the height and the measure of her iniquitie is once full according to that of Sainct Iohn in the Reuelation Shee is fallen shee is fallen euen Babylon that great Citie c. God put it into the hearts of all christian princes to rise vp against her * By suppressing of Poperie that their warre with them may assure them of a peace with themselues and with their Lord God For how dangerous they be vnto a christian common-wealth euen theyr hellish Attempts do shew Neyther is it an error in practise as many would beare men in hand but it is an error in doctrine teaching yea and maintaining it that they may safely kill and take away the life of a christian Prince that will not yeelde and subiect himselfe vnto the Pope of Rome * Therfore traitors to Christian Princes in action or affection and so much the more dangerous to be sufferd And no maruell then though they can not endure the manifestation of God his Word which is a Lanthorne vnto our feete and a Light vnto our Paths directing vs to heauen For this Light if the Pope did not smother it euen little children in the Streetes would long ere this haue cryed Fie vpon them fie vpon them Jt is my care both in publike and priuate out of my small reading to discouer as much as in me lieth the mysterie of Iniquitie and to lend one blast to the sounding of that Horne The word that shall at last shake downe the walles of this Iericho Jt is the old and ancient Doctrine of Faith and Repentance that I heere intreate of As for the plainenesse of the manner of deliuery of it I do trust you will acknowledge that the power of the spirit is best seene in weakenesse and that plainelinesse do best answere a straight and euen Leuell the euidence of the spirit is best seene in plainenesse J haue presumed to prefixe your Worshippes Name vnto this small Worke Jt shall by Gods good blessing increase your loue vnto the truth and gospell of Iesus Christ A zealous professour whereof you haue shewed your selfe to be these many yeares and worke in you a further detestation of Poperie As you haue begun well so proceed and let your workes be more at last then at first Be still for God in all his wayes and God will be still for you in all your waies aduance him still and hee will aduaunce you Thus I adde this poore Mite to the treasurie of the Church ascribing the Patronage to your selfe the vse to the world and the successe of it to God I pray God to keepe you in his holy feare and fauour vnto the end and so remaine Your worships in the surest bond SAMVEL SMITH A Table of the Doctrines contained in these two Sermons THE FIRST SERMON CANT 1. v. 6.7 Doctrine 1. CHRIST IESVS must bee loued with the strongest affection of Loue. p. 234 Doct. 2. True note of a Sheepe of Christ to hunger and thirst after the word of God p. 225 Doctr. 3. The church of God doth acknowledge Christ to bee her chiefe shepheard p. 267 Doctr. 4. The church of GOD sometimes is in the very heate of persecution p. 274 Doctr. 5. Christ leaueth not his church in the heate of persecution but prouideth comfort for them p. 285 Doct. 5. It is altogether impossible for men to holde out in time of triall that are not assisted by God p. 296 THE SECOND SERMON CANT 1. v. 7. Doctrine 6. CHRIST esteemeth of his church as if they had no sinne p. 308 Doctr. 7. The church of GOD sometimes may bee at such a streight as not to discerne the truth p. 317 Doctr. 8. A direction to know which is the true church p. 324 A Fold for Christs SHEEP THE FIRST SERMON CANT 1.6.7 6 Shew thou me O thou whom my soule loueth where thou feedest and where thou liest at noone For why should I bee as shee that turneth aside to the Flocks of thy companions 7 If thou know not O thou the fairest among women get thee forth by the steps of the Flocke and feede thy Kiddes by the Tents of the Shepheards BEFORE I enter into the Text it selfe which I haue now read vnto you it shal not be amisse for my better proceeding and your vnderstanding to speake something concerning the order of placing this Booke the Title of it and the subiect matter therein contained Touching the order of placing this Booke wherein king Salomon labours to build vp the Spirituall Temple of the Soule It is the same hee obserued in building the materiall temple 1. Reg 6. where he framed three Courts the vtmost for the Common People the second for the Priests and Leuites and last of all that Sanctum Sanctorum the Holiest of Holies onelie for the High Priest to enter in at and that but once a yeare euen so in this Spirituall Temple of mans Soule hee hath likewise framed three Courts First an vtmost Court which is his Booke of Prouerbes where all sorts and degrees of men whatsoeuer are taught instructed a ciuill course of maners Next to that he hath a second Court which is his Ecclesiastes leading men on further in the wayes of godlinesse and Christian piety And last of all hee hath a Sanctum Sanctorum which is his Canticles wherein not euerie one but onely those which delight in heauenlie and Diuine Mysteries may behold the pure free perfect eternall and constant loue of Christ Iesus towards his Church and euerie faithfull Soule as also the loue of his Church towardes him and what