you can in a little time For when the Dayes are Evil you know not how little time you may have how few Opportunities of well-doing you may enjoy * Eph. 5.15 16. See then that ye walk circumspectly not as Fooles but as Wise Redeeming the Time because the Daies are evil The fourth Branch LIve in the exercise of your most excellent graces Let the Lustre of them appear in the eyes of the World that so you may diminish the Darknesse of an evil Generation When the Nights are darkest every one should be careful to hang out their Lights When the Sun the Chariot of Light hath carried the Day to another World the Night comes forth deckt with all her Jewels Search your Cabinets put on your Jewels exercise your Graces your Faith Love Patience Humility Zeale Hope Confidence and so labour to preserve a Day of Light and Holinesse in spight of all the encroachments of the darknesse of Sin and Vice Labour to be every whit as Good as others are Evil. Stir up your selves especially to the exercise of those Graces which stand in opposition to the reigning Vices of the Times Study to shew your selves as Active for God as others are for the World as truly Content with your condition as others are Covetous Oppressive Ambitious as Faithful as others are False as Pious as others are Profane as much to excel in Charity Moderation Humility as others exceed in Cruelty Censoriousnesse and Pride It well becomes Saints to be best when the Times are worst So Fire burnes hottest in the coldest weather and Stars shine brightest in the darkest Nights So shall you lift up the Name and Glory of God in the World and your lives shall be illustrious Testimonies for the cause of God against a wicked world Beg Grace of God therefore that in evil and perillous Times you may live to his Glory * Phil. 2.15 That ye may be blamelesse and Harmless the Sons of God without rebuke in the midst of a crooked and perverse Nation among whom ye shine as Lights in the World The fifth Branch DAre to appear in your places for the Cause of God against the Evils of the Times Why should not every pious Christian dare to do more for God and the interests of his Glory then any profane Politician dares to do against him Why should you be afraid to appear on the stronger side It is indeed desperate Folly and Madnesse in impotent man to presume upon any action or undertaking which carries in it an apparent or consequential Opposition to an Omnipotent God upon whose Providence he hath a continual dependance insomuch as without some concurrence thereof he cannot move a Hand nor stirre a step Alas This Almighty God can with the least Finger of that glorious Hand by which he governes this All in one moment crush the greatest Armies of the mightiest men upon earth as a †Job 4.19 Moth and crumble them into dust But for the Saints that are guarded with an Omnipotent Arme they may with a holy confidence appear in the Cause of God against the most potent adversaries in the world For greater and stronger is he that is with us then they that are with them For as the good King Hezekiah said to the Captaines of his Army at the approach of the King of Assyria * 2 Chron. 32.7 8. with them is an Arme of Flesh but with us is the LORD our God to help us And †Rom. 8.31 if God be for us who can be against us Fear not then ye sonnes of the mighty ye children of the most high to appear for God and his cause against the impieties and iniquities of evil and perillous times Remember * Rev. 21.8 the fearful are set in the Front of that Troop of Rebels that shall be sent to Hell Know you not that in this case when Gods Cause and Glory suffers He that is not for God is against him Take heed then lest while you fear a lesser danger you fall into a greater 'T is then your greatest wisdome and safety to take the strongest side and that is to appear for God So may you say with David †Ps 118.6 The LORD is on my side I will not fear what man can do unto me And again * Ps 56.11 In God have I put my trust I will not be afraid what man can do unto me †Psal 118 8 9. It is better to trust in the LORD then to put confidence in man It is better to trust in the LORD then to put confidence in Princes Dare to appear for God therefore in your places and to plead his Cause against wicked and unreasonable men with more Courage Resolution and Boldnesse then they have to oppose it Stand up therefore in Dayes of Danger and appear for the Truth and Glory of God that made you for the Honour and Interests of the Lord Jesus Christ that redeem'd you with his own precious blood appear for his Word and Worship his Ordinances and Ministers his Sabbaths and Sacraments his Church and Saints and all the just Rights Dues and Priviledges thereof against a wicked Generation of men that dare openly deny the Truth and profane the Name of God that are not afraid to cast Contempt and Reproach upon his Word and Worship to scoff at his Sabbaths and Sacraments and slight his holy Ordinances to abuse revile and vilifie his Ministers his Ambassadours seeking to pluck their meat from their mouths desiring to imbrue their hands in their blood endeavouring their utter extirpation out of the Church of God that dare to lay sacrilegious hands upon the Rights and Revenues of the Church which she holds by a firmer Title then the greatest Lord in the Land does or can do his inheritance and thereby seek to turne her children out of their Possession that they may enrich themselves as too many have done by the Churches Ruines Now Christians will you be afraid or asham'd to appear in so just a cause against such wretched men such wicked Adversaries as these Shall these come under the Name of Religion and rob you of the thing while you sit still and do nothing Shall the Interests of Christ and Glory of God fall to the ground rather then you will rise up and appear for the maintenance of the one and defence of the other How will you answer it to God at the great day of account O therefore be not afraid to appear for the Cause of God against the Evil of the Times in the Places and Stations wherein God hath set you This will be your Crown of Glory and Cause of Rejoycing at the great Day of the appearing of the Lord Jesus Christ And oh that those that are Highest in Place and Power would seriously lay these things to heart and quitting all self-interests inconsistent with the Cause and Interests of the Kingdome of Christ sincerely study and endeavour the advancement of Gods Glory in
the Blood of souls at the Judgement Day Be this then my warrant for what I shall speak in the following Discourse upon this Subject For this Text Beloved Christians gives me warrant to tell you that it much concerns you all to know that in the last Dayes perillous Times shall come And if the Apostle John could say in that Age †1 John 2.18 Little Children It is the last Time and as ye have heard that Antichrist shall come even now are there many Antichrists whereby we know that it is the last Time much more may we of this Age upon whom as the Apostle spake of his Time * 1 Cor. 10.11 the Ends of the World are come say these are the last Dayes this is the last Time For if we consider the evils enumerated in the Context and cast our eyes upon this Generation shall we not say that this Prophecy in the Text looks full upon the present Age May we not with Hyperius apply this Prophetick Description of the Churches calamity to our present times Instruit amplissimam Malorum Congeriem quoddam Vitiorum Mare Quae omnia fi de ullis Temporibus à Christo nato dici potuerunt certè de nostro seculo multo aptissimè verissiméque dici posse velimus nolimus fateri debemus Imò vereor nè omnia feculi nostri Mala ab Apostolo hic non sint satis enumerata Adeo ferrea haec aetas nostra omnes aetates malitiâ videtur superare †Andreas Hyperius in 2 Tim. 3 1 2 c. The Apostle sayes he presents us with a mighty Mass of Evils and sets before us as it were a Sea of Vices All which if they might be said of any Times since the Birth of Christ we must needs confesse whether we will or no may with much more truth and fitnesse be spoken of this our Age. Nay I fear that all the Evils of our Age are not here fully enumerated by the Apostle so far doth this Iron Age wherein we live seem to exceed in Wickednesse all other Ages And therefore it must needs very nearly concern us to take notice of and to prepare our selves for the perillous Times which are prophecy'd of in the New Testament and particularly in this present Text of Scripture This know also that in the last Dayes perillous Times shall come It will be well worth our Time and Pains therefore to make a serious enquiry into these two things viz. 1. What the Perillous Times are pointed at in this Prediction 2. How Pious Persons ought to demeane themselves in these perillous Times In the former of these we shall fitly exhibit what may be further requisite for the Explication and in the latter present you with the Application of this Text as to that which is the main Scope and principal Import of it The First Enquiry What the Perillous Times are pointed at in this Prediction FOr the further clearing up of this Prophecy that it may become more useful to the People of God it is necessary that we should make a serious enquiry into these Perillous Times here spoken of And for the clearing of this we shall branch this General Enquiry into three Parts by a more Particular Enquiry into three things sc 1. How these Times may be known 2. Why these Times are so Perillous 3. What is the peril of these Times The first Question Quest. 