that we can alter or change Gods mind but such exhortations as these are to make us fit and to prepare us for mercy to boyl and raise our spirits to a sutable frame and disposition for mercies expected and looked for And thus we leave this rich Mine of the fifth Chapter which hath been so fruiâ—ful in affording many choice truths and come to the sixt Chapter a rich Mine also of heavenly and most seasonable Directions no less useful than the former THE CONTENTS CHAP. VI. VERS I. Observ 1. WHen Gods time of mercy is come He puts a spirit of seeking into men Page 531 Obs 2 A joynt turning to God is very honorable Ibid Obs 3 Times of mercy are joyning times Page 532 Obs 4 A true penitent heart seeks to get others to joyn with him ibid Obs 5 A penitent heart retains good thoughts of God in time of suffering ibid Obs 6 A penitent heart is not discouraged Page 534 Obs 7 When God intends good to a people he leaves them intimation of his love Page 536 Obs 8. Apprehension of mercie causes the heart to turn Page 537 Obs 9 The Saints make their healing not a fruit of their returning but of Gods mercy ib. VERS II. Opened Page 538 Obs 1 Gods own people may lie for dead in their own eyes Page 540 Use 1 Do not draw dark conclusions from Gods dealing ibid Use 2 Be not impatient in prayer Page 541 Obs 2 Gods reviving his people is not long in Gods nor the Saints eyes Page 542 Obs 3 Faith makes Gods reviving real in the saddest condition ibid Obs 4 Mercies after two daies death are reviving mercies Page 544 Obs 5 The real sight of deliverance puts the soul upon returning Page 547 Obs 6 The apprehension of the death and resurrection of Christ is a special help to faith in affliction Page 549 Obs 7 When God grants mercies he would have his people to be of lively spirits Page 549 Obs 8 When God is reconciled to a people his face is towards them ibid Obs 9 The eye of God upon his people is their safety Page 550 Obs 10 Gods peoples life consists in Gods favor ib. Obs 11 Faith raiseth the soul high ibid Obs 12 It is the care of the Saints to walk as in Gods sight Page 551 VERS III. Obs 1. True penitents turn to God that they may know God Page 554 Obs 2 No man can turn to God but as Gods face is towards him Page 555 Obs 3 The knowledg of God is a very comfortable thing to the Saints ibid Obs 4 The more men turn to God the more they shall know of him ibid Obs 5 Those that know somthing of God desire to know more Page 556 Obs 6 A gracious heart endeavors strongly after the knowledg of God ibid Obs 7 It is a blessed thing for a man to take notice of Gods revealings Page 557 Obs 8 Those that follow on to know God shall know more of him ib. Obs 9 One mercy makes way for another Page 558 Obs 10 The times of Gods delivery is in the morning Page 561. Obs 11 The Church hath no afflictions but there comes a morning after them ibid Obs 12 It is Gods presence that makes the morning to the Saints ibid Obs 13. Gods mercies to his people are prepared and decreed Page 562 Obs 14 The Saints in affliction comfort themselves that morning is coming ibid Obs 15 The Saints night is darkest a little before their deliverance ibid Obs 16 Gods delivery is by degrees ibid Obs 17 Gods deliverance is like rain to the corn ibid Obs 18 Gods mercies to his people are seasonable and sutable Page 563 Use Let us be seasonable in duty Page 565 Obs 19 When God hath begun with mercy to his people he will go on Page 566 Use Let us do so with God in obedience ibid Obs 20 Gods mercies to his people procure much good ib. Obs 21 Gods peoples deliverance comes from heaven ib. Obs 22 Gods peoples deliverance cannot be hindred Page 567 Obs 23 We should make a spiritual use of Gods works in his creatures ibid VERS IV. Obs 1 God doth not willingly grieve men Page 569 Obs 2 We should not think much to lose our pains with others ibid Obs 3 It it a speceal means to humble men to consider what means hath been used to do them good Page 570 Obs 4 God many times seems to be in a straight what to do with men ib. Obs 5 The condition of people is sad when no means will do them good