much more in the world to come If any then shall come vnto vs to entice vs vnto any wickednesse whatsoeuer as Potiphars wife came vnto Ioseph Gen. 39.8 and enticed him vnto vncleanenesse wee shall not consent vnto him therein no more then hee did vnto her who was kept therefrom by the feare of the Lord. This should teach euery one of vs dayly to thinke of and bee fully perswaded of the glorious and continuall presence of Almighty God The presence of God euer looking vpon vs should be a meanes to keepe vs from sinne That wheresoeuer we are and whatsoeuer we thinke speake or do God vnderstands it knowes it beholds it our thoughts our words Psal 139.4 There is not a word in my tongue but thou O Lord knowest it altogether our deeds in publike secret Prou. 15.3 the eye of the Lord is in euery place beholding both the euill and the good This consideration and perswasion wee ought all to labour for it being a notable meanes to worke true feare in our hearts therefore let vs esteeme of euery place as Iacob did of Bethel what hee then sayde vrge still vpon thy soule The Lord is present and I was not aware of it Let thy shop bee a Bethel thy chamber a Bethel thy closet a Bethel for God is there present Oh that this meditation did take place in our hearts how many sinnes would it keepe vs from how conscionably should wee walke how vpright would be The chiefe sountaine of all hypocrisie is either ignorance or not cōsidering of this diuine property of God and surely if any thing will banish hypocrisie this will do it A man cannot chuse but be good sayth Boetius who still remembers that he stands in the presence of the Lord. Let this meditation then be euer in our mind that God is before vs and behind vs within thee and without thee on thy right hand and on thy left hand alwaies neere and neuer farre off and so shalt thou walke vprightly Holy Iob we see tooke that course that the Lord would haue vs take for the repressing of all inordinate lust and affections I made sayth he Iob. 31.1 a couenant with my eyes why then should I thinke on a mayde A carnal man would haue thought this too much curiosity and nicenesse what not to looke on the beauty and comely visage of a woman at least not to take some liberty for thoughts tending that way it is too too much precisenesse who can take any notice of such things in vs Vers 2. Oh sayth Iob what portion should I haue of God from aboue and what inheritance from the almighty from on high I durst not giue any way vnto the flesh in any sort for that were the directest course to depriue my selfe of the comforts of the word and spirit here and of the crowne of happinesse which is reserued for the Saints in the world to come Albeit I should speede litle the worse with men yet I should bee sure to come short of many speciall fauours and blessings of the Lord and further he addeth Is not destruction to the wicked and strange punishments to the workers of iniquitie Suppose I should escape the censures of men yet hath not the Lord meanes that I cannot conceiue of for the punishment of rebellious sinners and though things may be smothered for a time cannot he bring secret sins to open shame grant that it be kept close from the eyes of the world yet doth not he behold my wayes and tels al my steps though the eyes of men take the view onely of the outward actions yet hee looketh vpon the inward disposition and affection of the heart These and the like reasons he vsed to keepe himselfe in order and fright his conscience from all manner of sinne and impietie as is more fully described vnto vs in that chapter Fifthly this may serue for terror to all such as liue in sinne what greater terror to a theefe then to haue the iudge an eye witnesse of his vilany Let all dissemblers take notice of this So what greater terror to the wicked then this to haue the Lord behold their doings Come then and learne thou dissembling hypocrite thou that coggest and dallyest with the Lord God hath spyed and doth espy thy rottennesse within for all thy painted outside Hee knoweth that though thou wearest Christs liuery on thy backe thou wearest the diuels fauour in thy bosome Thinke vpon this you lurking diuels close enemies of the Church whose sleepe departs from you till you haue caused some to fall the Lord seeth your plots and cunning deuises your close practises against his Church and people But hee that sitteth in Heauen shall laugh you to scorne Psal 2. the Lord shall haue you in derision Take notice of this all you adulterers and whoremongers who say in your hearts Who sees vs wee are compassed about with darkenesse we need not feare Behold the Lord himselfe seeth thy villany and looketh thee in the face in the act of doing Let vs all consider this and bee better aduised thinke not by denying excusing colouring or cloaking them to auoyde the shame for what if men do count you