1. How may these Times be known Answ It is indeed very necessary and useful for us to know when these perillous Times are come upon us that we may be both more watchful against the Danger and careful of the Duty at such Times in a special manner incumbent on us No dangers are so great as theirs that neither see nor perceive their Dangers Great is the danger of the Seaman when his ship hath sprung an unperceived Leak Great is the Danger of that Souldier who walks securely in that path on either side whereof his Enemies lie in Ambush Great is the Danger of that man who is fast-asleep while the House is all on Fire over his Head Great is the danger of those who live in Perillous Times without suspition of Danger Woe be to them who shall be surpriz'd by the Judgements of God arising as it were out of Ambush against them It s very necessary therefore for all Christians to consider whether the Dayes wherein they live are the Perillous Times whereof they are fore-warn'd in the Prophecies of the holy Scriptures or not Now we may know when these perillous Times are come by considering the Charaâ—ters of men and the State of things as represented by the holy Ghost in the Word of God where such perillous Times are either described or predicted For the Times are denomâ—nated from the men that live in them and the State of things as manag'd by such men Pernicious men make perill us Times When the Times abound with men of pernicious Properties Principles and Practises and these have Power to order the State of things according to their own pleasure the Times must needs be perillous Thus the Apostle here foretelling perillous Times gives us the Characters of those Persons who by their pernicious Practises should make the times thus perillous And therefore for as much as this cannot but contribute very much to the clearing up of the matter in question before we proceed any further we shall make a particular survey of the several Characters of these dangerous Persons describ'd in the Context The CHARACTERS of the Persons that make the Times Perillous THese Pernicious Persons that should make the Times so perillous are describ'd by these twenty Marks Properties or Characters following viz. The first Character They are such as are 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Est autem 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 inordinatus Amor sui 1. Lovers of their own selves Now self-love is a sinful Excesse in a mans Love of himself A man both by the Law of God and Nature is not onely allow'd but bound to love himself Neither is that Proverbial saying justly lyable to Exception 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Every man is a friend to himselfe Insomuch as in the Divine Law a mans Love of himselfe is made the Rule of his Love to another 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Thou shalt love thy Neighbour as thy self * Mat. 22.39 But this Self-love which is sinful is such an Excessive Love to ones self as swallows up with Pharaohs leane kine both Love to ones Neighbour and that Divine Love which is the summe of the first and great Commandment †Mat. 22.37 the Love of God And therefore 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 talis est qui se ita amat ut reliquos prae se contemnat in omnibus sui laudem quaerit Sic hypocritae in Religione seipsos quaerunt h. e. Dignitatem Laudem Pompam similia quae nocens est 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 * Aretius in loc A self-lover is such
precedes the Day but it s usually darkest immediately before the Dawne Now for our interpretation of the last dayes in this latitude we have the general concurrence of the best Expositors who all conclude the same thing with one consent For to instance in some thus they speak upon this Text. Sub extremis Diebus comprehendit universum Christianae Ecclesiae statum †Calvin in loc Under the last days sayes the judicious Calvin the Apostle comprehends the whole state of the Christian Church Now the last Days Novissimi autem vel ultimi Dies numerandi sunt ab Adventu Christi ad Finem Mundi Nam Tempus illud 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 dicitur respectu Initii Medii Initium ab Adamo ad Mosen numeratur Medium Temporis à Mose ad Christum Ultimum igitur esta Christo ad ejus Reditum * Aret in locum sayes Aretius are to be reckoned from the coming of Christ to the End of the World For that Time is called the last Time in respect of the Beginning and the Middle-time The Beginning is reckon'd from Adam to Moses The Middle-time from Moses to Christ And so the last Time is from Christ to his second Coming or his return to judgement Dicuntur autem Novissima Tempora Hebraico More non quae circa Mundi finem proximè erunt sed Posteriora quaeque suis Temporibus Novissima nominantur Quanquam tanto pejora futura sunt Tempora quanto fini hujus Mundi extremo Judicio fuerint proximiora †Pelicanus in locum But now sayes Pelican they are called the last Times after the manner of the Hebrews not only which are nearest to the End of the World but all the times succeeding their owne Age are stil'd the last times Although the times shall be so much the worse by how much the nearer they are to the last Judgement and the End of this World * Mat. 24.24 Luk. 21.12 And that the last Dayes must in this Text be necessarily understood in this Latitude may yet more clearly appear if we consider that they were already begun when the Apostle wrote this Prophecy and that they are still continu'd to this Age wherein we live That they were then already begun is manifest in that the Apostle describing the Persons by several Properties who by their ungodly Practises should make the Times so perillous concludes his Description with this Cautionary Premonition to Timothy †Verse 5. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 From such turne away Or turn such away Authoritatively admonish reprove reject them hold no familiar Converse or Correspondency with them And that these times are to be intended to the following Ages and are continu'd to this present Age wherein we live is it not sufficiently manifest in that these very Times are an evident Commentary upon this Text and shew the Accomplishment of this Prophecy Thus we have seen when these Times shall be and how long these last dayes shall last even from the Apostles Time to the End of the World The Premonition NOw come we in the last Place to consider of what concernment this Prediction of perillous Times was to Timothy And the Apostles words upon his first entrance upon this Discourse do plainly declare that it concern'd him to know this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 This know also It much concerns Christians especially Ministers of the Gospel to know what perillous Times shall come upon the Church of God and when they shall come All Christians are concern'd herein It 's profitable for them to know before hand what perillous times shall come that so they may not be unawares surprized by them but duly prepared for them For Praemoniti Premuniti Fore-warn'd Fore-arm'd And therefore it hath pleased the Lord for the manifestation of that special Care which he hath of his Church to reveal to his Servants by the Spirit of Prophecy in all Ages what evils his Saints should be exercised withal and what perillous Times they should passe thorough to their Rest and Glory It is he that brings Judgements upon his people for their sinnes and yet reveales his Purpose to his Prophets that they might call his People to Repentance for the Prevention of his Judgements As it is said * Am. 3.6 7. Shall a Trumpet be blown in the City and the People not be afraid Shall there be Evil in a City and the LORD hath not done it Surely the LORD God will do nothing but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the Prophets So we read when God had a purpose to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah those lustful and licentious Cities with †Gen. 19.24 Fire and Brimstome from heaven * Gen. 18.17 the LORD said shall I hide from Abraham the thing which I do No he presently reveal'd it to him and sent his holy Angels also to his servant †Gen. 19.12 -16. 