Page 572 Obs 6 It goes nigh the heart of God to see men perverse ibid Obs 7 For a man to make good beginnings and let them fall is grievous to God and dangerous to a mans self Page 581 Grievous to God 1 Because God is holy Page 582 2 He is unchangable ib. 3 It stifles the conceptions of the spirit ibid 4 Such people cannot be trusted ibid 5 There is no fear of God before their eyes ibid 6 It pollutes Gods Name ib. 7 Religion is looked upon by such as a thing indifferent ibid 8 They never had good beginnings ibid Dangerous to a mans self 1 Because we lose many opportunities Page 583 2 We shall never grow to any eminency ibid 3 It hardens the heart ibid 4 It aggravates sin ibid 5 It spoils the acception of our services ibid 6 It damps our hearts in duty ibid Means to persevere 1 Trust not in suddain flashes Page 584 2 Get your hearts off from earthly engagements Page 585 3 Take heed of secret sins ib. 4. Take often accompt of your hearts ib 5 Never trust your hearts after reviving ib. 6 Humble your selves after good desires Page 586 7 Rest not in beginnings Page 587 VERS V Obs 1 When God comes against false Prophets he looks the people should not be led by them Page 588 Obs 2 Inconstancy in Religion provokes Gods anger Page 592 Obs 3 Many mens hearts are like knotty timber Page 593 Obs 4 Gods Ministers are hewers ibid Obs 5 When Ministers hew God hews Page 594 Obs 6 Gods Ministers are Gods tools Page 595 Obs 7 Gods Ministers are Gods mouth Page 596 Obs 8 The Word of God is of great power ibid Obs 9 Gods judgments lie dark when men go on in a
prosperous way of sinning Page 597 Obs 10 God hath his time to punish openly ibid Obs 11 God will have his time to convince men ibid Obs 12. Gods judgements are gradual ibid Obs 13. The more powerful the Ministry is the more sharp shall the judgment be if despised Page 598 VERS VI. Opened Page 600 Objections answered Page 601 Obs 1 Carnal hearts are verie cruel in their dealings Page 614 Obs 2 Carnal hearts think to satisfie their consciences by observing outward Ordinances ibid Obs 3 God and mens consciences will not be put off ibid Obs 4 The Lord hath an highesteem of mercy Page 615 Obs 5 It is a Christians skill when two duties come together which to chuse ibid Obs 6. If Gods Worship may be forborn in case of mercy how much more mens Institutions ibid Obs 7 God will have mercy rather than desputing about sacrifice Page 616 Obs 8 Mercy must be preferred before our own wils Page 617 Objections answered Page 619 Obs 9 The duties of the first and second Table are joyned together ibid Use Instruct your children and servants in this knowledge Page 620 Obs 10 Men may be very diligent in worship and yet very ignorant ibid Obs 11. Soul-worship must be preferred before all other ibid VERS VII Obs 1 It is Gods goodness that He enters into covenant with such poor creatures as we are Page 623 Obs 2. God is constant in His Covenant with men ibid Obs 3 Mans nature is very weak Page 624 Obs 4 The apprehension of our obligation should keep us within covenant ibid Obs 5 Breach of covenant is a grievous agravation of sin ib. Obs 6 God expects that of His people which every one cannot do Page 625 Obs 7 Men may do many services and yet be Covenant breakers ibid Obs 8. The sins of Saints which break Covenant are sins of a double dye ibid Obs 9. The want of the right knowledg of God is the cause of breach of Covenant ib. Obs 10 There can be no Covenant kept where there is no mercy Page 626 Obs 11. We should be humbled because we break Covenant with God ibid VERS VIII Obs 1 Through mans wickedness the best of Gods Ordinances ar corrupted Page 628 Obs 2 We must not judg of places as they have been heretofore ibid Obs 3 Places of Religion if corrupted are the worst of all others ibid Obs 4 It is abominable to be a worker of iniquity ibid Obs 5 Clergie men if wicked are the worst of all others ib. Obs 6 Wicked Clergie men overthrow whol Nations Page 629 Obs 7 False worship and tyranny are joyned together ibid Obs 8 None so cruel as Clergie men ibid VERS IX Obs 1 Wicked Ministers are