innocent yet God will bring in euidence to finde you guilty and therefore he himselfe will witnesse against thee Psal 50. and set thy sinnes order before thee Sixthly this may serue to stirre vs vp and encourage vs to well doing What lazie seruant will not put foorth his strength when his maisters eye is on him So who is it were he well perswaded that the Lord is a spectator and beholder of his doings would not put foorth his strength to the Lords worke Were this well considered how couragious should wee bee both in the duties of our generall and speciall callings Seeing the Lord is the beholder of all our actions and wil reward thē let this enflame vs to practise pietie cause vs to make euen holy thoughs precious how forward would we be to euery good work Be not then slothfull in Gods seruice stand not all day idle be euer doing of good Not the least good can be done but he doth know it be it done neuer so secretly yet he seeth it hee seeth thy prayers hee heareth thy grones hee bottles vp thy teares which are shed at midnight and will reward them Thou needst not looke for witnesse to take notice of thy actions God himselfe is witnesse and thy owne conscience also thy conscience is as a thousand witnesses and God as a thousand consciences how many witnesses wouldst thou haue canst thou desire more Let this enflame vs to pietie and cause vs to make euē holy thoghts pretious for as there is not the least euill in the heart which can escape Gods knowledge no more is there the least good motion and cogitation Oh that this were well weighed then would not there bee so many lazie Christians as now there bee
holy ministry of Gods word longing and thirsting after it Psal 42.1.2 with Dauid As the Hart panteth after the water brookes so panteth my soule after thee O God Thus euery good Christian must whet the appetite of his soule to delight in Gods law by conference meditation hearing reading praying preaching and dayly frequenting of holy assemblyes Psal 122.1 I was glad when they sayd vnto mee let vs goe into the house of the Lord. So was it prophesied of the christian church that many people should go and say Mich. 4.1 Esa 2.3 Esa 60.7 Come let vs goe vp to the mountaine of the Lord to the house of the God of Iacob and he will teach vs his wayes and we shal walke in his paths who are these that flie like a cloude and as Doues to their windoes Noting not onely the greatnesse of the number but diligence and zeale of such as should come to Christ and receiue his doctrine and Christ sayd Mat. 11.12 that from the time of Iohn Baptist hitherto the kingdome of heauen suffereth violence and the violent take it by force Thus the zeale of Gods house should eate vs vp The least danger or weaknesse doth put of such as are backward in Gods seruice Secondly this serueth to confute and reproue all such as are backeward and carelesse in this necessary duty being idle and vaine in their excuses or reasons to hinder their zeale and loue to the word any feare the least danger Prou. 22.13 Psa 119.51 62.7.11.12 Luk. 14.18.19.20.23.23 and worldly businesse doth put them off There is a Lion in the way Some haue their oxen to prooue their Farme to see their wife to marry all these yet are inuited to come to the Feast though vnworthy of the same therefore God will fill his house with any others then with such euen those that sit in the high way and vnder hedges the most basest and vilest of men shall enter before them and bee saued Mat. 21.31.32 euen whores and harlots shall sooner be receiued then those that seeme children of the kingdome God will raise vp to Abraham sonnes of stones rather then these viperous serpents shall haue the name of his seed Mat. 3.9 Others there are that thinke if we should make conscience of religion begin to read the word to frequent sermons to haue prayer in our families and the like this would make vs to bee scoffed and mocked at but let such heare what the word saith that pronounces them blessed that delight in the law of the Lord Psalme 1. and meditate therein day and night and that seeke him with their whole hearts yea albeit they should meet with some disgrace and opposition in the world Psal 119. Math. 5. Blessed are yee saith Christ when men reuile you and persecute you and speake all manner of euill against you falsly for my names sakt Reioyce and be glad for great is your reward in heauen is it not better to endure a little mocking from men for a time and that for well doing then to vndergoe the wrath of God for euer for ill doing Let vs consider in particular what benefit we may reape by the ministry of the Gospel Isai 5.3 Heare saith the Prophet Isaiah Iam. 1.21 thy soule shal liue receiue the word with meekenes saith Iames which is able to saue your soules Reu. 1.3 blessed is he that reades heares the words of this Prophesie saith the spirit in the Reuelation