great and princely benefits she reapeth by him Secondly for the Title and subiect matter of this most excellent Booke as there is Sabbatum Sabbati so this is a Song of Songs because of all that Salomon did endite this is most Diuine and most excellent In the which hee doth most liuely and affectionately by Allegoricall and Parabolicall Speeches cipher out and describe vnto vs the most holie and perfect loue of Christ Iesus towardes the Church his blessed Spouse For CHRIST and his Church are heere brought in in this worthie Booke as two Paramours Psalme 45 who are in loue the one with the other as a time of wooing euer goeth before the solemnization of Matrimonie and which in due conuenient time haue a purpose to marrie Math. 1.11 as Ioseph and Mary were first espoused before they came together So the same order is obserued in this Spirituall Vnion betwixt Christ and his Church Iohn 3.29 They must first bee contracted then after married The Contract is when a man is regenerate and borne anew Reuel 21 9. translated out of Nature into Grace depending only vpon Christ for saluation and finished and made vp in the day of Iudgement when all the Elect shall fully enioy Christ For so witnesseth the Holy ghost where it is said Let all be glad and reioyce and giue glory to him for the Marriage of the Lambe is come and
and by certaine markes and testimonies in our owne hearts to prooue that we are in the number of Gods Elect. For as Salomon saith Pro. 27.19 As water sheweth face to face Euen so the heart sheweth man to man Euen as a glasse sheweth what a mans face is so will a mans heart and conscience shew what man is in the sight of God Then if you would now know whether your names be written in the Booke of Life that is whether you bee the elect of God and heires of eternall Life you must now enter into your owne soules 2 Cor. 13 proue your selues and you shal certainly know whether you shall bee saued or damned For if thou finde in thee the true marks and notes of Gods childrē thou needest not feare but that thy name is in this Booke and thou shalt certainely be saued But as for wicked and prophane men and women that make no conscience of sinne they shall in spite of their teeth vpon this examination sing the dolefull tune I am a damned sinner I know not what will become of my poore soule at the day of Iudgement And therefore that we might in some measure trie our selues and iudge whether we be in this booke and so shall be saued let vs search out of the holie word of God some certaine marks of Gods children The first marke whereby we may know whether we be elect or not is the inward testimony and witnesse of Gods spirit Rom. 8.15 Yee haue not receiued the spirit of bondage to feare againe but ye haue c. Whereby Saint Paul tells vs that wicked and vngodly sinners which haue not the spirit of God to guide them but liue in sinne they haue onelie the spirit of Bondage they haue no tru peace in their souls but they that be the children of God haue the Spirit of Adoption who seales vnto our harts the assurance of our adoption and election and doth make it knowne vnto vs that we are the Sonnes of God For his Spirit doth witnesse to our spirits that we are the Sonnes of God Romans 8.16 And that no man might deceiue himselfe and thinke hee hath the testimonie of GODS Spirit when hee hath it not Saint Paul giueth vs two most excellent notes to know whether wee haue the testimonie of GODS Spirit yea or not It maketh vs crie Abba Father Where the Spirit of God doth witnesse to any mans soule that hee is the childe of God It will make him cry to God and euen fill heauen and earth with crying and teares with sobbes and sighes for the pardon of his sins And hee which hath not this in him that hee cannot crie vnto GOD for pardon of his sinnes this man can not truely assure himselfe that hee is the Childe of God And though men say they hope to be saued yet alas they seldome or neuer pray vnto God for the pardon of their sinnes Secondly if wee finde the testimony of GODS Spirit that wee are the children of God It will make vs not onely to bee earnest with God for pardon of our sinnes but it will make vs cry Abba Father that is it will make vs beare the tender affection of a duetifull childe so as we shall be afraide to offend so louing a Father And therefore all those which delight in sinne and are not afrayde to offend GOD Surely they can find no assurance that they be the children of God And therefore if you desire to be assured that the names be in this Booke labour to finde this testimony of Gods Spirit to witnesse vnto your Soules that you belong vnto God and labour to be earnest in prayer vnto God for that is a speciall worke of Gods Spirit 1. Cor. 2.12 The second means whereby we may know whether our names be written in the Booke of Life is by the word of GOD. For the word of God tells vs whosoeuer beleeueth in Christ Iesu shall be saued But the childe of God hearing this promise opened and applied by the Ministerie of Gods word is able to say I beleeue and am able to apply this promise to my selfe For no man hath faith but hee knoweth that hee hath it and therefore can say seeing I beleeue with