it most vsually exercise and most sharply afflict the weake Christian 1. Iohn 3.20 For if our heart condemne vs how much more God who is greater then our heart and knoweth all things Notwithstanding as Dauid examineth the iudgment of men Psalme 58.1 so may wee that of conscience and say is it true O conscience speakest thou iustly iudgest thou vprightly Conscience accusing iudgeth alwaies for God not alwaies with God and as God For sometimes as Iobs friends it maketh a lye for God Iob 13.9 to wit not purposely but as misenformed or not sufficiently instructed Thus many times it passeth an vniust sentence vpon the weake Christian hauing an eye onely vnto the nature and quality of the sinfull action not vnto the disposition of the heart in sinning If I regard wickednesse in mine heart saith Dauid Psalme 66.18 the Lord will not heare me Not to fall into some grieuous sinne contrary to thy purpose and course but to set thy heart vpon it argueth a child of wrath Dauid committed adulterie as did Absalom and murder as did Ioab but Dauid was of them that fall by occasion Gal. 6.1 they vpon deliberation hee with remorse and they with reioycing What difference betweene the sinne of Iudas and of Peter Iudas for gaine sold his Lord Peter for feare denied and abiured him But Iudas euer a thiefe and an hypocrite though now hee proceeded to a further degree was still in the same way of sinne wherein he had bin from the beginning Peter had alwaies an honest heart and purpose to stand by his Lord vnto the death though now by a sodaine passion of feare he was for the present driuen from his resolution In a word to shut vp this point the state of a poore Christian mourning for and striuing with the greatest sins yea and sometimes in this minoritie of the new Creature taking the foyle yet sighting againe is more comfortable and blessed then of him that sleepeth and snorteth without resistance or remorse in the embracements of the smallest reputed sinne And thus I passe from the acknowledged drowzinesse of the Spouse of Christ vnto the other part of her mixed estate to wit her watchfulnesse But mine heart waketh THe Spouse of Christ professing that while her flesh was a sleepe her heart or inner man was still awake teacheth vs that Euerie true member of the bodie of Christ euen in sleeping that is in sinning hath a wakefull spirit that sleepeth not For the better vnderstanding wherof consider as in the point of sleeping 1. What it is to wake 2. Who they be that are awake The spirituall waking will also best appeare by comparison with the naturall which is the act or exercise of the faculties of sense and motion The proper cause whereof is the returne of the naturall heate and animall spirits into the members the vapours which hindered their passage being now by meanes of digestion consumed Other accessory causes there are also as noise shaking of the bodie day-light in a word whatsoeuer restoreth or calleth forth the spirits Finally the end of waking is Psal 104.23 that man may goe about his worke and day-labour Semblably in this spirituall waking we shall obserue 1 The act or exercise of the spirituall senses and motions of grace The Church here is not so a sleepe but that she both heareth the voice of Christ Cant. 5.2 and discerneth it to bee the voice of her beloued Verse 4 and findeth her heart to be affectioned toward him Matt. 13.16 And Blessed sayth our Sauiour to his Disciples are your eyes for they see and your eares for they heare whereas others neyther see with their eies nor heare with their eares Verse 15 c. 2. The proper cause of this waking which is the returne of that once naturall in the state of Creation now supernaturall heate of grace and of those spirituall abilities and inclinations vnto good Which by the dead sleep of sinne were extinguished in our nature Gal. 5.24 the vapours of fleshly lusts which hindered this returne now in great part dissolued by grace 3. The secondary and helping causes which are 1. The noyse of Gods Word crying Ephes 5.14 Awake thou that sleepest and stand vp from the dead c. 2 The shaking of Afflictions for thus the Lord openeth the eares of men euen by their corrections Iob. 33.16 which he hath sealed 3. The day-light of the Gospell which sheweth that it is now time we should arise from sleepe Rom. 13.11.12 to cast awaie the workes of darknesse and put on the armor of light c. 4. The end of our spirituall waking which is that wee may worke now it is daâ—e and walke honestly as in the day Ioh. 9.4 Rom. 13.13 Awake righteously or vnto righteousnesse sayth the Apostle and sinne not 1. Cor. 15.34 Reuel 3.2 Be awake sayth our Sauiour to the Angell and Church at Sardi and strengthen the things that remaine which are readie to die Thus wee see what is meant by waking now if it bee demaunded who bee awake it must bee answered that the regenerate onely doe wake and euen they so farre