2 Pet. 2 6-9 Lot to forewarne him of the near-approaching danger and to deliver him by leading him out of that wicked City destin'd to a dreadful Destruction from it's inevitable overthrow So God foretold the Israelites their * Jer. 25.9 and 34.21 Ezek. 12.11 c. Captivity in Babylon and Christ hath foretold Christians †Mat. 10.22 23. Joh. 15.20 Mark 10.30 2 Tim. 3.12 their Persecution in the World Praevisa minus laedunt Evils fore-seen do less afflict Though Afflictions are the appointed Portion of the Saints on Earth yet by the Fore-knowledge of these afflictions they may be the better prepar'd to bear them with Patience And therfore God hath never left his Church without a Prophetick Representation of her future condition So to the History of his Church in the Old Testament he hath adjoyned sundry Prophecies and to the Doctrine of Christ in the New Testament he hath annext a Revelation And if God have been pleased thus to reveale in his Word the evils that shall come upon his Church and Saints and the perillous Times through which they shall pass in the World they are doubtlesse much concern'd to take notice thereof How else shall they prepare themselves for the Lords Visitations or make a right Improvement of his holy Providences How else shall they provide * Mat. 25.4 Oyle in their Vessels that they may have their †Luke 12 35. Lamps burning when a Night of darknesse shall overcome them How else shall they make such due Provision for perillous Times that they may hold up their Heads in a Day of distresse Doubtlesse as the Saints may loose a Harvest of Mercy for want of improving a Day of Grace so may they fall into a Furnace of Affliction for want of fore-seeing a Day of Wrath. And therefore Christ justly taxes the Pharisees that they could * Mar. 16.3 discerne the Face of the Skie but not the Signes of the Times Yea the Lord brings in the Fowles of the Heaven to give in evidence against his own
People for their clearer conviction of their Folly and Stupidity in not discerning the Time of his Judgements For sayes the Lord in Jeremy †Chap. 8. ver 7. Yea the Stork in the Heaven knoweth her appointed Times and the Turtle and the Crane and the Swallow observe the Time of their Coming but my People know not the Judgement of the LORD Hence it comes to passe that as some of the more foolish Birds they are oft taken unawares in the snares of Gods judgements as the Wise man observes * Eccl. 9.12 For man also knoweth not his Time as the Fishes that are taken in an evil Net and as Birds that are caught in the snare so are the sons of men snared in an evil Time when it falleth suddenly upon them How pathetically did the Lord Jesus Christ lament and bewaile the deplorable state and condition of Jerusalem upon this very account that they knew not they consider'd not their great danger but were senslesse and secure notwithstanding all Warnings and Premonitions at the very brink of their threatned destruction For thus is it recorded of him in the Gospel that * Luke 19.41 -44. When he was come neere he beheld the City and wept over it Saying If thou hadst known even thou at least in this thy Day the Things which belong unto thy Peace But now they are hid from thine eyes For the Dayes shall come upon thee that thine Enemies shall cast a Trench about thee and compass thee round and keep thee in on every side and shall lay thee even with the ground and thy children within thee and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another because thou knewest not the Time of thy Visitation And the Event we know fully answer'd the Prediction Thus for want of a due Fore-sight of future Dangers and a right Improvement of the Prophetical Discoveries of Perillous Times a sinful and secure people may be suddenly swallow'd up into an inevitable Destruction Thus it nearly concerns all Gods people to take special notice of these Predictions of perillous Times that they may make a good improvement thereof for their spiritual advantage But now the Ministers of the Gospel are in a special manner concern'd herein They are to search know and consider what perillous Times shall befal the Church according to the Prophecies of the holy Scriptures This that they may give Warning to the People that they may meet the Lord by Repentance and that those that feare the Lord may keep themselves pure from the Pollutions of the World that so they may be preserv'd by his special Providence when he shall come forth for the Execution of his Judgements Thus the Lord warned the Old World by Noah †2 Pet. 2.5 a Preacher of Righteousness and the Israelites by sundry Prophets before the Destruction of the one and Captivity of the other Thus did the People of * Jona 3.4 5 10. Nineveh prevent the Destruction threatned by turning to the Lord by †Mat. 12.41 Luk. 11.32 Repentance upon the Preaching of Jonah I may say of Preachers what the Noble Verulam * Bacons Essayes spake of Princes Shepherds of People had need know the Kalendar of Tempests in State which are commonly greatest when things grow to Equality as natural Tempests are greatest about the Equinoctials This that they may house the Lords Flock as the Servants of Pharaoh did their Cattel †Exo. 9.20 till the storme be over-past The Ministers of the Gospel are the Watchmen of the City of God They that stand upon the Watch-Towers of the Holy City should blow the * Isa 58.1 Trumpet of Gods holy Word and discover the danger which they see threatned and the Designes which they see managed against the Church and People of God It s their Duty to warne the People of their sins lest they perish in them in the day of Gods Judgements How strict is the Charge which the Lord hath given to every Minister of his Word in the Person of the Prophet Ezekiel and how sore is the Penalty how dreadful is the danger of failing through unfaithfulnesse in the discharge thereof It surely concerns us especially in these perillous Times very seriously to consider it us I say whom the Lord hath called forth to dispense his sacred Oracles and hath committed to our charge the souls of his People Sonne of man saith the LORD to Ezekiel †Ezek. 33.1 -9. Speak to the Children of thy People and and say unto them When I bring the sword upon a Land if the People of the Land take a man of their Coas s and set him for their Watchman If when h seeth the Sword come upon the Land he blow the Trumpet and warne the People Then whosoever heareth the sound of the Trumpet and taketh not Warning if the Sword come and take him away his Blood shall be upon his own Head He heard the sound of the Trumpet and took not warning his Blood shall be upon him but he that taketh warning shall deliver his Soul But if the Watchman see the sword come and blow not the Trumpet and the People be not warned if the sword come and take any person from among them he is taken away in his iniquity but his blood will I require at the Watchmans hand So thou O sonne of man I have set thee a Watchman unto the House of Israel and therefore thou shalt heare the Word at my Mouth and warn them from me When I say unto the wicked O Wicked man thou shalt surely die if thou doest not speak to warne the wicked from his way that wicked man shall die in his iniquity but his Blood will I require at thine Hand Nevertheless if thou warne the wicked of his way to turne from it if he do not turne from his Way he shall die in his iniquity but thou hast delivered thy soul * Ezek. 3.20 21. Again when a righteous man doth turn from his righteousnesse and commit iniquity and I lay a stumbling-block before him he shall die because thou hast not given him warning he shall die in his sin and his Righteousnesse which he hath done shall not be remembred but his Blood will I require at thine hand Nevertheless if thou warn the Righteous man that the righteous sin not and he doth not sin he shall surely live because he is warned also thou hast deliver'd thy soul Thus will the Lord call the Ministers of his Word to account for the losse of those Souls which through their unseasonable silence have perisht in their sins O how much guilt then shall we draw down upon our own heads if we do not warn our People of those sins whereof they are in danger in perillous Times and do what lies in us to keep off guilt from their souls O how much doth it concern us to be Faithful to God in the discharge of this Duty It s a fearful thing to be charged with
