condition of Satans profer teacheth us further that Doct. 2. All his drift in his temptations is to draw men from Gods service to his own An example whereof wee have in Saul whom hee drew from his hope and trust in God to seek and sue to himself for help Hee entered also into Judas to draw him from his Masters side and service to his own to make him a Leader and Captain against Christ Luke 22.3 Neither faileth hee of his purpose and scope but effectually prevaileth in the World and in the Children of Disobedience Eph. 2.2 For if we look to that part of the World which is indeed the World not visited by the light of Grace and the Gospel they in general are vassals to Satan and profess homage and service to him in Ceremonies and Rites as Gods people to God himself 1 Cor. 10.20 Those things which the Gentiles sacrifize they sacrifize unto Devils and not unto God Which is spoken not in respect of the intention of the Worshippers but of the mystery in that Idol Worshipped which indeed tended to the Worship of the Devil the deviser and setter forward of the same And at this day in those new-found Countries experience shews how those Heathenish and barbarous people not having the true knowledge of the true God do therefore esteem the Devil as God and the Devil appearing to them in visible shapes they fall down and worship him and offer many services and sacrifices unto him upon this ground because God is merciful and amiable and will not hurt them Non est nocent natura Deus Cic. and therefore they need not bee so obsequious to him but the Devil is terrible and fearfull and churlish and therefore must bee pleased and worshipped No noceat Nay Gods own people and children are often drawn from the worship of their God to the worship of the Devil in the most base and submiss kind of worship The Jewes themselves offered unto Devils and not unto God Deut. 32.17 and what did they offer but their dearest things as Psa 106.37 They offered their sons and daughters unto Devils A marvellous high wickedness wherein the Israelites themselves imitated the barbarous Heathens among whom Satan had brought in this unnatural cruelty to kill their little children and offer them to Molech in the valley of Hinnom vers 38. Thus they shed innocent bloud by a Diabolical fury and polluted their Land at the Devils instigation Thus it was in the time of Ahaz and of Manasseh against which the Lord shewed great indignation and vehemence Jer. 7. and 19. and Ezek. 16. And the rather because it was against a special Law enacted for this purpose which we would think Gods own people should not need Levit. 17.7 They shall no more offer to Devils after whom they have gone a whoring and the sanction follows This shall be an ordinance for ever Yet Gods people forgat Gods institution and natures instinct and so put off all religion and natural affection Reasons And this comes to pass 1 Because of Satans pride and ambition who will not content himself with any thing but that honour that is due to God He being the Prince of the world and the god thereof Joh. 14.31 2 Cor. 4.4 will be worshipped by the world as a God and takes upon him as if he were so indeed whereas he is so only by his own usurpation and affectation and the wickeds delusion and acceptation 2 Because of his malice to God to whom he is most contrary God hath by the Law of Creation of Nature the Moral Law yea by the law of faith and all other bonds tied man to his own service now Satan seeks contrarily to deprive God of his due homage and drawes men from the knowledge and practice of Gods Will that hee may rule them after his own will 2 Tim. 2.26 3 Because of his hatred to Mankind to draw men into the greatest offence and displeasure of God It is an evil thing and bitter to depart from God and his service but to give this to Gods deadly enemy is a sin most hateful and dangerous 4 It is all the business that Satan hath in the world for which he leaves no stone unturned no means unattempted to set up his own kingdom above and against Gods Kingdom a compendious way whereof is to hinder corrupt or destroy the true worship of God 1 Thess 2.18 Satan hindred mee namely the true worship which Paul sought to establish Hee corrupted the worship of God among the Sons of God by the Daughters of men Gen. 6. And hee sought to destroy all Gods worship in the posterity by destroying Abel Quest But is it possible that Satan can so prevail to draw men to worship himself in stead of God And what means useth he to effect it Ans Yea it is plain and usual as we shall easily see if we consider 1 The ways that a man worshippeth the Devil 2 The means how he bringeth men thereunto I The ways are laid down in these four conclusions Conclus 1. Whosoever worshippeth for God that which is not God he worshipeth the Devil for God Deut. 32.17 They offered unto Devils that is to gods whom they knew not In all Divine worship whatsoever is not performed to God is performed to the Devil there being no mean between them in worship But how hath the Devil drawn Pagans and Heathens to set up and worship false gods Devils indeed Mars Jupiter c yea and Gods own people to worship Dagâ—n and Baal and Molech At this day all the Eastern people of Turks and Saracens worship Mahomet a god of their own making And the Papists all give Divine worship to Stocks and Stones the work of mens hands to Raggs and Reliques to their Breaden and baked god in the Sacrament as base an Idolatry as can be found among the Heathens in all which they have fallen down to the Devil and worshipped him Conclus 2. Whosoever worshippeth God in any other means than himself hath appointed he worshippeth the Devil and not God If the manner of Gods worship prescribed by himself in the Scripture be refused that cannot bee Gods worship because the manner is devised by the Devil Thus doe they who profess the true God distinct in three Persons but worship him according to their own devises and humane traditions as the Papists that worship God in Images Pilgrimages and a thousand devises meer strangers to the Spirit of God in Scripture thrust in by Satan for his own service Conclus 3. Numbers will not be perswaded they worship the Devil when indeed they doe For as then we worship God actually when we serve and obey him so then men worship the Devil when they doe the works of the Devil Joh. 8. He that is a slave a vassal to the Devil is an apparent worshipper of him Yea so near a service is between them that the Devil is said to beget many sons in the world Joh. 8.41 now every
