testified elsewhere to the woman of Samaria b Iohn 4. 23. The houre commeth and now is when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth So in like manner to the Pharisees c Luke 17. 21. Behold the Kingdome of God is in or among you already meaning that the Messiah whom they so much enquired after was alreadie come euen then present before them But it is said to draw neere in respect of the fuller accomplishment of all things that were written of him and further manifestation of his Glory by his meritorious Passion victorious Resurrection triumphant Ascension royall installment or sitting at the right hand of the Maiestie in the highest Heanens magnificent gifts which he d Acts 2. 33. hauing receiued of his Father the promise of the Holy Ghost shed forth abundantly vpon his Church and finally his most illustrious conquest when to the amazement of all both men and Angels by the simple preaching of the Gospell as the World accounteth it he fetcht in both Iewes and Gentiles farre and neere in great abundance to the obedience of Faith The heauenly Kingdome thus approching required a heauenly preparation for it by that repentance before called for without the which they were vtterly vncapable of it and so as chaffe to bee winnowed or fanned out of God's floore or visible Church and to be burned with fire vnquenchable as his fore-runner Iohn e Matth. 3. 12. the Baptist threatned his vnfruitfull hearers This also is further to be considered that if the approach of this heauenly Kingdome required of euery one such carefull preparation by turning instantly to God with all their hearts and with all their soules what doth the presence of it require of vs who now liue in the time of reformation and see or may see cleerely the accomplishment of all those high mysteries before mentioned concerning Christ's Death Resurrection Ascension into Heauen sitting at the right hand of his Father the powring forth of the Holy Ghost and calling of the Gentiles To vs especially is that notable exhortation directed f Psal 24. 7 9. Lift vp your heads O yee gates and be yee lifted vp yee euerlasting doores and the King of glory shall come in for we especially are by calling and profession a spirituall House or Temple and our hearts gates or doores for IESVS CHRIST the King of glory to enter in by wherefore we aboue all others are to lift vp our heads on high by raysing vp our mindes aboue the leuell of this World and aboue all the things of this World though neuer so pleasurable and glorious in appearance That so beeing g Col. 3. 1 2. risen againe with CHRIST wee may seeke those things which are aboue where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God we may set our affections on things aboue and not on things on the earth And this also iustly calleth for another deepe consideration That if the neere approach of the Kingdome of Heauen by his appearing in grace to his people lay such a necessitie vpon them to turne euery mothers childe from their euill wayes no beleeue in him and as becommeth his Disciples and followers to bring forth fruit worthy of so high and honourable a calling what doth then the neerer approach of his appearance in glory and maiestie at the last day which now cannot be farre off when the Lord IESVS shall be reuealed from Heauen with his mightie Angels in h 2. Thess 1. 8. flaming fire to take vengeance on them that know not GOD and that obey not the Gospell of our Lord IESVS CHRIST A man liuing in the bosome of the Church and being put in minde hereof from time to time as occasion is offered had need to haue his conscience seared with a hot Iron and his heart as the i Zech. 7. 12. Prophet complayneth made hard as an Adamant-stone if this most weightie consideration doe not awaken him to liue k 1. Cor. 15. 34. righteously and not to sinne as the Apostle speaketh But if neither the presence of the Kingdome of grace nor the expectation of the Kingdome of glorie will doe it what remayneth but that terrible sentence which the Sonne of God the Lord and Iudge of all hath denounced long agoe and will pronounce on his tribunall seate in due time l Luke 19. 27. Those mine enemies which would not that I should reigne ouer them bring hither and slay them before me Let this suffice for Christ's foregoing doctrine That which remayneth now is to take a view of his whole m Mat. 5. 1 2. Sermon the occasion whereof was offered by the maruellous concourse of people assembling vnto him from all parts as is shewed Chap 4. 25. as also by the forwardnesse of his owne Disciples flocking about him to heare his doctrine and gaping as it were for his instructions none otherwise then the dry and thirstie ground doth for raine This made our Lord and blessed Sauiour who alwayes lay in wait to catch men and was in this kind a mightier hunter without comparison then euer n Gen. 10. 9. Nimrod was in his to spread the Net of his Euangelicall and most powerfull doctrine vpon the Mountaine whither hee had ascended both to auoide the throng and to be the better heard Neither is it to be neglected that hee is said to haue sit downe as the manner of Teachers then was and to open his mouth or addresse himselfe to vtter his heauenly message not lightly or slightly as too-many doe but most grauely and graciously as beseemed his person and the maiestie of the diuine Oracles which were to come from him For this Teacher-like sitting downe and opening of his mouth may serue to admonish euery one of vs that wee are altogether forgetfull of our dutie and extremely vnthankfull if with o Luke 10. 