forth onely as they are regenerate They onely are children of light and of the day 1. Thess 5 Verse 5 the rest are of the night and of darknesse Therefore Verse 6 let not vs sleepe sayth the Apostle as doe other but let vs watch c. Other therefore yea all other doe alwayes onely sleepe The regenerate indeede do now and then take part with them in some measure in sleeping because there are in the best some remainders of flesh lusting against the spirit Gal. 5.17 but they neuer in any measure take part with the regenerat in waking because they are wholy flesh Ioh. 3.6 no portion of the sanctifying grace of the spirit in them to lust against the slesh But because men in these matters are not onely apt to be deceiued but also willing to deceiue themselues thinking they haue need of no grace Reuel 3.17 when they are destitute of all I holde it necessarie for the clearing of this point to remoue the false semblances of grace which may make wicked men beleeue they are well awake whiles they are fast a sleepe yea dead in sinne Such appearances are taken partly from the forenamed accessorie causes partly from some seeming effects of waking For first the vnregenerate man may sometimes heare the noise of Gods Word and that eyther with feare as Foelix or with joye as Herod and yet neuer the more awake But as the sluggard heareth the voyce of him that calleth him Prou. 6.9.10 and being loath to rise prayeth him to hold his peace so the spirituall sluggard heareth and starteth but craueth silence Thus Foelix heard Paul preaching of righteousnesse temperance Act. 24.25.26 and the iudgement to come and trembled at the hearing but immediately put him out of his matter till
it and turne downe the former as low as it selfe And Sathan as Hannibal said of Marcellus is neuer quiet conquering or conquered but conquering pursues his Victories and conquered labours to recouer his losse If these things be so and that we be all of so heauie a mould Oh how highly are we to esteeme the goodnes and patience of God that is content to entertaine such dullards into his seruice Hee that is serued of Cherubims and Seraphims that flie swiftly to doe his Commaundement in obeying the voice of his Word Psal 103.20 and yet findeth not due stedfastnesse in such seruants Iob. 9.18 but is able to lay folly vpon his Angels that he should take delight in the children of men Prou. 8.31 admitting vs into his schoole who are as Children weaned from the milke Esa 21.9 and drawne from the breasts Vers 10 to whome precept must bee giuen vpon precept precept vpon precept line vnto line line vnto line there a little and there a little That hee should accept the will for the deed and through the weaknesse of the flesh Mat. 26.41 discerne and approoue the readinesse of the spirit That he should not deale vpon aduantages with so vnprofitable seruants but spare vs as a man spareth his owne sonne that serueth him Mal. 3.17 Psal 19.11 yea appoint great reward for weake or rather no seruice Who would not loue and honour so kind a Lord Who would denie anie of that little hee can doe vnto so indulgent a master Who would not take his part striuing against sinne Who in vnspeakeable mercie forgiueth and couereth iniquitie transgresson Exod. 34.7 and sinne On the otherside how meanly ought wee to account of any seruice that we can performe and When wee haue done our best confesse that we are vnprofitable seruants Luke 17.10 If therefore vnprofitable because we haue done no more then dutie much more because wee haue done much lesse Let Papists and Familists and what other broods soeuer of the selfe-righteous Pharises dreame vnto themselues a Legall perfection in this life Mat. 5.20 Oh Let our righteousnesse labour to exceed theirs but let our opinion of it come as short as our endeauor striueth to exceed For how can our Lord but bee a looser by such drowzie-headed seruants that euer and anone are nodding and slumbring yea sometimes falling with Eutychus into a dead sleep Act. 20.9 Ioh. 11 if not with Lazarus lying foure dayes in this sleepe of death till wee stinke againe and haue neede of that loud voice of Christ to awaken vs and by a new Resurrection Psal 51.10 or Creation to restore vs to the life of grace The Crabtree though grafted with the best grafts yet sendeth forth manie wilde shoots from the natiue stocke which if they be not cut off wil starue the better fruit Ioh. 15.2 and in the best branches of the vine of Christ there is somewhat continually to be pruned away And what greater comfort can there bee to a poore Christian labouring of infirmities then to haue the seuerall confessions of the best seruants of God in all ages concurring with this generall acknowledgement of the whole Church militant and confirming that they were as the Holy Ghost speaketh of Elias all subiect to the like passions as wee are Iam. 5.17 As ill might we spare such precedents for