that hath not alreadye conceyued an vndoubted hope and assurance of his wil and power This the Prophet meaneth when as hee plainely expresseth the maner of inuocation For why he doeth not simply require them to call vpon the Lord him selfe but vpon the name of the Lord teaching thereby The maner confidence of praying what the true maner of praying is and whence the confidēce of prayer ought to be conceiued for in very deede God hath no name whereby his nature may be comprehended or declared In consideration whereof to Iacob in times past enquiring after his name hee sayde Why askest thou for my name Genes 32. And to Moses demaunding the same question hee answered I am that I am Exod. 3. Wherefore the Scripture speaking of God after the fashion of men calleth all that his name whereby he may be knowne as namely his goodnes mercy truth wisedome omnipotencie iustice and if there be any other titles like vnto these which are partely gathered out of his word and partly out of his workes This thing God himself teacheth whē as to Moses desirous to see him he heapeth vp a sort of words whereby hee described his owne nature saying The Lord the Lord Exod. 34. strong merciful and gratious slow to anger and abundant in goodnes and truth reseruing mercy for thousandes forgiuing iniquitie transgression sinne and not making the wicked innocent visiting the iniquitie of the fathers vpon the children vpon childrens children c. But for as much as all these thinges are found especially in the sonne of God Heb. 1. Iesus Christ who is therfore called the brightnes of his glory and the expresse image of his substance the same also is the verye true name of GOD in and by which inuocation ought to be made Of this thing God himselfe admonisheth when as he witnesseth of him from heauen Mat. 3.17 That he is his dearely beloued sonne in whom he is well pleased And he himselfe in the Gospell when he had sayd that he was the way by whiche wee come vnto the father immediately addeth Ioan. 14.16 Verily I say vnto you whatsoeuer ye shall aske the father in my name he will giue it vnto you Heb. 14.4 For which cause Paul affirmeth the same to be our altar by whom we may offer vp the sacrifice of praise yea and he testifieth that by him we haue accesse and entrance to the throne of grace Wherupon also that most ancient vsage of the Church preuailed whereby prayers for the most part are ended in the name of Christ Whilest therefore the prophet willeth vs to cal vpon the name of the Lord he inioyneth no other thing thē fayth in Christ which both commendeth vs vnto God and also maketh our prayers graceful and acceptable vnto him But he expresseth this fayth by the name of inuocation least we should imagine a dumbe and ydle faith These thinges serue for our consolation doe meruellously confirme our confidence in praying For albeit we are vnwoorthie as we must needes confesse that God should heare vs yet cannot he passe ouer our praiers with deafe eare when wee bring before hun his sonne Christ 1. Corin. 1. which of him is made vnto vs righteousnes and satisfaction The fruite of the inuocatiō of fayth This confidence is encreased by the fruit of inuocation which the Prophet addeth in the thirde place For hee sayeth Whosoeuer calleth on the name of the Lorde shall be saued or deliuered Hee vseth the word of sauing or deliuering to the end he might shew that saluation should happen euen vnto those also that seemed alreadie to be vtterly perished yea and quite fallen frō al hope There are many exāples of this sort to be found For hither belongeth that which is written of the children of Israel trying out at the redde Sea with infinite thinges beside Exod. 14. that happened vnto them whilest they were in the wildernes And in the time of the Iudges wee reads that they were heard and deliuered as ofte as they cryed vnto the Lorde Psal 107. Dauid in like manner as hee confesseth himselfe to be hearde oftentimes so heapeth hee togither very many examples of them whome God deliuered when they called for his ayde But especially this ought to be transferred to the safetie and prefernation of soules the certainetie whereof is here proued and declared for they that faithfully call vpon God through Christ receiue in him remission of their sinnes But where sinnes ceasse or bee abolished there the wrath and punishmentes of God which flowe from sinnes must of necessitie ceasse likewise Whereupon true and perfect safetie followeth which hath no maner of neede of any thing to be added to it These thinges teach vs what we ought to doe at this day The tokens of Gods wrath doe euery where appeare and all sortes of calamities breake in on euery side which Christ and the Apostles foretolde should come to passe in the last time Many there be that acknowledge these things and consult by what meanes the dangers may be auoyded But how vayne their consultations are which chalenge to thēselues the chiefe prayse of wisdome the euent and successe of thinges doeth abundantlye