39. Mary in the Gospell wee sit not assiduously and vnmoueably at the feete of this great Prophet and open not our cares with due reuerence and deuotion to heare his Word The rather because such vnmatchable treasures of spirituall wisdome and vnderstanding are heerein contayned that this Sermon may truly be said to bee the Master-piece of all his workes which are extant of this nature It may be reduced to these three heads first he instructeth vs more fully who are capable of that Kingdome either of grace or glory and so to be accounted truly blessed secondly by what meanes this great dignitie is to bee attayned vnto thirdly what their conuersation is and ought to bee who are of that ranke Concerning the subiect of blessednes it hath beene much canuassed by the great Philosophers and wisemen of the world placing it some in one thing some in another but in fine after all disputes leauing the matter as vncertaine as they found it But this our heauenly teacher without any going about the bush or intricate discourse in very few words setteth downe most plainely and pithily who are
indeed blessed euen such as naturall men iudge of all other to be most wretched and miserable whom he describeth together with their blessednesse Cap. 5. vers 3. to 13. First by their preparation to the kingdome of heauen and so to true blessednesse They are poore in spirit they mourne they hunger and thirst after righteousnesse Secondly by their inward disposition they are meeke mercifull pure in heart peace-makers Thirdly by their outward condition they are so farre from ciuill and worldly happinesse that they are forced to vndergoe many manifold crosses eue◠for their righteousnesse sake To take these things in order as they are layed before vs in the p Verse 3. text first hee pronounceth them blessed what frailties or calamities soeuer they labour vnder who are poore not so much in purse as in spirit being of a broken and contrite heart trembling at the word of God whose displeasure they feare not with seruile but reuerentiall feare aboue all dreadfull things and whose mercy through CHRIST IESVS they make their onely refuge disclaiming all affiance in themselues or any creature And being conscious of their owne wants and weaknesses they are much more vile in their owne eyes then they are or can be in other folkes as wee see plainely q Luke 18. 13. in the poore Publican The very heathen receiued 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 know thy selfe as a diuine oracle and layed it downe as the foundation of true wisdome and happinesse as our Lord and Master here doth In the second place Verse 4. hee pronounceth them blessed not who are at ease in Zion and liue deliciously but that mourne not a thousandth part so much for their afflictions and miseries though they bee sensible of them and bewaile them also as very bitter fruits of that bitter root of sinne but as S. Iames teacheth r Iames 4. 9 10. they are afflicted sorrow and weepe they turne their carnall laughter into mourning and ioy into heauinesse casting downe themselues for their sinnes before the Lord In which respect they grieue at the heart that they can grieue no more This godly sorrow for sinne wheresoeuer it reigneth causeth repentance vnto saluation not to be repented of as was said before and therefore cannot but make him or her blessed in whom it is found what sorrow or anguish soeuer they meete withall in this present world for this word of Christ must stand for euer Blessed are they that mourne Onely let our study and care be rightly to discerne this godly sorrow from the counterfeit In godly sorrow the mourning is for sinne as it is sin and offence against the diuine Maiestie and not for by-respects as feare of punishment shame of the world losses and crosses Againe it is ioyned with hope of pardon and full purpose of an intire reformation It is also exercised not onely about our owne sinnes and euils but with ſ 2. Pet. 2. 7. 8. iust Lot and those holy mourners Ezech. 9. it maketh vs to be vexed in our soules by hearing and seeing the vnlawfull deedes of others And finally wheresoeuer it is there cannot but bee exceeding sorrow for the t Amos 6. 6. affliction of Ioseph that is of the people of God In the third place Verse 5. they are pronounced blessed not who are treafe and teachie◠irefull and snappish rendring euill for euill nor the rigorous exacters of their owne right but the meeke who haue learned in their greatest distresses and wrongs to submit themselues vnder the mightie hand of God as did patient u Job 1. 21. 22. and 2. 10. Iob in all the malicious most hostile incursions both of the deuill and vngodly men and x 2. Sam. 16. Dauid in Shimeis most bitter cursing and other villanous abuses of him so in all cases of the like nature to beare and quietly to passe by whatsoeuer iniuries of the aduersaries much more the frailties of their brethren and sisters in Christ giuing soft answers so much as may be making the best construction of euery thing and when need is forgoing their right Abram y Gen. 13. 