And on the other side Prou. 28.9 he that turneth away his eare from hearing the law his prayer shall bee abomination saith Salomon and againe the wisedome of God speaks thus because I haue called and ye refused Prou 1.24.25.26 I haue stretched out my hand none would regard but yee haue despised all my counsell and would none of my correction I will also laugh at your destruction and mocke when your feare commeth These and the like places if wee could throughly consider of they would worke more powerfully with vs to cause vs to desire the word and to retaine and keepe our hearts still in loue and liking of it then all the reproches and persecutions in the world could to withdraw our affections from it God is to be heard before any Therefore they that come to receiue benefit by the ministery must not harken what reasons flesh and bloud can yeeld them against it but what reasons God can giue them for it for the diuell will haue much to say against goodnesse and our owne fleshly wisdome will haue haue as much the world will be as great a pulbacke vnto vs if we will giue it the hearing but if we can bend an attentiue eare vnto the Lord wee shall finde that hee will bring better arguments to perswade vs to goodnesse then all those our enemies can to disswade vs from it therefore it is that men are so often and so grossely deceiued because they heare what the one side can say to discourage and hinder them in actions of piety and godlinesse but not what the other can say to harten and draw them onward in good wayes for if they did bring a spirituall eare to receiue the proofes that are brought from the word they would be more forceable to bring them to God then al other means could be to allure them to forsake God Eph. 4.30 If wee cherrish in vs the gifts of Gods holy spirit it assures vs of deliuerance from the wrath to come and to embrace or hearken to the allurements of this present world therefore Paul writing to the Ephesians he saith thus grieue not the holy spirit of God nor that holy delight in the commandements he brings a forcible reason wherby you are sealed vnto the day of redemption This is the onely euidence wee haue of freedome from condemnation this is Gods marke and character set on vs and seizing vs for his owne this is like the blood that was stricken vpon the doore posts Exo. 12.22 which shall make the Lord to passe ouer vs and not suffer the destroyer to come neare vs when he goeth to smite the Egyptians By this wee are assured that the day of iudgement shall bee to vs no day of wrath but a day of redemption so then thus wee may take the Apostles meaning as you desire to retaine assurance of your deliuerance from the wrath to come and that the Lord should take notise of you for his in the day of that dreadfull separation so see that by all meaanes you cherish in you the gifts and operation of Gods holy spirit grieue it not by strangling and choaking of those holy motions and operations but let them be cherished and preserued without any the least abatement Thirdly Let vs beware of quēching the motions of the spirit for the sin is fearefull this serueth to condemne such as nip the bud so soon as euer it
and dost thou not rest in Negatiues abstaining only from what is forbidden but hast thou also regard to affirmatiues doing what God hath enioyned to bee done esteeming this latter as necessary as the former Surely if it bee thus thou mayst haue comfort that thy obedience to the Commandements is sound and good but yet a little further thou abstainest from grosse euils and art seuere and sore against others that fall into them such such sinnes thou dost not commit but what is the ground of thy abstaining Is it the law of the Magistrate feare of Gods wrath or shame of the World or is it because thou wantest ability or opportunity if this be the ground let me tell thee this is a false ground will deceiue thee in the end But dost thou leaue these H s 3.5 Psal 130.4 because they are euill and displeasing to the Lord Dost thou feare the Lord and his goodnesse and tremble to offend him because of his mercy Why then it is an euident signe of a sanctified soule Oh that we would deale truely with our selues that we would now at the last learne to be wise and not gull our soules as most doe and therefore consider with thy selfe and be thou better aduised cast of all profainenes follow holines and piety for without it no man shal euer see God to his comfort Seeing therfore examination is so necessary for euery one Examination so necessary that without it no state of life can bee rightly ordered let vs goe one step further in this tryall of our selues Hast thou felt by thine owne experience this great worke of regeneration and change wrought vpon thy soule Hath the powerfull Word by the inward and effectuall working of his Spirit broken and bruised thy hard stony heart Hath