most outragious against those that leave them Page 630 Obs 2 Wicked Ministers wait to do mischief ibid Obs 3 Many men are neerest undoing when most secure ibid Obs 4 Wicked men abuse the esteem others have of them ib. Obs 5 Judges are least called to an accompt for wrongs ib. Obs 6. None plot mischief so much as Clergie men Page 631 Obs 7 Plotted wickedness is most vile ibid VERS X. Obs 1 Idolatry is a horrible sin Page 632 VERS XI Obs 1 The sins of the people are seeds for a harvest of judgment Page 635 Obs 2 God hath a set time for judgment ibid Obs 3 In judgment the Lord remembers mercy for his people ibid CHAP. VII VERS I. Obs 1 In great Cities there is all manner of evils Page 637 Obs 2 The sins of a Kingdom are the sores of a Kingdom Page 638 Obs 3 The Lord is the healer of a Kingdom Page 639 Obs 4 God doth not will things according to his omnipotency Page 640 Obs 5 Much wickedness lies hid many times in a Kingdom Page 641 Englands wickedness 1 Bitterness against the power of godliness Page 641 2 A sordid spirit Page 642 3 A trtacherous spirit ibid 4 A blasphemous spirit ib. 5 A bloody spirit ib. 6 A spirit of division ib. 7 An oppressing spirit Page 643 8 A spirit of envy ib. 9 A spirit of superstition ib. 10 A wanton spirit ib. 11 An unmerciful spirit ib. Obs 6 It is a forerunner of mischief when people are false in their relations Page 647 Obs 7 There is much secret wickedness in men of false Religions ib. VERS II. Obs 1 It is a good thing to be often speaking with ones own heart Page 648 Obs 2 God remembers wickedness a long time Page 649 Obs 3 Wicked men consider not that God remembers their wickedness ib. Obs 4 When God punisheth sin be manifesteth that he remembers it Page 650 VERS III. Obs 1 Wicked people are easily led aside by their Governors Page 655 Obs 2. Governors ought not to be obeyed when their comands are unlawful ibid Obs 3 It is a vile wickedness to flatter Princes Page 653 Obs 4 It is a vile thing to be made glad with wickedness Page 654 Obs 5 That King is in a sad condition when his ends must be accomplished by wickedness ibid Obs 6 Idolatry is a lye in Gods account Page 656 Obs 7 Idolaters further their worship with lyes ibid Obs 8 It is an evil thing to make men glad with lyes Page 657 VERS IV. Opened and applied Page 658 VERS V Obs 1 Festival daies are usually distempering daies Page 662 Obs 2 Drunkennesse is an old Court sin Page 663 Obs 3 Drunkennesse breeds diseases ibid Obs 4 Sensual Courtiers are for the most part great scorners Page 666 Obs 5 Times of feasting are times of contemning Religion ibid Obs 6 The right way of worship is slighted by carnal hearts ib. Obs 7 When Kings hearts are against Relegion they shall never want pestilent wits to further their designs Page 667 VERS VI. Obs 1 God will be hot in judgment as men are hot in sin Page 668 VERS VII Obs When Governors set up false worship it should quicken our prayers Page 670 VERS VIII Opened Page 673 VERS IX Obs 1 The hearts of wicked men work strongly after their lusts VERS X. Obs 1 God expects we should turn upon afflictions Page 679 Obs 2 Afflictions if not sanctified never turn the heart ib. Obs 3 Not to turn in Affliction is a great aggravation of sin ibid VERS XI Obs 1 Men are not excused though seduced by others Page 680 VERS XII Obs 1 It is just that those which go out of Gods way should be ensnared Page 682 Obs 2 God may for a time let wicked men prosper in their waies Page 685 Obs 3 Sinners had need regard what they hear out of Gods Word Page 684 Obs 4. When judgements come upon impenitent sinners 't is an humbling consideration ib. VERS XIII Obs 1 Gods redeeming mercies are great aggravations of our sins Page 687 Obs 2 Such as sin freely after deliverance give God the ly ib. Obs 3 For a man to urge another to a false opinion is a lying against God ibid Obs 4. The great evil of sin is that