9. like to buy peace good will Finally not to be ouercome of euill but to ouercome euill with their goodnesse This is to become followers of him who z Isai 53. was brought as a sheepe to the slaughter and as a sheepe before the shearer is dumbe so opened hee not his mouth who when he was reuiled reuiled not againe when he suffered he threatned not but committed it to him who iudgeth righteously and in the meane season not only prayed but dyed for the transgressors This is indeed to a Rom. 8. 14. be led by the doue-like spirit of God and to approue our selues to bee the sonnes of God Verily the Lambe whereunto CHRIST IESVS is resembled and the Doue wherevnto the Holy Ghost is resembled beeing Emblemes of meeknesse as wee know are the Coate or Cognizance for euery true Christian to bee knowne by in his spirituall warfare In the fourth place they are pronounced blessed not who are Gold-thirstie or full with the wind of ciuillo Pharisaicall righteousnesse or with the swill of worldly pleasures and delights but which hunger and thirst after righteousnesse desiring most vehemently and eagerly for hunger will breake through stone-walls further knowledge apprehension and sence of their most happy restoring to the fauour and image of GOD by the bloud and spirit of CHRIST IESVS That they may be able with the holy Apostle out of their owne experience to glory and say b Gal. 2. 19 20. I by the Law meaning the morall Law especially being accused condemned and driuen to CHRIST IESVS am dead to the Law am vnder the malediction and condemnation of it no longer that I might liue vnto God through his Sonne CHRIST by whom I haue now receiued the attonement and his holy Spirit withall I am crucified with CHRIST by vertue of mine vnion with him by Faith which inestimable benefit was sealed vp in my Baptisme I partake the sweet fruit of his Death and Passion as verily as if I had satisfied for my sinnes in mine owne person Neuerthelesse I liue spiritually which before mine effectuall calling to the knowledge of the Gospell was spiritually dead yet not I as of or in my selfe but CHRIST liueth in me by his Spirit assuring my spirit of the forgiuenesse of all my sinnes and moreouer quickening me vnto all righteousnesse and the life which I now liue in the flesh while I am in this present World I liue by the faith of the Sonne of GOD whereby to mine vnspeakable comfort whatsoeuer Law of Rebellion I find in my members I rest perswaded that hee hath loued mee his poore creature being by nature now wholy depraued the child of wrath and by life without measure abominable Yea euen when I stood in this damnable and desperate estate hee c 2. Cor. 5. 21. gaue himselfe for me to become sinne and d
or ought to be often inculcated The ancient interpretation of the g Verse 21. sixt Commandement see how little heed is to be giuen to bare Antiquitie by tradition was Thou shalt not kill that is lay violent hands vpon thy Neighbour to take away his life vniustly as Cain did Abels This onely in the sence of these goodly Interpreters the Scribes and Pharisies maketh one guiltie of bloud and the Murtherer worthy of death temporall by mans iudgement and of eternall by Gods iudgement But our Lord Christ h Verse 22. setting his owne true exposition against their olâ—â—radition teacheth that as God the Law-giuer is a Spirit Maker and Searcher of the very hearts and reines so his Law is spirituall requiring spiritull obedience in euery thing forbidding on the otherside whatsoeuer is contrarie thereunto seeme it neuer so light in the eyes of carnall men as rash anger or any light contempt expressed by Racha among them which word seemeth to import one voide or emptie of good iudgement among vs by Dunce Dolt Asse Block-head Goose Woodcocke and many such like Adde heereunto Thou in contempt tush a fig for thee so fleering geering breaking of iests things too common frowning also Cainish or cast-downe lookes flinging away in a chafe c. Much more hee forbiddeth vnder Murther contumelious and reproachfull termes as Foole Knaue Rogue Rascall base Companion and such like In summe he forbiddeth whatsoeuer standeth not with vnfeigned Charitie to our Neighbours person The fearefull danger of all which he expresseth by a similitude drawn from the Iewish Courts or proceedings in iudgement who are said to haue one consisting of three Commissioners appointed to iudge of lesse offences another of three and twentie appointed to iudge of greater offences another of seuentie two called the Sanhedrim or counsell of estate to iudge of the greatest offences As then among the Iewes there were degrees of punishment according to the qualitie and heinousnesse of the offences yet was it intended that none offender should goe vnpunished so is it in Gods proceeding all breakers of this as of other his most holy Lawes shall be punished but the greater offender shall haue the greater torture inflicted vpon him Which consideration to let other things passe ought to bee an effectuall motiue to draw our hearts to the obedience of all euen of the least of Gods Commandements and the very least branches of euery one of them And to that end to search diligently the extent of euery precept because knowledge of necessitie must goe before practice and i Prou. 19. 