consolation as the examples of their vertues for imitation For why should wee doubt of that mercie from God wherof they haue had and recorded the experience Nay the good Lord will see a difference betweene the sleeping Christian and the dead worldling and will say of thee as of Lazarus Ioh. 11 he is not dead but sleepeth Or if this sleepe bee as in it selfe it is a death yet so deare art thou vnto Christ in regard of his worke of grace in thee and the manifesting of his glorie by thee that he will certainly rayse thee vp and reuiue thee Finally it concerneth vs all in Christian prouidence for our soules safetie Luc. 21.36 as to watch and pray continually that wee be not lead into temptation so obseruing the fore-mentioned times and aduantages of Sathan and our owne corruption to plant a double guard when the danger is more then ordinarie And namely in time of prosperitie to meditate often and seriously of the vanitie and inconstancie of all earthly comforts that so wee may come to reioyce as if we reioyced not 1. Cor. 7.30.31 and to vse the world as if we vsed it not In the daie of wrath be of good comfort sayth Salomon Eccles 7.16 yet euen that while the dayes of darknes are to bee remembered Eccles 11.8 which shall certainly come and shal be manie Eccles 7.16 In the daie of affliction Consider saith the wise King Hee that in the calme prepareth not for a storme is manie times greatly endangered but he that in the storme sticketh not close to the helme is sure neuer to see the port In peace to prouide for defence is of wholsome policie but in time of warre and in the day of battle to stand vpon our guard against a vigilant Enemie is of meere necessitie Inordinate sleeping is an enemy to the best health but in a case of extremitie such as the trauaile of childbirth the Lethargie or the sweating sicknesse euen to slumber is accounted mortall So for a Christian at any time to bee secure importeth danger but in affliction to bee sencelesse Ier. 5.3 to be smitten and not to sorrow as the Prophet complaineth of he desperate Iewes and when the Lord calleth vnto weeping and mourning Esa 22.12 c. vnto baldnesse and sackcloth then to say with the carelesse world 1. Cor. 15.32 Let vs eat and drinke for to morrow wee shall die is an iniquitie inexpiable and betokeneth destruction vnauoidable It is a plausible delusion to put farre away the euill day Amos 6.3 and to catch at the Eagle of worldly prosperity Pro. 23.5 when shee hath allready taken wing but let that voice sound in our eares wherewith the Lord rowzed Baruch sleeping this very sleepe seekest thou great things for thy selfe Ier. 45.5 seeke them not for beholde I bring a plague c. In seed-time the Crow is busie therefore the Husbandman sleepes not Sathan if hee cannot hinder the Plough labours to preuent the Sickle and to that end followes the Seedesman sowing the Word of grace Mat. 13.3 c. that if it lie vncouered or vnwatched he may immediately catch it away Mar. 4.15 Ecâ—lâ—s 4.17 Wherefore the counsell of the wise Preacher is to take heed to thy foote when thou entrest into the house of God and bee more neare to heare then to offer the Sacrifice of fooles Wilt thou preuent the rauening crow hide the word in thine heart Psal 119.11 as one that heareth for afterwards and intendeth to reape and liue vpon that which is
no shame sorrow crying Reuel 21.4 c. We are as yet in the region of olde things wherin as our naturall life is sustained by contraries labour and rest hunger and satiety sleeping and waking c so our spirituall and heauenly life is clogged with vnwelcome companions affoording vs trouble with our peace emptinesse with our abundance drowsinesse with our watchfulnesse But as for those that are at case in Sion Amos. 6.1.3 Jam. 5.5 and put farre away the euill day that they may approach to the seat of iniquity that nourish their hearts as in a day of sacrifice Luk. 21.34 and by surfeting drunkennesse cares of this life carelesnesse of that that is to come doe what they can to make keepe their heart their watchman asleepe that had rather keepe conscience blinde that it may flatter them then enforme it that it may giue a iust verdict against them counting it lesse trouble to beleeue a fauourable false report then to examine whether it bee true Reuel 3.1 in a word that haue a name to liue but they are dead to be awake but their heart is fast a sleepe to such I haue a heauy message from the Lord euen the same that the vigilant Captain deliuered together with a deaths-woūd to his sleeping watchman Dead I found thee dead I leaue thee The watch-man must keepe his watch as his life else no watch no man his life is too little to satisfie for his vnwatchfulnes God hath planted the heart in euery man to be a waking centinall If thy watchman sleepe therefore how deep is that drowsinesse how desperate is the condition first of the watchman and after of whatsoeuer