of subjection to the thing adored and a note of inferiority in deed or in will by this gesture this person makes himself inferiour to a Creature and giveth worship and preheminence to that which in his knowledge hath neither life nor sense which is sensless and against common reason 5 A plain difference between Civil worship and Divine is that all Divine worship is absolute and immediate which is plain in this instance God in all his Commandements must be absolutely and simply obeyed with full obedience never calling any of them into question never expostulating or reasoning the matter with God seem they to us never so unreasonable As Abraham against the Law Moral and even against the Law of Nature without all reasoning riseth up early to kill his own son when God bids him who will be simply obeyed for himself But all obedience to men is respective to God in God and for God and as farre as God hath appointed them to be obeyed and no further God must be obeyed against the Magistrate the Magistrate not against God but so farre as his Commandements are agreeable to Gods Man as man is not to be obeyed but because God hath set him over us in the Church Common-wealth or Family Whence we see that Civil worship hath his rise and ground in the worship of God and what is the cause that so little reverence is given to superiours whether Magistrates or Ministers Masters or Parents in these dissolute and unmannerly days but because Gods worship decays and is not laid in the hearts of inferiours the force of whose Commandement would force reverence to superiours What other cause is there that inferiour impudent persons of both sexes take such liberty without all respect of conscience truth or manners to chatter against Gods Ministers and the Kings towards both whom God hath commanded more than ordinary respect yea with all bitterness to scoft rail curse threaten with horrible damnable and incessant Oathes more like Furies than men even to their faces but that Gods fear is utterly shaken out of their hearts and where Gods fear is absent how can we expect any fear of men The Heathen Priests were honoured because Heathen gods were feared which shall condemn Christians among whom neither Gods Priests and Ministers nor the Ministers of the King Gods Vicegerent and consequently not God himself is feared and honoured Doct. All religious worship whether outward or inward is due to God only For inward worship it is most express Joh. 4.24 God being a Spirit hee must bee worshipped in spirit and truth And it might be proved in all the parts of inward worship as 1 Love Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and all thy soul 2 Fear Isa 8.13 Let him be thy fear and dread Fear him that is able to cast both body and soul into hell 3 Trust and confidence Prov. 3.5 Trust in God with all thy heart 4 Faithful prayer Psal 50.15 Call upon me in the time of trouble and How can they call on him in whom they have not beleeved But of this there is little question As for outward worship if religious all of it is his due only Psal 95.6 Come let us kneel before him and bow down to God our Maker Whence it is manifest that all the gestures and signs of religious worship as bowing of the body of knees lifting up of eyes or hands and uncovering the head with religious intention is not to bee yeelded to any but the true God 1 A reason hereof is in the text because he only is the Lord our God Reasons our Lord of absolute command and we his servants whos 's our souls are and our bodies also to be at his beck in religious use and none else and our God by the Law of Creation and daily preservation as also by the Covenant of Grace and Redemption he hath not only created but preserveth yee redeemeth our souls and bodies also and no Creature hath any right unto us as David saith Christ refuseth here to bow to the Devil not only because he is a Devil but because he is a Creature 2 In our text wee see that Satan will yeeld God is to be served but not only he would have a little service too Nebuchadnezzar would bee contented God should be served but he would bee served too if they would but fall down and bow to his Image he desires no more Let Christ be as devout towards his Father as he can inwardly Satan desites no more but a little outward reverence But the three fellows of Daniel tell the King they will worship their God only and Christ tells Satan the chief Idolater of all that hee must serve God only even with external and bodily service 3 If outward religious worship were due to any Creature then to the Angels the most glorious of all but they have refused it and devolved it only to God as his Prerogative Judg. 13.16 Manoah being about to worship the Angel that appeared to him the Angel hindred him saying If thou wilt offer any sacrifice offer it to God And Paul condemneth an outward humility in worshipping of Angels Col. 2.18 Revel 19.10 the Angel refused Johns worship and chap. 22.8 when he fell down at his feet to worship him being amased and perhaps not knowing whether hee might not bee the Lamb himself of whose marriage he was speaking and the reason in both places why he refused even that outward reverence was 1 Taken from the Angels condition hee was but a fellow-servant 2 Because it was proper to God Worship God who is there opposed to all Angels good and bad 4 Idolatry may bee committed onely in the gesture neither can wee set our bodies which ought to bee presented as living and reasonable sacrificeâ— to God before Idol-Worship without the crime of Idolatry no external dissembled honour can be given to an image with safe conscience for which cause Origen was excommunicated by the Church for offering a little incease to an Idol though hee were forced thereunto by a suddain fear 5 Some things must bee had alone and admit not of a second No man can serve two Masters One woman cannot have two husbands at once her Husband is jealous of any partner or corrival Now God alone is our Master and Husband and therefore hee alone must have religious honour This serves to confute the Popish doctrin and practice of their image and Saint-worship and of giving many other waies Gods peculiar worship clean away to the Creatures not onely bowing to images of wood and stone and metal but invocating them vowing unto them offring gifts unto them lighting candles before them offring incense dedicating daies fasts feasts unto Saints departed c. Wherein they commit most horrible idolatry against this express Commandement which commandeth the service of the true God onely As wee shall see further in these grounds Grounds against image Worship 1 No image may bee made of God Thou