more taken with the sweetnesse of honey then with the Royal Eagle that Embleme of Noblenesse with the Brightnesse of the Sun God is the * Summum Bonum Chiefest Good the most Amiable Object to an Intellectual Eye and yet more Amiable to a Spiritual Eye as he discloses his Beauties in the Face of Christ Sensual Pleasure is a soon vanishing smile a tickling of the Senses causing †Eccl. 7.6 the Laughter of Fools What Fools are those that prefer a vanishing shadow before a never fading Beauty And besides these transitory Pleasures thus inordinately pursu'd end in eternal Paines Momentaneum quod delectat Aeternum quod cruciat The Delight of an Epicure like the †Job 20.5 joy of an hypocrite is but for a moment but his torment is everlasting And yet do these foolish Epicureans love their pleasures more then God as appears in this that they forsake God to follow their pleasures and while they are taken up with the entertainment of their pleasures they say to God depart from us we care not for the knowledge of thy Wayes * Job 21.10 11. Such are they of whom the Prophet speaks †Amos 6.4 5 6. That lie upon Beds of Ivory and stretch themselves upon their couches and eat the Lambs out of the Flock and the calves out of the midst of the Stall That chant to the sound of the Vial and invent to themselves Instruments of Musick like David That drink Wine in Bowles and anoint themselves with the chief oyntments but they are not grieved for the Affliction of Joseph They banish sorrow from their hearts and sink in downy Delights They regard not the State of the Church nor care for the Commands of God They live in a Paradise of Pleasures and so pass into a Purgatory of Paines a place where their Flowers are all faded and where that Fire is kindled which shall burne for ever Thus the Apostle James reproves the Rich men of his Dayes who were great Oppressors of the Poore * Jam 5.1 4 5 Ye have lived in Pleasure saith he on the earth and been wanton ye have nourisht your hearts as in a Day of slaughter The words in the Orignal are more Elegant and Emphatical 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ye have been luxurious and lascivious But what 's the end of these irreligious and wanton Epicures They are but fatted with the swine to the slaughter A Voluptuous man cannot be a Virtuous man Vertue can finde no Place much lesse hope for Preferment in the Kingdom of Pleasure In the Deluge of Pleasure the Dove of Piety can finde no place where to set the sole of her Foot But punishment will take place where Piety can finde none The nineteenth Character 19. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Habentes speciem quidem Pietatis Virtutem autem ejus abnegantes †Vetus Vel habentes Formam Pietatis sed qui Vim ejus abnegarint * Beza Vel quibus est species Reverentiae Dei a Virtute Dei longe discedunt †Syr. Interp Trem. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 autem significat inane Pietatis simulacrum * Bez. in loc 19. Having a form of godlinesse but denying the power thereof These are Hypocritical Professours of Religion who make a faire shew outwardly but there 's no substance there 's nothing but Emptynesse within They set up an Image of godliness which was never enlivened with Grace They make a shew of Devotion without any Truth of Affection They have an outward Forme but they want that inward Fâ—rvour which should give Life and Heate to all their exercises of Religion and godlinesse The †〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Word here used signifies not an Essential but an Accidental form the Visor or Mask not the Beauty or Lineaments of true godlinesse They weare Christs Livery but never learn that Lesson which he taught his Disciples * Mat. 10.38 Luk. 9.23 To deny themselves to take up their Crosse and follow Christ. They are like those that weare anothers Picture when they care not for his Person They content themselves with the shell of Religion without the Kernel the shadow without the Substance the forme without the Power They deny the power of godlinesse that is they are utterly void of it altogether strangers to it They neither feel nor exercise the Vigour and Life of true Godlinesse solid Christianity They do not experiment the Efficacy of it upon their Hearts nor expresse the Beauty of it in their Lives They are acquainted it may be with the Letter but strangers to the Spirit of the Gospel They are as so many Bull-rushes growing in the waters of the Sanctuary smooth without but spungy and non-substantial within Their Religion is but a Body without a Soul a Cage without a Bird a painted Cabinet without the Jewel a very Picture without Life strength or motion They are in a word no better then painted Pageants of pretended Piety To compleat the number of these Characters we shall draw one more from the thirteenth Verse of this Chapter where these Persons before so largely describ'd by their several Properties are further called The twentieth Character 20. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mali homines seductores †Vetus Vel Improbi homines Impostores * Beza 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 dictus significat aliquid amplius quam 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 nempe eum qui sit in omni scelere exercitatus ad injuriam cuivis inferendam totus comparatus †Bez. in Mat. 5.37 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 est homo de industria malus malignus ad male agendum exercitatus * Cornel. a Lap. Diabolus per quandam Antonomasiam vocatur 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 †Drus Obs Sac. l. 13. c. 16. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Praestigiatorem seu Prestigiis Incantatione Imposturis fallentem apud Veteres * Platonem sc Herodot Alios Graecos significat 20. Evil men and Seducers Sinne and Seduction go hand in hand together These two fitly concur to make up one Character of a wicked man The greater sinner a man is the sooner will he become a Seducer The greater the sinner the nearer to Satan the nearer to Satan the sooner a Seducer Now they are called evil men from their setting themselves to work wickednesse so the word imports Hence they are elsewhere called * Psal 6.8 Mat. 7.23 Workers of iniquity They are such as are desperately determinately wicked thoroughly exercised in wicked works They are such as trouble and vex the truly godly by their wickednesse They are such as being made up of mischief do make a Trade yea a Sport of sin It is saith the Wise man †Prov. 10.23 a sport to a Foole to do mischief Hence is the Devil whose onely Delight is in sin and Mischief sometimes in Scripture called by this very Name * Mat. 13.19 1 Joh.
destruction when such bitter and cursed fruits grow upon the top-most Branches of the tallest Trees in the Land So likewise when those that should punish sinne in others are themselves guilty of those sins which do deserve the sharpest Punishment When those that are intrusted with power for the execution of Justice upon Swearers Drunkards Adulterers Sabbath-breakers and such like are themselves guilty of these fearful sins and God-provoking Abominations This speaks the state of such a People to be desperate the disease of such a Nation to be deadly When there is Poison in the Plaister and the Physician himself hath the Plague upon him what hope of cure can there be for the Patient If those that should be the Healers of the Nation do wound it by their transgressions what can be expected but a sudden and inevitable Destruction Certainly corrupt Magistrates and Ministers of Justice are the Lands sharpest Scourges and the chief procurers of its sorest Judgements The fifth Case Incorrigiblenesse and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 * i. e. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 VVHen men are not amended by Corrections but grow worse and worse under all the Dispensations of Divine Providence it 's a sure and sad Symptome of perillous Times a clear and undeniable evidence that the last dayes are come upon us and the Evil of them hath overtaken us For the Apostle fore-warning us that in the last Dayes perillous Times shall come tells us that in those Dayes †2 Tim. 3.13 Evil men and Seducers shall wax worse and worse deceiving and being deceived It 's a sad signe that judgement is at hand and Destruction is at the Doore when men grow worse and worse under all the meanes of making them bettâ—r When they are not reclaim'd by Judgements reduc'd by benefits reform'd by all the meanes of grace and Salvation Surely Incorrigiblenesse under judgements and customary continuance in Sin and a continual progresse in impiety from one degree to another notwithstanding all the meanes and mercies vouchsaft for their amendment is a Fore-runner of their inevitable ruine If the Tree be prun'd and digg'd about and dung'd and water'd and yet notwithstanding all this cost and paines after long waiting does not onely bring forth no good Fruit but much evil and every yeare worse and worse it shall certainly be cut down that it no longer cumber the ground * Luk. 13 6-9 If when the Lord might justly expect good Grapes from his Vineyard it bring forth nothing but wilde Grapes and these every Vintage worse and worse its just with him to pluck up the Fence thereof and lay it wast †Isa 5 1-6 God is wont by his Word his Rod and his Sword to proceed against sinners By his Word he calls them to repentance but if they will not be reclaim'd by that with his Rod he chastises them for sin he exercises them with several Afflictions if they will not hereby be amended he is ready with the Sword of his Justice to cut them off in the execution of his Judgements So by the neglect and non-improvement of the two former a sinning People come to experiment the severity of the last and sorest of these dispensations Thus does the Lord complain of Judah * Zeph. 3.2 She obeyed not the Voice she received not Correction and so hereby she provoked the wrath of God to her own Ruine and Destruction When men do commonly cast contempt upon the Word and Ordinances of God and are generally unprofitable under the meanes of grace