197 Cause A good Cause may be lost by too much depending on it Page 388 Comfort see beasts Commands Commands to superstition usually find obedience Page 473 Communion How communion is defiled by the presence of wicked men Page 373 Creature The good or evil of the creature depends upon man Page 67 Contend God contends not without cause Page 21 God contends not for little things Page 22 Condition The condition of the person offending aggravates the sin Page 118 The poor condition of such as are rich only in this world Page 434 Conscience How pride of conscience may be discerned Page 395 Contempt Contempt of the word a constant companion to Idolatry Page 363 Controversie Controversies between them that are neer are grievous controversies Page 2 The controversie of Gods with sinners is very grievous Page 5 Gods controversie against England Page 8 Gods controversie with Covenant-breakers is dreadfull Page 26 Covetousness The covetousness of Priests Page 93 Counsels Perplexed counsels are a fearful judgment to a Nation Page 170 Court see Evil Curiosity see Superstition Carnal see Agreements Carthaginians The Carthaginians Law concerning Magistrates Page 660 Christ Christ became miserable for our consolation Page 548 Christs speech of neglect of parents expounded Page 604 Choice see Spirits Clouds Clouds and dew passing what it implies Page 576 Communicative see Nature Consolation Consolation to those whose friends have perished in Gods Cause Page 589 Comfort see God Consideration What considerations move men best to turn to God Page 536 Correction see Means Court see Idolatry Church see Assemblies Courage Motives to courage Page 535 Covenant The Covenant which God hath made with man is three-fold Page 622 The portion of Covenant-breakers Page 686 Cut-down How to know when a man is cut down Page 595 D Danger The danger of forsaking the truth Page 386 The danger of depending upon duties Page 403 Dangerous It is dangerous to venture upon the beginnings of false worship Page 354 It is dangerous to be deeply rooted in superstition Page 355 Defiled Defiled worship defiles the soul Page 372 Defiled see Nation Defilement A twofold defilement Page 371 Deny We should deny our selves to promote the true worship of God Page 357 Disappointment Disappointment brings shame Page 326 Distinction There ought to be a distinction made between the children of wicked and of godly Ministers Page 130 Disrespect Disrespect breeds shame Page 325 Divination How the Heathens were wont to divine by staves Page 134 Dogs Wicked men are dogs Page 73 Duty What the duty of Ministers is Page 141 What the duty of Christians is Page 474 Dying What a dying and terrified conscience is Page 500 Danger Danger see Night Daies see Festival Difference Dangerous It is dangerous to men to let good beginnings fall Page 583 See Hypocrisie Daniels case in prayer opened Page 611 Deliverance All deliverance comes from heaven Page 566 Destruction see wilfulness Difference Difference between Gods setting daies apart and mans setting daies apart Page 661 Discovery see Morning Duties see Natural Drunkenness Drunkenness brings diseases Page 663 E Education The custom of the Romans concerning the education of their children Page 421 Emperor Emperors called and accounted the Popes Dogs Page 117 England England admonished Page 86 A warning for England Page 375 see Controversie End The end of duties is to find out God Page 411 Evil The reason why there was so much evil at Court Page 115 See Punishment Example The example of wicked parents is not to be followed by their children Page 429 Excellency The excellency of grace makes sin the worse Page 179 Experience Experience of our late Prelates Page 358 Emperor An Emperor may be kept from the Sacrament Page 577 England The men of England of perverse spirits Page 572 Englands superstition reproved Page 589 England guilty of blood by calling murder manslaughter Page 627 Englands wickedness Page 641 Evil see Slander Excuses Mens excuses Page 570 Exhortation Exhortations to mercy Page 615 Experience The Saints experience Page 564 Expostulation see Form Expressions Scripture expressions against formality Page 621 F False worship The evils false worship doth in a Nation Page 138 Families The families of wicked Ministers are