which is not God and consequently a man may not be present at false worship to give it the least allowance no not in gesture Whence they are convicted of dealing false with God who present their body at the Mass with a conceit that they can keep their hearts to God well enough For 1 Might not our Lord for a whole world have found by all his wisdom such a present help for him and by such a policy have over-reached the Devil himself who required only external bowing keeping his heart still unto God No our Lord knew well 1 That body and soul make but one man who must have but one God one Lord one Faith one Worship 2 That our bodies are the Lords as well as our souls 1 Cor. 6.20 created for his service as well as they redeemed by Christs bloud as well as they 3 That he that requireth the whole heart requireth also the whole strength which is of the body 4 That the soul cannot be in Heaven if the body be in Hell neither can he bow the knee of his heart to God that bows the knee of his body to Satan 5 That there can be no agreement between Light and Darkness God and Belial the Ark and Dagon cannot stand in the same Temple and the heart cannot at the same time be the Temple of God and of Idols 2 This is the difference between the Church of God and the Synagogue of Satan that the one is a chaste wise and spouse of Christ and keeps her to her husband alone and doth not admit others to the use of her saith the other plays the harlot with many Lovers and keeps not her saith and confidence to God alone but permits others to be fellows with him at the same time Now no man can take her for a chaste and undefiled Spouse that will give the use of her body to a stranger though shee plead never so confidently that shee keeps her heart to her husband The case here is the very same 3 Here is a number of sins infolded in this one action 1 Here is a manifest appearance of evil which we should flie 1 Thess 5.22 2 An occasion of offence to others to draw them in by our example and so farre as wee may a destroying of him for whom Christ hath dyed Rom. 14.15 3 A fight against faith and an allowance of that which a man condemneth Rom. 14.22 Blessed is he that condemneth not himself in that he alloweth His body allows that which his heart condemnes 4 Here is a denial of Christ whose faith he ought to confess and profess with his mouth which he would doe if it were in soundness hid in the heart 5 Here is a dastardly joyning with his Lords enemy for he that is not with him is against him 6 Here is not only an approbation but a communication in Idolatry a touching of pitch and a defiling of a mans self a most present danger of infection and defection from God 7 Here is an hypocritical show of that which the heart abhorres a divided man and divided manner of worship which God hateth who requireth the whole man 8 Experience shews that such as give up their bodies to Idols God in justice for the most part gives up the heart to horrible delusions 4 If we must avoyd an Heretick then much more an Idolater Wee must not only hate the doctrine of the Nicolaitans but avoyd it Many say they hate the Mass but I say then they would avoyd it for we separate our bodies not only our hearts from the things we hate And the commandement is to get out of Babylon We read in the Ecclesiastical History how St. John fled from Corinthus the Heretick and Polycarp from Marcion And those whom we may not bid God-speed or whom we may not invite to our own tables may we joyn with them in polluting the Lords table 5 Such persons keep not their hearts to God that present their bodies at Idolatry neither present they their bodies only for the Soul governs the Body the Will leads the Action the Understanding the Will and the Affections attend the Understanding Now where there is understanding judgement will and affections given to the Idol-worship is not more than the body given even the chief and highest faculties of the soul Of which wee can reckon no better than plowing with an Oxe and an Asse or sowing the same field with divers seeds which the Lord in the Law forbiddeth and therein refuseth the mixture of warrantable and unwarrantable rites in his worship God is a Spirit and truth and will not be worshipped in spirit and falsehood A dissembled worship is a mark of a true neutral of a plain Laodicean neither hot nor cold a Cake half baked on the hearth Quest But is it not lawful on some occasion to be present at Mass Ans In some cases a man may be present and not sin as 1 When he is there by violent compulsion being bound and cast in as into a prison so as hee cannot resist this is not his sin but theirs and it may be said as of Lucretia Two in the sin but one adulterer she resisted and was forced so was he 2 If in travel a man be in a fit place to see and observe their folly so as hee shew no reverence at all or approbation by bending his knee uncovering his head or otherwise Thus the Apostle Paul went into the Idol-temple at Athens as he passed by not to approve but to take occasion to confute their Idolatry Acts 17.23 3 A man may be amongst Idolaters to reprove and reprehend them as 1 King 13.1 a Prophet came to the Altar where Jeroboam was to cry out against it And Elias stood by Baals Priests mocking them while they danced and launced themselves 1 King 18. And the three fellows of Daniel stood by Nebuchadnezzars Image Aderant sed â—on adorarunt Pet. Martyr to protest that they would never worship it Dan. 3.1 4 Some hold that in politick imployment a mans calling necessarily requiring it he may present his body at Idol-worship as a Protestant may carry a sword before a Prince into the Temple of an Idol with two caveats 1 That neither by word nor gesture hee give any approbation of the Idolatry 2 That publick protestation bee made by word or writing that he presents not himself for religions sake but civil obedience I will say nothing against this last case for my part I like a great deal better that practice of the Protestant Princes at Augusta who brought Charls the fifth their Emperour along as he was going to the Mass but lest him at the Church-door and every man by his departure shewed what hee thought of that service Also when Valentinian brought Julian to the Temple of his Idols he that kept the door sprinkled his gown with the Idols-water as the Heathens used whereat Valentinian gave him a box on the ear If wee should thus present our selves what tumults