its just with God to give them up to Blindnesse of Minde and hardnesse of Heart and then according to the ordinary Methods of his Justice to second these Spiritual Judgements with a Temporal Destruction and so for the Vnprofitablenesse of the People to lay the Land desolate Of this Import is that dreadful commission which the Lord gave unto the Prophet Isaiah concerning the People of Israel Go sayes He to him †Isa 6 9-12 and tell this People hear ye indeed but understand not and see ye indeed but perceive not Make the heart of this People fat and make their eares heavy and shut their Eyes lest they see with their eyes and hear with their Eares and understand with their Heart and convert and be healed Then said I Lord how long And he answered Untill the Cities be wasted without Inhabitant and the Houses without man and the Land be utterly desolate and the LORD have removed men far away and there be a great forsaking in the midst of the Land Of the very same import is the Criminatory Complaint and Prophetick Commination of the Prophet Jeremy against the men of Judah and the Inhabitants of Jerusalem in the Name of the Lord. This thing commanded I them saith the LORD * Jer. 7 23-29 concerning their Fathers whom he had brought out of the Land of Egypt saying Obey my voice and I will be your God and ye shall be my People and walk ye in all the wayes that I have commanded you that it may be well unto you But they hearkened not nor inclined their Eare but walked in the Counsels and in the Imagination or stubbornnesse of their evil Heart and went backward and not forward Thus they became worse by the meanes used to make them better Since the Day that your Fathers came forth out of the Land of Egypt unto this Day I have even sent unto you all my servants the Prophets daily rising up early and sending them Yet they hearkened not unto me nor inclined their eare but hardened their Neck they did worse then their Fathers Therefore thou shalt speake all these words unto them but they will not hearken to thee Thou shalt also call unto them but they will not answer thee But thou shalt say unto them this is a Nation that obeyeth not the Voice of the LORD their God nor receiveth Correction Truth is perished and is cut off from their Mouth Cut off thine Hair O Jerusalem and cast it away and take up a Lamentation on high Places for the LORD hath rejected and forsaken the Generation of his Wrath. And what follows †ver 34. Then will I cause to cease from the Cities of Judah and from the streets of Jerusalem the Voice of Mirth and the Voice of Gladnesse the Voice of the Bride-groome and the Voice of the Bride for the Land shall be desolate But yet before the Lord proceeds to the utter Destruction of a People he is wont to try them by lesser Judgements lighter Afflictions whether they will return to Him by Repentance or no. These lesser Judgements are his Warning peeces which he shoots off to see whether they will make their Peace with him before he levels against them his Battering Ordnance and discharges upon them his Murdering Cannons his dreadfull destroying Judgements Lighter Afflictions therefore are to be improved for the Prevention of heavier Judgements For 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Nocumenta Documenta
despised and whose COVENANT he brake even with him in the midst of Babylon he shall die Neither shall Pharaoh with his mighty Army and great Company make for him in the War by casting up Mounts and building Forts to cut off many Persons Seeing he despised the OATH by breaking the COVENANT when lo he had given his HAND and hath done all these things he shall not escape Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD As I live surely mine OATH that he hath despised and my COVENANT that he hath broken even it will I recompence upon his own head And I will spread my Net upon him and he shall be taken in my snare and I will bring him to Babylon and will plead with him there for his Trespasse that he hath trespassed against me And all his Fugitives with all his Bands shall fall by the Sword and they that remaine shall be scattered towards all windes and ye shall know that I the LORD have spoken it Thus will no Force no Confederacy availe for the securing of that person from a deserved Punishment who by this sin of Perjury and Covenant-breaking is become obnoxious to Divine Justice An OATH is a sacred thing it bindes in the Name of God if it be violated it provokes God to arme his Justice with vengeance against the Violator The LORD will not hold him guiltlesse that taketh his NAME in vain †Exo. 20.7 Perjury * A pejerando fit Vox pejor quod perjurio nihil pejus is a desperate and damnable sin It proceeds from Atheism the mother of Abominations and produces Rebellion with a thousand impieties It s a sin which the Heathens have not onely justly condemn'd but also severely punished The Egyptians and Scythians punish't Perjury with Death The Romanes censure of it in the Law of the twelve Tables was this Perjurii Poena divina Exitium humana Dedecus †Cic. l. 2. de Legibus Though Perjury have no punishment amongst men but Disgrace it 's punish't by God with Destruction That which was thus detestable amongst Heathens should be much more abominable amongst Christians However God hath declar'd his Wrath against it from Heaven as some remarkable Passages of the Divine Providence do fully declare whereof we shall mention two out of the Turkish History The Emperour Albert had made a Truce with the great Turk and solemnly ratifi'd the same with an Oath But Pope Eugenius the fourth sent him a Dispensation from his Oath and excited him to renew the Warre against the Turk Thus does the man of sin make void the Law of God But in the first battel wherein the Emperour engaged he was discomfited and slaine Thus he that with his Sword cut in two the sacred Band of his Oath had his Perjury written by his enemies Sword with his own Blood whereas had he kept his Oath he might have sav'd his Life But the Infidels hereupon took occasion to cast reproach upon Christianity as a Religion that gave Patronage to Perjury and Covenant-breaking when the most solemne Obligation had been sealed with the Name of Christ Thus Covenant-breaking brings the most blessed Religion in the World into contempt and makes Christianity the scorne and reproach of Heathens Uladislaus King of Hungary having for a time manag'd his War with Amurath the great Turk with good successe at length brought him to conditions of Peace which were to himself sufficiently advantagious For upon this Agreement certaine Provinces were to be restored to the Hungarians which otherwise could not have been recover'd by the sword without the losse of many Lives But a Peace being concluded betwixt them a solemne League and Covenant for the confirmation thereof was interchangably sealed with an Oath taken by both Parties But the Pope whose Holinesse was thought sufficient to sanctifie the sinfulnesse of the vilest Perjury sent a Letter of Dispensation to his son Uladislaus as a Key of his Cabinet to unlock those Bonds and Fetters wherewith he was bound hand and foot from the further prosecution of the Warre with the Turks And to promote the Popes designe the Cardinal of Florâ—nce See the Hungarian History Admiral of the Navy on the one hand and Cardinal Julian the Popes Legate in Hungary on the other hand help to lift him up out of his Honourable Restraint the Liberty of Warre being barr'd up to him by a League of Peace into an infamous Freedome by strong sollicitations to the renewal of the War with Amurath Hereupon staining the glory of his Crown with the breach of his Covenant he assaulted the Turk unawares with a great Army who yet rallying his Forces with all the speed and vigour he could Dubiis victoria pennis Inter utrumque volat gave him Battel The Victory for a good while together hanging in an equal Ballance enclin'd to neither side But at length the Scales began to turne and Victory forsaking the Army of Amurath seem'd now ready to alight upon the Standard of Uladislaus Amurath perceiving this and withal seeing a Crucifix in a displayed Ensigne of the Christians Army advanc't against him pluckt the Writing wherein the late League was contain'd out of his bosome and with eyes and hands cast up to Heaven said O thou crucifi'd Christ Behold this is the LEAGVE which thy Christians made with me and seal'd with a solemne OATH swearing by thy Name and this have they without cause this day violated If thou be a GOD as they say thou art Revenge the wrong done unto thy Name and the injury offer'd unto me upon thy perjur'd People who though they honour thee in their Words do in their Deeds deny thee Immediately hereupon the battel turn'd and thâ— Turks prevail'd mightily against the Christians The King himself was slaine by the Janissaries and fell in the midst of his Enemies though not so much by their hands as by a stroke of Justice from heaven The Christians fled before the Mahumetans and perish't by a miserable slaughter eleven thousand being slaine in the place very few escaping with their Lives Thus hath the Blood and Lives of many slaughter'd Christians given testimony to the Justice of God triumphing in the punishment of Perjury and the violation of Covenants This is that which according to the intent of the wicked counsel of Balaam * Rev. 2.14 engages God himselfe against his own People Xenoph. Agesilaus general of the Grecian Army returned this answer to Tissaphernes Lieutenant to the King of Persiâ—'s Army when contrary to his Oath he had levy'd an Army and denounc'd War against him That he gave him no small thanks for that by his Perjury he had made the Gods angry with the Persians who he hoped for his Fidelity would be favourable to the Grecians And the Event answer'd the Omen for joyning Battel he gave the Persians a great overthrow Pausanius notes this to be one chief cause why Philip King of Macedon with all his Posterity were so quickly destroy'd because