2. without knowledge the minde is not good This also calleth for a further degree of repentance and watchfulnesse ouer our hearts and wayes then is commonly thought vpon Contrariwise by Christs exposition of this sixt Commandement whatsoeuer things apperteine to Loue and Charitie are called for as k Verse 23 24. reconciliation with the offended brother which he maketh so necessary that though a Iew came as farre as the very Altar with his gift or sacrifice and there remembred an offence made to his Brother or Neighbour not to presume to offer his gift but to leaue it there vntill attonement were made with him God in iust offences will haue their brother appeased or at the least all meanes to be vsed for pacification before he would bee appeased or at all accept of their person or deuotion which holdeth in like manner with vs Christians reconciliation one with another or at the least our best endeauour for it must of necessitie goe before not onely the holy Communion but all our other deuotions whatsoeuer if wee make account to doe our selues any good thereby and not rather to irritate and prouoke the wrath of God against our selues for some degree of Murther This holdeth also in them that goe to Law or are like to goe to Law one with another whom Christ according to the tenour of this sixt Commandement exhorteth to speedie agreement if not of conscience which alone without any by-respect ought to be yet in godly policie for feare of after-claps not onely through the rigour and crueltie of our aduersary prouoked by vs but euen through the iust iudgement of God hardening his heart against vs. So that when we will not at Gods bidding agree with our aduersary quickly while wee are in the way with him that is before the matter come to tryall though it bee with losse wee may thanke our selues if afterward being cast he take the whole Law of vs so farre forth as to cast vs into Prison and euen to make Dice of our bones according to the mercilesse Prouerbe because not onely Neighbours and friends but Christ himselfe could beare no palme with vs to giue in in time In the second place to prooue our righteousnesse to bee spirituall hee handleth the seuenth Commandement Thou shalt not commit adultery restoring it to the naturall and full sence The Scribes and Pharisies were herein according to their vsuall manner too literall confining as appeareth Verse 27. all adulterie to the grosse act of vncleannesse betweene parties whereof one at the least was married But our Lord Christ gaging the vessell to the bottome teacheth that the l Verse 28. lust of the heart is adulterie before God who is the former and beholder of the heart and gaue his Lawes for the bridling of it as well as of the members yea much more of it as being the master-wheele that turneth all the rest Secondly that the vnchast looke whereby lust is ingendred and increased doth participate with that sinne and is a breach of the seuenth Commandement which caused Iob to m Iob. 31. 1. make a couenant with his eyes not to behold a Maide Thirdly all occasions of stumbling and falling into adulterie come within this ranke whether the neerer and deerer like vnto n Verse 29 30. ones right hand or right eye or more remote o Verse 31 32. as diuorces or any thing of the like nature How neere and deere soeuer any occasion of whoredome so of any other sinne be though it bee esteemed as the right eye or hand yet except we would be cast into Hell fire vnrecouerably it must not onely through Gods mercifull assistance bee forborne but cut off and cast away with the vttermost detestation that can be what temporall paine soeuer it put vs to or what misse soeuer we may seeme to haue of it The neere and deere occasions of incontinencie by any meanes to bee cut off and cast away are these and such like An idle and easie life pampering and decking of the corps lasciuious company and communication needlesse gadding with neglect of our callings impure thoughts entertayned with delight haunting of suspected houses vnseasonable meetings and reuellings Loue-songs and Bookes ribald-talke if not vsed yet heard and indured of vs filthy obiects in Pictures Playes or whatsoeuer else stirreth vp corrupt nature prone to such vncleannesse especially in youth and out of marriage
Dauids mouth and penne Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing thou hast put off my sack-cloath and gird me with gladnesse The like experience had Daniel Ezra Nehemiah and many others whose inwardnesse and secrecie with God in the performance of these duties carried away an euident and most ample reward to the vnspeakeable comfort of themselues and of the whole Church And verily there is no childe of God now liuing vpon the face of the earth who hath not the like experience in some degree or other receiuing euer in due time an haruest answerable to his sowing All this as also all the foregoing and following doctrine of Almes Prayer and Fasting will yet better appeare if we looke better into the nature of these three Christian vertues A true description will direct vs to the right manner and end of performance of them By Almes then we vnderstand a giuing of reliefe to the poore and needy according to our ablenesse at Gods bidding euen out of tender compassion knowing that they beare the image of God and are our owne flesh Almes must be done at Gods bidding who requireth and streightly chargeth them to bee done in the bookes of the Old and New Testament So that the due performance of them is b Psal 112. 9 righteousnesse obedience better then all sacrifice and the contrarie I meane the neglect of Almes is vnrighteousnesse and disobedience making men c Mat. 25. 