prooue Let vs therefore omitting our owne reasons and deuices goe that waye to woorke whiche the holy Ghoste prescribeth in this place For in as muche as it leaneth vppon the promise of GOD who is the truth it selfe wee can by no meanes erre or goe astraye Let vs acknowledge our sinnes and casting away all confidence of our owne woorkes let vs implore and call for the grace of God alone through Christ Iesus who as he hath reconciled his father vnto vs so also woorketh hee true repentance in those whome hee regenerateth by his spirit c. A confirmation of the promise comprehending the whole order of saluation But he maketh a further confirmation of that which he sayd when he addeth For in mount Sion and in Hierusalem shal be deliuerance as the Lord hath sayd that is to say albeit the church may seeme euen now to be vtterly perished yet in Siō shall saluation be had there agayne shal bee gathered togither the remnantes whiche the Lord hauing chosen from euerlasting shall call by his Gospell as he hath promised And these promises are euery where extant in the prophets God doubtlesse had sayd to Dauid as touching Hierusalem that the same should be his rest Psal 123. Esay 10. concerning the remnantes to be saued Esay expressely speaketh And to these certes the histories agree very well For this war of the Assyrians being ended the church vnder Ezechias florished notably by the space of fifteen yeres together Further albeit the people falling againe vnto wickednes their citie was of the Chaldeans together with their temple vtterly burned and consumed yet after they they were returned from Babilon they builded agayn and reedified their citie and temple Esay 2. Mich.
Lawe represented the mysteries of Christ Iesus who alone is able to pacâ—â—e Gods wrath and reconcile vs vnto him Thus therefore he sendeth them to the promised Sauior of mankinde least they shoulde attribute any glory of merit either to their fasts or outward asseÌ„blies In the meane time this place maketh much to the commendation of holy assemblies for although neither the worshippe of God nor praiers ought to bee tied to any certaine places because that the true worshippers doe worshippe euery where in spirite and trueth yet for orders sake Ioan. 4. and to auoyde confusion it behooueth vs to haue aplace certayne wherein congregations may come together to heare the woorde of God and vnto publique prayers For that euen these also are moste effectuall with GOD appeareth by the promise of Christ Math. 18. saying Where two or three are gathered together in my name there I am in the middest of them and whatsoeuer they shal aske it shal be giuen them of my Father which is in heauen For seeyng God woulde haue vs eipecially to bee of one minde in religion their consent can not but greatly please him that meete together to praye that his wrath may bee turned from them Where vpon in tymes past Tertullian In Apologet. Cap. 39. wrote We come together in the congregation to the intent that making as is were a hande vnto God wee may compasse him with our prayers This force is acceptable and pleasing vnto God And hereof it came as it seemeth vnto mee that the auncient Fathers appoynted certayne houres of prayers whereof there is mention in Daniel and in the Actes Dani. â— Act. 3 10â— to the ende that suche as coulde not come to the Churches might at least ioyne their priuate praiers at home with the publique Nowe adayes the superstition whiche by this occasion haue growen in force there are many that set against it and that worthily but as touching the restoring of publike praiers fewe or none make any question Furthermore 3. Publikâ— prayers to what ende the assembly or congregation should come together the prophete him selfe sheweth when hee addeth And crye vnto the Lorde So he prouideth least any shoulde thinke repentance to consist in a certaine vame stagelike osteÌ„tation for he wisteth them to pray nay to crye that he might commende vnto theÌ„ an earnest feruent desire of praying And he will haue them to direct their prayers vnto the Lord least after the maner of the Gentiles and superstitious sorte they shoulde craue ayde and helpe of the creatures As for the forme of prayer which they must publikely vse he will prescribe that in the Chapter following In the meane season it is our partes to learne heereby what wee ought to doe in these daies when as the tokens of Gods wrath are euerie where seene and the wicked euenues of God doe most grieuouslye oppresse his church Many there be in deede endewed both with wisedome and authoritie that consulte aboute this matter But the onely way of appeasing Gods wrath and atteining vnto sauing health must this bee which is heere taught and set downe For it is confirmed with infinite promises and examples euen from the beginning of the worlde to this day The Prophets doe thunder out this euery where Math. 3. With this doth Iohn begin the doctrine of the Newe Testament and with the same commandeth Christ his Apostles