many times forgotten Page 97 Failings God looks not at the particular failings of a State Page 382 Flower The glory of the world is but as a flower Page 64 Formal God delights not in formal professors Page 412 Framing Notes of framing ones heart to the will of God Page 381 Faith Faith makes God real in the saddest condition Page 542 An eminent prop of faith Page 548 See Unworthiness and Repentance False Prophets False Ptophets are not to be followed Page 588 False Worship False Worship is to be trembled at Page 633 Festival daies Festival daies are usually distempering daies Page 664 Form A form of expostulation with ones soul Page 570 G Gilgal Wherein Gilgal was famous Page 183 Given A dreadful thing to be given over of God and why Page 207 Glory see Flower God God is a God of truth Page 23 God is no respecter of person Page 118 We should seriously mind what God doth Page 338 Gods pleading with man is not to be neglected Page 345 How God rebukes men Page 363 God will deal with men according to their present waies Page 370 God is not engaged to any Page 402 God delights most in his second right Page 405 God will not alwaies be found Page 411 God never smites a people before he warns them Page 452 God is a moth and rottenness and how Page 477 See Real Controversy Contend Punish Wrath Holiness Good works The good works of the Saints shall return unto them Page 121 Governors Governors of families should be careful of their families Page 154 The Governors of the people are usually the causes of the evils of the people Page 198 See Rulers Grace see Excellency God God will have glory from men Page 516 Gods usual way of comforting his people Page 520 God works by contraries Page 540 God doth not willingly grieve men Page 669 See Heart Keep Leave Penitent Mercies bound Governors see Wicked Great-men Great men are not easily reformed Page 577 Grounded We must be well grounded in the cause we suffer for Page 540 H Hard Hard truths are hardly born Page 2 The signs of an hard heart Page 515 Heathens Why the Heathens sacrificed undrr trees Page 149 A notable speech of an Heathen Page 552 Heart The secrets of mans heart are known to God Page 367 The heart of man is knotty Page 593 See Framing Argument Hard Note Herod Herods mercy in time of famine Page 30 Holiness God putteth a stamp of holiness upon the places he chuseth Page 143 Hope There is little hope of private means when publick means fail Page 85 Humble An humble man knows much of the mind of Christ Page 396 Help We should help those that suffer for a good cause Page 574 Heal How God healeth Page 640 Hypocrites see
Page 345 Riches How riches are fatal to Church-men Page 100 Rule The rule of our actions must be known and why Page 341 Rulers Rulers and Governors should be men of good mettle Page 229 Romans see Education Resurrection We live in Christs Resurrection Page 543 Relations What relation God stands in to the Saints Page 547 Revealing We must take notice of Gods revealing himself to us Page 557 Reformation see Hypocrisie Religion see Unconstancy S Saints see Good works Sacrifices The sacrifices of the wicked are slaughters Page 3â—â— What sacrifices should be rendred up to God Page 332 Satan Satans way to get in false worship Page 469 See Temptation Admonition Sensual see Ministers Sensuality Sensuality is a besotting sin Page 129 Self-love Self-love is sinful Page 409 Sermons Sermons must be preached to the life Page 439 How to know when a Sermon works really Page 440 Ministers in their Sermons must denounce war if peace be slighted Page 441 Secret sins see Beware Services Former services are not to be presumed on Page 402 Shame Causes of shame what they are Page 326 Sin Sin causeth a controversie between God and man Page 4 Sin not mortified will break out again Page 59 God punisheth sin with sin Page 152 Sin after rebuke is very sinful Page 363 Sin acts more on the will than on the power Page 376 Sin see Controversie Stealing What stealing is Page 52 Strife Strife against God is dreadful Page 7 Strive see priest Striving Striving against God is