Nullus Rex est nobis id est Non Reges nostri nobis sed nos ipsi Regibus nostris imperamus Leges ferimus exauctoramus c †Jun. Tremel We have no King that is we bow not to the commands of our Kings but we make our Kings bow to our commands We by our own Power make and null Laws at our own pleasure And by the following words it appears they made no more matter of casting off their Laws and cutting off their King then a man would make of breaking a bubble For it s said * ver 7. As for Samaâ—ia her King is cut off as the Fome or a Bubble †Diod. Ital upon the Water Which the Septuagint render thus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Samaria hath contemptuously cast off her King as a wither'd weed upon the Face of the water Thus did these wicked wretches cast of all Loyalty in cutting off their King and for the further aggravation of their daring crimes they cast off all Religion too in their breaking their OATH of Allegiance to their King and their COVENANT of new Obedience to God as if they resolv'd by some desperate Designe to shew themselves profest Enemies both to God and Man For to this purpose are the following words interpreted They have spoken words swearing falsely in making a Covenant Swearing falsely viz. to God in promising him Conversion and Service or to their King binding themselves to be faithful to him c * Diodat The words impott Omnes perjuri foedifragi sunt ac novae Conspirationes quotidie inter ipsos pullulant †Jun. Trem. They are all of them perjur'd Persons and Covenant-breakers and new conspiracies do daily spring up amongst them Such are the persons here describ'd and such are their Practises Now what can be expected to follow hereupon but Miseries and Calamities to the People of the Land and at length the punishment of such perjur'd Persons For it s said Thus Judgement springeth up as Hemlock in the Furrowes of the Field i. e. instead of wholesome judgement to relieve the oppressed cruel Oppression covers the Land which as poysonous Hemlock overgrows the poore oppressed People who by the barbarous usages and mercilesse cruelties of these insolent Traitors and Tyrants are furrow'd as a Field that is plow'd with continual afflictions * Vide Calvinum in loc Or as others interpret it of their punishments which they shall at length procure to themselves by these wicked practises Gods Judgements shall multiply like Hemlock or other poysonous Herbs which grow abundantly in the Fields †Diodati Engl. Annot. Thus they that sowe Injustice shall at length reap Judgement When such cursed seed as this is cast into a Land it will not faile to yeeld a plentiful Crop of Miseries and Vexations Hence then we may safely conclude that evil Dayes perillous Times are at hand when men make no conscience of Oathes and Covenants in Matters of Loyalty and Religion The sixt Symptome Practical Atheisme PErillous are the Times Dangerous the Dayes When men dare in their words to entitle God to those wicked works wherein they deny God When men presume to prefix the sacred and glorious Name of God to the most injurious Usurpations and flagitious Enormities under the Sunne When men pretending to act for the Cause of God and the good of his precious people having by such barbarous and bloody Enterprises as make the very Earth to blush under the eye of heaven accomplish't their cursed Designes shall dare to charge the actual accomplishment thereof upon the all-glorious God as having effected the same by his good hand of Providence When men having brought to passe their owne wicked devices * Psa 37.7 by such desperate Acts of Injustice and execrable villanies as the very report thereof casts astonishment upon the mindes of all men that have not utterly banisht all humanity and fear of God shall yet say This is the LORDS doing and it is marvellous in our eyes †Psa 118.23 Bold blasphemers For what more horrid blasphemy can possibly be imagin'd then to make that God who is infinitely and essentially holy and Just and good the Author of such intolerable Insolencies unparallel'd Impieties and superlative sinnes of these desperately daring spirits These are certainly the perillous Times whereof the Apostle hath forewarn'd the people of God For in those dayes he hath told us that men however pretending godlinesse shall indeed be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 * 2 Tim. 3.2 Blasphemers This was the wonted Practise of that man of sinne the sonne of Perdition who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God †2 Thes 2 3 4. insomuch as it grew to a Proverb In Nomine Domini omne Malum All mischief comes a Gods Name He dethrones Princes makes unjust Warre against Nations and Kingdomes persecutes Christians to death with as much Cruelty as any of the Heathen Emperours gives dispensations to subjects to rebel against their Soveraignes absolving them from their Oaths of Alleagiance and all Obligations to Loyalty and Obedience and all this in the Name of God and by the pretended conduct of the Divine Providence And does not this * 2 Thes 2 7 Mystery of Iniquity still work in the Christian world And must not these high Provocations of God needs make perillous Times When men entitle God to the greatest Irregularities and most detestable Impieties that ever were acted amongst men When men securely act the highest Rebellions and as securely proceed in these audacious actings under the pretended Patronage of the Divine Providence Was not God infinitely Patient he would send down Fire from heaven to consume such Atheists on earth How oft hath the Church of God been put into Blood by those that in their displayed Banners have borne the Name of God! How oft hath that sacred Name IMMANUEL GOD WITH US been abus'd by them that have assembled all their forces to fight against God! How oft have they glory'd in the Appearings of the LORD of Hosts for them who when they have prosper'd in their audacious attempts have dar'd to bid defiance to the Hosts of the LORD How vainly have men boasted that the †Prov. 18.10 Name of the LORD hath been a strong Tower of defence unto them when by divine permission they have prosper'd in those enormous actings which carry in them a flat Contradiction to all Gods glorious attributes Thus is the Name of God fearfully abus'd by the worst of men Thus do the Practitioners of the black Art a fit name for so dreadful a Work of Darknesse make use of the Name of God for the raising up the Devil And do not profane Politicians practise the same Art And is not this the way to turne the Earth into a Hell needs then must the times be perillous when such Artists do abound when such Atheists prevaile and prosper in the world Plato
8. silence in that time for it is an evil time This unlesse they had a Call from God as had the Prophets of the Lord to reprove these wicked ones for their sinnes and to give in their Testimony in the behalf of God against their irregular and unjust proceedings The times are unquestionably perillous when the Terrible one is in Power and the Scorner is in Favour and they that watch for iniquity are rewarded That make a man an Offendor for a †Sub Tyranno voces non sunt liberae multo minus in Tyrannum Drepan Paneg. c. 2. Word and lay a snare for him that reproveth in the Gate and turne aside the just for a thing of nought These are perillous Times to the People of God neither can the Church according to the Scripture-Calculation expect good Dayes till * Isa 29.20 21. the terrible one is brought to nought and the scorner is consumed and all that watch for Iniquity are cut off That make a man an offendor for a Word and lay a snare for him that reproveth in the Gate and turne aside the Just for a thing of nought In that day †v. 18 19 shall the meek encrease their joy in the LORD and the poore among men shall rejoyce in the Holy One of Israel Then * v. 24. they also that erred in spirit shall come to understanding and they that murmured shall learne Doctrine When the Great men of the Times shall become Terrible ones to the People of God and watch for opportunities to ensnare his Prophets and seek an occasion to persecute the Preachers of his Word who