wickedness into the heart belongs only to Satan because of his Spiritual nature and ready entercourse with our spirits Now seeing these temptations of the Devil are so wicked coming from evil and tending to evil two points are worthy our consideration 1 How Christ being so holy and powerful could be tempted of the Devil 2 Why he would be so tempted For the former How Christ so holy and so powerful could be tempted of the Devil 1 It is not against the holiness of Christ to be subject to temptation without sin no more than to hunger thirst weep 2 Nor against the power of Christ to be tempted no more than it was a sign of infirmity and weakness in Adam so to be before infirmity and weakness came in It argued not impotencie in Christ to dye nay so to dye argued omnipotency So it was not weakness in Christ to be tempted but willingness and so to be tempted argued vertue and strength But howsoever the Apostle saith Christ was tempted and like us in all things yet without sin and Christ himself Joh. 14.30 The Prince of this world cometh and hath nought in me that is no sin at all yet it is hard to be conceived and therefore wee will explain it by these propositions 1 That temptation that wholly riseth from another and not from a mans self is not necessarily mixed with sin But such were the temptations of Satan to Christ wholly hatched by the Devil for there was no manner of evil thought no corruption in the holy person of Christ for any such to rise forth of Wee indeed have many temptations arising out of our own corruptions which are sin in the beginning though no consent be given unto them but are presently resisted but no such thing could bee in the holy Nature of Christ A fire kindled within the house is dangerous but the lightning coming from without being but a flash is without danger Joseph allured by the words of his Mistris resisted and fled away Gen. 39.12 this was not his sin And Hezekiah provoked to distrust by Rabshakies rayling letter resisted and was confident 2 King 19.10 it was not his sin the temptation was wholly without 2 Those temptations which are offered by others either by voyce gesture or outward objects or else by inward thoughts utterly abhorred without the least liking are not the sins of them that are tempted their exercises and trials they be not their sins But such were the temptations of Christ he was troubled and vexed with them as appears by his Avoyd Satan and the voyces and objects carried to his ear and eye yea motions to infidelity covetousness and Idolatry to his mind but yet by the perfect light of his mind and the unchangeable holiness of his will were instantly repelled and gained not the least affection and much less left the least infection behind them True it is that evil thoughts cast into our mindes can hardly bee cast out without some taint for we are ready as tinder to receive such sparkles we must pause upon them till they gain some delight if not content But it was not so with Christ whose perfect holiness was as water to quench all such sparkles Three degrees of temptation 3 Of temptation there are three degrees 1 Suggestion 2 Delight 3 Consent Suggestion is the meer motion of another altogether without us and cannot be our sin if neither of the latter come to it either of which two is a token of infirmity But Christs temptations were all in suggestion because he stood last without alteration of his minde without the least delight or consent to the thing tempted unto VVhereunto serveth that distinction of glancing and permanent motions the former passing through the heart without any footing against no Commandement the latter either without consent against the tenth or with consent against all the nine Hence note 1 Seeing Christ himself of so holy condition was subject to bee tempted let no man living look to be exempted from temptations Our Lord Jesus that had no inward corruption to stirre up any motion in him cannot avoyd outward objects and perswasions to sin But our case is farre otherwise for suppose there were no Devil assayling us no outward object that could bee presented to us yet we are tempted and led away by our own concupiscence we need no moving or stirring but run headlong of our selves into sin It we had no enemies to batter down our walls and holds without us wee have inward and domestical rebells and traytors which continually betray us VVhere is the man now that boasts hee was never tempted and hee hath so strong a faith and is of such holiness as he defieth Satan and will spit in his face and he never was molested by him But pitiful is this delusion Is thy faith stronger thy holiness greater than Christs No no Satan is gone away with all the strong man hath all in peace else thou shouldst hear of him and tell mean other tale This example of Christ well considered would teach thee another lesson The greatest temptation of all is not to be tempted namely like a wise man 1 To expect temptations 2 Learn to resist them as Christ did 3 That the greatest temptation of all is not to be tempted for where Satans malice shewes not it self there is no good thing at all 2 Note hence That all Satans temptations be they never so hellish and violent yet cannot hurt us if we yeeld not to them He never more fiercely assayled any than Christ himself yet Christ giving no way to him was a little troubled and grieved Satan may allure but hee cannot force us but not hurt So all that Satan can doe to us is but to assayl and allure us but force our wills he cannot for God hath not put our wills in his power VVhich should teach us 1 More carefully to resist the Devil who never getteth advantage of us but by our own voluntary yeelding which rolls us into his sin and condemnation 2 Being fallen into sin to accuse our own cowardliness and carelesness many being fallen into mischief lay load upon the Devil Oh the Devil ought them a spight and hee hath paid it and so lay all the blame on him not considering their own sin True it is the Devil spights every man and the best most but if thou hadst not more spighted thy self thou hadst done well enough the Devil did move and gave a rise to a sin but who bade thee perfect and finish it Can the Devil make thee sin without thy self I deny not but that thou canst not lay too much blame upon the Devil but see thou layest not too little upon thy self 3 Note in that therefore Christ fully overcame and was not touched with temptation because by the perfection of his holiness hee resisted at the first we must learn this wisdome if we would not fall by temptation to resist the first motions and beat back the