vain Page 6 Scornfulness Scornfulness reproved Page 19 Scripture see Papists Society The Society of the Saints is to be improved Page 196 State A State is hard to be stood out against in matter of Religion Page 365 State see Failing Subjects Subjects suffer for Princes sins Page 490 Superstition Curiosity to see Superstition is dangerous Page 187 See Preaching Command Superstitious How Superstitious men look upon Gods Ordinances Page 325 Superstitious people must be heeded when they come with greatest shew of reason Page 358 Superstitious people are abundant in services Page 406 Superstitious people spare no cost in their services Page 407 See Admonition Stubborn Stubborn people have base spirits Page 194 Swearing Whence swearing proceeds Page 41 The evil of swearing Page 42 Swearing in its self is lawful Page 189 See Lying Salutation The ancient form of the Saints salutation Page 549 Saints What the Saints shall know Page 553 See Experience Sacrifice see Mercy Scornful Evil men are scornful Page 665 Seasonableness Seasonableness commends duty Page 565 Service see Judgment Sin Sin disturbs Heaven and Earth Page 511 Slanders The evils of slanders Page 659 Sluggish A Sluggish spirit in the men of our times Page 556 Soul see Form Suffer see Help Steward see Vertue Superstition see England Spirit God hath sent choice spirits to London Page 590 T Take heeed How men ought to take heed to the Lord Page 126 Ten Tribes Why the ten Tribes had never a good King Page 469 Temptation Satans Temptations are an aggravation to sin Page 386 Terrified see Dying Thought Our Thoughts must be accounted for Page 120 Toys Men contend about toys Page 23 Threatnings see Real Treachery Treachery against God is dangerous Page 419 Treachery is the greatest sin Page 420 Trust see Avenged Truth Suffering truths go hardly down with Ministers Page 94 A hint of Truth prevails much with a subdued heart Page 389 See Hard Terror Terror to Hypocrites Page 551 Thoughts see Penitent Tryal see Repentance Turning Joint turning to God is very honorable Page 531 U Understanding What evil want of understanding doth Page 167 Ugly The ugly face of sin Page 63 Unfaithfulness Unfaithfulness provokes God to cast men off Page 96 Universities Univers ties corrupted Page 628 Why Universities are corrupted Page 116 Unlawful We can never expect unlawful undertakings to prosper Page 124 Vertues Vertues requisite in a steward Page 609 Unbeleef Lay up for time to come against unbeleef Page 546 Unconstancy Unconstancy in Religion provokes God Page 592 Unworthiness Faith sees worthiness in our unworthiness W Way When God is in a way of wrath he can reach the most remote creatures Page 68 Wicked The different spirits of wicked men in prosperity and adversity Page 64 Many wicked Parents are loth their children ' should be wicked Page 156 Wicked men shall need God Page 407 See Children Dogs Wickedness Thoughtful wickedness is the worst wickedness Page 120 God remembers wickedness a long time Page 649 It is a wickedness to flatter Princes Page 653 It is a wickedness to obey unlawful commands Page 653 See Apostates Whoremongers Whoremongers and plausible Ministers are alike Page 124 Works see Good Wine How Wine takes away the heart Page 130 Worship In point of Gods Worship we must not do as others do Page 177 By whom the Worship of God is disesteemed Page 325 See Institution Will Will-worship is abominable to God Page 360 The more will to sin the greater is the sin Page 472 Willing see Obedience Wrath No creature can help in time of Gods wrath Page 68 Wicked men Wicked men are led aside by their Governors Page 653 Wicked men are of no use Page 690 Wilfulness Wilfulness after enlightning is a note of destruction Page 579 Worthiness see Unworthiness Word How the Word slaies Page 590 The Word slaies either the sin or the soul Page 596 Worship see False Y Young Young Converts and weak Christians are soon deceived Page 409 Young ones Young ones are the hope of a Nation Page 429 Young ones must not be corrupted Page 430 Young ones are subject to m scarry Page 578 FINIS