all my heart surely I know I shall be saued Thirdly besides the blessed testimony of Gods Spirit which cannot deceiue and the witnes of the word of GOD wee may know our election by the fruits and effects thereof As wee say a man is aliue so long as we see him breathe and can iudge of the Tree by the fruits Euen so by the effects of Election wee may know whether our names be in the Booke of Life or not Now the fruites of Election bee set downe by the Holie-Ghost that al men might be able to examine and try themselues and know whether they bee ordayned to Life or not Whom GOD predestinated Rom. 8.30 them also hee Called and whom he Called them also he Iustified and whom hee Iustified them also he Glorified Where we may beholde the markes of our Election For all that be elected to Life Eternall and bee written in this Booke they are first called secondly iustified and thirdly sanctified So then if you would know whether you bee elected to life looke to these three effects of Election Art thou Called art thou Iustified art thou sanctified Then sure thou art Elected But if thou hast not these three then canst thou not assure thy selfe of thy saluation So then the first fruite of our Election is our effectuall Calling when as God doth by the Preaching of the Gospell call vs out of the world from our olde sinnes to be of the number of his people to liue as his children Againe when a man cometh to the preaching of the Word to see his sinnes and Gods anger for them dislikes them is grieued for them bewailes them and begs the pardon for them and beginnes to become a new man to beleeue in Christ Iesu to seeke after Gods Kingdome Hee which findeth this effectuall calling in him he may assure his Soule that hee is Predestinated to Eternall Life But wee must take heed that wee deceiue not our selues with an outward calling for our Sauiour saith Mat. 22. Many are called but few are chosen Many doe heare the word of God with the eare but wee must labour to finde the Spirit of God to preach vnto our Soules to applie the Word to our conscience to beleeue it and to obey it And therefore they which liue in their old sinnes as blind ignorant and prophane as euer before alas how can they thinke to be saued seeing God chooses none or saues not any but whom he calles effectually by the Gospel 2 Thess 2.13 and seuers from the rest of the world Secondly the fruit of Election is Iustification For whom he predestinated them hee called So then heere is an other token and marke to know whether we be Elected namely or Iustified Now this is
possible paines to keepe a cleere conscience before GOD and man O that wee could immitate this blessed Apostle that seeing we must all come vnto iudgement seeing our Bookes euen our consciences must bee opened and disclosed and wee receiue sentence of saluation or damnation according to the things written in our Bookes yea that we could labour and indeuour that no filthy sinne might blot our Bookes but that wee could keepe them cleere and faire in the sight of GOD It ought to perswade vs all aboue all things in the world to looke vnto this to keepe our Bookes faire For if our consciences doe accuse vs GOD is greater then our conscience and doth know all things Secondly seeing sentence must passe according vnto the things written in our Bookes and these be not only the grosse sinnes of the world themselues but euen the vile and vncleane thoughts of our hearts euen these must come to Iudgement then let vs all be carefull to auoide not onely the outward actions themselues but euen these vncleane thoghts of ours for euen they must come vnto Iudgement Alas men thinke thought is free that they shall neuer be arraigned for their vile and vngodly thoughts But S. Paul saith Rom. 2.1 Thoughts shall either excuse or accuse vs. And whosoeuer doth truly repent they do repent euen of their vile and vngodly thoughts for if wee had no other sins written in the Bookes of our conscience but euen our sinfull thoughts euen they were enough to condemne vs both bodie and soule for euermore Neither may we content our selues to thinke we are in good case if wee can say I am no Drunkard no Fornicator c. No looke to thy Booke that there be not so much as an idle word written there For euen they must come to Iudgement as our Sauiour saith I say vnto you That for euery idle word men shall giue an accompt at the day of Iudgement And that wee might know in particular what is written in our Books Saint Iohn saith That we shall bee iudged according to our workes So it is 2. Cor. 5.10 Wee must all appeare before the Iudgement Seate of Christ that euerie man may receiue the things which are done in his body Reuel 2.8 Mat. 25.41 Reu. 14.13 according to that hee hath done whether it be good or euil We shal be iudged and receiue reward according to our workes If thy workes be good then life glory and saluation But if thy workes be euill then death destruction and damnation Good workes although they cannot merit yet they will shew that faith that lay in the heart So when an euill man dies his euill workes goe with him his galled conscience will not leaue him neyther in life nor death Doct. Hence then we see how