evening solemnly on our knees making confessions of sins and requests to God together with thanksgiving Psalm 55.17 Evening and morning and at noon will I pray and make a noise Daniel three times a day prayed and praised God in his house as hee was wont chap. 6. v. 10. The excellent use of which is the opening of the door of Gods treasury to the family by which it is inriched with the best blessings of God Besides the Lord shall hereby have some honour that is due to his mercy upon the family 5 In edifying the family with Psalms and melody to the Lord as it is Col. 3.16 In these daily duties doth the sanctification of a family consist Whereunto wee may bee perswaded by these motives 1 In that they are the practises of men fearing God such as Joshua and his house Cornelius and his houshold 2 In that by these exercises the family shall not only be sanctified but also blessed as Obed Edom and his house for the presence of the Ark. 3 What madness is it to reject and banish Gods word and worship out of doors and yet think God is there Nay where found grace comes there is the Spirit of Prayer and Supplication in every family apart Zach. 12.14 and where the worship of God is not set up in families there is nothing but a conspiracy of Atheists and a wicked brood bringing Gods judgements on themselves and the business passing through their hands Use 3. Jerusalem is called holy being once sanctified to the Lords use which teacheth us that wee should reverently both conceive and speak of all such things as are set apart to the Lords use 1 Some persons are consecrate to the Lord as the Tribe of Levi of whom the commandement was Thou shalt not forsake the Levite all thy daies And the Prophets Touch not mine annointed and do my Prophets no harm So in the New-Testament The Minister that rules well is worthy of double honour Yea if the widows which were set apart to inferiour offices about the poor must be honoured 1 Tim. 5.3 much more the Minister that standeth in Gods place and stead Heb. 13.17 Obey them that have the oversight of you Thus Cornelius reverenced Peter and the Eunuch Philip. Nay not onely the Minister but every beleever is separate to God and sanctified to carry the Covenant and hath the annointing of the Spirit which the Lord acknowledgeth on them and speaketh reverently and lovingly of them calling them his holy ones yea the apple of his eye They see not this who can persecute and revile them for hypocrites and count them as the Apostles whose doctrin they profess the scum of the world 2 Some places are for their use to bee accounted holy because God is there present in his worship as the places of our meetings not that any inherent holiness is annexed to the place or cleaveth to it out of the action of Gods worship but while God is present in his Worship wee must account it holy ground and the house of God When God appeared in Bethel to Jacob hee said How fearful is this place surely it is no other than the house of God Wee must therefore put off our shooes with Moses that is our base and vile our sinful and sensual affections yea our lawful if earthly thoughts when wee come to this holy place Look wee bring no thoughts with us unbeseeming the place where God is separated from other common places to holy uses Look that in this place wee use no gesture or behaviour unbeseeming a man that hath business with God being present To sit talking or sleeping or laughing or gazing sutes not with this place And further if God please to account the very places holy for the use and presence of God in this use what shall wee think of them that conceive so basely of them as they would love a Parish better in which is no Church Others prophane them with base practices and unconscionably suffer them to fall or decay and will bee at no charge to make or keep them handsome sweet and beautiful Styes were fit for such swine As their affection is so is their devotion 3 The holy Ordinances of God must not bee touched but with holy respect and reverence of which it is said It is not safe to play with holy things 1 The word must bee received read heard spoken as the holy word of God To make jests of Scripture is a wicked practice God looks graciously on him that trembles at his word Isa 66.2 as good Josiah whose heart melted hearing the words of the Law So the names and attributes of God are never to bee used in frivolous admirations but every knee must bow unto him Phil. 2.10 Neither ought wee to laugh at Gods judgements on others 2 An Oath is one of the holy Ordinances of God and to swear in common talk vainly is not to shew reverence to this holy Ordinance Swear not at all that is uncalled Mat. 5.34 35. neither being called but in truth justice and judgement for an Oath is appointed to decide controversies which other means cannot How few consider whether the matter bee worth an Oath or whether they bee called to it or whether it might not have been better passed by Yea or Nay or by a bare asseveration A wicked man is described by being a Swearer Eccl. 9.3 but a godly man not only not swears from which a man by education or civility may abstain but also fears an oath in what company soever hee is or what occasion soever hee hath 3 A Lot is another special Ordinance of God to decide a controversy from heaven by God himself when all means on earth fail Therefore Lots must not be used without great reverence and prayer because the disposition of them commeth immediately from the Lord Pro. 16.33 and not but in great matters not for recreation for it is said to cause contentious to cease among the mighty Prov. 18.18 neither do wee read that it was ever used but in very great things as the dividing of the land of Canaan the election of High Priests and Kings and the surrogation of Matthias into the place of Judas Hence it follows if dice and cards bee Lots as I think they bee that all play by them is unlawful 4 Some times are sanctified above other as the Sabbath day all which must bee passed holily with much reverence and respect both remembring it before it come yea rejoycing in the approach of it and when it is come to sanctify it 1 In our hearts for external observation of the Sabbath without inward holiness and affection to the duties of Gods service is hypocrisy 2 We must not meddle with any part of the duties of our ordinary calling for that is no holy thing 3 Much less travel to Markets or Fairs but every man must stay in his own place Exod. 16.29 Neb. 13.15 to 19. 4 Least of all must wee set any part of it apart