41. culpable of hell fire What place is there then of seeking our owne praise or seruing any ends of our owne Almes also must proceed out of tender compassion for the word heere translated Almes signifieth mercie and pitie whereby we learne not onely this lesson That not the thing giuen how great soeuer but the affection of the giuer maketh it Almes but this lesson also That right Almes-giuers stand not vpon any by-respects Pitie and compassion with bowels yearning ouer their brethrens miserie is as a strong law in their hearts forcing them to giue and doe good when they can and as much as they can though they bee not praised for it yea though they should bee disgraced and punished for their labour as in times of persecution many haue beene for contributing to the necessitie of the Saints This consideration also that they beare the image of God and are our owne flesh without any other spur is a sufficient inducement therto And as for prayer what is it but a most humble and familiar talking of the soule with God our heauenly father by the direction and mediation of Christ Iesus his sonne and assistance of his holy spirit about all matters concerning his glorie and our owne good that is the good of our selues spirituall and corporall and of the whole body and brotherhood of the Saints with whom wee hold communion And it comprehendeth d 1. Tim. 2. 1. supplication or deprecation against euill prayer or petition for any good which wee finde within our commission to aske intercession for others and giuing of thankes for all things that befall prosperous or aduerse because e Rom. 8. 21. all worke together for good to them that loue GOD. Which dutie of prayer being thus rightly performed what place is there left for the heart to runne a rouing or whoring rather after worldly glory And he that prayeth continually how can he but haue his conuersation in heauen not seeking popular applause but the things which are aboue where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God And to adde that which he f Verse 7. addeth further in this passage of prayer what place is there for vaine repetitions such as heathenish people vse who are without God in this world and doe seruice to them which by nature are no gods who make none end of laying on tongue in prayer because they thinke to bee heard for their much speaking or babbling But wee haue heard and it is most true that prayer is a talking not of the tongue but of the heart with God of the spirit with a spirit and that by the assistance of Gods holy spirit This speech of our spirits with that incomprehensible spirit or Godhead howsoeuer sometimes it be expressed by words in some sort as may be and as our needes require which words for the most part are or ought to bee g Eccles 5. 2. few yet consisteth it mainely in heauenly affections and h Rom. 8. 26. in grones and sighes that cannot be expressed Away therefore with all lip-labour of superstitious persons of what ranke soeuer conceiting that God is to bee wooed and wonne with art and multitude of words as if prayer exopere operato as Poperie speaketh by the worke done were a meritorious seruice or some strong ning charme to bind God make him condiscend to our deuotions Surely the praying in an vnknown tongue the running ouer of many Pater-nosters Aue-Maries such like stuffe vpon the beades praying by tale and number rather then by weight and infinite such vsages plainely demonstrate that Poperie is full of this abomination nothing at all short of the heathen if they goe not farre beyond them So the manner of praying vsed by many I would I might not say the most of them that professe themselues to bee of the reformed Religion admitteth none excuse When the Lords Prayer is rabled ouer without duevnderstanding or reuerence the Creede also and tenne Commandements are recited and brought as prayers into the presence of the diuine Maiestie with other set formes of prayer sound in themselues like enough and of very great vse but without iust attention and deuotion on their parts that vse them And euen the forwarder sort many times conceiuing prayer how worthily I will not say but wordly enough and too much without premeditation or due preparation chopping into Gods sacred presence and dealing with him in matters of the highest nature concerning his glory and their owne eternall good so inconsiderately and irreuerently that it may too iustly bee said vnto them know you where you are and in whose presence you stand And euen so departing call not to minde before whom and whereabout they haue beene Doe not these and many such like courses too frequent in vse plainly speake and proclaime as it were with the sound of a Trumpet that there is very great danger lest our Prayers also turne into vaine and heathenish babling This is the rather to bee taken heed off because the neerer men approach vnto God and the more grace they haue receiued at his hands the more he looketh to haue his holy Name hallowed by them and the more hotly shall his wrath and iealousie breake forth if it be not We see therefore what need wee haue to i Ephes 6. 18. watch in Prayer that wee bee not ouertaken according to the Apostles doctrine labouring by all meanes that this exhortation of our Sauiour Christ among others may sinke into our hearts Wherein notwithstanding let it be remembred