to beginne Luke 34. As many as haue refused this in time paste haue alwaies beene punished with most grieuous plagues But O the wretched state and condition of our time for howe fewe shall a man finde that consider anye thing at all of fasting and of brideling of the fleshe when as wee absteine not euen from vnlawfull and vngodly pleasures There reigneth nowe among all sortes of men Iustfulnesse insatiable pride outragious and more then beastly rage of drunkeÌ„nesse Holy assemblies and meeting es are of the most part neglected and what time soeuer is bestowed in them is supposed to be onerlong and tedious Which is a token that our prayers also are verye colde and frâ—sen And if there be any that deale with repentance it is such as is counterfet and momentany Hosee 6. like vnto that that Hosee whâ—â— doth the Israelites withall What do we then maruaile at the wrath and displeasure of God hanging euery where ouer our heades dayly threatning more grieuous plagues vnto vs God graunt for his mercies sake that we being euen softened and mollified with scourges may returne vnto the Lorde who hath giuen vs free accesse vnto the throne of his grace in Christ Iesus our onely Sauiour to whom be giuen blessing honour glory and dominion for euer and euer Amen Sermon 4. The text 15. ALas for that day for the day of the Lorde is at hand and it commeth as a destruction from the almightie 16. Is not the meat cut off before your eyes and ioy gladnes from the house of our God 17. The seed is rotteÌ„ vnder the clods the garners are destroyed the barnes are broken downe for the corne is withered 18 Howe haue the beastes mourned the heards of cattell piue away because they haue no pasture and the flockes of sheepe are destroyed 19. To thee O Lorde will I crye for the fire hath consumed the pastures of the wildernesse and the flame hath burnt vp all the trees of the fielde 20. The beastes of the fielde also shall crye vnto thee for the riuers of waters are dryed vp and the fire hath deuoured the pastures of the desert The argumeÌ„â— and vse of this present place MOst men in deed doe confesse with one consent that repentaunce and conuersion vnto God is needfull if at any time euen priuate calamities bee vpon them but the same notwithstanding doe very hardly admit the true doctrine of repentaÌ„ce for inasmuch as they suppose it to consist only in a certaine outward stage like behauiour it seemeth vnto theÌ„ to bee superfluous whatsoeuer they heare spoken of the mortifiyng of the flesh of mans renewing of the ameÌ„demeÌ„t of life maners also of prayers other such like exercises of true faith religion Therfore Ioel wheÌ„ as he had of late diligeÌ„tly taught set forth the maner of true repeÌ„tance now he exhorteth theÌ„ very grauely to imbrace the same seing they could no other way be prouided for with al he sharply reproueth their more theÌ„ beastly blockishnes which were so hardned at the sense of gods wrath that they were nothing at al moued with the euils that on euery side oppressed theÌ„ The vse of the place vnto vs also may bee this namely that we may draw arguments froÌ„ it how to casâ— off al blockishnes to stirre vp our selues to the exercise of repentance He teacheth repentance to be needefull But hee beginneth with a reason or argument which he deriueth from the necessitie of the matter and denounceth it by an exclamation very pathetical
vnto God But to the intent the maner of this conuersion may the more plainely appeare foure things in order are to be considered of vs. 1. From what we must turne First from whence this turning or conuersion ought to bee Namely from those thinges that haue turned vs from God These are generally our sinnes wherby that we are deuided and seperated from God hee himselfe testifieth in Esay Esay 59. But vnder the title of sinne are reckned not onely those grosse woordes and deeds which by the common consent of men are accompted for filthy and vnlawfull but also the Iustes of the flesh Galath 5 whiche as Paule sayth striue against the spirite and will of God and therefore ought earnestly to bee brydeled and restreined To the same end belōg false erronious opinions of God superstitions also which grow out of these vnlawfull worshippings whatsoeuer els is of this sorte All these things they must leaue and forsake which will truely conuerte and repente For in asmuch as for these thinges sake Col. 3. commeth the wrath of God vpon vs we cannot looke for an ende of punishment so longe as wee continue in the same They therefore are reproued in this place which when they will seeme penitente doe not onely not forsake their superstitions but rather daily heape vp new which also suffer the desires of the fleshe to boyle in them which amend not their maners but are occupied about vaine ceremonies and in the meane time which God condemneth in Esay bring their hands full of bloode into his presence Esai 1. And such commonly is the popishe penance which consisteth in the Lent fast fantastical