son honours his father Thus doe all they that are subtile to pervert the straight ways of God as Elymas therefore called by Paul the child of the Devil Acts 13.10 because he sought to hinder the word and work of God Thus doe all those tares the children of that wicked one Matth. 13.38 which grow up in Gods field to the molesting and anoyance of the Lords wheat Thus doe all they who when they should spend the Lords Sabbaths in his worship they worship and serve the world in buying and selling or the Devil in play and gaming in their own houses falling down to the worship of the Devil when true worshippers are in Gods house performing their homage and service to him Conclus 4. Satan prevails against numbers by drawing the affections of their hearts from the true God to something besides him to love trust and follow it more than God as the voluptuous person that makes his belly his god and so is a lover of pleasure more than of God and the covetous person making his wealth his god whom Paul therefore calls an Idolater All these and many more are worshippers of the Devil and fallen down to him and cannot possibly worship the true God II. How and by what means Satan doth thus prevail And the means are these 1 He hath often the Secular arm and Human authority 2 Chron. 11.15 Rehoboam ordained Priests for the high places for the Devils and for the Calves that he had made Thus Antichrist the Beast of Rome Revel 13.16 by power made all both small and great rich and poor bond and free to receive his mark in their hands and fore-heads So he did in our Country by fire and faggot in Queen Maries days 2 Sometimes he draws men to his own worship by policy for he can transform himself into an Angel of Light he can preach Christ for a need to overthrow the preaching of Christ Mark 1.34 he can be a lying spirit in the mouthes of four hundred false Prophets 1 King 21. at once and can put on the shape of Samuel being still a Satan 3 Sometimes by fair promises as in our text he will give a whole world to bring Christ to one sin Thou shalt have case pleasure wealth credit in a word thy hearts desire if thou wilt fall down and worship me 4 By perswasion that it is a vain thing to serve God Mal. 3.14 no joy for the present no recompence hereafter thus he carries with him innumerable companies with things present not considering the time to come 5 By threatning of crosses losses disfavour as Balac said to Balaam Thy God hath kept thee from preferment By violent persecutions Revel 12.13.15 the red dragon persecuted the woman which had brought forth the Man-child the Serpent cast out of his mouth waters like a floud to cause the woman to be carried away 6 By effectual delusion by means of Signs Wonders false Miracles and slights which Satan putteth forth to give credit to false worship as it is spoken of the great Antichrist 2 Thess 2.9 10. that he shall come by the working of Satan with power signs and lying wonders and in all deceiveableness of unrighteousness among them that perish and thus shall the beast deceive all those whose names are not written in the Book of life Thus many are deceived in Popery by the jugling and crafty conveyances of the Priests and often by Magick making their Images appear to sweat to nodde to roll their eyes to pass voyces through them and make bloud appear in the Host which they would have their people beleeve and thus Satan mightily draws them to the worship of himself Vse 1. Here let us learn to bewail the misery of men seduced by the Devil and thrust from their God whether more openly or more secretly as 1 Such as joyn to Popery renouncing the worship of the true God and fall down to the Devil to worship him Revel 13.4 and they worshipped the Dragon and the Beast noting that the worship of the Beast is the worship of the Dragon Now they worship the Beast that give him power over the Scripture over the Consciences of men to make laws to bind them to pardon sins to open Heaven Hell Purgatory and receive his Bulls and Canons before the Canonical Scripture A lamentable thing that Satan gets such great ones daily to fall down and worship him 2 Such as get livings by bribery symony chopping and changing and such indirect courses here the Chaplain hath fallen down to the Devil and worshipped him and he hath bestowed the benefice 3 Such as seek to Witches for help or cunning men and women a plain and open service of the Devil by vertue of a league and compact at least secret Should not a people seek to their God or can all the Devils in Hell remove the hand of God 4 Such as by flattery dissembling injustice lying swearng or breaking the Sabbath obtain wealth or profit All this the Devil hath given thee because thou hast fallen down and worshipped him Whatsoever a man doth against the Word against his Oath or Conscience is a falling down to the Devil and a worshipping of him Vse 2. Take heed of coming under the power and service of the Devil and to that end observe these rules 1 Hold thee to Gods Word and Will in all duties of piety and justice both for matter and manner For wee must not only doe our Masters will but also according to his will 2 Hear and foster the motions of Gods Spirit which are ever according to the Word It is a note of a man given up to Satan to have continual disobedience breathing in him Ephes 2.2 The foul spirit savours nothing but the flesh 3 Renounce the world daily be not a servant to any lust neither take pleasure in it For when Satan findes a man serving pleasures he halters him with them and clogs him with cares of riches and voluptuous living Luk. 8.14 4 Walk in the light love it and such as walk in it It is a sign of a man in Satans snare to despise them that are good 2 Tim. 3.3 to make a shew of godliness denying the power thereof ver 5. Satan himself pretends light but walks in darkness and leads such as he rules in the same path 5 Contend for the faith Jud. 3. and Gods pure worship stand for God be at warre with thy sin keep an inward conflict and combate for not to be tempted of Satan is to be possessed by him Luk. 11.21 When the strong man keeps the hold all is at peace Vers 10. But Jesus answered and said Avoid Satan For it is written Thou shall worship the Lord thy God and him only shalt thou serve NOw wee come by Gods assistance to the answer of our Lord to the D vâ—â— third daâ—â— In which consider three things 1 The deniall and resistance But Jesus answered and said 2 The manner of it Avoid Satan 3 The râ—ason For it