reprove them for their fearful Impieties and horrid enormities whereby they pluck down Judgements upon the whole Land the Times must needs be evil and perillous But yet let such know the Judgement of God is ready to fall upon their own heads who have thus laid snares for the life of others For Judgement is toward you saith the LORD †Hos 5.1 2 O House of the King O ye State-Robbers that have turned the Kings House into a Den of Thieves because ye have been a SNARE on Mizpah and a NET spread upon Tabor i. e. You have laid snares to entrap the Innocent in their Lives and Goods as Hunters and Fowlers do upon the Hills of Mizpah and Tabor * Diod. Annot. And the REVOLTERS are profound to make SLAUGHTER q. d. they are profound in making PLOTS to murther men though I have been a REBUKER of them all who have thus villanously conspired against them who have rebuked them for their sins in my Name Thus will the Lord at length finde out and punish proud and presumptuous Persecutors of his Prophets and People yet during the time of their Prevalency and Predominancy in Church and State the Dayes must needs be evill the Times perillous When Micaiah the Prophet of the LORD is rudely interrupted by false Prophets and smitten on the cheek for prophecying the Truth †1 King 22.24 When this Injury is protected by an ungodly Prince yea and seconded by a false Imprisonment it 's surely a perillous Time When a wicked Ruler rashly engaged in a destructive enterprize shall say concerning a Preacher of Gods Word that sought to reclaime him * ver 27. Put this fellow in the Prison and feed him with Bread of affliction and with Water of affliction until I come in Peace When if a Prophet of the Lord do but forewarne the People of following judgements some furious Captaine shall apprehend him and falsely †Accusandi frequens publica Rabies gravius togatam civitatem confecit Senec. l. 3. c. 26. de Benef. accuse him to the Princes of the people and these shall without Colour of Law or Justice smite him and cast him into prison Yea when this will not yet satisfie their malice and cruelty but they shall press hard upon him with their false Accusations saying He weakens the hands of the Souldiers and Citizens by preaching such things as these are at such a season as this is and so under these pretences seek to put him to Death these are manifestly perillous Times for the People of God and surely some great Judgement hangs over the Heads of such a Nation For just thus did the Princes of Judah deale with the Prophet Jeremy and what follow'd thereupon but the utter Ruine and Destruction of the City Jerusalem and the carrying Captive both of the Princes and of the People into Babylon as we read in the sacred Records of the Holy Scripture †See Jer. 37 38 and 39. ch Behold his usage the fore-running presage of these soon-following calamities on the Jewish Nation It came to passe says the sacred Story * Jer. 37 11-15 that when the Army of the Caldeans was broken up from Jerusalem for fear of Pharaohs Army then Jeremiah went forth out of Jerusalem to go into the Land of Benjamin to separate himself thence in the midst of the People And when he was in the Gate of Benjamin a CAPTAINE of the Ward was there whose name was Irijah the sonne of Shelemiah the son of Hananiah and he took Jeremiah the Prophet saying Thou fallest away to the Caldeans Then said Jeremiah It is false I fall not away to the Caldeans but he hearkened not to him so Irijah took Jeremiah and brought him to the Princes Wherefore the PRINCES were wroth with Jeremiah and smote him and put him in PRISON in the House of Jonathan the Scribe for they had made that the Prison But these wicked Princes are not yet satisfi'd herewith We have a further account of their injurious proceedings against him their false charge and bloody Petition prefer'd in an unjust Court with the Issue thereof suiting to their own Desires or rather though disguis'd in a Petitionary Way as appeares by the story their peremptory Demands so little Reverence did they beare to the Authority of their King For thus is it recorded †Jer. 38 1-6 Then Shephatiah the son of Mattan and Gedaliah the son of Pashur and Jucal the sonne of Shelemiah and Pashur the sonne of Malchiah heard the words that Jeremiah had spoken unto all the People saying Thus saith the LORD he that remaineth in the City shall die by the Sword by the Famine and by the Pestilence but he that goeth forth to the Caldeans shall live for he shall have his Life for a Prey and shall live Thus saith the LORD This City shall surely be given into the hand of the King of Babylon's Army which shall take it Therefore the Princes said unto the King We beseech thee let this man be put to DEATH for thus he weakneth the Hands of the men of War that remain in the City and the Hands of all the People in speaking such words unto them for this man seeketh not the PEACE * So the Marg. Heb. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Welfare of this People but the HURT Then
is fearfully and continually provok'd to arme himself with vengeance and come forth to the Punishment of a rebellious People * See Isa 59 12-19 He hath lightening in his eyes and thunder in his hands if once he be provoked to anger he can in a moment burn up a sinful Nation in an instant break in pieces a rebellious People II. Men are perverted When the minds of men are perverted by the Doctrines of Deceivers all their paths are full of darknesse and danger For the Minde is the eye of the soul And the Light of the soul as of the Body is the eye if therefore thine eye be single sayes our Saviour thy whole body shall be full of Light But if thine eye be evil thy whole body shall be full of darknesse †Mat. 6.22 23 He whose eyes are blinde walks in darknesse at noon-day And when men walk in Darknesse they are continually exposed to Danger When damnable Doctrines are publickly preach'd and multitudes are baptiz'd into the Belief of them and so the souls of men are perverted and impoyson'd by them these must needs be Dayes of Danger perillous Times When the Power of Truth failes and the Plague of Errour and Heresie reignes When the Glory of true Christianity is eclipst and the Mystery of Iniquity is mightily working in the mindes of men such Times must needs be perillous and pernicious III. The Land is polluted Reigning sinnes prevailing abominations especially when patronized by those by whom they should be punished whereby they become National sinnes do exceedingly pollute a Land Now when the Land is polluted what can be expected but that God should depart from it and bring in a Deluge of Judgement or kindle a dreadful burning to purge it Is not this then a sad presage of perillous Times After the House of the Lord in Jerusalem was polluted by the Abominations of the people of Judah both the City and the Temple was destroy'd * 2 Chron. 36.14 15 c. When the Land of Canaan was polluted by the sinnes of the Canaanites God deliver'd both them and their Land into the hand of the Israelites and when it was polluted by the Israelites he deliver'd them up into the hand of the Canaanites as we read in the Book of the Judges †See also Psal 106 38-42 When the Land is polluted by its sinnes it 's just with God to * Lam. 2.2 pollute it by his Judgements And what then can we expect but perillous Times in a polluted Land The third Question Quest 3 WHat is the peril of these Times Answ The evils to be feared in these Times are such as these Answ 1 I. The judgement of God on the Land God may justly bring the Sword and Famine and Pestilence for the punishment of such a provoking People These three Arrows are ever ready in Gods Quiver to be discharg'd against his Enemies God may sweep that Land with the besome of Desolation wherein men under pretences of Gods glory seek their own interests and establishment He may punish spirituall Abominations with temporal Judgements Persecution with War the plague of Errours with the Pestilence the Contempt of the heavenly Manna of his holy Word with Famine and want of necessary food He may wash that Land with Blood that hath been defiled with Oppression and Murder He may sweep that house with the Pestilence that hath been defiled with Pride and Perjury He may scourge that people with Famine that have sin'd through Fulnesse of Bread He may break that land in pieces by the thunder of his Judgements that hath not taken warning by the lightening of his Threatnings in the preaching of his Word So for spiritual Judgements for the Abominations of his People the Lord may go far from his Sanctuary †Ezek. 8.6 When a Church hath left its first love God may come speedily and remove its Candlestick out of his Place * Rev. 2.4 5 When men shall abuse the servants of the Lord sent forth to gather the Fruits of his Vineyard he may justly destroy them and give the Vineyard unto others †Mark 12.9 When men are grown greedy of the gain of Oppression and weary of the Ordinances of God when Covetousnesse is become cruel in grinding the faces of the Poore * Isa 3.25 and Profanesse bold in slighting of