may miscarry through his watchfulnesse Mat. 24.48 c. If the euill seruant shall say in his heart my master deferreth his comming and begin to smite his fellowes and to eat and drink with the drunken that seruants Master will come in a day when he looketh not for him and in an houre that he is not aware of and will cut him off and giue him his portion with hypocrites there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth To conclude with admonition let my counsell or rather the counsell of our Lord Iesus be acceptable vnto vs all who willeth vs to watch and pray continually Luke 21.36 that wee may be counted worthy to escape all the euils that shall come vpon the secure world and that we may stand before the sonne of man And this admonition reacheth vnto both sorts before mentioned Mar. 13.37 All must watch therefore they that are asleepe must wake and they that wake must keepe themselues awake Eph. 5.14 Vnto the first the Lord saith Awake thou that sleepest and stand vp from the dead 1. Cor. 15.34 c. And againe Awake to liue righteously and sinne not What is that but to breake off thy sinnes by righteousnesse Dan. 4.24 Psal 95.10 that there may bee an healing of thine error And because the error of sinne breedeth and festreth in the hart therefore vpon the heart must the cure be performed Ezek. 18.31 make you a new heart and a new spirit saith the Lord for why will ye dye O house of Israell Euery one naturally hath a drowsie and heauy hart like that of Nabal not onely sleeping but dying within him an heart of stone making him like a very stone How shall this stone be made a child of Abraham 1. Sam. 25.37 vnlesse the stony heart bee changed into an heart of flesh Math 3.9 Ezek. 36.26 Indeed none but God is able to worke this change But it is our part to submitte our selues to his hand in the conscionable vse of the meanes Ier. 23.29 suffering his worde as an hammer to beate vpon our stony heart which so and not otherwise is to bee broken and his spirit to conuince and reprooue vs of sinne Iohn 16.8 and his rod to chasten vs for our profit Heb. 12.10 that we may bee partakers of his holinesse These 3. meanes the Lord vseth to awaken the carnall sluggard calling him by his word shaking him by his rod and by his spirit knocking at the dore of his heart Oh then quench not his spirit 1. Thes 5.19.20 resisting and controlling the holy motions thereof despise not his word of Prophecy stopping thine eares as the deafe Adder against the voice of the charmer kicke not against his rodde that hee should complaine of thee as of the stubborne Iewes Ier. 2.30 I haue smitten your children in vaine they receiued no correction In a word while it is called to day heare his voice and harden not thine heart as in the day of prouocation and temptation Loue not sleepe saith Salomon least thou come vnto pouerty Pro. 20.13 open thine eies and thou shalt be satisfied with bread The admonition fitteth well vnto the spirituall sluggard who wilfully remains in penurie because hee will not take paines to be rich in grace He is ready to say with the vniust Steward Luke 16.3 I cannot digge and to begge I am ashamed One while the trauell of repentance seemeth too tedious vnto his loose heart and he is afraid of the Lion in the way thinking it best pollicy not to waken the sleeping Lion of an euill conscience Pro. 26.13 nor to disturbe Satan who as a strong man armed keepes peaceable possession of him Luk. 11.21 But he considereth not that both Satan and his corrupt conscience doe sleepe and suffer him to sleepe but for a time and when there shall bee no more hope or means of recouery they will both awake against him and waken him vp vnto euerlasting anguish vnquietnesse Neither will hee vnderstand that the only way to pacifie conscience and to put Satan for euer to silence is to set the controuersie on foot betimes No meanes to make the Deuill flye but by resistance Iam. 4.7 No means to attaine the quiet of a good conscience but that whereto the Apostle Iames aduiseth Be afflicted Iam. 4.9 and sorrow ye and weepe let your laughter bee turned into mourning and your ioy into heauinesse Iam. 4.10 Cast downe your selues before the Lord and he will lift you vp Another while hee sticketh at the rebuke of Christ and the reproach of sincere profession Hee is loth to goe out of the Campe Heb. 13.13 bearing the badge of his despised Lord. But hee considereth not that this and no other way Christ entred into his glory and sanctified this onely way vnto all those that shal be partakers with him of the same glory But no one thing doth more nusle a sinfull soule in the spirituall sleep then a fond perswasion and pretence that hee is already awake For as the sluggard saith I am awake because hee would not bee troubled so you shall hardly find a secure sinner but beeing called vpon to repent to renew acquaintance and make peace with God hee will bee