all men and women shall be tried at this dreadfull day euen by our workes eyther they shal be acquitted and absolued or else condemned by their workes For though no man can merit life and saluation at the handes of God by his workes yet wee must know that iudgement shal proceede at the last day according vnto mens workes If thy workes haue beene good holy iust and pure then thou shalt receiue life happinesse glorie saluation But if thy workes be found to be wicked vniust and vngodly then nothing else but death hell and damnation belongs vnto thee for them Wel what should this reach Vse Seeing we must all receiue Sentence euen according to our workes Surely it ought to moue vs aboue all things in the world to labour to abound in good workes to abound in all holy duties and graces of Gods Spirit in knowledge faith repentance loue zeale clothing feeding and lodging the poore members of Christ Iesus For according to our workes shall our reward be And though our works can merit nothing at the hands of the Iudge yet hee being a most bountifull and mercifull Sauiour hee will crowne his owne workes in vs and reward them in his mercy though we merite nothing Dost thou releeue a poore member of IESVS CHRIST Dost thou giue a cuppe of cold water to a Prophet or a Minister of the word of GOD CHRIST doth promise thee of his trueth hee will not let thee loose thy reward True it is a cuppe of cold water is a meane gift and farre from merit yet Christ saith Verily of my trueth thou shalt not loose thy reward Math. 10. O how should this perswade all of vs to labour to abound in all holie dueties to be liberall and bountifull vnto the poore members of Christ Iesus seeing our good workes though they cannot merit yet they shal be rewarded they shall not bee forgotten in the day of Iudgement they be sweet and blessed companions when al our frinds can doe vs no good they will bring endlesse peace and comfort to our Soules Againe it ought to terrifie vs all from sin from euill workes and vngodly wayes from swearing drunkennes vncleanenes and euery euill way For if wee bee full of these and these bee found written in our Bookes O then woe vnto vs when these Bookes shall come to bee opened for then nothing but death hel and damnation belongs vnto vs. Heere we see that of all wee Doctr. 2 haue and enioy in this world what shall goe with vs when we die what shall accompany thee in the graue Nay at the terrible day of Iudgement our consciences our workes and our bookes nothing else shall goe with vs. When thou diest thou shalt not take any thing in the world with thee but thy workes which be ingrauen in the booke of thy conscience Death will barre all the rest Thou canst not take thy Golde and Siluer with thee nor thy lands or liuings corne nor cattell All these must stay behinde thee at what time thou diest onely thy Conscience thy Booke thy Workes must goe with thee If they bee good Oh blessed art thou that euer thou wast borne If they be wicked filthy and vncleane Oh woe and ten thousand woes I say to thy soule for euermore O then Vse what wonderful madnesse hath bewitched the hearts and soules of almost al men and women in the world What do men desire what doe they hunger and thirst after Surely for pleasures for profit and for preferments For these they ride run night and day winter and sommer by sea and by land for these they spend all their labor wit and strength Heere is all that men desire they care for no more No accompt of Prayer in their Houses to reade to heare and to speak of the word of God no desire to attayne to Knowledge Faith and Repentance no conscience to liue in the feare of God little or no pittie to the needie members of Christ Iesus Alas they neuer thinke of these things But all their desire is for the VVorld Oh poore blinde Soules poore Soules they know not or they will not know that they must leaue al these behind them they must depart from
the third thing wherein this second death doth consist is that all reprobates shall bee punished with euerlasting perdition they shall bee tormented in body and soule with vnspeakable torments the wrath and vengeance of God shall seize vpon them and feed on them as fire doth on pitch or brimstone where they shall bee euer burning and boyling and yet neuer consumed euer in paine and torment and neuer haue ease And to shew the wonderfull torment of hell of this second death our Sauiour compareth it vnto a furnace of fire Mat. 13.24 Now what a woefull torment is it to bee cast into a furnace of fire and to lie many thousand yeares therein this is a torment that cannot be expressed Againe he saith that Their worme sh ll not die Esay 66.24 and their fire shall not bee quenched Now how should a man doe if hee should haue a worme alwayes crawling in his belly gnawing alwaies at his heart This is the estate of all wicked men and women They shall alwaies haue a worme euen griefe and anguish of heart euer gnawing at their hearts and biting at their consciences And this worme shall neuer die nor kill them but euer gnawing and wounding them So then you see by this which hath been spoken what this second death is and also wherein it doth consist Now all the