satisfactions c. 2. To whome we must turn Secondely wee are to consider vnto whom we must turne Euen vnto me saith he Our turning therfore must be vnto god truly vnto God alone because he only is the truth fountaine of all goodnes But we must beware that wee goe streight vnto him and not ceasse before wee haue layde hold of him And this must bee done by faith seeing God which is a spirit can no other way bee apprehended or taken holde off They then doe erre first which turne not vnto God but vnto creatures or to the inuentions of men or to their owne merites Secondly which beginne in deede to turne but stay in the middest of their course before they come to the mark prefixed vnto them 2. Tim. 2. They verily striue for a time but they are not crowned because they striue not lawfully and that saying of Christe agreeth vnto them No man that putteth his hande to the plough looketh backe is fit for the kingdome of God Luke 9. 3. By wha◠meanes wee must turne But forasmuch as there is no communion betwixt God and vs and wee doe no lesse flie from him then did our first parents when they had sinned wee haue neede of a Mediatour which may make vs away vnto him and reconcile him vnto vs who is angrie with our sinnes The same is onely and alone Christ Iesus the sonne of God the father coeternall and consubstantiall with him who in the time appointed was of the virgin Mary made mā to the end he might become a mediator betweene God and vs and pacifie his wrath Of him the father himselfe witnesseth from heauen Math. 3.17 This is my deerely beloued sonne in whom I am well pleased And he himselfe in the gospel crieth out Ioan. 14. I am the way the truth and the life no man commeth to the father but by mee For he alone by the sacrifice of his body and blood purgeth purifieth our sinnes Ioan. 1.3 and there withall by the seed of his word begetteth them againe into the sonnes of God prepareth them vnto euery good worke 1. Pet. 1. which were by nature the children of wrath for which cause the apostles affirme Act. 3. that he was exalted of God to the intent he might giue repentāce vnto Israel remission of sinnes And himselfe commaundeth them both to bee preached in his name Luk. 24. They therefore are deceyued that preach repentante without Christe and place it in mens woorkes They may in deede talke muche of good works of the christiā discipline of maners but except we haue Christ we shall neuer perfourme any thing that good is For without mee saith hee yee can doe nothing Ioan. 15. Yea they that thinke they haue done any thing goe so much the further off from God by howe much they repose their trust and confidence in their owne workes and merites 4. The maner of our turning Fourthly the Prophete diligently declareth the maner of our turning or repentance and toucheth all the thinges as well internall as externall whiche are heere to bee obserued of vs. And first hee woulde haue vs to turne vnto God with our whole heart By mentioning of the heart hee excludeth hypocrisie Esai 29. least wee shoulde drawe neere vnto God onely with our mouth lippes Secondly he requireth the sincere studie of godlinesse and true religion and that to the ende the forsaking all things which are repugnant vnto God wee may consecrate vnto him our heartes and al the powers both of our mind and body according to that which is saide in the Lawe Deut. 6. Thou shalt loue the Lorde thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soule and with all thy strength There is nothing therefore left vnto vs heere which wee may giue vnto the worlde or to the desires of the flesh For inasmuche as the hearte is the fountaine and welspring of all actions they doe liue vnto GOD alone as many as are turned vnto him with their whole hearte Neither doe they yet truely repent which halting on both sides one while obey God and another while thinke it lawfull for them to set him aside and to serue the worlde and the fleshe But forsomuch as wee are heere letted and hindred by the pride and naturall corruptions of the fleshe hee inioyneth fasting whereby hee meaneth not a superstitious abstinence or difference of meates but a discipline of the fleshe wherethrough the nourishmentes of lust and pride or stubbornenesse are withdrawen as wee saide before Hee addeth vnto this weeping and lamenting or mourning which conteine an outwarde profession of repentance whereof wee haue neede partly that wee may testifie Gods righteousnesse whilest wee confesse by this meanes that wee haue deserued punishment and partly that wee may remedy the offence which is publikely giuen to the weake This did Dauid perceiue who not contēted to haue bewayled his sins priuately would publikely also in Psalmes testifie his griefe and heauinesse Psal 25.32.51.130.143 c. to the intent hee might both celebrate the righteousnesse of God and also restraine those that mought abuse his example to the libertie of sinning They are therefore very farre off from true repentance whosoeuer will not acknoweledge