it pierced and purged the very closest and vnsearchable corners thereof hath it humbled it with the sight of thy sinnes hath it filled it with fearefull terrours remorse and true sorrow for thy life past hath it after quieted and refreshed it with a sure faith in Christ Iesus and a delight in heauenly things hath it mortified thy inward corruptions broke the heart of thy sweet sin hath it planted a holy moderation in all thy affections that whereas heretofore they haue beene enraged with lust with immoderate anger with ambition with insatiable desire for the inlargement of thy possessions greatnesse and with hatred of Gods dearest seruants and their holinesse are they now inflamed with zeale for Gods honor truth seruice with a feruent loue vnto the Lord and his Saints with Christian courage to oppose against the sinnes of the time to defend goodnesse good causes to contemne the lying slanders and profane scoffes of worthlesse men hath it begot in thy will an hunger and thirst after the spirituall foode of thy soule the Word and Sacraments so that thou hadst rather part with any worldly good then not enioy the incomparable benefit of a conscionable and constant ministery are thy thoughts which hertofore did wander vp downe at randome wickedly idly wantonly are they now bounded within a sacred compasse and spent vpon holy things and the necessary affaires of thy honest lawfull calling Is thy vnderstanding informed acquainted with the mistery of saluation which the world the wise men thereof account nothing but madnes and folly is thy memory which hath heretofore bin stuffed with trash and toyes vanities and follies now capable and greedy of diuine knowledge are thy words which heretofore haue bin full of profanenes worldlines now directed to glorifie God to giue grace to the hearers Nay yet further besides this reuocation of the faculties of thy soule hath the power of grace sanctified all thy outward actions Dost thou order in euery particular all the businesses of thy vocation religiously conscionably by direction out of the Word of God Dost thou now heare the Word of God not only of course and custome but of zeale conscience to reforme thy selfe by it to liue after it Do not the weekdaies duties and worldly cares drown thy mind on the sabbath dost thou exercise daily with fruit feeling prayer that precious cōfort of the faithfull Christian Thou being conuerted dost thou labor the cōuersion of others especially of those which are committed any way to thy charge and for whom thou must giue a more strickt account as if thou be a master of a family dost thou pray with them instruct them in the doctrine of saluation wayes of godlinesse dost thou now not only sticke at and forbeare great and grosse sinnes but dost thou euen hate the garment spotted of the flesh and all appearance of euill Thes 15.22 doth the tendernes of thy conscience check thee for the least sin make thee feareful to offend thogh it be but in a wandring cogitation after euery fal into infirmities art thou carefull to renew thy repentance learn wisedom watchfulnes to auoid thē afterwards dost thou feele thy selfe profit grow increase in these fruits effects of grace hast thou such a gracious taste of the glory of God of eternal life that thou art euen willing desirous to meete thy Sauior in the clouds not so much to bee rid out of the miseries of this life as to be freed from the heauy burden of Heb. 12.1 sin which hangs on so fast to enioy his presence in the heauens for euer in a word as thy soule giues life spirit motion to thy whole body euery part thereof doth the Spirit of God euen so inspire thy soule and body and all thy actions with the life of grace why then thou art possest of the state of true blessednes Here is great comfort for all such as can find this vprightnesse in themselues they neede not feare thogh the earth should bee mooued yet they shall abide and be safe in the Day of the Lord. thou art then happy that euer thou wast borne thy life is certainely the way of life and I can assure thee and I dare boldly speake it that thou art already out of the reach of all the powers of Hell Satan is chained vp for euer doing thee any deadly hurt all the creatures are reconciled vnto thee at league with thee thou hast filled the angels with ioy at thy conuersion they will for euer gard thee thou shalt neuer more be afraid for any ill tidings though the earth bee moued Psal 46.2 and though the mountains fal into the middest of the sea thy heart shall abide strong vnshaken and comfortable when thou fallest downe vpon thy bed of sickenesse thou shalt finde no mortall pryson in thy flesh no sting in death no darkenesse in the graue no amazement at that great and fearful day for all the merits and sufferings of Christ are thine all the comforts of Gods children are thine all the blessings in the booke of God