Question will be Who shall be cast into this Lake of Fire VVho are they that shall die this second death Who they bee that shall partake of the second death which is such a miserable and wofull death For there is no man nor woman that liueth I thinke but they suppose that they shall escape this death they hope that they shall be saued and so escape this flaming fire And therefore now you shall see who they be that shall be cast into it Looke they are there marked out vnto vs Reu. 21.8 The fearefull and vnbeleeuers and abhominable and murtherers and whooremongers and sorcerers and lyars c. shal haue their part in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone which is the second death So then rhe holy-Ghost telleth vs that all impenitent sinners shall bee damned 1 Cor. 6.10 shall be cast into this lake of fire which is the second death Then what a strange thing is this The Holy-Ghost tells vs who shall be damned and cast into the Lake of Fire all impenitent sinners the Blasphemer the Drunkard c. and yet no man almost will beleeue this Well the Spirit of God cannot lie He sayth That all the wicked and vngodlie sinners shal be cast into the lake of Fire which is the second death now tell neuer so wicked a wretch of his sinnes of his swearing c. And what will they say Tush GOD is mercifull I hope I shall be saued Is not this I pray to giue the Holy-Ghost the lie Tell the drunkard or the profaner of the Lords day c. they shall be damned doe they beleeue this Oh no no For if they did beleeue it how durst they be so bold to liue in sinne Well hovvsoeuer these vile wretches say they hope to be saued aswell as the best of them all yet know this is the truth of God the holy-Ghost telleth vs plainly That all vnbeleeuers and theeues and murderers c. shall be cast into the Lake of Fire and Brimstone which is the second death But to you whose hearts doe tremble for feare of these things whose soules doe melt for feare of this second death now if you would know how to escape this Lake of Fire and how to auoyde this second death which is th' eternall damnation and torment both of body and soule you shall see how the Spirit of GOD doth not onelie shew you how to escape hell but to come to heauen not onely to auoide damnation in this Lake of fire but to obtaine saluation and ioy in the blessed and glorious presence of Almightie God for euermore Now see what the Holy-Ghost doth teach thee in the sixth Verse of this chapter Blessed and holie is hee that hath his part in the first Resurrection for on such the second death shall haue no power But they shall bee the Priests of God and of Christ and shall raigne with him a thousand yeares that is for euermore So then would you know what manner of men and women shall escape the second death and eternall damnation in this lake of hell fire why the holy-Ghost saith They and none but they that haue their partes in the first Resurrection So then it is manifest in these words that there be two resurrections and also a double death The Children of GOD they haue a double resurrection and one death But all wicked and vngodly sinners they haue one resurrection and a double death So then let vs see what is meant by this first resurrection namely our rising out of the graue of sinne to newnesse of life This is the first resurrection Ephes 2.1 You that were dead in trespasses and sinnes hath hee quickned Rom. 6.4 And we are buried with Christ in Baptisme that like as he rose againe to the glory of the Father euen so wee should walke in newnesse of life So then would you know whether you shall escape eternall fire in hell euen this second death then looke vnto your owne soules Are you dead to all your old sins and new sins Are you quickned in the inner man Do you hate sinne as well when it is committed by your selfe as by others Doe you labour to mortifie and to keepe vnder the workes of the flesh and walke in all holy duties and obedience both vnto God and men Rom. 8.1 For there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ which walke not after the flesh but after the Spirit Blessed and holy are they that haue part in the first resurrection where he shews that none shall be blessed none shall haue part in the first resurrection and be freed from the second death but such as be sanctified to liue a godly life that are partakers of the first resurrection And therefore if you desire to bee blessed to escape the second death which is the euerlasting damnation both of bodie and soule then labour heere to liue a godly life For these two Iustification and Sanctification cannot be seuered And this is a very great comfort to all the true members of Christ Vse that do repent and leaue their sinnes and liue a godlie life though they be in miserie in pouertie in want and in the end die the first death of the bodie yet they shall bee freed from the second death that is from eternall death the gates of hell shal not preuaile against them And therfore as you loue your soules as you desire to be blessed and to escape eternall damnation which is the second death Labour I say to haue a part in the first Resurrection to die vnto sinne and to liue in newnesse of life But