whosoever under the Ministry wanteth either the work of faith or the working of it to further strength and degrees that Ministry is by him perverted to his own danger and damnation without repentanâ—e And iâ— we search further into the Scriptures wee shall not want store of reasons to the same purpose As 1 According to the increase of faith is the increase of all graces Reasons as a man beleeveth so he loveth prayeth and obeyeth and so is loved heard and recompenced and no mâ—rvail seeing not only the measure of graces here but of glory hereafter is according to the measure of faith as appeareth in the Parable of the talents 2 As a child onâ—e born groweth daily unto the tallnesse of it so those that have been born unto God have ever encreased except in temptation and desertion in faith and godlinesse and so drew daily nearer their salvation than when they first beleeved so must wee walk from faith to faith from strength to strength of weak becomming strong not standing in the infancy or childhood but growing up to our full age and old age in Jesus Christ 3 It is true that a grain of true faith is very powerful and prevailing but the strength of faith can doe much more and therefore the â—â—ll sayls wherewith Abraham was carried to the promise are set before us Rom. 4.5 Again every measure of faith if true is accâ—ptable to God and maketh us so because Christ is laid hold on unto life but the greater measure is much more a smoking flax shall not be quenched that is the least sparkle of true faith shall not be despised but a flame of faith is of great beauty and brightnesse If a poor man wrastle haltingly with Jacob he shall prevail and get a blâ—ssing to carry away but if a man stand stoutly with the Centurion and Syrophaenicean Christ himself will be foyled after a sort he will admire it and professe hee found not so great faith in Israel and according to this great faith shall it be to this party Seeing therefore the Lord hath still afforded the Ministry and word of faith let this be thy chief aim to find the work of it upoâ— thy faith and content not thy self that Christ may say to thee O thou of little faith but rise up in the degrees of it that he may say as of that Woman O man great is thy faith this will bear thee up in the waves of temptation and affliction no blast or billow shall sink thee not all the gates of Hâ—ll shall prevail against thee But alas how is this principal end of the Ministery neglected of the most and many come to hear a Sermon and that is all some rather to see a Sermon or be seen at it than hear it some to know more than they did some to reform something as Herod who heard John gladly and did many things but few to learn to become beleevers which till they have done all moral precepts urged upon them are but lost because the inside is not yet clean and fewest of all do live by their faith in the Son of God for of all sins that the Spirit shall rebuke the World of this is the chief that they beleeve not in him Thus much of this worthy doctrin concerning faith which is the scope of all the Prophets and Apostles The third point in the verse is the fruit of faith namely That all that beleeve in his name should receive remission of sins Where for the meaning must bee known 1 What is Remission of sins 2 Whâ—t it is to receive it 3 The persons receiving it namely those that beleeve in the name of Christ even all they and none but they First Remission of sins in a grace of God whereby for the merit of Christ hee accounteth the sits of beleevers as no sins and acquitteth thâ—m from the guilt and punishment of them all Where I say it is a grace or favour of God this rem ssion of sin is distâ—nguishâ—d from all other for man hath also from God power and commandement to remit sins and that either publikely or privately Offence â—s either 1 against God which he alone can for give 2 Against publike peace which belongeth to the law Or 3 personal against our selves which must be to gâ—ven of us The former when the Minister by authority from God remitteth the sins of Beleevers and repentant sinners by publishing the grace of the Gospel and applying it unto such And such as are thus ministerially loosed in earth are loosed also in heaven The latter is of every private man who hath also received a commandement of God to forgive the sins and offences which his brother hath committed against him not that any man can properly forgive the sin of his Brother so far as it is a breach of Gods Commandement but as it is wrong and injury against himself and even this private remissiâ—n of a mans Brother if repenting confessing and asking pardon is ratified and confirmed in heaven also but if they seek not forgivenesse at us wee must still not only our selves forgive but seek it for them of God saving Father forgive them yea and forgive us as wee forgive them But this remission of sins is proper unto God to whom it belongeâ—h to say I will forgive The Lord only properly forgiveth sins 1 Because it is hee against whom all sin is committed Psal 51. Against thee against thee have I siâ—ned and who can forgive the debt but the creditor If any man shall offer to forgive another mans debt what doth hee but deceive the debtoâ— who thinketh himself free from that which lyeth as heavy upon him as before as also abuse and wrong the Creditor whose right without his knowledge hee hath enchroached upon 2 The Lord challengeth it as his prerogative proclaiming himself Exod. 34.6 7. The Lord the Lord strong merciful gratious slow to anger abundant in goodnesse and truth reserving mercy for thousands forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin and Esay 43.25 I even I am hee that putteth away thine iniquity for mine own sake and will not remember thy sins 3 Our Saviour in his Prayer taught us to beg the forgiveness of our debts onely from our Father which is in heaven 4 The Church of God hath ever ascribed unto the Lord alone this honour of mercy which is a part of his glâ—ry which hee will not impart to any other Micah 7.18 Who is a God lâ—ke unto thee that taketh away iniquity and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage hee retaineth not his wrath for eveâ— because mercy pleaseth him Psal 130. ult Hee will redeem Israel from all his iniquities 5 The very Jews themselves accounted it an high blasphemy for any man to take upon him to remit sins Luke â— 21 Who is this that speaketh blasphemies who can forgive sins but God onely Whence it plainly appeareth that the Pope or any other of his shavelings whilest they