Sabbaths and sacred Solemnities of Divine Worship God may justly cause that Land to tremble for the horrour of his Judgements and plague that peoples contempt of his Worship by a Famine of his Word And so hath the Lord threatned to punish these sinnes in his people Israel by his Prophet Amos saying †Amos 8 4-12 Heare this O ye that swallow up the needy even to make the Poor of the Land to faile saying When will the New Moon be gone that we may sell Corne and the Sabbath that we may set forth Wheat making the Ephah wherewith they measured their Grain small and the Shekel wherewith they weighed the money which they received for payment great and falsifying the Balances by deceit That we may buy the poore for silver and the needy for a paire of shooes yea and sell the refuse of the wheat The LORD hath sworne by the excellency of Jacob surely I will never forget any of their Works Shall not the Land tremble for this and every one mourn that dwelleth therein and it shall rise up wholly as a flood and it shall be cast out and drowned as by the flood of Egypt And it shall come to passe in that day saith the Lord GOD that I will cause the Sunne to go down at noon and I will darken the earth in the clear day And I will turn your Feasts into Mourning and all your Songs into Lamentation and I will bring up sackcloth upon all Loynes and baldnesse upon every Head and I will make it as the mourning of an onely sonne and the end thereof as a bitter Day Behold the dayes come saith the Lord GOD that I will send a FAMINE in the Land not a Famine of Bread nor a Thirst for Water but of hearing the Words of the LORD And they shall wander from Sea to Sea and from the North even to the East they shall runne to and fro to seek the Word of the LORD and shall not finde it When the Lord shall bring these judgements upon a Land or Nation professing the true Religion the Church may call her Children * 1 Sam. 4.21 ICHABOD for the Glory is departed Thus for the sinnes of Judah did the †Ezek. 9.3 and 10.4 18 19. Glory of the Lord an illustrious pledge of his gracious presence depart from Jerusalem and sad were the Calamities which ensued thereupon Thus the Times are perillous when the sinnes of men are grown to that height that we may justly expect the Judgements of God upon the Land II. Persecution of the Church When Clouds of Darknesse are spread over the City of God
Godlinesse that you may with comfort look for the coming of Christ and with confidence hast to the Judgement day Remember that the †Tit. 2.11 12 13. Grace of God reveal'd in the Gospel which brings salvation to you teaches you that denying ungodlinesse and worldly Lusts you should live soberly righteously and godly in this present World So looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appea ing of the great God and of our Saviour Jesus Christ Let Prayer and Piety then be your daily Exercise during Life that though you live in perillous Times you may finish your Daies in Peace Be diligent in doing of good and * 1 Thes 5.22 23. Abstaine from all appearance of Evil. And the very God of Peace sanctifie you wholly and I pray God your whole Spirit and Soul and Body be preserved blamelesse unto the Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ †Jude 24 25 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling and to present you faultlesse before the presence of his Glory with exceeding Joy to the onely wise God our Saviour be Glory and Majesty Dominion and Power now and ever Amen FINIS The Authour's Advertisemâ—nt REader thou art now come to the End of this Book let me tell thee what was the End of the Author in publishing it God in the Scripture tells us that evil Dayes perillous Times shall come This is doubtlesse written for our Instruction It 's then surely the Duty of a Minister of the Gospel to give People WARNING of these perillous Times and after the Example of the Prophets and faithful Preachers of the Word in all Ages to give in his WITNES against the evil of the Dayes This out of Faithfulness to the great Interests of the Glory of God and the Salvation of souls The Author upon this Ground readily embraced what he judged his fittest Opportunity for the discharge of this Duty that so he might have a good conscience both towards God and towards men Moreover the Author observing with Griefe how the generality of men perceiving their Danger in such perillous Times are wont to study their safety by carnall Compliances with every rising Party whereby when a wicked Party prevailes it strengthens it selfe mightily to the carrying on and Accomplishment of those Designes which are destructive to the whole Nation in the Safety or Ruine whereof particular Persons and Societies must needs stand or fall Thus the Trees submit themselves to the scratching Bramble and put their Trust under its shadow till at length Fire coming forth from it to devoure the Noble Cedars consumes the whole Forrest Such is the Folly of men that oft-times by that very meanes whereby they seek for Safety they runne themselves into the greater Danger I judg'd it my Duty therefore to endeavour a Discovery of a more excellent Way Doubtlesse here lies our greatest Danger in our provoking God by our sins to punish us and the whole Land by his Judgements If he become our Enemy they are not men be they never so great and mighty in Power that can help or save us And by sinful compliances how soone may the whole Nation be involv'd in the guilt of those horrid Perjuries injurious Incroachments fearful Enormities and God-provoking Abominations which may pluck down the sorest Plagues and Punishments upon all the People of the Land Our onely safety then lies in making our Peace with God by humbling our selves for all our sinnes and turning to him with our whole Hearts and so in walking humbly with him in his holy wayes and keeping our selves cleare from the Evils and Abominations of the Times For if God be with us who can be against us If he that is Mighty to save be our Friend we need not care who are our Enemies nor feare what man can do unto us Now this is the Scope and Drift of the present Treatise and to give a timely Warning of this Danger and a seasonable Admonition of this Duty was the Designe and is the Desire of the Author For this Reason and end therefore was this Sermon first preached and afterwards by the Advice of many of his Reverend Brethren the Ministers of the Gospel in the City of London was this Discourse published If thou desirest to know what was at the first preached in the Sermon and hath been since added in the Discourse which hath swelled it to this Bignesse take this Account The Sermon mainly consisted of these two things the Symptomes of perillous Times and the Duty of the Saints in such Dayes of Danger For the former those seven Symptomes were laid down which according to the Order wherein now thou findest them are the third fourth fift sixt eighth ninth and last For the latter the first and second Duties onely were prest and therein principally the fift Branch of the second Duty Almost all the rest with sundry illustrative Enlargements of these are added in this Treatise that it might by the Blessing of God become of more General Usefulnesse This Advertisement I have added for thy satisfaction which I shall conclude with this Caution Take heed thou art not one of them that make the Times perillous By a serious Perusal of the fore-going Discourse and a Religious Reflexion upon thy selfe thou mayest come to know whether thou art on Gods side or against him But see thou do thy self no Hurt by what 's meant for thy Good Harden not thy selfe against the Admonitions given thee in the Name of the Lord. For Know the BOOK in thy hand however buried in Contempt will rise up in Judgement against many Great Ones many Guilty Ones in this Nation at the last Day whose guilt will be aggravated by their slighting of this timely Warning given them by A poor unworthy Servant of the Lord Jesus in the Ministry of his glorious Gospel THO. WILLES London Aug. 15. 1659. The Book commended to Gods Blessing GLORIOUS GOD This poor thing which thy unworthy servant hath finish't in thy strength is now prest for thy service And behold I have here brought it before thy Majesty that it may receive thy Blessing Thou who art the great God delightest to do great things by weak Means that thy Power may appear and thy Name may have the Glory O that it would please thee to make use of this poor thing as an Instrument in thine own hand for the Glory of thy great Name and the good of thy People in this sinful Nation Oh let not the Weaknesses and Infirmities of thy servant that herein disclose themselves hinder the success of this small service which he desires hereby to do thy distracted Church Lord own and accept what is Good in it for it is thine own but what is Evil pardon and cover as proceeding from the weaknesse of a poor Creature that would willingly do thee much better service and yet is willing to submit to thy Will though Thou shouldest subject him to the meanest employment And give O Lord so much