in their worship and yet if our righteousness exceed not theirs wee can never enter into the Kingdome of heaven Mat. 5.20 3 The righteousness of God goes beyond all civil and outward righteousness it is inward in Spirit and truth It cuts off not onely outward acts of Murder Uncleanness Theft c. but inward motions of Hatred Wantonness Covetousness It strikes at roots and branches and hates the least and secretest evil which civil righteousness makes no bones of Object 2. But this circumspect and strict walking is taken up but by a few and those of the meanest some men of great wisdome place and learning favour it not but scorn and oppose it Answ 1. Christianity was ever hated by the most of the world because of the Cross the Church is black because the Sun looks on her Cant. 1.5 but comely to God and his Angels and this makes few enter that way 2 The Apostle directly meets with this Objection 1 Cor. 1.27 Not many mighty not many noble not many wise but God hath chosen a few poor people Zeph. 3.11 and they shall call upon his Name And why not many of those Because they cannot so easily deny themselves and this evil world which they must do that will bee saved 3 Let us not wholly cast our eyes upon the examples of the world now declining and at last so at worst but upon such as formerly have been set as eye-marks in the Scripture and wee shall finde some both great and noble and learned going before us in strict and circumspect walking The holy Patriarchs Noah Abraham Isaac Jacob godly and zealous Kings David Solomon Josiah the holy Apostles who endeavoured alwayes to have a clear conscience before God and all men Act. 24.16 Yea the most wise noble and learned that ever was the Son of God whose conversation was such as none could accuse him of sin These are the cloud of witnesses which wee must follow in running the race set before us Heb. 12.1 Object 3. But what an impossible Commandement is this and who can bear it Can wee bee Saints in this world thus to order our selves in every thing Wee are sinners and must bee sinners and cannot bee thus strict as you require Wee hope we generally mean well and God wee hope will supply the rest Answ 1. The scope of this plea is to give over all because they cannot attain all which is but a false fire by which the Devil discourageth many from the narrow way and the narrow looking to their own way For true it is that wee call with the Scripture for a keeping of all Gods Commandements alwayes and to live with God and walk with him but with Evangelical interpretation which accepteth the will desire and endeavour to walk with God in every thing which cannot but in some measure bee found in a true beleever and cannot but in Christ bee accepted where it is true and hearty Thus the Scriptures interpret themselves 1 Chron. 28.7 If Solomon shall endeavour to keep my Commandments c. Hos 6.3 We shall endeavour to know the Lord. What can God accept less or a good heart tender less than hearty wishes where strength is wanting to please God in all things 2 Let us by the strictness of the Commandement consider whence wee are fallen and see our impotency and confess our failings but not therefore allow our selves in any evil or venture on any sin which we might by this Circumsspection avoid or remit our endeavour in respect of all Gods Commandements 3 For such as think it sufficient to mean well in general Consider this that as no Master is pleased if his steward bring him in a general Bill of great summes spent wherein hee may hide much deceit but sets down no dayes accounts or weeks bills of parcels no more in the matter of heavenly treasure is it enough to hide himself in general good meanings but in every particular to avoid deceit and suspicion of it And as it is with a Traveller in an unknown way who will not go at random nor count it a sufficient direction to bee set Eastward or Westward but hee will ask every man of every Town and take good heed of every mark to pass him from one place to another so in this our passage to heaven wee must keep our special directions and walk with God in every thing if wee will happily pass unto heaven Object 4. But what need such daily and continual troubling of our selves What was the Sabbath made for but for Gods service and wee keep our Church as well as any but for the week-dayes wee have Callings to follow and cannot intend such things and it were better if some of these nice fellows were more diligent in their Calling as wee beâ— Answ 1. Seeing the Rule by which wee must walk is to serve God iâ— holiness and righteousness all our dayes Luke 1.75 wee have no liberty to part the week between God and us Neither must wee put on holiness as an holy-day garment to put it off at night neither may wee bee less holy on other dayes than on the Sabbath howsoever wee must exercise our holiness in the publick worship of God on that day and in the private worship and in the pâ—rsonal Callings on the other dayes 2 Hee is a good Christian that keeps a perpetual Sabbath and is not onely one on the Sabbath day The trial of soundness is at home Psal â—01 2 in the midst of a mans house and not at Church where the Phariseee is often above the Publican 3 Thou hast a Calling on the week-day in which thou must sweat and abide who ever thou art but thou must not so play the good husband as to become a worldling Vse the world as not using it 1 Cor 7 31. as not affecting it and acknowledge thy special and personal Calling to bee subordinate to the general for in the whole exercise of thy special Calling thou must shew forth thy knowledge and religious keeping of a good conscience once divorce these two and never look for success on thy labours Object 5. But this is fitter for Ministers and cloystered persons who have given themselves to continual devotion than for ordinary and common men who are not acquainted with such novelties Answ 1. If all Christians bee alike subject to sin all have need to bee continually alike fenced against it If all have the same enemies all had need stand upon their ground If one mans heart bee as wicked as anothers every man had need set a watch round about himself And if any have more need than other it is unlearned and simple persons who want such means of helping themselves as learned Preachers have 2 As for the novelty of this Circumspect course wee must needs say it is so to such as are of Festus his suit who thinks Paul learned even to madness to call him to such strictness or Gallio his Disciples Act. 18. who